The Imperfect Advocate Podcast

In this episode of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast , Karen Auld invites listeners to kick off Plastic Free July with curiosity instead of perfection. Australian educator Rebecca Prince-Ruiz grew a global movement from just forty participants, Karen explores why meaningful environmental change begins with something much simpler than most people realize: noticing. On the pod, Karen also asks for a mo...

Summer has always been Karen Auld's favorite season. The warm air, longer days, birdsong, and blooming flowers serve as a reminder to slow down and pay attention. In the Season 8 premiere of The Imperfect Advocate , Karen explores what it means to tend not only our gardens, but our lives. Using the garden as a metaphor, she reflects on the "weeds" that quietly steal our energy, the relationships a...

Spring may bring flowers, but it also brings mud. In Episode 2 of the Imperfect Advocate Podcast spring season, Karen explores the messy beauty of living systems through the work of author and systems thinker Margaret Wheatley. From Vermont’s famous “mud season” to ecosystem diagrams that mysteriously leave humans out of the picture, this episode examines how modern life has conditioned us to see...

After a longer-than-expected winter break, Karen returns for Season 7 of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast with reflections on growth, happiness, and what it means to move through life seasonally rather than linearly. In this episode, Karen shares what she’s been learning while pursuing her Master’s degree in Happiness and Overall Wellbeing at Centenary University, including the SPIRE model for whole...

When the world feels heavy, many of us feel the pull to help — and the paralysis of not knowing how. In this episode of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast , Karen Auld speaks honestly about feeling powerless, naming the emotional weight many are carrying right now, and reframing what it means to “be a helper.” Drawing on positive psychology research from Martin Seligman , Karen explores how action — e...

On the Winter Solstice—the darkest day of the year—we begin Season 6 of The Imperfect Advocate by turning gently toward the dark instead of away from it. Inspired by a quote from Rumi , Karen guides listeners through a loving-kindness (metta) meditation to help generate warmth, compassion, and light—even when everything around us feels dark. Includes a special 10% listener discount for the Color L...

In the season finale of 11 Life Lessons from Stranger Things, Karen and Bill explore the ultimate truth behind Hawkins — and our own hearts: love is the most powerful force in the universe. From Eleven’s childhood memory of her mother saying “I love you.” To Mike’s heartfelt confession and Max’s “good memory” that saved her from Vecna, we see that love is not weakness, it’s energy. It’s renewal. K...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons from Stranger Things , Karen and Bill talk about the power of making your own rules — not breaking them, but creating a life aligned with your own values. Inspired by Eleven’s evolution from following Hopper’s “Don’t Be Stupid” rules to defining her own path with Max, Karen explores how true empowerment means moving beyond templates and trusting your inner guidan...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons from Stranger Things , Karen and Bill explore the power of empathy in driving change. Inspired by Murray Bauman’s advice to Nancy and Jonathan in Season 2, they unpack how meeting people where they are isn’t about deception—it’s about translation and understanding. Drawing on psychologist Dr. Renée Lertzman’s concept of radical attunement , Karen explains how rea...

Life Lesson #8 — Use Your Voice — Karen and Bill celebrate the strong, outspoken women of Stranger Things. From Nancy calling out the “bullshit,” to Eleven’s quiet but powerful “No,” to Erica’s confident demands for free ice cream, the gang explores what it means to speak your truth, set boundaries, and ask for what you want. Karen also opens up about her own journey—physically and mentally—toward...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things , Karen and Bill explore what it really means to get a coach and why even heroes need help to level up. From Kali guiding Eleven to unlock her full power, to Karen Wheeler reminding Nancy to go for it, to Steve Harrington (yes, Steve! ) teaching Dustin how to find his confidence at the Snow Ball—Stranger Things shows us that great coaches hel...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things , Karen and Bill dive into Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and explore how every character in Hawkins—from Murray and Joyce to Eleven and Max—answers their own call to adventure. Using Campbell’s classic framework, they show how the heroes of Stranger Things mirror the journeys we all take in real life. Whether you’re facing fear, loss, or c...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things , In this episode, Karen and Bill explore one of Stranger Things’ deeper life lessons — We All Have Demons. From Hopper’s grief and guilt to Billy’s trauma and Eleven’s inner battles, the Upside Down becomes a metaphor for our own internal struggles. Karen and Bill unpack how many of our “demons” live in our minds — the stories, fears, and cr...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things , Karen and Bill turn up the volume on one of Stranger Things’ most powerful themes — the healing power of music. From Max escaping the clutches of the Upside Down to your favorite song lifting you out of a funk, music truly is medicine. Karen explores the science behind why the right song can change everything, sharing insights from Dr. Dani...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things , Karen and Bill celebrate the beauty of embracing your quirks, differences, and glorious weirdness — because as Eddie Munson reminds us, “Forced conformity is the real monster.” From Jonathan and Will’s brotherly bond over The Clash to Eddie’s unapologetic leadership of the Hellfire Club, Stranger Things reminds us that it’s our individualit...

