From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

Latest Episodes:

Alone or Lonely? An Extrovert’s Guide to Solitude Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

The rise of smartphones and the internet has brought about many changes in our society, one in particular being that solitude is really hard to come by. We are bombarded every moment with text messages and emails - and if not, we can open up our social media apps to stay updated by the minute. Gone are the days of being truly alone.

In today’s episode, Rachel shares her struggle to find a balance between her extroverted tendencies and her need for true solitude. She reminisces about the time when she traveled without the internet, using only guidebooks and the occasional payphone as her companions. Her lack of alone time lately has her craving something deeper - a break from social media? A solo plant medicine retreat?

Solitude can be uncomfortable, but it’s the only way you can get to know yourself without the world’s expectations on your shoulders. Tune in for an episode that will have you craving quiet moments to hear your true voice.

Ask Rachel: Answering Your Questions From The Heart Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

You asked… and now Rachel answers! This episode is the very first segment of Ask Rachel, where you call in, hear your voice on the show, and Rachel gives a heartfelt answer to whatever is weighing on you right now.

In this episode we hear questions from Germany, Serbia, Australia, and the United States. Rachel dives into what brings her hope, how to accelerate the manifestation process, her favorite must-read books, how to tackle the highs and lows of life, setting boundaries, and whether we should change our partners or accept them for who they are.

Tune in for an intimate conversation between Rachel and you.

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

Do You Suck or Is That Just Your Inner Critic Talking? Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

Are you ready for a bit of a sh*t show? Today’s episode is messy, emotional and human - just like the healing journey.

As Rachel tackles an extra-loud inner critic, she is dealing with extreme feelings of self-doubt, a scattered mind, and an unanchored soul. She shares how these feelings came about, why they are there, and most importantly, what she does to move away from that negative inner voice (hint: it’s not what you think).

The healing journey is never the beautiful experiences we tend to see on television. Instead, healing is messy and hard. But it’s also not linear. No matter how often you feel like you’re moving backward, you have never stopped putting one foot in front of the other. Tune in for the journey.

A Mother’s Vulnerable Sharing: Birth, Death, and Everything in Between Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

The love that comes with motherhood is immense - but then so are the fears as well. It’s like living with your heart outside of your body. But is there a point where normal fears cross over into being obsessive thoughts that inhibit your ability to live a normal life?

On today’s episode, Rachel contemplates this notion after her daughter, Lea had a recent sickness that shook Rachel to her core. It brought her back to those first moments of motherhood, when the fear of something happening to her daughter was too big to even acknowledge or consciously recognize. She goes on to share a very intimate story about Lea’s birth and a recent epiphany she had about when it was time to push.

Perhaps the reason our love is so immense is because we know it’s fleeting and fragile. With risk comes faith, with the unknown comes trust, and with a mother’s heart comes all the love and fears that seem impossible for one person to hold. Today’s episode may be a sign that you are ready to alchemize your fear into something new. Tune in to anchor into trust.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses birth, fear of death, and the sickness of a child. Listen gently.

Holding Hands with Hard Emotions: How to Define, Process, and Learn from Your Discomfort May 27, 2022

Show notes

Anxiety can find us at any moment without rhyme or reason. But what should we do when it arrives? If you’ve been struggling with anxiety or any other difficult emotion lately, today’s Yoga Girl Podcast episode will help you recognize your triggers, pause before your reactions, and learn to sit with difficult feelings.

As Rachel sat down to record, an overwhelming sense of anxiety was lingering within her. Her innate reaction was to jump into “fixing” mode. Surely she would feel better if she tackled her to-do list and got a lot of things done. But is that really true? Rachel reflects on a moment she had with her daughter recently that reminded her where the healing really happens.

We need to feel the entire spectrum of human emotion in order to fully embrace our happiness, our joy and our humanity. You shouldn’t sell yourself short of an experience just because it’s hard. It could be leading you somewhere. Tune in to tap into your innate knowledge to feel and to heal.

