Charm & Circumstance

16. Hope & Healing From Breast Cancer: Inside Betty's Brave & Beautiful Hearts

In this heartfelt episode of Charm & Circumstance, I’m joined by Madalyne Kinnett, Executive Director of Betty’s Brave & Beautiful Hearts Foundation. We dive into the foundation’s origin, the real impact of post-mastectomy care, and stories of resilience from women battling breast cancer. We also explore challenges, big dreams, and how you can get involved in this incredible mission.
What You’ll Learn
- The touching story behind how Betty’s Brave & Beautiful Hearts was founded - born from a promise between mother and daughter.
- What makes post-mastectomy care kits so essential in bridging the gap between hospital care and healing at home.
- How the foundation selects, designs, and delivers support with compassion and understanding.
- Real challenges nonprofits face: funding, outreach, scaling, and awareness.
- Inspirational stories of women touched by the foundation’s work.
- How you, as a listener, can directly support: donate, volunteer, request help, or spread awareness.
- The foundation’s vision for growth and how partnerships can amplify impact.
Here’s how you can get involved:
➡️ Visit bettyshearts.org to donate, request a care kit, or volunteer.
➡️ Share this episode with anyone who could use encouragement or wants to support breast cancer causes.
➡️ Follow Betty’s Brave & Beautiful Hearts on Instagram @bettysbraveandbeautifulhearts to keep up with their work, stories, and events.

15. The Power of Networking and Partnership with Jenna Schnabel Wedemeyer

Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional - it can be the foundation for collaboration, friendship, and resilience.
In this episode, I sit down with a mentor and friend Jenna Schnabel Wedemeyer, co-owner of Schnabel Interiors, to talk about the power of connection in both design and life. We share the story of The Lexington Design Collective - a local group of interior designers who support one another daily - and why collaboration over competition has been such a gift in our careers.
We also open up about seasons of starting over - in careers, marriages, and moving - and how community, partnerships, and courage help us keep going when life takes unexpected turns.
This is a heartfelt, practical conversation about leaning on others, building networks that matter, and embracing the beauty of starting fresh.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Jenna’s journey as co-owner of Schnabel Interiors
- Why networking matters in design (and how to make it less intimidating)
- How The Lexington Design Collective thrives on collaboration instead of competition
- Stories of “starting over” and the resilience required to begin again
- Practical ways to grow your network and partnerships this week
Let’s Connect:
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or colleague who could use inspiration to collaborate and connect.
➡️Subscribe so you never miss a new episode
➡️Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps others discover the show
➡️You can find and follow Jenna on Instagram @schnabelinteriors
➡️Follow me on Instagram @ashley_morgan_interiors for more behind-the-scenes + design conversations

14. Managing Stress (Practical Stress Management Tips You Can Use Today)

Feeling tense, overwhelmed, or like you’re constantly “on”? You’re not alone — and the good news is, you can learn to manage stress in ways that actually fit your real life.
In this episode of Charm & Circumstance, I’m sharing simple, science-backed stress management strategies that help you feel calmer, clearer, and more in control — no spa weekend or month-long vacation required.
We’ll cover how to notice stress sooner, adjust your daily “inputs,” create quick resets throughout the day, and build your own personalized stress-relief menu. These tips are practical enough to try right away and powerful enough to make a real difference over time.
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Follow me on Instagram: @charm_and_circumstance
Share your favorite stress management habit — tag me so I can feature you
Subscribe to Charm & Circumstance on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, or Spotify
Loved this episode? ⭐️ Leave a 5-star review — it helps others discover the show 📲 Send this to a friend who’s been feeling stressed 💌 DM me your biggest takeaway from today’s episode
 

