Ash McDonald, a Therapist turned Holistic Business Coach, mom of three, and expert on living in alignment with your authentic self hosts The Shamelessly Ambitious Podcast where CEOs and other ambitious creatives share their experiences of stepping outside
The Shamelessly Ambitious podcast hosted by Ash is a breath of fresh air in the world of career and personal development podcasts. It combines honesty, motherhood, and womanhood in a way that is relatable and empowering. As a listener, I appreciate how Ash embraces the varying dynamics that come with being a woman in business. This podcast serves as a permission slip to embrace our ever-changing dynamic selves and reminds us that we are all on a journey towards betterment.
One of the best aspects of The Shamelessly Ambitious podcast is Ash's realness and rawness. She brings humor and wit to her conversations, making them enjoyable and engaging. Her vulnerability about her own struggles resonates with listeners, providing validation for our own feelings and experiences. Additionally, Ash's authenticity shines through in every episode, creating a shameless and empowering atmosphere.
Another great aspect of this podcast is its focus on giving women permission to trust their intuition and live in alignment with their values. Ash encourages listeners to release the shame shackles they may have been carrying for too long, allowing them to embrace their true selves. This focus on self-acceptance and self-trust is incredibly empowering and inspiring.
On the downside, some may find that The Shamelessly Ambitious podcast lacks diversity in terms of guest speakers or topics covered. While it provides valuable insights for working women and mothers, it would be beneficial to see more representation from different backgrounds, industries, or perspectives. This would further enhance the inclusivity and relatability of the podcast.
In conclusion, The Shamelessly Ambitious podcast is an incredible resource for anyone looking to navigate the challenges of being a working woman or mother. With its honest conversations, practical tips, and emphasis on embracing femininity and sisterhood, this podcast has the power to positively impact listeners' lives. Ash's wisdom on tapping into feminine superpowers and optimizing time and relationships is invaluable. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone seeking empowerment, inspiration, and practical strategies for personal and professional growth.
Welcome to the final episode... at least for a little while. Tune in to hear the journey that led me to this choice, including the challenges of balancing work and life, and the realization that sometimes, even the things we love need to take a backseat.
I am doing things a littttttle bit differently this week, but I'm super excited about it! ➡️ I'm bringing you the BTS, original audio clip from the exclusive ATS Musings chat. I thought about rerecording it but as I listened back, I thought, “this is where the real magic is.”
Coming to you for another Musings style episode from the comfort of my bed on day one of my bleed as I watch the Washington rain outside and dream about ordering some hot Pho.
I'm taking my healing journey to a whole new level. This summer has been dedicated to healing childhood wounds, creating moments to comfort little Ashley, and reparent myself for the years I was forced into "leaping" when I wasn't ready due to my trauma. ❤️
I'm so excited to be coming to you from my serene backyard in the woods of Issaquah, Washington. Hear the tea BTS of Her Reinvention, what my daily thought pattern work is, and my challenges & adjustments of maintaining boundaries. &&& the freaking Above the Standard Collective is OPEN! I could cry. It feels like such a long time coming.
If you tuned in to episode 141, I shared a very personal & vulnerable story about a time I didn't belong. A huge reason why I felt compelled to share that was because of the sense of belonging that comes with my new membership, the Above The Standard Collective.Another urge you get inside the membership is to stop simply showing up for life & settling to instead start living intentionally and create magic in the day to day. If you were radically honest with yourself, how often are you just showing up in life and not existing to your fullest potential? You get to change that narrative.THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:• How I discovered what my legacy was • My constant aim has been to help people live above the standard• Creating a space where you don't simply exist, rather get to become• How I live intentionally everyday & create magic in the mundane• Becoming her & existing to my fullest and greatest potentialTHE EPISODE BREAKDOWN:[0:52] My personal reinvention has been taking place for years[1:55] The ups & downs of my life that have led me to live out my purpose[4:22] The former membership & how the new one is different[4:36] What actually creates sustainability in a business (it's the CEO)[5:45] Giggling at my Freudian slips saying sex instead of success
This week's musings is brought to you riverside. I wish you could see & smell how fresh it is here. We are currently in Livingston, MT which is just outside of Bozeman. I am walking through the city alongside the Yellowstone River.
