Living an Intentional Life Podcast
Welcome to Living an Intentional Life Podcast — a space for women who are remembering their hearts, reclaiming their energy, and creating lives that actually feel like home.
This is a place where you don’t have to perform, push, or prove — a place where you are met in your truth, your tenderness, and your becoming.
I’m your host, Ashley Strong Smith, and I believe that the deepest transformation doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from living with intention and listening more deeply to who you really are.
Each week, I share honest conversations and supportive tools you can gently try on in your own life — invitations to come back to your heart, trust your inner knowing, and create a life that supports your nervous system, your dreams, and your wholeness.
Here, we honor growth that is rooted, not rushed. We honor boundaries, embodiment, and the quiet wisdom of your own heart. You’re not here by accident. You’re here because something in you is ready for more — more truth, more softness, more alignment, more belonging.
So take a breath… and let yourself arrive.
Living an Intentional Life Podcast
Soft, Seen & Sovereign : Holding your creativity, body & truth while building a personal brand with Kaysha van der Heyden | Episode 179
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In this episode of Soft, Seen & Sovereign, I sit down with Kaysha van der Heyden of Branding by Kaysha for a deeply honest conversation about what it really means to be visible in a creative life — without losing yourself in the process.
To live with intention, for me, means listening to the quiet signals. The subtle yes in your body. The gentle no you keep ignoring. The inner knowing that doesn’t always make sense, but never leads you astray. This conversation is an invitation into that kind of listening — especially when your creativity, your body, and your livelihood are all intertwined.
Kaysha and I talk about what it’s like to build a personal brand while staying soft, grounded, and true. We explore body image, being seen online, and the tender dance of sharing your work and your face with the world — especially when doubt, comparison, or old stories try to keep you small.
I also share about one of the most intentional decisions I’ve ever made in my business: letting go of my wedding and family photography work to fully step into personal brand photography. It was scary. It was a financial leap. And it was one of the most aligned choices I’ve ever made. Letting go created space for what actually fit.
We don’t skip over the messy middle either — those in-between seasons where things feel uncertain, capacity shifts, and creativity asks for room to breathe without needing to be productive. This episode is for the creatives, the entrepreneurs, the sensitive souls, and the women learning how to be visible without hardening.
You’re allowed to be soft.
You’re allowed to be seen.
And you’re allowed to remain sovereign in the way you show up.
About Kaysha :
Kaysha helps women overcome body image struggles and show up confidently in front of the camera.
Kaysha is a personal brand photographer who empowers women to embrace their bodies, express their authentic selves, and feel confident in every photo. She combines her expertise in photography with a deep understanding of self-image challenges, guiding women to step in front of the camera without fear and leave with images that reflect their true power and personality.
Her mission is simple: help women reclaim confidence, tell their story visually, and finally feel comfortable, and proud, being seen.
Connect with Kaysha :
More from the Podcast :
- Intentional Living Weekend Immersion SPRING RETREAT
- PURCHASE YOUR "Fall in love with yourself + your life : 2026 Planner!"
- FREE DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE - Creating a Heart-Centered Foundation
- Follow on INSTAGRAM
- Work 1:1 with Ashley : Book an Intentional Living Connection Call
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