Episode 15: Being unapologetically black and finding freedom from alcohol with Ashley Ivana
Ray sits down with Ashley Blackwell, known as Ashley Ivana, a vegan chef who has been on a unique and unorthodox path to sobriety and recovery. The conversation delves into her personal journey battling addiction and her road to finding support, community, and mental and physical well-being.
Ashley addresses the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing resources for addiction recovery and the need for increased understanding and acceptance of different cultures. She also talks about how alcohol is more readily available than fresh produce in some predominantly black neighbourhoods.
Recognizing and accepting addiction
Ashley Blackwell opens up about the dark and arduous path that led her to seek recovery. Through her story, she emphasizes the crucial role of recognizing and accepting a problem with addiction. Ashley underscores the significance of tapping into the power within yourself and the importance of seeking out a support system during the recovery process.
Building a toolkit for mental and physical health
The episode further explores Ashley’s personal experiences, who shares their 12-year journey of developing a comprehensive toolkit for maintaining mental and physical well-being. She incorporates various practices into their daily routine, such as:
Prayer
Meditation
Exercise
Therapy
Reading books.
By changing her mindset and taking control of her thoughts and emotions, Ashley prioritizes self-care, remaining open to learning, and staying in a teachable place.
Ashley highlights the importance of a healthy diet in her recovery, something that she is passionate about given her line of work.
These practices collectively form a toolbox that enables Ashley to create space for herself and avoid being limited by negative thoughts and emotions.
Separating alcohol use from feelings
Throughout the episode, Ashley emphasizes the importance of taking control of her own life and refraining from carrying shame or guilt. Ashley says it is important to separate alcohol use from your feelings so as to avoid leaning on alcohol in tough times. Through this Ashley has discovered her inner strength and resilience. She also discusses the role of spirituality and leaning into her God power as a vital aspect of her journey towards recovery.
Cultural competence in healthcare
Ashley shares a challenging experience when she was in rehab in San Francisco relating to cultural competence. Her counsellor said she was “aggressive” but Ashley pointed out that if the counsellor was familiar with black culture she would know that Ashley was not being aggressive.
In the same rehab Ashley was told she was getting a new roommate who was a sheriff. Ashley expressed her concerns with sharing a room with a member of the police as she was traumatised by previous experiences with the police as a black woman in the US.
The conclusion: Ashley was asked to leave the rehab. Her mother traveled to San Francisco to pick her up.
Empowerment and growth
In conclusion, Ashley's toolkit and practices have been instrumental in maintaining her mental and physical health and well-being. Through her personal journey, she has learned to take control of her life, trust herself, and let go of shame and guilt. Her experiences serve as a powerful reminder that healing is an individual journey that requires self-reliance, a willingness to learn and grow and recognising your own inner strength.
Follow Ashley
Ashley's business is called Ivana Taste and you can find her on Instagram @_ivanataste
Contact the show:
Email: rdg@stackndays.com
Instagram and TikTok: @stackndays