In this week’s episode, I sit down with Psychotherapist and Yoga Teacher Zoe Klein to talk about how we can implement simple tools to positively impact our overall wellbeing.

Whether you’re in recovery or not, life can at times be challenging. In this conversation, Zoe shares her key tips that will help to improve your quality of life.

Zoe’s Top Tips include:

You can find Zoe here: @zoekleinyoga or Zoga.com

Find Ash here: @ashbutterss or ashbutterss.com

Additional Notes:

The book Zoe and I spoke about is called Breath by James Nestor. 

In this week’s episode, I’m talking to Gabs, a 39-year-old recovering alcoholic, who started his sobriety journey on the 19th October 2019.

We discuss the dark days that led to Gabs entering recovery and how he believes he was “born an alcoholic.”

Gabs shares what he’s learnt about himself in sobriety and tells us his three non-negotiables for living a life of freedom in recovery.

To see Gabs’ Behind The Smile photo head to: ashbutterss.com

You can also find me here: @ashbutterss

In this week's episode, I'm putting myself in the interview seat and have invited my best friend of 25+ years, Georgia, onto the show to ask the questions.

Georgia lives in Europe and at the time of recording we hadn't seen each other in over two years (thanks to Covid19). The last time we'd been together I was still drinking and my life was a mess. Watching my journey into recovery from afar, Georgia naturally had a lot of questions and we agreed that nothing was off limits in this conversation! 

Georgia and I discuss everything to do with my recovery including: the importance of AA in my life, my relationship with a Higher Power, my deep connection to yoga and my commitment to ongoing therapy. 

You can find me here: @ashbutterss 

Check out the episode show notes at Recovery with Ash Butterss

In this week's episode, I sit down with Monique, a Nurse and mum of four who gave up alcohol on the 28th December, 2019. We discuss Mon’s journey into sobriety and what she’s discovered about herself since choosing to live life sober.

Mon talks openly about the pressure she felt to be “perfect” from a young age and how she used alcohol to self-medicate until she wasn’t able to control it anymore.

Today, Mon is proudly sober and credits giving up alcohol as the reason she's able to show up as a wife and mother in her fullest capacity. Mon shares how she found the strength to quit drinking and the deep sense of presence and connection that she's found in sobriety. 

You can connect with Ash here: @ashbutterss / ashbutterss.com 

In this week’s episode, I talk about the stigma that surrounds the disease of alcoholism and why this is preventing people from reaching out for help.

Before coming into recovery, my perception of an alcoholic was someone living rough, drinking around the clock and consuming spirits out of a brown paper bag. And because I didn’t identify with this stereotype, I didn’t think I qualified as an alcoholic.

In sobriety I’ve learned that addiction does not discriminate. And while the common stereotype can certainly become a reality for alcoholics who continue to drink, for those who seek recovery, it doesn’t have to be.

Alcoholism is a disease that is self-diagnosed. So, to help people identify, I’ve come up with seven signs that might suggest you have a drinking problem. If multiple signs resonate with you, it might be time to take a closer look at your relationship with alcohol.

**This list is suggestive only. Please seek out additional support if you need help.

Additional Resources Below:

Global:

Alcoholics Anonymous 

Addiction Centre

Australia:

LifeLine

South Pacific Private 

Find Ash: @ashbutterss / ashbutterss.com

In this episode, I’ve invited my ex-husband and dear friend Max on to share his story of recovery.

Max talks candidly about his personal struggles with addiction and what it took for him to finally reach out for help. There’s no holding back in this episode as we speak openly about a range of personal topics, including the breakdown of our marriage.

It’s my hope that by drawing back the curtain on this personal conversation, other people who have shared a similar experience might find comfort in knowing they’re not alone.

This episode contains topics that could be triggering. If your mental health is triggered and you are based in Australia, please reach out to a support group such as Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.

For other countries, you can visit CheckPoint for your specific country details. 

Find Ash on Instagram: @ashbutterss or check out her website here!

In this episode, I talk about my life long struggle with perfectionism and how this developed as a result of certain conditioning throughout childhood. I discuss the reason why I view perfectionism as being a vice as dangerous as addiction and why I needed to treat this core issue before tackling my underlying substance abuse.

This episode contains topics that could be triggering. If your mental health is triggered and you are based in Australia, please reach out to a support group such as Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.

For other countries, you can visit CheckPoint for your specific country details.

Find Ash: @ashbutterss  / ashbutterss.com

For this debut guest episode, I’ve invited my dad Rod to share his story of recovery and hope. Rod started his recovery journey in 2010, however this is not his current sobriety date. For the first time, Rod speaks publicly about his recent relapse and how he made the journey from his darkest days, to now experiencing joy beyond his wildest dreams.

Find Rod: www.linkedin.com/in/rodbutterss

Find Ash: www.ashbutterss.com / @ashbutterss

If you or someone you know if struggling with addiction, please reach out for support. Some support options include:

• A healthcare professional

• Alcoholics Anonymous

• Lifeline or Beyond Blue (Australia)

• CheckPoint (global)

If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" by following the link below:

YES I'D LOVE TO SUPPORT BEHIND THE SMILE PODCAST

In this debut episode of Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss, host Ash shares her own experience and journey into recovery.  

From an early age, Ash learnt to hide her true emotions behind a big smile. She used this mask as a way of keeping herself protected and continued doing so all throughout her twenties. On the outside, Ash looked as though she was living a "normal" life but by the age of 30, addiction had taken hold and she was slowly dying on the inside. 

Since checking into rehab on the 24th February 2020, Ash has remained sober and is now on a mission to remove the stigma around mental health and addiction by normalising the conversation. Join Ash each week, as she discusses topics relating to recovery and speaks to others in recovery about the time in their life when they too were hiding behind the smile. 

Find me: @ashbutterss / ashbutterss.com

If you or someone you know if struggling with addiction, please reach out for support. Some support options include:

• A healthcare professional

• Alcoholics Anonymous

• Lifeline or Beyond Blue (Australia)

• CheckPoint (global)

If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" by following the link below:

YES I'D LOVE TO SUPPORT BEHIND THE SMILE PODCAST