In this solo episode, I’m taking a moment to pause, look back on Season 9, and share what’s coming as we head into a new year and our tenth season of the AND/BOTH podcast.

This season brought so many meaningful conversations on the mental load, the realities of modern motherhood, how we build community, what comfort and safety look like in hard seasons, and the ways we try (and often fail) to carry less than we’re used to. We also continued our roundtable series, with thoughtful, deeply resonant conversations about grief and holiday burnout that so many of you reached out about.

I talk through:

• The themes that kept surfacing across episodes
• What these conversations revealed about burnout, expectations, and the pace we’re all trying to keep
• The “colander list” moment with my friend Meg and why it hit me squarely in the chest
• What it’s been like to grow a tech company, run a podcast, and raise four kids during a very full season
• Why we’re taking a short break before Season 10
• What you can expect when we return in the new year

And I share an invitation: if you’ve listened to the show and haven’t yet heard your version of motherhood reflected, I would love to bring more voices and stories into the mix. You can submit a guest interest form at andbothpodcast.com.

We’ll be back in January with Season 10—rested, reset, and ready for the next chapter.

Wishing you a holiday season with at least one hot coffee, a moment of actual rest, and something small that fills your cup.

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com

Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/

Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822

Instagram: @mydovetail.app

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/