Episode Details

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In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Zina Wilde about navigating radical career change, rediscovering purpose after success, and the healing power of travel and community. Zina is currently based in Los Angeles. Listeners will learn about Zina’s journey from TV actress (best known for her recurring role on "Billions") to wellness retreat founder, her immigration challenges, and the transformative magic she found in connecting to nature and somatic work.

Zina Wilde is an actor, filmmaker and entrepreneur. As an actor she worked on the SHOWTIME series Billions for 7 seasons. Films like 80 for Brady with Jane Fonda, Lilly Tomlin and Sally Field, The Climb which received the audience award from Cannes and Chuck with Liev Schriver and Naomi Watts among others. As an entrepreneur she created a travel/ retreat company that started in Greece where she is from and has expanded in multiple locations like Italy, France, the US and Mexico in a very short amount of time. Her retreat business was recently featured on Vogue Greece and the Chicago Tribune. Zina's trips are all about personal growth while having fun and remembering that following your bliss is the most profound journey there is.

Main Topics Covered:

1. The reality of “dream jobs”: Why working as an actress on a hit TV show isn’t always the final destination
2. Immigration hurdles and the unique challenges of building a creative career as a non-citizen
3. How the COVID-19 pandemic and personal adversity inspired Zina’s transition from acting to founding international wellness retreats
4. The importance of community, real-world connection, and “adult summer camp” in a digitally isolated era
5. The role of somatic work, dance, and nature in healing depression and rekindling creativity
6. Challenging expectations from family and friends when making unconventional life and career choices
7. Hyper-independence: Its value in artistic careers—and how it can be both fuel and a growth edge
8. Practical details: What to expect on Zina’s retreats, the themes, locations, and how to connect for a special offer

Quote from the Episode:

"I think that that was the biggest lesson for me to understand that there is no real safety anywhere, in any job, wherever they tell you that there is. Everything always changes... The point is to be present and do the best job that I can every day that I show up." — Zina Wilde

Timestamps:

00:01 Show intro; Amy introduces the episode’s topic and guest

01:47 Zina shares her multiple “homes”: New York, LA, Greece, and finding home within herself

03:29 Zina’s dream: Choosing TV/film acting, theatre roots, and skill crossovers

07:39 Reflections on landing the "Billions" role, immigration struggles, and hustling for a creative career

15:00 The myth of job security in the entertainment industry—staying present amidst uncertainty

19:27 How the pandemic and a “dark space” spurred Zina’s journey back to Greece and a new sense of purpose

24:34 Founding a retreat company: Adult summer camp, community, and real shared experi