Ashley Ford has no strategy for authenticity. She just is who she is.

In this episode of Oh Boy, the writer, editor and speaker tells host Jay Buim of her childhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a child, she felt as though her thoughts didn't matter. But later, a teacher who saw Ford hanging around the hallways, doing the usual teen nothingness, changed her life. She said, "While I'm here working, you need to read an article in the newspaper and write something inspired by it."

That lit a match under Ashley Ford which propelled her to where she is in this very moment. Want to know just what that means? Great. Headphones, press play and enjoy.

Want more Ashley? @iSmashFizzle

Want more Jay? @beardwizard

Edited by Jay Buim

Produced by Kate Barnett