Beyond the Surface with Ashley-Ann

Ashley-Ann Pereira

Beyond the Surface is a sanctuary for cycle breakers, truth-tellers, and those rewriting the story. This is a space for those who refuse to repeat patterns that kept past generations silent, small, or stuck. Each episode is an invitation to talk about the real work of healing — the kind that unravels old identities, confronts generational wounds, and calls you back to your truest self. If you’re ready to stop carrying what was never yours and embody who you are, you belong here—these are the conversations that break cycles and set you free.

  1. 12/11/2025

    113. Unlock Your Potential: Beat Internal Resistance & Self-Sabotage | Kam Knight

    You know what to do, you want to do it… but something keeps holding you back. Why? In this transformative episode of Beyond the Surface, host Ashley-Ann Pereira sits down with Kam Knight — bestselling author and expert on mental performance — to uncover the real reason behind internal resistance and self-sabotage. You’ll learn: How your subconscious mind creates invisible blocksWhy motivation burnout and endless “inspiration” keep you stuckThe link between ego and resistanceHow to reprogram your mind and move beyond your comfort zoneTools for inner healing, emotional awareness, and lasting self-mastery If you’ve ever struggled with overcoming procrastination, breaking bad habits, or understanding your psychology of desire, this conversation will change how you see yourself — and how you create real, sustainable growth. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyashleyann/ https://www.tiktok.com/@wordsbyashleyann https://thestudiopress.co/ Connect with Kam: Website: https://kamknight.com Email: mentor@kamknight.com https://instagram.com/ikamknight https://facebook.com/ikamknight https://youtube.com/@ikamknight https://linkedin.com/in/ikamknight/ https://tiktok.com/@ikamknight Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Purpose and Mission 02:28 Understanding Internal Resistance 06:45 The Complexity of the Human Mind 11:42 Criteria for Resistance 16:05 The Role of Ego in Resistance 21:17 Navigating Wants and Resistance 27:20 Intentionality in Choosing Wants 34:01 Taming the Wanting Mechanism 36:27 Understanding the Wanting Mechanism 39:11 Conquering Internal Resistance 42:26 Tricks of Resistance 46:45 The Importance of Self-Compassion 51:59 Navigating Personal Resistance 57:36 Putting Yourself in Bigger Rooms

    1 hr
  2. 05/11/2025

    112. Navigating Grief and Trauma in Today's World | Stacy Schaffer, Licensed Counselor

    What happens when the silence you kept for decades finally finds a voice—and that voice becomes the very thing that heals you? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Stacy Schaffer, Licensed Professional Counselor and author of With Love from a Children’s Therapist, to explore what it means to break generational silence, heal from childhood trauma, and help children become less hurting adults. Stacy opens up about losing her mother at a young age, surviving a year-long trauma she never spoke about until three decades later, and how telling her story became an act of radical self-compassion and truth-telling. Together, we dive into the grief that shapes us, the courage it takes to tell the truth, and the healing that happens when we finally stop hiding behind resilience. From her work as a children’s therapist helping young people process grief and anxiety, to her own journey of reclaiming her voice, Stacy offers profound insight into the power of vulnerability, authenticity, and emotional intelligence. Topics we explore: Healing from childhood trauma and generational silenceGrief, loss, and the mother woundRecognizing trauma in children before it becomes generationalThe courage to speak your truth and own your storyInner child healing, self-compassion, and emotional resilience 🎧 Tune in for a deeply moving, hopeful conversation about what it means to do the inner work—for ourselves, for our children, and for the generations to come. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyashleyann/ https://www.tiktok.com/@wordsbyashleyann https://thestudiopress.co/ Connect with Stacy: https://www.instagram.com/hoperestored https://authorstacyschaffer.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Stacey's Mission 02:32 The Journey of Sharing Her Story 08:30 The Impact of Vulnerability in Therapy 14:46 Navigating Grief and Loss 22:44 Independence vs. Interdependence in Relationships 25:47 Children's Trauma in Today's Society 26:11 Navigating the New Parenting Landscape 28:18 Understanding the Unique Challenges of Today's Youth 32:22 The Importance of Authenticity in Parenting 35:52 The Ripple Effect of Sharing Our Truths 43:28 Curiosity, Courage, and Compassion in Healing

