Bridging Faith and Wellness with Nicole Havelka

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Nicole Havelka—burnout recovery coach, ordained pastor, and founder of Defy the Trend—about the journey from institutional frustration in religious administration to finding wholeness at the intersection of spiritual practice and organizational change. Nicole opens up about the realities of working in faith-based organizations, facing resistance as an innovator, navigating personal burnout, and how yoga, meditation, and a spirit of “both/and” led to her latest chapter as a coach and podcaster.

About the Guest:

Nicole Havelka believes you are inherently worthy of rest — no productivity required. She’s a burnout coach, mindfulness teacher and founder of the Defy the Trend coaching community, which supports helpers, healers, activists and artists in reclaiming rest as a radical act. With more than 20 years of experience in spiritual leadership and wellness, Nicole will soon launch Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals: Just Rest for world changers who are tired but not giving up, a podcast for those resisting grind culture one deep breath at a time. 

Main Topics Covered:

• Nicole’s career journey: from journalist to minister, then to burnout recovery coach
• The inside story of church administration, institutional resistance, and advocating for organizational change
• How burnout showed up—and why yoga became a lifeline and “both/and” practice
• The importance of spiritual practice for navigating tough decisions and personal pivots
• Reclaiming faith and belonging: Nicole’s journey through disillusionment, leaving and returning to faith, and finding community again
• Practical discussions on salaries, money, and sustainability in religious work
• How integrating yoga, meditation, and rest into leadership can support more humane organizations
• The launch of Nicole’s new podcast: Just Rest—Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals

Quote from the Episode: "What if it’s not either/or, but both/and?" — Nicole Havelka

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Introductions and where Nicole calls home

[00:01:22] Recent acts of kindness and everyday grace

[00:03:11] Frustrations and burnout in faith-based administrative work

[00:09:50] How Nicole became a denominational leader and the reality of church job searches

[00:15:06] Evolving passions: from youth work to organizational change

[00:20:07] Faith, the church, and leaving/returning to community

[00:29:13] When journalism isn’t enough: becoming a participant, not just an observer

[00:33:09] Returning to church and finding a new kind of home

[00:34:43] Money talk: salaries and living as a faith worker

[00:37:34] The parallel path of yoga: teacher training and integration with ministry

[00:44:54] The both/and moment: when leaving doesn’t have to mean abandoning

[00:47:26] Advice for those facing black-and-white decisions

[00:49:54] Nicole’s current work, podcast, and where to connect

[00:53:41] Fun wrap-up questions: coffee cake vs donut, favorite summer drink, friendship & support

Special Offer from the Guest:

Read more about her radical rest quest on her Substack newsletter, Just Rest, where you'll be the first to hear about the podcast launch and how to support it. www.defythetrend.substack.com.

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