The SonRise Project Podcast

The SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces her husband, Keith Lawson. He shares his personal journey as a father of two sons, including one with addiction and mental wellness challenges. He says while there is no parenting instruction book or roadmap, there are many tools to utilize, including therapy and the support of a loving community. Keith reflects on his own difficult...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces therapist, Dr. Julie Lopez. She is founder of Viva Partnership and the Resilient Brain Project. In this episode, Dr. Lopez tackles the difficult subject of self-harm. Self-harm or self-injury is defined as: “The condition, clinically known as non-suicidal self-injury characterized by deliberate self-inflicted harm that isn’t inten...

The SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Dr. Marie Smith-East, PhD, who is the director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program and is a clinical assistant professor at the Duquesne University School of Nursing. In this episode, Dr. Smith-East helps parents consider treatment options for children. She says recognizing your teen or young adult needs help...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Beverly Kearney, also known as Coach Bev. Bev’s gift for coaching has inspired individuals and groups to achieve their greatest successes. Recognized as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history, Bev has been inducted into various halls of fame as a sports legend. She is also the author of her inspiring memoir Believe it, ...

The SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces therapist, Dr. Julie Lopez. She is a speaker, master clinician and the Founder of Viva Partnership, a mental health organization. She’s also author of Live Empowered and Everything You Need to Know About Trauma. In this episode Dr. Lopez talks about parenting children with mental illness and addiction issues. She says the challenges...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces veteran speaker Dr. Linda McGhee and her son, Darian. Dr. McGhee is a clinical psychologist specializing in children and young adult psychology. Together she and Darian discuss the multiple stressors facing boys and men of color, including the underlying effects of racism. Dr. McGhee says changes in the educational system are a co...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces marriage and family therapist, Carter Drew. He’s a Fortune 100 Senior Executive, former first responder, executive coach, father and husband. Carter grew up on Chicago's South Side and brings an inclusive, dynamic human experience to his clients including individuals, couples and families. In this episode, Carter discusses the conc...

SonRise creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Malissa “Mali” Hunter, who is a Grammy nominated producer, Emmy winning actor, businesswoman, TV host, chef and philanthropist. She is credited with guiding the careers of such luminaries as Drake, Rick Ross, Future, Wiz Khalifa and Lenny Kravitz. In this SonRise episode, Mali reveals stories from her own difficult adolescence. A self-described...

The SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces speaker, Depelsha McGruder. Depelsha is a successful business executive, as well as founder and President ofMoms of Black BoysUnited, Inc(MOBB).MOBB Unitedis a nationwide coalition of concerned moms who represent every race, age, socioeconomic background, marital status and education level. They share unconditional love for their Bl...

SonRise creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces veteran speaker and psychologist, Dr. Linda McGhee. Two years into the pandemic, Dr. McGhee says Covid has exacerbated the mental health crisis, spiking a rise in suicide rates. She references stats from the CDC, which reports a third of American adults and children are experiencing some form of mood disorder. That's the highest in recorded h...

SonRise creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces speaker, Sheri Riley. For more than two decades Sheri enjoyed a celebrated career as a music industry executive. At LaFace records, she worked with such luminaries as Usher, Toni Braxton and many others. She went on to create her own strategic consulting firm, whose top clients included: Converse, Warner media, Nike and Coca Cola. But in 2012, ...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, her husband Keith and their son Kyle, together with Dr. Linda McGhee continue their discussion. Kyle explains how the high expectations he experienced in high school contributed to his downward spiral into anxiety, depression and addiction. Unbeknownst to both Kyle and his parents, the pressures to achieve and all the hallmarks of success be...

SonRise creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces her beloved son, Kyle Lawson, who is the inspiration behind the SonRise Project series. In this episode, Kyle shares his own personal story and journey of recovery which began in high school. As a straight A student and gifted swimmer, Kyle says he struggled with anxiety and depression. His symptoms became so severe that he later tried to tak...

SonRise Creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces Life Coach, Vallori Thomas. As founder of Wow Coaching and Consulting, Vallori is an accredited member of the Forbes Coaches Council. She’s also the author of several books including Through it All, We’re Still Standing: A Journey of Empowerment and Triumph in the Face of Adversity. In this episode, Vallori shares her own hard-won wisdom and ...

SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Dr. Gail Wyatt. Dr. Wyatt is a clinical psychologist, sex therapist and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Bio Behavioral Sciences at UCLA. She is also the author of Stolen Women: Reclaiming Our Bodies and Taking Back Our Lives. For more than four decades, Dr. Wyatt’s research has sought to  understand the history and impact ...

SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces Sharon Green and her son, Azikiwea. Sharon is a life coach and founder of BloomTree Coaching & Consulting Services and mother of three young men. When she got a call from Azikiwea’s college about his mental health, they brought him home. He was later diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and they sought treatment. Thus began a journey of le...

