In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Holly Bot about the dramatic realities of incarceration, stigma, and transformation following a prison sentence. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Holly shares her deeply personal story of serving eight years in prison, the personal and social challenges she faced, and the path toward self-forgiveness and growth. The conversation explores how shame, desperation, and loneliness can lead to life-altering decisions—and how humility, faith, and compassion became central to Holly’s journey beyond incarceration.

Holly Bot is a speaker, author and IT professional living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Above all she treasures her roles as wife and mother. She is the author of From Surviving to Living, a memoir of her prison experiences.

Main Topics Covered:

1. The hidden realities and emotional shock of the criminal justice process, from arrest to sentencing to prison life.
2. Generational and cultural stigma around women, motherhood, and criminal behavior—and its ripple effects on family and identity.
3. Mental health, burnout, and the consequences of isolation, particularly for mothers and caregivers in crisis.
4. How shame, secrecy, and lack of support can escalate risky decisions—and what ignoring “red flags” can look like in real life.
5. The complex, lasting stigma of being labeled a felon or sex offender, including public perception and daily-life limitations post-release.
6. Holly’s revelations in self-identity, humility, and personal growth through faith while incarcerated.
7. The role of compassion—for oneself and others—when reckoning with past mistakes and striving to help others avoid similar pain.
8. Candid discussion of re-entry into society, employment challenges, and creating hope for those affected by incarceration.

Quote from the Episode:

“I created my most worst nightmare and then was forced to live it out. The stigma is real. I think that any prison sentence is a life sentence, even if you only served a year on the facility, because you are a felon forever.” — Holly Bot

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Warm-up questions and introduction; Holly’s home in Minneapolis

[00:01:14] Setup of today’s dramatic conversation about incarceration

[00:02:07] Holly explains the lead-up and facts about her crime and sentencing

[00:06:39] Life before prison: family background, isolation, and mounting emotional stress

[00:12:53] Examining the motivations, confusion, and factors leading to life-altering choices

[00:18:43] The power of loneliness and unmet validation; lack of support network

[00:23:42] How desire to be seen and desperate problem-solving played into criminal behavior

[00:27:02] What prison was really like for women in Minnesota

[00:30:41] Finding humility, faith, and inner change during incarceration

[00:37:01] Stigma, public shame, and how Holly’s crimes affected her children and family

[00:43:07] Lasting consequences of a felony conviction and life post-release

[00:46:13] Employment, transparency, and reintegration into the community

[00:48:27] Why Holly wrote her book—to give others hope earlier in the healing process

[00:51:13] Compassion, self-forgiveness, and understanding others’ pain

[00:52:19] Book information and a special offer for...