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PODCAST

Girls with Grafts

Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

Girls with Grafts is a podcast hosted by Amber Wilcox and Rachel Kudlak, Burn Survivors, and supporters of the nonprofit, Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. The Girls with Grafts podcast is for burn survivors, caregivers, hospital staff, and corporate partners in the burn community. Hear in-depth conversations about burn survivor stories, gain resources for managing a burn injury, hear up-to-date information about Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors community news, and listen in on burn prevention

business non-profit

All Episodes

54:39

Progress Doesn’t Have to Look Perfect with Amarion Hally

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/10/01

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with burn survivor Amarion Hally for an open conversation about recovery, mental health, and learning that you don’t have to have everything figured out. 🎙️Amarion shares how his life changed after sustaining severe burns at age 19 and opens up about some of the most difficult parts of his recovery, including losing his fingers, adjusting to changes in his appearance, and navigating the emotional impact of his injury. He also reflects on the

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46:52

Protecting, Preventing, and Supporting with Phil Tammaro

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/09/08

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber sit down with Phil Tammaro, burn survivor, retired fire captain, and Burn Coordinator for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). 🚒Phil shares how a burn injury at just two years old shaped his life, while his family’s long history in public safety ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in the fire service. He reflects on what it was like to serve as a firefighter while also carrying his own experience as a burn survivor, and

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33:58

Scars Don’t Change Our Value with Fahima Abbas

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/09/01

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with burn survivor and Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter Fahima Abbas for a heartfelt conversation about emotional healing, self-confidence, and finding your voice. 🩷Fahima shares her burn survivor journey and how living with facial scars has shaped the way she sees herself and connects with others. She reflects on the challenges of rebuilding confidence and learning to love herself, as well as the powerful impact of finding an online community of

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51:30

Becoming the Headliner of Your Own Healing Story

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/08/18

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber sit down with Tracy Smaldino, a burn survivor, trauma survivor, author, keynote speaker, podcast host, and founder of Trauma Rock Stars™. 🎸Tracy shares her journey as the sole survivor of a fatal car accident that left her with severe burns as a child, and how she carried her trauma in silence for many years before beginning to lean into healing. Together, Rachel, Amber, and Tracy talk about the lasting impact of trauma, the challenges burn

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47:46

Phoenix SOAR, Peer Support, and the Power of Burn...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/08/11

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Rebecca Garber, a nurse practitioner at HCA HealthONE Swedish Burn and Reconstructive Center in Englewood, Colorado.With more than 25 years of experience caring for burn-injured patients, Rebecca brings a powerful perspective on the clinical and emotional sides of recovery. 🩺 She shares what first drew her to burn care, how her understanding of healing has evolved over time, and why supporting patients and families goes far beyond physical

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41:39

A Burn Nurse’s Mission to Build Connection with...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/08/04

Girls with Grafts is back for Season 9! 🎉 Rachel and Amber sit down with burn nurse Kailin Kyle to talk about her path into nursing and burn care, which began after her uncle was treated at the Connecticut Burn Center.Kailin shares how attending her first American Burn Association conference inspired her to become more involved with Phoenix Society and help revitalize her hospital’s Phoenix SOAR Program. ❤️ Now serving as Co-Lead Coordinator, she helps facilitate monthly support groups, coordinate

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57:46

Choice, Comfort, and Courage: Helping Children Visit...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/06/23

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Abby Horton, MS, CCLS, a Certified Child Life Specialist with over a decade of experience supporting children and families through burn injuries and medical trauma. Abby's work spans pediatric burn care, inpatient rehabilitation, and critical care, and she brings that depth of experience to a conversation about one of the challenges families navigating a burn injury often face: how to prepare children for a visit to the burn center

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34:22

Answering the Call: Damon Spring on Firefighting,...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/06/16

When Damon Spring joined his local volunteer fire department, he was answering a call to serve his community. 🚒 During his rookie year, that calling changed his life forever. On August 18, 2018, Damon was caught in a wildfire burnover sparked by a helicopter crash, an event that would come to be known as the Sheep Creek Fire.In this episode, Rachel sits down with Damon to talk about what drew him to firefighting, the day everything changed, and the long road of physical and emotional recovery that

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58:12

The Science of Staying Cool: Dr. Craig Crandall and...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/06/10

Heat hits differently when you're a burn survivor—and this week, we're getting into the science behind why. ☀️Rachel and Amber sit down with Dr. Craig Crandall, Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Director of the Thermal and Vascular Physiology Laboratory at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. For over 20 years, Dr. Crandall has been continuously funded by the NIH to study the long-term thermoregulatory and cardiovascular effects of severe burn

en-US

53:18

A Son and Father’s Story of Resilience, Recovery, and...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/06/04

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel sits down with Dr. Charles McKenzie and his son, Scott, to talk about burn recovery, family support, and the lasting impact of community.❤️Scott was just 10 years old when he survived a fuel tank explosion that left him with severe burns and a long recovery, including six weeks at the Arizona Burn Center. Now a 17-year-old high school senior, rugby player, and outdoor adventurer, Scott reflects on his injury, returning to school, and the incredible

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48:02

You Are Uniquely You: Celebrating Face Equality Week...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/05/12

This week on Girls with Grafts, Rachel and Amber welcome Phyllida Swift, CEO of Face Equality International, for a special episode celebrating Face Equality Week. 💛Phyllida shares her journey to becoming a global advocate for face equality and why this work is deeply personal and meaningful to her. Together, they explore what face equality really means—and why it matters for burn survivors and anyone living with a visible difference.The conversation dives into this year’s Face Equality Week theme,

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39:55

Finding Strength in Connection: Ariadna’s Journey...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/05/05

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel talks with Ariadna Bernal about her journey after a gas explosion left her with burns over 90% of her body. Ariadna describes her early days, starting with treatment in Mexico and then continuing her care at Shriners Hospitals for Children in California. She also shares how important her mom was, always staying by her side through everything. ❤️Together, they explore the emotional and mental side of recovery, including the moment Ariadna first connected

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51:39

Your Injury Doesn’t Define You—It Can Be a Catalyst...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/04/21

This week on Girls with Grafts, Rachel talks with burn survivor Kelsay Parrott about healing that goes beyond the physical and finding purpose in pain. 🩷Kelsay shares her story of being burned at four years old and how, for many years, she focused on physical recovery without fully addressing the mental and emotional effects of her injury. She explains what it was like to finally start deeper healing and how it changed her life.The conversation shows the power of connection, from the community she

en-US

50:57

The Magic of Showing Up: Volunteerism & Burn Camp...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/04/21

In this special National Volunteer Week episode of Girls with Grafts, we welcome Madeleine Carson, Director of Programs at Burns Recovered and our Volunteer of the Month. We talk about the power of community, connection, and supporting others. 🤝 Madeleine shares how she became involved in the burn survivor community—including a full-circle moment where Amber, who works at United Rentals, became part of a meaningful connection: United Rentals reached out to Madeleine at Burns Recovered to support a

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59:24

Connection Beyond the Hospital: A Girls with Grafts x...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/04/07

In this special episode, Girls with Grafts joins forces with the H.E.A.L. Changed by Fire Podcast for an important conversation about connection, healing, and the resources that help burn survivors after they leave the hospital. 🏥 Rachel, Lori, and Jen talk about how groups like Phoenix Society and Change by Fire are helping to close the gap between medical recovery and long-term healing. Their goal is to make sure survivors and their families can find support wherever they are in their

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60:31

Selfish for Survival with Chris Akin

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/03/24

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel talks with Chris Akin, a burn survivor, entrepreneur, and media personality. Together, they discuss resilience, determination, and how to make the most of each day.Chris tells the story of the industrial explosion that caused his burn injury and describes his early days recovering in the hospital and how his determination shaped his recovery. 💪 Rachel and Chris also chat about the mindset that helped him move forward. Chris shares that he had to be

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49:08

Love Is Blind… But Scars Aren’t: Ashley Nelson on...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/03/10

This week on Girls with Grafts, Amber and Rachel sit down with Ashley Nelson for an honest conversation about identity, confidence, and dating after a burn injury.Ashley shares how she changed her mindset from seeing herself as a “burn victim” to a “burn survivor,” and how this new perspective changed how she views herself. She also talks about her dating experiences, including how she tells her story, the support she received, and the tough moments that helped her grow. ❤️Ashley also describes

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57:54

How to Decide if Reconstructive Scar Surgery Is Right...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/03/03

In this episode of Girls with Grafts, Rachel talks with burn surgeon and researcher Dr. Cliff Sheckter about how to give survivors better tools and information when they are thinking about reconstructive scar surgery. 🩺We discuss the Decision Aid for Reconstructive Scar Surgery, a new resource to help survivors decide if surgery is right for them. Dr. Sheckter explains why this tool was made, what questions it helps answer, and how it helps survivors think about both practical results and quality

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58:48

Healing Is a Journey, Not a Destination with Mikki...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/02/17

This week on Girls with Grafts, Rachel talks with Mikki Rothbauer, a psychotherapist who has spent over twenty years helping burn survivors and their families at Regions Hospital Burn Center.Mikki talks about what she has learned from years of supporting burn survivors, from the first days after injury to long-term healing. 💛 She leads burn support groups and coordinates a hospital-based Phoenix SOAR program. Mikki often reminds patients, “support group needs you.” In this episode, she explains why

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39:10

“It’ll Get Better”: Shaun Free on Healing After a...

Girls with Grafts ·

2026/02/03

In honor of National Burn Awareness Week, Rachel and Amber sit down with burn survivor Shaun Free to talk about survival, healing, and the powerful growth that can come after trauma. Shaun shares the story of the propane explosion that changed his life, his long road through recovery, and how he reframed PTSD into what he calls post-traumatic growth. 💪From building a propane forge and crafting knives as part of his healing, to returning to teach motorcycle safety classes just weeks after leaving

en-US

125 results

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