PR with Heart: How to Be Visible and in Integrity

What if being more visible didn’t mean being more “salesy”?

Rachel Van Dolsen built a thriving PR agency in her twenties, but it wasn’t until she became a mom that she fully stepped into the kind of work that lights her up. Now a sought-after media strategist and soulful storyteller, Rachel helps female founders pitch themselves in a way that’s rooted in purpose—not pressure.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How to pitch yourself without sounding like a walking résumé
• Why visibility is service (and how to make it feel that way)
• Boundaries as a non-negotiable for growth
• The woo-woo side of PR—including Rachel’s past life regression
• What happens when we stop trying to fit in and finally show up

Whether you’re craving more confidence, more clarity, or just a gentler way to grow your reach—this one’s for you.

Key Topics:

• PR and thought leadership for soulful brands
• Energetic alignment and boundaries
• Building visibility with ease and intention
• Personal stories from entrepreneurship and motherhood
• Creative rediscovery + past life regression

Find Rachel on LinkedIn, or via her website: https://www.rachelvandolsen.com/ 

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Transcript

PR with Heart: How to Be Visible and in Integrity

What does it really mean to be seen not just on social media, but in your purpose, your presence, and your personal energy? In this episode, I sit down with powerhouse publicist and soulful storyteller, Rachel Van Dolson, from building a successful PR agency in her twenties to rediscovering creativity through motherhood.

Rachel shares how to lead with service, set energetic boundaries, and rewrite the script on [00:01:00] visibility. Plus we go delightfully. Woo. Yes. past life regression included. Grab your favorite cocktail or beverage and join us for this honest heart led conversation that will leave you thinking bigger about your story and your soul.

Here is Rachel Van Dolson. 

[00:01:18] Rachel Van Dolsen: Hey, Rachel. How are you? So nice to meet you. 

[00:01:21] Penny Fitzgerald: It's so nice to meet you. 

[00:01:23] Rachel Van Dolsen: did I see that you're in Brooklyn? I was in Brooklyn. I'm actually in Chappaqua, New York, so I'm just north of the city now, but Okay. I was in Brooklyn for about 15 years, but now I have two. Oh, wonderful. Young children.

So we moved Oh. 

[00:01:38] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah, it's a little bit nicer to be outta the city, I'm sure with littles, 

[00:01:41] Rachel Van Dolsen: definitely. Yeah. But I miss the city. My brother's actually in my old apartment, which is nice. So we get to Oh, fun. Yeah. 

[00:01:48] Penny Fitzgerald: I'm sure Brooklyn has a lot of things going on, and it's fun to get back and do some of those things.

[00:01:53] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly, yeah. For work, I still go back, so it's fun. 

[00:01:56] Penny Fitzgerald: Well, okay, so for my audience, our benefit, [00:02:00] tell us what you do and give us a little bit about your background. 

[00:02:04] Rachel Van Dolsen: Of course. So I'm Rachel Van Dolson. Um, I started a PR firm called RVD Communications about, I think now, like 12 or 13 years ago, a long time ago.

Um, I was in my twenties and I naively thought freelancing could then it made sense to then take the jump to start my own agency, which actually was quite successful for many years. Um, I think. What I didn't quite realize is that I was building the plane while I was flying it and I was still very young.

Um, but no, I mean, I think we did wonderful work. I am still super close with many, many of my clients from that chapter and many of my team members. So, you know, I'm really proud of all the work we did. But I actually sold the agency in 20, late 2023, and now I'm back out on my own consulting. So my specialty is earned media, um, you know, press relations.

Uh, crisis comms, kind of the whole nine. But my real passion in this stage, um, is focusing on entrepreneurs and emerging [00:03:00] brands and really helping them find what makes them mediagenic. Um, and kind of believing that in today's world, you know, everyone should have a key differentiator. So it's kind of my job to help unlock it and then help get people the exposure that they deserve.

[00:03:15] Penny Fitzgerald: Wow. That's great. So you work primarily now with, um, smaller brands or emerging right? With yeah, entrepreneurs. 

[00:03:23] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, emerging grid, that's kind of a mix. I mean, right now my clients range from like a fine artist who just wrote a book that's actually out today. Um, her name's Micah Clasper-Torch, if anyone's listening, and is really, um, she's super, super talented and has built like a super engaged community of crafters online.

And, um, yeah, she's incredible. Um, also I've worked with a relationship therapist. I work with, um, a great infant formula called by heart. Um, I've done some work with Field, which is a, uh, online dating, but really interesting work.

 But yeah, it really runs the gamut for me. It comes down to who I'm working with and the story that they're trying to tell. Um, but [00:04:00] yeah, it's been so fun to kind of be out on my own and I just am very curious by nature, so. Mm-hmm. I like to kind of unlock. Um, these various challenges and, you know, in my, you know, ideal world, I'm working directly with the founder.

Um, I just, I really missed that as I scaled my agency. So I like kind of the intimacy of that relationship. I. 

[00:04:20] Penny Fitzgerald: Wow. Very interesting too. I mean, you're working with a wide gamut of people it sounds like. 

[00:04:24] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, it is. It is. And I mean, I think, granted, I'm testing the model, so you know, I'm about six months into the consulting after being in an, you know, running my own agency with a full team and lots of resources for many years.

So I'm testing to see what makes the most sense, but it's really. It's been super fun. I mean, my specialty is, um, you know, thought leadership for founders, and I do believe that a good publicist can cross categories. My passion really is like wellness and as a mom, I, I do tend to work with a lot of people that are in the parenting and mom space now because it's just my life.

But, but [00:05:00] yeah, it's, it's been really, really fun and rewarding. So, you know, I love, I love working with people across all different walks of life. 

[00:05:07] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah, and it keeps things in interesting, I'm sure too. 

[00:05:11] Rachel Van Dolsen: Definitely. I mean, I think in pr anyone who's worked in PR can agree no day is the same. Um, and you really need to have a high tolerance for, uh, the unexpected.

Um, and I, and not even just a high tolerance, like a a, an enjoyment of the unexpected. Um, so yeah, I think that that aspect has been really fun and engaging. And yeah, now working directly with founders as well, like I'm able to set my own hours and have more flexibility with my kids too. So. As I think about like my career, I'm glad that I was able to kind of do things, even if it was a little crazy of me to do, make a lot of those choices when I was in my like mid twenties, um, and work super, super hard and maybe dive potentially a little too far into work for a while there.

Um, but yeah, I'm just very grateful now for the flexibility. 

[00:05:59] Penny Fitzgerald: and [00:06:00] you mentioned a couple things earlier too, about like. Flying the plane while you're building it. That's, I think that's so true for many entrepreneurs. It, you don't know what you don't know yet. And really the action brings clarity.

So you've, you know, it's great that you're taking those steps to, you know, work with different types of people and different types of companies and do doing all their, you know, whatever they need. So it helps you bring clarity to what you wanna do next. 

[00:06:27] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly, and I mean, I know at the end of the day what I'm best at.

