Ashley Callingbull gives us a preview of Season 2 of CBC's The Assembly

For making history as the first First Nations woman to represent Canada at Miss Universe, to starring in film and television, Ashley Collingville has worn many hats. But today we're shining the spotlight on her experience as a guest on CBC's The Assembly, where celebrities sit down with autistic and neurodivergent interviewers for an anything goes conversation. The cast of season two was recently announced, and we're excited to get a preview of Ashley's experience. Welcome. It's so great to have you here. Thank you for having me. So this interview is going to be a breeze for you, right? Right. Yeah, because no question is off the table. It's not like the assembly, right? I'm just kidding. Not quite. But what was going through your mind then when you first found out that you'd be interviewed by the assembly? Well, when they reached out and when I talked to like my co-host Howie Mandel about it, he was like, you have to do it. It is so worth it. And when I looked into it, I was like, you know, I was a little nervous because I didn't know what questions are going to be thrown my way. But that was also kind of exciting. And then on the day when the questions came, it really was nothing I would ever expect or even like think of. It was very, very surprising. But that's what made it more real and more human. Yeah. Tell me about that. What was, what did it feel like? Can you describe what it's like to sort of sit there and be asked, you know, sometimes very personal questions? I'm so used to being like vulnerable and open, but this was like a whole new thing. This was like the book is wide open and they ask questions that were so personal that you wish you could talk to people like that normally. You wish you could just ask questions like that, but you don't. And because that happened to me, I learned so much about myself and I felt like so much better when I left because I felt like, wow, you know, it's okay to be completely Completely vulnerable. It's when I watch the show, it's like the words I describe is beautifully authentic. Yes, because they're asking questions that no one else would ask. And it's just whatever comes to them. And to know that these questions are so real and deep and meaningful. You know I feel like a lot of interviews are very curated. This was not. This felt like an actual like conversation between people and it it felt like a very strong sense of community and it really opened my eyes to like seeing the world differently as they do. All right I have to ask you this and it may make me cry maybe make you cry but the question I am blind and I don't know what being beautiful looks like. Could you describe it to me, please? That had me sobbing. What were you like? I was just crying hard, you know? It really made me emotional because I've never had anyone ask me that question, who is blind? Because in the world that I work in, especially in pageantry, they talk about that, you know? But I've never had someone that is actually blind ask me that From a place where, you know, it's so innocent. I felt like I finally got to explain it in a way where I got to, you know, express myself and share that moment with him and also explain that beauty isn't something that's seen. It is something that is really felt. Yeah, I don't want to give too much away because I want people to watch the season, obviously, but can you tell us a little bit? Oh, there's so much more to it than that. There's like, they dive real deep in. I did. Okay, okay, so we'll stop there on that one. But was there any other question that genuinely, you know, really caught you off guard? I think almost all the questions because all those questions I was never asked before ever in any other interview. So you're going to get something that you've never seen before and it's definitely going to be really eye-opening, but also like inspiring and empowering because these people, they, they take you out of your shell. They take you out of your shell and make you see things differently and you open up and on the assembly, like you get to To really know. The people that are being interviewed, as opposed to like whatever is curated out there in the world or in media, like you get to really know like the substance of who we are and you get to like feel the emotions with us. That's what makes it so remarkable. Yeah, and that's what makes it so remarkable to watch as well. So you say that it changed you and you learned things about yourself. So what did you learn about you through this experience? A lot. You know, at first, you know, I always thought that, like, I always know that I'm strong. But I always, I put on a front too sometimes when life is hard. And that show, it broke down my walls. It broke down my walls and made me more open and also to accept that it's okay to feel that way sometimes. And it really made me realize that I'm not alone. Like, Regardless if they're neurodivergent or autistic, they're still human. We still have all the same similar feelings and we're all going through similar things. So that to me, it made me feel seen. Wow. So this was profound for you. Yeah, it really was. And I'm still connected with everyone that's there. You know, I've still kept those connections with the interviewees. And it's been like really rewarding for me because it's not something that was a one time thing. It feels like it's just continuing and that connection goes so far. Well, I can't wait to watch the whole episode. I've had a few sneak peeks, but I can't wait to really see the whole season because I think you do. You and the fellow celebrities on the show, you learn something about themselves, and the audience kind of goes along for the ride, doesn't it? Exactly. It's like the best roller coaster you'll ever be on. I don't know. I love it so much. Thank you so much, Ashley, for joining us. Really appreciate it. Thank you for having me. The Assembly premieres on CBC Gem and CBC TV beginning Sunday, November 1st at 9 p.m. Special extended producer cuts, you won't want to miss those, will be available exclusively on CBC Gem the same day beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern.