How do you keep moving forward when life keeps knocking you down? In this episode of Talkin About It, Ashlee sits down with veteran, sports radio personality, mentor, and father Mike Tipton for one of the most honest conversations of the series. Mike opens up about mental health struggles , navigating grief after losing someone close to him, balancing fatherhood, and the responsibility of breaking unhealthy cycles for the next generation. This isn't a conversation about having all the answers—it's about showing up, learning through life's hardest moments, and realizing strength isn't pretending everything is okay. In this episode we discuss:

• Acclimating to a new job
• Processing grief and loss
• Fatherhood and leading by example
• Breaking generational cycles
• What healthy masculinity looks like
• Asking for help without shame
• Audience Q&A on relationships, stress, finances, and mental health

No lectures.
No experts.
Just real conversations with people willing to share their experiences. If this conversation encouraged you, share it with someone who may need the reminder that they're not alone.

Contact Mike Tipton:
Youtube | IG: @mrtipton33


🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

What does it mean to be a good friend, husband, father, and leader—and who helps keep you grounded along the way? In recognition of Men’s Mental Health Month, Ashlee sits down with Frank Stone and Queens, founders of Nation of Wrestling, veterans, business owners, and longtime friends, for an honest conversation about brotherhood, accountability, family, and purpose.

Together, they discuss the challenges of balancing marriage, kids, business, and community while breaking old stigmas around mental health and masculinity.

In this episode:
• How Frank and Queens built their friendship and working relationship
• The importance of accountability and having people in your corner
• Fatherhood, marriage, and leading by example
• Why men need community and support systems
• Breaking stigmas around mental health
• Building Nation of Wrestling and mentoring the next generation

Nation of Wrestling IG
Nation of Wrestling UPCOMING EVENTS

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

What happens when two guys who have walked through loss, built a genuine friendship, and found their people sit down for a conversation? In the kickoff to our Mens Mental Health Conversation Series, Louie from Death In A Hoodie Podcast and Johnny from ATown Talk join Ashlee for an honest discussion about friendship, grief, community, and the power of showing up for one another. Mental health isn't always about therapy or having the perfect words. Sometimes it's answering the phone, replying to the text, making someone laugh, or simply reminding a friend they don't have to carry life's challenges alone. Together, we explore:
• How friendship can become a lifeline during difficult seasons
• Navigating grief and loss
• Why community matters
• Breaking old stigmas around men's mental health
• The importance of checking in on your people
• Finding your "peeps" and building meaningful connections No lectures.
No experts.
Just homies having conversations about real life. Whether you're looking for encouragement, trying to better understand the men in your life, or simply enjoy authentic conversations that go beyond the headlines, this episode is for you. If someone came to mind while listening, send them this episode. Sometimes the best way to show up is simply reaching out. 
🎙️ Guests:
Louie – Death In A Hoodie Podcast Death In A Hoodie Podcast
Johnny – ATown Podcast A-Town Talk Podcast

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

Every day, people make decisions they know could change their lives forever. So why does it keep happening? This week on Talkin' About It with Ashlee, I sit down with Matthew Duran, founder of the El Paso Crime Lab and a PhD student in Criminology, to explore one of the most persistent public safety issues in our communities: drinking and driving. But this conversation goes far beyond statistics. We discuss what crime data tells us about El Paso, why people continue to take dangerous risks despite knowing the consequences, how mental health and stress can influence decision-making, and what communities can do to create meaningful change. Whether you're interested in criminology, psychology, public safety, or simply understanding human behavior, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the people behind the numbers. In This Episode: • Why drinking and driving continues to be a major issue
• What crime data reveals about our communities
• The connection between stress, mental health, and decision-making
• Common misconceptions about crime and public safety
• How education, accountability, and community involvement can make a difference Sometimes the hardest conversations are the ones we need most. Let's talk about it.

Contact Matthew Duran 
IG: @epcrimelab
El Paso Crime Lab Website

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

Are you surviving... or are you truly thriving?I n this episode of Talkin' About It with Ashlee, Ashlee sits down with Sara Guzman, author of Thrive Map and founder of Thrive or Die Recovery, for an honest conversation about healing, growth, and what it takes to move beyond survival mode. Together, they explore why recovery is about more than simply getting through the day, how unresolved stress and trauma can keep us stuck in patterns that no longer serve us, and why nervous system regulation plays such an important role in mental and emotional well-being.  Sara shares insights on self-led recovery, learning to trust yourself again, overcoming setbacks, and taking small, intentional steps toward creating a life you don't need to escape from. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, addiction recovery, or simply feeling stuck, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and practical tools to help you move forward. Because healing isn't about perfection—it's about progress, self-awareness, and being willing to take the next step.

