From Nearly Crushed to Carving Cathedrals: Rachel’s Story of Reinvention

At 29, Rachel decided to become a stonemason — but that wasn’t where her story began.

Before carving stone for Lincoln Cathedral, she was literally hit by a truck. The accident left her learning to walk again, questioning everything, and ultimately rebuilding her life from the ground up (quite literally).

In this episode, Rachel joins Michelle for round two — a raw and funny catch-up on recovery, resilience, and rediscovering purpose. They talk about learning patience through craft, why boredom might actually be a skill, and what it’s like to leave your mark (literally) on a piece of history.

They also dig into:

• Why you should never underestimate time spent “funemployed.”
• How trauma can reset your direction — without defining you.
• What stonemasonry teaches you about discipline, creativity, and slowing the hell down.
• Rachel’s love for vintage fashion, her 1940s Jeep “Dottie,” and why history still has her heart.
• The myth of failure when you start again later in life.

It’s honest, unexpected, and proof that sometimes the slow path is the one that lasts the longest.

00:00 – Intro & “How have you dared and won?”

01:18 – The accident: hit by a truck, rehab, learning to walk again

06:17 – Apprenticeship decision & career at Lincoln Cathedral

07:58 – Why boredom is a core skill in stonemasonry (training process)

14:49 – Mason’s marks explained + Rachel’s “witch’s hat” mark

23:53 – Rachel’s 1944 Willys Jeep “Dottie”

29:53 – Returning to university & Master’s in Historic Buildings

40:05 – Media features: Woman’s Hour, Look North & surprise BBC Breakfast segment

🎧 Listen now to hear how Rachel turned being broken into building something timeless.

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