Only One In The Room

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.comSpecial 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  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/ONLYONEBest 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: @BLUNYLEWORLDToday'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.comAlso 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: @mariovanpeeblesTwitter: @mariovanpeeblesBe 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.comListen to William on SpotifyFinding William Fitzsimmons:Twitter: @wfitzsimmonsInstagram: @williamfitzsimmonsBe 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.comInstagram: @swildertaylorListen to Stefanie’s episode from Season OneBe 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Esera Tuaolo 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.comAlso 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you were known as the NFL player with the voice of an angel and your reputation for making the ladies swoon was rivaled only by your reputation for making big plays on the football field?  Esera Tuaolo, proud Samoan, Hawaii native, Superbowl winner and contestant on The Voice, had everything that he’d ever dreamed of: A career playing the sport he loved, the ability to support his family and the respect of his peers and fans.  But what would you do if you had a secret? One so devastating that it would not only derail the career that you loved, but could also put a bounty on your head? Would you redouble your efforts to keep your truth hidden? Or would you relieve yourself of your burden and tell your story to the world?More From Esera Tuaolo:Check out his organization www.hateiswrong.orgBook him for speeches through GreaterTalentFinding Esera Tuaolo:Twitter & Instagram: @eseratuaoloBe 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All Black Lives Matter came on my radar last week after it was painted down the center of Hollywood Blvd here in Los Angeles. The issue on the table is that black queer people in this country have been hit twice. Being black and queer in America can be seen as a double threat and not necessarily in a good way. Many black members of the LGBTQ+ community feel like a people without a country. They experience racism within the LGTBTQ+ community and they experience prejudice and homophobia from straight, cisgender members of the black community. And now that the George Floyd protests and Pride month are erupting at the same time, where do our Queer black people stand? How do you know which identifier to fight for first? Black or Queer? Travis Coles is an actor, comedian, air force brat born in Germany and then raised in Texas, DC and Maryland. He still looks great in lederhosen. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and began his improv training after moving to Los Angeles.Instagram & Twitter: @travestiesOpportunities To Educate Yourself:Definitions:Heteropatriarchy- a society or culture dominated by a ruling class of heterosexual males whose characteristic bias is unfavorable to gay people and females in general. Cis gender (adj)- one’s personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex. Microaggression- a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group, such as a racial minority. (Webster Dictionary,https://www.merriam-webster.com/) People Mentioned Whose Names You Should Know:Dominique FellsRiah MiltonBreonna TaylorJames BaldwinResources Mentioned:Los Angeles LGBTQ CenterDonate to the LALGBTQ Center 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s reading is an excerpt from chapter seven, Guilt and Gods by the critically acclaimed writer and editor, Hari Ziyad.Hari Ziyad is a cultural critic, a screenwriter, and the editor-in-chief of RaceBaitr. They are a 2021 Lambda Literary Fellow, and their writing has been featured in BuzzFeed, Out, the Guardian, Paste magazine, and the academic journal Critical Ethnic Studies, among other publications. Previously they were the managing editor of the Black Youth Project and a script consultant on the television series David Makes Man. Hari spends their all-too-rare free time trying to get their friends to give the latest generation of R & B starlets a chance and attempting to entertain their always very unbothered pit bull mix, Khione.For more information about Hari, visit www.hariziyad.com.Instagram: @hariziyadBe 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices