There She Goes Forging Her Own Path – with Ashley Spillane

There She Goes Forging Her Own Path – with Ashley Spillane

Theater kid 🎭 Fearlessly herself 🌈 Carpe Diem tattooed on both knees ❤️ Ashley Spillane has spent her entire life choosing herself again and again and has never been afraid to forge her own path. From leaving college, to finding her calling working with children, to building community partnerships that change lives, Ashley reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is keep choosing ourselves. In this episode of There She Goes, I sit down with my cousin Ashley Spillane for one of the most heartfelt conversations we’ve ever had. Ashley shares her journey from theater kid and music lover to Community School Coordinator, where she now helps connect students and families with life-changing resources throughout San Diego. Along the way, we talk about embracing uncertainty, leaving toxic environments, exploring your identity, coming out on MTV’s True Life, and why “Carpe Diem” is literally tattooed on her knees. This episode was especially meaningful to record during Pride Month. It has so much soul. You can feel our family bond through every laugh, every vulnerable moment, and every story we share. It has been such a privilege getting to highlight the incredible women in my family, and Ashley’s story is one I know will stay with you. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to change directions, this episode is for you. From our family to yours… enjoy. 💕 Support Ashley’s School Ashley serves as a Community School Coordinator, connecting students and families with resources ranging from food assistance and sports programs to school supplies, wellness services, and community partnerships. If you’d like to make an in-kind donation, gift card donation, or explore becoming a community partner, please reach out to her or I directly. Every contribution helps create meaningful opportunities for students and their families. I’m also hoping to organize a There She Goes community donation match, so stay tuned for more details. 💖 In this episode, we talk about: ✨ Growing up in a family full of musicians and performers ✨ Why Ashley chose a non-traditional career path ✨ Taking chances before you feel “qualified” ✨ Her love of theater, horror, music, and performing ✨ Coming out as LGBTQ+ and appearing on MTV’s True Life ✨ Navigating family expectations while forging your own path ✨ Learning when it’s time to leave a toxic workplace ✨ The meaning behind her “Carpe Diem” tattoos ✨ Building community partnerships that change children’s lives ✨ The unforgettable Monarch School story that changed her career forever ✨ Why “closed mouths don’t get fed” Timestamps 2:14 A haunted engagement story 7:03 Growing up with theater & music 14:23 Working with kids and finding her purpose 17:00 Taking chances before you’re ready 22:13 Growing up in a traditional Mexican household 24:00 Coming out on MTV’s True Life 29:03 Why “Carpe Diem” is tattooed on her knees 32:27 Leaving a toxic workplace 37:25 The Monarch School story that changed everything 42:31 Final advice 🎵 Songs Mentioned “thank u, next” - Ariana Grande I created a There She Goes Spotify playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wdwN6krQ6SNdhaEaw6ZY3?si=NyZfiJnrSr63-z6CKG-VTQ]featuring every song mentioned on the podcast so you can listen along with us 💖  Connect with Ashley Ashley shared that she’d love to connect with listeners who want to support her school or collaborate with Community Schools. Work E-mail: Aspillane@sandi.net [Aspillane@sandi.net] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ashhhj90] Follow @thereshegoesclub [https://www.instagram.com/thereshegoesclub] for updates and community events. Join the There She Goes Club to activate joy, fun, and wonder back into your life.

