The Art Of Imperfect Adulting

Acerca de The Art Of Imperfect Adulting

The Art of Imperfect Adulting is a podcast and streaming YouTube show for anyone who has ever looked at their own face peering back at them from a Zoom screen and thought: how did I get here, and what do I want to do next? This show is for you if life has taken a turn you didn't plan for and you're still working out what it means. Maybe it's a divorce that rewrote the story you thought you were living, or a health struggle including chronic illness, weight changes, or menopause that shifted everything. It could be a rapid unplanned professional shift like getting fired, laid off, or finally admitting that the corporate grind isn't compatible with the life you actually want. Perhaps your insomnia comes from worrying that you chose the wrong degree, didn't get the job, or that the path you were so sure about went somewhere you didn't intend. Or maybe you feel a sense of drowning in a caregiving season that is quietly consuming you like quicksand, whether you're showing up for a parent, a child, a spouse, or a sibling. It could be a sneaky adulting decision that feels like it should be easier, like choosing a school or curriculum for your kids that is keeping you up at night. Perhaps your Google search history is full of questions about how to move to a place that finally feels more like you, or how to stop putting down roots altogether and see what a life in motion actually looks like. If you've ever felt behind, off-script, or quietly wondering if you're the only one who finds this hard, you're not. This show exists to give you proof that change is possible, to be company for your journey, and offer the quiet relief that comes with being connected to like-minded people. We all know that real life doesn't come with an instruction manual. We also know that our real lives don't match the highlight reels we see on the red carpet or in our social media feeds. In a world where billions of bits of manufactured and altered information deluge us every day, the raw and honest stories of, “how did she do that?” are a welcome breath of fresh air. Each episode features honest conversations with guests sharing the choices and changes that shaped who they became, from unconventional career moves and unexpected reinventions to rebuilding after loss and choosing happiness on their own terms. These are not pitch decks, academic hypotheticals, or celebrity biopics. These are real accounts from real people who've been in the middle of it and stopped to share what they wish somebody had told them when they needed it most. What listeners come away with isn't a checklist, a hack or even a strategy. It's something harder to manufacture: a feeling that you’re not alone, a little more confidence in your own choices, and the quiet sense of belonging that comes from hearing someone else say out loud what you've been thinking. Your host is Amy Stone, a Gen X woman who knows what it means to be overlooked, underestimated, surprised by the impact of both small decisions and sudden life shifts, and expected to just figure it out. It turns out that might be exactly the right training for hosting a show about choices and change. She brings warmth, zero pretense, and a talent for drawing out the quiet turning points that rarely make it into anyone's highlight reel. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to join the email community at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

Grief and Golf as a Path to Healing with Kym Coco

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 [https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support] In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kym Coco about the intersection of grief, transformation, and the healing power of play through golf. Joining from the serene Sierra Nevadas, north of Lake Tahoe, Kym shares her deeply personal journey of losing her husband and how embarking on an ambitious goal to play 100 new golf courses as a way to help her navigate loss and redefine her future. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of the non-linear path of grief, the importance of intentional structure, and how embracing new experiences can foster both healing and growth. About Kym Coco: Kym Coco is an author, nature-loving yogi, and dog mama of two Staffies. She holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Kinesiology, and two 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificates. Both topics were woven into the classes she taught at California State University, Chico, and the workshops she taught around the country with her late husband, Stephen Thompson. Coco now shares powerful tools for well-being through her latest book “Miracle on the Mountainside” and her blog, Swagtail.com. When she’s not at her residence in the Sierra Nevada mountains, she’s on the hunt for great golf courses and scenic vistas in her Sprinter Van. Main Topics Covered: * Innovative strategies for navigating grief, including using structure and play to process loss and rediscover joy. * The story behind Kym’s 100 new golf courses challenge—a personal framework to honor her late husband and rebuild her sense of self. * How emotional kinesiology shaped Kym’s partnership, her husband’s legacy, and her approach to healing. * The importance of creating new experiences to avoid emotional landmines tied to familiar places and memories. * Lessons learned about flexibility, letting goals evolve, and celebrating progress rather than just completion. * The significance of allowing oneself to feel the full emotional arc of grief and the value of slowing down during major life transitions. * Harnessing community, connection, and playfulness as tools for recovery and personal evolution. * Turning personal projects into creative expressions—Kym’s journey from caregiving to authoring memoirs and new resources for others. Timestamps: [00:00:04] Show intro and Amy’s welcome; Kym’s location in the Sierra Nevadas [00:01:09] Finding peace and connection to nature after loss [00:02:04] Introducing the dual topics of grief and golf in Kym’s story [00:03:33] Meeting Steve, their background in (emotional) kinesiology, and building a life together [00:04:42] Steve’s advice: embrace structure after loss; the origins of the 100 golf course challenge [00:05:53] Emotional kinesiology explained and setting the stage for Kym’s healing journey [00:06:10] Steve’s motorcycle accident, lifelong health struggles, and a pivotal hospitalization [00:07:31] Open conversations about end-of-life, illness, and preparing for grief [00:08:22] Why 100 new golf courses? Crafting a framework for recovery [00:09:10] Early attempts at golf after Steve’s death, emotional setbacks, and perseverance [00:11:04] Co-authoring memoirs and the process of sorting stories for healing and legacy [00:13:39] How play, presence, and golf became essential tools for moving through grief [00:16:26] The challenge’s timeframe: still in progress, and why “new” courses matter [00:19:21] Intentionally choosing novelty to avoid emotional landmines in familiar places [00:21:22] Travel, van life, and adapting the project with life’s disruptions [00:23:20] How intuition and community recommendations shaped the journey [00:23:53] The power of “the space between each shot” and learning to savor the unknown [00:26:12] How grief and the 100 course challenge transformed Kym’s pace and sense of self [00:28:00] The role of playfulness and community in healing [00:30:00] Letting go of perfection in both the challenge and the grief process [00:34:05] Kym’s message for listeners: redefining how we “flow love” through all forms of loss [00:37:44] Special audience offer: Maximize Your Attention training and where to connect [00:37:46] Kym’s media recommendation (Dan Brown’s “The Secret of Secrets”) and favorite online find 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 THE GUEST: https://swagtail.com/ [https://swagtail.com/] GET KYM COCO'S SPECIAL OFFER: Name: Maximize your Attention Training A video training to maximize your attention and increase your energy, focus, and presence in daily life. The practical tips can be implemented right away to add harmony to your relationships and more time in your schedule from increased productivity. Value: $99 Special offer: free Link: http://swagtail.com/podcastSwagtail.com/podcast [http://swagtail.com/podcast] 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. NEVER MISS A MOMENT OF IMPERFECT ADULTING 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 [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] https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69 [https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69] Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi] https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi] Website hosting with Siteground [https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590]https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590 [https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590] Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj] https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv [https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone] https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone [https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone] before that I used Kit. [https://partners.kit.com/oqgokeg23dkk] Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/amysaysso] https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors [https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors]

Ayer - 42 min

Walking the Camino de Santiago for Deep Self-Discovery with Crissy Fishbane

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 [https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support] In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Crissy Fishbane about using physical challenge as a tool for transformation during major life transitions. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Crissy shares how leaving her teaching career amid burnout led her to embark on the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The episode explores overcoming uncertainty, embracing change, and learning to accept what can’t be controlled. About Crissy Fishbane: Crissy Fishbane is a writer, speaker, and co-founder of HER+ Health Collective, a community and resource hub supporting mothers through connection and collaboration. A former high school teacher with a background in psychology, she now leads inclusive communities and conversations about belonging, uncertainty, and personal growth. Crissy is also the co-host of the award-winning podcast Mama Needs a Moment. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her family and believes meaningful change often begins by letting go of certainty. Main Topics Covered: * Navigating burnout and discouragement in the U.S. education system * The realities and emotional toll of being an educator: from overwhelming workloads to the pressures of IEPs and parent relationships. * Taking bold action in life transitions * The power of pilgrimage: travel without technology, deep self-reflection, and the lessons uncovered by disconnecting and stepping outside your comfort zone. * Accepting uncertainty and redefining identity after career change: uncovering the difference between what can and can't be controlled. * The ripple effects of transformation * The importance of sharing stories: how vulnerability and openness foster healing and help others feel less alone. * Creating mom-centered support networks in a disconnected world: why Crissy founded her + Health Collective and the value of intergenerational villages for modern parenting. Quote from the Episode: “There is so much outside of my control and I'm trying to manipulate and figure it all out and have all the answers and make everything look just so, because that's what society says it should be...and it was this moment of realizing that is all this stuff that I have no right trying to manipulate or control, because I can't. It's not about me. It's just what is. So I need to accept that and I need to focus on what I can control, which is this moment right in front of me.”—Crissy Fishbane Timestamps: [00:00:18] Crissy introduces herself and talks about calling Raleigh, NC home [00:02:08] Decision point: Burnout in teaching and the emotional weight of the profession [00:04:14] Teaching psychology in high school and why teens love self-discovery [00:08:14] Detailing the stressors that drove Crissy to leave education [00:14:39] The transition—how the idea to walk the Camino de Santiago emerged [00:16:40] The pivotal moment: Crissy’s husband encourages her to quit and walk the full Camino [00:19:32] Was the pilgrimage religious or secular, and what spiritual meaning did it hold? [00:21:00] Walking the Camino: traveling with no technology, carrying everything, and the day-to-day experience [00:24:11] Transformation on the Camino and a lesson in giving up control [00:28:19] Facing adversity during travel: a separate story of losing everything in Costa Rica [00:31:35] A moment of transformation: Accepting “what is” on a solo stretch of the Camino [00:33:11] How the Camino transformed Crissy’s relationship with control, stress, and identity [00:36:15] Practical ways gratitude and acceptance shape her daily life now [00:38:01] Why Crissy shares her transformation story and the healing power of storytelling [00:40:16] Founding her + Health Collective: building a mom support network and tackling loneliness [00:43:21] Hybrid community-building and serving moms nationwide [00:44:54] Fun insights: generational identity, book recommendations, and travel snack habits 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 THE GUEST: https://herhealthcollective.com/ [https://herhealthcollective.com/] Mama Needs a Moment - https://herhealthcollective.com/podcast/ [https://herhealthcollective.com/podcast/] GET CRISSY'S SPECIAL OFFER: HER+ Health Collective Email Newsletter — a free weekly email featuring expert insights on women’s health, parenting, and mental well-being, along with updates on community events and ways to get involved with HER+ Health Collective. Value: Free access to curated, expert-led content and insider community updates. Special Offer: Free newsletter subscription for podcast listeners. How to Redeem: Sign up anytime at https://herhealthcollective.com/connect/ 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. NEVER MISS A MOMENT OF IMPERFECT ADULTING 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 [https://www.imperfectadulting.com] NEVER MISS A MOMENT OF IMPERFECT ADULTING 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 [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] https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69 [https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69] Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi] https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi [https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi] Website hosting with Siteground [https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590]https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590 [https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590] Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic [https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj] https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv [https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone] https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone [https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone] before that I used Kit. [https://partners.kit.com/oqgokeg23dkk] Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/amysaysso] https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors [https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors]

25 de jun de 2026 - 49 min