Shows
Home is a Changeling PodcastSC BeachesIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.Home is a Changeling is a reader-s...2025-07-2508 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastRocky DriveThis essay was originally published in February 2022. It has now been five years since the events I wrote about here.I’m resharing my earliest pieces for those who subscribed recently, and I’ve recorded a voiceover for you to listen to it through your podcast app if you’d like. To do so, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com...2025-06-2717 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastWelcome Home!Welcome to Home is a Changeling, a monthly newsletter written by me, Ashleigh Ellsworth-Keller.This was my first essay of this series, published in 2020. It's 2025 now, and I've gone back and recorded an audio voiceover for those who are just joining me on the journey. It's fun to revisit earlier work and see what has changed and what remains the same.So, if you’re ready for ego-driven self-discovery and cheesy platitudes, a journey all over the U.S., time travel, a bulldog that looks like Wilfred Brimley, a dash of humor, a splash of hu...2025-06-1312 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastACF SoftballIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.Home is a Changeling is a reader-s...2025-05-2310 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDavidAs part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.To listen to this interview in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post/article voiceover”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to li...2025-04-2554 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastLTSSIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.For 113 years, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary s...2025-03-3128 min
Home is a Changeling Podcast300 Lake StreetThis essay first appeared on my old blog as It is a Privilege: Lessons in Humility and Compassion in March 2017, shortly after the first immigration halt (aka “Muslim ban”) of this administration. I was feeling pretty helpless, and needed to remind myself—and hopefully remind others—that there are things that we can do, right now, to help others who have been unfairly targeted.I’ve made some minor edits to the body of the essay—you’ll notice I kept much of the previous wording for 2017, and I added a few updates at the end. I think it’s imp...2025-02-0644 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastThe State of "Home"For the January 2024 The State of Home: Year Two, click here. And if you’re a subscriber who joined this year, don’t forget to check out my introductory essay, Welcome Home, here. Otherwise, there’s no particular order in which these need to be read (or listened to), so go for it!It’s been THREE years since I started Home is a Changeling!A continued THANK YOU to my paid and founding subscribers! You are a small but mighty group, and very much appreciated. You motivate me and remind me that even though writing...2025-01-1009 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDad, Part ThreeHome is a Changeling is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.You can listen to this interview in your browser by clicking the voiceover button above. Even better: Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while...2024-12-2734 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDad, Part TwoHome is a Changeling is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.You can listen to this interview in your browser by clicking the voiceover button above. Even better: Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various...2024-12-0932 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDadHome is a Changeling is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.If you...2024-11-2629 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastGone to Carolina in my MindIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.For the first quarter-century of my life, W...2024-11-0219 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastExperience UGAIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.Can a job, even a short-live...2024-09-3021 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastHappy BirthdayIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.August is my birthday month (shout out...2024-08-2301 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastHere in My BedroomIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.Summer is incredibly busy and time to wr...2024-07-1912 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastRoller SkateIf you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.comIf you were a kid growing up in 1980s America, you knew how to rollerskate. Reflection questions:* What are your memories of your favorite childhood activities? What made these activities feel like “home” to you?* Did you ever get injured doing som...2024-06-2115 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastHomesteadPlease note: This essay first appeared in September 2015 on my previous blog site, and was titled “Homesteading”. I’ve made some additional edits to reflect the passage of time. I’ve purposefully kept this one brief; enjoy!Reflection questions:* What does “homestead” mean to you?* What remnants of homesteads past possess the most meaning for you, and why?The state of Vermont is located on the land of the Wabanaki and N’dakina (Abenaki) nations.Where I live and work in western Washington is home to the Salish, Coast Salish, Skagit...2024-05-3108 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDramaroom, Part TwoIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.Subscribers: If your inbox clips the messag...2024-04-1933 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDramaroom, Part OneIf you’d rather listen to this essay in a browser or as a podcast, click the audio voiceover (“listen to post”) above. Read this if you need instructions on how to listen to episodes on your podcast app.If you’re reading this in your inbox, you can find a shareable, web-friendly version at ashleighellskells.substack.com, where all my other essays and podcasts live. You can request to follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here, and I’m happy to hear from you at aellsworthkeller@gmail.com.Subscribers: If your inbox clips the messag...2024-03-2240 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastRebecca, Part TwoAs part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.For this month’s edition, I return to my friend Rebecca Rowland for a follow-up interview! (If you missed the first one, click here to listen). In December, Rebecca an...2024-02-2957 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastThe State of "Home"Home is a Changeling is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Click here for the January 2023 The State of Home: Year One. And if you’re a subscriber who just joined this year, don’t forget to check out my introductory essay, Welcome Home. Otherwise, there’s no particular order in which these need to be read, so go for it!A note about subscribing, plus a quick option to support my writing monetarilyWe know that everything has gotten more expens...2024-01-1215 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastRebeccaAs part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.Welcome to the last podcast episode of the year! I am thrilled to share with you a conversation with my friend Rebecca, who I’ve known for (gulp!) three deca...2023-12-1553 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastThanksgiving in New YorkIt’s late November again, and my thoughts, like many of yours, turn to crisp leaves, perhaps an early season snow, gallons of freshly pressed apple cider, and the upcoming gratitude for the harvest. Ah, the romanticized Thanksgiving. When we’re young, our holiday traditions feel like all there ever is. And so it went, for me, for twenty-three years. And then came 2003, when I moved 2,000 miles away, and had to abruptly change my understanding of holidays and traditions.Thank you for reading Home is a Changeling. This post is public so feel free...2023-11-2218 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastAndyAs part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.Welcome to another podcast interview, this time with my illustrious father-in-law, Andrew “Andy” Keller. Andy is a loving father, grandfather, and all-around decent human, and has one of the biggest...2023-10-2042 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastFall on MePlease note: This essay first appeared in October 2015 on my previous blog site, and was titled “Peaf Leeping”. I’ve made some light edits to reflect the passage of time. I’ve purposefully kept this one brief; enjoy!If you’ve read my introductory essay, Welcome Home, you already know that I am not a native New Englander but lived in Vermont for eleven years; eleven times we witnessed the brilliance and beauty of the storybook “fall” and what it means to see it firsthand. Thank you for reading Home is a Changeling. This post is public so f...2023-09-1507 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastPink/Blue: Part FiveI hope you’re ready to rock, because…WELCOME TO WEEZER SUMMER! This five-part series is a deep dive into how a young, quirky alternative band named Weezer—and a whole universe around them—became a kind of home for a teenage girl looking for somewhere to belong. Before you proceed: make sure you read Parts 1-4! They can be found here: https://ashleighellskells.substack.com/Pink/Blue: Part 4 and Part 5 pick up after the shows in 1997 to the present: through some big life events that year, like graduating high school, hosting a fan club m...2023-08-1845 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastPink/Blue: Part FourI hope you’re ready to rock, because…WELCOME TO WEEZER SUMMER! This five-part series is a deep dive into how a young, quirky alternative band named Weezer—and a whole universe around them—became a kind of home for a teenage girl looking for somewhere to belong. Before you proceed: make sure you read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3! They can be found here: https://ashleighellskells.substack.com/Pink/Blue: Part 4 and Part 5 pick up after the shows in 1997 to the present: through some big life events that year, like graduating high school, hosting a...2023-08-1150 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastRock =W= Music: Part ThreeI hope you’re ready to rock, because…WELCOME TO WEEZER SUMMER! This five-part series is a deep dive into how a young, quirky alternative band named Weezer—and a whole universe around them—became a kind of home for a teenage girl looking for somewhere to belong. Before you proceed: make sure you read Part 1 and Part 2! They can both be found here: https://ashleighellskells.substack.com/Rock =W= Music: Part 3 is an intermission to the larger story but the core of THE ROCK! Told through dialogue recreated half from journal entries, half from...2023-07-1930 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastBlue/Pink: Part TwoI hope you’re ready to rock, because…WELCOME TO WEEZER SUMMER! This five-part series is a deep dive into how a young, quirky alternative band named Weezer—and a whole universe around them—became a kind of home for a teenage girl looking for somewhere to belong. Blue/Pink: Part 1 and Part 2 traces my journey from when I first heard them on the radio back in 1994 and felt that click of connection—something I couldn’t fully explain at the time but immediately understood. I talk about what it is, for me, that makes their first al...2023-06-2838 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastBlue/Pink: Part OneI hope you’re ready to rock, because…WELCOME TO WEEZER SUMMER! This five-part series is a deep dive into how a young, quirky alternative band named Weezer—and a whole universe around them—became a kind of home for a teenage girl looking for somewhere to belong. Blue/Pink: Part 1 and Part 2 traces my journey from when I first heard them on the radio back in 1994 and felt that click of connection—something I couldn’t fully explain at the time but immediately understood. I talk about what it is, for me, that makes their first al...2023-06-2153 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastSweetness"Home is a Changeling" explores the notion that home is not one place or one thing, but possibly everything at once.As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.I also record voiceovers of my essay...2023-05-1229 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastGeo-Mary!As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.Please be advised: In this conversation about “home”, Mary shares (in general terms) her experience with relationship abuse. This portion of the conversation runs from the 18:00-24:30 minute mark....2023-04-1445 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastKTThank you for reading Home is a Changeling. This post is public so feel free to share it.As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.Please be advised: in this conversation, Katie sh...2023-02-1741 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastDr. LauraAs part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.I’m very happy to introduce to you another dear friend, Dr. Laura Coyle! Laura and I have known each other since the year 2000, but our friendship really swung into...2022-11-1548 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastMo Mo MoAs part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.It’s finally my favorite season, summer! And that means it’s time for the second episode of the Home is a Changeling podcast!I am thrille...2022-06-1043 min
Home is a Changeling PodcastOh, Brother!As part of this series, I conduct interviews with fascinating people who have resided all over the country and the globe. These occasional interviews appear as podcast episodes (available through your browser or on various podcast apps) and while the starting place for these interviews are questions about physical “homes”, we get to talk about all sorts of other things that are (or are not) “home” in their lives.For this month’s edition, I’ve got a special treat: the first episode of the Home is a Changeling podcast!My first guest is my brother, Com...2022-04-1046 min