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...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Lilli Bewley about breaking relationship patterns, healing childhood wounds, and rediscovering identity through the lens of love and dating. Calling in from sunny Phoenix, Arizona, Lilli shares her transformative journey as a self-described “cycle breaker,” moving from performing life to authentic alignment and connection. Listeners will gain insight into how childhood experiences shape adult relationships, the power of inner work, and how clarity on needs and self-worth can radically transform one’s dating experience and overall well-being.

About Lilli Bewley: Lilli Bewley is a Dating Coach for Finding Love with over 10 years of experience in personal development. She, herself, went from just surviving in life to thriving in love & purpose. Currently, she is helping single & successful women love dating & find true love.

Main Topics Covered:

1. The role of childhood patterns and family models in shaping adult relationships and self-worth.
2. Recognizing and breaking unhealthy cycles as a conscious, courageous act—and what it means to be a “cycle breaker.”
3. Moving from high achievement and people-pleasing to inner alignment and authentic identity.
4. The importance and challenges of communicating needs rather than just emotions, especially for women who have experienced trauma or dysfunction.
5. How “performing life” and transactional self-worth show up in dating, career, and family—and the work required to shift toward true fulfillment.
6. Faith, spirituality, and overcoming religious trauma as sources of guidance and healing, regardless of doctrine.
7. Why inner transformation is the foundation for success in dating—and how dating apps can be used as a practice ground for self-awareness and boundary-setting.
8. Lilli’s framework for feminine dating archetypes and the “magnetic woman,” and how understanding these archetypes accelerates healing and connection.

Quote from the Episode: “There are parts of us that believe that we have to be bright and shiny, we have to be a certain way, we have to be a certain weight, we have to have a certain number in our bank account. Most women are in this transactional relationship with self, with love, and with performing—meaning, ‘If I’m sexy, then I’ll get love.’”—Lilli Bewley

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Amy welcomes Lilli Bewley and asks about her location in Phoenix, AZ

[00:01:10] Lilli shares her love for Phoenix’s winter weather and outdoor activities

[00:02:10] Pivot to love, relationships, and the theme of alignment and identity

[00:03:26] Lilli describes the impact of childhood patterns, early trauma, and the start of her inner healing journey over a decade ago

[00:06:25] Moving through high achievement, validation-seeking, and emptiness to see root causes of self-worth issues

[00:08:58] Amy and Lilli discuss awareness of recurring patterns and what it means to break cycles, especially as the oldest sibling

[00:10:23] Lilli explains her life situation at the turning point—working in corporate America and in an unfulfilling relationship

[00:12:10] The nuanced challenge of communication: expressing needs and understanding core wounds

[00:14:07] Amy relates mediation and conflict patterns to relationship...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Susan Hyatt about the realities and myths of diet culture, beauty standards, and the rise of "menopause culture." Broadcasting from Indiana in the Midwest, Susan shares her journey as a life coach and author, unveiling the motivations behind her anti-diet philosophy and the process of publishing her book, "Bear." Together, Amy and Susan candidly explore the evolving influence of social media, the challenge of visibility for women, and how aging and menopause are newly commodified—and what it means to choose self-support instead of self-policing.

About Susan Hyatt: Susan Hyatt is a Master Certified Life Coach, Bestselling Author, and TEDx Speaker. She’s on a mission to ignite 'Big Yes Energy' in women everywhere. From boosting your bank account to supercharging your self-confidence, from elevating your energy levels to amplifying your joy, Susan is the go-to expert for women who want more.

With 18 years of coaching experience under her belt, Susan has guided thousands of women through their personal revolutions. She's a crusader against diet culture and a vocal advocate for closing gaps – in wages, confidence, and yes, even orgasms.

She is also the creator of BARE - a groundbreaking process that’s inspired women all over the world to stop shrinking their bodies and start expanding their lives.

Susan's impactful work has graced national TV, leading podcasts, and top magazines including O: The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Woman’s World, and Call Her Daddy. Her dedication to women's empowerment and entrepreneurship also earned her a spot as a finalist for the prestigious Athena Award.

When she's not hyping up her clients, leading epic retreats, or making a scene, Susan can be found weightlifting, marathon training, globetrotting, or cozying up in her hygge corner. She’s also not shy about advocating for equality at home, regularly reminding her husband about the importance of sharing the "invisible workload," so she can continue to earn big and play big.

Main Topics Covered:

1. How Susan’s anti-diet philosophy was born from personal experience and coaching hundreds of women.
2. Navigating the publishing industry: the challenges, rejections, and creative solutions Susan found on her way to releasing "Bear."
3. Unpacking "diet culture," "beauty culture," and "menopause culture"—what these terms mean and how they impact women.
4. The emotional risk and motivation behind becoming a visible voice for body freedom and wellness.
5. The backlash and online criticism women face when sharing their stories—and how to use privilege for advocacy.
6. Aging, menopause, and influencer advice: noticing the parallels between traditional diet culture and new "menopause fixes."
7. The importance of quality information, body intuition, and skepticism amid wellness fads and changing research.
8. Creating sustainable health and strength in midlife, beyond competitive extremes and compliance for its own sake.
9. Building offline and online communities for support and connection in the age of instant digital feedback.

Quote from the Episode: "I'm not gonna shut up because I have big boobs and blonde hair and blue eyes. Like, that's...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kimberly Brown about navigating major career transitions, the search for authentic self-fulfillment, and the power of mindfulness and meditation in overcoming anxiety. Joining Amy from New York City, Kimberly opens up about leaving behind years of psychoanalytic training in favor of a path rooted in Buddhist-inspired meditation. Listeners will learn how Kimberly’s journey through personal anxiety and professional “wrong turns” led her to a sense of belonging, self-compassion, and a thriving vocation as a meditation teacher.

Kimberly Brown is a meditation teacher and author. She leads classes and retreats that emphasize the power of compassion and kindness meditation to reconnect us to ourselves and others. She studies in both the Tibetan and Insight schools of Buddhism and is a certified mindfulness instructor. Her latest book, Happy Relationships: 25 Buddhist Practices to Transform Your Connection with Your Partner, Family, and Friends, was recently released by Rowman & Littlefield. You can learn more about Kimberly at www.meditationwithheart.com

Main Topics Covered:

1. Coping with the pressure and expectations to “get it right” in career and education choices.
2. The impact of post-9/11 life changes and the urgent drive for deeper meaning.
3. Why traditional psychoanalysis and diagnostic labels didn’t resonate—and how compassion shifted her approach.
4. Transforming painful anxiety and panic attacks into motivation for personal growth.
5. The science and practice of mindfulness and meditation, including Buddhist perspectives.
6. How belonging and acceptance—both internally and within a community—can heal and empower.
7. Overcoming the belief that something is “wrong” with you and embracing inherent goodness.
8. Building a business and life around self-compassion, meditation, and helping others connect authentically.

Quote from the Episode: "I began to feel that there was nothing wrong with anybody. And I don't... that doesn't mean we all have troubles. I just never felt like, well, anybody's really broken, right? We just have our stuff and we have to, you know, take care of it and understand it." — Kimberly Brown

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Introduction & warm-up: New York roots, upstate escapes, and favorite flowers

[00:02:34] Career change: From HR and psychoanalytic training to questioning the diagnostic process

[00:09:02] 9/11 as a catalyst for dramatic life transitions

[00:12:07] The essential role of a healing therapist and the inspiration to help others

[00:13:31] The drive to return to school, lifelong learning, and giving oneself grace in change

[00:17:27] Discomfort with diagnosing mental health, and the story of an authentic therapeutic relationship

[00:21:19] Discussion of Freud, medical coding, and the industrial complex of American healthcare

[00:26:56] Struggles with professional modality and the need for real human connection

[00:30:49] Personal challenges: panic attacks, anxiety, and unexpected traumas

[00:34:01] Discovering meditation and mindfulness through yoga and Buddhist centers

[00:37:27] Building a new path—belonging, retreats, teaching, and gratitude for healing

[00:41:12] The power of acceptance, belonging, and Buddhist...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Sabrina Harrison about body image, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of boudoir photography—both behind and in front of the lens. Joining from Westminster, Colorado, Sabrina shares her personal experience of gifting boudoir photos to her husband, which unexpectedly became a journey of reclaiming her own confidence and reshaping her photography business. The conversation explores how images impact self-concept, the realities of postpartum body changes, and actionable strategies to build self-love.

About Sabrina Harrison: Sabrina has a degree in photography from the University of Virginia. She moved to Colorado in 2016 with her husband and 2 dogs. She is currently working as a boudoir, retreat, and branding photographer in Westminster, Colorado. Sabrina is a huge reader and personal development junkie. She loves skiing, hiking, tea, tacos, and eclairs. Sabrina is the proud mother of 3 children, 2 bio and 1 bonus. Sabrina is a seasoned expert in confidence coaching and brand strategy, dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace themselves and unlock their potential through art and capturing their true essence behind her lens.

Main Topics Covered:

1. How boudoir photography can become an act of self-love and empowerment.
2. The emotional journey of stepping in front of the camera as a photographer, including vulnerability, trust, and letting go of control.
3. The impact of postpartum body changes on confidence and identity, and how photography can help reframe these experiences.
4. Specific techniques for cultivating self-acceptance, including affirmation strategies and mirror work.
5. Challenging social beauty standards and learning to see yourself with compassion.
6. How Sabrina’s personal photo session led her to niche her business and help other women transform their own self-image.
7. The philosophy behind presenting images as a “kinder lens” compared to self-critique.
8. Practical tips for anyone feeling critical or uncomfortable in front of a camera, starting with small steps and mindset shifts.

Quote from the Episode: "This is literally looking at myself through a kinder lens than I do maybe in the mirror. And I really wanted to try to create that for other people." — Sabrina Harrison

Timestamps: [00:00:05] — Welcome & introductions; Sabrina shares where she calls home [00:00:30] — Warm-up questions on Valentine’s Day gifts and personal preferences [00:02:18] — Episode focus: the meaning behind boudoir photography and Sabrina’s story [00:02:49] — Sabrina’s roots in photography: family legacy and first camera memories [00:06:10] — The origin story: deciding to gift boudoir photos to her husband after childbirth [00:07:47] — Insights from Rumi: action creates clarity [00:11:00] — What is boudoir photography? Sabrina explains the spectrum of style and comfort [00:12:00] — Facing nerves and the reality of body image post-baby; not being documented in family photos [00:13:13] — Surrendering creative control; empathy for clients’ experience [00:16:06] — How the experience unexpectedly transformed Sabrina’s business [00:17:16] — Shedding mental baggage and embracing new self-love postpartum [00:19:15] — Common body image fears, dysmorphia, and how photography can heal [00:21:25] — Confronting “imperfections”...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Brittany Cano about navigating burnout, trauma, and transformation as an ICU nurse during the COVID pandemic. Based in Florida, Brittany shares her shift from hospital nursing to holistic wellness coaching. Listeners will discover insights about nervous system regulation, overcoming grief, and redefining adult identity after major life transitions.

About Brittany Cano:

Brittany Cano is a Holistic Nurse Coach and wellness expert with over 20 years of nursing experience and a decade of running her own holistic wellness practice. Her work was born from her personal healing journey, transforming shame, perfectionism, and self-criticism into self-compassion, embodiment, and wholeness. Drawing from her background in nursing, somatic healing, and holistic coaching, Brittany helps others reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and reclaim their energy and worth. She is passionate about guiding others to move beyond burnout and live in alignment with their most authentic selves.

Main Topics Covered:

1. Facing trauma and burnout as an ICU nurse in New York and Baltimore during the first wave of the COVID pandemic.
2. Navigating cultural contrasts in pandemic response between Northeast cities and Florida.
3. The psychological impact of working in intensive care and why teamwork and humor were survival tools.
4. The move from traditional nursing to holistic wellness coaching—motivated by a desire to focus on prevention, longevity, and emotional well-being.
5. Recognizing burnout through physical symptoms and exploring the deep connection between mind, body, and trauma.
6. Using self-reflection, nervous system regulation, and somatic practices to heal and support others.
7. Overcoming guilt and identity challenges when leaving behind a respected profession for more authentic life and work.
8. Brittany’s approach to holistic healing: biopsychosocial-spiritual, including retreats, coaching, and innovative tools like peptide protocols.

Timestamps:

[00:00:07] Amy welcomes Brittany & introduces Thanksgiving leftovers conversation

[00:01:46] Shifting from holiday talk to Brittany’s pandemic experience as an ICU nurse

[00:02:45] Standing out moments from early COVID, patient stories, teamwork, emotional toll

[00:05:03] Navigating uncertainty, hazmat suits, and contrasting pandemic cultures in Florida vs. Northeast

[00:08:07] Brittany’s holistic wellness side hustle and the motivation to leave bedside nursing

[00:09:43] The importance of preventative health and avoiding hospitalization

[00:13:02] Early career decisions: psychology dreams, practical nursing choices, and college costs

[00:15:01] Grief, personal trauma, and the healing power of holistic coaching

[00:18:58] Defining “holistic”—mind, body, social, and spiritual interconnectedness in wellness

[00:21:16] Brittany discovers the root of her burnout and GI symptoms, and the need for deeper healing

[00:26:27] The challenge of self-awareness during burnout; learning from “rushing woman syndrome”

[00:29:59] Ayahuasca experience, trauma healing, and how divine timing guided Brittany’s journey

[00:33:33] How pandemic trauma reverberates for healthcare workers and all adults

[00:34:28]...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Colette Fehr about marriage, divorce, and the impact of family dynamics on adult relationships. Based in Orlando, Florida, Colette candidly shares her journey from growing up in a traditional, conflict-filled New York household to navigating her own early marriage, divorce, and eventual career as a couples therapist. Listeners will gain insights into how childhood experiences unconsciously shape relationship choices, why emotional disconnection—not conflict—is a leading destroyer of marriages, and how to have the difficult conversations that lead to lasting love.

About Colette Fehr:

Colette Jane Fehr is a licensed psychotherapist and nationally recognized relationship expert. She’s the author of The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations That Create Secure, Lasting Love, coming out February 2026 from Putnam and Penguin Random House. Colette co-hosts the hit podcast Insights from the Couch: Real Talk for Women at Midlife and Love Thy Neighbor: The Relationship Show, and her TEDx talk Secrets of a Couples Therapist was selected as a TED Editors’ Pick.

Main Topics Covered:

1. How childhood family dynamics, including loud conflict and divorce, shape unconscious patterns in adult relationships and marriage
2. The myth that successful relationships are free of conflict, and why learning to handle conflict constructively is essential
3. Colette’s experience of getting married young, going through divorce, and raising children—often counter to her peer group’s expectations
4. The societal and generational stigmas around divorce, especially for women, and why leaving can be the healthiest choice
5. The journey from “good girl” people-pleasing and self-abandonment to finding one’s voice and boundaries in relationships
6. Recognizing fawning and people-pleasing as trauma responses—and the path to unlearning them for healthier love
7. The importance of seeking skilled, specialized couples therapy (including discernment counseling) and not all therapists are equally equipped
8. Colette’s book "The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations That Create Secure, Lasting Love," with practical tools for women to confidently express their needs

Quote from the Episode: "The number one factor that destroys relationships is emotional disconnection. Not arguing, not having differences, not even infidelity. It’s disconnection." — Colette Fehr

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Introduction and guest welcome; Colette shares her New Yorker roots and years in Orlando, Florida

[00:00:43] What Colette loves about Orlando: eternal sunshine and multiculturalism

[00:01:02] Introducing today’s topic: marriage and divorce

[00:01:21] Colette’s personal history: two marriages, one divorce

[00:01:45] Early marriage story—married at 24, divorced at 31, balancing motherhood and changing social circles

[00:04:13] How parents’ marriage and conflict modeled relationship dynamics for Colette

[00:06:51] The myth of “no conflict” in healthy relationships and the real importance of constructive communication

[00:08:37] How Colette’s childhood influenced her career choice as a therapist

[00:10:55] The cultural stigma of divorce in Irish Catholic New York during the 1980s

[00:13:01]...

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...