Liberating Rest: Reclaiming Agency in an Era of Political Violence

In this episode of Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals, host Nicole Havelka sits down with Dana Tenille Weekes — lawyer-lobbyist, creative and voice behind The Rest of Us podcast — to talk about what rest actually is (and isn’t), how burnout reshaped Dana’s life, and why conversations about rest feel so hard and a little as political violence escalates.We acknowledged that we are recording the podcast in a moment of incredible political and social pain in the United States — including the recent fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis. which have sparked widespread protest and grief nationwide.In this vulnerable and unfiltered conversation, Dana and Nicole explore:Dana’s burnout storyWhat rest did to the nervous systemWhy rest matters right nowRest as liberation (not resistance)Rest in organizational culturePracticing liberating restDana’s definition of rest — deeply connected to your agency and truth — reframes tired clichés about self-care into something political, perceptive and embodied. By relearning how to feel, name, and act from our truths, rest becomes a practice of liberation even in times of upheaval.Whether you’re navigating burnout, activist fatigue, nervous system overwhelm or just trying to stay honest with yourself about how exhausted you really feel — this one’s for you.Sources cited and recommended“U.S. witnessed many ICE-related deaths in 2026. Here are their stories” by Ali Harb on AlJazeera News“Renee Macklin Good, murdered by ICE, was a prize-winning poet. Here’s that Poem,” by Jonny Diamond in Literary Hub.Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey“Want to be Respected? Tell People How You Want to Be Helped. Part 1” The Rest of Us Podcast with Host Dana Tenille Weekes“Want to be Respected? Tell People How You Want to Be Helped. Part 1” The Rest of Us Podcast with Host Dana Tenille WeekesDana’s Organization Recommendation: Torch Literary ArtsCONNECT WITH DANA TENILLE WEEKESWebsiteInstagramSubstackLinkedInCONNECT WITH NICOLE HAVELKA:NewsletterLinkedInWork with NicoleThe Calm Calendar Club is a brain-friendly planning community for neurodivergent adults, ADHD minds, and sandwich-generation caregivers who are tired of systems that don’t fit real life. We help you build a flexible, values-based calendar that reduces chaos and protects your energy. This low-cost, community-based program is ready for you at defythetrend.com/calm-calendar. Thank you to the people who helped make this show happen.Send me a message via Speakpipe.A proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.