Episode Summary In this episode, actor and voiceover artist Miguel Gabriel shares his journey from struggling with impaired speech to finding his voice, literally and creatively. Thoughtful and grounded beyond his years, Miguel opens up about overcoming bullying, staying true to himself, and how kindness—his self-described superpower—has shaped his path. His reflections on rejection, faith, and friendship offer wisdom that resonates at any age. About Miguel Miguel Gabriel, an American actor of S...
May 11, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Episode Summary 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 c...
Mar 30, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Episode Summary 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. About Craig & Karey Packard Craig and Karey Packard live ...
Feb 16, 2025•35 min
In light of the news that the FDA is banning Red No. 3 due to health concerns, we're replaying this popular episode from last season that discusses the impact of food dyes on behavior. Join us in a touching conversation with Amy and her daughter Lizzie as they share their experiences with 18-year-old Mathew, who was diagnosed with autism. Amy discusses the challenges of raising Mathew, including how eliminating certain food dyes helped reduce his aggressive behavior. Lizzie shares insights on be...
Jan 27, 2025•30 min
Episode Summary 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 a...
Jan 12, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Episode Summary 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. About Craig & Karey Packard Craig and Karey Packard live in Londonderry, NH. They have been married for 36 years and have 4 children and...
Dec 21, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Episode Summary In this bonus episode, you will hear Erica DeMarch interview me on her Balance Matters podcast. We not only discuss my TEDx talk Your Socks May Hold the Key to Aging Better. We also dive deep into the themes of the talk—exploring what else I would have shared if given more than 10 minutes to speak. In addition, we discuss the importance of body awareness in balance training along with exploring methods that can help with awareness through movement, like the Feldenkrais Method and...
Dec 15, 2024•54 min
Episode Summary Sheila Nevins, a prominent documentary filmmaker and best-selling author, discusses her experiences with her son's Tourette syndrome and speaks about the broader themes of aging, disability, and authenticity. Through personal stories and reflections, she sheds light on often misunderstood topics, emphasizing the importance of genuine representation over sensationalism. With humor and candor, Sheila shares her journey of seeking answers and navigating the complexities of life. Her...
Oct 07, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Episode Summary In this episode, I talk with Jay Silverman, an award-winning filmmaker known for his emotionally resonant work. Jay discusses his journey into feature filmmaking, which began with "Girl on the Edge, " a deeply personal film inspired by his daughter's recovery through equine therapy. His latest film, "Camera," is another heartfelt project influenced by his experiences as a father of a daughter with impaired speech. Jay shares how his work has become a vehicle for expressing the le...
Sep 01, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Episode Summary Noah, my ATV guide in Alaska, joins me on this episode of Wisdom Shared. Last season, we heard from Noah's mom, Melissa, who talked about her sobriety journey. In this discussion, Noah courageously shares his difficult journey with pills. He nearly died. He offers advice, hope, and solidarity to others facing similar struggles. His powerful narrative underscores the transformative power of sharing personal experiences in the hopes of helping others. Resources National Harm Reduct...
Aug 11, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Episode Summary Sharon "Rocky" Roggio is my special guest - the producer and director of the award-winning documentary "1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture." This film explores the profound impact of a mistaken biblical translation of the word "homosexual" and its consequences on culture, religion, and the LGBTQ community. Rocky shares her personal journey as a Christian lesbian, discussing her efforts to seek acceptance and understanding from her father, a church pastor. Through these...
Jun 16, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Episode Summary In this conversation with filmmaker and self-described Renaissance Man Stewart Schulman, we discuss his multifaceted career and his collaborations with John Bayless, highlighting projects like One Hand One Heart and the award-winning feature documentary Left Alone Rhapsody: The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless. Schulman shares Bayless' life from childhood illness and genius piano playing at age four to Julliard as Leonard Bernstein's protege; from his Baptist upbringing to ...
Apr 03, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Episode Summary My special guest for this episode is pianist John Bayless, whose story is featured in the incredible documentary Left Alone Rhapsody: The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless . In our conversation, John reflects on life before and after his stroke. Post-stroke, John's resilience shines through as he embarks on a remarkable path of self-recovery and discovery. Teaching himself to play with just his left hand, he defied the odds and embraced a new chapter. John's story and music ...
Mar 25, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Episode Summary In this poignant episode, Jacob Moench shares the challenges and joys of parenting his son Samuel, who has epilepsy and autism. The episode explores how Jacob and his wife support each other and prioritize time for their other children. Jacob also talks about his company, which offers genetic testing for preventative illness, and we discuss the ethical considerations surrounding the use of DNA analysis for family planning. Despite the challenges, Jacob reflects on the profound im...
Mar 03, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Episode Summary In this episode, Lynn Greenberg and her son Jonathan, co-authors of Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventur e, share insights into Jon's journey with dyslexia. Emphasizing the transformative impact of education post-diagnosis, they discuss the power of creativity and the hidden gifts of neurodiversity. Jon, who views dyslexia as a superpower, aims, along with his mother, to inspire and empower neurodiverse children through their storytelling. This episode is a valuable r...
Jan 14, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Episode Summary Join me as I welcome back Amy and her daughter, Lizzie, for an insightful discussion. In this episode, we delve into Lizzie's harrowing encounter with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), exploring the severe implications and her journey to recovery. Amy shares the critical moments that led to her life-saving discovery of Lizzie's condition and her quick response. We also discuss Lizzie's candid reflections on managing her menstrual health post-TSS, the challenges she faced during her rec...
Dec 03, 2023•20 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Episode Summary Join us in a touching conversation with Amy and her daughter Lizzie as they share their experiences with 18-year-old Mathew, who was diagnosed with autism. Amy discusses the challenges of raising Mathew, including how eliminating certain food dyes helped reduce his aggressive behavior. Lizzie shares insights on being an older sister to a sibling with autism, highlighting the unique bond they share. This episode offers a candid look into a family's journey with autism, filled with...
Nov 12, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 4
EPISODE SUMMARY This is a replay of a previously released episode, for Blindness Awareness Month. In this episode, we meet Josh Burch, a 48-year-old man who was born with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. Josh talks about the challenges of growing up blind and shares how he navigates a world built for sighted people with the help of technology and his guide dog, Lou. We also hear more from Josh's stepmother, Julie Burch, and learn how they inspired and learned from each other, and how their relationship h...
Oct 29, 2023•53 min
EPISODE SUMMARY This is a replay of a previously released episode, for Blindness Awareness Month. Julie Burch is an accomplished author (pen name: Juliet Brilee) and stepmother to Josh, who was born blind. Now 48 years old, he lives independently with his seeing-eye dog, Lou. In this episode, Julie shares what it was like to raise a blind child. She introduces us to how she helped Josh spatially map his environment, and talks about how the brain's map differs for people who have vision versus pe...
Oct 15, 2023•55 min
Episode Summary In part 2 of my conversation with retired FBI Special Agent Aaron Weeter, we learn more about life as an FBI agent. Aaron explains how he got started, what it was like to work on high-profile cases like 9/11, the DC Sniper, and January 6th, and how he ultimately specialized in drug-related crimes for most of his career. It was fascinating to learn about how Aaron and his colleagues used informants and undercover officers to take down doctors in the opioid epidemic. Be sure to lis...
Sep 10, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Episode Summary Since 1999, more than one million people have died from a drug overdose in the United States. On International Overdose Awareness Day, we reflect on these senseless preventable deaths. Today, we hear from previous Wisdom Shared guest Anne Pratt on the loss of her brother Daniel from an accidental overdose. May this powerful personal story help spread awareness and compassion for all those affected by the devastating impact of today's out of control epidemic. Resources How to use ...
