The Art Of Imperfect Adulting

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Sarah Waldbuesser, attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of Destination Legal and Twist Law, about her remarkable journey from a “dream job” in global health law to building a thriving online legal business, all sparked by the inspiration of a podcast. Sarah shares what it was like to walk away from a traditional legal career, cash in her 401(k), and take a leap of faith into the world of digital nomadism and entrepreneurship, all while navigating family expectations, financial uncertainty, and the pursuit of happiness on her own terms.

About the Guest:

Sarah Waldbuesser, Esq., is a trademark attorney and owner of Destination Legal® and TWIST Law.  After several years at a law firm and a few career jumps, she ended up falling in love with online business and loves helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams in a smart and protected way.  She is also an adventurer, traveler, and food and wine lover.   When not at her computer, she loves hanging with her 2 little kiddos, having wine with friends, flying around the globe and connecting with other online business owners.  

Main Topics Covered:

• Why Sarah left a successful global health law career for the unknown
• The reality of quitting a secure job, including family reactions, student loan debt, and uncertainty
• The role of podcasts and online communities in finding purpose and new opportunities
• What it’s really like to be a digital nomad (the highlights and hardships)
• Building a business from scratch: trial, error, and eventual clarity
• How important community and environment are for growth and success
• The value (and challenge) of aligning your career with your definition of happiness
• Sarah’s advice for risk-taking, finding the right people, and embracing imperfect journeys

Quote from the Episode:

"I wasn't gonna let the fact that I had a law degree or a master’s stop me from figuring out how to enjoy my life. I just— I wasn't gonna sit and be miserable for the next 40 years. I just wasn't going to do it." — Sarah Waldbuesser

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Introductions; home and childhood in St. Louis

[00:01:28] How Sarah celebrates achievements in her family

[00:03:39] Early legal career: “dream” job and underlying discontent

[00:08:42] Decision-making process, first thoughts of quitting, and influence of podcasts

[00:13:47] Grappling with sunk costs of higher education and family advice

[00:21:20] Navigating friends and community reactions to big life shifts

[00:22:56] What Sarah hoped for vs. what happened in her journey

[00:29:17] The power of community and surrounding yourself with like-minded people

[00:33:54] Digital nomad reality, traveling while building a business, and relationship challenges

[00:37:00] The long-term impact: business success, family, and gratitude for risk-taking

[00:41:19] The ups and downs of online entrepreneurship and risk tolerance

[00:43:50] Sarah’s business today and how listeners can connect

[00:45:08] Podcast recommendations and final rapid-fire questions

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

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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 :-)

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Stephanie Sanz. Stephanis is a Brooklyn-based therapist, coach, and founder of her own private practice. They talk about her life-altering experience with a panic attack on the New York City subway and how it shaped her professional and personal journey. Stephanie dives deep into her history of anxiety, overcoming a nontraditional and challenging upbringing, and the surprising ways her struggles have informed her mission to make mental health support accessible to all.

About the Guest:

Stephanie Sanz is a licensed therapist, coach, and founder of a Brooklyn-based private practice dedicated to supporting clients struggling with anxiety and stress. Drawing from her own experiences with panic and overwhelm—including a formative episode in her college years—Stephanie now specializes in helping others build stress resilience through therapy, neuroscience-informed coaching, and spiritual practice. She is especially passionate about making therapy affordable for college students and those without traditional access to care.

