On the Table with Ashley

Send us a textIndependently Owned Businesses are on the Table Today!In this episode of On the Table with Ashley, we’re joined by Herbert Gracia, co-owner of the street-style apparel brand, State of Flux. State of Flux is a unique space that combines retail, a workshop area, and a photo studio all under one roof. Herbert received his Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of San Francisco in Communications and Media Studies in 2005, and previously co-founded FAZE Apparel before co-founding State of Flux in 2019. Currently, Herbert is in a transition period, having just left State of Flux and considering what’s next.Herbert joins Ashley to discuss the trials and tribulations of starting a small business and maintaining it during the COVID era, the importance of passion and risk-taking in entrepreneurship, and the way that hard work, personal, and community support have sustained both himself and his brand.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.Visit State of FluxFollow State of Flux on Instagram.Follow Herbert on Instagram and Linkedin. Listen to our episode with Salomé Cousseau. Listen to our episode with John Cohen. 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 textIn this episode of On the Table with Ashley, we’re joined by Dan Bulf, a seasoned Death Cafe facilitator based in Evanston, IL. Dan hosted the second-ever Death Cafe workshop in 2013 and, over the years, has led countless conversations about death in hospitals, senior centers, senior living communities, and local organizations. He has also contributed to multiple studies on perceptions of death, presenting findings at conferences nationwide.Sharing insights from his own grief, Dan reflects on his decade-long career creating spaces for open, candid conversations about life, death, and grief,  and the intricacies of holding space for such vulnerable and meaningful discussions. Together, we explore how talking about death can help us connect more deeply with others, navigate grief, and remind us that we are not alone.Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics of death and grief. Our hope is that, with an open heart and curiosity, we can support important causes, learn how to show up for people in our lives who are suffering, increase our meaningful connection to one another, and hopefully find more peace. No subject is off-limits in our pursuit of meaningful connection.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.Follow Dan on Instagram Read The Four Things that Matter Most by Ira ByockRead Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.Read The Top 5 Regrets of Dying by Bronnie WareLearn More about Death Cafes Visit Death Over Dinner by Michael HebbLearn more about ACP Planning and Person Centered CareWatch Ask A Mortician YouTube channel by Caitlin DoughtyWatch Consider the Conversation video series by Terry Kaldhusdal and Michael BernhagenOn 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 textBeekeeping is on the table today! In this episode, we are joined by Ashley Kirkham, former estate planner turned beekeeper.  Ashley received her JD from the University of Utah College of Law and an LLM in Taxation from New York State University School of Law.  After a 15-year legal career in New York, Ashley retired to follow a new passion—beekeeping. Inspired in part by her family’s experiences in the field, she earned a certificate in beekeeping, immersing herself in the fascinating world of bees.Ashley joins On the Table to reflect on the lessons learned during her legal career—how estate planning deepened her understanding of familial relationships and cultivated her existential maturity around death. She also shares the profound insights she’s gained from beekeeping, including its lessons on life, death, and the importance of connecting with the world around us. Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics of death and grief. Our hope is that, with an open heart and curiosity, we can support important causes, learn how to show up for people in our lives who are suffering, increase our meaningful connection to one another, and hopefully find more peace. No subject is off-limits in our pursuit of meaningful connection.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.Listen to our episode with Susan Turnball.Read A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by B.J Miller M.D and Shoshana Berger.Read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning:How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margaretta Magnusson.Read the Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett.Read When Death Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Read Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.Read The Covenant of Water and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.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 textSustainability in death is on the table today! In this episode, we are joined by Laura Sullivan Cassidy. Laura is the client experience leader at Recompose, a death care company based in Seattle Washington. As the world’s first human composting company, Recompose offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods of burial and cremation. Inspired by her own personal grief journey, Laura began working in death care in 2020. Her training as a death doula coupled with her professional experience in a traditional funeral home setting, aids her transformative work at Recompose. Laura sits down with Ashley to delve into the inception and mission of Recompose, exploring its innovative approach to sustainability and its profound impact on death care practices. Together, they discuss the importance of a more human-centered, environmentally conscious approach to caring for ourselves, our loved ones, and the planet—even in death. Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics of death and grief. Our hope is that with an open heart and curiosity we can support important causes, learn how to show up for people in our lives who are suffering, increase our meaningful connection to one another, and hopefully find more peace. No subject is off-limits in our pursuit of meaningful connection.You can learn more about Laura and Recompose at Recompose’s website.Follow Laura on Instagram.Follow Recompose on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok.Watch Katrina Spade’s TED Talk.Schedule a Recompose Virtual Tour.Read about the Human Composting Soil Research Pilot Study by Dr.Lynne Carpenter Boggs.Read The New York Times article, A Project to Turn Corpses into Compost, by Catrin Einhorn.Read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.Read Heaven Is a Place on Earth: Searching for an American Utopia by Adrian Shirk.Read Having and Being Had by Eula Biss.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 textReligion and identity are on the table today. In part two of this two-part episode, we continue our conversation with Play Steinberg, a Deaf Studies graduate, scribe, and creator of the web series Father.Mother.God. After losing both of their parents to suicide, Play went on a complicated grief journey—one colored by addiction and heartbreak. Currently, Play is publishing a webcomic, Father.Mother.God, exploring their childhood, grief, and healing process through a retrospective lens.Play sits down with Ashley to discuss their journey with identity, religion, and sobriety in the aftermath of life-shattering news. Play shares how religion has been deeply intertwined with their identity, leading to an eventual conversion to Judaism. They talk about their journey with queerness and the significance of their chosen name. Together, Play and Ashley foster an exploratory conversation that examines different facets of life through a lens of growth and self-reverence.Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics surrounding death and grief. Our hope is that with an open heart and curiosity, we can support important causes, learn how to better show up for those who are suffering, increase meaning and connection in our lives, and ultimately find more peace.You can learn about Play Steinberg and their work hereFollow Play on Instagram and LinkedInExplore Play’s webseries, Father. Mother. GodListen to Part One of this Two Part ConversationRead The Smell of Rain on Dust by Martin PrechtelListen to Judaism UnboundListen to our episode with Heather Mansson hereFollow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTokOn 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 textOn the table today, we are processing grief through creativity and learning. In part one of this two-part episode, we are joined by Play Steinberg, a Deaf Studies graduate, scribe, and creator of the web series Father.Mother.God.In their conversation with Ashley, Play dives into their journey to becoming a scribe, their experience earning a master’s degree in Deaf Studies, and how the loss of both parents to suicide informed their deeply personal webcomic series. Play shares their experience navigating life in the aftermath of intense and complicated loss, candidly exploring with Ashley their ongoing process toward acceptance. Together, they foster a vulnerable conversation that unravels and examines the nuances of loss, guilt, religion, communication, and healing.Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics around death and grief. Our hope is that with an open heart and curiosity we can support important causes, learn how to better show up for those who are suffering, increase meaning and connection in our lives, and ultimately find more peace. You can learn about Play Steinberg and their work hereFollow Play on Instagram and LinkedInExplore Play’s webseries, Father. Mother. GodWatch Paint It Loud: The Art of Betty G. Miller and Susan DuporFollow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTokOn 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 textOn October 19th, Ashley Gould, host of On the Table with Ashley, joined Matt Gilhooly of The Life Shift podcast to discuss one of the most pivotal shifts in her life—her father Harvey's rare cancer diagnosis.While the full conversation will be released later this year, we wanted to introduce On the Table with Ashley listeners to Matt and The Life Shift podcast. The Âme Atendre team are big fans of his show, where each week a guest joins Matt for candid conversations about the pivotal moments that have changed their lives forever.Like On the Table with Ashley, The Life Shift leaves nothing off the table and creates space for both the good and the bad, with intentional conversations that help listeners find peace and growth through every season of life.You can listen to The Life Shift podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, GoodPods, and Podchaser. Learn more about Matt and The Life Shift at thelifeshiftpodcast.com.Thank you to The Life Shift team for having us!

