Ash to Dusk

You do not need January 1st to start changing your life. I recorded this episode from a hotel room in Branson, Missouri, after traveling all day and preparing for a keynote the next morning. No studio. No perfect setup. Just my iPhone, a tiny microphone, and one of the reminders I live by: do what you can with what you have, where you are. In this episode, I’m talking about honoring the past, bein...

This week on Ash to Dusk, we’re keeping things a little lighter and talking about the random questions I cannot stop thinking about lately. How are people affording cars right now? Are we all quietly stockpiling again? Is it too early to decorate for Christmas? And how did my kids suddenly get old enough for me to be thinking about things like driving? Episode 68 is a real-life, slightly unhinged...

What happens when you take the leap, trust your gut, follow your faith—and then everything changes? In Episode 67 of Ash to Dusk, I sit down with Lindsey Hawthorne, someone I’ve known since we were kids growing up in Canton South. After spending 12 years as a stay-at-home mom, navigating military separations, mental health struggles, and seasons of questioning her faith, Lindsey and her husband ma...

One year into Ash to Dusk, more than 55,000 plays later, I’m realizing something: I have spent way too much time asking myself, “Who am I to do this?” Who am I to share my life? Who am I to talk about what I’m learning? Who am I to build something outside of the work I’m already known for? I’m not a therapist. I’m not a doctor. I don’t have a long list of credentials behind my name. I’m just Ashle...

School nutrition is having a moment—and not always for the right reasons. After more than 13 years working in this industry, I’ve learned that school nutrition is one of the most misunderstood parts of the entire school system. Recently, someone in one of my sessions asked me a question I haven’t stopped thinking about: “What is it going to take to change the perception of school nutrition and the...

Amanda O’Dell never considered herself an athlete. She didn’t grow up playing sports. She describes herself as awkward, not naturally athletic, and someone who has to work hard to learn physical skills. Then, in her 30s, everything started to change. What began as a search for something active her son could enjoy eventually led Amanda into a Ninja Warrior gym—and ultimately onto American Ninja War...

Lizzie Ens grew up in the strictest order of the Amish community in Ohio on an 80-acre farm with 18 siblings, without electricity, indoor plumbing, or running water. At 19 years old, she made the decision to leave. With just $20 in her pocket, a flashlight, and the clothes she was wearing, Lizzie climbed out of a window, jumped from a 15-foot roof, and walked away from the only life she had ever k...

In Episode 62 of Ash to Dusk, Ashley sits down with author, podcast host, speaker, and leadership strategist Callie Wylie for a conversation about grief, ambition, identity, reinvention, and what happens when you stop waiting for permission to build a life that actually feels like yours. Callie shares how losing her mom changed the way she looked at time, success, and the idea of waiting until “so...

Season 2 of Ash to Dusk is here. In Episode 61, Ashley gets honest about the summer that almost made her want to quit. Between co-parenting stress, family conflict, exhaustion, anger, and the pressure of showing up for a nationwide speaking tour, she found herself questioning how she could motivate anyone else when she didn’t feel motivated herself. But she showed up anyway. In this episode, Ashle...

Today we’re celebrating 60 episodes of Ash to Dusk and officially closing out Season 1 of the podcast.  In this episode, I’m sharing why I made the decision to pause the podcast for the summer, what this journey has taught me so far, and what’s ahead for Season 2 launching September 6th. We talk about:  building a podcast while running a business and raising a family   learning as you go instead o...

I just spent 7 days away from my husband and kids on a solo trip to Anna Maria Island… and honestly, I came home feeling refreshed, emotional, inspired, and completely recharged.  In this episode, I’m sharing what that week away taught me about:  leadership   motherhood   creativity   protecting your peace   and why so many of us hold on too tightly to everything and everyone around us  We talk ab...

Avoidance feels easier in the moment… until the thing you keep avoiding starts taking over your mental space, your energy, your leadership, and your peace.  In this episode, we’re talking about procrastination, avoidance, hard conversations, leadership, entrepreneurship, and why so many of us delay the exact things we know we need to face. I share personal examples from my own life, including:  av...

