In this episode, Ash speaks with Rachel Pfeiffer, a psychotherapist and yoga teacher, who shares her journey of healing from trauma, the importance of self-care, and the intersection of psychotherapy and yoga. Rachel opens up about a traumatic time in her life when her identity was not only stolen but exploited, resulting in a landmark court case and subsequent sentencing. She also shares her insights and experiences with burnout, the significance of relationships, and how she continues to show ...
Jul 06, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 130
In this episode, Ash is joined by author Peter Norris , a CEO, world-class athlete and the son of one of Australia’s most notorious bank robbers. Peter’s early years were shaped by instability, violence, and addiction, but what unfolds in this conversation is not just a story of survival, it’s one of profound transformation. Peter opens up about the pivotal moments that changed the trajectory of his life: the unlikely mentors who showed him kindness, the brave choices that led him away from gene...
Jun 29, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 127
In this heartfelt episode, Ash is joined by Sheridan Rose Shaw, an award-winning creative director celebrated for her work in the hairdressing industry. She shares her powerful journey of recovery, identity, and self-acceptance. Sheridan speaks openly about her path to sobriety, the transformative impact of breathwork, and the complex reality of parenting while navigating her own healing. Together, Ash and Sheridan explore what it means to live a life beyond just sobriety. They discuss how to na...
Jun 22, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 4Ep. 128
In this raw and inspiring conversation, Ash is joined by former AFL player Steven Baker who opens up about his story including life after football, hitting rock bottom and turning his life around. After being unexpectedly cut from his AFL career, Steven spiraled into grief, substance abuse, and deep depression, especially following the death of his father. He opens up about how a life of discipline and team camaraderie gave way to escapism, endless partying, and identity loss. Ash and Steven exp...
Jun 15, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 127
In this powerful episode, Ash is joined by Shannon Pirie, a global beauty executive with decades of experience and a heart-first approach to leadership. From the outside, Shannon’s life looked picture-perfect. But behind the scenes, she was enduring one of the most painful and transformative years of her life: losing her marriage, dream home, and job in quick succession. Shannon opens up about hitting emotional rock bottom, crawling her way through survival mode, and rebuilding one step (and one...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 4Ep. 126
In this episode, Ash Butterss sits down with Boaz Gilboa , founder of MindCalmr , osteopath, and trauma-informed coach, to explore what it really takes to reclaim emotional freedom after trauma. Boaz opens up about his journey through divorce, addiction, and family dysfunction , and how programs like NA, ACOA, CODA, and Debtors Anonymous each played a unique role in his growth. He shares how his experience with EMDR inspired him to create MindCalmr , a platform making high-quality trauma process...
Jun 01, 2025•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 125
In this week’s episode, Ash is joined by Georgie Irvine, a sobriety and mindset coach and owner of Thrivalist, a global community for sober-curious women. After decades of binge drinking and years of attempting to moderate, Georgie shares the moment she finally called herself out and the freedom she’s found on the other side of alcohol. Georgie speaks candidly about her early days in sobriety, the shame and self-betrayal that came with trying to moderate, and how life changed when she drew a lin...
May 25, 2025•57 min•Season 4Ep. 124
In this episode, Ash Butterss sits down with yoga and meditation teacher Kristian Crowe, whose story is one of reinvention, dharma, and finding peace after years of striving. From a decade-long career in musical theatre to life in a Melbourne ashram, Kristian shares what it means to walk away from the roles we’ve outgrown and come home to ourselves. Kristian reflects on his early identity as a performer, living for applause, feeling disconnected, and secretly unraveling behind a perfect smile. H...
May 18, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 123
In this episode, Ash reconnects with Laura Corcoran, a Holistic Psychologist and mother of three. Just four weeks after a life-altering breakup and with a six-month-old baby in her arms, Laura joins Ash to talk candidly about what it means to unravel, release, and rise. Laura opens up about walking away from a relationship that no longer aligned, the fears and shame she faced in doing so, and the soul corrections that continue to unfold in her healing journey. She shares how victim consciousness...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 122
In this latest episode, Ash sits down with Ian Cron, a bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, and Episcopal priest, to explore the power of recovery, the importance of spiritual growth, and what it really means to heal from the inside out. Ian opens up about his decades-long journey in and out of 12-step recovery, including a relapse in 2020 after many years of sobriety. He shares the turning point that brought him back to the steps, and how going through the process with fresh ...
