In today's episode, we have a special guest, Dr. Simarta Brennan-Prescod, a physician, coach, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Simarta is a multi-hyphenate who also happens to live with chronic disease. She shares her experiences and insights on how she navigates medical spaces while managing her own health challenges.

Dr. Simarta Brennan-Prescod, is a board-certified primary care doctor at Optum Primary Care's Northeast location in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her background is in internal medicine, nephrology and hypertensive care. She is a graduate of St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, and completed her residency at Overlook Hospital, an affiliate of Mt. Sinai Hospital in Summit. New Jersey. She completed nephrology fellowship training at St Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri. She is a motivational speaker to failing to success, Multiple Sclerosis activist, Elementry School activist for getting kids interested in healthcare. Her passion is helping patients and parents with chronic disease, such as MS, navigate in their workspace and jobs to be effective communicators of their needs and advocate for living in their authenticity but maintaining their privacy. 

She is a practicing physician for the last 17 years and she has had the unique experience of being a doctor, a patient, and a caregiver to a child with congenital heart disease in the US healthcare system. This has driven her to share her story via publishing her new book May 2023. The book is called “The Parts We Don’t Talk About!”. The book addresses biases during medical training from colleagues, racial inequality while seeking professional growth, pregnancy and the treatment of doctors living with chronic disease, such as Multiple Sclerosis. 

Her goal is learn, grow and teach from her own journey.

In her spare time she enjoys creating art projects with her 3 kids (9, 7 and 7) and restoration of furnitures.  She loves scuba diving, traveling and reading. 

If you need to schedule a free one-to-one call with her, reach out on her website. ⁠www.drsimarta.com⁠. This is the first step to create change in your life. 

Website, social media to connect further:

⁠www.drsimarta.com⁠

Instagram: drsimarta 

Facebook: drsimarta 

On this episode of Room For Every Body, we meet Melody. Melody discusses her own health journey, having experienced frequent hospitalizations due to an autoimmune condition. She shares her frustrations with the traditional hospital environment and her vision for a hospital spa that focuses on healing and personal preferences. Melody envisions a space where patients can customize their environment, choosing their preferred colors and scenes, and where different rooms cater to different health issues with appropriate aromatherapy and healing frequency music.

Throughout the episode, Melody emphasizes the importance of exploring alternative remedies and taking ownership of one's own health. She shares her own experiences with herbal remedies and how they were able to improve their health without relying on antibiotics. Melody believes that no matter the condition, whether mental or physical, there is always hope and possibilities for improvement as long as one is open and willing to seek out the resources available. The conversation also delves into the experiences of patients in healthcare settings and the importance of patients and doctors working together as a team. Melody suggests that patients should not give away their personal power and should actively participate in their healthcare decisions. She emphasizes the need for doctors to be open to alternative options and to see each patient as an individual with unique needs.

Overall, this episode of Room For Every Body brings a message of hope and positivity. Melody's vibrant personality and her love for life shine through, as she shares her story to inspire hope in others.

Hosted by Elizabeth Byler, Room For Every Body celebrates diversity and encourages inclusive interior design strategies that promote self-love and acceptance. Tune in for a world where everybody is celebrated.

In this episode of "Room For Every Body," we sit down with Janique Cheeseman, a proud Trinidadian woman who shares her unique perspective as both an engineer and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Janique opens up about her love for her Trinidadian heritage and how it has shaped her identity.

As an environmental engineer, Janique is deeply passionate about sustainability and encourages others to do their part for the environment. She discusses the impact of air emissions, particularly on her love for travel, and shares how she tries to offset her carbon footprint through other means.

She discusses her efforts to minimize car emissions by utilizing public transit whenever possible and expresses her preference for the ease and relaxation that comes with public transportation. With a keen eye for urban sustainability, Janique delves into the walkability factor of cities, emphasizing the importance of feeling safe while walking and the need for barriers and wider sidewalks to accommodate wheelchair users and two-way traffic.

She explores the significance of mixed-use developments and points of interest in creating walkable cities, aiming to make our built environment more inclusive and accepting for all.

Join us as we unravel the intersection of identity and design with Janique, and discover how she envisions a world where everybody's story is celebrated, challenged norms are transformed, and there truly is room for every body.

In this episode of "Room For Every Body," host Elizabeth Byler chats with guest Lena, a business consultant for salon owners, to discuss the need for inclusivity and improved accommodations in the salon industry. Lena shares her own experiences navigating uncomfortable situations and highlights the challenges faced by individuals with diverse needs. From chair width and adjustability to privacy partitions and clear communication, they explore practical recommendations for creating a more welcoming environment. Lena also addresses the importance of maintaining salon equipment and educating service providers to better understand and meet the specific needs of clients. Join us as we delve into the world of hair salons and explore how to make them a comfortable space for every body.

On this episode of Room For Every Body, our host Elizabeth Byler welcomes Chelsea, a 30-year-old experiencing some design challenges in her living room.

As someone diagnosed with ADHD, Chelsea struggles with organizing and setting up her living space. Elizabeth and Chelsea discuss various suggestions to improve the space, including rearranging furniture, finding two different chairs for better cohesion, and repurposing the tall table.

Tune in to this episode to hear Chelsea's story and learn valuable insights on creating a welcoming and cohesive living space.

In this episode of Room For Every Body, host Elizabeth Byler welcomes guest Shanna Stevens, a single mother and parent to five children, and grandparent to one. Shanna shares her experiences and challenges of taking her children shopping throughout the years, highlighting how stores have changed throughout her life. She discusses the strategies she used to navigate the shopping experience with children. Shanna also reflects on the importance of the overall feeling and ambiance of a store, from natural lighting to the music playing in the background, even the smell of the store.

Tune in to this episode as Shanna and Elizabeth delve into the intersection of parenthood, shopping, and the design of retail spaces. Get ready for an insightful and engaging conversation that explores how the shopping experience can be made more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

Owen is a white, trans and non-binary individual who is also autistic and a chronic migraine sufferer. Owen's experiences in different spaces are greatly impacted by their neurodivergence and chronic illness. They have sensory sensitivities to light and noise, which are often influenced by the design of the places they need to navigate including their apartment, subway stations, offices, shopping areas, and healthcare facilities.

Leyah is someone who I admire greatly and I am grateful that she agreed to be interviewed. I enjoyed chatting with her about workplace culture, anxiety, and advocating for yourself, from her perspective as a Black woman.

What does our built environment say about who we

Why have we created so many barriers to access and

I believe that if we want to see a future abundant

That starts with changing our spaces, a commonly

Journey with me through season 1 of “Room for

Learn about inclusive design strategies and

Along the way, you might just discover how