As women, we can often fall into society’s idea of what we’re supposed to do – both in life and with our bodies. But true freedom is turning inward – not externally – to choose what we truly want. 

Our guest this week is Ashley Scoby: freelance writer, editor, and operations manager (including for Soulcation!). She started as a sports journalist; has written for places like ESPNW, the Huffington Post, and Seattle Times; and reckoned with her own burnout before redesigning her life and building her own business. She also recently had a sterilization procedure, and has written about her 6-year struggle to find a doctor who would afford her her full reproductive rights.

Tune into the full episode to hear more about Ashley’s journey, how she fought for her freedom to choose what to do with her body, and the power we have as women to write our own scripts.

What you will learn: 

1:28 : Ashley introduces herself, including her background in sports journalism and how she ended up as Soulcation’s operations manager

4:11 : How to run a business (or life) according to the Soulcation principles, including flexibility and listening to yourself

7:10 : More about Ashley’s decision to be sterilized, and the 6-year journey it took to find a doctor who would respect her full reproductive rights

9:04 : How Ashley determined she didn’t want to have kids

13:16 : What Ashley has learned about herself through her journey to sterilization 

17:21 : How Ashley’s partners have reacted to her telling them she doesn’t want kids

20:42 : Ashley’s advice about finding partners on the same page as you about fertility and other big life decisions

25:28 : More about the times in Ashley’s life where she’s recognized she’s held a belief derived from someone else, not necessarily from herself and her own desires

28:41 : The advice Ashley has for women who know they don’t want to be mothers, but feel silenced in that belief 

31:48 : The things Ashley is working on currently, including an essay about her fertility, and more about how she’s reimagining her life in COVID times

33:39 : Ashley’s definition for living a life she doesn’t need a vacation from 

Relevant Links:

·        Follow Ashley on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshleyScoby

·        Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyscoby/ 

·        Read Ashley’s essay about her choice to be sterilized: https://rebelliousmagazine.com/getting-sterilized-was-the-best-decision-of-my-life-it-took-six-years-to-get-there/ 

·        Free Soulcation Daily Planning Page: https://www.melodymiles.com/daily-planning-page

·        Follow Mel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulcationmel/ 

·        Purchase the Soulcation Planner: https://www.melodymiles.com/soulcation-planner