From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

Latest Episodes:

Ask Rachel: Parenting Our Children and Ourselves at the Same Time Nov 29, 2024

Show notes

It’s time for another segment of Ask Rachel. This week on the show, you sent in some truly vulnerable questions that led to a really beautiful, open-hearted conversation. Can we fix a relationship that is on two separate pages? What dynamics shift when we make a big change in our lives? Can we fully heal from our childhood wounding? And how can we learn to parent differently than how we were parented, if that’s all we’ve ever known?

With some beautiful insights on breaking cycles, how to handle crises, and the pressures put on women by society, this episode will leave you with a sense of peace in yourself and the will to move forward.

The Journey Home and Finding Yourself Along the Way Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

It’s an exciting week this week as Rachel shares some pretty big news. She has (re)launched her website (rachelbrathen.com), and with it, a retreat happening in the north of Sweden in March. Back to work and finally feeling creative again, Rachel shares the entire rollercoaster journey of getting to this place. It’s actually a lot more than just a website - it’s a journey home that took over 10 years.

She shares the decision making behind the website, a bit about the retreat, what she hopes the future will bring, and why now was the right time. Tune in for some storytelling from where we’ve been to where we’re going, why you always need to remain true to your authentic self, and how we are all just guiding each other home. Again and again.

From Stagnation to Flow: How to Put Peace First Again and Again Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

Has life been too much to handle lately? Are you feeling uninspired, anxious, and as if your brain is too full? Are you headed toward burnout? Today’s episode can help you flip the script, redirect your day to day, and lead from a place of calm in your life.

Rachel begins the episode with something we all need - a grounding moment to check in with your heart. From there, she dives into storytelling. She shares where she was a few years ago to now, from a deep burnout that forced her to put so many things aside to reigniting her passions in a sustainable, grounded manner. Maybe life is always busy - but you can make sure it is full of things you would authentically choose for yourself. Tune in for the tools to help you get there.

Politics and The State of The World, From the Heart Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

There are a lot of feelings being felt this week in the United States. Some people are grieving, some people are celebrating, and all around tensions are running high. In today’s episode of From the Heart, Rachel talks about what is on everyone’s mind at the moment: the results of the election. She shares why she was less vocal on social media this time around before jumping into how she actually feels about it all.

With so many differing viewpoints, how can we find the middle ground and remain a cohesive community? Is it possible to hold another’s viewpoint in your heart and actually listen to them? Where are we heading collectively as a society? And what, if anything, can we be hopeful for? As usual, Rachel unpacks all of this from the heart. Tune in for an episode that offers some comfort, some solace, and some space to be human no matter how you are feeling.

Sometimes We Fall Apart Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

A lot has been going on in Rachel’s life lately. After hosting a big Halloween celebration, her family was off to Portugal the very next day. But the journey brought with it a lot more than Rachel bargained for. She shares the story through the airport, on the plane, to a taxi cab - and into a very dark place in Rachel’s mind filled with fear, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of impending doom. It was a place she hasn’t been for many, many years - and thought she had healed from.

How can we know that we have truly conquered our fears? What if we are just living a life that caters to our issues? Can we continue to look deeper within and be honest with ourselves? Maybe it’s less about not falling apart, and more about supporting ourselves so that when we do fall apart, we are held. As usual, today’s episode is shared straight from the heart and will make you feel better if you’re ever caught up in a negative thinking pattern.

Where Is Everyone Gonna Go to The Bathroom? Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

Without knowing how we really got here, today’s episode is all about poop, germs, and bathroom situations. Rachel begins discussing her Halloween party and the realization that hit her when she discovered: where is everyone gonna go to the bathroom? This leads to some pretty hilarious and worrisome storytelling, from renting a porta potty for her party, to an incident in a public bathroom in Mexico, and something that happened to Rachel one time on the beach.

As a bit of a germaphobe, Rachel shares how she navigates motherhood during these tricky situations, the funny differences of being a girl mom versus a boy mom, and how to cultivate our children’s intuition through it all. At the end, she gives an update on a prank she’s been playing. It’s a very entertaining episode with lots of laughs and some important insight.

The Cusp of Something Incredible: Transition, Big Change, and Your Creative Work Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? In today’s episode, Rachel is going through transition. She talks about a big change happening in her family that is bringing about a different routine. With space opening up in her day, she feels on the cusp of creating something incredible. But there is always that voice in the back of our heads telling us that we are not good enough. Telling us that we are going to fail. How do we find the courage to take the leap anyways?

Maybe it’s all about fighting for inspiration, doing the work every day, and committing to yourself. Maybe it’s about learning to get intimate with our fears, shame, and vulnerabilities. And maybe it’s about the simple truth that trying and failing is better than not trying at all. It’s how you figure out who you are. Tune in for an episode that will motivate you to get started, no matter what your creative endeavor.

A Midlife Crisis: How to Find Hope In a Scary World Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

If you’ve been feeling a sense of dread about the state of the world, today’s episode will lift you up and give you hope. Rachel is starting to feel like natural disasters are happening at an alarming rate - maybe you can relate. And after just celebrating her birthday, she is considering having a midlife crisis a little early.

When we look at the state of the world, it’s easy to become hopeless. Are we headed in a good direction or will things just get darker from here? How is time moving so quickly and our children growing older so rapidly? What can we do to slow down, settle our nervous systems, and become more present in our lives? At the end of the episode, Rachel shares a magical story her daughter told her about how we are born and where we were before. It’s an existential episode that will remind you what really matters.

What If You Are In Control of Your Story? Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

It’s Rachel’s birthday week in this episode and with that, she shares some stories about the past year and her intentions for the next one. From becoming a gym person, to leading a winter retreat, Rachel reflects on limiting beliefs that have held her back from some really beautiful opportunities. Does that ring true for you as well?

When we want to make a change or step into a new version of ourselves, the thing that is holding us back isn’t just logistics, resources, or time. It’s also the stories we tell ourselves about what we can and cannot do. And usually - the stories are completely untrue! Tune in to this episode to celebrate Rachel’s birthday and recognize that whatever is in your way, you have more control than you think.

A Love Letter to The Land Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

If you are feeling a longing in your heart to live closer to the earth, to create with your hands, and to gain wisdom on living sustainably, then this episode is for you. Rachel is preparing the farm for winter; tucking in the bees, planting the garlic, and waiting for the first big frost. She shares her process at this time of year, and how important it is to take our cues from nature.

This time of year shows us how beautiful it can be to let go, to slow down, and to move inward. We can only plant new seeds and start new projects if we let others wither and die. Whatever you are longing for as winter approaches, this episode will inspire you to seek out new opportunities, bring intention into your day to day routine, and start fresh.