On the Table with Ashley

Hosted by Âme Atendre

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About the show

On the Table with Ashley is a podcast presented by luxury home goods brand, Âme Atendre. Join host Ashley Gould as she speaks with thought provoking individuals on their varied life experiences and professions. On the Table with Ashley covers any topic we can put on the table, with the goal of increasing human connection through curiosity, respect and understanding.

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60 recent

59 min

Re-Release: Legacy Planning and Ethical Wills — The What and How of What Matters Most with Susan Turnbull

We’re revisiting our conversation with Susan Turnbull, originally released as part of our Death + Dying series, to explore the stories, values, and life lessons we want to share with those we love. Susan is the founder and Principal of Personal Legacy Advisors and the author of The Wealth of Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will . Her work helps people put their experiences, hopes, and personal wisdom into words that can connect generations. In this conversation, Susan and Ashley explore ethical wills: personal legacy documents that communicate the emotional, spiritual, and ethical values we wish to pass on. They discuss how to begin reflecting on our own legacies, the fears and discomfort that can accompany conversations about death, and how this process can deepen our relationships while we’re here. Whether you’re hearing this episode for the first time or returning to it, we hope it offers a starting point for meaningful conversations—and encouragement to share the things that too often go unsaid. Connect with Susan and explore the resources mentioned: Personal Legacy Advisors Susan on LinkedIn The Wealth of Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will by Susan Turnbull A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by B.J. Miller and Shoshana Berger The Four Things That Matter Most by Ira Byock For You When I Am Gone: Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story by Steve Leder Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram @onthetablewithashley . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

39 min

Re-Release: Anne Kornblut - Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist & Silicon Valley Powerhouse

We have journalism, technology and life as a woman in the executive world on the table today. This is a palette cleanser and re-release of our episode with Anne Kornblut. Anne is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who is currently the Vice President of Global Product Content Operations at Meta, FKA Facebook. Anne previously served as a Senior Editor at The Washington Post where she oversaw national politics, national security, and health, science + environmental coverage. In 2013, she was the lead editor overseeing coverage of Edward Snowden's NSA revelations, which won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. She joins Ashley to talk about her career, from the newsroom to working as an executive at Meta, integrity within the news and media and the varied intersecting areas of her life. You can connect with Anne on Linkedin. Links to topics mentioned by Ashley and Anne in today’s episode: Substack, an online platform that provides publishing, payment, analytics, and design infrastructure to support subscription newsletters. Jessica Yellin on Instagram Link to the small and large Crystal Bowls, Wooden Serving Spoons and Cocktail Napkins gifted to Anne and offered by Âme Atendre. Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram @onthetablewithashley On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

1 hr 6 min

Food and Connection Series: Cooking Behind Bars with Chef Bruno Abate (Recipe for Change)

Rehabilitation through Food is on the table today! On the final episode of our Food and Connection series, Ashley sits down with Chef Bruno Abate. Bruno is an Italian chef, restaurateur, and founder of Recipe for Change , a nonprofit organization that uses culinary education to support rehabilitation and create new opportunities for people who are incarcerated. Bruno joins us to share the story behind Recipe for Change and the personal experience that inspired him to begin working with incarcerated youth. He opens up about the work he does inside the jail, where participants learn professional cooking skills, earn food safety certifications, work together in a kitchen, and prepare meals and pizzas. Together, Ashley and Bruno explore what it means to truly rehabilitate rather than simply punish, and how something as simple as treating our incarcerated population with dignity, and equipping them with a chef's toolkit can change lives. Learn more about Recipe for Change . Follow Recipe for Change on Instagram . Donate to Recipe for Change. Read Dostoyevsky . Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

1 hr 9 min

Food and Connection Series: How Food Kept a Sri Lankan Family Connected Across Continents with Dr.Thurka Sangaramoorthy

Diasporic Connection is on the table today On the 8th episode of our On the Table with Ashley series, we are joined by Thurka Sangaramoorty. Thurka Sangaramoorthy is a cultural and medical anthropologist and public health researcher with 22 years of experience conducting research among vulnerable populations in the United States, Africa, and Latin America. Dr.Sangaramoorthy is a professor and chair of The Department of Anthropology at American University. Thurka is the author of the books, Treating AIDS, Rapid Ethnographic Assessments, and Landscapes of Care. Thurka joins us to share the story of her family, who fled the Sri Lankan Civil War in the 1970s and sought asylum in the United States, exploring how food became a way to remain connected to their roots, their homeland, and one another. Dr.Sangaramoorthy opens up about researching her own family and discovering how food allows traditions to be preserved and transformed, while also shaping gender and familial roles and protecting a sense of connection to home. Together, Ashley and Thurka explore how the food we make and share can carry stories of migration, identity, belonging, and resilience, and how, sometimes, a recipe can hold an entire family history. Learn more about the work of Thurka Sangaramoorthy . Read Food as Care: Stories of Forced Displacement and Connection by Thurka Sangaramoorthy. Research The Public Ethnogrophy Lab . Read Crying in HMart by Michelle Zauner. Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

