Your Body Knows

Holistic psychotherapist, writer, and healing advocate, Julia Child’s discusses both the vulnerability and power that comes with seeking help in addressing our traumas in this week’s episode of The Motif Podcast. In conversation with host Shanetta McDonald, Julia opens up about the impacts of her childhood experiences, including being a biracial woman in predominantly white surroundings, and how i...

Digital Creator, Kay Spence helps to remind women of color of their inner strength as a Toronto-based multi-Marketing maven and founder of Feeling Out Loud, a modern day movement created to uplift others through the power of arts. In conversation with host, Shanetta McDonald, Kay opens up about how her encouraging upbringing and interest in the arts shaped her interest in freedom of expression. Ka...

This episode marks the end of Season 1 of The Motif Podcast. Listen in as host Shanetta McDonald shares highlights from some of the season’s most impactful storytellers. You’ll hear career advice from conscious creator, Jas Imani , tips on practicing self-care from Claudia Morales , founder of Social Justice Healing, reminders on listening to our intuition from licensed esthetician and owner of Na...

Model, artist and entrepreneur, Paris Alexandra reminds women of color to live their purpose as co-founder of BK Yoga Club, a Black woman-owned body-positive yoga studio located in Brooklyn. Tune into this week’s episode as Paris and host Shanetta McDonald dive into the challenges of creating art, releasing attachment to results and how the power of staying true to your path and remembering your ‘...

Integrative Nutritionist Selena Ayala, empowers women of color to tap into the connection between their mind, body and soul, as she centers her work around women, wholeness and their well-being. Growing up in a blended family, Selena walks the Motif community through the evolution of her beliefs around wellness and nutrition. And, in conversation with host Shanetta McDonald, Selena also shares ins...

Self-proclaimed anti-diet dietician, Dalina Soto encourages women of color to end chronic dieting and love their bodies, their food, and their culture as a Registered Dietician and founder of Your Latina Nutritionist. As a first-generation, Dominican-American, Dalina shares her beliefs on how we can incorporate the foods we love into our daily lives with moderation and awareness, in this week&apos...

Entrepreneur, Business Consultant and Coach, Dr. Tiffany Bowden inspires people to build heart to heart human connections, as an Anti-Racism Educator and Diversity and Communications Specialist. In conversation with host Shanetta McDonald, Tiffany gets vulnerable about her early childhood experiences with race, as well as how it shaped her journey and life’s work in cultural diversity. She also of...

On this week’s episode, Annie McDonald encourages women of color to live their lives abundantly as the 91-year old matriarch of host Shanetta McDonald’s family. In conversation with her granddaughter Shanetta, Annie gives the community a glimpse into her coming-of-age journey as a Black woman raised in the deep south who goes on to live a fulfilling life with ‘no regrets’ as she notes. Indulge in...

Professional storyteller, Stephanie Quintana emboldens women of color to bring their own seat to the table, as a Creative Strategist in the fashion industry. Joined by host Shanetta McDonald, Stephanie shares her coming-of-age experiences of growing up multi-racial in Los Angeles, and how allowing play and art into her life led to discovering her purpose.  Learn more about Stephanie’s work https:/...

Digital Maven, Tulani Elisa, empowers women of color to explore their creative interests, as Vice President of Social Media at Fox Entertainment. In conversation with host, Shanetta McDonald, the two share about the beauty of going with the flow in life and leaning into our abundance by following our curiosities and saying 'Yes' to life. Learn more about Tulani Elisa and her work: https:...

Community builder Leah Gallegos holds space for women of color to uncover their true sense of belonging as co-founder of People’s Yoga in this week’s episode. A self-proclaimed ‘Chicana from Highland Park,’ Leah’s story is one of self-discovery, and 'coming home to one's self' through self-acceptance. Listen in as Leah and host Shanetta McDonald expand on the benefit of spiritual pr...