I’m recording this episode right before leaving for a solo vacation without my husband and without my kids—and honestly, I know that alone can make some parents uncomfortable.  In this episode, I’m talking about the guilt so many moms and dads carry when it comes to choosing themselves, resting, taking space, or simply wanting time away from the constant responsibility of caring for everyone else....

AI is changing the way we work, lead, communicate, and build businesses—and I think a lot of women are underestimating how important it is to start learning it now. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on AI, leadership, entrepreneurship, and why adaptability matters more than fear when it comes to navigating this shift. After coming across a statistic showing women are adopting AI tool...

Mother’s Day wasn’t always a holiday I could genuinely celebrate. For much of my life, my relationship with my mom carried a lot of hurt, anger, and unresolved emotions. And for years, I viewed my story through that pain. But over the last decade of therapy, healing, and personal growth, I slowly began to realize something: healing didn’t mean rewriting my story—it meant learning how to stop livin...

I had a moment recently as a mom that I’m not proud of. I lost my temper in a way I never have before—and the guilt that followed really made me stop and reflect. In this episode, I’m sharing what happened, how I handled it, and what it revealed to me about managing emotions—not just in parenting, but in leadership and everyday life. This is the final episode in our series inspired by Start With Y...

In this episode, we’re continuing our series on emotions in leadership, inspired by Start With Yourself by Emma Grede—and today, we’re talking about fear. Fear is something every leader experiences, but most of us don’t fully understand how it’s showing up or how much it’s actually influencing the way we lead. In this episode, I share a real story from my time as a food service director where fear...

My boys recently started their own lawn care service, and after their first job, my oldest looked at me and said, “Mom… we only made $40. This wasn’t worth it.” And that moment stuck with me… because it’s the same place so many of us quit. In this episode, I’m talking about the reality of starting something new—especially when it comes to making money. Because in the beginning, you’re not getting...

If you’ve been feeling more reactive than usual… snapping quicker, shutting down, or carrying frustration you can’t quite explain—this episode is for you. Because the truth is, it’s not actually anger. In this episode, I’m sharing a real and honest look at what’s been coming up for me lately, including a moment this week that caught me completely off guard. We’re talking about anger in leadership,...

After 50 episodes of Ash to Dusk, I found myself reflecting on what this journey has actually taught me. With over 11,000 plays, this podcast has become more than just a place to talk—it’s been a space to grow, process, and figure things out in real time. And what’s wild is that most podcasts don’t even make it past a few episodes… yet here we are at 50. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 lessons tha...

There was nothing “wrong”… but something felt off. I was showing up. I was working. I was doing all the things I thought I was supposed to do. But I didn’t realize how isolated I had become… until one conversation changed everything. In this episode, I’m opening up about something I didn’t even recognize in myself — the quiet loneliness that can come with growth, entrepreneurship, and trying to “f...

I used to think that being needed meant I was a good leader. If everyone came to me, relied on me, and couldn’t function without me… I took that as a sign that I was doing something right. But over time, I realized something that completely shifted my perspective: I wasn’t leading—I was creating dependence. In this episode, I’m sharing the truth about what it really means to lead, the hidden cost...

Most of us think we’re just doing what needs to be done… Showing up. Working hard. Holding it all together. But what if the thing you’re most proud of… is actually what you’ve been hiding behind? In this episode, I’m sharing a realization I didn’t see coming — that for years, I wasn’t just committed to my work… I was using it as a place to feel safe. A place where I felt in control. A place where...

There are some things in life no one prepares you for… and this is one of them. In this episode, I’m sharing a part of my story that I don’t talk about often—the reality of having someone you love incarcerated, and how it impacts not just them… but you. Because the truth is, while they’re behind bars, it can feel like you are too. After receiving a message that brought up a wave of memories, I fou...

Some days, you just don’t have it. In this episode, I’m showing up differently. No perfectly planned message, no polished leadership tips—just real life. After a heavy week filled with unexpected emotions, old relationships resurfacing, and the weight of everything hitting at once, I had to make a choice: push through… or pause. And today, I chose to pause. This is your reminder that even as a lea...