Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals

Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals, hosted by Nicole Havelka, helps everyday radicals and world-changers who are tired, but not giving up to find connection, support, and soul-deep inspiration to keep resisting grind culture while staying true to their values. Nicole Havelka is a burnout survivor, ordained pastor, yoga teacher, and founder of Defy the Trend. She spent years trying to change the world by working harder, staying later, doing more, but realized that real change doesn't come from depletion—it comes from deep, aligned, joyful living. Now, she coaches others to make rest a non-negotiable part of their resistance. Every week, you'll hear honest, unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build differently and rest radically. Episodes talk about resistance, spiritual practice, failure, boundary-setting, burnout, recovery, and the sacred power of saying, “no more".

Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals is a society podcast hosted by Nicole Havelka, with 20 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Nicole Havelka hosts Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals, a society show with 20 episodes published.

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  Episode #20

  Creative Burnout and How to Recover From It with Kevin Chung

  Sep 30, 202639 minS1

  What happens when two restless creatives sit down to talk about big leaps, burnout, and why rest might be the fiercest protest of all? In this episode, I'm sharing my very first Substack Live, a conversation with my friend and fellow podcaster Kevin Chung of Standout Creatives. It's a little unpolished (it was my first live, and only Kevin's second), but it's full of honest, energizing talk about creative burnout and how rest and resistance feed your creativity. Kevin and his wife recently left Miami for San Juan, Costa Rica, chasing a life more aligned with nature and creativity. Our conversation ranges from downsizing to improv, from the myth of the starving artist to Theater of the Oppressed, and from capitalism's obsession with hustle to the radical idea that rest is what fuels resistance. And around the 5-minute mark, I blurted out my own scary, thrilling dream for the year ahead: living nomadically. It was the first time I'd said it publicly. (Spoiler: I'm doing it now!) In this episode, we talk about: What creative burnout looks like and how to recover from it The myth of the starving artist, and why it keeps creatives depleted Art and rest as resistance How listening to your body protects your creativity Improv and Theater of the Oppressed as creative and liberatory practices Downsizing, big moves, and building a more intentional life Kevin's move from Miami to Costa Rica, and my plan to live nomadically Links from the show: Was it Chance? Podcast with Alan Seales and Healther Vickery featuring Historian Tad Stormer. Theater of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal Make Art Make Money: Lessons from Jim Henson for Fueling Your Creative Life by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey About my conversation partner Kevin Chung helps creative people finish what matters: the book, the business, or the life they actually want, through creative thinking, mindset shifts, and marketing advice. He hosts The Standout Creatives, Standout Reinventions, and Standout Authors, and he recently left the United States to live out his creative dreams in Costa Rica. Connect with Kevin : The Standout Creatives newsletter and podcast Rest with me If you want a place to rest so your creative juices can flow again, become a paid Substack subscriber to Just Rest. You'll get my full reflections on living nomadically, tips for preventing and recovering from burnout, and more opportunities to rest. You are worthy of rest! CONNECT WITH NICOLE HAVELKA: Newsletter LinkedIn Bluesky Work with Nicole Leave a Voice Memo Send me a message via Speakpipe . A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective .

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  Episode #19

  Self-Care for Solopreneurs: Gratitude Geek Encore

  Sep 16, 202649 minS1

  Running your own business is rewarding, but let’s be honest—it can also be exhausting, overwhelming, and sometimes downright soul-sucking. In this episode, I got to guest on the Gratitude Geek podcast with three powerhouse solopreneurs — Deb Davis, Di Hilstad and Gratitude Geek host, Kandas Rodarte. We talked about survival-level self-care strategies for women over 40. From setting boundaries and asking for help to creating your personal “Survivor’s Toolkit,” we cover practical, real-world ways to protect your energy, thrive in your work or business, and still find time to breathe. Whether you’re facing burnout, health challenges, or just want to reclaim your calendar, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you survive — and even enjoy — entrepreneurship. This encore presentation of the Gratitude Geek episode is part of my summer playlist series, where I'm re-sharing some of my favorite conversations from guesting on other podcasts this past year. I'm so grateful to Kandas for creating a space where I could share my hard-won lessons about self-care and share my toolkit with you. 00:00 Introduction to Self-Care for Solopreneurs 00:49 Introducing Self-Care for Solopreneurs guests 04:20 Mortality and Self-Care 07:32 Self-care Toolkit for Solopreneurs 10:22 Being Intentional, Setting Boundaries 20:09 Pause before your body tells you to 28:47 Giving or being taken advantage of? 36:49 Comfort sharing story, setting boundaries 40:51 Lightening Round Questions 47:06 Conclusion: Spill the Tea on Setting Boundaries Links Deb: https://upage.in/deb Di: http://instagram.com/dihils Energy Mapping: https://designingyour.life/insights/find-your-flow-with-energy-maps/ Full Show Notes: https://kandasrodarte.com/287 Meet the Host of Gratitude Geek Kandas Rodarte is a business coach, podcaster, and internet marketing pioneer who has been helping women solopreneurs over 40 grow businesses that fit their lives for decades. Living with metastatic breast cancer since 2014, she understands firsthand the importance of self-care, boundaries, and working smart—less hustle, more impact. Meet the Guests Deb Davis is an accomplished headshot photographer and author, known for her stress-free sessions and expert expression coaching. She serves as President of Professional Photographers of Michigan (2024–2025) and is an elite Associate with the Peter Hurley Photography Group. Deb helps professionals over 40 show up fully, inside and out, using photography as a tool to highlight confidence and authenticity. Her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor has reshaped her approach to self-care and legacy, making her a relatable guide for solopreneurs navigating life and work simultaneously. Dianna “Di” Hilstad is a bold, creative entrepreneur and solopreneur coach who helps women build businesses that feel authentic. Known for blending strategy with sass, Di has reinvented herself multiple times, including navigating breast cancer, a hysterectomy, and a broken ankle. She champions asking for help, setting boundaries, and thinking outside the box, making her insights invaluable for women balancing health, life, and business. Connect with Guest Host Gratitude Geek Email list here: http://kandasrodarte.com/subscribe Help finance the show: http://kandasrodarte.com/support Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in the show notes may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show! Connect with Nicole Havelka Newsletter LinkedIn Bluesky Work with Nicole Leave a Voice Memo Send me a message via Speakpipe . A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective .

