Best Penny Ashton Podcasts (2024)

1
Matthew Koma of Winnetka Bowling League 44:37

3h ago44:37

44:37

Matthew Koma of Winnetka Bowling League stops by the podcast to talk about how writing a song is like solving a crossword puzzle, why he doesn't like to dig through discarded melodic and lyrical ideas for new songs, and how he gets inspired by being among the stores. Winnetka Bowling League's debut album Sha La La is out now. I'm a big fan.…

1
Sarah Ashton on Navigating Hyper-Focus Around Sleep and Finding Your Authenticity Through Matrescence 48:59

1h ago48:59

48:59

Hi mamas. Today I’m so excited to be joined by the wonderful Sarah Ashton, a mental health occupational therapist whose work beautifully blends motherhood studies with occupational therapy, providing support for women as they transition, adapt and transform through matrescence. In this conversation, Sarah shares her experience of becoming a mother,…

1
Haylee Collins on Working Through Maternal Rage and Being Robbed By The Pandemic 1:06:01

3h ago1:06:01

1:06:01

Hi mamas. Today on the podcast I’m joined by Haylee Collins, who is a book publisher and creator of the magazine, Howl, which is how I came to know her. Howl is an incredible magazine that explores the intersection of motherhood and creativity, and was born out of her own observations of watching and speaking to other artists, writers, designers an…

1
Ashton Irwin (5 Seconds of Summer) 50:00

23h ago50:00

50:00

Ashton Irwin, drummer for 5 Seconds of Summer, often writes songs out of necessity. While he likes to journal, Irwin finds songwriting a much more effective vehicle for maintaining his mental health. And there's a routine to the songwriting process: from 11a-3p when the caffeine is at its peak, with a Moleskin journal and a black ink pen. Irwin lik…

1
Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing 39:18

11d ago39:18

39:18

ED NOTE: This is from 2021, before this was a podcast and I was posting the video interviews to YouTube. I've taken the audio from that interview and turned it into podcast form. As you can tell at the beginning, we did this in the middle of the pandemic, hence our discussion about the creative process during COVID. Mike Doughty believes that disci…

1
Lucina McKimm on the Challenges of Sharing The Load in Parenthood, and the Emotional Intensity of Motherhood 1:05:21

29d ago1:05:21

1:05:21

Hi mamas. Today on the podcast I’m so happy to be joined by my lovely friend and podcast host, mother, writer and producer, Lucinda McKimm. She is the host of the podcast Ready Or Not, and the co-host of Witching Hour, and a mother of two. In this conversation, we discuss Lucinda’s experience of becoming a mother and how, despite her expectations t…

1
Joy Netanya Thompson on Finding Completeness with One Child and Befriending Her Parts Within 57:44

1M ago57:44

57:44

Hi mamas. Today, I’m excited to have Joy Netanya Thompson on the podcast. Joy is a writer who covers the intersection of motherhood, culture and identity and whose writing has appeared on sites like Parents, Motherwell, Romper, Coffee & Crumbs, and she’s also the author of the substack newsletter, Midweek Joy. She lives in LA with her husband and 8…

1
Bonny Light Horseman 57:19

1M ago57:19

57:19

The circle is complete. I’ve had recent interviews with Anais Mitchell (together with Charlotte Cornfield) and with Eric D. Johnson, but now that we’ve added Josh Kaufman, this is a full-on Bonny Light Horseman episode. I enjoyed this conversation immensely because we dove into their collective process, not just their individual processes. And list…

1
Jacqueline Kelly on Losing and Meeting yourself in Motherhood 51:55

2M ago51:55

51:55

Hi mamas. Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Jacqueline Kelly, a matrescence coach who supports mothers who feel like they’ve lost themselves in motherhood. Founding Our Brave Hearts, Jacqueline works to challenge the unrealistic standards of motherhood that we are encouraged to aspire to and to support mums in rediscovering and reclaiming their c…

