Sit Around the Fire

Ashlea Dillard
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

🔥 Sit Around the Fire 🔥 For anyone seeking healing, growth, and connection — including first responders, military members, and their families. Welcome to Sit Around the Fire — the space where stories ignite transformation. Hosted by a former first responder turned licensed professional counselor and certified hypnotherapist, this podcast blends real-life experiences, powerful teachings, and practical tools for mental and physical health. Each episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and find your spark again. Together, we explore mindfulness, stress management, trauma recovery, and PTSD healing — all through the lens of someone who’s lived it. You’ll hear raw conversations with first responders, veterans, and mental health experts as well as other incredible human beings with amazing stories and missions who share their wisdom on how to move from burnout to balance, from survival mode to thriving. If you’re ready to break free from old patterns and beliefs, reclaim your peace, and live your most abundant, limitless life, this is your community. ✨ What you’ll learn: How to manage stress and trauma while building emotional resilience.Practical mindfulness and mental well-being techniques that fit your lifestyle.Real stories of healing from first responders and military families.Tools to strengthen both mental and physical health for lasting change. Don’t suffer in silence. Join our community — subscribe, follow, and connect. 👉 Subscribe to Sit Around the Fire wherever you listen to podcasts. 👉 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily inspiration. 👉 Visit our site to join the email list and start doing the inner work today. It’s time to heal. It’s time to rise. It’s time to sit around the fire. 🔥Get Connected with Us!  www.sitaroundthefire.org 👉🏻 Interested in doing one to one work with Ashlea... www.ashleadillard.com 🫶🏼 Let's Be Friends  Facebook Instagram Ticktock YouTube

  1. 2D AGO

    #049 You're Not Broken. You've Been Programmed

    What if everything you believe about yourself... isn't actually you? If you've ever felt stuck in the same patterns, overwhelmed by your own thoughts, or like healing is always just out of reach — this episode will change how you see your mind. In this powerful solo episode of Sit Around the Fire, we go deep into hypnosis, the subconscious mind, and emotional healing — exploring how this ancient, misunderstood practice is one of the most accessible tools for real, lasting transformation. You'll discover the surprising history of hypnosis — from ancient Egyptian sleep temples and Greek healing rituals to the revolutionary work of James Braid and Milton Erickson — and why it's always been a natural part of the human experience, not a stage trick. More importantly, you'll learn how your subconscious mind gets programmed through repetition, environment, and emotional experience — and how reprogramming those beliefs is the key to breaking free from overthinking, emotional patterns, and cycles that feel impossible to escape. You're not broken. You've been programmed. And that means you can change. ✨ What you'll learn: How hypnosis works and its role in mental health and emotional healingThe ancient roots of hypnosis across Egyptian, Greek, and shamanic traditionsHow everyday trance states (driving, scrolling, daydreaming) are naturally hypnoticWhy your subconscious is shaped by repetition — not truthHow awareness becomes the first act of reprogramming and personal growth🔥 Quotable moments: "Hypnosis is a natural, universal human experience" — and you're probably already doing it."You're not broken — you've been programmed" — which means the code can be rewritten."Your inner voice is a form of hypnotic suggestion" — so what has yours been telling you?🎧 Episode chapters: 00:00 — Understanding everyday hypnosis 03:50 — The historical context of hypnosis 15:58 — Hypnosis in everyday life 25:21 — Reprogramming the mind 🔑 Keywords: hypnosis for emotional healing, subconscious mind reprogramming, how hypnosis works, mental health podcast, healing podcast, subconscious beliefs, reprogramming the mind, self-healing, trauma healing, hypnotherapy, nervous system regulation, inner transformation, behavior change, mindset shift, personal growth, how to stop overthinking, hypnosis explained, neuro-hypnotism, awareness practice, trance states, ancient healing practices 🌐 Resources mentioned: Ancient Egyptian sleep templesMilton Erickson FoundationJames Braid and neuro-hypnotismFranz Anton Mesmer and animal magnetismReady to rewire? If this episode hit home — share it with someone who's been stuck in the same loop. They need to hear this. And if you're ready to experience this work firsthand, visit ashleadillard.com to book a session or explore how hypnosis can help you break old patterns, shift your subconscious, and step into the life you actually want.

    29 min

  2. APR 28

    #048 From Combat to Civilian: Mental Health After the Military | Anthony Dyer

    What happens when the mission ends — but the war inside doesn't? In this episode, Ashlea Dillard sits down with Anthony Dyer, a former Air Force combat missions aviator, to explore one of the most underrepresented conversations in military mental health: what it truly costs to serve, and what it takes to heal. Anthony opens up about his firsthand experience with trauma, survivor's guilt, and the identity crisis that so many veterans face when they transition to civilian life. He speaks candidly about his battle with alcoholism, the stigma around seeking help in the military, and how he ultimately found healing through community, purpose, and helping others. Whether you're a veteran navigating the transition out of service, a mental health professional working with military populations, or someone who loves a service member — this episode will meet you where you are. In this episode, you'll hear: Why mental health stigma runs so deep in military culture — and how to push past itThe real impact of survivor's guilt on identity and daily lifeHow prolonged exposure therapy became a turning point in Anthony's recoveryWhy "helping is healing" — and how serving others became his path forwardThe story behind his book Moon Child and the inspiration it offers to others still fighting their own battles"It's okay not to be okay." "Helping is healing." "It's not if, it's when that hits." Anthony's journey is one of raw honesty, hard-won perseverance, and the quiet power of community. This is a conversation that needed to be had. 🎧 Listen now — and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. 🔗 Link to Anthony's Book Moon Child ☎️ Ready to dive into your own work? Schedule your free 30 minute consultation and explore more at ashleadillard.com Keywords: military mental health, veteran trauma, survivor's guilt, Air Force veteran, identity after military service, transition to civilian life, alcoholism recovery, healing and perseverance, veteran community support, Moon Child book Anthony Dyer

    43 min

  3. APR 21

    #047 Rewire Your Brain with Words: The Power of Self-Talk

    The most important conversation you'll ever have is the one happening in your own mind. And chances are, you're not paying attention to it. In this solo episode, Ashlea Dillard breaks down how the language you use every day — the phrases you repeat on autopilot, the words you say under your breath when things get hard — is literally shaping your brain. Your subconscious doesn't filter truth from repetition. It just builds around whatever you keep saying. So when you're walking around telling yourself "I'm so tired," "I can't handle this," or "I'm just an anxious person" — you're not being honest with yourself. You're giving your nervous system instructions. Ashlea walks through the most common phrases that quietly keep you stuck, shares practical language swaps rooted in neuroplasticity that shift something real (without bypassing what's true), and goes deeper into how the words you repeat every day stop being things you say — and start becoming who you believe you are. This one is going to hit. Come ready to listen differently. In this episode: — Why your brain treats repetition as reality — How repetition + emotion strengthen the neural pathways behind your beliefs — The four phrases doing the most damage (and what to say instead) — Why "I get to" instead of "I have to" creates genuine agency — How your daily language is quietly building your identity right now Resources mentioned: — Neuroplasticity and the Brain's Ability to Change: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/neuroplasticity — The Power of Positive Self-Talk by Louise Hay: https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018 — Mindset Works — Developing a Growth Mindset: https://www.mindsetworks.com/ — Learn more about Ashlea: https://ashleadillard.com/ mindset, self-talk, neuroplasticity, mental health, personal growth, language, identity, emotional health

    20 min

  4. APR 14

    #046 He Faced the Unsurvivable — Here's What He Found on the Other Side Ty Gipson