So when I'm working with folks, you know, before I take a contract, I always know, I always chat with them and make sure that my core expertise lines up with what they're looking for. So ideally that's, you know. Pitching folks to be, you know, their thought, like, thought leadership pieces, op-eds, um, you know, podcast outreach, things of that nature.

So, you know, really like zeroing in on what they wanna do and make sure that that aligns with my expertise. And then also I'm, I'm a writer. I'm, I also write fiction on the side. So, um, I love like [00:07:00] writing brand positioning and helping people like write pitch templates. Um, I also train some of my clients to then execute PR on their own.

I think o overall. PR can feel very black box like, like, you know, a publicist has their Rolodex and it's a secret. Um, it's like a secret and no one, you know, and they don't tell their clients who they're pitching. It's a, it can be a little bit, um, opaque. So I'm really trying to add more transparency there, um, and kind of fill a gap I saw while running my agency.

[00:07:31] Penny Fitzgerald: Mm, wow. So you are doing the actual reach out for your clients as well? 

[00:07:36] Rachel Van Dolsen: Typically I'm starting the reach out. So most of my, my current like model is a three or four month sprint, so I basically do the strategy work with them. You know, again, I'm trying to. Show them what I'm doing so that they, you know, are educated on pr, um, and are able to like, make more informed decisions about how they wanna approach it moving forward.

But strategy, list, building, all of that good stuff upfront. Um, and [00:08:00] then I do start the outreach typically for my clients. I genuinely love doing it, so, um, and I think I'm good at it. So I think it's, it's fun. I know a lot of, um. Veteran publicists don't, don't actually like still doing the little, like, popping into people's inboxes, the outreach.

But I really enjoy it. So, um, so yeah, so I start it and then typically I'll pass that on to somebody on their internal team or help them find an agency or, you know, help them find their home. I, you know, I don't. Because of my, you know, model. I, I like to kind of help empower the next people to take it on based on my learnings.

But, but yeah, I mean, if people do want me to stay on, I have, um, a white glove rate as well. 

[00:08:41] Penny Fitzgerald: Oh, nice. Yeah, absolutely. Well, and I think for a lot of entrepreneurs on the other side, the ones that you're helping. We wear so many hats, right? As fe, especially as women and as entrepreneurs, all of it. You know, you've got your mom hat, you've got your, you know, all of these things.

The marketing, what you, you know, what you're actually doing to [00:09:00] serve your clients, and then trying to get it out there and let people know about it, keeping all of those balls in the air is really difficult, I think, for a lot of people, and some of it's not comfortable. 

[00:09:11] Rachel Van Dolsen: I think that's so true, and I think so many, I mean, I saw this in my own journey, founding my agency.

I, I did almost no PR for myself, um, which I'm trying to work on now, hence us being here. Um, but I think what it is, is, you know, you, you tend to, there's a million fires that you have to put out every single day, so mm-hmm. You know, self-promotion can feel uncomfortable. It can feel icky for some people, it's just not natural.

Even if you are. Extroverted. Um, I think it can still just feel strange. So honestly, hiring an expert is, is a really great way to do it. What I'll say though is that. You know, you have to find the right fit. Someone who you align on values, who understands actually what you're looking for, who will be realistic with you, um, and tell you the truth.

Um, and I, I really think that transparency and honesty is what sets a [00:10:00] good publicist and, and, you know, marketing person in general apart. Um, but yeah, I mean, I think it, I, I hope it, it's of service to clients and I do know that a lot of the founders I'm working with. Have gotten a lot of value out of it, and I think they see now how PR can propel other aspects of their business and help level up other opportunities, find new customers.

Um, yeah, so I, the goal is, you know, I really try to lead with like a, a, a servant, um, servant leader MI mindset. 

[00:10:29] Penny Fitzgerald: That's very cool. I think most of my listeners are, um, female entrepreneurs and in that same mindset, that same value where, you know, we're really just trying to serve others and. How can we do that best?

And sometimes that means, you know, outsourcing some of these things or, you know, partnering and partnering with someone like you where when you're aligned, it makes it so much easier. You have to know that your client's on a really, I, I would think a high level to be able to, you know, translate what they're [00:11:00] trying to do for their people and try to get the word out to make them visible, to help them be seen so that they can serve more people and create a greater impact.

I. 

[00:11:09] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly. And I think a lot of what, um, my, and I, you know, I'm not, certainly not the only person who does this, but a good, a good publicist will do is spend the first, you know, few weeks really getting to know the client and understanding, I think the number one thing is what makes them different from others in their field.

Um, like what the core differentiator is. Um, so not necessarily like. What they're not, but what they are. Um, and I think that that's, people sometimes have a tendency to be like, well, I'm not this, but what are you and what are you bringing and what is your why? That's getting you up every day. Because being an entrepreneur is, is as many of us know, including your listeners, not easy.

Um, so you know, why are you doing this? And you know, what are, who are you trying to reach? And then we can back into a strategy once we really understand that, why. Um, but yeah, I think [00:12:00] answering those questions, even if you don't have a publicist, I think it'll help in every aspect of you, the way you communicate your story.

[00:12:06] Penny Fitzgerald: Absolutely. And where you, the direction you take your company too. Really. 

[00:12:10] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. And that's actually such a good point. I mean, I found in my career when I was, I don't wanna say aimless, but there were periods where I didn't. Have a long-term plan because I was so mired in the day-to-day and just so busy.

Mm-hmm. Um, which I think a lot of people can relate to for sure. Yeah. So I think during those periods though, you, I sometimes would find myself losing that inner compass. So I would say yes to things that maybe weren't the right opportunities, even though. On paper, maybe they looked right, like lucrative, well connected, you know, accounts or whatever.

Um, or like, you know, a higher internally. Um, and I, I think when you kind of lose touch with your gut and you know, your real like instinct, um, and maybe like divine feminine or whatever you wanna call. Yeah. Yep. Um, um, if you, if we wanna go woo [00:13:00] woo, but it, it, I think when you lose it, it can be really hard.

I mean, and you can end up walking down roads that. You further away from that initial why, so, yeah. Anyway, I think it's just, it's helpful. It's been helpful for me as I've gotten older to kind of realize that and realize when I'm saying yes to things, I'm also saying no to other things. Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

[00:13:21] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah, that's, that definitely gets easier as you get older.

It's easier to say no to things that don't align or that aren't, um. Helping you guide towards your purpose to serve other people or to, you know, that that burning desire that if you wake up every morning knowing what you're doing or what, not what you're doing, but who you're serving and what's important.

And yeah, that's really, that helps so much to be able to say no to the things that don't align. 

[00:13:49] Rachel Van Dolsen: A hundred percent. Yeah. And I think. It can be, you know, everyone loses their way at periods or maybe ends up Oh, 

sure. 

[00:13:56] Rachel Van Dolsen: Walking roads, that's normal. But I think being able to diagnose that before you [00:14:00] go too far away from your purpose, um, will like, you know, mitigate burnout, it'll make everything, you know, you'll, you'll, you'll end up being able to, to have a more sustainable career and life.

Mm-hmm. 

