Only One In The Room - podcast cover

Only One In The Room

Laura Cathcart Robbinswww.spreaker.com
Hosted by Laura Cathcart Robbins, a writer and a recovery thriver and survivor, Laura found herself in an all too familiar position. In September 2018, she was the only black woman in the room at Brave Magic, a famed writer’s retreat. After it was over, she wrote about her “only one” experience in The Huffington Post and comments started flooding into her DM. These comments were from people from all races, ethnicities, creeds, and nationalities who had felt “othered”. Laura beautifully interviews a person about their Only One story each episode and addresses as many of those DM’s as possible in the process. In this podcast, you’ll hear raw, vulnerable accounts from people who are, like most of us, just eager to connect. Our hope is that The Only One In The Room will inspire a change of perspective in how we all see and hear each other’s stories. We want you to think twice before judging the person standing next to you at a party, in the pick-up line at school, or in a crowded subway car. This is a podcast for anyone who has ever felt alone in a room full of people – which is to say, that this podcast is for everyone.
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Episodes

Scott Talks to The Anxiety Sisters

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guests The Anxiety Sisters right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: Bonafide: Try Bonafide today! No hormones, & no prescription required. To get 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product, go to https://hellobonafide.com/ and use promo code ROOM. Voyage et Cie: Voyage et Cie's curator Melanie Apple has cultivated a passion for notable moment...

Feb 09, 202219 min

The Anxiety Sisters Are The Only Ones In The Room Explaining How To Survive Anxiety Episode 116

Imagine sharing everything with your best friend, and then discovering that the two of you had another common bond, something that appeared to set you apart from your peers - an anxiety disorder. Counselors, mental health advocates, authors and podcasters, Abbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek met in college and soon discovered that they were both long-time anxiety sufferers. But what would you do if you’d figured out that the combination of good information and community could equal relief? Would ...

Feb 08, 202258 minSeason 12Ep. 116

On My Nightstand: Do I Have The Right To Tell Your Story? By Laura Cathcart Robbins

This month I say an official goodbye to Moving Forewords, the memoirist collective to which I’ve belonged for the past four, maybe five years. To me, this collection of powerful female writers from all over the country was my safe place. And I am forever grateful and humbled to have been one among many. Although our website will no longer be available, I was able to salvage this piece of writing I did three-ish years ago for our blog and wanted to share it with you all today. Laura Cathcart Robb...

Feb 04, 20229 min

Presenting: Well-Read Black Girl: Anita Hill on Advocacy and Writing

We're sharing a special preview of the new podcast, Well-Read Black Girl from Pushkin Industries. Well-Read Black Girl is the literary kickback you never knew you needed. Glory Edim, author and founder of the Well-Read Black Girl community, sits in deep, honest and close conversation with authors like Tarana Burke, Gabrielle Union, Elizabeth Acevedo and more. You’ll also meet book club members, literacy advocates, and Black booksellers to hear what they’re reading and what it means to be well-re...

Feb 03, 202212 min

Scott Talks to Ronit Plank

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Ronit Plank right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: BetterHelp: 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 Best Fiends: Join us and the millions of Americans who are already playing this game. Download Best Fiends for FREE on The ...

Feb 02, 202217 min

Ronit Plank Is The Only One Whose Mother Left Her For A Cult Episode 115

Imagine being raised in Eden, or at least a kibbutz that felt like Eden, where you, your parents, and your sister were all part of a large, happy, peaceful, useful community. Writer, memoirist, and podcaster, Ronit Plank, moved to the US with her family when she was four years old, and after her parents divorced, she and her little sister lived with their mother in Seattle. But what would you do if one day, your mother dropped you off in New Jersey to live with your father, while she left to joi...

Feb 01, 202254 minSeason 12Ep. 115

SUNDAY EDITION: Tanya Acker Is The Only One In The Room Embracing Being The Only One In The Room

Tanya Acker serves as one of three judges on CBS Television Distribution’s syndicated court show HOT BENCH. HOT BENCH was the #3 first-run program in daytime television, delivering 3.1 million daily viewers. Acker is also the host of “The Tanya Acker Show” podcast. An experienced civil litigator who has represented a wide array of clients, Acker has been a featured commentator on “Good Morning America,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Wendy Williams,” “The Talk,” “Inside Edition,” “The O’Reilly Factor...

Jan 30, 202236 min

On My Nightstand: The Anxiety Sisters Survival Guide, How You Can Become More Hopeful, Connected, and Happy by Abbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek

During my first conversation with Abs and Mags (as they call each other), I told them that although I have never identified as an anxious person, this book has given me an entirely new experience with anxiety. There is so much wisdom in these pages, that it felt wrong to only read one thing, so I read three instead! Abbe Greenberg, MCIS, and Maggie Sarachek, MSW are trained counselors, mental health advocates, researchers, educators, writers, and long-time anxiety sufferers. In 2017, they launch...

