Adventures with My Forties

Ep. 53: 24 in '24: The Good! The Bad! The Brazilian Magic!

This week, I took a moment to step away from the holiday madness and reflect on my 24 in '24 project. What were my successes? What were my flops? And where did I make space for a little magic? Show notes will be available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thank you for listening and I'll see you in 2025!

Ep. 52: The Reasons Behind My Epic Burnout

Part 3 of my three part miniseries on burnout. In this episode, I discuss the reasons behind the epic burnout I experienced after volunteering too much for my kids' activities. In a nutshell, my pride and ego got hooked on the myth of the supermom and as a result, I lost touch with my authentic self. Show notes will be available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Ep. 51: Healing From Epic Burnout

Part two of my burnout miniseries. In this episode, I describe the ways I healed and recovered from epic. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Ep. 50: Adventures with Epic Burnout: The Miniseries

A couple years ago, I experienced some massive burnout. This is Part One of a miniseries about that adventure. This is the story of my burnout, the events that resulted in me feeling like my soul had been reduced to a heap of ashes. 

 

Show notes will be available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Ep. 49: How to Sleigh Your Holidays and Deck Fake Stress

This week, I'm giving my annual holidays pep talk. I love this time of year and I actually enjoy the chaos, but it's also so easy to slide into stress and panic over sh*t that doesn't actually matter. I always need to remind myself that it's not about creating a holiday that mimics what I see on Pinterest or social media. It's about enjoying the holidays in a way that is meaningful for my family. 

 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Ep. 48: Episode 48: The Magic of Reading Around the World For A Year: Reflections and Ruminations

My Read Around the World quest celebrated its first birthday last week, and I celebrated by taking some time to ruminate and reflect on the unexpected adventures (hi, Brazil!) and the magic this reading project has already created. I'm so excited to keep reading around the world and I welcome whatever adventures head my way (so long as they do not interfere with my bedtime)(or involve reptiles). 

 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com and while you are there, be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don't miss any exciting news. 

Ep. 47 Hater-Proof: Your Social Media Comment Section Survival Guide

Confession: I made this episode as a pep talk for future Courtney. In the not so distant future, my Read Around the World quest will reach the I's, and the I's include Israel, and folks on social media have some strong opinions about Israel. People have already suggested I should skip Israel. I won't be skipping Israel because (1) I'm Jewish and (2) that really defeats the purpose of the project. I'm trying to expose myself to new voices, not limit those voices based on political beliefs; and if I start eliminating countries based on political beliefs, what will be left? Maybe Luxembourg? 

 

So for this week's episode, I gave myself a pep talk about how to handle the hate that shows up in the comments section of my social media posts. I reflect on what I've learned so far, so that when the hate shows up in my posts, I can be resilient and not get scared away by some nasty trolls. 

 

Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Ep. 46: Ruminations on Friendship: The Good; The Inspiring; The Toxic

I feel very self-conscious about posting this episode, but I also feel strongly that I should. Friendship is messy and complicated! A good friend can change your life for the better--but so can a toxic friend. Ending a toxic friendship can help us learn more about ourselves and the boundaries we need and deserve.

 

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Ep. 45 10 Things I Love About São Paulo

Ten reasons why I had an absolutely incredible time in São Paulo, and I cannot wait to go back. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Ep. 44: Famous in Brazil?!?!

Am I really famous in Brazil? My TikTok video about The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas went viral in Brazil, and I have received hundreds of comments and DM's telling me that I'm now famous there--but it's just too surreal for me to comprehend. this week, I talk about my adventure with going viral in Brazil and how that experience has changed me for the better. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Next week, I'm going to São Paulo to speak at a literary festival, and I'll be posting about those adventures on TikTok @CourtneyHenningNovak and IG @CourtneyHenningNovak.