Programs
Shannon’s practical yet lighthearted approach to even the toughest subjects has made her an international role model and inspiration for people seeking hope in the midst of life’s challenges. A former Billboard World Song Contest first place winner, she is known for opening her programs with a moving original song.
Recently profiled in Glamour and Woman's Day for her ground-breaking work to promote the impact of peer mentoring for eating disorders recovery, Shannon never tires of reminding event participants that "relationships replace eating disorders".
"Talk about it", Shannon urges her audiences. "Reach out for support. Everybody struggles with something - it is what we DO with our struggle that counts. Struggles can make us great – if we will allow it.”
Shannon has presented her popular "Beauty Undressed" program at more than 100 venues in the last five years. She is a frequent invited guest speaker at national conferences, including the Binge Eating Disorders Association (BEDA) and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp).
What makes "Beauty Undressed" different from other eating disorders awareness programs? "Beauty Undressed" is not your ordinary eating disorders event. In fact, it is not really about eating disorders at all, but about how we as individuals and as a culture view and express beauty in the course of our everyday lives. Eating disorders are serious bio-psycho-social illnesses that are estimated to affect up to 10% of the population. However, nearly 100% of the population (that is, us) struggles with unhealthy eating habits, body shame, and insecurity whenever we look in a mirror. This is why "Beauty Undressed" is a program for all of us. With "Beauty Undressed", teens and adults, women and men, students and staff come together around one of the centralizing issues of our culture today: Beauty. What is it? Who has it? Who decides?
LEARN more about "Beauty Undressed"
Can Shannon train our staff and peer advisors while she is with our organization? Absolutely. Shannon enjoys helping to simplify a complex disease from both a professional's and a patient's perspective. It can be tempting to feel intimidated or even scared at the thought of having to talk with a student or friend who appears to be struggling with an eating disorder, but with the help of Shannon's training, your staff and advisors will be better equipped to navigate these types of situations with knowledge and compassion.
LEARN more about staff trainings
What makes Shannon different from other speakers on the topic of eating disorders recovery? Shannon has a natural gift for addressing even the weightiest topics with an upbeat perspective that brings hope with her wherever she goes. Plus, as the founder of MentorCONNECT, the first global non-profit eating disorders peer mentoring community, Shannon brings MentorCONNECT with her wherever she goes. Students and staff do not leave an event without access to immediate, no-cost resources to take the next steps to get help right away.
VIEW photos from Shannon's recent events
** For more information or to schedule Shannon's visit to your group, please contact her booking agent, Natalie Kaye, at 215-579-1836 or info@key-to-life.com, or you are also welcome to complete an EVENT REQUEST FORM
Read comments from other event coordinators and participants:
I just wanted to thank you so much for your fantastic speech on Wednesday at the Kansas State Student Union. You are such an inspiration. I was really moved by your story and what you had to say. I had anorexia for a couple years and they were the worst years of my life. It all started when I joined cross-country and was pressured to be the best and the fastest by my marathon running dad and the other super thin girls on the team. During this I began secretly dieting thinking it would improve my performance to be the best and to be more accepted as a runner but it all spiraled out of control. It really took a toll on my family at the time and it was just such a painful experience. Although it was a long time ago I still feel like I am not the confident and bubbly person I was a while before the eating disorder ever began. I miss that girl I used to be before and I wish I could get her back all the way, because now I question everything I want to say before I say it and I never trust myself on anything. I totally related to what you said about coming home from a long important day and just not feeling satisfied because you couldn’t let yourself out all the way like you wanted. I feel that way most of the time. I really took to heart when you told us that this was the ”class of you” and to be your own best friend. I have never thought of it that way. It really gave me a better perspective on things. Thank you!!!! -(name withheld for privacy), Kansas State University
Thank you so much for being willing to join us here on the West Coast and for sharing your story and what you have learned. Those of us who got to spend time with you really enjoyed getting to know you and we received great feedback about your presentation. We are grateful for your contribution to eating disorders awareness and recovery! -Emily Soucinek & the Whitworth University NEDA Team in Spokane, WA
Shannon came to present at my college campus as the keynote speaker for our week-long event for eating disorders awareness. Shannon’s presentation was phenomenal. She portrayed an abundance of relevant information in an appealing and relatable fashion. Her warmth and friendliness drew the audience in instantly. She artfully combined seriousness with humor to provide an entertaining, yet insightful and poignant presentation. -Jennifer Pearlstein, Truman State University
Shannon was very personable and was easy to relate to. She was extremely knowledgeable and covered her topic well. My adult sponsors felt like she did a great job in getting the message to our girls and our girls seemed to hang on her every word. -Jay Gage, Youth Pastor, First United Methodist Church-Midland
