Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Long.
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I can’t remember a time when I did not love entertainment, specifically movies, TV and pop culture. Growing up in my hometown of Dayton, OH, I idolized the big stars of the era, most notably Whitney Houston. I’m surprised my mom’s VHS copy of The Bodyguard (still my fave) is still standing! But it wasn’t just the glitz and glamour of Hollywood that I enjoyed; it was the art of storytelling itself that captured me.
The possibilities of creating worlds and characters without rules or limits excited me. From the purchase of my first typewriter as a child writing short stories to now, I’ve taken advantage of diving into stories as not only my favorite form of escapism but also as a form of connection.
My dreams in regard to entertainment and storytelling morphed over the years from short story fiction writing to a desire to direct films and ultimately pursuing journalism during my undergraduate studies at Wright State University. It was during my studies that I had the opportunity to write professionally for the local Dayton Daily Newspaper and receive an internship and employment during my senior year with media company Cox Media Group.
Thanks to the convergence of Cox’s print, radio and TV properties in Dayton into one building, my opportunities for growth expanded. I transitioned to a role working with local nonprofits to write and produce public service announcements via broadcast to promote their events and causes. I also produced a weekly public service show for television. I had an “aha” moment during these years, realizing storytelling as a producer was a side of the business I had not considered during my journey and one that brought me great joy.
Four years ago, I left the nest of my hometown to call Central Florida home and further pursue my passions. While I’m currently working in a regional television programming role for Cox, I’ve also expanded my production horizons into the world of podcasting! I’ve never much cared for rules and limits regarding storytelling. Podcasting provides the perfect platform to really dive into and craft content as you see fit. I’ve spent the past few years producing a podcast for my company, Colorblind: Race Across Generations, hosted by WFTV anchor Vanessa Echols. We provide a platform to have candid and intelligent discussions with panelists focused on issues of race. As you might imagine, we’ve had our hands full the past couple of years.
The year 2020, as I’m sure it was for many, served as an opportunity for reflection for me. As rewarding as being a part of such important subject matter is with the Colorblind podcast, I had a desire to expand further using podcasting and return to my entertainment roots. I met my longtime friend Delora during my graduate studies and we instantly bonded over our TV, film and pop culture love. I’m talking about rapid-fire, hours-long conversations! We decided to use our 2020 downtime to launch our own entertainment podcast, reCappin’ with Delora & Ashley, focused on those shared loves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggles in my journey thus far that I can speak to have been self-inflicted. It can be difficult, even now, to get out of my own way and not allow self-doubt and fear to block me from pursuing new opportunities. From taking chances. I really struggled prior to college to decide if my passions and purpose aligned. I knew what the safe academic route looked like and it took one semester for me to realize that wasn’t the path for me. I wanted a life that fulfilled me, even if it wasn’t the most immediately lucrative bet.
After working in media for over a decade, stepping out and starting the reCappin’ with Delora & Ashley podcast was still terrifying. We’ve started completely from scratch with no assistance, no budget, and no marketing or name recognition. Putting work out, our voices out, for public consumption and therefore critique can be painful at times. But I’ve really learned to lean into the idea that I can only do my best at any given time. Our shows will never be perfect. We will never be perfect. But we can be authentically us and have a great time along the way on this journey. And a glass of wine or two on record days doesn’t hurt either!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a podcast host, producer, editor, all the things really! I co-host reCappin’ with Delora & Ashley; a weekly entertainment podcast.
We’ve been dropping episodes weekly since October 2020 and, as of this writing, have 37 available! We recently changed our format and now provide two episodes a week. On Tuesdays, our episodes focus on a recap of a TV show or film and a hidden gems section. And on Thursdays we discuss some of the biggest headlines and pop culture hot topics of the week.
Our recaps cover a wide range of content from hit shows such as Bridgerton, Ginny & Georgia, The Queen’s Gambit and WandaVision to films such as Cruella, Fatherhood, Coming 2 America and One Night in Miami. Our hope is to connect with our listeners through a shared love for entertainment while spilling some tea and having some laughs along the way. Please check us out wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts, leave us a rating/review and follow us on social media @recappinpodcast.
Our show, just like in Hollywood, comes down to chemistry! Our relationship, banter, points of view and passion for our subject matter really set us apart. While we choose projects that we love, we also keep the audience top of mind with each episode we cover so that we have our fingers on the pulse of what is most appealing.
I’m most proud of the fact that my girlfriend Delora and I were able to take a dream we’d discussed for years and turn it into a reality during a very difficult and uncertain time. And we remain a strong and mighty two-woman crew!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’d like to acknowledge my biggest supporter, shoulder and inspiration. My mom! I love you!
“Don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do something, not even me. Alright? You dream, you’ve gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”-The Pursuit of Happyness
Contact Info:
- Website: recappindeloraandashley.podbean.com
- Instagram: @recappinpodcast
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/recappinpodcast
- Twitter: @recappinpodcast
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-long-msca-b97b2515a
Image Credits
Keep Dayton Funky photo-courtesy of Ronald Applin reCappin’ with Delora & Ashley artwork-courtesy of Gareth Bafaty