Um, 

[00:14:13] Rachel Van Dolsen: yeah. And I, I had a former business coach who really like drove that home, like sustainability in business and not sustainability that we think of in terms of. Ecologically, although I'm pro that as well. That's good too. Yeah, that's very good. But more just like knowing that your career is a long game, it's not.

Mm-hmm. It's a marathon, not a sprint. So, um, so you have to make sure that you're set up to like, actually keep it going and stay, keep that fire and that excitement and, you know, if you're burning the candle at both ends or you're. Losing touch with why you started. Um, it's never gonna be the right thing, I don't think.

[00:14:47] Penny Fitzgerald: Mm-hmm. Right. Absolutely. Women, I think in general, are we, we want to please people, so it's hard to say no. We wanna say yes because, you know, we wanna help people, we wanna be [00:15:00] supportive, and oftentimes that comes at an expense. 

[00:15:04] Rachel Van Dolsen: A hundred percent. Yeah. Boundaries. I mean, and I still am imperfect, I'm still very imperfect with boundaries, but I'm really working on it and I think, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:15:13] Penny Fitzgerald: It's a learning process. 

[00:15:15] Rachel Van Dolsen: It all, it all is, right. Always. 

[00:15:17] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. 

[00:15:18] Rachel Van Dolsen: But yeah, it's absolutely, it's absolutely boundaries. It's the only way, um. And you can have boundaries in a kind way. 

[00:15:26] Penny Fitzgerald: Yes, absolutely. 

[00:15:27] Rachel Van Dolsen: You have to be mean boundaries. They're like be positive boundaries. 

[00:15:31] Penny Fitzgerald: Absolutely. And I, you know, I tell people too, no is a complete sentence.

You don't have to explain yourself. 

[00:15:37] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. Most 

[00:15:37] Penny Fitzgerald: of the time anyway. 

[00:15:39] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. I mean, God, I should put that on. Um. Like a, a post-it note on my computer. Yeah, 

[00:15:45] Penny Fitzgerald: yeah. It's okay to say no, 

[00:15:47] Rachel Van Dolsen: it is. Period. No, I love that. I love that. And yeah, I mean, I feel like your work is so similar. Like you're all about bringing, um, people together and, you know, really empowering female entrepreneurs and [00:16:00] giving and community.

Um, so yeah, I, I think it's just so important. And also I guess like. Knowing that you have like-minded people you can talk to about this stuff, um, who can give advice and you know, there isn't necessarily like a what can I gain from giving somebody advice. Mm-hmm. Um, which can feel like kind of Vic, so Yeah.

[00:16:17] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah, absolutely. Well, and it's more fun with a friend. 

[00:16:21] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. Yes. I mean, or several. Yeah, exactly. And that's the one thing we'll say I do miss about having a larger team is that I do like that comradery. Um, but yeah, I do have lots of friends in the industry, so it's, it, I still have it. But, um, that is the really nice thing about working with the team.

It's like the ability to laugh and be in that chaos together is really bonding. 

[00:16:42] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. Well, and that's, that's another thing for entrepreneurs. I think we often are solopreneurs or we have a very small team or, you know, the people that we work with are not necessarily there all the time or very often. So yeah, it's really great to have a community of women that you can reach out to or that you can [00:17:00] support and share ideas and a cocktail 

[00:17:04] Rachel Van Dolsen: and yes, just have fun together.

Absolutely. Yeah. I think like it's so easy to stay, especially like to, when you're on LinkedIn or social media and you're seeing all of these highlight reels of people's, you know, accomplishments. It can feel. Like, oh my gosh, I'm not good enough. This person has this, this person has that. And I think once you really like sit down with people, you realize that everyone has their highs and their lows, their, their middles.

Um, and most of us are really in the middle most of the time. And, you know, I think what it is is like, it just, it makes you feel a lot better about your own situation and you realize how lucky you really are. Um. When you kind of are with other people and understand that like you're certainly not the only one who's tackled some of these problems and asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

[00:17:51] Penny Fitzgerald: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. You're not alone. Somebody else has gone through it, and it's really those lows where we learn the most. [00:18:00] 

[00:18:00] Rachel Van Dolsen: 100%. I mean, I wish it wasn't true 'cause it's hard, but I know it's so, so true. I mean, all of like the setbacks or the things that I would say have been the hardest things that have happened to me in my life professionally and personally have been like by far the biggest growing periods, like massive growth spurts.

So I. I mean, I think is, I, in the ideal world, when you're in it, you can see that, but sometimes it can be hard. But yeah, if sometimes, well, it takes 

[00:18:25] Penny Fitzgerald: so long. 

[00:18:26] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. Yeah. 

[00:18:27] Penny Fitzgerald: It takes a while to, I mean, once you're out of it, then you can look back and go, oh, yeah, okay. That's something I would've maybe changed or not gone through or done differently.

[00:18:37] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. But I, you really, like, you have to kind of go through, there's no, 

[00:18:40] Penny Fitzgerald: mm-hmm. 

[00:18:41] Rachel Van Dolsen: The only way out is through, so Yeah. It's, yeah. It's fun though. I mean, again, it's like ideally. We realize that all of these, like try to have perspective and realize that all of these things are, are temporary. Um, yeah. One thing I like, I used to sometimes, like when I was in my workaholic mode, um, I would get like, I would like [00:19:00] spin out over an email or like something, and like one of my colleagues would always say like, is this an email you're gonna even remember in a week, in six weeks?

In that month, in a year? Um. You're kind of like, of course not. Yeah. Like who cares? I mean, of course you have to take things seriously and do your best work, but putting it into perspective and like I'm never, I'm not even gonna remember this happened in a month. So it truly like, it kind of like defangs it.

[00:19:27] Penny Fitzgerald: That's great advice. Always. Yeah. For sure, like, think about is this is this thing that has so bugged me today or so hurt my feelings or so that I've agonized over. Is that gonna matter in five years, one year? Tomorrow, you know, thinking about those. Exactly, 

[00:19:45] Rachel Van Dolsen: exactly. Yeah. It like really has helped I think as like a practice to remember like, okay, like I don't need to get upset.

I don't, 'cause my energy matters too. Like if I then get upset, then if I respond in. Fight or flight mode, then that's gonna [00:20:00] escalate the situation. I'm also going to not show up as my best self with my family or my friends, whoever I'm seeing that day, that's gonna add a trickle effect into their energy and their life.

So it like you realize that the way you're showing up and the energy you're bringing to these interactions actually like impacts other people. Um, and as someone, you mentioned people pleasing who does have a people pleasing background, I think that that also can help 'cause it's like it's actually selfless to take care of yourself.

[00:20:27] Penny Fitzgerald: That's right. You have to fill your cup, right? 

[00:20:29] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. Yes. So, yeah, I think that's one of, that's one of the, my major learnings, um, in my career. Like, take care of yourself. Because if you're showing up a mess, you're gonna actually do more harm than good to the people around you. Yeah. If you're quote, quote, successful on paper.

[00:20:45] Penny Fitzgerald: Well, absolutely. And it's gonna affect you long term too. I mean, or can if you Oh yeah. Stay in that energy. You have to really be, I think, um, judicious and cautious with your energy and make sure that you're doing things that light you up. And if you're feeling a little [00:21:00] about something or not quite right, you know, do some things to make yourself feel better, like get out in the sun or feel your feet on the ground.

Do some of those grounding kind of things that. Remind you that, oh no, it's just this is temporary. It's okay. I'm not gonna let this get me down. I can't serve my people if I'm in this space. So that, you know, all those little things. 

[00:21:21] Rachel Van Dolsen: A hundred percent. Yeah. For me, it's like, I always laugh with my husband about this.

I'm like, oh, going to the gym really does work. Or like, working out. Really dang it. I, I do like to, I do like to exercise. I've trained myself to like it, but like I'm in a bad mood and I go exercise. I'm like, oh, I do feel better. Like this actually does. Help. Yeah. Um, and you have to find your own toolkit, like whatever that is, or, you know, going to get insecure going for a walk, you know, standing on grass to your point, like it can be something small, but like, these things do work and so sometimes it can be very easy to go into like, I have no time, I have no this, I have no Oh, 

[00:21:58] Penny Fitzgerald: sure.

[00:21:58] Rachel Van Dolsen: Excuses [00:22:00] and, mm-hmm. Like when you have a toolkit that's like, can take one minute, 30 seconds. Or up to like an hour a day. You know, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Um, yeah, as a mom, I've definitely learned that like five minutes is great. I can do, I can ground. 

[00:22:16] Penny Fitzgerald: Right, right. Well, and that's a choice too, right?

To keep ourselves busy or to keep ourselves in that energy is, is also a choice to be okay. I don't wanna feel good, I guess so. 

[00:22:26] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, that's Exactly, exactly. Yeah. 

[00:22:28] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. It's hard to kind of realize that a lot of this stuff is not happening to us. It's not, we can choose. Yeah. 

[00:22:36] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. It's, we really get to dictate our full reality, so.

Yeah, it's, it's wild. But yeah, it's, well, it's empowering and it some, for some people, I think very scary when you say that to them. Like, well, actually, what if you tried this? Mm-hmm. What if you tried anything differently? Some people really wanna stay in that. They get. They get excited or not excited, they get, I guess like addicted to the [00:23:00] victimhood.

Um, and hey, I've seen it myself. So no judgment. But I think when you realize that, you know, you really can pull yourself, like it's up to you to pull yourself out and you can, um, yeah. Yeah. I think everything flows a lot easier. 

[00:23:13] Penny Fitzgerald: Oh, for sure. Yeah. I mean some people really like drama. 

[00:23:18] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. They do. Real 

[00:23:19] Penny Fitzgerald: housewives or, you know, all that kind of energy.

[00:23:22] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes, yes. I like, am I, I would prefer the least dramatic life. Yeah. I can't fathom, like I can't handle yelling. I can't. Um, but it is fun to watch on tv. I'll give that entertainment. I'm not like a house sweetss voice, uh, watcher, but I, I have in the past and, you know, I understand it's entertaining. Um, and I also read, like, I read Fantasy Romance.

I read crazy stuff too. So, you know, you have to find, you find your, um, whatever, like escapism is. 

[00:23:52] Penny Fitzgerald: Hmm. Right. Oh, that's a fun, fun thing. Okay, so novels. Um, what other things do you like to do? [00:24:00] 

[00:24:00] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, so I do a lot of reading, so I'm actually writing a fantasy book right now. So that's my other side hustle.

That's 

[00:24:05] Penny Fitzgerald: fun. 

[00:24:06] Rachel Van Dolsen: Um, which is really fun. That's been like a fun side project. I was an English major and I always have like loved creative writing, but kind of lost track of it when my career kind of took off. So I. It's been exciting to kind of like go back to that on the side. Um, and I do love to read. I read a ton.

I read like every night before bed. As for as long as I can stay awake, I do fall asleep. I do fall asleep with the Kindle pretty much every night, um, on, on me. Um, and then, yeah, I mean, I. I feel like I also, historically, I know that, um, you know, you tend to be like, one of your main things is bringing people together over like wine or a cocktail.

And I like always very much like I, I love a dirty martini. I love I my girl. Yeah, love. Um, got into, um, natural wine a lot. Now I'm actually taking a drinking hiatus, but. I do love, this is my side for anyone maybe taking a break from alcohol I love. Um, can [00:25:00] CANN. Um, it's a low dose THC in CB, D it's like a microdose and they're like seltzers.

Really great. Um, anyway, so that's my festive. I haven't seen those. Yeah, that's my festive, um, non-alcoholic drink. But does, it does give you a little buzz. So, okay. If you're good to that. Um, yeah, and I mean, I love going to the movies, although I do that less now that I have kids. Um, like I love, I love movie theater.

Tom Cruise would be my big fan. He's, I know he's theater. Um, but yeah, I love gonna, the movies. I'm trying to think what else, but walking, exercising, and then I, I have two very young kids. I have a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old. So. I think the other thing that we do as a family is just like, put on music and dance around the house, like idiots.

Um, but yeah, I think it could be good to release the energy, a lot of dancing.

[00:25:48] Penny Fitzgerald: Sorry, I muted myself so I could cough and unmute. That sounds like so much fun though dancing with 

[00:25:54] Rachel Van Dolsen: your kids. Like just dancing around the house. Dancing around the house. Yeah. I think for anyone who [00:26:00] has young children or babysits like music can, can cure a lot of problems. If there's a meltdown, I'll be like, so what do we wanna listen to?

Um, I have them into Prince right now, which I'm very proud of. Love it. Yeah, I'm proud of that. We'll see. I mean, then we also have, of course, like the Disney songs and Troll is also very possible. 

[00:26:21] Penny Fitzgerald: That's cool. You said four and one? 

[00:26:23] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, four and one, almost two. Okay. 

[00:26:25] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. Nice, nice, nice, nice. Our grand babies are, uh, seven, five, and one and a half, so yeah, very close to years.

So yeah. So fun. 

[00:26:38] Rachel Van Dolsen: It's so fun. I mean, it's crazy, but it's so fun and yeah. You know? 

[00:26:40] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. 

[00:26:41] Rachel Van Dolsen: You've been through it an now doing it again. 

[00:26:46] Penny Fitzgerald: Well, and what's fun too, to, to watch kids, you see them play and you realize that, wow, they're so creative and what happened to my creativity, you know? I mean, you think about how easy and free it is for them to just [00:27:00] find joy in anything.

[00:27:03] Rachel Van Dolsen: A hundred percent. I mean, I, that's fully been my experience. I love that you, you said that, I mean, I watching my daughter's very, very imaginative and she comes up with these elaborate stories and personas and names and, um, she's the older one, she's four and her name's. And I really do think that watching her.

Kind of inspired me to bring back some of that storytelling. And I honestly think it might be why I am writing fiction again. Um, I think just like realizing, oh wait, like that's a part of myself that I sort of thought wasn't like I couldn't monetize or whatever. 

[00:27:38] Penny Fitzgerald: It's not worthy anymore. 'cause it's just play.

