In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Janelle Martin about her transformative journey as a parent navigating her daughter’s struggle with addiction and the process of letting go of control. Janelle candidly shares how the experience forever changed her relationship with her daughter, her own healing journey through the 12-step process, and how this path shaped her life’s purpose and career.

About the Guest:

Janelle Martin is a licensed counselor, neurofeedback provider, and the author of two books, including her latest, Losing Her, Finding Us: A Mother’s Fight, A Daughter’s Journey and the Road to Recovery. Her life was forever changed by her family’s experience with addiction—a journey that reshaped not only her personal life but her professional path. Today, she owns a holistic mental health practice and works with individuals and families navigating trauma, stress, and substance use. Janelle also facilitates weekly PAL (Parents of Addicted Loved Ones) support groups and is passionate about helping others find hope in the midst of struggle. Her story, rooted in both pain and healing, is the heart behind everything she does.

Main Topics Covered:

• What it’s like parenting a child through addiction and crisis as a “regular” middle-class family
• Realizing the limits of parental control and shifting focus to self-healing
• The challenges of navigating boundaries, letting go, and processing grief as a parent
• The power and practicality of 12-step programs for parents (Al-Anon) as tools for growth
• How releasing control positively changed Janelle’s relationship with her daughter—from conflict to collaboration, and eventually, to becoming work partners
• The importance of sharing both parent and child perspectives around addiction and recovery
• The long-term, lifelong nature of recovery journeys and the impact on purpose and career

Quote from the Episode:

“You can’t rebuild a relationship from a standpoint of, I did everything right. You have the problem. So I’m going to let you figure out how to make it right. It doesn’t work that way.” — Janelle Martin

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Welcome & introductions; where Janelle calls home

[00:01:13] Laughter, dogs, and the healing power of humor

[00:02:13] The beginning of her family’s experience with addiction

[00:05:08] Family background, divorce dynamics, and co-parenting struggles

[00:12:15] What “trying to fix it” looked like and early attempts at control

[00:16:04] Crisis point, choosing tough boundaries, and entering treatment

[00:22:14] Discovering healing and surrender through Al-Anon and the 12 steps

[00:24:22] The impact on her relationship with her daughter—and the slow, honest rebuilding

[00:32:11] Giving up control: school, sobriety, and patience with relapse

[00:38:07] The trauma and difficulty of letting her adult child make her own decisions

[00:40:28] Self-care: prayer, meetings, and the importance of supportive community

[00:42:54] Why recovery isn’t “over”—and how it continues to shape Janelle’s purpose

[00:46:49] On writing the book together and the importance of sharing both perspectives

[00:50:52] About Janelle’s counseling practice, books, and how to connect

Connect with the Guest: www.ourbeautifulrecovery.com

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Dr. Angela Downey, Canadian family physician, podcaster, and author, to explore the realities of major career change, resilience, and pursuing childhood dreams—against overwhelming odds. Angela shares her remarkable journey from a blue-collar upbringing and early academic setbacks, through life as an accountant and mother of two, to ultimately achieving her lifelong goal of becoming a doctor in her 40s. Together, Amy and Angela unpack the influence of family messaging, gender expectations, self-doubt, and the invisible labor of parenting while juggling strenuous academics.

About the Guest:

Dr. Angela Downey is a family physician, host of The Codependent Doctor Podcast, and author of Enough As I Am. Downey’s work focuses on helping people heal from codependency, set healthier boundaries, and rebuild self-trust. Downey published a 365-day guided journal, Enough As I Grow, to support personal growth and reflection.

Main Topics Covered:

• Navigating the transition from accounting to medicine as a full-time parent and mature student.
• Overcoming family beliefs and societal assumptions about women, career, and “who gets to become a doctor.”
• Busting myths around academic failure, resetting at any age, and the nonlinear path to success.
• The invisible workload for women: balancing professional ambitions with family responsibilities.
• Building resilience, understanding self-worth, and reframing failure as growth.
• The power of supportive partners, therapy, and the ability to ask for (and pay for) help.
• Women in medicine: confronting gender bias and redefining professional boundaries.
• Creating new narratives for professional women through podcasting, writing, and storytelling.