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  Episode #18

  Both/And, Not Either/Or: My Life Journey with Amy Stone

  Sep 2, 20261h 4mS1

  Listening back to this conversation with Amy Stone a year after we recorded it, what struck me most is how much of my story is really a story about frustration. Not frustration as a problem to fix, but frustration as the thing that has prompted almost every pivot I've made — from journalism to ministry, from church administration to yoga teacher training, and finally to founding Defy the Trend. Amy has a gift for drawing out the best nuggets from a person’s story, and in this episode she pulls the thread through nearly all of mine, landing me right where I am today: an imperfectly adulting burnout recovery coach and sustainability strategist who believes rest is liberation. This episode is part of my summer playlist series, where I'm re-sharing some of my favorite conversations from guesting on other podcasts this past year. I'm so grateful to Amy for creating a space where I could go deep on faith, burnout, and the "both/and" mindset that changed everything for me. What we talked about in this episode: My career journey from journalist to minister to burnout recovery coach The inside story of church administration — institutional resistance, advocating for change, and where that frustration led me How burnout showed up in ministry, and why yoga became a lifeline and a "both/and" practice Leaning on spiritual practice to move through tough, high-pressure decisions Leaving the church as a disgruntled teen, and finding my way back to faith and community decades later Real talk on salaries and sustainability in faith-based work The moment mid-yoga-practice when "either/or" cracked open into "both/and" — and how that became the seed of Defy the Trend Where my work, my podcast, and this "both/and" philosophy stand today Chapters: 00:00 Intro to The Art of Imperfect Adulting 00:53 Amy's Into to Nicole's Journey 03:50 Warm-up: Words of Kindness 05:50 Frustration that Lead to a Pivot 09:11 Cause of Frustration 10:45 Navigating Resistance in Innovation 12:30 Hiring in the Church 20:36 Structural Support for Innovation 21:48 Religion: A hot button and good case study 29:45 Nicole's Quarter Life Crisis of Faith 36:40 What Working for the Church is Like 41:41 Yoga in Nicole's Path 46:23 Yoga and Ministry: Both/And 52:40 Life as a Burnout Recovery Coach 54:35 Nicole's Podcast Journey 56:26 Fun Questions 59:23 Graititude Connect with Amy Stone, Host, The Art of Imperfect Adulting): Website: https://www.imperfectadulting.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartof_imperfect_adulting YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imperfectadulting TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imperfectadulting Support the show: https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support CONNECT WITH NICOLE HAVELKA: Newsletter: https://defythetrend.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-havelka-35762022/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/just-rest.bsky.social Work with Nicole: https://defythetrend.com/contact/ Leave a Voice Memo: http://speakpipe.com/justrest Nicole is going nomadic. No lease. No car. Just one question: how do I actually want to live? Join the Rest Rebel Collective for $7/month or $70/year and get front row seats to her Year of Expansion with exclusive monthly live video — plus you keep Just Rest in your podcast feed. → defythetrend.substack.com Send me a message via Speakpipe . A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective .

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  Episode #17

  Burnout Recovery & Creating a Culture of Rest: An Empowered and Embodied Encore

  Aug 19, 202651 minS1

  This is my summer playlist of podcasts where I guested this past year. I was honestly challenged by coaches Kim Romain and Louise Neil on the Empowered and Embodied Show to reflect more thoughtfully on what has shifted for me as I’ve worked on preventing and recovering from burnout in my own life. This is a side of the conversation you’d rarely get when I’m the one asking the questions. Two things really stood out: The discussion about “proving myself” and what energy have I replaced that with? And the conversation about what success looks like for you? I’m not going to spoil what Louise says is her answer, but please listen because it is really good. We also dive into: How burnout shows up differently for each of us, and why it’s not just an individual problem but a collective one The pressure to constantly prove our worth through productivity and “being the best” Why the word can’t disempowers us, and how to reclaim choice in our lives and work The surprising overlaps between burnout, perimenopause, and values misalignment Practical ways to create compassionate workplaces, embrace rest, and focus on impact instead of output If you’ve ever felt buried under the weight of doing it all, this conversation will remind you that rest is not only possible, it’s essential, powerful, and deeply radical. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Empowerment and Embodied Show Encore 05:54 "Proving Yourself" Energy 11:56 The Challenge of Being Present 14:20 Defining Success for Ourselves 22:15 The Ripple Effect of Slowing Down 23:36 Different Causes of Burnout 31:30 Perimenopause Contributing to Burnout 39:05 The Joy of Making Your Own Choices 42:51 What is my work to do? 45:55 Nicole's Conclusion & More Great Pods Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program and check out her new podcast, Questioning our Conditioning. Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program . Rising Visionaries: https://kimromain.com/rising-visionaries Rise and Redefine program: https://louiseneil.com/services/rise-and-redefine Questioning our Conditioning podcast On Substack: https://thekimromain.substack.com/p/why-i-started-questioning-our-conditioning On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekimromain CONNECT WITH NICOLE HAVELKA: Newsletter LinkedIn Bluesky Work with Nicole Leave a Voice Memo Nicole is going nomadic. No lease. No car. Just one question: how do I actually want to live? Join the Rest Rebel Collective for $7/month or $70/year and get front row seats to her Year of Expansion with exclusive monthly live video — plus you keep Just Rest in your podcast feed. → defythetrend.substack.com The Calm Calendar Club is a brain-friendly planning community for neurodivergent adults, ADHD minds, and sandwich-generation caregivers who are tired of systems that don’t fit real life. We help you build a flexible, values-based calendar that reduces chaos and protects your energy. This low-cost, community-based program is ready for you at defythetrend.com/calm-calendar. Send me a message via Speakpipe . A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective .

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  Episode #16

  Contact (1997): Faith, Science & My Formative Film (Media/Lit Encore)

  Aug 10, 20262h 9mS1

  This is my summer playlist of podcasts where I guested this past year. I am really excited to share this podcast with you because it shows a different side of me that rarely gets out in public. (DIdya know I trained to be a film and theater critic in college?) I was invited on Media/Lit where all media gets treated as great works of literature with hosts Randy Allain and Kris Ingersol. I was overjoyed to invite these generous hosts to watch and discuss one of my all-time favorite movies, Contact (1997). You get to hear why this movie was formative in my journey and how it still resonates with me today. We cover everything from interstellar transmissions to a killer performance from Jodie Foster. We compare this piece of media to other important cultural texts, and most importantly, we explore the intersection of science and faith. As always, the panel wraps up the chat with an extra credit section in which we pick our “Bardo Buddies” and take home a prop from the film Want to get in touch? Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page! Follow us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@MediaLitPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , and Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! Also, hit us with your questions, comments, and episode requests at ⁠⁠⁠media.slash.lit@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠. Chapters 00:00 Nicole's Excitement to be on Media/Lit 01:09 Welcome to Media/Lit (encore) 03:39 Burnout Recovery Coaching in Challenging Times 04:59 Introduction to Contact (1997) 11:32 Insights on Rewatching Contact's Famous Intro 17:46 Personal Connections to the Movie 28:20 Gender Representation in the Film 33:40 The Role of Science and Faith in the Narrative 37:19 Contact as Literature: CGI Corner 43:27 Themes of the Film 55:18 Pop Culture References and their Impact 59:43 Contact Comparatives 01:08:09 Favorite Performance in the Film 01:20:40 Favorite Scenes 01:30:10 Most Quotable Line 01:46:15 Who is your Bardo Buddy? 01:52:21 What prop would you take? 02:00:22 Closing 02:06:07 Nicole's Final Thoughts on Media/Lit CONNECT WITH RANDY, KRIS & MEDIA/LIT: Website: https://mediaslashlit.weebly.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MediaLitPodcast Instagram: @media.lit.pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@media-lit.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@MediaLitPod CONNECT WITH NICOLE HAVELKA: Newsletter LinkedIn Bluesky Work with Nicole Leave a Voice Memo Nicole is going nomadic. No lease. No car. Just one question: how do I actually want to live? Join the Rest Rebel Collective for $7/month or $70/year and get front row seats to her Year of Expansion with exclusive monthly live video — plus you keep Just Rest in your podcast feed. → defythetrend.substack.com The Calm Calendar Club is a brain-friendly planning community for neurodivergent adults, ADHD minds, and sandwich-generation caregivers who are tired of systems that don’t fit real life. We help you build a flexible, values-based calendar that reduces chaos and protects your energy. This low-cost, community-based program is ready for you at defythetrend.com/calm-calendar. Send me a message via Speakpipe . A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective .

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