Ashes and Aftermath

In this powerful and honest conversation, Noah May shares his journey from community college in Alabama to graduating from Auburn University with a journalism degree — and the unexpected road that led him into full-time podcasting. After struggling to break into traditional journalism, Noah found himself pivoting into podcasting, where a single email from Pod Match helped change the trajectory of...

In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Gamlin , motivational speaker, humorist, and the creator of Vision Board Mastery , for a real and refreshing conversation about rebuilding your life after setbacks. Steve shares his personal journey through failure, self-doubt, and starting over—and how learning to see his life differently changed everything. We talk about why vision boards get a bad reputation...

n this episode of Ashes and Aftermath , Brandon Holder speaks with Nicholas Ruchlewicz , a traumatic brain injury and motorcycle crash survivor who turned personal devastation into powerful advocacy. Nicholas shares the story of the accident that left him with multiple life-threatening injuries, the long road to recovery, and the mental health lessons trauma forced him to confront. The conversatio...

In this episode of Ashes and Aftermath , host Brandon Holder speaks with Shannon Curtis, founder of Angel Goddess Healing and author of No More Monsters Under the Bed . Shannon shares how childhood trauma impacts us as adults and how healing begins through forgiveness, inner-child work, and reclaiming your voice. They explore overcoming shame tied to addiction and sexual abuse, the power of sharin...

When life shatters, where do you turn? In this episode, Julie Barth shares how she survived profound loss, emotional abuse, and the demands of raising a medically fragile daughter — and how she rebuilt her life with purpose. This conversation is a lifeline for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or the aftermath of a toxic relationship. Julie’s journey began with the heartbreaking loss of her first h...

Life doesn’t always break softly. Sometimes it shatters. Ashes & Aftermath is a mental health and recovery podcast about surviving trauma, navigating healing, and the messy human work of rebuilding. Hosted by survivor Brandon Holder, the show shares real stories, expert insights, and practical tools for anyone on a healing journey. Some episodes feature Brandon’s personal reflections; others b...