Where We Rise

Heather Baker joins Where We Rise to share a deeply personal journey marked by infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and the stillbirth of her daughter, Blakely. In this conversation, Heather opens up about the emotional, physical, and spiritual layers of loss — and the slow, courageous work of rebuilding life afterward.

Through her story, listeners will hear how grief reshapes identity, how community can hold you through the unthinkable, and how healing often begins with a single step rather than a clear path. Heather’s honesty offers comfort to anyone navigating their own version of loss, and her resilience reminds us that even in the darkest seasons, hope still finds a way forward.

This episode honors Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss Awareness Month and is dedicated to every parent who carries the memory of a child in their heart. You are seen. You are loved. You are not alone.

Connect with Heather:

Instagram: allthingswithheatherb_

Books:

Us After Loss: A Compassionate Path to Healing, Holding On, and Doing Hard Things Together (Amazon)

Stay Pretty, Be Quiet: The Courage to Speak When Silence Was Expected (Amazon)

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

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

CONTENT WARNING —  This episode includes discussion of abuse, attempted murder, trauma, and experiences in war zones. These topics may be sensitive for some listeners. Please take care as you listen. 

What does it look like to hold onto hope when life keeps throwing you into the fire? In this episode, Jennifer Summers shares a journey marked by danger, trauma, and moments that would shake anyone’s sense of security. Through every chapter, her faith is the thread that never breaks. Jenna talks about the God she trusts, the prayers that carried her, and the quiet ways she’s seen grace show up when everything around her felt impossible.

Her experiences span continents, crises, and seasons of deep uncertainty, yet her perspective remains rooted in a steady belief that God is good — not because her life has been smooth, but because she’s witnessed light in places most people only see darkness. Whether you share her faith, come from a different belief system, or are still figuring out what you believe, Jenna’s story offers a powerful reminder of what it means to endure, to rebuild, and to find meaning in the middle of chaos.

This conversation invites you to reflect on your own strength, your own grounding, and the ways hope can rise in the most unlikely circumstances. It’s a story that challenges, inspires, and stays with you long after the episode ends.

Connect with Jenna:

website: jennifersummersus.org

email: [email protected]

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

When Jeff Kolez found himself facing a divorce that shook every part of his identity, he began a long journey of examining the patterns, beliefs, and habits that shaped his life. In this episode, Jeff shares how losing almost everything forced him to confront the parts of himself he had ignored, the emotional weight men often carry alone, and the unexpected lessons he learned while rebuilding his life from the ground up.

Jeff opens up about the internal battles men face during divorce, the pressure to “be fine,” and the quiet ways grief shows up in fatherhood. He also talks about the moment he realized he wanted to create a different future for his sons — one built on intention, emotional awareness, and the courage to break cycles rather than repeat them.

This conversation offers a thoughtful look at how men process loss, how identity shifts after major life changes, and what it really takes to rebuild a life with clarity and purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered what divorce looks like through a man’s eyes, or how someone finds strength in the middle of unraveling, this episode brings a perspective rarely discussed but deeply needed.

Connect with Jeff:

website: JeffKolez.com

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

Amanda Goldman‑Petri has survived more than most people could fathom — an abusive childhood, a near‑fatal car accident that left her learning to walk again, and a recent brain tumor that required part of her temporal lobe to be removed. And yet she sits with us full of light, humor, resilience, and an unwavering belief that life can still be beautiful.

In this episode, Amanda shares how love — steady, healthy, patient love — helped her break generational patterns, build a family rooted in safety, and finally experience the peace she spent her childhood dreaming about. She opens up about the trauma she endured, the strength it took to keep going, and the healing that came from choosing a different kind of life.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered whether they can rise after trauma, rebuild after chaos, or find calm after years of surviving. Amanda’s story is a reminder that healing is possible, love is powerful, and you are far stronger than you think.

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

CONTENT WARNING — In this episode, the guest discusses the aftermath of being sexually assaulted. There are no details of the event itself, but the emotions, impact, and healing process are shared openly. Please listen with care.

 In this powerful episode, Khalila sits down with Esther Collas — a woman whose life, courage, and honesty remind us why sharing our stories matters. Esther has lived all over the world, from England to New Zealand to Australia, building a full and adventurous life. But everything changed one night when she was sexually assaulted by someone she trusted.

For years, Esther carried the weight of that trauma alone. She learned to dissociate, to survive, and to keep moving — until she couldn’t anymore. In this conversation, she opens up about the moment she finally spoke her truth, the long road through therapy, the painful reality of the courtroom, and the healing work required to reclaim her voice, her body, and her identity.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt silenced, misunderstood, or alone in their pain. Esther’s story offers insight, compassion, and a reminder that healing is not about rushing back to who you were — it’s about learning to love who you are now, one moment at a time.

If you or someone you love has experienced sexual assault, this conversation may be difficult to hear — but it is also a testament to resilience, self‑compassion, and the power of speaking up.

