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In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Sarah Paris about identity loss and transformation through the early challenges of motherhood. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sarah shares her personal story of postpartum struggle, the unexpected realities of new motherhood, and how she rebuilt her sense of self through community, Therapy, and self-care. Listeners will gain insight into the often unseen emotional toll of early Parenting, the importance of seeking support, and practical ways to reclaim joy as a caregiver.
About Sarah Paris:
Sarah Parise is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Perinatal Wellness Specialist, and mom who helps women reclaim their energy, identity, and sense of calm through small, sustainable habits. With over 20 years of experience in fitness and wellness, Sarah focuses on wellness practices that fit into real life, not perfection or pressure.
After struggling in her early years of motherhood, she shifted the way she approached Health, moving away from all or nothing thinking and toward consistency, self trust, and regulation. Through her signature 2% approach, Sarah teaches women how tiny daily choices can create lasting change for themselves and the families watching them.
Main Topics Covered:
Quote from the Episode:
“I just feel like I have to do something for myself that’s just me to make me feel like I’m a human again…you showed up. Just keep showing up.” — Sarah Paris
Timestamps:
[00:00:20] Amy welcomes Sarah; home in Raleigh, NC, and weather talk
[00:01:16] Sarah’s generational identity—growing up Gen X/Xennial
[00:02:15] When did Sarah know she wanted kids? Journey from “no way” as a teacher to becoming a mom at 36
[00:03:44] Pregnancy experience—health, insomnia, and delivery expectations
[00:06:25] Difficult labor and traumatic birth story; NICU moments and rapid detour from a “birth plan”
[00:08:32] How birth Trauma and loss of control foreshadow motherhood’s unpredictability
[00:09:36] Sarah’s personality as a “planner who rolls with the punches,” and the complications of a broken tailbone during delivery
[00:11:56] Why postpartum trauma and fatigue matter for emotional recovery
[00:13:18] Sarah’s six-month postpartum breaking point—exhaustion, rage, isolation in Santa Monica
[00:15:10] Moment of crisis on the Palisades park bluff and the decision to seek help
[00:17:20] First steps toward self-care: Yoga, small rituals, and building a new support network
[00:21:09] How family modeling (her mother’s selflessness) shaped Sarah’s motherhood ideals and inner critic
[00:23:11] Navigating faith, Catholic guilt, and expectations of sacrificial mothering
[00:25:05] Why staying home with kids isn’t for everyone; judgment and permission to choose other paths
[00:27:29] Sarah’s background in fitness and how athletics/yoga fed her healing
[00:32:16] Could people around her see the struggle? Masking, invisible pain, and missed opportunities for intervention
[00:36:26] The breaking point with friends and the importance of honest conversations in mom communities
[00:41:03] Why Sarah shares her story: to fight maternal loneliness, and the need for a “team” to support mothers
[00:44:39] Sarah’s Coaching—emphasizing confidence, not weight loss, for moms; 2% a day to yourself
[00:47:41] Favorite podcast/fun recommendations, and gold platform sneakers for daily joy
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: http://www.greatdaysbysarah.com
GET SARAH’S’S SPECIAL OFFER:Name of the product offered:
7 Day Energy Boost
Podcast listeners can access the 7 Day Energy Boost for just $7.
Note from the show: Guest offers are almost always limited-time and limited quantity. If you have any trouble redeeming the offer please reach out directly to the guest for support.
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Here 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=amy69
Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=ntczmwi
Website hosting with Siteground https://www.siteground.com/?referrer_id=9115590
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