Main Topics Covered:

• Stephanie’s formative panic attack on the NYC subway and its ripple effects
• Navigating college, instability, and career indecision without family support
• The realities and stigma of panic attacks and anxiety disorders
• The pressure of perfectionism, cultural narratives around success, and “nontraditional” adulting paths
• How Stephanie transformed her personal mental health journey into a professional calling
• Balancing therapy, neuroscience, spirituality, and accessible coaching
• The challenge—and importance—of building support networks and making room for imperfection

Quote from the Episode:

"I might be creating this panic situation, thinking that the result is going to be so dire, but it's not always going to be that way. The result is not always going to be the end of the world. And this is proof of that." — Stephanie Sanz

Timestamps:

[00:00:06] Intro & where Stephanie calls home

[00:01:45] On femininity, power, and motherhood

[00:03:03] The panic attack: scene-setting & aftermath

[00:10:17] How triggers, dread, and lack of control spiral anxiety

[00:14:44] Career indecision and life crossroads

[00:19:16] Overcoming family narratives and a nontraditional path

[00:27:20] The lesson: support, not catastrophe

[00:31:46] Pivoting professionally toward anxiety & stress support

[00:38:33] Making therapy more accessible, blending spiritual and neuroscience-based tools

[00:45:23] Brooklyn eats, dreams of bagels, local favorites

[00:46:39] Wrap-up & gratitude

Special Offer from the Guest:

Stephanie is offering a FREE ebook, “Four Things Your Therapist Wants to Tell You About Anxiety But Can’t,” available at stephaniesanz.com. She also has an on-demand course, Anxiety Rewired, and an upcoming neuroscience + spirituality card deck for rewiring stress—all details at her website. Affordable therapy rates are available for college students in New York.

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.

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.

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

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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

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

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Lindsey Kaszuba about the lifelong journey to trusting your own body. Lindsey is a New York City-based integrative nutrition health coach and founder of Kaszuba Health. She candidly shares her experiences growing up in Florida, navigating diet culture, the pressures of postpartum weight loss, and how motherhood and self-reflection transformed her approach to wellness.

About the Guest:

Lindsey Kaszuba is an integrative nutrition health coach and founder of Kaszuba Health. Living in downtown Manhattan with her three children, Lindsey is passionate about helping women unlock their healthiest weight and cultivate sustainable habits by tuning into their bodies’ true needs—beyond the scale.

“Her inner dialogue is going to be how I speak to myself. And so it’s really important for me to never talk about my weight or look at myself and be like, ‘Oh my God, I need to lose weight.’” — Lindsey Kaszuba

Main Topics Covered:

• Growing up with mixed messages about health, body image, and food
• How generational beliefs and media shape our relationship with body size
• The transition from obsessive diet and exercise patterns to holistic, intuitive wellness
• The physical and emotional journey through pregnancy, postpartum, and shifting priorities
• Navigating motherhood while modeling healthy behaviors and self-acceptance
• Processing societal pressure, wellness overwhelm, and the realities of trendy interventions (like GLP-1 medications)
• The importance of quiet, self-reflection, and customizing health habits

Quote from the Episode:

“If you don’t adjust your habits and you’re just doing it for a quick fix, like, it’s just gonna come back. And everyone knows when you get off a diet, you usually gain more weight because your body’s like, ‘help, we’ve been starving this whole time. Now it’s time to eat.’” — Lindsey Kaszuba

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Warm-up: NYC living and celebrating small wins

[00:03:13] Early influences: health, family, and evolving messages about weight

[00:09:35] Diet, calorie counting, and the origins of food restriction

[00:18:37] Pregnancy, postpartum, and self-image evolution

[00:24:35] Mindset shift: Letting go of control and honoring what feels good

[00:29:32] Developing intuition, finding what works, and embracing gentler habits

[00:32:23] Modeling body trust for her daughters

[00:35:29] GLP-1 medications: Nuanced perspectives on quick fixes vs. habit change

[00:41:36] Why self-kindness, quiet reflection, and intentional habits matter

[00:45:03] Lindsey’s work, offers, and how to connect

Special Offer from the Guest:

Name of the product offered: Health Club Collective: A course & community focused on helping women unlock their healthiest weight yet and trust their body...beyond the scale. 

Value of the product offered: $997 Special offer for the listeners of the show: $100 off

Health Club Collective will be opening in October, use code "IMPERFECT" at checkout (https://www.lindseykaszubahealth.com/membership-signup#becomeamember)

Note from the show host: Guest offers are almost always limited-time and limited quantity. If you have any trouble redeeming this offer please reach out to the guest directly. The show simply shares the information.

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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 :-)

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Carah Elizabeth about navigating a major career transformation, overcoming professional burnout, and healing from the fear-based patterns that once shaped her life and work. Carah shares candidly about her journey from rigorous clinical training and private practice ownership to embracing the world of coaching and holistic healing, offering wisdom for anyone considering a bold change in their own professional path.

About Carah Elizabeth:

Carah Elizabeth is a clinically trained psychotherapist turned trauma-informed coach, empowering high-achieving women to break free from the limitations of generational patterns and lead their lives with embodied confidence, self-trust, and soul-powered abundance.

With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Carah blends her expertise in somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and energy work to guide women through a deeply transformative journey of reconnecting with their bodies, healing past trauma, and stepping into their true potential.

Main Topics Covered:

• Carah’s early inspiration to become a therapist and her decade-long path through higher education and licensing
• The emotional and financial realities of working in traditional therapy, including burnout, fear of the licensing board, and insurance hurdles
• How the COVID-19 pandemic and personal transformative experiences inspired Carah to challenge limiting beliefs and leave her licensure behind
• The shift in mindset from “there’s only one path” to embracing modern, online, and holistic approaches to healing
• Navigating the loneliness and community pushback that can come with a major career change
• The emerging role of somatic and energy work in mental health—and how therapists and coaches alike are blending modalities
• Insights into embodiment, breaking patterns, nervous system healing, and living a soul-powered life

Quote from the Episode: “I don’t lose my credibility because I don’t pay $500 every year for a piece of paper… My license was—I don’t lose my credibility. I don’t lose my education. I don’t lose who I am and what I do.”—Carah Elizabeth

Timestamps:

[00:00:05] Welcome and guest introduction: Carah’s home, grounding rituals, and early dreams

[00:01:23] Years of training and the backstory of wanting to become a therapist

[00:04:14] Working in the mental health field, licensing hurdles, and double supervised hours

[00:06:15] Carah’s experience as a therapist, joys and challenges

[00:07:42] The initial shock and mindset shift around leaving therapy

[00:09:15] Fear-driven patterns: family, career, and licensing board anxieties

[00:11:24] The 2020 pandemic, board complaints, and a pivotal breaking point

[00:15:26] The power of licensure boards and the limitations of traditional mental health systems

[00:18:49] Motivations for making the switch to coaching and expanding impact

[00:20:55] Letting go of the “only one way” mentality and embracing holistic healing

[00:25:37] How trauma and yoga opened Carah up to embodied healing

[00:29:26] Hopes, dreams, and the real-world transition out of private practice

[00:31:30] Losing community, rebuilding, and insights on mindset retraining

[00:36:31] The challenges of marketing as a coach and lessons from the journey

[00:41:32] How the therapy profession is slowly adapting and blending somatic and holistic methods

[00:43:43] Carah’s current work and a special invitation to a complimentary masterclass

[00:46:49] Light-hearted closing questions and gratitude

Special Offer from the Guest:

Name of the product offered: 

Unlocking your Body Blueprint Masterclass

The Chakra Code: Your Body Blueprint Unlocked is a 90-minute masterclass that will guide you to tap into your energy , so you can stop searching outside yourself and start feeling from within.

Value of the product offered: $77 Special offer for the listeners of the show: FREE 

How listeners can collect this offer: 

https://stan.store/CarahElizabethLLC/p/unlocking-your-body-blueprint-90min-replay

Coupon Code: chakracode

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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 :-)

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Monica McKitterick about her journey from nurse practitioner to business owner, how she navigated stepping into the CEO role with no formal business training, and the profound impact that competing in a reality TV competition had on her definition of success, freedom, and personal fulfillment. Monica is an Austin-based founder and CEO of Impact Family Wellness and winner of Season 18 of “The Blocks,” a televised entrepreneurial competition. 

