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Explore every episode of the podcast The Cycle Breakers Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for The Cycle Breakers Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Robin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass, Lessons from Gift Economies, and the Reality of Windigo26 Feb 202600:56:39

In this conversation, Rachael is joined by Robin Wall Kimmerer - writer, scientist, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation - to explore what Indigenous teachings offer us in a time shaped by overconsumption, disconnection, and ecological crisis.

Drawing from her work in Braiding Sweetgrass & The Serviceberry, Robin reflects on reciprocity as a way of life, the consequences of living in a market economy, and what happens when consumption replaces connection. Together, they examine how the Anishinaabe tale of Windigo is not relic of the past, but mirrors the systems shaping our present reality.

This episode is an invitation to rethink abundance, materiality, and belonging, and to consider what it truly means to live in right relationship with the natural world, and with one another.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Recognizing the material gifts of the natural world

  • The difference between a market economy and a gift economy

  • How the tale of Windigo reflects modern systems of excess and extraction

  • What The Honourable Harvest teaches us about reciprocity & right relationship

  • What we need to understand about the Seventh Fire Prophecy


LINKS

Robin's Website

Plant Baby, Plant Website

Robin's Instagram

Plant Baby, Plant Instagram

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Cycle Breakers YouTube

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Podcast Studio: Jilani Place

How Trauma Impacts Manifestation: A Trauma-Informed & Science-Backed Approach19 Feb 202600:32:38

Manifestation is everywhere, and a lot of it misses the point.

If you've done the visualizing, affirming, and "doing the work" but still feel stuck, this isn't a failure of mindset or discipline. It goes deep into the nervous system and subconscious mind.

In this episode, I break down manifestation through a trauma-informed, neuroscience-based lens, to address how complex and generational trauma can impact our ability to manifest the way we're taught in new age realms. We'll look at why survival patterns override our conscious efforts, and what actually creates the conditions for successful desire attainment & goal achievement.

In this episode, we explore:

  • How trauma reorganizes the system around survival instead of expansion

  • Why affirmations and visualization fail when the body doesn't feel safe

  • How generational and complex trauma shape what feels possible to receive

  • What actually creates the conditions for sustainable manifestation

 

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Cycle Breakers YouTube

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (Spring 2026 cohort starts in May)

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Podcast Studio: Jilani Place

What it looks like to build a movement16 Oct 202500:44:50

This week's episode is inspired by a recent conversation with a client who is in the thick of building her movement - she feels like she's not just growing her business but changing an industry. This is legacy work, and I know this season she is in all too well. As I shared with her my business pivot and the journey of building the Cycle Breakers Movement, I knew that there was medicine in it for others as well. This is what I wish I had heard 2.5 years ago when I was starting over from scratch. If you take anything away from this episode, let it be to stay persistent & consistent.

In this episode, I riff on:

  • how to reframe setbacks as setups
  • overcoming victimhood to stand in your power 
  • what the gestation period in business growth looks like
  • why remembering the challenges will serve you 
  • holding the vision through low moments

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

An Empowering Way to Look at Lateral Violence02 Oct 202500:33:43

In this episode, I'm diving into a topic that can feel heavy, painful, and all too familiar for many of us - lateral violence. We'll talk about the deep roots of this cycle in colonization, residential schools, and intergenerational trauma - and why understanding this helps us see it's not about you, but about the wounds others carry. Most importantly, I'll share how to hold yourself powerfully, protect your energy, and keep showing up in your truth and authentic expression.

If you've ever been on the receiving end of judgment, criticism, or sideways energy from your own community, this episode will give you the perspective and tools to rise above it with grace, strength, and clarity.

In this episode, I riff on:

  • what lateral violence is
  • why it's so prevalent
  • examples of how it shows up 
  • how to navigate without perpetuating more harm
  • a solutions-forward approach to lateral violence

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

The Role Your Nervous System Plays in Your Success24 Sep 202500:34:19

Join the fall cohort of the Freedom Method™️ Certification - a science-backed, trauma-informed and Indigenous-led program. Get 6 certifications in 3 months. Enrol here.

This week, I'm diving into a truth I've been sitting with: success has less to do with hustle or strategy, and everything to do with how safe we feel in our bodies. Success lives in the nervous system. In this episode, I share my own journey with nervous system healing and why it's not just about breathing or meditating more - especially when you're carrying complex, intergenerational, or early developmental trauma.

In this episode, I riff on:

  • Why safety shapes your capacity for success

  • How old patterns keep us looping in survival

  • The window of tolerance & holding more with ease

  • The vagus nerve as a key to regulation + resilience

  • How the Freedom Method Certification helps you embody and share this work

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (we start October 1st)

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

The Power of Vulnerability, Financial Shame, Holding the Vision No Matter What w/ Tupaarnaq18 Sep 202501:08:30

Join the fall cohort of the Freedom Method™️ Certification - a science-backed, trauma-informed and Indigenous-led program. Get 6 certifications in 3 months. Enrol here.

This week we have a special guest joining us. Tupaarnaq Kopeck is an Inuk woman from Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), and she's passionate about supporting Inuit and Indigenous communities with personal finance and investing. Her background is in banking, and she also studied business and psychology, so she loves combining practical financial tools with an understanding of how our experiences and emotions shape money decisions. Her mission is to help people heal, feel empowered, and build long-term financial strength in ways that are culturally meaningful and accessible.

 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Tupaarnaq's experience growing up Inuk while navigating two worlds
  • navigating financial shame and how to reconcile with the past
  • a transparent look at building a business & community from scratch
  • how to keep holding the vision when results aren't coming in
  • her mission and what keeps driving her forward

 

LINKS

Tupaarnaq's Instagram

Tupaarnaq's TikTok

Tupaarnaq's Website

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

I've Walked Miles in These Shoes11 Sep 202500:46:12

Join the fall cohort of the Freedom Method™️ Certification - a science-backed, trauma-informed and Indigenous-led program. Get 6 certifications in 3 months. Enrol here.