Exactly, 

[00:27:41] Rachel Van Dolsen: exactly. And I think like you realize actually no, like that might be the. Purest part of who I'm, um, and even if it's just for fun, who cares? Like if that makes you a happier, more enriched person. Um, yeah, so I, I completely agree. It really does like open your eyes to that natural play. [00:28:00] 

[00:28:00] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. Yeah.

If we can keep ourselves in that playful, creative mode, it lights us up. And that, that's just part of that energy. Again, it just really perpetuates itself. 

[00:28:11] Rachel Van Dolsen: Totally. Yeah. I know a lot of friends who, you know, they'll, they'll get into painting or they'll get like, you know, I feel like that you, now, this is maybe a millennial, I'm a millennial, maybe a millennial generation, but we go big on our hobbies.

So I think, like I have a lot of friends who are like going really deep into rabbit holes of various hobbies and I think it's great. I mean, I think. I love hobby culture. 

[00:28:32] Penny Fitzgerald: I think that's great too. Yeah, we, I think we have to keep that beginner mindset or that playful, creative side of us engaged in trying new things.

'cause you know, the older you get, it just feels more, um, it takes a little bit more to get out of your comfort zone or to feel like, okay, I gotta get up and do something. Or, you know, some, some of my friends are like, no, I just. I don't know how to do that, so I'm not gonna try, and [00:29:00] that's kind of, that breaks my heart sometimes.

You know, there's so many fun things out there. I. 

[00:29:05] Rachel Van Dolsen: I agree. And you know, even there's certainly not gonna hurt. There's no, there's no harm in trying, I think too, right? Like go out there and try and if it doesn't go well, you don't have to do it again. It's okay. 

[00:29:17] Penny Fitzgerald: Try something else, 

[00:29:18] Rachel Van Dolsen: try something else. You know, like it.

I think if you go in with that, like nobody's expecting you to be an expert, like, you know, just beyond 

[00:29:25] Penny Fitzgerald: Exactly. 

[00:29:26] Rachel Van Dolsen: It's okay if you're not good at something. And I think that's actually another thing that I'm trying to get more comfortable with is. You know, I think as like a high achiever growing up and someone who like had a pretty intense career for a long time, like I'm very used to trying to like project like competence and, you know, all that, all that.

And I think as a woman it's, it's a pretty universal female thing as well. Um. Yeah. So I think like it's nice to sometimes just be like, no, I'm actually not very good at this, but I love it. Yeah. Like, I can't craft at all. I'm a, I can't draw. I can [00:30:00] barely draw a stick figure, but I'm happy to draw with my kids.

Like it's fun. Um, and you know, I'm sure as they get older they'll, they'll critique my work. That's their job. I think it can be freeing to be bad at things. 

[00:30:14] Penny Fitzgerald: Oh, absolutely. And nobody's good at something right out the gate. 

[00:30:18] Rachel Van Dolsen: No. No. 

[00:30:18] Penny Fitzgerald: Ever. No. Yeah. So just go have fun with it and if you, if you like doing it and doodling around, then fine.

Try something else if you don't. 

[00:30:27] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly. I love that. I think it's a good motto. We should all, we, uh, this can be this challenge of today going Oh yeah. Finding a new thing. Um, homework. I love it. Well, I'll take it. Anyone else kind if they want? No, no. Yes. Yes. 

[00:30:41] Penny Fitzgerald: Our, our gentle nudge to go try something new today.

[00:30:44] Rachel Van Dolsen: I love it. I love a challenge. Yeah, 

[00:30:47] Penny Fitzgerald: me too. Well, and that's kind of fun too, to do a challenge together with your friends or, definitely the 

[00:30:54] Rachel Van Dolsen: ability partner is key. 

[00:30:56] Penny Fitzgerald: Yes. Accountability. That's so big. Oh yeah. It's [00:31:00] easy to, you know, I hate to say this almost, it's, it's, it's easier to let ourselves down and how sad is that?

You know, if I wanna do something and I tell myself I'm gonna do it and then don't, that's a lie to myself. And that's. Not good. 

[00:31:16] Rachel Van Dolsen: It's not, and I mean, so I used to talk about this thing called the trust battery, which is like, basically you have to keep it charged with the people in your life, colleagues, friends, family, you know, basically it's just doing what you say you're gonna do.

Um, 

[00:31:29] Penny Fitzgerald: integrity. 

[00:31:30] Rachel Van Dolsen: Integrity, exactly. And I, I love that. But I think what I realized, I think at the time I was using it, I didn't realize that I wasn't keeping it charged for myself. So I was keeping it charged for everybody else. I mean, I'm sure people, mm-hmm. Have versions, have stories of when I haven't kept perfectly charged and oh, jeez, human.

Um, so sorry if anyone's listening and they're like, Hey Rachel, once you said you would do this and you did, but, but yeah, I feel like I, but I absolutely was not keeping my own promises to myself. And that's like, can be so, you [00:32:00] know, you can make yourself sick, you can do, it can turn really bad. So yeah, I think that's the thing.

It's like if you say having an accountability partner is helpful because often the first person we let down is ourself. Um. But yeah, I'm trying to learn, as I'm sure many of your listeners are to Oh yeah. To put myself at, on the same level as, as others. 

[00:32:20] Penny Fitzgerald: Well, yeah. Yeah. And we, we deserve that. We deserve that level of integrity with ourselves.

And it's, you know, how you do one thing is how you do everything kind of. I mean, yeah, I'm not sure I buy into that a hundred percent, but, you know, thinking about how you react to yourself, how you treat yourself, how you view yourself. Um, you can't be fully, I. In service of others if you're not taking care of yourself and being in integrity and with your own promises as well.

[00:32:48] Rachel Van Dolsen: Definitely. I agree a hundred percent. Um, a book, I read this book by Martha Beck, um, it's called The Way of Integrity. That's what You Using The Word reminded me. It's a great book. Um, but it's all about kind of the idea of if you're [00:33:00] living out of integrity, so many different things will start to go wrong.

And it's really like. It's for everybody around you that you have to get back into integrity in addition to your, for yourself, of course. And finding your true calling the right people, surrounding yourself with the right people, all that good stuff. But at the end of the day, it's like the people that you're, you're actually hurting everyone around you even more if you're out of integrity.

So, yeah, it's, it's fascinating stuff. 

[00:33:24] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. Well, and it, I, I feel like if there's something that's not quite in sync. It can affect your body too, especially like your, your body will start to tell you, you'll get signs that something isn't right. Totally. And it just, yeah, it kind of compounds on itself, I think.

[00:33:42] Rachel Van Dolsen: I agree. For me, it was like I wasn't sleeping well. I was like mm-hmm. Whirling mind. Um, and I come from a family of overthinkers, so it's not as well. Um, yeah, yeah. But yeah, it, many of us do. But, but yeah. I mean, and listen to those sides. Don't just [00:34:00] ignore them. Um, but yeah, it's easier said than done. 

[00:34:03] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah.

Yeah, well, and okay. Not to get too woo woo, but you know, a lot of it is from past trauma. Yes. You know, unresolved issues from long, long ago possibly. 

[00:34:15] Rachel Van Dolsen: Totally. Now you're going very much into my, I, um, this is like a current passion of mine, so I I love 

[00:34:20] Penny Fitzgerald: it. 

[00:34:20] Rachel Van Dolsen: Trauma and I also, so I'm, people are gonna think I'm, I'm a loon, but I did a recent past life regression session with um Oh wow.

Which was fascinating. Uhhuh, and I'm still not a hundred percent sure. My belief system when it comes to reincarnation or prep Uhhuh. But regardless, it was an extremely powerful experience that I would highly recommend to people. Um, and it really, like at the core, kind of my learning was that like there's so much more going on than we even realize within our consciousness.

You know, the energy we. We've picked up from our own life experiences, potentially from past life experiences. And I think being able to release [00:35:00] that and, and just understand, okay, like it's not my fault, it's not mine to carry anymore. It's over. 

Mm-hmm. 

[00:35:05] Rachel Van Dolsen: We, the present and the future to look forward to can be so freeing.

Um. And yeah, to realize like, none of this is your fault. We all have experiences. Um, so yeah. But I'm going very woo, woo. Sorry. 

[00:35:18] Penny Fitzgerald: No, I love that. Let's, okay, so if you don't mind, can you tell us a little bit more about like, how did you, how did it go? How did you find 

[00:35:27] Rachel Van Dolsen: this? Yeah, of course. 

[00:35:29] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. 

[00:35:29] Rachel Van Dolsen: Sorry for guiding us here, but I know this is No, I love 

[00:35:32] Penny Fitzgerald: about, I think this is fascinating.

You know, I think people are curious about this stuff and just, you know, if they're, if they don't feel like it's for them or they don't believe in it, it's just. It's interesting to hear and to learn about, you know, I mean, it's one of those things that people are maybe curious about and just wanna explore or dip a toe in 

[00:35:50] Rachel Van Dolsen: for sure.

So that, I mean, that's, and that's kind of my phase of it right now too. So basically for me, I was working with a woman who's a, like a naturopath,she took my [00:36:00] hormones, various tests, uh, like, you know, gave me some new supplements that kind of were perfectly aligned with what I needed.

And in that process I, 'cause I said I had brain fog, I had all these other things that were going on. 

Mm-hmm. 

[00:36:11] Rachel Van Dolsen: Mm-hmm. And what we kind of realized is a lot of it wasn't really physical. the markers were really strong. So she was like, I think you should explore like reiki healing or energy.

It sounds like there might, it might be. Overthinking and stuff that's kind of mental candidly. Mm-hmm. Um, so which was, you know, I, I very much was on the same page as her. I don't wanna make it sound like she was like, you're actually just, but no, but it was like a, in a very loving way. Um, yeah. So yeah, I started seeing this woman for reiki sessions, um, which I found really powerful as well to kind of like break up.

You know, my energy, get me more balanced. Um, I was holding a lot on my right side, which is more of your masculine, kind of like the do, do, do anyway. so that same woman referred me to past life regression, um, and said that it might be something I'd wanted to try.

And I was just kind of drawn to it. I was [00:37:00] like, sure, I'd love to try it. Um, and I did this session and it was super powerful. I mean, I. Like was, again, I'm gonna sound a little loony, but I was on like, it's okay. I was on a ship from London to the US in the early 18 hundreds.

I was Oh wow. Taking care of my little sister 'cause my mother had passed away, then I got married, whatever. It was a really kind of wild life. Um, sounds 

[00:37:22] Penny Fitzgerald: so vivid. 

[00:37:23] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. It was very, very, very vivid. a lot of visuals. Mm-hmm. And yeah, I mean, it was all coming from me. She was just asking me questions that I was answering, um mm-hmm.

And they put me, she basically like got, puts you in a guided meditation into like a kind of like low level hypnotic trance, but you're still in the room. 

 it was vivid and really powerful and you know, then, you know, as tougher things came up, she kind of helped me process them. And then, yeah. And then we kind of talked about the experience a bit of like a grounding. Conversation she sent me like full notes from the session as well.

Um, I'm definitely going to do it again. Um, but apparently, I mean, [00:38:00] people who really believe in this stuff, which again, like I'm now a new believer, but I'm still in my early stages. I think people really believe that a lot of what we experience in our bodies, some people have had shoulder pain and find out in a past life they had something happen, you know, again.

Who knows whether this is real or imagined. But the main thing is there's tons of like scientific research backing up that these sessions actually do work and cure people. So whether they believe in it or not kind of is a moot point. Mm-hmm. Um, what matters is it works. So anyway, I think it's a lot of psychotherapists can do this work and then also more kind of like independent woo woo practitioners, but I think it's important to obviously vet who you're working with.

But yeah, I had a very mm-hmm. Supportive. Powerful experience. 

[00:38:47] Penny Fitzgerald: Mm, that's so cool. You know, I've heard other people talk about, um, like trauma from your ancestors. So like maybe your mother or might have had something happen to her and that [00:39:00] translated into you and it. It's just fascinating to me to think about all of those, you know, how we carry forward well, and you can see in, in habits even like what my parents did in front of me.

I pick up and I, now I'm passing, you know, for, for better or for worse, passing that on to our children and grandchildren and yeah, it's, it's a lot. 

[00:39:25] Rachel Van Dolsen: It's a lot. No, and I think it's so true because ultimately it's energy more than anything, 

[00:39:30] Penny Fitzgerald: right? 

[00:39:30] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. It's really just energy. Like we're energy. Everyone is energy.

Everything is energy. Yeah. So, you know, I think that's kind of how I've come down on this. 'cause I, you know, I. I tend to be a pretty rational person, so I'm like mm-hmm. How do I exactly like, put this in a box or like, say what I believe now. Right. Um, I don't think that matters though. What it is is like, it, it, it kind of comes back to what you were talking about before.

Um, it's the energy you're showing up with, you know? Mm-hmm. That's the energy that you're then. Transmitting to those around you, [00:40:00] passing down to your children or friends or family or colleagues. Um, and I think like really asking the question like, what do I wanna bring when I show up into a room and who, like, what's, what do I want people to feel?

How do I wanna feel myself? 

[00:40:15] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. 

[00:40:16] Rachel Van Dolsen: Is so important. And yeah. Actually one thing, we talked a lot about boundaries. my, my past life woman who, she kind of had no boundaries.

She was very like, very much like a giver. Took on a lot of roles. Um, very much like a caretaker, very maternal, and I think a lot of that spoke to me in my life now. And you know, her big thing is your job now is to take care of yourself so that you can nourish yourself. And that way you can better nourish others.

You can break the cycle. Of like self-sacrifice and martyrdom. Um, but yeah, and I, I think one thing she also said that I think might be helpful to others is when you're going into a conversation or a room that maybe you're intimidated by or someone that you don't particularly like, for whatever reason, kind of [00:41:00] picture yourself shrouded in like a bright light and that no bad energy can penetrate.

That you're protected, that you know your energy is your energy and nothing they say or do can can lower your frequency. Um, and I've used it to with success since. So yeah. I hope that's helpful. I know it's, again, oh, I love it. But I think it's, 

[00:41:20] Penny Fitzgerald: no, that's fantastic. I think that's, that's great. That's a tool that you can, you know, take on and think about.

