Send a text

What happens when you finally slow down enough to hear yourself?

In this deeply personal episode of Living an Intentional Life, Ashley shares what unfolded when she created space at the beginning of the year — space to breathe, to walk in the forest, and to listen to the quiet, persistent voice within.

Feeling exhausted, deflated, and disconnected from the energy she wanted to carry forward, Ashley began to receive clear inner guidance: to step away from social media, release alcohol, pause photoshoots, let go of her membership, and invite in more space. None of it felt easy — but all of it felt true.

This episode is an invitation into that same kind of listening. You’ll explore why space is where clarity lives, how to trust the nudges you receive, and how to take small, intentional steps that bring your life back into alignment. Ashley also shares how your values and what fills your cup form the foundation of a heart-centered life — and how creating space is the doorway to what wants to come next.

If you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or disconnected, this episode is a gentle reminder that you don’t need to push your way into clarity — you can listen your way there.

More from the Podcast :

• Intentional Living Weekend Immersion SPRING RETREAT
  • Secure your seat with a deposit!
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Support the show

Send us a text

In this episode of Soft, Seen & Sovereign, I sit down with Kaysha van der Heyden of Branding by Kaysha for a deeply honest conversation about what it really means to be visible in a creative life — without losing yourself in the process.

To live with intention, for me, means listening to the quiet signals. The subtle yes in your body. The gentle no you keep ignoring. The inner knowing that doesn’t always make sense, but never leads you astray. This conversation is an invitation into that kind of listening — especially when your creativity, your body, and your livelihood are all intertwined.

Kaysha and I talk about what it’s like to build a personal brand while staying soft, grounded, and true. We explore body image, being seen online, and the tender dance of sharing your work and your face with the world — especially when doubt, comparison, or old stories try to keep you small.

I also share about one of the most intentional decisions I’ve ever made in my business: letting go of my wedding and family photography work to fully step into personal brand photography. It was scary. It was a financial leap. And it was one of the most aligned choices I’ve ever made. Letting go created space for what actually fit.

We don’t skip over the messy middle either — those in-between seasons where things feel uncertain, capacity shifts, and creativity asks for room to breathe without needing to be productive. This episode is for the creatives, the entrepreneurs, the sensitive souls, and the women learning how to be visible without hardening.

You’re allowed to be soft.
You’re allowed to be seen.
And you’re allowed to remain sovereign in the way you show up.

About Kaysha :

Kaysha helps women overcome body image struggles and show up confidently in front of the camera.

Kaysha is a personal brand photographer who empowers women to embrace their bodies, express their authentic selves, and feel confident in every photo. She combines her expertise in photography with a deep understanding of self-image challenges, guiding women to step in front of the camera without fear and leave with images that reflect their true power and personality.

Her mission is simple: help women reclaim confidence, tell their story visually, and finally feel comfortable, and proud, being seen.

Connect with Kaysha :

• Website
• Instagram
• Free 5 Day Self-Portrait Challenge

More from the Podcast :

• Intentional Living Weekend Immersion SPRING RETREAT
  • Secure your seat with a deposit!
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Send us a text

What if your life could feel like a sanctuary—not just on retreat, but in the everyday?

In this episode, I share why I’m stepping away from social media for the month of February—not as an escape, but as an act of intentional love. From that place, I invite you into a deeper conversation about what it means to create a life that truly supports your energy, your nervous system, and your truth.

I talk about how sanctuary isn’t a place you go—it’s a relationship you build with your time, energy, and attention. I share gentle reflections, simple practices, and honest questions to help you slow down, reconnect, and live in alignment with what matters most.

In this episode, I share:

• Why sanctuary begins with subtraction, not addition
• How boundaries become the structure that protects what you value
• Why your nervous system needs rhythm, not intensity
• How small, consistent practices can restore clarity and creativity
• What it means to live intentionally through choice—not pressure

This episode is an invitation to soften, to listen, and to remember that your life is allowed to feel supportive.

If you’d like to learn more about the Spring Intentional Living Weekend Immersion, you’ll find the details in the show notes. And if not—let this episode be enough.

