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

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 about the magic of summer, of playing in the water with her children, of visiting ancient temples and legendary trees, and of really good food and really good wine. But even surrounded by all this beauty, it can be hard to slow down if life back home is still busy. Do you have trouble slowing down in the summer? Are you savoring these moments as much as you could be? And how can you support yourself and your nervous system so you can take it all in and enjoy exactly where you are? Today’s episode is full of storytelling, pondering, and a beautiful reminder to appreciate this moment - it’s all you’ve got. 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

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 slump when you feel stuck. Then the conversation shifted into deeper topics, such as how to transition from early, new love into long-term partnership and the scary decision to shed an old identity and move forward with something new. It’s a meaningful episode that will remind you that life happens in seasons and you’re always on the right track as long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other. 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 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 - even self-care! We practice self-care to be better moms or kinder neighbors. What do we really do for ourselves? This episode will help you ask some really important questions, like what would happen if you allowed yourself to be a little bit more selfish? What would happen if you did things just because they brought you joy, not because they were useful or served the world? What if the point isn’t the doing, but it’s taking the time to pour presence and love into yourself? We may not have all the answers, but asking these questions can bring us one step closer to healing. 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

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 that she is struggling to find the balance between creation and depletion, and worrying about a very scary question: what if this is just how her personality works? Life asks so much from all of us. We have to balance our dreams and goals with our families and all the logistical things that keep everything flowing. Maybe it’s all too much. And maybe time isn’t moving too fast - it’s just our stress taking us out of the present moment. Tune in for a story about burnout, not having all the answers, but preserving on when there is nothing left to 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

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 and magic of watching your dreams come together in front of your eyes, sharing that dream with others, and how, sometimes even losing your voice can be because you arrived somewhere beautiful. Tune in for an uplifting episode after an eye-opening week. 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

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 heartbreaks she has experienced on the farm and everything that comes along with having a homestead. As usual, this episode is a balance of joy and sadness, life and death, and where to find yourself in the middle of it all. At the end of the episode, Rachel shares her favorite elder flower dessert recipe - it’s a must try! Happy Midsommar and don’t forget to put joy at the top of your to-do list - don’t leave it for if there is time to spare. 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

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 farm as they open the farm store and cafe. With so much happening at the same time, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Is there a way to appreciate stressful moments if they are bringing you somewhere beautiful? How can we do everything and keep our feet planted on the ground at the same time? Today’s episode will remind you to be proud of yourself through the busy seasons - you are creating something magical. At the end of the day, staying anchored in your reason why will carry you through to the end. P.S. Rachel’s farm store and cafe at Ala Gård are now officially open for business! Follow them on Instagram at @ala_farms for more, or visit them at Vassunda-Örby 41 in Knivsta, Sweden. 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

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 or a middle ground with everything on her plate. Is it possible to create the life of our dreams and not burn ourselves out along the way? Should we deprive ourselves of the things we want to create if we can’t find balance? Is there a way to heal from perfectionism? This episode is a vulnerable and honest moment of storytelling as Rachel sits with a lot of questions and not many answers. Tune in if you relate. 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 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? The second question asks about intuition, and specifically intuition throughout motherhood. Rachel shares her point of view - that intuition is a muscle that you constantly need to flex. She shares how you can practice this and why it’s so important to be able to look inward before you bounce everything off the outside world. The final question is about soulmates. Are they real? Should we move through life looking for our missing piece? What if we lose them or can’t find them? Tune in for an insightful episode that feels like going for a coffee with friends. If you have a question for Rachel, you can call her at +1 720 443 1771. 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 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 in about Lea and life on the farm, Rachel shares how to soothe yourself when the world is loud and cruel, and what to do when an anxious season arrives. This episode is sure to get you in your feels - tune in! 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