AuthorPhDResearcherSpeaker
Ashley Hales.
Storytelling creates imaginative, sympathetic, and redemptive possibilities for people, places, and things.
About
Developing a Christian imagination.
Ashley Hales believes storytelling creates imaginative, sympathetic, and redemptive possibilities for people, places, and things. That conviction shapes her academic research, her teaching, and her editorial and writing work.
She is Director of Storytelling at the Denver Institute for Faith & Work. With her husband she co-founded the Willowbrae Institute, a think tank on Christianity and the common good in America, and she hosts The Cartographers podcast. She is the author of Finding Holy in the Suburbs, A Spacious Life, and A Fruitful Life, a Bible study on the Sermon on the Mount written with Bryce Hales.
For more of her writing, connect on Substack. Ashley is also sporadically on Instagram.
EducationPhD, English Literature, University of Edinburgh
Partnerships
Kirby Laing Centre Academic Fellow
Member, Trinity Presbyterian Church
Advisor to the Board, Covenant College
HomeCentral Coast of California
The work
Six ways to connect.
Books, speaking, a podcast, a newsletter, a think tank, and a story to tell.
Books
Three books on place, limits, and the Sermon on the Mount.
BrowseSpeaking
Colleges, churches, retreats, and conferences.
InviteThe Cartographers
A podcast mapping the cultural landscape for Christian leaders.
ListenBeauty Leads the Way
Essays on Christian imagination, culture, and practice. On Substack.
SubscribeWillowbrae Institute
A think tank on Christianity and the common good in America.
VisitDirector of Storytelling
Denver Institute for Faith & Work.
About the roleBooks
Writing at the intersection of theory and practice.
A Fruitful Life
Discovering Jesus’ Invitation in the Sermon on the Mount, with Bryce Hales
Speaking
Invite Ashley to speak.
Ashley connects the dots between theory, the biblical text, and ordinary moments. She enjoys speaking in both academic and church settings. She is available to speak at colleges, churches, retreats, and conferences.
- Is the Gospel Good for the Suburbs? General
- How Our Limits Lead to Flourishing Retreats
- The Power of Story for Spiritual Formation Lecture
- Metaphors and the Shape of a Christian Life Chapel
“With her impeccable preparation, knowledge of scripture and current events, and innate skill for guiding discussions, Ashley brings a unique blend of professionalism and warmth to any stage.”DT Slouffman, ten-time Emmy Award–winning producer
“Last year, people were talking through the speakers. When you spoke, you could hear a pin drop.”Grandmother in California
Newsletter
Beauty leads the way.
Writing about the renewing work of Christian imagination, culture, and practice.
Resources
Guides & downloads.
Free resources for readers and churches. Paid downloads will appear here when available.