In this episode, I am talking with Sam Mitchell, which is like getting a clearer, more honest look at what autism really feels like — not through assumptions or clinical language, but through lived experience. In this episode, Sam shares how he learned to embrace who he is, stop people‑pleasing, and build a life that reflects his strengths, his structure, and his creativity.

He opens up about navigating social cues, managing anxiety, finding work, and building his podcast and nonprofit, Autism Rocks and Rolls. Sam’s perspective is direct, refreshing, and deeply human. He reminds us that autism isn’t something to fix — it’s a different way of thinking, creating, and moving through the world.

This conversation challenges us to look past the surface, to slow down, and to treat people with more kindness and curiosity. Sam doesn’t just talk about authenticity — he lives it. And his story encourages all of us to show up a little more honestly in our own lives.

Connect with Sam:

Website: autismrocksandrolls.com

Podcast: Autism Rocks and Rolls on all platforms

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Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Where We Rise, Khalila sits down with April Ratchford, an autistic occupational therapist, mother, and host of Adulting With Autism. April shares her story of being late diagnosed, raising a neurodivergent son, and navigating a world that offers very little support for autistic teens transitioning into adulthood.

April opens up about her son’s journey—from early signs of autism, to years of misdiagnosis, to failing out of college at 19, and eventually finding a university that understands how neurodivergent students learn best. She explains why so many autistic adults struggle after high school, how cultural bias impacts diagnosis, and what families really need to know about college, independence, and maturity.

April reframes autism not as a deficit, but as a different way of experiencing the world — and her insight will challenge you to rethink how you show up for neurodivergent people in your life.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to understand autism more deeply, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and hope.

Connect with April:

Website: AdultingwithAutism.com

Podcast: Adulting With Autism on all platforms

           Episodes to check out 

                  Marshall University with Mindy

                  Overcoming the wall of awful - 7/27

                  Missed AdHD, masking and burnout - 7/15

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise. 

Author Nicole Hope Sylvester joins Khalila to unpack the science and self‑awareness behind stress, overwhelm, and emotional regulation. Nicole’s “jar of marbles” metaphor reveals how the body stores unprocessed emotions and stress signals until we reach a breaking point — and how learning to release those marbles can transform your mental and physical well‑being.

This episode dives into the human operating system, nervous system basics, survival mode, beliefs formed in childhood, and why calm is a skill you can train. Nicole explains how stress is actually data from the body, and how understanding that data helps you respond better, think clearer, and live more authentically.

Perfect for anyone navigating burnout, anxiety, emotional overload, or the desire to rise into a healthier version of themselves.

Connect with Nicole: 

Book on Amazon: Calm Is Power: How to Stop Overthinking, Reduce Stress and Respond Better to Life

Instagram: nhopes10

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Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise. 

Turning 40 is a milestone — and in this special birthday episode, Khalila McCoy reflects on the seven life lessons that have shaped her across four decades. From putting God first to redefining identity beyond career to embracing lifelong learning and unexpected wisdom from travel, this episode is honest, heartfelt, and full of growth.

Joined by her husband, DJ McCoy, Khalila shares personal stories about faith, teaching, burnout, rediscovery, trying new things, and the powerful life lessons from a service trip to Mexico as a teenager. Together, they explore how experiences — big and small — shape who we become and how we rise.

If you’re navigating your own season of reflection, transition, or self‑discovery, this episode will encourage you to look at your life with gratitude, curiosity, and hope. It’s real, uplifting, and full of the warmth that defines Where We Rise.

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Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise. 

Dating coach Lilli Bewley joins Khalila for a powerful conversation about healing dating patterns, attracting aligned love, and becoming the woman God created you to be. Lilli shares how her inside‑out approach helps smart, successful women break cycles of people‑pleasing, over‑achieving, and abandoning their needs in relationships. Together, they explore feminine dating archetypes, root‑cause wounds, boundary‑setting, and why so many women feel unseen, unheard, or misunderstood in love.

Lilli opens up about her own journey—from unhealthy relationship patterns and trauma to becoming the “magnetic woman” who finally attracted the safest, most aligned partner she’s ever known. She explains why dating often feels like a roller coaster, how subconscious beliefs shape who we choose, and what it takes to call in a healthy, committed relationship.

Whether you’re dating, healing from past relationships, or simply learning to show up as your whole self, this episode offers deep insight, practical guidance, and a refreshing perspective on love. Khalila and Lilli also have some fun exploring the fictional “Kate,” a made‑up friend navigating modern dating challenges.

