Food For Thought: Recent Episodes
Ashley Gersh
Looking for direction when it comes to surviving and even thriving…despite life’s inevitable challenges?
I’m Ashley Gersh, a licensed mental health therapist, speaker, passionate thinker, lover of life & food, and this… is Food for Thought. A podcast where we discuss tough topics and digest what it means to be resilient in the face of adversity. This podcast will feed your soul to feel a part of something good… and everything great.
I’ll be having intimate conversations with industry experts, innovative influencers, difference makers, and dynamic personalities as we learn, grow, heal, and come together over the things that break us down, and pull us apart… and of course share some food along the way.
I want you to feel like you’re at the kitchen table with us. So pour your drink or grab a snack and follow along each episode. Join us now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your shows.
In this episode, host Ashley Gersh shares tips on how to cope with grief and loss as well as how to comfort friends and family with their loss. She shares examples of what to say to someone after they’ve lost a loved one and enforces the notion of listening to your body when making decisions after a loss, like the right time to remove a wedding ring, take down pictures, or how you want to process your grief like going to their grave site, etc. Everyone will have an opinion, don’t let societal expectations or social judgment dictate your choices, do what’s best for you and remember there’s no timeline for grieving.
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com
Susan Winograd, owner of Pelvicore Rehab, joins Ashley to discuss pelvic health and how to help people overcome bowel, bladder, and sexual problems. Susan and Ashley unpack the connection between our pelvic floor and the nervous system, and Susan debunks myths regarding bladder leakage, noting how what most people think is normal is not actually normal. Together they highlight how pelvic floor dysfunction affects one’s quality of life, confidence, and relationships and offer ways to find relief.
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com Connect with Susan Winograd: @pelvicorerehab / www.pelvicorerehab.com
Harry Stone, most recently a former TikTok employee, joins Ashley to discuss the best ways of navigating toxic workplace environments. He shares nine signs that you’re likely in a toxic workplace and together they discuss whether you should or shouldn’t talk to coworkers about your workplace toxicity, how to manage gaslighting, hierarchical dynamics, and what to do if you’re not getting along with your boss. Harry shares one piece of advice on what he wishes he knew when he was younger and first starting out job hunting. —---------------------------------------------
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com Connect with Harry Stone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirstone/
Candice Conroy, a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, joins Ashley Gersh to give some food for thought on trauma bonds. They define what a trauma bond is, the stages of trauma bonding, how to know if you’re in one, how to get out of it, and how to heal from being in a trauma bond. They also define gaslighting, healthy anger, and signs of healthy versus unhealthy relationships. —--------------------------------------------- Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com
Connect with Candice Conroy: @letstalkcounselingandservices / https://www.letstalkcounselingandservices.com/
In this episode, host Ashley Gersh discusses why the root of perfectionism is the desire to be accepted. She shares how self-compassion can calm the nervous system down and increase confidence, self-love, and self-acceptance. Tune in to learn how you can be kinder to yourself to better cope with mistakes, disappointment, and life’s inevitable challenges. —--------------------------------------------- Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com
Justin Martin, licensed Mental Health Therapist, joins Ashley to discuss why men might not seek therapy, why there’s fear around vulnerability and emotional intimacy, whether men need emotional intimacy as much as physical intimacy, and what they wish people understood about their anger. Justin uses IFS (Internal Family Systems) to make sense of his client’s issues and shares how different parts of ourselves (i.e. you might be a different person at a party than you are at a grocery store) impact us and our relationships.
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com Connect with Justin Martin: @partsofmetherapy / www.partsofmetherapy.com
On this episode of Food For Thought, listen to dating tips from a millionaire matchmaker, Marisa Saks, who was featured as the co-host with Patti Stanger from The Millionaire Matchmaker. Marisa shares her do’s and don’ts, red flags, green flags, and why people should go to therapy to better their relationships.
