From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

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...

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...

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...

In today’s episode, Rachel is talking to you from Greece as she visits on a family vacation. Greece holds a special place in Rachel’s heart, as this was a country she visited with her mom when she was little, but also on her first solo trips without parents, and even on her honeymoon. Reminiscing on all the trips in the past leads Rachel to today - now on a trip with her little family. She talks a...

It’s time for Ask Rachel on the show! In today’s episode, Rachel takes four beautiful questions from listeners - and each one followed themes of how to move forward, how to anchor into what is happening now, and how to accept change. One listener asked about the farm store, how to get started on doing something similar, and what the timeline should be. Another listener asked how to get out of a sl...

In today’s episode, Rachel is navigating the uncharted territory of making a big project happen while avoiding burnout. She has been tweaking her current routine and realizing, certain things make her feel better even when her to-do list is full of tasks. It’s those things that need to be prioritized. But as women, prioritizing ourselves can feel so challenging. Everything we do is for others - ev...

Have you ever felt burnt out? What caused that feeling? And what happens when it’s caused by something that you love? In today’s episode, Rachel takes a walk down memory lane, connecting the dots on all the different moments where she pushed herself to the point of depletion in order to create something. And the truth is - it has been happening throughout her entire life. She shares very honestly...

On today’s episode of the podcast, Rachel has lost her voice! She shares some lessons she has learned through that, including the dynamic she has with her family, with herself, and what really changes when you can’t communicate well. But her voice was lost for a magical reason: she spent all day working at her farm store, meeting new people, and creating community.  Rachel opens up about the joy a...

Things have finally relaxed for Rachel after launching her family’s farm store and cafe. In today’s episode, she steps into summer and shares her life over the past week, from work she’s done, to celebrating her son’s second birthday, and now preparing for a beautiful midsommar celebration. But with the balance of happiness there is also some sadness to be found. Rachel opens up about recent heart...

Manifesting the life of your dreams takes hard work - there’s no denying that. And with that can come stress, anxiety, a feeling of overwhelm, and many struggles along the way. In today’s episode, Rachel shares everything that is unfolding in her life right now, from the happenings at her own homestead (where the bees may have swarmed at a neighbor’s house), to how things are going on the family f...

This show is usually full of big epiphanies, realizations, and moments of healing, with Rachel sharing the whole story and how she made her way to the final result. But today’s episode… is not one of those episodes. Rachel shares in real time everything she is struggling with right now. Over the past few weeks, she has been overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious, and she can’t seem to find a balance o...

Today’s episode begins with a garden update before Rachel dives into another segment of Ask Rachel, where she answers three beautiful questions from listeners. The first question is about negativity. How can we deal with negative people? How do we know the difference between toxicity and constructive feedback? And how can we make sure we are not constantly brought down by this energy in our lives?...

In today’s episode, Rachel is still deep in an anxiety spiral and she opens up about one of the reasons why that is: online hate. She talks about wearing her heart on her sleeve and feeling really vulnerable to the world - and how sometimes, actually, it’s our inner voice that is our own worst critic. Can we learn to tune out the noise coming from all directions? With some feel-good stories mixed...

Today’s episode is a very vulnerable share from the heart. Rachel tells the story of clay - how it came into her life, how it feels when she’s working on the pottery wheel, and the doors that have been opened because of it. Have you ever tried something new that you knew innately was meant for you? Has working with your hands ever brought you a deep sense of peace that you can’t quite explain? Rac...

Today’s episode begins with a grounding and a moment to anchor into your body - exactly what you may need if you’ve been feeling stressed or overwhelmed. This is how Rachel has been feeling lately. She discusses her new accelerated work day; the first time she has been working at this pace since her burnout. Old patterns have been cropping up, she’s had trouble sleeping, but it’s all for a beautif...

Here’s a staggering fact: approximately 75% of homes harbor mold or bacteria, often lurking unseen by the people living in them. But what can we do about it? In today’s episode, Rachel is joined by Michael Rubino to put your mind at ease. Michael is a mold and air quality expert, environmental wellness advocate, and founder of HomeCleanse (https://homecleanse.com/), a revolutionary company with th...

There are some memories that imprint themselves on our bodies. When we think about them again, those same feelings still linger and make themselves known. And when the time is right, we get presented with opportunities to heal in ways that we couldn’t in the past.  In today’s episode, Rachel is four year post mold - and still processing and healing from this very difficult chapter of her life. She...

Do you live in tune with your monthly cycle? Do you rest when your body is calling you to rest? Do you stand in your power when you have more energy? In today’s episode, Rachel has just started her period. She shares how she has been feeling this time around, from her philosophical ponderings, to struggling with feeling small, and a funny story involving Dennis. Our cycles can often determine what...

Welcome to another segment of Ask Rachel! In today’s episode, Rachel begins with a little opening from the heart before diving into questions. She shares about grief, current happenings in her own life, and how she has been feeling. Then it’s time to answer your questions! Listeners called in today with beautiful questions on tips to move to another country, how to handle a major transition such a...

In today’s episode, Rachel shares a beautiful morning ritual she has with Dennis and her children - they dance! She talks about how this ritual started, how Dennis and her are strengthening their relationship through bachata classes, and how important it is to keep doing new, intentional things with your loved ones. But this hobby has also had an unexpected impact on Rachel: she has learned how to...

Winter has come and gone, and the end of the season also marked something very special for Rachel: she taught her first retreat experience in five years! The Home Retreat ended on the Spring Equinox, and in today’s episode, Rachel tells you all about. She begins with a little history of her past retreats, the burnout she experienced, and the trepidation she felt stepping back into the vibe of a pa...

Have you ever sneezed and were embarrassed to find that a little bit of pee came out? Have you given birth and felt so different down there afterward? Are you having painful sex? Welcome to an episode all about your pelvic floor muscles. Rachel is joined by Dr. Sara Reardon, aka @the.vagina.whisperer on Instagram, to take a look at common issues women experience with their pelvic floor, what they...

If you’ve been feeling anxious lately because of the state of the world, today’s episode is like a long hug. Rachel begins by talking about her fears and anxieties about the future, in a world where there are so many unknowns, natural disasters, and people looking out only for themselves. She shares how she is planning and preparing for any unknowns to come, and what she does to soothe herself whe...

It’s time for another episode of Ask Rachel! On today’s show, Rachel answers two questions from listeners. The first question asks, how can we trust our bodies? How can we know that our body is telling us the truth? Can we really rely on our instincts, our intuition, and our own ability to heal? Rachel answers this question with personal stories and gives specific practices you can do to return to...

In today’s episode, Rachel opens up about an area of her life that she has kept private for the past couples of years - and a story she never thought she would tell. It is a vulnerable and intimate story about her pelvic floor. After learning she had a low-grade prolapse after her first birth, Rachel discovered this was affecting many areas of her life. Walking was uncomfortable, dancing led to em...