May your life become the sanctuary you’ve been seeking.

More from the Podcast :

• Intentional Living Weekend Immersion SPRING RETREAT
  • Secure your seat with a deposit!
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Send us a text

So many of us try to plan what’s next from a place of exhaustion—asking ourselves to move forward when our cups are already empty.

In this episode, I’m inviting you to pause.

To honor the season you’re actually in, rather than the one you think you should be in.

We explore what it means to practice intentional living when energy feels low, clarity feels distant, or life has been asking more of you than you’ve had to give. Instead of pushing or fixing, this conversation offers a gentler approach—one rooted in honesty, self-trust, and care.

Inside the episode, I share:

• Why honoring your current season is the foundation of intentional living
• How I personally support myself when my cup is empty
• What it looks like to plan ahead from presence instead of depletion
• Why planning for joy, rest, and support is an act of alignment—not indulgence
• How intentional space can help you reconnect with yourself and what matters most

We also explore what it means to choose support before burnout—creating space to be held, nourished, and witnessed as you are. This understanding is what inspired the Spring Intentional Living Weekend Immersion, a gentle Friday–Sunday gathering in nature designed to support refilling your cup and planning forward with care.

Whether you’re feeling tired, reflective, or simply craving a slower, more intentional way of living, this episode is an invitation to soften, listen, and trust yourself.

Nothing is asking to be rushed.
Least of all you.

More from the Podcast :

• Intentional Living Weekend Immersion SPRING RETREAT
  • Secure your seat with a deposit!
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Send us a text

Life moves in seasons—times of planting, blooming, and rain. Each stage carries its own lessons and its own beauty.

In this episode, I sit down with Isabelle de Cuba of The Mindful Journal to reflect on what it means to trust your journey—to honor the seeds you’ve planted, to hold the vision you’ve asked for, and to move forward even when fear shows up.

Living intentionally isn’t about perfection or certainty. It’s about pausing, noticing, and asking yourself: “Does this feel aligned?” It’s moving with purpose and awareness, recognizing resistance as it arises, and choosing faith over fear.

Join us as we explore how to cultivate quiet trust, deep inner knowing, and peace in every stage of your life.

About Isabelle :

Isabelle is a writer, speaker, and founder of The Mindful Journal, a wellbeing brand dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves and live with greater intention. Through her journals, writing, workshops, and online presence, she inspires others to cultivate self-love, mindfulness, and intentional living.

Connect with Isabelle :

• Website
• Instagram
• Journals
• Journaling experience
• Substack Newsletter

More from the Podcast :

• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Send us a text

What if the new year wasn’t something you had to rush into—but something you were invited to arrive in?

In this episode of Living an Intentional Life, we slow things down and gently step into the threshold between what has been and what’s becoming. I’m sharing reflections from my own end-of-year ritual—rooted in presence, embodiment, and deep listening—and inviting you to consider a different way of beginning again.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to create a heart-centered foundation for the year ahead—one that isn’t built on pressure, productivity, or becoming someone new, but on honoring who you already are. I’ll guide you through reflective questions, simple grounding practices, and intentional pauses you can weave into your very real life as you close one chapter and open another.

This episode is for you if you’re craving:
✨ A softer, more intentional way to begin the year
✨ Space to reflect without judgment or urgency
✨ Practices that help you root into how you want to feel, not just what you want to do
✨ Permission to move forward with clarity, embodiment, and trust

This isn’t about fixing or forcing—it’s about arriving.
Arriving in your body.
Arriving in your truth.
Arriving home to yourself before moving ahead.

Take a breath, get cozy, and meet me here 🤍

More from the Podcast :

• Sign up for JANUARY 2026 WORKSHOPS
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Send us a text

As this year winds down, I’m overflowing with gratitude for this community — for you. Thank you for showing up for your growth, your healing, your intentions, and your dreams. Every message, share, download, and moment you’ve invited me into this year has meant the world.

