Nicole Havelka (she/her)

When “Both/And” Changes Everything My conversation with Amy Stone — and a few favorite things fueling my purpose lately

New post’s up: a raw convo w/ @AmyStone on The Art of Imperfect Adulting — burnout, pivots, & the freedom of “both/and.” Plus: my favorite pods + reads for resting and resisting.

🎧 open.substack.com/pub/defythet...

#RestAsResistance #BurnoutRecovery #BothAndThinking

Seeing @knoxcollege1837.bsky.social campus is always such a joyful combo of "Yay! This new __ is so cool." And "Remember when __." 💜

#KnoxProud

In this short (under 6 minutes!) conversation, I introduce you to Alesia Galati, the podcast strategist and founder of Galati Media, who is helping me professionally launch my new show: Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals. At the 3:58 mark, Alesia says something that moved me to tears — and reminded me exactly why this podcast matters. I hope you’ll watch all the way through and feel as inspired as I did. 💡 When you give to support the launch, you’re not just backing my podcast — you’re investing in two women-owned businesses (mine and Alesia’s), and in a movement that believes rest is resistance in a world obsessed with grind culture. 👉 Give here: https://square.link/u/KGslefhX 🪧 And yes — supporters get their name read on the podcast and added to our Just Rest Wall of Fame. You’ll be part of the movement from the very beginning. About Nicole (Host) I’m Nicole Havelka, burnout coach, pastor, yoga teacher, and founder of the Defy the Trend community. I help people recover from burnout and reclaim radical rest as resistance to grind culture. Through Just Rest, I share practical tips and soulful conversations to help everyday radicals live more human, rested lives. About Alesia (Guest) Alesia Galati is the founder of Galati Media, a Black-owned, Afro-Latina-led podcast management agency based in North Carolina. She’s launched more than 50 shows and produced over 3,000 episodes, helping creators craft messages that make a difference. Alesia is also a wife, mom of two boys, and the sole financial provider for her family — and she’s deeply passionate about amplifying voices that matter. I Teared Up at 3:58 | Meet My Podcast Launch Partner Alesia Galati | Just Rest Podcast

I teared up at 3:58. 🥹

In my convo w/ Alesia Galati about launching Just Rest, she said something that hit me so deeply it stopped me cold.

🎥 Watch (under 6 mins): youtu.be/Jgea_zpgZF8
💡 Give to support the podcast: square.link/u/KGslefhX

#JustRestPodcast #RestIsResistance #BurnoutRecovery

Rest, Resistance & Rewiring Our Brains A conversation with Heather Vickery about burnout, grind culture, and the quiet power of subliminal shifts

What if the very things grind culture shames us for — rest, slowing down, asking for help — were actually our greatest tools of resistance?

That’s what I dug into w/ @heathervickery.bsky.social on our recent Substack Live.@
🎥 📖 open.substack.com/pub/defythet...

#RestisResistance

🎉 I just realized a cracked 100 followers. I'm not upset about that.

Thanks for being here and listening to my intersectional feminist rants about why rest is resistance.

#RestisResistance #Mindfulness #Milestone

Nicole resting very comfortably in sideline child's pose. Rest before you get ready to protest oct. 18.

Balance is all about wobbling + finding your footing anyway.

Join me Oct 18 for Restorative Yoga for No Kings Protesters — a 90-min online recharge before hitting the streets.

🗓 9–10:30 a.m. ET | Online
👉 Event link: bit.ly/47eRbew

#NoKings #Resist #Restore #RestorativeYoga #RestandResist

Now I'm logging off for a little Tech Shabbat. See you on the other side.

#TechShabbat #NoScreens #MentalRest #SensoryRest

Class of '95 Rules! Reunion graphic.

Next week at about this time, I'll be celebrating my 30th Reunion at Knox College! 🤯

I look forward to looking at the newly renovated dorms in the Quad, singing The Knox Hymn and visiting The Knox Student office.

🎟️ www.knox.edu/alumni/homec...

#KnoxProud #Homecoming #Classof95 #AlmaMate

This is happening in our communities. It must stop.

#Resist #Everydayradicals

Psst ... I'm lauching a podcast. I just signed with Galati Media to be my launch team!

I seriously can't wait to share Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals with y'all!

#DreamsComeTrue #ImaPodcaster

Rest, Resistance, and Rediscovering Movement A Conversation with Stephanie Graham

Rest isn’t laziness — it’s rebellion. 😎 I chatted w/ artist + podcaster Stephanie Graham about burnout, joy & why saying “no” to grind culture is a radical act.

Help me fund the Just Rest pod 👉 square.link/u/KGslefhX

#RestAsResistance #BurnoutRecovery

🎥 open.substack.com/pub/defythet...

Just Rest Podcast Launch 2.0 - Nicole Havelka Consulting, LLC Let's do this again! We CAN raise $5,200 to pay for the launch of the Just Rest Pod. Give your donation by Sept. 22 and I will be able to launch by November! Rewards All Donors: Invite to Podcast Launch Party $25+: Early access to first three episodes $50+: Handwritten thank you note and sticker $100+: Free annual subscription to Just Rest Substack $250+: 1:1 Burnout Recover Coaching Session

🎉 Big news: Just Rest Podcast is officially happening!

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve aised $2,600 and are officially starting the launch process! First episodes will drop end of year.

Still need to raise the rest by Nov. 1 .

👉 square.link/u/KGslefhX

#JustRest #RestIsResistance #IndiePodcasts

Nicole holding a 4-month-old black short haired kitten who is being so cute and naughty.

I’ve been sitting for a four-month old kitten this weekend.

