289: What a Year! Reflections on 2025 - Kate Milligan
1 Girl Revolution
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...
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288: Greyson's Choice - Ali Kessler
1 Girl Revolution
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 -...
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287: Safe Haven Baby Boxes - Monica Kelsey
1 Girl Revolution
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...
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286: Author of Infertile but Fruitful - Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead
1 Girl Revolution
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...
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285: Stand with Lilah and Lilah's Mama - Katelynn Smoot
1 Girl Revolution
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...
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284: Haven Family Center - Kesha Rand
1 Girl Revolution
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...
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283: Woodward Throwbacks - Bo Shepherd
1 Girl Revolution
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...
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282: Casting Director and TV Development Exec - Katie MacIntosh
1 Girl Revolution
On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Katie MacIntosh - award-winning producer, director, casting expert, and president of Mac Worldwide, Inc. Katie is one of the most respected names in unscripted television, known for her incredible ability to discover authentic stories and compelling characters that capture hearts and audiences around the world. Katie’s story began right here in Michigan - and over the years, she’s built a remarkable career in the entertainment industry, working on some of the biggest shows on television, including The Real Housewives of...
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281: Dear Mom, - Amy Amaradio
1 Girl Revolution
On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Amy Amaradio - mama and founder of Dear Mom, a movement and community that uplifts and connects mothers raising children with Down Syndrome and other differences. Amy’s story began in Michigan, where she grew up with deep family roots, a strong faith, and a heart for connection. Years later, she settled in California where she built her family, including her son, Rocco, who has what Amy lovingly calls “that magical extra chromosome.” Like so many new moms on this journey, Amy faced uncertainty, questions, and...
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280: Mama and Infant Loss Survivor - Charla Grim
1 Girl Revolution
On this week’s episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Charla Grim — wife, mama, and a courageous woman who is using her story of love, loss, and motherhood to bring comfort and hope to others. Charla is the mother of three beautiful boys — Mason, Emmett, and Garrison. Emmett was born sleeping. Charla and her husband went to the hospital expecting to welcome their baby boy into the world, but instead heard the words no parent should ever hear: “I’m sorry, your baby doesn’t have a heartbeat.” Their lives were changed in an instant. Nothing in life prepares a parent...
info_outlineOn the new episode of The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast, we welcome Lauren Costabile — founder of Hearts of Joy International, a nonprofit organization that provides life-saving heart surgery for children with Down Syndrome in developing countries and raises awareness about the dignity and value of every life.
Lauren is a passionate advocate, speaker, and changemaker who has dedicated her life to serving children with Down Syndrome around the world. What began as a call placed on her heart quickly grew into a global mission—bringing hope, healing, and life-saving care to families who need it most.
Hearts of Joy International now operates in multiple countries—including Uganda, the Philippines, Mexico, and India—partnering with doctors, hospitals, and families to ensure that children with Down Syndrome have access to the heart surgery they need to survive and thrive.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
❤️ Lauren’s journey to founding Hearts of Joy International and what inspired her to take action;
❤️ The incredible impact Hearts of Joy is having in communities around the world;
❤️ Why children with Down Syndrome are often not able to receive surgery—and how Hearts of Joy is changing that;
❤️ Powerful stories of children and families whose lives have been transformed by this mission of this incredible organization;
❤️ The global need for awareness, inclusion, and dignity for people with Down Syndrome;
❤️ How you can get involved and support this life-saving work;
❤️ And so much more!
💖 Learn more and support the mission: heartsofjoyinternational.com
🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Don’t miss this powerful, inspiring episode—and so many others! Listen to The 1 Girl Revolution Podcast on #ApplePodcasts, #Spotify, #YouTube, and subscribe to stay up-to-date with our latest episodes. Join the movement to empower girls and change the world, one story at a time!
For more information on 1 Girl Revolution, visit: 1GirlRevolution.com