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, hospitality, and what it looks like to create spaces where everyone feels truly welcomed, respected, and included, whether in restaurants, workplaces, or daily life. Phyllida also shares cultural views on facial differences from around the world and recent global wins that are changing perceptions and making a difference. 🌎

This episode reminds us that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and included just as they are!

#SeenAndServed #FaceEqualityWeek #FEW #IFEW #BurnSurvivor #GirlsWithGrafts #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Phyllida Swift is an appearance activist and the CEO of Face Equality International, an NGO campaigning to end the discrimination and indignity experienced by the global facial difference community. After sustaining facial scars in a car accident in 2016, she set out to reshape the negative narratives that dictate the public perception of scars and disfigurements. Her TEDX explores the harms caused by disproportionately poor media representation of facial difference via villains and vulnerable people on screen.

• Get involved and learn more about Face Equality Week: https://faceequalityinternational.org/about-fei/international-face-equality-week/
• Visit Face Equality International’s website: https://faceequalityinternational.org/
• Learn more about face equality: https://www.phoenix-society.org/resources/what-is-face-equality

Today’s podcast is powered by Kerecis! From a small town in northwest Iceland, Kerecis develops, manufactures, and sells patented fish-skin soft tissue regeneration products. Kerecis GraftGuide is their intact fish-skin especially developed for the management of burn wounds. Learn more about Kerecis by checking out their website www.kerecis.com or reach out to info@kerecis.com if you are interested in using their products.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

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 with another burn survivor and realized she wasn’t alone. That connection became a turning point, inspiring her to give back through peer support. Ariadna explains how community, empathy, and shared experiences helped her heal in ways that medical care alone could not.

Now a dedicated Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter, Ariadna is actively involved in the Spanish Phoenix SOAR program, helping expand access and connection for Spanish-speaking survivors and families. She is also studying Psychology, hoping to work in a clinical setting, ideally at Shriners, to support children and teens after burn injuries. Her story shows how connection can turn pain into purpose. 🌟

#BurnSurvivor #GirlsWithGrafts #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

A few years ago, Ariadna Bernal life changed completely after an explosion in her home caused by a gas buildup, which left her with severe burns over 90% of her body. It was a long and painful journey, but the unconditional support of her family and access to psychological care were key in helping her heal both physically and emotionally.

Over time, she discovered the power of community by connecting with other burn survivors. Through a social worker at the hospital, she was introduced to this support network and given the opportunity to become a peer supporter. Since then, she has been actively involved, offering support through empathy and lived experience while accompanying others on their path to recovery.

Ariadna is passionate about reading, music, painting on canvas, and spending time with family and friends. She is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology, with the goal of specializing in the clinical field. Her biggest dream is to one day work at Shriners Hospital for Children, where she is also a patient, so she can support children and teenagers who, like her, have faced the impact of burn injuries.

• Learn more about Phoenix SOAR: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/phoenix-soar
• Explore Phoenix Society’s Spanish resources: https://www.phoenix-society.org/spanish
• Read “Ariadna's Path from Pain to Purpose:” https://www.phoenix-society.org/resources/ariadnas-path-from-pain-to-purpose

Today’s podcast is powered by the National Fire Protection Association! NFPA is a nonprofit that seeks to save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge, & passion. Learn more about fire safety and explore their educational resources by visiting www.nfpa.org.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.

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 found at burn camp to the time she secretly signed herself and her mom up for Phoenix World Burn Congress. That choice became a turning point, giving her a sense of belonging, support, and a place where she felt understood.

Kelsay also explains how her experiences led her to earn a Master’s degree in Christian Ministry focused on trauma and disability. Now, she uses her story to support others in recovery. She believes that even the most painful experiences can lead to purpose. ✨

#BurnSurvivor #GirlsWithGrafts #Podcast #SurvivorPodcast #BurnSurvivorStories

⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!

Kelsay Parrott is a burn survivor whose story began at the age of four when she was severely burned in a candle accident and given less than a 5% chance of survival. After enduring the physical trauma of her injuries, she later faced the unseen battle of the mental and emotional aftermath.

Through finally receiving the support and care she needed, Kelsay began a journey of healing that transformed her pain into purpose. Today, she strives to be a beacon of hope for others walking through trauma and recovery.

Kelsay holds a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry with a focus on trauma and disability. She regularly writes on her blog, *Healing a Burned Soul*, where she shares encouragement, faith, and insights for those navigating the complexities of trauma. She is also currently working toward launching a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing care and support for trauma survivors, caregivers, first responders, and others impacted by trauma. Kelsay's life motto is "if my pain can change one person's life, it was all worth it."

• Read Kelsay’s blog: https://www.healingburnedsoul.com/
• Learn more about Phoenix World Burn Congress: https://www.phoenix-society.org/phoenix-wbc
• Join our Facebook group for burn survivors and loved ones: https://www.facebook.com/groups/phoenixsocietypeersupport
• Find a burn camp near you: https://iaburncamps.org/

Today’s podcast is powered by Buses by the Beach! Buses by the Beach is a community of VW bus enthusiasts based in West Michigan. They come together to camp, host amazing events, and raise funds to support Phoenix Society. And mark your calendars for the 2026 Bus Benefit, happening May 22nd-25th in Trufant, Michigan.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org.