From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

On today’s episode of From the Heart, it’s almost Rachel’s birthday! She shares her plans for the weekend and something big happening next week. Birthdays are usually a time to contemplate where you’ve been, where you’re going, and where you are right now.  But this birthday, Rachel feels like she is wearing her heart on her sleeve. A lot is moving around her and inside her - and it’s a beautiful and difficult time to be alive! She shares everything weighing on her, and discussions she has had with her daughter around body image and how to love yourself. Here’s to asking yourself big questions, big answers, and birthday weekends. Tune in for an uplifting episode that will remind you it is a gift to age. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s episode of the podcast, Rachel talks all about toddler tantrums. Her two-year-old son is in a phase right now where he doesn’t like to wear pants, or sit in his car seat, or brush his teeth, and this often leads to some big emotional releases. But what if we shifted our views around? What if we could see a tantrum for what it really is - an intelligent little body learning how to hold and release anger? We all need big emotional releases. We all need an outlet to feel the anger, pain, frustration, and despair we are encountering on a daily basis. If we don’t have that, our anger is going to lead to some hurtful places. This episode will teach you some valuable lessons, like where does your anger go? Tune in to figure it out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are all connected to this earth, and we are all connected to each other. But whether we feel that connection or not depends on us. There are ways to strengthen this bond and bring it to life - and there are ways to dull it and cut ourselves off. So much of the suffering we see began with a sense of separation. In today’s episode, Rachel shares actionable ways you can deepen your connection to the world around you. It will help you feel more compassionate and empowered to take action against suffering. Tune in for a reminder that there is no such thing as other people’s children - and other people’s suffering is our suffering too.  If you have the ability to help those in Palestine, please visit here, here or here for the fundraisers that mean a lot to Rachel.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can you hear your inner voice when it speaks? Do you know what feels like a yes to you, and what feels like a no? In today’s episode, Rachel is transitioning into the fall season. She opens up with a discussion on the chickens, her coming plans for her farm and garden, and her family life. This is a time of year where many of us feel the need to get more organized and structured. And to do that - we need to set boundaries. What is your experience with setting boundaries? Are you in a deep, connected relationship with yourself, where you can stand up for what you need? Or do you shy away from confrontation and keep the peace at the expense of your wellbeing? The first step is to learn who you really are. Tune in for an episode that will help you hear your inner voice loud and clear.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the difficult thing you are going through is bringing you to an important learning? What if the pain you are feeling is there because it needs to be felt? Today’s episode is an emotional one, with Rachel opening up about difficult family dynamics, old wounds, and things that just aren’t working for her anymore. With the past weeks feeling really heavy and dark, Rachel has decided to see a coach with her husband, and she has been having some difficult conversations with family members.  Sometimes there is nothing to be done but feel the feelings coming your way. And sometimes the real peace is found in letting go. Tune in for a vulnerable episode on the balancing act that comes with holding everyone around you while trying to protect your own heart at the same time. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode brings us another segment of Ask Rachel! Rachel answers four questions from listeners and they were all very deep and thoughtful. First she takes a question on how to slow down time as parents. Is that possible? And if so, what does it look like? Next, Rachel answers a question on the intention setting ceremony we do every year. How can we make our intentions stick throughout the year - or how can we give ourselves space to mourn if they are no longer relevant? Going deeper, Rachel answers a question about influencers who remain quiet on important social issues and injustices in the world - and what we can do about it. Finally, to end the episode, Rachel answers a lighthearted question on the story of her tattoos and what each one means. It’s a rollercoaster of an episode that will bring you through so many different emotions and back. Tune in for the conversation! If you have the ability to help those in Palestine, please visit here, here or here for the fundraisers that mean a lot to Rachel.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s episode, Rachel shares a very difficult, dark and vulnerable story of what happened to her in a plant medicine ceremony she did once. Before getting into it, she opens up about an ayahuasca ceremony from her early twenties and how that changed her life. Then she dives into this ceremony and everything that happened.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is it that we live in a world full of sunflowers, bumblebees, sunshine, toddlers, and delicious cups of coffee - that also has genocide, war, starvation and suffering? How can our minds handle switching between two extremes, holding many emotions at once, and feeling helpless through it all? Is there anything we can really do about it? On today’s episode, Rachel does her best to share how she is navigating the bizarre reality of the world right now. She opens up about how she has been able to find new avenues to be of greater service to those in Gaza, and how it brings all the emotions at once: from heartbreak, loss and grief, to hope, compassion and gratitude. There are things we can do. This episode will help you hold everything at once. After all, it’s all we can do.   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is it possible to manage our anxiety when everything feels like it’s on fire? In today’s episode, Rachel talks about two separate worlds: Gaza, and where she is in Sweden, making red currant jam. How can these two worlds exist simultaneously? She shares more about a family she has been helping in Gaza, and how sometimes experiencing that anxiety and letting ourselves marinate in the suffering of the world can actually propel us into taking more action. On the other hand though, Rachel goes deeper on how we have to keep our feet planted on the ground at the same time. We have to continue to immerse ourselves in the little things that make life feel good and remind ourselves that beautiful things do still exist. We have to make the red currant jam. Tune in for an insightful episode that will remind you of your duty to this world. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life is full of so many contrasts, and one scroll down your Instagram feed will show you that easily. This summer, you have probably seen your friends and families enjoying their lives, celebrities living lavishly and taking exciting trips… and then you have probably also seen a genocide happening - the worst suffering that children have experienced in recent times. How can we live our lives when faced with such contrasts?  In today’s episode, Rachel shares her feelings and thoughts about the current state of the world. She opens up about whether or not she feels hopeful or hopeless when it comes to the future, and how it is so important for us to never take our situation for granted. If you have  the privilege and luxury of a safe life, then you have the duty to not just make the most of your life, but to also stand up for those not as fortunate. There is still hope for the world if we can come together and work for something better. Tune in for an episode that will leave you with a little bit more hope in this hopeless world.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices