The Kelley Kitley Podcast

Nikki Soda owns Sodas Consulting with her husband Jim and is a highly accomplished advocate and strategic marketer with a strong background in the behavioral health field. She possesses an MS in Addiction Policy from Georgetown University and has amassed 10 years of experience in this domain.

In this episode Nikki shares her experience, strength, and hope as a woman in long term recovery, recently celebrating 22 years alcohol and drug free. She’s made it her life’s mission to help other’s achieve sobriety. With a wealth of knowledge acquired from working on both the front end and back end of treatment, Nikki possesses a deep understanding of systems and outcome tracking.

Passionate about advocacy and public policy, Nikki actively engages in volunteering and community initiatives to make a meaningful impact. Previously serving as the Director of Membership and State Advocacy for the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), she leverages her expertise to lead productive discussions with industry leaders and conducts comprehensive tours of treatment centers nationwide. Through these experiences, she has gained a profound understanding of the substance use disorder treatment landscape.

Nikki has excelled in various leadership roles, including Director of Business Development and Marketing for renowned treatment facilities. In addition, she has overseen multiple alumni programs while serving on the board of the Treatment Professionals and Alumni Services. Her diverse responsibilities in creating and managing a treatment center start-up have honed her skills in admissions, policy development, procedure implementation, and business growth.

As a result, Nikki has built an impressive reputation and is frequently sought after for client placement recommendations.

Residing in Jupiter, FL, Nikki enjoys a spending time with her husband, 14 year old daughter, and their Great Dane, Sophie.

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

Rosemary O’Connor is the Founder of A Sober Mom’s Guide to Recovery, a consultant for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, and a leading pioneer, expert, and spokesperson on mothers, children, and addiction. Rosemary has a B.A. in psychology. She is also a Certified Professional Coach, a Certified Addiction Coach, and a Certified She-Recovers Coach.

O’Connor is a woman in long- term recovery with twenty-six years of sobriety. She’s helped thousands of people recover from addiction via her speaking engagements, workshops, private coaching sessions, and media interviews. In response to the unaddressed needs mothers have in recovery, Rosemary wrote A Sober Mom’s Guide to Recovery - Taking Care of Yourself to Take Care of Your Kids and When All Else Fails Drink Coffee-For Women Who Are Overworked, Underpaid, and Too Tired to Get Laid.

In this episode Rosemary and Kelley discuss getting sober with young children, recovering out loud in hope other mom’s may see themselves in their stories, writing books, and modeling positive behavior for their kids.

Rosemary’s greatest joy is being a sober mother of three amazing adult children and now as a grandmother. She loves to hike and swim in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her favorite pastime is to travel to any beach, put her toes in the sand, and listen to the sound of the waves.

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

“A gripping, firsthand story of personal triumph and recovery by a wealthy American housewife who appeared to have it all but who was, in reality, losing life’s most important moments in an alcohol-induced haze.” (Hazeldon Betty Ford, publisher)

Brenda Wilhelmson was like a lot of women in her neighborhood. She had a husband and two children. She was educated and made a good living as a writer. She had a vibrant social life with a tight circle of friends. She could party until dawn and take her children to school the next day. From the outside, she appeared to have it all together. But, in truth, alcohol was slowly taking over, turning her world on its side.

Waking up to another hangover, growing tired of embarrassing herself in front of friends and family, and feeling important moments slip away, Brenda made the most critical decision of her life: to get sober. She kept a diary of her first year (and beyond) in recovery, chronicling the struggles of finding a meeting she could look forward to, relating to her fellow alcoholics, and finding a sponsor with whom she connected. Along the way, she discovered the challenges and pleasures of living each day without alcohol, navigating a social circle where booze is a centerpiece, and dealing with her alcoholic father’s terminal illness and denial.

Brenda Wilhelmson’s Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife offers insight, wisdom, and relevance for listeners in recovery, as well as their loved ones, no matter how long they’ve been sober. Winner of a Bronze IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Awards), Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife was called out by the Today Show as “striking a nerve” in 2011.

In this episode Kelley and Brenda discuss being women in long term recovery, (Brenda is 23 years sober!) raising children, marriage, divorce, the importance of community, and her transition from a suburb of Chicago to Taos, New Mexico where she continues to evolve in her spiritual journey.

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

Casey McGuire Davidson is a life and sobriety coach and host of the Top 100 Mental Health Podcast, The Hello Someday Podcast for sober curious women and gray area drinkers. Casey helps busy women quit drinking and create lives they love without alcohol. She’s a wife, a mom, a practical dreamer, retired corporate ladder climber, recovering people-pleaser and ex-red wine drinker, who’s been known to crawl into bed at 9 pm and whisper “Don’t worry…you’re still a badass” to herself.

Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, The New York Times, HuffPost, NPR, NBC News, CNBC + over 100 sobriety, wellness and mental health podcasts.

In this episode Casey shares her journey as a high achieving woman in corporate America who loved red wine. Being a drinker was her identity. What started as a 100 day alcohol free challenge after too many 3am wake ups and intense anxiety has turned into ten years of sobriety and a business helping other women who are stuck in a drinking cycle. Davidson and Kitley discuss what it’s like being married to your best friend who was also your drinking buddy, who still drinks, and raising teenagers. The choice to live a life alcohol free strengthened these relationships more than they ever could have imagined.

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

Alysse Bryson is almost 20 years sober!! She’s an award-winning media executive, founder, and cultural voice redefining modern sobriety. Through The Sober Curator, she built a global platform that’s reached over 1.1 million people seeking to live boldly in recovery.In this episode Alysse shares her experience, strength, and hope as a woman in long term recovery, how she used to identify as a “professional drinker,” until Alcoholics Anonymous saved her life and her commitment to helping others along the way. She uses a humorous, tell it like it is approach to living a life full of adventure.

