On the Table with Ashley

Send us a textReading 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 helped start in Switzerland in 2003. Along the way, Linda offers thoughtful insights and practical tips for building and sustaining a successful book club; from the ideal number of participants to the shared commitment that makes these groups thrive.Linda’s story is a perfect bookend to a series that celebrates the power of language and the connections we build through it.Read Blindness by Jose Saramago.Read Blood, Bones and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton.Read Regeneration by Pat Barker.Read The Things They Carried by Tim Obrien.Read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.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.

Send us a textA 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 reading group: the stories that shape us, the friendships that form around shared pages, and the quiet magic of gathering to feel, reflect, and connect. Nan shares her favorite reads, the secrets that keep her club thriving, and why book clubs can be a powerful form of community care.What results is a tender, vulnerable conversation that mirrors the emotional intimacy of a book club itself, and will leave you wanting to start (or restart) one of your own.Read A Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.Read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix.Read Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann.Read A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan.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.

Send us a textA 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 that have sparked meaningful discussions. What results is a warm and meaningful look at the power of shared stories.Explore Thrift Books.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.

Send us a textDesign 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 two. She joins Ashley to discuss the powerful and often underrated, correlation between our mental wellbeing and the spaces we inhabit.Amber talks about her work as a “design psychologist”, explaining how she pulls from her background in counseling psychology to design a space. From treatment plans to client intake sessions, she understands the way a space makes her client feel as the foundation for her designs. Amber peels back the layers on our subconscious, acutely tying our childhood memories, our comforts and discomforts, and our familiarities to the ways in which we interpret our four walls. What results is an eye-opening conversation that is about so much more than interior design. It’s about our past, our emotions and the ways we interpret the world around us. Follow Amber Dunford on Instagram.Explore Amber Dunford’s website. Listen to our conversation with Dr. Anjan ChatterjeeListen to our conversation with Dr. Yvonne JewkesListen to our conversation with Dr. Mariana FigueiroLearn about The Church of Bones in Czechoslovakia Listen to the Business of Home Podcast Read The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness by Emily AnthesFollow 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.

Send us a textSustainable 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. Beyond her design practice, Alexander is the Editor-at-Large at Metropolis Magazine, where she expands conversations around design, climate activism, social justice, and art. Alexander also engages audiences through "Break Some Dishes," a podcast addressing design's role in climate change.Verda Alexander joins Ashley to discuss what she has learned about productivity and comfort in the workspace from designing for some of the biggest tech companies in the world. The two dive deep into Verda’s climate activism and the ways in which climate change, sustainability and design intersect. What results is an astute conversation that interrogates the ways capitalism informs design, and the intentionality necessary to create designs that help our planet and the people living on it. Follow Verda on Instagram.Listen to Verda’s Podcast Break Some DishesCheck out Studio X+ORead Food for Thought Truck by Studio X+OCheck out the Alternative Practice ProjectRead Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal NewportLearn More about John Muir’s Alarm Clock BedRead The Eco PlaybookRead Metropolis MagazineRead Invisible Women - Exposing Data in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado PerezRead How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny OdellFollow 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.

Send us a textThe magic of everyday objects is on the table today!In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Ashley is joined by designers Hannah Bigeleisen and Alyssa Gerasimoff for a thoughtful exploration of the joy of color, the value of small-batch bespoke and custom production, and the creative potential found in the everyday.Alyssa Gerasimoff, a 2020 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in furniture design, founded Erria—a digital platform connecting artists, designers, suppliers, and fabricators—in 2023 after seeing many of her peers struggle to launch their creative careers. She’s now preparing to roll out Erria 2.0, a more sustainable, evolved version of the platform.Hannah Bigeleisen is a Brooklyn-based designer celebrated for her sculptural furniture and lighting. With a foundation in sculpture, she brings a playful yet refined approach to her work. Since launching her practice in 2020, her collections have been showcased at Brooklyn Designs, Collectible Design, and Sight Unseen Offsite Online, and featured in Domino, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor España, Vogue, Luxe, and Interior Design Magazine. Her latest collection will debut at Wanted Design in 2025.Joined by Dylan Williamson, Principal Designer at Âme Atendre, this episode dives into the creative brainwork behind design. Hannah and Alyssa share the moments of inspiration they find in the world around them—from the shifting light in nature to unexpected patterns in vintage rugs—and how these observations inform their work. They discuss the craftsmanship and intention behind hand made goods, offer insights on sustainability through quality, and reflect on how they stay creatively energized day to day. The result is a rich, accessible lesson in design, beauty, and mindful consumption—encouraging listeners to shop with both intention and imagination.Check out Erria DesignFollow Hannah and Alyssa on Instagram.Follow Erria on Instagram.Explore Hannah’s website Read Homemade Russia: Post Soviet Folk Artifacts.Read Fewer, Better Things: The Hidden Wisdom of Objects by Glenn AdamsonLearn more about An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth by Bruce MauLearn more about 3pts.Listen to Brene Brown’s Podcast. 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. 

