Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

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 Kuntze02:48 Navigating Burnout and Its Impact05:55 The Energy of Doing What You Love08:59 The Importance of Boundaries11:55 Hiding Behind a Smile: Shanaye's Photo Reflection14:54 The Journey Through Burnout18:06 The Path to Healing and Self-Discovery21:02 The Role of Competitive Sports in Shanae's Life24:05 Transitioning from Sports to Fitness Coaching27:02 The Addiction to Work and Its Consequences29:46 Finding Light After Rock Bottom31:15 The Awakening to Breathwork34:43 Unleashing Psychic Abilities36:44 Creating Space for Transformation40:27 Deepening the Breathwork Experience43:01 The Power of Vulnerability in Community46:02 Communicating with Spirit Guides52:17 Reflections on Transformation55:17 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling LifeYou can connect with Shanaye through:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skbodyworksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/skbodyworks/Website: https://skbodyworks.com.auPodcast: (Apple) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-gym-tonic-podcast/id1743895889 (Spotify) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-gym-tonic-podcast/id1743895889Join 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 2026Follow and connect with Ash on: ⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterssTikTok @behindthesmilewithashbWebsite⁠ www.ashbutterss.comWatch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!

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 & Gratitude00:56 Memoir Writing & Bali Setup03:14 Spirituality as the Foundation of Sobriety05:39 From Non‑Believer to Spiritual Seeker08:04 Redefining a Higher Power in Recovery10:26 Gift of Desperation & Early God Experiments12:48 Daily Prayer, Gratitude & Relationship with God15:01 Meditation, Listening & Two‑Way Prayer17:25 Depositing into the Spiritual Bank19:42 Spiritual Solution to Alcoholism & Old PatternsJoin Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.Upcoming Workshops:The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets HereJoin Ash on retreat in 2026!Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026Follow and connect with Ash on: ⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterssTikTok @behindthesmilewithashbWebsite⁠ www.ashbutterss.comWatch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!

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 Journey03:01 Navigating Motherhood and Business06:01 Hiding Behind a Smile: Alicia's Photo Reflection09:11 Infertility Struggles and Emotional Toll12:09 The Impact of Alcohol on Coping Mechanisms15:04 The End of a Marriage and New Beginnings17:58 Finding Strength in Adversity20:53 The Journey to Motherhood: Donor Conception23:48 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Change30:45 The Journey of Single Motherhood32:08 Navigating Isolation and Connection34:29 The Impact of Alcohol Culture38:52 Realizations and Transformations43:35 Embracing Independence and Self-Discovery46:25 The Changing Landscape of Family Dynamics49:54 Empowerment Through Intentional Choices52:46 Building Community and Support54:40 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling LifeWebsite - www.solomumsociety.comInstagram - @noneedforprincecharmingUpcoming Workshops:The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets Here Join Ash on retreat in 2026!Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026Follow and connect with Ash on: ⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterssTikTok @behindthesmilewithashbWebsite⁠ www.ashbutterss.comWatch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!

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.comEpisode Chapters:00:00 The Energy of the Retreat02:58 Integration and Connection06:00 Creating a Safe Space08:59 Meeting Your Edge11:53 Transformation Through Action15:04 Intergenerational Healing17:56 The Power of Vulnerability20:59 Sisterhood and Support24:01 Reflections on the Experience28:33 Connection and Community in Retreats30:10 Overcoming Personal Challenges32:06 Emotional Vulnerability and Heart Opening33:13 Facing Uncertainty and Embracing Change36:32 The Journey of Growth and Transformation38:19 The Power of Embodied Experiences39:20 Announcing the Next RetreatReach out to Laura - @hersuccessfulmindJoin Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.Upcoming Workshops:The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets HereJoin Ash on retreat in 2026!Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026Follow and connect with Ash on: ⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterssTikTok @behindthesmilewithashbWebsite⁠ www.ashbutterss.comWatch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!

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 Transformation03:01 Rosie's Story of Sobriety05:56 The Struggles Behind the Smile08:57 The Dangerous Path of Alcoholism12:07 Childhood and Early Influences14:48 The Progression of Drinking17:58 Family Concerns and Consequences20:54 The Desperation of Addiction23:55 The Journey to Rehab26:28 The Journey Through Rehab29:00 The Turning Point: A Meeting That Changed Everything32:52 Embracing Spirituality in Recovery36:57 Overcoming the Ego: Finding a Higher Power40:46 Living One Day at a Time46:29 Building Healthy Relationships in Sobriety53:24 Non-Negotiables for a Happy LifeUpcoming Workshops:The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets HereJoin Ash on retreat in 2026!Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026Follow and connect with Ash on: ⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterssTikTok @behindthesmilewithashbWebsite⁠ www.ashbutterss.comWatch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!

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 Intentions00:57 Embracing Vulnerability in Solo Episodes04:03 The Journey of Acceptance10:10 Letting Go of Control15:00 Navigating Relationships with Acceptance20:04 The Spiritual Journey and Personal Growth24:53 Conclusion and Call to ActionJoin Ash’s community newsletter! Click the link here to join.Upcoming Workshops:The Reconnection Ritual | June 21st | Buy Tickets HereJoin Ash on retreat in 2026!Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026Follow and connect with Ash on: ⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterssTikTok @behindthesmilewithashbWebsite⁠ www.ashbutterss.comWatch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!