story — Be Alive with Kate Manser

Rachel Cohen is a masters-level recreational therapist and the founder of UNBOREDROOM, a creative and inclusive art space for neurodivergent and disabled people. Rachel is serious about using art and play with measurable outcomes to change lives.

If you're looking for science-backed inspiration to prioritize art, creativity, and play - you NEED to listen to Rachel on this episode.

In this episode, Rachel also shares the story of how she thoughtfully created a her epic INCLUSION PROM event for neurodivergent and all-abilities people, complete with therapeutic DJing, artmaking, calm and sensory rooms, and of course, costumes -- illustrating how art and play unite and uplift diverse individuals.

This episode will help you:

🌟 Learn how to better relate to neurodivergent and all abilities people

👩‍🎤 Create your own definition of what it means to call oneself an artist

🙃 Find out how to inject more joy and whimsy into your everyday life

Timestamps

(01:16) Introducing Rachel Cohen: Founder of Onboard Room

(02:28) The Magic of Unboredroom: A Creative Haven

(02:53) Rachel's Journey and the Impact of Space on Creativity

(04:31) What is the role of Recreation Therapy?

(07:04) Teaching Art and Discovering Strengths

(09:28) The Importance of Self-Expression for People with Disabilities

(22:33) Creating Inclusive Spaces and Events

(38:20) The Importance of Play and Flow State

(40:52) Creating a Gingerbread Village

(41:23) Balancing Passion Projects and Day Jobs

(42:45) The Power of Community and Volunteerism

(46:59) Overcoming Failures and Persevering

(58:15) The Need for Self-Care and Avoiding Burnout

(01:03:28) The Role of Recreation During the Pandemic

(01:08:36) Adaptive Leadership and Community Support

(01:12:16) Encouraging Participation and Support

(01:14:31) Conclusion and Future Plans

Engage with Rachel: unboredroom

UNBOREDROOM on Instagram

Connect with your host Kate Manser

Instagram

Katemanser

Be immersed in living an alive life. Get Kate’s weekly text: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thanks for being alive with me⚡

⚡️I hope you love this one! Stephanie Douple has a fascinating story of being plucked off the streets of Vegas to become a model, then falling into addiction, and is now many years into a journey as a gifted therapist. She's funny, she's real, she's a beautiful soul.

👉Key points

(00:34) Meet Stephanie Douple

(02:29) How a guy named Breakfast in Vegas launched my modeling career

(05:20) Struggles with Addiction and Self-Worth

(15:22) The Path to Sobriety and Self-Discovery

(25:20) Understanding Harm Reduction and Sobriety

(33:09) Embracing Energy Work and Therapy

(36:03) Detaching from Results in Therapy

(37:23) Understanding EMDR and Trauma Integration

(38:25) Grounding Techniques for Therapists

(41:06) Overcoming Negative Thoughts

(42:45) Embracing Unique Life Paths

(44:41) Generational and Personal Healing

(01:00:20) Navigating Social Media and Mental Health

(01:08:14) Exploring Addiction and Dissociation

(01:14:25) Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Topics: how a guy named Breakfast in Vegas launched my modeling career, going from addiction to sobriety, disabilities, body dysmorphia, becoming a therapist, how to step into your higher timeline every night, and what it's like being a therapist for Gen Alpha clients.

About Stephanie Douple

Stephanie is the founder of Embrace Mind Health, which supports individuals with substance misuse and mental health challenges. Stephanie believes that a path that leads to saving yourself is aligned with supportive people who have been where you are, have walked the path before you, and are willing to sit knee-to-knee with you and support you while you find the answers within you. Stephanie lives near Austin, TX and enjoys sunshine, good food, and being silly.

This week’s show features a candid conversation in which we explore Stephanie’s journey through addiction, self-worth, and sobriety. Stephanie shares her background as a performing arts instructor and model, describing how external validation through beauty and success masked deep struggles with body dysmorphia, addiction, and self-acceptance.

She reflects on her experience growing up with physical differences and a chaotic family environment, which shaped her self-image and challenges. Stephanie emphasizes the difficulty of recalibrating self-worth away from external achievements toward intrinsic value, a process she describes as ongoing and requiring constant self-observation and compassion.

The episode also touches on the normalization of drug use in certain social circles and how Stephanie’s spiritual awakening and sobriety began in her thirties, leading her to a path of healing and self-love.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🦋 Self-worth must be recalibrated from external validation to intrinsic value, which is a lifelong and evolving process.

🦵 Body dysmorphia and negative self-talk can be managed by observing and naming the critical inner voice, allowing space for self-compassion.

🍷 Addiction often masks deeper emotional and spiritual pain; sobriety can be a path to rediscovering light, love, and joy in life.

🚧 Healing from trauma and addiction requires patience and acceptance that setbacks and struggles are part of the journey.

🎂 Spiritual awakening and self-love can emerge later in life, showing it’s never too late to transform one’s relationship with oneself.

What does living your most alive life mean to you? "Living my most alive life means that I am able to operate within the frequency of flow, being willing to forget everything I think I know so that I can have a new experience." --Stephanie Douple

🌐Follow Stephanie Douple Website

IG / reels

LinkedIN / stephaniedouple

👉Connect with Kate Manser ⁠thealivekate⁠

Visit Kate’s website

Get Kate’s free textspirations: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

Thank you for being alive with me ⚡️