Rockin’ Libsyn Podcasts: Dear Family

RLP_DearFamily_2021

This series is all about libsyn’s podcasters. Its sole purpose is to introduce these awesome podcasts to the world as well as share their podcasting insight to empower the community!


Q & A with Rachel from Dear Family


When did you start podcasting?

June, 2019

Why did you start podcasting?

I was first asked to be on the “SheSez“ Podcast and the ”Shameless Mom Academy” (two She Podcasters) after they read an article I published about what I wish I could have told Anthony Bourdain and my Grandpa before they took their lives.

I loved how intimate the podcasting platform was and it led to many people reaching out to me to tell me their family stories.

I realized I wasn’t the only one who had family secrets and a family with many mental health challenges no one discussed out of shame.

What began as a means to replace the shame and stigma from mental health issues by having my own open conversation to cut generational trauma and not pass it onto my precious daughters, spread to sharing other peoples’ stories of overcoming obstacles to not just survive but to thrive.

What’s the name of your show and what is it about?

Dear Family, the podcast is a love letter to our complicated families and to achieving mental wellness.

It’s meant to stop us from writing ourselves and our loved ones off.

I’m a writer, educator, and mental health advocate who is joined by inspirational guests. Together we find community, healing, understanding, and compassion.

The listener feels as though they are eavesdropping on an intimate and raw conversation between close family members or best friends, who we all know are our chosen family anyway.

Besides practical advice, the listener should plan on being entertained, moved, and feeling uplifted. They might even look forward to their next family gathering.

What’s your podcasting set-up?

I usually record my episodes on my Mac mini desktop that is hard wired just in case the wifi shuts down, recording face to face on Zoom and downloading the audio. I have a Yeti Blue microphone with a blucoil pop filter.

I edit the episode using Descript software which saves me a ton of time.

I then level the audio with Auphonic software.

I use Canva to create all my images and to resize them for the different social media links and use Headliner to create audiograms.

How have you promoted your podcast?

I promote my podcast on Instagram, Facebook (public page and a Dear Family Members Private Group), Linkedin, Pinterest, and through my newsletter. I haven’t ventured into TikTok even though I know I should.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?

I was warned early on that podcasting is like birthing a baby. You will forever want to nurture it to help it grow.

It’s time consuming and consuming of your mind and there is always more you can be doing for it.

All of that has proven to be true but what I realize now is my motivation for putting so much time and care and love into podcasting has changed.

Besides raising my kids, my marriage, teaching elementary school kids, being with my dear family and friends, and all the obvious things in life that bring one happiness, podcasting has been incredibly fulfilling on so many levels.

I describe my podcasting journey as my own personal graduate school tailor made for me.

I research what I am interested in and then do a deep dive into the subject material. I get to know my guests on a deeper level than I ever could have had I just spoken to them casually.

These relationships have turned into wonderful new acquaintances with many becoming friends across the globe.

What I love so much is the legacy of podcasts and how they feel like they can live forever.

My role as a podcast host continues to open new doors, a gift I am so grateful for.


Dear Family is a love letter to all of those living with the shame family secrets and the stigma attached to those.  In this podcast Rachel Steinman speaks to those willing to share their stories in order to help others overcome and grow in spite of past trauma and mental health. Engaging and sometimes raw this is a podcast that should be on everyone’s playlist. You can listen to Dear Family on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.


Creativity sometimes grows out of necessity. Rachel Steinman wrote an article that spoke to her trauma related to suicide, and what she wished she could have said before tragedy struck.  She realized that there were many people that wanted and needed to share their story.  Podcasting was the medium that best suited this narrative.

Is it yours? Have you told a story then realized that it was a shared experience that you wanted other to know about.  A way to build community and maybe share answers to perplexing questions?  Don’t know where to start?

We can help! Get started with our Start Your Podcast blog series.  If you are ready, we have the best podcast hosting plans around!

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Use code “creator” for up to 2 months free when you start podcasting or move to Libsyn.

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