13. The Sunday Setup: My Weekly Planning Ritual

If Monday mornings always feel rushed and chaotic, it might be because you’re skipping one of the most powerful habits for a calm and productive week — a Sunday reset routine.
In this episode of Charm & Circumstance, I’m walking you through my exact Sunday planning ritual — the Sunday Setup — that helps me start each week feeling organized, intentional, and even a little excited.
Whether you’re looking for a weekly planning routine, a Sunday self-care ritual, or simple productivity tips, this episode will help you create a rhythm that works for you — no overwhelm required.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to design a Sunday reset routine that fits your lifestyle
Why reviewing your past week helps you make smarter plans
My method for choosing and actually following through on weekly priorities
The trick to avoiding midweek “what’s for dinner?” stress
How adding intentional joy can boost your productivity and mood
Perfect For You If…
You want weekly planning tips that actually stick
You’re craving more structure and less chaos during the week
You’re looking for a Sunday routine for productivity
You want to start Monday mornings feeling prepared, not panicked
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Follow me on Instagram: @charm_and_circumstance
Share your Sunday Setup with me — tag me so I can feature you
Subscribe to Charm & Circumstance on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Shop my exact planner right here! 💫
Loved this episode? ⭐️ Leave a 5-star review — it helps others discover the show 📲 Share this with a friend who’s building their own Sunday routine 💌 DM me your favorite takeaway from today’s episode

12. 5 Things That Instantly Elevate Any Room

Scroll to the bottom for an added bonus!! 🎁
Want to know how to make your home look stylish, polished, and expensive — without a renovation or a huge budget? In this episode of Charm & Circumstance, I’m sharing five easy interior design tips that will instantly elevate any room.
Whether you’re decorating a small apartment, styling your living room, or refreshing your bedroom, these budget-friendly home decor ideas will help you create a space that feels intentional and inviting. .
Perfect For You If…
You’re looking for home styling tips that don’t break the bank
You want to refresh your home’s style in one weekend
You’re a renter or homeowner who wants simple interior design upgrades
You’re stuck on how to make a room feel “finished”
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Follow me on Instagram for design inspiration: @ashley_morgan_interiors
Tag me @charm_and_circumstance in your before-and-after photos — I might feature you!
Subscribe to Charm & Circumstance on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Spotify
BONUS!! Download a guide of even more tips on how to instantly elevate your home!!
Loved this episode? ⭐️ Leave a review — it helps the podcast grow!! 📲 Share this with a friend who loves decorating 💌 DM me your favorite takeaway from today’s tips
 

11. Common Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Designing a beautiful home is part inspiration, part intuition—and a lot of intentional decision-making. In today’s episode, Ashley, along with her friend and fellow designer, Alexis Frost Huff, pull back the curtain on the most common design mistakes they see (even in luxury homes!) and offers clear, timeless tips to avoid them.
Whether you’re working with a designer, decorating on your own, or dreaming up your next renovation, this episode is packed with practical advice from two seasoned experts. From scale and layout to color and lighting, you’ll leave with a fresh perspective—and a few “aha” moments that just might change how you see your space.
If you’ve ever looked around your home and thought something feels off—this one’s for you.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The #1 mistake homeowners make when choosing paint colors
How improper furniture scale can throw off an entire room
Why lighting is the most overlooked (and most important) element in design
The design “trend traps” to avoid if you want a timeless home
How to avoid the “matchy-matchy” mistake and create layered visual interest
The importance of negative space (and why more isn’t always better)
Ashley’s Design Philosophy:
Great design isn’t about perfection—it’s about balance, beauty, and function. And a few smart choices can elevate your home in ways that truly reflect your lifestyle and personality.
Resources Mentioned:
AMI’s monthly newsletter: The Monthly Install
Episode 8: Lighting 101: Ambiance, Layers, and Luxury
Connect with Ashley:
📬 Subscribe to the Monthly Insider newsletter for design tips & behind-the-scenes glimpses🤍 Follow Ashley Morgan Interiors
✨ Because creating a well-designed home isn’t just about what you put in it—it’s about what you choose to leave out.

10. My Favorite Books for Growth and Grace

In this special milestone episode (yes, we're counting 10 as a milestone!), Ashley opens the pages of her personal reading life and shares the 10 books that have shaped her most—spiritually, professionally, and personally. These are the titles she returns to in seasons of growth, grief, transition, and reinvention.
From books that challenged her to dream bigger to those that offered rest, perspective, and emotional clarity, this episode is a curated journey through wisdom that lasts. If you're looking for inspiration, encouragement, or your next great read, this list is for you.
Whether you’re navigating motherhood, midlife, entrepreneurship—or simply searching for deeper meaning—these books offer something timeless: truth told beautifully.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
The book that changed Ashley’s approach to prayer and dreaming
A memoir that redefines healing and feminine resilience
The surprising power of “trying softer” instead of harder
Insightful reads on transitions, identity, and letting go
The one book that helped her eliminate hurry and reclaim margin
A historical fiction title that inspired legacy, elegance, and grit
The bittersweet beauty of learning to hold joy and sorrow together
Resources:
📚 Download the full printable reading list: Top 10 Books 📬 Subscribe to the Monthly Install for more design + life inspiration📖 Read Ashley's design blog: Ashley Morgan Interiors Blog
Let’s Stay Connected:
If one of these books has shaped you, I’d love to hear about it. Message me on Instagram or tag the show @Charm_And_Circumstance to join the conversation 🤍
 