How willing are you to be fully present and in this moment? In this week's episode, mindfulness artist, Dora Kamau invites women of color to be in their body and to practice stillness. A 200 hour meditation teacher and wellness artist, Dora Kamau, uses meditation as a tool to awaken individuals to the true experience of who they are. Joined by host Shanetta McDonald, Dora shares how a string...

Designer and Creative, Linda Nguyen joins host Shanetta in a free-flowing conversation, opening up about her upbringing as a first-generation Vietnamese daughter, a 15-year fashion industry trajectory, and how she’s living through and protecting her peace with the recent violence against the Asian American community. Linda and Shanetta also swap stories of working in male-dominated industries, alo...

Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Jordan Madison encourages the Black community to reassess traditional views on therapy as founder of Therapy is My J.A.M. In conversation with host Shanetta, Jordan opens up about how her matriculation at Spelman college ignited her desire to reduce the stigma around mental health in her community. Together, they dive into the intersectionality of b...

Multi-talented Maura Chanz empowers women to follow their passions and curiosities as Director of Creative Media at 7th Sun Productions. Joined by host Shanetta, Maura opens up about how a nourishing upbringing led to her trusting her intuition and creative talents, while encouraging other women to do the same.  Get inspired to follow your passions and live your fullest self in this episode.  Lear...

Seer and Healer, Dr. Rosales Meza welcomes BIWOC to unlearn colonial programming by decolonizing their minds and liberating their spirits. Joined by host Shanetta, Dr. Rosales Meza opens up about being a medicine woman by way of DNA, along with how her ancestors and mothers have been her greatest teachers, preparing her for the work she does today. Hear the conversation as they share stories of re...

Social justice advocate Evelyn LaChapelle offers the Motif community a glimpse into the impact the War on Drugs has had on people of color.  As a board member of The Last Prisoner’s Project , Evelyn and the non-profit are devoted to criminal justice reform for the over 40,000 people incarcerated for cannabis crimes at all stages, including clemency, release, reentry, and record expunging. In her c...

On this week’s episode, eco-friendly entrepreneur Adina Diaz, invites BIPOC women to dedicate rituals of self-care, patience and love to themselves, as founder of Guided Flame Co . Born to parents of Mexican and Native American descent and raised in Arizona, Adina also takes the Motif community on her journey of paying homage to her ancestral roots and drawing upon her connection to the natural wo...

Black women with eating disorders. We don’t hear these stories enough, but they are out there. On this episode of The Motif Podcast, Lacou Flipse shares her experience with healing from binging, dieting and restricting, and using her learnings from self-work to create Enlightened Munch , an enlightened eating and lifestyle coaching practice. Host Shanetta also opens up about her recovery from diso...

Plant-Based Wellness Boss, Christine Yi is one of the youngest women of color cannabis entrepreneurs in the legal California market. In this episode, Christine takes us through her personal experience with the plant, and co-founding Potli , a premium cannabis brand with a focus on THC and CBD-infused culinary products. Christine and host Shanetta also chat about the shared experiences of growing u...

Social Justice Healer, Claudia Morales chats with host Shanetta about her life story prior to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and her work as founder of Social Justice Healing , a private counseling and therapy practice based in Los Angeles. You'll also hear Claudia and Shanetta dive into how mental health professionals have their own journeys of healing, the importance of allyship...

Conscious creator Jasmine Imani joins host Shanetta in a candid conversation, opening up about her 15-year fashion industry trajectory, motherhood, and her new-age beauty practice Jas Imani Beauty . In addition, Jasmine and Shanetta share stories from their 7-year friendship, experiences around accepting failure,  the ingrained empathy of Black women and owning their power.   Support Jasmine’s wor...

In this opening message, host Shanetta McDonald introduces the community dedicated to sharing the stories of women of color, The Motif Podcast. A lively, safe space, the series will feature women of color from all walks of like, discussing topics such as career, relationships, sexuality, mental health, body issues, spirituality, self-growth and social justice issues.