Ask Ashlyn: Making News Feel Safe, Grounded, and Human with Ashlyn Lipori-Russie
- mgraziano45
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
Have you ever felt totally overwhelmed by the news – so overwhelmed that you decided to disconnect completely from it? You’re not alone, and this is exactly what Ashlyn Lipori-Russie is working to change.
Ashlyn Lipori-Russie is a career journalist turned entrepreneur, yoga teacher, and founder of Ask Ashlyn. On this episode of Adventures in Business, she’s chatting with Amani about her core mission: helping people connect with the news in a way that feels safe, grounded, and meaningful.
Ashlyn’s journey is anything but ordinary. From earning an Emmy nomination for an unexpected story about a police chase gone wrong, to teaching yoga classes during sunsets in San Diego, to ultimately creating her own platform, you’ll love hearing how she built her business.
Meet Ashlyn Lipori-Russie
Ashlyn Lipori-Russie is an Emmy-nominated journalist working in digital media strategy. She’s focused on understanding how journalism is evolving on social platforms, hoping to explore content creation and audience engagement in new media. She’s a passionate, creative leader looking to pioneer how tech and journalism intersect.
From Newsrooms to Entrepreneurship
Ashlyn started in traditional journalism, working tough overnight shifts and seeing firsthand how newsrooms struggled to adapt to digital change. But what really stood out to her was how much news overwhelm was driving people away from staying informed.
During the pandemic, she began blending her passion for mindfulness with journalism – integrating body scans, meditations, and grounding practices into her news updates. The goal? To help people stay engaged without burning out.
In 2023, a layoff (combined with personal loss) pushed her to finally launch Ask Ashlyn, the text-based news service she had been dreaming about for years. For just $10 a month, subscribers get twice-weekly updates with only the essential facts, plus the chance to text Ashlyn directly with questions. It’s like having a journalist friend in your pocket – someone who can cut through the noise and give you context that’s clear, factual, and easy to understand.
Journalism Meets Wellness
Ashlyn’s background as a yoga teacher shapes her unique approach. She encourages subscribers to check in with themselves before reading heavy updates, and she ends each one with a grounding activity – whether that’s a meditation, a reminder to step outside, or a simple reflection.
Rethinking the Future of News
Ashlyn is optimistic about where journalism can go, but she also sees major challenges. Between misinformation, the rise of “news influencers,” and shrinking local media budgets, traditional outlets are struggling to connect with younger generations.
Her solution? Focus on hyperlocal news and meet audiences where they are – on their phones, in their communities, and in a way that prioritizes clarity and care over clickbait.
Curating What Really Matters
As a career journalist turned entrepreneur, Ashlyn knows firsthand how much information people are bombarded with daily. Her process for deciding what to share with subscribers is thorough yet intentional.
She scans Google News, top podcasts, and social media trends, pulling everything into a massive Google Doc before narrowing it down. The goal is to strip away the noise and deliver concise, contextual updates that truly matter.
“I don’t think it’s beneficial for people to feel burdened by every single headline,” Ashlyn explained. “What people really need is: Here’s what’s actually happening, and here’s what you need to know about it.”
Real Conversations with Readers
What sets Ask Ashlyn apart from other news sources is the two-way engagement. Subscribers can text back with questions, comments, or even just reactions.
About 20% of her audience responds regularly – asking follow-ups, clarifying updates, or simply sharing their thoughts. For Ashlyn, those conversations are the most rewarding part of the business.
“It helps me understand what’s actually valuable to people,” she said. “As a journalist, I see things one way. But my audience often has different questions, and that helps me serve them better.”
Growing Ask Ashlyn
Right now, Ashlyn’s main revenue fountains include her subscription service, content creation, and a donor platform. But she’s thinking bigger.
She’s exploring event series that combine wellness and journalism, creating spaces where people can both learn and feel better – a combination she sees as sorely needed. She’s also working with schools and colleges to teach media literacy, equipping the next generation to better understand the content they consume.
Looking ahead, she envisions Ask Ashlyn evolving beyond a text service into a broader movement: helping people stay grounded amid the flood of information.
“I want to be the friend who helps you understand the news – and helps you decompress from it,” she said.