It's Time for a 1 Girl Revolution

TUP EP 119

Aransas Savas: [: 00:00:00

Nomination: Kate Milligan, one Girl Revolution. What is it about Kate? Kate [00:00:15] needs to know more. She's a warrior. There's so many other women that I know, but she was the first one that came to my heart.

changing their corner of the [: 00:00:30

I'm your host, AZA Savas, and you just heard Terry Grl from episode one 14 nominating Kate Milligan, who's an Emmy nominated producer, writer, and the powerhouse behind one Girl [00:00:45] Revolution. Kate started her career in dc. Uh, she spent seven years. They're working in PR and media, but got frustrated with how women's authentic stories were being politicized and ignored often, and in frustration.

She moved back [: 00:01:00

From our ashes, whatever they might be, and have some belief in our own ability to do that because we see and hear other women who are doing that. [00:01:30] And Kate, the way that you have channeled your media expertise into something really, I dunno, not to overuse the word, a little revolutionary, a multimedia platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of [00:01:45] everyday women and girls who are often marginalized or forgotten.

story, Cade, I was like, ah. [: 00:02:00

Kate Milligan: Oh my gosh. Aransas, thank you so much for having me on. I love what you do and yeah, when we got connected I was like going through all of your work and I was like, there is [00:02:30] so much synergy here and I know you and I are both in the same mindset of women are stronger when they stand together and support one another, and storytelling is so powerful.

are doing and I'm so honored [: 00:02:45

Aransas Savas: Oh my gosh. It really is just such a, a joy. So we talk a lot on this show about raising courage capital, and when I talk about raising courage capital, basically I'm talking about this idea that [00:03:00] we all know that if we wanna do big, brave things, we're probably gonna need to fund it with financial capital.

pital, what we need in order [: 00:03:15

And when I look at your story, so you went from this very well [00:03:30] established traditional career in media in dc, which is a freaking machine with all sorts of rules and order and processes. And then you went home and you said, okay. I'm gonna [00:03:45] figure out who I am. I'm gonna figure out what I need and I'm gonna do my own thing.

of, of how you indeed raise [: 00:04:00

Kate Milligan: That's the thing is I think that we always are like, I love that courage capital because life is [00:04:15] full of many chapters, right? And I think different chapters of life, you need different levels of courage. I love that. And now I'm gonna be think thinking about that throughout different chapters of my own journey.

ind, I, like you said, I was [: 00:04:30

There's so much frustration. But I love the stories of women who see a need in their community [00:05:00] or see a need in the world, and they're like. I'm not gonna sit around and wait for one of the systems that is already broken to fix this situation. I'm gonna be the solution. And so just kind of in my free time, I would pitch these stories that I found [00:05:15] inspiring to reporters and produce producers.

Yeah. And so like, why, why [: 00:05:30

It's 2011 to 2018. And there were a lot of different reasons, but I just decided I [00:05:45] didn't wanna do that anymore. I didn't wanna work in a PR firm. Environment. I didn't really know what I was gonna do, so I think there was a lot of courage capital right there. But I think a safe place for me, or I think one thing that [00:06:00] gave me a lot of courage in that moment was I come from a really strong, tight-knit family, and especially my parents during that situation, like I will always remember.

I really wanna come back to [: 00:06:15

And he was like, [00:06:30] look, Kate. You fill up the U-Haul, you move all your stuff back, and if you change your mind a month or two from now, we'll load it right back up and drive you right back to dc. So if that's what you wanna do, and to me that was such a powerful moment. I think a lot of times when we, [00:06:45] we have to be courageous.

We need someone just to give us the permission to be courageous and, and also to say like.

Aransas Savas: You don't have to make a decision forever, girlfriend. Right, right. It doesn't have to be totally right. It can just be right for right now.

Kate Milligan: [: 00:07:00

It's like I have seen so many instances where women have this moment where they're just like, like they're in a domestic abuse situation. And they're like, they have this [00:07:15] moment where they're able to leave and they have this moment of courage. And then of course they have to have. Find more courage 'cause they have to deal with all of the repercussions of that.

that, and one of my sisters [: 00:07:30

I had been just doing jobs for other people. I had [00:07:45] been, you know, PR in the background, working with the media for different clients, for different organizations, and it was really a moment of me figuring out who is Kate and who was I created to be? I had all these ideas and hopes and dreams and things that I [00:08:00] wanted to do.

that moment, Aransas, that I [: 00:08:15

One Girl Revolution was kind of something in the back of my mind. I loved that phrase. And then it was at that moment that I read those two phrases that I was like, that's what women are. Women are the most [00:08:30] resilient. They're so powerful that they can transform this world. But we oftentimes lose sight of that in ourselves.

