Eating disorders have historically been associated with heterosexual, young, white females, but in reality, they affect people from all demographics of all ethnicities at similar rates. People of color – especially African American women – are significantly less likely to receive help for their eating issues.

Today with us we have Shanetta McDonald, a Los Angeles-based creative. After spending more than 10 years in PR & Sales with executive-level roles for national and global brands, Shanetta decided to move her passions for wellness and storytelling to the forefront of her life with Motif, a community focused on supporting the healing, well-being, and connection among women of color by sharing their stories. Motif was inspired by Shanetta's personal story which involves battling and recovering from an eating disorder, stemming from childhood traumas, and also learning to break skewed societal perceptions of what it means to be a Black woman in America. Shanetta found that opening up and sharing about her struggles with food and body - through writing and conversations with other BIPOC women - was a tool that supported her healing and created invaluable connections with women like herself. She believes that by sharing our stories, we create deeper connections with others like us and forge a path for our healing and blossoming.

To learn more about Motif visit: https://www.ourmotif.co

Instagram: @ourmotif or @_iamshan

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Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays, Scott Talks on Wednesdays and our brand new series On My Nightstand on Fridays by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Join our Only One In The Room Facebook Group if you'd like to ask a question of any of our upcoming guests for this series. 

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I saw Madeline Grayer perform/read this hilarious essay at a storytelling show earlier this year and I laughed out loud all the way through. Couldn’t wait to share it with you all.

Madeline Grayer has written about dating for Cosmopolitan magazine and fashion for InStyle.com. She was a consultant in the writer’s room for HBO’s “Sex and the City”, and is currently writing a collection of humorous personal essays. She lives in New York with her husband, son, and dog. Follow her on Twitter @madelinegrayer. 

Special thanks to our sponsors:

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Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays, Scott Talks on Wednesdays & Sunday Edition every Sunday by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Zoe Abbott right after the show.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

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Best Fiends: Join us and the millions of Americans who are already playing this game. Download Best Fiends for FREE on The Apple APP store or Google Play. That’s friends without the R, Best Fiends.

Don't miss our new Friday series On My Nightstand.

Be sure to join our Facebook Group for the most up-to-date info on guests, episodes and more.

You can also DM us on Instagram @theonlyoneintheroom or email us via the website at www.theonlyonepod.com

Also visit the website for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like live events, appearances, featured articles and more.

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Imagine being three hundred pounds, not being able to buckle your seatbelt on planes, and needing two people to push you down into your seat on a rollercoaster.

When Financial entrepreneur and mentor, Zoe Abbott, decided to change her life and lose the weight, she was scared that afterward she might look like a deflated balloon.

So what would you do if after losing a hundred and fifty pounds, you found yourself considering skin removal surgery? Would you think that the health benefits of weight loss were enough? Or would you take that extra step, deciding that it was okay to want to love the person you saw in the mirror?

More From Zoe Abbot:

Visit: https://thezoeabbott.com

Finding Zoe Abbot:

Instagram: @thezoeabbott

LinkedIn: Zoe Abbott

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Savage X Fenty has it all! Get into it and become a new VIP. Get two bras for $29 plus 50% off everything site-wide at savagex.com/ONLYONE

Best Fiends: Join us and the millions of Americans who are already playing this game. Download Best Fiends for FREE on The Apple APP store or Google Play. That’s friends without the R, Best Fiends.

Be sure not to miss Scott Talks on Wednesdays, our Sunday release called Sunday Edition & our brand new series On My Nightstand releasing on Fridays by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Join our Only One In The Room Facebook Group if you'd like to ask a question of any of our upcoming guests for this series. 

Also visit the website www.theonlyonepod.com for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like featured articles and more.

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time.

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The D.A.R. tried in recent decades to attract members of diverse backgrounds, and in doing so, it had to overcome as many decades of bad press. Because of their reputation, they have historically had trouble attracting African-American members. The Daughters of the American Revolution is an organization with more than 1,000,000 women. They became members to honor their heritage as well as learn more about the amazing history of the D.A.R and what members are doing today to continue that legacy.

Reisha Raney is the president and founder of Encyde Corporation, currently ranked in the top 4% of all women-owned businesses in the United States, protecting clients’ technology program investments by providing business analysis, systems engineering, independent testing, and post-implementation solutions for some of the world’s largest systems; a Living Classrooms Board Member- promoting STEM through hands-on learning using urban, maritime, and natural resources; the Organizing Secretary for the Maryland State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R) – the first black state officer in Maryland and only one of four African American state officers in the history of the 125+-year-old, 180,000-member society; a descendant of Thomas Jefferson’s grandfather, a non-resident fellow at Harvard University under Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., host of PBS Special “Finding Your Roots”; and creator of DaughterDialogues.com- a website that explores the lives of women of color in the D.A.R.

Website: www.daughterdialogues.com

Special thanks to our sponsors:

BetterHelp is a great, affordable option for professional counseling done securely online. As a listener, you'll get 10% off your first month by visiting betterhelp.com/one  

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Best Fiends: Join us and the millions of Americans who are already playing this game. Download Best Fiends for FREE on The Apple APP store or Google Play. That’s friends without the R, Best Fiends.

Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays, Scott Talks on Wednesdays and our brand new series On My Nightstand on Fridays by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Join our Only One In The Room Facebook Group if you'd like to ask a question of any of our upcoming guests for this series. 

Also visit the website www.theonlyonepod.com for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like featured articles and more.

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time.