Send us a textEpisode four of our series on Death + Dying. Ethical wills are on the table today. In this episode, we're joined by Susan Turnbull. As the  founder and Principal of Personal Legacy Advisors LLC, Susan has devoted her career to helping individuals create legacy documents, often referred to as ethical wills, which express the personal values, life lessons, and hopes they wish to pass on to future generations.In her conversation with Ashley, Susan delves into the concept of ethical wills, highlighting how they provide a meaningful way to reflect on one's life and convey emotional, spiritual, and ethical values to loved ones. Together, they explore the process of grappling with our own legacies, addressing the often unspoken fears and discomforts surrounding death, and emphasizing the importance of emotional connection in life, even as we prepare for its end.Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics of death and grief. Our hope is that we can learn how to show up for people in our lives who are suffering and increase our meaningful connection to one another. No subject is off-limits in the pursuit of finding more peace. You can learn more about Ethical Wills and Susan Turnbull's work here Follow Susan on LinkedinRead The Wealth of Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will By Susan TurnbullRead A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by B.J Miller M.D and Shoshana BergerRead The Four Things That Matter Most By Ira BiokRead For You When I Am Gone: Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story by Steve Leder

Send us a textEpisode three of our series on Death + Dying. Healing through grief is on the table today. In part two of this two-part episode, we continue our conversation with Heather Mansson, a pharmacist turned yoga instructor and mother of three kids. Shortly after moving to Utah in 2020, Heather’s daughter Parker was diagnosed with an aggressive form of sarcoma. After years of treatment, which included countless surgeries, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, Parker passed away in May of 2022. Parker was 11 years old when she died. In Parker's honor, Heather and her husband Rob founded The Little P Project as a way to raise money for families impacted by childhood sarcoma and fund scientific research towards treatment options.Through this foundation, Heather advocates for the modernization of pediatric oncology and improving outcomes for young cancer patients.Heather sits down with Ashley to discuss Parker’s life, the little P Project, and the ways Heather and her family have learned to move through grief. Heather gets candid with Ashley, providing eye-opening wisdom on how to support loved ones dealing with the unimaginable. Heather shares valuable resources that helped her grapple with her loss and move forward in her pain. It is hard to conceptualize how to move forward after such an enormous loss. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics of death and grief. Heather's words of wisdom underscore the importance of open conversation with loved ones in the grief process. Our hope is that with a brave willingness to tackle uncomfortable topics and have difficult conversations, we can show up for our friends, our family and ourselves in a more meaningful way. No subject is off-limits in our pursuit of meaningful connection.Read It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan DevineRead Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate BowlerYou can learn more about Parker and donate to the Little P Project at The Little P Projects website.Follow Heather on Instagram.Follow The Little P Project on InstagramFollow Âme Atendre on Instagram and TikTok

Send us a textEpisode two of our series on Death + Dying. Combating Childhood Cancer and Sitting in Grief are on the table today. In part one of this two-part episode, we're joined by Heather Mansson, a pharmacist turned yoga instructor and mother of three kids. Shortly after moving to Utah in 2020, Heather’s daughter Parker was diagnosed with an aggressive form of sarcoma. After years of treatment, which included countless surgeries, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, Parker passed away in May of 2022 (which Heather noted was exactly two years prior to the recording of this episode.) Parker was 11 years old when she died. In Parker's honor, Heather and her husband Rob founded The Little P Project as a way to raise money for families impacted by childhood sarcoma and fund scientific research towards treatment options. This foundation, born out of the pain of losing a child, brings hope to struggling families. Heather sits down with Ashley to discuss Parker’s life and legacy, her own journey in grief, and The Little P Project. Heather shares Parker's experience in such an intense disease, the reality of childhood sarcoma and the ways in which we can honor the legacies of our loved ones. Grief often stifles us. With this episode, and the Death + Dying series as a whole, we aim to foster open dialogue about the often uncomfortable topics of death and grief. Our hope is that with an open heart and curiosity we can support important causes, learn how to show up for people in our lives who are suffering, increase our meaningful connection to one another, and hopefully find more peace. No subject is off-limits in our pursuit of meaningful connection.You can learn more about Parker and donate to the Little P Project at The Little P Projects website.Follow Heather on InstagramFollow The Little P Project on InstagramFollow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTokOn 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.