In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kristina Heaugh-Avritt about the complexities of school choice, navigating "cracks in the system" of public education, and redefining joyful, values-based learning at home. Kristina, based in Southern Oregon, brings nearly three decades of classroom experience and her perspective as a special needs parent to the conversation. Together, they dive deep into teacher burnout, the shifting landscape of education, and the empowering journey of supporting alternative learning paths for families.

Kristina Heagh-Avritt is the founder of Vibrant Family Education and the co-host of the Bringing Education Home podcast. After over 30 years in education, she now guides parents to create joyful, connected, values-based learning at home. She is dedicated to helping families raise happy, healthy, and successful children who love to learn and feel deeply supported.

Main Topics Covered:

1. The evolving realities and challenges within public school systems, including “teaching to the test” and loss of teacher autonomy
2. How administrative shifts and tech demands have impacted both teachers and families, especially after the pandemic
3. The crucial role of parent involvement and how modern schools have unintentionally created barriers to collaboration
4. Navigating burnout as an educator: emotional shifts, leaving legacy workplaces, and the hard decision to step away
5. The difference between replicating traditional schooling at home versus designing custom home education experiences
6. Demystifying alternative education: homeschooling, unschooling, road schooling, and world schooling—and how to choose the right fit
7. Addressing family values, holistic learning, and handling fears about “missing something” in home-based education
8. How Kristina supports parents through 1:1 coaching, building accountability, routines, and personally tailored plans

Quote from the Episode: “I think a lot of it had to do with helping other people, you know, and just knowing that the children I could impact and help grow and change and be confident and stuff. When I started school, I wasn't very confident, and I grew into my confidence and my capabilities with great teachers. … When you're watching, watching a little kid and they finally get something, their eyes pop open, and you can almost literally see that little cartoon bubble, light bulb above their head going, I got it right.” — Kristina Heaugh-Avritt

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & intros; Kristina shares her Oregon roots [00:01:20] Snow days: Why Kristina prefers evening walks over outdoor sports [00:02:04] Kristina’s dual perspective—teacher and special needs parent [00:03:06] Why second and third grades are a “sweet spot” for growth [00:04:06] Teaching all subjects except PE, music, and library [00:04:27] Big district restructuring: Shifts, chaos, and adapting [00:05:16] Being an academic “bookworm” and loving school childhood [00:06:01] Mrs. Reynolds: The teacher who inspired Kristina’s journey [00:06:58] Motivation for teaching: Helping kids gain confidence [00:08:13] Hitting limits—“loving kids through the cracks in the system” [00:09:00] From connection to burnout: Policy, tests, and admin changes [00:11:07] Curriculum before “teaching to the test”—what flexibility looked like [00:12:39] What...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Emily Paulsen about the realities of being child free by choice. Emily joins from Chicago, Illinois.The audience will gain clarity on how to talk about family planning (or the lack thereof) with sensitivity, learn about the shifting landscape for Gen Z and Millennials, and explore the sometimes unseen ripple effects of opting out of parenthood.

About Emily Paulsen: Emily Paulsen is an award-winning entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way.

Main Topics Covered:

1. The evolving cultural conversation and data on living child free, including global trends and generational differences.
2. Why representation matters—how seeing alternative life paths enables true personal choice, and the impact of visibility in media, workplaces, and families.
3. Navigating family and friend reactions when "coming out" as child free, and why supportive communities make a difference.
4. Workplace bias, caregiving double standards, and the ripple effects of assumptions about who will (or won’t) have children.
5. The pressure, pain points, and social judgments embedded in conversations around parenthood—and what to say (or not say) to someone who is child free.
6. How internal clarity and confidence develop over time, and the importance of talking about personal decisions openly but respectfully.
7. The nuanced differences between being child free by choice and by circumstance, with discussion about language, labels, and surveys.
8. The value of parallel life paths and rejecting the idea that one way of "adulting" is better than another.

Quote from the Episode: "My goal is for women, for all people really, to understand themselves well enough to make a choice that's right for them. And I think that choice becomes a lot more fair when you see both sides of that decision." — Emily Paulsen

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Amy welcomes Emily; Chicago’s winter wonderland; favorite winter activities

[00:01:57] Child free by choice: Amy introduces the topic; Emily shares her passion for representation

[00:02:30] Data and trends: declining birth rates, international comparisons, and generational shifts

[00:04:23] Survey limitations: why it’s hard to research people’s choices and the categories of child free, childless, and more

[00:08:57] Emily’s personal story: When she realized motherhood wasn’t for her, and how family scripts shape our view of adulthood

[00:14:12] Barbie, representation, and the power of seeing alternatives in childhood play

[00:15:04] Why it’s not about convincing others to be child free, but about informed, personal decision

[00:17:58] The workplace: maternity leave, double standards, and caring for aging parents

[00:20:05] The internal journey: relief, “awakening,” and the complexities of telling others about being child free

[00:24:24] Sensitivity and conversations: Recognizing that choices about family are deeply...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Joanne Gates about navigating motherhood, career ambition, and the realities of working in the male-dominated tech industry. Joanne, joining from Scottsdale, Arizona, recounts her move from Boston to Seattle, her nearly 30-year career at Microsoft, and the pivotal choices she made as both a mom and a leader. Listeners will discover how Joanne carved out success in corporate America, confronted workplace bias, and now channels her expertise into coaching women to thrive at work and at home.

About Joanne Gates:

Joanne Gates is a certified executive life coach who helps professional women in tech and male-dominated industries unlock their career potential with clarity, confidence, and purpose. After a 30-year career at Microsoft—rising from entry-level to executive—Joanne now empowers women to overcome imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, and perfectionism while building authentic leadership presence. She’s especially known for helping women get promoted into senior leadership roles and then kick ass once they’re there—navigating high-stakes environments with emotional intelligence, strategic influence, and unapologetic power. Joanne blends deep empathy with sharp business acumen to help her clients lead boldly, drive impact, and rewrite the rules of leadership.

Main Topics Covered:

1. The life-altering impact of motherhood on career paths, especially for women in tech and male-dominated corporate environments.
2. Facing and overcoming gender bias and assumptions about working mothers in the workplace.
3. The challenges and family dynamics of being the primary breadwinner and having a stay-at-home dad partner in the late '90s and early 2000s.
4. Navigating pivotal career decisions, missed opportunities, and the trade-offs of prioritizing family vs. pursuing senior leadership.
5. Advocating for oneself in corporate hierarchies, especially when faced with unfair evaluations or lack of managerial support.
6. The evolution (and limitations) of maternity leave policies and the importance of workplace systems that genuinely support parents.
7. Joanne’s transition from a senior leader at Microsoft to executive and life coaching for women, with a focus on helping others define and achieve their own success.
8. Practical tips for protecting your career trajectory, handling performance reviews, and knowing when (and how) to escalate workplace concerns.

Quote from the Episode:

"I felt like I had to, like, shake him by the shoulders… How many guys have to have this conversation? That just pisses me off. We have to because, obviously, it’s pretty apparent that we’re having a child." — Joanne Gates

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcome, Joanne’s location, and adjusting to life in the desert [00:00:46] Childhood winter activities and chasing the sun [00:01:37] Introducing today’s topic: balancing motherhood and career [00:02:29] On generational change—and how much (or little) has shifted for working women [00:03:19] The Covid reset and women leaving corporate roles; Joanne’s new passion for helping women succeed [00:04:24] Joanne’s career start, move to Microsoft in the dot-com era [00:07:21] Early influences, engineering in college, and professional aspirations in a male-driven world [00:11:19] On early career choices, family...