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When Sunday Times best-selling author, Catherine Gray asked me to contribute an essay to her new book, Sunshine Warm Sober, I jumped at the chance. When I found out that she wanted my essay to tell the story of what it’s like being Black in white recovery spaces, I knew exactly which story I wanted to tell.

Laura Cathcart Robbins is an author, freelance culture writer, and host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room, living in Studio City, California. She has been active for many years as a speaker and school trustee and is credited for creating The Buckley School’s nationally recognized committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her recent articles in Huffpo and The Temper on the subjects of race, recovery, and divorce have garnered her worldwide acclaim. She is a 2018 LA Moth StorySlam winner and currently sits on the advisory board for the San Diego Writer’s Festival and the Outliers HQ podcast Festival. Laura is also a founding member of Moving Forewords, the first national memoirist collective of its kind. Find out more about her on her website, or you can look for her on Facebook, on Instagram, and follow her on Twitter.

Catherine Gray can be found at @unexpectedjoyof and www.unexpectedjoy.co.uk 

Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays, Scott Talks on Wednesdays & Sunday Edition every Sunday by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time.

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Before we dive into today's Scott Talks, we would like to share with you an honest spoken-word piece by the talented Blu Nyle. We love spoken word and the imagery and honesty it evokes. We hope you enjoy it as much we do.

More about Blu Nyle:

BLU NYLE IS A Musical Artist, Poetess, Artivist, Actor, Speaker, Writer and Healer! Blu is a Reiki Master and Transformation Coach.Her Company is ROOTED IN POWER. Blu signed her first record deal at the age of 16 and was off to the races. The girl group toured London and North America— opening up for Diddy, Jay Z, 112, Ja Rule, Ginuwine, Neyo and many more. Blu was born in Boston— Moved to NYC and Landed in Los Angeles in 2009-- started training with the worlds greatest Choreographers and Creative Directors. 

She has recorded with Dr.Dre and been in the likes of music's heaviest hit makers! Performing at The BET Awards and gracing The Grammys— Blu Nyle is a humble super star, serving as a muse to the worlds biggest celebrities. 

Blu Nyle is a force to be reckoned with—Living her Art Limitlessly. As an advocate for Mental Health and Healing ourselves to truly achieve genuine happiness.

Instagram: @BLUNYLEWORLD

Today's Scott Talks Interview:

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Mario Van Peebles right after the show.

Don't miss our new Friday series On My Nightstand.

Be sure to join our Facebook Group for the most up-to-date info on guests, episodes and more.

You can also DM us on Instagram @theonlyoneintheroom or email us via the website at www.theonlyonepod.com

Also visit the website for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like live events, appearances, featured articles and more.

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

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Picture this if you will, your father is THE brilliant, iconic filmmaker, actor and revolutionist, Melvin Van Peebles. And when you are just thirteen years old, he gives you a pivotal role in a movie that will change the way the world looks at black men and women forever.

Mario Van Peebles, actor, eco-activist, director and producer, took that role, playing the younger version of his father, Melvin’s character in the mega-hit indie film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. An experience that would put Mario on the actor/filmmaker track for the rest of his life and allow him to bring his own vision of black people to the silver screen.

But what if you found yourself confronted by ignorance and prejudice each time you sat in that director’s chair? Would you give up your vision and continue to allow Hollywood to whitewash America? Or would you stand your ground and make films that cast black people in all the starring roles?

Finding Mario Van Peebles:

Instagram: @mariovanpeebles

Twitter: @mariovanpeebles

Be sure not to miss Scott Talks on Wednesdays, our Sunday release called Sunday Edition & our brand new series On My Nightstand releasing on Fridays by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Join our Only One In The Room Facebook Group if you'd like to ask a question of any of our upcoming guests for this series. 

Also visit the website www.theonlyonepod.com for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like featured articles and more.

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time.

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What if, while looking to adopt, two babies stole your heart, one white and one Black. And when you looked at them, you just knew that they were both your daughters.

William Fitzsimmons, singer, songwriter and producer, adopted his two daughters with his now ex-wife, knowing that as a White man, it would be important to learn to take care of his Black daughter’s hair and educate himself about her African-American culture.

But what would you do, if a cultural reckoning swept across America and put a harsh spotlight on the racial differences in your family? Would you try to stay low until things settled down? Or would you celebrate your daughter’s heritage for all the world to see?

More from William Fitzsimmons:

Visit his website: https://www.williamfitzsimmons.com

Listen to William on Spotify

Finding William Fitzsimmons:

Twitter: @wfitzsimmons

Instagram: @williamfitzsimmons

Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays, Scott Talks on Wednesdays and our brand new series On My Nightstand on Fridays by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Join our Only One In The Room Facebook Group if you'd like to ask a question of any of our upcoming guests for this series. 

Also visit the website www.theonlyonepod.com for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like featured articles and more.

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time.

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To continue our celebration of Pride month, today I am reading the deeply personal essay, The Definition Of Brave by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor. 

Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is a guest from season one of The Only Only One In The Room (an OG!) She is the author of five books, including the best-seller, Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay. She’s been seen on NickMom hosting her humorous talk show Parental Discretion with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, she’s also the host of three podcasts: For Crying Out Loud, Bored AF, and Rose Pricks - A Bachelor Roast. She lives in LA with her husband and three teenagers. 

www.stefaniewildertaylor.com

Instagram: @swildertaylor

Listen to Stefanie’s episode from Season One

Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays, Scott Talks on Wednesdays & Sunday Edition every Sunday by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. 

We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show!

All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time.

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