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MONTHLY UPDATE…SPAIN, TED, IBIZA + BARCELONA
HELLO FRIENDS!
The past 4 weeks have been WILD! Soโฆbuckle up!
This edition of the Monthly Update includesโฆ
- Stumbling upon Semana Santa in Seville
- Attending my 2nd annual TED Conference + learning about AI
- Attending my 1st annual Intelligent Change Summit in Ibiza
- Meeting Sam Branson [Richard Bransonโs son] + Neil Strauss, Joe De Sana, Tony Fadell, Prince EA, + Tim Gray
- Epic sightseeing + prepping for our vow renewal in Barcelona
WHERE ARE ASHLEY + CAMERON?!
APRIL 15th – 30th | Spain, TED, Arizona + Ibiza
After Egypt, I ventured to Southern Spain in search of a European hub while Cameron popped over to Barbados + Canada. I hit Madrid, Seville, Ronda, Malaga, + Valencia in 14 days. I didnโt find a hub, but I had a blast exploring each of these wonderful cities.
First place goes to Madrid. It has gorgeous architecture, is super approachable, has space to walk, + has just the right amount of tourists.
Seville on the other handโฆwas INSANE! I had no idea it was Semana Santa aka Holy Week. Iโve never witnessed anything like it. My mind was completely blown. No wonder places were super hard to find + ridiculously expensive. I left with more questions than I came withโฆbut it ended up being a bucket list item I never knew I had.
Ronda was RIDICULOUSLY CHARMING! The old + new bridges are GORGEOUS and it makes for a perfect day trip.
Malaga was great after I figured out how to get to my parking garage amidst all the traffic + construction. The main downtown area is the star of the city. Shopping galore. The harbor was peaceful + hiking up near Castillo de Gibralfaro was breathtaking. It didnโt grab me quite as much as other people, but Iโm glad I got to experience it.
Valenciaโฆthe birthplace of paella. I only just learned this. There werenโt a ton of sites to see so it was super chillโฆmeandering around the historic area, the small streets, + eating at cute cafes. I loved the more local vibe.
After my lil Spanish road trip, I met Cameron in Vancouver to attend my 2nd annual TED Conference [Cameronโs 7th]. The core theme this yearโฆAI – the good, the bad, + the ugly. We all left equally excited + scared about the future of tech.
We listened to the CEO of Open.ai + TikTok [smooth operator], watched as Chris Andersonโs face + voice was overlaid on top of his female friend in the audience [pretty creepy], discussed avatar ownership, learned how AI will transform education for students [tutor] + teachers [assistant], discussed the ramifications of AI in the hands of bad actors + malicious world leaders, watched in awe as a gigantic cement block floated over our heads, learned about death from a vibrant death doula, + shook our asses to Tolliver. When we werenโt in sessions we were connecting +ย decompressing with red light, nano antioxidant, meditation, massage, + compression therapy.
My perseverance [thank you Cameron] paid off, + I got a free DEXA scan to measure my body composition + bone density. Iโm glad I finally confirmed my suspicionsโฆmy bone density is below average. So, Iโm doubling down on resistance + weight training to get it back up.
Phew! Iโm not gonna lieโฆdigesting 125 talks in 5 days while battling some serious jet lag was BRUTAL. But, my inner Sage is very satiated. Weโre gonna take next year off, even though itโs TEDโs 40th Anniversary. But, who knowsโฆFOMO might creep in last minute.
After TED, I zipped down to Arizona + ran around like a chicken with my head cut off. The next time weโll be in the states is in September, so I had to stock up on 5 months worth ofย supplements/toiletries + knock out as many appointments/errands as humanly possible. I crammed two weeks worth of shit into ~48 hours. Pure insanity! Thank goodness, none of my appointments canceled or moved on me. The craziest part was unpacking ~50 bottles of supplements, transferring them into Zip-loc baggies + labeling them all. ยฝ of my brand-new Away suitcase is solely dedicated to my daily + longevity supplements, non-psychedelic mushrooms, + Athletic Greens.
Jokes aside, these 48 hours almost broke me mentally, emotionally, + physically. But I got it done, because Iโm a finisher. As I boarded my flight to Ibiza pure exhaustion flooded my body.
This is one of the toughest parts of traveling full-time. The logistics + organization are INSANE! Pleaseโฆif you have questions about the not so glamorous side of travel, drop us a comment. Iโm happy to share my experience.
I was beyond excited to attend the very first Intelligent Change Summit hosted by Alex + Mimi Ikonn. The icing on the cakeโฆthey had it at the Six Senses Resort [my first time staying at oneโฆeeek!] in Ibiza! As soon as I arrived, I treated myself to a massage. The summit, people, activities, + talks were amazing โ AI, influence, spirituality, sexuality, female + male dynamic, energy, connection, sustainability, etc.
Funny highlight on the last night, Iโm at dinner talking to Joe De Sana [founder of Spartan races] and his wife. I turn to the gentleman to my right, ask him what his story is, and as weโre talking about music production + travel he casually drops inโฆโmy dad is Richard Branson.โ Ummmโฆwhat? I didnโt say that out loud, but I said it in my head. I was like WTF?! Part of me felt like a complete asshole for not knowing who he was. Regardless, we swapped amazing travel destinations + experiences. He and his wife stayed with me until my friend came back so I wouldnโt have to sit alone, which I thought was super thoughtful. If that wasnโt cool enoughโฆas Iโm talking to Tim Gray about biohacking, Neil Strauss walks by, chimes in, and we start talking about epic dining experiences + our bucket lists. Like what?! Seriously pinch me. Is this real life?
Cameron wouldโve been there with me, but he was busy hosting his in-person, bi-annual COO Alliance event in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was a complete hit, and Iโm so happy + proud of him! If the dates work, weโll be attending the 2nd annual Intelligent Change Summit next year.
MAY 1ST – 15TH | BARCELONA, SPAIN
We get to spend 3 whole weeks in one spot, + weโre over the moon about it. Weโve been on a tear lately, so it feels really nice settling into a city for a bit + seeing all the main sites without being in a rush.
Plus, I crossed off 4 bucket list items in 1 week! That must be a record for me.
- Visiting Barcelona
- Wind Tunnel [SO FUCKING COOL!]
- Tantra/Erotic Massage
- Eating at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant
For our 1st anniversary [May 20th], weโre renewing our vows, since my vision for our wedding didnโt go entirely as planned last year. Donโt get me wrongโฆI loved every minute of it, but I originally wanted to share our vows with just us. That didnโt happen, so this year weโre doing a lil redo. So, sorting out all the details hasn’t made this the most relaxing trip, but Iโm excited for it all. I even bought a second wedding dress yesterday! Eeek!
Okayโฆthatโs everything I got for the past 4 weeks.
I hope I left you wanting more, because next month is gonna be EPICโฆ
Weโll be renewing our vows on a private sunset cruise, getting up close + personal with the Gorillas with Wayfinders in Uganda, attending a conference for entrepreneurs called Baby Bathwater on a private island in Croatia, + finalizing our residency/banking in Dubai.
You wonโt want to miss it!
VIDEOS YOU’LL LOVE
Letโs get this party started with some Summer 2021 throwbacks when Cameron and I embarked on a 30-day, west coast, national parks + forests road trip. Iโve selected two of our favorite experiences + videos I know youโll love!
Angelโs Landing Hike in Zion National Park was breathtaking + slightly terrifying all at the same time. Plus, you wonโt want to miss one of our most unique Airbnb finds ever. We stayed in an actual tree house where we climbed up the trunk to get inside.
Soaring over the Grand Canyon + glamping with Under Canvas made our trip to the Grand Canyon super memorable + magical.
TRAVEL HACK OF THE MONTH
SUPPLEMENTS + TRAVELING
I always calculate [simple division] how many pills I need for how many days/weeks/months Iโll be traveling. Instead of lugging giant bottles around where the pills get thrashed around in the open space [hackโฆpack them with organic cotton balls], I transfer them to Zip-loc baggies + label them with the name, how many to take, when to take them, + if they need to be taken with food or not.
Thereโs also two week cases you can purchase. This is Cameronโs preferred method. Iโve also seen cool lil carrying cases with envelopes to separate out each type of supplement. Regardless of the method, it saves a ton of space. Thankfully, no one has pulled me into secondary security yet, because Iโm rolling deep with capsules. I typically check that suitcase which probably helps. Iโm all ears if you have a different/better way. Comment below.
BIO HACK OF THE MONTH
SWEET VS. SAVORY BREAKFAST
Some say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When you break-fast, do you opt for sweet or savory? I mean sweet is awfully tasty, but it doesnโt stay sweet for long. Unfortunately, it puts you on a volatile glucose roller coaster that lasts all day long. Basically, leading to the highest highs + the lowest lows. And, itโs on the lows where youโre putting your hand in the cookie/candy jar, reaching for coffee, sodas, + chemical laden energy drinks. Which only starts the roller coaster all over again.
On the other hand, when you opt for a savory breakfast it lowers glucose spikes + promotes more sustained energy throughout the day. Think eggs [white + yolk] or salmon/grass-fed beef [protein + fat], ยฝ avocado or hummus [good fat], greens [fresh, steamed, or sautรฉed], berries [only], sweet potatoes or a small piece of healthier toast if absolutely necessary.
I know, I knowโฆit sucksโฆno more french toast, pancakes, toaster strudels, donuts, candy disguised as cereal, + orange juice [all juice is a sugar bomb without any fiber]. What are you gonna do? If you absolutely need a fix [still not recommended] opt for it in the middle of the day, since thatโs when your body is typically most glucose tolerant or for dinner since youโll be going to bed during the crash.
BONUS TIPโฆdrink a full glass of water [add lemon + apple cider vinegar], wait ~60 mins to have breakfast so your body clears cortisol [I know this isnโt always possible], and have your morning cup of coffee after eating, not before or during.
Next month, Iโll share the right order to eat your food in order to promote more sustained energy throughout the day. No more reaching for the sweets, coffee, or vending machines.
Comment with your favorite part/video, questions, and/or constructive feedback any time.