This week's episode is an ode to the resilience, tenacity, personal growth and trust that it takes to build a movement. Rachael shares exactly how she layed the foundation for the Freedom Method™️ - brick-by-brick - throughout the past 7 years derived from lived experiences and divine guidance. You know how they say, "until you've walked a mile in these shoes..." rings so true as we explore how the greatest medicine we will ever gain is through life itself.

In this epsiode, Rachael riffs on:

  • what Iggy Azalea has to do with this episode 
  • taking pressure off yourself
  • how each pillar of The Cycle Breakers Movement evolved from personal hardship
  • how to recognize life's burdens as blessings
  • how you can bring challenges into your work powerfully

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (cohort starts October 1)

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Go Where You're Understood31 Aug 202500:31:40

Join the fall cohort of the Freedom Method™️ Certification - a science-backed, trauma-informed and Indigenous-led program. Get 6 certifications in 3 months. Enrol here.

Just a few days late, but worth the wait! This week's episode is a recap of my time in Yellowknife for a speaking engagement for a group of Indigenous entrepreneurs. I am feeling so grateful for the opportunity and after a few days of reflection, I wanted to share my takeaways with a motivational and empowering flare! Bottom line: don't give up on the vision - good things come to those who persist!

In this episode, we discuss:

  • the highlights of my week in Yellowknife 
  • lessons I've learned in the past 2 years 
  • why holding your own vision is the most important job
  • how to surround yourself with like-minded folks
  • how to navigate rejections 

LINKS 

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (starts Oct 1)

Registration for The Freedom Method™️ Info Session (Sept 11)

 

The 'Eras' Tour, Starting from Scratch, Personal Evolution21 Aug 202500:34:34

Join the fall cohort of the Freedom Method™️ Certification - a science-backed, trauma-informed and Indigenous-led program. Get 6 certifications in 3 months. Enrol here.

A weekend visit with one of Rach's best friends resulted in a cathartic trip down memory lane and a handful of lessons, realizations, and appreciations for the beautiful journey we call life. This episode serves as a reminder of the good medicine it is to reflect on how far we've come. It invites listeners to consider the cycles and seasons of their own life, as benchmarkers of personal growth and evolution.

In this episode, Rach discusses:

  • her multi-faceted 7-year entrepreneurial journey 
  • what each business iteration taught her
  • starting over from scratch as evolution 
  • reflecting on the past as healing
  • using past successes and fuel for future wins

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Registration for Cycle Breakers Movement Info Session (Sept 11)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

One Year Ago I Walked Away - Healing from Narcissistic Abuse14 Aug 202500:40:36

This episode is deeply personal, but its intention is one filled with hope. One year ago I left a toxic relationship that became one of my greatest gifts and teachers. I am celebrating this milestone because even though it may have been the obvious decision, it was not an easy one. I know this is not a unique situation but I know it is a challenging one, so I hope that my story can empower someone else to walk away.

In this episode I share:

  • my personal experience with narcissistic abuse 
  • the difference between overt and covert personality disorders
  • a reflection on my life then and now
  • words of encouragement and support for anyone who needs it (my DMs are always open)

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (fall cohort now enrolling)

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

Soft as Bones, Reslience, Cultural Healing w/ Chyana Marie Sage07 Aug 202500:56:42

Chyana Marie Sage is a Cree, Métis, and Salish memoirist, journalist, essayist, poet, model, screenwriter, and public speaker from amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton). She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia University - where she was the first Indigenous graduate - and later taught as an adjunct professor. After living in New York City, she returned to Canada and now lives in Toronto, working as Storyteller and Content Writer for Indspire. Her debut memoir, Soft as Bones (House of Anansi, May 2025), became an instant national bestseller. She is the founder of the Soft as Bones Storytelling Foundation, alongside her sister Chayla Delaney Rain, dedicated to healing through the arts.

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • definining moments that shaped her life path
  • how cultural healing helps break generational cycles
  • the medicine her debut memoir, Soft as Bones, offers her readers
  • turning rock bottoms into rebirths

LINKS

Chyana's Instagram

Chyana's Youtube

Chyana's Website

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Letting Yourself Be Seen & Take Up Space31 Jul 202500:36:31

Save up to $1000 on The Freedom Method™️ Certification until end of day July 31. Use code EARLYBIRD1000 at checkout when you opt to PAY IN FULL here.

This week's episode unpacks a core theme that has been coming up for Rach lots during Mercury Retrograde. She explores the subtle and insidious ways we are holding ourselves back that we may not be consciously aware of. You'll hear her real-life accounts of how's she's been allowing herself to take up more space and be seen in her true essence.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • the ways in which we dim our light without knowing
  • how the Visibility Wound is impacting you
  • embracing our natural essence
  • tips & takeaways to take up more space in networking spaces

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Pay in Full Promo Code: EARLYBIRD1000 (ends July 31)

Payment Plan Promo Code: EARLYBIRD111 (ends July 31)

Email rachael@freedomschool.co with questions 🫶🏻

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Jordin Tootoo: From the North to the NHL, Mental Health, Masculinity & Vulnerability12 Feb 202601:02:51

In this episode of The Cycle Breakers Podcast, I'm joined by Jordin Tootoo - former NHL player, mental health advocate, and the first Inuk athlete to play in the league.

Jordin spent 13 seasons in the NHL, playing with the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Chicago Blackhawks, where he became known for his toughness, grit, and relentless presence on the ice. But beyond the game, his journey is one of resilience, healing, and redefining what strength truly means.

Growing up in Rankin Inlet, Jordin learned early lessons from the land - lessons that shaped his identity, discipline, and ability to endure long before professional hockey entered the picture.  He also shares why vulnerability is essential for Indigenous men, and how healing and sobriety didn't just change his life - they fundamentally changed how he showed up on the ice and beyond it.

This is an honest conversation about masculinity, healing, and breaking cycles - on and off the rink.

