I Grabbed the Branch

Heather Owens
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  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

If you’ve ever carried grief, trauma, heartbreak, or simply the weight of surviving hard seasons, I Grabbed the Branch was created for you. 🌿 This podcast is a space for real stories, honest conversations, and the kind of healing that isn’t always neat or linear. It’s about resilience, connection, and reminding each other that none of us have to walk through life’s storms alone. Season 1 has been filled with courage, vulnerability, and community — and there’s so much more still to come. New voices, deeper conversations, and even more reminders that hope can still exist after hardship are on the way. No matter what you’ve faced, there’s a place for you here. So when life gets heavy, keep holding on… and keep grabbing the branch. 🌿💛

  1. The Men Who Raised Us: A 3-Part Series

    Season 2, Episode 3 Trailer

    The Men Who Raised Us: A 3-Part Series

    The Men Who Raised Us: A 3-Part Series In this deeply personal three-part series from I Grabbed the Branch, twin sisters Heather and Holly share the stories of the men whose lives shaped their own. From a father who battled addiction and found redemption, to a stepfather whose sudden loss left an unfillable void, to the beloved patriarch who taught their family the meaning of kindness, strength, and empathy — each man left a lasting imprint on the women they helped raise. Raw, honest, emotional, and at times unexpectedly funny, The Men Who Raised Us explores grief, healing, resilience, family bonds, and the complicated beauty of imperfect people. Though each story is unique, they are forever interwoven into the lives of the strong women left to carry on their legacy. Join Heather and Holly as they reflect on love, loss, redemption, and the men who helped make them who they are today.

    2 min

  2. Apr 30

    Feeling Seen & the Future of Ellicott City

    Episode Summary: Feeling Seen & the Future of Ellicott City In this episode of I Grabbed the Branch, I share a deeply personal reflection on what it means to feel seen—as a survivor of the 2016 Ellicott City flood and as part of a community that has fought to be heard. For a long time, the experience of that day—and everything that followed—felt invisible outside of those who lived it. But recently, something shifted. I talk about the progress of the North Tunnel project in Ellicott City and what it represents. This isn’t just infrastructure—it’s acknowledgment. It’s proof that stories, losses, and voices are being recognized through real investment and action. This episode connects the emotional and the tangible: healing, validation, and the ongoing work of flood mitigation. Because being “seen” isn’t just about words—it shows up in policy, progress, and a commitment to doing better. 🔗 Read my story featured on CBS News Baltimore:https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/howard-county-ellicott-city-progress-key-flood-mitigation-project-tunnel-north/ 🔗 Learn more about the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Program:https://www.howardcountymd.gov/county-executive/ellicott-city-safe-and-sound

    8 min

  3. Season 2, Episode 1 Trailer

    Prelude to Season 2 - The Year of Refinement

    After time away, this prelude episode of I Grabbed the Branch marks a return shaped by challenge, change, and reflection. As 2026 unfolds with unexpected transitions, including job loss, this episode sets the stage for a more intentional and honest Season 2. With the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 Ellicott City flood approaching, this prelude revisits the foundation of the journey—resilience, healing, and what it truly means to rebuild. This is where the next chapter begins.

    2 min
  4. Bonus Episode: Where I’m Going in 2026 — A Short Reflection on Refinement

    11/25/2025

    Bonus Episode: Where I’m Going in 2026 — A Short Reflection on Refinement

    In this bonus episode, Heather shares a forward-looking reflection on the year ahead — not through resolutions, but through refinement.Grounded in the lessons of the last decade, she speaks honestly about purpose, healing, leadership, boundaries, pursuing her legal education, and choosing peace for her family. This episode is an intimate look at how hardship shaped the path she’s stepping into — and how 2026 will be a year defined by clarity, courage, and becoming.

    4 min
  5. Episode 9: Heather and the Healing Journey - 9 Years Later

    11/19/2025

    Episode 9: Heather and the Healing Journey - 9 Years Later

    Nine years after the flood that changed everything, Heather Owens reflects on how healing has unfolded—not in a straight line, but in waves. In this deeply personal episode, she opens up about losing her dad, John (2011); her fiancé, Joe (2016); her stepdad, Curtis (2021); and her granddad, Jim (2025)—the four men who shaped her heart and taught her strength through love. Heather shares the raw truth of grief, the power of therapy, and the importance of community—the counselor who helped her process pain, the psychiatrist who guided her through dark seasons, and the friends, family, and coworkers who continue to anchor her in light. Through every heartbreak and every moment of grace, Heather shows that healing isn’t about moving on—it’s about learning to carry both love and loss in the same breath.

