Pronouncing Participants' Names with Mary Houle and Sarra Ismail - EP 21

In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Mary Houle and Sarra Ismail about the importance of pronouncing people's names correctly, how to learn how to do it respectfully, and why it's related to inclusive facilitation practices.

Beth, Sarra and Mary also talk about:

• How to respectfully ask someone to pronounce their name
• Strategies to follow when learning how to pronounce a person's name
• Our responsibilities as "listeners" when our conversation partners have accents or names that are unfamiliar to us
• The relationship between pronouncing people's names and fostering group belonging and inclusion
• Name pronunciation situations that apply specifically to work facilitating with groups

Engage with Mary Houle and Sarra Ismail

• Website: pronounced.ca
• Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryhoulepronounced/
• Sarra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarra-ismail-94173528/

Other Links from the Episode

• Taruna Goel's episode on the podcast (EP 7)
• Anand Giridharadas
• LinkedIn name pronunciation info
• Name Drop, a name pronunciation service
• Ethan Kutlu's study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343861297_The_Impact_of_Race_on_Speech_Perception_and_Accentedness_Judgments_in_Racially_Diverse_and_Non-Diverse_Groups

Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast:

• Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube
• Show notes and transcripts available at facilitatingonpurpose.com

Connect with Host Beth Cougler Blom:

• Give feedback or suggest upcoming show topics or guests at [email protected]
• Visit bcblearning.com to explore Beth's company's services in facilitation and learning design
• Purchase a copy of Beth's book, Design to Engage
• Follow Beth on Instagram or LinkedIn

Podcast production services by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions