This week’s episode is real life, recorded in pockets of time, stitched together with honesty, faith, and that unmistakable Joystarters energy.

Rachel starts with what’s been sitting on her heart, including a sports moment that sparked a whole internet firestorm: Lynn Jones (Associate Editor, Jacksonville Free Press) taking a few seconds to speak life into Liam Coen after a gutting game.

From there, the episode turns toward the deeper heartbeat behind I’m Changing the Narrative—what the nonprofit actually does beyond speeches and stage moments.

Rachel reads a letter from an athlete the I’m Changing the Narrative foundation helped during a hard patch for the player: job loss, housing instability, real-life crisis. The letter is a tearjerker, and it puts words to the mission in the clearest way possible: this is what support looks like when it’s real, relational, and rooted in faith.

LINK FROM THIS EPISODE:

Kulture City, the world’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance.

RESOURCES:

We would love to see you at the Joy Ball and I’m Changing the Narrative Retreat! If you can’t attend in person, would you consider a $5 donation to help the nonprofit:

• provide mental health resources
• sponsor talks and live events
• send people to get counseling and support
• distribute bracelets, books, and resources to those in need

👉 JOY BALL TICKET AND DONATION LINK:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/im-changing-the-narrative-joy-ball

RETREAT: https://www.rachelbaribeau.com/ictn-retreat

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel sits down with JayDee Milo for a raw and deeply human conversation about what it means to use the internet for something that actually helps people. JayDee shares how his late mother, Sandy, shaped him, why her story became the foundation of his platform, and how grief and addiction recovery changed the trajectory of his life.

They talk about why authenticity is magnetic right now, why people are exhausted by constant selling and overconsumption online, and they get real about how boundaries become a form of soul care.

This episode is a love letter to single moms, to the people we’ve lost, and to the decision to choose better when you could have repeated the pattern.

Our Guest: JayDee Milo.

JayDee is a creator, advocate, and storyteller who built a massive online community by honoring his late mother’s story and speaking directly to the realities so many women live through, especially single moms and survivors of abuse. His platform blends humor and truth, and his message is rooted in dignity, accountability, and compassion.

Connect with JayDee Milo on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jaydee_milo and YouTube

RESOURCES:

We would love to see you at the Joy Ball and I’m Changing the Narrative Retreat! If you can’t attend in person, would you consider a $5 donation to help the nonprofit:

provide mental health resources

sponsor talks and live events

send people to get counseling and support

distribute bracelets, books, and resources to those in need

👉 JOY BALL TICKET AND DONATION LINK:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/im-changing-the-narrative-joy-ball

RETREAT: https://www.rachelbaribeau.com/ictn-retreat

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy 2026, Joy Starters 🤍

This year isn’t starting with resolutions. It’s starting with an exhale.

In this honest, unfiltered episode, talks about rest, realness, and what it means to unwind after years of pushing, performing, and powering through. She reflects on learning to be bored again, releasing guilt around rest, and choosing authenticity in a world that’s craving what’s real.

This episode also marks a milestone: 10 years of I'm Changing the Narrative. What began in 2016 has grown into a movement rooted in faith, courage, and audacious energy. Throughout the year ahead, Rachel will celebrate the stories, people, and moments that have shaped this journey—while inviting you to begin changing the narrative in your own life.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to slow down, live fully, and show up as your real self, this episode is for you.

Welcome to 2026.
Welcome to the year of real. 💛

RESOURCES:

We would love to see you at the Joy Ball and I’m Changing the Narrative Retreat! If you can’t attend in person, would you consider a $5 donation to help the nonprofit:

• provide mental health resources
• sponsor talks and live events
• send people to get counseling and support
• distribute bracelets, books, and resources to those in need

👉 JOY BALL TICKET AND DONATION LINK:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/im-changing-the-narrative-joy-ball

RETREAT: https://www.rachelbaribeau.com/ictn-retreat

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.