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.

Amy Stone, host of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, wraps up her milestone year with episode #178, reflecting on launching the show in January 2025sharing honest lessons learned as a creator in the world of imperfect adulting and personal growth.

Topics Amy babbles about in this episode include:

• Amy’s heartfelt gratitude for listeners, supporters, and guests—plus a special shoutout to her running buddy Pepe

• Behind-the-scenes recap: Amy shares top episodes (Devon Adrian, Jane Epstein), unexpected growth, and podcast milestones

• Real talk: Honest reflections on guest feedback, bloopers (like the infamous misspelled name and broken Apple Podcasts link), and what it’s really like running every part of the show herself • Behind-the-scenes insights on finding community, guest surveys, and what’s next as she builds her production team.

📧 Join Amy's email list for the real inside scoop: This is where Amy shares what she's working on, where she'll be, and how to work with her www.imperfectadulting.com

🎧 If you're looking for the audio podcast you can find links here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/listen

💭 What’s the biggest imperfect lesson you learned this year? Drop your thoughts below!

#ImperfectAdulting #PodcastBehindTheScenes #RealStories #PersonalGrowth #LifeTransitions #WomenCreators

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Austin, Texas-based Megan Okonsky about the realities of letting go of “dream plans,” adulting without a roadmap, and how turning disappointment into adventure can lead to unexpected personal and professional rewards. Megan shares her journey from college graduation and Peace Corps rejection to two years of solo international travel, eventually making a home and career.

About the Guest:

Megan Okonsky is a professional ghostwriter specializing in memoirs and business books. After pivoting from a degree in public relations and missing out on her Peace Corps dream, Megan spent her early 20s traveling solo through Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America, all while building her writing career. Her work now helps entrepreneurs and everyday heroes share their stories with the world.

Main Topics Covered:

• Facing rejection and disappointment after college graduation
• Applying to the Peace Corps and adapting when plans don’t work out
• Solo travel: Couchsurfing, working abroad, and building resourcefulness
• Profound shifts that come with life on the road—and choosing to come home
• Starting a freelance writing career on Upwork, turning travel experiences into professional growth
• The realities and safety considerations of solo travel, especially for women
• How Megan became a ghostwriter, what ghostwriting involves, and why sharing stories matters
• The importance of community, support systems, and self-discovery in early adulthood

Quote from the Episode:

“I decided after two years that I didn’t want to do all of this alone anymore. … I wanted a community. I wanted people to share the memories with.” — Megan Okonsky

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & intros; Megan’s home base and holiday travel talk

[00:03:33] Megan’s Peace Corps dream—where it came from

[00:06:53] Navigating college and career indecision

[00:12:29] Peace Corps rejection and grappling with an uncertain future

[00:18:34] How travel became the new plan—finances, flights, and backpacking

[00:24:44] Summer trip turns into two years abroad: couchsurfing, hostels, and working

[00:34:58] Moving home, searching for community, and planning for the future

[00:36:37] Solo travel safety, challenges, and lessons learned

[00:45:32] Megan’s ghostwriting career—what she does and who she helps

[00:49:56] Lightning round: favorite meal, book recommendation, and running shoes

Special Offer from the Guest:

Megan is offering a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to podcast listeners interested in memoir or business ghostwriting. Mention TAOIA when you book via her website at https://www.meganokonsky.com for priority scheduling.

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...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Los Angeles- based Missy Toy Ozeas about the transformative journey from people-pleasing and hiding one’s true self to embracing intuition and stepping fully into a new life purpose. Missy shares her story of leaving a decades-long television career after a powerful intuitive message, the challenges of honoring inner guidance after a lifetime of masking, and how synchronistic events shaped her new path as a healer helping others break through limiting beliefs.

About the Guest:

Missy Toy Ozeas is a highly skilled energy healer and intuitive channel dedicated to helping visionary leaders and change-makers step into their full power by releasing limiting beliefs, trapped emotions, and generational patterns.

