Life Rebuilt Rachel Gainer

With a long-term goal, the path from Point A to Point B is rarely a straight line. Life happens along the way, turning that straight line into a winding path. Navigating the twists and turns requires determination, perseverance, and grit. But if you stay the course—no matter how tangled it becomes—you will eventually find success.
 
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL  
In this interview, Alayne Jorgensen shares the unexpected surprises and challenges she faced on the road to earning her PhD. She speaks candidly about being a single parent, getting remarried, and battling postpartum depression—all while holding onto her educational dreams.
 
Alayne’s story demonstrates that, although life rarely goes according to plan, it’s still helpful to fix your eye on a specific goal and navigate in that direction.
 
LESSONS ALONG THE PATH  
When it comes to goal setting, Alayne believes in having a clear goal with a flexible path. She also recommends traveling at your own pace, without comparing yourself to anyone else.
 
Alayne stresses the importance of relying on your village and surrounding yourself with supportive, encouraging voices. She also shares simple ways to practice self-care when your plate is already full.
 
 
ALSO IN THIS EPISODE  
What it really looks like to juggle motherhood, work, and personal goals. Acting on intuition before you have everything figured out. Identifying what you truly want and letting go of distractions. A simple tool to help you push through when a goal feels tedious or discouraging.  
 
SHOW NOTES  
Connect with Rachel on Instagram
 
Connect with Alayne Jorgensen on Instagram
 
 
MAY 2020 GIVEAWAY
 
Two ways to enter:
 
(1) Post a review to Apple Podcasts, and send a screenshot to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram.
 
(2) If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, send a direct message to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram. List the podcasting app you use, and tell me what you like about the podcast.
 
Two winners will be selected on June 1, 2020. One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Happy Beads; the other will receive a Fawny Pack from Fawn Design.

Human beings are natural storytellers. Some stories are written down; others are only thoughts. We use stories to interpret and make sense of the world. We also use them to teach abstract principles and connect with others.
Angie Lucas is a professional writer, former magazine editor, and voracious reader. In this interview, Angie and I explore the power of storytelling from three different angles.
CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS
The power of storytelling begins with our thoughts—the internal narratives we tell ourselves about who we are and how the world works. Some of these stories are less helpful than others; we call these stories “limiting beliefs.”
In part one, Angie demonstrates how to recognize, examine, and reframe limiting beliefs. She also explains how this process differs from putting on rose-colored glasses or faking optimism.
SHARE YOUR LIFE STORY
The power of storytelling can also help you record your personal history for posterity—and no one is more qualified or capable of writing that story than you!
In part two, Angie offers three simple storytelling strategies to help you get started today. She also shares a bit of her own story, including her experience with infertility and pregnancy loss.
LEARN FROM OTHERS
Storytelling also has power to help us understand the human condition by making abstract ideas—like grief—more concrete.
In part three, Angie shares how her experience with loss helped her write My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon, a grief allegory for children. This beautiful book belongs in every family library and is a perfect gift for any child who is grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing life-changing loss (such as a divorce or cross-country move).
 
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Rachel on Instagram
Connect with Angie Lucas
Instagram | Facebook | Website
My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon (Book)
Connect with Birgitta Sif (Illustrator)
Instagram | Website
Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (Book)
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown (Book)
Maya Angelou
Loving What Is by Byron Katie (Book)
Chatbooks
Evernote App
Prixm App
Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (Book)
It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay by Megan Devine (Book)
A Long Way from Chicago & A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (Books)
Skellig by David Almond (Book)
Ida, Always by Caron Levis & Charles Santoso (Book)
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (Book)
Daphne’s Blog
“Using Self-Love to Rebuild after Loss”
“Keeping a Marriage Together after Loss by Grieving Separately to Give Space to Heal Together”
“How to Support Those Who Are Grieving”
Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.
 
MAY 2020 GIVEAWAY
Two ways to enter:
(1) Post a review to Apple Podcasts, and send a screenshot to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram.
(2) If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, send a direct message to @rachel_rebuilt on Instagram. List the podcasting app you use, and tell me what you like about the podcast.
Two winners will be selected on June 1, 2020. One winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Happy Beads; the other will receive a Fawny Pack from Fawn Design.

Courage begins in the heart. It’s what helps us shoulder unexpected and unwelcome responsibilities. It’s what keeps us moving in the face of fear. During these strange times, when COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, we perform ordinary acts of courage every day without realizing it.
This week’s guest, Melanie Burk, is a mother of five, wife to a physician assistant, small business owner, and woman of faith. Like other Americans, the Burks have been sheltering in place and homeschooling for about three weeks.
In this episode, Melanie and I redefine courage for those who have been asked to “stay home, stay safe” during the COVID-19 pandemic. While traditional courage emphasizes physical action,* we emphasize the need for “mental strength to persevere.”
This type of courage isn’t about fixing or doing. It’s about enduring and being. It includes (1) courage to feel waves of heavy emotion, (2) courage to embrace stillness, and (3) courage to practice self-compassion.
Together, we explore the emotional demands of our collective heartache, as well as our individual opportunities to seek light and joy. We also share how faith in a loving God helps us get through the daily challenges of quarantine.
 
