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On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Ashley Crowder - founder of See You Sunday Events and Luxe Links Michigan, and a woman building something women everywhere are craving right now: authentic community for ALL women. Ashley's story is proof that you don't have to quit your day job to change your corner of the world. By day, she's a full-time medical sales representative. She's also a mom of two. And somehow, in the middle of all of that, she launched Luxe Links Michigan - a charm bar business creating custom keepsakes that celebrate friendships, milestones, and memories. But watching women connect over those little pieces of jewelry sparked something bigger. Ashley realized she didn't just want to create keepsakes that celebrate meaningful moments - she wanted to create the moments themselves. That's how See You Sunday Events was born - an event company creating experience-driven markets across metro Detroit that shine a spotlight on small businesses, specifically women-owned businesses. These events bring together shopping, food, live entertainment, and genuine connection, and they've grown into can't-miss gatherings at beautiful venues across Michigan. What makes See You Sunday so special is who it's for: ALL women are welcome. You don't have to be a mom. You don't have to be a business owner. You don't have to be anything in particular - you just have to show up. And tickets are always accessible and affordable, because community shouldn't have a price tag that keeps women out. In a world where so many women feel lonely and isolated, Ashley is quietly building the antidote: a place where women belong. This is a story about what happens when one woman decides that connection is worth creating - and builds the room she wished existed. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Ashley's inspiring story of growing up and how she got to where she is today;  ✨ How Ashley launched Luxe Links Michigan while working full-time in medical sales and the moment that sparked the idea for See You Sunday Events; ✨ Why Ashley wanted to create the moments themselves, not just the keepsakes that celebrate them; ✨ Inside See You Sunday's markets, from shopping and food to live entertainment and connection; ✨ Why spotlighting small businesses, especially women-owned businesses, is at the heart of her work; ✨ Why every woman is welcome at a See You Sunday event, and why tickets are always accessible and affordable; ✨ Ashley's reflections on community, belonging, and building the room you wished existed; ✨ And so much more! Ashley Crowder is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Ashley Crowder: Instagram: @ashleycrowderirl Connect with See You Sunday Events: Instagram: @seeyousundayevents Connect with Luxe Links Michigan: Website: luxelinksmichigan.com Instagram: @luxelinksmichigan TikTok: @luxelinksmichigan Facebook: Luxe Links Michigan Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Emily Cole - co-owner of the Savannah Bananas and multiple other teams, co-founder of Banana Ball, the baseball phenomenon known as "The Greatest Show in Sports," and co-founder of Bananas Foster, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the foster care community and inspiring more people to get involved. One chapter of Emily's story begins with a wild idea. She and her husband, Jesse, took over a struggling minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia, and bet everything they had on one belief: that baseball should be FUN. They put fans first in everything - dancing players, all-you-can-eat concessions, baby crawling races - and created a whole new game called Banana Ball. In the early days, they could barely sell a ticket. Today, the Bananas sell out Major League Baseball and NFL stadiums across the country, with hundreds of consecutive sellouts and millions of fans who can't get enough. But here's the part of Emily's story most fans don't know. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, with a one-year-old son at home and a rapidly growing business, Emily and Jesse became licensed foster parents. They opened their home to children in foster care - and eventually adopted two little girls into their forever family. That experience changed everything. In 2023, they founded Bananas Foster, the official nonprofit of Banana Ball. At every single game, a foster family is called onto the field to be honored in front of a stadium full of cheering fans, while Bananas Foster connects people in every city the team visits to local foster care organizations and ways to help. Emily is a wife, a mom through both birth and adoption, a foster parent, a businesswoman, and a powerful advocate for the nearly 400,000 children in foster care across America. This is a story about what happens when you use your biggest dreams for your deepest purpose - and about choosing love, even when you don't know how the story ends. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ How Emily and Jesse bet everything on one wild idea; ✨ The early days of the Savannah Bananas, when they could barely sell a ticket; ✨ How Banana Ball grew into "The Greatest Show in Sports," selling out MLB and NFL stadiums across the country; ✨ Why Emily and Jesse became foster parents in the middle of the pandemic, and how they grew their family through foster care and adoption; ✨ The story behind Bananas Foster and the moment a foster family is honored on the field at every game; ✨ How Bananas Foster connects fans in every city to local foster care organizations and ways to get involved; ✨ Emily's reflections on using your biggest dreams for your deepest purpose, and choosing love even when you don't know how the story ends; ✨ And so much more! Emily Cole is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Emily Cole: Instagram: @emcole3 Connect with Bananas Foster: Website: bananasfoster.org Instagram: @bananasfosterinc Connect with the Savannah Bananas: Website: thesavannahbananas.com Instagram: @thesavbananas Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Delphine Hirsh and Reyna Hohagen - co-founders of The Flow, a nonprofit organization on a mission to end period poverty and stigma. Delphine is a trilingual Princeton University graduate who studied Afro-American Studies. Before co-founding The Flow, she worked at Prep for Prep, creating access to educational and professional opportunities for young people of color, and later in development and communications at the American Foundation for AIDS Research. In 2017, everything changed when she tried a menstrual cup for the first time and realized its potential to fight period poverty at scale. That realization became The Flow. She's also a writer, with a body of work spanning short stories, kids' books, and film and TV. Reyna is also trilingual, a first-generation immigrant, and a proud Latina consumer insights expert with over 25 years of experience as a qualitative researcher - much of it spent exploring the issues affecting Latin communities. As co-founder of The Flow, she leads the organization's Spanish-language outreach, education, and materials, and she is also the Founder and CEO of Good Leche, a marketing research agency. Together, co-founders Delphine and Reyna built The Flow into the only organization in the United States working to end period poverty and stigma exclusively through menstrual cups - the healthiest, most sustainable, and most cost-effective period product there is. Through a model of education, distribution, and ongoing support, their team partners with schools, shelters, transitional housing programs, food banks, jails, and more. Since 2017, they've distributed more than 25,000 cups, put an estimated $20 million back in the wallets of cup recipients, diverted 47 million single-use products from landfills, and built a network of more than 120 community partners. This is a story about two women who took something as ordinary (and extraordinary!) as a period and turned it into a movement - one that's fighting poverty, stigma, and environmental waste all at once, one community at a time. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ The story of how a menstrual cup changed Delphine's perspective - and sparked The Flow; ✨ How Delphine and Reyna came together as co-founders to build The Flow; ✨ Why menstrual cups are at the center of The Flow's model for fighting period poverty; ✨ Inside The Flow's work with schools, shelters, food banks, jails, and more; ✨ The real-world impact: 25,000+ cups distributed, $20 million back in recipients' pockets, and 47 million single-use products diverted from landfills; ✨ Delphine and Reyna's reflections on turning something ordinary into a movement; ✨ And so much more! Delphine Hirsh and Reyna Hohagen are 1 Girl Revolutions! Listen/watch their story today! Connect with The Flow: Website: theflowworld.org Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Olivia Flora - founder of Playing Possum Clothing Co., a brand creating sensory-friendly clothing designed for neurodivergent adults. Olivia wasn't diagnosed with autism until she was 16. Like many neurodivergent girls, she'd spent years masking her differences, excelling academically while quietly navigating sensory challenges and social disconnect no one around her could see. That changed when she entered a large public high school, and the coping systems she'd relied on for years began to unravel - bringing on severe anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic insomnia. After transitioning to a concurrent enrollment program and starting therapy, Olivia and her family finally found answers: her autism diagnosis, arriving a year later, brought clarity to a lifetime of unexplained experiences. With that clarity came direction. Olivia leaned fully into her strengths, pursuing art and design while completing high school and college at the same time - graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.42 GPA and an Associate's degree at just 18. It was during this stretch that she noticed a gap nobody was addressing: sensory-friendly clothing made for adults, not just kids. What started as a personal need quickly became a world-changing mission. Playing Possum Clothing Co. was born from that mission - blending Olivia's art and design background with her lived experience to create apparel that eliminates common sensory triggers like harsh fabrics, tags, and seams, all while showcasing vibrant, original artwork. What started in her parents' garage in December 2022 has grown into a thriving company with its own office, in-house production, and a team of five - now selling in more than 40 countries and building a community of over 130,000 followers. For Olivia, this has never been just about clothing. It's about visibility, dignity, and self-expression for a community that's long been overlooked. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Olivia's path to an autism diagnosis at 16, and the years of masking that came before it; ✨ How a personal need for sensory-friendly clothing turned into a business idea; ✨ Building Playing Possum from her parents' garage into a company selling in more than 40 countries; ✨ The gap in the fashion industry Olivia set out to fill for neurodivergent adults; ✨ Olivia's reflections on identity, comfort, and what it means to feel truly understood; ✨ And so much more! Olivia Flora is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Playing Possum Clothing Co.: Website: playingpossumcc.com Instagram: @playingpossumclothingco TikTok: @playingpossumclothingco Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Jenna Arcidiacono - founder and CEO of Food Hugs, a nonprofit that delivers home-cooked meals and random acts of kindness to strangers and people going through difficult times. Food Hugs started with a simple idea: what if a home-cooked meal could be a way of showing up for someone in their hardest moments? Jenna, owner and head chef of Amore Trattoria in Grand Rapids, began delivering complimentary "Food Hugs" to people who could use a pick-me-up. Word spread, hearts were touched, and what started as a handful of meals grew into a fully funded nonprofit dedicated to spreading kindness, one delivery at a time. But Food Hugs rarely stops at the meal. Time and again, a delivery opens the door to something bigger. In one of the organization's memorable moments, the team brought food to a young boy and his family after he lost both of his legs to an infection - and after learning about his love of Monster Trucks, Food Hugs made a few calls and turned his dream of a Monster Truck meet-and-greet into reality. Other deliveries have shown up for families after a car accident, after the loss of a loved one, and for caregivers who rarely get to be on the receiving end of care themselves. Every Food Hug is powered by a small, close-knit team of volunteers and board members who show up again and again - not just to hand someone a meal, but to sit with them, hear their story, and remind them they're not alone. It's random acts of kindness at their most intentional, and proof of just how far one dish, and one act of generosity, can go. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ How Food Hugs started with a single home-cooked meal delivery; ✨ The moment Jenna realized Food Hugs was becoming something bigger and a nonprofit; ✨ The unforgettable story of the Monster Truck meet-and-greet; ✨ How Food Hugs decides who receives a Food Hug, and how the community gets involved; ✨ The volunteers and team members who bring each Food Hug to life; ✨ Jenna's reflections on community, generosity, and the power of showing up for people; ✨ And so much more! Jenna Arcidiacono is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Food Hugs: Website: foodhugs.org Instagram: @foodhugsbyjenna Facebook: facebook.com/jennasfoodhugs Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Kay Matthews - founder and Executive Director of the Shades of Blue Project, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming maternal mental health care for all women, with a focus on Black and Brown mothers. Kay's mission was born out of unimaginable loss. In 2013, shortly after the stillbirth of her daughter, Troya Simone, Kay - then the successful owner of Extraordinary Cakes and Catering - shifted into full-time advocacy for mothers. What began as a nonprofit called BabyCakes and Brunch grew into the Shades of Blue Project. As she built the organization, Kay came to understand she was far from alone in her experience: Black maternal and infant morbidity rates were only worsening, and the mental health support systems meant to help Black and Brown mothers were often non-existent, poorly managed, or resulted in devastating outcomes. That reality spurred Kay to create the I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Method Training, a compassion-based training model built specifically for women of color and minorities, used by doulas, midwives, clinicians, and support group facilitators. She also launched Black Maternal Mental Health Week (BMMHW), held annually from July 19-25, a week-long event confronting the challenges that persist while spotlighting viable solutions, community support, and compassion training - anchored by a two-day summit, a community brunch, and a 3K Family Walk. As a fierce advocate for women and mothers, Kay has helped shape national policy. She also contributed to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Raising the Bar framework, helping the healthcare sector embed equity into its work. After a decade in the field, Kay is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered keynotes and served