Many courage capital moments [: 00:08:45

Aransas Savas: I love that story so much and the idea that we don't always have to raise the courage ourselves. We can have it lent to us by other people who believe in us.

ainly, but in so many of our [: 00:09:00

So how did you choose or decide to lean all the way into this idea of amplifying women's stories?

ou know that you're kind of, [: 00:09:30

You'll start getting a lot of people. [00:09:45] Some is warranted, some isn't. Some is great advice, some isn't. And I came up with this kind of concept, which it's now become, um, what it is. It's becoming what it is today. One Girl Revolution is this multimedia. Organization [00:10:00] that's highlighting the stories, but also staying in touch with these women and these organizations.

my vision for it way back in: 2018

Nomination: And

Kate Milligan: I was [: 00:10:15

And even in 2018, I remember thinking like, oh, I kind of missed the boat on this. I'm a little bit late to the party. But now here we are in [00:10:45] 2025. I think there is a moment right now where other people are kind of thinking about podcasts and it's like there's always room for more. I really am a believer that there is always room, so don't feel like you missed the boat.

the thing. And so I remember [: 00:11:00

I know that podcasts are a lot of work, but that would kind of simplify it for me and around that time I. I had read an article about how the majority of podcasts only do seven episodes. So I thought, all right, let's start small, [00:11:30] which I think is a really important thing. And even with that Courage Capital, right?

out it, and then starting it [: 00:11:45

I'll do it at this podcast studio so they can help me kind of figure out the whole system, how this works, how to record. And so that's what I did. I [00:12:00] did 10 episodes and I thought even if I did 10 and walked away, that was more than the majority of podcasts. And then as I know you've experienced, it's like the 10 podcast episodes turned into 20 because I kept finding more stories and then 20 turned [00:12:15] into 30, and now.

pon more amazing stories and [: 00:12:30

And I think there's such a need in this world for stories to be told and for outlets. Like this [00:12:45] for outlets like One Girl Revolution to elevate voices, elevate stories, and really that's, that has so much power to change the world. Just stepping out and doing the one thing, what's the small step that you can take that has the power to change the world?

[: 00:13:00

This is what it, you know, you should cover these topics. You should have this person on. And I didn't do it that way. I just started identifying stories. And now One Girl Revolution has [00:13:30] taken on a life of its own, but it's taken on the life that these women and these stories have built, which is the most incredible, beautiful thing have ever fathomed.

riend who always talks about [: 00:13:45

Followed both your own experience and expertise, but you also followed the needs of these women. So much of [00:14:15] success as a founder. An entrepreneur comes from being responsive to a need. And then in meeting that need, discovering another need. And I know Terry Grl was on your show and has become a friend, and I know you've [00:14:30] been instrumental in amplifying her story.

d I know the destination and [: 00:14:45

And I hear that in your story, but I also hear over and over the power of [00:15:00] support, whether it was from your family or from inviting in other experts to collaborate. And I think that can be a challenge too for people who are starting something new to wanna be self-reliant or to need to be self-reliant for lots of reasons.

But I think I hear in your [: 00:15:15

Kate Milligan: Yeah, having a clear vision too, right? Like I had a clear vision. It's not like I just kind of [00:15:30] like opened the floodgates and said like. Come on and talk whatever you want it about.

as able to see a story, read [: 00:15:45

Like that's a big part of [00:16:00] One Girl Revolution is I won't ask questions that somebody doesn't wanna be asked. I really give these women and girls a lot of space for that, but the stories that inspire me the most are not somebody that like was like, I need to start this [00:16:15] nonprofit, or I need to do this big thing.

nued to grow from there. And [: 00:16:30

I'm so glad that I didn't see where it was gonna go because I probably would've been too scared. [00:16:45] I just saw the need and I put one foot in front of the other and same with five years down the line. I hope that it just continues to grow and evolve. Same with you with your podcast. It's a lot of work for people that are listening.

and everybody wants to be a [: 00:17:00

Same with each and every one of us, as we are [00:17:15] always becoming who we were meant to be, who we were created to be. And I truly believe in that. And so we don't have to have everything figured out. It's like just do the one thing that leads you to the next thing.

ay, be who you're created to [: 00:17:30

Or We should, we can all be who we were created to. What do you say to people who are like, uh. Who is that?

, and I think a lot of times [: 00:17:45

There is nobody that has your fingerprints, my fingerprints. Nobody in this [00:18:00] world has ever been here with your same fingerprints. And we also have the unique imprint that we are meant to leave on this world. There's a reason why we're here, which I know sometimes. Life can be so heavy, and I think a lot of times we [00:18:15] lose sight of that.

Ignored or ignored, does my [: 00:18:30

And say, I might not know. I might not have it all figured out [00:18:45] like you and I, where it's like, I didn't know where this podcast was gonna go, but I knew that I was supposed to do something. And so I think for people that don't know what their purpose is, find an organization or a cause that really resonates with you.

And reach [: 00:19:00

Do that, like the moments in life where I feel like. And even for myself where I feel like IL have lost sight of who I am, who I was created to be, what my purpose is in life, the moment that I do something for [00:19:30] someone else, even if it's just a simple, kind gesture, like I love to bake, so I love to like stress bake, baking something for a neighbor or a friend that you know is going through something difficult or my mom was an incredible.

Card [: 00:19:45

What am I supposed to be doing? The moment that we turn outward, we look outward. That's where you really, I believe, find your mission, find your purpose. So in those moments where you don't feel like you know what [00:20:15] it is, turn your eyes outward and look for someone that you can do something kind for or an organization you can get involved in.

ps us in our trucks. Mm-hmm. [: 00:20:30

So much of that is exactly what you're saying. When I ask people what creates transformation and what they, what makes them feel as though a transformation has occurred is a very consistent progression. [00:21:00] And they say that they get out of their own. Environment, they see things in a different way and then they begin to experience or live or do things in a different way.

sort of catalyst, some sort [: 00:21:15

I think to your point, we can see so much that we would never find inside our own heads.

t? Like we're not made to be [: 00:21:45

You know, find your tribe and build your tribe of people that you know that no matter what, if you're just. Struggling or your head is filled with all these different ideas. You know, I have all these ideas and I don't know where to go. [00:22:15] Like somebody that will just listen to you, find that person too. I think that that's something that's, that's really helpful.

that I have the privilege to [: 00:22:30

What do you get from talking to the Women on One Girl Revolution?

tories that inspired me. But [: 00:23:00

I'm always revisiting these different stories. Something that just had been on my heart recently was I didn't build the revolution. The revolution built [00:23:15] me, and I'm still not sure exactly what that means, but I feel like it's being written, but it's so true. I had this idea to build the revolution, but I've learned and grown and evolved and become someone that I never could [00:23:30] have imagined in so many beautiful ways because I've been changed by each of these conversations with women and they're.

n for whatever they're doing [: 00:23:45

Tremendous poverty, or these women that [00:24:00] are working with people who are survivors of abuse or human trafficking and they're just making a difference, making an impact just by being who they were created to be. I'm like, okay, I wanna be that. Like if it's okay, part of my purpose is one [00:24:15] girl revolution, but that's not my only purpose.

our lives until we, the day [: 00:24:30

And so writing our stories now and you know, we have the power to change the trajectory to, I love the stories where somebody studied, and even my [00:24:45] own right, like where I studied. Public affairs and political communications and thought I was gonna be this political commentator and then now I don't do anything in that realm.

stories. And so I love when [: 00:25:00

Suddenly moments in our life where it just changes everything and we need to be paying [00:25:15] attention for those. Those moments in our lives because I think we all experience then

Aransas Savas: something that I've been thinking about a lot lately is how, so I'm, I'm doing the artist's way finally after 20 years of saying I was gonna do the artist's way Sweet.

about all the time is shadow [: 00:25:30

And so I'm just curious about whether you. Find it easier to share other people's stories and a little bit more challenging [00:26:00] to share your own and, and where you are with that. Now, several years into this role as a professional cheerleader.

adamant that I did not want [: 00:26:15

Like I didn't want people to be like, oh, this is Kate. Like Kate is the one girl revolution, and even we have a, there's a. A [00:26:30] girl in one of our logos that I use because it, it's a girl from the back. And, and the reason that I wanted the logo to be like that is I wanted it to be any woman. I was very intentional at the beginning not to talk about myself.

first episode of the podcast [: 00:26:45

I don't want it to be all about me. And so really shining a light out onto other stories, but. [00:27:15] What I've learned in the past couple of years is it's also important for us to share our stories Yeah. And for our voices to be out there, which is why I'm so grateful for opportunities like this to share my story and share about one girl Revolution.

