In this episode, Dr. Ashley Wellman gets REAL, sharing her story about the difficult and often dark ways her academic career has punctuated her personal life. After losing her husband suddenly though, Ashley found that creative writing helped her process her grief. And through this process, as she gained strength and realized her own worth, she also found herself closing the door on her academic career. Despite the heavy career and life challenges she describes in this interview, Ashley leaves listeners feeling inspired, empowered, and hopeful. She tells us that we, if we desire, get to redefine who we are.