A Rainbow In The Storm

How To Practically Navigate a Crisis: with Sarah Sullivan

In this episode, Katharine and Seth interview Katharine’s sister Sarah Sullivan and investigate all the ways in which she supported them through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Sarah, who is an expert in creating, analyzing, and building new organizations and systems, as well as being a self-proclaimed “spiritual activist” shares many of the practical tools that helped their greater family navigate through tragedy and loss.
The key takeaways from this episode are:
Establish communications protocols:
Without cell service and limited communication, Sarah took on the role as the single point of contact for the family. Creating a daily long-form group text helped keep family and friends updated.
Daily standing meetings in the local town square in Black Mountain helped keep important info and the lines of communication open between officials and locals.
Sarah created a family Zoom meeting to discuss next actions together. This proved to be very helpful and grounding.
The GoFundMe that Sarah set up for Katharine and Seth ended up being a communications portal.
Rely on facts from the ground:
The family sent a scout as we couldn’t get info in real time from the neighbors due to breakdown in cell communication.
Katharine and Seth were able to make decisions based on that scout’s findings.
Keep in mind that a scout might not always be safe especially in many natural disaster circumstances.
Take action:
Sarah gives examples of how she helped the family by making decisions for them that they didn’t have the capacity to make in real-time due to extreme stress and overwhelm.
Decisions can always be undone later, but taking concerted action(s) on someone else’s behalf when they are fight or flight can be life-changing.
Find the role that you can best help with and go for it. Don’t communicate with the person in shock about every little thing - help them simply by taking something off of their plate.
Prioritize basic needs:
Food
Shelter
Clothing, Toiletries, etc.
Nervous system/Grounding support: Massage, acupuncture, even a facial! What can you offer?
Prayer support:
Sarah organized a prayer circle which helped the affected families feel held and gave those wanting to help a free way to support the affected families.
You have so much more than you think!
We all can help in more ways than we realize. Think about the things you can donate (time, items, money, etc.), but also the people you know, resources you have that you might overlook (a pull-out couch), and the skills you have (a free massage can go a long way to helping someone feel more grounded)
We all want to help, but we don’t all have to do it all. Offer one way you can help someone you love going through a tragic event.
Liked this episode? Please email us at hello@arainbowinthestorm.com and let us know!
A few useful links:
Sarah’s beautiful poem: Grief is the Teacher
Sarah’s Instagram
Jenna Kutcher’s The Podcast Lab Course
Katharine’s Writings

5…Make That 6 Things We’re Bringing into the New Year & 3 Things We’re Kicking to the Curb

Happy New Year everyone! In this episode, Katharine and Seth share the five…no the six things they are bringing into the New Year. These aren’t resolutions, but new things to focus on. After losing so many physical items, they have gained so much more wisdom on how they both want to show up in the world and what truly matters. They also share three things that are no longer serving them and are quitting cold turkey this year.
6 Things They Are Bringing into 2025:
1. Radical self love
2. Patience and the freedom from rushing
3. Focus and personal responsibility
4. More gratitude for everything in our lives - especially the mundane “little things”
5. Being in the fullest expression of myself even if it risks looking completely insane and unhinged
6. Saying “yes”
3 Things They’re Kicking to the Curb:
1. Complaining and leading conversations with the worst thing that’s happened to them lately
2. Relationships that aren’t authentic
3. Judging others and how they move through challenging situations
Liked this episode? Please email us at hello@arainbowinthestorm.com and let us know!
A few useful links:
Hayley Everett’s gorgeous song about the Storm that I mention in the podcast. Storm Song
Jenna Kutcher’s The Podcast Lab Course
Katharine’s Writings