If Your Inner Child Could Speak, What Would She Say? May 20, 2022

Show notes

Are we all living our lives trying to hide the fact that we have no control, nothing is permanent, and we don’t know what’s going on? If the fear of uncertainty is gripping you today, this Yoga Girl Podcast episode can help.

Rachel shares a story of returning to her inner child. One year ago, she was lost, between homes, and realizing a deep longing she had to return to Sweden. But what was calling her there? It was only after slowing down enough to listen that she realized her inner child’s true desires: a simple life in nature and a family to love. It all culminated in a beautiful moment with family over the weekend that broke the mold and brought everyone to tears.

If you let your inner child speak, beautiful things can happen. But it’s up to you to do the work. Harsh edges can soften. Slowly, things can begin to change. Eventually, you will find your way back home. Tune in to begin the journey.

Prayer, God, and Tackling the Big Questions in Life May 13, 2022

Show notes

How do you define your spirituality? What do you believe in? Are you comfortable with words like God, prayer, universe, or Mother Nature? Today’s episode of the Yoga Girl Podcast tackles the big questions of life. By the end, you may feel closer to your own spirituality and your place in the universe.

After recently leading a meditation to embody prayer, Rachel shares not only what this meditation is, but the learnings and epiphanies she took away from the experience. A lot of us have a complicated relationship with our beliefs, but sometimes the weight we put on certain words can keep us from a true knowing: that we are all connected, and we are here for a reason.

You are the embodiment of universal love, but sometimes that’s forgotten in the messiness of life. Tune in to anchor back into that knowing.

Parenting with Intuition: How to Do What’s Best for Your Children May 06, 2022

Show notes

As parents, we would stop at nothing to do what’s best for our children. But sometimes, what’s best isn’t black and white. If you’re navigating the difficult world of parenthood, today’s episode will help you intuitively recognize your child’s needs by honoring something that isn’t often given enough credit - your child’s own intuition.

Rachel shares the story of how Lea slowly found her place in Sweden. It hasn’t been an easy transition! Moving from a wonderful, supportive school in Aruba, it has taken some time to adjust to something new. Rachel discusses the anxiety she has felt, the challenges she’s had along the way, and the real reason why they ultimately changed Lea’s school.

Sometimes a small intuitive pull is enough. You don’t need a big sweeping reason why something feels wrong. You can sense it - but more importantly, so can you child.

Holding Your Inner Child: Understanding Emotion, Unpacking Trauma, and Unmasking the Reason Why Apr 29, 2022

Show notes

It is said that the first seven years of your life are crucial in the development of the person you will one day become. That inner child in you still lives on - in your nervous system, in your reactions, and in feelings you cannot always explain. Today’s episode will help you understand the language of your own inner child.

Rachel shares a story of her experiences as a young girl, and how lingering traumas still show up in her life today. When she seeks rest, peace, and play, she is always left with a feeling of stress, guilt, and fear. But why? Her life is not the same as it was when she was five years old. Maybe her inner child doesn’t quite believe that.

Whatever challenge you may be facing right now, make sure to hold your inner child through it too. That vulnerable, innocent part of yourself is just longing to have their needs met. Tune in to begin the process.

Head vs. Heart: The Internal Struggle of Finding Purpose in Rest and Balance in Work Apr 22, 2022

Show notes

As multifaceted human beings, we are able to hold so much within ourselves at once. Our hearts guide us toward pleasure, joy, and rest. Our minds lead us to create, to work, and to find purpose. But what happens if these two parts of our being are at odds with one another? How can we find internal balance between the give and take? Today’s episode will illuminate the way.

Rachel begins with some space to breathe and tune into your own needs. She then discusses her experience in shifting from a hustle and grind lifestyle to something more sustainable and restful. It hasn’t been an easy journey! It has taken years to identify ingrained values from society, what our parents taught us to be truth, and how to reconcile this with who we really are.

If you’re locked in an internal battle between slowing down and meeting goals, if you’re searching for worthiness, if the inner critical voice is exhausting you, tune in to find a new pace in life.