In this SonRise episode, creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces celebrated entertainment executive, Shanti Das. Shanti’s 25-year career in the music industry included positions with Capitol, LaFace, Colombia, Sony Urban and Universal Motown. Under her leadership, she helped forge the careers of such luminaries as Usher, Erykah Badu, Toni Braxton, Outkast and many others. In the midst of her...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces us to life and executive coach Daryl Mobley. He is also the founder of Catapult Leader, creator of Family Digest magazine and hosts the Darryl Mobley Show podcast. With practical advice and a loving approach, Darryl takes parents through 10 steps to help them develop deeper relationships with their children. He says even in the mi...

Creator of The SonRise Project, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces Life Coach, Sylvia High. Sylvia believes that when life stretches in ways which we don’t expect, many of us may struggle with feeling truly grateful. Sylvia illuminates the power and the creative essence of gratitude. She says it’s possible to experience joy and renewal when it is paired with empowered thinking. Hosted on Aca...

Creator of The SonRise Project, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces Emmy Award-winning television and film producer Nikki Webber Allen. She believes deeply in the transformative power of sharing stories to enlighten and empower. Nikki is also the founder of the non-profit organization I Live For. As a person who struggles with anxiety and depression, her intention is to end mental health stigma...

Creator of the SonRise Project, Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces the founder of Athletes on Purpose, Jayson Wells. Jayson is also an author, coach and an international professional basketball player who uses his life story to teach and uplift others. He believes in instilling values in our children such as connection, resilience, accountability, teamwork and leadership. He says we can learn ...

SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Tamiko Ruby J and her son Quinton. Tamiko is a Reiki master and spiritual teacher. She shares her healing journey as a single mom living in Cleveland and raising a son with addiction issues. Quinton shares his own journey of recovery. As a child, he struggled with grief and the loss of both his biological father and later his stepfather...

Creator of the SonRise Project, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces Beverly Kearney better known as "Coach Bev.” She’s an author, speaker and has a passion for coaching individuals to achieve their greatest successes. Among her many accolades, Bev is also mother to Imani Sparks. Bev adopted Imani after her mother died in a tragic car accident. The same one that left Bev injured and unable to wa...

SonRise Project creator Kelli Richardson Lawson welcomes acclaimed actress and comedian, Jenifer Lewis. Renowned for her hilarious portrayal of Ruby Johnson in the hit show Black-ish, Jenifer is also an activist and author of two books, including The Mother of Black Hollywood. With honesty and a razor-sharp wit, Jenifer shares her journey to mental wellness. She talks about her recovery from bi...

Marriage and Family Therapist, Carter Drew talks about what he calls The SilverPlatter Life.  He describes it as what parents do to ensure their kids have the very best of everything, positioning them to be "Instagram Ready" at all times. Behind the scenes, the reality may look very different than the public image we project. Our children may be struggling with addiction or mental wellness issu...

In this SonRise Project episode, creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces therapist Danielle Boucree who is also a clinical social worker with a specialty in family therapy.  She says anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorder in the United States. Sadly, only one third of those affected realize what's happening, take steps to find treatment and report it to their doctors ea...

In this SonRise Project episode, creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Dr. Marie Smith-East, who is a board certified psychiatric, mental health nurse practitioner and nurse scientist. Dr. Smith-East says recognizing when your teen or young adult may need help with mental health and substance-abuse can be incredibly overwhelming. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, i...

In this episode of The SonRise Project, creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Dr. Kendell Jasper, a clinical psychologist, and his brother Kainon Jasper, who together are known as The Doc-N-da-Dude. They bring an honest, common sense, comedic and most importantly real-life clinical approach to addressing young men of color entering adulthood. They share their experience ranging from clinic...

In this episode, creator Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Tina Lifford, a critically acclaimed actress, known for her role as Aunt Vi on OWN’s Queen Sugar. Tina is also author of The Little Book of Big Lies and CEO and creator of the Inner Fitness Project. Tina shares her own hard-won wisdom about the importance of maintaining our inner fitness, which often takes a backseat to our physical fi...

In this episode, SonRise creator, Kelli Lawson, introduces Spirit, a licensed psychotherapist, media personality, host of Love Goals on OWN, forensic evaluator, wife and mother of seven children. Spirit says so many of us struggle with painful and often unfulfilling relationships with those we love. She says what we need to understand is that these relationships act as a mirror and are a reflec...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces her husband, Keith Lawson. A dedicated father and 30-year veteran in the TV and Music industries, Keith shares his perspective on the challenges of raising two black sons in America today. Like so many others, he struggles with protecting his sons in a conflicted world, while also trying to give them space to find themselves. A li...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces master coach, author and founder of Aiming High Inc., Sylvia High. Sylvia says we all have a vision for what our lives should be, including expectations about our children. When our plans don’t unfold the way we think they should, we often suffer a sense of failure, loss and deep emotional pain. Especially when we’re dealing with t...

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson introduces Dr. Linda McGhee, a clinical psychologist, specializing in adolescents and assessments for learning differences.  In this episode, Dr. McGhee shares her expertise about what parents can do to help their children struggling with mental wellness issues. Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SonRise Project creator, Kelli Richardson Lawson, introduces Life Coach Sharon Green, founder of Bloomtree Coaching and Consulting. Sharon discusses the effects of trauma on children and the action parents can take to assist them. Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SonRise Project Podcast launches Sept 27th. New Episodes Every Monday. Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.