Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

This week, Ash welcomes back her sober soul sister Danni Carr, for a wide ranging chat on Bali, yoga, and the spiritual practices that underpin their sobriety. Danni shares the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, the three-part connection to the divine, community, and land that keeps life in balance, and reflects on how a once reluctant relationship with yoga, born from hungover gym sessions and stormed out shavasanas, slowly became the foundation of her recovery and her sense of coming home to herself.

The conversation moves into deeper territory as Danni and Ash explore what the divine means to them now, the science behind spiritual practice and the brain, and the unexpected friendships that sobriety has made possible. Danni speaks candidly about needing daily practice not to recover but to keep expanding and staying regulated, and reminds listeners that spirituality doesn't have to be serious or precise to be powerful.

It’s a heartfelt conversation between two friends about connection, consistency, and choosing a life that feels good without needing to numb out to get there.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Reconnecting in Bali: A Spiritual Journey
03:56 The Balinese Philosophy of Trihitakarana
07:23 Cultural Immersion: Sharing Bali's Rich Heritage
11:59 The Transformative Power of Yoga
18:55 Finding Stillness: The Challenge of Shivasana
21:17 Embracing Autonomy in Yoga Practice
22:45 Finding the Right Teachers
24:07 Provoking Thought Through Stillness
25:51 Navigating Friendships in Sobriety
28:56 The Importance of Consistency in Recovery
32:27 Spirituality as a Foundation for Sobriety
34:16 Understanding the Divine
37:05 The Value of Connection and Community
37:48 Finding Joy in Spiritual Practices

You can connect with Danni through:
Check out Danni’s 4 Week Sober & Transformational Challenge
IG: @howiquitalcohol

Recommendations:
The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller

Join Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.

Upcoming Workshops:
The Renewal Ritual | September 13th | Buy Tickets Here

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!
Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com
Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash drops in with a mini solo episode to share a life update from her recent trip to Bali and to offer something she herself has been craving - a guided meditation to help you reset. She reflects on attending the AA convention, what it’s like to travel sober after years of using airports and planes as a reason to drink, and the joy of being surrounded by like-minded people who truly understand the recovery journey. She also speaks about the not so pleasant reality of getting Bali Belly, and the lessons in surrender, self-care, and taking quick action.

For the first time on the podcast, Ash is also sharing a guided meditation. One she specifically wrote for her Behind The Smile listeners. A 10-minute guided meditation designed to bring you back to yourself, whether you’re at home, walking, or listening on the go, offering a simple way to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with what actually matters today.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Welcome, Intentions & Gratitude
00:56 Post‑Bali Life Update & Mini Solo Setup
02:10 Bali AA Convention & Joy of Sober Travel
03:11 Sunur, Ubud & Favorite Bali Rituals
05:32 Ubud Hotel Recos, Monkey Story & Bali Belly
10:11 Calling the Doctor & Reframing “What a Gift”
12:32 Coming Home Gently & Loving Life You Don’t Need a Holiday From
14:54 Returning to Meditation & Idea for a “Reset”
17:19 Guided 10‑Minute Reset Meditation
27:14 Final Reflections, Gratitude & Call to Action

Join Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!
Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com
Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash sits down with psychic, healer and mindset coach Shanaye Kuntze for a raw conversation about burnout, self-worth, intuition and the journey back to self. Behind a successful business and years spent helping others, Shanaye found herself completely burnt out, bed-ridden, disconnected and unable to keep going. Together, Ash and Shanaye unpack the hidden ways childhood wounds and the search for love and approval can shape our lives, careers and sense of self.

Shanaye shares how breathwork became the catalyst for profound healing and the awakening of her psychic gifts, opening the door to deeper intuition, purpose and trust in herself. They explore boundaries, rest, alignment and what it really means to create a life that feels good, not just one that looks good.

