Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

In this episode, I talk to Sara Schley, an organizational consultant, spiritual leader, author, entrepreneur and bipolar human, about her journey with Bipolar II. Sara speaks about her experiences with cognitive dysfunction, her late diagnosis (25 years later), and the importance of the correct medications in the successful management of bipolar disorder. Sara also shares how medical misdiagnoses...

In this episode, I'm joined by Jeremy Lipkowitz, a meditation teacher, coach, and porn addiction recovery expert. Jeremy shares his personal recovery story and emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and self-compassion in overcoming addiction. He talks about the harmful effects porn can have on mental health, relationships, and self-esteem, as well as the broader implications of the porn ind...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Doctor of Nutrition and Author, Dr. Brooke Scheller. Dr. Scheller is on a mission to help people heal their relationship with alcohol through nutrition, and her new book How to Eat to Change How You Drink is full of helpful tips and information to support anyone looking to change their drinking habits. In this conversation, Dr. Scheller discusses the role of...

To kick off the New Year, I’m sitting down with Trauma and Addiction Specialist Diane Young to discuss all things New Year’s Resolutions! In this conversation we explore the concept of setting intentions instead of New Year's resolutions and the benefits of taking small steps towards change. The conversation delves into the differences between heavy drinkers and grey area drinkers and the cont...

It’s my birthday this week and I’m turning 36, so to celebrate I wanted to give you all a gift! In this week’s solo episode, I’m sharing with you all my 36 game changing lessons that have made a huge impact on my life! These lessons span across all facets of the human experience including relationships, mindset, career and health. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Behind the Smile episode without discus...

In this week’s episode I sat down with registered counsellor, alcohol coach and podcast host Isabella Ferguson. Bella identifies as having been a “grey-area” drinker throughout her 20-year drinking career, which came to an abrupt halt in February 2020 after entering a rehab facility. Today, Bella’s life couldn’t look more different. She’s left her former industry of law and is now a corporate well...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Sober Coach, Teacher’s Aide and mum of three, Megan Webb. From early childhood, Meg experienced crippling anxiety and by the age of 17, she’d developed a social phobia. Made worse by alcohol, Meg fell into a terrible cycle of self-medication which only fuelled her crippling mental health condition. After years of unsuccessfully trying to manage her drinking,...

In this week’s episode I sat down with New York Times Best Selling Author, Prison Reform Advocate and mother of four, Lara Love Hardin. Lara’s recently released memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love, recounts her slide from soccer mum, to opioid addict, to jailhouse shot caller and her unlikely comeback to becoming a highly successful ghost writer and published author. Lara’s journey from shame to r...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Aussie Ranger and single mum, Ali Burke. After spending decades immersed in a celebrated drinking culture, Ali reached a point in her life where she knew something had to change. Ali got sober curious which then led her down the path of hypnotherapy and a commitment to take one year off the booze. Six months in, the numerous benefits she experienced were enou...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Spiritual Advisor, Clinical Counsellor and Motivational Speaker, Fausto Castellanos. Known as “the hope dealer,” Fausto has found a way to turn his pain into his purpose by helping others along their own paths of recovery and healing. Fausto is an amazing speaker with incredible insights but what struck me most about this conversation was his openness and vul...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Recovery Coach, Yoga Teacher and host of the Sun and Moon Sober Living podcast, Mary Tilson. Mary has been sober for over a decade and is passionate about helping others find freedom from addiction so they can live fulfilling lives substance-free. Combining holistic principles such as meditation, breath work and yoga, Mary has discovered the healthy way to be...

In this week’s episode I sat down with musician, running enthusiast and sobriety advocate, Luke Bayliss. From a young age, Luke experienced bullying at school which triggered debilitating anxiety and an eating disorder. Always feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, when Luke discovered alcohol, he found his insecurities melted away. Luke had a troubled relationship with booze from the outset which...

In this week’s episode I sat down with life and sobriety coach Michelle McDonald. Since getting sober in 2021, Michelle has been on a mission to support other people in recovery through the creation of connection and community. Michelle believes connection is everything and she credits her sobriety for not only developing a deeper connection with her loved ones, but even more so, a deeper and more...

