1 Girl Revolution

288: Greyson's Choice - Ali Kessler

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

287: Safe Haven Baby Boxes - Monica Kelsey

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

286: Author of Infertile but Fruitful - Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead

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

285: Stand with Lilah and Lilah's Mama - Katelynn Smoot

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

284: Haven Family Center - Kesha Rand

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