Living an Intentional Life Podcast

Honoring Endings, Trusting Beginnings : The FINAL episode of this podcast, Living an Intentional Life Podcast | Episode 199

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/fan_mail/new] After nearly four years, 199 episodes, and countless conversations that have shaped me in ways I could never fully express, this is the final episode of the Living an Intentional Life Podcast. As I sit down to record these final words, I find myself filled with gratitude, reflection, and an unexpected sense of peace. Not because there isn't sadness. Not because there isn't grief. But because there is clarity. The kind of clarity that arrives when something has fulfilled its purpose. In this final episode, I'm reflecting on the journey from the Living Courageously Podcast to the Living an Intentional Life Podcast, the lessons I've learned along the way, the incredible women I've had the honor of interviewing, and the truth that intentional living isn't only about having the courage to begin. It's also about having the courage to honor what feels complete. What began as a desire to be seen, heard, and understood became something so much greater. This podcast taught me how to trust my voice, share my truth, and ultimately come home to myself. It became a safe space where I could process life in real time, document seasons of becoming and unbecoming, and connect with women around the world who reminded me that we are never walking this journey alone. In many ways, this podcast has been my home. And perhaps one of the greatest gifts it has given me is the realization that I no longer need to prove that I belong. I no longer need to constantly share in order to feel seen. Instead, I sit here feeling deeply rooted in who I am—perfect, whole, and complete, just as I am. If there's one final invitation I want to leave you with, it's this: Honor what feels complete. Trust what is asking to emerge. You don't have to hold onto chapters that no longer fit simply because they've been meaningful. Sometimes the most intentional thing we can do is express gratitude for what was and create space for what wants to be. This isn't goodbye. It's simply the closing of one beautiful chapter to create space for another. To every listener, every guest, every woman who reached out to share how an episode touched her life, thank you. Thank you for seeing me, hearing me, and allowing me to belong. You helped make Living an Intentional Life exactly what it was meant to be. With all my love and gratitude, Ashley — In this episode, I share: • Why I'm choosing to end the podcast after nearly four years • The evolution from courage to intention • What 199 episodes taught me about life, belonging, and authenticity • The unexpected gifts this podcast gave me • What's next in this season of life and business • A final reflection and invitation for your own journey Thank you for being here. Until next time. MORE FROM THIS PODCAST :  * PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"  [https://www.ashleystrongsmith.com/2026-planner.html] * FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation  [https://round-scene-279.myflodesk.com/ni0kpum7w2] * Follow on INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashleystrongsmith_/] * Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call [https://calendly.com/ashleystrongsmith/60min] MUSIC BY:  * Tristen Whaley / @t_whales [https://www.instagram.com/t_whales/] / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHncIY3HIRvSgQUrK8n0T?si=aJywk2rWT3S23xj-rweyBA] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/support]

You Handled That Perfectly: Choosing Your Priorities & Trusting Life's Detours with Carly Cruickshank | Episode 198

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/fan_mail/new] What if living intentionally wasn't about doing more—but about getting clear on what matters most? In this heartfelt conversation, I'm joined by Carly Cruickshank —mom, entrepreneur, designer, and co-host of You Handled That Perfectly™. Together, we explore the freedom that comes from choosing a single priority and allowing that priority to guide the decisions we make every day. Carly shares her journey from corporate burnout to building White Space Design®, her own successful packaging design agency, after recognizing that the life she wanted to create for herself and her family required a different path. We discuss the courage it takes to walk away from what no longer aligns, the beauty of trusting life's unexpected detours, and how even the smallest decisions have the power to shape our future. From losing everything in a devastating apartment robbery only to meet the man who would become her husband, to discovering her passion for graphic design through one simple act of curiosity, Carly's story is a powerful reminder that life often unfolds in ways we never could have planned. In this episode, we explore: ✨ Why having one clear priority can simplify decision-making and reduce overwhelm ✨ Releasing hustle culture and redefining success on your own terms ✨ The ripple effect of small, intentional choices ✨ Trusting yourself through major life transitions ✨ Finding freedom, presence, and alignment in the everyday decisions we make If you've been feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed by competing priorities, or searching for permission to simplify, this conversation is a gentle reminder that you don't have to do it all. You simply have to honor what matters most. Because sometimes the most intentional life is built one choice, one priority, and one perfectly handled moment at a time. ABOUT CARLY :  Carly is a mom, entrepreneur, designer, and podcaster! After spending over a decade in the design industry, she launched her own design agency, White Space Design®. Her focus is on consumer product goods with a specialty in packaging, think anything you see on a store shelf! Her mission is to give your brand the space it needs to stand out on the shelf through visually compelling design. Merging her passions: business, design, and motherhood, Carly and her childhood best friend, Kelly Avalon, co-host the podcast, You Handled That Perfectly™. This podcast is a supportive space to share stories, find guidance, and celebrate the truth that if you’re trying your best, you’re already handling things perfectly. Carly lives in Southern California, with her husband, two kids, and a puppy. She loves traveling, a good book, things that sparkle, live music, playing piano, ballet, and spending quality time with family and friends. CONNECT WITH CARLY :  * Website : whitespacedesign.co [http://whitespacedesign.co] & youhandledthatperfectly.com [https://www.youhandledthatperfectly.com] * Instagram : @whitespacedesignagegncy [https://www.instagram.com/whitespacedesignagency] + @youhandledthatperfectly [https://www.instagram.com/youhandledthatperfectly/] MORE FROM THIS PODCAST :  * PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"  [https://www.ashleystrongsmith.com/2026-planner.html] * FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation  [https://round-scene-279.myflodesk.com/ni0kpum7w2] * Follow on INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashleystrongsmith_/] * Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call [https://calendly.com/ashleystrongsmith/60min] MUSIC BY:  * Tristen Whaley / @t_whales [https://www.instagram.com/t_whales/] / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHncIY3HIRvSgQUrK8n0T?si=aJywk2rWT3S23xj-rweyBA] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/support]

