In this deeply moving episode, Barbara Karafokas sits down with Ranae Van Roekel, founder of Connecting to Cope, to explore her powerful journey from incarceration to inner healing and purpose.
Once labeled a felon, Ranae’s story is not one of shame — but of transformation.
After serving 36 months in federal prison, she faced the trauma she had long buried and began the journey of rebuilding her life from the inside out.
Together, Barbara and Ranae discuss:
🌱 How unresolved trauma can shape our choices — and how healing can set us free
💫 Why choices are a privilege, and how reclaiming them can change everything
💗 What self-care really means in the process of emotional recovery
🌸 How to set and honor healthy boundaries
☀️ The difference between surviving and truly living with joy
🤝 Why meeting people where they are is the foundation of empathy and growth
Ranae’s message is one of hope, forgiveness, and human resilience.
Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation will remind you that transformation is always possible — no matter your past.
🎧 Listen now to discover how trauma, when faced with courage, can become the gateway to purpose and compassion.
📌Connect with Barbara:
Online Coaching: https://www.trainerize.me/profile/barbara-holistic-nutritionist/Barbara.Karafokas/
Website: www.barbarakarafokas.com
LinkedIn: / barbara-karafokas-03ab0932
X: @ themedlifediet
Resona Health: https://resona.health?ap_id=BarbaraK
📌Connect with Ranae: https://connectingtocope.com/
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.