Ashley McBryde on Sobriety, Generational Trauma, and Unlearning Survival

Miles Adcox (0:00)

Ashley McBryde is a Grammy, CMA, and ACM award-winning singer-songwriter.

Ashley McBryde (0:05)

I wrote every song, every single song you could possibly write with whiskey in the title. So glad I never moved on to tequila titles.

Miles Adcox (0:13)

But behind the woman who can write and sing with the very best, she was carrying way more than anyone ever knew.

Ashley McBryde (0:20)

I was not addicted to drinking, I was addicted to not feeling out of place.

Miles Adcox (0:25)

In this conversation, Ashley shares not just the darkest parts of her story, but what it's actually taken to climb her way out and the surprising life she's found on the other side.

Ashley McBryde (0:36)

I had no idea what 30 days without alcohol would sound like. And it was awesome because it had been out of my body for long enough for me to hear my voice.

Miles Adcox (0:48)

This conversation stuck with me well after, and I think it will stick with you too. Please welcome my friend, Ashley McBride, to Human School.

We've been taught everything except how to be human. I'm Miles Edcox, and this podcast turns raw experience into practical wisdom. So if you're ready to stop performing your life and start participating in it, you're in the right place. This is Human School. Well, my friend, it's good to see you. It's good to see you too. Thank you for taking time to do this. I'll say that upfront. Thank you for asking me. I know you've been busy and I've been trailing and watching things since your album came out in May. But I obviously want to get into that a little bit today because I think there's some beautiful anthems on there. A lot of catchy stuff too, but it's the message underneath it that really I'm moved by. But it's also, I think, watching you over the last several years, but especially the last 12 months is you're telling this part of your story. I just feel so much hope every time I see you talk about it. Good. And I'll say back in 2019 at Madison Square, or where were we? We're not Madison Square Garden. I'm in the wrong state. We were in Vegas, MGM Grand, ACMs.

I was working at that event, and so I didn't have a seat, but I was crossing, and you came on right at the time when I was walking in front of that stage, and I had somebody kind of tried to shuffle me off to the side, and I had about a 20-yard experience from what you did at that time, Girl Going Nowhere, ACMs, right?

That performance stopped me in my tracks. That was my first real experience with you, and I think a lot of people, I know you'd had some success right before that, but a lot of people that day, I was like, I'm somebody who nerves out on good music, good art. I think good art and good music change the world far faster and far more effective than people like us do that are in the helping profession. So I've always wanted to champion people, but I always am looking for authenticity. And man, when you stood up and did that that night, I just didn't forget it. It was all over me. I felt, and I thought this is a voice that we really need in our genre right now, because I felt like we were missing kind of some authenticity and you really brought it. And you stayed true to that as I followed you over the years with your story, with your art, with your music. One of the themes in this new record is about being seen. And I'm just curious about that, because we often talk about being known, being valued, finding meaning in our lives. But one of the hardest things I've struggled with and supported others to struggle with is actually being seen. And I'm curious if we can just stop there. What does that actually mean to you? And has it been a challenge? And do you feel that now?

Ashley McBryde (3:32)

I felt the need for it in the making of this record. That was how some decisions were being made. And then I was immediately afraid of it, because I've always got something clever or funny or something to medicate the fact that it's uncomfortable to be seen. And then because of so much medicating and trying to be making that a little more comfortable, I'm not truly seen or understood by my peers or even by those consuming my music. And I thought, well, with this, with us putting Rattlesnake and all of that on there to be like, this is why I am the way I am.