Trusting the Process of Life: How Unexpected Challenges Can Lead You Home to Yourself with Alison Bell | Episode 197

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/fan_mail/new] What if the challenges life places in your path aren't detours—but invitations? In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with Alison, certified Heal Your Life® Workshop Leader, Coach, and Retreat Leader, to explore the transformative power of trusting life's unfolding journey. Inspired by the timeless teachings of Louise Hay, Alison shares how a sudden health crisis became the catalyst that shifted everything. After a successful 20-year corporate career, an unexpected neck injury forced her into a season of stillness and reflection—ultimately guiding her back to herself and toward the work she was always meant to do. Together, we explore: * How unexpected challenges can become powerful opportunities for growth and transformation * What it means to truly trust the process of life, even when the path ahead feels uncertain * The importance of presence, self-reflection, and reconnecting with your inner wisdom * How living intentionally creates alignment with your values, truth, and purpose * Why self-care isn't selfish—it's essential for living a wholehearted life * The healing power of affirmations, journaling, meditation, visualization, and self-compassion Alison also shares the profound realization that changed everything for her: that no amount of professional success matters if we aren't caring for our health, honoring our needs, and being present for the people we love. This conversation is a gentle reminder that sometimes life's greatest disruptions become the doorway to our deepest healing and most authentic path forward. If you're navigating change, standing at the threshold of a new chapter, or learning to trust yourself more deeply, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and encouragement to embrace where life is guiding you. Because perhaps the process of life isn't something we're meant to control. Maybe it's something we're meant to trust. ABOUT ALISON :  Alison is a certified Heal Your Life® Workshop Leader & Life Coach, sharing the timeless philosophy of Louise Hay with individuals around the world. Her journey with Louise’s work began back in 2004, when a friend shared a Louise Hay CD that she used to listen to while practising yoga at home. The message — that if you can change your thoughts, you can change your life — struck a deep chord and became a guiding truth in her own life. Fast forward to 2018, Alison experienced a major life shift when a sudden neck injury forced her to pause a 20-year corporate career. During her healing journey, she found herself immersed once again in Louise’s teachings through the Heal Your Life Worldwide Summit. This period of stillness, reflection, and inner work became a powerful turning point — reminding her that even in the toughest times, life is always guiding us toward growth. Soon after, she attended the I Can Do It event in London, where she discovered the opportunity to train as a Heal Your Life Workshop Leader — a moment she describes as finding her dream job. She followed that calling wholeheartedly, later becoming a Heal Your Life Coach and completing the Leading with Heart and Mind business training to bring this heart-centred philosophy into the workplace.  Most recently, Alison became a Heal Your Life Retreat Leader, expanding her work into immersive, transformational retreats. Today, Alison helps people all over the world create positive change in their lives through her workshops and coaching. She’s passionate about self-care, connection, and helping others remember their power to heal and transform. Her approach is gentle yet deeply empowering — blending affirmations, journaling, meditation, visualisation, and other self-healing tools to help people reconnect with themselves and live from the heart. Alison’s story is a beautiful reminder that even when life brings unexpected challenges, they can become the catalyst for profound transformation — and that when we truly trust the process of life, everything unfolds as it is supposed to. CONNECT WITH ALISON :  * Seed Wellness [https://seedwellness.co.uk/alisonbell/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alisonbellwellness/] * Eventbrite [https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/transformational-workshops-1138019] * Heal Your Life Workshops [https://healyourlifeworkshops.com/profile/?id=835] * Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbYMCKpJvrvo5j1-WE8ueedyuT9-vE6L] MORE FROM THIS PODCAST :  * PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"  [https://www.ashleystrongsmith.com/2026-planner.html] * FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation  [https://round-scene-279.myflodesk.com/ni0kpum7w2] * Follow on INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashleystrongsmith_/] * Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call [https://calendly.com/ashleystrongsmith/60min] MUSIC BY:  * Tristen Whaley / @t_whales [https://www.instagram.com/t_whales/] / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHncIY3HIRvSgQUrK8n0T?si=aJywk2rWT3S23xj-rweyBA] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/support]

