Your Odyssey Podcast

Tara Alexandra & Karen Novy
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Your Odyssey—the podcast where soul meets story and growth gets personal. Each episode is an invitation to come home to yourself—beyond the noise, the roles, and the shoulds. Hosted by Tara and Karen, Your Odyssey explores the real, raw, and redemptive parts of the human experience. From identity and healing to joy and self-trust, we’re holding space for honest conversations that meet you where you are—and gently call you forward. Whether you’re just beginning or already becoming, you belong here. This is your odyssey. Let’s walk it together.

  1. 4d ago

    Joy Isn't Frivolous

    What if joy isn't something you earn, but something you need? In this episode, Tara and Karen challenge the belief that joy is frivolous, unproductive, or something to be put off until everything else is finished. They explore why play, curiosity, wonder, and delight are not distractions from healing but part of the healing itself. Through a thought-provoking conversation about our most essential human needs, they invite listeners to reconsider what it means to truly care for themselves. What if joy belongs alongside oxygen and water? What if making space for laughter, creativity, connection, and awe isn't selfish, but necessary? In This Episode Why joy doesn't have to be earned The connection between play and well-being How curiosity helps us stay open to life Releasing the belief that rest and delight are frivolous Why surviving and living are not the same thing Making room for wonder in everyday life If you've been postponing what brings you life until a "better time," this episode offers permission to stop waiting. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: Joy - Voices of Fire Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to Your Odyssey(00:00:58) - The Way Back to Joy(00:01:20) - When Did Joy Need Justification?(00:02:25) - Following the Breadcrumbs of Play(00:03:50) - Joy Is Essential(00:05:11) - Giving Your Nervous System What It Needs(00:06:35) - The Gift of Presence(00:07:10) - What Brings You to Life?(00:09:03) - The Power of Small Moments(00:10:16) - Joy and Grief Can Sit at the Same Table(00:11:28) - Joy Has Been Waiting for You(00:13:02) - Choosing Joy, Again and Again(00:13:22) - Song of the Week(00:15:07) - Question of the Day(00:16:07) - Wisdom to Carry With You(00:16:48) - Until Next Time(00:17:40) - Thank You for Exploring with Us

    18 min

  2. Jun 2

    When Did You Stop Feeling Alive? Reconnecting with Joy, Presence & Yourself

    What if the reason you feel disconnected isn't that you've lost your purpose, but because you've lost touch with what makes you feel alive? In this episode of Your Odyssey Podcast, Tara and Karen explore the quiet ways we drift away from ourselves through responsibility, achievement, survival mode, and the endless pressure to keep doing more. Together, they unpack why joy doesn't live at the end of a completed to-do list, how aliveness often shows up in ordinary moments, and what it looks like to reconnect with the parts of yourself that have been waiting for your attention. In This Episode Why many women feel disconnected despite doing "everything right" The difference between functioning and feeling alive How achievement can quietly pull us away from ourselves Why joy isn't waiting at the finish line Small ways to reconnect with aliveness in everyday life If you've been functioning but not fully feeling, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and begin finding your way back. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: Alive - Sia Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - The OVODA Podcast(00:00:53) - January Celebration: Joy(00:02:39) - What Comes First in Life?(00:08:22) - How to Find Joy in Your Life(00:11:59) - The Question of What Should I Do With My Life(00:15:54) - Thank You, Sia(00:16:56) - What is it about creativity that makes you most alive?(00:19:28) - Back to Joy(00:20:58) - Exploring Durham

    22 min

  3. May 26

    The Future of Leadership: Why We're Hopeful About Human Beings

    What if the future of leadership isn’t hopeless after all? In the final episode of this 3-part series, Tara and Karen continue their conversation with Merry about culture change, emotional intelligence, and the future of leadership, and why, despite the instability we see around us, she remains deeply hopeful about people. Together, they explore: Why most people are already doing the best they can with the tools they’ve been given The connection between education, emotional intelligence, and healthier cultures What leaders actually need to create sustainable transformation How small acts of courage ripple outward into organizations and communities Why culture change begins with human beings, not systems alone The future of leadership in a rapidly changing world This conversation is a hopeful reminder that transformation becomes possible when people are given the right support, resources, and environments to grow. If you’ve been longing for a different way forward, for leadership, relationships, or culture, this episode invites you to imagine what becomes possible when we stop leading through survival and start leading through awareness, courage, and care. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: Glory - Common featuring John Legend Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - The OVODA Podcast(00:00:53) - Return to Leadership: The Third Part(00:02:03) - The need to let go(00:07:38) - On labels and the skills story(00:09:30) - The culture of the sports club(00:13:46) - Letting Go(00:17:47) - Wish for Yourself in the Rebuild(00:19:02) - What kind of culture do you want to lead?(00:24:15) - The Questions of Re-building the Community(00:27:40) - Coming soon: Finding Your Purpose(00:31:56) - The Balance of Leading and Being Seen(00:35:14) - Locking into the Joys(00:44:11) - What gives you hope about the future of leadership?(00:45:41) - Mary's VisionaryLeadership(00:50:54) - Exploring Durham

    53 min

  4. May 19

    Visionary Leadership Today: How We All Get Stuck

    Why does transformation feel so difficult, even when we know change is necessary? In Part 2 of this 3-part leadership series, Tara and Karen continue their conversation with Merry Graham, exploring why to explore why so many visionary leaders find themselves caught between outdated definitions of success and the need for deeper transformation. Together, they explore: Why transformation often feels uncomfortable and uncertain Emotional intelligence and self-regulation in times of instability How fear and reactivity keep leaders stuck The emotional climate leaders create around them What visionary leadership requires in today’s world The tension between who we were and who we’re becoming If you’ve been feeling caught between exhaustion and expansion, certainty and change, this conversation offers language for the in-between—and a reminder that transformation is rarely linear. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: Hold On - Alabama Shakes Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - Your Odyssey Podcast Welcome(00:00:36) - Explorers: The History of Visionary Leadership(00:01:52) - The Challenges of Being a Visionary Leader(00:12:26) - What does wisdom look like in leadership?(00:18:05) - The 3 Voice Theory(00:22:54) - Finding our voice in the present crisis(00:29:54) - Mind Management, Exercise(00:31:04) - What is my soul yearning for?(00:34:04) - Critical Parent in the Driving Seat(00:37:06) - What did I Get Out of the Exercise?(00:40:54) - Self- Mastery: The Journey to Self-Confidence(00:44:54) - A Little Outro(00:48:05) - Beyond Visionary Leadership: A Week in the Life

    52 min

  5. May 12

    The Leadership Skills We Were Never Taught

    What if the biggest gap in leadership today isn’t strategy, but self-awareness? In Part 1 of this 3-part series, Tara and Karen sit down with Merry Graham, who has spent over 30 years working with leaders around the world to explore a powerful idea: that emotional and spiritual intelligence are missing from how we develop leaders. Together, they unpack what it means to lead as a whole human being and why individual dysregulation can ripple outward into teams, organizations, and even society. This conversation explores: What “whole-person leadership” actually means Why emotional intelligence (EQ) and self-regulation matter more than ever The hidden ways leaders become dysregulated How self-trust, not control, is the foundation of real leadership What visionary leaders understand that most systems overlook If you’ve ever felt like leadership requires more than what you were taught, this episode will help you begin to see what’s been missing and what becomes possible when you develop the skills to lead from within. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: Saturn - Sleeping at Last Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - Your Odyssey Podcast(00:00:53) - The Human Skills of Leadership(00:01:36) - Meet Merry Graham(00:03:30) - The Missing Education in Leadership(00:09:07) - Wonders of the World: The Whole Person(00:12:40) - Culture and Communication(00:16:52) - Motivation and Fear(00:25:34) - Skills Not Slogans(00:26:31) - Relationship 6: Trust and Skills(00:34:26) - Accurate Skill Story

    46 min

  6. May 5

    You're Allowed to Take Up Space

    You’re allowed to take up space. But what happens after that? In this episode, we move beyond the idea of visibility into something deeper… capacity. Because taking up space isn’t just about being seen or heard. It’s about what you carry into the rooms, conversations, and relationships you’re part of. Your presence is not neutral. Whether you realize it or not, it shapes the emotional climate around you. We explore: The difference between visibility and capacity How your presence influences every space you enter The subtle ways we show up with hesitation, avoidance, or clarity What it actually looks like to be more present in real time This isn’t about becoming louder. It’s about becoming more available to yourself and to the moment you’re in. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: Show Yourself - Idina Menzel Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - The OVODA Podcast(00:00:53) - A Choosing To Take Up Space(00:04:45) - Taking Up Space in Relationships(00:10:24) - How to Stay Present When You're Starting to Panic(00:16:28) - The Art of Choosing Differently(00:18:24) - Idina Menzel's 'Show Yourself' From Frozen 2(00:20:52) - What Are You Carrying Into the Rooms You're Part of Right(00:26:04) - There's a Reason Why Things Happen(00:26:17) - Exploring the World: Brene Brown

