PODCAST · society
Now That You Ask
by Akasha Halsey
What happens when you ask a world traveler, a life-coach, a one-woman-show-stopper and (finally) sober woman from the South what she thinks about life? You get “Now That You Ask.” A podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Akasha Halsey is a woman who after seventy-five years on this planet, is ready to have her say! The podcasts are short (the time it takes to down a cup of coffee) and while they will often make you smile, they will always make you think.
Episodes
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274. Death
At 80, I’ve been thinking more about death and realizing that talking about aging has sometimes been my way of avoiding the subject altogether. I’ve planned my memorial and organized my affairs, but there’s one thing I can’t plan for: the experience of dying itself. How do we face the unknown…
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273. The Journey
“The person who sets out on the journey is not the one who arrives.” This David Whyte quote has me thinking about how every journey changes us, whether we realize it or not. From leaving home for college, living on a spiritual commune, traveling the world, publishing my memoir, buying a new home,...
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272. The First Time
After my first conversation with a group of women who had read my memoir, I found myself reflecting on what it means to tell our stories and allow ourselves to be truly seen. Their questions brought me back to the experiences that shaped me and reminded me why writing them down mattered. Our...
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271. Excellence
What if the qualities we already possess are enough to help us navigate whatever life throws at us? A quote from Marcus Aurelius got me thinking about gratitude, kindness, resilience, and the things within us that we might overlook until we need them. I found myself especially taken with his…
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270. Revive Your Roar
What happens when life refuses to give us the answers, the timeline, or the sense of control we desperately want? Lately, I’ve been finding out. Between unexpected house repairs, a flooded yard, expensive appliances, and a tooth implant that has left me a little worse for wear, I’ve been feeling...
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269. Inspiring Men
Over the years, certain writers have become companions of sorts, people whose words made me laugh, think, feel more connected, and sometimes see the world a little differently. In this episode, I share the stories of three San Francisco Chronicle writers who inspired me in very different ways.…
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268. Authenticity
What does it really mean to be authentic? For most of my life, I thought being myself simply meant being honest, kind, and dependable. But over time, through heartbreak, travel, self-discovery, and a willingness to look more closely at who I really am, I began to realize that authenticity is...
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267. Tool Kits
After discovering that my attempts at assembling a garage shelf are better left to someone with actual expertise, I started wondering what tools might help me when I’m stressed, grumpy, or impatient. So I’m building a personal toolkit, one small strategy at a time. A little self-forgiveness, a…
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266. Notebook for Success
Recently, while I was moving, I stumbled across a “Notebook for Success” I created in 1995. Filled with quotes, pictures, monthly rewards, and plenty of optimism, it made me laugh, reflect, and wonder how much of that younger version of me is still around. Looking back, I can see that even then…
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265. More Than I Understand
What if we could trust what we sense, even when we cannot fully explain it? From the suffering and uncertainty I see in the world to the quiet pull of intuition and inner knowing. What happens when I stop demanding answers and simply pay attention to what I feel? Moving into a new home has become...
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264. Darkness
Moving into a new home has stirred up more than boxes and to do lists. It has uncovered old fears, impossible expectations, and the quiet voice that sometimes tells me I'm not enough. IWhat if my worthiness does not disappear just because I'm overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling? What if the way I...
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263. Living with the Unexpected
Moving to a new home has reminded me that even the best planned adventures come with a healthy dose of chaos. As I settle into unfamiliar surroundings, I find myself learning far more than how to operate a new stove or toaster oven. I'm learning how to live with the unexpected, laugh at myself…
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262. Am I Willing?
Some of the most meaningful moments in my life arrived disguised as interruptions to my carefully made plans. As my memoir was released, I also bought a new home, celebrated my 80th birthday, and found myself overwhelmed by change, gratitude, and the realization that life's greatest gifts rarely...
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261. Personal Preferences
What starts as the disappearance of my favorite birthday dessert becomes something much more unexpected. In this episode, I reflect on why our personal preferences matter, how certain foods become woven into our happiest memories, and why letting go of even the smallest traditions can feel...
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260. Majesty
What if growing older isn't something to fear, but something to honor? As I approach my 80th birthday, I reflect on how a lifetime of joy, heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery can shape a kind of beauty that only time can reveal. In this episode, I explore what it means to embrace every…
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259. Chaos
When life feels like it's happening all at once, how do you stay grounded? In this episode, I reflect on navigating the joyful chaos of publishing my memoir, buying my first home at nearly eighty, and learning that asking for help is often the greatest strength of all. Inspired by a beautiful…
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258. Random Sayings
What if the secret to a richer, happier life is hidden in the smallest moments? In this episode of Now That You Ask, I reflect on the unexpected power of laughter, connection, and everyday encounters that brighten even the most ordinary days. From playful exchanges at the local shipping store to...
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257. Growing Older
What if growing older is not about losing beauty, but learning how to carry it in an entirely new way? My understanding of beauty has shifted with time. From the elegance of women I have admired to the laughter lines I now wear with gratitude, I now consider whether true beauty is found less in...
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256. The Book
What if the thing that brings you the most joy is also the thing that asks the most of you? In this episode of Now That You Ask, I share the remarkable journey of transforming a lifetime of stories into my memoir, Unbecoming Behavior: A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices. What began as a…
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255. Southernisms
In this episode of Now That You Ask, I take a heartfelt and humorous journey back through the wisdom of Southern women, the kind who can teach you how to pick the perfect tomato while quietly handing you a lesson about life. From learning that “you don’t get to complain about what you’re…
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254. Give It a Try
In this episode of Now That You Ask, I reflect on the moments in life when logic says no, fear says stop, and yet something deep inside keeps whispering, “Give it a try.” I share the winding path that led me from a childhood filled with rules and caution into a life shaped by curiosity, risk,...
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253. Doing It Wrong
In this episode of Now That You Ask, I wrestle with one of the hardest truths to accept: knowing when to step back from someone else’s life, even when I believe they are headed in the wrong direction. I reflect on my lifelong urge to help, fix, advise, and sometimes meddle, especially when I can...
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252. You Are Here
For years, the quote “Wherever you are is the entry point” has followed me through my life, appearing at the exact moments when I most needed to hear it. In this episode, I reflect on the winding road of becoming who I truly am. What began in my thirties as a hopeful spiritual search slowly…
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251. Magnificence
I recently came across the idea that we are both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the very same time, and something inside me softened when I heard it. In this episode, I reflect on the lifelong effort of trying to become a better person while slowly learning to recognize how far I’ve...
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250. Inner Beauty
I’ve always been drawn to beauty - the kind that stops me in my tracks - whether it’s in nature, art, or a fleeting moment of connection. But in this episode, I turn that lens inward and ask a more difficult question: why has it been so hard for me to see that same beauty in myself? As I reflect…
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249. Unexpected
I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to “get used to what I didn’t expect, ”especially now, when the unexpected seems to show up daily in the smallest and most persistent ways. In this episode, I reflect on everything from fading multitasking skills to ever-changing technology, and...
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248. Introvert
I’ve come to realize that being an introvert doesn’t always look the way people expect. From the outside, I can seem fully engaged and chatting, laughing, showing up with energy, but what most people don’t see is the quiet retreat that follows. In this episode, I reflect on my need to step back…
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247. Lighthouse
This week, I found myself sitting at the edge of life ... twice. Now, I reflect on what it means to bear witness to the final moments of someone’s life, and the quiet, sacred privilege of simply being present. As I sat with a friend and later stood gently alongside a neighbor keeping vigil for…
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246. Comparison
For much of my life, I didn’t realize how often I was measuring myself against everyone else ... how I looked, how I showed up, how well I seemed to fit in. In this episode, I reflect on my long relationship with comparison and the quiet, powerful shift that happened when I finally let it go.…
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245. Signs
When I’m unsure of what to do next, I’ve learned to ask for a sign and trust that something, somehow, will appear. In this episode, I follow a string of unexpected signs that showed up in the most unlikely places. Some made me laugh, some made me pause, and all of them nudged me to pay a little...
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244. Do Right
Lately, I’ve been catching myself in a habit I don’t much like: quietly judging other people for the smallest things. A driver weaving through traffic, someone moving too slowly, a forgotten water bottle at the gym… and then, much to my surprise, I find myself doing the very same things. In this...
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243. Living From Within
As I look back over the many turns my life has taken - the careers, moves, relationships, and the quiet inner thread that seemed to guide them all - I begin to see how much of my journey has been shaped by listening to that voice inside. I think about the different ways people choose to live…
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242. Humor
I’ve always believed that humor lives very close to the fire of truth. In this episode, I reflect on my lifelong love of laughter. From comedians who challenge my thinking to the small, spontaneous jokes I slip into everyday conversation, humor has often been my way of easing tension, softening...
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241. Life
What does it mean to say your life is your spiritual practice? In this episode, I wrestle with that question and what it asks of me in the ordinary moments - in traffic jams, sharp words, small kindnesses, and the quiet effort to be a little more patient than I was yesterday. I reflect on the gap...
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240. Tidbits of Joy
When I stumbled across a list of funny sayings my sister sent me 23 years ago, I didn’t expect to find a small treasury of perspective tucked inside an old file folder. In this episode, I revisit those wry one-liners about weight, wrinkles, wisdom, and time and discover how much more they mean to...