In this episode, we explore:

  • Lessons from the land growing up in Rankin Inlet

  • How failure can become a powerful motivator for growth

  • Why mental health doesn't disappear with success or status

  • The importance of positive encouragement in Indigenous communities

  • Why Indigenous men need space to embrace vulnerability

  • How healing and sobriety transformed Jordin's playing style and life


LINKS

Jordin's Instagram

Jordin's Website

Jordin's Book - All the Way: My Life on Ice

Jordin's Books - Mind Over Matter

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Cycle Breakers YouTube

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Podcast Studio: Jilani Place

How Generational Trauma Is Affecting You24 Jul 202500:38:31

There comes a time when you realize the fear, self-doubt, or stuckness you've been carrying… isn't even yours. In this episode, we explore how generational trauma gets embedded in your subconscious, nervous system, and spirit — and what it takes to truly shift it. I'm sharing the deeper science behind this work, how trauma shows up in ways we often normalize, and the multidimensional healing approach we use inside The Freedom Method™ Certification.

In this episode, we explore:

  • How generational trauma imprints onto the subconscious and nervous system
  • Why mindset work alone isn't enough to break the cycle
  • The hidden ways trauma impacts clarity, success, relationships, and inner peace
  • My 3-layer healing approach: subconscious, somatic + spiritual
  • The mission behind The Freedom Method™️ Certification

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Pay in Full Promo Code: EARLYBIRD1000 

Payment Plan Promo Code: EARLYBIRD111

Email rachael@freedomschool.co with questions 🫶🏻

How to Join the Cycle Breakers Movement17 Jul 202500:33:12

This week, I'm sharing a powerful invitation to join the Cycle Breakers Movement in a bigger way. If you've been doing the work - healing, leading, shifting generational patterns - and you're ready to go deeper, the Freedom Method™ Certification is your next step, and I'm spilling all the tea in this episode. This is the first program of its kind - science-backed, trauma-informed, and Indigenous-led, and it contains 6 certifications in 1. This method is literally for the cycle breakers. This is your roadmap for creating generational wealth, success, prosperity & happiness - in a way that honours your ancestors and sets up the next 7 generations to thrive.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • where cycle-breaking begins
  • what the Freedom Method™️ Certification is
  • who the certification is created for
  • the endless possibilities with the certification
  • what to expect for yourself when you enroll

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Pay in Full Promo Code: EARLYBIRD1000

Payment Plan Promo Code: EARLYBIRD111

Email rachael@freedomschool.co with questions 🫶🏻

True Reconciliation Begins Within10 Jul 202500:18:25

So often, reconciliation is framed as something external, but in this conversation, I take you deeper into the inner world where real, lasting change begins. I share my own lived experience of what it's meant to reconcile with the parts of myself I was once taught to disconnect from - the grief, the shame, the unworthiness, the fear - and how doing this deep inner work has shaped the way I show up as a leader, healer, and guide for other Indigenous women.

In this episode I riff on:

  • What is required to reconcile with both lived and ancestral traumas
  • Why personal healing is essential before we lead others
  • How inner reclamation creates ripple effects through our lineage

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship Application for Indigenous Women 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

The Holy Fire® Ancestral Healing Activation [BONUS MEDITATION]03 Jul 202500:17:37

I have something special in store for this week's episode, as a token of my appreciation for your continued support and listenership. I am providing you exclusive access to my Holy Fire® Ancestral Healing Activation - typically only offered to private clients and as a bonus to corporate workshops. You can come back to this recording as many times as you like!

For the best listening experience:

  • put in headphones 
  • find a distraction-free space 
  • sit upright (legs can be propped and/or outstretched)
  • wear comfortable clothing

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

Balancing the Modern and the Medicine - Walking in Two Worlds26 Jun 202500:36:16

This episode is for the woman navigating the space between who she was taught to be and who she truly is. The one who feels the pull toward her Indigenous roots while still moving through a modern world. Walking in two worlds isn't always easy - but it's sacred work. In this conversation, I share what I've learned about honouring both the modern and the medicine, and how you can navigate the pathway as well.

In this episode, I riff on:

  • what it really means to walk in two worlds
  • embracing your full self - even the walking contradictions 
  • the role of ancestral and generational healing
  • letting go of the colonial "should's"
  • integrating an Indigenous worldview into your leadership

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Ego Deaths, Plutophobia, and Fear of Leaving People Behind19 Jun 202500:42:20

This week's episode is a transmission straight from my personal transformation. I share what's been moving through me over the past month - a deep reckoning with ego death(s), an awareness of plutophobia (the fear of wealth), and the fear of leaving people behind. These aren't just individual experiences; they're collective initiations that so many Indigenous women and men are navigating as we rise, reclaim, and remember.

I open up about what these experiences have looked and felt like for me, how they're connected to ancestral trauma and colonial conditioning, and what it takes to move through them. This is for anyone who's walking through a portal of becoming and needs a reminder that you are not alone - you are breaking cycles and building legacy.

In this episode, I explore:

  • What plutophobia really is and how it blocks Indigenous wealth and success

  • How guilt can hold us back from our potential

  • The sacred unraveling of an ego death and what it looks like

  • How to reframe success so you don't fear abandoning your people 

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

The Reconnection Journey: Walking Between Worlds as an Indigenous Woman12 Jun 202500:38:12

In this solo episode, I share the sacred and sometimes challenging journey of reconnecting to one's Indigenous roots while navigating life in two worlds - the modern and the medicine. I speak candidly about identity, ancestral healing, spiritual initiation, and the transformative power of embracing the Seven Sacred Teachings. This episode is for Indigenous women who are also reclaiming their culture, breaking generational cycles, and seeking to live in alignment with their true purpose - personally and professionally. 

