The Perfectly Imperfect Journey

Sabbatical

It was November 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. We were on separate coasts when we each took a big, deep breath, flipped on our mics, and pressed record. Little did we know when we created that first episode of this podcast, that it would become an amazing journey; a place for deep conversations, shared wisdom, and the beauty of embracing life’s messy, magical moments.

Now, after 108 episodes, we are filled with gratitude - for each other, and the partnership and friendship that have carried us through; for our incredible guests, who generously shared their stories and insights; and most of all, for you, our listeners … your support, curiosity, and willingness to explore this journey with us have meant the world.

But for now, it’s time to take a bit of a sabbatical. This isn’t goodbye, just a chance to step back, recharge, and reflect. So, instead of once again hitting record, we’re taking another deep breath, embracing the unknown, and trusting in what comes next.

In this episode, we reflect on where we’ve been, what a sabbatical is all about and why we think you should grab a friend and take a leap into something unexpected.  

With love and so much gratitude, we’ll see you soon.

The Bridge with Carrington Jackson

A bridge does more than just connect two points; it spans a gap, carries weight, and withstands tension.

In this episode of The Perfectly Imperfect Journey, we’re joined by the incredible Carrington Jackson, a woman who has spent her life embodying the role of the bridge in profound ways.

Carrington was the bridge that connected her mother and her father’s family, opening up a relationship that had once been impossible. She is the bridge that brings people to their yoga mats - not just to move, but to learn, to heal, and to awaken. And she is the bridge in the fight for racial justice, using her voice, her presence, and her unwavering commitment to equity to create real, lasting change.

This conversation is about connection, courage, and transformation. It’s about the willingness to step into uncomfortable spaces, to hold the tension between worlds, and to become the link that allows others to cross over into new ways of seeing, being, and leading.

Bio:

For nearly 30 years, Carrington’s study of yoga has been a diverse journey through the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components of the practice. Carrington began teaching in 2004 and is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an e-RYT 500. Her classes are a canvas of practice, prayer and presence, intertwined with messages of spirit, activism and social responsibility. On a physical level, her teaching is centered on bringing people to a deeper knowing and acceptance of themselves. On a soulful level, the purpose of her teaching is to correlate yoga on and off the mat… ultimately paving the way from the I to the WE.

 

She currently serves both as a guest instructor for many teacher training programs throughout the country and as a mentor to yoga teachers around the world. Alongside her yoga teaching practice, Carrington is a global retreat leader, passionate human rights activist, community organizer and movement chaplain. Having gratefully learned from many teachers over the years, a few teachers that have greatly influenced her personal and teaching practices are Seane Corn, Rev angel KYODO williams, Hala Khouri, Carolyn Myss and of course the greatest teacher of all… Life. Read more about her here: carringtonjacksonyoga.com

Link to “I Am From” poem: https://www.wsuu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/I_Am_From_Poem(2).pdf

Coming Home with Margaret Juhae Lee

In this week’s episode we sit down with Margaret Juhae Lee, author of Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, and explore what it truly means to come home—to a place, to a history, and to oneself. Margaret’s journey began as an exploration of her grandfather’s past, but along the way, it became something much deeper: a reclamation of identity, heritage, and belonging.

Originally conceived as a journalistic exploration, her book evolved into something far more personal. Margaret shares how tracing her ancestry helped her understand where she comes from, and is a gift for her children, giving them a foundation that honors the past while making space for the future.

This conversation is about finding home within ourselves, embracing the stories that shape us, and carrying them forward with intention.

Bio:

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, which was published in 2024. A former editor at The Nation magazine, she received a Bunting Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korea Foundation. She attended the Tin House and Writer’s Hotel writing workshops and was awarded residences at Ragdale, Mesa Refuge, Anderson Center and the Mineral School. Her articles have been published in The Nation, Newsday, Elle, ARTnews, Writer's Digest and The Rumpus. She lives in Oakland with her family and Brownie, a rescue dog from Korea.

