From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

Latest Episodes:

A Spring Equinox Ritual: Planting the Seeds for a New Beginning Mar 17, 2023

Show notes

Spring is springing all around us! As nature moves through a season of rebirth, this is the perfect opportunity for us to shake off the dust from winter and do this work internally as well.

Today’s episode is a practice for the Spring Equinox on March 20. Rachel shares the spiritual and energetic qualities of this time of year and how you can harness its power for your own rebirth. She shares suggestions for rituals, from spring cleaning and the history behind it, to building an altar dedicated to your intentions this season. At the end of the practice, you will move through dedicated journaling prompts to process and let go of winter and step into the energy of rebirth and magic that spring truly brings.

How do you want to grow and evolve this spring season? What seeds are you planting now for a future harvest? Grab your journal and pen and tune in for a fresh start.

Preparing for Baby Number Two with Dennis Schoneveld Mar 10, 2023

Show notes

Our favourite guest, Dennis Schoneveld, is back on From the Heart today for the first time since baby number two has been on the way. A usual episode full of laughs, Rachel and Dennis discuss their lives in Sweden and on the farm, how Dennis is doing, and how his job search is going.

Of course, they get into some very important and much requested topics too, like Dennis’s transition away from veganism, his relationship with food (or a lack there of) throughout his life, and his history of hunting iguanas and eating iguana soup. Of course, they share about their preparations for the upcoming birth of their son, too.

Tune in for an episode full of laughs, love, and lightness!

Birth and Death: A Story About The Circle of Life Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

The past few days for Rachel have been heavy and beautiful in the best and worst ways possible. She tells the story of saying goodbye to their dog, Laika, from how she navigated the days leading up to it and the conversation she had with her daughter around death. It was during these quiet days at home that her phone rang: her best friend was in labor (look out for a podcast episode with Olivia coming soon!)

From witnessing a birth and a death in the same weekend, this episode is a beautiful story about the circle of life, the thin veil that connects us on either side, and the power of our hearts. Just as the contractions of a woman in labor come in waves, so too do the feelings of grief after loss. And the cycle begins again.

Grab some tissues and tune in to a heart wrenching episode that will remind you of your purpose in this great adventure called life.

The Life of a Dog and the Moments Between Hello and Goodbye Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

The animal lovers out there will resonate with today’s episode… but it’s also a very sad one. Rachel and her family just received some incredibly hard news. Their dog, Laika, is in her final days.

Rachel shares how she will prepare her daughter for this heartache, and how Laika has showed up as a protector throughout Rachel’s pregnancy. It’s cruel and unfair that every hello with a four-legged soulmate eventually leads to a goodbye, but the moments in between we can cherish forever… and they never really are further away than our hearts.

Bring your tissues and tune in for an episode that will remind you to hug your fur babies tight.

From Deprivation to Nourishment: The Journey Back to Animal Foods Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Let’s talk about food! In today’s episode, Rachel dives into the world of diet, nutrition, and nourishment, sharing all the details about her transition from veganism to a more animal focused diet. What is she eating now? What was the biggest challenge she faced? What benefits has she seen physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? And just as importantly, how did her daughter and husband adapt to the change?

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or shamed due to your own diet decisions lately, this episode will help you reconnect to your own intuition and the way of eating that is right for you.

Healing Generational Trauma: You Are Where The Cycle Ends Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever had a big feeling, but strangely you didn’t think this feeling was entirely your own? Somehow it felt ancient and old?

In today’s episode, Rachel shares a fascinating discussion on the concept of ancestral trauma and generational healing. This story today is told through Rachel’s lens: her family’s lineage of trauma, a cacao ceremony that helped her realize her purpose, and a rebirthing that allowed her to reclaim her own experience.

Trauma can implant itself in your cells and be passed on to future generations. But eventually, it will meet a person in the family lineage that has the resources to choose different, and the ability to heal. Tune in for a beautiful reminder that all that weighs you down is not yours to carry.

Ask Rachel: Navigating Judgment During Pregnancy and How to Begin a Tea Ceremony Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to another segment of Ask Rachel, where Rachel listens to all questions weighing on your heart and offers her guidance and support. In this episode, she answers two very important questions. How can we deal with negativity from family members or friends if they disagree with our pregnancy and birth plans? Why is it harder to stay anchored in our own truth when so many voices around us are pushing their own beliefs? Afterward, Rachel dives deeper into her tea practice, including how she began and what this sacred ritual means to her. Tune in for a deep and insightful episode sitting in conversation together.

Do you have a question for Rachel? Call her and leave a message at +1 (720) 443 1771. Share your name, where you’re from, and whatever question is on your mind.

Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: Modeling Your Needs for Your Children Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, Rachel is speaking to you with three days of alone time ahead of her. Dennis and Lea are away on a ski trip and Rachel has some big plans for herself too: self-care and more self-care! She shares how she’s been dealing with pain this pregnancy, and how it’s so important to take care your needs seriously and put yourself first. Only then are you able to model these behaviors for your children.

At the end of the episode, Rachel gives a much-anticipated pregnancy update. She shares the sex of the baby, her recent interaction with the medical system, and how Dennis and Lea took the news. Tune in for the scoop!

You Are Enough: How to Let Go of a Past Version of You Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

If you are struggling with feelings of unworthiness, or if your sense of self is intricately tied to success and accomplishment, this episode will remind you that you are lovable exactly as you are. There is nothing more you need to do.

Rachel shares intimately today about some big fears and inner judgements she has been sitting with lately. She just accomplished a big dream - she moved to a farm in Sweden. But a voice inside her head (maybe society’s voice?) has left her wondering if she is throwing away past versions of herself too soon.

We are not only one thing at a time - we are yoga teachers and mothers and farmers and dreamers. We are a million things wrapped up into one complicated human. Sometimes the big feelings will make you wonder if you’re doing enough. But today’s raw and vulnerable sharing will give you the opportunity to simply be.

Following Your Intuition During Pregnancy Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, Rachel dives deeper into the journey of her pregnancy and shares what she is envisioning for the birth. Her decision has been met with resistance every step of the way - from doctors, from the media, and from a society that treats pregnancy as an illness. But this experience is a sacred and deeply personal one - it shouldn’t be a debate. There is room for everyone to feel autonomous, empowered, and have their needs met.

While Rachel has opted for a less invasive pregnancy, this episode will not tell you how to do things. It will only encourage you to ask questions, do research, and actively participate in this experience that is inherently yours.

Tune in to hear Rachel’s story and be inspired to follow your own path - not a path that anyone else chose for you.