September is National Recovery Month! All month, we’ll be celebrating the lives of people in recovery.

Paula Devine founded Happiest Hour, born out of her own journey toward freedom. Happiest Hour offers compassionate, judgement-free support for women who are questioning their relationship with alcohol and seeking more out of life. Through personalized coaching, resources, and a supportive community, she empowers women to reclaim their time, energy, and sense of self, so they can live fully, authentically, and with purpose.

Devine offers private sessions and a signature 6-week group coaching program (next one starts 9/17!) called the "Happiest Hour Experience" focused on community connection, practical tools, and self-reflection.

She hosts Happiest Hour with Paula Devine, a podcast that features honest conversations about midlife, parenting, and navigating life after alcohol.

Paula just celebrated her first year in business and hosts local events and online spaces centered around women supporting women in an alcohol-free lifestyle.

In this episode Paula shares her experience, strength, and hope as a woman in recovery, the normalization of mom drinking culture and wine as a “reward” for parenting, the ripple effect of hearing other women’s stories (Devine heard Kitley’s on TODAY), starting a business to help women step out of the drinking cycle, and spirituality.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

James Longman is Chief International Correspondent for ABC News. It’s a job that has taken him to more than 60 countries, reporting on major world events. He’s long taken an interest in mental health, and his book The Inherited Mind looks at the genetics of mental illness, inter-generational trauma and the science of epigenetics.

James Longman was a preteen in boarding school when his dad, who was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, died by suicide. As he got older, James’s own bouts of depression spurred him to examine how his father’s mental health might have affected his own. He engaged with experts to uncover the science behind what is inherited, how much environmental factors can impact genetic traits, and how one can overcome a familial history of mental illness and trauma.Longman invites readers to reflect on their own stories as he shares his quest to better understand himself and his family. Through speaking to mental health experts, to those who have had similar familial experiences, and about his own life stories, James shows us, with heart and humor, how much our bodies can empower and inform us about our own personal mental health histories.

In this episode, James shares his personal experience with depression, how he takes care of his mental health, the importance of finding a supportive environment and community, owning our story, and Guardian Angels, sprinkled throughout his life.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

In 2015, I was a consulting therapist for the writers room on the show Nashville to educate about postpartum depression. Hayden Panettiere’s character, Juliette Barnes was struggling with mental health issues and alcohol abuse after having a baby. After years of working one on one with women in a clinical setting and educating the public about women’s mental health, this was an exciting opportunity to have a large impact. The writers of the show even wrote me into the script as “Dr. Kitley.”

Later, I came to find out Hayden was struggling in her personal life simultaneously as her character was with postpartum depression and substance use disorder. She took a leave from the show to engage in treatment.

Over the years, as she started to share about her experience, strength, and hope I was drawn to her authenticity and vulnerability. As a licensed clinical social worker and media expert, I’ve observed and experienced the power of sharing our story. We normalize feelings for others and give people permission to say me too. It helps others feel less alone and provides hope. When a celebrity uses their platform, it has a huge reach and changes the conversation for the general public.

For the last couple of years, I was communicating with Hayden’s publicist. I was eager to have her as a guest on my podcast and/or collaborate on a project for women’s mental health. In January, she informed me Hayden was publishing a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. I could not wait! When Hayden released the book on May 19, 2026 she was going to be in the Chicagoland area on book tour the next day. I wanted to introduce myself, thank her for her important work, get a signed copy of her book, and give her mine. Exactly three months ago tomorrow, two women in recovery met. I felt an automatic genuine connection. We hugged, laughed, cried, and she thanked me for my work. I had a strong feeling we would meet again.

Summer has been extraordinarily busy. We just returned from South Carolina, dropping our two oldest off at college, then went to the Jersey Shore for my 26th summer, for a little R & R. It was just what we all needed! Refreshed and ready to get back to work, Monday morning I was driving home and made my first pit stop to fill the car with gas. I opened my phone and my social media feed was saturated with news that Hayden Panettiere died of a potential overdose at the age of 36. I thought it was fake news. Then a gut punch, scrolling for credible information, reminded once again that mental health and addiction is a matter of life and death. The recovery community is mourning. Women saw theirselves in her story. Moms could relate. Millennials grew up with her. This story is so tragic, devastating, and multi-layered, as the news continues to unfold. However, Hayden’s bright light will continue to shine.

