Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

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.

This week, Ash sits down with holistic psychologist Laura Corcoran to unpack what really happened inside The Embodied Woman retreat. Over four days on the Gold Coast, sixteen women arrived as strangers and left having cracked open years of armour, people pleasing, perfectionism, and emotional suppression.

Ash and Laura reflect on the moments that shifted everything, from the resistance and fear women carried on day one, to the tears, breakthroughs, nervous system releases, and deep honesty that unfolded as the weekend progressed. They speak about why so many women feel disconnected from themselves, how high functioning coping mechanisms keep us stuck, and what happens when you finally feel safe enough to be fully seen.

This conversation explores embodiment, sisterhood, emotional healing, relationships, boundaries, identity, and the power of being in a room where masks are no longer needed. Ash and Laura also share why transformation happens so quickly in immersive spaces like this, and why the women who attended are already making powerful changes in their lives back home.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from holding it all together, disconnected from yourself, or like you’re craving something deeper than surface level self development, this episode is for you.

For more information on The Embodied Woman Retreat 2027 you can send Ash a message on IG here, or email hello@ashbutterss.com

Episode Chapters:
00:00 The Energy of the Retreat
02:58 Integration and Connection
06:00 Creating a Safe Space
08:59 Meeting Your Edge
11:53 Transformation Through Action
15:04 Intergenerational Healing
17:56 The Power of Vulnerability
20:59 Sisterhood and Support
24:01 Reflections on the Experience
28:33 Connection and Community in Retreats
30:10 Overcoming Personal Challenges
32:06 Emotional Vulnerability and Heart Opening
33:13 Facing Uncertainty and Embracing Change
36:32 The Journey of Growth and Transformation
38:19 The Power of Embodied Experiences
39:20 Announcing the Next Retreat

Reach out to Laura - @hersuccessfulmind

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.