Your Southern Lesbian

🌈 65. What happens when two lesbians fall in love across 10,000 kilometers—and decide to build something together? Ashley meets Lenie Mare of South Africa and Nina Andersson of Sweden , the couple behind Bloom LGBTQ+ , to talk about their unexpected love story, LGBTQ+ connection—and why what they're building isn't quite what Ashley initially thought. This wasn't supposed to be a podca...

What if some of the most important relationships in our lives aren’t romantic at all? Ashley explores lesbian friendships, chosen family, adult friendship, friendship breakups and the people who somehow know us through every version of ourselves. Why do some friendships last while others fade? Can you outgrow someone you still love? And what actually makes someone family? Pull up a chair, y’all....

What does emotional safety actually feel like in a lesbian relationship? Ashley explores the patterns we bring into love—from masking and people-pleasing to control and self-protection—and what happens when two very different survival strategies collide. Can conflict actually be healthy? What does repair look like? And how do you know when someone is truly willing to grow? Pull up a chair, y’all....

Project 2025 Explained: LGBTQ+ Rights, Women's Rights & What You Need to Know What is  Project 2025 , and why are so many LGBTQ+ people and women concerned about it? In this episode of  Your Southern Lesbian , host  Ashley Hydrick  is joined by activist and clinical mental health counseling graduate student  Gina Montel  for an honest conversation about Project 20...

Stop treating joy like a reward for surviving the week; it’s a tool you need  now . In this episode, Ashley Hydrick breaks down the concept of "Radical Joy" and why scheduling fun before your to-do list is finished is essential for mental health. Plus, big news: The Dinah festival officially changes hands after 35 years! Ashley details the transition from founder Mariah Hanson to new owners B...

Ever share something you love, only to be met with disinterest or dismissal? In this episode, Ashley Hydrick discusses how to protect your joy from energy vampires, doom scrolling, and the daily news cycle. Learn why grounding yourself through meditation, nature walks, or even pickleball is the ultimate "cheat code" for handling difficult conversations and showing up as your best self on dates. As...

Stop trying to earn love by being the funniest, richest, or most agreeable person in the room. In this episode, Ashley Hydrick breaks down the exhausting "survival scripts" we run to avoid abandonment—from using money as control to using humor as a shield. Learn how to recognize these childhood patterns, why the universe rewards joy over desperation, and how to build the resilience needed for real...

You meet someone. Two weeks in? You’re already planning the wedding. Six months later? “I need space.” Sound familiar? In this raw, real, and deeply insightful episode of  Your Southern Lesbian , host Ashley Hydrick sits down with lesbian therapist Katherine Sloan (Asheville, NC) to unpack why we bond too fast — and how to slow down before it hurts. They dive into the Johari Window, oxytocin’...

In this episode of Your Southern Lesbian with host Ashley Hydrick, we’re asking: what if you’re not done with dating—you’re done with abandoning yourself to stay connected? Ashley shares 7 things she’s no longer tolerating in lesbian relationships, including overgiving, people-pleasing, confusing anxiety for chemistry, accepting disrespect, and romanticizing delay. She also talks about emotional r...

In this episode of Your Southern Lesbian with host Ashley Hydrick, we’re talking about intentional dating—especially during uncertain times. Ashley shares 20 thoughtful questions to help you date with clarity, protect your mental health, and choose partners who align with your values. She explores emotional regulation, relationship readiness, and why who you date has a direct impact on your well-b...

🌈 In this episode of Your Southern Lesbian with host Ashley Hydrick , Ashley records from a London street while unpacking a question many lesbians—especially over 40—have faced: are those butterflies excitement… or anxiety? Ashley breaks down how repeating toxic dating patterns can feel like chemistry, why love bombing and flattery can override our better judgment, and how getting clear on your n...

🌈 In this episode of Your Southern Lesbian with host Ashley Hydrick , Ashley gives lesbians everywhere a loving push to stop waiting and start building real community. From daytime meetups and movie nights to bookstores and activity-based gatherings, Ashley shares why the first meetup might not be your people (and why that’s okay), how to choose community over hookup spaces when that’s what you w...

🌈 Have you ever set a boundary — and immediately wondered if you were the problem? In this episode of Your Southern Lesbian with host Ashley Hydrick , we talk about why pushback isn’t a sign you did something wrong — it’s often the clearest proof the boundary was necessary. This episode explores: Why boundary resistance is information, not conflict How high-capacity people feel “difficult” when t...