There They Go Creating Magic Since 1999 – with Xcaret Ramos & Alondra Stoddart

This episode is a little different than your average There She Goes episode...and maybe one of my favorites yet. 🥹💖 Today, I'm inviting you into my real life to meet two of my favorite people in the entire world: my cousins, my sisters, my trio. We've been making memories together since 1999. From matching outfits and homemade YouTube music videos to surprise Justin Bieber concerts, Disney magic, and now adulthood spread across three different states, this conversation is a love letter to the people who help shape us. As we laughed our way through this episode, I realized something: The reason I love creating magical moments today is because I grew up surrounded by them. We talk about childhood, family, friendship, becoming adults, finding joy in ordinary moments, and why magic doesn't have to stay inside Disney movies. You can create it for yourself and for the people you love. And toward the end, my cousins say something that perfectly captures the mission behind this podcast: "You're highlighting the magic other people are making so they can witness it too." I couldn't have said it better myself. 💖 Speaking of magic and Disney… ✨ Register for Our First-Ever Disney Community Event! Join us for the very first There She Goes x One Small Step Walks community event on Sunday, July 26, 2026 for a day filled with friendship, movement, joy, wonder, and a little Disney magic. Simply purchase your Disneyland ticket and join us for a guided magical experience at Disney! Register for the magic here [https://luma.com/6s343k7m]. ✨ Love the Shirts? If you like the shirts my cousins and I are wearing throughout this episode, you’re definitely gonna want to check out Passion Threads Co [https://passionthreadsco.com]✨ Every piece is created to empower women to take up space, trust themselves, and embody the woman they’re becoming 💖 And yes 😉 There She Goes listeners get 10% off your first order with code TSG10 🎥 Relive the Homemade Music Video Era Curious about the throwback YouTube videos we mentioned in the episode? I created this YouTube playlist [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEoy54AdQyoCBV0Om3zcvqh5PNHIATY-8&si=Km2vg6xGeZNhE7Xg ] to make it easier for you to enjoy ;)  🎶 Songs Mentioned I created a There She Goes Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wdwN6krQ6SNdhaEaw6ZY3?si=Z-pRzc1tQwCxKs4j8Q2u0g ] featuring songs mentioned throughout the podcast so you can listen along with us.💖  Here are the songs mentioned in this episode: * “California Girls” — Katy Perry * “If We Were a Movie” — Hannah Montana * “One Less Lonely Girl” — Justin Bieber * 1989 — Taylor Swift (not a song, but an album) ⏱️ Timestamps 00:31 Welcome to my favorite people in the world: My cousins 💖 03:20 Growing up as a trio and becoming sisters by choice 06:28 The unique bond that has lasted nearly three decades 10:07 Apparently this wasn't my first rodeo as a multi-passionate creative 😂 12:32 The legendary "Arizona Girls" YouTube music video era 15:04 How Justin Bieber gave us one of our favorite childhood memories 21:53 Disney taught us that magic doesn't have to stay in fantasy 28:13 "Yeah, I'm really tired...but I'm tired in Paris." 29:04 Finding magic in ordinary moments instead of waiting for extraordinary ones 29:55 There She Goes...Going: the magic of building a life you love 35:45 How teachers create magic and inspire children every day 39:05 Why I love witnessing women take charge of their lives Follow @thereshegoesclub [https://www.instagram.com/thereshegoesclub] for updates and community events. Join the There She Goes Club to activate joy, fun, and wonder back into your life.

There She Goes Taking a Break (And Why I Don’t Regret It)

