We were lucky to catch up with Ashleigh Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashleigh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

For me, the journey to podcasting or really, wanting to have a talk show, has been in the works since 2016. I’ve always felt like I had a message to share, but honestly, fear held me back. I’d come up with ideas for a podcast or a show, get excited, and then stop. This cycle repeated itself for years. Eventually, I just stopped thinking about it altogether.
Then, something interesting happened. Around the time Snapchat was still big and Instagram Stories had just taken off, I started sharing my thoughts online organically. Every day, I’d get on Instagram Stories, sharing advice or reflections on things I was experiencing. Whether it was getting a flat tire, buying a home, saving money, or learning how to invest. I wasn’t thinking about it as content creation. I was just sharing my life.
One day, my mentor took notice and invited me to be a guest on The Before 30 Podcast, a podcast dedicated to helping listeners find their purpose before turning 30. That opportunity happened simply because I was showing up as myself. I ended up being part of that podcast for about two years until it sunsetted, and that experience gave me the confidence to finally start The Ashleigh Williams Show.
Now, I’m the type of person who loves to research, read, and ask a million questions before starting anything, but in hindsight, I realize that was just another form of procrastination, another way fear disguised itself. Instead of just doing it, I convinced myself I needed all the information first.
The first person I called was my sister, who, along with her husband, had experience in media. She connected me with a few people, but I’ll be honest—I took all the wrong first steps. Instead of focusing on the foundation of my podcast, I jumped straight into production mode. I asked one of my closest friends Jenae to be my “production assistant,” hired a videographer, booked a fancy recording space, planned outfits, and lined up guests. I spent a lot of money before I even knew if the idea was solid, if people would resonate with it, or if I had a real plan for sustaining it, but despite my missteps, I did it.
That’s how The Ashleigh Williams Show was born. The mission is to help millennials turn life’s lemons into lemonade by tackling everyday challenges and offering practical, tactical advice to navigate them.
Now, I’m at a point where I’m refining the vision, taking a step back to analyze what’s working, diving into the data, and learning what truly makes a podcast engaging and successful. Some days, it’s discouraging. Staying focused requires constantly reminding myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
But the biggest lesson I’ve learned? The only way to move past the idea phase is to just start. And despite what we often tell ourselves, success isn’t in the price tag. You don’t need the fanciest equipment, a production team, or a perfect setup. It’s about the content—what you’re offering and why it matters. If what you’re sharing fulfills a need, focus on that. The rest, your process, your production quality, your reach, will grow over time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m originally from a small town called Tunica, Mississippi, about 30 minutes outside of Memphis, Tennessee, known for its casinos. I grew up in a close-knit family, raised in a home with my grandparents, my mom, and my aunt. My uncle lived just three houses down, and my great-grandmother was another house away, so family has always been at the core of who I am. Some of my fondest memories are sitting on my grandmother’s front porch, just talking with her for hours.

When I was six, we moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where I was primarily raised by my mom and stepdad. Summers were spent in Oakland, California, with my dad, which gave me a different cultural perspective. Later, I attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where I majored in Accounting. I started my career in accounting, working for GE in Cincinnati, Ohio, but quickly realized that was not my ministry. That’s when I transitioned into IT Audit, an area adjacent to accounting, worked in public accounting, earned my master’s degree in IT Audit and Cybersecurity from Temple University, and have been in the field ever since.

I love my work as a Black woman in tech, and my professional career has been the foundation for what I now do in the podcasting and talk show space. During college, I was active in the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), where I met one of my biggest mentors, Jannine K. Brown, who at this point is more like Aunt Jannine. She saw something in me early on, recognizing my ability to captivate an audience, and encouraged me to cultivate that skill.

At the time, I was already using Instagram Stories to share my personal experiences, whether it was navigating my career, financial lessons, or everyday life moments. Aunt Jannine took notice and invited me onto The Before 30 Podcast, a show dedicated to helping young professionals find their purpose before turning 30. That experience led to public speaking opportunities where I spoke to organizations like NABA and consulting firms, helping new hires, interns, and recent grads prepare to be successful on day one.

After years of doing public speaking and being part of The Before 30 Podcast, I realized I wanted to create something of my own, a platform that spoke directly to millennials who were navigating the challenges of adulthood. That’s how The Ashleigh Williams Show was born.

The show was inspired by my Instagram Stories, where I was already sharing insights on everything from personal finance and relationships to career growth, mental health, and wellness. I wanted to create a space where experts, professionals, and everyday people with real stories could come together to share tactical advice that helps millennials push past obstacles and truly thrive.

