Aha! Ashe: The ineffable

This is a special “Flowers” episode of Aha! Ashe. In this series, Ziggy takes time to give the people he loves their flowers while they’re still here to receive them.Today’s episode is dedicated to his brother Ross on his birthday. Through childhood memories, humor, and reflection, Ziggy talks about growing up together, the influence older siblings have on shaping our imagination, and the quiet ways family helps make us who we are.It’s a reminder that appreciation shouldn’t wait for eulogies. The people we love should hear it now.Happy Birthday, Ross. These flowers are for you. 🌼

One minute of me questioning this podcast, overthinking scripts, and realizing maybe it’s okay to just talk.Hey, sometimes I record a podcast and think… what the hell am I doing?This one’s short — just one minute — but I wanted to share it anyway. I’m talking through the weird little thoughts that pop up when you’re figuring out a podcast: questioning the direction, wondering if I’m just telling my life story, stressing about scripts that feel bald as hell, and realizing maybe it doesn’t have to be perfect or long.It’s raw, honest, a little funny, and totally me figuring this out in real time. Sometimes all you need is a minute to have an aha moment.Stick around, and maybe we can figure it out together.

This is a bonus recording that I did for myself, but I thought I’d share just a quick explanation on the title in the evolution of the title for this podcast

In this episode of Aha, Ache: The Killing of James Brown — The Ineffable, I’m digging into something most of us live with but don’t have words for until much later: the pain of finally seeing something clearly — and naming it. I talk about my own journey of self‑realization, how I moved through my life without the tools to interpret what was happening, and what it feels like when clarity brings both direction and grief.This episode is for anyone who feels like they’ve been moving through life without traction, trying to understand themselves but never quite finding the language to describe what’s happening inside. It’s for the people who haven’t named their struggle yet — whoever you are, wherever you are — and for anyone who wants to be inspired by a story of seeing yourself more honestly than ever before.I’m putting this out not just to tell my story, but so you can hear parts of yours in it too. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “Why does nothing ever stick?” or “I know there’s something here, but I don’t know what it is,” this episode is meant for you.What you’re about to hear is honest, vulnerable, and unfiltered — and it’s happening in real time. So take a breath. Listen all the way through. And let the words settle where they need to.Full episode transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1036zeiLl_oqz0kAEPQyiPzDtiy1xpK7FpjylyVhCytI/edit?usp=drivesdk

In this episode of Aha! Ashe, Ziggy opens up about the quiet power and hidden cost of growing up loved, sheltered, and emotionally unpoisoned. This is a reflection on innocence, the softness that survival-mode people don’t recognize, and the moment life teaches you its edges. Ziggy explores how empathy, openness, and a peaceful upbringing can create blind spots—and also incredible gifts. Through childhood memories, adult lessons, and the wisdom passed down from his mother, Ziggy unpacks what it means to stay open without losing yourself, and to move through the world with awareness instead of fear. A gentle, thoughtful offering for anyone learning how to navigate life without hardening their heart.Full episode transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1036zeiLl_oqz0kAEPQyiPzDtiy1xpK7FpjylyVhCytI/edit?usp=drivesdk

This episode explores a familiar, secret feeling—the ache. That soft, electric tension that rises after a powerful moment with someone… followed by the quiet fear that maybe you felt it more than they did.Ziggy reflects on the ache as a mirror: a teacher, a trickster, and a reminder of the heart’s depth. Through childhood memories of living like someone was always watching, adult moments of unexpected connection, and the temptation to speak too soon, this episode unpacks the art of letting a feeling breathe instead of rushing to define it.This is a meditation on desire without urgency, vulnerability without performance, and the courage to sit with emotion instead of chasing it.If you’ve ever replayed a moment and wondered what it meant, this one’s for you.This is your Aha.This is your Ashe.

My Niece: A Birthday for Deja Monet LoganToday would have been my niece’s twentieth birthday.Her name was Deja Monet Logan — born November 3, 2004, died April 17, 2024.This episode is a letter to her, a reflection on her life, and a hard conversation about mental health, loss, and the silence that too often follows suicide.In this audio story, I speak directly to Deja — about her laughter, her beauty, her storm — and to everyone listening who has loved someone fighting an invisible war inside their own mind.This isn’t a sermon. It’s real. It’s memory. It’s grief spoken aloud.If you’ve ever lost someone to suicide, or ever felt yourself slipping into that quiet place where words disappear, this is for you.If you are struggling, please call or text 988.You are not alone.Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and mental health struggles. Listener discretion is advised.

In this heartfelt episode of Aha Ashe, Ziggy opens up about the struggle to find motivation when life gets a little quiet and projects feel daunting. Broadcasting right from his living room, Ziggy shares his honest journey with feeling stuck and how sometimes motivation isn’t a roar, but a whisper telling you to get up anyway. If you’ve ever battled imposter syndrome or wondered if your voice matters, this episode is for you. Tune in for a dose of real talk, a little bit of encouragement, and that Aha! Ashe spirit to help you start where you are.

In this episode of Aha! Ashe: The Pulse, we dive into the unexpected beat of an everyday intersection. What happens when a simple roadside encounter becomes the turning point of a story? As we weave through this tale, you’ll find that the pulse of human connection is often stranger and more transformative than we expect. So settle in, and let’s see where this pulse leads us.

Welcome to Aha! Ashe. This is a space for uplifting and inspirational conversations, and I’ll also be sharing pieces from my upcoming book, The Killing of James Brown. The book and the podcast fuel each other—it’s all connected. And really, it all began with a dream I had when I was 16 years old. Now, at 40, I’m finally bringing that dream to life. I’m excited to share this journey with you, and even more excited to grow together along the way.