The Kelley Kitley Podcast

Gabby is programmed in Kelley’s phone as “Queen Softball Mom.” Her partner is an assistant softball coach on their daughters team and gets sh*t done, at the softball fields and in daily life.

After a season of their daughters playing together, it wasn’t until nationals at the end of the season that they really got to know each other. Another parent mentioned they were both social workers and immediately, their relationship deepened and the flood gates opened. They connected professionally as well as on a personal level discussing how addiction ran in both of their families. How often do we see the same people in our communities that become routine interactions? One open ended question can bring two people together from totally different backgrounds. We are more alike than we are different.

When Chicago became a frequent news headline and neighborhoods were being brutally invaded by ICE, Kitley reached out to Gabby who works with patients in Latino communities to discuss the fear they were living in and what people with privilege can do to help.

Gabby is a proud Chicago (as her instagram bio says, south south south side!) native. At 17, Gabby’s teacher told her she just ruined her life when she found out she was pregnant as a senior in high school. Her internal response? “I’m a straight A student, I’m the top of my class, watch me!” 6 weeks after she gave birth, she started her freshman year of college at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a full ride and went on to earn her masters at The Jane Addams College of Social Work. Today she’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker treating patients in immigrant communities in Chicago.

In this episode, Gabby shares her experience as a Chicago native, her journey as a teen mom, (her daughter is now 13!) who was raised by a teen mom, her resilience and perseverance, and her path to becoming a social worker. Gabby works in primarily Latino communities and sheds light on what it’s like for her clients, living in fear of ICE and how they can get the help they need.

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: https://www.icirr.org/fsn

Health Services for pregnant teens: Rush Adolescent Family Center: https://www.rush.edu/locations/rush-adolescent-family-center

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

“Top U.S. health officials urged pregnant women not to use acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, claiming it could cause autism, though studies have been inconclusive.” NYT

Dr. Cira shares passionate opinions, backed by scientific evidence, about last week’s dangerous and false headlines released by The Trump Administration. Not only is Dr. Cira an expert in the field, she identifies as Queer, Neurodivergent and a Trauma Survivor. In this episode, Dr. Cira educates listeners about ADHD & Autism: From Struggle to Superpower, Tylenol, Autism, and Evolutionary Myths, How the Education System is Archaic, and becomes emotional talking about, “We Are Not Broken”: Defending Autism Identity.

“Dr. Colleen Cira is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Nationally Recognized Trauma Expert and the Founder and Executive Director of both Cira Center for Behavioral Health, PC (CCBH) and Cira Center Consulting, LLC (CCC). CCBH is a group practice with locations in Chicago and Oak Park that serves the age and gender spectrum and specializes in Trauma and Women’s Issues/Health. CCC is a Consulting Agency that strives to unburden women and therapists so that they are able to design the practice and/or life of their dreams.

Dr. Cira received both her Masters and Doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and has been practicing in the field since 2001. She is a highly sought after national trauma expert who has appeared in dozens of publications, podcasts, live news, and radio including NBC, ABC, US News and World Report, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Suntimes, Fast Company, Real Simple, Reader’s Digest, Yahoo! Lifestyle, Slate, and Bustle among others. Dr. Cira was also named one of the “Top 100 Women in Chicago Making a Difference” by Today’s Chicago Woman. Dr. Cira is a trauma and anxiety expert, clinical supervisor, writer, speaker, consultant, activist, wife and mommy.

Colleen identifies as Queer, Neurodivergent and a Trauma Survivor. The totality of these identities mean that she has felt different, broken and like an imposter most of her life. It is only when she created Cira Center for Behavioral Health did she begin to take back her power, learn to accept and love herself and fundamentally change the course of her life. Colleen’s intent in sharing this information is to provide hope. It is often easy to look at the facade of someone’s life and assume so many things: they are successful, have a perfect marriage, an easy life, etc. Colleen feels called to interrupt this cycle of comparison and shame by being more open and honest about the struggle that is often there, just behind the scenes. Colleen hopes you can see your own difficulties in her story and that you know that only when we wholeheartedly embrace who we truly are, can we get to the other side of our pain. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope we can help you start to see it for yourself.”

Local resource for therapy, medication, advocacy, and education: Cira Center for Behavioral Health: a group practice with locations in Chicago and Oak Park that serves the age and gender spectrum and specializes in Trauma and Women’s Issues/Health. https://ciracenter.org/about-ccbh/

Follow Dr. Colleen Cira on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Substack for more empowering and educational content.

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

September is National Recovery Month and Deaf Awareness Month. Beth Leipholtz uses her platform (she’s an on-line sensation with millions of followers) as an advocate, educator, and hope dealer through her personal experience as a young woman in long-term recovery and raising a deaf child, Coop.

In this episode we discuss getting sober at the age of 20, how she uncovered her son’s rare diagnosis with full sensorineural hearing loss in both ears as a result of Waardenburg Syndrome, cochlear implants, the beloved “car chats” and Coop starting kindergarten!

Beth shared her story on The Kelly Clarkson Show with Coop, when he needed a break from his mom by taking off his cochlear implants.

Pre-order (Releases 9/30!) The ABC’s of Inclusion: A Disability Inclusion Book For Kids https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316586692?tag=hacboogrosit-20

Education, Resources, and Inspiration ‘Raising a Deaf Child Bilingually’ https://bethandcoop.com/

A blog about entering recovery at a young age, fitness, and relationships. https://lifetobecontinued.com/

Follow Beth +Coop on instagram @beth_and_coop

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 this episode, Dr. John Duffy-renowned expert, specializing in treating boys and men and Kelley discuss raising kids in today’s landscape of social media, sex, drugs, and isolation. Duffy writes a weekly substack that will challenge your thinking and encourage you to take action. Subscribe Dr. John Duffy!

Kitley refers to Dr. D as the GOAT of therapists. He’s as real as they come, tells it like it is, while using an empathic and humorous approach with his clients and their parents. He listens deeply and feels a responsibility to educate parents by way of national speaking engagements and TV appearances about how we can better understand and help our kids.

You’ll walk away from this episode with practical tools you can start using TODAY, to develop a deeper connection with your kids and yourself! He’s a tremendous resource available NOW.

https://drjohnduffy.com/

Author of ‘Rescuing Our Sons’, ‘Parenting The New Teen In The Age of Anxiety’, ‘The Available Parent’

As seen as an expert on Steve Harvey, The Kelly Clarkson Show, TODAY, WGN, News Nation, TMJ4 The Morning Blend and hundreds more!

2016: Kelley and John after a taping on Duffy’s former podcast.

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 this episode, we discuss the climb of her career, grit and resilience, aging parents, raising kids, marriage, living the American dream and having faith that everything will work out. Her parent’s believed this to their core, as refugees from Vietnam, with her in tow at 6 months old.

Vicky Nguyen has over twenty-five years of experience as a journalist. She started her career locally at Central Florida News and for the last six years has been chief correspondent and anchor at a national level at NBC News in NYC.

You can catch Vicky anchoring on NBC News Now (streaming) NBC News Daily M-F 12-2pm ET. She’s also frequently on TODAY as a trusted chief consumer investigative correspondent. Her NYT best selling memoir, ‘Boat Baby’ can be purchased on link. https://www.amazon.com/Boat-Baby-Memoir-Vicky-Nguyen/dp/1668025566

It’s laugh out loud funny, especially for those of us who grew up in the 80’s.

Learn more at www.vickynguyen.com or follow Vicky on instagram: @vickynguyent

2023: Kelley and Vicky after a live segment on NBC News Daily.

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

LZ Granderson famed for a "Hero for Living Life Openly." Becoming a father at the age of 22, his work as a minister in the church, coming out as queer, and last year publicly disclosing he had been living with HIV. He creates amazing content across platforms as a journalist, to change the conversation about politics, sports, and culture.

In this episode Kelley and JZ discuss lessons in authenticity, breaking barriers, “coming out” for his son’s integrity, marriage, practicing the Exodus program to “pray the gay away,” spirituality, living with HIV, and of course, basketball.

TED Talk: “The myth of the gay agenda” Nearly 2 million views https://www.ted.com/talks/lz_granderson_the_myth_of_the_gay_agenda

The LZ Granderson Show: https://thelzgrandersonshow.org/

Instagram: LZ Granderson

Los Angeles Times columnist: https://www.latimes.com/people/lz-granderson

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 this episode Sr. Nancy talks about her mission work as a transgender advocate. She has a magnanimous gift of holding space with an open heart and an open mind. She encourages us to do the same and teaches us how. Sr. Nancy was a former high school teacher of Kelley’s. She saw something in her that she didn't see in herself and set the foundation for her life's work in social justice.

Sister Nancy Corcoran was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire but raised in Brookline, Massachusetts. After graduating from Regis College (Weston, Massachusetts), she taught as a lay apostle at St. Joseph’s School (Waipahu, Oahu) with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet from 1966 to 1969. Sister Nancy entered the novitiate of the St. Louis province in 1970.

Sister Nancy taught in St. Louis at St. Agnes and Holy Name grade schools (1971-77) and at the Consortium of Broome County Catholic Schools in Binghamton, New York. From 1979 to 1982, she served as the director of Volunteer Services at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis.

She then headed south and established the Lowndes County Catholic Centers in Hayneville and in Gordonsville, Alabama (1982-1988). From 1988 to 1989, she was asked to set up the Excel Literacy Program in Okolona, Mississippi.

Sister Nancy graduated from Harvard Divinity School with a master’s in theological studies. In 1991, she began chaplaincy ministry at Regina Dominican High School (Wilmette, Illinois) and then at Regis College, her alma mater. While she was in Boston caring for her mother, Sister Nancy created grass/roots: Women’s Spirituality Center, which she directed until 2007 when she became the Catholic chaplain at Wellesley College. During her tenure at the college, she also accepted the position of provincial councilor for the St. Louis province (2008-14).

Throughout a two-year sabbatical (2015-17), Sister Nancy explored ministry with transgender, gender expansive and intersex humans. Today, she joyfully ministers with LGBTQIA+ communities in the metro St. Louis area.

Study has also blessed Sister Nancy's life at University of Hawaii, St. Louis University, Martin Center (now University), the Mexican American Cultural Center, Boston College, the Institute of Black Catholic Studies and Dar al Islam. She is grateful to have chosen to be a Sister of St. Joseph over 50 years ago.

TransParent envisions a world that honors and affirms the naturally occurring transgender experience. Our mission is to bring compassionate support to parents and caregivers navigating complex issues faced by their gender-expansive children of any age.

Resource for families: https://transparentusa.org/

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 this episode, Kate and Kelley discuss her lifelong career in journalism and the phenomenal mental health stories she covers. Kate’s been a long time SHERO of Kitley’s as an advocate for mental health, using her national platform to educate and shine light on stories that often go unnoticed and untold. Usually, Kate is the one interviewing Kelley, as a regular contributor on her show, NBC News Daily. It was a dream come true for her to interview Kate Snow!

Kate has a vested interest in telling these stories as she lost her father-in-law to suicide in 2010. We discuss how she keeps his memory alive, recognizing depressive symptoms of a loved one, acknowledging, it’s okay to ask if someone may be having thoughts of suicide, and how to talk to kids about losing a loved one to suicide.

In her free time, Kate sings in a band! Check out her music on Spotify. You can catch her anchoring Monday- Friday, 2-4pm ET on NBC News Now anywhere you stream.

Follow Kate on @tvkatesnow on all social platforms for more inspiration.

2023: Kelley and Kate after a live segment on NBC News Daily.

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 this episode, Anthony shares his experience, strength, and hope as a man with 16 years in addiction recovery. He’s dedicated his life to traveling around the country to talk to young people about mental health, addiction recovery, and the power of owning your story. On May 17th, 2020, Anthony lost his 17 year old son Gavyn, to an accidental drug overdose. He shares his pain through grief and loss of losing a child as well as his commitment to carrying out his mission in Gavyn’s honor. Just three months ago, Anthony, his fiance Nadine, and their 21 month old son Aidyn, moved form Wisconsin to Florida to fulfill some of their life long dreams and a desire to continue evolving. He wants everyone to know:

* You’re not alone.

* You’re allowed to ask for help.

* You matter.

Anthony Alvarado is a speaker, coach, and founder who has spent over a decade helping people feel seen, heard, and empowered to lead change. As the co-founder of RISE TOGETHER, his youth-driven work has reached over 300,000 students and adults across 25+ states — combining peer-led education, storytelling, and research to spark real impact. Through his coaching and facilitation work, Anthony helps leaders, creatives, and changemakers reconnect with their purpose, release burnout, and reset the story they're living in. Whether on stage or in small group circles, his mission remains the same: to create spaces where healing, leadership, and hope can grow.

https://www.anthonyalvarado.com/

https://weallrisetogether.org/about-us/

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 this episode, Kelley catches Jen in the thick of her newly launched book, "Proof of Life' tour, which just hit #1 on Amazon's New Release list. (Also Author of 'On Being Human') In this episode, Jen candidly and hilariously talks about rejecting society's timeline pressures, shame, disappointment and wanting more, quieting our inner as*hole, grief, and so much more!

Jen Pastiloff travels the world with her unique workshop “On Being Human,” a hybrid of yoga related movement, writing, sharing out loud, letting the snot fly, and the occasional dance party. Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, calls Jen “a conduit of awakenings.” Jen has been featured on Good Morning America, New York Magazine, Health Magazine, CBS News and more for her unique style of teaching, which she has taught to thousands of women in sold-out workshops all over the world. Bring a journal, and open heart and the willingness to grow open and stronger for her workshops.

Jen Pastiloff travels the world with her unique workshop “On Being Human,” a hybrid of yoga related movement, writing, sharing out loud, letting the snot fly, and the occasional dance party. Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, calls Jen “a conduit of awakenings.” Jen has been featured on Good Morning America, New York Magazine, Health Magazine, CBS News and more for her unique style of teaching, which she has taught to thousands of women in sold-out workshops all over the world. Bring a journal, and open heart and the willingness to grow open and stronger for her workshops.

Jen Pastiloff website: https://jenniferpastiloff.com TEDx Ojai: 'Nothing You Do is Wrong'

Purchase 'Proof of Life' https://www.amazon.com/Proof-Life-Love-Looking-Permission/dp/0593474074

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