What sets The Ashleigh Williams Show apart is that we’re not just chasing trends or reacting to viral topics. We’re focused on real conversations that help people overcome the challenges that have them feeling stuck. It’s about impact. If someone listens to an episode and walks away with a new perspective, a solution, or even just the encouragement to keep going, that’s what matters. The conversations are authentic, the guests are transparent, and we dig deep to give our listeners something meaningful.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built so far. The show just celebrated its first anniversary, and while we’re still in the early stages, I know we’re making a difference. The Ashleigh Williams Show is both an audio and digital podcast, essentially a modern talk show, and I’m excited to continue growing it. Beyond the podcast, I’m expanding into public speaking, hosting, and media engagements, building The Ashleigh Williams Show into a full media brand.

At the end of the day, my goal is to help people. Whether it’s through a podcast episode, a speaking engagement, or a conversation on social media, I want to be a resource for those who are figuring things out just like I am. I’m building something that’s real, relatable, and most importantly, impactful.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that you have to spend a lot of money and have everything look perfect to create a successful product. I cannot tell you how many thousands of dollars I spent in my first year producing this podcast. I had a videographer on payroll every month. I hired a production assistant. I produced a live show, paying for countless subscriptions like transcription services, AI tools like Opus Clips for making reels, Canva, and more. I even bought a brand-new laptop with final cut pro all before truly understanding what it took to properly produce and grow a podcast.
Looking back, I do believe my show is good. The content is engaging. But I spent so much money on the vanity of it all. Making sure it looked and sounded perfect before learning the business side of podcasting. I didn’t fully understand the analytics behind the platforms I was posting to, like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, and TikTok. I didn’t know how to tailor my content for each platform, market effectively, or even clearly define my target audience.
I would say, “The show is for millennials,” and while that’s true, millennials make up a wide range of people. There are younger millennials, older millennials, men, women, people from different communities and walks of life. I hadn’t taken the time to deeply understand who I was serving and how to create content that truly resonated with them.
Before you start spending all that money, you have to understand the business of what you’re doing. I went into this with the mindset of creating a second stream of income, but at the moment, it has just become a very expensive hobby.
The shift for me happened when I attended the Podcast Summit hosted by David Shands, a highly successful podcaster here in Atlanta. Funny enough, I wouldn’t have even known about it if not for one of my subscribers. We had only met once through a mutual friend, and months after I launched the podcast, she sent me a message saying, “Hey, I saw this summit and thought of you. You should go.”
I go to a lot of conferences. I even speak at them. But this was hands down one of the most engaging and informational conferences I have ever attended. I spent my July 4, 2024, weekend there, and in just two days, I realized I needed to redo everything. The content was there. The substance was there. But the way I was running my podcast was completely backwards.
I had to unlearn the idea that success requires massive spending and perfection. It doesn’t have to be polished with a perfect bow on top. What truly matters is learning the craft. I’ve always been a convenience-driven person, so my natural instinct is to pay someone to do the job. But in doing that, I was discounting myself. If you don’t take the time to truly learn the business you’re in, to understand how it works, you limit your ability to grow.
Eventually, you can build a team. But the business has to sustain itself first. And even when you do reach that stage, how can you communicate your vision, your needs, and your expectations to a team if you don’t understand how the engine runs?
That’s the biggest lesson I’ve had to learn. Shout out to David Shands, and all the facilitators at that conference for really putting it into perspective for me.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What has helped me build my reputation within this industry and market is how I authentically show up every day. I’m a naturally positive person, and I love bringing light to any space I’m in. In media, especially in podcasting, that energy matters.

My podcast is interview-based, so the quality of my content is directly tied to the quality of my guests. And the quality of my guests comes from the strength of my network. I’ve been fortunate to connect with some incredible individuals who have given me their yes, taken time out of their schedules, and trusted me with their stories. That’s not something I take lightly.

I believe a big part of why I’ve been able to build strong connections is because I genuinely try to be the best person I can be. It all goes back to the golden rule—treat others how you want to be treated. I’ve never been afraid to introduce myself, to say, “Hi, my name is Ashleigh Williams. I host a podcast that helps millennials turn life’s lemons into lemonade by tackling everyday challenges.”

Being able to sell yourself and your vision is key. And so is being honest about where you are in the journey. I’ve never pretended to have all the answers. I tell people, “I’m figuring this out. I’m doing it myself. I’m learning as I go.” And that vulnerability, that openness, has helped me connect with people who not only share my values but also believe in the mission of my show.

No matter what industry you’re in, networking is everything. Your network truly is your net worth. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s real. If you’re sitting at home, staying in your bubble, afraid to speak to people, afraid to put yourself out there, or worried that you don’t have it all together, you will limit yourself.

I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve been able to accomplish in just a short amount of time. But I know that none of it would have been possible without my willingness to show up, to build relationships, and to engage with people who believe in the power of lifting as we climb. Each one, teach one—that’s what it’s all about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashleighdwilliams.live/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighwilliamstv
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theashleighwilliamsshow/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleighwilliams2
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AshleighWilliamsTV
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleighwilliamstv

Image Credits

Ride The Wave (RTW) Photography