This week’s episode is titled JOY IS A CHOICE.

The famous IOL blog writer, Ashley Buenger, is our guest.

In this episode, courage meets real life and purpose is found in unexpected places.

Ashley is a force of creative energy and resilience. She’s a stay-at-home mom to three amazing boys—ages 8, 7, and 4—and she somehow manages to carve out pockets of time between packed lunches and packed schedules to write, podcast, and inspire.

Ashley is a lifelong writer who comes alive in front of a blank page. From her early days winning a DARE essay contest in sixth grade to crafting powerful stories and leading IOL’s blog, writing has always been her calling. Her words come from a deep well of passion, faith, and raw honesty. Whether she’s unpacking leadership lessons, exploring German music, or writing about garage doors, she finds the thread that connects it all—and turns it into art.

In this episode, we talk about fear, faith, and the lie of perfection. Ashley opens up about how depression and anxiety show up in leadership and motherhood, and how saying your fears out loud can shrink their power. We discuss the myth of balance, the magic of community, and how joy really is a daily choice.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, under-qualified, or alone in your calling—this episode is for you. Ashley reminds us that our gifts matter. Our voices matter. And that faithfulness in the little things makes a big impact.

You can find all of Ashley’s blogs on the IOL website. 

Here are her recent ones:

Full Hands

The Silver Tsunami

Who You Know

Let Them

Not Meeting Expectation – Addressing Underperformance 

There are many more!!!

Contact IOL me you have any feedback on how the podcast is impacting you.

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