New Episodes Released Each Monday
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New Episodes Released Each Monday ✨
“I truly believe that when we recover loudly, no one need suffer in silence.”
- Ash Butterss
Join Ash each week as she brings you powerful stories of adversity, hope and transformation.
Whether it’s an epic interview or one of Ash’s in demand solo episodes, each recording delivers you tools and insights to unlock your full potential and create a life that excites you.
If you’re hungry to learn and expand your mind then you’re in the right place.
This podcast is your one-stop shop for powerful strategies, raw vulnerability and the shared wisdom of those who’ve walked the path themselves.
About Behind The Smile
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About Behind The Smile ✨
I created Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss because I’m on a mission to remove the stigma around mental health, trauma and addiction.
From 2018 – 2020, I was drinking every day, stuck in a cycle of addiction yet from the outside looking in my life looked “normal.” I now know, I fell into the category of being a “high-functioning alcoholic” however, at the time, I thought I just needed to learn how to control my drinking.
I was also experiencing poor mental health and debilitating panic attacks, which I was later medicated for, but I didn’t stop drinking and so the anxiety raged on.
During this time, I didn’t know where to turn to. I knew there were programs such as AA, but I didn’t think I qualified because I didn’t think I was an alcoholic. I didn’t look like the “typical” alcoholic, and I hadn’t lost my job or my marriage, so I was at a loss. Nowhere could I find another person who looked and sounded like me, who was going through a similar experience and talking about it.
When I got sober in 2020, I knew I needed to change this. I had a deep calling to start a conversation around mental health and addiction so that people could find identification in hearing people’s stories.
We live in a society that demands perfectionism and often people are afraid to speak honestly and openly about their struggles. Yet the only way this stigma can be removed is by having the conversation!
I hope these stories offer education and comfort for anyone experiencing difficulties today. Know that you’re not alone.
Ash xo
Episode Show Notes
Take a trip through the latest episode show notes below
Episode Ninety-Six: Preventing Burnout through Breath (The Unedited Woman Series)
Welcome to The Unedited Woman series! In today’s episode, Ash is sharing an episode with you around the importance of mindfulness and its role in avoiding burnout. She highlights the high levels of stress experienced by women and the need to prioritise self-care. Ash explains that mindfulness is a practice that can regulate emotions and the nervous system, leading to improved mental clarity and overall well-being. She shares three breath practices - diaphragmatic breath, box breath, and alternate nostril breath - that can be incorporated into a mindfulness practice. Ash emphasises that mindfulness is a powerful tool for navigating the chaos of everyday life and unleashing one's true potential.
Episode Ninety-Five: I'm Coming Home: The Podcast Relaunch
In this episode of Behind the Smile, Ash Butterss returns to share her journey of transformation and the importance of authentic conversations about mental health, trauma, and addiction. She reflects on her time away from the podcast, the lessons learned, and her commitment to creating a space for meaningful connections. Ash highlights the significance of trusting oneself, embracing the messiness of life, and the excitement of new beginnings as she prepares to relaunch the podcast with fresh content and guests.
