Adult Struggles

Growing up, most of us tried to hide our "nerdy" hobbies to the best of our abilities. But lately, thanks to the rise of major fandoms like Game of Thrones and the resurgence of the Star Wars films, the geeks are loud and proud! As a self-proclaimed nerd and professional escapist, Leo shares the path of forging a career & building a community within his favorite fandoms. From working with Disney and traveling to the parks, to Cosplay & Disneybounding - he's living the Disney-lovers dream!

Have you ever felt a lack of life purpose, or that you're simply going through the motions in your career & relationships? Keidi Janz shares how you can take charge and live a more fulfilling life through self-acceptance. You may remember Keidi from Episode 22, where she was featured in a collaboration addressing "what is self-love." Now she returns to dive deeper into how she created a business as a Self-Love Coach and helps guide people to fully realizing their potentials.

Have you ever considered fostering or adopting a child, but didn't know where to get started? In this episode, you'll hear from Danielle Hofstetter, the Clinical Director of Community and Family Services Foundation. She has 10+ years' experience working in the child welfare system, and as a foster-to-adopt parent herself, she truly knows every aspect of welcoming a new child into your family. To submit a question to Danielle, please visit and comment at adultstruggles.com/episode027.

Did you know the entire month of March is designated as Women's History Month? This episode is a collaborative effort with women around the world in celebration of the women who inspire us! From women in the spotlight, to women in history, to the women in our very own lives that offer us the wisdom, strength, and hope to push forward. As you hear each guest address the question: "Who is your biggest female inspiration and why?" - think about who inspires you the most!

Your time is valuable - donate it! When was the last time you volunteered at a nonprofit organization? National Volunteer Month is coming up in April, so set aside some time to check out opportunities in your community. In this episode, I'm talking with Basil, the Senior Marketing Manager at Volunteer Match, to learn all about finding the right volunteering opportunity for you! You'll learn about how Volunteer Match can connect you with nonprofit organizations in your area, the benefits of volunteering (yes, giving back is about helping others, but it doesn't mean you can't also benefit!), and how to volunteer from the comfort of your couch.

Tara Falcone grew up in a blue collar family, and had to manage her money wisely in school. After earning a full ride scholarship to Yale University, she planned on applying to medical school. Unable to afford the hefty application fees, she found herself working at an investment firm...with zero experience in the financial industry. Today, Tara is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner, and teaches millennials about money management and investing through her company ReisUp.

In this episode, we're talking about the biggest financial mistakes people make in their 20s and 30s, how to AVOID those mistakes, when and how to get started with investing, and how you can improve your financial literacy!

After a battle with anorexia, Caralyn conquered the disease with help from inpatient treatment, her strong Catholic faith, and her supportive family. Now years into recovery, she writes about her past struggles on the Beauty Beyond Bones blog. Individuals suffering from eating disorders, along with their families, benefit from reading the raw truth of overcoming anorexia and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In this episode, Caralyn shares the details of how her eating disorder developed, the social, physical, and mental destruction it caused, her reluctant road to recovery, and how she now pays it forward by helping others.

In this special episode, 8 influencers from different walks of life and parts of the world share their personal definitions of self-love.

Thank you to the participants: Nikki Tinebra (@mvrmaidhair), Cetiera Carmona (@cetiera), Shelley Twilley (@tweesetake2), Dorche Harris (@thatpastelchic), Mimi Litecky (@mimi_litecky), France Corbel (@traitspourtraits), Latisha Williams (@latishasvoice), and Keidi Janz (@kei.di). Quotes from this episode can be found at adultstruggles.com/episode022.

Matt is a skilled marketing analyst in the Bay Area who found himself unexpectedly unemployed after a company layoff. Rather than lament over the situation, Matt used this time to evaluate his goals and seek out a job he loves. He shares the key actions he took that helped him (relatively quickly) make a career comeback, find an industry he is truly passionate about, and earn a higher salary than ever before!

In this episode, certified sommelier Madeline Puckette talks everything wine-related, from her first sip of wine at age 9, to losing her job and landing her first job in the wine industry, to the creation of the Wine Folly blog and books. And of course, Madeline will teach you some wine basics like how to find a great wine that fits your palate and budget and how to use your retro nasal (your 6th sense for wine tasting!).

Read more at adultstruggles.com/episode020