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com Connect with Marisa Saks on social: @marisasaks
In this episode, host Ashley Gersh discusses why the so-called "best times" in our lives, such as starting college, getting married, or landing our dream job, can actually be some of the most stressful and challenging. She explores why these transitions often come with feelings of anxiety and grief and offers insights from renowned speaker and researcher Brene Brown on how to navigate these "fucking first times" (FFTs). Ashley shares Brown's three-step process for managing FFTs: normalize, put it into perspective, and reality check. Tune in to learn how you can reframe your mindset and better cope with life's inevitable challenges.
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist
Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.comRead more about Brené Brown’s FFT’s | Advice For First-Time Experiences on Ashley’s Blog here: https://actionashley.com/brene-brown-fft/
Antonio Postorino joins Ashley to give unfiltered food for thought on how to cope with the challenges of entrepreneurship and his journey to starting his own PR company specializing in celebrity and influencer marketing. Antonio shares how his confidence helps him stay on course, why he thinks people should surround themselves with people who are smarter than them, and why networking makes such a difference. Ashley shares why it’s important to anchor yourself with coping skills in moments of social anxiety and vulnerability when networking in the world of entrepreneurship. Together they unpack how the more times you do something outside of your comfort zone, the less scary it becomes and why holding yourself accountable empowers you to change things for the better. Ashley asks Antonio what he wishes more people knew about entrepreneurship and together they digest why having boundaries is key to success.
—---------------------------------------------
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist
Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com
Connect with Antonio Postorino: @antonio.postorino / https://www.unfilteredpr.com/
Mara Bernstein, Divorce Attorney, joins Ashley Gersh to give some food for thought on the red flags in relationships that are ignored in the beginning, but which lead to divorce in the end. They discuss the necessary conversations to have before you get married and Mara highlights the state of Florida’s laws as it relates to finances once you get married. Mara shares the most impactful story she’s heard on what leads to a successful marriage, why pre-nuptials can be protective, why not everyone needs one, and why the most important thing when it comes to a prenup is how you do it. They shed light on the grieving process that encompasses divorce, why couples try to win a divorce, but it’s not about winning the fight, and why divorce isn’t just a word, it’s a process.
Connect with Ashley on social: @thatfoodietherapist
Schedule therapy at Ashley’s practice: www.actionashley.com
Connect with Mara Bernstein: @mara.bernstein.4 / https://marabernsteindivorce.com/
Ashley releases a special edition episode, rounding off season one of her show, to celebrate her birthday aka Valentine’s Day. She shares her top 3 dating tips on the day of love for people who are looking for love. If you’re alone and single on Valentine’s Day, this is for you. If you have a birthday on a holiday, this is for you. If you get birthday blues because of the expectations you have from others on your special day, this is for you. Oh, and Ashley’s mom was in cahoots with her producer to surprise her with a birthday cake and balloons!
In this solo episode Ashley breaks down how to recognize burnout and the ways to prevent it so that you can stay on the right track and accomplish your goals.
Jaclyn Beck, executive consultant and career coach sits down with Ashley to discuss how to know if you’re in the right career, if your distress is just burnout or highlighting the wrong path, and the most important questions to ask yourself to uncover this truth. Jaclyn and Ashley share common signs to know when someone is in the wrong career, what someone can do if they want to pivot career paths, why too many choices are unhelpful, and how your values apply to finding a satisfying and fulfilling career. They discuss how common it is to change careers as your values change over time, why it’s important to know both your strengths and weaknesses, and Jaclyn’s philosophy as to why relationships are so important. At the end of the show, Jaclyn has a mini coaching session with Ashley to demonstrate how a potential client can figure out how to find their best self in the workplace.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
Marco Morillo, private chef, sits down with Ashley to discuss his rise in the food industry and his struggle with addiction to cocaine and alcohol. As a seasoned chef some of his celebrity clients include Madonna, Derek Jeter, José Altuve, Justin Verlander and his wife Kate Upton, golfer Brooks Koepka, and more. Marco shares what his first impression was like of the celebrity chefs he worked with, coining the experience similar to being in a brotherhood or fraternity with pressure to do drugs in order to feel accepted by the chefs and kitchen crew. Marco struggled with addiction for 19 years which impacted his career, family, and personal life. He opens up about the time he felt most ashamed on Chopped, the Food Network TV show and how addiction ripped away his winning title. Marco and Ashley highlight how the disease of addiction and a lack of empathy creates problems in the family unit, how his wife’s ultimatum led him to rehab, and why he decided he was finally ready to change.
