It was November 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. We were on separate coasts when we each took a big, deep breath, flipped on our mics, and pressed record. Little did we know when we created that first episode of this podcast, that it would become an amazing journey; a place for deep conversations, shared wisdom, and the beauty of embracing life’s messy, magical moments.

Now, after 108 episodes, we are filled with gratitude - for each other, and the partnership and friendship that have carried us through; for our incredible guests, who generously shared their stories and insights; and most of all, for you, our listeners … your support, curiosity, and willingness to explore this journey with us have meant the world.

But for now, it’s time to take a bit of a sabbatical. This isn’t goodbye, just a chance to step back, recharge, and reflect. So, instead of once again hitting record, we’re taking another deep breath, embracing the unknown, and trusting in what comes next.

In this episode, we reflect on where we’ve been, what a sabbatical is all about and why we think you should grab a friend and take a leap into something unexpected.

With love and so much gratitude, we’ll see you soon.

A bridge does more than just connect two points; it spans a gap, carries weight, and withstands tension.

In this episode of The Perfectly Imperfect Journey, we’re joined by the incredible Carrington Jackson, a woman who has spent her life embodying the role of the bridge in profound ways.

Carrington was the bridge that connected her mother and her father’s family, opening up a relationship that had once been impossible. She is the bridge that brings people to their yoga mats - not just to move, but to learn, to heal, and to awaken. And she is the bridge in the fight for racial justice, using her voice, her presence, and her unwavering commitment to equity to create real, lasting change.

This conversation is about connection, courage, and transformation. It’s about the willingness to step into uncomfortable spaces, to hold the tension between worlds, and to become the link that allows others to cross over into new ways of seeing, being, and leading.

Bio:

For nearly 30 years, Carrington’s study of yoga has been a diverse journey through the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components of the practice. Carrington began teaching in 2004 and is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an e-RYT 500. Her classes are a canvas of practice, prayer and presence, intertwined with messages of spirit, activism and social responsibility. On a physical level, her teaching is centered on bringing people to a deeper knowing and acceptance of themselves. On a soulful level, the purpose of her teaching is to correlate yoga on and off the mat… ultimately paving the way from the I to the WE.

She currently serves both as a guest instructor for many teacher training programs throughout the country and as a mentor to yoga teachers around the world. Alongside her yoga teaching practice, Carrington is a global retreat leader, passionate human rights activist, community organizer and movement chaplain. Having gratefully learned from many teachers over the years, a few teachers that have greatly influenced her personal and teaching practices are Seane Corn, Rev angel KYODO williams, Hala Khouri, Carolyn Myss and of course the greatest teacher of all… Life. Read more about her here: carringtonjacksonyoga.com

Link to “I Am From” poem: https://www.wsuu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/I_Am_From_Poem(2).pdf

In this week’s episode we sit down with Margaret Juhae Lee, author of Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, and explore what it truly means to come home—to a place, to a history, and to oneself. Margaret’s journey began as an exploration of her grandfather’s past, but along the way, it became something much deeper: a reclamation of identity, heritage, and belonging.

Originally conceived as a journalistic exploration, her book evolved into something far more personal. Margaret shares how tracing her ancestry helped her understand where she comes from, and is a gift for her children, giving them a foundation that honors the past while making space for the future.

This conversation is about finding home within ourselves, embracing the stories that shape us, and carrying them forward with intention.

Bio:

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, which was published in 2024. A former editor at The Nation magazine, she received a Bunting Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korea Foundation. She attended the Tin House and Writer’s Hotel writing workshops and was awarded residences at Ragdale, Mesa Refuge, Anderson Center and the Mineral School. Her articles have been published in The Nation, Newsday, Elle, ARTnews, Writer's Digest and The Rumpus. She lives in Oakland with her family and Brownie, a rescue dog from Korea.

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn and you’re forced to redefine everything? Chris Waddell was a competitive skier in college when a devastating accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Less than a year later, he was back on the mountain—this time as a monoskier—beginning a journey that would make him the most decorated male mono-skier in U.S. history. But Chris’s story isn’t just about athletic triumph; it’s about the reinvention that happens when you decide to show up fully for your own life.

In this episode, Chris shares how recovery was just the first step in his healing journey. That accident and his resilience took him places he never imagined: from the Paralympics podium to being a published author and from the ski slopes to a soap opera set. He reminds us that our best self isn’t a fixed point—it is who we become in response to life’s hardest moments. This conversation is about grit, possibility, and the magic of saying yes to the unexpected.

