Your Body Knows
Your Body Knows is a podcast for Black and brown women who want to get unstuck, find their voices, and become visible without apology. Hosted by somatic life coach, writer and veteran publicist Shanetta McDonald, this podcast explores the messy, beautiful work of healing, self-trust, and becoming at home in your own skin. Through real conversations, coaching insights, and personal reflections, you'll learn how to listen to your body’s wisdom, rewrite old narratives, and build a life that feels aligned — not just good on paper. Whether you're navigating a transition, feeling stuck, or just starting to ask bigger questions, this is a place for your real self to land. Your body already knows the way. Let's listen.
Want more insights? Follow along at @iamshanettamcdonald
New episodes drop bi-weekly.
Episodes
64 episodes
How To Navigate Food & Family During the Holidays
The holidays can bring up a lot. Food overwhelm, family dynamics, old wounds, and the pressure to be “on” when our bodies are asking for something entirely different. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest experience with holiday gatherings gro...
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24:14
Addiction, Honesty, and the Stories That Set Us Free with Laura Cathcart Robbins
This week, our guest is someone whose honesty is transforming how we talk about recovery, shame, and self-acceptance.Laura Cathcart Robbins is the best-selling author of Stash: My Life in Hiding, a memoir about her journey throu...
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40:24
No More Love & Light: The Spiritual Wake-Up Call You Didn’t Know You Needed w/Aycee Brown
Today’s guest is someone who isn’t afraid to strip away the fluff and tell the truth about what healing really takes.Aycee Brown is a psychic channel, Human Design expert, and spiritual guide who’s spent over 15 years helping people dism...
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48:01
For Every Woman Who’s Ever Felt Invisible at Work
In this solo episode, I share a story I’ve never told publicly—the moment I realized that being the most prepared, most helpful, most “good” employee still didn’t guarantee being seen.Years ago, after co-hosting a work event, I ...
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19:26
Why We Hide Our Sensuality (and How Movement Can Set It Free) w/Pole Dancer Sammy Picone
There’s a certain magic in watching someone move as if they’re completely at home in their body. Sammy Picone embodies that magic.Known worldwide for her distinctive blend of strength and fluidity, Sammy is a pole dancer, instructor, and...
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30:31
Are You Settling? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions to Find Out
In this solo episode, I’m diving into a question so many of us avoid asking: Am I settling? Whether it’s in your relationships, your career, or the way you show up for yourself, settling can feel safe — but it often means we’re living out of al...
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19:15
From Achievement to Alignment with Arielle Díaz (CORRECTION)
What happens when the body asks us to slow down — and we finally listen?In this episode, I sit down with Arielle Díaz, a Peabody and GLAAD-nominated television writer and producer whose career has spanned Netflix, Prime Video, FOX, and D...
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44:11
Honoring Every Part of Ourselves with Internal Family Systems Practitioner Crystal Jones
Crystal Jones is a licensed therapist, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Trainer, and the founder of Life Source Counseling Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her work creates sacred spaces where BIPOC women can feel truly seen, valued, and suppor...
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38:04
What Is Somatics? And Do You Really Need Coaching or Therapy (or Both)?
In this solo episode, I’m breaking down two of the questions I get asked the most: What is somatics? and What’s the difference between coaching and therapy? We’ll explore how your body communicates with your brain (spoiler: it...
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10:12
The Practice of Body Liberation with Chrissy King
Chrissy King is a writer, educator, and former strength coach whose voice is helping to redefine wellness—not as a destination, but as a practice rooted in liberation, identity, and radical self-acceptance. In this powerful conversation, Chriss...
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40:19
Rewriting the Narrative: Healing, Neuroplasticity, and Owning Your Story with Author Daria Burke
Daria Burke has lived many lives—fashion executive, C-suite leader, trauma survivor, and now, debut author. In this powerful conversation, Daria opens up about the moments that shaped her new memoir Of My Own Making and the healing jou...
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51:10
My healing journey w/Bulimia, CPTSD... and healing others
Stay tuned for more updates on Substack and Instagram.