1 hr 10 min

Food and Connection Series: From the Dead Sea to the Dinner Table with Alphonse Griger

Culinary trends and dining connections are on the table today For the seventh episode of our food and connection series, we are joined by Alphonse Griger. Alphonse Griger is a chef and culinary innovator whose career has spanned restaurant kitchens, culinary research, and food and beverage development. He studied at Johnson & Wales University, graduating in 2019, and has worked in Chicago’s culinary industry as a line cook, research and development chef, and sous chef. He is part of the team behind Chicago’s Class Act and Nightcap, an immersive fine-dining and cocktail experience. Alphonse joins us to explore what it means to be a Research and Development chef, revealing how the addition of just one simple ingredient can transform a dish, captivate audiences, and even help kickstart new culinary trends. He also takes us inside the world of Class Act and Nightcap, discussing how the experience came to be and what it has taught him about hospitality, food, and human connection. What results is a deeper understanding of what it means to break bread with strangers and loved ones alike, revealing how food can unite across families, cities and countries. Listen to the full episode, out now on your favorite podcast platform. Check out Class Act and Nightcap in Chicago. Follow Alphonse on Instagram . Read The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field by Mike Michalowicz . Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

58 min

Food and Connection Series: Teaching the Next Generation to Grow their Own Food with Anton Van Schaik

Growing your own food is on the table today! On the sixth episode of On the Table with Ashley , we are joined by Anton Van Schaik, a Pitzer College graduate with a degree in Food and Agricultural Studies. For the past three years, Anton has worked with the CalFresh Healthy Living Program as an Urban Gardener and Educator, planting community gardens at schools, teaching students how to grow their own food, and leading free nutrition education classes in low-income communities. Anton joins Ashley to discuss the gardens he's built alongside students, the often-overlooked labor behind the food we eat, and how growing our own food can deepen our connection to the land, our communities, and each other. The result is a conversation that reminds us to slow down and savor every bite, because within every bite is a story of people, place, and care. Listen to the full episode, out now, on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about CalFresh Healthy living here . Read The Book of Jewish Food by Claudia Roden here. Read Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi. Read Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi. Read Martyr by Kaveh Akbar. Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

1 hr 0 min

Food and Connection Series: The Cafe Fighting Food Insecurity with Kirsten Levitt

Pay What You Can is on the table today! On the fifth episode of our Food & Connection series, we're joined by Kirsten Levitt, Executive Director and Executive Chef of Stone Soup Cafe. Stone Soup Cafe is a nonprofit, pay-what-you-can community café in Greenfield, Massachusetts, dedicated to bringing people together through healthy, nourishing meals. Its mission is simple yet transformative: to ensure everyone has access to a meal regardless of their ability to pay, while fostering dignity, belonging, and food security within the community. Kirsten joins Ashley to share the mission and vision behind Stone Soup Cafe, exploring how its founders grounded the organization in the principles of Socially Engaged Buddhism. She discusses the community they've cultivated, the philosophy behind the café's mutual aid model, the impact of its solidarity workshops, and her vision for expanding this nonprofit. The result is a conversation that reminds us of the extraordinary power of a shared meal, and how something as simple as gathering around a table can help change the world. Throughout this series, we've explored how food can strengthen family bonds, connect complete strangers, and now, serve as a powerful tool in addressing food insecurity and building more resilient communities. Listen to the full episode, out now on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about Stone Soup Cafe . Read about The History of Stone Soup Cafe . Read Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next) by Dean Spade. Read Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss. Read McElligot's Pool by Dr.Seuss. Read The Clan of the Cave Bear: Earth's Children, Book One by Jean M. Auel. Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

53 min

Food and Connection Series: The Dinner Party Where Everyone is a Stranger with Katy Syme

Dinner parties are on the table! On the third episode of our Food & Connection series, we are joined by Katy Syme. After spending more than 13 years working in fashion, Katy traveled extensively and explored countless cuisines, deepening her love of food, hospitality, and bringing people together. In 2023, she founded Symeski Made Dinner, a supper club created to connect strangers over family-style meals and meaningful conversation. Since then, she has welcomed more than 100 guests and expanded her events to include private dinners, large gatherings, and community experiences. In this episode, Katy and Ashley explore the beauty of finding connection among strangers. They discuss the inspiration behind her supper club, why food has long served as a centerpiece for community, and the meaningful relationships that can emerge when we choose to put ourselves out there, whether by sharing a home-cooked meal with strangers or gathering intentionally with friends. Listen to the full episode, now streaming on your favorite podcast platform. Read On Earth Were Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Listen to Ghost of a Podcast Read Mary Oliver’s Poetry Learn more about Katy’s Supper Clubs Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

1 hr 0 min

Bonus Re-Release: Dr. Hoby Wedler – Blind Entrepreneur. Smell. Feel. Listen: Sensory Design and Learning How to Become Literate in Our Non-Visual Senses.