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • The realities and complexities of living between two worlds

  • Facing and integrating deep ancestral and personal trauma

  • The initiations of embodying the Seven Sacred Teachings

  • The importance of decolonizing mindset and business practices

  • Embracing your mission and walking the Red Road with humility and courage

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (APPLY)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (BOOK A CALL)

Being Raised Anishinaabe, Becoming an Author, Advice on Getting Published w/ Waubgeshig Rice05 Jun 202500:56:17

Today's special guest is Waubgeshig (aka Waub) Rice - an author and former journalist living in Sudbury, Ontario. He is of Anishinaabe and Canadian descent, and grew up in his father's home community of Wasauksing First Nation, an island community on Georgian Bay near Parry Sound. He's written three novels and a short story collection. He worked for nearly two decades as a journalist, mostly with CBC, while he wrote fiction in my spare time. He is the author of Moon of the Crusted Snow & Moon of the Turning Leaves. He  was fortunate to grow up in a time when my home community was reclaiming and reconnecting with Anishinaabe culture and stories, and those experiences have largely informed and influenced the storytelling journey he's on today.

 

In this episode we discuss:

  • growing up during a cultural reclamation and how this has influenced his life
  • raising children with Anishinaabe values and traditions
  • what sparked his passion for writing at a young age
  • a glimpse into Waub's writing process
  • advice on getting published as an Indigenous author

 

LINKS

Waub's Instagram

Waub's Facebook Page

Waub's Website (where to purchase books here)

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

Miss Indigenous Canada, Vulnerability as Medicine & Mental Health Awareness w/ Jessica McKenzie29 May 202500:53:57

On this week's episode, we have a very special guest. Jessica McKenzie is a proud member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, living in Toronto, ON. She is a sister, auntie, beadwork artist, and this years Miss Indigenous Canada. With her love for community, she encourages cultural revitalization through traditional beading workshops. Jessica has been recognized on APTN, Women of Influence, and in the Globe and Mail, where she champions the importance of Indigenous art to community and culture. Beyond her professional endeavours, she mentors Indigenous Youth in her Mentorship Program, Wīcih Kītisān (Help Your Sibling) and donates to various Indigenous initiatives across Turtle Island.

 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • how to confront mental health in an empowering way
  • how to use vulnerability as a pathway to connection
  • the journey to being titled Miss Indigenous Canada
  • tips on turning the doubts into dreams
  • words of wisdom for the younger Indigenous generations 

LINKS

Jessica's Instagram

Jessica's Facebook

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

When You're Feeling "Off" Listen to This22 May 202500:30:28

If you're having a "bad" day or feeling off, this one's for you. I almost didn't record today because I couldn't fake the high-vibe energy. So instead, I got real - because masking our emotions only takes us further from the medicine we need. This is a permission slip to pause, feel deeply, and connect with your Spiritual Counsel for guidance. Your bounce-back rate is your superpower. Let's explore how to hold the duality and move through the funk with compassion and curiosity.

 

In this convo, Rach riffs on:

  • How a sudden shift in frequency can be a sign you're meeting your next level 
  • How to honour and alchemize negative emotions, instead of shaming them
  • Simple but powerful practices to move through heavy energy
  • How I use my signature method to come back home to myself

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

MINI TIPI Co-Founders, Trisha Pitura & Mélanie Bernard: From Stay-At-Home-Moms to Dragon's Den & Building an Indigenous Brand05 Feb 202600:59:15

MINI TIPI is a Canadian brand that brings authentic Indigenous designs to life through woven blankets and accessories that carry stories and traditions. Co-founded in 2016 by Trisha Pitura, a member of Nipissing First Nation, and Melanie Bernard, from Quebec City of settler descent, MINI TIPI is shaped by their professional and personal experiences. Finding the void of authentically designed Indigenous textiles back when starting their business has led them to create what we know MINI TIPI as today; an industry leading lifestyle brand that creates authentic designs and collaborates with Indigenous artists to share knowledge and create high-quality products locally. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • the origin story of MINI TIPI & how it got started
  • from "native-inspired" to designing authentic Indigenous textiles
  • what matters most in seeking a business partner
  • the strengths each woman brings to the brand
  • BTS of the Dragon's Den journey (what you don't see on TV)
  • advice to prepare your business for investors
  • how they gifted Martha Stewart a blanket

LINKS

MINI TIPI Website MINI TIPI Facebook MINI TIPI Instagram

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (enrolling for Winter 2026 Cohort)

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Integrity + Indigenous Leadership15 May 202500:31:59

In this episode, we're diving deep into what it really means to lead with integrity - especially as Indigenous women reclaiming our power, our voice, and our value in business. Inspired by a recent experience that challenged me to hold my boundaries and reflect on what I truly stand for, this conversation explores the sacred responsibility we carry as leaders. We'll walk through the teachable moments that emerged - not from blame, but from embodiment.

This is a heart-led reminder that leadership isn't just about what you do - it's about how you do it. And when we lead from a place of truth, courage, and love, even the hardest moments become medicine.

We're talking:
→ the energetic power of honouring your word
→ why integrity is the foundation of heart-centered leadership
→ how the Seven Sacred Teachings guide us in business
→ the importance of protecting your medicine and your boundaries

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Closing the Gap to Your Desired Reality08 May 202500:24:38

In this solo episode, I'm unpacking the truth about the "gap" so many of us feel between our current reality and the life we know we're meant for. Whether it's in your relationships, career, or money - the problem isn't that you're not doing enough. It's that your subconscious, nervous system, and energetic setpoint might still be aligned with the old you. I share how we bridge that gap from the inside out using my science-based, Indigenous-led method rooted in deep inner rewiring and sacred self-reclamation.

In this episode, I riff on: 

  • Why this "gap" exists and what to do about it
  • How subconscious beliefs and nervous system dysregulation create repeating patterns in relationships, career, and money
  • Examples of how your current programming keeps you from what you desire
  • How to stop sabotaging and start creating your dream life

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (apply here)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Proof Your Ancestors Are Always Guiding You + This Story Is Wild01 May 202500:25:24

Chi-Miigwetch for helping us break a biggest monthly downloads record for the month of April! Please keep listening, sharing and subscribing!

This week's episode is a slightly different format and Rach is sharing a recent magical, mystical series of events that unfolded for her in the form of ancestral communication. As she recounts this story, she offers insight into how to foster a stronger relationship with your Spiritual Counsel to guide and support you along your journey. DM her on Instagram to share your favourite mystical, magical story!

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • the wisdom uncovered about her life purpose through her lineage
  • the mystical, magical message she received through a psychic
  • the reveal of the big project she has been secretly working on
  • the most insane spiritual encounter with my ancestors 

 

LINKS

 

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Episode 2: How Eagle Clan Came to Me

Episode 61: Kegedonce-Jones Genealogy w/ Dr. John Borrows

Fear the Other Shoe Will Drop & What To Do About It24 Apr 202500:42:01

 

What if your biggest block to receiving joy isn't what's happening outside of you - but what's lingering within? In this episode, Rachael unpacks the all-too-common fear that good things won't last- the fear that the "other shoe will drop." From ancestral trauma to nervous system dysregulation, we explore where this fear originates, how it silently sabotages your success, and how to reclaim safety in joy using The Freedom Method™.

Whether you're waiting for the sky to fall or feel like you're bracing through your blessings - this conversation will bring light to the shadow and power back to your path.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • How this fear shows up as tension, doubt, and sabotage

  • The connection between ancestral trauma and hypervigilance

  • Why your brain resists unfamiliar safety and success

  • Common protection patterns like self-sabotage and shrinking

  • Tools to regulate, rewire, and reclaim joy

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

The Seven Circles for Cultural Well-Being & Restoring Indigenous Masculinity w/ Thosh Collins17 Apr 202501:19:13

On this week's episode, we welcome Thosh Collins to the podcast. I had the opportunity to connect with him in-person in the Yukon, where we were both delivering keynotes at the IRS Wellness Gathering. Thosh Collins was born and raised in the Salt River Reservation in Arizona where he is now a family man, community organizer and an active participant in the community. He is a board member and senior trainer for the Native Wellness Institute and currently sits on the Land Management Board in Salt River. Thosh, along with his wife Chelsey Luger, co-founded WELL FOR CULTURE, an Indigenous wellness initiative which promotes whole life-ways through ancestral teachings to optimize contemporary Indigenous lifestyles. Thosh and Chelsey travel to indigenous communities all over the US and Canada to teach workshops about their indigenous wellness model the '7 Circles of Wellness'. They have presented at numerous national conferences focused on indigenous health. Thosh has dedicated his life to helping shift the collective consciousness of indigenous communities and people in regards to prioritizing whole health for the benefit of future generations.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • An introduction to Thosh's personal story & his healing journey
  • What it can take to form new ways of being in community
  • An overview of the 7 Circles of Wellness model for cultural well-being
  • How these 7 circles support cycle breaking
  • What's needed to restore Indigenous masculinity

LINKS

Thosh's Website

Thosh's Instagram

Thosh's YouTube

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

What You Need to Know About Your Nervous System + Manifestation10 Apr 202500:40:59

In this episode of Cycle Breakers, Rachael dives deep into the importance of nervous system regulation and how it directly impacts your ability to manifest and create the life you truly desire. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or stuck in survival mode, this episode will help you understand what's really going on beneath the surface - and offer simple, effective tools to bring your body back into balance.

You'll learn:

  • Why a regulated nervous system is the foundation for manifestation

  • The most common signs of nervous system dysregulation 

  • 5 powerful tools to regulate your nervous system 

  • How to shift from surviving to thriving

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Honouring the Cycle Keepers, Family Genealogy & Anishinaabe Law w/ Dr. John Borrows03 Apr 202500:57:48

Book your 90-min Elevated Ascension Session to break free from self-doubt, scarcity, and fear, stepping into clarity, confidence, and alignment. Ready to meet your highest self? Book now and reclaim your power.

This week I have the honour of welcoming a true leader in Indigenous law and governance, Dr. John Borrows, also my second cousin. John is the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Toronto Law School and a globally recognized scholar whose work has reshaped our understanding of Indigenous legal traditions. He has been recognized with some of the highest honors in Canada, including the Killam Prize, the Molson Prize, and the Governor General's Innovation Award. In 2020, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to law and reconciliation. John is also a proud member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, and his work deeply reflects his commitment to Indigenous resurgence, reconciliation, and justice. It's an absolute privilege to have him to the show!

 

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • how to honour both the cycle breakers & cycle keepers of our lineage
  • a detailed examination of the Kegedonce-Jones geneaology 
  • an understanding of Anishinaabe law 
  • a deeper look at the powerful mission & legacy John is building

 

LINKS

Drawing Out Law: A Spirit's Guide by John Borrows

Canada's Indigenous Constitution by John Borrows

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

90-Min Elevated Ascension Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Becoming the Cycle Breaker & The Subconscious Mind20 Mar 202500:42:29

Book your 90-min Elevated Ascension Session to break free from self-doubt, scarcity, and fear, stepping into clarity, confidence, and alignment. Ready to meet your highest self? Book now and reclaim your power.

 

This episode is recorded live from Whitehorse, Yukon Territories! I am giving you the BTS details of my latest keynote speaking opportunity, and the beautiful experience I had in the North. I also peel back the curtains on an important segment in my signature workshop presentation on Becoming the Cycle Breaker to help you better understand the subconscious mind and how to use it to support your sovereignty and personal empowerment.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

✨ her first experience in the Yukon and key takeaways from the wellness gathering

✨ illuminating the power you have to break cycles

✨ 6 foundations to the subconscious mind you need to know

✨ easy and practical tools to begin reframing your current mindset for success

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

90-Min Elevated Ascension Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Spirit Talker, Embracing & Trusting Your Intuitive Gifts w/ Shawn Leonard13 Mar 202501:02:03

Book your 90-min Elevated Ascension Session to break free from self-doubt, scarcity, and fear, stepping into clarity, confidence, and alignment. Ready to meet your highest self? Book now and reclaim your power.

