A founding member of The Mamas & The Papas, Michelle Phillips was only 21 when her song “California Dreamin’” became an overnight smash in 1965. Born Holly Michelle Gilliam in Long Beach , California, Michelle’s voice was described as “the purest soprano in popdom” by Time. The mother of Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips, Michelle is a seasoned film and television actress whose film Dillinger led to a Golden Globe nomination in 1973. She starred in Knots Landing and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

In 2006, Martha Coakley was elected as the first female Attorney General of Massachusetts. A graduate of Williams College and Boston University College of Law, Martha joined the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office early in her career and was hand picked by the U.S. Justice Department’s elite Boston Organized Crime Unit. A seasoned law professor, she’s prosecuted landmark cases including the Louise Woodward case. Thirty years ago, Martha made her way in a man’s world. At 54, she’s a lioness in the courtroom and on Beacon Hill.

Sheila Lirio Marcelo is an entrepreneur who brings great ideas to life. After realizing that many moms like her struggle to find quality care providers for their loved ones, Sheila created Care.com to help families to find babysitters, nannies, senior care providers and more. Born and raised in the Philippines, Sheila says that family, respect and hard work are her mantra. She came to the U.S. as a college student and earned her undergraduate degree at Mt. Holyoke as a single mom. Sheila also earned degrees from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.

Courage comes to us in many ways. For Brecken Chinn Swartz, on a work assignment in China, it came in the form of an instant connection to a little girl with third degree burns on her legs and feet. She spotted 10-year old Zhou Lin in a sea of beggars and made it her goal to bring her to the United States for treatment. Four years later, Zhou Lin lives with her new family in Greenbelt, Maryland, where she’s learning English, making friends, and walking on prosthetic legs and feet. Compassion, sacrifice, and love fuels this mother-daughter journey.

Ophelia Dahl has a famous last name and a mission to do the right thing. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Partners in Health, an organization that began with a handful of volunteers 25 years ago. A graduate of Wellesley College, Ophelia grew up in England and first volunteered in Haiti when she was only 18 years old. She has been a warrior in the fight for social justice and health care equity ever since. Ophelia is the daughter of Academy Award & Tony Award winning actress Patricia Neal and the late author Roald Dahl.

At 16, Brittany Bergquist of Norwell is the youngest person ever profiled on our radio show. Brittany was only 12 when she saw a story about soldiers who could not afford to call home. She and her younger brother Robbie emptied their piggy banks and launched www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. Brittany contacted AT&T, and the telecommunications giant listened, establishing 1000 drop centers nationwide. To date, Cell Phones For Soldiers has distributed nearly two million dollars’ worth of phone cards to soldiers around the world.

Sometimes adversity and loss are a wake-up call. As Peg Feodoroff of North Easton, waited for her chemotherapy, she shivered in her Johnny and realized: I can do something about this! It wasn’t long before Peg hatched The Original Healing Threads. Based in Bridgewater, this innovative clothing line is your Johnny alternative, designed with breakaway panels that allow doctors and nurses to treat patients discreetly while protecting their self-esteem. A portion of the proceeds from The Original Healing Threads supports single mothers during cancer treatment.