the faces behind the voices

FOUNDER / CO-HOST

Hey! I'm Ashley, co-founder and co-host of The Day After. Like many of us, grief found me early in life when I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was just 9 years old. That profound loss shaped me in ways I never expected, and it was during that same time that I experienced my first heartbreaking goodbye to a beloved pet companion. Though I kept much of my grief private as a child, these experiences helped me understand the deep impact of both human and pet loss.

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, I'm now living my best expat life in the charming city of Delft, Netherlands, with my husband Nate and our two fur babies, Lady & Molly. They're especially precious to me because I know firsthand how deeply pet loss can affect us - both as a child and more recently as an adult. When I'm not recording or connecting with our grief community, you'll likely find me cheering on my beloved Buffalo Bills (distance can't dim that passion!), exploring another corner of Europe, or hunting down the best wings this side of the Atlantic.

Life has taught me that sharing our stories can be incredibly healing, which is why I'm so passionate about creating this space for all of us to navigate grief together. Whether you're grieving a human or pet companion, your story matters, and I'm honored to be here to listen and share in your journey.

FOUNDER / CO-HOST

Ariana was my champion. Three children later and twelve years together, we got the news - Ariana had incurable metastatic breast cancer.For the next five and a half years, she fought and lived. We traveled the world. We lived thirty years in five. And on September 30, 2020, during a worldwide pandemic, she died with her three children and me by her side. We did life together for seventeen years - since high school. During that time, she stood with me in the battle for my mind. And in the end, I was able to stand with her in the fight for her life.I believe we all have "Our Stories." This is only a snippet of mine. But I know I am not alone. I sincerely believe that everyone has a story, a struggle, a battle. It is what makes us all human. It is what connects us. We live in a world of pain and suffering. Yet, through it all, there have been two constants in my grief - creativity, and laughter. 

CJ is a Silicon Valley veteran and founder of Hopeless Mope. After losing Ariana, he committed himself to one goal - make the world a safe place for people to know it’s okay to not be okay. CJ was born in Rochester NY, where he currently lives with his three kids, after a brief time out in California. You will likely find CJ at his desk, head down, working on some new creative endeavor. Or his face shoved in a book trying to educate his insecurities away, at the stove cooking or traveling to some new country.

HOST, SIT LAY REST

Hey! I'm Elizabeth, or as most call me, "Liz". I have a beloved family-given nickname too, but I'll wait to share that until we get to know each other a little better. I'm your humble co-host for The Day After's new series on pet grief, "Sit, Lay, Rest". Loss and grief are ever-present in my life, as they are with most, and I'm ready to talk about it more. I'm a mother to an amazing little girl and loving wife, daughter and friend. The true definition of a "leo", passionate animal lover, yogi, and homebody who is happiest cozied up with a good book. I've experienced significant loss in recent years but the passing of my 14-year old soul dog, Isabel, has fueled my desire to connect with others experiencing deep emotional pain and grief from pet loss. I'm grateful for the opportunity to hear your stories and continue our healing journeys as a community.