I can't lie, this first month of nomadic living has been a massive transition. The way we chose to do things in terms of work & children this time is much different than when we previously lived as nomads. My husband is keeping his full-time job which falls during regular work hours — this means my schedule is undergoing great change. We're currently in our “trial period” of this new schedule and I'm finding what works & what doesn't. My saving grace has been remembering to implement these 3 foolproof tips for time & energy management. Oh && hot take: I believe energy management is much more important than time management.THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:• Exploring our old stomping grounds with our kids• Realizing how much “better” of a mom I am as nomads versus regular life• How my health journey is going• Experimenting with new & different parts of our schedule• The three tangible tips you can implement to become a pro at time & energy management THE EPISODE BREAKDOWN:[1:07] Where I'm at and what I'm up to in Colorado[2:20] My son turned 10! How have I been a mom for a decade... I'm emo[3:15] The pros & cons of living near loved ones[4:10] Bringing consistency to this episode of musings[6:07] The things that are going really well for me[6:16] How my health journey is going [7:44] Achieving daily 10k step and activity goals[8:09] Adrenal & hormone supporting workouts that I'm LOVING[9:30] The only downside of this health journey is my clothes...[11:21] My morning smoothie with ka'chava has been a fav[11:49] What I've been struggling with[13:18] Loving my business & getting lost in it[14:50] My working hours are changing massively[16:28] Working evenings is really hard for me & my creativity[17:45] Tooting my own horn... I am a great nomad mom[18:33] Testing midday naps with my projector daughter[19:31] Approaching this new schedule with these top 3 things[19:53] #1 — Set a trial run for your new schedule[20:53] Taking detailed notes so I can make proper changes[22:02] Understanding time & energy management[22:19] Energy management is more important than time management[22:42] #2 — Realistically break your tasks down[24:19] How this actually helps you achieve more in a day[25:09] #3 — Block off time and set themes for tasks[26:01] The perspective of time when you do & don't have kidsTHE MASTERMINDMake sure to apply here for the 2025 mastermind!
Send us a Text Message.Life is all about perspective && that's exactly what we're diving into today. If you would've asked me a few years ago if it would be possible to pack up our three children and hit the road to do what we are most passionate about — exploring, adventuring, and traveling — I would have said you were crazy because that would simply be impossible. Fast forward, my son asked me what I could do over and over again and not get tired of, I answered with traveling and exploring new places ((he answered with playing video games omg)) and here we are — newly nomads (again) and let me tell you, it's totally possible. It's all about perspective. Is there something you're holding yourself back from because you're in need of a perspective shift?THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:• Feeling all the feels during our last day in our Texas home• How massive of an impact our time in Costa Rica was for me personally & professionally• The shifts I made in my business to sustain nomadic life• Looking back on life and reminiscing on how hard I thought things were in the moment — LOL @ current me• Shifting my perspective for a rich & present lifeTHE EPISODE BREAKDOWN:[0:42] Sitting in my beautiful office to record for the very last time[1:35] The meaning behind the decor in my office & home[3:40] Emerging as a new woman in Costa Rica[5:08] Making major pivots to sustain my nomadic business structure [7:58] Becoming my highest self & the universe letting everything fall into place[10:06] Insane procrastination… Less than 24 hours and I haven't packed a single thing[11:42] What my neighbor said to me at our recent garage sale that sparked this conversation[12:13] Realizing how life truly is all about perspective (I'd love to go back to the trenches we thought we were in with only one child)[13:03] Hitting a plateau in my health journey & avoiding discouragement[14:08] The gift of perspective & realizing we aren't always ready for what we desire[14:40] Being intentional to create a rich & present life NOW[15:25] Some questions to ask yourself about perspectiveTHE MASTERMINDI'm doing some special enrollment for the 2025 mastermind between now & 6/21 ⏤ eek! Make sure to apply here if you want a bonus of two one-on-one calls you can use right away!
Send us a Text Message.Whew, I'm gonna have to get used to this. In today's episode we're walking together on Mission Beach in San Diego, California.
