The Courtney Novak Podcast

Last weekend, I was feeling grumpy and worn out from the pandemic. I vented to some friends during a park play date, and my friend Katie said, "This is hard. It is really, really hard." I needed that reminder. It seems so obvious: of course this is hard. But it has been so hard for so long, I sometimes forget that we are living through extraordinary circumstances. In this episode, I am taking the time to acknowledge how difficult living through this pandemic is. It was very helpful for me to make this episode. I hope it helps some of you!

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

I have spent the past seven years reconnecting with my intuition. For most of my life, I ignored my intuition. I trusted the opinions of other people too much to value my own inner wisdom. But as part of my recovery from postpartum depression, I started to rebuild my relationship with my intuition. It's a bit like a muscle. The more I connect with my intuition, the easier it is for me to access that part of myself. I discuss the reasons I lost touch with my intuition and then the ways I have rebuilt and strengthened my intuitive self.

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

This week, I am talking about my pursuit of radiant health. A few years ago, I decided to switch my primary physician from a traditional Western doctor to a naturopath who is helping me make lifestyle changes to take better care of my body. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

This week, I talk about motherhood guilt and the guilt I felt even before I became a mother. As women, we are conditioned by society to get our sense of worth for doing things for others. When we attend to our own needs and passions, we can start to feel guilty. I have been examining my feelings of guilt and discovered some beliefs in my subconscious related to my sense of worth. And you know what I am seeing? Bullshit. The guilt I feel as a mom and a woman is total, utter bullshit! 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

This week, I talk about why you should NEGLECT THE HOUSEWORK. I am not suggesting you let your house look like it was hit by a tornado, but I do think it is important to let yourself take time to answer your divine call and do whatever creative work fires you up, even if that means there is a little dust on the picture frames. I talk about one of my favorite books, If You Want To Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit, by Brenda Ueland, especially the chapter with the fantastic name "Why Women Who Do Too Much Housework Should Neglect It For Their Writing." Amen! Also: if writing is not your jam, you might still love Why You Should Write. Just substitute your creative passion as you read along.

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Thank you for listening!

We are back to distance learning this fall, and we have no idea what it is going to be like. I talk about my plan to stay open minded about distance learning while keeping my family's wellbeing front and center. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

I am on Day 41 of my menstrual cycle - is this the start of perimenopause? Or just pandemic stress? I talk about what I know about perimenopause (not a lot) and my goals for this journey. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In this episode, I dive into the how, the when and the why of my pandemic anxiety and also about my resistance to going back on medication. If you would like to be in touch, please visit my website CourtneyHenningNovak.com. 

The music is "Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 

Welcome to my new podcast! This episode is an overview of the topics I hope to cover as I try to figure out how to thrive during my forties. I touch on mental health, motherhood and the pandemic. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. The music is "Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. Thanks for listening!