Today's guest is Shawn Leonard, also known as The Spirit Talker. Shawn is a proud Indigenous Mi'kmaq person who works with spirit to heal hearts. Taking an authentic approach to the Spirit world in his live events, radio and TV appearances, workshops as well as teaching Spirit Talker Tribe online course. His gift has allowed him to help people all over the world as he communicates with departed loved ones, spirits and guides. The insights they share help us better understand our journey here on earth and provides healing for many people struggling with grief. He is the star & Host of APTN TV show "Spirit Talker", the author of "Spirit Talker" Book & "Wisdom of the Elders" Oracle Card Deck, published by Hay House Publishing.

 

In this episode we discuss:

✨ Leonard's earliest memory of connecting to Spirit at 3 years old

✨ how you can begin to reclaim your intuitive gifts today

✨ how to discern between Spirit & your own mind

✨ how to connect with the Spirit world in a good way

 

LINKS

Leonard's Website

Leonard's Facebook Group

Leonard's Instagram

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

90-Min Elevated Ascension Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Quantum Standards: The Key to Leveling the F*ck Up06 Mar 202500:32:15

Book your 90-min Elevated Ascension Session to break free from self-doubt, scarcity, and fear, stepping into clarity, confidence, and alignment. Ready to meet your highest self? Book now and reclaim your power.

In this episode, we're diving deep into raising your standards, shifting your reality, and embodying the highest version of yourself. This isn't just about setting goals or intentions—it's about creating a non-negotiable energetic baseline that aligns with your quantum timeline. When you commit to a higher standard, everything around you starts to shift—your relationships, your business, your self-worth, and even your body's cues. This is your reminder: you don't have to wait for external conditions to be perfect—your next level is ready for you NOW.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

✨ That moment when you know it's time to take things up a notch

✨ Why true transformation comes from energetic commitment

✨ Letting go of outdated identities, breaking free from self-imposed limitations

✨ Navigating the discomfort of expansion

✨ Learning to read your body's cues and only allowing in what supports your highest timeline

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

90-Min Elevated Ascension Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

 

Cognitive Native (Angelo McHorse): Uncle's Advice, Uplifting Native Peoples & Adopting an Abundance Mindset29 Jan 202600:59:20

Angelo McHorse, known as the Cognitive Native online, is a tribal member of Red Willow People of Taos Pueblo. He is a husband, father of 3, entrepreneur, and everyone's favourite uncle. He is the co-founder of Bison Star Naturals, alongside his wife, Jacquelene. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • perceiving "riches" beyond money
  • staying growth-minded while walking in two worlds
  • Uncle advice for adopting a "glass half full" outlook
  • overcoming victimhood through ancestral wisdom
  • developing mental fortitude to thrive

LINKS

Angelo's Instagram

Angelo's TikTok

Bison Star Naturals Website (use code COGNITIVENATIVE at checkout)

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Freedom Method™️ Certification

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Finding Your Purpose & Sense of Belonging Through Spirit Name & Clan w/ Karen Bird27 Feb 202501:04:48

For today's guest, we have Karen Bird from Batchewana First Nation, ON, an Anishnaabe woman who has received the 2015 Influential Women of Northern Ontario's Aboriginal Leadership Award and the 2018 ATHENA Leadership Award. She serves on the board of TakingITGlobal and is the first Indigenous President of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce. Karen is a strong advocate for women in business, leadership and Indigenous sovereignty through consulting work and various speaking engagements. Karen's passion is to support sexual assault survivors and their families to heal as a unit through her non profit Nakehndan: Knowing Your Truth.

 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Karen's multi-faceted journey 
  • the importance of developing a strong cultural connection
  • the value that knowing your spirit name & clan has on your career path, purpose, gifts, and confidence
  • how to overcome the sense of imposter syndrome through connection
  • if you feel disconnected, this one medicine will help you

 

LINKS

Karen's LinkedIn

ATHENA'S Indigenous Leadership Development Program

Nakehndan: Knowing Your Truth

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Indigenous Women's Healing Circle (March 8th)

90-Min Elevated Ascension Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Burn it Down to Build it Up20 Feb 202500:40:36

In this episode of Cycle Breakers, we're diving into the power of surrender—but not the gentle kind. We're talking about burning things down to clear space for something greater. If you've been feeling stuck, pushing, or forcing something that no longer fits, this conversation is for you. Sometimes, the hardest part isn't letting go—it's trusting what comes next. But when we surrender what no longer serves us, we create room for aligned opportunities, deeper fulfillment, and true expansion.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:


🔥 The key signs that something in your life or business is misaligned
🔥 Why surrendering isn't giving up—it's stepping into trust
🔥 The discomfort of the "void space" and how to navigate uncertainty
🔥 How to rebuild from a place of alignment instead of fear


QUICK LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

90-Min Elevated Ascension Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

 

Sacred Self-Love & Heart Healing13 Feb 202500:30:58

Your heart is more powerful than you think—it holds the key to your deepest healing, your ability to receive love, and your connection to your highest self. But if you've ever felt unworthy, disconnected, or afraid to open up, you're not alone.

In this episode, we're diving deep into the heart chakra, the power of self-love, and how Holy Fire Reiki can help you release emotional blocks and step into your full radiance. If you're ready to shift old patterns and start receiving love in a whole new way, this conversation is for you.

In This Episode, We Cover:
  • The truth about self-love and why it's more than just self-care rituals
  • How the heart chakra influences your ability to give and receive love
  • Signs of a blocked heart space—and how to know if you're holding onto old wounds
  • The power of Holy Fire Reiki in dissolving fear, past heartbreak, and ancestral wounds
  • Why healing with support (instead of doing it all alone) is the key to lasting transformation

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Book a Holy Fire Reiki Session

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Corporate Sponsorship 

Breaking Free from Victimhood: Reclaiming Your Power & Creating a New Reality06 Feb 202500:46:57

Have you ever felt like life is just happening to you—like no matter what you do, you can't seem to break free from struggle? This might be a sign you're operating from a victimhood state, a disempowering mindset that keeps you stuck in cycles of blame, self-doubt, and powerlessness.

