Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

In this episode, Ash sits down with Blythe Langford, a holistic business mentor, trauma-informed healer, and the definition of resilience. From drowning in debt to building a salon empire, surviving cancer, and radically transforming her life through sobriety, raw veganism and fasting, Blythe’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. She shares the bold rituals and unconventional healing practi...

In this episode, Ash is joined by Kyle Stagoll, a crypto trader whose world came crashing down overnight with the collapse of FTX, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in history. What started as a story of rapid success turned into a sobering fall, as Kyle faced the unthinkable: losing everything he’d built. Kyle speaks with raw honesty about the emotional aftermath of that loss, the depre...

In this episode, Ash speaks with Rachel Pfeiffer, a psychotherapist and yoga teacher, who shares her journey of healing from trauma, the importance of self-care, and the intersection of psychotherapy and yoga. Rachel opens up about a traumatic time in her life when her identity was not only stolen but exploited, resulting in a landmark court case and subsequent sentencing. She also shares her insi...

In this episode, Ash is joined by author Peter Norris , a CEO, world-class athlete and the son of one of Australia’s most notorious bank robbers. Peter’s early years were shaped by instability, violence, and addiction, but what unfolds in this conversation is not just a story of survival, it’s one of profound transformation. Peter opens up about the pivotal moments that changed the trajectory of h...

In this heartfelt episode, Ash is joined by Sheridan Rose Shaw, an award-winning creative director celebrated for her work in the hairdressing industry. She shares her powerful journey of recovery, identity, and self-acceptance. Sheridan speaks openly about her path to sobriety, the transformative impact of breathwork, and the complex reality of parenting while navigating her own healing.  Togethe...

In this raw and inspiring conversation, Ash is joined by former AFL player Steven Baker who opens up about his story including life after football, hitting rock bottom and turning his life around.  After being unexpectedly cut from his AFL career, Steven spiraled into grief, substance abuse, and deep depression, especially following the death of his father. He opens up about how a life of discipli...

In this powerful episode, Ash is joined by Shannon Pirie, a global beauty executive with decades of experience and a heart-first approach to leadership. From the outside, Shannon’s life looked picture-perfect. But behind the scenes, she was enduring one of the most painful and transformative years of her life: losing her marriage, dream home, and job in quick succession. Shannon opens up about hit...

In this episode, Ash Butterss sits down with Boaz Gilboa , founder of MindCalmr , osteopath, and trauma-informed coach, to explore what it really takes to reclaim emotional freedom after trauma.  Boaz opens up about his journey through divorce, addiction, and family dysfunction , and how programs like NA, ACOA, CODA, and Debtors Anonymous each played a unique role in his growth. He shares how his...

In this week’s episode, Ash is joined by Georgie Irvine, a sobriety and mindset coach and owner of Thrivalist, a global community for sober-curious women. After decades of binge drinking and years of attempting to moderate, Georgie shares the moment she finally called herself out and the freedom she’s found on the other side of alcohol. Georgie speaks candidly about her early days in sobriety, the...

In this episode, Ash Butterss sits down with yoga and meditation teacher Kristian Crowe, whose story is one of reinvention, dharma, and finding peace after years of striving. From a decade-long career in musical theatre to life in a Melbourne ashram, Kristian shares what it means to walk away from the roles we’ve outgrown and come home to ourselves. Kristian reflects on his early identity as a per...

In this episode, Ash reconnects with Laura Corcoran, a Holistic Psychologist and mother of three. Just four weeks after a life-altering breakup and with a six-month-old baby in her arms, Laura joins Ash to talk candidly about what it means to unravel, release, and rise. Laura opens up about walking away from a relationship that no longer aligned, the fears and shame she faced in doing so, and the...

In this latest episode, Ash sits down with Ian Cron, a bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, and Episcopal priest, to explore the power of recovery, the importance of spiritual growth, and what it really means to heal from the inside out. Ian opens up about his decades-long journey in and out of 12-step recovery, including a relapse in 2020 after many years of sobriety. He shares...

In this episode, Ash sits down with Kate Goold, a working mum of two who recently celebrated her first year alcohol-free. Kate’s journey began with chronic physical pain and three hip replacements in four years—an ordeal that left her on crutches, in and out of hospitals, and barely able to care for her children. But what began as a decision to help her body heal physically sparked something much...

In this week’s episode, Ash sits down with Andrew Campbell, founder of Hush Property and a respected figure in Melbourne’s high-end real estate market. Known for selling luxury homes with discretion and heart, Andrew shares a side of himself few ever see—the man behind the polished exterior, and the deeply personal journey that shaped him. Andrew opens up about losing his father at age 22, growing...

In this powerful episode, Ash sits down with Katharine McLean, a holistic counselor, trauma-informed mentor, and founder of The Light Becomes Her. With over 23 years of experience guiding others through healing, Katharine shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and inner transformation. After decades of high-functioning alcohol use and hidden drug addiction, Katharine hit r...

In this deeply personal episode, Ash sits down with her dad, Rod Butterss, a seasoned entrepreneur, former AFL club president, and long-time member of the recovery community. Together, they reflect on life in recovery, the reality of relapse, cultivating self-awareness, and what it means to truly reinvent yourself at any stage of life. Rod opens up about his recent relapse after more than a decade...

In this latest episode, Ash sits down with beauty corporate executive and fitness instructor Niki Kiskiras. Beyond her career achievements, Niki shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, overcoming societal expectations, and reclaiming her independence after ending her marriage in her late 20s. Coming from a traditional Greek-Australian background, Niki opens up about the immense shame...

In this episode, Ash sits down with Alcohol and Midlife Coach, Belinda Stark, who shows that it’s never too late to transform your life after making her own significant changes in her mid-50s. After running a successful fashion business for over a decade, Belinda made the bold decision to change careers, inspired by her own journey of overcoming depression, breast cancer, divorce, and a complex re...

In this latest episode, Ash has a deep and powerful conversation with Ryan Trainor, exploring his transformative journey from a successful entrepreneur to a more authentic and balanced human. They discuss the importance of curiosity, connection, and the need to let go of control in life. Ryan shares his experiences with mental health, the pressures of success, and the impact of childhood on his qu...

In this episode, Ash welcomes back a friend of the show, Kath Elliott, an alcohol mindset coach now entering her sixth year of sobriety. Kath returns to share openly about her recent experience of navigating divorce in sobriety.  Kath discusses the fears that held her back, and how she ultimately made the decision to choose herself. Ash and Kath go on to discuss the emotional rollercoaster of grie...

In this episode of Behind the Smile, Ash is joined by former reality TV star Davey Lloyd, who you might recognise from shows including The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. Now a builder living in Sydney, Davey opens up about his struggles with addiction which took him to the brink of death after overdosing in 2023.  In this candid conversation, Davey shares his harrowing journey through addi...

In this special solo episode of Behind the Smile, Ash Butterss marks a huge milestone—five years of sobriety. Reflecting on her journey from rock bottom to a life beyond her wildest dreams, Ash shares the raw truth about what it really takes to break free from addiction and step into a life of clarity, peace, and purpose. From walking into rehab convinced she’d learn to “drink like a lady” to real...

In the latest episode of Behind the Smile, host Ash speaks with Dean Beattie, a longevity coach who’s overcome his own struggles with addiction. Having been sober for over 20+ years now, Dean shares candidly about the challenges he’s faced in recovery including healing his relationship with his family, overcoming financial fears and forming healthy intimate relationships.  He reflects on the role...

In this week’s episode, Ash sits down with Jodi Clark, a business mentor and alcohol-free coach, to discuss her journey towards sobriety and self-discovery. Jodi shares how it was actually a 100-day weight-loss challenge that motivated her to go alcohol free, yet after seeing the positive impact it had on her mental health and relationships, she decided to stay sober for good. In this conversation...

In this latest episode, Ash has a deep conversation with psychotherapist Alex Crouch, who shares his journey of overcoming alcoholism and the impact it had on his life. Alex discusses his childhood experiences growing up in the USSR before moving to Australia, his struggles to fit in, and how alcohol became a coping mechanism. He reflects on the consequences of his addiction, the lessons learned a...