In this candid conversation, burnout coach Nicole Havelka joins Becky Mollenkamp to explore the systemic roots of burnout, especially for women, mothers, and caregivers. They discuss why rest is more than sleep, how women’s invisible labor adds up, and why the “just get a new job” advice is bullshit in a culture designed to drain us dry. Nicole brings a trauma-informed, embodied approach to healing burnout—one that doesn’t start with productivity hacks but with reclaiming your nervous system, your spaciousness, and your humanity. This episode is part of our special Feminist Founders summer series focused on women’s labor.

Nicole Havelka's Website | Newsletter

💬 Discussed in This Episode

• What burnout really is (and why it’s more than just being tired)
• How gendered expectations and invisible labor feed chronic overwhelm
• The critical role of embodiment and nervous system work in healing
• Why capitalist and white supremacist systems depend on our burnout
• The illusion of spaciousness and what it means to actually rest
• How meditation doesn’t have to look like sitting still and saying "om"
• The power of giving yourself permission to not volunteer at the damn PTO
• How to plan your schedule to not be a human version of a doctor's waiting room
• Why moms get guilted and dads don’t—and what that says about our systems

📚 Resources Mentioned

• "Burnout" by Emily & Amelia Nagoski
• "Fair Play" by Eve Rodsky
• "Sacred Rest" by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
• "Essentialism" by Greg McKeown
• "Rest is Resistance" by Tricia Hersey
• The Nap Ministry on Instagram

🎧 This show is part of the Feminist Podcast Collective, a community of progressive creators reclaiming media through storytelling and solidarity.

In this candid conversation, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke kick off their summer series exploring women’s labor—visible, invisible, paid, unpaid, emotional, and generational. They dive into what’s been stirring beneath the surface: the overwhelm of trying to do it all, the cultural myths of "having it all," and the shame and guilt baked into simply needing rest.

Faith opens up about her reflections on the Paris Paloma song and her own poetry as a way to name what’s often unspoken. Becky shares the seasonal stress of parenting, running a business, and feeling like she’s always supposed to keep pushing. Together, they name the collective weight women carry and offer an alternative path rooted in pleasure, community, and ease.

This episode kicks off a looser, more spacious summer format—one that resists perfectionism and honors capacity. Expect solo musings, guest conversations, and whatever else feels good, all orbiting the theme of labor and liberation.

Discussed in this episode:

• Why emotional labor is real—and disproportionately carried by women
• How systems reinforce impossible expectations, especially for mothers
• Faith’s reflection on being “the Black woman holding up the Earth”
• Becky’s struggle with summer parenting vs productivity
• The guilt/shame spiral of rest and how to rebel against it
• Why letting systems break is sometimes the most powerful choice
• How joy, rest, and pleasure are radical strategies for change
• What to expect in this summer series shift
• Paris Paloma’s song “Labour”

🎧 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE 🎧

What does it really take to build a business rooted in your values—without burning out, selling out, or sacrificing your sanity?

Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke introduce a new 6-month group container designed for feminist entrepreneurs who are done with toxic business culture and ready to lead in a way that feels nourishing, not extractive.

We unpack:

• Why traditional masterminds and coaching programs don’t work for liberatory leaders
• What makes this group different (hint: no formulas, no gurus, no performance required)
• Who this is really for—and why you're not "too much" or "not enough"
• What you'll leave with: self-trust, spaciousness, and a community that gets it

This episode is full of real talk about building a values-aligned, human-first business in a world that’s obsessed with productivity, hustle, and hierarchy.

If you’re wondering how to run your business differently—but aren’t sure where to begin—this episode will feel like a warm, radical permission slip.

📝 Apply for the group program here: https://feministfounders.co/group

📩 Got questions? Email us at feministfounder@gmail.com

🌈 Subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter: https://feministfounders.substack.com