When You Have to Be Your Best Self with Chris Waddell

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn and you’re forced to redefine everything? Chris Waddell was a competitive skier in college when a devastating accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Less than a year later, he was back on the mountain—this time as a monoskier—beginning a journey that would make him the most decorated male mono-skier in U.S. history. But Chris’s story isn’t just about athletic triumph; it’s about the reinvention that happens when you decide to show up fully for your own life.

In this episode, Chris shares how recovery was just the first step in his healing journey. That accident and his resilience took him places he never imagined: from the Paralympics podium to being a published author and from the ski slopes to a soap opera set. He reminds us that our best self isn’t a fixed point—it is who we become in response to life’s hardest moments. This conversation is about grit, possibility, and the magic of saying yes to the unexpected.

Bio

Chris Waddell’s 12 Paralympic skiing medals are more than any man in US history. He’s a Hall of Famer, a World Champion in wheelchair track, and the first “nearly unassisted” paraplegic to summit 19,340-foot Mt Kilimanjaro. His ski popped off competing in college, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. 362 days later, Chris monoskied and soon became the fastest in the world. The Dalai Lama honored him as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion,” Skiing Magazine dubbed him one of 25 Greatest Skiers in North America and People Magazine named him one of “The 50 Most Beautiful People.”

https://chriswaddellinc.com/ 

Everyone Has a Superpower with Mary and Gabi Angelini

What is your superpower? This is the question Gabi Angelini often asks when speaking to audiences. After Gabi faced repeated job rejections, she and her mom, Mary channeled their frustration into purpose, by launching their own business, Gabi’s, Powered by Special Abilities. Their venture employs people with unique strengths and celebrates their talents, proving that everyone has a superpower waiting to be unleashed. Through their work, they've created a supportive environment where employees can showcase their capabilities, gain valuable work experience, and develop greater independence.

This heartfelt story highlights the incredible bond between a mother and daughter and is a powerful testament to how embracing diverse abilities can lead to both business success and personal empowerment.

 

Bios:

 

Gabi Angelini  

Advocate Extraordinaire: Empowering Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, and Equality"

 

Gabi is the co-founder of Gabi’s, Powered by Special Abilities, a nonprofit that provides workforce training, education, and other support programs to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to help them secure employment, contribute to society, and live a purposeful, rewarding life. 

She is a champion for the Special Abilities workforce and the impact that diversity and inclusion has on the world. After high school graduation, Gabi searched and applied for many positions but no employer would hire her. Not one. Gabi came to learn that 82% of individuals with special needs are unemployed. 

Gabi and her mom knew this needed to change. 

 

As a result of this personal experience, together with her mom, Mary Angelini, Gabi co-founded her nonprofit, Gabi’s Powered by Special Abilities to help create opportunities for people with Special Abilities. She wanted to help them join the workforce and live a fulfilling and purposeful life. 

 

Today, Gabi’s employs 40+ people with Special Abilities and partners with more than 25 companies. Gabi’s develops partnerships with logistics companies to fulfill orders through Gabi’s PALS (packing, assembling, labeling and shipping). Also, the nonprofit maintains an e-commerce and packaged coffee and products division that features a range of coffee flavors and related products through Gabi’s Grounds. 

 

Moreover, Gabi Angelini is an award-winning entrepreneur and has received the following awards and recognitions:

 

2024:  “Community Champion”: Gabi’s Pals, NC Down Syndrome Association

 

2023: “Women in Business Awards; “Entrepreneur of the Year,” Triangle Business Journal; and “Women Shaping Raleigh,” featured in Raleigh Magazine; NC Women in Business Hall of Fame 

2022: “Employer of the Year,” Raleigh Mayor Maryann Baldwin’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities 

2021: “Founders Award,” Doing Good at Work

2019: “Self-Advocate of the Year,” NC Down Syndrome Association 

Gabi maintains strong relationships with the community, her Gabi’s PALS team of employees, and her corporate partner clients. She is also co-author of the children’s book, “Gabi the Puppy.” In addition, Gabi serves as a champion for people with special abilities and speaks at conferences. Her favorite topic is the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce and helping everyone find their own superpower, like she did.  

Mary Angelini

Co-founder, Gabi’s Powered by Special Abilities

 

Mary is co-founder of Gabi’s Powered by Special Abilities, a nonprofit that provides workforce training, education, and other support programs to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to help them secure employment, contribute to society, and live a purposeful, rewarding life. 

