On the Table with Ashley

Memorial Ink is on the table today! In this episode of On the Table With Ashley, Ashley speaks with tattoo artist Paul Cutler, founder of Bubblegum Ink Tattoo Shop, about the deeply personal process of creating ashes-infused tattoos. Bubblegum Ink is a tattoo studio in Cheshire, UK, specializing in deeply personal memorial tattoos, including ashes‑infused tattoos that incorporate cremated remains. Paul explains how cremation ashes can be safely incorporated into tattoo ink, allowing people to carry a physical connection to loved ones who have passed. Drawing from years of experience working with grieving clients, he shares emotional stories from the tattoo chair and reflects on what working so closely with grief has taught him about life and connection. Learn more about Bubblegum Ink Tattoo Shop. Read The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

Olvera Street is on the Table Today!Today we are joined by Christina Mariscal Pasten. As the daughter of merchants herself, Christina is a founding board member of The Olvera Street Merchants Association. Olvera Street is a historical street in Los Angeles, which served as the center of Spanish and Mexican life in the early 1900s. The merchants on Olvera Street have been celebrating Dia De Los Muertos for decades with a 9 day long festival. The celebration incorporates the pre-Columbian, Aztec, Mayan and Catholic rituals surrounding death. This conversation explores the rich history and cultural significance of Olvera Street and the celebration of Dios de los Muertos. Christina Mariscal Pasten shares her personal connection to Olvera Street, her family's legacy, and the role of the Olvera Street Merchant Association Foundation in preserving traditions. What results is a beautiful conversation about cultural exchange and understanding, as well as the personal practices that keep the memory of loved ones alive.Learn more about Olvera Street Merchants Association here.Read Rain of Gold by Victor Villansenor.Listen to Brains On. Listen to Greeking Out.Listen to Work Life with Adam Grant.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

Secular Funerals are on the table today!For the third episode of our Death Rituals Series, we are joined by Blake Hutchings. Blake Hutchings is a Humanist Celebrant accredited by Humanists UK. He creates non-religious ceremonies for weddings, funerals, and naming days, working closely with individuals and families to ensure each ceremony reflects their values, stories, and relationships. Outside of his celebrant work, he is a musician, an active participant in amateur theatre, a writer, and a father of two.Blake takes us behind the scenes of what it means to be a humanist celebrant - from the multi-stage training process to the emotional and practical realities of meeting with families, writing personalized tributes, and guiding people through one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives from a secular lens. The conversation offers insight into the inner-workings of a secular funeral and the ways we can honor, think about, and remember death both inside and outside of organized religion.At its heart, this conversation reflects on how working so closely with death often becomes an exercise in learning how to live. Blake and Ashley talk about grief, legacy, and the importance of confronting mortality. Like many conversations On the Table With Ashley holds around death and dying, this episode ultimately becomes a conversation about life.Listen to the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast.Find out more about Humanists U.K.Learn more about Blake Hutchings.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

Journeying through death and grief is on the table today!In part 2 of this 2 part conversation, we are once again joined by Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez. Genevieve is a U.S. Army veteran who began her career as a medic, serving on military death response teams before transitioning into the funeral profession. She’s now the President and CEO of the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston. Genevieve holds degrees in psychology and mortuary science, as well as a master’s in nonprofit and association management — and she’s dedicated her career to helping people better understand death, grief, and remembrance. In this episode, Ashley and Genevieve dig deep, contending with the nuances, contradictions and lived realities of grief. Together, they explore the role that religion and funerals play in comforting the living while honoring the dead. From death photography to Jazz Funerals, Genevieve walks us through the different customs and traditions that help us process loss, and what these rituals teach us about how we grieve. Recorded just days after the death of her own mother, Genevieve generously opens up about her own grief journey, affording us a rare look into the magnitude of grief in motion, the contradictions and ever-evolving feelings that accompany it, and the healing that happens when we discuss this topic with an open mind and an open heart.Listen to the full episode, out now on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about The National Museum of Funeral History.Listen to The Final Curtain Never Closes.Follow The National Museum of Funeral History on Instagram.Read The History of American Funeral Directing by Robert W. Habenstein and William M. Lamers.Learn more about INELDA.Explore the Association of Death Education and Counseling.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

Death rituals around the world are on the table today!In the first episode of our Death Rituals series, we are joined by Genevieve Keeney Vasquez for a conversation about death rituals, cultural practices, and the power of honoring the dead with intention.Genevieve Keeney Vazquez is a U.S. Army veteran who began her career as a medic, serving on military death response teams before transitioning into the funeral profession. She’s now the President and CEO of the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston. Genevieve holds degrees in psychology and mortuary science, as well as a master’s in nonprofit and association management — and she’s dedicated her career to helping people better understand death, grief, and remembrance. Her path from the military to mortuary science to museum leadership offers such a fascinating window into how we find meaning, even in life’s most difficult moments. Recorded just days after the loss of Genevieve’s mother, this episode holds space for grief in real time. In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Genevieve shares how early experiences with death shaped her life’s path, from a childhood fascination sparked by a tragic news story to her time as a U.S. Army medic stationed in Germany. Together, Ashley and Genevieve discuss why we avoid talking about death, how that avoidance impacts families when loss occurs, and why having conversations about burial, cremation, and memorial wishes ahead of time is an act of love. Listen to the full episode, out now, on your favorite podcast platform.Explore the Association of Death Education and CounselingExplore the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral ServicesLearn more about The National Museum of Funeral HistoryListen to The Final Curtain Never ClosesFollow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

Today, we have an abbreviated, bonus re-release of our episode with Palliative care doctor, Dr. Alex Gamble.Dr. Gamble graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 2010, completed his residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2015, and pursued his fellowship at the University of Kansas in 2016. He specializes in improving the quality of life for patients nearing the end of life, drawing from his deep expertise in palliative care.Dr. Gamble sits down with Ashley to discuss his experiences as a palliative care physician and the profound lessons his patients have taught him about life, death, grief, and emotional maturity. Their conversation explores the philosophical aspects of death anxiety and dives into the diverse emotional landscapes of his patients.Death Anxiety is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, influencing many of the choices we make in an effort to mitigate our fears surrounding mortality. With this episode, and the series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about this often-uncomfortable topic. We believe that through tough conversations, we can find inner peace. No subject is off-limits in our pursuit of meaningful connection.You can learn more about Dr. Gamble and his practice at North Kansas City Hospital's page as well as on Stanford University's academic staff page. Links to resources mentioned by Ashley and Dr. Gamble in today’s episode:‘‘And Yet It Was a Blessing’’: The Case for Existential Maturity - special report by Linda L. Emanuel, MD, PhD, Neha Reddy, BA, Joshua Hauser, MD, and Sarah B. Sonnenfeld.Plato's Allegory of the CaveThe Death Cafe MovementThe Death Positive MovementA Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death - by B.J Miller, MD and Shoshana BergerRecomposeFollow Dr.Gamble on XFollow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

Nutrition is on the table today!For the final episode of our wellness series, we are joined by Nutritionist Joan Salge Blake. Dr. Salge Blake is a Clinical Professor and Dietetic Internship Director at Boston University (BU) and was awarded the prestigious Whitney Powers Excellence in Teaching Award from the University. Currently, Joan is a nutrition blogger for US News & World Report’s Eat + Run Column and the host of SpotOn!, the hit nutrition, health, and wellness podcast. She has conducted over 2,000 media interviews on numerous nutrition topics and was named by Good Housekeeping Magazine as the expert to follow on Twitter for healthy eating.Dr.Salge Blake joins us to break down the misinformation and disinformation surrounding nutrition in our current landscape. The two engage in a robust discussion about small ways to improve our nutritional outcomes in everyday lives, and the importance of nutrition education for all. In a field dominated by influencers and unlicensed experts, Dr.Salge Blake provides an unbiased, educated perspective on how to best live a truly nutritious lifestyle. Listen to the full episode, out now, on your favorite podcast platform. Follow Dr. Salge Blake on Facebook.Follow Dr. Salge Blake on Twitter.Follow Dr. Salge Blake on Instagram.Explore the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Check out the TV Show Chef’s TableListen to the Spot On PodcastRead Eat Right the E.A.S.Y Way by Joan Salge BlakeRead Nutrition & You by Joan Salge BlakeRead Nutrition from Science to You by Joan Salge BlakeExplore OldwaysFollow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at reachoutanytime@ameatendre.com.

In the seventh episode of our wellness series, we are joined by Autumn Bear and Dr. Kelly Woodward. Autumn Bear is the founder of the Autumn Bear Wellness Collective, a space where modern medicine meets ancient healing. Trained in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, Autumn blends traditional medicine and spirituality to guide people toward deeper wellness and self-connection.Autumn holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Arizona. Her work focuses on whole-person healing, community connection, and empowering people to take an active role in their health. Dr. Kelly Woodward is a Preventive and Family Medicine physician with over 30 years of experience in lifestyle and integrative health. With a career that includes serving as a consultant in public health and a 22+ year tenure in the U.S. Air Force (retiring as Colonel), Dr. Woodward brings deep expertise in chronic disease prevention, longevity, and lifestyle medicine. After leading wellness programs at Intermountain Park City Hospital, he joined the Autumn Bear Wellness Collective, where he focuses on helping patients thrive through balance, longevity, and mindful living. In part 2 of this 2 part conversation, Dr. Woodward and Autumn join us to discuss the critical role that connection and community play in health and healing. They share powerful stories from their practices illustrating how genuine human relationships, persistent compassionate care, and having meaningful roles within the community can transform patient outcomes. The conversation explores how healthcare practitioners can balance technical expertise with emotional investment, and practical ways to practice wellness in everyday life.Read My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Read Here If You Need Me: A True Story by Kate Braistrup.Read Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.Read Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.Read Life After Dead Pool:Lake Powell's Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River by Zak Podmore.Read the periodical Science News.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.Learn more about Autumn’s practice here.Learn more about Dr.Woodward here.Follow Autumn on Instagram and Tiktok.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. If you have ideas for new episodes or guests, or just want to share feedback, email us at onthetablewithashley@ameatendre.com.

Send us a text Sleep and Simple Movement is on the Table today! In the sixth episode of our wellness series, we are joined by Autumn Bear and Dr.Kelly Woodward. Autumn Bear is the founder of the Autumn Bear Wellness Collective, a space where modern medicine meets ancient healing. Trained in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, Autumn blends traditional medicine and spirituality to guide people toward deeper wellness and self-connection.Autumn holds a Master of Public Health from the ...

Send us a text Wellness for Midlife Women is on the table today! For the fifth episode of our Wellness Series, we are joined by Linsly Donnelly. Linsly Donnelly is a Mindset and Longevity Coach, Board Executive, and Motivational Speaker. As a strategy consultant turned entrepreneur turned “citizen scientist”, she became inspired to partner with midlife women with a simple goal: Help midlife women build and sustain their energy in order to craft their next decades to be ones full of purpose an...

Send us a text Holistic Psychology is on the table today! In the fourth episode of our Wellness series, we are joined by Psychiatrist, Dr. Rinat Tal. Dr. Tal’s connection to mental health began in childhood, shaped by her ancestors’ experiences as Holocaust survivors. Growing up in this environment fueled her desire to understand both herself and those around her on a deeper level. Dr. Tal’s work combines medical practices with a holistic perspective, considering the mind, body, and emotions ...

Send us a text Natural fertility is on the table today! In episode 3 of our wellness series, we are joined by Natalie Crawford, MD. Dr. Natalie Crawford is a double board-certified fertility specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She is the co-founder of Fora Fertility in Austin and Pinnacle, a leadership community for women in medicine. Dr. Crawford also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Dell Medical School at the Universit...

Send us a text Strengthening the mind and body is on the table today! In the second episode of our Wellness series, we are joined by Cara Baxter, P.T. Cara is the owner of Motion Physical Therapy in Park City, Utah, and the former head physical therapist for the 2018 Olympic Freeski Halfpipe Team. She has worked with rehabbing athletes from the NFL, NHL, MLB, United States Figure Skating, and United States Ski and Snowboard team. Outside of her professional work, Cara was an elite figure skat...

Send us a text Breathwork as Medicine is on the table today! In the inaugural episode of our Wellness series, we are joined by Dr.Amit Anand, a distinguished Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine physician based in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 27 years of experience in his field, Dr.Anand integrates traditional medical practices with ancient yogic breathing techniques to promote holistic health and well-being. For the past 25 years, he has been actively involved in teaching at este...

Send us a text Today, we have an abbreviated, bonus re-release of our episode on clean living with Dana Grinnell on the table. You can listen to the full episode here. Dana Grinnell is the founder of Free Living Co, an educational platform and shop dedicated to helping people lead healthier lifestyles by providing accessible strategies and products for replacing harmful chemicals in homes across the country. She joins Ashley to talk about her personal journey into the world of clean liv...

Send us a text Reading Overseas is on the table today! In the final episode of our Book Club mini-series, we’re joined by voracious reader and book club veteran Linda Buday. Linda shares what it was like to be part of a book club while living in Switzerland, an experience that deepened her commitment not only to reading but also to community. She walks us through her long lineage of book clubs, starting with her very first group in 1991, made up entirely of working women, to the one she helpe...

Send us a text A lifetime of reading is on the table today! In episode 2 of our book club mini-series, Ashley sits down with Nan Williamson - a lifelong reader and book club veteran who has co-founded two long-running book clubs over the years. Nan opens up about her journey from a child with undiagnosed ADHD and difficulty focusing to a voracious reader and community-builder through books. Together, Ashley and Nan explore the emotional heart of what makes a book club more than just a r...

Send us a text A lifetime of reading is on the table today! This week, we're kicking off a special book club mini-series with a guest who has been part of the same men's book club since 1997. Hugh Williamson joins Ashley to talk about what it means to commit to reading in community over decades- through life changes, shifting interests, and a whole lot of paperbacks. In this conversation, Hugh reflects on how this book club has evolved, what keeps the group together, and titles th...

Send us a text Design Psychology is on the table today! Rounding out our From Brain to Home series, we are joined by Amber Dunford, a former mental health clinician turned interior stylist and one of only a handful of design psychology consultants with expertise in the connection between space design and mental health. Amber spent years in private practice as a therapist before merging her passions for design and psychology by developing a college course on the relationship between the ...

Send us a text Sustainable Design is on the table today! In this episode, we are joined by San Francisco-based designer, artist, and climate activist, Verda Alexander. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from San Jose State University and advanced studies in landscape architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design, Verda co-founded Studio O+A. Studio O+A is a design firm renowned for creating innovative workspaces for leading technology companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Slack...