Quote from the Episode:

"The more times I have failed, the easier it is for me to get back up. And now it's gotten to the point where I'm less afraid of failure and I'm okay to put things out there, and if it flops, it flops." — Dr. Angela Downey

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Welcome & audio mishap story; where Angela calls home

[00:03:06] Angela’s childhood dream and early family messaging

[00:06:04] Real talk on gender bias in medicine and nursing

[00:09:11] The impact of early academic failure and shifting to accounting

[00:14:33] Facing rejection from med school; balancing risk/family

[00:21:54] Burnout, taking a break in med school, and hiring help

[00:26:15] Living lean, student debt, and leveraging Angela’s accounting skills

[00:28:45] Personal growth, therapy, and reframing failure

[00:32:57] The origins of resilience and overcoming “people-pleasing”

[00:34:44] Pivotal conversations and finally pursuing medicine

[00:37:46] Creating a sustainable, customized medical career

[00:39:32] About Angela’s podcasts, books, and how to find her online

[00:41:33] Fun questions: self-care, travel, and historical events

Special Offer from the Guest:

Dr. Angela Downey offers listeners of The Art of Imperfect Adulting a special promo: Download a FREE chapter of her codependency recovery workbook, Enough as I Am, by visiting thecodependentdoctor.com/free-chapter.

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer, please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Jill Kaufman, a therapist, divorce coach, and author who splits her time between Colorado and New Jersey. Jill candidly shares her personal story of a 20-year marriage, enduring a high-conflict divorce, and ultimately finding happiness and healing as a single mom and later in a blended family. Together, Amy and Jill explore the realities of ending a long-term relationship, the emotional complexities of divorce for both parents and children, and why sharing our divorce stories reduces isolation and shame.

About the Guest:

Jill Kaufman is a Divorce Coach, Therapist, Mediator & Co-parenting Expert. After going through her own difficult divorce, she made it her life’s mission to help others not have it so tough. Her book, online course, and her transformational coaching program help parents navigate the overwhelming process of divorce both emotionally and practically with less stress, more confidence and a greater sense of peace. 

Main Topics Covered:

• Jill’s marriage story: college sweethearts, 20 years together, and raising kids in a faith-based home
• The isolating experience of divorce and the importance of support and community
• How therapy and counseling—with both successes and limits—factored into the marriage’s timeline
• High-conflict divorce: working with attorneys, mediators, and the impact of adversarial legal processes
• The difficult process of telling children about divorce and supporting them through the transition
• Living together during divorce and navigating finances, co-parenting, and shared assets
• Healing after divorce: rebuilding, single parenting, new partnerships, and shifting perspectives on marriage
• The role and value of divorce coaching, and how it differs from therapy

Quote from the Episode:

“You have this little baby and you’re going to protect it for the rest of your life... and you’re hurting your children. Not in the long term—you’re helping them in the long term—but immediately it feels like you’re hurting them. All those emotions are—you can’t describe what it is to go through all of that.”—Jill Kaufman

Timestamps: [00:00:07] Opening—Jill’s bi-coastal lifestyle and sources of daily laughter

[00:01:08] Life before divorce: Meeting her husband, raising kids, and faith traditions

[00:04:34] Therapy and counseling throughout marriage, and what finally led to divorce

[00:15:34] High-conflict divorce: attorneys, mediation, and adversarial pitfalls

[00:21:16] Why divorce was harder than grief, and the emotional toll

[00:23:35] Living together during the process, asset division, and legal considerations

[00:25:35] Telling the kids, their reactions, and how they’ve coped and thrived long-term

[00:32:01] Single parenting, blended families, and Jill’s path forward

[00:34:25] Jill’s approach to divorce coaching, therapy vs coaching, and available resources

[00:36:01] Special offer for listeners and how to connect with Jill

[00:37:22] Fun rapid-fire questions and show close

Special Offer from the Guest:

30 Minute Divorce Clarity Session, Value $175, Email me at [email protected]

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

Join the conversation on social. Find the Art of Imperfect Adulting on Instagram @theartof_imperfect_adulting YouTube @imperfectadulting and TikTok @imperfectadulting

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Lola Maclean about navigating burnout, living with IBS, and making a major career and wellness shift from conventional Western medicine to functional medicine. Lola shares her personal health journey, what led her to leave traditional medicine, and how addressing the root causes of her digestive issues transformed her life and work.

About the Guest:

Lola MacLean, DNP, FNP, is a functional medicine practitioner and gut health expert who helps high-achieving women break free from chronic bloating, anxiety, and fatigue. After navigating her own burnout and IBS, she left conventional medicine to create Haelan Empowered—a practice focused on the gut-brain connection and root-cause healing. With over a decade in healthcare and advanced training from IFM and SAFM, Lola blends science with real-life strategies that stick. She’s passionate about making gut health and healing approachable - not just a long list of supplements. 

