Only One In The Room

April is Autism Awareness month, so we wanted to bring this powerful essay about autism by phenomenal writer, mother, and teacher, Robyn Wessler Wisinski. Robyn’s bio reads: My name is Robyn Wessler Wisinski. I'm a wife and a mom, and I am currently buried in my 32nd year of teaching. Kindergarten on Zoom is challenging, and amazing, and heartbreaking, and joyful. Every day. I am in awe of what ALL of us have figured out this past year.Twitter: @robwisBe 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

The last few months have been taxing for Black people in a myriad of ways, but for Black journalists these have been uniquely challenging times. For decades, Black people have been invited inside the halls of journalism, but not too many at a time. Even fewer advance to the levels where decisions are made about news coverage, reporter assignments, promotion and pay. When we think about journalists, we think about people who regularly put their jobs before their feelings and personal lives, but lately I’ve been wondering what it’s like to cover and cope with the news of 2020 - while Black. Here with us today we have Lisa Respers France. Lisa is a senior writer for CNN's entertainment team and former host of the "Lisa's Desk" franchise. She previously held positions as a reporter at the Los Angeles Times and the Baltimore Sun and as editor for St. John's University's magazine in Jamaica, New York. Her short stories have appeared in two anthologies, "Baltimore Noir" and 'A Hell of a Woman." Pop life chronicles with Lisa Respers France CNN Profile Instagram: @lisafrance Twitter: @LisaFranceCNNDon'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

When I asked Google for the stats on Black women podcasters, I found about ten articles. When I asked for the number of Black podcasters overall, I got more hits, two or three pages at least. But Google seems to be a bit stumped when I ask for the stats on white podcasters. Why? Because even though there was a Black podcasting boom in 2020, white podcasters are still the norm. 85% of American podcasts have at least one white host and two-thirds have a white male host. To dive into this today, we have Nikita Burks-Hale. Nikita is the CEO and Head Creative of JourneyGurl Magic Productions, a podcast production company that supports and empowers Womxn of Color as they bring their unique voices to the masses through podcasting. Nikita is also the host of 2 podcasts, The JourneyGurl Magic Podcast and The Podcaster’s Journey (launching April 2021). Nikita is a journeyer in every sense of the word and truly believes that life is a journey and you must be open to its endless possibilities. More From Nikita Burks-Hale:Listen to The JourneyGurl Magic Podcast Visit the website Journey Gurl Magic Finding Nikita Burks-Hale:Instagram: @journeygurlmagicproductionsLinkedIn: JourneyGurl Magic ProductionsBe 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

John C Hagan III wrote about NDS or Near Death Syndrome: Imagine a medical syndrome affecting as many as 20% of people who are resuscitated after almost dying in a medical or surgical setting. Realize that this means that as many as 8 million to 20 million Americans have experienced the syndrome. Understand that the syndrome itself is easy to diagnose and treat, but improper diagnosis and treatment may cause lifelong adverse physical and mental health problems. Know, too, that physicians receive no training whatsoever on this syndrome.Here with us today to dive into this subject and talk about his own near death experience, we have John Mathis. In 2005, he got pneumonia which led to respiratory failure, kidney failure, and cardiac insufficiency. He was put on life support, his family was summoned, and last rites were given. For reasons unknown, his body had just shut down. Fifteen days later, for reasons unknown, his body started to come back. Curiously, he was aware of his surroundings and visitors while comatose.Visit the website: https://johnmathis.me/index.htmlCheck out his book The Alchemist's HeirLearn more: http://www.elementalchemy.org 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

I heard Robin read this piece at a Storytelling Show last month and I was so blown away that I asked her if I could share it with you.Robin Reiser is a writer, award-winning comedian, actress, and the co-author of The Tao of Zero Fucks. Robin wrote and plays all the roles in the new web series PINK EYE, directed by Sarah Feeley. In addition to being an audience favorite on Last Comic Standing and at the Sundance Film Festival, she can also be seen doing commentary on E! and Oxygen. Robin currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and cat. Her house is a mess.https://www.robinreiser.com/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

