Ash to Dusk

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...

We’ve all heard it before… money doesn’t buy happiness. But what if not having it is the very thing keeping you stuck? In this episode of Ash to Dusk , I’m opening up about my personal relationship with money—the mistakes, the fear, the shame, and the reality of what it’s like to hit rock bottom and have to rebuild from nothing. This conversation was sparked by a listener who reached out asking, “...

Hey friend 🤍 This week is a little bit of a shift for Ash to Dusk … and I’m really excited about it. We’re starting to create more intentional space in the podcast—where Sundays focus on life, motherhood, and the personal side of things… and midweek, we lean into leadership, growth, and building something of your own. And today is the first episode in that new direction. We’re talking about somet...

Sometimes the world can feel heavy. Between the constant noise on social media, the news, and the everyday stress of life, it can start to feel like everything around us is negative. But this week something small happened that reminded me there is still so much good in the world. In this episode of Ash to Dusk , I’m sharing a story about a quiet act of kindness that completely shifted my perspecti...

In this episode of Ash to Dusk, I’m trying something a little different for our midweek moment. Wednesdays are going to start focusing more on leadership, entrepreneurship, and career growth, while Sundays will continue to be our deeper conversations about life, relationships, and personal growth. And today’s lesson comes from something that happened this week. I had to block someone. Phone. Email...

Parenting a child with ADHD can come with a lot of questions and, if we’re being honest, a lot of mom guilt. In this episode of Ash to Dusk , Ashley shares a very real moment that happened in her home when her son forgot to take his ADHD medication and later admitted he didn’t like the way it made him feel. That conversation opened the door to something many parents quietly wrestle with… wondering...

Co-parenting is not always 50/50. And sometimes the hardest part is carrying the weight while still protecting the other parent. In this episode of Ash to Dusk , I share a deeply personal conversation sparked by something as simple as tax season. What started as frustration and resentment forced me to confront a truth I’ve been avoiding for years about co-parenting, burnout, and overcompensating f...

This week’s midweek moment is a vulnerable one. After years without a panic attack, I woke up in the middle of the night with numbness, chills, a racing heart, and fear that something was seriously wrong. I thought I had moved past this chapter of anxiety. I was frustrated. I was embarrassed. And I had to remind myself of something important. In this episode, I’m talking about high-functioning anx...

Have you ever wondered why you’re still showing up to a job that no longer makes you happy? In this episode of Ash to Dusk , Ashley shares a powerful response from her email community that sparked today’s conversation: “If nothing changes in six months, I’m worried I’ll still be at a job that doesn’t make me happy.” We unpack:  • What it really means to outgrow your career  • Why comfort keeps us...

This week’s Midweek Moment is a little different. I’m recording from my rental car in Birmingham, Alabama after a speaking engagement, and it truly feels like a FaceTime call between friends. In this episode, I’m sharing: Why dating your spouse still matters, especially in busy seasons of life A simple Valentine’s Day at home that reminded me what connection really looks like The importance of set...