SitWithMe

Whitley Kelemen

Create Proximity. Foster Belonging. Each week, host Whitley sits down with members of the Utah community to listen to their journeys—what it’s like to walk in their shoes, and how they’ve found belonging in a world that often feels divided. "Before you can stand with me, you must first sit with me." -Anthony Bates

  1. 08/07/2025

    Sit With Kaylee: Scrupulosity and OCD

    Kaylee experienced anxiety from a young age. Over time, she came to understand her experience as scrupulosity—a form of obsessive religious or moral concern. This deeply shaped her formative years, influencing how she saw herself and navigated the world. In this episode, Kaylee shares how scrupulosity impacted her early life, and we also talk about her experience transitioning away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a faith tradition deeply woven into her upbringing and community. Though these two experiences are distinct, both have played a meaningful role in shaping who she is today.

    40 min

  2. 26/06/2025

    Sit With Charla: Parenting and Substance Abuse

    Charla lost her only daughter at just 22 years old to a drug overdose after a long and difficult struggle with substance use disorder. In our conversation, Charla opens up about what it’s like to parent someone facing this challenge. She offers a deeply human perspective that reminds us substance use disorder is often rooted in mental illness—and that those who suffer deserve the same compassion and understanding we extend to people with physical illnesses. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Charla. If you’d like to hear more of her story, she’s written a book that I’ll link below. https://www.mynewnormalbook.com/services

    55 min

  3. 23/06/2025

    Lessons Learned - Solo Episode with Whit!

    I take a minute to share some lessons learned from the last few months of guests! - Belonging begins with self - Belonging is built, not found - Be curious! Take the time to talk to people in your life - Belonging ≠ Fitting in

    8 min

  4. 21/06/2025

    Sit With Mia: Aspiring Author & Blind

    Mia is a student who is blind, navigating college life on her own while writing, singing, and thinking critically about how disability is talked about. In this conversation, she shares why she resists being defined by blindness, how joy and disability can coexist, and what it’s like to move through spaces that aren’t always built with her in mind.

    39 min

  5. 05/06/2025

    Sit With Samira: Iraqi Immigrant and Founder of Women of the World

    Samira arrived in the U.S. from Iraq in 1979 to pursue an engineering degree and join her newly arranged marriage. She was met with an unexpected sense of isolation and culture shock, but she pressed forward, eventually building a career as a senior engineer working on semiconductors and microchips. Along the way, she began to notice troubling patterns in how women—especially immigrant women like herself—were treated in professional and social spaces. Feeling inspired she started Women Of The World to show us that we don't have to see immigrant and refugee women "only through the lens of their trauma, but rather through their dreams and their resilience and their brilliance." She is thoughtful, positive and strong. I loved sitting with her and know you will too. I hope you’ll consider supporting her work and exploring ways we can stand with forcibly displaced women in our own communities.

    47 min

  6. 23/05/2025

    Sit With Wynter: Artist, Black, Queer

    We're sitting with Wynter in this episode—poet, drummer, professional artist, and founder of the Utah Black Artists Collective. Wynter shares her journey of growing up in Utah as one of the only Black students in her school, her early experiences with racism, and how art became both her refuge and her voice. From being published at eight years old to creating space for over 60 Black artists across Utah, Wynter’s story is one of courage, creativity, and deep community impact. Remember, “Don’t judge what you don’t know. Just take the time to know.”

    44 min

  7. 20/05/2025

    Immigrant from Colombia: Sit With Luisa

    Luisa, a Colombian immigrant, came to the U.S. on a tourist visa simply to visit family—but life had other plans. After unexpectedly falling in love, she navigated the complexities of being undocumented before eventually becoming a U.S. citizen through marriage. In this conversation, Luisa shares the guilt and shame she carried for overstaying her visa, as well as the immense joy, blessings, and opportunities she’s found in building a life here. Her strength and thoughtfulness shine through in a story that challenges the often divisive narratives surrounding immigration. What if her story were your story?

    53 min

  8. 09/05/2025

    Infant Loss: Sit With Kelsey

    Kelsey lost her baby, Jane, a year ago. She was three months old, and it came as a complete shock. Kelsey allows us to learn from her experience navigating grief, pain, and loss. She offers insight on how to lift and connect with others who might be in similar situations. It’s a powerful reminder of the good the world has to offer, as she shares how people have supported her and her family.

    55 min
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About

Create Proximity. Foster Belonging. Each week, host Whitley sits down with members of the Utah community to listen to their journeys—what it’s like to walk in their shoes, and how they’ve found belonging in a world that often feels divided. "Before you can stand with me, you must first sit with me." -Anthony Bates

Information

  • Creator
    Whitley Kelemen
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Show Website
    SitWithMe