The Confident Woman Podcast

<p>There are seasons in life when everything you knew about yourself begins to shift—not loudly, not all at once, but quietly beneath the surface. Nothing is obviously wrong, yet nothing feels quite right either. You’re still showing up. Still functioning. Still carrying responsibility. But inside, something feels unfamiliar.</p><p>In this solo episode of <em>The Confident Woman Podcast</em>, Rachel Brooks opens up about one of the most disorienting questions a woman can face:</p><p><strong>Who am I now?</strong></p><p>What began as a simple moment—rediscovering an old journal with three words written on a pink sticky note—became a mirror reflecting the season she’s currently walking through. A season marked by grief, rebuilding, identity loss, and becoming someone new without fully knowing who that woman is yet.</p><p>Rachel shares candidly about the last year of her life, including the sudden loss of her father, the unraveling that followed, and the quiet ways grief reshapes not just your world, but your sense of self. She speaks to the exhaustion of holding everything together while feeling disconnected from who you are beneath the roles, expectations, and versions of yourself you’ve carried for years.</p><p>This episode is for the woman who feels caught in the middle—no longer who she was, not yet who she’s becoming. It’s for the one navigating loss, transition, burnout, or a life shift that has left her questioning her identity, her faith, and the story she’s been living.</p><p><strong>Inside this conversation, Rachel explores:</strong></p><ul><li>Why identity often unravels before it rebuilds</li><li>How grief and major life transitions quietly reshape who we are</li><li>The danger of clinging to old versions of yourself that no longer fit</li><li>What it means to surrender control instead of forcing clarity</li><li>How faith becomes an anchor when certainty disappears</li><li>Why becoming is a process—not a destination</li><li>And why, at some point, you have to stop living by inherited scripts and create your own story</li></ul><p>If you’ve ever felt like you disappeared inside your own life, or sensed that the woman you’ve been can’t come with you into what’s next, this episode will give you language, permission, and reassurance—you’re becoming.</p><p><strong>Next Steps...</strong></p><p>If this episode put words to something you’ve been feeling but couldn’t name, here are grounded ways to support yourself in this season:</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming"><strong>I Am… Becoming</strong></a> A guided identity journey for women who are rebuilding, redefining, and learning how to create their own story from where they are now—not who they used to be. </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset"><strong>I Am Enough Reset (Free)</strong> </a>A gentle place to start if you need space, grounding, and truth right now.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/substack"><strong>Create Your Own Story </strong></a>Quiet, journal-style letters and reflections Rachel has been writing beyond the podcast—shared as an ongoing conversation for women navigating identity shifts and becoming. </p><p><strong>Connect with Rachel Brooks</strong></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://instagram.com/iamrachelbrooks">@iamrachelbrooks</a></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://linkedin.com/in/iamrachelbrooks">linkedin.com/in/iamrachelbrooks</a></p><p>Listen + Subscribe: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com/podcast">iamrachelbrooks.com/podcast</a></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com">iamrachelbrooks.com</a></p>

<p>There are seasons in life when your identity starts shifting long before anything around you makes sense. You don’t feel like the woman you used to be, but you haven’t fully become the woman you’re becoming. It’s disorienting, isolating, and often hard to explain.</p><p>In today’s episode, Rachel sits down with <strong>Alexandria Ott</strong>—founder and CEO of Chrome City Creative, creator of The Blank Table dinner series, and a woman who knows firsthand what it means to rebuild yourself from the inside out while leading, mothering, and navigating massive life transitions.</p><p>This conversation pulls back the curtain on what “having it all” really looks like behind the scenes: the seasons of burnout, the pressure to perform, the identity unraveling, the motherhood layers, and the strength it takes to build a career, a life, and a self you’re actually proud of.</p><p>Together, Rachel and Alex dive into:</p><ul><li>The internal shift that happens before an external change</li><li>Why identity transitions feel confusing — and why that’s normal</li><li>How to rebuild your life when the old version of you no longer fits</li><li>The truth about balance, burnout, and the pressure to be “all things”</li><li>The privilege, the sacrifice, and the support required to make big dreams work</li><li>How to stop comparing your path to everyone else’s</li><li>Creating a life you feel instead of a life you simply manage</li><li>The role of rest, health, and internal grounding — especially for high-achieving women</li><li>Why you must decide how you want your life to <em>feel</em>, not just what you want to accomplish</li><li>The mindset shift Alex uses to keep fear and scarcity from running her life or business</li></ul><p>This is the kind of conversation that gives language to what so many women are silently navigating: the unraveling, the rebuilding, and the courageous middle space between who you were and who you’re becoming.</p><p>If you’re in a transition season—or if you’ve been questioning your pace, your identity, or your path—this episode will meet you exactly where you are.</p><p><strong>QUOTES:</strong></p><p>“Not everyone is meant to be in the A-seat. You can thrive in the role that aligns with your soul—not the one the world tells you to want.”</p><p>“The middle isn’t a void. It’s a crossing. It’s where God does His deepest rebuilding.”</p><p>“What if the baseline is that everything works out? What if the default is abundance?”</p><p>“You can’t build a life you love by modeling someone else’s blueprint. You have to look within.”</p><p><strong>RESOURCES &amp; NEXT STEPS:</strong></p><p><strong>I Am… Becoming</strong> A guided identity journey for women navigating transition, rebuilding, or stepping into a new season. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming">iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming</a></p><p><strong>I Am… Enough Reset</strong> A simple 10-minute reset to help you quiet the noise and return to yourself when life feels overwhelming. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset">iamrachelbrooks.com/reset</a></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRIA OTT</strong></p><p>Chrome City Creative: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://chromecitycreative.com">chromecitycreative.com</a> </p><p>Instagram: @alexvott </p><p>The Blank Table + Wild and Wise Podcast: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://alexandriaott.com">alexandriaott.com</a></p><p><strong>CONNECT WITH RACHEL BROOKS:</strong></p><p>Instagram: @iamrachelbrooks</p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com">iamrachelbrooks.com</a></p>