ALSO IN THIS EPISODE
Why emotional self-care is essential, not selfish, during quarantine. How to find stillness, even if your home is loud or busy. Simple ways to invite children into stillness with you. Why self-compassion is the secret to personal growth.  
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Rachel on Instagram
Connect with Melanie Burk on Instagram
Dr. Brene Brown
Dr. Kristin Neff
Three Elements of Self-Compassion
Self-Compassion & Mindfulness
Christlike Parenting (Book)
Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.
* We express gratitude to healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery store employees, and other essential personnel who cannot stay home during this pandemic and who continue to show extraordinary courage as they perform their regular responsibilities and keep our communities afloat.

We’re living in stressful times, and our options for emotional release are more limited, thanks to COVID-19. But even in these restrictive circumstances, we have the freedom to practice creativity. Creativity is a powerful coping strategy that can spark joy, reduce stress, and improve connection to self and to others.
Lynn Muir is a multi-passionate creator, who dabbles in everything from watercolor to woodworking. She is also a co-owner of The Makers Avenue, a creative studio for women and children. Lynn loves power tools, sawdust, and paint and believes creativity is “essential to a productive and happy life.” She’s not afraid to get messy or try new things.
In this interview, Lynn shares how she makes time to create as a busy mother of five, plus why it’s essential to her emotional well-being and how it blesses her children. She also explains how creativity has helped her through the most difficult trials of her life, including postpartum depression and her daughter’s cancer.
Lynn also offers tips for cultivating creativity in children—with special emphasis on how to involve boys. She also highlights some of the life lessons her children have learned through artistic exploration.
This light-hearted, laughter-filled conversation offers hope and practical tools to help you and your children through tough seasons, including the COVID-19 quarantine.
 
ALSO IN THIS EPISODE
Lynn’s most memorable craft projects, plus her biggest creative flop. A simple, fool-proof exercise for people who claim: “I’m not creative.” How creative play reduces stress and boosts self-confidence. Why you don’t have to like or finish your creative projects to benefit.  
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Rachel on Instagram
Connect with Lynn Muir
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website
The Makers Avenue
Instagram | Website

Sometimes we look for our “calling” on a neon sign and expect the path to be easy, but more often, our purpose unfolds over time, presenting obstacles along the way. We find our purpose by taking incremental steps toward our passion and following our instinct.
Katie Cheesman, a self-proclaimed “old soul,” has always felt at ease with the elderly. After working as a geriatric nurse for several years, Katie started The Listening Ear Project—a passion project that eventually evolved into a private film company that documents and celebrates the life stories of senior citizens.
In this interview, Katie shares how following her curiosity led her step-by-step to the work she does today. She also speaks openly about the professional and personal obstacles she’s faced while pursuing her passion, including her experience with postpartum depression.
After sharing her own story, Katie summarizes some of the powerful lessons she’s learned from her elderly friends, offering us a unique perspective on what it means to live a “good life.”
Katie reminds us that every person on this planet has unique and valuable gifts to bring to the table. Our differences make us stronger. And each of us is weaving an inspiring legacy—even if we feel unremarkable and ordinary.
 
ALSO IN THIS EPISODE
Why our differences are vital to our community. The importance of finding a tribe, both professionally and personally. Five lessons we can learn from our elderly friends. The unexpected secret to becoming a better listener.  
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Rachel on Instagram
Connect with Katie Cheesman
Instagram | Website

Do you trust yourself around food? Or do you believe you need an expert to tell you what’s best for your body? If you’ve ever felt guilty for overeating, anxious around sweets, or frustrated by a “lack of willpower,” you may be feeling the impact of diet culture—subtle and overt messages about how your body should look and what it means to be healthy.
As a holistic nutritionist and eating psychology coach, Stephanie Webb helps women heal their relationship with food and become confident eaters. Instead of offering a meal plan or macros, Stephanie teaches women to listen to their inner wisdom and make decisions that help them feel satisfied, nourished, and invigorated.
In this interview, Stephanie dispels the myth that intuitive eating means giving up on health. Instead, it means trusting your body to know when, what, and how much to eat. It’s a way to practice self-care, while respecting personal preferences. It also means challenging your own weight bias, or the idea that “thin is best.” Stephanie shares simple tips for ditching diet culture and becoming a more intuitive eater.
We also discuss how a lack of self-trust around food may be spilling over into the rest of your life—plus, what you can do about it!
 
ALSO IN THIS EPISODE
Navigating the uncomfortable transition from dieting to intuitive eating. Putting weight loss on the back burner, even with mobility issues. Powerful questions to help you tune into your body. Tips for building a body-positive, weight-neutral online community.  
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Rachel on Instagram
Connect with Stephanie Webb*
Instagram | Website | Podcast
Eat Confident Co.
Instagram | Facebook | Website
Intuitive Eating (Book)
Health at Every Size (Book)
Beauty Redefined
Emily Fonnesbeck
Note: This list includes affiliate links to books mentioned in this episode. I receive a small commission for products purchased through these links, which helps to support free content on the podcast.
* Since recording, Stephanie has shifted her business from Nutrition Redefined to Eat Confident Co. She has also changed the name of her podcast from Nutrition Redefined to Eat with Confidence. All links reflect these changes.