I know that I can protect my energy and I don't have to take on somebody else's bad juju or bad, you know, if they're in a bad mood. I don't have to be in a bad mood. I don't have to mirror that. 

[00:41:37] Rachel Van Dolsen: I don't have to mirror that. Um, and, you know, who knows? And feeling empathy too. Like I don't, we don't know why somebody's acting, how they're acting.

They may have like a right reason for it. We don't know what other people are carrying. Um, and all of the past lives they might have as well, you know? Right. So it's just, yeah, I think trying to have empathy but also really [00:42:00] protect yourself at the same time. Mm-hmm. Just because you're empathetic doesn't mean you have to then suck everybody's energy into you.

[00:42:05] Penny Fitzgerald: Right, right. when I get deeper into coaching some clients, uh, one of the things that I also talk about is we are a. A soul with a body, not a body, with a soul. 

[00:42:16] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. 

[00:42:17] Penny Fitzgerald: So it's, you know, to, to think about it is just a body, you know, and our future selves. Yeah, our future selves, I think, already know what's possible and are trying to help us get that positive, that beautiful future instead of the one that scares us.

[00:42:37] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly. And you know, energy goes where attention flows. I think it is. Is the 

[00:42:42] Penny Fitzgerald: Yes. Yeah. Yes, absolutely. 

[00:42:44] Rachel Van Dolsen: Um, so yeah, I mean like if you are thinking constantly about the worst case scenarios and you know, the doom scrolling all of that. Um, you're 

[00:42:53] Penny Fitzgerald: ordering it up, 

[00:42:54] Rachel Van Dolsen: you're ordering it up, and you know, I know that's again, easier said than done and mm-hmm.

Nobody's perfect in this. [00:43:00] But yeah, the more you can try to, like your mindset really does matter. Um, and yeah, I've learned this the hard way myself with my own burnout. Mm-hmm. So, um, but yeah, I love that, that, you know, you're just a soul with the body. I couldn't agree more. And yeah, the, the work that I've been doing on the past life stuff full, like really cemented that for me, that like, it's not 

[00:43:20] Penny Fitzgerald: Wow.

[00:43:21] Rachel Van Dolsen: Your body is just like, it's, it's, you know, it's powerful and wonderful. You wanna take care of it. Um, but it's not you. 

[00:43:30] Penny Fitzgerald: Right, right. Oh gosh. Yeah. That's so important to remember that you, you can control. Well, can't control. You can choose. To be positive, you can choose your mindset, you can choose your energy, and you don't have to be focused on what might happen wrong.

How about instead ask a better question. What's the possibility? 

[00:43:55] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, exactly. What do I 

[00:43:56] Penny Fitzgerald: want? 

[00:43:58] Rachel Van Dolsen: The pause too, like this, I've [00:44:00] learned the hard way also through, through other things. Um, but yeah, like I tend to be very, like I need to handle it immediately, check it off the to-do list done. Um, and you know, often if you pause even for five minutes, you know, you'll just have such a more measured response.

Um. And, you know, actually be able to see the, what's the possibility, not just the negative. Mm-hmm. Um, if it's a tough situation. And yeah, I mean also like giving yourself time to make a decision. Um, you don't have to say yes or no. You can say, let me think about it. Um, mm-hmm. That's, that I, I've really been practicing as well is the, oh, let me think about that and get back to you.

Um 

[00:44:40] Penny Fitzgerald: mm-hmm. 

[00:44:40] Rachel Van Dolsen: Which like, is a perfectly acceptable answer. 

[00:44:44] Penny Fitzgerald: Absolutely. 

[00:44:45] Rachel Van Dolsen: Um, but yeah. 

[00:44:48] Penny Fitzgerald: Oh, fascinating. Oh my gosh. I'm so glad that you are willing to talk to us about that. 'cause that was really super fun to hear. And of course, I'm, I was curious and, um, I'm glad you, I'm grateful that you. [00:45:00] Openly shared that. Thank you.

Oh, 

[00:45:02] Rachel Van Dolsen: I'm happy to. And yeah, if anyone's interested in like some of the science aspect, there's a really cool book I just listened to, um, by like, uh, Yale educated, psychotherapists named Brian L. Weiss, and he wrote the book Many Lives, many Masters. 

 there's incredible research and like real. Case, like, you know, studies backing up the work. Um, so yeah, I, that to me, I, I listened to it the day after I did my experience and I was like, oh my gosh, I'm actually so glad I did my experience first.

'cause I kind of went in a little bit of a naysayer and then now I'm like, oh, I'm all in. 

[00:45:36] Penny Fitzgerald: it's great to know that there is science behind it so that you're not just, you know, oh, poo-pooing it or, you know, fully agreeing with it if you don't know.

[00:45:47] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, I had my mom listen to it. 'cause I told her about the experience and she is open-minded, but I think she definitely was like, oh boy. A little bit of 

[00:45:54] Penny Fitzgerald: skepticism in 

[00:45:55] Rachel Van Dolsen: there too, that skepticism. But I had her listen to it and even she loved it.

So, you know, it's great [00:46:00] if you, if for the, for the non-believers. 

[00:46:02] Penny Fitzgerald: Okay. Well thanks for that too. 

Of course. 

[00:46:06] Penny Fitzgerald: So, okay. we're of nearing the end of our hour here, and you had mentioned earlier that you used to like a good dirty martini. 

[00:46:15] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yes. Yes. So that would probably be my favorite if I had to give, you know, a cocktail of choice.

Uhhuh, I, I was a gin and still, I mean, uh, gin would be my favorite, although a nice chilled vodka as well. 

Mm-hmm. Great too. Mm-hmm. 

[00:46:30] Rachel Van Dolsen: Um, but yeah, I. That would always be my go-to after like a very long day or after, like a big accomplishment. Um, but yeah, definitely a dirty martini girl. Lots of olives. Lot very, yes.

Filthy. 

[00:46:44] Rachel Van Dolsen: Filthy. Exactly. Filthy. Which is now very invo. So I'm glad because I've been like, always, I'm like, pour the whole olive, all of the olive brine 

[00:46:53] Penny Fitzgerald: salty. Just get it all salty. Exactly. 

[00:46:56] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly. Um, but yeah, that's probably my go-to. And then, you know, I've. [00:47:00] Um, been drinking these cans, which are really, really good.

Um, CANN so highly commend Well, okay. Interesting. Um, to add to the rotation. 

[00:47:08] Penny Fitzgerald: Okay, cool. Um, getting back to gin, just a sec. Do you, do you have a favorite gin? I. 

[00:47:14] Rachel Van Dolsen: So I, that's a good question. I think my favorite is Green Hook, um, which, 

 is made in Brooklyn, but yeah, it's, it's delicious. I also really. 

 1908. Gin by Empress. 

[00:47:26] Penny Fitzgerald: It's purple, which is really cool. Mm. Um, like the color's beautiful. it's an indigo color, but it still tastes like gin. Mm-hmm. Um, that's one of my favorites as well. 

my husband and I prefer Bombay. Um, 

[00:47:38] Rachel Van Dolsen: it's great. 