People in recovery aren’t “recovered.” It’s a daily practice to stay grounded. Say something if someone seems “off.” We have no idea what’s going on in someone’s head. If you’re concerned about who someone is socializing with, tell them. Please check in on one another.

I will continue fighting for all of us!

Stay tuned for more on this topic as August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day and September is National Recovery Month.

Resources:

MY self: An Autobiography of Survival, Recovery, & Empowerment

She Recovers

Women for Sobriety

Alcoholics Anonymous

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

Connor Kitley is a junior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration. He plans to pursue a career in psychotherapy, where he can apply his understanding of human behavior to help clients improve their well-being, while also using his business background to open his own private practice.

His experience in the service industry has strengthened his interpersonal and communication skills, which will be valuable in working with clients. It has also taught him adaptability, stress management, and teamwork—skills he applies daily as a student and professional. He’s always eager to learn more and get involved in opportunities related to psychology and mental health.

In this episode Connor offers his experience transitioning to college and tools that helped him navigate what can sometimes feel overwhelming. Connor is Kelley’s oldest of four and they discuss the change in family dynamics, his younger sister entering freshman year at the same school, how parents can support their young adults, and the importance of building community. He encourages his peers to use all the resources college has to offer and to never be afraid to ask for help!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

Keesha Scott is the Co-Founder and National Care Director for Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent Program. In 2008, she helped her husband Josh establish Guardian Recovery, laying the groundwork for the life-changing services the organization provides today. With a Master’s degree in Psychology and over 15 years of professional experience—plus more than two decades of sobriety—Keesha has dedicated her life to helping women and young people overcome the challenges of addiction and mental health issues. When her own teenage daughter began to struggle, Keesha recognized a significant lack of local resources for families like hers. Motivated to create a solution, she developed Guardian Recovery’s Adolescent Program, fueled by her desire to provide compassionate support, education, and hope to teens and their families nationwide. Keesha’s commitment continues to shape Guardian Recovery’s approach, ensuring every young person and family can find the care and guidance they need.

She’s also the Host of Cake for Dinner, a podcast for women who are done pretending. It is where founders, experts, celebrities, and parents pull up a chair and get honest about motherhood, marriage, hormones, healing, and the messy middle. No filters. No fluff. No performance. Just the conversations women are actually having in their heads but rarely say out loud. Because real life doesn’t look perfect — and it was never supposed to.

Stay tuned for Cake for Dinner, Scott’s forthcoming book releasing in April, 2027! It’s an ultimate guide to ditching curated perfection and embracing the beautiful reality of motherhood. No new parenting systems to master—just the laughter, truth, and permission you need to let go of the plan and trust your gut.

In this episode Keesha shares her experience, strength, and hope as a woman in long- term recovery raising teenagers (who are also twins!) while ditching perfection, how German cake saved her, the importance of sharing stories-not instructions, and entrepreneurship.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

Eva Pilgrim is about to celebrate one year as anchor of the long-running syndicated CBS newsmagazine, Inside Edition. She succeeded Deborah Norville, who was there for thirty years, making Eva only the fourth anchor in the history of the show.

Previously, Pilgrim worked for ABC News for almost ten years. She served as co-anchor of GMA3: What You Need to Know, where Kitley met her as a guest expert on the show, hours after her team was informed of a mass lay-off. Eva served as ABC News Senior National Correspondent based in New York. Her reports could be seen across multiple ABC News programs and platforms, including 20/20, Good Morning America, Nightline and World News Tonight with David Muir.

Pilgrim is the author of Walter Does His Best, which teaches children about kindness and love. She’s also the wife of Ed, mother of an adorable four-year-old daughter Ella, and dog mom to real life Walter, who’s a Frenchie.

Eva was born in Seoul, South Korea, into a military family and grew up moving around the world. She attended the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina where Kelley has two children attending in the fall.

