In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Laura Ericson about the bold journey of leaving a secure career to build an adventurous life and business around world travel. From her base in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (when she's actually home!), Laura details her transformation from director at a technical college to the founder of a thriving group travel company, designing immersive cultural experiences for curious adults. Listeners will walk away inspired by Laura’s candid perspective on divorce, navigating uncertainty, and the practicalities (and emotion) of starting over to pursue a more aligned and exciting life.

About Laura Ericson:

Laura Ericson is the founder of Laura Ericson Group Trips, a boutique travel company specializing in transformational experiences to off-the-beaten-path destinations like Morocco, India, Kenya, and Cuba. After spending 14 years in higher education leadership, she made the leap to entrepreneurship at 34, turning her post-divorce wanderlust into a business that has taken over 230 travelers to 9 countries. Laura believes in "Type 2 Fun"—those experiences that might suck in the moment but become your best stories later—and is passionate about responsible travel that gives back to local communities. She lives in Wisconsin (yes, really) and has a concerning habit of getting travel tattoos in foreign countries despite swearing she won't after each one.

Main Topics Covered:

• Rethinking New Year’s resolutions: why personal growth isn’t tied to the calendar.
• The realities and misconceptions of technical colleges vs. four-year universities—and the impact on careers and debt.
• How divorce, solo travel, and the pandemic sparked Laura’s business transformation.
• Recognizing when you’re “playing it safe” in life—and how to awaken your adventurous spirit.
• The emotional process of leaving a secure job for entrepreneurial uncertainty.
• Overcoming fear: taking real steps (not just dreaming) toward career change.
• Building community and belonging for solo travelers craving authentic, meaningful adventure.
• Tangible travel hacks for life on the road—from luggage scales to navigating lost bags.

Quote from the Episode: “A lot of people who get divorced, like, see it as the end of their life. I see it as the end of your life as you know it and the opportunity to start over.” — Laura Ericson

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & Laura’s rare appearance at home in Eau Claire, WI

[00:00:35] New Year’s resolutions and perpetual goal-setting

[00:02:29] Laura’s 14-year career in higher education and the decision to leave

[00:03:42] The gap between studying and career path; value of technical college

[00:13:21] Major life change: divorce, personal transition, and the pandemic’s impact

[00:18:38] Rediscovering adventure through solo travel—and launching a group travel business

[00:33:08] The logistics and fear of quitting a stable job

[00:35:03] The power of the “decision moment” in career change

[00:41:20] Starting a business with nothing but a passion for travel

[00:46:36] What Laura Ericson Group Trips is—and who it serves

[00:49:29] Favorite travel hacks, books, podcasts, and travel mishaps

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. 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...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Lesley Jones about the journey of ditching alcohol and embracing sobriety without waiting for a traditional "rock bottom." Lesley offers candid insights on redefining what it means to have a problem with drinking, the invisible emotional battles behind high-functioning adulthood, and how choosing sobriety has transformed her sense of peace and purpose. The episode provides real strategies for navigating social situations as a non-drinker and explores the power of community support, including Lesley's own work building connections through storytelling.

About Lesley Jones: Lesley Jones lives in Dayton, Ohio where she is a wife, mother or 3, writer and entrepreneur. She filled up with cocktails for a very long time, and now she fills up with connection. Lesley is the founder of Traveling Pendants, a jewelry-plus-tech company built on the belief that no one should feel alone in their journey. What began as a simple pendant passed among family members during times of illness has grown into a patent-pending digital storytelling platform where every pendant holds real stories of strength, resilience, and connection. Each time a pendant is worn and shared, its story log grows—creating a living chain of human connection.

Main Topics Covered:

• Redefining "rock bottom" and why waiting for loss is a misconception in recovery.
• The role of New Year's resolutions and personal motivation in lasting change.
• Recognizing the emotional and mental weight of addiction—even in high-functioning lives.
• Sober curiosity, societal judgments, and shifting cultural norms around drinking.
• Strategies for handling anxiety and stress without substances.
• Navigating social situations and relationships while staying alcohol-free.
• The importance of support communities, connection, and sharing your story.
• Lesley’s entrepreneurial journey: creating Traveling Pendants to foster strength and connection.

Quote from the Episode: "I always say quit before you lose because I hate losing. So I did the quitting before I did the losing." — Lesley Jones

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcome & Lesley’s Ohio roots [00:00:38] New Year's resolutions and how they sparked Lesley's sobriety journey [00:01:53] Discussing the January cultural “reset” and indulgence cycles [00:03:09] Early relationship with alcohol, experimenting with sobriety, and family context [00:05:19] Breaking down the “rock bottom” myth and personal definitions of loss [00:07:05] Misconceptions that keep people stuck and the invisible cost of shame [00:08:38] Making the choice before crisis—internal motivation versus societal expectation [00:10:27] The danger of comparing drinking habits, self-negotiation, and feeling out of control [00:13:01] The mental energy devoted to planning and thinking about drinking [00:14:01] Parallels between food noise, invisible struggles, and substance habits [00:16:07] Why early change leads to easier recovery (“stage zero” analogy) [00:17:46] Why some people with extensive losses may still struggle to quit [00:19:51] Lesley’s turning point: community support and the “not yet” lesson [00:22:45] Reframing sobriety support as a positive group experience [00:25:11] Practical strategies for sober socializing and beverage choices [00:27:43] How sobriety transformed Lesley’s inner life, anxiety, and relationships [00:31:10] Connection between quitting drinking and reduced anxiety [00:33:27] Compassion, motivation, and the underlying drivers of addiction [00:34:45] Shame, invisible struggles, and the cost of high-functioning addiction [00:36:17] Lesley’s vulnerable story of using alcohol to cope with anxiety as a teen athlete [00:40:22] About Traveling Pendants: fostering connection and story-sharing for strength [00:42:03] Special offer for listeners: Traveling Pendants discount [00:43:33] Rapid...

Happy New Year from your host, Amy Stone.

This is a short introduction to season 2 of The Art of Imperfect Adulting.

The purpose of this new short audio trailer is to wake up your podcast feed and let the robots know that new episodes are coming soon. Yay for technology!

The mission of the show as we begin 2026 is to amplify voices of individual experience.

Fresh and fun interviews coming up next.