    6 min
  6. Episode 8: From Battlefield to Ballads: Mike’s Journey of Service, Struggle, and Song

    11/12/2025

    Episode 8: From Battlefield to Ballads: Mike’s Journey of Service, Struggle, and Song

    In this powerful episode of I Grabbed the Branch, Mike opens up about his extraordinary path from the front lines of military service to the soulful world of music. Through stories of courage, healing, and resilience, he shares how songwriting became both a sanctuary and a means to honor those who’ve served and sacrificed. This episode is a heartfelt reflection on the battles we fight both abroad and within — and how finding your voice through art can help turn pain into purpose.

    27 min
  7. Episode 7: Masterpiece Moments - Zahra's Journey from Pakistan to Purpose

    11/05/2025

    Episode 7: Masterpiece Moments - Zahra's Journey from Pakistan to Purpose

    🌿 “Healing is not linear — it’s a slow unfolding of grace.” At just 13 years old, Zahra left everything she knew behind — her home, her culture, her sense of belonging — to start over in a new country. What followed was a journey through identity shifts, faith, self-discovery, and healing from the inside out. In this deeply moving conversation, Zahra opens up about the years it took to rebuild herself after trauma, learning how to find strength that isn’t rooted in external validation but in quiet, grounded self-awareness. From navigating cultural assimilation to redefining what it means to be resilient, her story is both raw and restorative. Join Heather Owens as she and Zahra explore how our hardest moments can become our greatest masterpieces — when we choose to transform rather than remain trapped in the past. Links to Zahra's Socials: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wellnesswithzahraLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahra-batool-99871a265/Insta: https://www.instagram.com/wellness.nutrition.nlp/Fb Profile: https://www.facebook.com/Zahra.Batool.CoachFb page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562168041544 Wellness Warriors Unleashed: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14QKx2HKZek/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coach.zahra.batool?lang=en Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ZahraBatoolCoach

    26 min
  8. Episode 5: From Barely Getting By to Building a Movement: Paige Swanstein’s Fight for Student Needs

    10/29/2025

    Episode 5: From Barely Getting By to Building a Movement: Paige Swanstein’s Fight for Student Needs

    In this powerful episode of I Grabbed the Branch, host Heather Owens sits down with Paige Swanstein — co-founder of the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC) — to explore how one student’s struggle to survive became a national movement for change. Paige opens up about working three jobs in college, skipping meals, and facing the impossible choice between rent and education. Those experiences became the roots of her advocacy: helping students meet their most essential needs so they can focus on learning, not just surviving. Together, Heather and Paige talk about resilience, leadership, and the moment Paige realized that sharing her story could create systemic change. Listeners will hear how the SBNC grew from a student-led initiative into a nationwide network influencing policy, empowering campuses, and giving students a voice in shaping their futures. This conversation is a reminder that change often starts with one brave voice — and that even when you’re barely getting by, you can still build something extraordinary. 🎙️ I Grabbed the Branch — real stories of resilience, purpose, and the people who turned pain into power. Learn more about SBNC at https://www.studentbasicneeds.com/ Follow Paige and her journey on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigeswanstein/

    19 min
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Trailers

About

If you’ve ever carried grief, trauma, heartbreak, or simply the weight of surviving hard seasons, I Grabbed the Branch was created for you. 🌿 This podcast is a space for real stories, honest conversations, and the kind of healing that isn’t always neat or linear. It’s about resilience, connection, and reminding each other that none of us have to walk through life’s storms alone. Season 1 has been filled with courage, vulnerability, and community — and there’s so much more still to come. New voices, deeper conversations, and even more reminders that hope can still exist after hardship are on the way. No matter what you’ve faced, there’s a place for you here. So when life gets heavy, keep holding on… and keep grabbing the branch. 🌿💛

Information

  • Creator
    Heather Owens
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Heather Owens
  • Show Website
    I Grabbed the Branch