From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

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...

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...

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 lingeri...

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 s...

You know those days where nothing seems to go right? Where your life feels like a manifestation of Murphy’s Law? Rachel sits down in the midst of a two-week long meltdown to record today’s podcast. From getting sick, to missing appointments, dropping tea on her keyboard, having no hot water, and Dennis almost giving up on Sweden, Rachel shares the entire story. It’s a doozy! If things seem hard fo...

When Rachel pictured her life in Sweden, she saw days in the forest, swimming in the lake, and getting her hands dirty in her own vegetable garden. But the late arrival of spring has made the last one nearly impossible. If you’re a struggling gardener, today’s episode will inspire you to continue the journey and have a few laughs along the way. As Rachel records today’s episode, there is snow comi...

In today’s episode, Rachel has just returned from the dealership after buying her first car in Sweden. Finally feeling like an adult in her home country, this sparks an epic story where Rachel shares a secret from her teenage years. It involves a scooter, a lot of alcohol, and two cops. You hear the full story, from everything that happened, to how it affected her and her history of driving.  Our...

Do you want to make a change in your life, but you can’t find the energy to actually do it? Do you think you’re only worthy of rest after you work to the point of exhaustion? Today’s episode will inspire you to reprioritize, find balance, and chase your dreams. As Rachel sits in the eye of the storm before a very intense week, she contemplates how her life got to this moment. A few years ago, she...

Being human comes with many emotions and even more fragile moments. If you’re having a hard time taking it all in lately, today’s episode will remind you that you’re not alone. Rachel begins the show with a much-needed check-in. Take some space to allow yourself to be the way you are before diving deeper into today’s topic. After receiving some personal news about her family, Rachel is feeling a l...

There is a lot going on in the world right now. If you’re feeling guilty for what you have while others are lacking, or if you’re not sure how to help, today’s episode will remind you of what’s really important. As Rachel gets some things off her mind, she shares how overwhelmed she has been lately with Dennis in Aruba, her work duties piling up, and the world seemingly in chaos. Feeling like she...

It’s a hard time to be human right now - or maybe it always is. If you find your anxiety levels rising from constantly checking the news, or if you’ve been unwilling to look at the news at all, today’s episode will help you find the balance between the give and take. Rachel begins by sharing the story of the service initiatives she has developed throughout her life. From saving snails, to rescuing...

Everything changed this week. With Russia waging war on Ukraine and European stability threatened, it’s no surprise that many of us are feeling shaky. If you’re trying to process confusing emotions, or if you’re not sure how you can help, today’s episode will guide your path. After saying goodbye to Dennis at the airport and dropping Luna off at school, Rachel had a shaky morning even before learn...

Do you feel powerless in your life? Are you stuck in certain situations and patterns with no end in sight? Kind of like your life is a freight train speeding out of control? Today’s episode will empower you to critically look at the moments you abandon yourself and make conscious decisions that are in alignment with your soul. Never again will you forget your ability to choose. After recognizing a...

Joining the Yoga Girl Podcast for the first time since the big move to Sweden: it’s Rachel’s husband, Dennis Schoneveld! A Trans-Atlantic move is no joke, but at least there is Dennis’ sense of humor to bring out the best of it. Tune in as him and Rachel answer all of your Instagram questions. Does Sweden feel like home? Does he miss Aruba? What is the weirdest thing that Swedes do?  From building...