    29 min

  7. Apr 28

    Your Voice Is Not Too Much: How to Stop Shrinking and Speak Fully

    Who told you your voice was too much? In this episode of Your Odyssey Podcast, we unpack the message so many of us have internalized (that we’re too loud, too emotional, too intense) and what it’s been costing us. Because “too much” isn’t something you’re born believing. It’s something you learn. And over time, that belief shows up as self-editing, shrinking, and holding back before you’ve even had the chance to fully express yourself. But what if your voice was never the problem? What if it was the spaces you were in? This episode is an invitation to stop negotiating your truth, release the need to be more palatable, and trust that your voice was always meant to take up space. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: "I Am Not My Hair - India.Arie Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - Welcome to Your Odyssey Podcast(00:00:53) - Who Told You Your Voice Was Too Much(00:01:56) - The Fear That Your Voice Is Too Much(00:02:02) - Early Sensitivity (Karen's Story)(00:02:52) - Big Emotions + Learning to Hold Them(00:04:19) - You Were Meant to Feel the Full Spectrum(00:05:59) - How We Learn to Silence Ourselves(00:06:36) - Maybe You Were Never "Too Much"(00:07:54) - Your Voice Isn't Too Much, It's Reclaiming Space(00:08:32) - Discernment Isn't Rudeness(00:09:47) - The Parts of You You Learned to Bury(00:11:45) - Getting Quiet to Hear Yourself Again(00:12:00) - A Quiet Way Back to Your Voice(00:17:00) - The Song That Sounds Like Reclamation(00:18:46) - Editing Yourself Before You Even Speak(00:21:40) - Overexplaining (Even via Text 👀)(00:23:16) - Don't "Unmuch" Yourself (Glennon Doyle)(00:24:42) - Closing + Thanks for Listening

    25 min

  8. Apr 21

    Finding Your Voice Again: How to Reconnect with Yourself After Staying Quiet

    What if you didn’t lose your voice? What if it just got quiet for a reason? In this episode of Your Odyssey Podcast, we explore what it looks like to reconnect with your voice after seasons of silence: without rushing, forcing, or expecting yourself to be where you used to be. Because for many of us, staying quiet wasn’t random. It was protective. And when your voice quiets to keep you safe, finding it again isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about rebuilding trust. Through honest reflection and grounded insight, Tara and Karen walk through what it looks like to reconnect with yourself, start small, and let your voice come back in a way that feels safe, steady, and true. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your voice, this episode is your invitation to gently come back to it. Follow us on Instagram! Music:   Opening/Interlude/Outro: Love Is Waiting Featured Song: "A Beautiful Noise" - Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile Playlists: Spotify - Volume 2 YouTube Music - Volume 2 Chapters (00:00:03) - The OVODA Podcast(00:00:53) - How to Come Back to Your Voice(00:03:21) - Karen on Silencing Her Voice(00:06:58) - Don't Lose Your Voice(00:09:23) - How to Reclaim Your Voice(00:12:25) - How to Speak Up Again(00:17:21) - Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlisle sing "(00:19:50) - Where Have You Feel Distracted From Your Voice?(00:22:36) - A message for voice reconnection(00:24:00) - Yo Podcast

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Your Odyssey—the podcast where soul meets story and growth gets personal. Each episode is an invitation to come home to yourself—beyond the noise, the roles, and the shoulds. Hosted by Tara and Karen, Your Odyssey explores the real, raw, and redemptive parts of the human experience. From identity and healing to joy and self-trust, we’re holding space for honest conversations that meet you where you are—and gently call you forward. Whether you’re just beginning or already becoming, you belong here. This is your odyssey. Let’s walk it together.

Information

  • Creator
    Tara Alexandra & Karen Novy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 1023 Media
  • Show Website
    Your Odyssey Podcast

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