From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

In today’s episode, Rachel is one month into having some space away from social media and her phone. She shares the realizations and insights that have come from that. Suddenly, life feels more spacious, more calm, and more peaceful. Suddenly, there are hours in the day that can be spent doing the things she enjoys, instead of losing hours she doesn’t even notice in front of a screen.
How much time do you spend on your phone per day? How often do you reach for your phone without even thinking about it? At the end of it all, we should be actively trying to do more of the things we like, less of the things we don’t, and reminding ourselves that building community - meeting face to face and heart to heart - is what ultimately matters. Tune in for a reality check you may need today.

What We Spend is back for another season of diving into the financial questions you never get to ask. In Season 2 we’ll ask a brand new set of people from across the country and the financial spectrum to open their wallets — and their lives — and share what they make, what they want, and, for one week, what they spend. If you want to be on What We Spend, we’d love to hear from you. Write us at: whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Available now: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/WWS_FTH

We are so close to Halloween now, and in today’s episode, Rachel talks about how she can actually feel the thin veil between the realms of the living and the dead during this time. She shares her personal experiences surrounding loss - and the fear of loss - that has had such an impact on her life. From her beloved pets to her best friend, Rachel touches on the aspects of loss we don’t usually focus on. She also shares a beautiful story of grief and completion about someone close to her.
As we age, we are going to get more and more familiar with loss. We can either shy away from it, or learn from it. Right now is a beautiful time to invite the people and animals that you have lost into your life, through conversation, through lighting a candle, and through bringing their presence into your day to day. With loss comes pain, grief, and sadness, but it also brings the opportunity to reflect on just how much love can be present, even after our loved ones pass on. Tune in for an episode that will help you navigate this time of year.

In today’s episode, Rachel has just returned back from Path of Love, and she is still in the process of integrating back into everyday life. She shares a little bit about her experience at the retreat this year, but also what was different this time when it comes to her home dynamics. One of her greatest takeaways is how badly she just wants to live in her body - and how difficult that is in our regular lives.
How often do you leave yourself? How often do you slip into a state of disengagement? How often do you pretend to feel one thing, when really you are feeling something completely different? Rachel shares an example of this that she experienced with her kids, and she also shares a very powerful lesson. The moment you realize you have left yourself, is the moment you are returning home. Tune in for a tender and open-hearted episode that will stir some things inside you.

Is Rachel secretly a right-wing tradwife? A raging, anti-vaxxing liberal? Both? Does she get handouts from her family? Is she controlling in her marriage? Does she have ADHD and endless help at home? Does she do gentle parenting perfectly? In today’s episode, Rachel asked her followers what their biggest judgements and pre-conceived notions were about her. There were many! Some made her laugh, some were triggering because they were incorrect… and some were triggering because they were true.
After almost 15 years on social media, Rachel is used to people having many ideas about her online. But who is the real Rachel Brathen? In this episode, she shares her journey of accepting criticism and incorrect perceptions online and unpacks some of the repeated ideas about her. One thing is for sure - a lot of questions are going to be answered! This episode was both uncomfortable and liberating for Rachel to record. But, at the end of the day, do you know who you are? Can you let go of the boxes that other people place you in? That is the most important question.