A few months ago I did some "story extraction calls" with a close colleague where I laid my real, raw && oh so vulnerable life story all out on the table and had her help me decide what to do with it. Her name is Katie Quesada and she is an *incredible* story teller. So I knew when I made the decision to use my personal story to create a sense of belonging for others, I wanted her perspective of it.I've always been intrigued by "belonging." Our innate desire to belong, the pieces of ourselves we'll sacrifice for it, and how I can use my story to cultivate deep connection and belonging for those who feel like they never have.
Welcome to the first episode of Nomad Musings. Possibly low quality audio, but high quality connection.
Gahh, I am so excited to be back. In this episode, I get real about falling victim to societal standards and letting them dictate my personal and business decisions rather than living above the standard. 2023 was a really beautiful yet hard year in some ways. I found myself on the edge of burnout and having multiple identity crises, but it all led me to now. Last year taught me the importance of prioritizing myself and my wellness in order for business to flow with ease, thus entering my selfish era at the beginning of 2024...THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:• The beginning of the road of burnout in 2022• Questioning societal standards & dimmed creativity in 2023• Turning everything in my business off thanks to sustainable & residual income• Letting go of my team and becoming a solopreneur overnight
Well, this sucks. I've officially been sick for FOUR weeks. A literal month.
Not to toot my own horn, but I hold space for deep, deep magic & connection inside my containers. A client recently asked me how I'm able to do this, more specifically, "how are you able to keep a pulse on your groups?" && this was my response. ⬇️
When I asked Katie about what wounds of success meant to her, she had a very different take and I can't wait for you to hear it. This woman and I have so many similarities in our stories from experiencing miscarriages to selling it all and living in an RV. This is the Releasing The Wounds Of Success Series, Episode 7, with Katie Quesada. ✨MEET KATIEKatie is an acclaimed speaker and consultant who is deeply passionate about the art of storytelling. She helps people and companies craft their stories concisely and compellingly by igniting them for more effective communication, high trust within teams, and immediate ROI. Katie's family spent two years living in a 180 sq ft tiny home and believe that stories are better than stuff. INSTAGRAMWEBSITESTORY SCHOOL: 15 LESSONSTHE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
From her parents experiencing great financial loss as a child to starting over at age 18, Shay still deals with her money mindset and fears she could lose it all again. She is experiencing "success" at this moment, but wonders if she'll ever be content. This is the Releasing The Wounds Of Success Series, Episode 6 with special guest, Shay Bacani.
Have you ever felt like the success you're chasing is someone else's goal? Have you experienced mom guilt as a result of showing up more consistently in your business than at home? Or, have you ever been ashamed of the fiercely audacious woman you are and felt like you had to dim yourself down for the comfort of others? This is the Releasing The Wounds Of Success Series, Episode 5. ✨ Today's guest has felt all of the before. She's been in the pursuit of success, achieved it, and is now finding sweet sustainability — meet Jenn Pike.
Entrepreneurship can be a wildly emotional & lonely rollercoaster. If you've ever experienced losing a friendship or relationship from running your own business, this conversation is going to light you up. This is something that isn't talked about enough by CEOs, IMHO, but as humans who crave connection… it's so important. This is the Releasing The Wounds Of Success Series, Episode 4. ✨THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
Let's dive into the transformative power of embracing failure and learning how to fail well. In this episode, you'll find how depersonalizing your setbacks can lead to growth and how the importance of treating everything as valuable data can lead you to become the scientist of your own entrepreneurial journey. This is the Releasing The Wounds Of Success Series, Episode 3. ✨ The expert for this episode is a fellow therapist & mindset coach, Topsie VandenBosch.
Erica Reitman is a successful, rule breaking CEO who is a full fucking vibe. In this episode we dive deep into her experience growing up, how success was portrayed to her, and how she's carried those narratives into her business today. This is Releasing The Wounds Of Success Series, Episode 2. ✨THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
Welcome to the Releasing the Wounds of Success series. I'm kicking off the series by sharing about my own wounds of success. We take it waaayy back to the life of younger Ashley and pinpointing where my desire to chase success even came from. I wasn't always a high achiever & I didn't used to apply myself whatsoever… Strap in because this is the kick off to an epic series.THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
Thissss is a little bit ridiculous, but I'm finally talking about it because it seems to be the thing that everybody wants. A quantum leap.