About Monica McKitterick:

Monica McKitterick is a family nurse practitioner turned CEO who built a thriving, multi-location Direct Primary Care practice from the ground up. After winning a national business competition, she realized success is less about titles and accolades and more about freedom, impact, and living in alignment with her values. She now helps other medical providers break free from the broken healthcare system and create sustainable, patient-centered practices. Monica is passionate about redefining success and showing others that their worth is never tied to burnout.

Main Topics Covered:

• How Monica launched and scaled a direct primary care (DPC) practice with no business background
• The experience and intensity of participating in “The Blocks” entrepreneurial TV show
• Learning to redefine personal and professional success beyond traditional metrics
• The role of competition, networking, and mindset shifts in entrepreneurship
• Facing burnout, the importance of setting boundaries, and embracing freedom
• Monica’s strategies for building a business that operates independently of her day-to-day presence
• New ways she’s making an impact through writing, mentoring, and online education for healthcare providers

Quote from the Episode: “It was the first time I legitimately felt validated as a business owner… I was doing it. I just couldn’t admit to myself that I was doing it. And that was the first time I was like, oh, maybe I do know what I’m doing.” — Monica McKitterick

Timestamps: [00:00:00] Monica’s Austin roots and family celebrations

[00:02:03] Monica’s journey to “The Blocks” & applying for the show

[00:04:54] Transitioning from nurse practitioner to CEO

[00:07:32] What is direct primary care and how it differs from concierge medicine

[00:09:06] Monica’s hopes and goals for the TV competition

[00:10:50] The reality of filming “The Blocks” and competition structure

[00:13:59] The diversity of entrepreneurs on the show

[00:15:41] Competitive spirit, imposter syndrome, and the reality of winning

[00:18:49] The impact and pressure after winning “The Blocks”

[00:20:44] Redefining success, facing burnout, and pivoting to new projects

[00:25:07] Freedom, mindset shifts, and building an autonomous business

[00:27:36] Would Monica do another competition?

[00:29:21] Where to find “The Blocks” and Monica’s resources

[00:32:11] Austin recs, reality TV, and Monica’s favorite guilty pleasures

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.

CONNECT WITH Monica Mckitterick: www.impactfamilywellness.com  

GET Monica’s SPECIAL OFFER: Monica invites healthcare providers curious about direct primary care to check out her book, complete DPC launch course, or reach out for consulting and mentorship. Resources for patients and providers, including FAQs. 

 Get access to this offer plus resources from other guests by subscribing to Amy's email community at https://www.imperfectadulting.com 

Special Offer from the Guest:

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Carrie Veatch about her decision to leave a successful nonprofit executive role and embark on a transformative journey living and working around the world. Carrie is an entrepreneur, coach, and freedom advocate in Denver, Colorado when this was recorded. Carrie opens up about what inspired her to create her own “mini-retirement,” how she rebuilt her career with intention, and what it means to design a life aligned with your deepest values, even if it means breaking with expectations.

About the Guest:

Carrie Veatch is a coach specializing in helping entrepreneurs achieve time, financial, and location freedom. Drawing from her own experiences living and working abroad, downsizing her life, and building businesses online, Carrie empowers her clients to intentionally create lives and careers that truly honor their unique aspirations and rhythms.

Main Topics Covered:

• What led Carrie to quit her executive nonprofit job and move abroad in her 30s
• The concept of “mini-retirement” and intentional life design
• Navigating family influences, financial planning, and solo adulthood
• The realities and rewards of building an online business while traveling internationally
• The challenges (and joys) of fitting in—abroad and at home
• How travel and entrepreneurship shifted Carrie’s perspective on risk, community, and personal alignment
• Practical insights about downsizing, taxes, U.S. residency, and logistics while living nomadically

Quote from the Episode:

“I believe as an empowered person... it is up to me and it's my responsibility to do something with what is in front of me. Like, I am empowered to get to re-decide, to change course. Right. Like, that's where I really believe we find our power is knowing that life is not happening to me. I get to choose.”—Carrie Veatch

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcome & intros; where Carrie calls home

[00:01:36] Why she left her nonprofit career

[00:03:29] Discovering “mini-retirement” & intentional financial planning

[00:06:41] Growing up and early ideas of adulthood

[00:09:58] Making unconventional choices and social support

[00:13:35] Traveling, soul-searching, and planning the leap to Asia

[00:15:51] Feeling out of place—community, belonging, and redefining home

[00:20:24] The logistics of going nomadic: downsizing, storage, and finances

[00:21:39] Landing in Asia: work, building a business, and changing plans

[00:25:35] From fast travel to building connections in Vietnam

[00:27:32] Running a nomadic business and navigating U.S. logistics

[00:29:25] How travel changed Carrie’s perspective and life today

[00:34:33] Carrie’s coaching business: helping others pursue time, location, and financial freedom

[00:35:07] Denver food recommendation

[00:35:43] Book and treat picks

[00:37:28] Wrap-up and gratitude

Special Offer from the Guest:

Carrie invites listeners to connect with her for a free discovery call to explore time, financial, or location freedom—mention the podcast when you reach out via her website or Instagram. To make sure you have all the information about the guest and the offer be sure to subscribe to the email community at https://www.imperfectadulting.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.

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

about navigating the emotional landscape and practical challenges of raising a child with unique genetics and an autism diagnosis. Jennifer shares her family’s journey from uncertainty and medical crises to building a supportive community and ultimately founding Sarah Rise, an adaptation of the Sunrise Program, to help her daughter flourish. The conversation dives into the realities of parenting through unpredictability, the importance of asking for help, and finding empowerment and self-acceptance along the way.

About the Guest:

Jennifer Celeste Briggs has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore college. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism. Organizing hundreds of hours of therapeutic play time for Sarah, Jenny trained and coordinated multiple volunteers to help Sarah thrive. Jenny's book about this experience is called Watching Sarah Rise: A Journey of Thriving with Autism.

Main Topics Covered:

• Early parenting challenges, medical uncertainty, and journey to a genetic and autism diagnosis
• The emotional impact of developmental differences and letting go of expectations
• The discovery and adaptation of the Sunrise Program (Sarah Rise) for family and community support
• Intentional choices, asking for help, and building a reliable support network
• Balancing the needs of two children and preserving family connections
• Accepting imperfection and finding joy in the parenting journey

Quote from the Episode:

"Look, you can be a totally imperfect parent and you can still make a huge difference for your child, and your child could still need a ton of help... but also, we can just go to the pool and she can swim and she can go for a bike ride... I feel like I can relax and enjoy her and she can enjoy her life and her connections with people." — Jennifer Celeste Briggs

Timestamps: [00:00:08] Meet Jennifer Celeste Briggs & warmup questions

[00:01:51] Introducing Sarah: early challenges, seizures, and medical specialists

[00:07:43] Discovering developmental differences and the emotional rollercoaster

[00:11:38] Grieving, self-blame, and finding support

[00:15:58] Redefining expectations: before and after motherhood

[00:23:03] The strain—leaning into support, family networks, and volunteers

[00:28:03] Discovering and launching the Sarah Rise program

[00:30:44] The path to authorship and sharing the journey

[00:35:45] How to connect with Jennifer & audience special offer

[00:36:59] Final questions: introvert/extrovert, nostalgic music & dream vacation

Special Offer from the Guest:

If you purchase Watching Sarah Rise and contact Jennifer, letting her know you found the book through The Art of Imperfect Adulting, she’ll send you a free signed book plate. www.watchingsarahrise.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.

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Lauren Roche about her transformative experience living as a digital nomad during the pandemic. Lauren is a Washington, D.C.-based wellness advocate, remote work consultant, and host of The Naked Truth with Lauren podcast. Lauren shares her honest reflections on hitting the road at 23, navigating remote work across multiple U.S. cities, the realities of loneliness and workplace stress, and the power of building resilience and community while on the move.