1
DIIV 58:16

2M ago58:16

58:16

All four members of DIIV (Zachary Cole Smith, Andrew Bailey, Colin Caulfield, Ben Newman) joined me to talk about their individual songwriting processes. This interview could've gone on forever because they are so passionate about creativity. What's interesting is that their individual songwriting processes don't have too much in common, but perhap…

1
HRT & Poetry 11:14

2M ago11:14

11:14

With a husband catching the FLiRT variant and subsequent laying low, Penny decided to bust out an ovum with her WOMAD poem all about her Showy Ovaries epiphany. Listen in as hubby shouts up the stairs from his isolation den for sandwiches, and Penny chats about what happened with HRT, what's coming up in her world and screeching about tampons in a …

1
Penny Moodie on Parenting With OCD, Self-Regulation and Reframing Failure As Evolution 42:10

2M ago42:10

42:10

Hi mamas. Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Penny Moodie, a writer, OCD advocate and mum of three. In 2023, she wrote the incredible book, ‘The Joy Thief’, sharing her personal journey and the stories of fellow OCD sufferers, exploring OCD stigmas and treatments with raw honesty and zero judgement. In this conversation, we talk about Penny’s expe…

1
Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper 50:51

3M ago50:51

50:51

Does the mind of Eric Earley from Blitzen Trapper ever rest? I think not. After all, he told me that he liked to solve math problems in college while he was making breakfast. Earley is a voracious reader who just finished his self-proclaimed "Time of the Tomes," in which he read nothing but, well, tomes. (The longer, the better. Infinite Jest? Plea…

1
Brainy Niki Bezzant 1:00:56

3M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

To coincide with the launch of her new book today; The Everything Guide: Hormones, health and happiness in menopause, midlife and beyond, Niki Bezzant dropped in to Penny's house with almond croissants to talk life, hormones and her prodigious brain. In her third visit to Showy Ovary Town, Niki told Penny of her mission to educate women about how t…

1
Deerlady 54:04

2M ago54:04

54:04

Deerlady is Mali Obomsawin and Magdalena Abrego, and their debut album Greatest Hits is my favorite album of the year, and this is also one of my favorite interviews because we had so much fun. I first heard Deerlady while listening to my old college radio station, WTHS at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. They played "Bounty," and it was one of t…

1
Rachael Shepard-Ohta on Taking The Pressure off Baby Sleep and The Relinquishing of Control in Motherhood 45:38

3M ago45:38

45:38

Hi mamas. Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Rachael Shepard-Ohta, who is a certified sleep consultant, a parent educator, content creator, podcaster, mother of three and founder of Hey Sleep Baby. I had the pleasure of being on Rachael’s podcast, No One Told Us, last year and I was so happy to have the opportunity to have another wonderful conver…

1
Aaron Lee Tasjan 46:51

3M ago46:51

46:51

Aaron Lee Tasjan has a pretty simple writing process: he gets up around 8am, has a glass of water, and pets his cat. Then he writes. But not every day. "I only write when my body tells me to, when I can go off yesterday's fumes," he told me. And in one of the best rituals I've ever heard, Tasjan always writes with a pencil--but never uses the erase…

1
Chrissy Powers on moving away from the purist ‘good girl’ archetype, and reparenting ourselves while parenting 47:17

3M ago47:17

47:17

Hi mamas. Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Chrissy Powers, a licensed marriage and family therapist, mum, wife, writer and embodiment coach. I’ve been following Chrissy on social media for quite some time and I just love her beautiful, authentic, warm presence, which shines through in this conversation. In this episode, we discuss Chrissy’s back…

1
Jane Penny (TOPS) 50:04

3M ago50:04

50:04

Jane Penny, co-founder of TOPS, makes her solo debut with her fantastic EP Surfacing, out now on Luminelle Recordings. Penny stops by the podcast to talk about how Barry White has influenced her songwriting; why she has to write her lyrics in cursive; and why when you see her in the audience at a show and she's looking at her phone, she's actually …

