Ashley’s Substack Podcast

Two years ago, I was drowning in creative resistance. I started this Substack—in a momentary high-vibe state—as an act of rebellion against my very low-vibe state. Today, I’m so excited to share that Wannabe Wisdom has hit 100 subscribers! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support means everything. To celebrate, I bought myself a Dairy Queen ice cream log (as one does). The man who sold...

Hi friends, Yesterday, I had the joy of hosting a live conversation with the brilliant A. J. Van Belle writer, agent, and lovely human being who shared so much wisdom. We talked about writing, creativity, Substack, and showing up authentically on the page. A.J. spoke about the evolution of their voice through fiction, the healing nature of storytelling, and a golden piece of advice from their moth...

I’ve been experiencing writer’s block for the last couple of weeks. When this happens, I try to stay in motion. So, I journal daily. I circle around moments, sketch out half-ideas. I even wrote a 1,500-word, satirical essay on imposter syndrome. I scrapped it—it was too meta, clever, not quite real. On Good Friday, my husband and I went to the beach to people-watch. It’s one of my favorite things...

You know that feeling when someone asks how your week’s been—and you genuinely can’t remember what you did yesterday? Same. In this video version of my latest Wannabe Wisdom essay, I share how a grounding practice involving alarms, bullet points, and the occasional whiff of my hair - has somehow made me feel less anxious, more present, and a tiny bit more creatively open. Also featuring: my dog Th...

I’ve been experimenting with video essays—and today’s the first one I’m sharing with you. It’s based on my written piece, The Philosophy Hidden in a Workout Class, where I explore how connection, movement, and Matrixial Theory all collide in the most unexpected places: the fitness studio. If you’ve got feedback—thoughts, reactions, constructive criticism—I’m all ears. This is new for me, and I wan...

Episode Description: What if a workout class was more than just exercise? What if it was a mirror for how we connect, support, and shape each other—not just physically, but emotionally and politically? In this episode, I explore the unexpected philosophy hidden in movement , weaving together insights from Matrixial Theory, Ubuntu, and collective energy . From the subtle power of suggestion in a fi...

Hi friends! I spent years thinking I was an introvert... turns out, I was just afraid of judgment. 😳 If you’ve ever questioned your personality type, this one’s for you. Are you a real introvert or just afraid to show a truer side of yourself? Let’s talk.👇 Let me know your thoughts on this video format! My plan is to write a long form essay every few weeks, and post couple 2-5 minute videos like...

Happy Sunday! Today is January 26, 2025, I am on my way out to walk my dog, who is making his presence known to me by grumbling by my feet. But before I go, I want to share a thought I’ve been holding onto this week. Check out this 5-minute video. After you’ve listened to it, let me know what comes to mind when you hear the ideas behind this video. I truly would love to know! I’m going to be writi...

Hi friends! I hope you’re well. I want to share a video I recently made about anxiety. I’ll be posting more video content in the future, so make sure to let me know what you think! If you liked this video, you’ll love my long-form essay “Understanding Anxiety: Why It’s Not All in Your Head” coming out tomorrow, Monday, November 18th, 2024. Ever feel like your anxiety isn’t just in your head? 🙋‍♀️...