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Episode 2
Creating access through art
Subscribe to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
Meet our Guest: Ashley King
About Ashley
In 2011, Ashley King was on a gap year, travelling the world, unaware she’d one day become a leading voice for accessibility in the arts.
At 19, King lost her eyesight after unknowingly drinking methanol-tainted alcohol at a Bali bar. Years later, MRU’s journalism program gave her the foundation to tell her story, which culminated in Static: A Party Girl’s Memoir, a play about loss, resilience and methanol poisoning awareness that premiered in Calgary in 2024.
Collaborating with Mount Royal journalism professor Meg Wilcox (whom she hadn’t met until after graduating), they adapted Static into a podcast. “While Ashley had never made a podcast, she embraced the project with her usual energy, grace and humour, committing significant time to developing the concept, conducting interviews, hosting and adapting the actor performances for podcast,” Wilcox says. “Through this work, she's learned another way to produce and tell stories beyond reporting and theatre.” The four-part series topped Apple’s “Personal Journeys” chart in Canada in December 2024.
An artistic associate at Inside Out Theatre, King champions inclusive performances and works with theatre companies to increase accessibility across Calgary’s arts scene. MRU recognized her story and impact through a Grow Beyond campaign feature.
In 2025, she was recognized by Avenue magazine as a Top 40 under 40 recipient. She also received an Outstanding Alumni Award from MRU, and a Rosie award for “Best Podcast” from the Alberta Media Production Industries Association.
- Creative work and accessibility focus: Ashley is a visually impaired actor, writer, and podcaster who works with Inside Out Theatre Company to make theatre more accessible for people with disabilities, including through her original play Static: A Party Girl’s Memoir and its adaptation into a widely successful podcast.
- Life-altering experience and motivation: She recounts losing most of her eyesight at age 19 after methanol poisoning while travelling abroad, an experience that deeply shaped her life and motivated her to share her story to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies.
- Educational journey and career pivot: Ashley attended Mount Royal University for journalism, inspired by the power of storytelling, and later returned to her original passion for acting—drawing on both her journalism education and lived experience in her creative and advocacy work.
- Podcast development and impact: In collaboration with MRU professor Meg Wilcox, Ashley adapted her play into an audio drama podcast that blends performance, interviews, and journalism, leveraging the accessibility of audio storytelling and reaching tens of thousands of listeners worldwide.
- Advocacy, representation, and advice to students: Ashley emphasizes the importance of accessibility and representation in the arts, encourages students to seize opportunities and build relationships at MRU, and reflects on how her university experiences and connections have continued to shape her career and life after graduation.
Listen to Always Blue with Tim Rahilly: An MRU Alumni Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube Podcasts.
The views expressed by the host and speakers reflect their personal experiences and perspectives, and are not representative of Mount Royal University or the Office of Alumni Relations.
Have questions about Big Ideas? Contact alumni@mtroyal.ca