Her mission is to show others that sobriety doesn’t have to be dull or restrictive. Her commitment to providing exciting and informative content with her team is designed to help people stay motivated and engaged in their journey to a sober lifestyle.Getting sober is hard enough; finding fun and informative recovery content shouldn’t have to be.

To learn more about Alysse Bryson, her TEDx Talk, The Sober Curator podcast, pop culture, events, and more, visit her website.

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

Heather Lowe, BSW, CPRC, CPC, CFAA-HR, PHR started Ditched the Drink because she knows what it feels like to look successful on the outside while feeling stuck in unhealthy patterns on the inside. She was filled with feelings, doubts, and questions too.There’s nothing wrong with you if alcohol feels different now. These are signals, not failures, and they’re pointing you toward another way.

In this episode Heather shares her “sober experiments” that ultimately led to living a beautiful life in sobriety. She says “mocktails are the gateway drug to living the most radical life” and she built a business to help other women evaluate their relationship with alcohol and teaches the power of pause. As a Certified Professional Life + Sobriety Coach (and a former corporate leader who’s walked this same road), Lowe built this space to help smart, successful women create clarity, confidence, and freedom, without labels, pressure, or shame.Heather’s launching Sober Spring on 4/1, a 90-day guided experience to help you feel confident in yourself, steady in social situations, and ready for the best summer of your life. She also provides 1:1 coaching, corporate speaking, hosts Peripetia Podcast and so much more! To learn more about how she can be helpful to you on your sober curious journey or visit her website www.ditchedthedrink.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

If you have pre-teen/teenage children, this is a MUST listen!

In this episode, Kelley and Emma discuss what lead to her suicide attempt, her recovery both mentally and physically, how she takes care of her mental health today, and her beautiful purpose driven life.

Emma Benoit is a Mental Health Advocate and Suicide Attempt Survivor who is an uplifting, nationally recognized speaker who became extremely passionate about suicide prevention after surviving a suicide attempt in 2017, the summer before her senior year of high school. At the time, she was a popular varsity cheerleader with a supportive family and lots of friends, but quietly struggled with anxiety and depression, too ashamed to share her pain with family or friends. Her attempt resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed but helped her find faith and purpose and propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience and miraculous recovery to help others.

MY ASCENSION is an inspiring documentary about Emma’s story, and includes firsthand experiences of families, friends, school officials, and suicide prevention experts. The film does not shy away from the difficult realities of the ongoing youth suicide crisis, but shares valuable resources to help keep teens safe.

You can learn more about booking her for speaking engagements and viewing the film at www.emmaspeaks.org

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, help is available. Call or text 988, or chat via 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained counselors are available 24/7, free and confidential.

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

Carla Sosenko is the author of I’ll Look So Hot in a Coffin: and Other Thoughts I Used to Have About My Body, US Weekly executive editor at large, whose work has appeared in New York Times, Time Out New York, (where she was editor in chief), Entertainment Weekly, (where she was executive editor), Cosmopolitan, and other publications.

In this episode Kitley and Cosenko discuss her “unconventional body” born with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, diet culture-including the use of GLP1, and not commenting on other people’s bodies, unless they ask!

In a world consumed with shrinking our bodies, Carla’s memoir is candid and funny as she describes her self image, mental health, relationships, and ambitions.

To learn more about Carla Sosenko, visit her website.

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

It’s March 1st and Social Work Month! I’m a proud social worker who’s been in the field for the past twenty-five years. I’m grateful to my fellow social workers who show up everyday to make a difference in the lives of others.

One month from today, on April 1st, in honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, I’ll be releasing the 2nd edition of MY self: An Autobiography of Survival, Recovery, & Empowerment. As a woman in long term recovery (13 years on March 10th) and a pioneer in the sober curious movement, it’s time for an update.

The 2nd edition includes the landscape of the sober curious movement, pathways to recovery, parenting four teenagers as a sober mom, the death of my dad, and resources to explore your own sober curious journey.

Links to purchase MY self: An Autobiography of Survival, Recovery, & Empowerment in hardcover, paperback, and audible, coming soon. Stay tuned!

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

Joan Lunden is one of America's most trusted and beloved broadcasters, best known for her iconic role as the longtime host of Good Morning America where she inspired millions each morning with her warmth, intelligence, and authenticity.

She’s also a NYT Best-Selling author off 11 books, speaker, health advocate, and THE eternal optimist. She’s a wife, mom of 7, and grandma (JoJo) to 4 grandchildren.

This episode will inspire you to keep showing up and to dream big, no matter your age or circumstance. Lunden is a trailblazer who broke glass ceilings for women and working moms in a male dominated field. We discuss her forthcoming memoir JOAN: Life Beyond the Script to be released on March 3, 2026, behind the scenes intel that didn’t make it into the book, life in the public eye, journalism, relationships and parenting!

You don’t want to miss an opportunity to connect with Joan Lunden. Her positive energy is contagious. Check out her website, www.joanlunden.com as she heads out on book tour.

Joan Lunden’s books include: Why Did I Come into This Room: A Candid Conversation About Aging / Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival / Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregiving / Growing Up Healthy: Protecting Your Child from Diseases Now Through Adulthood / Wake-Up Calls; Making the Most Out of Every Day / A Bend in the Road is Not the End of the Road; 10 Positive Principles for Dealing with Change / Joan Lunden’s Healthy Living; A practical, inspirational guide to creating balance in your life / Joan Lunden’s Healthy Cooking / and Good Morning, I’m Joan Lunden.

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