As an intuitive guide with certifications in the Emotion Code, Body Code, Belief Code, spiritual life coaching and more, Missy has led thousands of sessions helping people live the lives they’ve always dreamed of. Her clients include wellness coaches, entrepreneurs, artists, Hollywood creatives and more.

Main Topics Covered:

• Navigating midlife transitions—career burnout, empty nesting, and “the shoulds” of adulthood
• Hearing an intuitive message and unraveling lifelong patterns of people-pleasing and masking
• The role of meditation and self-inquiry in discovering one’s true path
• Overcoming the fear of judgment from family and community
• What energy healing really means—from a practical and scientific perspective
• Understanding synchronicity and following signs toward purposeful change
• Working with beliefs, intuition, and inherited energy to achieve breakthroughs
• The challenges and gifts of coming out as an intuitive and healer after a conventional upbringing

Quote from the Episode: "I think that we often ignore it’s like the little itch, that little thing. Because...the universe is always wanting us to expand and to grow. I mean, life is about growing and expanding. And if we’re not doing that, it will start small, like, hey, Missy, you know, check something else out...But if I’m not listening, if I’m not taking action, it’s going to get louder and it’s going to get louder." — Missy Toy Ozeas

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Welcoming Missy Toy Ozeas & where she calls home

[00:00:46] The “shoulds” and the pressures of the holiday season

[00:01:47] Hearing the voice: “You are a healer”

[00:04:49] How intuition showed up—clairvoyance, not clairaudience

[00:05:27] What life looked like before the shift—career in TV, motherhood

[00:07:54] Childhood dreams & hiding parts of her identity

[00:12:23] Growing up Chinese American in a white neighborhood; learning to mask

[00:18:50] The impact of hearing the voice and what changed next

[00:21:25] Synchronicities & finding her first energy healing teacher

[00:22:50] What is an energy healer? Explaining energy fields, beliefs, and her work

[00:27:19] Client stories about inherited beliefs and breakthroughs

[00:28:01] The reaction from family, friends, and community

[00:29:58] What Missy does today & ways to connect

[00:31:55] Rapid fire: favorite food, moon colonies, and driving

[00:33:59] Closing

Special Offer from the Guest:

Unlocking Abundance - $190. Unlocking Abundance is a self-paced program that helps you release hidden energetic blocks and rewire limiting beliefs so you can confidently attract more wealth, freedom, and joy into your life. For your listeners I'm offering 50% off the price of the program. (It will be $95 with the discount.) Use the code IMPERFECT at checkout. Here is the direct link to the Unlocking Abundance sales page: https://www.missyenergyhealing.com/UnlockingAbundance

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Texas-based Claudette Fette about raising her son Aaron through schizoaffective disorder, the complexities of finding proper support, and the painful realities of imperfect systems and desperate decisions. This frank, compassionate conversation explores multi-generational trauma, the struggle for diagnosis, and the human side of surviving—and learning from—the unexpected path of parenting a child with serious mental illness.

About the Guest:

Claudette Fette is an occupational therapist, university lecturer, and lived-experience mental health advocate based in North Texas. After decades spent navigating systems for her son Aaron, Claudette became committed to sharing their story and promoting evidence-based approaches in both family and school settings. She is co-author of "No Saints Here: A Cautionary Tale of Mental Health, Illness and the Cost of Ignorance in the Lone Star State," a memoir written with Aaron chronicling their struggles, lessons, and hope.

Quote from the Episode:

"Guilt is not as useful. So if it does something, if it helps motivate me to get Aaron's story out there and talk about things in public that I wouldn't otherwise want to have talked about, then it is useful. If it doesn't motivate something that helps, can you really afford it?" — Claudette Fette

Main Topics Covered:

• Raising a child with schizoaffective disorder and multi-layered trauma
• How lack of resources and inadequate systems lead families to extreme decisions
• The impact of early childhood adversity, school struggles, and misdiagnosis
• Why behavioral approaches can be harmful when mistaken for mental illness
• The realities of abusive residential treatment programs and lost trust
• The power of wraparound services, restorative justice, and strength-based models
• Navigating judgment, isolation, and the need for supportive family networks
• Lessons for advocacy, compassion, and building mental health literacy

Timestamps:

[00:00:07] Welcome and Claudette’s home in North Texas

[00:01:10] Holiday challenges for big families

[00:02:07] Aaron’s story: early adversity, childhood hallucinations, and lack of parental readiness

[00:06:01] Schizoaffective disorder diagnosis and unique challenges in school

[00:16:31] Resource scarcity and "moving for specialized care"

[00:17:20] Early behavioral challenges vs. underlying mental illness

[00:25:04] Misdiagnosis and medical pathways: ADHD to acute residential care

[00:31:51] Straight—abusive institutional “treatment” and the aftermath

[00:35:16] Aaron living on the streets and “hopping trains”

[00:41:23] Magical thinking: what would have helped

[00:47:15] Isolation, judgment, and coping as a parent

[00:50:49] Sharing Aaron and Claudette’s story through their book

[00:58:35] Claudette’s personal life, entertainment, and ideal vacation

Special Offer from the Guest:

Claudette invites listeners to explore her and Aaron’s book, "No Saints Here," offering authentic, practical insight into family mental health. For podcast listeners, she extends an offer to connect and share resources, stories, and support. Order on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/a/87491/9781965766064

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...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Chicago-based Valerie Friedlander about how intentional choices, including something as small as changing the music you listen to, can lead to major life shifts. Valerie opens up about her journey from family dynamics shaped by addiction, to her self-awareness breakthroughs in college, and her long-standing love affair with music as a tool for emotional processing and personal growth.

About the Guest:

Valerie Friedlander is a certified life coach, podcast host of Mindset Unlimited, and lifelong Chicagoan with deep roots in music, creativity, and self-development. Valerie is passionate about supporting women through life and career transitions, helping them unpack old patterns and create empowered, intentional lives. She offers coaching, workshops, and a powerful Energy Leadership Index assessment.

Main Topics Covered:

• Valerie’s roots in Chicago and her family’s musical legacy.
• The ripple effect of growing up in a family impacted by addiction and recovery.
• Why music is both an emotional touchstone and a tool for moving through difficult feelings.
• Valerie’s “epiphany moment” realizing she could make different choices about the soundtrack of her life—and what that symbolized for bigger life changes.
• The importance of intentionality, pausing before responding, and recognizing where we do (and don’t) have agency.
• Navigating relationships, boundaries, and self-awareness from college through adulthood.
• Playlists, parenting, technology, and evolving ways to connect with others.
• The distinction between self-reflection for growth and unhelpful self-judgment about past choices.
• How Valerie brings these insights to her coaching practice.

Quote from the Episode:

“I can choose what I resonate with and what serves me... I can choose not to stay there. I can choose to do things that allow me more room in my experience.” — Valerie Friedlander

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Introductions, Chicago roots, and indigenous land acknowledgments

[00:02:17] Valerie's love of celebrating with food and cake-making adventures

[00:04:03] How music—and Amy Mann’s “Magnolia” soundtrack—became the soundtrack to a pivotal life shift

[00:13:48] College, codependency, family recovery, and the toolbox of self-help

[00:20:50] The power of self-awareness and talking it out loud

[00:32:38] Navigating relationships with pause, consent, and intention

[00:40:27] Curating music, playlists, and the power of intentional emotional shifts

[00:44:27] Self-reflection, choices, and patterns across adulting

[00:55:24] Valerie’s coaching philosophy and how to connect

[00:57:38] Final fun questions: movement, research, and connection styles

Special Offer from the Guest:

The Energy Leadership™ Index (ELI) Assessment. Normally $375. Use the code IMPERFECT for 60% off. https://valeriefriedlander.com/AdultingELI

Note from the show: Guest offers are almost always limited-time and limited quantity. If you have any trouble redeeming the offer please reach out directly to the guest for support.

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 have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The...