Act to Impact with Brandi DeVries

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Brandi DeVries interviews Phaedra Pistone, a two-time breast cancer survivor and Mrs. International 2025, who has transformed her personal battle into a global health advocacy campaign. Phaedra discusses her journey through cancer, the importance of early detection, and how her experiences in pageantry have provided her with a platform to empower women. The c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Brandi DeVries welcomes Feroza Mehta, the reigning Mrs. Minnesota International 2026. Feroza shares her compelling journey from a career in journalism to becoming a powerful advocate for autism awareness through her platform, Never Too Late. Discover how Feroza's personal experiences with late autism diagnosis have fueled her mission to shine a light on...

Send us Fan Mail What if one simple act of kindness could spark a worldwide movement? In Episode 33 of the Act to Impact  podcast , host Brandi DeVries sits down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace , the largest bed-building charity in the world. What started in Luke’s garage as a small service project with local kids has grown into a global nonprofit with more than 400 chapter...

Send us Fan Mail At just 17 years old, Maisie Adams is proving that leadership, compassion, and impact have no age limit. In this inspiring episode of Act to Impact Podcast, Brandi sits down with the first runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2025 to talk about overcoming a childhood speech impediment, building confidence through pageantry, and using her platform “Compassion in Action: A Movement, Not a Mom...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when surviving childhood cancer is only the beginning of the battle? In this deeply moving episode of Act to Impact , Brandi sits down with childhood cancer survivor, author, and advocate Mariah Forster Olson to talk about what life really looks like after treatment ends. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma at just one year old , Mariah endured years of chemotherapy, radiati...

Send us Fan Mail After competing four times, Bella finally earned the title of Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2025. But her story is about so much more than a crown. It’s about resilience, growth through rejection, and using your voice to create real impact. In this episode of Act to Impact , Bella shares how her journey shaped her mission around intergenerational connection—bridging the gap between y...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Act to Impact , Leah shares her journey from new mom to melanoma survivor—and how she’s now on a mission to make skin checks routine, sun safety non-negotiable, and awareness personal for families everywhere. Through her platform Make Derm Sure and her community advocacy work, Leah is helping parents understand that skin cancer doesn’t just happen later in life—...

Send us Fan Mail What if something as simple as a pad or tampon determined whether a girl could go to school? In this episode of Act to Impact , host Brandi DeVries sits down with Megan Rivera to discuss how she’s using her crown to break the stigma surrounding women’s health and advocate for girls around the world. Through her work with Days for Girls , Megan is helping ensure women and girls hav...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever wondered how some women seem to do it all? This episode pulls back the curtain on my daily life.  In this solo episode of Act to Impact , Brandi DeVries shares a behind-the-scenes look at her daily routine as a working mom, wife, podcaster, and fitness enthusiast. From early morning habits to family dinners, gym time, and winding down at night, Brandi walks listener...

Send us Fan Mail What if preparing students for college could also prepare them to change the world? In this powerful episode of Act to Impact , host Brandi DeVries sits down with Shellee Howard , Founder and CEO of College Ready and Empower Education , to explore how education can be a catalyst for lifelong purpose and global impact. Shellee has helped more than 3,000 students gain acceptance int...

Send us Fan Mail Just three weeks after welcoming her daughter into the world, Melissa Kultgen was diagnosed with Stage 2C melanoma —after four doctors told her the spot on her lip was “nothing to worry about.” In this powerful episode of Act to Impact , host Brandi DeVries sits down with Melissa, now seven years cancer-free, and Debbie Churgai , Education Program Manager at the Melanoma Research...

Send us Fan Mail What does it actually mean to serve on a nonprofit board, and how do you know if it’s right for you? This conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about serving on a nonprofit board or volunteer committee. Dr. Abbie Miller breaks down common misconceptions about board service, explains how boards identify and leverage diverse skill sets, and offers practical advice for get...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Act to Impact, host Brandi DeVries sits down with Karri Seland—former Miss Minnesota Galaxy 2025, United States of America’s Miss Wisconsin 2024, marketing professional, and founder of the STAR initiative. Karri shares how her own experience with loneliness inspired her to create real, tangible change for children through Buddy Benches and her children’s book, A...

Send us Fan Mail When a family is facing childhood cancer—or grieving the loss of a child—many of us want to help but don’t know what to say. In this episode of Act to Impact , host Brandi DeVries sits down with Abby Breyfogle, a mom, advocate, and nonprofit leader whose family has experienced both survivorship and unimaginable loss. Abby shares her journey as the mother of identical twins diagnos...

Send us Fan Mail Focus: Your light doesn’t end on Christmas — it’s just beginning. Action Prompt: Write one commitment for how you’ll keep making an impact in 2026. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries...

Send us Fan Mail Focus: The greatest gift you can give is yourself — your time, love, and light. Action Prompt: Be fully present with someone you love today. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch...

Send us Fan Mail Focus: You’re writing a story of love through your actions. Action Prompt: Share your favorite “impact moment” from this year. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch every episode...

Send us Fan Mail Focus: Impact isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. Action Prompt: Reflect: What has brought you joy this month? Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch every episode of Act...

Send us Fan Mail Focus: Your hope might be the miracle someone’s waiting for. Action Prompt: Send an encouraging message to a friend who’s struggling. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch every e...

Send us Fan Mail Action Thought : When you feel the focus is on you, act with purpose to be an example for others. Action Prompt: Share one impact story that has inspired you recently. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagra...

Send us Fan Mail Action Thought: You don’t need money to make a difference — you need heart. Action Prompt: Use a personal skill to help someone else today. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch e...

Send us Fan Mail Action Thought: Impact grows through commitment, not intensity.   Action Prompt: Write one consistent action you can take weekly in 2026. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch eve...

Send us Fan Mail Action Thought: Ideas mean nothing without getting put into motion. Action Prompt: Schedule 15 minutes today to take action on a cause you care about. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devr...

Send us Fan Mail Action Thought: You won’t always feel ready. Choose to say 'yes' and act anyway. Action Prompt: Say yes to one thing that scares or stretches you. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brand...

Send us Fan Mail Action Thought: Every small step counts. Action Prompt: Choose one small action to repeat every day this week. Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025. STAY CONNECTED. IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries Watch every episode of Act to Impact...