Ashlyn Lipori-Russie is a journalist turned entrepreneur on a mission to make the news less overwhelming and more empowering. As the founder of Ask Ashlyn, a subscription-based texting platform, she helps “news avoiders” stay informed without feeling anxious, angry, or helpless. Her background in traditional broadcast journalism, online content management, and nonprofit media uniquely prepared her for this work, but it wasn’t until a sudden layoff that she felt the push to finally build the thing she knew the world needed.

“Ask Ashlyn is basically a multi-platform channel for news avoiders to connect with news in a way that doesn’t negatively affect their mental health, and teaches them how to set boundaries with news“

From a Layoff to a Liftoff

Ashlyn’s journey to entrepreneurship was both unexpected and inevitable. She had spent a decade in journalism, often feeling frustrated by the lack of innovation in the industry. When she was laid off unexpectedly from a nonprofit publication in San Diego, it became a catalyst for her business.

“That layoff shattered my work identity in a way that only layoffs can do. But in some sense, it felt like divine intervention finally telling me, ‘Now’s your moment.'”

Instead of returning to the traditional workforce, Ashlyn joined journalism entrepreneurship programs and began building the vision she had nurtured since college: an accessible, human-centered approach to news.

Building Something That Feels Good

For Ashlyn, the greatest reward of entrepreneurship is creating something that aligns with her purpose and values. Her service doesn’t just inform subscribers—it creates space for clarity, boundaries, and agency.

“I’m finally working on something that I’m actually passionate about… I get to craft this and create this in the vision that is unique to me.”

Ask Ashlyn delivers twice-weekly digestible news updates via text and includes a feature that allows subscribers to directly ask questions and receive thoughtful, jargon-free responses. Her goal? To help people stay aware without burning out.

Deep Growth, Real Struggles

Entrepreneurship has tested Ashlyn in every possible way, from financial uncertainty to emotional vulnerability. She highlights the personal growth required to move from an employee mindset to a founder’s mindset—a transformation few people talk about.

“You have to shed an old skin and simultaneously be building a new one. And nobody can guide you on how to do that except you.”

Her biggest lesson so far? Do it scared. And understand that the unknown isn’t negative—it’s just undefined.

What She’s Building Now

In addition to growing her texting platform subscriber base, Ashlyn is expanding Ask Ashlyn into new spaces. She’s developing a podcast and creating a wellness-informed event series, combining community dialogue and physical movement to help people process the news in a healthy way.

“News doesn’t have to polarize us. We just need a better way to connect with it and with each other.”

She also hosts events and creates social content helping people understand media literacy, especially as misinformation continues to spread on social media.

How the Twine Community Can Help

Ashlyn says she could use support in two key ways: help with marketing to grow awareness of her subscription platform, and continued connection to a community of like-minded solopreneurs navigating the ups and downs of building something meaningful.

“There is something particularly isolating about launching something alone. So having a community of people who are maybe asking the same questions that you are is incredibly helpful.”

Ashlyn is showing up to build a better relationship between the public and the press, one conversation at a time. She’s redefining what it means to stay informed—and doing it with clarity, integrity, and courage.

Connect with Ashlyn

• Sign up for the Text Service 
• Website: www.AskAshlyn.co
• Instagram: @Ask.Ashlyn
• Email: [email protected]
• YouTube: @AskAshlyn