Sep 01, 2023•8 min
Episode Summary Our last episode explored addiction from the perspective of loved ones. In this episode, we are looking at the opioid crisis from the point of view of a retired FBI agent, Aaron Weeter, who spent 25 years specializing in drug-related crimes. From his frontline perspective, we learn how the opioid epidemic of the 90s spread to become the fentanyl epidemic we have today. For the visually-minded who prefer to listen and read or for those who need closed captioning, watch the transcr...
Aug 06, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Episode Summary In this episode, I'm joined by two special guests, harm reduction activist Julie Stampler and award-winning documentary filmmaker Jamie Boyle. We discuss the opioid epidemic through the frame of the incredible documentary Anonymous Sister , directed by Jamie Boyle, produced by Marilyn Ness, and executive produced by Julie Stampler. This is the story of one American family, but what happened to them could happen to any family. We learn about Julie's brother, Jonathan, who died fro...
May 21, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Episode Summary Melissa Conrey shares her story of living with drug and alcohol addiction and now, sobriety. A single mom of two, she worries about her children who have been exposed to so much. She went back to school to earn her degrees and is now a registered dietician. Melissa speaks openly about her challenges and her victories. For the visually-minded who prefer to listen and read or for those who need closed captioning, watch the transcript video here: https://youtu.be/yTUuE_L-L8g From Th...
Mar 26, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Episode Summary This episode features mother and daughter Bobbie and Angela Singletary. This dynamic duo shares their story, full of hardship, resilience, joy, love, and support. Bobbie, Angela, and two of Angela's kids all have achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, as did Angela's late sister Cindy. Listen how Cindy’s life at 33 could not be saved despite the huge sacrifices made by her mom and sister. We will hear how the Medicaid system failed them and how in spite of life challenges, including...
Jan 29, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 13
EPISODE SUMMARY Lisa Greer is a mother of five, a former executive and business owner, a convener of charitable events, and the author of Philanthropy Revolution . We discuss her childrens' diagnoses with cancer and adolescent-onset epilepsy and how that affected the whole family. Lisa explains how transparency fosters trust, something that applies to the worlds of charitable giving, healthcare, and parenting. There are so many impactful takeaways from this wide-ranging conversation with Lisa, a...
Dec 04, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Episode Summary In this episode, we meet Patty Braendel, a special education teacher who is an adoptive mom, a birth mom, and also a foster mom. We hear about her journey to parenthood with all its ups and downs and learn how her experiences as a parent have helped her work in special education. For the visually-minded who prefer to listen and read, watch the transcript video here: https://youtu.be/6gINmxyiQ5o Resources Foster the Family Florida Department of Children and Families Empowered to C...
Oct 09, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 11
EPISODE SUMMARY Kathryn Paylor-Bent has a lot of wisdom to share and we cover a lot of ground in this conversation. We talk about her experiences as a disabled woman, wheelchair user, and the CEO of two successful businesses. She uses her disability as inspiration for her successful career as an adaptive fashion designer and as a consultant to other organizations. She shares her experiences with ableism, including medical and digital ableism like shadow banning on social media and examples from ...
Sep 11, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 10
Episode Summary: In this episode, we meet Dom Raban, a designer, software developer, and father of Issy. Issy underwent cancer treatment at age 13. While Issy is now a young adult and cancer-free, the lack of information given to Issy during her treatments prompted her father to create a child-centered app called Xploro. This amazing app was designed to improve the health literacy of children, to decrease procedural anxiety, and to improve the hospital experience for all children and their famil...
Aug 07, 2022•44 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Eleven-year-old Easton and his mother Jennifer are a great son-mom team. In this episode, we will hear from both and learn about support dogs, supercars, playgrounds, pregnancy, birth, and spina bifida. For the visually-minded who prefer to listen and read, watch the transcript video here: https://youtu.be/yVwx-zwqNhM FIND AND FOLLOW JENNIFER: crofootjennifer@gmail.com ABOUT SPINA BIFIDA: https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/ https://redefiningspinabifida.org/ FROM THIS EPISODE: Learn about th...
Jul 10, 2022•51 min•Season 2Ep. 8
