Education
Ep 40 | Laura Cathcart Robbins: What it Feels Like to be the Only One in the RoomLaura Cathcart Robbins is a writer and the host of the popular podcast, The Only One In The Room. In 2018, she attended a much-anticipated famed writers’ retreat led by two powerhouse authors, Elizabeth Gilbert and Cheryl Strayed. To her dismay, she left the retreat feeling unseen and hurt by their dialogue. She was one of two black women at the retreat, making her feel alone—or like the only one in the room. After the retreat was over, she felt inspired to write about her ‘only one’ experience in The Huffington Post. The article went viral and comments began flooding in from people from all races, ethnicities, creeds, and nationalities who had felt ‘othered’ in their lives. This led her to go on a mission to educate others to change their perspectives on how we see, hear, and interact with one another and how to be conscientious of our differences. Laura hopes to make you 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. Tune in to hear about: Laura’s experience at a famed writers retreat.The isolation of onlyness—and the antidote. What it feels like to be the only one in the room, and how we’ve all been the only one in the room at some point. How to create opportunities and cultivate your biggest gifts from your onlyness. The difference between visible onlyness and invisible onlyness—like addiction, divorce, infertility, or having a child with special needs. How to authentically tell your story and use it to initiate change.Social injustices and exclusivity.“Once you understand an injustice or an exclusion, should you not then be obligated to consider how things feel for them?” Laura Cathcart Robbins, The Only One in the Room Helpful LinksThe Only One In The Room PodcastLaura’s article in the Huffington PostLaura on InstagramLaura on FacebookAbout Laura Cathcart Robbins Laura is a 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 the Huffington Post 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. About KimKim Strobel is Chief Happiness Officer at Kim Strobel Live Events and Retreats. She is a teacher, consultant, motivational speaker, happiness coach, and mission-minded person whose passion is helping others overcome their fears and discover their joy!You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy and in the free private She Finds Joy Facebook community. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.