Act to Impact with Brandi DeVries

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of  PWRD by Purpose , Brandi DeVries sits down with Shannon Bingham—entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author of Your Ultimate Impact , and award-winning community and adoption advocate—to explore how serving others can uncover your purpose and create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond you. Shannon shares how her journey evolved from business ownership and pageant...

Send us Fan Mail In this special Season 2 launch episode, Brandi DeVries officially introduces PWRD by Purpose , the evolution of the podcast formerly known as Act to Impact . Brandi takes you behind the scenes of the rebrand and shares why she knew it was time for the podcast to grow into something bigger. In this episode, she breaks down the difference between purpose, action, and impact—and exp...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of Act to Impact, Brandi DeVries sits down with Madison Nero, a young impact maker, pageant competitor, and founder of Ever After , to explore how her personal experiences shaped her passion for empowering others. Madison shares how makeup became a creative escape during a difficult childhood and eventually transformed into a tool for self-expression, sto...

Send us Fan Mail What if listening to your gut could save your life? For Dawn Stringer, a simple instinct to have a changing spot checked led to a melanoma diagnosis—and ultimately transformed the direction of her life. Today, as Mrs. Texas International 2026, Dawn is using her platform to raise awareness about melanoma, early detection, and prevention. In this episode of Act to Impact , Brandi De...

Send us Fan Mail What if one decision you make this September could help change the future for a child fighting cancer? In this episode of Act to Impact , Brandi DeVries sits down with Kelly Acker, Director of Development Partnerships at Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF), to talk about childhood cancer research, the Great Cycle Challenge, and how ordinary people can turn one simple action int...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the person you love disappears—and you don't have answers? In 2019, at just 18 years old, Ellie Green's mother went missing , changing her life forever. Suddenly, Ellie found herself navigating the unimaginable uncertainty that comes with having a missing loved one while trying to understand how to move forward without the answers her family desperately...

Send us Fan Mail When Mariah Swanson's son, Marcus, was diagnosed with GRIN2A , a rare genetic disorder affecting brain cell communication, her world shifted overnight. As a wife, mother, corporate leader, and advocate, Mariah suddenly found herself balancing uncertainty at home while continuing to lead confidently at work. In this heartfelt episode of Act to Impact , Mariah shares the emotio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Veronica Gagovic shares her inspiring journey from Bosnia to becoming a gastroenterologist and Mrs. Bosnia International. She discusses the importance of early detection, prevention, and education in colon health, and how her platform is making a global impact. K ey topics Colon cancer prevention and early detection The impact of social media in health educati...

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...