A personal experience led her to form Gabi’s Powered by Special Abilities with her co-founder and daughter, Gabi. After high school graduation, Gabi was unable to secure employment. Literally no one would hire her. Not one person could see her special abilities, just her Down syndrome.

 

Mary and Gabi were determined to help shift the conversation from disabilities to special abilities, neuro-diversity, and the power of inclusion to help create employment opportunities for people in the IDD community. 

 

What began in 2017 as a small coffee company (Gabi’s Grounds) has now grown to include a full-scale packaging, assembling, labeling, and shipping company (Gabi’s PALS), as a business solution for mid-to-large manufacturing and logistics companies. In addition, there is a drop-shipping solution for local, smaller companies. 

 

Today, Gabi’s Powered by Special Abilities is an award-winning nonprofit organization and has a team of more than 45 people with special abilities including blindness, autism, Down syndrome, and more. Gabi’s Grounds continues to provide pop-up shops at local businesses and markets, and offers Gabi’s Coffee Club, a subscription membership to businesses and coffee lovers everywhere. 

 

Mary is dedicated to the empowerment of the special abilities community and to help educate the world about the power of diversity and inclusion. She travels with Gabi to speak at corporate events and conferences and help inspire people to see the superpowers in all of us. 

 

Prior to founding Gabi’s with her daughter, Mary held positions with IBM and Our Lady of Lourdes church. She enjoys kickboxing and spending time with her husband, six children and their families. 

No Expectations with Amber Melanie Smith

Amber Melanie Smith discovered her passion for giving back at a young age, which led to the creation of a nonprofit organization that mobilized over 50,000 volunteers to make a difference in their communities. While deeply committed to this mission, Amber began to feel the weight of burnout. It wasn’t until she took a step back that she realized she was no longer connected to the work that truly lit her up.

This episode explores what it means to follow your passion, even when it requires making tough decisions, and the importance of redefining success on your own terms.

Bio:

Amber Melanie Smith is a speaker, award-winning nonprofit founder, social entrepreneur, and creator of the Changemaker Accelerator. Through a growing online community of changemakers, speaking, and educational content, Amber helps people create their roadmap to a life and career that creates positive social change. In college, Amber took off on a 3 month cross-country road trip with her best friend to volunteer in over 20 states. When she returned home, she launched Activate Good, a nonprofit that has since mobilized over 50,000 volunteers to help hundreds of causes. Amber’s writing about social impact, service, and leadership has appeared in Fast Company, the Philanthropy Journal, and other media. In 2017, Amber was appointed a commissioner on the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service by NC Governor Roy Cooper. In 2019, Amber launched a YouTube channel to help educate people on starting and growing a successful nonprofit organization or social enterprise, which has since reached 70,000 changemakers around the world.

Website: https://ambermelaniesmith.com/ 

Choosing Choice with Sherry Essig

In this heartfelt and transformative episode of The Perfectly Imperfect Journey, the tables turn as Sherry Essig steps into the spotlight—not as interviewer, but as the guest. Sherry opens her heart to share the story behind the person you regularly hear as co-host.

From grappling with feelings of not belonging to the quiet moments of realization that changed her life, Sherry takes us on her journey of transformation. It’s a story of self-discovery, of learning to trust her instincts, and of uncovering the life she was meant to lead.  

Through her vulnerability and wisdom, Sherry reminds us that life isn’t about grand gestures or perfect plans—it’s about making one intentional choice at a time. It’s about courageously stepping toward what feels right, even when it’s hard.

This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own path and to consider: Who are you meant to be?  Sherry reminds us the sum of all of our experiences lead us through our perfectly imperfect journey in life.  Join us for a conversation that is equal parts raw, hopeful, and inspiring—just like Sherry herself.

Bio

Sherry Essig is an executive and life coach and the founder of Flow Dynamix, where she helps clients courageously stop settling for less than success and happiness — because the two are not mutually exclusive. She believes that your professional career and personal life are two interconnected parts of the whole that is you: personal development is professional development.

