In the Media
The Conversation Doesn't End On Stage
Through keynote presentations, podcast conversations, television interviews, and media features, Rachael continues challenging perspectives, sharing practical hope, and advocating for second chances.
Media That Matters
Whether discussing leadership, justice reform, trauma recovery, resilience, or second chances, these conversations offer a deeper look into the experiences and ideas that shape Rachael's work.
Explore interviews, podcasts, television appearances, and keynote presentations below.
News Features
Trusted by national, regional, and community media to speak on leadership, justice reform, resilience, and lived experience.
Crimewave: This Is A Community Problem
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Before becoming an internationally recognized keynote speaker, Rachael Richardson was already advocating for young people on the front lines of community violence.
In this Las Vegas Review-Journal feature, she discusses the realities of gang recruitment, youth crime, and why lasting change begins when communities choose to invest in people instead of simply reacting to problems.
Her perspective challenges audiences to move beyond blame and embrace shared responsibility for creating safer, stronger communities.
"If we're not investing in our kids, someone else will."
Key Topics
Community Leadership • Youth Violence Prevention • Justice Reform • Mentorship • Gang Prevention • Community Responsibility • Second Chances
"There is no pit so deep that God's hand cannot reach down and pull you out."
Key Topics
Resilience • Leadership • Trauma Recovery • Workforce Development • Faith • Second Chances • Community Impact • Personal Transformation
Las Vegas Tonight with Dale Davidson
Las Vegas Tonight Show
In this in-depth television conversation, Rachael shares the remarkable journey that transformed unimaginable personal tragedy into a life dedicated to leadership, hope, and second chances.
She reflects on overcoming trauma, addiction, incarceration, and loss while building a career that now helps organizations create healthier cultures, stronger leaders, and more resilient communities.
The interview offers an honest look at the experiences that continue to shape her message today.
"There is no pit so deep that God's hand cannot reach down and pull you out."
Key Topics
Resilience • Leadership • Trauma Recovery • Workforce Development • Faith • Second Chances • Community Impact • Personal Transformation
Las Vegas Woman Starts Prison Pen Pal Program to Inspire Incarcerated Women
FOX5 Las Vegas
Featured by FOX5 Las Vegas, Rachael shares the heart behind her prison pen pal initiative—an outreach created to remind incarcerated women that their past does not define their future.
Drawing from her own lived experience, she explains how consistent encouragement, accountability, and authentic relationships can become the foundation for lasting transformation.
The feature also highlights her broader vision of connecting women with mentorship, employment opportunities, and practical support as they rebuild their lives after incarceration.
"When someone who has already walked your road makes it through, they become proof that transformation is possible."
Key Topics
Justice Reform • Mentorship • Reentry • Women's Empowerment • Community Leadership • Second Chances • Hope in Action
Long-Form Conversations
Go beyond the keynote.
These conversations explore the stories, lessons, and leadership principles behind Rachael's work from overcoming adversity and finding purpose to creating cultures built on hope, accountability, and second chances.
"Our body remembers what our mind tries to forget. When we help people recognize their trauma instead of being controlled by it, everything begins to change."
Key Topics
Trauma-Informed Leadership • Trauma Ain't My Mama Framework • Education • Youth Development • Teacher Training • Restorative Practices • Resilience • Personal Responsibility • Healing • Community Leadership • Second Chances
Trauma Ain't My Mama: Healing Trauma Before It Shapes a Lifetime
The Steady Success Podcast
In one of her most in-depth conversations to date, Rachael shares the philosophy behind her Trauma Ain't My Mama framework and explains why addressing trauma early can change the trajectory of a child's life.
The discussion explores how trauma influences behavior, why traditional discipline often misses the root issue, and how schools, parents, and communities can create environments where healing, accountability, and resilience thrive together.
More than a conversation about second chances, this episode introduces the practical strategies Rachael now brings into schools, organizations, and communities across the country.
The Power of Forgiveness: From Trauma to Transformation with Rachael Richardson
The Missing Piece Podcast | Lydia Amputees Foundation
In this deeply personal conversation, Rachael reflects on the journey from overwhelming guilt and self-condemnation to a life defined by purpose, faith, and service.
She shares how the forgiveness of her family, the support of a compassionate community, and a commitment to helping others transformed her life after tragedy.
More than a story of redemption, this episode explores how forgiveness, resilience, and hope can become powerful catalysts for healing, leadership, and lasting change.
"I never wanted anyone to think I had forgotten. It was never about forgetting—it was about remembering how good God is, and that He wastes nothing. Every pain has a purpose."
Key Topics
Forgiveness • Faith • Trauma Recovery • Community Leadership • Resilience • Second Chances • Women's Empowerment • Personal Transformation
"Our past is not an indication of our future. The things we've lived through become the very things we use to change lives."