In this episode, Kitley and Pilgrim share raw emotions discussing a spiritual interaction upon their meeting—a god wink, if you will. Eva’s career pivot as a woman in her 40’s, finding balance, motherhood, her strong faith which ultimately leads to joy. Eva radiates light to everyone she meets.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

AJ Rompza grew up in Chicago as the youngest of five children and attended Whitney Young High School. As a 5'5 freshmen, he started varsity in one of the toughest conferences in the country. Playing against now NBA stars Derrick Rose, Sherron Collins, Patrick Beverly and Jerome Randle. He became of the top point guards not only in the state but the country.

He earned a full scholarship to University of Central Florida where he started all four years and became one of the top point guards in college basketball despite only being 5'7.

Rompza’s stats include earning top 10 in steals in the country, top 15 assists in the country and led UCF to a number 15 ranking in college basketball; the first time that UCF was ever ranked in basketball. Rompza played professionally overseas then moved back to Chicago to help in the family restaurant business.

In 2019 he moved to Los Angeles to inspire and motivate more people throughout the world. He’s on a journey to reach over a billion people through the game of basketball and hard work. Some of his clients have included Adam Levine, Kevin Hart, Master P, Iman Shumpert, Russ, Skyy Clark.

In 2025 he published M1NDSET a book of quotes to help people stay motivated everyday! Follow him on all social media outlets @arompza3 for daily inspiration!

In this episode Rompza discusses how he believed in himself at a young age even when people around him told him he couldn’t, shouldn’t, or won’t. His will to never give up as a basketball player since the age of three, transformed him into the thirty-six year old man he is today spreading love to everyone he comes in contact with. AJ’s positive energy is contagious and will motivate you to achieve your dreams and goals by believing in yourself!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

Robbie Shaw is a former basketball player and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Southern Maine.

Shaw has spent the last decade working with families and individuals who battle various levels of addiction. Since gaining a foothold in the podcast space, he opened up a content production studio, called EVRYBDY Studios, and spends his time helping organizations and individuals tell their stories.

He feels that the many opportunities he has had to work with others continues to inform the techniques and strategies used to educate, guide and inspire clients.

In this episode, Robbie shares his experience, strength, and hope as a man in long term recovery raising a sixteen-year-old daughter with his wife, the development of his wildly successful podcast Champagne Problems, and the creation of EVRYBDY Studios, a premium content and podcast studio.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

Cohen Miles-Rath is a fellow social worker, speaker, and mental health advocate whose nearly fatal mental health crisis transformed his life and clarified his purpose: to strengthen our mental health systems and deepen our collective understanding of mental illness and recovery. He’s the author of Mending Reality: An Advocate’s Existential Journey with Mental Health.

I learned about Cohen listening to his episode as guest on Armchair Expert Podcast sharing his experience, strength, and hope. Not only is his story utterly incredible, but the reach he had on this platform to educate the general public about mental health and how to help someone is astounding!

In this episode Cohen vulnerably discusses mental health along a spectrum, managing schizoaffective symptoms, substance misuse, family dynamics, the importance of peer support, becoming a father, and his mission as a macro level social worker.

To learn more or book him for speaking engagements click on his website below.

https://cohenmilesrath.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com

Christie Tate is an essayist and author who writes creative nonfiction and memoir. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Group, which was a Reese’s Book Club selection and has been translated into 19 languages. She is also the author of B.F.F.-- A Memoir of Friendship Lost & Found. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and elsewhere. Her essays have been nominated for Puschcart Prizes, and Kiese Laymon selected her essay, Promised Lands, as the winner of the New Ohio Review’s 2019 nonfiction contest. She writes about addiction, eating disorders, friendship, alienation, recovery, and her Grandma’s farm in Forreston, Texas. She grew up in Dallas and now lives in Chicago with her family. She has finally stopped telling people that she graduated first in her law school class. Please don’t hate her because she has no pets.

In this episode Christie shares her experience, strength, and hope as a woman in recovery from an eating disorder, the daily tools she uses rooted in a spiritual practice, and the world’s obsession with being thin through the use of GLP-1’s especially for middle aged women, who don’t medically need it. Tate’s book’s are deeply relatable, vulnerable, and offer a refreshing perspective on how we move through this one precious life.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kelleykitley.substack.com