How to Speak Up When the System Wasn't Built for You (Part 1)

How to Speak Up When the System Wasn't Built for You (Part 1)

From The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations by Chris Wong & Lucie Tesarova

March 31, 2026 · 30 min · Season 3

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with Gift Tshuma about advocacy, storytelling, and navigating difficult conversations for inclusion in inaccessible systems.

Episode Overview In this powerful Part 1 conversation, hosts Chris Wong and Lucie Tesarova sit down with Gift Tshuma — disability rights advocate, accessibility specialist, musician, and co-founder of Tshuma Consulting — to explore what advocacy really means, why storytelling is its foundation, and how to navigate the difficult conversations that come with pushing for inclusion in organizations and systems that weren't designed for everyone. Guest Gift Tshuma (He/Him) Advocacy Specialist , March of Dimes Canada Co-Executive Director , Blurring the Boundaries — an organization creating accessible digital instruments for people with disabilities (UK & Canada) Co-Founder , Tshuma Consulting — accessibility assessments, training, and strategic consulting EDI Officer , The Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts Musician & Artist — R&B/Gospel singer, co-founder of United Tribulation Choir, trained in classical and jazz vocals, mentored by Oliver Jones Originally from Zimbabwe, based in Canada 35+ years of lived experience and 17+ years of leadership in accessibility & inclusion LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gift-tshuma Key Topics Discussed Advocacy as storytelling and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Chris Wong, Lucie Tesarova

Guest: Gift Tshuma

Topics covered

  • advocacy
  • storytelling
  • inclusion
  • accessibility
  • systemic change

Keywords

  • advocacy
  • accessibility
  • storytelling
  • inclusion
  • systemic change
  • disability rights
  • fear
  • internal barriers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: March of Dimes Canada, Blurring the Boundaries, Tshuma Consulting, The Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts

Places: Zimbabwe, Canada, UK

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