May 04, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 121
In this episode, Ash sits down with Kate Goold, a working mum of two who recently celebrated her first year alcohol-free. Kate’s journey began with chronic physical pain and three hip replacements in four years—an ordeal that left her on crutches, in and out of hospitals, and barely able to care for her children. But what began as a decision to help her body heal physically sparked something much deeper: a complete emotional and spiritual transformation. Kate shares her experience with chronic p...
Apr 27, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 120
In this week’s episode, Ash sits down with Andrew Campbell, founder of Hush Property and a respected figure in Melbourne’s high-end real estate market. Known for selling luxury homes with discretion and heart, Andrew shares a side of himself few ever see—the man behind the polished exterior, and the deeply personal journey that shaped him. Andrew opens up about losing his father at age 22, growing up with a mother living with bipolar disorder, and how work became both a coping mechanism and an a...
Apr 20, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 119
In this powerful episode, Ash sits down with Katharine McLean, a holistic counselor, trauma-informed mentor, and founder of The Light Becomes Her. With over 23 years of experience guiding others through healing, Katharine shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and inner transformation. After decades of high-functioning alcohol use and hidden drug addiction, Katharine hit rock bottom while leading mental health teams by day and battling inner chaos by night. In this conve...
Apr 13, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 118
In this deeply personal episode, Ash sits down with her dad, Rod Butterss, a seasoned entrepreneur, former AFL club president, and long-time member of the recovery community. Together, they reflect on life in recovery, the reality of relapse, cultivating self-awareness, and what it means to truly reinvent yourself at any stage of life. Rod opens up about his recent relapse after more than a decade of sobriety and the humility and courage it took to come back and start again. With honesty and war...
Apr 06, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 117
In this latest episode, Ash sits down with beauty corporate executive and fitness instructor Niki Kiskiras. Beyond her career achievements, Niki shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, overcoming societal expectations, and reclaiming her independence after ending her marriage in her late 20s. Coming from a traditional Greek-Australian background, Niki opens up about the immense shame and fear she faced when making the decision to leave her marriage, a life path she had followed bec...
Mar 30, 2025•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 116
In this episode, Ash sits down with Alcohol and Midlife Coach, Belinda Stark, who shows that it’s never too late to transform your life after making her own significant changes in her mid-50s. After running a successful fashion business for over a decade, Belinda made the bold decision to change careers, inspired by her own journey of overcoming depression, breast cancer, divorce, and a complex relationship with alcohol. Belinda shares her personal struggles, including postnatal depression and h...
Mar 23, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 115
In this latest episode, Ash has a deep and powerful conversation with Ryan Trainor, exploring his transformative journey from a successful entrepreneur to a more authentic and balanced human. They discuss the importance of curiosity, connection, and the need to let go of control in life. Ryan shares his experiences with mental health, the pressures of success, and the impact of childhood on his quest for relevance. The conversation also touches on the use of psychedelics for personal growth and ...
Mar 16, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 114
In this episode, Ash welcomes back a friend of the show, Kath Elliott, an alcohol mindset coach now entering her sixth year of sobriety. Kath returns to share openly about her recent experience of navigating divorce in sobriety. Kath discusses the fears that held her back, and how she ultimately made the decision to choose herself. Ash and Kath go on to discuss the emotional rollercoaster of grief, self-discovery, and learning to sit with discomfort, and how Kath found clarity through sobriety. ...
Mar 09, 2025•43 min•Season 4Ep. 113
In this episode of Behind the Smile, Ash is joined by former reality TV star Davey Lloyd, who you might recognise from shows including The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. Now a builder living in Sydney, Davey opens up about his struggles with addiction which took him to the brink of death after overdosing in 2023. In this candid conversation, Davey shares his harrowing journey through addiction, a life-threatening seizure, and the path he is now on in recovery. He reflects on the moments ...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 112
In this special solo episode of Behind the Smile, Ash Butterss marks a huge milestone—five years of sobriety. Reflecting on her journey from rock bottom to a life beyond her wildest dreams, Ash shares the raw truth about what it really takes to break free from addiction and step into a life of clarity, peace, and purpose. From walking into rehab convinced she’d learn to “drink like a lady” to realising she needed to create an entirely new life, Ash opens up about the lessons, struggles, and prof...