Quote from the Episode:

“I can’t do the conventional road anymore because I don’t have that time with people. I don’t have that way to address these things. I can’t go upstream when I’ve got 15 minutes and you’re asking me for a fix for this problem.” — Lola Maclean

Main Topics Covered:

• Lola’s lifelong interest in medicine and journey into nursing and becoming a nurse practitioner
• Her experience living with undiagnosed digestive issues and IBS, and how “normal” shifts over time
• Personal and professional burnout—especially during the early days of the COVID pandemic—and the limits of conventional medical advice
• The discovery of functional medicine and the difference between root-cause healing versus symptom management
• The gut-brain connection, why mindset matters, and becoming your own health advocate
• How Lola healed her IBS through functional medicine tools—and why she now helps other women do the same
• Working collaboratively between conventional and functional medicine providers

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & Lola’s home in Oregon wine country

[00:01:00] Laughter as medicine and parenting young kids

[00:03:54] Lola’s path from pre-med to nursing to nurse practitioner

[00:06:47] Early curiosity about medicine with no family background in health

[00:07:23] Struggling with digestive issues from childhood through adulthood

[00:10:25] Postpartum, anxiety, and hitting a health crisis during the pandemic

[00:11:52] Experiencing burnout and what it meant for Lola

[00:16:33] First awareness of functional medicine, and differences in medical culture

[00:20:26] Explanation of the low FODMAP diet

[00:22:19] Lola’s healing process: stool testing, addressing microbiome, mindset work

[00:25:52] What is functional medicine, and how is it different from conventional care?

[00:28:02] Healing outcomes and what “better” now feels like

[00:31:22] Making a professional leap into functional medicine

[00:32:32] Can conventional and functional medicine work together?

[00:35:12] Lola’s current work and how to connect

Special Offer from the Guest:

Lola is offering podcast listeners a free gut health assessment call to talk through your unique digestive challenges and map out next steps. Visit www.haelanempowered.com 

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kathi Burns—San Diego-based professional organizer, image consultant, and founder of OrganizedandEnergized.com—about the massive life and business changes she faced after 9/11. Kathi shares how a sudden and total business disruption led her to start over in a new state, with only $49, and ultimately to a fulfilling new career focused on helping women entrepreneurs clear both physical and digital clutter.

About the Guest:

Kathi Burns is a best-selling author, board certified professional organizer and personal stylist. Kathi is also the host of the Organized and Energized Podcast. Kathi is nationally recognized for her simple organizing and style solutions and featured on Good Morning America as a successful woman owned business. 

Main Topics Covered:

• Sudden career upheaval after 9/11 and the collapse of the hospitality marketing industry
• Making a cross-country move (from Florida to California) after losing nearly everything
• Taking a “year off” to reinvent herself, the impact of sabbaticals, and learning from life experience
• Starting a new business on a shoestring budget (just $49!)
• The evolution of print, marketing, and organizing in a digital world
• How writing a local newspaper column boosted Kathi’s business and developed her expertise
• The challenges of organizing paper and digital clutter for entrepreneurs
• Current work helping women entrepreneurs get “unstuck” and thrive with effective systems

Quote from the Episode:

“You can be broke in Florida, you can be broke in California. When you’re broke, you’re broke. It didn’t really matter. So that was our impetus to move to California, because who cares? We’re already broke.” — Kathi Burns

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcomes & Kathi’s location

[00:01:22] The 9/11 tourism shutdown and instant business collapse

[00:06:24] Reflecting on the obsolete print marketing industry

[00:07:36] Moving from Florida to California & starting over

[00:10:48] Purging belongings and the “ridiculous” moving experience

[00:11:57] Launching a business with $49: door hangers and business cards

[00:13:46] TV organizing shows, luck, and the “love offering” that started it all

[00:17:46] Life skills, forgotten talents, and the power of self-inventory

[00:22:14] Writing a weekly newspaper column to establish expertise

[00:24:58] Evolving services: from physical organizing to digital systems for entrepreneurs

[00:27:22] The pain of paper, digital overwhelm & modern organizing tips

[00:29:47] Offers: Google Workspace masterclass and free Inbox Hero Routine download