Jan 28, 202214 min

Scott Talks to Michael Kearns

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Michael Kearns right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: Away: We love our new sponsor AWAY, the modern lifestyle brand that creates thoughtful products for every traveler and every kind of trip. Start YOUR 100-day trial and shop the entire Away line-up of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases, at AWAYTravel.com/theonlyone. Join our Patreon...

Jan 26, 202217 min

Michael Kearns Is The Only First Openly Gay Actor In Hollywood Episode 114

Imagine knowing what you were born to do since grade school and then being told that in order to do this amazing thing, you needed to be less…you? Michael Kearns, widely regarded as the first actor in Hollywood to come out as openly gay, moved to Los Angeles in 1970 and refused to hide his sexual preference in order to get the parts that he wanted. But what would you do if casting director after casting director instructed you to be “harder” or to “Butch it up”? Would you set aside your authenti...

Jan 25, 202258 minSeason 12Ep. 114

On My Nightstand: When She Comes Back by Ronit Plank

Every single chapter of this stunning book deserves to be read out loud, but for today’s On My Nightstand, I chose one of my favorites, Lady Of The House. Ronit’s writing has been featured in The Rumpus, The Atlantic, The Iowa Review, American Literary Review, The New York Times, and elsewhere. Her memoir When She Comes Back, about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation, was named Finalist in both the 2021 Best Book Awards and the 2021 Book of...

Jan 21, 202217 min

Scott Talks to Kelly Wallace

Trigger Warning: The following episode contains conversations about sexual abuse. Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Kelly Wallace right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: BetterHelp: 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 Best Fiends: Join us and the millions o...

Jan 19, 202215 min

Kelly Wallace Is The Only Eight Year Old Who Testified Against Her Paternal Grandfather In Court Episode 113

Trigger Warning: The following episode contains conversations about sexual abuse. Picture this: You are a child, only eight years old, and because the court won’t allow your parents in with you, you enter a courtroom alone, to testify against the grandfather who molested you. Kelly Wallace, Writer, memoirist, and co-host of the Zoom reading series, Voices Of Survivors, remembers seeing the bailiff with his gun and thinking, “that’s the man that will take my grandfather away.” But what would you ...

Jan 18, 202240 minSeason 12Ep. 113

Scott Talks to Angelique Bates

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Angelique Bates right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: 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. Join our Patreon: Become an Only One In The Room patron by joining us on Patreon! Starting at only $5.00 p...

Jan 12, 202216 min

Angelique Bates Is The Only Childstar Who Waited Until Now To Tell Her Story Episode 112

Can you imagine being on a number-one hit show at age-12 and not being able to ride a rollercoaster without getting mobbed by your fans? Angelique Bates, actress, dancer, and comedian, landed a coveted spot on a Nickelodeon hit show, after a nationwide search for talented kid comedians. But what would you do if everyone assumed because you’d been on TV, your life must be all glitz and glamour, but the reality was starkly different? Would you hide your experiences with child abuse, depression, an...

Jan 11, 202248 minSeason 12Ep. 112

Dry January: SUNDAY EDITION: Vari McKechnie Is The Only One Who Used To Be An Accidental Daily Drinker

Vari McKechnie is a podcaster, writer, coach, and mentor for women who aren’t alcoholics but want to break the cycle of accidental daily drinking. She teaches women how to release the handbrake of accidental daily drinking, so they can drive their lives forward with more ease and flow and less resistance and hustle. Originally from Scotland, she’s called Australia home since 2007 where she lives by the beach with her 2 sons, Gabriel and Noah, and their adorable staffy, Stella. Visit: varimckechn...

Jan 09, 202238 min

On My Nightstand: A Eulogy For The Swimsuit Dress, A Plus Size Rite Of Passage by Emily McCombs

Who knew that my friend and first publisher and season eleven guest, Emily McCombs, Deputy Director of HuffpostPersonal, was also such an incredible writer? I love all of her pieces but chose to share this one with you because it spoke to me today. Emily McCombs is the Deputy Editor of HuffPost Personal. She writes and edits first-person essays in all topic areas including identity (race, gender, sexuality, etc.), love and relationships, sex, parenting and family, addiction and mental health, an...

Jan 07, 202211 min

Scott Talks to Benny Pough

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Benny Pough right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: BetterHelp: 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 Best Fiends: Join us and the millions of Americans who are already playing this game. Download Best Fiends for FREE on The ...

Jan 05, 202214 min

Benny Pough Is The Only One Whose Near-Death Accident Gave Him A New Lease On Life Episode 111

Imagine going to a friend’s barbeque with your wife and your daughter and then your friend asks you to take a spin with him, in his new Mercedes Benz. Benny Pough, music executive, entrepreneur, author, real estate proprietor, and founder of DVerse Media flew home earlier on that fateful day, just so he could accept his friend’s invitation and show up as he’d promised. But what would you do after getting into the car, you were in an accident that would change your life forever? Would you resent ...

Jan 04, 202238 minSeason 12Ep. 111

Bonus Re-Release: Scott Talks To Mikal Vega

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Mikal Vega right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: 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. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is a great, affordable option for professional counseling done securely online. As a lis...