To celebrate, here are the Top 10 Episodes of 2025 that resonated most with our community — a mix of 5 soul-led solo episodes and 5 inspiring interviews to guide you into living with clarity, intention, and aligned purpose:

🎙️ Top 5 Interviews:

• Ep 124 – A Ball of Yarn with Jennifer Lyons: unravel old stories, choose yourself, and step into a more grounded life
• Ep 126 – Pursuing Dreams with Bri Geeski: courage, creativity, and honoring your dreams
• Ep 130 – What It Feels Like to Live an Intentional Life with Marcy Browe: slowing down and trusting your inner knowing
• Ep 150 – The Bigger You Get in Business (+ Life), the More You Say NO to Get More YES’s with Alyssa Lang: boundaries and clarity for expansion
• Ep 128 – Trust Your Heart, Follow Your Inner Guidance with Patricia J. Crane, Ph.D.: intuition, wisdom, and heart-led living

☀️ Top 5 Solo Episodes:

• Ep 131 – The Power of Intentionality: stop waiting, start creating the life you want now
• Ep 136 – Enjoy the Transition Into Spring: plant your seeds, ignite your garden
• Ep 137 – 10 Intentional Actions to Honor Your Truth: come back home to yourself
• Ep 142 – Eight Steps to Curate a Life You Love: design a life rooted in purpose and joy
• Ep 165 – How Intentionality Leads to an Aligned Life: 5 actionable ways to embody intention daily

Whether this season feels bright and abundant, tender and reflective, or a mix of all things human, I hope you feel wrapped in warmth, supported in your becoming, and reminded that you matter deeply.

Thank you for being part of this intentional, heart-led corner of the world, for trusting me, and for letting me do the work I love with my whole heart. Wishing you magic, rest, sweet moments, and so much love this holiday season.

See you in 2026!

More from the Podcast :

• Sign up for JANUARY 2026 WORKSHOPS
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify

Send us a text

This is not just the final solo episode of 2025 — it’s a threshold.

In this deeply personal and heart-led episode of Living an Intentional Life, I take a moment to re-introduce myself — to you, to this community, and to the woman I’ve become after walking through one of the most transformative seasons of my life.

As this podcast marks three years since its ignition, I reflect on who I was when it began, the dreams I carried, the identity I was reaching for, and the version of success I once believed I needed to become. From ambition and visibility to courage and expansion, I share the honest evolution of how my relationship with purpose, identity, and intentional living has shifted — and deepened.

What follows is a raw and grounded reflection on the season when everything appeared to be “working”… and the long, slow unraveling that came after. Financial stress, grief, loss, betrayal, identity collapse, fertility heartbreak, and learning how to keep showing up as a mother while my world was breaking open — this episode holds space for the crumbling that so many of us experience but rarely name.

And yet — this is not a story of defeat.

It’s a story of remembrance.

Through awareness, intentionality, and a return to presence, I share how the dismantling brought me back to the bones of myself — stripping away who I thought I needed to be and inviting me to rebuild from truth, embodiment, and self-trust.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The evolution of my relationship with courage, success, and identity
• What intentionality truly is — and why awareness is the foundation for aligned living
• How seasons of breakdown often precede our most grounded becoming
• The practices that held me through grief, uncertainty, and rebirth — from nature and journaling to therapy, somatic work, spiritual tools, ceremony, creativity, play, and care
• What it means to live cyclically, honor your nervous system, and give yourself permission to be multifaceted
• Why small, intentional daily actions create profound, lasting change

This episode is an invitation — to slow down, to listen inward, to honor who you’ve been, and to meet who you are now with compassion and curiosity.

If you’ve changed this year…
If you’ve felt the unraveling before the rooting…
If you’re ready to choose yourself again — gently, intentionally, and without apology —
this episode is for you.

Always choose you.
Never give up on yourself.
You are the most important piece of art you will ever create.

✨ From my heart to yours — welcome home.

More from the Podcast :

• Sign up for JANUARY 2026 WORKSHOPS
• PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
• FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
• Follow on INSTAGRAM
• Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call

Music by :

• Tristen Whaley / @t_whales / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify