Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

This week’s episode is four years in the making, as Ash sits down with her brother, Campbell Butterss, for a conversation that is both deeply personal and authentically honest.
Cam reflects on their shared upbringing, growing up in an environment that was at times unpredictable. The subtle dynamics and unspoken patterns that shaped them both, and how sport became an outlet and a way to navigate emotions he didn’t yet have the words for.
At sixteen years sober, Cam opens up about his journey into sobriety at 26, the moments that led him to take a more honest look at his relationship with alcohol, and the support systems that helped him find a new way forward. Ash and Cam explore the evolving nature of family and friendships in recovery, what shifts, what stays the same, and what it takes to step out of old roles and into something more aligned.
They also touch on the realities of Campbell’s career in real estate, and the tools he’s developed to move through uncertainty and pressure without falling back into old patterns. Woven throughout the conversation are themes of growth, perspective, and the grounding influence of fatherhood, as Campbell shares how becoming a dad has shaped the way he lives, leads, and shows up today.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Retreats
01:19 Meet Campbell Butters: A Personal Journey
02:33 The Importance of Family and Relationships
04:37 Navigating Life's Challenges: A Personal Reflection
06:51 Finding Purpose in Real Estate
09:02 The Roller Coaster of Real Estate
12:16 Tools for Resilience in a Volatile Industry
14:58 Hiding Behind a Smile: The Struggles of 2009
19:00 Childhood Memories and Family Dynamics
21:38 The Role of Sport in Escaping Reality
26:11 The Impact of Alcohol on Life Choices
29:28 Lessons Learned from Family Success
31:10 Teenage Rebellion and Authority Issues
33:05 The Journey Begins: A Geographical Escape
34:34 The Struggles of Alcoholism: A Year of Excess
37:48 The Turning Point: Realizations and Recovery
41:08 Finding Support: The Early Days of Sobriety
43:12 Facing Second Rock Bottom: Dealing with Trauma
47:18 Spiritual Awakening: The Role of Spirituality in Recovery
51:26 Family Dynamics: Navigating Relationships in Recovery
54:10 Friendship Changes: The Pain of Growing Apart
01:00:43 Fatherhood: The Greatest Gift and Responsibility
01:03:16 Non-Negotiables: Keys to a Fulfilling Life

You can connect withCampbell using the links below:
Instagram: Campbell Butterss
Website: Marshall White Real Estate

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!

The Embodied Woman Retreat | Gold Coast | May 2026

Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash sits down with principal consultant and founder of the Energy Collective Co, Jade Donegan, to explore what it really means to care for your inner world while navigating the demands of work, family, and grief. Jade shares how her spirituality helped her to navigate the profound rupture of losing her dad, a loss that reshaped how she sees life, love, and success.

She opens up about her journey through grief and forgiveness, the unexpected signs she still receives from her father, and the emotional toll of trying to keep going when your heart is somewhere else. Ash and Jade dive into the importance of emotional health at work, the need for accountability in professional spaces, and how understanding our own energy can change the way we lead, collaborate, and show up for the people around us.

Throughout their conversation, Jade reflects on the transformative power of practices like Reiki, and how they’ve helped her build self-awareness, soften self-judgment, and create workplaces where wellbeing is taken seriously. Together, they talk about moving through emotions rather than getting stuck in them, and the courage it takes to let yourself feel everything without shutting down.

At its heart, this episode is an invitation to meet yourself with empathy whether you’re sitting in grief, in transition, or in growth. You’ll walk away with insights on how to build a life and career that honour both your humanity and your healing.

Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Retreats and Personal Growth
01:51 Meet Jade Donegan: A Journey of Transformation
04:04 Daily Life and Finding Joy in Learning
08:10 The Move to New Zealand: A Family Adventure
11:32 Hiding Behind a Smile: The Impact of Grief
19:06 Navigating Grief: A Personal Story of Loss
23:44 Navigating Numbness and Helplessness
24:26 The Journey of Forgiveness
25:55 A Life-Changing Accident
28:20 Empathy and Forgiveness in Grief
29:36 Signs from Beyond
36:50 The Power of Reiki
43:03 Workplace Wellbeing and Accountability

You can connect with Jade using the links below:
http://www.energycollectiveco.com.au/

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!

The Embodied Woman Retreat | Gold Coast | May 2026

Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash sits down with sobriety advocate, author, and entrepreneur, Ian Fee, for a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about recovery.
After 34 years of heavy drinking, Ian reached a point where he was willing to try anything to get sober. What followed was one of the most confronting decisions of his life, undergoing 10 days of radical aversion therapy designed to make alcohol physically repulsive.

Ian shares what it was really like inside that experience, including daily alcohol-induced vomiting, sedatives and intense therapy. This was the doorway that led him to sobriety and the opportunity to rebuild his life. From losing almost everything to slowly repairing, Ian opens up about healing relationships, restoring self-respect, and learning how to live day by day without escaping himself.