ut also like anything people [: 00:27:30

We need to highlight this on one girl. I also, I believe that every single woman and girl is a [00:28:00] one girl revolution. So just because somebody has not been on the podcast doesn't mean, which means. You are one girl. Revolution too. Right? Right, right. We all are. And so that's something that I've kind of had to, like, I'm learning, okay, how [00:28:15] do I tell my story and, and even like reflecting on my own story as a child and thinking about things that led me to care so much, right?

bullied as a little kid and [: 00:28:30

I care about elevating women's voices and their stories because I know what it feels [00:28:45] like to be forgotten about and ignored, and. Unseen at times. And so I don't want any woman or girl to feel that way. So yeah, it's learning how to be both, right? Not be the influencer. 'cause I don't wanna be [00:29:00] that, but sharing my part of the story, because I am a part of the One Girl Revolution community and, and as much as I see one girl Revolutions and every single woman or girl, it's, I have to remind myself.

m a one girl revolution too. [: 00:29:15

Aransas Savas: Yes. So beautifully said. And I think it is scary and it does feel maybe a little vulnerable, and especially like if you have a history of bullying to say like, I'm gonna put myself out there, myself, myself. Mm-hmm. And not just other [00:29:30] people. That's, that's. Comes loaded.

Kate Milligan: Yeah.

Aransas Savas: With some

do, you don't post anything [: 00:29:45

I should have fun with it. And so I've been like playing with. And I think so often in social media, people [00:30:00] feel like they have to have these perfectly curated pages. And obviously there's a lot of thought that goes into one Girl Revolutions page because we're promoting these different stories and I wanna make sure that, you know, each story gets their own space, but then simultaneously promoting [00:30:15] inspirational content.

essure on ourselves and it's [: 00:30:30

Like you said, we're all creators and we were all made to create in different ways, and that doesn't mean that you have to be artistic in drawing or painting. Being a creator looks like a whole lot of [00:30:45] different things, and social media can be one of those taking beautiful photos or baking or gardening.

There's so many different ways that you could be a creator and be an artist.

freedom to express that as, [: 00:31:00

Kate Milligan: Yes,

Aransas Savas: we need to create. We need to serve.

dcast a couple of months ago [: 00:31:15

She's the founder of Freedom and Fashion, this nonprofit organization that works with survivors of abuse and human trafficking. And she talked about the work that she was doing and she was like working with [00:31:30] these survivors, these women who have been victims of terrible, terrible things. And what, when I look at them, I think about how every single person, but especially women.

think about even our bodies, [: 00:31:45

Because when you're standing in. If you recognize that you're as unique, you as your fingerprint, if you're standing in that creative space, that's what standing in your power means to me. We hear stand, stand in [00:32:15] your power, like what does that actually mean? It's like standing in the space that you are created to stand in, to create and make the world a better place.

leader. Yes. And I, I think [: 00:32:30

Music: Mm-hmm.

Aransas Savas: And when that changes is when we become the leader. Yeah. But I think for women, especially that word creator feels so powerful.

Mm-hmm. Because it is [: 00:32:45

Kate Milligan: Yeah. Powerful things happen when women find that space, when they find that within them. And sometimes they need to be reminded by other people. Back to my story about, you know, my dad making that comment, that gave me the [00:33:00] courage to come back to Detroit. I think sometimes we can be that person for others.

iend or a neighbor, or just. [: 00:33:15

And so we need to look [00:33:30] for those opportunities too. To be courage, capital for other people.

freaking film. Thank you. So [: 00:33:45

So what is your next brave step look like? Kate.

gan: Man, there are a lot of [: 00:34:00

There's so much power in that. There's just a unique power, I would say, in showing people, right. Pulling back the curtain and the girl inside. We actually took a film crew within Cook into Cook County jail in Chicago, so the largest jail in the [00:34:30] us and interviewed five incarcerated women. Not about what they did to end up in Cook County, but about who they are as people.

minutes. So [: 00:34:45

What if you can pull back the curtain and show people and, and [00:35:00] women and girls are the fastest growing population in jail and prison, but we never talk about it. Right? We look and you look at the news. There are so many issues in our world, but what if you can. Pull back the curtain and show people, or show people, these women and [00:35:15] girls that, like I said before, aren't just waiting for the broken systems to fix a problem.

ing to innovate and find new [: 00:35:30

And that is going to become an [00:35:45] annual thing 'cause it was so amazing. And Aransas, we had over 21 Girl Revolution, so over 20 women that were on had been on the podcast, traveled in for it, and we filmed a live podcast episode and it was open to the communities [00:36:00] and it was just transformative. And so there's a lot of work that I wanna do with connecting these women and these organizations, but also finding ways to support what they're doing, whether that's through like an entrepreneurship [00:36:15] program or something, run through One Girl Revolution, and I wanna do a summit to tell these stories in new ways.