Intentionality in Every Area of Life: Building an Aligned & Authentic Life | Episode 196

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/fan_mail/new] What if intentional living wasn't just about your morning routine—but about the way you approach every area of your life? In this week's episode, we're exploring the deeper truth of intentionality and how the small choices we make every day shape the life we experience. From our relationship with ourselves, our families, marriages, health, finances, careers, passions, and communities, intentionality has the power to create alignment, self-trust, fulfillment, and a life that truly feels like our own. Together, we'll explore: ✨ Why intentionality matters in every season of life ✨ The benefits of living with greater awareness and purpose ✨ How small choices compound over time ✨ The connection between intentionality, authenticity, and alignment ✨ Inspired actions you can begin taking today in the areas of life that matter most This episode is a gentle invitation to move beyond autopilot and into conscious creation—one choice, one moment, and one aligned step at a time. Because a meaningful life isn't built through one giant transformation. It's built through thousands of intentional moments. MORE FROM THIS PODCAST :  * PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"  [https://www.ashleystrongsmith.com/2026-planner.html] * FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation  [https://round-scene-279.myflodesk.com/ni0kpum7w2] * Follow on INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashleystrongsmith_/] * Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call [https://calendly.com/ashleystrongsmith/60min] MUSIC BY:  * Tristen Whaley / @t_whales [https://www.instagram.com/t_whales/] / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHncIY3HIRvSgQUrK8n0T?si=aJywk2rWT3S23xj-rweyBA] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/support]

A Return to Rhythm: You’re Not Inconsistent — You’re Cyclical with Grace Van Bodhi of YinKIND | Episode 195

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/fan_mail/new] In this deeply grounding and expansive conversation, I sit down with Grace — a fourth-generation acupuncturist, women’s health practitioner, mother, teacher, and creator of MoonMapping — to explore what it truly means to live in rhythm with ourselves instead of against ourselves. Together, we dive into the wisdom of cyclical living, women’s hormones, nervous system healing, intentional motherhood, and the power of learning to listen to the body instead of constantly overriding it. Grace shares how her work at the intersection of Eastern Medicine, functional medicine, fertility awareness, and Soul-led living has transformed not only the way she supports women, but the way she moves through her own life as a practitioner, wife, mother, healer, and community leader. We talk about: * why women are not meant to function linearly * cycle tracking and hormonal rhythms * nervous system safety and regulation * home birth, motherhood, and trusting the body * balancing multiple identities and roles as women * intentional living and attunement to the Soul * cyclical productivity vs. hustle culture * Eastern Medicine and women’s health * cultivating joy, friendship, and meaningful community * the courage it takes to live in alignment This episode is an invitation to soften, reconnect, and remember that perhaps you are not inconsistent at all — perhaps you were simply never meant to live disconnected from your rhythm. A truly nourishing conversation for women seeking deeper connection to their bodies, cycles, intuition, and lives. ABOUT GRACE :  Grace is a fourth-generation acupuncturist, women’s health practitioner and mother based in Lake Arrowhead, CA. She works at the intersection of functional medicine, hormones, and nervous system healing, with a focus on helping women understand their bodies in a deeper, more intuitive way. She created MoonMapping as a way to bring women back into rhythm with their cycles and their lives, and her work has naturally expanded into offerings like MoonSONG Circle, QiYoga, and her Crystal Keys tapping practice—spaces where women can regulate, reconnect, and come back to themselves, both in person and online. Her work is rooted in the belief that when we understand our patterns, everything starts to make more sense, and that living intentionally begins by learning how to listen. CONNECT WITH GRACE :  * Website  [https://www.yinkind.com] * Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/yin.kind/] MORE FROM THIS PODCAST :  * PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"  [https://www.ashleystrongsmith.com/2026-planner.html] * FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation  [https://round-scene-279.myflodesk.com/ni0kpum7w2] * Follow on INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/ashleystrongsmith_/] * Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call [https://calendly.com/ashleystrongsmith/60min] MUSIC BY:  * Tristen Whaley / @t_whales [https://www.instagram.com/t_whales/] / tristenwhaley@me.com / Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHncIY3HIRvSgQUrK8n0T?si=aJywk2rWT3S23xj-rweyBA] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2049960/support]