Take your time with this one. Listen closely. And know you’re not alone.

Connect with Esther:

Instagram: ChangingCurrents.co

Substack: @estherchangingcurrents

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

In this episode, Khalila sits down with Kristell Miles — a woman many first learned about through BET’s American Gangsters: Trap Queens. While the details of that story can’t be revisited here, Kristell opens up about the life she lived behind the scenes, the years she spent in survival mode, and what it has taken to rebuild her peace and purpose after her name was cleared.

This conversation is honest, emotional, and full of the kind of wisdom that comes from surviving more than people ever knew. Kristell shares how she’s learning to slow down, set boundaries, choose herself, and rise into a new chapter with intention and faith.

If you’re navigating your own healing or stepping out of a hard season, this episode will meet you right where you are.

Connect with Kristell

Instagram: kgoody.kollection

Non-profit: KLZ Essentials

Hair: KgoodyKollection

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

This week, we sit down with Toccara Montgomery — a former Olympic wrestler whose journey began with a simple high‑school announcement and grew into something far bigger than she ever imagined. Before she became one of the most recognized women in U.S. wrestling, she was a teenager just trying to find her sport, her confidence, and her place.

In this conversation, Toccara reflects on the early days of women’s wrestling, what it meant to be one of the only girls in the room, and how curiosity and grit carried her farther than she ever planned to go. Today, she’s not only an accomplished athlete — she’s an educator who pours that same determination into her students, her community, and the next generation of young people finding their own path.

This episode isn’t just about wrestling. It’s about resilience, identity, and staying with something long enough to discover what you’re capable of.

If you’re looking for a story that reminds you how unexpected beginnings can lead to extraordinary places, this one’s for you.

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

In this Back‑to‑School episode, we sit down with Michelle Steiner — a writer, paraeducator, and advocate who has lived with dyscalculia and other learning challenges since kindergarten. Throughout her life, Michelle was repeatedly told what she wouldn’t be able to do. College wasn’t in the cards. Certain jobs were off‑limits. Her dreams, she was told, were simply “beyond her capabilities.”

But Michelle’s story didn’t end there.

In this conversation, she shares what it was like growing up labeled with a disability, navigating school systems that didn’t always understand her needs, and finding her voice in spaces where she once felt invisible. She opens up about the moments of struggle, the people who helped her see her strengths, and the communities that allowed her to grow into the writer, photographer, and educator she is today.

This episode is a reminder that the limits placed on us — by others or by ourselves — don’t have to define what’s possible. It’s about resilience, self‑advocacy, and the power of finding people who see your potential clearly, even when you don’t.

If you’ve ever felt underestimated, discouraged, or unsure of your next step, Michelle’s story will meet you right where you are.

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

In this episode, Christina Garrett shares the honest, unexpected journey that led her to homeschool her five children—a decision she never planned to make. Christina opens up about the early years of motherhood, the overwhelm she felt raising three toddlers at once, and the moment she realized her children didn’t need less time with her... they needed more.

She talks candidly about the emotional work required to parent well: managing frustration, confronting anger, slowing down, and learning to see her reactions as signals of deeper growth. Christina explains how homeschooling became a path toward stronger relationships, calmer rhythms, and more meaningful conversations — not just academics. For her family, homeschooling created space and connections in ways traditional schooling couldn’t.

Throughout the conversation, Christina reminds us that education is only a byproduct— the relationship is always the goal. She shares how keeping her children close helped them navigate big emotions, teenage transitions, and everyday challenges with honesty and openness.

Whether you homeschool, are considering it, or simply want to strengthen your connection with your kids, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a refreshing look at what learning can look like when family comes first.

Connect with Christina

Instagram: @themomathondiaries 

Facebook: Christina Garrett

LinkedIn: Christina Garrett

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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

Dr. Emily Wassell shares her remarkable journey from aspiring politician to educator, revealing how teaching became the most powerful way she could change the world. In this conversation, she reflects on her work across diverse educational settings — from juvenile centers to gifted programs — and the challenges and triumphs of building a school centered on student well‑being.

Dr. Wassell opens up about the importance of innovative, real‑world learning, including field trips that help students understand themselves and the world around them. She also speaks candidly about the growing impact of technology on youth and why human connection remains the most essential part of education.

Her story takes a deeply personal turn as she shares how her family traveled the world in search of the right learning environment for her son, ultimately choosing to move to Italy for a slower pace and better quality of life.

Packed with wisdom for parents, teachers, and anyone who cares about young people, this episode offers meaningful insights on joy, curiosity, connection, and creating spaces where children can truly thrive.

Connect with Dr. Emily

Website: dremilywassell.com

Send Khalila a message!

Connect with Khalila

Instagram:  @wherewerisepod

Email: [email protected]

Website: wherewerisepod.buzzsprout.com

Support the show

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