    What does it take to survive the unsurvivable — and come out the other side with purpose? In this episode of Sit Around the Fire, host Ashlea Dillard sits down with Ty Gipson — motivational speaker, organ transplant recipient, and living proof that adversity doesn't get the last word. Ty was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at just 11 years old. For over a decade, life felt normal. Then, without warning, his kidneys began to fail. What followed was a grueling journey through organ failure, transplant surgery, and the slow, uncertain road to recovery — all while holding onto a single question that would define his life: Do I want to grow, or do I want to die? His answer changed everything. In this episode, Ty shares: What it was actually like to face kidney failure and depend on organ donation to surviveThe pivotal mindset shift that transformed his recovery — and how you can apply it todayHis 3-step framework for navigating life's hardest momentsWhy "toxic positivity" is real — and what genuine resilience actually looks likeThe role his mother, his wife, and his faith played in pulling him throughWhat his unexpected journey with Disney taught him about storytelling and communityWhy waiting is the enemy of healing, and what to do insteadTy doesn't sugarcoat the darkness. He walked through it. And what he found on the other side is the foundation of his work as a speaker, advocate, and voice for the organ donation community. "On the other side of adversity are some really amazing things," he says. "You have every tool you need equipped with you right now." Whether you're facing a health crisis, a career collapse, a broken relationship, or simply a season of life that doesn't make sense — this conversation will remind you that the wall in front of you is worth the climb. Key Takeaways: Resilience isn't about feeling strong. It's about taking one small step when everything in you wants to stop.Your "why" is your anchor. Find it before the storm hits.Humor isn't avoidance — it's armor.Sharing your story doesn't just help others. It heals you.Getting 1% better every day compounds into a completely different life.Episode Chapters: 00:00 — Meet Ty Gipson01:50 — Living with juvenile diabetes05:17 — When the kidneys fail: Ty's transplant story09:55 — The life-changing gift of organ donation12:42 — What adversity actually teaches you16:48 — 3 steps to overcome any challenge19:10 — Sitting with the unknowns22:15 — The real power of positive thinking25:20 — Stop waiting. Start now.29:27 — Ty's unexpected chapter at Disney37:24 — Calling out toxic positivity41:31 — Choosing to stay positive when it's hard43:57 — How to connect with Tyadversity and resilience, organ donation awareness, juvenile diabetes story, kidney transplant survivor, motivational speaker podcast, overcoming health challenges, positive mindset tips, personal growth podcast, chronic illness and mental health, Sit Around the Fire podcast

    48 min

  5. APR 6

    #045 Why You’re Tired All the Time (It’s Not Just Physical): Emotional Exhaustion & Burnout

    Do you feel constantly tired—even when you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and doing “all the right things”? You’re not alone. And the truth is… your exhaustion might not be physical. In this solo episode of Sit Around the Fire, therapist and hypnotherapist Ashlea Dillard explores the deeper reasons behind chronic fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and burnout—and why so many high performers, helpers, and first responders feel drained despite doing everything “right.” Ashlea shares a real, honest reflection from her own recent experience with fatigue and breaks down how emotional load, decision fatigue, suppressed emotions, and nervous system dysregulation can silently deplete your energy. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, mentally drained, or stuck in a cycle of pushing through exhaustion, this episode will help you understand what your body is actually trying to tell you—and how to begin restoring your energy from the inside out. ✨ You don’t need to push harder. You need to listen differently. 🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why you feel tired all the time (even when you’re doing everything “right”)The connection between emotional exhaustion and physical fatigueHow decision fatigue and overthinking drain your energyThe impact of suppressed emotions on your nervous systemWhy rest doesn’t work if your body is still in survival modeSimple ways to create space and begin restoring your energy🔥 Key Takeaways:Your exhaustion isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and neurologicalYou’re not lazy or unmotivated—your system is overloadedReal energy comes from nervous system regulation, not just restAwareness is the first step toward sustainable healing🎯 Chapters:00:00 Why You Feel Tired All the Time 00:45 Personal Reflection on Fatigue 03:00 The Nervous System & True Rest 07:00 Hidden Energy Drains (Emotional Load & Decision Fatigue) 12:00 The Deeper Truth Behind Exhaustion 14:00 Shifting Out of Survival Mode 17:00 Simple Integration Practice 19:00 Closing Thoughts 🔍 Keywords (SEO):chronic fatigue, emotional exhaustion, burnout, mental health, nervous system regulation, decision fatigue, overthinking, stress, suppressed emotions, trauma, self-care, therapy, hypnosis, fatigue recovery, high performer burnout, first responders mental health 🌐 Resources & Links:🔗 Sit Around the Fire Podcast: https://sitaroundthefire.com 🔗 Work with Ashlea Dillard (Therapy & Hypnosis): https://ashleadillard.com 🎧 If This Resonated…Send this to someone who’s been feeling exhausted lately. And if you’re ready to stop pushing through and start understanding your energy—this is your starting point.

    20 min

  6. MAR 31

    #044 The Truth About Intimacy: Self-worth, Trauma, and Communication with Pauline Ryeland

    What if the biggest barrier to intimacy in your relationship isn’t your partner—but your relationship with yourself? In this powerful episode of Sit Around the Fire, host Ashlea Dillard sits down with Pauline Ryeland to explore the deeper psychology of relationships, intimacy, and connection. Together, they unpack how self-worth, communication patterns, trauma, and life transitions directly impact emotional and physical intimacy. This conversation dives into the foundations of conscious relating, highlighting how disconnection often stems from unresolved stress, past experiences, and nervous system dysregulation—not just surface-level relationship issues. Pauline shares her journey into sexual education and explains why understanding sexual energy as a life force is key to reclaiming connection, confidence, and fulfillment. You’ll learn how NLP, personal growth, and self-awareness can transform not only your relationship with your partner—but with yourself. Whether you’re navigating a long-term relationship, rebuilding intimacy, or seeking deeper emotional connection, this episode offers practical tools and mindset shifts to help you reconnect, communicate, and thrive. ✨ If you’ve ever felt disconnected, stuck, or unsure how to communicate your needs—this conversation is for you. relationships, intimacy, self-worth, communication in relationships, trauma and relationships, emotional connection, conscious relating, sexual energy, NLP, personal growth, relationship healing, reconnecting with partner, mental health and relationships, nervous system regulation, intimacy issues Self-worth and self-love are the foundation of healthy relationships and intimacyEmotional and physical intimacy start with connection to selfTrauma and stress can silently disrupt communication and connectionConscious relating requires presence, awareness, and intentionSexual energy is deeply connected to overall life force and vitalityLife transitions can shift relationship dynamics—and require recalibrationOpen, honest communication is essential for intimacy and trustPractical tools can help couples reconnect and rebuild closenessPersonal growth directly enhances relationship satisfactionNervous system regulation plays a key role in intimacy and connection00:00 Introduction to Relationships, Intimacy & Mental Health 01:53 Pauline’s Journey into Sexual Education & Personal Growth 04:36 How Self-Worth Impacts Intimacy and Connection 07:41 Navigating Life Transitions in Relationships 09:39 Reconnecting in Long-Term Relationships 11:50 Addressing Intimacy Challenges Head-On 15:46 Communication Skills for Deeper Connection 20:01 Trauma, Stress & the Nervous System in Relationships 24:37 Understanding Sexual Energy as Life Force 29:53 What is Conscious Relating? 34:57 Practical Tools to Rebuild Intimacy 39:50 Unlocking Sexual Potential & Personal Growth 44:53 Closing Thoughts & Resources

    49 min

  7. MAR 24

    #043: The Hidden Cost of Always Being the Strong One: Emotional Exhaustion, Vulnerability & Healing

    Are you the one everyone relies on… but secretly feel exhausted, disconnected, or overwhelmed? In this solo episode of Sit Around the Fire, therapist and hypnotherapist Ashlea Dillard explores the hidden cost of always being the strong one—and why this role, while admirable, can lead to emotional exhaustion, nervous system dysregulation, and deep disconnection from yourself and others. If you’ve ever felt like you have to “hold it all together,” struggle to ask for support, or find yourself constantly pushing through despite burnout… this episode will resonate deeply. Ashlea breaks down how the “strong one” identity is often learned and adaptive, rooted in past experiences where vulnerability didn’t feel safe. She shares how this pattern can show up in your daily life—and more importantly, how to begin releasing emotional suppression, embracing vulnerability, and allowing support back in. This episode also includes a guided hypnosis-style integration to help you gently let go of what you’ve been carrying and reconnect with a sense of internal safety and support. ✨ You don’t have to do life alone. And you don’t have to earn rest. 🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The emotional toll of always being the strong oneSigns of emotional repression, burnout, and nervous system exhaustionHow hyper-independence keeps you stuck and disconnectedWhy vulnerability is essential for healing and personal growthPractical reflection prompts to help you shift patternsA guided integration to release pressure and reconnect with support🔥 Key Takeaways:You don’t have to earn rest or supportStrength isn’t just holding it all together—it’s allowing yourself to be seenAwareness is the first step toward real healing and change🎯 Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Healing Conversations 00:57 The Burden of Being the Strong One 04:53 Understanding the Strong One's Identity 06:48 The Impact of Learned Behaviors 07:32 The Hidden Costs of Emotional Suppression 15:04 Redefining Strength and Vulnerability 18:34 Guided Integration for Mindfulness 20:43 Embracing the Present Moment 20:49 Embracing Softness and Awareness 23:48 Releasing Burdens and Finding Support mental health, emotional exhaustion, vulnerability, support, personal growth, self-care, resilience, healing, nervous system regulation, emotional repression, burnout recovery, trauma healing, therapy, hypnosis, first responders mental health 🌐 Resources & Links:🔗 Sit Around the Fire Podcast: https://sitaroundthefire.com 🔗 Work with Ashlea Dillard (Therapy & Hypnosis): https://ashleadillard.com 🎧 If This Resonated…Share this episode with someone who’s always been the strong one. And if you’re ready to start your own healing journey—support is available.