Along with losing 85 pounds, Ian has formed a whole new identity and now lives a life that is full of gratitude, purpose and meaning.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Ian Fee's Journey
06:11 The Impact of Sobriety on Daily Life
12:53 Reflections on Family and Presence
18:57 The Evolution of Drinking Habits
21:00 Turning Point: Aversion Therapy Experience
23:37 Exploring Aversion Therapy for Sobriety
26:00 The Turning Point: Realizing the Need for Change
28:31 The Shift in Relationships and Support Systems
32:02 Finding Purpose Through Storytelling
33:04 Building a Foundation for Recovery
38:12 Healing Relationships with Children
40:47 Non-Negotiables for a Happy Life

You can connect with Ian using the links below:
Website: makeitgreat.me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-fee-6391b112/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Great/100034784122106/
Link to Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Ride-Sobriety-Transformation-Oblivion/dp/B0DHYR1YST/

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!
The Embodied Woman Retreat | Gold Coast | May 2026
Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ash sits down with Carly Schwartz, author of I’ll Try Anything Twice, to talk about what it really looks like to live through the darkest corners of your own mind and make it out the other side. Carly traces her journey from childhood anxiety to years of depression, substance use, and suicidal ideation, sharing the moments of denial, fear, and quiet desperation that shaped her path.

She opens up about the turning point of finally naming her addiction and the life-changing experience of going to rehab, not as a neat overnight fix, but as the beginning of a very human, very imperfect recovery. Ash and Carly explore the messy middle of healing: the shame that keeps us silent, the relief of being truly seen, and the deep importance of community and storytelling in breaking through isolation.

Throughout their conversation, Carly reflects on what it means to personalise recovery rather than squeeze it into a one-size-fits-all mold. She speaks to the need for flexibility, self-acceptance, and learning to listen to your own needs as they evolve over time. At its heart, this episode is a testament to resilience and connection, a reminder that while recovery is rarely linear, it is always possible, especially when we’re willing to tell the truth, reach out, and let others walk beside us.

Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Carly Schwartz and Her Journey
11:03 The Struggles Behind the Smile
17:09 Childhood Anxiety and Early Signs of Depression
23:20 The Dark Side of Substance Use and Suicidal Ideation
28:26 The Struggle with Substance Use and Denial
32:03 The Turning Point: Seeking Help and Going to Rehab
37:00 Building a New Life in Recovery
45:27 Personalizing Recovery: Finding What Works
51:03 The Power of Community in Recovery

Support Services
If this conversation has brought anything up for you, please know you don’t have to go through it alone. Support is always available. You can reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for mental health support and guidance, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 for free counselling.

Connect with Carly using the links below:
Website - https://www.carly.ink/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carlicita
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlicita/
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236558341-i-ll-try-anything-twice
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Anything-Twice-Misadventures-Self-Medicated/dp/B0FD8RPH9L/
Bookshop - https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-ll-try-anything-twice-misadventures-of-a-self-medicated-life-carly-schwartz/591dca26d9b8c510

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!
The Embodied Woman Retreat | Gold Coast | May 2026
Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode, Ash sits down with TEDx speaker and award-winning author Melo Calarco—a man who has quite literally cycled to the edges of the world in search of meaning, resilience, and himself. Over 30,000 kilometres across five continents, Melo has learned that the most transformative journey is always the one within.

He shares how meditation and mindfulness became the quiet anchors behind his extraordinary adventures, and how facing grief, uncertainty, and physical limits on the road ultimately deepened his understanding of what it means to truly live. Together, Ash and Melo explore the tension between ambition and contentment, and what it looks like to pursue big goals without losing yourself in the chase.

Drawing on Eastern philosophies and real-life transformations he has witnessed through his coaching work, Melo offers grounded, practical tools for bringing more presence, flexibility, and fun into everyday life. The conversation is a reminder that growth doesn't always look like pushing harder—sometimes it looks like slowing down, checking in with your values, and choosing joy as a practice. Melo's story is equal parts adventure and wisdom, and a powerful invitation to live more fully, freely, and in alignment with what matters most.

Episode chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Melo Carlaco
01:41 A Day in the Life of Melo
05:54 The Importance of Fun and Play
06:55 Hiding Behind a Smile: Personal Stories
10:02 Navigating Grief and Adversity
13:04 The Journey of a Lifetime: Cycling Around the Globe
17:47 The Seeds of Meditation
20:25 Cultivating the Pause: Reaction vs. Response
24:31 Life After Adventure: What Now?
27:37 The Aftermath of Achievements: TEDx Experience
29:26 Setting Hard Goals for Personal Growth
32:06 The Balance of Flexibility and Discipline
34:08 Integrating Eastern Philosophies into Coaching
39:48 Real-Life Transformations through Mindfulness
44:01 The Importance of Presence in Daily Life
46:40 Practical Tools for Mindfulness and Presence
50:45 Living by Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling Life

Connect with Melo below:
BOOK: BEATING BURNOUT FINDING BALANCE FREE CHAPTER
MELO's TEDx TALK
FREE MEDITATIONS on INSIGHT TIMER
STAY CONNECTED on MELO's LINKED IN

Follow and connect with Ash on:
⁠Instagram⁠ @ashbutterss
TikTok @behindthesmilewithashb
Website⁠ www.ashbutterss.com

Join Ash on retreat in 2026!

The Embodied Woman Retreat | Gold Coast | May 2026

Rest and Renew Holistic Retreat in Bali | August 2026

Watch Ash’s TEDx Talk here!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.