From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

Latest Episodes:

Becoming a Force of Good In The World By Feeling Your Feelings and Choosing Your Community With Care Sep 08, 2017

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In this episode Rachel talks about the magnificent power of taking charge of your emotional well being. When we feel whole and safe, we are able to harness that energy and take charge to make a difference in the world - in our own way. YOU have the power to change the world. You do! She talks about the challenge of staying away from gossip and drama and gives examples on how to continuously bring love into situations that try to pull us toward negativity and judgement. Rachel also dives into the topic of making vulnerability the new "normal", not letting frustration build up and stagnate and the positive cycle of choosing to show up with love - every single day.

Just a Mom - Sleep Deprivation and Other Stories Sep 01, 2017

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In this episode Rachel gets real about her in-the-moment struggles: dealing with some serious sleep deprivation. She talks about her greatest challenges as a mother, being sensitive about comments she's getting on Instagram, feeling overall crappy and the realization that she wants to be more than "just a mom".

A Story of Rape and Responsibility with Thordis Elva Aug 25, 2017

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In this episode Rachel is joined by Thordis Elva; writer, journalist, public speaker and crusader for women’s rights. Thordis shares the powerful and painful story of how she was raped by her boyfriend at only 16 years old, the downward spiral it sent her on and how she was able to eventually find healing by confronting her perpetrator (who she ended up writing a book with!). They talk about the widespread issue of rape and sexual abuse and how the blame is often places on the survivor instead of on the victim and most importantly: what we can do to change the conversation. Thordis also shares some beautiful advice and support for survivors listening in.

Body Positivity and Finding Self-Love In a World of Non-Acceptance Aug 18, 2017

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How can we find self-love in a society that constantly pushes us toward non-acceptance? In this episode, Rachel talks about body positivity and loving her postpartum body while struggling with that little voice in the back of her mind telling her she isn't good enough. She shares a recent and fairly amusing story of how the insecurity sent her spiraling into some truly irrational behavior and gives tips on how to stop the vicious cycle of self-judgement. By directing attention away from the stressful chatter of the mind we can move toward feeling grounded in the body - but it's not easy! She also talks about bringing energy toward what we want to create versus what we don't need and learning to appreciate the quiet moments - all while struggling with sleep deprivation.

Hard Lessons Learned and The Business of Yoga Aug 11, 2017

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In this episode Rachel opens up about feeling taken advantage of and how it's a pattern that continuously shows up in her life. She shares a few examples of some very hard lessons she's had to learn in the yoga industry over the years and how even though they helped her grow and learn, she still finds herself too trusting in an industry that's sometimes everything but "zen". She also dives into the concept of forgiveness after having been hurt and tries to make sense of learning how to balance output with input.

Being Vulnerable, Feeling Your Feelings and Owning Your Sh*t Aug 04, 2017

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In this episode Rachel talks about a new practice she’s incorporated into her life: the art of being vulnerable. She talks about how being vulnerable and feeling your feelings right away sets us up for a whole new lightness of being, the challenge of making and keeping girlfriends and how to tap into a sensitive place as a teacher so we can improve the quality of what we share with the world.

Life After Death, Facing Your Worst Fear and The Power Of A Brief Life with Amelia Barnes Jul 28, 2017

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In this episode Rachel is joined by Amelia Barnes; yoga teacher, artist, designer and author of the book Landon's Legacy. In 2014 Amelia's son Landon was born. He died four days later. This episode is the painful but powerful story about how Landon passed away and the gut-wrenching journey that followed. Rachel was moving through the loss of her best friend around this very same time and together they dive into the topic of death, loss, healing through sharing, grieving out in the open and finding purpose in pain. In this episode you can expect lots of tears, but also inspiration to continue on and begin again after the worst has happened. Keep a box of tissues nearby - this episode is truly from the heart.

Following Your Passion, Turning Failure Into Success and Never Ever Giving Up On Love with Matt Cutshall Jul 21, 2017

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In this episode Rachel is joined by Matt Cutshall; actor, singer, comedian and social media influencer living in LA. Matt shares the story of how he started a pop/rock band and spent five years of his life fighting relentlessly for that dream only to have it all fall apart right at the cusp of success. He also shares the contrast of growing up in a trailer park to the life he leads now and how it instilled a longing to give back to the world. They also dive into the magical topic of love and relationships - Matt recently found true love in his best friend @arielle and shares the full story of how deep friendship evolved into romance. This might just be the most anticipated love story ever played out on social media!

Mindful Relationships and Making Sacrifices For Mother Earth with Waylon Lewis Jul 14, 2017

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In this episode Rachel is joined by Waylon Lewis; environmentalist, meditation teacher and founder of elephantjournal.com. They talk about sustainable living, the current political climate and the Buddhist view on mindful relationships. Waylon shares how he risked it all for the sake of caring for Mother Earth and gives his best tips for living a green life.

Using Hardships To Fuel Your Fire with Isabella Löwengrip Jul 07, 2017

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How can we transform darkness into light? In this episode Rachel is joined by entrepreneur, mom and super-blogger Isabella Löwengrip. They talk about juggling a successful career with the responsibilities of motherhood, the importance of women supporting women, using hardships to fuel your fire and how to become your own best friend. Isabella shares how being bullied in school and leaving home at a young age inspired her to start her own business and the importance of making healthy choices every day - not just for your body, but for your mind.