If you’re ready to transform your dating experience, understand your patterns, or reconnect with your worth, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Lilli:

Website: www.lillibewley.com

Instagram: @lillibewley

Podcast: The Lilli Bewley Podcast

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Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise. 

In this episode, Khalila sits down with Coach Tammy Nicole — a licensed clinician with 22 years in the mental health field who now coaches high‑capacity women navigating people‑pleasing, emotional labor, overfunctioning, and identity loss. Tammy shares how many women lose themselves by living out the identities others choose for them, and why reclaiming your voice begins with learning to love, validate, and trust yourself.

Together, they talk about the cost of doing everything for everyone else, how childhood messages shape adult behavior, and why “who you are shows up everywhere” — in your work, relationships, parenting, and leadership. Tammy breaks down the difference between therapy and coaching, the power of boundaries, and why keeping your word to yourself is the foundation of self‑trust.

This conversation is full of analogies, wisdom, and practical guidance for anyone ready to stop overfunctioning and start coming back home to themselves.

Connect with Coach Tammy Nicole

Instagram: @iamtammynicole 

Loving Me Before I Love You Podcast

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Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Where We Rise, Khalila sits down with award‑winning author and world traveler Meg Stafford to explore how curiosity, courage, and connection shape a life of adventure. Meg shares the stories behind her book Who Will Accompany You?, the travels that shaped her, and the journeys her daughters took that stretched her heart in new ways.

You’ll hear Meg reflect on:

• The curiosity that led her around the world
• What it felt like to leave her 17‑year‑old daughter at a monastery in Nepal
• The fear and pride of watching her older daughter accompany peace communities in Colombia
• Why travel helps her “breathe more deeply” and reconnect with herself
• How hiking and biking offer a slower, richer way to experience a place
• Why you don’t have to cross the world to feel the magic of exploration

Meg reminds us that travel doesn’t have to be far to be meaningful — “there’s plenty of it close to home.” Whether you’re dreaming of mountains, oceans, or your nearest state park, this conversation will inspire you to look for wonder wherever you are.

Connect with Meg

Website: www.megstafford.com

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Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise. 

In this special group episode of Where We Rise, we’re talking all things marriage — the beauty, the challenges, the growth, and the daily choice to love. I’m joined by four incredible women from my former fourth‑grade teaching team as we sit down for a marriage roundtable filled with honesty, laughter, and real‑life wisdom.

Together, we explore how our definition of love evolves, what it means to stay committed through different seasons, how to navigate hard moments, and why choosing your spouse every day matters. From newlyweds to those with 30+ years of marriage, this conversation brings a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and heartfelt truths.

Whether you’re in the honeymoon phase, fighting for your marriage, or wondering what love looks like long‑term, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and the reminder that you’re not alone and you can do this!

15 Questions About Marriage

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Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

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Why do we get stuck, lose motivation, or avoid the very things we say we want? In this powerful episode, international speaker and author Kam Knight breaks down the psychology of internal resistance — the hidden mental blocks that keep us from taking action, reaching our goals, and living out our purpose.

Kam explains how internal resistance shows up as fear, procrastination, perfectionism, over‑planning, avoidance, or constantly jumping from idea to idea. He shares why the brain can create a desire and simultaneously stop us from pursuing it, and how deeper patterns like habits, comfort zones, authority issues, and identity shape our behavior without us realizing it.

You’ll learn:

• What internal resistance really is
• How the brain blocks progress even when you’re motivated
• Why fear, avoidance, and distraction are symptoms — not the root cause
• How childhood patterns and subconscious beliefs influence your actions
• Practical steps to overcome resistance and move forward

Kam doesn’t leave us with excuses — he gives clear, actionable strategies to help you break through mental blocks and finally take the steps you’ve been avoiding.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I just do the thing?” this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your mind and how to rise above it.

Khalila's Self-Talk Statement

 “My home is a calm, organized space. Everything has a place it belongs, and I take a moment to put things back. Even when life feels full, I slow down and choose order, keeping my mind and spirit clear.” 

What do you think? Share yours here!

Connect with Kam

website: KamKnight.com

email: [email protected]

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Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

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Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise. 

In this conversation, Erica Lynn shares her journey of finding purpose through podcasting and motivational speaking. She discusses the importance of overcoming adversity, the techniques for healing, and the role of personal growth. Erica emphasizes the need for honesty, for building a support system, and for protecting one's peace, while encouraging listeners to pursue their passions and not be afraid to ask for help.

Connect with Erica: 

YouTube: Erica Lynn Speaks

Website: iamaricalynnspeaks.com

Instagram: @ericalynnspeaks

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Don't forget to rate and review  — it helps our community rise.