500 downloads. 15 episodes. 3 months in. My podcast was gaining momentum… and that’s exactly when I decided to take a break. In this episode, I’m sharing why. Not because I owed anyone an explanation; quite the opposite, actually. But because the response to my “There She Goes Taking a Break” post made me realize something important: we spend so much time seeing the highlight reels online that we forget there are whole lives happening behind the scenes. So this episode is a little different. No script. No guest. No polished lesson. Just a raw, honest conversation about what was happening behind the scenes in my life, how I chose rest over resentment, and why taking a break isn’t the same thing as quitting.  In this episode, I share what was going on across my corporate career, podcast, businesses, health journey, fertility journey, and personal life, and why I ultimately chose to prioritize my well-being over checking another box. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stretched too thin, stuck in comparison, or guilty for resting, this episode is for you 💖 Key Topics: • Why I took my first break from the podcast after 15 episodes • The difference between consistency and perfection • Continuing when nobody is watching, listening, or clapping • Why I created There She Goes and the community I hope to build • Returning from vacation to postponed interviews, increased responsibilities, and competing priorities • Navigating PCOS, fertility challenges, and prioritizing health • Learning to regulate my nervous system instead of pushing through burnout • The trap of comparing yourself to other women, especially on social media • Why we need to normalize breaks and stop expecting explanations • The possibility of betting on myself and pursuing entrepreneurship full-time • A reminder that there are whole lives happening behind the highlight reel 🥗 Quick Note about Hungryroot One of the tools helping me simplify healthy eating right now, especially in a busy season, is Hungryroot.  If you struggle keeping up with your own meal planning, feel free to use my referral link [https://www.hungryroot.com/r/EC6AKCTX] or code below to receive $50 off your first delivery of $100+: Referral Code: EC6AKCTX ⏱️ Timestamps 0:31 This episode is completely unscripted 2:54 Keep going even when no one is clapping, watching, or listening 3:46 Why I created this podcast and the kind of community I want to build 6:15 Returning from vacation to real life, postponed interviews, and competing priorities 8:39 Health, fertility, PCOS, and receiving a wake-up call from my fertility specialist 11:11 Choosing rest, regulating my nervous system, and redefining priorities 11:53 Comparison, self-criticism, and the pressure of social media 13:14 Why we need to normalize breaks and remember we’re more than what we post online 14:37 Considering entrepreneurship full-time and betting on myself again 16:21 You’re probably doing better than you think Follow @thereshegoesclub [https://www.instagram.com/thereshegoesclub] for updates and community events. Join the There She Goes Club to activate joy, fun, and wonder back into your life.

There She Goes to Disney! ✨ Our First Community Event

🎟️ Join Us at Disneyland on July 26, 2026! ✨🏰💖  Register here [https://luma.com/6s343k7m]. We're taking you to the Happiest Place on Earth for our very first in-person community event! 📅 Sunday, July 26, 2026 📍 Disneyland Resort Come spend a magical day with us filled with joy, wonder, community, friendship, meaningful conversations, and plenty of Disney magic ✨ We'll be walking, connecting, laughing, making memories, and activating play together as adults because fun doesn't have an expiration date 💖 ✨ Registration is completely FREE. Simply purchase your Disneyland park ticket and join us! We would absolutely love to see you there 🏰💫 _______________________________________________________________________ I’m so excited to announce that There She Goes is officially stepping into real life! In this special episode, I’m sharing all the details about our very first There She Goes community event in collaboration with Traci Kasper from One Small Step Walks. This isn't just a Disney day. It's a day centered around community, connection, joy, wonder, movement, friendship, networking, and activating PLAY as adults. One of my favorite takeaways from this episode: ✨ Action brings clarity. This event didn't come from months of planning or overthinking. It came from a conversation with another woman actively pursuing her dreams. Sometimes your next opportunity, collaboration, friendship, or idea is waiting on the other side of getting in the room. 🎟️ Register here [https://luma.com/6s343k7m].  Simply purchase your Disneyland ticket and join us for a magic-filled Sunday 💖 ⏱️ Timestamps 0:35 Announcing our first There She Goes community event 1:10 Why There She Goes is more than a podcast 2:20 Why Disney and One Small Step Walks were the perfect collaboration 3:48 The origin story behind the event 4:00 The inspiration behind the collaboration 5:10 Action brings clarity, not the other way around 7:05 Why proximity to other women chasing their dreams matters 8:23 Community, movement, health, and joy can coexist 9:31 The importance of PLAY 10:25 Invitation to join us at Disneyland 🎶 Songs Mentioned • "Let's Go to Disney" — Fairview • "One Step at a Time" — Jordin Sparks 🎧 Want to listen along? Check out the official There She Goes Spotify playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wdwN6krQ6SNdhaEaw6ZY3?si=Nh5f2mX-Q2GGvvl2XKw-mQ ], where I add songs mentioned throughout the podcast that inspire the conversations, stories, and themes we explore each week 💖✨ It's the perfect soundtrack for your walks, road trips, journaling sessions, and main character moments 💌 Follow @thereshegoesclub [https://www.instagram.com/thereshegoesclub] for updates and community events. Join the There She Goes Club to activate joy, fun, and wonder back into your life.