on panels for organizations including the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, 2020 MOM, and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs. Kay's expertise made her a lead author of the 2021 Health Affairs research article on equitable, maternal mental health care, and a contributor to a related study published in Frontiers. She's the author of two books - 365 Days to Recovery: Finding Your Way Out of the Darkness (2017) and the daily journal Recovery State of Mind (2018) - and her advocacy has been featured in the Texas Tribune, the Houston Chronicle, and on ABC, CBS, and NBC affiliates. She serves on the boards of organizations including Black Mamas Matter Alliance, 2020 MOM, and PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, and was recently appointed Leadership Community Chair of a PCORI-funded project focused on reducing toxic stress and advancing maternal mental health equity. Kay holds an associate's degree in Early Child Care Education and is a licensed community health care worker. She shares everyday life with her husband, Troy, and their dog, Duke. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ How the loss of her daughter, Troya Simone, became the catalyst for Kay's life's work; ✨ Her shift from successful entrepreneur to full-time maternal health advocate; ✨ The creation of the I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Method Training and why compassion-based care matters; ✨ Inside Black Maternal Mental Health Week and the community it brings together every July; ✨ Why Kay believes this work matters for all mothers, not just Black and Brown mothers; ✨ Her research, published books, and life beyond the advocacy; ✨ Her reflections on grief, purpose, and building a movement from personal loss; ✨ And so much more! Kay Matthews is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Shades of Blue Project: Website: shadesofblueproject.org Instagram: @shadesofblueproject Facebook: facebook.com/sobproject YouTube: youtube.com/@shadesofblueproject Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Emily O'Brien - founder and CEO of Comeback Snacks, a gourmet popcorn company she built from behind bars that has since become a symbol of redemption, resilience, and second chances. Emily's story begins in an unlikely place: federal prison. At 26, she was arrested at Pearson International Airport after getting swept up in a drug smuggling scheme while traveling abroad, and was sentenced to four years in prison for drug trafficking. Facing the reality of incarceration, Emily made a decision that would define the rest of her life - she refused to let prison be the end of her story, and instead resolved to turn it into the beginning of something good. Inside, popcorn became an unexpected catalyst. It was a favorite snack among the women, who got creative with limited ingredients - doctoring it up with everything from powdered cheese to cinnamon and sweetener packets. Somewhere in those shared bags of popcorn, a business idea was born. Using books from the prison library and letters exchanged with mentors on the outside, Emily began building the foundation of Comeback Snacks - even designing logos and building plans by mail with her now business partner, long before she ever popped a bag as a free woman. But the mission was never just about popcorn. Emily was moved by the women around her - many serving time for non-violent offenses, all searching for a real shot at rebuilding their lives once they got out. She decided that if she was going to build a company, it would also open doors for people facing the steep, often unfair climb back into the workforce after incarceration. Today, Comeback Snacks is a thriving, mission-driven popcorn brand that partners with organizations supporting reintegration and prison reform, and creates employment opportunities for people with criminal records - proving that a second chance, and a bag of really good popcorn, can change a life. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ The arrest that changed the course of Emily's life, and the decision she made behind bars to turn it into purpose; ✨ How a shared snack among incarcerated women sparked the idea for a business; ✨ Building Comeback Snacks by mail; ✨ Emily's mission to remove the stigma around having a criminal record; ✨ How Comeback Snacks creates real reintegration opportunities for people leaving incarceration; ✨ Emily's reflections on identity, redemption, and rebuilding a life on her own terms; ✨ And so much more! Emily O'Brien is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Comeback Snacks: Website: comebacksnacks.com Instagram: @comebacksnacks TikTok: @comebacksnacks Facebook: facebook.com/comebacksnacks Listen/Watch + Subscribe: Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Jordan Belous - founder and CEO of Whip Pediatric Cancer, an organization she launched at just sixteen years old that has since touched the lives of hundreds of children fighting cancer and their families. Jordan's story begins before she was old enough to understand it. When she was just two, her mom was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma – a rare cancer most often found in children. Against the odds, her mom survived. But that miracle opened Jordan's eyes to a world no child should have to know. Growing up, she befriended other kids fighting cancer – she played with them, laughed with them, prayed for them – and one by one, she lost them. At seven years old, she asked her parents through tears: why don't they save anyone from cancer? Their answer became the foundation of her life's work: they saved Mom, and that's why we have to help others. A few years later, sitting on the beach with her headphones in, Jordan had a simple idea: what if people did the Whip/Nae Nae to whip pediatric cancer? Her brother filmed a 14-second video of her dancing in the backyard, challenging friends and family to "dance or donate." Overnight, it went viral – reaching millions, drawing more than 7,000 participants from 47 countries, and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. The dance faded. The mission didn't. Today, Whip Pediatric Cancer delivers care packages, makes patient visits, helps introduce safer treatment options in clinics through its Uni-Port Program, celebrates kids with Birthday Boxes and "Whipmas", makes Taylor Swift inspired dresses for children fighting cancer and their dolls, and provides financial support to families through the hardest fight of their lives – all fueled by a promise Jordan made to a little girl named Tessa, whose light lives on in the organization's gold-heart logo and in every child Jordan fights for. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ How Jordan's mom's survival opened her eyes to the world of pediatric cancer; ✨ The heartbreaking question little Jordan asked – and the answer that shaped her life; ✨ The story behind the 14-second video that reached 47 countries and started a movement; ✨ How Jordan built a nonprofit as a sixteen-year-old and grew it into a forever mission; ✨ Whip Pediatric Cancer's programs – from care packages and patient visits to the Uni-Port Program; ✨ The promise to Tessa and the meaning behind the gold heart; ✨ Jordan's reflections on grief, purpose, and why she'll never stop fighting for children with cancer; ✨ And so much more! Jordan Belous is a 1 Girl Revolution! Listen/watch her story today! Connect with Whip Pediatric Cancer: Website: whippediatriccancer.org Instagram: @whippediatriccancer_ TikTok: @jorzzxox Facebook: facebook.com/WhipPediatricCancer Listen/Watch + Subscribe:Listen to and watch The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, Kate Milligan, founder of 1 Girl Revolution and host of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, closes out the season and 2025 with a special solo episode. As the final episode of the year, this episode is both reflective and hopeful. In this personal reflection, Kate shares openly about the very real difficulties she faced in 2025, alongside the challenges so many of us experienced this past year. With honesty and heart, she reflects on how seasons of struggle can exist alongside seasons of growth, and why it's essential to look back not only on what we survived, but also on the joys, victories, and moments of grace that carried us through. Kate also reflects on an incredible year for 1 Girl Revolution. From hosting the first-ever live 1 Girl Revolution event, The Power of Her, a powerful and unforgettable night of storytelling and community, to being featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, to surpassing 280 episodes of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, 2025 was a year of bold steps, meaningful connections, and expanding impact. Throughout the episode, Kate shares her gratitude for the extraordinary people she encountered, the stories that shaped the year, and the growing community that continues to make this work possible. Looking ahead, Kate offers a glimpse into what's coming in 2026. From the return of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, to hopes of filming and releasing the next documentary, to the 2nd Annual The Power of Her event, the year ahead is filled with purpose, possibility, and momentum. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Kate's personal reflections on the challenges and growth she experienced in 2025; ✨ Why it's important to honor both the hard moments and the wins at the end of the year; ✨ Highlights from a meaningful year for 1 Girl Revolution, including live events, milestones, and The Kelly Clarkson Show; ✨ How community, storytelling, and courage continue to fuel the mission of 1 Girl Revolution; ✨ A look ahead at what's coming in 2026, including events, projects, and big dreams; ✨ And so much more! This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and step into the new year with gratitude, resilience, and hope. Let 2026 and life surprise you! Mark your calendars. The 2nd annual The Power of Her takes place Sunday, March 1st, 2026, from 6–9pm in Detroit. We can't wait to gather again for another incredible event! More to come soon.  Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this meaningful end-of-year reflection and all that's to come. Listen and subscribe to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Join the movement to empower women and girls and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Ali Kessler - a devoted mother, advocate, and the founder of Greyson's Choice, a powerful organization dedicated to protecting children and empowering parents navigating dangerous situations and domestic violence. Ali's story is as heartbreaking as it is courageous. After the devastating loss of her four-and-a-half-year-old son, Greyson Kessler, in a preventable act of domestic violence, Ali was faced with unimaginable grief. Instead of allowing that grief to silence her, she chose to transform it into purpose - ensuring that Greyson's life would continue to help and save others. Born out of a mother's deep love and determination, Greyson's Choice exists to shine a light on the very real dangers children can face when warning signs of abuse are missed, minimized, or ignored. Ali's work centers on protecting children, supporting parents who are sounding the alarm, and helping communities better understand the risks that can exist behind closed doors. Through awareness, education, and support, Ali is working to ensure that children's voices are heard, that parents are taken seriously when safety concerns are raised, and that prevention is prioritized over regret. Her mission is rooted in a fierce commitment to keeping other families from experiencing the same heartbreak and keeping children safe. This is not an easy conversation - but it is an important one. Ali shares her story with honesty, strength, and grace, offering insight and a powerful call to action for anyone who cares about protecting children and supporting families in crisis. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Ali's deeply personal story and the life of her son, Greyson; ✨ How Greyson's Choice was born out of love, loss, and a mother's courage; ✨ The warning signs of domestic violence that too often go unseen or unheard; ✨ Why listening to parents - especially when they are raising safety concerns - matters; ✨ How awareness and education can help protect children and save lives; ✨ Ali's message of hope, resilience, and purpose in the midst of profound grief; ✨ And so much more. Ali Kessler is a 1 Girl Revolution - a mother who turned unimaginable pain and heartbreak into a mission to protect children, amplify voices, and help families find safety and support. Connect with Greyson's Choice: Website: https://greysonschoice.org Instagram: @greysonschoice Listen to Ali's Podcast - Grey Minds Think Alike: 🎧 https://grey-minds-think-alike.captivate.fm Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this powerful and important conversation — and so many others. Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls — and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Monica Kelsey - U.S. Navy veteran, firefighter, medic, advocate, and the founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, a life-saving nonprofit offering safety, dignity, and hope to newborns and parents in crisis. Monica's story is as powerful as it is personal. Abandoned just hours after her birth, Monica grew up carrying questions about her beginnings - questions that would later become the foundation of her life's mission. Instead of allowing her past to define her, Monica transformed it into purpose, dedicating her life to ensuring that no baby is ever left unsafe and no parent feels completely alone in their darkest moment. After years of service in the Navy and then as a first responder and a pivotal experience overseas, Monica envisioned a simple yet revolutionary solution: a safe, anonymous way for parents to surrender their newborns and ensure immediate care. What started as an idea sketched on a napkin became Safe Haven Baby Boxes - climate-controlled, alarm-equipped boxes installed at fire stations and hospitals across the country, paired with a 24-hour crisis hotline and comprehensive education and support efforts. Today, Safe Haven Baby Boxes are saving lives nationwide and reshaping conversations around compassion, crisis response, and real choice. Monica's work is rooted not in judgment, but in love - meeting people where they are and offering hope when it matters most. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Monica's powerful personal story and how her beginnings shaped her mission; ✨ The inspiration behind Safe Haven Baby Boxes and how the idea became reality; ✨ How Safe Haven laws and baby boxes save lives and prevent tragedy; ✨ The importance of compassion, anonymity, and dignity in moments of crisis; ✨ Stories of impact from babies and families whose lives have been changed; ✨ Monica's reflections on purpose, resilience, and answering a calling bigger than yourself; ✨ And so much more! Monica Kelsey is a 1 Girl Revolution - a woman who turned her life story into purpose and is saving lives, one brave choice at a time. Connect with Safe Haven Baby Boxes: Website: shbb.org Instagram: @safehavenbabyboxes Call Safe Haven Baby Boxes Crisis Hotline 24/7: (888) 742-2133 Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this powerful conversation — and so many others! Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls — and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead - writer, mother, advocate, and author of the upcoming book Infertile but Fruitful. Leigh is a dear friend and a woman whose grace, honesty, and deep, abiding love shine through every part of her story. Leigh has walked the long, winding road of infertility - a journey that can be isolating, overwhelming, and deeply painful. Although she never conceived children biologically, Leigh and her husband, Carter, became parents in another beautiful way: through the adoption of their four incredible boys. Their family is a powerful testament to embracing the path that life brings before you - with purpose, openness, and joy. They remind all of us that life's greatest gifts often arrive in forms we never expected. What makes Leigh's voice so extraordinary is the way she invites us to look at our own stories in a new way - especially the pieces that feel unfinished or heavy. For anyone who is hoping, praying, and trying for children… Leigh's story is a reminder not to overlook the quiet lessons and unexpected graces hidden along the way. Infertility can feel like waiting in the dark, but it does not mean your story is stalled or empty. There is beauty unfolding in every chapter of your life. There is purpose in the waiting. And Leigh is one of the most tender, wise, and hope-filled examples of that truth. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Leigh's personal journey with infertility and adoption; ✨ How she and Carter grew their family through the adoption of their four sons; ✨ The lessons found in waiting, longing, and surrender; ✨ The challenges and beauty of walking a path you never expected; ✨ Leigh's wisdom for women navigating infertility or uncertainty in their own stories; ✨ And so much more. 💫 Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead is a 1 Girl Revolution - a woman using her voice, her vulnerability, and her heart to uplift others, illuminate hidden graces, and remind all of us that our stories -even the painful chapters - can lead to profound purpose. Connect with Leigh: Instagram: @leighsnead Pre-order Leigh's upcoming book (release date: January 20th, 2026) here: https://www.amazon.com/Infertile-But-Fruitful-Fruitfulness-Conceive/dp/B0FWXXR28K  🎧 Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this beautiful and deeply moving conversation - and so many others! Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls - and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Katelynn Smoot – wife, mother, advocate, and the fiercely devoted mama of little Lilah, the bright, joyful warrior behind Stand With Lilah. At just 18 months old, Lilah was diagnosed with ATRT-MYC, a rare and aggressive form of childhood brain cancer. Since that moment, Katelynn and her husband have been full-time caregivers — navigating hospital stays, treatments, sleepless nights, and the emotional, physical, and financial toll that childhood cancer brings. While the world saw the incredible moment when Taylor Swift donated $100,000 to Lilah's GoFundMe and the Swifties who followed and matched it (which is INCREDIBLE!), most people don't see the day-to-day reality: the cost of cancer, the strain placed on young families, and the unimaginable strength it takes to keep going. Still, through all the pain, fear, and uncertainty, Katelynn continues to show up with unwavering love, honesty, and hope. She uses social media to illuminate the realities of childhood cancer — for awareness, community, and to help others. And in the midst of caring for Lilah and raising their two babies, Katelynn and her family are also working to bless other families facing ATRT and childhood cancer this Christmas, raising money and collecting gift cards to spread comfort and love this Christmas. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Katelynn's deeply personal story of receiving Lilah's diagnosis and navigating life afterward; ✨ The emotional, physical, and financial realities of childhood cancer — and what most people never see; ✨ How the Stand With Lilah community came together and what it has meant to their family; ✨ The impact of Taylor Swift's donation — and the bigger picture beyond that viral moment; ✨ How Katelynn uses social media to advocate, raise awareness, and build community for other families; ✨ Why the Smoot family is committed to giving back to other ATRT families this Christmas; ✨ Katelynn's reflections on motherhood, resilience, faith, hope, and the power of community; ✨ And so much more. Katelynn Smoot is a 1 Girl Revolution — a mother of profound courage who is fighting for her daughter, raising awareness for thousands of others, and spreading love even in the darkest moments of life. Support Katelynn and Lilah + Follow Their Journey: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standwithlilah GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-by-lilah-in-her-cancer-fight Amazon Gift Cards for ATRT Families (Christmas Giving): https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3SRT5AG0HH9VE Linktree (all ways to follow + support): https://linktr.ee/Standwithlilah Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this powerful, heart-wrenching, and inspiring conversation — and so many others! Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls — and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Kesha Rand – wife, mother, wellness advocate, and the visionary co-founder of the Haven Family Center, a community-centered wellness and empowerment space in Detroit. Kesha's heart beats for community and for people — she loves deeply, and has chosen to invest in others through healing, wellness, and connection. What began as an abandoned house in a struggling neighborhood became the seed of a transformational mission. Alongside her husband, Kesha poured her savings, sweat, and spirit into restoring the space room by room — not because it was easy, but because she saw a need and she saw what could be. That once-forgotten house is now the Haven Family Center: a warm, vibrant sanctuary where people can gather, heal, learn, grow, and discover hope. Inside its walls, you'll find a sauna-equipped wellness lounge, a "Vision Room" for entrepreneurs and dreamers, a learning library, creative and educational workshops, a backyard "Peace Garden," paint-and-poetry nights, a fun fitness group, tutoring and study support for youth, and so much more. Every detail is intentional. Every room serves a purpose. Every person who walks through the door is met with dignity, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. Through her own health journey, growth, and family experiences, Kesha has cultivated a powerful philosophy of community wellness — one rooted in love, knowledge, presence, and the belief that each person deserves a safe space to breathe, heal, and thrive. Her story is a reminder that real transformation often begins inside the walls of our own homes, our own neighborhoods, and our own courage. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Kesha's inspiring life story and how her personal health journey shaped her mission; ✨ The origins of the Haven Family Center and how an abandoned house became a healing space; ✨ The power of community wellness, education, and connection in transforming neighborhoods; ✨ What it takes to build, maintain, and grow a grassroots center; ✨ Stories of impact from the individuals and families who walk through Haven's doors; ✨ Kesha's reflections on purpose, resilience, and showing up for your community; ✨ And so much more! Kesha Rand is a 1 Girl Revolution — a woman using her heart, vision, and relentless hope to nurture healing, build community, and create a haven of possibility in Detroit. Connect with the Haven Family Center: Website: thehavenfamilycenter.webador.com Instagram: @the_haven_family_center Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this powerful conversation — and so many others! Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls — and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com

On this week's episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Bo Shepherd – designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Woodward Throwbacks, a Detroit-based creative studio known nationwide for its sustainable design, reclaimed craftsmanship, and deep love for community. Bo's heart is rooted in Detroit — a city she loves, lives in, and continues to invest in through creativity, sustainability, and hard work. What began as a simple act of picking up discarded wood from Detroit's streets and alleys soon evolved into a full-fledged movement. Alongside her partner Kyle, Bo transformed a pickup truck, a passion for design, and a desire to bring beauty to their city into what is now Woodward Throwbacks: a thriving, purpose-driven business that turns overlooked materials into meaningful, functional pieces that carry the soul of Detroit's history. Through years of grit, innovation, and vision, Bo has built far more than a brand. She's built a philosophy — one rooted in intention, artistry, community, and sustainability. As a woman working in design, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship, Bo shares openly about the challenges she's faced, the resilience required to keep going, and the importance of staying rooted in who you are and what you believe in. Grounded in creativity, purpose, and a deep connection to Detroit, Bo's journey is a powerful reminder that we can build something extraordinary using what others cast aside — not just in design, but in life. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Bo's inspiring life story and how her creative roots shaped her journey; ✨ The origins of Woodward Throwbacks and how a simple idea became a movement; ✨ The power of sustainability, reclaimed materials, and intentional design; ✨ What it's like to build and scale a business rooted in community impact; ✨ Bo's honest reflections on entrepreneurship, leadership, and staying grounded; ✨ And so much more! 💫 Bo Shepherd is a 1 Girl Revolution — a woman using her creativity, grit, and vision to build beauty, uplift her community, and breathe new life into the world around her. Connect with Woodward Throwbacks: Website: www.throwbackshome.com Instagram: @woodwardthrowbacks and @bo_thebuilder Buy Bo's book Throwbacks Home Interiors.   🎧 Listen + Subscribe: Don't miss this inspiring conversation — and so many others! Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. ✨ Join the movement to empower women and girls — and change the world, one story at a time. For more information, visit 1GirlRevolution.com