[00:34:45] Fun questions: coffee, Google Calendar, and lifelong friendships

Connect with the Guest: Website: https://organizedandenergized.com

Special Offer from the Guest:

6 Quick & Simple Steps to Organize Your Life —So You Can Finally Feel in Control ⏰✨

Finally, a stress-free way to take charge of your schedule, priorities, and goals—without the overwhelm.Value $19.95 and for listenres, it is completely FREE!

https://organizedandenergized.com/free-treats/6-steps-for-life/

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

Join the conversation on social. Find the Art of Imperfect Adulting on Instagram @theartof_imperfect_adulting YouTube @imperfectadulting and TikTok @imperfectadulting 

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Deanna Brakefield—Birmingham-based radio show host, neurodivergent mom of a blended family of nine, and co-owner of a digital marketing agency. Deanna shares how launching her radio show, “Neurodivergent News,” not only shifted the direction of her personal and professional life but also provided a welcoming, real-world platform for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and parents to share their stories.

About the Guest:

Deanna Brakefield is a digital marketing strategist, radio show host, and passionate advocate for neurodivergent voices. As the host of Neurodivergent News, Deanna creates a space for authentic conversations, lived experiences, and community-centered storytelling. As a member of the advisory council for my host radio station, Deanna helps develop support systems for other hosts. 

Main Topics Covered:

• How starting a radio show catalyzed connections within the neurodivergent community and changed Deanna’s life path
• The journey of building a show without a prior broadcasting background
• Living as a neurodivergent family: diagnoses, genetic components, and blended family dynamics
• What “neurodivergent” and “masking” mean, and why representation matters
• The unique challenges faced by neurodivergent entrepreneurs and parents
• Shifting the focus from marketing to authentic storytelling and community support
• Finding balance and unity in family and business through the power of shared experience

Quote from the Episode:

“The reality is, what I experienced was that people just want to make connections. They want to hear your story and tell theirs and just understood that they were seen.” — Deanna Brakefield

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome and laughter; what brings Deanna joy

[00:01:08] Beginning the radio show—how it all started

[00:03:23] Deanna’s crash course in radio and the show’s focus

[00:04:05] Neurodivergent family dynamics, blended family structure, and what “neurodivergent” means

[00:05:14] Diagnoses and family patterns

[00:06:53] How the radio show changed Deanna’s business and life

[00:10:03] Handling guest interest and evolving the show format

[00:10:51] Scheduling and live radio experience

[00:12:07] Overcoming imposter syndrome and family reactions

[00:13:57] Hopes for the show, expanding the business, and drawing in her kids

[00:16:48] Life changes and achieving better balance through the show

[00:19:56] Explanation of “masking” for neurodivergent people

[00:22:52] How to connect, what Deanna offers, and special listener offer

[00:24:24] Final three fun questions

Special Offer from the Guest:

Brand Strategy Call & Social Media Profile Optimization

Listeners receive the 1-hour strategy call free and may access the Profile Optimization service for only $180 when they mention the show. Offer valid through 2025.

How listeners can collect this offer Mention The Art of Imperfect Adulting when booking your call. http://lionheartkingdom.com/

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Jillian Scott—trauma-certified life and weight loss coach—about her journey from 14 years of binge eating to healing her relationship with food and body image. Jillian shares her personal motivations for change, the setbacks and mismatches she encountered in popular programs, and why feeling your emotions is often more nuanced than it sounds. This honest conversation dives into social programming around body size, dieting, the impact of trauma, and what it really means to “feel your feelings” as an imperfect adult.

About the Guest:

Jillian Scott is a certified, trauma-informed life and health coach, and creator of the Body You Crave Method. She specializes in empowering clients to overcome the aftermath of emotionally abusive relationships, heal their relationship with food and body, and develop unwavering self confidence and self belief. 

Main Topics Covered:

• Jillian’s personal definition of binge eating and how shame, secrecy, and emotional avoidance play a role.
• The key motivations and emotional “aha” moments that inspired her to break free from binge eating.
• Why popular advice like “just feel your feelings” didn’t work for her—and the step-by-step process that did.
• How childhood experiences, family comments, and diet culture shaped her self-image and eating behaviors.
• Practical strategies for tuning into your body and emotions, reframing expectations, and self-compassion.
• Perspectives on new weight loss medications, “food noise,” and why sustainable change involves more than willpower.
• The importance of addressing trauma in the healing process, especially for those who’ve experienced relationship dysfunction or childhood emotional neglect.

