Imperfectly Human™ | Athlete Identity & Life After Sport

In this episode, Rachel speaks from the heart as she reflects on the tragic shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia—a place deeply personal to her and now forever marked by heartbreaking loss. What happened hits close to home, and Rachel shares her emotional response to the tragedy while acknowledging the pain felt by so many around the world.

This conversation goes beyond the headlines. Rachel addresses the rise of anti-Semitism and extremism, while emphasizing an essential truth: extremists do not represent entire faiths or communities. She calls for courage over silence, unity over division, and compassion over fear—urging listeners to stand against all forms of discrimination and to support both Jewish and Muslim communities in the shared fight against hate, terrorism, and violence. This episode is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and a call to choose understanding, solidarity, and peace.

The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

In this episode: Marcus Smith II shares his journey from being a first-round NFL Draft pick to quietly battling anxiety, depression, and the loss of identity outside of football. We explore the immense pressure athletes face to perform, the culture of silence around mental health, and how those unspoken struggles nearly cost Marcus his life. Through therapy, vulnerability, and the courage to stop hiding, Marcus began to heal and redefine what success truly means. This conversation is a powerful reminder that mental wellness is not just about surviving, but about reconnecting with who you truly are.

Meet my guest: Marcus Smith II is a former first-round NFL Draft pick who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and Washington Commanders. After facing his own mental health challenges, Marcus turned his personal pain into purpose and has become a leading voice in athlete mental wellness. Today, he works with professional sports organizations, college and high school programs, and corporate leaders to promote emotional resilience, mindfulness, and sustainable high performance. Through his work and storytelling, Marcus helps people drop the mask, build self-awareness, and understand that true strength begins with honesty.

You can find more about Marcus’s journey here: https://marcussmithii.com/

If you’re an athlete check out https://www.athletes.org/

If you’re an athlete struggling reach out to: https://apn.com/

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The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

In this heartfelt conversation, Rachel speaks with Bryan and Danielle Docobo, a couple who have turned their personal tragedy into a mission of advocacy for rare disease families. Their boys, Liam and Ethan were both diagnosed with a rare genetic condition known as Coats Plus Syndrome by a team at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. They share their journey of navigating grief after the loss of their son Ethan, while also fighting for the health of their other son, Liam.  The couple discusses the importance of community support, spirituality, and finding meaning in their loss as they work to raise awareness and funds for research. Their story is one of resilience, love, and the power of turning grief into action.

To learn more about Coats Plus Syndrome and ways you can donate, you can reach out to [email protected] 

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The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

In this episode, Rachel talks about the emotional toll of denying who you are or who you love—and the quiet, often unseen ways it impacts your mental health. This is a gentle, honest conversation about the cost of hiding, the weight of shame, and why living out of alignment with yourself can lead to anxiety, depression, loneliness, and disconnection.

Together, we unpack:

why authenticity is a core psychological need

how chronic hiding creates stress, fear, and hypervigilance

the grief that comes from editing parts of yourself to stay accepted

what begins to heal when you finally step into your truth

This episode isn’t about labels or politics—it’s about humanity, compassion, and the right we all have to live a life that fits. If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t show up as your full self, or you’ve carried the quiet heaviness of hiding who you love or what you feel, this conversation is for you.

You deserve space to breathe.

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The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

Ever catch yourself jumping in to fix everyone’s problems… then getting mad when no one changes? Or feeling powerless and wondering why life keeps happening to you? Welcome to the Drama Triangle — where the Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor take turns running your relationships into the ground.

In this episode, I share what my own therapist pointed out to me this week (spoiler: I was deep in the rescuer role 🙃), and we unpack what Diane Zimberoff calls “the victim trap” — the cycle that keeps people stuck, resentful, and disconnected.

We’ll talk about:

If you’ve ever felt drained from “helping,” blamed for everything, or trapped in the same emotional loops — this one’s going to hit.

Because the moment you stop rescuing, blaming, or surrendering your power… that’s the moment you actually get it back.

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The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

The holidays are coming — and with them, a whole storm of emotions, expectations, and family chaos wrapped in shiny paper. In this episode, I’m breaking down why the holidays hit so hard for so many of us (hint: it’s not just the in-laws or the turkey), and how to handle it with real, evidence-based tools that actually work.

We’ll talk about:

This isn’t your typical “stay positive” holiday pep talk — it’s an honest, funny, and real conversation about surviving the season with your sanity (and self-respect) intact.

If the holidays make you want to hide in your car between family events, this episode’s for you.

🎧 Listen now and get your emotional toolkit ready for the chaos — one deep breath at a time.

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The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

In this episode, we chat with Kat, a survivor of domestic violence, PTSD, and single motherhood at 16.

She opens the doors on trauma and shines the light on the hidden scars of emotional and psychological abuse.

She speaks with raw honesty about the lasting impact of trauma, the power of boundaries, and how self-worth plays a critical role in healing.

Through her personal story, she challenges audiences to rethink what they know about abusive relationships and foster a deeper understanding of the complexities survivors face.

A sought-after speaker for colleges, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement, she equips you with the knowledge to support survivors and create meaningful change.

Check her out at www.the-lotus-effect.com and be sure to subscribe to her podcast, Real Chat with Kat on your listening platforms.

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The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

In this episode of Perfectly Imperfect Me 365, Rachel explores the cultural phenomenon of burnout, discussing its origins, impacts, and coping strategies. She emphasizes that burnout is not a personal failure but a societal issue that many face. The conversation delves into the unhealthy coping mechanisms people often resort to and highlights healthier strategies for recovery, including radical acceptance and reconnecting with personal values. Rachel encourages listeners to cultivate awareness of their burnout and take small steps towards recovery.

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• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rachelblogglcsw⁠⁠⁠⁠

The podcast content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.

In this episode of Perfectly Imperfect Me, Rachel discusses the common misconception that motivation is the key to taking action. She explains that motivation is a fleeting feeling rather than a reliable behavior. Instead of waiting for motivation to strike, Rachel offers practical strategies to overcome procrastination and get started on tasks, emphasizing the importance of breaking tasks down into smaller steps, validating oneself, and creating a supportive environment for action.

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• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rachelblogglcsw⁠⁠⁠⁠