<p>In this week’s episode, Rachel Brooks opens up about the kind of transition most women walk through quietly—the moment when life shifts so deeply that the version of you the world recognizes no longer feels like the woman you are inside. You’re not who you were, but you’re not yet who you’re becoming. You’re somewhere in the middle, trying to understand a season that doesn’t make sense.</p><p>Rachel shares what it feels like to lose the identity you’ve carried for years, the grief of outgrowing old versions of yourself, and the disorientation that comes when your internal world changes faster than your outer life. This conversation is for the woman who feels hollow, restless, unsettled, or untethered. For the woman who’s rebuilding—slowly, quietly, and often without language for what’s happening.</p><p><strong>Inside this episode, you’ll hear Rachel reflect on:</strong></p><p>• why starting over isn’t failure but a natural part of becoming </p><p>• the internal unraveling that happens before clarity arrives </p><p>• how to recognize when you’ve outgrown an identity that once felt safe </p><p>• why the “middle” often feels like loss even when it’s growth </p><p>• how God rebuilds you from the inside out </p><p>• the tension between who you were and who He’s shaping you to be </p><p>• what it looks like to give yourself permission to evolve</p><p>You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of why your season feels so heavy, why the middle is necessary, and how God uses these unexpected transitions to shape the woman you’re becoming next.</p><p></p><p><strong>Quotes:</strong> </p><p>“Sometimes you don’t choose to start over; life chooses for you.” </p><p>“It’s not that you’re lost—it’s that you’re in the middle of becoming.” </p><p>“God rebuilds us in the places where the old identity can no longer hold the new calling.”</p><p></p><p><strong>Ready to Go Deeper?</strong> </p><p>If this episode met you in your own middle season...</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming"><em>I Am… Becoming</em></a> is the tool Rachel created for women moving through identity transitions. It gives you space to process who you were, who you are now, and who you’re being shaped into—without pressure, hustle, or perfection. </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset"><strong>I Am… Enough Reset</strong> </a>– A simple, grounding 10-minute reset Rachel referenced in this episode. Use it when life feels loud, heavy, or unclear and you need space to hear yourself again. </p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Rachel Brooks:</strong> </p><p>Instagram: @iamrachelbrooks </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com">iamrachelbrooks.com</a></p>

<p>In this episode, Rachel Brooks is joined by entrepreneur and mentor Dr. Traci Lynn for a grounded conversation about what it takes to keep going when growth feels slow. They talk about the lessons that come from starting small, rebuilding after setbacks, and staying disciplined when results aren’t showing up yet. </p><p>Together they explore the “middle” of the journey—the place where doubt grows louder, confidence dips, and your vision is tested. Through stories of early failures, proof-of-concept, changing environments, and the long stretch between effort and momentum, Rachel and Traci discuss what it means to grow into the woman who can sustain the success she’s building toward. This episode is for the woman who’s been consistent without seeing progress and needs a reminder that slow growth is still growth.</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong> </p><p>00:00 — Why the middle feels like the hardest part </p><p>01:00 — Starting with $200 and early lessons </p><p>03:00 — Misunderstandings about the process </p><p>05:00 — What proof of concept looks like </p><p>07:00 — Early influences that shaped identity </p><p>09:00 — When consistency works before results appear </p><p>11:00 — Choosing sustainability over shortcuts </p><p>14:00 — Encouragement that came at the quitting point </p><p>17:00 — Why women need support and accountability </p><p>20:00 — Physical strength and internal resilience </p><p>25:00 — The real cost of growth </p><p>31:00 — Knowing when you’ve outgrown your environment </p><p>35:00 — Building a life that is sustainable </p><p>41:00 — Encouragement for the woman in the middle</p><p><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong> </p><p>• Slow growth is still growth. • Your environment shapes your identity and results. • Consistency builds confidence long before momentum. • Proof of concept matters more than passion alone. • Growth requires becoming the woman who can sustain what you’re asking for.</p><p><strong>Quotes:</strong> “Before anyone else believes in you, you have to decide that you believe in yourself.” </p><p>“If you stay through the middle, you’ll reach the momentum you’ve been working for.” </p><p>“Life will meet you at the level you’re willing to commit to.”</p><p><strong>Resources:</strong> </p><p><strong>I Am Enough Reset</strong> — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset">https://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset</a> For the days when you feel stuck or overwhelmed, this 10-minute reset helps you pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself so you can move forward with clarity.</p><p><strong>Chasing Perfection (Book)</strong> — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/chasingperfection">https://iamrachelbrooks.com/chasingperfection</a> If pressure, comparison, or constant striving are keeping you exhausted, this book helps you break those patterns and rebuild from a healthier place.</p><p><strong>I Am… Becoming</strong> — <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming">https://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming</a> If you’re navigating change or gaining clarity on who you’re becoming, this guided devotional helps you process, reflect, and track your growth.</p><p><strong>Connect with Dr. Traci Lynn:</strong> </p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://instagram.com/drtracilynn">https://instagram.com/drtracilynn</a> </p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtube.com/@drtracilynn">https://youtube.com/@drtracilynn</a> </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tracilynn.com">https://www.tracilynn.com</a></p><p><strong>Stay Connected with Rachel Brooks:</strong> </p><p>Instagram: @iamrachelbrooks </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com">iamrachelbrooks.com</a></p>

<p>If you’ve been feeling “off” lately — not broken, not failing, just quietly disconnected from your own life — this episode is going to speak to you. Today, Rachel Brooks opens up about a season so many women silently walk through: the feeling of being stuck, even when everything <em>looks</em> fine on the outside.</p><p>This isn’t about laziness or lack of motivation. It’s about the internal shift that happens when who you’ve been no longer fits who you’re becoming. In this honest, reflective conversation, Rachel unpacks why this happens, what it means, and how to listen to the deeper guidance pulling you forward.</p><p>If you’re tired in a way sleep can’t fix… if you’ve outgrown a version of yourself… if you’re craving clarity, direction, or permission to slow down — you’re not alone. You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re becoming.</p><p><strong>What You’ll Hear</strong></p><ul><li>Why “feeling stuck” is often a sign of inner growth</li><li>The hidden emotional load women carry that leads to burnout</li><li>The tension between who you were and who you’re becoming</li><li>Why clarity doesn’t come from forcing — it comes from honesty</li><li>How to navigate the “messy middle” without blowing up your life</li><li>The truth about limits, identity, and becoming who God created you to be</li></ul><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p><strong>00:00–04:00</strong> — The quiet heaviness of feeling stuck </p><p><strong>04:00–10:00</strong> — When life looks fine but feels misaligned </p><p><strong>10:00–15:00</strong> — Two truths: limited + limitless </p><p><strong>15:00–20:00</strong> — The pressure women carry and the identity we lose </p><p><strong>20:00–27:00</strong> — Why becoming feels messy, raw, and disorienting </p><p><strong>27:00–End</strong> — The invitation to reset + the next right step</p><p><strong>Key Insights</strong></p><ul><li>Feeling stuck is not failure — it’s an internal shift</li><li>You can be limited and limitless at the same time</li><li>Becoming requires honesty, not pressure</li><li>Identity isn’t lost — it’s uncovered</li><li>You are not behind; you are evolving</li></ul><p><strong>Quote</strong></p><p>“Clarity doesn’t come from forcing. It comes from honesty — and honesty comes when we stop performing our lives and start listening to them.”</p><p><strong>Your Next Step in Becoming</strong></p><p><strong>I Am Enough Reset (Free)</strong> A simple 10-minute reset to quiet the noise and reconnect to yourself when life feels too loud. → <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset">https://iamrachelbrooks.com/reset</a></p><p><strong>I Am Becoming (6-Week Devotional + Journal)</strong> Rediscover who you are, realign with who God created you to be, and rebuild from within. → <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming">https://iamrachelbrooks.com/iam-becoming</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Rachel</strong></p><p>Instagram: @iamrachelbrooks </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com">https://iamrachelbrooks.com</a> </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://iamrachelbrooks.com/podcast">The Confident Woman Podcast </a></p><p>Newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://iamrachelbrooks.com/newsletter">iamrachelbrooks.com/newsletter</a></p>