There's been a lot of weird and emotional stuff coming up for me lately. Some stuff I had done a lot of therapeutic work on and thought I'd healed from & other stuff that has happened more recently. If you're on my email list you have an idea from the story I shared about my bio-dad. These situations have caused me to reflect on a lot so this episode is going to get really personal. I hope you can gain some nuggets of wisdom, validation, or normalcy from my vulnerability. ❤️THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
It's time to talk about the importance of slowing down to speed up…what does that even mean?? . My last episode was my real & raw reaction to my $1M milestone, but this opened the door for some underbelly beliefs to come in and encouraged me to redefine what success means to me. Hint: it's not constant scaling inside my business and it's not trying to make more money year after year. I'm after sustainability. ✨THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
Have you ever had an experience in business (or life in general) where your service provider went above & beyond to really make you feel special and seen? I can count on one hand the number of times I've experienced this feeling, but damn it feels great, so I'm on a mission to make over-delivery the standard in my business.
The problem with pain point marketing is that it actually creates an internal trigger.
Ahhh! I freaking did it. I surpassed a million dollars in my business.
Can we pleaasseeee remember that we are all human here and conflict is inevitable?! Yes, conflict makes everyone uncomfy but that's why it's SO important to have processes and boundaries in place to navigate conflict smoothly. I'm sharing the REAL and RAW way that I approach conflict and how I maintain contracts and standards within my business. ❤️
Today I'm talking about cringey industry practices that have gottttt to go. A couple of weeks ago I added a question box to my IG story to invite you to share some of your cringiest, yet glorified, industry no-nos. I got sooo many responses, so naturally, I'm here to share the juiciest with you.
Money beliefs can be the greatest detriment to our money goals OR they can be the greatest momentum builder.
This is your permission slip to work.
Emotional regulation just so happens to be one of those strategies, yes, strategies
You know me, I do not follow the status quo and neither do a lot of my rather polarizing beliefs. But you will never catch me tearing down those who don't agree with me because I believe in a human-first approach, always.
If I stumble across your social media page, what will I see? A lot of service with little to no vulnerability?
As coaches & mentors, we have a massive responsibility and it is to do no harm to the humans we are leading. I've seen too often coaches entering this industry for the money potential, the minimal working hours, or whatever it is that entices them... but they seem to forget that we are working with humans. Real people with real emotions and consciousness, so it's about time we start a new era of conscious coaching. ✨THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
I was prompted with this question recently... "You had tremendous growth in your business while working less. Could you share some of the key strategies or techniques you implemented to achieve such impressive financial success while working limited hours? What did your strategy look like and did you plan this ahead of time?"So of course, I did what I do best and I sat down to look at all of my CEO documentation and what I do daily as a woman, wife, and mama. I found that I consistently ask myself these questions... ✨THE JUICY HIGHLIGHTS:
You have the codes to success within you. You also have the codes to escape the feeling of burnout that's creeping back in, selling with force, feeling uneasy, and stressing about the next best strategy within your business. The codes are within you and this episode is how you can tap into those for alignment & massive success.THE HIGHLIGHTS:Overnight success?Burnout is back? Did it ever leave?Overdoing it & too much perfectionismEmbracing success & being unattached to results STEP INTO MY WORLD:
Let's talk about something juicy and that is the topic of team leadership. During this episode, I take it way back to the first moments I knew I wanted to create and lead a team, how I did it, what my team does for my business, and more. I always talk about the importance of delegating to free time, getting you back to your zone of genius, and ultimately building your legacy and this is exactly how I did it & how you can too.THE HIGHLIGHTS:The history of my desire to build a teamMy current dream teamLetting go of controlHow I hire in my businessDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
I have to be honest, ya girl has been feeling uncomfortable lately. It's not a super great feeling, but at the same time, it's something I'm so wildly attracted to because it pushes me to grow as a woman & as a CEO.THE HIGHLIGHTS:Change & DiscomfortPlaying it safe in businessWhat leads to extraordinary growth & resultsI invite you to MOVE... literallyDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