In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things , Karen and Bill channel their inner Dustin as they dive into Life Lesson #2: Be Curious. From Mr. Clark’s late-night science calls to Dustin’s “Curiosity Voyage,” they explore how curiosity isn’t just for kids — it’s the secret to staying vibrant, adaptable, and creative at any age. Karen shares research from Stanford’s Dr. Gary Swan showing...

In this first episode of our special series 11 Life Lessons from Stranger Things , Karen is joined on the mic with her own Billy (IYKYK), her husband, Bill Auld. They explore why Stranger Things has captured their hearts and what it was like to grow up in the 80s. Together, they unpack Life Lesson 1: Trust Your Vibes and discuss how Joyce Byers teaches us the power of trusting our vibes. When ever...

Grab your Eggos, friends — something strange is coming! In this special teaser episode, host Karen Auld (aka the chick who puts the care in Karen) shares a mysterious new project inspired by her favorite show, Stranger Things . Tune in to discover how the Upside Down connects to the four tenets of an Imperfect Advocate and why she and her co-host (her own “Billy”) are launching 11 Life Lessons fro...

n this episode of The Imperfect Advocate , Karen Auld explores the wisdom of Jane Goodall and how her words embody the four tenets of being an Imperfect Advocate: recognizing interconnection, fumbling forward, leading with love, and making the hard work fun. Drawing on quotes from The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times , Karen reflects on how compassion leads to action, why “oops” mom...

After a season of silence for healing, Karen Auld is back behind the mic with a full heart and a mending voice. In this joyful relaunch of The Imperfect Advocate , Karen shares her deeply personal journey through vocal cord surgery, a painful bout of COVID, and the slow, steady return of her voice—physically and metaphorically. Karen also revisits why she started the podcast in the first place. Sh...

In the season finale of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast , host Karen Auld reflects on the themes of renewal and transformation as spring approaches. She shares a personal journey of stepping into a new season of change, highlighting the importance of using one's voice and embracing moments of pause for growth. Karen also shares what you can expect in Season 4 of the podcast!

In this episode of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast , host Karen Auld takes listeners on a journey through her first protest experience. Inspired by a social media post from ALT National Parks, Karen learns about a nationwide protest organized by Resistance Rangers in response to unjust layoffs of park rangers. With her husband, Bill Auld, she sets out to Jockey Hollow National Park to stand in soli...

The Vice President recently invoked the theory of concentric circles , but his take came with an “and then” hierarchy of compassion. In this episode, Karen Auld breaks down what Confucius actually taught , why love isn’t a checklist , and how it all ties back to the four tenets of an Imperfect Advocate . With humor (yes, there’s a Dude, Where’s My Car? reference), insight, and a reminder that love...

In this episode of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast, host Karen Auld chats about Valentine's Day and how you can radiate love all year long by developing a metta practice.

In this episode of The Imperfect Advocate Podcast , host Karen Auld shares her experience of being called a "Karen" and why it didn’t silence her. She reflects on the challenges of speaking up, especially for those who have been conditioned to avoid confrontation, and explores how to build resilience in difficult conversations. Through personal stories and insights, Karen encourages listeners to d...