The Courtney Novak Podcast

This episode of Adventures with My Forties takes you inside my annual “25 in ’25” project — not as a checklist, but as a narrative of what kept me afloat during a year marked by fires, grief, medical emergencies, and profound change. I walk listeners through the goals I set last December, before life cracked open beneath my feet, and how revisiting those projects helped me regain momentum when the...

In this week’s episode, I’m diving into a topic that’s become a quiet but powerful obsession for me lately: what my brain actually needs in midlife, especially as I navigate my forties with big goals, shifting hormones, and real-life stress. I’m not quite ready to share the personal experiences that pushed this curiosity to the forefront, but I can say this: life has handed me a few moments that m...

It’s that time again — twinkle lights, to-do lists, and a thousand ways to forget what the holidays are actually about. In this episode, I’m giving myself (and you) a Holiday Pep Talk. In Part One, I share my favorite reminders for staying sane this season — why peace matters more than perfection, how to resist consumer pressure, and why your December self is still your regular self (just with a m...

What can a Brazilian telenovela villain teach us about boundaries and emotional freedom? Courtney explores Senhora do Destino and discovers that Nazaré Tedesco is an unexpected masterclass in human behavior. 💌 Email: CourtneyHenningNovak@gmail.com 🌍 Show notes + newsletter: CourtneyHenningNovak.com

I didn’t plan to record today — but my Muse had other ideas. In this gentle return to Adventures with My Forties, I share what the past ten months have looked like: the fires, the losses, the slow reawakening, and the quiet joy of finally wanting to create again. Show notes: CourtneyHenningNovak.com

Hello! I meant to record my first episode of the year in January, but life went sideways with the epic fires in Los Angeles. To get back into podcasting, I'm sharing my experiences with the Palisades and Eaton Fires. And yes, I have returned to therapy because wow, I have a lot to process.    Show notes will be available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thank you for listening and it feels so good to...

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!

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! 

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! 

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! 

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. ...

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). ...

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 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.   Subscribe for updates right here . Thanks for listening!

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! 

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 Courtn...

I am on a quest to read a book by an author from every country in the world in alphabetical order and since my last episode, that project blew up on social media and in two weeks, I'm going to Brazil to speak at a literary festival. I know! This was not on my 2024 Bingo card, but I am embracing and loving this adventure. show notes will be available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com and feel free to ema...

It's Girl Scout cookie season here in Pasadena, and Pippa LOVES selling cookies. She learns a lot of great things from the program, but I have a few issues with the way it breeds competition, whips girls into a frenzy over crappy prizes, adds to my mental load, and exposes girls to diet culture. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening!

Happy New Year! Another year, another project! Instead of resolutions, I like to concoct lists of projects that I hope to complete during the new year. I got this idea from one of my favorite podcasts, Happier With Gretchen Rubin, and I’ve been doing it since 2022. Here's the 24 in '24 list:  No soda or caffeine.  Take an introductory class at a rock climbing gym. Read 100 books. Bonus points: rea...

It's October and nearly Halloween, and this year, I'm thinking a lot about witches. People tend to think of witches as evil but I love stories that reclaim witches and allow them to be good, strong and powerful. Why must a woman who practices magic be considered evil? Is the idea of the evil witch in the woods just another tool for controlling women, keeping them in line and fitting into the patri...

This week, I explore the question, Why do women love true crime? I myself listen to true crime podcasts and often wonder, Why do I love listening to these stories? And perhaps, more importantly: does my interest in true crime suggest some sort of moral deficiency on my part? Spoiler alert: I think my interest in true crime comes from a place of empathy and empowerment.   Show notes are available a...

Autumn is here! First, I reflect on ways to welcome the change of seasons. Then, since it's autumn, of course I need a new bucket list - but I swear, I first did some soul searching to make sure my fall bucket list would serve my happiness. After I created my fall bucket list, I created my Fall JOMO List: a list of all the things I will NOT be doing this fall.    Shownotes are available at Courtne...

This week, I talk about my mind-body connection, or lack thereof, and how hot yoga and the enneagram are helping me rebuild my relationship with my body. Show notes are available at CourtneyHenningNovak.com. Thanks for listening! 

Every school day, when I drop my kids off, someone in the car line is a jerk or idiot or both. And this used to rile me up and I'd feel outraged at the injustices of car line. but recently I realized: what if the path to enlightenment is in car line? What if I stop letting other people steal my serenity over dumb things like car line? Someone is going to be rude and block the car line and make eve...

Hello! This week, I'm talking about Human Giver Syndrome and the ways women get sucked into doing work for other people's organizations. I talk about ways I got hijacked by other folks' agendas into doing volunteer work that doesn't actually align with my values and beliefs. Specifically, I'm looking at AYSO, Girl Scout cookies and the frenzied hell that is cookie season, and the PTA membership dr...