In this week’s episode I sat down with Australia’s foremost Blues Musician, Ash Grunwald. On the 1st of January 2018, Ash, (persuaded by his wife Danni Carr), decided to ditch the booze for 12 months. What happened in the year that followed would change the trajectory of Ash’s life forever. In sobriety, Ash tapped into his superpower and developed a mindset that enabled him to go from striving to...

In this week’s episode I’m joined by Courtney Anderson, a Sober Coach, Podcast Host and the author of Sober Vibes: A Guide to Thriving in your first three months without alcohol. Courtney is the founder of National Sober Day and the founder of Sober Vibes, an online community for the sober and sober curious. She believes in empowered sobriety and breaking stigmas of addiction and recovery. We spok...

In this week’s episode I’m joined by Addiction, Trauma and Codependency Coach Drew Wild. Drew is on a mission to change the conversation around addiction, challenging people to approach the understanding of these compulsions through the lens of trauma. He believes trauma underpins most dependencies and is prevalent for those who are unable to process their emotions. With his own lived experience i...

In this week’s episode I’m chatting with sobriety hype girl and host of the Happiest Sober podcast, Madeline Forrest. Having made the decision to get sober at 27 years old, Maddy is now on a mission to inspire others to create an awesome alcohol-free life. Maddy is so full of energy and epitomizes the positive changes you can expect when you choose to live life sober. When she’s not running her on...

In this week’s episode I sat down with worldwide speaker, best-selling author, and facilitator for Access Consciousness, Brendon Watt. Brendon specialises in helping others to overcome addiction, as he too walks the path of recovery and sobriety. We touched on a range of interesting topics including: Happiness being an inside job – 2:30 Accessing consciousness – 10:00 Showing up authentically – 21...

In this week’s episode I’m sitting down with Coach, Mentor and mum of two Karina McKenna. Karina was just 23 years old when she gave up drinking and has spent the past 13 years navigating how to do life sober. In this conversation Karina shares how she’s managed to face adversity without anything to blunt the edges and the lessons she’s learnt in the messiness of life. We dove into a range of topi...

In this week’s episode I sat down with host and creator of the Sober Friend’s podcast Matt Jerr. Despite being exposed to heavy drinking and the negative impacts of addiction from a young age, Matt struggled to admit he had a problem with alcohol because he wasn’t a daily drinker. As someone who was high-functioning and good at hiding their drinking, Matt disguised his habit behind the label of “w...

In this week’s episode I’m joined by multi-talented actress and former model Brandy Ledford. There’s a high chance you’ve seen Brandy on your screens as she’s appeared in critically acclaimed movies and TV series including Baywatch, Modern Family and Rat Race. Yet Brandy’s focus today goes beyond her successful acting career. With over 11 years of sobriety, Brandy’s ultimate goal is to spread posi...

In this week’s episode I’m sitting down with PhD student and fellow sober human, Aaron Thomas. Aaron Is currently working in the field of Clinical Psychology – specifically, looking at behavioural neuroscience, or put simply, why people make decisions. Some of Aaron’s most fascinating research is around the hereditary nature of addiction which he explains can be highlighted through the study of ge...

In this week’s episode I’m sitting down Health and Wellness Coach Deb Masner. Deb is a mum of two, a registered nurse, podcaster and a self-proclaimed alcohol free badass. She’s also the founder of Alcohol Tipping Point – a place where you can find free resources to support your sober journey. As a registered nurse Deb has a deep understanding of the negative impact alcohol has on the body and she...

In this week’s episode I’m chatting with Matt Pink, an alcohol-free coach and entrepreneur. Matt quit drinking in April 2020 and since that time has taken the sober world by storm. He’s not only published a best-selling book but is also the co-founder of Dryy – an online and offline community that welcomes anyone wanting to try an alcohol-free lifestyle. Matt’s life today couldn’t be more differen...

It’s an extra special episode this week as we celebrate one whole year of Behind The Smile, and to mark the occasion I’ve invited back to the show, my dad Rod. Dad was the first ever guest to join me on Behind The Smile and his episode (Ep 2. From Manic to Mindful) is still one of the most popular episodes to date!! This time, we decided to hand the power over to you and have answered some of the...