Lacey's Story
Lacey is a 30-something Midwestern woman, mother of three, and co-founder of the Practical Hug. She holds two master's degrees and brings a unique blend of educational expertise and real-life experience to everything she creates.
Her professional background spans instructional design, communication design, technology implementation, and relationship building. She previously worked in education, learning, and development sectors before creating the Practical Hug.
The Inspiration
In late 2022, Lacey noticed something everywhere she looked: the concept of the middle. The middle of life. The middle of stages. The middle of problems. The middle of rankings. The messy, uncertain, often-overlooked middle.
This observation sparked the creation of her podcast "Sharing the Middle" and became a cornerstone of the Practical Hug's philosophy.
A Transformative Journey
Around the same time she was launching her podcast, Lacey began experiencing significant health struggles that transformed her life perspective. These challenges weren't abstract, they were real, daily battles that reshaped how she thought about energy, boundaries, and what it means to get through hard times.
Through navigating chronic illness, she learned crucial lessons about energy management and setting boundaries. Rather than keeping these hard-won insights to herself, she shares them openly to help others navigate their own difficulties. Her vulnerability creates permission for others to be honest about their struggles.
Education & Expertise
Lacey earned her degrees from the University of Cincinnati:
- MEd in Instructional Design and Technology
- MA in Communication
- BA in Communication
These credentials inform her approach to creating content that actually helps people learn and grow, not just consume information.
