We’re thrilled to welcome back Rachel Lavin, a familiar and deeply cherished voice in our network! Since her last appearance, Rachel has continued evolving on her self-love and personal growth journey, and this episode offers a powerful update on her experiences with setting boundaries, letting go of guilt, and living a more authentic and intentional life.

Rachel shares what she’s learned about emotional resilience, honoring your boundaries without guilt, and the importance of meeting people where they are. She reminds us that self-care isn't selfish—it's essential—and by preserving our energy, we’re better equipped to serve others with integrity and compassion.

We explore:

• How to set boundaries without guilt

• Why honoring others’ "no" is just as important

• Emotional wellness and mental clarity through self-respect

• Letting go of what you can’t control

• How self-awareness leads to healthier relationships

• Reframing vulnerability and asking for help

• Rachel’s mantra: “I will get through this”

Whether you're just starting your personal growth journey or looking to deepen your relationship with yourself, Rachel’s transparency and wisdom are sure to inspire.

🎧 Listen to Rachel’s first episode “Embracing Body Love” and catch her on our YouTube panel, Substack Live, and more via the links below.

Ways to Engage:

Identify one area in your life where you need support. Ask for help—and allow yourself to receive it. You don’t have to do it all alone.

🔑 High-Ranking SEO Keywords (15–20)

• Personal growth journey

• Emotional boundaries

• Women’s empowerment podcast

• Authentic living

• Mental wellness for women

• Self-love and acceptance

• Setting healthy boundaries

• Letting go of guilt

• Empowering female voices

• Emotional resilience

• Asking for help

• Personal development stories

• Growth mindset

• Vulnerability in healing

• Women supporting women

• Podcast for self-care

• Mindful living tips

• Transformative conversations

• Body positivity advocate

• Healthy relationship dynamics

#SelfLoveJourney #AuthenticLiving #BoundariesAreHealthy #PersonalGrowth #MentalWellness #WomenEmpoweringWomen #EmotionalWellbeing #LiveWithIntention #HealingThroughBoundaries #GrowthMindset #BodyPositivity #SelfCareIsEssential #EmpoweredWomenEmpower #AskForHelp #HealingJourney #HealthyBoundaries #WomenSupportingWomen #EmbraceYourself #InnerPeace #EmotionalResilience

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:28 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 17:16 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 23:46 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 41:56 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 51:12 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 1:02:02 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 1:06:48 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:19:02 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:22:12 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:22:49 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact ⁠⁠⁠

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, I sit down with the incredible Tracy DeTomsai—a trauma-informed leader, speaker, and advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Tracy shares her personal transformation journey and the inspiring work she does through Project Callisto, an organization using technology to empower survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

We explore the subtle yet significant ways women can reclaim their space, live unapologetically, and break free from shame, guilt, and societal conditioning. From shifting how we speak to understanding emotional boundaries, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired to take action in your own life.

Key Topics Covered:

• How women can stop apologizing for taking up space

• Tools for emotional regulation and boundary setting

• The difference between carrying your emotions vs. others’

• The power of trauma-informed advocacy

• Empowering sexual assault survivors through technology

• Deconstructing victim-blaming culture

• The mission and impact of Project Callisto

Whether you're a survivor, advocate, or simply someone on a healing journey, this episode will give you tools to step into your truth, reclaim your voice, and live without guilt or shame.

Join the conversation and tell us what resonated with you the most.

Trauma-informed healing, Empowering women, Sexual assault advocacy, Project Callisto, Survivor support, Reclaiming your voice, Living unapologetically, Emotional boundaries, Feminist podcast, Empowerment for women, Overcoming shame, Women’s mental health, Healing from trauma, Stop apologizing, Victim-blaming awareness, Self-empowerment tools, Advocating for survivors, Tech for social change, Breaking generational trauma, Mind-body connection

#TraumaInformed

#WomenEmpowerment

#SexualAssaultSurvivor

#LiveUnapologetically

#HealingJourney

#ProjectCallisto

#StopVictimBlaming

#TakeUpSpace

#EmpowerSurvivors

#MentalHealthMatters

#UnapologeticallyYou

#FeministPodcast

#EmotionalHealing

#KnowYourWorth

#TechForGood

#BoundarySetting

#SurvivorStrong

#OwnYourStory

#NoMoreShame

#TraumaRecovery

Ways to Engage: Do not hold the emotions of others in your body. Listen to your body and separate your own emotions from the emotions of others. If you’re struggling with this, journal it. Write out what you’re feeling and connect the dots between what is yours and what you are holding for others.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 1:34 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 8:40 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 12:16 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 17:54 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 42:02 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 52:09 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 59:20 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:04:08 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:05:39 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:06:06 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact ⁠⁠

In this heart-centered crossover episode of The F.E.E.L. Podcast, we're joined by the incredible Mary Rothwell, host of No More Shrinking Violets. Fresh off Melissa’s appearance on her show in the episode “Embracing All Your Layers: The Path to Authentic Living”, Mary is now here with us, bringing her authentic, grounded, and nature-inspired wisdom to the mic.

This episode dives into setting healthy boundaries, understanding the toll of invisible labor, and recognizing the signals our bodies give us when we’re overstretched. Mary uses her love for gardening to describe how pruning, trimming, and creating space are necessary not just for plants—but for people too. Her metaphors are not only beautiful, they’re practical, and remind us that boundaries are about growth, not restriction.

We also talk about the emotional and physical effects of poor boundaries, why women disproportionately carry invisible labor, and how to reclaim your time and energy by honoring your needs and self-worth. Mary is an empowering voice for anyone feeling overlooked, overextended, or on the verge of burnout.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to set boundaries that nurture rather than restrict

• The impact of invisible labor—and why it often falls on women

• Physical signs that you need stronger boundaries

• Gardening metaphors that make boundaries feel natural and intuitive

• Why evolving boundaries are a sign of personal growth

• The connection between authentic living and self-preservation

• Practical ways to wind down and honor your sleep hygiene

About Mary Rothwell:

Mary Rothwell is the host of No More Shrinking Violets, a podcast centered on authenticity, empowerment, and emotional wellbeing. With her blend of introspection, humor, and creativity, she encourages women to embrace every part of themselves—flaws, layers, boundaries, and all.

Ways to Engage:

• Practice a 2-hour wind-down before bed: Limit screen time, stretch, read, or color to help your brain slow down.

• Tune into your body: Listen when it tells you it’s tired, overwhelmed, or overworked.

• Acknowledge the invisible labor in your life and community—and express gratitude.

• Revisit Melissa’s guest appearance on No More Shrinking Violets to explore both sides of this empowering conversation.

Connect With Us:

• Subscribe to The F.E.E.L. Podcast

• Leave a review and share what resonated most with you

• Follow us @thefeelpodcast for behind-the-scenes and bonus content

#AuthenticLiving

#HealthyBoundaries

#InvisibleLabor

#WomenEmpowerment

#EmotionalWellness

#SelfCareMatters

#BurnoutRecovery

#NoMoreShrinkingViolets

#EmbraceYourLayers

#SelfWorth

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 2:05 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 8:48 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 21:41 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 32:53 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 44:44 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 51:31 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 59:31 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 1:02:30 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 1:07:22 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 1:07:40 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

✨ Free Download: Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life Sample Freebie ✨- https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:02ce6c2f-90ed-4741-bdab-e62e20c2e7ad

In this empowering bonus resource, we’re giving you a free sneak peek into the Embracing a F.E.E.L Fueled Life course! This downloadable PDF guides you through reconnecting with who you truly are—beyond your roles, responsibilities, and expectations.

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact ⁠⁠