There She Goes Writing Blake Shelton a #1 Hit Song – with Jennifer Adan

I'm SO excited for you to hear this episode 🥹💖 I think I told Jennifer “I’m so excited” in every email I sent her because I truly could not wait to spotlight her songwriting story✨ In this episode of There She Goes, I sit down with #1 platinum songwriter Jennifer Adan, co-writer of Blake Shelton’s hit song “She Wouldn’t Be Gone [https://youtu.be/ki-n6DsDG40?si=4OEQuvpWbudOQmA8],” with song placements on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, President of the West Coast Songwriters organization, and founder of her own publishing company. In this episode, we talk about: •Jennifer’s journey to becoming a professional songwriter •Writing Blake Shelton’s #1 platinum hit "She Wouldn’t Be Gone" •Being a woman in the music industry •Bullying and criticism early on •The importance of community and encouragement for creatives •The songwriting process: from inspo, to writing, to pitching •Hearing that "Metamorphosis" placed on Grey’s Anatomy •The realities of streaming, publishing, and songwriter compensation •“You are always one yes away from your life changing.” So much of There She Goes was born from lyrics that put feelings into words before I even knew how to explain them myself. That’s why getting to spotlight songwriters like Jennifer feels so special to me ✨ Songwriters are truly some of the “unsung heroes” of the music industry, and I’m so excited to continue highlighting the behind-the-scenes creatives whose words, stories, and art shape so many of our lives 💌 🎧 Songs Mentioned (all co-written by Jennifer, except "The Man") •“She Wouldn’t Be Gone [https://youtu.be/ki-n6DsDG40?si=4OEQuvpWbudOQmA8]” – Blake Shelton •“Metamorphosis [https://youtu.be/UKwCBkiz7oI?si=3AKtktW_wEd9JijF]” – MILCK •“Call My Dad [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUb5ZPcdom0&list=RDBUb5ZPcdom0&start_radio=1]” – Scott Hoying •“The Man [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqAJLh9wuZ0&list=RDAqAJLh9wuZ0&start_radio=1]” – Taylor Swift 🎶 Listen to all the songs mentioned in the podcast on the official There She Goes playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wdwN6krQ6SNdhaEaw6ZY3?si=Kz8SmFE8TzamUapYARzenQ&pi=-xwPV-QqTNegm]*: a curated evolving playlist for your walks, journaling sessions, brave decisions, and main character moments 💖 *In this episode, Jennifer shares insight about songwriter compensation and the importance of supporting songwriters beyond streaming alone. Consider supporting local songwriters, attending live events, purchasing music/merch, and supporting organizations like West Coast Songwriters [https://westcoastsongwriters.org/] that advocate for the songwriting community. ⏱️ Timestamps 02:10 Childhood songwriting journey 04:23 Early music industry experiences in Nashville 06:38 Writing over 100 songs as a teenager 15:56 Being bullied + facing criticism 17:58 Building self-confidence as a creative 18:20 The importance of community and encouragement 20:49 How to pitch songs to artists 24:43 Writing Blake Shelton’s #1 platinum hit 39:10 Taylor Swift’s "The Man" + being a woman in the music industry 44:23 Finding out "Metamorphosis" placed on Grey’s Anatomy 52:19 Co-writing "Call My Dad" with Scott Hoying 55:31 Dream artists Jennifer would love to write for 🔗 Connect with Jennifer Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jenniferadan13] Website [https://jenniferadan.com] Follow @thereshegoesclub [https://www.instagram.com/thereshegoesclub] for updates and community events. Join the There She Goes Club to activate joy, fun, and wonder back into your life.