Everyone is talking about AI like it is going to save us or destroy us. In this episode of Invisible, Ashley Randolph breaks down why she is not afraid of what is coming and why you should be paying close attention.

Before Ashley was an advocate, she was a little girl watching her father write code as one of the first computer programmers at a major Las Vegas bank in the early 2000s. That foundation shaped everything she understands about technology, systems, and who gets left out when those systems are built without the right people in the room.

In this episode Ashley traces the real story of Epic, the electronic health records system, used in most major hospitals in the United States. Founded in a basement in 1979 with $70,000 and three employees, Epic took over 40 years, billions of dollars in hospital investments, and failed implementations across multiple countries to become the standard of care it is today. Massachusetts General Hospital spent $1.2 billion on their rollout alone. In Norway, over 90% of doctors called it a threat to patient health one year after launch.

AI in healthcare is on the same arc. Except the data it learns from already carries the racial inequities embedded in our healthcare system. A 2019 study found that a clinical algorithm hospitals were using to determine which patients needed care showed racial bias Black patients had to be deemed significantly sicker than white patients to be recommended for the same level of care. One study found that correcting that bias could increase the percentage of Black patients receiving additional care from 17.7% to 46.5%.

Ashley is not on the sidelines of this conversation. She is in the room. And the Alliance for Black NICU Families and Glo Preemies will be part of making sure that when AI truly arrives, working and equitable and Black families are not still waiting at the door.

This episode is for every healthcare worker, advocate, NICU family, and community member who wants to understand what is coming and why representation in this moment matters more than ever.

You are invisible no more.

Glo Preemies: www.glopreemies.org

Alliance for Black NICU Families: www.allianceforblacknicufamilies.org

Want to be a guest on Invisible or submit a question for our Signed, Sealed, and Delivered segment? Email us at info@glopreemies.org

Keywords: Black maternal health, health equity, AI in healthcare, Epic EHR, NICU families, Black NICU families, healthcare technology, preemie, maternal health advocacy, Glo Preemies, Alliance for Black NICU Families, Invisible podcast

After a six-month break, Invisible returns with an honest look at what happens when systems change and families are left to absorb the impact.

In this Season 2 premiere, Ashley Randolph shares how shifting government policies and public health guidance stalled the work of GLO Preemies and the Alliance for Black NICU Families, and why inconsistent RSV recommendations continue to put medically fragile infants at risk. Drawing from lived experience and national advocacy work, she explains how community-led responseslike the GLO Preemies Roadmap Booklet and expanded access to wearable breast pumpsbecame necessary when official guidance kept changing.

The episode also honors Renee Nicole Good and holds space for families affected by ICE and systemic failure.

Season 2 begins with a clear truth: when systems fail, leadership doesnt waitit shows up.

This conversation highlights the experiences of NICU parents, focusing on the emotional and practical challenges they face. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community support, personal stories, and the initiatives taken by organizations like My Kota Bear to assist families with premature babies. The speakers share their journeys, the resources available, and offer words of encouragement to those navigating similar paths.

Websites mentioned in podcast:

GLO Preemies

www.GLOPreemies.Org

My Kota Bear

mykotabear/home

Free2Read Services

Email: free2readservices@gmail.com

Once Upon A Preemie

https://www.onceuponapreemie.org/

Follow me on IG at @GLOPreemiesFounder and on TikTok at @Empowered_Mother

Takeaways:

• NICU parents often feel isolated and need support.

• Community initiatives can significantly help NICU families.

• Personal stories can inspire and provide hope to others.

• It's important to advocate for your child's needs in the NICU.

• Mental health support is crucial for NICU parents.

• Celebrating milestones, like baby showers, can uplift families.

• Organizations like My Kota Bear provide essential resources.

• Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

• Parents should know they are not alone in their struggles.

• Hope and resilience are key themes in NICU journeys.

Welcome to the very first episode of Invisible: The Glue That Holds Mothers Together. In this premiere, host Ashley Randolph, founder of GLO Preemies and also for the Alliance for Black NICU Families. She is a leading advocate for Black maternal health, sets the stage for why this podcast is so necessary right now.

Ashley shares her journey as the first Black parent chair for the NICU subcommittee at CPQCC (20212023) and her ongoing work in neonatal health there since 2017. She also discusses her role as being the first representative as a Black parent and representing a minority organization on the Community Engagement Advisory Board at the Neonatal Research Network under NICHD.

This episode dives into the critical issues of racial and health equity at a time when civil rights and DEI efforts are being dismantled across the country. Through candid conversations and inspiring stories, Ashley creates a space for healing, action, and hope.

Segments in this episode include:

A Moment with Ashley Why this podcast matters and how we move forward in a time of injustice.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered Answering a listeners question: How do you stay hopeful when progress feels slow?

Getting Unstuck A powerful interview with Dr. Temi, a leading expert in health equity.
Bonded by Brilliance Honoring Emerald Garner, daughter of Eric Garner and her organization We Can't Breathe Inc.

A Prayer for the Country Featuring Emma Williams, the first Black woman chaplain for the state of California, as she shares her journey and offers a closing prayer for unity and justice.

This is just the beginning. You are invisible no more.

Participate in segments by visiting invisiblewithAshley.com