Send us a textBusiness and design are on the table today!In the latest episode of our From Brain to Home series, Ashley is joined by Hannah Bigeleisen and Alyssa Gerasimoff for a rich conversation on creativity, connection, and the evolving design industry.Alyssa Gerasimoff, a 2020 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in furniture design, founded Erria, a digital platform designed to connect artists, designers, suppliers, and fabricators, in 2023 after witnessing many of her peers struggle to launch their creative careers. Alyssa is now preparing to launch Erria 2.0, a self-sustaining evolution of the platform.Hannah Bigeleisen is a Brooklyn-based designer known for her sculptural furniture and lighting.Since founding her design practice in 2020, Hannah has debuted collections at Brooklyn Designs, Collectible Design, and Sight Unseen Offsite Online, and her work has been featured in publications including Domino, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor España, Vogue, Luxe, and Interior Design Magazine. Her newest collection is set to debut at Wanted Design in 2025.Joining forces with Âme Atendre designer Dylan Williamson, this episode dives into the intersection of creativity and commerce. Together, the group explores what it means to build a sustainable design practice, how to balance artistic integrity with business demands, and how platforms like Erria can serve as vital hubs for innovation. They discuss the challenges of launching and growing creative brands, the importance of collaboration, and the transformative power of connection in art and design.Check out Erria Design.Follow Hannah and Alyssa on Instagram.Follow Erria on Instagram.Explore Hannah’s website. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our episode with Dr.Chatterjee.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.

Send us a textThe power of light is on the table today!For our latest episode of our From Brain to Home series, we are joined by Dr. Mariana Figueiro. Dr. Figueiro is the Mount Sinai Endowed Professor of Light and Health Research at the Department of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Director of the Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center. Her research focuses on the effects of light on human health, sustainability, circadian photobiology, and lighting for older adults. As the author of more than 140 scientific articles, Dr. Figueiro has brought attention to the significance of light and health as a topic of public interest. She joins us today to discuss the impact that lighting design has on all aspects of our lives - from our physical and mental health, to our sleep patterns and even our cognitive functioning. In this episode, Dr. Figueiro and Ashley discuss the way lighting impacts people living a variety of lives, whether it be night-shift workers, the elderly, those with jetlag, or simply people who can’t bring themselves to turn off their screens before bed. She discusses her approach to light research as a form of design, informing her work through her architecture background, and sharing all the ways big and small we can maximize light in our spaces.  Powerfully, Dr. Figueiro shares with us how lighting can impact treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and Cancer, through a treatment approach called Chronotherapy. What results is a fascinating and at points deeply profound discussion on the simple ways that we can improve our lives by giving consideration to light.Read Dr.Figueiros Research.Listen to Dr.Figueiros TedMED talk.Read Dr.Figuerios research on Chronotherapy.Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our episode with Dr.Chatterjee.Read The Art of Scientific Investigation by William Beveridge.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.

Send us a textThe Psychology of Confinement is on the table today!In part 2 of this two part conversation, we are once again joined by Criminologist, Dr.Yvonne Jewkes. A Professor of Criminology at the University of Bath and honorary visiting fellow at the University of Melbourne, Yvonne Jewkes is the world's leading expert on rehabilitative prison design.Her research on prison architecture, design and technology has taken her to diverse prisons in places such as Norway, Spain and Japan. Yvonne has been honored for her role in helping to design corrections in the U.K., Ireland and Australia that prioritize a humane approach to design.Ashley and Dr.Jewkes continue their profound conversation on architecture and confinement, as Dr.Jewkes takes us through her personal journey of being confined in within the 4 walls of her house, made a personal prison by her ex-husband, who left her alone with little more thana construction site. Dr.jewkes takes us through her journey and the ways in which it informs her work, leading to a profound conversation about womanhood, agency, punishment, and humanity. Dr.Jewkes reminds us of the ways that architecture can be used to liberate as well as confine, and even those at the fringes of society should be afforded conditions humane enough to call a place home. Read the research of Dr. Yvonne Jewkes.Read An Architecture of Hope by Yvonne Jewkes.Learn about Oasis Restore Secure SchoolRead The Smell of Rain on Dust: Grief and Praise by Martín Prechtel Read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanRead I Will Never See the World Again: The Memoir of an Imprisoned Writer by Ahmet Altman.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.

Send us a textHumane Prison Architecture is on the table today!In this episode, we are joined by Criminologist, Dr.Yvonne Jewkes. A Professor of Criminology at the University of Bath and honorary visiting fellow at the University of Melbourne, Yvonne Jewkes is the world's leading expert on rehabilitative prison design.Her research on prison architecture, design and technology has taken her to diverse prisons in places such as Norway, Spain and Japan. Yvonne has been honored for her role in helping to design corrections in the U.K., Ireland and Australia that prioritize a humane approach to design. In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Dr.Jewkes dives deep into her work in prisons, taking us through the process and outcomes of progressive prisons that she has personally consulted on. She dives further into themes explored in her book, such as surveillance, humanity, and bestowing by force, even positive things, on unconsenting participants. What results is a fearless and meditative discussion on punishment vs rehabilitation, and what constitutes punishment in our society.Read the research of Dr. Yvonne Jewkes.Read An Architecture of Hope by Yvonne Jewkes.Find out more about Dr. Yvonne Jewke’s work with The Limerick Women's Prison.Find out more about Norway’s Halden Prison. Learn more about the Irish Prison Service in Wheatfield, Ireland.Learn more about the Basto Prison in Norway.Learn about Strom Prison in Denmark.Learn about the case of Anders Brevik in Norway.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.