After 15 years in public accounting and corporate roles, Sherry launched Flow Dynamix in 1994. She holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential, a CPA license (inactive), and is an accredited Enneagram Practitioner through Integrative 9 Enneagram Solutions.

Blending deep business expertise with coaching techniques, yoga principles, positive psychology, and the transformative power of the Enneagram — sprinkled with a dash of humor — Sherry equips her clients to embrace growth, resilience, and boldness. Her work empowers them to expand their awareness and create a life where success and happiness thrive together.

Website: www.flow-dynamix.com

Losing the Armor and Finding Herself with Anne Robie

For the past four years, Anne Robie has been a steady voice in the co-host seat. But today, she steps into the spotlight as our guest in this deeply personal and inspiring episode.

Anne shares how an unexpected, life-altering event left her reeling—and how it became the catalyst for a profound journey of self-discovery. With vulnerability as her guide, Anne shed the armor she had carried for years and began moving through life as her true, authentic self — both personally and as a leader in the corporate world.

In this conversation, Anne opens up about the freedom she found in letting go of the need to appear like she always had it together. She reflects on the power of leading with courage, empathy, and self-awareness, and what it truly means to embrace authenticity in leadership and life.

This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own journey—on what you might need to let go of to reveal your truest and most impactful self. It's a heart-opening dialogue filled with wisdom, humor, and unfiltered truth.

Bio

Anne Robie: Consultant | Speaker | Spiritual Pragmatist

Anne is a speaker, consultant, and writer currently working on her first book about authentic leadership.  With over 25 years of Human Resources experience, Anne combines her deep understanding of mindfulness, authenticity, and the human side of business to craft compelling narratives that inspire and educate.

Anne draws from her extensive expertise in leadership, team dynamics and living life as a human on this planet. She explores themes such as:

• Authenticity
• Vulnerability
• Spirituality and leadership
• And, occasionally,, whatever else is on her mind

Anne’s teachings center on mindfulness, authenticity, and connecting with people in meaningful ways. Her passion for cultivating genuine connections and her ability to engage audiences on a profound level make her a unique and impactful voice in leadership and personal development.

A Perfectly Imperfect Milestone

Four years ago, we launched our little podcast baby into the world. Back then, we couldn’t have imagined reaching this centennial achievement. But here we are—100 episodes later! It’s been a journey filled with learning, growth, and connection. Listen in as Anne and Sherry reflect on the wisdom we’ve gained from our inspiring guests and the powerful stories shared by our incredible listeners. Each conversation has shaped us, and together, we’ve explored what it means to be perfectly imperfect in an ever-evolving world.

Join us as we celebrate this milestone, honor the extraordinary community we’ve built, and look ahead to the next chapter of this journey. Cheers to 100 episodes—and the many more adventures to come!

Embrace the Different with Robin Berning

In this week's episode, Robin Berning shares her powerful story of overcoming addiction and embracing the very differences that once made her feel isolated. Throughout her life, Robin often felt out of place, questioning her place in the world. However, through moments of deep reflection and personal growth, Robin came to realize that those things that made her different were actually her strengths. 

Robin opens up about the key moments that helped her fully accept and embrace her unique path. She explains how leaning into what sets us apart—whether it’s our life experiences, challenges, or spiritual journeys—can become a source of profound growth and transformation. Her story serves as a testament to the power of self-acceptance and the freedom it brings. Robin shares valuable insights on how embracing our individuality can lead to more authentic, fulfilling lives, where obstacles turn into opportunities for empowerment and deeper connection with others.

 

Bio:

Growing up in a home shaped by the journey of recovery, Robin Berning became aware at an early age of both the pull and dangers of addiction. Despite this awareness, she faced her own challenges with addiction in her teens. At 39, a life-changing decision brought her to a program of recovery, where she embraced a new path.

Now, 17 years sober, Robin is living her best life! She views life not as the school of hard knocks, but as a school of opportunity and growth. Today, as the owner of her own business, she works as an Advanced Certified Life & Spiritual Life Coach and a Classical Feng Shui Consultant.

Robin helps others find themselves and step confidently into their truth, empowered and ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.

https://livingyourbliss.net/