In This Episode:
✔ The difference between surviving and thriving
✔ Nervous system healing and recovery
✔ Why awareness alone isn't enough
✔ Building self-trust after difficult experiences
✔ Recovery beyond addiction and sobriety
✔ Small actions that create lasting change

 
Thrive Or Die Recovery Course
Thrive Map Book

Follow, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who may need the reminder that healing is possible and they don't have to do it alone.


🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

On this episode of Talkin’ About It with Ashlee, we sit down with Frances Maldonado, candidate for Judge of County Court at Law #2, for a real conversation about leadership, resilience, mental health, and the importance of civic engagement.Frances shares how her upbringing, family values, and personal experiences—including losing her father to mental illness—helped shape her passion for service and her decision to step into public leadership.We also break down why local elections matter more than people realize, the importance of transparency in public office, and why every vote truly counts.This episode isn’t just about politics—it’s about courage, community, and taking the leap even when you’re scared.Learn more:
Website: www.electmaldonado.com
Facebook: Frances Maldonado for County Court at Law #2

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

In this episode of Talkin’ About It, Ashlee sits down with SISD District 5 Trustee Manny Rodriguez for a real conversation about public education, local politics, leadership, and why local elections matter more than most people realize. They dive into the challenges facing Texas schools, where funding is (and isn’t) going, the impact political decisions have on everyday families, and why younger generations getting involved in politics could be the shift Texas needs. This episode also explores frustration, hope, accountability, and the importance of continuing to have uncomfortable conversations that push people to learn, engage, and take action in their communities. Whether you’re deeply involved in politics or someone just trying to understand what’s happening around you, this conversation breaks things down in a real, relatable way.

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

Talkin About It LIVE Presents: Be About It featuring Sober Streets Movement.This conversation goes beyond awareness and focuses on action, accountability, prevention, and community change. Joined by families behind the Sober Streets Movement, we discuss turning unimaginable loss into purpose and advocacy while fighting for stronger DWI laws, prevention efforts, accountability, and safer communities.This episode is not about replaying tragedy — it’s about honoring lives through action and creating conversations that can help prevent more families from experiencing this kind of loss. We discuss the importance of speaking up, community responsibility, mental health, coping, prevention before crisis, and how everyday people can help create meaningful change.Together, these families remind us that behind every statistic is a real person, a real family, and a future forever changed by one preventable decision.If this episode moves you, don’t stop at awareness — BE about it.To support the movement and sign the petition visit:

Petition-Sober Streets Movement

Sober Streets Movement Website

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

What happens when you hit “go live” with no script, no plan… and just trust the conversation? That’s exactly what we did in this episode of Talkin About It.

I’m sharing a real-time update on stepping into discomfort with exposure therapy—what it actually feels like, what’s been hard, and what I’m learning along the way. We get into trending topics, mental health in real life (not the polished version), and the things people don’t always say out loud. We also open the floor—taking questions, bringing in different perspectives, and seeing where the conversation goes. And of course, we take a moment to give people their flowers… because kindness and showing up for others deserves to be recognized.
This episode is a little unpredictable… but that’s the point. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or just needed something real to listen to—you’re not alone.

🎙️ Want to be part of a future live episode? Stay connected through the website and social media. If this episode resonates, share it—you never know who might need to hear it today. And if you’re in a tough spot and don’t know where to turn, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support. As always… keep talking about the hard things so you can start to enjoy the good things.

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!

In this episode of Talkin’ About It with Ashlee, Ashlee sits down with Yvette, also known as “The Tattoo Honey,” for a real conversation about mental health, trauma, and healing.

They discuss generational trauma, emotional desensitization, and the impact of unaddressed mental health struggles passed down through families. Yvette shares her experience with postpartum healing, facing the inner critic, and using art and tattooing as a form of self-expression and emotional healing.
 This episode also explores setting boundaries, self-compassion, and breaking cycles so the next generation doesn’t have to carry the same weight. If you’re on a healing journey, struggling with anxiety, or learning how to work through past trauma, this conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t linear—and you’re not alone.

IG: @the_tattoo_honey- Honey & Myrrh Colloborative Tattoo Studio

🎙️ Talkin’ About It with Ashlee
Real conversations about mental health, growth, and the stuff we don’t always say out loud.
👉 Resources & Everything Talkin About It: www.talkinaboutit.com
👉 Connect on IG: @talkin.about.it
👉 Share this episode—someone might need it today.
Rember to keep talkin about the hard things so you start to appreciate the good!