This is a powerful conversation about slowing down, listening inward, and finding the courage to follow the voice within.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Shanaye Kuntze
02:48 Navigating Burnout and Its Impact
05:55 The Energy of Doing What You Love
08:59 The Importance of Boundaries
11:55 Hiding Behind a Smile: Shanaye's Photo Reflection
14:54 The Journey Through Burnout
18:06 The Path to Healing and Self-Discovery
21:02 The Role of Competitive Sports in Shanae's Life
24:05 Transitioning from Sports to Fitness Coaching
27:02 The Addiction to Work and Its Consequences
29:46 Finding Light After Rock Bottom
31:15 The Awakening to Breathwork
34:43 Unleashing Psychic Abilities
36:44 Creating Space for Transformation
40:27 Deepening the Breathwork Experience
43:01 The Power of Vulnerability in Community
46:02 Communicating with Spirit Guides
52:17 Reflections on Transformation
55:17 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling Life

You can connect with Shanaye through:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skbodyworks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skbodyworks/
Website: https://skbodyworks.com.au
Podcast: (Apple) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-gym-tonic-podcast/id1743895889 (Spotify) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-gym-tonic-podcast/id1743895889

Join Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.

Upcoming Workshops:
The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets Here NOW SOLD OUT!
Next Ritual coming in September. Details launching soon.

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!
Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com
Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash shares a sneak peak into her memoir she's currently writing, tracing how her spiritual life has evolved in recovery. What began as skepticism and resistance toward anything “spiritual” has slowly become the foundation of her day-to-day life, influencing how she relates to herself, others, and the world around her.

She opens up about moving from a place of self-hatred, numbing, and constant chasing to an inner landscape shaped by simple, consistent practices like prayer, meditation, gratitude, and quiet acts of service. Ash reflects on how spirituality, for her, isn’t about being “woo-woo” or giving up ambition or joy, but about how you live when no one is watching and how kindly you speak to yourself when things are hard.

At its heart, this episode invites listeners to reconsider what spirituality might look like in their own lives, whether they’re on a sober path, a healing journey, or simply curious about something deeper.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 Welcome, Intentions & Gratitude
00:56 Memoir Writing & Bali Setup
03:14 Spirituality as the Foundation of Sobriety
05:39 From Non‑Believer to Spiritual Seeker
08:04 Redefining a Higher Power in Recovery
10:26 Gift of Desperation & Early God Experiments
12:48 Daily Prayer, Gratitude & Relationship with God
15:01 Meditation, Listening & Two‑Way Prayer
17:25 Depositing into the Spiritual Bank
19:42 Spiritual Solution to Alcoholism & Old Patterns

Join Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.

Upcoming Workshops:

The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets Here

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!
Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash sits down with Alisha Burns, founder of Solo Mum Society, to talk about the deeply personal road that led her to motherhood on her own terms. Alisha shares the heartbreak of infertility, the emotional weight of hidden struggles, and the quiet strength it took to move through a life that often looked fine from the outside while feeling very different underneath.

She opens up about the role alcohol played in her life, the pressure of social expectations, and the long process of learning to trust herself again. Ash and Alisha explore what it means to choose donor conception, to step into solo motherhood by choice, and to build a life that feels honest, intentional, and aligned with who you really are.

Throughout the conversation, Alisha reflects on the changing shape of family, the power of community support, and the liberation that can come from letting go of the version of life you thought you were meant to have. At its heart, this episode is about grief, growth, and the courage to create a future rooted in authenticity, independence, and love.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Alicia Burns and Her Journey
03:01 Navigating Motherhood and Business
06:01 Hiding Behind a Smile: Alicia's Photo Reflection
09:11 Infertility Struggles and Emotional Toll
12:09 The Impact of Alcohol on Coping Mechanisms
15:04 The End of a Marriage and New Beginnings
17:58 Finding Strength in Adversity
20:53 The Journey to Motherhood: Donor Conception
23:48 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Change
30:45 The Journey of Single Motherhood
32:08 Navigating Isolation and Connection
34:29 The Impact of Alcohol Culture
38:52 Realizations and Transformations
43:35 Embracing Independence and Self-Discovery
46:25 The Changing Landscape of Family Dynamics
49:54 Empowerment Through Intentional Choices
52:46 Building Community and Support
54:40 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling Life

Website - www.solomumsociety.com
Instagram - @noneedforprincecharming

Upcoming Workshops:

The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets Here

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!

Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.