Saying Yes to Discomfort and New Beginnings with Gwendolyn Dolske

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Gwendolyn Dolske. Dolske is aLos Angeles-based philosophy professor, writer, and host of the podcast Good Is in the Details. Gwendolyn shares her journey from academic routine to creative exploration, the vulnerability of stepping into the media space, and the transformative surprise of becoming a parent alongside launching her show.About the Guest:Gwendolyn Dolske PhD is a writer, educator, speaker, and producer of the award winning podcast Good Is In The Details. In all areas, her work focuses on using the wisdom of thinkers from her studies in Philosophy to navigate and explore issues of today.  She is the author of Tips From The Professor. A Guide to College Success, Philosophy Unplugged, and scholarly articles emphasizing Existentialism. Gwendolyn has taught Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, and Gonzaga University. Main Topics Covered:Academic comfort zones and why Gwendolyn chose philosophyNavigating career satisfaction, routine, and intellectual curiosityThe decision to launch a podcast as a midlife creative leapVulnerability, self-doubt, and being a woman in a public, media-facing roleUnexpected personal growth through parenting and embracing imperfectionHow podcasting provided a space for curiosity and communityThe value of learning new things, risking discomfort, and living authenticallyQuote from the Episode:“The desire for a perfect presentation—I was almost forced to let go of it. And I’m glad I did, because now when something goes a little bit sideways, it doesn’t bother me as much. I’m like, oh, this is life. That’s what makes life good. That’s what makes life fun.” — Gwendolyn DolskeTimestamps: [00:00:23] Gwendolyn calls Los Angeles home[00:00:38] Transitioning from busy to downtime with mystery novels[00:02:52] Routine life as a professor and academic comfort zone[00:05:08] Why philosophy? Childhood curiosity and passion for deeper meaning[00:07:37] Life applications for a philosophy degree[00:10:36] Relationship changes and creating space for new adventures[00:15:37] Starting a podcast outside her comfort zone[00:22:10] Addressing vulnerability as a woman of “a certain age” in media[00:29:05] 2019: Embracing podcasting and unexpected new motherhood[00:33:24] Letting go of perfectionism and embracing imperfect adulting[00:36:19] What Good Is in the Details is all about[00:39:02] The podcast as a space for deep thinking and growthConnect with the guest at GoodIsInTheDetails.comJoin the conversation on social. Find the Art of Imperfect Adulting on Instagram @theartof_imperfect_adulting YouTube @imperfectadulting and TikTok @imperfectadulting If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/supportNever Miss a Moment of Imperfect AdultingWe invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.Why subscribe?Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast appGet guest offers delivered straight to your inboxAccess all important links in one convenient placeCatch the highlights even when you don't have time to listenAre you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Pitch yourself at https://www.imperfectadulting.com/be-a-guestHere are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofjFor Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stonebefore that I used Kit. Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors