Imperfectly Honest

Elizabeth's Imperfectly Honest blog in April, "Why I Don't Apologize for Unanswered Emails"  hit a nerve with her longtime mentor and investor, Jimmy Calano. He joins today's episode for a lively conversation, sharing his own email response time "Rule of 24", and mixing it up with Elizabeth and Sheila on where he stands on email apologies and other content. Episode Notes Jimmy Calano is the former...

How you make financial decisions in both romantic and business relationships can have a big impact. Elizabeth and Sheila look to their personal experiences, and what others choose, to lay out some different approaches to calculating the role of money in the relationship equation. Show Notes:  Giggly Squad Podcast  https://gigglysquad.com/ Connect with Imperfectly Honest via www.imperfectlyhonest.c...

There can be a fine line between being helpful and being taken advantage of. Elizabeth and Sheila go through the questions they ask themselves when trying to figure out that difference, especially when they aren’t sure if they’re stepping up or being stepped on.

I think we all know the quote about a certain road which is paved with good intentions. Elizabeth and Sheila review the intentions they each set for 2025, realizing that, although these respective "quarterly reports" had some hits and some misses, a lot was learned in the process! Connect with Imperfectly Honest via www.imperfectlyhonest.com .

Rethinking past life choices can summon up both painful challenges and joyful successes. Elizabeth and Sheila take that backward look in time, and agree that those mountains climbed in the process may have helped to shape them into who they were meant to be. Show Notes 2013 movie "About Time" . Connect with Imperfectly Honest via www.imperfectlyhonest.com .

It can often be a true growth opportunity to try new things that attract us but are also challenging and move us outside our comfort zone. Sheila and Elizabeth discuss their recent forays into online dating. They agree that it’s essential to listen to your inner voice -- and gut feelings -- to (in the words of "The Gambler") "know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, an...

What if we made more of an effort to view criticism from others like a two way mirror? We can see how their words reflect something about us and reflect something about them as well. Elizabeth and Sheila discuss an Oscar Wilde quote: “Criticism is the only reliable form of autobiography,” to explore dynamics of criticism, weaving in personal experiences for extra color!

How would you feel if you were given the choice to know how long your life would be? The Measure , by Nikki Erlick, is a recent bestseller, where the entire world population is given the opportunity to find the answer to that question in a box which appears on their doorstep. Elizabeth and Sheila talk about what their own choices might be, as well as the impact the knowledge could have on their li...

Elizabeth and her friend John have formed a meaningful and healthy, non-platonic relationship, but they are skeptical about their potential to be long-term life partners. They have decided to engage in a non-monogamous dating arrangement to allow them to look for a long-term life partner while enjoying their time together. Sheila joins Elizabeth for a candid conversation about the pluses and minus...

Have you ever felt helpless watching tragedies unfold on the news? Discussing the LA fires on today's episode of Imperfectly Honest, Elizabeth and Sheila express the candid thoughts that have swirled in their heads and explore the question: Can we actually make a difference, or should we just focus on less hopeless efforts?    This episode will help inspire action and hope amidst the devastation....

In this episode, Elizabeth interviews the couple whose relationship she most admires. Mikela and Philip Tarlow are partners in life, love, and work. Working with them in her twenties opened Elizabeth’s eyes to the possibility that life and love don’t have to be hard. Throughout their careers, Mikela and Philip have managed to pursue meaningful and fulfilling work while achieving financial success...

After weathering serious health issues and significant life challenges, Elizabeth and Sheila are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In this candid conversation, they share how they plan to overcome their fears to embrace their new opportunities. Episode Quotes: “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.” ~ Susan Jeffers "The very essence of romance is uncertainty." ~ Oscar Wilde “To thine own self b...

Gender roles today can be more confusing than ever. Sheila and Elizabeth discuss their own confusions and perspectives about what it may mean to be masculine or feminine right now, citing the need for a dose of empathy to be added to the mix. Show Notes: How Our Messed-Up Dating Culture Leads to Loneliness, Anger and Donald Trump

Reuniting with family during the holiday season can be both joyful and stressful, especially when it involves travel and overnight visits. Elizabeth and Sheila discuss the 'tis the season challenges that may arise, sharing personal perspectives on holidays past, present, and future (but minus the Scrooge spirits).

Partnering with someone can be challenging, but it can also enhance your life in many ways. Elizabeth and Sheila discuss their own experiences with relationships, past and current. They share perspectives on the benefits of kind, candid honesty, especially in relationships.

Offering support when not being asked to do so can be tricky, especially if you want to express concern without being judgmental. In this episode, Elizabeth and Sheila share thoughts about when and how to share your concerns with others. Executive coach Sharon Cavanaugh joined the conversation to provide her insights and perspectives as well. Show Resources: Listen to Part 1 of this discussion her...

We like to think that life is controllable. But uncertainties in relationships, health, finances, politics – and even the weather! – abound. Elizabeth and Sheila share the way they cope with, and sometimes even embrace, life’s micro and macro uncertainties.

Coping with issues related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can take a toll on your own life, as well as your relationships with others. Elizabeth and Sheila discuss their personal experiences in that regard and explore their own efforts to address the reactions of others. Listen to hear their candid take on this topic.

Sheila and Elizabeth have been the recipients of a lot of love and support in their lives. Especially through their experiences over the past few years, they have seen how others can effectively offer support AND how well-intentioned attempts to be helpful can backfire. Listen to hear their candid take on this topic.

Asking people to remove their shoes before entering the home can be a sticky subject, at least in the U.S. Sheila and Elizabeth discuss the ins and outs of wearing shoes indoors, finding the courage to state unconventional preferences, and the challenge of asking others to respect personal boundaries. Episode notes: CBS Sunday Morning’s Mo Rocca’s Shoes on Shoes Off Flightless Bird: Shoes Indoors...

Sheila and Elizabeth have both, individually, made the choice to live alone. In this episode, they discuss the perks and the challenges of this lifestyle, as well as how it has created more ease and opportunity for each of them. As cited on the podcast, Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, shared his thoughts and some research on loneliness and relationships in this episode of The Armchair Expert .

Elizabeth wants to share the lessons she’s learned from the transformative experience she’s had over the past two years. However, sharing this deeply personal story won’t come without consequences, and distilling the millions of thoughts in her head is proving to be a bit of a challenge. After feeling stuck, Elizabeth turned to her executive coach, Sharon Cavanaugh, for advice. Sharon’s advice is...

Money can be a touchy subject, especially with family and friends. In this episode, Sheila and Elizabeth take the leap to have a long overdue conversation about how money affected their friendship in the past and may come into play in the future. At some point during this conversation, Elizabeth mentioned the pitfalls of being a "hero" rather than a coach or friend. For a better articulation of th...

After publicly sharing that the mudslinging in Montana politics was turning her off, Elizabeth received a personal phone call from a political candidate who asked a thoughtful question: How can I invigorate my base without alienating others? The candidate authentically asked for advice for crafting an effective message by finding common ground rather than fueling division and hate. Elizabeth and S...

Welcome to our first episode of Imperfectly Honest. We're Elizabeth and Sheila. We met as neighbors in Boulder, Colorado in 2010, and our friendship grew during frequent hikes in the foothills until…..we had a falling out. Our friendship “paused” for eight years until we reconnected in a meaningful way when Sheila picked up the phone to have an eight-year-overdue honest conversation. At least for...