Key Topics
Identity • Resilience • Purpose • Leadership • Community • Justice Reform • Women's Empowerment • Second Chances
She Found Her Purpose After Prison
The Richness of Our Lives Podcast with Mary Scott
In this heartfelt conversation with Mary Scott, Rachael reflects on the defining moments that shaped her life, from growing up between two cultures and navigating a broken home to rebuilding her identity after unimaginable loss.
Together they explore how purpose is often discovered through adversity, why belonging is essential to transformation, and how grace, community, and compassion create lasting change.
The episode offers a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges can become the foundation for our greatest impact.
"Our past is not an indication of our future. The things we've lived through become the very things we use to change lives."
Key Topics
Identity • Resilience • Purpose • Leadership • Community • Justice Reform • Women's Empowerment • Second Chances
CONVICTED of MURDER at 21 with TWO Kids and TWO Life Sentences
Your Story His Glory Podcast
In one of her most personal conversations, Rachael shares the complete story behind the tragedy that changed her life—and the faith that transformed it.
From surviving childhood trauma and addiction to facing two life sentences, she reflects on surrender, redemption, and discovering that God can use even the darkest chapters to create purpose.
The conversation explores how lived experience becomes leadership and why restoration is always possible.
"We are not what we've done. Life experience is often the greatest qualification for changing lives."
Key Topics
Faith • Redemption • Trauma Recovery • Identity • Leadership • Juvenile Justice • Human Trafficking • Purpose • Restoration
See Rachael's Message In Action
Life Experience Is the Best Work Experience
She Leads, She Empowers Women’s Conclave | Paris, France
In this award-winning keynote delivered in Paris, Rachael challenges traditional ideas about talent, leadership, and professional qualifications.
Drawing from her own journey and her work in workforce development, she shows how lived experience develops empathy, resilience, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and leadership—qualities that cannot always be measured by a résumé or degree.
Rachael invites organizations to recognize overlooked potential, replace gatekeeping with mentorship, and create pathways where people and performance can thrive together.
“Life experience is not a deficit. It is an asset. Let history record that we chose people over pedigree, purpose over paper, and lived wisdom over limitations.”
Key Topics
Workforce Development • Lived Experience • Inclusive Leadership • Skills-Based Hiring • Trauma-Informed Workplaces • Reentry Employment • Economic Mobility • Second Chances
"You can't always choose what happens to you—but you can always choose what happens next. Every choice you make today helps shape the future you'll live tomorrow."
Key Topics
Youth Leadership • Decision Making • Personal Responsibility • Resilience • Identity • Healthy Choices • Overcoming Adversity • Hope
Every Choice Shapes Your Future
Youth Leadership Keynote
In this engaging keynote for students, Rachael uses her own life experiences to spark honest conversations about choices, consequences, resilience, and personal responsibility.
Through humor, vulnerability, and interactive storytelling, she encourages young people to recognize that while they can't always control what happens to them, they can choose how they respond.
Students leave empowered to make wiser decisions, seek guidance when they need it, and understand that one mistake never has to define the rest of their story.
"You can't always choose what happens to you—but you can always choose what happens next. Every choice you make today helps shape the future you'll live tomorrow."
Key Topics
Youth Leadership • Decision Making • Personal Responsibility • Resilience • Identity • Healthy Choices • Overcoming Adversity • Hope
Trauma Ain't My Mama: Reclaiming Your Identity Beyond Adversity
International Leadership Presentation
In this powerful presentation, Rachael introduces her signature Trauma Ain't My Mama framework, a trauma-informed approach designed to help students, educators, leaders, and communities move beyond survival and into healing.
Blending lived experience with practical strategies, she explains how trauma shapes behavior, how resilience can be intentionally developed, and why understanding someone's story is often the first step toward lasting change.
The presentation also introduces her O.N.E. Framework—Own, Navigate, Empower—giving audiences practical tools to transform pain into purpose and create healthier individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities.
"Our body remembers what our mind tries to forget. Trauma isn't meant to define us. It can become the very thing that teaches us how to heal, lead, and help others."
Key Topics
Trauma Ain't My Mama Framework • Trauma-Informed Leadership • Education • Youth Development • Teacher Training • Restorative Practices • Resilience • Personal Responsibility • O.N.E. Framework (Own • Navigate • Empower) • Community Leadership • Lived Experience
"You can't always choose what happens to you—but you can always choose what happens next. Every choice you make today helps shape the future you'll live tomorrow."
Key Topics
Youth Leadership • Decision Making • Personal Responsibility • Resilience • Identity • Healthy Choices • Overcoming Adversity • Hope
Frequently Requested Topics
Leadership
Workforce Development
Justice Reform
Second Chances
Trauma Recovery
Youth Leadership
Reentry
Community Impact
Resilience
Continue The Conversation With Your Audience
Whether you're planning a conference, leadership summit, corporate event, podcast, media interview, or community gathering, Rachael brings authentic storytelling, practical insight, and hope that inspires action long after the conversation ends.
International keynote speaker, author, and justice reform advocate helping organizations transform lived experience into lasting impact.
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