Shannon was fabulous! Articulate, appropriately humorous and real. Students’ hands were flying up in the air for questions repeatedly through her talk – a talk about eating disorders but not. She planted seeds for thought and served as a resource for participants. If given the opportunity, Scottsdale Community College would certainly bring her back. -Becky Bradley, Scottsdale Community College
I just wanted to thank you again for coming to our campus. I truly believe that everyone was able to take some meaningful message away with them, whether they experienced or are experiencing an eating disorder, or whether they had little knowledge of eating disorders. Your focus on positive body image was inspiring - thanks again - we really appreciate it! -Jessica Hassinger, Active Minds, Dickinson College
I spoke to all of my students who attended each said they loved what Shannon said. They said she was very personable. Shannon is very informative; you can see she cares about what she is talking about. She speaks from the heart, which is how she touches others…I would welcome her come back again. -Tammy Bradley, Sports Psychologist, Power With-In
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Wherever you go, there you are”? The same could be said for our mentors. Shannon Cutts spoke to a crowd of several hundred students at Truman State University about body image and eating disorders. The truth she shared with students is that most of us simply don’t have time to stop and analyze all of the messages that come at us each day. Most of us don’t even have time to stop and notice that those messages are there. Yet they mentor us. They sink into our awareness anyway — whether we invited them to do so or not. Wherever we go, there we are. And our mentors will go with us… both the mentors we consciously choose, and the mentors which we allow to choose us unconsciously. -Sebastian Oddo, Author of "Excuse Me, College is Now"
I wanted to thank you so much for coming to and speaking at the walk yesterday. It was great to finally meet you! Your speech was amazing, and I have heard from a lot of people that they loved it and were inspired. That is really the whole point of the walk, so I am so happy that you were our keynote. -Jessica Meltzer, Austin National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Walk Coordinator
It was such a great pleasure to meet Shannon. It was such a nice opportunity for our staff to get to meet Shannon, learn all about MentorCONNECT and the mission. Shannon really did a nice job with her presentation. She connected with her audience, the students waited in-line to talk to her afterward. The message really connected. I think that everyone at Marquette and Rogers was very pleased. Thanks again for everything. I think the world of Shannon. I really enjoyed spending the day with her. -Janet Gatlin, Rogers Memorial Hospital/Marquette University
This was the first big speaker that we’ve had to campus in awhile that wasn’t related to the school’s speaker series. It was a new effort to connect to the students, and Shannon made it very easy. Not only was she engaging and present for all of the staff and students before the presentation but she also engaged the students incredibly during the program and again in the evening over a meal. Everyone had great things to say about her program – they could all relate and found it engaging, humorous, and yet touching. -Laura Anderson, Fisher College
We really enjoyed Shannon's program at our recent girls' retreat, and all throughout the evening our girls reminded each other of different things Shannon talked about in her message! -Amy Bezecny, Youth Director, St. Luke's Girls' Ministry, Fellowship of the Woodlands
Shannon presented some very compelling research behind her ideas about body image in the media. I believe this helped to make her points very clear and strong. She did a great job in demonstrating how early in life negative beliefs about one’s body can begin to form, and how much others’ comments can impact us. Shannon’s presentation was very moving, and touched many people’s hearts. She is very open about her own story, and that adds to its impact. These are real issues that affect thousands of people, and we need to continue to deconstruct harmful perspectives on people’s bodies in North American society. We need to develop a new paradigm that shifts the focus off of people’s bodies. We really enjoyed having Shannon here, and we had a turnout of 175 people at the event. It was a great success! It was a real pleasure to meet Shannon and be inspired by her! -Suzanne Welstead, University of Guelph, Canada
Shannon’s program was received extremely well. Her personal view point combined with facts and statistics about the issue made her presentation both enjoyable and educational. I truly am honored to have had the privilege to hear Shannon’s story of her battle with Anorexia and Bulimia. Her presentation was extremely informative and eye opening. I would love for Shannon to participate in our Doc Talk presentation next year. -Maria Segura, West Oaks Hospital
I think your message on eating disorders and other addiction issues, and the freedom past that cycle of shame, is a needed message to young people (and old.) I also thought it an important part when you spoke of the power you found to effect change, having been stirred by your KEY – students found it helpful to get permission to have passion about something, like you & your music. - Jim Kelley, Teacher, Houston Christian High School
Again, I would like to say how much I learned from your presentation and the personal insights that you shared. You appear to be very knowledgeable in this field, as well as caring and compassionate. -R.M., from comment cards at the Texas Behavioral Health Institute Conference