If you are tired of being told the holidays are supposed to be restful,or you're working harder than ever while everyone else seems to be winding down, or you're already exhausted and it's only December then this episode is for you.

In this episode, we're breaking down the myth of the holiday slowdown and why high-achieving women actually go into overdrive during this time of year. You'll learn what's really happening in your nervous system when you're stuck in "productivity override," why you can't just will yourself to relax, and the somatic signs that you're running on empty. Plus, I'm sharing a few practical tools you can use right now to actually downshift, even in the middle of the chaos.

Sign-up for the Out-Of-Office somatic coaching workshop on 12/7: https://luma.com/0cdadd7j

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• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
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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 growing up, how Thanksgiving became especially difficult during my eating disorder, and why the season still feels complicated for me today — especially being estranged from my parents and living far from my family.

Whether you love holiday gatherings or dread them, this conversation offers grounded ways to move through the season with more agency and nervous-system peace. I walk you through practical tools to help you support yourself around food, family, and social expectations — from envisioning your ideal holiday, to setting a plan before you walk into a gathering, to honoring your “no” without guilt.

Sign-up for Out-Of-Office: https://luma.com/0cdadd7j

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• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
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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 through addiction to alcohol and Ambien, and the courage it took to tell the truth about it. She’s also the host of The Only One in the Room podcast, where she’s shared stories of other voices who’ve felt unseen or alone in their experiences.

In our conversation, Laura and I talk about how storytelling becomes a vehicle for recovery, what self-evolution actually looks like, and why truth-telling can be one of the most healing acts of all.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to keep it together or play a part just to be loved, this episode is for you. Laura’s story is a reminder that freedom begins where hiding ends, and that recovery, in all its forms, starts with radical self-honesty.

Connect with Laura:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauracathcartrobbins/?hl=en

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• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
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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 dismantle illusion, release conditioning, and reclaim their intuition as their greatest power. She’s the host of Is My Aura On Straight? and the forthcoming author of Embody Your Magic (February 2026), a guide to unlocking your psychic and spiritual gifts.

In our conversation, Aycee and I talk about the dark side of “love and light” spirituality, what real awakening requires, and why manifestation without accountability never lasts. We explore what it means to integrate every part of ourselves — even the messy, uncomfortable ones — so we can stop performing healing and start living it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things but still not feeling free, this episode is your invitation to wake up.

Connect with Aycee:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayceebrown

Pre-order Embody Your Magic

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• Resources: https://www.shanettamcdonald.com/free
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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 found myself blindsided when a vendor lied about my role, and my boss believed them. That experience taught me something powerful about visibility, trust, and what happens when we rely on others to validate us.

In this episode, I unpack what it means to feel unseen at work, how that experience shaped my relationship with self-worth, and why learning to take up space (without apology) is the foundation of my upcoming group program, SEEN.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked or misunderstood in your career, even when you’re doing everything “right,” this conversation is for you.

Sign-up for 1:1 SEEN Coaching Sessions: https://calendly.com/shanetta-mcdonald/beseen

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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
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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 movement artist who invites people to rediscover confidence, pleasure, and creative freedom through their bodies. Her work has been celebrated by The New York Times, Essence, and Vogue, but more importantly, by the thousands of students who’ve learned from her authenticity and artistry.

Together we talk about the power of sensual movement, what it means to liberate yourself from old narratives, and why embodiment is about much more than physical skill—it’s about coming back to yourself.

Connect with Sammy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammypicone/?hl=en

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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
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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 alignment with what we truly want.

I’ll walk you through three powerful questions to help you spot where you might be accepting less than you deserve, and how to shift back into alignment with your worth. We’ll explore why we settle in the first place, how to know if fear is driving your choices, and what it looks like to create space for the life you actually want.

If you’ve been feeling that quiet nudge that there’s more for you, this episode is your reminder. Your body always knows when you’re settling and it’s safe to want more.

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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamshanettamcdonald/
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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 Disney+. She’s also an angel investor, former Googler, and passionate advocate for inclusive wellness.

After stepping away from the grind of a high-performing career to heal from chronic illness, Arielle found herself on a deeper journey—through plant medicine, family constellation therapy, nervous system repair, and reconnecting with her roots in Mexico.

Together we talk about what it really means to pivot from achievement to alignment, the courage it takes to untangle old narratives of worth, and the radical clarity that comes from allowing the body to lead. Arielle’s story is an invitation to honor our rhythms, trust the pauses, and remember that healing is its own form of success.

Connect with Arielle:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/she.is.that/?hl=en

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