A friend encouraged me to share the story of how I met my sisters, Ashley and Chelsea. Yes, I have a sister named Ashley, isn’t life fun?! Tune in for the details! This is a story of adoption and a Thanksgiving miracle. It’s a wild story, so buckle up buttercup! What I hope you take from this is how beautiful life is, with all its surprises, which often appear in our darkest moments. Family is a fascinating study, as is the nature-nurture dynamic. Family can mean all manner of things but, at the end of the day, family is simply who we choose to Love. And oh, if we are so lucky, Unconditional Love, now that is something special indeed.

I mentioned a book that helped me sort through being an adopted kid. That book is Twenty Things Adopted Children Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge. It was pivotal in my journey. Please share it with someone it might help. https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Things-Adopted-Adoptive-Parents/dp/044050838X#:~:text=%22Birthdays%20may%20be%20difficult%20for,afraid%20you%20will%20abandon%20me.%22

If you’re into happiness–I mean, who isn’t?! But cultivating happiness is an art, taught by my friend Dr. Ellen Wong. With Ellen’s support, I shared this story. Vulnerability hangover, no doubt, but only with friends’ support can we do the real work! Find Ellen here, she’s amazing! https://drellenwong.com/

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/

Bill Davenport is an entrepreneur and veteran who operates multiple farmers’ markets in the Florida panhandle. Bill is a rare blend of confidence and humility, a self-described servant leader. He serves the community and supports the vendors. Listen in to hear how a farmers market comes together, but this is so much more—it is a conversation about small business ownership, defining the mission, leadership, fear, failure, and moving forward. There is so much wisdom here.

We talked about two of my friends who launched product businesses from farmers’ markets. Do check out their products! The best dog treats ever from veteran business owner Steve at 30A Barks https://30abarks.com/ and gorgeous CBD skin care and wellness tinctures from Suzie at https://www.cbdfountain.com/

I mentioned two related episodes, Episode 2 with Carrie Honnaker https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kickashlife-podcast/id1675861631?i=1000604946000 and Episode 12 with Sarah Griffith https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kickashlife-podcast/id1675861631?i=1000621494573

Connect with Bill on Instagram @anchored_market_ventures and at www.anchoredmarketventures.com – this is so wholesome and community based, a beautiful reminder to shop local!

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/ Here’s the Overthinking article I mentioned at the end of the podcast https://open.substack.com/pub/kickashlife/p/overthinking?r=2ihucv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Conflict. We all experiences it. In business and in life. After 20 years doing conflict for a living – an attorney representing companies in legal battles – I have a formula for getting some perspective, some clarity in the midst of conflict. I share my Take a Beat formula here: Breathe, Evaluate, Assess, and then Talk. I hope it helps you navigate the tough moments. With Love.

There are two amazing folks whom I mentioned at the start of the podcast. Here is their information: Teresa McCloy, author of Do What Matters, may be found at www.therealifeprocess.com and on Instagram @teresa.mccloy; Alex Street, story and speaking coach, may be found at www.alexstreet.ca and on Instagram @streetsays.

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/

This is a throw-back! I found my first ever interview on a podcast from three-and-a-half years ago with my bestie Allison Melody of The Food Heals Podcast. Listening to it threw me into a retrospective mood, which can be useful sometimes. My friend Mike Kim says “AMB - always measure backwards” when considering your progress. He explains, “Taken from Dan Sullivan, the concept is that while new horizons are fine for setting goals, they are lousy for measuring your progress.”

I found that many of the questions I was asking myself then would be useful to revisit now. As promised, here’s a list if you would like to use them as journal prompts:

• How do I want to feel today?

• How do I want to serve in my career?

• What shifts to I need to make in wellness and nutrition?

• What is the one thing I can shift in my life; and, if I can shift that, what else becomes possible?

• Where am I spending money? Why?

• How am I speaking to myself? Would I speak to my child that way? Or a friend?

• What do I need to say NO to?

• What do I need to say YES to?

I wish you joy for the week! And do let me know how it goes with your own AMB retrospective.

Find Allison Melody at www.foodhealsnation.com and on Instagram @foodhealsnation and @allisonmelodytv

Find Mike Kim at www.mikekim.com and on Instagram @mikekim and on YouTube.

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/

Peter Poulos is a sommelier, dance choreographer, and vibrant light in this world. We talk about living life in technicolor, the importance of self care, wine as experience, why rosé champagne is special, and how to be a beginner in dance and in life. This is one of those conversations that makes you feel like sunshine. So grab your pink champagne and your tiara and just hang out with Peter and me.

Connect with Peter on Instagram @therealchampagnepete and, if you’re in Atlanta stop by Highland Fine Wine to say hello or take a class with Peter at Dance 101.

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/

This is just one of those episodes – unstructured, unplanned - just showing up to be here with you. Grab a glass of wine and hang out for a bit, yes?

This episode touches on the fine balance between friendships and acquaintances. Also, what happens when you change? Love, your friendships will change. How to move through that? More on this in my Substack blog https://kickashlife.substack.com/

Really, let’s just chat here about everything and nothing. If there’s a topic you’d like to cover, drop me a note. How special would that be?! Let’s talk about love and life and work and pain and joy and faith and hope and heartbreak and everything in between.

I am so grateful you’ve been here for 20 episodes! Let’s just keep going, I can’t wait to see what’s ahead! XO, Ash

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com

What a beautiful, personal thing – a name. Is it divinely given? What is the significance of a change in name? In this solo episode, I search for the meaning of names through an exploration of Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, as well as Buddhism and Taoist teachings. Go on the research deep-dive with me, yes?

And here are some promised journal prompts: What is the origin and meaning of your name? If the surface definition doesn’t resonate, look closer - what else can you learn? What about your name inspires you? Expands you? Scares you? Empowers you? Do you believe your name is tied to your very Soul? Or is there something in your name that is no longer aligned, that calls for release, non-attachment, non-judgment? How might a release bring clarity and a way to identify a loving path forward?

I mentioned a blog post on growing up Scripture based. Here it is. Send me a message if you, too, did Bible Drill for a trip to Disney as a kid ... we should chat! https://open.substack.com/pub/kickashlife/p/move-mountains?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Let me know how this name exploration touches you. I would love to know. Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/

Lisa E. Williams is a singer-songwriter, with a voice the Washington Post calls “exceptional.” She writes of pain, but speaks with love. Lisa’s soulful voice pulls you in, and her big heart makes you want to listen for hours. This interview is a masterclass in how we stay open, how we embrace vulnerability, how we lift one another up — even, or especially, strangers.

At the end, we play Lisa’s latest and hauntingly beautiful single, Burn. Title above, lyrics, and song © Lisa E. Williams 2023. Find Lisa on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Agqu6c7jBb9Bb6b4qG7HL?si=sk2jF-zKTpyppit-hNQL_Q on Instagram @onepointeightfilms and on her website at www.lisaewilliamsmusic.com

Connect with me on Instagram @kickashlife, via email at ash@kickashlife.com, or on my blog – subscribe and I’ll send a love note (or a rant) to your inbox every Sunday https://kickashlife.substack.com/