Naughty & Nice: Our Christmas Special

In this episode, Katharine and Seth depart from their typical podcast topics — and enjoy the fun and magic of the holidays. Katharine shares her top five Christmas movies and Seth creates themed cocktails for each! In the heaviness of sorting through flood insurance, buying new things, moving (again), and driving 10 hours to celebrate Christmas, Katharine and Seth decided it was more important this week to just do something super silly and ridiculous. We hope you put this podcast on in the background while you do some holiday baking or while wrapping your gifts! Enjoy!
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Kat’s Top 5 Christmas Movies & Seth’s Cocktail Pairings:
5. Last Christmas (2019) - This quirky and unexpected Christmas romcom centers around Kate, a wannabe West End performer and full time Christmas store worker, who falls for a mysterious man who ends up playing a pivotal role in her life - but not in a way you expect Set in London with all of the whimsy and beauty of this city at Christmas and a phenomenal cast. Also music by George Michael. What’s not to love?
COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Winter Pimms (recipe in the show notes on our website)
MOCKTAIL OPTION: Warm apple cider with candied orange, a cinnamon stick, and apple, cloves if you’re fancy. 
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4. Elf (2003) - This hilarious movie starring Will Ferrell and James Caan is a modern Christmas classic which tells the story of an orphan adopted by Santa who grows up to be Buddy the Elf, a human living in an Elf world. When Buddy returns to NYC to meet his biological dad, hijinks ensue and of course there’s a love story too.
COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Candy Cane Martini (recipe in the show notes on our website)
MOCKTAIL OPTION: Peppermint Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Chocolate Milk
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3. Home Alone (1990) - I’m not writing a description for Home Alone. if you have not seen it, you do not really like Christmas - ya filthy animal!
COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Gingerbread Martini (recipe in the show notes on our website)
MOCKTAIL OPTION: Decaf Gingerbread Latte or Warm Gingerbread Milk
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2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - This Christmas classic takes place during the magical weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas in NYC. A single-mother and staunch Santa-denier accidentally hires the real Santa Claus to work at Macy’s, subjecting her daughter to the true magic and delight of Christmas. While Kris Kringle spends his time trying to persuade the little girl that he is real, he subsequently convinces her mother, and the whole world too. Also it’s a love story.
COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Christmaspolitan / Classy Christmas (recipe in the show notes on our website)
MOCKTAIL OPTION: Elderflower soda with a splash of cranberry juice. Add a fun garnish!
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1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) - This beloved Christmas movie is loosely based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and tells the story of George Bailey, a man who has sacrificed his dreams in order to help others and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about his guardian angel, Clarence. Clarence shows George all the lives he touched and what the world would be like if he had not existed. Sounds dark, but honestly so good.
COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Christmas Champagne Cocktail (recipe in the show notes on our website)
MOCKTAIL OPTION: Sparkling Apple Cider with a sugar cube, Angostura bitters (if desired), and a lemon twist garnish.
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If you enjoyed this episode and would like other episodes like this, let us know. And please, if you make any of these cocktails/mocktails while watching their corresponding movie, please send us a pic! Email us at hello@arainbowinthestorm.com!

Fleeing Her Homeland: Dagmar's Story

In this episode, Katharine and Seth are in conversation with Dagmar Stansova, whose mother was a hidden child separated from her parents for many years during the Holocaust. Similarly, Dagmar had a dramatic childhood, being separated from her parents for a year after being caught trying to flee communism in their home country. She describes in poetic detail what it means to take difficult situations and transmute them into something beautiful and profound. Dagmar also shares a piece of her writing, a tool she has used throughout her life to make meaning from everything life has handed her. 
Where to find Dagmar:
Email her at stansova@aol.com.
Link to a trailer of her one woman show, Loose Underwear:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xviwMh3fJeo
Link to her whole show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeQRPPtaHls&t=3s
If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave us a review - thank you!

9 Lessons We've Learned Since The Storm

In this episode, Katharine and Seth share the initial nine lessons they’ve learned since Hurricane Helene ripped through their town of Black Mountain, NC and took their home and many of their belongings.
The 9 Lessons they shared were:
Life’s storms present us with an opportunity to deepen our faith and lean into the notion that we are Divinely led.
There are levels to surrender, and in the midst of tragedy, we can surrender deeper than we ever thought possible.
In times of great stress, we can only focus on the present and what we have control over in this moment.
Community is our greatest national asset.
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Seeking help leads to camaraderie, sharing of the emotional weight and working more efficiently together.
Always use your good stuff - do not wait for a special occasion.  Enjoy your favorite items - the fine china, the good underwear (ladies IYKYK), and your favorite journal. And for the love of God - don’t wait to share your voice with the world!
In the eye of the storm, you have to give yourself time and space to feel all of your feelings. And giving yourself grace for mistakes made while you're in process is crucial.
You are so much richer than you ever realized. Abundance is everywhere and it’s not just a financial thing.
You never know when the last time will be THE last time for something…the last meal, the last goodbye, the last hug. Find opportunities to have reverence for your life and the everyday moments.
They spoke about these lessons and gave examples for each. Katharine shared her poem “Don’t Wait” as it pertains to lesson 6.
Additionally, they shared a brief update about the progress of their house and their life during the holiday season.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like other episodes like this, let us know. Email us at hello@arainbowinthestorm.com!

Our Story: The Storm, Part 2

In our inaugural episode, we share the story of the storm that took our home and changed the trajectory of our lives. We go into all of the details from the day before the Hurricane through the days that followed. Katharine shares two of her writings about grief, loss, and gratitude. We have split it into two parts. Thank you for listening!

Our Story: The Storm, Part 1

In our inaugural episode, we share the story of the storm that took our home and changed the trajectory of our lives. We go into all of the details from the day before the Hurricane through the days that followed. Katharine shares two of her writings about grief, loss, and gratitude. We have split it into two parts. Thank you for listening!

A Rainbow In The Storm - Trailer

Welcome to A Rainbow In The Storm: Finding hope and meaning in the midst of tragedy. Join us each week as we share practical advice, personal stories, and the hope that no storm lasts forever.