    44 min
  3. 29/10/2025

    111. How to Heal Anxious Attachment & Finally Feel Safe in Love | Valerie Rubin

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re too much in relationships — too anxious, too sensitive, too afraid they’ll leave — this episode will change how you see yourself. Join host Ashley-Ann on Beyond the Surface as she sits down with Relationship & Anxiety Therapist Valerie Rubin to uncover the truth about anxious attachment healing and what it really takes to create secure, lasting love. You’ll learn: Why talk therapy alone isn’t enough to heal attachment trauma How somatic healing and nervous system regulation create real emotional safety The science behind breaking trauma bonds and attraction to emotionally unavailable partners How inner child healing and brainspotting therapy help rewire old patterns The first steps to feeling calm, confident, and connected in relationships If you’ve been stuck in cycles of overthinking, people-pleasing, or fearing abandonment, this conversation will help you begin your CPTSD healing journey, rebuild self worth and love, and learn how to feel safe in relationships — starting with yourself. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyashleyann/ https://www.tiktok.com/@wordsbyashleyann https://thestudiopress.co/ Connect with Valerie: https://www.instagram.com/healwithval/ https://www.valrubin.com/ https://www.healmyanxiousattachment.com/ https://open.spotify.com/show/1UZDfyhUZgAGIdlEv5VP85?si=9e5fe991a4f34a79 Download Valerie's FREE meditation "How to Heal Your Fear of Abandonment" https://stan.store/healwithval CHAPTERS: 00:00 Valerie's Journey to Therapy 03:35 Understanding Anxious Attachment 06:16 Cycles of Emotional Unavailability 09:38 Fantasy Thinking in Relationships 12:18 Navigating Parental Relationships 15:10 Compassion and Healing 17:45 Attachment Styles in Different Relationships 19:55 The Limitations of Talk Therapy 23:08 The Importance of Somatic Therapy 27:53 Understanding Safety in the Body 30:08 Navigating Difficult Conversations 34:22 Processing Emotions Before Conflict 37:33 Building Self-Trust and Inner Validation 41:24 Curiosity, Courage, and Compassion in Self-Discovery

    46 min
  4. 22/10/2025

    110. Healing Ancestral Wounds in Relationships | Kayla MacDonald

    In this episode, Spiritual Mentor and Narrative Alchemist Kayla MacDonald joins me to explore the deep work of healing ancestral patterns, reparenting yourself, and transforming generational shame into creative power. Kayla shares how even in a healthy marriage, her body held memories of her lineage’s pain—and how she learned to release it through somatic healing, dance alchemy, and playful, creative self-expression. We talk about breaking free from inherited cycles around love, body image, and self-worth—and how healing doesn’t have to be heavy. It can be sensual, creative, and deeply freeing. If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying wounds that aren’t entirely yours, or you’re ready to step into embodied wholeness, this conversation will speak to your soul. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyashleyann/ https://www.tiktok.com/@wordsbyashleyann https://thestudiopress.co/ Connect with Kayla: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedwritingwarrior/ https://www.embodiedwritingwarrior.com/gift Chapters 00:00 Reclaiming Self-Authorship and Power 01:57 Navigating Ancestral Wounds in Marriage 05:29 Healing Dynamics in Relationships 09:35 The Role of Support in Healing 14:05 Creating Safety in Relationships 16:52 Understanding Inherited Wounds 18:49 Transforming Wounds into Gifts 20:05 The Divine Masculine and Playful Healing 23:58 The Healing Power of Playfulness 25:30 Transforming Self-Worth and Metrics 27:51 Redefining Worth Through Values 29:39 Navigating Social Media's Duality 30:50 Innovative Journaling Methodology 34:21 Launching Food Freedom Fantasy Program 36:08 Integrating Archetypes for Self-Expression 41:37 Embracing Emotions and Self-Compassion

    43 min
  5. 15/10/2025

    109. The 3-Step Soul Writing Ritual for Healing

    When you feel stuck, lost, or like a failure, it’s easy to believe you’re on the wrong path. But what if those feelings are actually an invitation? In this episode, I share how I've learned to reframe this feeling with a powerful African proverb: “To get lost is to learn the way”. I'll walk you through my three-step writing ritual that acts as a portal back to yourself. This process is designed to help you: Write the Rage: Learn to be incredibly raw with your emotions and get everything out onto the page without judgment. Reveal the Root: Reflect on the old stories and beliefs that have held you back and see what's truly underneath your pain. Reclaim Your Truth: Decide what happens next and choose the new truths you want to live by. This episode is for anyone who wants to use writing as a tool for deep healing, transformational growth, and personal liberation. Get the Write to Heal writing ritual: https://thestudiopress.myflodesk.com/write-to-heal Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyashleyann/ https://www.tiktok.com/@wordsbyashleyann https://thestudiopress.co/ Want to share your story and become an author? Learn more about Collective Voices, the co-author experience: https://thestudiopress.co/collective Hi there 🌹 I'm Ashley-Ann, a creative alchemist and book coach who helps thought leaders — coaches, speakers, soulpreneurs and spiritual leaders — publish their life's work. When you’re standing on the edge of realizing you have a unique perspective and a story the worlds needs to hear, I'm the one who helps you cross the threshold. My mission is to help thought leaders break through the barriers of self-doubt, overthinking, and perfectionism and alchemize them into authentic self-expression.

    17 min
  6. 08/10/2025

    108. From Survival to Thriving | Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, Intuition vs Fear, & Soul Alignment | Gicela Holguin

    What if exhaustion wasn’t the end, but the breakthrough? In this episode, I sit down with Gicela Holguin, Self-Connection Guide and Soul Archeologist, as she shares her transformative journey walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. What started as an intuitive nudge turned into a profound lesson in slowing down, listening to her body, and realizing she was still living in survival mode—disguised as ambition. We explore how to tell the difference between intuition and fear, what it means to create a “soft landing” after years of leaping, and how the body becomes a roadmap for healing and alignment. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop just surviving and start thriving, this episode will give you the tools, perspective, and inspiration to trust your inner voice and live in soulful alignment. Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/wordsbyashleyann/ https://www.tiktok.com/@wordsbyashleyann https://thestudiopress.co/ Connect with Gicela: https://www.instagram.com/gicelaholguin Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey 02:40 The Decision to Embark on the Camino 05:29 Embracing Change and Surrendering to the Universe 08:17 The Spiritual Connection and Physical Journey 10:43 Trusting Intuition Over Fear 13:22 Moments of Vulnerability and Self-Discovery 15:53 The Breakthrough: From Surviving to Thriving 21:58 Embracing Change and Trusting the Leap 24:32 Finding Harmony: Structure and Flow 26:36 The Journey of Trust and Service 29:01 The Importance of Emotional Purging 31:47 Building Community and Connection 37:21 Creating Intentional Community through Technology Want to share your story and become an author? Learn more about Collective Voices, the co-author experience: https://thestudiopress.co/collective

    45 min

About

Beyond the Surface is a sanctuary for cycle breakers, truth-tellers, and those rewriting the story. This is a space for those who refuse to repeat patterns that kept past generations silent, small, or stuck. Each episode is an invitation to talk about the real work of healing — the kind that unravels old identities, confronts generational wounds, and calls you back to your truest self. If you’re ready to stop carrying what was never yours and embody who you are, you belong here—these are the conversations that break cycles and set you free.