About the Guest:

Lauren Roche is a wellness entrepreneur, transformation coach, and podcast host dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and building supportive communities. With a background in consulting and user experience design, Lauren leverages her own journey—from Maryland to a year of nomadic living—to help others embrace vulnerability, gratitude, and growth. She is the founder of The Naked Truth with Lauren, an omnichannel brand focused on mindfulness, mental health, and manifestation.

Main Topics Covered:

• The impetus and planning behind Lauren’s year as a digital nomad (2021–2022)
• The unique challenges and joys of working remotely while traveling across the U.S.
• Coping with uncertainty, isolation, and career transitions on the road
• How to build connections and maintain mental health during big life changes
• The impact of support systems: family, friends, and virtual therapy
• Lessons in resilience, resourcefulness, and intentional living
• Lauren’s mission to break the stigma around mental health and foster genuine community

Quote from the Episode:

"I built so much resilience with the things that, like, weren't on my bingo card or went sideways or went wrong. And having to be on our toes, moving around a month or two at a time...dealing with stuff that comes up that you're not expecting because you're still living everyday life." — Lauren Roche

Timestamps:

[00:00:14] Lauren calls Washington, D.C. home and shares her downtime rituals

[00:01:20] Launching her digital nomad journey during the Covid-19 pandemic

[00:03:03] Testing out new cities and searching for a long-term fit

[00:05:05] Finding a travel companion and planning the adventure

[00:07:21] Family and friends’ reactions; packing and storage logistics

[00:08:42] Using travel nurse housing platforms for extended stays

[00:10:41] Planning vs. spontaneity; dealing with last-minute housing issues

[00:13:26] Making friends and exploring communities on the road

[00:16:38] Work-life balance, bucket lists, and exploring new cities

[00:18:07] Social and work challenges: isolation and changing teams

[00:23:18] Adapting to new work environments and managing technology needs

[00:24:58] Favorite memories and weekday adventures in different time zones

[00:27:17] West coast exploration, wrap-up, and returning home

[00:28:53] Health on the road: dealing with Covid and finding a dentist

[00:32:58] The essential role of support systems

[00:34:37] Lasting skills and lessons: resilience, mental stamina, and seeking therapy

[00:39:48] Lauren’s current work and details about The Naked Truth with Lauren

Special Offer from the Guest:

Join Lauren’s free weekly Gratitude Newsletter to kick-start your abundance mindset and stay looped in for future events and workshops. Sign up at thenakedtruthwithlauren.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.

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kaitlin Cuevas about navigating the emotional complexities of leaving a family business, finding alignment in work as a mother, and building a new life that honors both ambition and family. Kaitlin shares her journey from working in her father's B2B marketing company to launching her own business aimed at helping moms declutter their physical and mental spaces, all while honoring her values and forging a new path.

About the Guest:

Kaitlin Cuevas is based in Houston, Texas. She is an author, podcast host, and the founder of Think Happy, where she provides coaching and resources to help moms organize their homes and minds for a more joyful, intentional life. Drawing on her experience in both corporate marketing (with Chick-fil-A and a family business) and entrepreneurship, Kaitlin speaks candidly about change, motherhood, and pursuing fulfillment beyond expectations.

Main Topics Covered:

• Growing up in a close-knit family and working in a multi-generational family business
• Realizing her passion for leadership and business ownership, and why she walked away from running the family company
• The emotional weight and complexity of stepping away from her father's "retirement plan"
• Navigating big life changes: shifting from corporate to entrepreneurship after motherhood
• The role of support systems when making major personal and professional decisions
• How starting her own business has impacted her daily life, values, and family relationships
• Kaitlin’s advice for working moms struggling with alignment and career decisions

Quote from the Episode:

“With a lot of risk comes a lot of reward... Every coaching call I get on is an opportunity that I have created for myself. And that just feels so freaking awesome.” – Kaitlin Cuevas