    25 min

  8. MAR 19

    #042 First Responder Families: How to Heal, Communicate, and Thrive Under Pressure with TJ & Sarah

    In this powerful episode of Sit Around the Fire, host Ashlea Dillard sits down with Sarah Joy Prieur and TJ to explore the real-life challenges of first responder families—and what it actually takes to move from survival mode into true, sustainable thriving. Together, they unpack the mental health impact of first responder life, including chronic stress, emotional suppression, and the often unspoken normalization of suffering within the culture. Through raw honesty and lived experience, Sarah and TJ share how they transformed their relationship, mindset, and daily systems using mindfulness, intentional communication, and structured personal growth practices. This conversation dives deep into: How trauma and high-stress careers affect relationships and family dynamicsWhy many first responder families feel stuck—and how to break the cycleThe role of nervous system regulation, gratitude, and daily structure in healingHow to rebuild connection, clarity, and purpose in the midst of chaos Through their work with Real Elevation, Sarah and TJ are helping others cultivate resilience, discipline, and authentic alignment—proving that no matter how intense the environment, healing and transformation are always possible. If you or someone you love is in a first responder role, this episode is a must-listen for learning how to communicate better, reconnect deeply, and create a life that feels grounded, intentional, and fulfilling. You don’t have to just survive this life—you can learn to thrive in it. 00:00 – Understanding First Responder Family Dynamics 00:19 – Mental Health, Mindfulness, and Emotional Regulation 04:29 – Turning Trauma into Growth and Purpose 08:52 – Breaking the Culture of Normalized Suffering 16:15 – Communication Strategies That Actually Work 22:03 – Mindfulness, Spirituality, and Self-Awareness 29:54 – Building Resilience Through Real Elevation If this episode resonated with you, share it with a first responder family who needs this message. ✨ Follow, rate, and review Sit Around the Fire to help us continue bringing powerful conversations like this to life. And remember: Heal. Transform. Impact. first responder mental health, first responder families, firefighter family stress, police family life, trauma recovery, mindfulness for anxiety, communication in relationships, nervous system regulation, mental health for first responders, resilience training, personal growth, emotional healing, gratitude practice, structured routines, stress management, marriage in high-stress careers, first responder spouse support

    45 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

🔥 Sit Around the Fire 🔥 For anyone seeking healing, growth, and connection — including first responders, military members, and their families. Welcome to Sit Around the Fire — the space where stories ignite transformation. Hosted by a former first responder turned licensed professional counselor and certified hypnotherapist, this podcast blends real-life experiences, powerful teachings, and practical tools for mental and physical health. Each episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and find your spark again. Together, we explore mindfulness, stress management, trauma recovery, and PTSD healing — all through the lens of someone who’s lived it. You’ll hear raw conversations with first responders, veterans, and mental health experts as well as other incredible human beings with amazing stories and missions who share their wisdom on how to move from burnout to balance, from survival mode to thriving. If you’re ready to break free from old patterns and beliefs, reclaim your peace, and live your most abundant, limitless life, this is your community. ✨ What you’ll learn: How to manage stress and trauma while building emotional resilience.Practical mindfulness and mental well-being techniques that fit your lifestyle.Real stories of healing from first responders and military families.Tools to strengthen both mental and physical health for lasting change. Don’t suffer in silence. Join our community — subscribe, follow, and connect. 👉 Subscribe to Sit Around the Fire wherever you listen to podcasts. 👉 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for daily inspiration. 👉 Visit our site to join the email list and start doing the inner work today. It’s time to heal. It’s time to rise. It’s time to sit around the fire. 🔥Get Connected with Us!  www.sitaroundthefire.org 👉🏻 Interested in doing one to one work with Ashlea... www.ashleadillard.com 🫶🏼 Let's Be Friends  Facebook Instagram Ticktock YouTube

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlea Dillard
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ashlea Dillard
  • Show Website
    Sit Around the Fire