The Scary, sweaty, sleepy podcast

Episode #39: When the Plan Goes Out the Window…and the producer accidentally ends up on the mic.

Sometimes the outline falls apart.
The conversation takes a turn.
The microphones stay rolling… and suddenly the producer becomes part of the episode.
 
This week on Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy, Ashley is joined by producer Daniel Anderson of Audio Alchemy Productions for an unexpected, unfiltered conversation about life behind the scenes, midlife chaos, creativity, connection, and what happens when you stop trying to control every moment.
 
It’s funny, honest, awkward in the best way, and proof that sometimes the most meaningful conversations are the ones you never planned for.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #38 - Paxton & Kelly Peters

Today’s conversation is raw, real, and deeply human.
My guest, Kelli Peters, is a woman in recovery who fought her way back to herself—only to be met with a breast cancer diagnosis that changed everything.
 
And as if that wasn’t enough, she was thrown into menopause without the option of hormone therapy.
 
This episode is about more than survival.
It’s about identity, resilience, and what it looks like to navigate a body that no longer plays by the same rules.
 
If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body… or like healing came with unexpected trade-offs… this one is going to stay with you.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #37: Midlife Ruined My Tolerance

Midlife has a way of waking you up.
 
What you used to ignore, excuse, or work around… you can’t anymore.
Not because you’re dramatic—because you’re aware.
 
This episode is about rising standards, self-respect, and no longer abandoning yourself to keep the peace.
 
Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy — Midlife gets real.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #36: 46 & Feral

Midlife isn’t a crisis — it’s clarity. In this short episode of Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy, Ashley shares what it means to feel a little feral at 46 and why protecting your peace suddenly matters more than pleasing everyone else.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode 35: Channeling My Inner Badass

10 Things 46 Taught Me
That 36 Couldn’t See Yet
 
— A Short Episode of Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy —
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #34 - Second Bloom: Completing the Past, Stepping Forward

In this episode of Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy, Ashley is joined by therapist Zach Thompson, MA, LPC, Valley Hildebrand, NP-BC, Elizabeth Fowler, and Liz Woodruff, LPC to explore the idea of the Second Bloom—a midlife season of slowing down, healing, and listening to what our bodies and lives are asking of us.
 
Together, they discuss stress, grief, nervous system regulation, and the process of letting go of roles and patterns that no longer fit, while making space for what’s next.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode 33: Still Rising

Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy with Lhay & Ashley — Part Two
In Part Two of their conversation, Ashley Bates and Lhay Browning Triffiley return to talk about what it really means to keep going after life has knocked you down — again and again.
 
This episode is about the quiet strength of rebuilding, the courage it takes to trust yourself after everything has changed, and the messy, beautiful reality of becoming someone new in midlife.
 
They talk about grief and growth living side by side, learning to listen to small nudges instead of chasing big plans, and how healing doesn’t always look dramatic — sometimes it looks like choosing yourself one small moment at a time.
 
If you’re in a season of transition, exhaustion, or rediscovering who you are…
this conversation is for you.
 
🎧 Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy — where midlife gets real.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode 32: Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy

In this deeply moving episode, host Ashley Bates sits down with Lhay Browning Triffiley, who shares her powerful story of loss, surrender, and starting over when life stripped away everything that once felt stable.
 
Beginning in 2019, Lhay faced profound loss, the unraveling of her marriage, and eventually the end of a ten-year career—leaving her questioning her identity and sense of control. For months, she lived by one simple mantra: “Lead me where you need me.”
 
Then came one message. One opportunity. One turning point.
 
Ashley and Lhay talk about rebuilding from the inside out—downsizing, moving to Jackson, embracing simplicity, and finding peace in small daily rituals that slowly brought joy back into her life.
 
✨ Grief and identity loss
💦 Years of survival and rebuilding
😴 The quiet peace that comes after surrender
 
If you’re standing in the middle of change—or wondering if life can feel whole again after everything falls apart—this conversation will meet you right where you are.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode 31: Family Recovery & Midlife Truths with Libby Spence

Ashley sits down with Libby Spence to unpack the real work of family recovery — the boundaries, the patterns, and the truth that everyone has their own healing to do.
 
They also tackle a big midlife question:
👉 Is menopause linked to addiction?
Hormone swings, stress, identity shifts, and sleepless nights can all push women toward coping habits that stick.
 
A raw, honest, hope-filled conversation for anyone navigating recovery, midlife, or both.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #29 - Strength in Every Shade of Pink: Early Detection Matters

October isn’t just a month—it’s a movement. 🎀
Breast Cancer Awareness is about more than pink ribbons — it’s about powerful voices, innovative care, and life-saving conversations.
 
This month, Scary, Sweaty, Sleepy highlights Amy Coleman, Radiologist with Vulcan Imaging, as she shares the importance of more advanced mammogram screenings that can help detect cancer earlier and more accurately.
 
Early detection saves lives — and awareness starts with talking, listening, and taking action. 💪
 
#ScarySweatySleepy #BreastCancerAwareness #EarlyDetectionSavesLives #StrengthInPink #MidlifeUnfiltered #ListenLaughLearnRepeat #Mammogram #AdvancedScreening #AmyColeman #VulcanImaging #RealTalk #OctoberIsPink #FightLikeAGirl
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.