Dec 29, 202117 min

Bonus Re-Release: Mikal Vega Is The Only One Who Realizes That The Death Of His Son Was A Gift From The Infinite

Imagine being a Navy SEAL and being deployed to Iraq to serve your country. Twenty-two-year combat veteran and Vital Warrior nonprofit founder and CEO, Mikal Vega, was set to deploy yet again when he was called to another type of duty, one that allowed him to be closer to his son. But what would you do if that child you loved so much tragically died when he was a young adult? Would you numb yourself with chemicals and shut the world out? Or would you heal yourself through the power of different ...

Dec 28, 20211 hr

Laura Cathcart Robbins and Scott Slaughter: Holiday Bonus Episode: The Only Ones Looking Back at 2021

Please join us for our 2021 commencement, as we look back over the year and look forward to 2022. In this episode, Laura and Scott discuss a range of subjects, from how long it's actually been since Laura has been inside a grocery store, to Scott's very special thirteen-year sobriety anniversary. Please join us for this candid discussion of their relationship and how the events of this year have impacted them as a couple. Laura Cathcart Robbins is an author, freelance culture writer, and host of...

Dec 26, 202142 min

Bonus Re-Release: Scott Talks To Nick North

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Nick North right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: Mercato: Mercato is a grocery delivery service that supports local, independent merchants. Sign up for Mercato Green at https://www.mercato.com/ for unlimited free delivery and use the code THEONLYONE to get $20 off your first order! Best Fiends: Join us and the millions of Americans who are already playing ...

Dec 22, 202117 min

Bonus Re-Release: Nick North Is The Only Trans Dad Of Five

Imagine you were assigned female at birth, but nothing ever quite felt quite right. And you found yourself wondering over and over, why you couldn’t just be a boy like all the other boys? Brand strategist, Nick North lived as a woman and married a man, giving birth to four beautiful children before meeting Catherine, the love of his life. But what would you do if you came to understand that you weren’t gay, but trans, and it was something you could no longer ignore? Would you conceal your real i...

Dec 21, 202152 min

Bonus Re-Release: SUNDAY EDITION: Chad Foster Is The Only One Who Improved His Vision By Losing His Eyesight

Can you imagine what it’d be like to watch the sunset, or a football game, or even take a picture, knowing that it would be the last time that you could see what was in front of you? Author and inspirational speaker, Chad Foster, was just three years old when he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that gradually robs you of your eyesight. Twenty years later, he was self-medicating with alcohol, riddled with embarrassment, depression and grief about going blind and thinking that hi...

Dec 19, 20211 hr 4 min

Bonus Re-Release: Scott Talks To Wally Green

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Wally Green right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: 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. Mercato: Mercato is a grocery delivery service that supports local, independent merchants. Sign up for Mercato...

Dec 15, 202120 min

Bonus Re-Release: Wally Green Is The Only One Who Saved His Life With Ping-Pong

Imagine that everyone you grew up with was destined for jail or an early death? Celebrity Table Tennis pro and co-founder of SPIN, New York, Wally Green joined a gang while growing up in one of the most dangerous housing projects in Brooklyn and was constantly abused by his stepfather who told him repeatedly that he would never amount to anything. But what would you do if someone noticed you and offered to pay you to go to Germany to play at an elite ping-pong school? Would you laugh in their fa...

Dec 14, 202159 min

Bonus Re-Release: SUNDAY EDITION: Jessica Frew Is The Only One Who Is Still In Love With Her Gay Ex-Husband

Jessica Frew is the co-host of the podcast Husband In Law. Along with her husband and ex-husband, they share their stories of love, marriage, coming out, infidelity, divorce, and co-parenting. Jessica and her ex-husband were married for just over a year when he came to terms with the fact he was gay. They then remained married for another seven years. Instagram: @husband_in_law Join our Patreon: Become an Only One In The Room patron by joining us on Patreon! Starting at only $5.00 per month, you...

Dec 12, 202133 min

Bonus Re-Release: On My Nightstand: I’m Regular Sober, Here’s How I Feel About Demi Lovato Being California Sober by Laura Cathcart Robbins

My friend Amy Bond, (episodes 25 and 54) sent me a screenshot of an article about Demi Lovato last month and then texted, “Oooh you could write about this.” Turns out she was right. I had a lot to say about California Sober vs Regular Sober. 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 ...

Dec 10, 202114 min

Bonus Re-Release: Scott Talks To Robert Kabera

Scott Slaughter co-host and producer of The Only One In The Room has a short and casual, yet deep conversation with our guest Robert Kabera right after the show. Special thanks to our sponsors: Join our Patreon: Become an Only One In The Room patron by joining us on Patreon! Starting at only $5.00 per month, you’ll get bonus content, access to outtakes that the general public will NEVER see, extremely cool merch, and depending on what tier you get, monthly hang time with Scott and Laura. Join ou...

Dec 08, 202117 min
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