Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cathcart Robbins.
Hi Laura, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m an author and a podcaster so my days vary. If we’re interviewing a guest for our podcast, The Only One In The Room, I’ll probably be doing research and completing my interview questions. We’ll do a lighting and sound check in our studio as well before the guest arrives. On other days, I’m casting the stories we want to tell, going through submissions from publicists and individuals, trying to find ten amazing stories to share with our listeners. When I was writing my memoir, Stash (due out March 7, 2023 Atria/Simon & Schuster) I would work on the podcast until 10:30 every morning and then write from 11-7 every day with a short break for sun and food. I also work out five days a week and do my best to start each day with meditation.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a podcast was tough – and expensive. My partner, Scott Slaughter, and I started working on ours in January of 2019 and launched in April of that year. I thought I would just get on the mic once a week, easy peasy! But there’s so much more to making a quality show.
With regard to writing, my book proposal was rejected sixteen times before I found my agent. I took each of those rejections as a call to action. If they were kind enough to give me feedback, I would use that feedback in my next query.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Very often, instead of identifying as a writer/author/podcaster, I’ll simply say that I’m a storyteller. When I write, I’m telling my own story, and when I interview people for our show, I’m helping them tell theirs.
When I started the process of building an author’s platform five years ago, it was all in service of getting signed by an agent and then hopefully getting a book deal. Scott and I worked diligently to create an exciting platform for me. From social media to our website, we made sure we had all of the scaffolding in place so that once any perspective agent or editor was to look me up, they would be impressed.
I’m incredibly proud of all the work we’ve done to get here. I can hardly believe that my memoir is being published in less than six months!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Such a good question.
Personally, success for me has nothing to do with money, cars, or real estate (although I’m not saying “no” to any of those!) But rather, I am successful when I’ve gone through a whole day without compromising myself. I am successful when I take care of myself by working out, eating a plant-based diet, and taking care of my recovery (I’m 14 years sober). I’m successful when I’m a good mom, a good daughter, and a good partner.
Professionally success for me is doing absolutely EVERYTHING that I can to get what I want and then letting go of the results.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theonlyonepod.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauracathcartrobbins/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauracathcartrobbins/photos/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauracrobbins
- Youtube: https://theonlyonepod.com/youtube/
Image Credits
Cooper Urlich
