Charged! The Podcast

This week Ashley speaks with Chef Christina Lecki. A Philadelphia native, Christina shares what first drew her to cooking and later how she landed in the Big Apple. We get to hear about early breakfasts with her Grandfather and how his cooking shows up on her menus today. Christina talks on her brief stint in Fashion, how we can use food waste to dye clothes and how Americans can do more in the way of sustainability. It's an episode filled with passion and we certainly hope it leaves you feeling charged! 

This week Ashley speaks with Aaron Rose. Aaron describes himself as queer, trans, man, white, New Yorker, astrology lover, boy band intrigued, Harry Potter fan, ocean-obsessed, teacher, student but at the core human. Ashley and Aaron spend some time talking about Aaron's transition from his sex assigned at birth to the man he has become today but really this episode is about love. This episode implores us to ask, how can we love bigger? Aaron shares his struggle to love, his purpose and his passion. And we are lucky enough to hear Aaron's suggestions on how to start loving more today!

This week Ashley speaks with Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor and Personal Trainer, Dominick Martino. Dominick shares how he went from giving his Auntie back massages during episodes of Fame to a licensed practitioner. We get to learn from Dominick’s movement geekdom, as he calls it, when Ashley asks questions like, What’s a knot anyway? Is stretching really good for us? How has massage influenced your yoga practice and vice versa? They also discuss the importance of touch despite the “Me Too” movement and ponder wether any of us are really experiencing enough touch in our day-to-day lives. We get to hear Dominick’s love for his wife, his way of self-care and areas he’s currently working on to improve. This is a sweet episode filled with inspiration and as always, may this episode leave you charged! 

This week Ashley speaks with former Whitehouse Pastry Chef during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, Pastry Chef of the soon to open new Four Seasons Restaurant and cookbook author, Bill Yosses. Bill spills the beans on favorite desserts of President Bush & President Obama and confirms just how dope Michelle Obama really is. Later in the episode Bill shares his experience being a gay man working in a heterosexual dominant industry and what has kept him going during the tougher times. This man is intelligent and oh-so wise with a deep love for what he does. There are so many takeaways from this episode. May it leave you charged!   

This week Ashley speaks with NYS Licensed Massage Therapist, Anthony Erfe. This is an informative episode. Anthony shares the dos and don’ts before receiving a massage, what we should do after receiving a massage and what to do if a masseuse ever crosses the line. Later in the episode Anthony shares the importance of staying fit in his profession and just how he does it. May this episode leave you charged!!! 

This week Ashley speaks with artist/emcee, Phase One. Phase shares his recent experience as a first time performer at SXSW and his biggest take-a-way from that experience. Ashley probes Phase on why he wanted to do advocacy work with teens specifically and if Phase thinks there is any hope for bettering his relationship with his Dad. And....Phase drops a freestyle at the end! Stay charged my friends.

This week Ashley speaks to Hip Hop Professor at the New School, Sam Sellers. To many he is better known as Rabbi Darkside. Rabbi is a MC/DJ/Beatboxer/Educator/CEO and the list goes on. In this episode Ashley and Rabbi talk about the making of his newly released album, Radio Activity. He shares tips on how to become a better freestyler, the love for his mother and what it's like being a white-jewish MC in hip-hop culture. This is a thoughtful episode and as always, may it leave you especially charged!     

This week Ashley speaks with yoga instructor, Sara Clark. Sara shares her transition from television production to teaching yoga full time and why she believes yoga teachers should be paid. In this episode we get to hear Sara's definition of yoga, how yoga helped her through an eating disorder and the importance of #blackgirlmagic. As always, may this episode leave you feeling oh-so charged!!!  

This week Ashley speaks with The Paulie Gee of Paulie Gee’s pizza in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. After being miserable for 30 years doing a job Paulie says he wasn’t very good at, he was forced to start doing what he loved most, entertaining. Paulie opened his first restaurant at 56 years of age! He shares the two things people need to be successful and how he came to recognize the power he holds within him. Paulie is a man with a lot of character, a wannabe deejay who loves his family immensely and not to mention a Yankees fan! May this episode leave you charged and wanting to eat a slice of pizza!

This week Ashely with painter Ryan Schneider. Born in the mid-west and now settled in Joshua Tree, Ryan talks about discovering he was an artist, the ups and downs of the artists life, and his profound journey of making a life changing decision. Don't miss this excellent episode that will leave you thinking and most definitely charged!!!