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17:36
It's Been A Minute
Tapping back in! Find out what I've been up to and what's in store for the next phase of the podcast. Thank you for hanging tight and staying loyal.Stay tuned for more updates on
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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9:00
Season 3 Finale - A Lesson In Surrender
Listen in as host Shanetta McDonald shares insights into a quick personal story of Surrender and how we can all invite the shift/perspective into our lives, in the season 3 finale of The Motif Podcast.Thank you for your support and for b...
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Season 3
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Episode 52
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7:08
Becoming A Conscious Hustler w/Tiffany Hardin
Award winning executive marketer, investor and educator Tiffany Hardin inspires women of color to become conscious hustlers, as founder of Gild Creative Group, an influencer marketing agency that focuses on bringing conscious marketing to big i...
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Season 3
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Episode 51
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53:02
Creating Our Own Path To Success w/fashion founder Telsha Anderson-Boone
Entrepreneur Telsha Anderson-Boone encourages women of color to confidently enter spaces that lack our representation, as founder and owner of t.a., a luxury boutique based in New York City in Manhattan’s Meat...
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Season 3
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Episode 50
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38:20
Living Unapologetically Ambitious w/Silicon Valley's First Black Female CEO, Shellye Archambeau
Silicon Valley’s first female African American CEO Shellye Archambeau invigorates women of color to live unapologetically ambitious–in our personal and professional lives. An experienced CEO and Board Director with a track record of...
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Season 3
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Episode 49
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41:42
Overcoming Fear, Taking Risks and Embracing Our Journey w/Maricel Sison
Founder and creative Maricel Sison encourages women of color to move past their fear, take risks and embrace their unique journey as Principal and Marketing Director at California's premier DJ school, the
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Season 3
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Episode 48
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1:05:02
Leaning Into Community, Connection and Collaboration w/Alex Purple Founder of WOC Sister Collective
Educator, activist and community organizer, Alex Purple inspires women of color to lean into community and sisterhood as a part of their healing journey as founder of Women of Color (WOC) Sister Collective, a platform for creating community and...
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Season 3
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Episode 47
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31:24
Creating Space For Our Stories w/Chloe Dulce Louvouezo
Congolese-American writer, mother, and advocate for women Chloe Dulce Louvouezo empowers women of color to move past discomfort to embrace their divine purpose as author of
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Season 3
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Episode 46
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49:52
Destigmatizing Mental Health + Initiating Collective Healing w/CEO & Founder of Saddie Baddies, Priscilla Agyeman
Mental health advocate and digital creator, Priscilla Agyeman calls for women of color to seek community as a part of their wellness & mental health practice as CEO & founder of Saddie Baddies™, a virtual safe space for people of color ...
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Season 3
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Episode 45
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53:04
Embracing Life With Softness & Ease w/Storyteller Zoila Darton
Passionate creator, innovator and skilled connector Zoila Darton wants women of color to embrace and own their journey as CEO & creative director of WORD Agency, an LA based creative agency dedicated to culturally rich storytelling, brand e...
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Season 3
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Episode 44
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47:15
Healing Generational Money Wounds w/ Wealth Generator Linda Garcia
Welcome to Season 3! We’ve got money on our mind. $$$Wealth generator Linda Garcia empowers women of color to expand our imagination of what’s possible and to dream big as CEO & founder of In Luz We Trust, kicking off our...
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Season 3
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Episode 43
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43:36
Coming Home To Ourselves w/Singer, Songwriter Mary Akpa
Singer, songwriter and musician Mary Akpa empowers women of color to own their gifts and offerings to the universe in the season 2 finale of The Motif Podcast. A Nigerian-American artist with African and jazz influences in her music, Mary’s car...
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Season 2
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Episode 42
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41:06
Embodying a Growth Mindset with Entrepreneurs Donna & Joanne Vo
Entrepreneurs, creators and sisters Donna & Joanne Vo encourage women of color to pursue their creative passions as co-founders of Ladies First, a community helping all women in pursuit of their fullest potential.Born and raised in t...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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38:07