The Imaginals with Ashley Wick
UNVARNISHED STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION FROM CREATIVE, WISE WOMEN
You are the co-creator of your life, but what happens when you find yourself on the precipice of change and unsure of what’s next?
The Imaginals podcast invites you to explore seminal moments of personal change. Together, we move forward, drawing wisdom and inspiration from creative and insightful women as we explore their journeys of transformation.
Imaginal cells are those responsible for a caterpillar's incredible transformation into a butterfly. In these conversations, we explore the moments of impact, the messy middles, and the most surprising elements of meaningful change.
Authentic, brave and warm, The Imaginals will inspire you to claim the center of your own story. Join host, Transformational Coach, Ashley Wick to witness how they put their whole being into action to light up the world.
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Ashley Wick has an intimate understanding of the pitfalls of perfection. Born and raised in San Francisco, she grew up in a family where high performance was the maxim. For years it served her to be the ultimate doer: a straight-A student; a Duke athlete; a Vogue Magazine executive; and founder of her own fashion PR agency. By all accounts, her efforts were propelling her toward her life’s desires. That all changed when she learned of her newborn daughter’s heart condition. She couldn’t “do” anything, she simply had to be. By processing moments of uncertainty with her own coach, she came to understand the power of working in communion with other women as a foundation for creating meaningful change. It is this framework that transformational coach Ashley Wick brings to her practice and her new podcast, The Imaginals.
The Imaginals with Ashley Wick
Violinist Yuki Resnick Numata on Music as a Tool for Change and Finding Purpose Beyond the Applause
Violinist, educator, and nonprofit leader Yuki Numata Resnick has spent her life exploring the transformative power of music—not only as an artist, but as a changemaker. Originally from Vancouver, Yuki has performed on some of the world’s most iconic stages, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall, and has recorded with artists including The National, Arcade Fire, Lisa Hannigan, and Taylor Swift.
But it’s her work offstage that tells an even deeper story. As co-founder and former Executive Director of Buffalo String Works, Yuki helped build a music program that now serves over 150 refugee, immigrant, and historically marginalized youth—demonstrating how music can become both a source of belonging and a catalyst for social change.
Today, as the Director of Arts and Culture at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, she is leading a historic $100 million initiative to secure the future of Western New York’s arts and culture sector and most importantly, finding ways to get funding into the hand of the deepest community organizers and challenging pre-conceptions about where wealth.
In this conversation, Yuki shares her reflections on discovering her why, leadership challenges, career pivots, and the quiet courage it takes to step into the unknown.
Chapters:
- 01:17 Meet Yuki Nma Resnick: Violinist and Visionary
- 02:45 Navigating Career Shifts and Personal Growth
- 03:07 Sponsor Highlight: Plant Gem
- 03:55 Yuki's Early Years and Musical Journey
- 05:26 Challenges and Triumphs in Music Education
- 15:09 The Birth of Buffalo String Works
- 20:18 Building a Community Through Music
- 23:38 Inspiration Behind Buffalo String Works
- 27:12 Launching and Growing the Nonprofit
- 28:02 Growth and Learning in Buffalo String Works
- 29:00 Taking on Leadership and Challenges
- 34:34 Balancing Personal and Professional Life
- 41:50 Transition to Philanthropy
- 45:57 Reflections and Future Aspirations
- 49:57 Closing Thoughts and Resources
Links:
Arts and Culture at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Ashley Links:
Finding The Current Within Retreat: https://peggymarkel.com/adventures/finding-the-current-within/
Ashley Wick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywick
The Ingenius Life Workshop: https://www.ingenius.life
Take The Leap Course: https://www.taketheleapwomen.com/
Sign up for Ashley’s newsletter for free coaching reflections, tools and news: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/643399411150f24bd562b5f5
Podcast artwork by George Bangs. Photography by Cary Jobe
This podcast is made possible thanks to our amazing partner Plantgem. Get 20% off your order when you use the code IMAGINE.