 

9. Weekend Rhythms and Intentional Rest

In a world that celebrates busyness and productivity, rest often feels like a luxury - or even a guilty pleasure. But what if rest wasn’t a reward, but a rhythm?
In today’s episode, Ashley shares how she’s reshaped her weekends to include more intention, slower pace, and space to breathe. From family rituals and boundary-setting to creating margin for reflection, she unpacks the practices that help her feel centered and restored before a new week begins.
Whether you’re navigating motherhood, entrepreneurship, or simply craving more balance in your life, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable ideas for reclaiming your weekends as a time of purposeful rest- not just a pause between obligations.
In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
How Ashley defines “intentional rest” and why it matters
Weekend rituals that create rhythm and reduce chaos
The power of protecting Sunday evenings
Why rest is a leadership skill—not a sign of laziness
Tips for setting boundaries around social plans, errands, and tech
Encouragement for building your own version of slow and sacred weekends
Mentioned in the Episode:
 
The book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
 Ashley's Favorite Planner (as listed in her online shop at the link in bio at Ashley Morgan Interiors)
Listener Takeaway:
Rest doesn’t have to mean doing nothing—it can be a proactive way to reset, reflect, and return to your life with more clarity, presence, and joy. Give yourself permission to slow down.
 
🎧 Tune in, and let this be the invitation you need to embrace rest with intention. 👉 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 💌 Subscribe to the Monthly Install for Ashley’s favorite rituals, reflections, and design inspiration.

8. Lighting 101: Ambiance, Layers, and Luxury

Welcome to Charm & Circumstance! In this episode, Ashley shines a spotlight (pun intended) on one of the most transformative yet underestimated elements of interior design: lighting. From the golden glow of a cordless lamp to the subtle elegance of picture lights, lighting is more than just illumination—it's emotion, atmosphere, and elegance rolled into one.
In this episode, we cover:
The 3 essential layers of lighting (and why your home needs all three)
Common lighting mistakes that can sabotage a beautiful room
The lighting philosophy we use at Ashley Morgan Interiors to craft sophisticated, high-end spaces
The small tweaks that can instantly elevate your home’s ambiance
Whether you're refreshing a room or rethinking your entire home, this episode will help you see lighting in a whole new… light.
🛋️ Mentioned in this episode:
Our favorite cordless crystal lamps
Why 2700K is our go-to color temperature
When to call in a lighting plan—and when a little layering will do
👉 Be sure to follow @ashley_morgan_interiors and @charm_and_circumstance on Instagram for more tips and behind-the-scenes footage.
💌 Subscribe to The Monthly Install for more design insights straight to your inbox.

7. The Case for Custom: Why Bespoke Matters

In a world of mass production and instant gratification, what makes something worth waiting for? In this episode, Ashley dives into the world of custom design—why bespoke matters, how it elevates a home, and why one-of-a-kind pieces aren’t just beautiful, but deeply personal.
From the craftsmanship behind custom furnishings to how Ashley Morgan Interiors creates tailored pieces that reflect our clients' lifestyles, Ashley pulls back the curtain on the timeless allure of going custom. Plus, she shares real-life examples of how thoughtfully made items transform both space and spirit.
In this episode, Ashley explores:
What “bespoke” really means in luxury design
Why custom furnishings and millwork are worth the investment
How AMI guides clients through the custom design process
When to consider a custom solution in your own home
If you’ve ever craved a piece that feels made just for you—this episode is for you.
Follow Ashley on Instagram: Ashley Morgan Interiors
Follow Charm & Circumstance on Instagram: Charm & Circumstance
Work with AMI: https://www.ashleymorgan-interiors.com