What if your life shattered overnight… and you rebuilt it by choosing red?
In this heartfelt episode of Game Changers: The One Thing That Made the Difference, host Jess Todtfeld speaks with Rachel Kerr Schneider, author of The Widow Chose Red, about grief, resilience, and how a relationship with faith — not just religion — helped her reclaim purpose after devastating loss.

Rachel’s husband was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), a terminal illness that slowly paralyzes the body while leaving the mind fully aware. He passed away within three years, leaving Rachel a widowed mom of two young boys — and faced with the most difficult chapter of her life.

Instead of collapsing into despair, Rachel turned inward — and upward. She began talking with Jesus daily. She journaled. She reflected. She chose faith over fear. And when it came time to celebrate her husband’s life, she wore a red dress — a bold symbol of love, passion, and the Holy Spirit.

💬 “There is never the same love twice. Sometimes your heart breaks open so it can actually hold more love.”

This episode will inspire anyone navigating grief, caregiving, loss, or reinvention. Rachel offers not just encouragement, but concrete tools you can use: journaling, voice memos, faith as a conversation, and connecting with like-minded community.

0:00 – Meet Rachel Kerr Schneider
1:45 – Her husband’s ALS diagnosis
3:10 – Understanding the brutal nature of ALS
4:35 – A moment of crisis tests her faith
6:00 – The shift: From religion to relationship
7:10 – Daily conversations with Jesus
9:00 – Power of the Holy Spirit during hard moments
11:20 – Life 14 years later: Unexpected blessings
12:05 – Why she wore red to the funeral
13:10 – The meaning behind The Widow Chose Red
15:00 – Hope, healing, and her message to readers
17:00 – Tools for healing: journaling, voice notes, support
20:45 – The Spirited Salon and building community
22:10 – Why your story could save someone else
24:00 – Final thoughts: You are not alone

• “Faith is a relationship, not a religion” — the mindset shift that changed Rachel’s life

• Journaling and voice memos as powerful outlets for grief

• The symbolic choice of red: love, fire, and transformation

• Community is crucial — no one should walk through grief alone

• Sharing your story can give others the courage to face their own

• How Rachel built Spirited Pros to support women on similar journeys

🎧 Game Changers: The One Thing That Made the Difference is a business and leadership podcast hosted by Jess Todtfeld, media strategist, bestselling author, and Guinness World Record holder for most media interviews in 24 hours. Hear powerful conversations with thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday heroes about the single idea that shifted everything.

🌐 Website: https://MeetTheGameChangers.com

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⏱️ Timestamps:🧠 Key Takeaways:

Game Changers: The One Thing That Made the Difference | Why Mission-Driven Leadership Changes Everything

What drives transformational leadership? For Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, CEO of Family & Children’s Association, the answer is simple — mission. In this episode, Jeffrey shares how focusing obsessively on one purpose helped him lead 60+ programs, impact over 35,000 lives each year, and turn personal hardship into fuel for change.

From addiction recovery to human trafficking to hiring people with lived experience, you’ll hear what real impact leadership sounds like.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
01:45 – 140-year FCA legacy
03:10 – Obsessing over mission
05:50 – 35,000 lives a year
07:30 – Measuring change
09:40 – Jeffrey’s personal story
14:15 – Addiction recovery story
18:45 – Human trafficking and healing
24:30 – Lived experience hiring
27:10 – Life after cancer
30:05 – Purpose over paycheck
33:00 – Ripple effects in families
35:50 – Final takeaways

Follow Jess Todtfeld: Instagram @jesstodtfeld | MeetTheGameChangers.com
Follow Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds: Instagram @drjeffreyreynolds
FCA: Instagram @fca_daily | TikTok @wearefca
Visit: MeetTheGameChangers.com | Agency: mediaambassadors.com