Be the kitten:

Play hard. 🐈‍⬛

Nap harder. 😴

Do new things and fail. 📉

Sit and watch the birds. 🐦

Let’s be the kitten. 🐈‍⬛

#BetheKitten #SoCute #SoNaughty

Career Lunch & Learn Career Lunch & Learn

The Champaign Library has quickly become one of my fave places!

Tomorrow at noon, I'm offering the free workshop, Burnout: Recognize and Recover, as part of the Career Lunch and Learn Series. If you're in Chambana peeps, join me.

#ChampaignLibrary #LibrariesRule #BurnoutRecovery

bit.ly/4mEWMA

Just Rest Podcast Launch 2.0 - Nicole Havelka Consulting, LLC Let's do this again! We CAN raise $5,200 to pay for the launch of the Just Rest Pod. Give your donation by Sept. 22 and I will be able to launch by November! Rewards All Donors: Invite to Podcast Launch Party $25+: Early access to first three episodes $50+: Handwritten thank you note and sticker $100+: Free annual subscription to Just Rest Substack $250+: 1:1 Burnout Recover Coaching Session

🎉 UPDATE: After going LIVE & sending a ton of emails we raised $1,200 in ONE DAY! We've raised to $2,632 including a $35 donation that arrived right as I was writing this post! 🎉

Support the pod 👉 bit.ly/4nhw5Sc

#JustRest #RestisResistance #IndependentMedia #IndiePodcasting

I don't know about y'all, but I feel more and more like I'm living The Matrix these days. i.e. you can't unsee the toxic goo you live in once you start seeing it.

Sitting in a mic, sharing my radical voice, just where I should be.

I'll be honest that the news of censorship this week scares me, but also strengthens my resolve to remain a small, independent, anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-toxic capitalist writer and soon-to-be podcaster.

Will you help me launch my pod?

👉 square.link/u/KGslefhX

#JustRest #Antifascism

I am learning a lot and having a fan freakin' good time at Drop the Mic, the Feminist Podcast Collective's UnSummit coordinated by the incomparable @beckymollenkamp.bsky.social .

Hang with us 👉 dropthemic.teachery.co/buy?a=bDmrRgmA

#IndiePodcasts #ValuesDriven #BuildingBetter

Just Rest Podcast Launch 2.0 - Nicole Havelka Consulting, LLC Let's do this again! We CAN raise $5,200 to pay for the launch of the Just Rest Pod. Give your donation by Sept. 22 and I will be able to launch by November! Rewards All Donors: Invite to Podcast Launch Party $25+: Early access to first three episodes $50+: Handwritten thank you note and sticker $100+: Free annual subscription to Just Rest Substack $250+: 1:1 Burnout Recover Coaching Session

🚨 In less than 24 hours, we’ve relaunched the Just Rest Crowdfunding 2.0 and raised $650 (13% of the $5,200 goal!) to launch the Just Rest Podcast!

This podcast is for world changers who want to rest + resist grind culture and rising fascism.

Join the movement → [LINK]

#JustRest #IndiePods

Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals - new podcast A podcast & community of conversation for world changers who want to resist fascism and take naps — two seasons

This podcast is rest as a spiritual practice.
Healing from burnout.
Building a more compassionate world.

⏳ Campaign closes in about 5 hours, 11:59 p.m. CDT.

Back it now → www.kickstarter.com/projects/def...

Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals - new podcast A podcast & community of conversation for world changers who want to resist fascism and take naps — two seasons

This podcast is about joy as resistance.

About everyday radicals reclaiming their humanity.
⏳ Last chance to give before midnight CDT.

Be part of it → www.kickstarter.com/projects/def...

#JoyfulResistance #JustRest #RestasResistance

Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals - new podcast A podcast & community of conversation for world changers who want to resist fascism and take naps — two seasons

My forthcoming Just Rest podcast is a rebellion against grind culture.
It’s a love letter to justice + radical rest.

⏳ Final day to fund! The Campaign ends 11:59 p.m. CDT.

Join the Rest Rebellion → www.kickstarter.com/projects/def...

What emojis bring you the most joy?

✍️ 🎉 💃🏽✨😆💥

Oh, my! What a joyful celebration I just hosted with my pal, @heathervickery.bsky.social

Joy-filled conversation. EFT Tapping. Amazing!

P.S. The crowdfunding campaign has about30 hours left!

👉 www.defythtrend.com/podcast

#JustRest #RestasResistance #Joy #Celebration #Crowdfunding

Beth thank you so much for sharing!

At almost every meal I'm prepping/eating, I'm simultaneously planning the next one ... Who's with me?

Why I’m doing this podcast now has something to do with fascism Just Rest Pod: An Origin Story

Some ppl throw spaghetti at the wall. 🍝 I threw an entire podcast idea. And guess what? It stuck.
Final push = TODAY. Back Just Rest + join the Rest Rebels before the campaign closes.

📖 open.substack.com/pub/defythet...

#EverydayRadicals #PodcastLaunch #BurnoutRecovery

💥 5 days left. $2,856 raised. $794 to go for the full $1,000 match.

This isn’t just a podcast — it’s about reclaiming rest as resistance and fueling joy in the fight against fascism. Watch the update + back Just Rest: defythtrend.com/podcast

#JustRestPodcast #RestIsResistance

Nicole holding a lamb when they were just a few days old. That was a great time of rest at my friend's farm this spring!

🌟 Big Opportunity 🌟

Wanna give to the Just Rest podcast effort?

Starting NOW your gift is doubled by a I have a generous matching gift I have only through Monday.

Pic of me holding a super cute lamb for the algorithm.

#Podcasting #JustRest #Crowdfunding

Support the Pod: bit.ly/3J7IsBd

A good reminder of your rights whether you're in our great state of Illinois or elsewhere. Thanks for sharing @govpritzker.illinois.gov

#immigration #knowyourrights #ICE