Award-winning advocate Audrey Kaller is proof that personal challenges can be transformed into powerful change. As the Co-Chair of Epilepsy Walk Los Angeles, she has already helped raise over $750,000 to support research, education, and seizure safety. Now, she is preparing to co-host the world’s largest epilepsy awareness event at the Rose Bowl Stadium alongside Love Island USA star Leah Kateb.
We sat down with Audrey to discuss the “real-life realities” of living with epilepsy and how she is mobilizing a community of over 4,000 attendees to demand better funding and visibility for the fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S.. From wellness activations to meet-and-greets with top specialists, Audrey is ensuring that this year’s walk is more than just an event—it’s a dynamic experience designed to transform influence into lasting impact. —Noa Nichol
A New Kind of “Power Duo”: You’re teaming up with celebrity co-hosts to raise over $750,000 for epilepsy research. What would you say is the ultimate “power duo” when it comes to making a global impact?
Over the last 10 years I’ve had so many incredible people join my team to help amplify the message around epilepsy. In the past we’ve had actors who have family members with epilepsy, advocates, and people who simply wanted to use their voice to talk about it.
But this year was funny. I was watching Love Island with my dad and all of a sudden the idea hit me. Let’s bring the one thing everyone in the world is already talking about into the conversation. Leah Kateb was such a breakout star, and I thought who better to help host with me?
To me, the real power duo is advocacy and cultural conversation. Making sure epilepsy is part of the conversations happening everywhere. Not just in the medical community, but in pop culture, media, and everyday life. Because when people are talking about it, that’s when real change happens.
The 1 in 26 Stat: You’re shining a light on a condition that affects 1 in 26 people. How are you leveraging your platform and influence to make sure the world understands that epilepsy is more common and more urgent, than most realize?
Take a second and really sit with that statistic. 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy, and 1 in 10 will have a seizure in their lifetime. That is not rare. It is way more common than people realize. If you’re reading that and thinking, I don’t know anyone with epilepsy, I promise you, you probably do. They just may not talk about it. That’s exactly why I do. Every single time I share my story, someone opens up. It’s always a friend, a cousin, a coworker, a parent, or someone’s child. A few years ago, even our French bulldog Louis had a seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. We literally take the same medication. As wild as that is, it was another reminder for me that epilepsy is everywhere.
Turning Influence into Impact: You’ve become a recognized advocate and leader in the space. What’s your message to people who underestimate the power of celebrity and media platforms when it comes to driving real-world change?
When someone with influence decides to care about something bigger than themselves, people pay attention. Conversations start, awareness spreads, and suddenly something that once felt invisible is everywhere. When I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 13, I felt completely alone. I didn’t see anyone talking about it publicly, and there definitely wasn’t a role model I could look to. So I decided I would become one. Now whether I’m on stage, on set, in an interview, or holding a microphone, epilepsy is coming with me. You’re never going to get me to stop talking about it. And if having a platform means I can help even one kid feel less alone than I did, then that’s exactly what I’m going to use it for.
The Festival Vibe: This Walk isn’t just a stroll. it’s a high-energy festival with DJs, wellness activations, and celebrity appearances. Which part of the Saturday lineup are you most excited to host, the meet-and-greets or the high-energy dance floor?
Honestly, my favorite moment of the whole Walk is right before everyone starts. There’s this incredible energy when thousands of people show up for the same cause. And yes, I absolutely love dancing on stage and shouting out everyone’s team name. But my favorite part, always, is meeting people who have epilepsy. So many people come up to me and say they’ve never met another person with epilepsy before. That moment means everything to me. I do this not only for my younger self, but for every single person who has ever felt alone after hearing that diagnosis.
Dismantling the Stigma: Despite being the fourth most common neurological disorder, epilepsy is still underfunded. How are you using your voice to make it clear that supporting this cause is non-negotiable?
When I was first diagnosed, I put my face on flyers that said “Team Audrey Kaller End Epilepsy” and taped them all over coffee shops and stores around Los Angeles trying to
get people to come to our walk. Years later, I’m honestly doing the same thing, just on a bigger scale. I tell every single person I meet about epilepsy.
A few months ago I got a phone call no one ever wants to get. A family friend passed away from SUDEP, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. It was heartbreaking, and it’s something that happens far more often than people realize.
That’s exactly why I refuse to be quiet about this. People deserve to understand what epilepsy really is, the risks, and why funding and research matter. The more we talk about it, the more lives we can protect.
The Rose Bowl Spotlight: There are over 160,000 people living with epilepsy in LA County alone. How are you planning to make the March 14th event so dynamic that it sparks conversation on social media and beyond?
Every year I try to make the walk bigger and better. I want people to look forward to this day all year. It’s a moment where everyone comes together with one goal. Supporting each other, ending epilepsy, and reminding people they’re not alone.
And because I’m someone who loves snacks, health and wellness, fashion, and all the fun lifestyle things, I wanted to bring that energy to the event too. So there really is something for everyone. We have a popcorn booth, coffee trucks, Waymo rides, a learning lab with an inflatable brain, music, dancing, and so many amazing community moments. I want people to experience all of it.
When thousands of people show up at The Rose Bowl wearing purple and celebrating this community, it becomes more than just a walk. It turns into a moment people want to share, post, and talk about.
Meeting the Experts: You’ll be hosting alongside top epileptologists from Level 4 Epilepsy Centers. Are you excited to combine advocacy with real-life medical insights that have the power to save lives?
Absolutely. One of the most special parts of this event is having the epilepsy community and the medical experts all in the same place. The doctors and researchers working in this field are incredible, and they’re the reason real progress happens.
For so many families, getting the right information can completely change their lives. Whether it’s learning how to recognize a seizure, understanding treatment options, or simply realizing there are world-class specialists who care deeply about this community. That knowledge is powerful.
The Personal Connection: Can you share more about your personal connection to epilepsy and how it has shaped your work as an advocate?
I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 13. Overnight, everything changed. I was scared, confused, and suddenly living with something I didn’t fully understand. What made it even harder was not seeing anyone talking about epilepsy publicly. There wasn’t a role model I could look to and think, this person has epilepsy and they’re living a full, powerful life.
What started with me putting flyers around Los Angeles for a small walk team has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined. Seeing thousands of people coming together, families finding community, and hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for epilepsy awareness and research.
So I made a decision early on. If that person didn’t exist for me, I would become that person for someone else. I want every person with this diagnosis to know you are never alone!
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