Brian Howie, host of the #1 dating & relationship podcast in the world, The Great Love Debate, is back on Food For Thought to discuss with Ashley how to know if you’ve found the right partner. Brian shares whether he thinks long distance relationships and your high school sweetheart are the right relationships to be in. Brian shares why asking someone about their job is less important than asking if someone is happy. Brian and Ashley digest questions to ask yourself and your partner when dating to see if you’re on the right path to finding the right person for you. They also share what makes a relationship emotionally safe. They highlight obstacles to finding the right relationship and how people fall for the idea of someone versus the reality of who someone is. Brian shares why dating outside of your comfort zone is beneficial and Ashley shares who the three most important people in your life to check in with are who will tell you if this is the right path for you.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
Victoria joins Food For Thought to talk about how being faced with her mortality and given a second chance at life was a motivating factor to prove herself after surviving a brain tumor. Victoria also shares how losing her mom prompted her move to Florida and how that loss reopened wounds from when she had been in the hospital herself. They discuss how smells can bring back distinct memories, the loneliness that comes from friends not understanding or having gone through similar experiences, and the importance of community from the right people to help you get through dark times. Ashley shares why sometimes, when you feel misunderstood or invalidated, it’s likely that you might not be asking for too much, but that you might just be asking the wrong people. Victoria opens up about the benefits of vulnerability for healing, how dating can be impacted by grief and the importance of not settling, and why she shares her story not only to heal herself, but to help others heal too.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
If you have lost something significant and meaningful, experienced change, or there is someone in your life with whom you’re estranged or there was no closure, then you are most likely grieving in some capacity for some amount of time. In this episode, two grief therapists sit down to unpack how to know if you’re grieving, what triggers grief, and how it’s related to more than just death (i.e. breakups, end of friendships, family estrangement, chronic illness, etc.). Gina Moffa, Licensed Clinical Social Worker provides expert advice when explaining how grief is an ongoing process, how it doesn’t have an expiration date, and why losing predictability in our lives whether that be from a person, routine, or ritual is traumatic. Gina provides the definition of ambiguous loss and why it’s a universal experience. Ashley and Gina discuss how to befriend the experience of grief, what a secondary loss is and how they happen, and why finding meaning after loss isn’t the end goal for a satisfying life.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
If you have lost something significant and meaningful, experienced change, or there is someone in your life with whom you’re estranged or there was no closure, then you are most likely grieving in some capacity for some amount of time. In this episode, two grief therapists sit down to unpack how to know if you’re grieving, what triggers grief, and how it’s related to more than just death (i.e. breakups, end of friendships, family estrangement, chronic illness, etc.). Gina Moffa, Licensed Clinical Social Worker provides expert advice when explaining how grief is an ongoing process, how it doesn’t have an expiration date, and why losing predictability in our lives whether that be from a person, routine, or ritual is traumatic. Gina provides the definition of ambiguous loss and why it’s a universal experience. Ashley and Gina discuss how to befriend the experience of grief, what a secondary loss is and how they happen, and why finding meaning after loss isn’t the end goal for a satisfying life.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
If you’ve ever set a boundary, been on the receiving end of a boundary, or wanted to get better at setting boundaries this episode is for you. Survive the rest of the holiday season with the boundaries survival guide episode.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
Brie Mazin, aka FloridaYogaMama on Instagram joins Ashley to discuss why it’s so important to let go of perfectionism. Brie and Ashley discuss Brie’s journey, including the benefits of vulnerability, how to get comfortable being alone when dating, and why moving back home does not make you a failure. Brie opens up about what it’s like letting go of control as a parent and how her kids serve as a mirror to herself motivating her to be a good role model. She shares parenting tips to empower her kids concerning body image issues, how to handle jealous friends and friendships that don’t support you, and the inner work she did that led her to lead a life with confidence. Brie further talks about how confidence comes from believing in herself, the moment she met Simone Biles, as well as the benefits and fulfillment to be found through yoga. She expresses how allowing herself to show up exactly as she is gives others permission to do the same and in turn this is how people rise together.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
How do you heal and move forward after a breakup, can you be friends with an ex, how to find closure, and what makes dating despite the messiness and pain of a breakup worth it? Katie Miles, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist joins Ashley to answer those questions and discuss her own experiences with heartbreak. She shares the ice cream analogy her therapist gave her to recognize how dating is just like trying out different flavors of ice cream. Katie and Ashley talk about how just because a relationship might not have been the right fit doesn't mean you are not the right fit for anyone, how isolating yourself after a breakup is one of the worst things you can do, and why they encourage people to act as if you’re not heartbroken.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
Jessica Garcia, founder of Ola Feroz Swimwear joins Food for Thought to discuss her journey to entrepreneurship. Her one-of-a kind swimsuits are sought out by celebrities and have been featured on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She shares how she overcame early business struggles and her ability to persevere through adversity to build a swimsuit empire. She explains how starting her own swim line was the ultimate masters degree on her path to a successful career. Jessica also discusses the anxieties of making it through the off-season and advice she would give to college students who don’t end up using their degrees in the pursuit of their dreams.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
Does the sound of someone chewing their food, crunching on chips, or even just breathing drive you up a wall? There’s an actual name for this and the condition is called Misophonia. Dr. Gulnora Hundley, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and Professor at the University of Central Florida joins Ashley to share about her experience with and the research behind this condition. They discuss common sounds that trigger people, ways to manage the distress, and what the families of those affected can do for support. Dr. Hundley highlights whether it’s something that can be cured or just managed, what causes it, and how it impacts relationships, including her own marriage. Together, they explore how it’s different from general anxiety, steps to take if you have this, and common struggles that can be had at the dinner table.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com
For Ashley’s first solo episode she talks about the process of letting go. With Thanksgiving, holiday time, and the new year coming up, people have expectations and feel pressure for what they think their life should look like. But how does someone let go of their expectations in order to find happiness? Ashley introduces the Sedona Method - a process for releasing limiting feelings and beliefs. Life isn’t always fair, but Ashley highlights how we can learn to emotionally let go so that we can give ourselves permission to still bring in joy.
Ready to take action on your own self-growth? Visit my website to schedule a therapy session: www.actionashley.com.
Iren Rainey, NBA player development specialist joins Food For Thought to share about his journey from young professional athlete, to his incarceration, and then to making a name for himself again by working with NBA athletes. Iren opens up about how basketball was an outlet for his grief after the death of his father and how he worked to reestablish his identity after his time in jail. He shares what helped him to not feel defined by his mistakes, how he had to work to build back trust with his mom, and the tools that helped him persevere in prison. Iren and Ashley discuss what resilience looks like, letting go of control over life’s outcomes, and how to keep thriving despite your past mistakes.
Ashley Gersh, MA, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
(she/her)
Action Ashley, Counseling & Services
P: 407-536-7509 | E: ashley@actionashley.com
Website / www.actionashley.com
Instagram / @thatfoodietherapist
TikTok / @thatfoodietherapist
Facebook / @actionashleyofficial
Podcast / @FoodForThought
Brian Howie, host of the #1 dating and relationship podcast in the world, The Great Love Debate, sits down with Ashley to debate the reasons that make relationships and dating feel so difficult. Brian draws on his experiences to understand why men and women act the way that they do in relationships and Ashley highlights the therapeutic ways to enhance communication. Brian explains why he thinks people struggle to end relationships and Ashley shares the scientific factors that contribute to why breakups feel so painful. The two debate reasons as to why people think relationships are hard, how to not take ghosting so personally, and why people crave closure. Brian opens up about how going to therapy ultimately helped him to have better relationships and why other people, especially men, should do the same!
Candice Conroy, licensed mental health counselor, sits down with Ashley as they break down the myths of OCD. Candice shares common scenarios that plague people with OCD and how to overcome them in order to better one's mental health, relationships, and to get back all the time that’s lost to symptoms of OCD. Candice and Ashley discuss how to not enable a family member or friend with OCD as well as the specific treatment and steps one might expect if they seek treatment. Candice shares about the difference between OCD and anxiety and how treating OCD must be approached differently than general anxiety. The two talk about when to seek treatment, the various types of OCD, the impact stress can have on symptoms coming back, and what help can look like.
Justin Schuble, aka DCFoodPorn, joins Food for Thought and is ready to talk about his dating life. Ashley and Justin reflect on how they first met and bond over being people who connect over deep and meaningful conversations. Justin explains how his choices for privacy and his own journey to understanding his sexuality led him to initially being closed off when discussing his dating life on Instagram. Justin gets vulnerable and discusses how questions from his followers about his dating life used to trigger his own insecurities. The two debate when to be private and when to be vulnerable on social media, how to know when to set boundaries, and ultimately Justin answers if he’s currently in a relationship!
Fuck cancer. It can be hard to have hope with a cancer diagnosis when it impacts all parts of your life, especially relationships when people see you as a walking reminder of mortality. Sometimes we don’t know what to say or even have the words to offer when someone we love is diagnosed with cancer. This week, Jill Sinnamon, a licensed mental health counselor, is here to share her story of when she was diagnosed with breast cancer during graduate school and how she managed to stay resilient during the times when she wanted to break apart. She shares what's helpful and what’s not helpful to say to someone who has cancer and why she continued going to school despite her professors telling her to take time off. She also opens up about what it’s like being an eating disorder specialist, helping people to feel safe in their bodies, as well as her own struggle to feel safe in her body after being given a cancer diagnosis. Jill and Ashley share insightful messages behind the importance of the grieving process, negative societal messages about living in a bigger body, and the privilege that comes with feeling safe in one’s body.
Ashley sits down in the studio for a live, raw conversation with Michael McGowan, COO of Blueprint Cookies, formerly known as Batch, The Cookie Company. Michael talks about the lawsuit that led to the company’s name change. He also speaks about the moment Lizzo and Latto gave Blueprint cookies a big shout out as well as his plans for franchising. He opens up about growing up in a blended Jewish - Italian family, his love of the culinary arts and his journey from chef, to bakery owner, to entrepreneur and now COO of Blueprint Cookies. Finally, he shares why someone should never be married to their business and advice for up and coming entrepreneurs in the culinary world.
Trigger Warning: Topics of suicide are discussed during this episode. Ashley and Matthew “Whiz” Buckley sit down to discuss the real story of what happens once a Top Gun Fighter Pilot gets out of the cockpit. Matthew discusses the differences between Top Gun Maverick and actual life as a Top Gun fighter pilot. Matthew shares how his foundation TOPGUN Fighter Foundation uses psychedelics to help veterans combat suicide, and he also shares his own story of how it healed him and three generations after him. Ashley and Matthew explore the mental health implications of psychedelics for depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD as a way to support veterans when they leave combat. Matthew opens up about his journey to joining the navy, how he got his title “Whiz,” and the grief his family endured after his sister died.
For her first episode, Ashley Gersh kicks things off with Janine Stella, host of the podcast: Skulls and Stilettos, where Janine gets to know professional fighters from head to toe. They talk about using metaphors as podcast titles and Janine shares how she relates to being a fighter herself. They also discuss how it feels to be misunderstood, especially in a world where being vulnerable on social media easily opens you up to criticism, and ways to find peace when that happens. Janine also opens up for the first time about what it was like experiencing grief at an early age and how podcasting allows her to honor her late parents. After exploring food as a medium for connection, Ashley talks about her journey to starting a podcast and Janine shares how food serves as a love language and what her favorite childhood dish was growing up.