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In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Carly Alyssa Thorne about navigating life with congenital rubella syndrome. Based in LA, California, Carly Alyssa Thorne shares her journey of balancing medical needs with pursuing a fulfilling career, Relationships, and mindset work. This episode uncovers the challenges of living with visible and invisible disabilities, the evolution of self-acceptance, and the power of choosing authenticity and self-advocacy despite societal misunderstanding.
About Carly Alyssa Thorne:
Carly Alyssa Thorne is a Director, Producer, Actress, Author, and Speaker with over 30 years in the conscious transformation field. Blending Eastern and Western philosophies, she integrates wellness, spirituality, and storytelling to create media and experiences that inspire Growth and healing. A former fitness and wellness center owner and certified Life Coach, Reiki Master, NLP and Hypnotherapy Practitioner, and Interfaith Ordained Minister, Carly brings a holistic lens to every production and collaboration. Her work bridges film, business, and Consciousness—empowering others to embody their truth, elevate their message, and lead with purpose.
Main Topics Covered:
Quote from the Episode:
“I finally just stopped caring what other people stared, what their looks were, what comments were, you know, bullying, all that stuff. And I’m just like, I’m just going to be me—if you either like it or you don’t. If you need to ask me a question instead of staring, feel free to ask me a question. I’d be more than happy to answer.” — Carly Alyssa Thorne 10:55
Timestamps:00:05 Introduction; where Carly Alyssa Thorne calls home and what she loves about LA00:50 Explaining congenital rubella syndrome and its effects01:27 How the syndrome uniquely affects each person; long-term medical complications03:29 Childhood experiences: isolation, allergies, and constant medical care05:21 Lung and respiratory challenges; living with additional illnesses06:07 Family dynamics and coming to terms with medical reality07:25 Impact on school, sports, friendships, and accommodations09:31 Navigating visible and invisible disabilities; decisions about self-presentation12:56 The mindset shift: from hiding to self-acceptance and advocacy18:40 The toll of chronic illness on mental health and resilience23:47 Coping strategies, mindset work, and building positivity26:38 Day-to-day impact: fatigue, self-care, and adapting professional life29:12 Educational and career roadblocks, inability to sustain traditional roles31:05 Losing freedom (driving), further adaptations across life32:58 Boundaries and relationships: support circles and letting go of judgment35:03 Cultural and family context; independent self-advocacy37:18 Carly Alyssa Thorne’s Coaching work: blending modalities to support others
ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life’s choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there’s a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person’s lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations.
CONNECT WITH THE GUEST: Www.carlyathorne.com
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For livestreaming and recording ECamm https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=amy69
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Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic https://get.castmagic.io/ugrmjjrt8ofj
For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Amy-Stone
before that I used Kit.
Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/lists/podcast-guest-authors