Quote from the Episode:

“I needed somebody to just break it down for me, like, step by step—not just this kind of vague, generic ‘feel your feelings.’ Even though that is part of the answer… I needed help identifying and understanding what I was thinking and feeling before I could really change.” — Jillian Scott

Special offer from the guest: You can find a free training called “Hungry for Love” on Jillian’s website: www.bodyyoucrave.com. 

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Connie Warden, acupuncturist, mindfulness teacher, and author of Speeding to Compassion: Life Lessons and Humor to the High Road. Connie opens up about an ordinary incident of losing her patience with another driver—and how this small, imperfect moment on the road became a catalyst for self-reflection, real change, and deeper compassion. The conversation explores not just driving mishaps, but also universal themes of self-awareness, emotional regulation, family traditions, and the stories we tell ourselves.

About the Guest:

Connie Warden is an acupuncturist, former yoga instructor, and longtime Colorado resident. Drawing from her background in holistic health and personal growth, Connie brings humor and insight to the everyday moments that test our patience and humanity. She is the author of Speeding to Compassion, a book that dives into real-life lessons learned (often the hard way) behind the wheel and beyond.

Connie is one of eight siblings, has two children, four grandkids. She has been an acupuncturist for 20 years, been practicing yoga since she was 16 and teaching for 15 years. She has just written a book on her journey to becoming a more mindful, kindful, driver called "Speeding to Compassion: Life Lessons and Humor to the High Road."

Main Topics Covered:

• The power of small moments and how minor conflicts can spark meaningful self-awareness
• Driving mishaps, emotional triggers, and why we’re often tempted to react
• Learning to drive and teaching others—a rite of passage in families
• Mindfulness tools for stress: EFT tapping, emotional naming, and humor
• How our underlying stories shape our reactions and daily life
• Spiritual and emotional bypassing, and the importance of processing feelings
• Navigating accidents, self-doubt, and personal growth after making mistakes
• Universal experiences of impatience, regret, and finding the high road in everyday encounters
• Thoughts on self-driving cars and the future of road rage

Quote from the Episode:

“An outburst is really only hurting you... So does it help the other person? Most likely not. Right. The only person it’s hurting is yourself. And that’s the whole thing.” — Connie Warden

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Connie’s background and warm-up questions

[00:02:33] The “jerk” moment: losing patience at a red light

[00:05:47] Past driving mistakes and compassion for others on the road

[00:06:22] Learning to drive in a big family

[00:09:15] Why this incident led to real self-reflection

[00:11:03] Would Connie have reacted differently to an adult?

[00:13:12] Teaching kids to drive and the stress involved

[00:14:18] Does being a “jerk” ever get a pass? Squeezing the cactus

[00:17:55] Car accidents, self-doubt, and EMDR for driving anxiety

[00:21:45] How this experience changed Connie’s life and approach

[00:22:32] Avoiding spiritual bypassing and emotional avoidance

[00:24:12] Practical tools for mindfulness and self-regulation in traffic

[00:25:17] The future: how might self-driving cars affect road rage?

[00:26:27] About Connie’s book and how to connect with her

[00:28:00] Connie’s family traditions, morning routines, and closing

You can find Connie Warden’s Book, “Speeding to Compassion” here: https://bookshop.org/a/87491/9780996320306

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Ann Evanston—Bay Area-based self-love expert and coach—to explore relationship crossroads, personal transformation, and what happens after a breach of trust in a long-term partnership. Ann shares her very personal journey of staying and doing the work in her marriage after discovering her partner was seeking connection elsewhere, offering a unique, candid perspective on forgiveness, rebuilding, and the ongoing “practice” of loving partnership.

About the Guest:

Ann M. Evanston, MA is a Warrior-Preneur, master-level performance coach, and unapologetic champion of women in their 40s and 50s who are done putting themselves last. With over two decades of experience helping women find their voice, own their power, and take up space—Ann leads the Self-Love Evolution movement, guiding midlife women to reclaim their worth, desires, and personal fire. She’s been featured in The Huffington Post, Spark & Hustle with Tory Johnson, and named one of the “Top 6”  consultants by About.com. Ann is the author of The Self-Love Evolution for Women Guide & Journal and Unscripted: How Women Thrive, as well as several high-impact eBooks for bold businesswomen ready to break the rules and rise.