Today, we have an abbreviated bonus re-release of our episode with Dr. Hoby Wedler. On the table today we have a conversation at the intersection of organic chemistry, design excellence, food and the curious joys and complexities of moving through the world as a non-sighted person. Dr. Hoby Wedler received his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 2016 from UC Davis and has since started many businesses, including a gourmet seasonings company called Hoby’s Essentials and Sensepoint, a creative marketing firm that specializes in innovative design thinking and guides clients towards effective solutions that have a positive impact on the world. He joins Ashley to talk about his life and experience as someone who has been blind since birth, and how that contributes to his uniquely passionate, genuinely curious and deeply thoughtful practice as a chemist, a teacher, consultant and founder. Hoby imbues food, science, design and design thinking with both a highly specialized and sincerely personal approach. You can connect with Dr. Hoby Wedler on Linkedin . You can learn more about Hoby and his work at www.hobywedler.com . Hoby is on Instagram @hobywedler and can be reached over email hoby@hobywedler.com . Links to projects and businesses that Hoby has founded or is involved with: SENSPOINT - Full service marketing and creative strategy and production. Hoby's Essentials - Create flavors to enhance the moments that matter. EMOTITECH - Specializes in empathetic design backed by affective tech data. Wedland Group - Transforming businesses through innovative consulting services in food, accessibility, and sensory perception Links to topics mentioned by Ashley and Hoby in today’s episode: Hoby’s Tedx Talk The Splendid Table The Splendid Table episode hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. The Splendid Table: Recipes from Emilia-Romagna, the Heartland of Northern Italian Food by Lynne Rossetto Kasper Link to the Ivory Mugs , Wooden Serving Spoons and Strawberry Rhubarb Jam gifted to Hoby and offered by Âme Atendre . Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram @onthetablewithashley On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters. Follow Âme Atendre on Instagram @amatendre

1 hr 6 min

Food and Connection Series: Food as a Form of Communication with Ken Albala Ph.D.

Preserving the Family Meal is on the Table Today! On the second episode of our Food and Connection Series , we are joined by Dr. Ken Albala. Ken Albala is a Tully Knoles Endowed Professor of History at the University of the Pacific, where he received the Distinguished Faculty Award for 2023. He has published 29 books on food including academic monographs, single subject food histories, cookbooks, encyclopedias, handbooks, anthologies, translations and is now working on an Atlas of Fermentation . He did three video/audio series for The Great Courses, Food: A Cultural Culinary History , Cooking Across the Ages and A History of Bourbon on Audible. He was coeditor of the journal Food, Culture and Society and series editor for several publishers, having edited over a hundred titles in the past two decades. His latest books are The Great Gelatin Revival , A Century in Stockton and a cookbook titled Opulent Nosh . Ken joins Ashley for a conversation about the importance of food and the role it plays in fostering connection. Together, they discuss their shared love of cooking and hosting, as well as Ken’s extensive research into the anthropological significance of sharing meals and gathering around the table. In this conversation, Ken examines how the modern food industry has reinforced a culture of convenience over connection and explores how we can actively resist that trend. He shares stories from his annual 30+ person Thanksgiving gatherings and reflects on the ways food creates opportunities for experimentation and discovery, whether that means cooking opossum for a large dinner party or exploring the endless possibilities of gelatin. Ultimately, Ken reminds us of the value of eating with intention, cooking what you love, and finding joy in the meals you share with others. You can listen to the full episode, out now on your favorite podcast platform. Resources: Read Beans: A History by Ken Albala. Read The Great Gelatin Revival: Savory Aspics, Jiggly Shots, and Outrageous Desserts . Read Food Courses of the World Encyclopedia by Ken Albala. Read The Lost Art of Real Cooking: Rediscovering the Pleasures of Traditional Food. One Recipe at a Time: A Cookbook by Ken Albala and Rosana Nafziger Henderson. Read Opulent Nosh: A Cookbook for Audacious Appetites by Ken Albala. Read At The Table: Food and Families Around the World by Ken Albala. Read The Journal of Food, Culture and Society . Read Classic Indian Cooking by Julie Sahni. Read The Silver Palate Cookbook by Sheila Lukins and Julie Rosso. Read Table Talk: Building Democracy One Meal at a Time by Janet Flammang. Read Opera (1605) by Bartolomeo Scappi. Read The Art of Cooking, Pie Making, Pastry Making, and Preserving by Francisco Montino (English Translation by Carolyn A Nadeau). Follow Ken Albala on Instagram and BlogSpot . Follow On the Table with Ashley on Instagram and TikTok . On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre , a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.

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