In this episode of The Cycle Breakers, we're unpacking what it really means to be in a victimhood state, how to recognize if you're caught in it, and—most importantly—how to shift into a place of personal power. If you're ready to take radical ownership of your healing and step into a new reality, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✨ What victimhood state really is and how it impacts your life
✨ Key signs that you might be operating from a victim mentality
✨ Real-life examples of victimhood 
✨ How to shift from feeling powerless to taking full ownership of your reality
✨ Tangible mindset shifts to break free and step into your highest power

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (3-6 month options)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Corporate Sponsorship 

Ancestral Whispers & the Power of Synchronicity30 Jan 202500:34:38

In this episode of Cycle Breakers, we explore the sacred connection between ancestral guidance and the synchronicities that light our path. These whispers and signs aren't just coincidences—they're deeply meaningful messages from our lineage and the universe, urging us to heal, grow, and align with our purpose. Whether you've felt the pull of an inner nudge or noticed recurring patterns that feel too aligned to ignore, this episode will inspire you to trust and follow the magic of these moments.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • What ancestral whispers are and how they show up
  • How to recognize synchronicities and trust their guidance
  • Practices to tune into ancestral wisdom
  • Personal stories about following signs and how they led to breakthroughs.
  • Tools for cultivating a deeper relationship with your ancestors 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (3-6 month options)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Corporate Sponsorship 

How to Achieve Indigenous Success & Prosperity23 Jan 202500:31:01

This week we're flipping the script on Indigenous success by shifting focus from the problem to the solution. I'm breaking down the gap I see in how we approach healing and growth, and sharing powerful tools to achieve prosperity: Root Cause Reprogramming to unlock your subconscious wisdom, EFT tapping to release stuck energies, Hypnosis to access ancestral medicine in the quantum realm, Ancestral Reclamation to honour and reclaim your lineage, and Quantum Identity Activation to embody your highest self. It's time to close the gap and step fully into your power.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • The gap most healing approaches miss 
  • How to reframe the pain of the past into an empowering future  
  • The #1 way to interrupt patterns you're stuck in
  • The pathway to creating bigger impact in a good way

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (3-6 month options)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Corporate Sponsorship 

Your New Year's Edit09 Jan 202500:30:37

Happy New Year!  In this episode, we're diving into how my 2024reflections are shaping the energy and intentions for the year ahead. I'll share insights from my recent solo country cabin retreat (aka a "secret project" that's been brewing), the energetic upgrades I've embraced, and why 2025 is all about being rather than doing. Together, let's explore how to align with your desired emotions and create a life that feels as good as it looks.

In this episode, Rach riffs on: 
  • How to shift from obsessing over the "how" to embodying the "feel."
  • The Power of Emotional Alignment to focus on how you want to feel rather than what you want to achieve.
  • Your Life Edit 2025: Clean up energy leaks in your environment, relationships, health, and finances to support your emotional state.
  • How to embrace the trial and error as you tune into the shifts required for deeper alignment
  • How this will unlock opportunities, abundance, and joy that flow naturally.

LINKS:

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (3-6 month options)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Corporate Sponsorship 

BONUS Year-End Episode: Healing the Fear of Leaving People Behind30 Dec 202400:32:27

In this special year-end episode, I'm recapping the holidays—the joy, play, and gratitude, as well as moments of reflection. I offer insights on the power of leading with your heart and the freedom that comes when we overcome the ego's grip on material validation, personal agendas, and external perceptions. 

In this episode, I riff on:

  • The spontaneous fulfillment of desire and aligning with a mission bigger than yourself.
  • The difference between the ego's restless urgency and the heart's grounded peace.
  • How trauma and old programming keep us in survival mode—and how clearing those blocks allows us to feel good and connect to higher purpose.
  • The ripple effect of rising in your power and inviting others to thrive alongside you.

As we step into 2024, I invite you to reflect:

Are you living more in your head, or are you connecting to your heart and body's intelligence? If you're still seeking clarity on your purpose, let's talk about how healing and peeling back the layers can guide you to what you're meant to do.

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders (3-6 month options)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Corporate Sponsorship 

Business Real Talk + Integrity & Indigenous Values in Leadership w/ Cheekbone Beauty's Jenn Harper26 Dec 202400:55:06

This is the final episode of 2024, and we have the perfect guest to send us off into the new year. Jenn Harper is not just a name in the beauty industry; she's a revolution. An award-winning social entrepreneur and international speaker, Jenn is the trailblazing founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics—a brand that has gracefully painted the ideals of sustainability and inclusion onto a global canvas. Jenn Harper stands as more than a CEO; she is a voice for entrepreneurship, exerting influence on topics that are reshaping the business landscape: social entrepreneurship, empathy, representation, inclusivity, and sustainability.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • The inspiration and mission behind Cheekbone Beauty
  • How Indigenous values have shaped its inclusive & sustainable approach
  • The role of representation, integrity and community in building a brand
  • Personal growth, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 
  • A sneak peak into what's next for the company

LINKS

Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics Website

Cheekbone Beauty Instagram

Jenn's Instagram 

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Quantum Identity Activation™️ (1-3 month private mentorship)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (Corporate-Focused)

Corporate Sponsorship 

Just Shoot Your Shot - Taking Bold Action17 Dec 202400:27:14

As 2024 winds down, don't wait—shoot your shot! While others slow for the holidays, seize this moment to take bold action. Whether in work, business, relationships, or personal dreams, aim higher and trust yourself to go for it. I am sharing how taking audacious leaps transformed my year and why it's not just about the result—it's about building confidence, resilience, and signaling to the universe that you're ready for more. Let's do this!