So there's a lot on the horizon, but I'm kind of letting the story write itself. That's

ting, and you talk about the [: 00:36:30

Kate Milligan: Yeah, that is a great question. They have all been so, so supportive and so amazing and like giving advice and connections and I think that that's such [00:37:00] an important lesson for all of us is like, why are we recreating the wheel? You know? If you know how to do something or you have a connection and even, I wanna give a shout out.

e, I think it's the largest. [: 00:37:15

[00:37:30] I reached out to her and she was like. What do you need? Who do you need? Like, who do you need to be connected with? Can I send you this list of like, potential donors to support the event? And so shout out to DeRay because that just really blew me away as somebody who, and she [00:37:45] was a new friend at the time, so it's like, what can we all be doing to support one another to elevate these voices and stories and, you know, not recreating the wheel.

So I'm, I'm so grateful for the community that I have at one girl. For sure.

love that. Kudos to you for [: 00:38:00

Try to. [00:38:15] Come up with all the money ourselves and hustle, hustle, hustle. And we make things unsustainable as a result. Yeah. But the more people we can pull onto the platform with us. Yeah. The more sustainable and more exponentially things can grow

Milligan: For sure. And like [: 00:38:30

And don't feel like you have to do what everybody else is doing and know what your vision is for something. And then you pull in the people that you're like, oh, like I was texting with somebody earlier who, a new [00:38:45] friend who works in fundraising, and we're like, all right, how can we work together? How can we collaborate?

And we should see more collaboration in the world, especially when it comes to women.

work of one grow evolution? [: 00:39:00

Kate Milligan: Oh my goodness. What a great question. Well, people can subscribe to the One Girl Revolution podcast, so it's the number one girl revolution.

to uplift anybody is just to [: 00:39:15

We're on YouTube so people can watch the Girl Inside. We also have a second [00:39:30] documentary that people can check out there too, and that's where all the podcasts are going out. So it's an easy way to either subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts or just subscribe to our YouTube channel, and you'll get that new episode emailed to you every single week, and then any other [00:39:45] videos we're posting up there.

can go onto our website, the [: 00:40:00

And you know, even a couple of dollars. We were celebrated our six year anniversary, so a lot of people were donating $6 a month. 'cause they were like, all right, that's a coffee. Like I can do that to support [00:40:15] more stories. And then we also have all kinds of cool female empowerment swag that people can go to our website and any purchase of a t-shirt goes back just to support our work.

said, every single woman and [: 00:40:30

Aransas Savas: I love that. Again, osmosis. And who would like to nominate?[00:40:45]

ody who's listening go check [: 00:41:00

Producer Rachel here in Michigan, [00:41:15] she's amazing. She's a creator. She was a producer for The View, then she was a producer for a radio show here in Detroit, and she is such an uplifter. I just wanna give a, a shout out to producer Rachel, because she is such a [00:41:30] powerhouse. She's so inspiring. She is such an uplifter, and I can't wait to see where she goes next.

. So that's my shout out for [: 00:41:45

Aransas Savas: Oh, yay. Producer Rachel. I can't wait to meet her. She's amazing.

Kate Milligan: You're gonna love her too. She's so hysterical.

Aransas Savas: Amazing. Because you know what? Things are serious enough.

Kate Milligan: Yeah.

ed more. Funny. Yeah, it was [: 00:42:00

Kate Milligan: Oh my gosh, you are amazing. Thank you so much for everything that you do. I can't wait to continue to uplift you and your stories and this incredible podcast. So thank you for everything that you're doing.

You're a true uplifter, and [: 00:42:15

Head over to Spotify, apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. And like, follow and rate our show. [00:42:45] It'll really help us connect with more uplifters and it'll ensure you never miss one of these beautiful stories. Mm,

painted water, sunshine with [: 00:43:00

Toss a star in half for Be around. Best love for relish in a new prime land, a tree in springtime [00:43:15] dance with addle. Hindsight. Bring the sun to twilight. Lift you up. Whoa. Lift you up.[00:43:30]

Lift you up.

Lift you up.

Lift you,

lift, you[: 00:43:45

lift.

Mm. [: 00:44:00