Journeys

About Journeys

Journeys is a storytelling podcast by Radiant ✦ Grace Productions, hosted by Rachel Koko, that explores the people, places, cultures, and experiences that shape who we are becoming. Through research, personal reflections, and meaningful conversations, Rachel shares the stories behind destinations, communities, businesses, and everyday lives. Episodes uncover history, explore faith and identity, and introduce people navigating disability, chronic illness, change, and unexpected paths. Explore the different series within Journeys: 1. Reflections: Rachel's personal stories and thoughtful reflections on faith, life with FND and chronic illness, family, uncertainty, grief, healing, and hope. 2. Becoming: Honest conversations about identity, faith, resilience, healing, and the unexpected journeys that shape who we are becoming. 3. Discovery: Stories that uncover the meaning held within places, cultures, history, travel, and the experiences that connect us. 4. Olympics (Coming Soon): Stories of athletes, their families, and the countries and communities behind them. Following their journeys through training, qualifying events, and international competitions on the path to the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, while exploring the lives and legacies beyond competition. 5. Paralympics (Coming Soon): Discovering the people and legacies shaping Paralympic sport.  Through the stories of athletes, families, and communities, we follow their journeys toward the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games while exploring access, opportunity, the stories beyond competition, and what it means to represent a country on the world stage. 6. Purpose (Coming Soon): Story led collaborations exploring the people, vision, values, and meaning behind brands, organizations, and destinations. From discovering a place through the people who know it best to hearing how someone is learning to live differently, Journeys invites us to consider: How is this journey shaping who we are becoming? Because every journey has the power to change us. Support Journeys Your optional support helps me tell more stories about people, places, and the journeys that shape us. Venmo: @radiantgraceproductions https://venmo.com/u/radiantgraceproductions (https://venmo.com/u/radiantgraceproductions)

Publisher

Rachel Koko

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Jul 2026

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Becoming: Takiko: I Am Enough

   Trigger Warnings: This episode includes discussion of depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, and cancer. What happens when the life you imagined isn't the life you end up living? For years, Takiko Hosokawa wondered why her life seemed so different from the lives of those around her. As friends dated, married, and built families, she found herself asking a painful question: What's wrong with me? But Takiko's journey would become about much more than being single. In this episode of Journeys, Takiko shares her experiences with depression, caring for her aging parents, profound loss, stomach cancer, and the unexpected realization during treatment that she wanted to live. Now 60, Takiko doesn't pretend every part of her story is resolved. Instead, she talks candidly about resilience, self-worth, healing, and learning to embrace a life that looks different from the one she once imagined. Because sometimes becoming isn't about finally having the life we thought we were supposed to have. It's about discovering the value of the person we've become along the way. Connect with Takiko:Instagram: @eigoya_ohana Support Journeys:Your optional support helps me tell more stories.Support Radiant Grace Productions on Venmo Journeys is a podcast by Radiant ✦ Grace Productions.

2. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Reflections: When You Find Yourself in Darkness [Re-Release]

   Darkness doesn’t always arrive with warning. Sometimes it slips in through exhaustion, grief, illness, or the realization that life no longer looks the way you imagined. In “When You Find Yourself in Darkness,” Rachel Koko shares her experience living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), grieving her former abilities, navigating depression, and wrestling with questions about faith and healing. Through personal reflections and stories from scripture, she explores how God meets us in these different kinds of darkness—with compassion for our limits, room for our grief, and love that does not depend on our bodies being healed. Originally released under the Radiant Grace Podcast, this episode is now shared as part of the Reflections series of Journeys. You’ll hear the original podcast name in the recording. Hope does not always arrive as relief. Sometimes it arrives as the reminder that we are not alone—even while we are still hurting, waiting, and living with unanswered questions.

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Reflections: Still Worthy [Re-Release]

   The world teaches us to measure our worth by what we can produce, accomplish, manage, or carry on our own. But what happens when our bodies change, independence fades, or illness enters the story? Does needing help make us less worthy of love? In “Still Worthy,” Rachel Koko reflects on worth when life no longer looks the way we planned—and the truth that changing abilities and needing support do not diminish our value. Originally released as my fourth podcast episode under Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful, this episode is now shared as part of the Reflections series of Journeys. You’ll hear the original podcast name in the recording. Your worth is not suspended when your independence fades. You do not need to prove you are still useful to be worthy of love. You are already known, already claimed, and already of infinite worth.

4. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Reflections: Taking Off the Mask [Re-Release]

   Have you ever worn a mask? Not the kind that covers your face — but the kind that hides your heart. The mask that says, “I’m fine.” Even when you’re falling apart inside. In “Taking Off the Mask,” Rachel Koko reflects on the ways we hide our fear, anxiety, shame, and exhaustion—and God’s gentle invitation to stop pretending, stop performing, and begin healing. Originally released as my third podcast episode under Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful, this episode is now shared as part of the Reflections series of Journeys. You’ll hear the original podcast name in the recording. As you listen, consider: What mask are you wearing? What would your life look like if you finally took it off? May you find the courage to take one small step toward letting yourself be seen and knowing how deeply loved you are.

5. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Reflections: The Beginning of Broken Things [Re-Release]

   Originally released as my second podcast episode, “The Beginning of Broken Things” is now shared as part of the Reflections series of Journeys. This early episode is part of the foundation of Finding Joy in the Broken and the storytelling journey that eventually became Journeys. I’m sharing it again to bring those first pieces of my podcast into this next chapter. Thank you for listening and revisiting the beginning with me.

6. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Reflections: When You Don't Feel Qualified [Re-Release]

   Originally released as my very first podcast episode, “When You Don’t Feel Qualified” is now part of the Reflections series. What do you do when you feel drawn to something but wonder whether you’re qualified to begin? In this episode, Rachel Koko reflects on self-doubt, faith, and taking a step forward even when you don’t feel ready. It’s an invitation to consider what might be possible when you make room to learn and grow along the way.

7. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful

   What happens when life changes the way you see yourself? For many of us, identity becomes intertwined with the roles we fill, the expectations we carry, the achievements we pursue, and the things we are able to do. But what happens when those things begin to change? In this premiere episode of Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful, Rachel shares the personal journey that led to the creation of the podcast and the question that continues to shape her life: Who am I becoming? After a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) dramatically changed the course of her life, Rachel found herself confronting questions about identity, worth, purpose, and what remains when the labels we build our lives around no longer fit. Through her story, she explores the difference between who we are and what we do, why our worth is deeper than our circumstances, and how healing sometimes begins when we stop trying to become who we used to be and start discovering who we are becoming. This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered: Who am I when life doesn't go according to plan? What happens when the roles I've relied on begin to change? Where does my worth come from? Who am I becoming? In This Episode Rachel's personal journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) How life changes can challenge our sense of identity The difference between who we are and what we do Why worth is not earned The story behind Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful The question that will shape future episodes: Who am I becoming? Key Takeaway Your worth is not determined by your productivity, appearance, abilities, achievements, or circumstances. It never was. You are valuable because of who you are, not because of what you do. Reflection Question Who are you becoming? Not who you were before. Not who others expect you to be. But who is God helping you to become through all of it? Connect Join the Free Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful Community Connect with others, continue the conversation, and be part of a community focused on identity, worth, healing, and becoming. Support Radiant Grace Productions Become a member to help support the podcast and gain access to guest Q&As, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive episodes, and other member benefits. Learn more at RadiantGraceProductions.com Closing Thought Your story matters. Not just the healed chapters. Not just the victories. The becoming matters too. There is no one else in this world who can be your kind of beautiful. Choose to Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful.

8. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Learning to Love Myself Again

   If you met yourself today for the very first time, would you be kind to that person? There was a time when Rachel knew exactly who she was. She knew what she could do, what her future looked like, and what she expected from herself. But when illness and unexpected life changes altered the course of her life, she found herself grieving a version of herself she could no longer return to. In this episode of Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful, Rachel explores the difficult process of learning to love yourself after life changes the way you see yourself. Through her personal journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), she shares the grief of identity loss, the struggle of comparing herself to who she used to be, and the realization that healing is not always about becoming the person you were before. Sometimes healing begins when we learn to extend grace to the person standing in front of us today. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like they no longer recognize themselves and wondered how to move forward when life doesn't go according to plan. In This Episode Grieving the version of yourself you used to be Living with the uncertainty of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) The emotional impact of chronic illness and life changes Why we often measure ourselves by outdated expectations Learning self-compassion during difficult seasons Identity beyond abilities, accomplishments, and independence Extending grace to the person you are today Key Takeaway Maybe learning to love yourself again isn't learning to love the person you used to be. Maybe it's learning to extend grace to the person standing in front of you today. Reflection Question If you met yourself today for the very first time, would you be kind to that person? Connect Join the Free Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful Community Connect with others, continue the conversation, and be part of a community focused on identity, worth, healing, and becoming. Support Radiant Grace Productions Become a member to help support the podcast and gain access to guest Q&As, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive episodes, and other member benefits. Learn more at RadiantGraceProductions.com. Closing Thought You do not have to earn your worth back. You do not have to become who you were before in order to be valuable today. Your story is still unfolding. And even if you don't fully recognize yourself right now, that doesn't mean you've lost yourself. You may simply be meeting a new version of who you're becoming. Remember there is no one else in this world who can be your kind of beautiful. Choose to Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful.

9. 

   13 Aug 2026

   Happy Thoughts: A Conversation With Filmmaker Tommy Pepper

   Filmmaker Tommy Pepper shares the deeply personal story behind his award-winning short film, *Happy Thoughts*, exploring grief, mental health, and cultural identity. He reflects on transforming personal pain into a story that can encourage healing and meaningful conversation, while emphasizing the importance of emotional honesty within the Vietnamese American community.

10. 

    22 Jul 2026

    Minidoka: Lessons in Resilience

    At first glance, Minidoka looks like an ordinary piece of the Idaho desert. But beneath the quiet landscape lies the story of thousands of American families who lost their homes, businesses, and freedom during World War II. More than 13,000 Japanese Americans were sent to Minidoka during World War II, they couldn't choose where they would live. They couldn't choose the barbed wire, the guard towers, or the fear that brought them there. But they could choose how they would respond. In this episode of Journeys: Discoveries, we explore the remarkable resilience of the people who transformed a harsh desert into a community. Through schools, gardens, sports, art, faith, and everyday acts of courage, they refused to let injustice define who they were. Because sometimes the greatest stories aren't about the hardships we endure. They're about the choices we make in the middle of them. Learn more about my journey to Minidoka by visiting radiantgraceproductions.com. Host & Producer: Rachel Koko Podcast Series: Journeys: Discoveries, a podcast by Radiant Grace Productions Music: Fields of Light - Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: VNDCJGLBKCHTJF1B

11. 

    17 Jul 2026

    Learning to Love Who I'm Becoming

    What happens when life changes you so deeply that you no longer recognize the person you’ve become? In this episode of Journeys, I share the deeply personal journey of learning to stop measuring myself against who I used to be and begin embracing the person I am becoming.

12. 

    17 Jul 2026

    The Bridge That Started a Journey

    While traveling through southeastern Utah, Rachel pauses at the Jason R. Workman Memorial Bridge and discovers that behind an ordinary road crossing lies the extraordinary story of a Navy SEAL whose legacy continues to inspire others. This episode explores the importance of remembering the people behind the places we visit and reminds us that every journey has a story waiting to be discovered.

13. 

    17 Jul 2026

    The Journey of Becoming

    The Journey of Becoming shares Rachel’s personal story of navigating unexpected change, discovering purpose through faith, and learning that life’s greatest journeys aren’t about becoming someone new, but embracing who we’re becoming.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Journeys

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.