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • Keeping momentum to stand out 
  • How to just shoot your shot already by overcoming doubt and aiming higher
  • BTS of real-life wins, such as pitches, risks, and unexpected growth.
  • Building resilience to gain confidence and bravery through bold moves.
  • Insights on trusting the process to let go, have faith, and allow divine timing

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Quantum Identity Activation™️ (1-3 month private mentorship)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (Corporate-Focused)

Corporate Sponsorship 

Internal Capacity Building: Holding More Without Burning Out22 Jan 202600:30:01

Capacity building is everywhere right now - in corporate spaces, community work, leadership conversations, and funding rooms. But most of the time, it stops at skills, strategy, and external preparation. In this solo episode, Rachael Hunt explores what's often missing from the conversation: internal capacity building - the ability for the nervous system to actually hold more responsibility, leadership, visibility, and expansion without tipping into survival. This is a grounded, trauma-informed conversation about leadership, sustainability, and what it really takes to grow without sacrificing yourself in the process.

In this episode, Rachael unpacks:

  • Why burnout has become normalized, even among high performers

  • The difference between external and internal capacity

  • How nervous system regulation expands your ability to hold more leadership, success, and visibility

  • Why over-functioning and over-achievement are often trauma responses, not personality traits

  • How somatic work and subconscious reprogramming create sustainable, embodied growth

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

The Cycle Breakers YouTube

The Freedom Method™️ Certification (Winter 2026 Cohort starts January 28th)

Private Mentorship for Indigenous Leaders 

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program 

Setting Boundaries, People Pleasing, Letting People Go12 Dec 202400:30:21

In this episode, Rach dives into the empowering practice of setting and honouring boundaries—a radical act of self-respect and self-value. Boundaries help protect your emotional, mental, and physical well-being by clearly defining what is and isn't acceptable in your relationships, work, and personal life. We'll explore how people-pleasing tendencies, like saying "yes" out of guilt or fear, can lead to burnout and self-abandonment. Learn why boundary-setting can feel uncomfortable and how to move through fears of rejection or judgment.

 

In the episode, Rach riffs on:

  • Why boundary setting is crucial for emotional, physical, and mental well-being
  • How people pleasing perpetuates energy leaks like self-abandonment, and how to heal this cycle
  • Common fears and patterns that make boundary setting challenging
  • Real-life examples of boundary setting in work, relationships, and personal life

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Quantum Identity Activation™️ (1-3 month private mentorship)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (Corporate-Focused)

Establishing Leadership, From Ego to Heart in Business, Money as Medicine w/ Shannon Pestun05 Dec 202400:59:27

This week we have a very special guest: Shannon Pestun.  She is the CEO of Pestun Consulting and Co-founder of The Finance Cafe. She also is a Senior Advisor to the Diversity Institute.

Shannon is an accomplished speaker who has spoken not only across Canada but internationally, sharing the challenges and successes of building an inclusive and sustainable economy. Her compassionate and warm expertise speaks across differences to show how together we can break down barriers, build sustainable partnerships, unlock innovation and create a more inclusive economy.

As a Métis woman, Shannon is passionate about reconciliation and the economic empowerment of Indigenous Peoples. 


In this episode, we discuss:

  • Shannon's career journey of "accidental" moments
  • how life experience has prepared her to fulfill life's work
  • an empowering perspective on money as medicine 
  • evolving as a leader from ego to heart
  • how entrepreneurship weaves into economic reconciliation

LINKS

Shannon's Website

Shannon's Instagram

Shannon's LinkedIn

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Quantum Identity Activation™️ (1-3 month private mentorship)

The Sacred Way Application (4-month Indigenous women's mastermind)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (Corporate-Focused)

The Birthday Episode: Love, Heartbreak, Reinventing Self, Life Lately26 Nov 202400:31:20

This is Rach's first ever birthday episode for the Cycle Breakers Podcast, and I have lots of goodness to share.  As I reflect on the past year, I realized that while there was a ton of loss and grieving, there was just as much growth and expansion.  This episode is one of triumph, empowerment, courage, and resilience amidst lifes challenges.

In this episode, Rach riffs on:

  • biggest lessons and learnings over the past year 
  • navigating loss & grief while building momentum
  • finding your sparkle again
  • spilling some tea on personal life
  • what she's looking forward to now

 

LINKS

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Quantum Identity Activation™️ (1-3 month private mentorship)

The Sacred Way Application (4-month Indigenous women's mastermind)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (Corporate-Focused)

Sobriety, Self-Determination, Identity Work & Cultivating Safe Spaces w/ Elaine Alec21 Nov 202400:55:06

This week's guest is Elaine Alec. She is from the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation and Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation and is a member of the Penticton Indian Band in the Interior of British Columbia.

She has been a political advisor, Chief of Staff for the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, Community Planner for her own First Nation, employee for the Province of BC and Federal Government and Entrepreneur. Elaine has spent over 20 years in over 100 communities across Canada to promote healing and wellness. 

Elaine is a first-time author of "Calling My Spirit Back" a memoir about growing up as an Indigenous girl in Canada and the impacts of colonization. It also provides Indigenous knowledge and teachings on how to cultivate safe spaces for diversity and inclusion.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • how her journey of healing & sobriety began
  • the evolution of her purpose as an Indigenous woman
  • her take on feeling the fear & doing it anyway
  • how to remember who you are & where you come from
  • identity work as a form of self-determination

 

QUICK LINKS

Elaine's Website

Naqsmist Storytellers Inc.

Cultivating Safe Spaces Program

Elaine's Instagram

Rachael's Website

Rachael's Instagram

Rachael's LinkedIn

Rachael's TikTok

Quantum Identity Activation™️ (1-3 month private mentorship)

The Sacred Way Application (4-month Indigenous women's mastermind)

Indigenous Employee Empowerment Program (Corporate-Focused)

 

© My Podcast Data