1
Ali Heppell on Being a Motherless Mother and Navigating Grief 52:14

4M ago52:14

52:14

Hi mamas. In this episode of Life After Birth, I am joined by Ali Heppell, a postpartum doula, matrescence educator and guide, and women’s circle facilitator. She is also a wife and mum to two boys. In this conversion, we discuss Ali’s experience of becoming a mother after losing her own mother to cancer just a few years prior. We discuss Ali’s exp…

1
Grace Cummings 47:26

4M ago47:26

47:26

On this episode of the podcast, Grace Cummings talks about why her phone has been such a drain on her creativity and why she's making a conscious effort to stay away from it. But sometimes that phone can be pretty useful. For one, it allows Cummings to create her alter ego Cheryl. (You'll understand once you listen.) And it also allows her to creat…

1
Renee Cachia On Dropping The “Needless Woman” Archetype 1:01:52

4M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Hi mamas. Join me as I speak with Renee Cachia, experienced psychologist and founder of Inner Bloom Psychology Practice. Renee is committed to improving the lives of families by empowering parents with psychoeducation and creating environments for young people to thrive from the inside out. She is a mum to her 2-year-old daughter and, at the time o…

1
Full Noise Angela Barnett 1:07:33

4M ago1:07:33

1:07:33

Writer, journalist, redhead advocate and PR specialist; Angela Barnett swung by Penny's house to discuss inter generational bodily shizzle in all its complicated glory. From her mother's traumatic birth, to her own struggles with bulimia, to making sure her daughter navigates the world aware of the ridiculous standards placed on women by the patria…

1
Hovvdy 42:32

4M ago42:32

42:32

Will Taylor and Charlie Martin of Hovvdy take a deep dive into their songwriting processes on the podcast. We delve into, among other things, the nuts and bolts of the revision process and whether distance is important when writing about an event. Hovvdy's new (double!) album Hovvdy is out April 26 on Arts & Crafts Records.…

1
Elyse McNeil on Navigating the Mental Load and Embracing Rest as a Mother 57:16

5M ago57:16

57:16

Hi mamas. This week I talk to Dr. Elyse McNeil, Mental Load Expert and Founder of Share to Thrive, who is passionate about helping couples thrive in their relationships by providing them with strategies to help them navigate the mental load of parenthood. In this beautiful conversation, we discuss Elyse’s preparation for her own transition into mot…

1
Ducks Ltd. 54:22

4M ago54:22

54:22

Evan Lewis and Tom McGreevy of Ducks Ltd seem to be at opposite ends of the creative spectrum when it comes to organization. Lewis likes chaos: "The process should be a disaster," he says. McGreevy, on the other hand, needs order. His writing process involves emailing lyrics to himself, editing them, then sending the edited version to himself. Over…

1
Future Islands 47:24

5M ago47:24

47:24

Future Islands stops by today to talk about their individual and collective processes, which sometimes involves folding laundry and listening to trains. They've also earned the title of Most Well-Read Band I've Ever Interviewed: just listen to the dizzying number of favorite authors and literary influences they all have. That discussion alone could…

1
Kelly Wright on Grieving the Motherhood Journey We Didn’t Have 59:54

5M ago59:54

59:54

Hi mamas. In this episode of Life After Birth, I am joined by Kelly Wright who has recently joined me at Life After Birth in a therapist capacity. Kelly is a mother and therapist trained in social work, attachment theory, nutrition, internal family systems, polyvagal work, and I’m so happy to have her on the team. In this raw and vulnerable convers…

1
Magical Amanda Kennedy 1:02:21

5M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Waaaay back in August 2023 Penny dropped in on Amanda Kennedy's house in West Auckland to discuss her body, her dewy complexion and her adult onset epilepsy. One half of the comedy duo The Fan Brigade, the librettist couple behind NZ Opera's The Unruly Tourists, Amanda was dealing with her recent diagnoses of ADHD, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome AND epilep…

1
Martin Courtney of Real Estate, the sequel 43:57

6M ago43:57

43:57

I had such a good time interviewing Martin Courtney of Real Estate back in 2022 for his solo album that we're doing it again! This time, Real Estate has a great new album out called Daniel on Domino Records. Courtney and I once again go deep into his songwriting process, including how it's changed since his solo album. And of course we talk childre…

