Meet the Authors of "Latinas in PR": Brenda Duran and Anais Biera Miracle
Release Date: 04/08/2025
Making Milestones Happen with Michael Klein
Smart Talk Series
As we’ve learned this season, milestones don’t just appear. They come after brave actions, years, and sometimes decades of hard work and dedication. In the final episode of Season 10, Melissa interviews Michael Klein, Public Relations Manager at Ferrovial Construction, to discuss the career milestones he made possible by bravely asking for opportunities and taking action to bring them to life. About Michael: Mike Klein is a high-energy people person who began his career in television as a sports producer. Then changed career paths by becoming a public relations manager for one of...
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Celebrating Organizational Milestones with Joseph Nespral and Casey Casseb
Smart Talk Series
A major milestone in your organization is the perfect time to take stock of what you’ve achieved and chart a path for the future. In this episode, Melissa interviews President & CEO of Texas Organ Sharing Alliance Joe Nespral and TOSA’s Director of Communications Casey Casseb, to discuss celebrating 50 years of their organization’s important work in organ donation. About Joe: Joseph Nespral, MD, CPTC is the President & CEO of Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. Joe has been with TOSA since July 1997 and was promoted to CEO in October 2016. Joe has an extensive background in...
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Supporting Future Young Professionals with Emilia Williamson
Smart Talk Series
Today, Melissa is taking a break from talking to seasoned professionals by sitting down with a future young professional: her daughter, Emilia. Listen as Melissa and Emilia discuss how communication professionals can support and inspire Generation Z and beyond as they work to achieve milestones of their own. About Emilia: Emilia Williamson is a rising junior in high school who has “interned” in public relations and communications since she was a toddler. She is an honor roll student, award-winning theatre performer and cosplayer, aerial dance artist, and tenured Junior Intern at MVW...
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The Moments That Shape You with Hussein Al-Baiaty
Smart Talk Series
There are many moments in life, tragic and joyful, that can help create the person and professional you are today. In this episode, Melissa chats with Hussein Al-Baiaty, an author marketing strategist, about the past moments that shape us and the future moments we can manifest with the right mindset. About Hussein: Hussein Al-Baiaty is an author marketing strategist, author, and founder of Rising Authors, a platform that helps nonfiction writers grow their influence, income, and impact through powerful brand-building. As a refugee turned entrepreneur, Hussein combines storytelling,...
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Leveraging Milestones for Social Change with Claudia Romo Edelman
Smart Talk Series
With each milestone you reach, your career and reputation grow. What good can you do with that power? In this episode, Melissa sits down with Claudia Romo Edelman, a global mobilization expert, about how Claudia uses her voice and influence to help positively change the world. About Claudia: Claudia Romo Edelman is a global mobilization expert, catalyst for social change and marketer for social causes. She is a recognized speaker, activist, thought leader, author, and upcoming entrepreneur. Follow Claudia on . Topics covered: Claudia's milestone moments What inspired Claudia...
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Celebrating Your Own Milestones with Karen Swim
Smart Talk Series
Celebrating milestones as an entrepreneur can be difficult when you're trying to navigate a tough time or just busy serving your clients. In this episode, Melissa sits down with the President of Solo PR Pro, Karen Swim, to discuss how to leverage milestones as a business owner, the enduring spirit of solopreneurs, and how to take care of your well-being while leading the way in public relations. About Karen: Karen Swim, APR, is an accredited public relations professional, speaker, podcaster, author, and champion of independent by choice workers. She is the Founder of Words For...
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Bonus Episode: Branding, Bravery and Breaking Through with Melissa Vela-Williamson, Karen Swim & Michelle Kane
Smart Talk Series
Enjoy a bonus conversation between Melissa and the hosts of That Solo Life: The Solo PR Pro Podcast, Karen Swim and Michelle Kane about Melissa's tips on cultivating a purposeful personal brand.
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Bonus: Thought Leadership for Agency Growth with Chip Griffin & Melissa Vela-Williamson
Smart Talk Series
Enjoy a bonus conversation between Melissa and Chip Griffin about Melissa's unique journey in public relations and the importance of content creation.
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Bonus: Most Experts Stay Quiet—She Refused with Hussein Al-Baiaty & Melissa Vela-Williamson
Smart Talk Series
Enjoy a bonus conversation between Melissa and author champion and publishing strategist Hussein Al-Baiaty on the Rising Authors podcast where they discuss how challenging it was for Melissa to "be" the author for her first book, "Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know." And then, what it was like to inspire other Latina leaders to go down that path with her second, "Latinas in Public Relations: Shaping Communications, Communities, and Culture." Thanks to Hussein for having Melissa on her show to talk about her journey!
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Meet the Authors of "Latinas in PR": Irasema Romero and Lorraine Pulido
Smart Talk Series
In today's episode, Melissa introduces two authors from the new anthology, "Latinas in PR", Irasema Romero and Lorraine Pulido. About Irasema: Irasema Romero is a seasoned internal communication advisor and leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience supporting leaders through transformative organizational changes. She currently leads internal communications at Gong, an AI-powered revenue intelligence platform, and has a leadership coaching practice, Ollin Growth, focused on supporting early-career leaders. Throughout her career, Irasema has worked with C-suite executives during key...
info_outlineIn today's episode, Melissa introduces two authors from the new anthology, "Latinas in PR", Brenda Duran and Anais Biera Miracle.
About Brenda:
Brenda Duran is a seasoned media and communications specialist with over a decade of impactful service in Los Angeles County. Currently the Director of External Affairs for the LA County Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department, she has excelled in expanding social media presence, launching successful multimedia campaigns, and crafting strategic messaging for key public programs. With a journalism degree from USC's Annenberg School, Brenda's career spans government communications and print media, showcasing her expertise in driving outreach and innovation across diverse platforms.
Connect with Brenda on LinkedIn.
Check out Brenda's website.
About Anais:
Anais Biera Miracle has 20 years of experience in communications, with expertise in litigation public relations, crisis communications, and nonprofit leadership. Anais is the Chief Communications Officer for one of the largest, Latino-led nonprofit organizations in the United States. Anais lives in Austin with her husband and daughter.
Connect with Anais on LinkedIn.
Topics covered:
- How the authors got in Public Relations
- What inspired them to share their story
- A preview of each author's story
- Advice for someone taking a step forward in their career
- Buy your copy of "Latinas in PR" on Amazon
Resources mentioned:
- "Latinas in Public Relations: Shaping Communications, Communities, and Culture"
- "Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know"
- MVW Communications