We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashleigh Ewald. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashleigh below.

Ashleigh, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I have worked on multiple projects focusing on community building and service, from creating a podcast initially for students and teachers to stay connected during the COVID pandemic to currently creating events to mobilizing students across the state of Georgia to take action against specific issues. That being said, I have to say that the most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my talk show ‘100% Real with Ashleigh Ewald’ podcast because of the inspiring guests I have been able to feature, and this project is something I launched from scratch.

Ashleigh, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The aspect of creating content that can plant a seed in people, especially young minds, to challenge themselves to explore what they want in life and become inspired by learning from others’ stories is something I wanted to explore. My project/brand, ‘100% Real with Ashleigh Ewald Talk Show, ’ aims to amplify young voices and connect with influential nationwide figures to inspire them that their dreams are possible and the only limit is themselves.

I remember a few peers shot down my podcast idea in my high school senior year, but I stood by my purpose and wanted to create one. I wanted young people to share their involvement within the community and, later on, have public figures featured to inspire young minds to discover their own potential and then pursue it. My project taught me to be persistent regardless if some doubt the success of my idea, and currently, my talk show podcast is ‘10 Best Student Talk Shows’ ranked by FeedSpot Media.

The authentic aspect of my talk show podcast is the incredible guests I had the privilege to interview and share their journey into how they became successful in their given industry. These cool guests include singer Kristina Lachaga, entrepreneur/journalist Micheal (Mikey) Peres, actor Ethan Paisley, GA representative Sam Park, singer Adil C, and nationwide author and Cambodian Genocide survivor Loung Ung. I have utilized social networking skills to build a connection with my guests and, therefore, have them share the ‘warts & all of their stories. I hope listeners see these guests as living testimonies that anything is possible, there is no secret to success, and it’s your responsibility to achieve your goals.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I got social media in my sophomore year of high school, and the first thing I did to grow my audience knew why I wanted to use social media. Before being allowed to create an Instagram account, I knew my purpose, which was to inspire people to follow their dreams, as I used my account as a platform for my political aspirations to serve in office. I was 16 years old when I used my Instagram to post content about life lessons I have learned from my activities, such as paging for the Georgia State Capitol, speeches, and community engagement work. I saw how most teens used social media for selfies, food, and adventures and acknowledged how everyone has a different way of how they use social media.

But I can say that my account grew over the years to the point where I acquired over 5,000 followers and followed a few hundred people. The average engagement per post ranged from 300-700 likes. Another unique observation other users can see in my post comment section is the verified individuals showing their support for my work. I am beyond grateful for the ability to network on social media and meet high-achieving figures. This taught me the importance of never taking social media for granted and to keep using it to improve the world. These statistics prove that the engagement and following are built based on authenticity and adding value to the community.

Thus, my advice to those starting their social media platforms is to ask yourself why you are creating an account. Then use that reason to motivate your account to have a niche, whether it is in politics, sports, entertainment, business, and others. Utilize your highlights and make your captions meaningful. Be consistent with your posting, maybe twice a week, or if the quality is excellent, you could dial down rapid posting to biweekly. Use your highlights to break down into sections, news features, about, resources, etc. It makes your entire page look clean and organized. Edit your pictures and keep the quality nicely presented. Engagement also has a role; you cannot grow your page and not connect with others. Over time, your socials should increase engagement and follow.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have learned that you cannot be everyone’s friend and to learn how to let go of situations you cannot control. Throughout my life, I have learned that you are who you surround yourself with, and a part of success is who you know. I have learned and therefore live by the notion that the friends/people you spend the most time with shape how you act, think, live, and most of all, perspectives on life. I can surround myself with highly ambitious individuals who inspire me to bring myself higher in life or hang out with the exact opposite. The choice is mine, and the backstory is in school. I have experienced specific individuals that demonstrate the opposite traits of what I cherish in close friends: ambition, drive, changemaker, and self-motivation. No one is entitled to one’s time, and I cannot be overly compassionate when I allow others to overstep my boundaries. I learned to, with compassion, stand up for myself and be my advocate, primarily when unfair treatment occurs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://muckrack.com/ashleighewaldofficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighewaldofficial/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleighewald
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTmC0W2-_T-n2rJGhE4zYDw?app=desktop

Image Credits
Ashleigh Ewald