This week Ashley speaks with co-founder of the DevaCurl Academy and one of the original partners of the Devachan Salons, Shari Harbinger. Shari is a force who brings a lot of energy to this episode. Ashley and Shari swap their curly-hair journey and how going natural has empowered each of them out of the salon. We get to hear from Shari how DevaCurl was birthed and her big dreams to take this brand global. Some powerful moments in the episode. We save the best for last! And as always, may this episode leave you charged! 

This week Ashley speaks with the inventor of The Spyder360, Johnathan Smith. What is the Spyder360 exactly? You’ll have to listen. Find out how Johnathan crafted this unique gadget and its function. Johnathan shares the many challenges he continues to face and what keeps him pushing onward. We learn he has a wife and her role in bringing this invention into the world. This episode is filled with expertise, energy and Johnathan’s suggestions on spicing up one’s life. Without a doubt you will be charged!

This week Ashley speaks with transformational coach, feminist, activist and all around change maker, Dana Bilicki. After Dana paints the picture of her childhood Ashley and Dana get into bigger inquiry; what does it mean to be an activist in 2018? why should white women talk less and listen more? can anyone receive the title of Life Coach? Dana talks about what lead her to become a coach and just who needs coaching. Plenty of food for thought in this episode. As always, may this episode leave you charged! 

This week Ashley speaks with emerging choreographer, currently dancing with Ballet Hispanico, Omar Roman de Jesus. During this conversation Omar not only shares his process as a choreographer but also shares when he first discovered for himself that he was gay and what this meant for a young boy growing up in Puerto Rico. He talks on how he made it through this tremulous time in his life and how it has shaped his current relationship with his father. Omar tells us what kept him going just as he was thinking about giving up dancing and how finding joy in all situations is most important to him. Omar is a charming soul contributing many beautiful gifts to the dance world. This is an endearing episode sure to leave you charged. 

This week Ashley speaks with dancer and choreographer Telmo Moreira. Angola born but raised in Portugal, Telmo tells the story of how his start as an African dancer lead him to his ballet training at the Vaganova Ballet Acedemy in Russia. He shares his bumpy journey as a ballet dancer, how he almost quit dancing all together and what ultimately kept him dancing. He talks on the importance of becoming a teacher and how through teaching he has become a better dancer. Telmo is a force who knows his own power. He's most ambitious and you can hear it in his voice throughout this episode. May his ambition fuel your own ambitions and may it leave you charged!!!   

This week Ashley speaks with chef and social justice worker, Ora Wise. In this conversation Ora shares her recent travels to Puerto Rico, the effects Hurricane Maria has had on local farmers there and what she is doing to help. Ora keeps honest about her struggles of taking care of herself while at the same time continuing to do the important work she is doing. We get to hear what inspired Ora to get her start as a chef and what lead her down this unique path combining food and social justice. May this episode leave you charged!!! 

This week Ashley speaks with actor, writer and director Michael Stahl-David. Michael really brings the laughs in an episode like never before! Ashley and Michael talk about giving up watching porn and how to better fill your time. Michael shares tidbits on his life as an actor, the importance of celebrating your victories and why he meditates. Perhaps our most entertaining episode yet...you be the judge! And as always, may this episode leave you charged!!! 

This week Ashley speaks with her Biology teacher from middle school, Claire Orner. While Claire no longer teaches middle school she shares her transition from teaching in schools to owning and operating Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School for Country Living. Claire defines sustainable living for us, what her spiritual practice is and talks about making amends as a white woman during her trip to Ghana, West Africa earlier this year. Claire is a force, talking the talk and walking the walk. Let this episode charge you! 

This week Ashley speaks with retired Navy Seal, occasional actor on the television series Blacklist and father, Thad Turner. Thad tells us what training looks like to become a seal and we learn how he survived the notorious, “Hell Week”. He tells us what he thinks of the new-era seals and if our current political system is leading our country to conflict. Thad touches on his current work, rescuing kidnapped and in some cases trafficked children. Find out what scares this tough guy, if he believes in God and what music he most often jams to. Its a surprising conversation and a charging one at that! 

This week Ashley speaks with the Founder of Spiritual Fitness, intenSati creator and mother of three, Patricia Moreno. With so much enthusiasm, Patricia shares how she developed such a powerful and life shifting practice. She tells why she gets up at five thirty in the morning almost everyday and her goals for twenty-eighteen. This episode is part conversation part coaching. We know you will be charged!