Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

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 [email protected]

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.

This week, Ash sits down with Rosie Eldershaw, a country girl turned Melburnian who recently celebrated three years of sobriety after multiple rehabs and several near-fatal rock bottoms. Rosie shares how her drinking progressed from nightly wine to 24/7 spirits and drugs, and how she kept a bubbly, high-functioning facade while quietly falling apart inside. She speaks honestly about seizures, the shame of drinking hand sanitiser and mouthwash, and the terror of knowing something was very wrong but feeling powerless to stop.

Rosie reflects on the turning points that finally stuck: finding a 12-step program, allowing others to help, and building a simple, peaceful life she genuinely enjoys with yoga, dog parks, her partner and her dog. This is a grounded, hopeful conversation about ownership, spirituality, and the non-negotiables that now protect her sobriety and happiness.

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

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Journey of Transformation
03:01 Rosie's Story of Sobriety
05:56 The Struggles Behind the Smile
08:57 The Dangerous Path of Alcoholism
12:07 Childhood and Early Influences
14:48 The Progression of Drinking
17:58 Family Concerns and Consequences
20:54 The Desperation of Addiction
23:55 The Journey to Rehab
26:28 The Journey Through Rehab
29:00 The Turning Point: A Meeting That Changed Everything
32:52 Embracing Spirituality in Recovery
36:57 Overcoming the Ego: Finding a Higher Power
40:46 Living One Day at a Time
46:29 Building Healthy Relationships in Sobriety
53:24 Non-Negotiables for a Happy Life

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 returns with a solo episode that’s felt long overdue. After a season of slowing down and stepping back, she’s back behind the mic on her own, not with all the answers, but with a deeper level of honesty about what it really means to accept life as it is.

Drawing on yoga philosophy, recovery, and her own lived experience, Ash explores the tension between control and surrender. She opens up about her patterns of perfectionism, the need to hold everything together, and the unexpected peace that came when she finally softened her grip.

This is a deeply personal reflection on relationships, family dynamics, and the moments that still stir old wounds. Ash also shares her experience navigating motherhood, fertility, and loss, and how these chapters have shaped her understanding of acceptance in a way no theory ever could.

If you’ve been trying to control outcomes, fix everything, or push against what is, this episode offers a different way.

A gentle reminder that peace isn’t found in having it all figured out, but in learning to meet yourself exactly where you are.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Intentions
00:57 Embracing Vulnerability in Solo Episodes
04:03 The Journey of Acceptance
10:10 Letting Go of Control
15:00 Navigating Relationships with Acceptance
20:04 The Spiritual Journey and Personal Growth
24:53 Conclusion and Call to Action

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 embodied dance artist and coach Taylah King, whose journey from darkness to rediscovery is both heart-wrenching and deeply inspiring. Taylah opens up about her twelve-year relationship and marriage that began in childhood, the growing inner whisper that something wasn't right, and the vulnerability of walking away from the only safety she'd ever known. From alcohol abuse that started at fourteen to a drug-induced psychosis triggered by ayahuasca, Taylah shares candidly about spending two years dissociated from reality, convinced she was dead, and trapped in a mental health crisis that felt inescapable.

She reflects on the terrifying experience of psychosis, the inadequacy of traditional mental health support, and the overwhelming loneliness of not knowing if she'd ever come back. Taylah describes the turning point that changed everything: surrendering to faith, working with a mentor, and falling in love for the first time while sober, which allowed her to finally feel again after years of numbness. Throughout their conversation, Ash and Taylah explore the danger of spiritual bypassing, the power of embodiment practices, and the importance of learning to listen to your nervous system instead of seeking answers outside yourself.

Today, Taylah uses dance and movement as medicine, helping others reconnect to their bodies and move freely in the world without substances. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the deepest darkness, there is always a way back home to yourself.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Taylah's Journey
02:56 Rediscovery Through Dance
06:05 The Struggles Behind the Smile
09:02 Substance Abuse and Its Impact
12:01 The Role of Ayahuasca in Healing
14:58 Experiencing Psychosis
17:55 The Aftermath of Psychosis
21:02 Finding Freedom in Movement
30:11 The Journey Through Psychosis
34:01 Spiritual Awakening and Healing
39:12 The Role of Love and Relationships in Recovery
43:10 Embodiment and Self-Connection
51:13 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling Life

You can connect with Taylah using the links below:
Instagram: @taylahkingmovement

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

Upcoming Workshops:
The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets Here

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!

The Embodied Woman Retreat | Gold Coast | May 2026

Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

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