{"podcast":{"title":"The Art Of Imperfect Adulting","slug":"the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506","podcast_index_feed_id":7153506,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/imperfect-adulting/","website_url":"https://www.imperfectadulting.com","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/2ac49018-887e-4eb1-9bd8-589eaf1c41f5/waJd6ibigV5LfOqjGM5CmQOc.jpg","author":"Amy Stone","episode_count":239,"summary":"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…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-29T02:20:45.418703+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506"},"episode":{"title":"Asking for a Sabbatical as a Young Professional with Kim Nicol","slug":"asking-for-a-sabbatical-as-a-young-professional-with-kim-nicol","published_at":"2026-03-05T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506/asking-for-a-sabbatical-as-a-young-professional-with-kim-nicol","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506","url":"https://www.imperfectadulting.com","audio_url":"https://op3.dev/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/6a0b0021-b9c9-4b99-a2ab-6e7c860870a8.mp3","summary":"In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kim Nicol about the power and impact of asking for what you want. Specifically Kim share the story of how at age 24 she requested a 10-week unpaid sabbatical from her first salaried job. Kim is based in San Francisco. Listeners will gain insights into career pivots, self-advocacy at work, and the transformational value of travel and saying “yes” to yourself. Kim Nicol is an Executive Mindfulness Coach for leaders in diverse industries. She talks about the human side of leadership on The New Manager Podcast, and teaches Communication Strategies on Maven. Main Topics Covered: Self-advocacy in early career: Why and how Kim asked for an extended unpaid sabbatical in her early 20s. Overcoming fear in the workplace: Navigating the nerves and uncertainty that come with requesting big things from your employer. The role of supportive work cultures—Kim’s experience in a small, tight-knit company with no formal HR. Transformative power of travel: How living and learning in France expanded Kim’s worldview and triggered new personal growth. The difference between sabbaticals, leaves of absence, and corporate culture in the U.S. Lessons for managers: How leaders can approach unusual employee requests and foster growth. Applying boldness forward: How early self-advocacy continues to impact Kim’s professional and coaching life, and how she encourages others to ask for what they need. French culture, lifelong learning, and the “through line” of storytelling in Kim’s career. Quote from the Episode: “You can ask for things, it’s okay. They might even say yes. Be willing to be Pleasantly surprised at what someone might say yes to.” — Kim Nicol Timestamps: [00:00:05] Intro & where Kim calls home—San Francisco and…","meta_description":"In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kim Nicol about the power and impact of asking for what you want. Specifically Kim…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2098,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506/episodes/asking-for-a-sabbatical-as-a-young-professional-with-kim-nicol/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506/asking-for-a-sabbatical-as-a-young-professional-with-kim-nicol.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}