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Kaitlin’s Houston roots & family business introduction

[00:01:07] Transition rituals from busy to downtime

[00:02:53] What is B2B marketing? Defining the family business

[00:04:35] Working in the business as a teen and young adult

[00:07:44] Rethinking her teaching career and pivoting to marketing

[00:08:44] Early jobs at Chick-fil-A and discovering business interests

[00:13:47] Returning to the family business & career crossroads

[00:17:32] Realizing the restaurant industry wasn’t a fit

[00:20:19] The “whisper” of change and writing her first book

[00:23:47] Motherhood, work/life balance, and growing side hustles

[00:25:20] The impact of a parent’s illness and the pressure of being the “retirement plan”

[00:28:14] Why the work only felt right with her dad present

[00:31:46] The pros and cons list, risks, and leaving stability

[00:34:37] Breakthrough conversations and family dynamics

[00:38:51] Building a new business: fulfillment, structure, and uncertainty

[00:40:47] Connect with Kaitlin & the special playroom session offer

Special Offer from the Guest:

Kaitlin is offering listeners a free 30-minute Playroom Optimizer Session (normally $97), a 30-minute call to transform your playroom into a space that works for both you and your kids

Normally $97 Special offer for the listeners of the show: FREE https://think-happy-co.kit.com/playroom

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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 :-)

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Quincy Tessaverne about her powerful journey of coming out with her sexuality after 16 years of marriage. Quincy opens up about the evolution of her self-awareness, navigating family and community responses to her transition, and how the experience shaped her identity as a parent, partner, and person.

About the Guest:

Quincy Tessaverne is a writer, entrepreneur, and podcast host living in Los Angeles. With a background that spans parenting, advocacy, creative projects, and LGBTQ+ community building, Quincy brings humor, honesty, and insight to conversations about identity, relationships, loss, and growth. She is the founder of the new podcast Cocoon After Dark, dedicated to sharing real stories from LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices, especially from a Gen X female perspective.

Main Topics Covered:

• Discovering and understanding sexuality in a conservative 1980s environment
• The experience and challenges of coming out after a long, “traditional” marriage
• Maintaining a supportive co-parenting and friendship dynamic post-divorce
• The societal and family impacts of coming out, including community rejection and finding new belonging
• Supporting children through family transitions and honoring authentic parenting
• The importance of representation and storytelling for the LGBTQ+ community
• Launching Cocoon After Dark: why sharing diverse stories matters

Quote from the Episode:

“It’s important because while so many people are trying to shed labels, I think it’s still important, because it’s still not accepted in so many parts of this country and this world… To see people, regular, normal people—your neighbors, your friends, classmates, parents… LGBTQ people are around you and have just as normal lives as you do. We just love different people than you love.”—Quincy Tessaverne

Timestamps:

[00:00:05] Quincy’s favorite way to transition to downtime

[00:01:52] Early awareness of sexuality & formative experiences

[00:06:36] Navigating changing friendships and family norms in the 1980s

[00:09:59] Marriage, honesty with a partner, and why she chose not to “play both sides”

[00:13:24] The turning point and emotional aspects of coming out

[00:21:25] Impact on daily life, family, and loss of friend group—finding community

[00:27:07] The crucial role of chosen family and supporting children

[00:34:36] Why representation and sharing LGBTQ+ stories still matters

[00:39:03] Launching Cocoon After Dark & how to tune in

[00:43:16] Fun questions—favorite books, sunsets, and music

Connect with the Guest:

• Instagram: @cocoonafterdark
• Podcast: Cocoon After Dark https://cocoonafterdark.buzzsprout.com/ 

Special Offer from the Guest: Be among the first to listen to Cocoon After Dark and share your story! If you are an LGBTQ+ or BIPOC person interested in being interviewed, mention “TAOIA” in your application for priority consideration during the first season (offer valid through December 2025).

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. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guest

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

For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi

Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone

before that I used Kit.

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors