Michelangelo started gaining fame after creating the “Pietà,” a beloved sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the body of Lord Jesus Christ. Following his impressive achievements, Michelangelo became one of the most famous and sought-after artists in Europe. Michelangelo’s interest in the after-life influenced the content of his second painting for the Sistine Chapel. The finished mural, “The Last Judgement,” took him seven years to complete. The fresco depicts the Second Coming of Lord Jesus Christ and His judgement of the souls. Pope Paul III was so overwhelmed by the painting that he fell to his knees in awe and begged God for lenience on his own judgement day. Michelangelo passed away on February 18, 1564, at the age of 88, leaving a remarkable legacy of extraordinary creations that continue to inspire generation after generation. He was the first Western artist to have biographies published during his lifetime. Michelangelo once said, “Death and love are the two wings that bear the good man to Heaven.”

A leading light of the Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo was known as "II Divino" meaning "the divine one," and is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. A poet, sculptor, and architect, his creations include internationally renowned masterpieces like the famous marble sculpture of King David of Israel and the magnificent biblical painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was also a principal architect involved in constructing one of the Vatican's holiest buildings, St. Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo was first and foremost a sculptor, displaying his talents from a young age. He could see a connection between the human form and the soul, bringing his sculptors to life in a novel way for his time. His use of light and shadow gives his sculptures a truly authentic presence. “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” - Michelangelo Buonarroti

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” - Dr. Albert Einstein. In respecting the sanctity of all lives, throughout his existence, Dr. Albert Einstein believed in the ideals of vegetarianism. He wrote in a letter to Germany Vegetarian Watch-Tower on December 27, 1930: "…I have long been an adherent to the cause in principle. Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind." Dr. Einstein's respect for life naturally led him to be a humanitarian and advocate for social justice, freedom, and peace. With the onset of the atomic era, Dr. Einstein realized that nuclear weapons were a profound risk to humanity and could bring an end to civilization. During the last decade of his life, he was tireless in his efforts to create effective international cooperation to disarm nuclear weapons and to prevent wars.

Dr. Albert Einstein was an internationally acclaimed physicist and Nobel Laureate. His scientific theories on relativity and his work on space-time helped charter the course of modern physics. In 1999, Time Magazine named him “The Person of the Century.” Albert Einstein was born to middle-class Jewish parents in 1879, in Ulm, Germany. 1905 became his Annus mirabilis, or “miracle year,” when Dr. Einstein published four papers in the Annalen der physik scientific journal. Those four history-making papers - detailing the theory of photoelectric effect, the Brownian motion, the theory on special relativity, and the mass-energy equivalence - revolutionized the field of modern physics forever. Dr. Albert Einstein’s 1905 photoelectric effect paper, which would later earn him the Nobel Prize in Physics, was indeed revolutionary. It is Einstein’s “Quantum Theory of Light” that founded modern-day quantum physics. This sealed Albert Einstein’s fame internationally as a leading physicist. Dr. Albert Einstein emphasized not only scientific and technological development, but also the importance of higher morality.

The Marvel characters that he helped formulate live in the real world. They come with imperfections and a human touch. Ultimately, the Marvel superheroes exemplify the best qualities within each and every one of us. Moreover, his noble ideals always shone through his creations. The one constant outcome in his stories was that “good would triumph over evil and love conquers all.” In 1972, Stan Lee became Marvel’s editorial director and publisher. Later, in 1980, he moved to Los Angeles to promote Marvel’s film ventures. He revolutionized the entire industry and catapulted Marvel into being the world’s top publisher of comic books. Stan Lee won numerous accolades during his prolific career. In 2008, he received the prestigious National Medal of Arts. In 2010, he founded The Stan Lee Foundation to provide literary resources, arts programs, and education to people of all ages, while promoting diversity, literacy, culture, and the arts. He had lived a brilliant, meaningful 95 years. “That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt a real superhero.” - Stan Lee

Stan Lee, a legend in the comic book industry, played a major role in creating hundreds of beloved Marvel Comics characters, from Spider-Man to the Fantastic Four, the Hulk to Thor and the X-Men. Stan Lee humanized heroes who continue to influence pop culture and inspire young and old to always follow the path of light. Growing up, Stan Lee had different interests than his schoolmates. Stan Lee believed that somewhere within him lay the “Great American Novel” waiting to be written. Stan Lee’s career made big bounds in 1941. He wanted to be a trendsetter, not a copycat of sorts. In a last bid to continue in the field of comic books, Stan Lee awakened his creative genius and began writing what he wanted. Just like that Stan Lee helped revived the comic industry, resurrecting Marvel Comics and setting it apart from its competition. Stan Lee become the face of Marvel and gained himself a legion of fans.

Abu al-‘Ala’ al-Ma‘arri, a man of keen intellect and deep thought, is respected as one of the greatest Arab classical poets. When he was four years old, al- Ma‘arri was afflicted with small pox. The illness ultimately resulted in the loss of his vision. His unconventional wisdom and philosophy and his profound reasoning had led to a sudden surge in his reputation. He rapidly became a highly sought after poet and scholar. Al-Ma‘arri was also an example of compassion to all beings. He spoke out against the killing of animals and also the use of animal skins for clothing and other fashion accessories. Nearly a thousand years after his time on Earth, the spiritual verse from the sage-like poet and philosopher Al-Ma‘arri remains as relevant as the day it was written: “What shall it profit you, the vast amount of gold and grain you gather from the land, if you have laid no dominating hand on virtues that will balance your account!” Al-Ma‘arri is respected for his bold ideas, his independent spirit, and his unrelenting drive to uphold truth and justice for all beings.

Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was born in 1861 at Kraljevec, present-day Croatia. Dr. Rudolf Steiner was a great polymath, a philosopher and scientist. An eloquent public speaker and gifted writer, he gave over 6,000 lectures in his lifetime, and he published more than 25 books. He developed and taught a path of research called anthroposophy, based on “the science of the spirit.” Rudolf Steiner was also a vegetarian. He placed great emphasis on the benefits of meditation. In 1913, Rudolf Steiner designed and built the Goetheanum, a “school of spiritual science,” in Dornach, Switzerland. This has become the world center for the anthroposophical movement. He believed that education should focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of each student. In 1919, the first free Waldorf School was founded in Stuttgart, Germany, based on Dr. Steiner’s philosophy. Now, a century later, there are more than 1,000 of these Waldorf and Steiner Schools in 64 countries.

Amidst her immense fame and success, Audrey Hepburn always had a special place in her heart for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s found. In 1988, she was appointed UNICEF Special Ambassador, and she became a Goodwill Ambassador the following year. Audrey Hepburn continued to dedicate herself to UNICEF’s cause, from making numerous field trips around the world to assist the most vulnerable. Audrey Hepburn received the United States’ highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in December 1992. During that year, she had continued her work for UNICEF despite being ill, travelling to Somalia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, and the United States. In January 1993, Audrey Hepburn passed away in her sleep at her home in Switzerland, leaving an extraordinary legacy both in the arts as well as in compassion.

The much-loved Audrey Hepburn was a Hollywood legend, dance, a muse for fashion designers, and an icon for style. Glamorous and talented, she was a woman of courage and integrity, a voice for the children in need around the world, and a loving champion of peace and hope. Her performance received many positive reviews. Audrey Hepburn became the first actress to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award for a single performance. Despite her fame and success, Audrey did not forget the strife that her family had endured. Starting in 1950, Audrey Hepburn made two radio programs for UNICEF. She narrated children’s stories in times of conflict, and in 1989 she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF.

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick was a Kenyan-British author and leading elephant conservationist, specializing in the raising and reintegrating of orphaned elephants into the wild for over 30 years. Dr. Dame Daphne has authored several books, including “The Orphans of Tsavo” and “An Elephant Called Eleanor,” amongst others. In 2014, the documentary “Gardeners of Eden” was released, featuring some of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s courageous operations. The film portrays the tragic fate of Africa’s elephants, who are endangered due to the illegal ivory trade. “What we are doing is giving some elephants another chance of life, so that hopefully when things improve for elephants worldwide, there will still be some left.” Her tireless work to promote wildlife conservation has earned a number of accolades. She was decorated in 1989 with an MBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by the Queen of England.

David Sheldrick was fully devoted to the welfare of African wildlife, which he deemed sacrosanct. For over two decades, with Daphne's assistance, David more or less single-handedly built Tsavo East National Park, Kenya's largest national park. This sanctuary became the protected home to the country's biggest elephant population. In 1977, Dame Daphne Sheldrick's husband, David, passed away. Her husband had dedicated his life to wildlife protection and the park. In her husband's memory, Dame Daphne Sheldrick founded the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The conservation organization has become one of Africa's oldest wildlife charities. Dame Daphne went on to spend over six decades of her life protecting wildlife in Africa as a conservationist.

William Butler Yeats continued his discovery of mysticism with lengthy experiments with the help of his wife, who shared his interest in spirituality. She introduced him to automatic writing, in which one lets go of their own conscious intent and writes by channeling their subconsciousness or the spiritual realm. With her assistance, William wrote "A Vision," first published privately in 1925, about occultism and historical cycles. William Butler Yeats concluded that within each 2,000-year era, a civilization could achieve special excellence at the midpoints of the 1,000-year halves.

William Butler Yeats, also known simply as W. B. Yeats, was born June 13, 1865, in Sandymount of County Dublin, Ireland. Considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, his eloquent verses reflect a love of Ireland and mysticism, and earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature. “Though leaves are many, the root is one; Through all the lying days of my youth I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun; Now I may wither into the truth.”

In the cold Northern Russian winter of 1881, Anna Pavlova was born. Upon graduating in 1899, at age 18, Anna entered the Imperial Ballet, known today as the Ballet Company of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, one of the most famous ballet companies in the world! Her wonderful charisma and the moving emotions conveyed through dance live on in the memories of all who saw her perform, in the choreographies she arranged or inspired, and in the notes of the eternal “Swan Lake.” For little Anna, the thin child of Theatre Street, the task she set out to achieve, though huge, was realized through the power of her strong determination.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Models of Success, featuring Constantin Brâncuşi, an extraordinary sculptor from Romania. Constantin Brâncuşi, widely known simply as Brâncuşi, was born in 1876 in the beautiful region of Oltenia, Romania. We spoke to Dr. Sanda Miller, Senior Lecturer in Media and Visual Arts at Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom and the author of "Constantin Brâncuşi, A Survey of His Work," who told us more about the life and works of this renowned artist.

We are worked together ever since we were a team of six people. On the farm where I was born, we helped each other out with everything. We have kept that spirit alive and made “tillsammans” a key concept: to consider and care for each other, to put people first. To make everyone feel how important they are. Like the girls and boys who wash our dishes. We would not last an hour without clean plates. So I am telling you all that you need to feel that you are important.

I walk prayerfully and as an opportunity to talk with many people and perhaps inspire them to do something for peace also in their own way. “No one walks so safely as one who walks with great love and great faith. Such a person gets through to the good in others and cannot be harmed. This walks between individuals. This walks between groups, and it would work between nations, if nations had the courage to try it.” Walking an average of 25 miles a day, Peace kept up the same pace at 72 years old as she did in her earlier years. Peace Pilgrim left behind a legacy of love, compassion, and most importantly her message of peace.

In 1953, Peace Pilgrim began her pilgrimage, to walk in the name of nonviolence. She never asked anyone for any food and always refused money. She had no organizational backing. Years later, when she finally reached the 25,000 miles, Peace Pilgrim visited the United Nations and the US White House. She was elated to drop off the tens of thousands of signatures asking for concord. But this was not the end. Peace Pilgrim illustrate the passage of inner growth: You come to the point where you rise high enough in consciousness to look at the entire universe through the eyes of the Higher Nature.

Through life, we are fortunate to encounter admirable souls who inspire others simply with their saint-like qualities. One such individual was Peace Pilgrim, who became a proselytizer for non-violence in an era that did not subscribe to her views. Walking on foot across the United States seven times over a span of 28 years, she endeavored to encourage others to pursue their own inner peace. She knew that by creating a grassroots passive movement, the country could collectively shift towards peaceful living. She knew that people were inherently good, and needed someone to awaken them to their own higher peaceful nature.