1
Zoe Blaskey on Self-Compassion and Backing Yourself in Motherhood 54:05

6M ago54:05

54:05

Hi mamas. Join me for this beautiful conversation with Zoe Blaskey, mum of two and the woman behind the Motherkind Podcast. Zoe invited me to be a guest on her podcast a few months ago, and so I was excited to return the invite and have her come on Life After Birth to share more of her story and insights with you all. In this conversation, Zoe shar…

1
Penelope Patchstart 10:12

6M ago10:12

10:12

The time has come, the research is in, the arse is too sore, the foot annoying, the new upper belly is sticking out too far... it is time for the HRT! Two days after her epic 50th birthday party Penelope Patchstart is slapping on some Estradot in the low dose of 25 somethings and seeing if it is the golden elixir of her dreams. Dreams can flounder …

1
Johnny Marr 55:48

6M ago55:48

55:48

Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The Cribs, Modest Mouse, The The, so many more) is arguably one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of the last 50 years. So don't waste any time reading this intro. Just listen to the podcast. It's one of my favorites. Lots of talk about our favorite authors and some great stories too! Marr's latest album Spiri…

1
Mary Timony 49:24

6M ago49:24

49:24

Untame the Tiger (Merge Records) is Mary Timony's first solo album in 15 years, and it's so good, from start to finish. For the uninitiated: Timony's bands have included Helium, Autoclave, Wild Flag, and Ex-Hex. All fantastic. Last year Rolling Stone named her #95 on the top 200 greatest guitarists of all time. To get to this stage of excellence, T…

1
Eliza McLamb & Sarah Tudzin 54:26

6M ago54:26

54:26

You get two for one in this episode with Eliza McLamb and Sarah Tudzin! Both are songwriters: McLamb's debut album Going Through It is out now, and Tudzin is the founder and frontperson for Illuminati Hotties. We're here this week because Tudzin also produced McLamb's album. But you may also know McLamb as the co-host of the Binchtopia podcast, and…

1
Carrrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney 49:57

7M ago49:57

49:57

"Writing is a form of contemplation," says Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney on the podcast. And while it's true that the actual act of putting pen to paper involves contemplating, Brownstein and I agree that the writing process is happening 24/7, not just during the act of transcription. You may not realize it, but you're writing and contemplati…

1
Josh Radnor 50:11

7M ago50:11

50:11

"When I write songs, I put on a miner's light and try to make it around the next corner." Josh Radnor found fame playing Ted Mosby on "How I Met Your Mother," but he's also a terrific songwriter (and stage actor) with a new album Eulogy: Volume 1. Radnor stops by the podcast as we take a deep dive into his songwriting process. We talk about how his…

1
Jaime Wyatt 47:50

8M ago47:50

47:50

I was already a Jaime Wyatt fan before we talked, but our shared affinity for the poet E.E. Cummings made this episode even more fun. I also knew this would be a good convo after reading an Instagram post where Wyatt declared, "I love words. And language. Always been a word nerd and love phrases that have dual meanings." Amazing! Wyatt's latest alb…

1
SFYG - 5 things to consider to invite more ease and joy into this holiday season 32:13

8M ago32:13

32:13

Welcome back mamas! This is the final episode for 2023, and it's all about inviting more ease and joy into the holiday season. In this episode I talk you through 5 things you might want to consider, including prioritising your well being, simplifying your plans, setting boundaries, creating low stress traditions, and embracing imperfection. While l…

1
Jessie McGarry on Young Motherhood, Self-Reparenting, and Embracing 'Figureoutable' 52:47

8M ago52:47

52:47

Hi mamas. This week I talk to Jessie McGarry, Doula and Founder of The Bright Birth Company. Jessie is a mother of four (she was pregnant with her fourth child at the time of recording) and walks with women on their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journeys as a doula, providing soulful guidance and reminding women they have all the power they need …

1
Buffalo Nichols 46:30

8M ago46:30

46:30

"The times when I'm writing the most are when I'm reading a lot," Carl "Buffalo" Nichols says on today's podcast. And wow is this true: you cannot be a writer of any stripe unless you read. Nichols likes to read voices that he cannot relate to. He mentions writers like Flannery O' Connor and H.L. Mencken, as well as books like A Clockwork Orange an…

1
Mike Dyson on Redefining Fatherhood and Masculinity 42:22

8M ago42:22

42:22

Hi mamas. This week I talk to Mike Dyson, Founder of the Good Blokes Co. In his work, Mike empowers men and boys to breakdown restrictive gender norms and to step up as leaders of a healthier culture of masculinity. Mike facilitates Men's leadership retreats, father/son, mother/son and rites of passage camps all over Australia. He also works in sch…

1
Seeds For Your Garden - Maternal Instinct: Fact or Fiction? 34:32

9M ago34:32

34:32

In this solo episode I explore the concept of maternal instinct which fell back onto my radar in recent weeks following a viral video featuring Maggie Dent and Kate Richie. I discuss my own thoughts on this topic, recent research on the neurobiology of the mother and father brain, patriarchal implications; and emphasise the importance of understand…

1
Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses 54:10

9M ago54:10

54:10

Duff McKagan's latest solo album Lighthouse is dedicated to Cormac McCarthy, which is no surprise given the importance McKagan places on reading. The Guns N' Roses bassist reads without fail every day, so you get some great book recommendations in this episode of the podcast. McKagan doesn't just read for pleasure; he reads to make himself a better…

1
Elly Taylor on her Journey from Undoing to 'Becoming': Relationships, Identity & more 57:37

9M ago57:37

57:37

Hi mamas. Join me this week as I talk to Elly Taylor, parenthood preparation and relationship specialist and author of the multi-award-winning book Becoming Us, the Couple's Guide to Parenthood, which aims to help couples bridge the gap between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of parenthood. In this conversation, Elly talks to me about the disparity betwee…

1
Brightest Amy Spark 1:01:25

9M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

After her ballet teacher wouldn't let a very young Amy dance purely on on foot, she readjusted her life ambitions to being a pathologist. Inspired by forensic stories from her parents and from novels by Kathy Reichs, (the inspiration for the TV series Bones) she set her sights on dead people and being the last voice for those who can no longer spea…

1
Jonny Pierce of The Drums 54:26

9M ago54:26

54:26

Jonny Pierce says that The Drums’ new album Jonny is “a little less practice, a little more mess.” That messiness finally made songwriting enjoyable for him because for a long time, it wasn’t. “I never loved songwriting. I was never the type of songwriter who couldn’t wait to get to the studio,” Pierce says on the podcast. It was always something s…

1
Minna Dubin on Rage, Compassion, and Challenging 'Good Mother' Assumptions 53:33

9M ago53:33

53:33

Hey there mamas and welcome back to another episode of Life After Birth. In this episode, I’m speaking to Minna Dubin, the Author of ‘Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood.’ I absolutely loved this book and was so excited to invite Minna to speak with me for this episode. Minna’s writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Tim…

1
Clem Creevy of Cherry Glazerr 44:29

10M ago44:29

44:29

“I’m allergic to routine. I wake up and follow all my whims and desires. But inspiration strikes every couple of days, and when it does you don’t want to be around me because I have a one track mind,” Clem Creevy of Cherry Glazerr says. That applies even when Creevy’s on a date: she once rolled over in bed and starting singing a beat into her phone…

1
Anna Cusack on Reframing The Postpartum Period, The Power of Letting Go and Mothering as Activism 50:06

10M ago50:06

50:06

Hi mama. In this episode, I’m joined by Anna Cusack, a Doula, Speaker, Author and Podcaster who supports women by providing emotional support, advice, resources and organisational assistance through pregnancy decision-making, birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing and guidance throughout the early stages of parenting. In this conversa…

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Penny Ashton Podcasts

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