AND/BOTH Podcast - Real Conversations, Shared Experiences, and the Community You've Been Missing

Dr. Ashley Blackington
  • 5.0 (4)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hear from moms in all different scenarios doing their absolute best to honor themselves as individuals in a world that would prefer, as mothers, we not. ⁠ ⁠ Hear from moms who are trying to figure out what that "something" is after the life altering transition into motherhood.⁠ ⁠ Hear from moms that say "I know I need to do something for myself and this is what it is, but it feels impossible to do it"⁠ ⁠ What is the AND/BOTH that you are juggling with motherhood? Career, hobbies, entrepreneurship, new identity, new activities, new passions and interests?⁠

  1. 4D AGO

    115. Live Fully, Die Ready: Why End-of-Life Planning Is the Ultimate Act of Love with Niki Weiss

    In this episode, host Ashley sits down with Nikki Weiss- digital thanatologist, project manager, and founder of Endevo, for a candid, eye-opening conversation about the intersection of caregiving, death planning, and our increasingly digital lives. Nikki brings not just professional expertise, but hard-won personal experience: she lost her father at 11, became her mother's primary caregiver at 21, later cared for her grandmother through dementia, and is now supporting her daughter as she navigates a caregiving role for her fiancé, diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. Together, they tackle the questions most families avoid and make the case for why starting the conversation early isn't morbid; it's one of the most loving things you can do. In This Episode What thanatology is and why the "digital" specialization matters more than everNikki's personal caregiving journey: losing both parents young and what that shaped in herThe "panini generation" why today's sandwich generation feels more squeezed than everWhy most caregivers wait until crisis to plan and the real cost of that delayThe project management approach to end-of-life planning: de-emotionalizing the process so families can actually do itHow to build a caregiving community instead of letting one person absorb everythingThe "silver wave" of late-life divorce and what it means for adult childrenDigital legacy: what happens to your phone, social media, subscriptions, and photos after you're goneGrief bots, digital avatars, and QR codes on headstones the emerging world of digital memorializationWhy you need a Digital Legacy Advance Directive alongside your will and medical POAThe Final Playbook: Nikki's framework for building a comprehensive end-of-life plan Key Quotes "Live fully, die ready. Carrying an end-of-life plan is like carrying an umbrella on a rainy day — if you carry it, you won't need it. If you need it, you know where it is." — Nikki Weiss "Death is indiscriminate. It doesn't care how old you are. We'll all die one of three ways: sudden and unexpected, a terminal diagnosis, or a long decline. You better have a plan for all three." — Nikki Weiss "The most humanistic experience we will all go through is death, dying, and incapacitation. What keeps me focused is this concept of human equity." — Niki Weiss Action Steps for Listeners Have the conversation before a diagnosis forces it. Pick a low-stakes moment (Nikki suggests the day after Thanksgiving).Know the three core legal documents: will/estate plan, power of attorney, and medical advance directive.Add a Digital Legacy Advance Directive — designate someone to manage your digital accounts and assets.Take inventory of your digital life: phone passcodes, social media accounts, recurring subscriptions, online financial accounts, and stored photos.Build a caregiving team — no single person should carry the full load. Identify who handles what before it becomes urgent.Visit finalplaybook.com to start building your own end-of-life plan. Connect with Niki https://official.endevo.life https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalLegacyPodcast https://www.endevo.life/ a href="https://final-playbook.passion.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    53 min

  2. FEB 6

    114. What Happens When You Stop Waiting for the “Right Time” with Danielle Alvarez

    What does it look like to make a huge life pivot in the middle of raising small kids—and during a global pandemic? In this episode, Ashley talks with Danielle Alvarez, a mom of three who walked away from the business she’d spent years building and went to law school with a six-, five-, and one-year-old at home. Now a corporate attorney with her own small business-focused firm, Danielle shares what it really looked like to start over, and how she made room for ambition without sacrificing everything else. This is a conversation about redefining success, letting go of timelines, and figuring out what actually feels right—instead of chasing what’s expected. Whether you’re in the middle of a pivot, thinking about one, or just trying to hold your own dreams alongside your real life, this one’s for you. We talk about: – Making a big life change when the timing isn’t ideal – Doing things differently than the “traditional” path – Ambition, burnout, and the pressure to do it all – Parenting while building something new – Starting a business that reflects your values – Letting go of old expectations (and other people’s opinions) Connect with DanielleLinks + Resources: Website: sblslaw.com LinkedIn: Danielle Alvarez, Esq., MBA Email: danielle@sblslaw.com Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    55 min

  3. JAN 30

    113. You’re Allowed to Want More Than Survival, with Iconoclast founder, Sarah Smith

    Burnout doesn’t always show up as falling apart. Sometimes it looks like holding everything together for too long. In this episode of AND/BOTH, Ashley sits down with Sarah Smith — founder of Iconoclast Innovations, mom of two, and self-described iconoclast — for a deeply honest conversation about motherhood, mental health, and rebuilding yourself after burnout. Sarah shares her experience navigating postpartum anxiety and depression during the pandemic, being laid off multiple times, starting a business while pregnant, and learning how to advocate for herself in a system that often loses sight of mothers after birth. Together, Ashley and Sarah talk about identity shifts after becoming a parent, why burnout is information (not failure), how community and support can be lifesaving, and what it really means to choose yourself and your family — even when it’s messy. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered: Why does this feel so hard — and am I the only one struggling? You’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong. Connect with Sarah: Website: https://iconoclastinnovationsllc.com/ Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    55 min

  4. JAN 23

    112. School Vacation, Summer Camp, Half Days: Booking Care Coverage Feels Impossible, Amy Kiska is Building Recess to Fix It

    What do you get when you mix startup experience, mother-of-a-newborn energy, and a deeply broken system for working parents? You get Recess. Amy Kiska is the co-founder and CEO of Recess, a platform parents are calling “the Booking.com of kids’ activities.” In this episode, she joins Ashley to talk about building a tech company while parenting a newborn, the invisible mental load of managing care coverage, and the bold decision to solve a problem most people don't recognize until they’re drowning in it. Amy shares what it took to launch Recess, including fundraising 10 days postpartum, and how she’s designing a business that helps families and providers thrive. This conversation covers: The truth about camp registration (and why it feels like the Hunger Games)How Recess supports both parents and activity providersThe underestimated power of mom-foundersBuilding a company without pretending you’re doing it aloneAnd why some of the best ideas are born in the bath 🛁 Connect with Amy: Website: hello-recess.com Social media @hellorecess on Instagram and TikTok Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    53 min

  5. JAN 16

    111. Making Fertility a Dinner Table Topic: Motherhood, Startups, and Access to Care with Samantha Diamond

    What if fertility and reproductive health were treated like skincare or mental health, something we talked about before it became a crisis? In this episode of AND/BOTH, Ashley sits down with Sam Diamond, co‑founder of Bird & Be, to talk about building a clinically‑backed fertility company in the middle of a global pandemic, and why proactive, inclusive fertility care matters more than ever. Sam shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped Bird & Be’s mission, including miscarriage, fertility treatment, and the gaps she saw in education, access, and support for both women and men. Together, Ashley and Sam explore why fertility conversations are still too reactive, how male fertility remains stigmatized, and what it looks like to build a company rooted in science, ethics, and care. They also talk about: Launching a startup during COVID — and why at‑home testing was harder than expectedWhy male fertility must be part of every fertility conversationThe shift from “cute” branding to clarity as Bird & Be entered retailWhat it took to land Bird & Be in Ulta — and why placement matteredHow early education and testing can shorten or even prevent long fertility journeysWhy women are not “small men” — and how research still fails women’s bodiesBlending motherhood and entrepreneurship without pretending it’s balanced This is a conversation about health, agency, science, and building systems that actually support people, not just sell to them. Connect with Sam: Bird&Be site: https://birdandbe.com/ Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    54 min