Sometimes engagement isn't all it's cracked up to be on socials && busting out reel after reel or carousel post after carousel isn't the strategy we should be using. While those strategies can boost your chances of your content being pushed to bigger audiences, the audience it's reaching likely isn't yours. In this episode, we're talking about the importance of Quality Over Quantity and ensuring that the posts you share with your audience are qua-li-ty baby.THE HIGHLIGHTS:Seeking external validation through engagementSEO-focused titles & contentQuality & ImpactGiving your expertise away through contentConsistency & AuthenticityDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
Creating content seems to be the bane of every CEO's existence. But I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be hard and it doesn't have to consume your every thought. These are my secrets to creating irresistible content that your audience is going to drool over.THE HIGHLIGHTS:The tea on my Breakthrough SessionsA desire to make business feel betterMy polarizing beliefUsing an understanding of yourself (i.e., HD, cycle syncing, Enneagram, etc) as a crutch or a tool of empowermentAn invitation for the next time you create contentDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
Creating content seems to be the bane of every CEO's existence. But I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be hard and it doesn't have to consume your every thought. These are my secrets to creating irresistible content that your audience is going to drool over.THE HIGHLIGHTS:Dream office updates... Eek!All the details behind creating content and building the like, know, and trust factorShowcasing your valuesEmbodying the transformation you're sellingProviding valuable serviceYour cohesive content strategyDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
Are you treating your business as such? Are you actively calling yourself a CEO but aren't selling your offers every stinking day? I'm coming in hot with some tough love to shift your mindset around selling your offers to grow a thriving business.THE HIGHLIGHTS:The super juicy program that you neeeed to get your hands onSelling every day isn't coming organicallyThe analogy that will put everything into perspectivePersonal and professional do, in fact, meshDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
You are always setting the stage for your next launch — even if you've just launched an offer. Your audience is allllways watching, like Roz from Monsters Inc., so if you are wrapping up a big launch and go cold on socials until your next big launch... people are gonna wonder what's up. This is why the art of constantly selling is sooo important. People need to feel consistently nurtured. THE HIGHLIGHTS:Strategy around big launch periods Posting and ghostingConsistent content plansSelling every damn dayRelatability vs. likability and the "know, like, and trust factor"Don't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
This episode is vulnerable AF. Woof. However, this is my current reality, buuut it's still a trainwreck. We've all been in the messy middle before and while it would be so easy to succumb to the stress and plans that didn't happen the way we'd hoped, our higher selves are begging us to see the positive so here are some questions to ask yourself if you're currently in the messy middle, too. THE HIGHLIGHTS:REAL BTS of the move to our dream homeUnwanted pets who were living with usMany small flaws within our homeLaunch debrief from my 2 recent programsThree big questions to ask yourself when shit's seemingly hitting the fanDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
So you wanna know the tea? Has Shamelessly Ambitious been an extra revenue stream in my business? In this episode, I'm talking about my ROI as a long-term podcast host and all the things I've learned so far.THE HIGHLIGHTS:Things I've learned as a podcasterTwo things I wish I did earlier in my businessDo, Dump, and Delegate MethodThe ultimate ROI from my podcastDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
If I were to burn it all down and start over, these four things are the steps of business I would give the most focus to. But actually these things aren't just for the new business owner, these are still the things I'm still wildly focused on today.THE HIGHLIGHTS:What is Empire Society?The question inside Empire Musings that sparked this episodeThe Queen… ContentImportance of connection Finding clarity within your offersSell until it sells babyDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.
We always think of building our offer suite with a low, medium and high ticket offer… but I think we've been missing the first pillar all along. To me, THIS is the ACTUAL first pillar of your offer suite. It's how people are finding you and entering your world to build the like, know, and trust factor it takes to invest in your paid offers.THE HIGHLIGHTS:Coming up on 100 episodes?? WTF!The importance of celebrating in your businessGoing back to my roots with this foundational & scalable programDeveloping your offer suite & what it should includeThe very first pillar of your suite isn't something you're selling intoYour client journey and relationshipDon't forget to rate and review the podcast in exchange for my free course, FOCUSED. Submit your review, send me a screenshot on IG, and I'll give ya the link. Thanks for being here, my friend. Rooting for your success, always.