In this episode, Michele Uriarte-Beards shares her journey as the mother of actor and voiceover artist Miguel Gabriel. When Miguel showed early signs of speech and movement challenges, Michele navigated the uncertainties of finding the right support. Facing resistance—even from within her own family—she remained determined to help her son thrive. In addition to exploring various therapies, she found unexpected help in the theatre community, which not only provided Miguel with a creative outlet but also set him on a path to a professional acting career. Michele also reflects on Miguel’s experience with bullying—how those who once bullied him ultimately became his bodyguards. It’s a powerful parallel to his journey from struggling with speech to becoming a successful voiceover actor.
This is a replay of a recent episode because February is American Heart Month. Craig and Karey Packard share their inspiring story about facing an unexpected health crisis that forever changed their lives. They recount how the life-saving power of CPR played a critical role in a miraculous outcome. Their story is one of faith and resilience and a good reminder of the power of preparation in the event of the unexpected.
Craig and Karey Packard live in Londonderry, NH. They have been married for 36 years and have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.
Craig did his undergraduate work at Tufts University, completed medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and later added a Masters in Public Health from Harvard. He served as a doctor in the US Air Force for 26 years before retiring from the military in 2011 after which he worked in the Occupational Medicine field for an additional 10 years before fully retiring. He was board-certified in Family Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, and Occupational Medicine.
Karey graduated from Clarion State College with a degree in accounting after which she received an Associates degree in paralegal studies at George Washington University. She had to leave the workforce when their oldest son was diagnosed with leukemia and with the frequent military moves, she never returned to the paid workforce. Among her numerous volunteer roles, she has worked for the American Heart Association as an advocate for CPR training and heart health for the past decade.
Days for Girls is an organization empowering communities worldwide through menstrual health education and resources. Today, I’m thrilled to welcome the founder of Days for Girls, Celeste Mergens, along with her husband, Don. This episode dives deeper than just menstrual equity and the work of DfG. We discuss Celeste’s memoir, The Power of Days, which chronicles her inspiring journey—from growing up in poverty and overcoming abuse to leading a global movement. They also open up about Celeste's rare hereditary movement disorder that affects her and four of her grandchildren.
Celeste Mergens is an author, thought leader, and changemaker and has been featured in Oprah’s O Magazine, Forbes, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. She is the Founder of Days for Girls, a global award-winning organization championing Women's Health and Menstrual Health Equity. Days for Girls was named by the Huffington Post as a ‘Next Ten’ Organization poised to change the world in the next decade and has reached more than 3 million women and girls in 145 countries.
Typically averaging dozens of speaking events a year, Celeste is a sought-after professional speaker and consultant. She was awarded the AARP Purpose Prize, Conscious Company Global Impact Entrepreneur Top Ten Women, 2019 Global Washington Global Hero, and Women's Economic Forum's Woman of the Decade.
Celeste's Book The Power of Days
Craig and Karey Packard share their inspiring story about facing an unexpected health crisis that forever changed their lives. They recount how the life-saving power of CPR played a critical role in a miraculous outcome. Their story is one of faith and resilience and a good reminder of the power of preparation in the event of the unexpected.
Craig and Karey Packard live in Londonderry, NH. They have been married for 36 years and have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.
Craig did his undergraduate work at Tufts University, completed medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and later added a Masters in Public Health from Harvard. He served as a doctor in the US Air Force for 26 years before retiring from the military in 2011 after which he worked in the Occupational Medicine field for an additional 10 years before fully retiring. He was board-certified in Family Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, and Occupational Medicine.
Karey graduated from Clarion State College with a degree in accounting after which she received an Associates degree in paralegal studies at George Washington University. She had to leave the workforce when their oldest son was diagnosed with leukemia and with the frequent military moves, she never returned to the paid workforce. Among her numerous volunteer roles, she has worked for the American Heart Association as an advocate for CPR training and heart health for the past decade.