  6. JAN 9

    110. Why Venture Isn’t the Only Path: Sustainable Startup Life with Theanna founder Nomiki Petrolla

    This week on AND/BOTH, I’m joined by Nomiki Petrolla, founder of Theanna and a mother of four who is reshaping what early-stage entrepreneurship can look like for women in tech. Nomiki has spent 15 years in the tech world, sitting beside founders, engineers, and venture-backed teams, often as the only woman in the room. That experience eventually led her to build Theanna: a platform designed to support women tech founders from idea to launch. In this episode, we talk about: Why women are turning to entrepreneurship not out of ambition alone, but out of a desire for agencyThe realities of building a startup with four young kidsHow AI is completely changing what’s possible for early-stage foundersWhy venture capital isn’t the only — or even the most aligned — path for most entrepreneursThe difference between building your first business for money and your later ones for meaningHow motherhood sharpens clarity, decision-making, and boundariesWhat Nomiki is noticing about the next wave of women building techSustainable entrepreneurship vs. the unicorn mythology we’ve all absorbed It’s a conversation about choosing your own path, understanding your season, and building something that fits your actual life, not a version of life you’re supposed to pretend you have. Connect with Nomiki: Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn: @nomikipetrolla Theanna: @theannaio Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    53 min

  7. 12/19/2025

    109. A Pause, A Recap, and A Reset for the New Year

    In this solo episode, I’m taking a moment to pause, look back on Season 9, and share what’s coming as we head into a new year and our tenth season of the AND/BOTH podcast. This season brought so many meaningful conversations on the mental load, the realities of modern motherhood, how we build community, what comfort and safety look like in hard seasons, and the ways we try (and often fail) to carry less than we’re used to. We also continued our roundtable series, with thoughtful, deeply resonant conversations about grief and holiday burnout that so many of you reached out about. I talk through: The themes that kept surfacing across episodesWhat these conversations revealed about burnout, expectations, and the pace we’re all trying to keepThe “colander list” moment with my friend Meg and why it hit me squarely in the chestWhat it’s been like to grow a tech company, run a podcast, and raise four kids during a very full seasonWhy we’re taking a short break before Season 10What you can expect when we return in the new year And I share an invitation: if you’ve listened to the show and haven’t yet heard your version of motherhood reflected, I would love to bring more voices and stories into the mix. You can submit a guest interest form at andbothpodcast.com. We’ll be back in January with Season 10—rested, reset, and ready for the next chapter. Wishing you a holiday season with at least one hot coffee, a moment of actual rest, and something small that fills your cup. Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    16 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    108. The Messy Middle of Entrepreneurship: A Conversation with Villain’s Lauryn Warnick

    This week on AND/BOTH, I’m joined by Lauryn Warnick, CEO and founder of Villain Branding. Lauryn shares how she went from film school to tech startups to leading a verbal-first brand consultancy—and how the business has grown and shifted alongside marriage, motherhood, and the many seasons real life brings. We talk about: Building a business that doesn’t pretend life at home is pausedWhy B2B storytelling has more impact (and heart) than most people expectWorking with a spouse and figuring out routines that actually workThe pressure of being the primary income earner while raising young kidsMoving away from “balance” and toward navigating what each season asks of youThe Disney moment that unexpectedly reframed flexibility, boundaries, and perspective This episode is full of the conversations that don’t always make it into the highlight reel—how we work, how we parent, and how we keep adjusting the picture as life keeps changing. Connect with Lauryn: Website: www.villainbranding.com LinkedIn: Lauryn Warnick Connect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/ Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822 Instagram: @mydovetail.app LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

    58 min
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Hear from moms in all different scenarios doing their absolute best to honor themselves as individuals in a world that would prefer, as mothers, we not. ⁠ ⁠ Hear from moms who are trying to figure out what that "something" is after the life altering transition into motherhood.⁠ ⁠ Hear from moms that say "I know I need to do something for myself and this is what it is, but it feels impossible to do it"⁠ ⁠ What is the AND/BOTH that you are juggling with motherhood? Career, hobbies, entrepreneurship, new identity, new activities, new passions and interests?⁠

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