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239. Things I've Forgotten
Lately, I’ve noticed something unsettling: I can no longer do two things at once. Where multitasking once felt effortless, now even a simple conversation while writing a check can bring everything to a halt. In this episode, I reflect on the small, strange lapses, miswritten appointments,...
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238. Ambiguity
What happens when your deepest need for clarity collides with a life full of unanswered questions? In this episode, I explore my personal relationship with ambiguity and how my intolerance for uncertainty shapes my desire for control, complicates decision-making, and heightens my reactions to...
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237. Reality
In the midst of uncertainty, we often find ourselves standing at a crossroads, unsure of which way to turn. Life's unpredictability requires us to let go of past learnings and embrace new paths with humility and openness. Reflecting on this, I realize that the journey is not merely about moving...
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236. Reflecting on 2025
As I reflect on 2025, I am reminded of the moments that have irreversibly changed my heart. I've had to say goodbye to my beloved cat Sid and his sister, Nancy, both of whom have accompanied me so loyally through life's ups and downs. Looking back, it feels as though 2025 was a year of…
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235. Help - I Need Patience
Navigating life's uncertainties often demands a virtue that seems elusive: patience. As I sit here writing, my thoughts are consumed by concern for my 18-and-a-half-year-old cat, Sid. This past week has been a whirlwind as Sid hasn't been eating or drinking much, and last night was especially…
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234. Starting Over
Starting over can be daunting yet wonderfully liberating, offering an opportunity to reimagine our lives and chart a new course. Reflecting on my journey from a commune in Oregon to San Francisco with just $200 and a thrift-store wardrobe, I realized that each step was a testament to resilience…
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233. New Year
As we stand on the brink of 2026, the Year of the Horse beckons, symbolizing a shift into strength, momentum, and forward movement. It's a time for action with purpose and freedom with direction. 2025 proved to be a period of letting go, shedding relationships and attachments that no longer…
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232. Living Life
Have you ever thought about what your obituary might say and the life you need to live to deserve it? I recently found myself reflecting deeply on this concept. Life is filled with planning, from our legacy to our memorials, but how often do we pause to consider if we're truly living up to the...
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231. Football
Football season offers more than just exciting games; it brings unexpected reflections on life. As a dedicated fan, my connection to the sport reminds me of the human aspect of players and the parallel experiences we share. Even iconic quarterbacks have off days, echoing struggles we face in our...
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230. Satisfaction
Taking a moment to appreciate the small blessings in life can lead to immense satisfaction and a deeper sense of happiness. Acknowledging moments of stillness and contentment can really transform our outlook on life. It's about finding the balance between responsibility for our emotions and the...
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229. A Place to Be
Amidst the hustle and bustle, we often overlook the beauty and tranquility that nature offers right at our fingertips. As John Muir once said, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread." To me, this really highlights the intrinsic value of natural beauty in our spiritual and physical sustenance…
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228. The Glass
Sometimes people grapple with whether the proverbial glass is half-full or half-empty, often missing the crucial point: the glass is refillable. An empty or half-full glass signifies untapped potential, an opportunity to reconfigure our outlook and be grateful for what we have and what we can...
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227. Unexpected Intimacy
In this episode of Now That You Ask, I share a moment of unexpected intimacy during a visit to the emergency vet with my elderly cat, Sid. While there, I encounter a man who is devastated over his sick dog. My interaction with him was poignant reminder of human connection and the importance of...
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226. Grief and Gratitude
Life often hands us experiences that, while fleeting, leave a lasting impact on our hearts and minds. In pondering the delicate interplay between grief and gratitude, I find a profound truth in how both emotions closely coexist. They are two sides of the same coin, transient yet powerful forces...
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225. Spiritual Electricity
In life, embracing our authentic selves can illuminate the world around us in extraordinary ways. The path to self-discovery is often laden with doubts and fears about how our stories might portray us. Nevertheless, allowing our "spiritual electricity" to shine means celebrating our true selves,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
What happens when you ask a world traveler, a life-coach, a one-woman-show-stopper and (finally) sober woman from the South what she thinks about life? You get “Now That You Ask.” A podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Akasha Halsey is a woman who after seventy-five years on this planet, is ready to have her say! The podcasts are short (the time it takes to down a cup of coffee) and while they will often make you smile, they will always make you think.
HOSTED BY
Akasha Halsey
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Now That You Ask have?
Now That You Ask currently has 250 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Now That You Ask about?
What happens when you ask a world traveler, a life-coach, a one-woman-show-stopper and (finally) sober woman from the South what she thinks about life? You get “Now That You Ask.” A podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Akasha Halsey is...
How often does Now That You Ask release new episodes?
Now That You Ask publishes regularly with 250 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Now That You Ask?
You can listen to Now That You Ask on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Now That You Ask?
Now That You Ask is created and hosted by Akasha Halsey.
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