The Nonlinear Path: From Public Health to Published Author with Ted Neill

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, host Amy Stone welcomes Seattle-based writer and public health expert Ted Neill. Ted shares his journey from an early passion for writing, through a career dedicated to public health and humanitarian work across the globe, to finally embracing a full-time career as an author. Their conversation dives deep into the challenges of career pivots, self-care, the reality of non-linear adult lives, and the lessons learned from service in vulnerable communities.

About the Guest:

Ted Neill is a writer, journalist, and former global health professional whose work spans five continents. His books, including Two Years of Wonder and Twenty Years of Unraveling, explore themes of resilience, justice, and personal transformation. With a background in social advocacy and storytelling, Ted shares powerful insights on overcoming adversity, navigating identity, and embracing life's unexpected turns. His work has been featured in The Washington Post and Recovery Today, and he is a recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Torch of Peace Award.

Main Topics Covered:

• Ted's journey from aspiring writer to journalist, to a career in global public health, and back to writing full time
• The realities and challenges of working in the nonprofit sector
• The impact of global humanitarian work on mental health and personal identity
• Navigating burnout, depression, and the process of personal reinvention
• The business side of independent publishing and the blending of creative and business skills
• Ted’s prolific writing catalog, including middle-grade fiction, YA, memoir, and a nonfiction series on bias and equity
• Embracing a non-linear, imperfect adulting journey
• How past traumas and experiences shape our passions and careers

Quote from the Episode:

“...maybe we could have it all, but not all at the same time.” — Ted Neill

Connect with Ted Neill

IG @therealauthortedneill TikTok: @tedneillwrites

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