🌈51. Are people really doing the best they can—and if they are, what do we do with the harm they still cause? And is success always growth… or is it sometimes just a distraction from unhealed trauma? These two questions triggered the bleep out of me this week—and I’m guessing I’m not alone. In Episode 51 of Your Southern Lesbian , I’m unpacking two ideas that pulled me in opposite directions...

This week, Ashley digs into the #1 holiday mistake lesbians make in relationships: expecting your partner to magically know what you need without ever saying it. Silent agreements, childhood patterns, love languages, and holiday pressure all collide this time of year — and it’s easy to project your needs instead of communicating them. We talk about why mind-reading expectations create resentment,...

Episode 48 of Your Southern Lesbian with Ashley Hydrick explores why letting go of old patterns, old identities, and the wrong versions of love isn’t a loss — it’s an act of faith. Ashley breaks down how clinging to familiar but unhealthy emotional habits can block clarity, connection, and healthier love as we move into 2025–2026. If you’ve been feeling stuck, repeating cycles, or holding space fo...

This week on  Your Southern Lesbian , host  Ashley Hydrick  dives deep into one of the biggest myths in breakup recovery: the idea that “time heals all wounds.” If you’ve been replaying your breakup, obsessing over your ex, or waiting for time to magically do the work… this episode is your turning point. Ashley breaks down: • What healing  actually  is — a  shift in p...

Ep. 2 WHERE DID ALL THE LESBIANS GO? "In the early aughts, we had five lesbian bars to hit a week. Where did all the lesbians go now?" Hey y'all, welcome to the second episode of "Your Southern Lesbian" podcast! In this lively and candid episode, Ashley, a proud Gen X lesbian, dives into the question that has been on everyone's mind: "Where Did All The Lesbians Go?" She reflects on the disappearin...

Ep.1 Introducing Your Southern Lesbian Channel, Podcast, and Community. This is meant to be a FUN way to connect to other lesbians both in your own backyard and around the world. We have the technology--why not?? :) It's also meant to to be a resource for lesbians, their allies, and those questioning, or anyone who feels drawn here. And Les be real...making and maintaining lesbian friendships and...

Main Topics: Love Lies Bleeding Review: Directed by Rose Glass. Stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brien, Ed Harris, and Dave Franco. Similar vibe to "Bound" with campy macabre and great character building. Kristen Stewart's performance and the film's representation of lesbians. Community Feedback Gratitude for audience engagement and responses. How do y'all feel about the word "lesbian?" Personal anec...

* Special Thanks: * Public thank you to Dena Paduano, my co-host of our "Life in the New Normal" podcast, for her support and encouragement. Main Topic: * Disturbing Meetup Story of the Week: * Ashley recounts a disastrous experience at a London Lesbian Meetup for a screening of "Amy”, the Amy Winehouse film. * Describes feeling ill after eating questionable popcorn, ultimately leading to passing...

(Thank You! Heartfelt thanks to all listeners for your beautiful comments and engagement. It keeps me coming back and fuels our community spirit.) Our little TikTok Lesbian community is blowing up with amazing interactions. If you haven't checked it out yet, head over there! The community is engaging and supportive. :) TikTok: @your.southern.lesbian ----------- In this episode, your favorite south...

Ep 6: Embracing the Fear: Finding Love and Connection as Mature Lesbians with Solange Pollack, LMFT Welcome back, y'all! In this heartfelt episode of "Your Southern Lesbian," host Ashley Hydrick reconnects with her longtime friend and licensed marriage family therapist, Solange Pollack, LMFT. Together, they dive deep into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by mature lesbians as they nav...

In Episode 8, Ashley takes you to a Southern back porch—birdsong, sweat, and all—to talk about what’s new in the lesbian world and what’s stirring in our hearts. From Maren Morris stepping into her queer truth to Meryl Streep’s daughter Louisa Jacobson coming out, Ashley shares the joy of “new and notable lesbians” making headlines. She also dives into a listener question on sapiosexuality, breaki...

Hey y'all! It's your Southern Lesbian, Ashley Hydrick, coming to you from my car in the parking lot of Goodwill. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but I just had to check in with you all. In this special Pride Month episode, I share a bit about my recent family vacation in the South (and the challenges of finding a quiet spot to record!) We dive into some of the exciting things happenin...