From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

It’s been a week since Rachel shared the news that she is no longer vegan and let’s just say… a lot of people had opinions about that. After a social media storm, Rachel discusses the fallout, the drama, the bullying, and some legitimate questions that have been raised since sharing her news. Stepping away from veganism hasn’t meant that Rachel is suddenly okay with factory farming or other harmfu...

This episode was difficult to record and scary to release, but it’s a truth that Rachel wanted to share. She is no longer vegan.  Rachel shares the full story, from going vegan for the first time, to how her needs changed throughout different life transitions, and what finally made her reconsider the views that were so ingrained in her psyche. She discusses what this means for her health and wellb...

Today’s episode begins with a grounding to help settle your nervous system. Rachel has been feeling both very content within the bubble of her life, and very worried about the state of the world at the same time. She shares the contrasts happening in her outside world and in her heart. How do we stay hopeful when the world feels hopeless? Using her love for the (increasingly disappearing) forest a...

Welcome to Ask Rachel, a segment answering all your questions from the heart. In today’s episode, Rachel dives deep into how to nourish creativity when you feel uninspired, whether or not you should help your partner on their spiritual journey, and how to grieve past versions of yourself as you continue to change and evolve. You’ll hear some personal stories, some hard truths, and some words that...

Life comes with ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to manage. How do we feel joy when there is also pain? And how do we navigate the shame that comes with it? If you’ve been working through this lately, today’s episode is for you. Rachel discusses the duality of life that so many of us are experiencing right now. Through a personal example, she shares the fairly challenging phase s...

If you have a furry companion, you know one very important truth: there is no such thing as just a dog. Today’s episode will connect you to the infinite love and gratitude you feel for your pets. Rachel is speaking to you today from a very raw, vulnerable space. Her family has just said goodbye to her brother’s dog, Hammer. She shares the story of how her family tragically lost their first dog, he...

We spin ourselves in circles and drive ourselves wild searching for peace. We look for success and validation from others but disappoint ourselves along the way. If you’ve been working yourself too hard or searching for your purpose, today’s episode will help you reframe your journey. After returning from a hiking trip above the arctic circle, Rachel is feeling more like herself than ever before....

Parenting is hard, but knowing that other parents experience the same difficulties can help you feel seen, understood, and a little bit less guilty about it. If you’ve been struggling with your little ones lately, today’s episode will bring you a newfound sense of hope. Rachel shares the story of a recent temper tantrum that her daughter, Lea had. In the moment, there was no fixing it. But afterwa...

What brings you joy? Is it a priority in your life or does it fall to the wayside for everything else? Today’s episode will remind you why you must chase your joy at all costs. It’s harvest season over at Rachel’s house. Simple things these days, such as teaching her sister how to garden, making elderberry syrup, and learning how to preserve foods has brought her more joy than she can remember in...

It’s been a while but your favorite guest is joining the show today: Rachel’s husband, Dennis! Hear the latest from the best couple in this hilarious conversation. From the light-hearted to the more serious, this episode has it all.  Will Dennis ever get a sailboat? Will Rachel ever get a cow? Has Dennis found his purpose in Sweden? How is his transition going? More importantly, how did his latest...

It’s heartbreaking but it’s inevitable - at some point in our lives we will all move through grief, loss and death. If this is close to your heart right now, today’s episode holds a beautiful epiphany for you. After a morning paddle boarding on the lake, Rachel was left feeling so alive. Death has felt very present in her life lately - but sometimes, it’s that closeness with death that allows you...

It’s time for another segment of Ask Rachel, where listeners call in and receive heartfelt and vulnerable answers to life’s big questions. In today’s episode, Rachel dives into topics from beginning yoga, to astrology readings, how to start a podcast, what to look for in a healer, and surrendering to whatever may come your way. Hear some personal stories and learn how being open and honest always...

If you have a pet, you know the bond you share is special and unique. That’s why it cuts so deep when it’s time to say goodbye. If you’re moving through the loss of a pet, today’s episode will help you navigate these lonely and cruel waters. Rachel is recording from the west coast of Sweden - but her heart is back home with her brother and his dog, Hammer. After receiving some heartbreaking news t...

Some days more than others we are hit with just how fragile life is. Our experience on this earth is fleeting - and nothing is guaranteed. If you’ve felt untethered lately, this episode will anchor you back into belonging, gratitude, and purpose. Rachel has just returned home from a trip to Amsterdam to visit family after a hard diagnosis. She shares a bit about how lost she felt, how unfair life...

If you have ever experienced anxiety or panic attacks, if you’re coping with burnout, or if you have been trying to align your life with something that better fits who you are, today’s episode is just for you. After a recent experience with anxiety, Rachel was thrown back into feelings from an old life. It has been years since she changed the pace of her life, moved to a different part of the worl...

Welcome to another segment of Ask Rachel, where you call into the show and Rachel gives in-depth answers to the questions weighing on your heart. In today’s episode, we hear some beautiful questions from listeners. From the fears we experience in motherhood and how to cope with them, to tips and tricks to commit to a meditation practice, and how to make the mundane moments in our lives feel purpos...

In today’s Yoga Girl Podcast episode, Rachel has just returned from a spontaneous adventure with her best friend. It brought her to blueberry fields, flower gardens, Swedish bakeries… and some surprising synchronicities along the way. She shares the story and a beautiful realization that comes with releasing control and letting the universe guide your way. No matter where you go, the universe puts...

Do you find yourself longing for a different pace in life? Are you feeling directionless, like you’re lacking true purpose? Is your life an endless hustle but you still don’t feel good enough? Today’s episode will help you put all of that to rest. Rachel discusses how her family life has changed since moving to Sweden. She hasn’t been actively creating or working, instead she’s spent most days in...

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...

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 favori...

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...

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...

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 wi...

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 callin...

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...