Main Topics Covered:

• Discovering betrayal and the immediate aftermath.
• How Ann and her husband rebuilt trust and connection.
• The importance and process of intentional relationship work (“the practice”).
• The impact of shame, societal judgment, and making unconventional choices in love.
• The evolving nature of long-term relationships—sex, menopause, and continuing to choose each other.
• Ann’s framework for self-love and community-building for women.

Quote from the Episode:

“You may think we’re this perfect couple, but you don’t know what we go through every day to be that couple.” — Ann Evanston

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Intro and welcome; Ann’s Bay Area home and garden passion

[00:02:45] Ann’s relationship backstory and living situation

[00:09:04] Discovering her husband’s online activities

[00:11:20] Addressing betrayal, confrontation, and mutual decision to rebuild

[00:12:40] The experience and shock of discovery

[00:23:16] Intentionally rebuilding—why forgiveness comes before trust

[00:24:29] Creating weekly date nights, “the practice,” and intentional communication

[00:29:24] Ann’s menopause journey and changes in partnership

[00:32:06] Disney’s myth of “happily ever after” vs. real relationships

[00:36:11] Ann’s choice to stay, fear of judgment, and supporting women’s choices

[00:44:47] Ann’s current work, retreats, and how listeners can connect

Special Offer from the Guest:

Free excerpt of Ann’s book The Self-Love Evolution for Women https://connect.warrior-preneur.com/SLE

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Melanie Bonk—Somatic Trauma Therapist, Certified Love, Sex & Relationship Coach, and Oregon-based mom of four—about how childhood abandonment and old wounds can unexpectedly show up in long-term relationships. Melanie shares a deeply personal story of unraveling during a romantic vacation, what it looks like to meet your inner child with compassion, and how she transformed those old patterns into a thriving adult partnership.

About the Guest:

Melanie Bonk is a certified Love, Sex & Relationship Coach, Somatic Trauma Therapist, and Tantrika devoted to helping people reclaim their pleasure, power, and wholeness—one bonkilicious breath at a time. Her work weaves modern trauma healing with ancient tantric wisdom to guide individuals and couples into deeper intimacy, erotic sovereignty, and soulful connection. Through body-based practices, pleasure rituals, and playful exploration, she helps clients alchemize shame, rewrite old patterns, and awaken their wild, wise, turned-on selves. Whether we’re up-leveling the connection to your body, deepening your couple bubble, or expanding your orgasmic potential, every part of you is welcome here. Because Melanie believes pleasure is medicine. Your body is wise. And healing can feel good. Let’s bonk better, together.

Main Topics Covered:

• Growing up with divorce and how early abandonment influences adult relationships
• The power of self-awareness and “reparenting” your inner child
• Transforming relationship conflict into connection through soulful communication
• Techniques for emotional intelligence and creating safer, more intimate partnerships
• How to embrace difficult emotions and show yourself compassion instead of self-judgment
• Journey from crisis to thriving: Melanie’s personal and professional evolution
• Somatic therapy, its principles, and practical uses in relationships and healing

Quote from the Episode:

“It’s like—no, I had to take her out of the seat. I didn’t want her to have the power in my partnership. I like to connect to my queendom, my goddess, that higher version of myself. And that’s who I want to be in the driver’s seat.” — Melanie Bonk

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Melanie’s introduction; home and family background

[00:01:06] Laughter as medicine and what makes Melanie smile

[00:01:58] The vacation unraveling: a story of abandonment triggers

[00:04:03] Family dynamics and building a lasting partnership

[00:05:14] Middle-school obsessions, childhood divorce, and early relationship patterns

[00:09:19] What actually happened during the vacation “spiral”

[00:13:59] Becoming aware of old wounds and the impact of somatic training

[00:15:55] Tools for de-escalation and holding space in relationships

[00:18:57] Compassion as the antidote to self-judgment

[00:21:47] The “work” of transformation and ongoing reparenting

[00:25:28] How the relationship looks now—embracing alone time

[00:26:19] Melanie’s approach as a coach and therapist, plus upcoming programs

[00:30:33] Somatic therapy explained

[00:32:19] Special offer for podcast listeners

[00:33:07] Rapid-fire questions: dreams, favorite places, snacks, and more

Special Offer from the Guest:

Sign up with your email and receive a secret link to 3 small, bite sized somatic practices to explore over 3 weeks. https://www.melaniebonk.com/pod

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

How to create/launch your own podcast.

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I use Kit f/k/a Convertkit

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org