Bio

Chris Waddell’s 12 Paralympic skiing medals are more than any man in US history. He’s a Hall of Famer, a World Champion in wheelchair track, and the first “nearly unassisted” paraplegic to summit 19,340-foot Mt Kilimanjaro. His ski popped off competing in college, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. 362 days later, Chris monoskied and soon became the fastest in the world. The Dalai Lama honored him as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion,” Skiing Magazine dubbed him one of 25 Greatest Skiers in North America and People Magazine named him one of “The 50 Most Beautiful People.”

https://chriswaddellinc.com/

Amber Melanie Smith discovered her passion for giving back at a young age, which led to the creation of a nonprofit organization that mobilized over 50,000 volunteers to make a difference in their communities. While deeply committed to this mission, Amber began to feel the weight of burnout. It wasn’t until she took a step back that she realized she was no longer connected to the work that truly lit her up.

This episode explores what it means to follow your passion, even when it requires making tough decisions, and the importance of redefining success on your own terms.

Bio:

Amber Melanie Smith is a speaker, award-winning nonprofit founder, social entrepreneur, and creator of the Changemaker Accelerator. Through a growing online community of changemakers, speaking, and educational content, Amber helps people create their roadmap to a life and career that creates positive social change. In college, Amber took off on a 3 month cross-country road trip with her best friend to volunteer in over 20 states. When she returned home, she launched Activate Good, a nonprofit that has since mobilized over 50,000 volunteers to help hundreds of causes. Amber’s writing about social impact, service, and leadership has appeared in Fast Company, the Philanthropy Journal, and other media. In 2017, Amber was appointed a commissioner on the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service by NC Governor Roy Cooper. In 2019, Amber launched a YouTube channel to help educate people on starting and growing a successful nonprofit organization or social enterprise, which has since reached 70,000 changemakers around the world.

Website: https://ambermelaniesmith.com/

In this heartfelt and transformative episode of The Perfectly Imperfect Journey, the tables turn as Sherry Essig steps into the spotlight—not as interviewer, but as the guest. Sherry opens her heart to share the story behind the person you regularly hear as co-host.

From grappling with feelings of not belonging to the quiet moments of realization that changed her life, Sherry takes us on her journey of transformation. It’s a story of self-discovery, of learning to trust her instincts, and of uncovering the life she was meant to lead.

Through her vulnerability and wisdom, Sherry reminds us that life isn’t about grand gestures or perfect plans—it’s about making one intentional choice at a time. It’s about courageously stepping toward what feels right, even when it’s hard.

This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own path and to consider: Who are you meant to be? Sherry reminds us the sum of all of our experiences lead us through our perfectly imperfect journey in life. Join us for a conversation that is equal parts raw, hopeful, and inspiring—just like Sherry herself.

Bio

Sherry Essig is an executive and life coach and the founder of Flow Dynamix, where she helps clients courageously stop settling for less than success and happiness — because the two are not mutually exclusive. She believes that your professional career and personal life are two interconnected parts of the whole that is you: personal development is professional development.

After 15 years in public accounting and corporate roles, Sherry launched Flow Dynamix in 1994. She holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential, a CPA license (inactive), and is an accredited Enneagram Practitioner through Integrative 9 Enneagram Solutions.

Blending deep business expertise with coaching techniques, yoga principles, positive psychology, and the transformative power of the Enneagram — sprinkled with a dash of humor — Sherry equips her clients to embrace growth, resilience, and boldness. Her work empowers them to expand their awareness and create a life where success and happiness thrive together.

Website: www.flow-dynamix.com

For the past four years, Anne Robie has been a steady voice in the co-host seat. But today, she steps into the spotlight as our guest in this deeply personal and inspiring episode.

Anne shares how an unexpected, life-altering event left her reeling—and how it became the catalyst for a profound journey of self-discovery. With vulnerability as her guide, Anne shed the armor she had carried for years and began moving through life as her true, authentic self — both personally and as a leader in the corporate world.

In this conversation, Anne opens up about the freedom she found in letting go of the need to appear like she always had it together. She reflects on the power of leading with courage, empathy, and self-awareness, and what it truly means to embrace authenticity in leadership and life.

This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own journey—on what you might need to let go of to reveal your truest and most impactful self. It's a heart-opening dialogue filled with wisdom, humor, and unfiltered truth.

Bio

Anne Robie: Consultant | Speaker | Spiritual Pragmatist

Anne is a speaker, consultant, and writer currently working on her first book about authentic leadership. With over 25 years of Human Resources experience, Anne combines her deep understanding of mindfulness, authenticity, and the human side of business to craft compelling narratives that inspire and educate.

Anne draws from her extensive expertise in leadership, team dynamics and living life as a human on this planet. She explores themes such as:

• Authenticity
• Vulnerability
• Spirituality and leadership
• And, occasionally,, whatever else is on her mind

Anne’s teachings center on mindfulness, authenticity, and connecting with people in meaningful ways. Her passion for cultivating genuine connections and her ability to engage audiences on a profound level make her a unique and impactful voice in leadership and personal development.