How to rebuild your life after trauma & heartbreak
In this podcast (episode #595) and blog, I talk to bestselling author Brianna Madia about living a life of intention, getting lost on purpose, what it means to be brave, rebuilding your life from scratch, and so much more!
Brianna has lived a life of relentless intention, traveling the deserts of the American Southwest in an old Ford van with her dogs, which she talks about in her amazing book Nowhere for Very Long. Throughout her journey, she inspired many people on social media with her posts and essays about bravery, identity, nature, and subverting society’s expectations. She now lives in Utah with her four dogs, and has written a second book Never Leave the Dogs Behind about her decision to build her home in the dessert with her four dogs, and what it looks like to rebuild and pursue an untraditional life.
Growing up, Brianna she felt like she had few options to define her life and what she wanted. There seemed to be a set way to do things: get a certain job, have a certain relationship, and pursue certain goals, and the dreams we all have when young, to start that band, write that book, pursue that passion, visit those places get lost in the swirl of societal expectations and ideals, and are either put on the back burner for some later date, or forgotten.
She wanted to write a different life story, but she wasn’t sure where to start. For many of us, this tends to hold us up and keep us stuck in a life that we do not feel meets our needs or sense of purpose: where do we start if we want to change? One thing she did know was what she did not want, so she started there: she didn’t want to wake up one day wondering where her life went. She wanted to feel alive, not trapped in a life that she didn’t love.
Brianna eventually purchased a van and shared her struggles and what this life looked like living with her then partner and two dogs on social media, where her vulnerability and passion for a life well lived life, even when this came with risks and challenges. Her time in her van and now her new life living in the Utah desert taught her that she could overcome whatever challenges came her way, both material and emotional.
Brianna’s struggles helped her grow and learn who she was and how to be authentic to herself and her dreams. It taught her what she could handle, and how each moment can be a gift if you learn how to appreciate the little and big things in life, and how you can always change your story. She learnt that even though this way of life is not always easy, it is worth it to discover who she was, what she wanted and a way to craft her own narrative free of the chains of societal expectations.
For more on living life with intention, authenticity and bravery, listen to my podcast with Brianna (episode #595) and check out her incredible books. If you enjoy listening to my podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review and subscribing. And keep sharing episodes with friends and family and on social media. (Don’t forget to tag me so I can see your posts!).
This podcast is sponsored by:
ButcherBox. It’s summertime, which means a lot of us are getting together with friends and family, sharing meals and good times! For all my summer hosting activities, I love using ButcherBox, as they take the guesswork out of finding high-quality meat and seafood you can trust with 100% grass-fed beef, organic chicken, pork raised crate-free, and wild-caught seafood. All of their products are humanely raised; with no antibiotics or added hormones, and their deals are so much better than what I can find in the grocery store! Their amazing food delivery service also means less trips and less work for me! I am always prepared with meat in the freezer and have curated tips and recipes based on my box if I need some mealtime inspiration. My husband and I personally love grilling their incredible grass-fed sirloin steaks, pork ribs, pasture-raised chicken thighs, and wild salmon, which make a great addition to all our outdoor activities this summer! Not a fan of pork or beef? No worries! With ButcherBox, you can get just what you want delivered right to your doorstep with FREE SHIPPING in the continental U.S. and no surprise fees, AND YOU get to choose from a variety of box plan options, from curated to customized, and change your plan whenever you want! Sign up for ButcherBox today by going to Butcherbox.com/drleaf and use code drleaf at checkout and enjoy your choice of bone-in chicken thighs, top sirloins, or salmon in every box for an entire year, plus get $20 off!
Birch. When it comes to how well you sleep at night and the effect this will have on your mental health, a key thing to think about is what kind of mattress you are using, and whether or not it is hurting or helping you! This is why I am a big fan of Birch mattresses. They are also GOTS and GREENGUARD Gold Certified, meaning they are free of any polyurethane-based foams and harsh, unnecessary chemicals and pollutants. The wool in Birch mattresses also makes it hypoallergenic and mildew-resistant! And, unlike other brands, Birch mattresses do not contain fiberglass, which can be harmful to your health. In fact, Birch has its own manufacturing facility, which is entirely free from products containing fiberglass. I love knowing that the mattress I’m sleeping on is made with natural and organic materials sourced straight from nature without harm coming to the environment or workers. I also love how comfortable, cool and durable the mattress is, without any harmful side effects on my health! It helps me regulate my sleeping temperature so that I feel so much more rested at night and when I wake up, and I feel so much better knowing that I'm avoiding harmful off-gassing that can result from polyurethane foams found in other mattresses. But you don't just have to take my word for it! In a recent survey, 93% of recent customers would recommend Birch to a friend and 87% saw an improvement in their sleep quality! And 79% of those who suffered from back pain with their old mattress saw a reduction in pain with their Birch mattress. And with your Birch mattress, you get a 100 Night Sleep Trial, along with a 25 Year Warranty! The best part about all of this is that Birch delivers your mattress right to your door, for free within the US! They also offer in-home setup and removal to make your buying experience as convenient as possible. If you're looking for a new bed, check out Birch Living. Their 4th of July sale is live now so it's the perfect time to upgrade your sleep with 25% off a Birch mattress, plus two free Eco-Rest pillows. Visit birchliving.com/drleaf to find out more about this limited-time offer. That’s birchliving.com/drleaf to get your special offer!
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Relationships are hard work, but they truly make life worth living. Just thinking about my own marriage: it hasn’t always been easy, and we still have our ups and downs, but after decades together, working on ourselves and through our issues and making an effort to truly be there for each other, I can honestly say my life is so much more with my husband in it! But a common misconception about relationships is that they have to be easy to be “right.” But sometimes, the best ones happen when both people put in the work to make them great. And therapy can be a place to work through the challenges you face in all of your relationships – whether with friends, work, your significant other, or anyone. Therapy is an incredibly helpful mental health tool that everyone can benefit from, wherever they are in life! It’s helpful for learning positive relationships and coping skills, and how to set boundaries; it empowers you to be the best version of yourself. Therapy isn’t just for those who’ve experienced major trauma! If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It’s entirely online. Designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Become your own soulmate, whether you’re looking for one or not. Visit BetterHelp.com/drleaf today to get 10% off your first month.
Podcast Highlights
2:50 Brianna’s amazing story
6:50 The challenge of pursuing an untraditional life
13:38 Living life with intention & authenticity
16:30 The draw of the desert & how the unknown can change us
25:35 Changing your story
36:05 The dark side of social media
38:00 Living with an addict
44:00 Brianna’s incredible dogs
Switch On Your Brain LLC. is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific viewpoint or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by our organization. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact info@drleaf.com.
This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional.