{"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":"Sibling Sexual Abuse and the Power of Sharing Truth with Darlene Lekowski","slug":"sibling-sexual-abuse-and-the-power-of-sharing-truth-with-darlene-lekowski","published_at":"2026-03-21T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506/sibling-sexual-abuse-and-the-power-of-sharing-truth-with-darlene-lekowski","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/e3400b52-08c0-4c34-8191-bc80e92c2a82.mp3","summary":"In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Darlene Lekowski about the lifelong impact of sibling sexual trauma and the journey of letting go of secrets that shaped her adult life. Darlene lives in the Charlotte, NC suburbs with her husband, Tom, their dog Pepper, and is the proud mother of three adult children. Listeners will learn how the process of opening up allowed Darlene to move from perfectionism and hypervigilance to forgiveness, healing, and connection. About Darlene Lekowski: Darlene Lekowski is a speaker, author, and advocate who writes and speaks about what happens when high-functioning adults realize that control and perfection aren’t peace—they’re survival strategies. After decades of striving to “hold it all together,” Darlene was forced to confront the emotional cost of living this way and learn, imperfectly, how to let go. Her debut memoir, Shattering Silence: A Story of Survival, Justice & the Power of Telling the Truth (April 2026), chronicles her journey of reclaiming her voice, redefining success, and choosing freedom over fear. Main Topics Covered: The effects of sibling sexual abuse and trauma on childhood and adult relationships Understanding and coping with PTSD masked by perfectionism, control, and success The power dynamics and family pressure that keep childhood trauma secret for decades How releasing control and secrets changed Darlene’s relationships with her children and spouse Navigating hypervigilance, competitiveness, and the illusion of “good adulting” as survival strategies The role of therapy, supportive friendships, and alternative healing methods like EFT tapping in trauma recovery The courage to confront abusers, share your story publicly, and reclaim agency—even through the stress and grief of li…","meta_description":"In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Darlene Lekowski about the lifelong impact of sibling sexual trauma and the journe…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2862,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-art-of-imperfect-adulting-7153506/episodes/sibling-sexual-abuse-and-the-power-of-sharing-truth-with-darlene-lekowski/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/sibling-sexual-abuse-and-the-power-of-sharing-truth-with-darlene-lekowski.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}