[00:47:39] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. Hendricks is nice too. I like that one 

[00:47:42] Rachel Van Dolsen: really good too. There's a lot of good botanicals in that, but yeah, I love it.

Yeah, I think gin, like gin culture in the UK is like, they really know, they know what they're doing there. 

[00:47:51] Penny Fitzgerald: I need to visit. 

[00:47:52] Rachel Van Dolsen: I know you need to do, you should. You should do that. It's definitely, I feel like it's a business expense for sure. [00:48:00] 

[00:48:01] Penny Fitzgerald: Absolutely. I like the way you think. 

[00:48:03] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. I mean, I, it, it definitely is.

I don't, 

[00:48:07] Penny Fitzgerald: yes. Okay. So what's, what's a favorite memory with girlfriends sharing drinks? 

[00:48:13] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, so I did for my. So for, this was for my sister's birthday actually. Um, two years ago, right after my son was born, I had a one month old son. We did an at home Omakase sushi dinner. Ooh. 

Which is 

[00:48:26] Rachel Van Dolsen: really cool. So it's this, um, company called Tomo Okase

They're based in New York. So if you're in New York, highly recommend, um, but they'll come to your house with a sushi chef and make like a full. Uh, wow. Multi-course. Um, Omakase experience. It's so fun. Um, and since I had a one month old, it was like ideal 'cause I couldn't really leave the house. You right.

Um, and we actually had sake, so I also really enjoy sake and we had sake from Brooklyn Kura, um, which is a brewery in Brooklyn as well, that we represented for many, many years. And they're, they're, they do amazing, amazing [00:49:00] work. Um, and yeah, so that, that was, you know, Kraft sake paired with Omae. So that was gonna be my memory because.

I think that was like a very special one that was both a food and a booze. Um 

[00:49:11] Penny Fitzgerald: mm-hmm. Um, well, and that's the perfect combo, right? I mean, to have friends over with an, a good meal and some drinks and just enjoy each other's company and create a new experience. 

[00:49:23] Rachel Van Dolsen: Exactly. And I mean, it doesn't have to be as like, you know, exciting as that.

I mean, even some of my, mm-hmm. Other best memories are just like sharing a bottle of wine with my best friend, like 

[00:49:33] Penny Fitzgerald: out on the patio and kicking back. 

[00:49:36] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, and just like talking for a million hours. Um, yes. So refreshing and nice. Yeah, I feel like sometimes. You, you know, we schedule, we schedule so much of our lives that some of that, like free time feels indulgent, and it's not like we're supposed to be connecting with people.

[00:49:55] Penny Fitzgerald: Right. Right. Oh gosh, that's so important. 

[00:49:58] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. I mean, that's what your work [00:50:00] is, so it's, it's great. Mm-hmm. What you're doing is awesome. It's bringing, oh, thank 

[00:50:03] Penny Fitzgerald: you. 

[00:50:03] Rachel Van Dolsen: Put together, which is really ultimately what it's about. 

[00:50:06] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. I agree. Okay. Rachel, what's, what's something that I, is there anything that I haven't asked you that you would love to share?

[00:50:15] Rachel Van Dolsen: No, I, this was great. Thank you so much, Penny. I know we, we covered so much. Um, we 

[00:50:20] Penny Fitzgerald: did. We went there. 

[00:50:21] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah, we did. I love it. Um, but I'm at rachelvandolsen.com Um, if you wanna check out my site, there's, you know, my LinkedIn is where most of my, like, professional stuff is, but feel free to reach out. I'm working with, you know, a bunch of entrepreneurs.

I have a busy schedule for the summer, but I have some openings in the fall. Um, and yeah, I mean, I think. My biggest advice to female entrepreneurs is like, you're certainly not in this alone, as we said. So, like, remember to like, ask for help, to look, look out for a great coach. Um, you know, build a support network for yourself because it can feel super scary and lonely if you, if you let it.

But if you let people in, it's, they'll really surprise you, I think. And [00:51:00] yeah, I at least absolutely done that in my life. Like the more you are vulnerable and ask for help, the, the more amazing things happen. 

[00:51:07] Penny Fitzgerald: Absolutely nothing bad can come from it. It's all good. 

[00:51:11] Rachel Van Dolsen: A hundred percent. Yeah. It really is. It's all up.

It's all upside if you ask for help. Really. I believe 

[00:51:16] Penny Fitzgerald: that too. As 

[00:51:17] Rachel Van Dolsen: someone who really naturally does not like asking for help. It's, I've learned the it. 

[00:51:23] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah. Well, and you know, when you get that help, you can always turn it down after the fact, or, you know, if you wanna adjust some things, you don't have to stick with it.

[00:51:33] Rachel Van Dolsen: A hundred percent. Yeah, 

[00:51:35] Penny Fitzgerald: it's great. Yeah. Cool. 

[00:51:36] Rachel Van Dolsen: Thank you for having me. This was really fun. Thank 

[00:51:38] Penny Fitzgerald: you, Rachel. 

[00:51:38] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. Thank you for having me. I know it was like a bit of an all over. 

[00:51:42] Penny Fitzgerald: No, it was fun. That was super fun. 

[00:51:44] Rachel Van Dolsen: Great. Well, thank you. I love your show. I listened to, um, the last episode, um, with woman who owns the The winery. 

[00:51:51] Penny Fitzgerald: The winery, yeah. 

[00:51:52] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. And I actually was just in Charlottesville. I went to UVA also, um, which is funny.

It's such a small world. I don't know her personally, but I was just in [00:52:00] Charlottesville in April, and so I was like, oh my gosh, what a funny small world. But yeah, I love Charlottesville. That is 

[00:52:05] Penny Fitzgerald: fun. 

[00:52:06] Rachel Van Dolsen: Yeah. Oh, 

[00:52:07] Penny Fitzgerald: cool. 

[00:52:08] Rachel Van Dolsen: She's great. She, I, what a cool story. 

[00:52:10] Penny Fitzgerald: Yeah, absolutely. Um, this Thursday, um, tomorrow, um, Emily Hodson, the winemaker at Veritas and Merrie Mill is gonna be on.

So yeah, she, she was amazing. 

[00:52:23] Rachel Van Dolsen: Wow. Okay. I'm excited to listen to that. Well, yeah, I love, I like, you know, Charlottesville is so close to my heart and that really fun. Yeah, the Virginia wine country is like popping off, so 

[00:52:33] Penny Fitzgerald: I can't wait to see it. 

[00:52:34] Rachel Van Dolsen: Oh, congrats. Enjoy your trip. 

[00:52:37] Penny Fitzgerald: Thank you. Thanks so much for everything, Rachel.

I appreciate it. 

[00:52:40] Rachel Van Dolsen: Have a great day. Thank you again, Penny. Nice to meet you. Yeah, you too. 

[00:52:43] Penny Fitzgerald: Uh, 

[00:52:44] Rachel Van Dolsen: okay, bye. Bye.