Feb 23, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 111
In the latest episode of Behind the Smile, host Ash speaks with Dean Beattie, a longevity coach who’s overcome his own struggles with addiction. Having been sober for over 20+ years now, Dean shares candidly about the challenges he’s faced in recovery including healing his relationship with his family, overcoming financial fears and forming healthy intimate relationships. He reflects on the role of validation in his life and how he found the strength to get sober at the age of 28, ultimately tra...
Feb 16, 2025•59 min•Season 4Ep. 110
In this week’s episode, Ash sits down with Jodi Clark, a business mentor and alcohol-free coach, to discuss her journey towards sobriety and self-discovery. Jodi shares how it was actually a 100-day weight-loss challenge that motivated her to go alcohol free, yet after seeing the positive impact it had on her mental health and relationships, she decided to stay sober for good. In this conversation, Jodi shares her transformative journey towards sobriety, discussing the profound impact it has had...
Feb 10, 2025•55 min•Season 4Ep. 109
In this latest episode, Ash has a deep conversation with psychotherapist Alex Crouch, who shares his journey of overcoming alcoholism and the impact it had on his life. Alex discusses his childhood experiences growing up in the USSR before moving to Australia, his struggles to fit in, and how alcohol became a coping mechanism. He reflects on the consequences of his addiction, the lessons learned and the impact he now wants to make in the world. The conversation highlights the path to recovery, t...
Feb 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 108
In the latest episode of BTS, Ash speaks with Mel Watkins, a Psychotherapist specialising in addiction and mental health. Mel shares her personal journey of overcoming substance abuse, navigating relationships, and finding her purpose in helping others. The conversation delves into the complexities of addiction, the importance of self-care, and the impact of family dynamics on mental health. Mel's candid reflections on her past struggles and her path to sobriety provide valuable insights for any...
Jan 26, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 107
In this week’s episode, Ash welcomes back Patrick Kennedy to hear how he’s been managing life’s ups and downs in sobriety since recording their last episode together 18 months ago. They explore the challenges faced after the initial phase of sobriety, the importance of emotional health, and the significance of building connections within the recovery community. Patrick shares his experiences with daily routines, the impact of physical fitness, and his dabbling into breathwork. Patrick opens up v...
Jan 19, 2025•55 min•Season 4Ep. 106
In this episode of Behind the Smiles, Ash engages in a heartfelt conversation with Jacintha Field, a family and child counselor, about her transformative journey through personal challenges, including divorce and parenting. Jacintha shares her experiences with mental health, the importance of self-love, and the tools she has developed to support children in emotional distress. The discussion emphasizes the significance of boundaries, vulnerability, and the healing power of compassion, both for o...
Jan 12, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 105
To kick off season four of Behind The Smile, Ash welcomes Hayley Lloyd, a business and authority building mentor. Hayley shares her journey from a corporate hustler who struggled with substance abuse, to a successful seven-figure coach who is five years clean and sober. The conversation delves into Hayley's daily practices, the significance of visioning days for entrepreneurs, and her personal struggles with trauma and the facade of strength. Hayley reflects on her chaotic childhood and how it s...
Jan 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 104
To kick off the New Year, I’m sitting down with Trauma and Addiction Specialist Diane Young to discuss all things New Year’s Resolutions! In this conversation we explore the concept of setting intentions instead of New Year's resolutions and the benefits of taking small steps towards change. The conversation delves into the differences between heavy drinkers and grey area drinkers and the continuum of drinking behaviour. It also addresses the connection between childhood trauma and eating disord...
Dec 29, 2024•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 103
It’s my birthday this week and I’m turning 37, so to celebrate I wanted to give you all a gift! In this week’s solo episode, I’m sharing with you all my 37 game changing lessons that have made a huge impact on my life! These lessons span across all facets of the human experience including relationships, mindset, career and health. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Behind the Smile episode without discussing recovery, but these lessons are really applicable to anyone wanting to expand their mind and st...
Dec 22, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 102
Welcome to The Unedited Woman series! In this episode, Ash has a deep conversation with Emotional Regulation Coach Amy Mason. They explore the journey of self-discovery, the importance of emotional regulation, and the impact of relationships on personal well-being. Amy shares her transformative journey from a reactive lifestyle to one of conscious response, detailing her struggles with a long-term relationship and the physical manifestations of stress. The conversation emphasises the need for se...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 101