In this episode, podcaster Sara Dean of the Shameless Mom Academy Podcast, talks to us about what it’s like to be a white woman during the current Black Lives Matter movement. Sara is a friend, a generous resource for women, mothers and her fellow podcasters. She also gave me the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at Shameless Mom Con 2020 and has been a huge supporter of The Only One In The Room from day one.  The Shameless Mom Academy Podcast is a top rated podcast with over 2 million downloads. Her biggest passion is helping women own their space. Today, Sara motivates and inspires women to stop shrinking and start growing in every aspect of their lives. She is on a mission to inspire women and moms, in particular, to live bigger, bolder, braver #everydamnday. Connect with Sara: www.shamelessmom.comListen to the Shameless Mom Academy PodcastFree Facebook Group: www.shamelessmom.com/facebookInstagram: @shamlessmomacademyPodcasts Mentioned: Check Your Privilege, Hello 7, Unlocking UsLaura's Huffington Post article mentioned:White Women, I’m Glad You’re Showing Up. But I’m Not Sure I Trust You Just YetDon'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

Many of us have struggled during the pandemic with feelings of anxiety, angst, and loneliness. In a time of such unprecedented uncertainty, some of us have sought out meditation and mindfulness as a means of keeping grounded and to stay positive. Apps such as HeadSpace have skyrocketed in popularity in the last 9 months. To help us dive into this we have Katie Krimitsos. Katie is an ever-curious woman who continues her evolution as a loving being of light - who is having fun being a mom, wife, creator, and friend in this life. Whose softness and wisdom has often come as the result of painful experiences. Whose ego is always trying to get the best of her. Who's deeply in love with a Greek man she's definitely known in another life. Who's lived through 12-step-programs, athletics, and half a dozen businesses. Who creates meditations for women as songs to light their souls and wants to save all the animals of the world. She believes life keeps on getting better the older she gets.More From Katie Krimitsos:Meditation for Women podcastSleep Meditation for Women Morning Meditation for Women Women’s meditation networkhttps://linktr.ee/womens.meditation.network Pod FestFinding Katie Krimitsos:Instagram: @womens.meditation.network & @katiekrimitsos Twitter: @katiekrimitsos Facebook: @womensmeditationnetwork 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Black and brown girls don’t see black ballerinas in the world’s most prestigious troupes, they don’t know that dancing is something that’s possible for them. A career in professional ballet is already a long shot for MOST girls, but the odds are even more stacked against Black girls who rarely, if ever, see prima ballerinas of color succeed. So when my dear friend Riva Lombardi told us about 16-year old Imani Lindsay, who is one of the only Black dancers at the National Ballet School of Canada, where she has trained for many years and currently lives in residence, we jumped at the chance to interview her.National Ballet School https://www.nbs-enb.ca/en/home Instagram: @imani_lindsay 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 from Part One of the best-selling, critically acclaimed book, Bed/Time/Story, by author Jill Schary Robinson. Jill Schary Robinson was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of two artists. Her father was Oscar and Tony winner Dore Schary, head of MGM during the ‘40s and ‘50s, the only writer to ever run a film studio. Her mother, the painter M. Svet, studied at the Art Students League in New York. During the ‘60s, she wrote on revolutionary women’s issues for Cosmopolitan and covered political trials for the Soho Weekly News. Her first memoir, With a Cast of Thousands, was a runaway hit. During the late fifties and sixties, she also interviewed political and film personalities on KPFK and had a talk show on KLAC. Jill was given a lifetime grant in 2005 to develop the non-profit Wimpole Street Writers program, which continues in London and Los Angeles, where she has run workshops for the Veteran’s Administration, working with Veteran’s with PTSD, encouraging them to release the stories they fear to tell. She also hosts workshops twice a week for all writers including playwrights and screenwriters. The only rule, “No pages, no dinner.” Find Jill’s episode here: https://theonlyonepod.com/www.jillscharyrobinson.com www.wimpolestreetwriters.com Twitter: @JillSRobinson Instagram: @jillschary Facebook: @jillscharyrobinson  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

Leila Marchbanks is a fifth grade teacher in Los Angeles and the creator of the website, A Book At The Table. Leila was able to restructure the 5th grade Language Arts program at her school to remove stories of traditional protagonists that excluded people of color and include literature that reflected diverse children along with their complex experiences. Her curriculum evaluates race, systemic racism, gender spectrum, and eliminating microaggressions and biases. Leila now wants to share her research with educators across the country. Ghost Boys Riley Farm How To Be An Antiracist The Lions of Little Rock POCC Visit: https://www.abookatthetable.comInstagram: @theofficialbookatthetableEmail- info@abookatthedable.com  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