Michael Girard: Explorer, Storyteller, Motivational Speaker
When he’s not deep in the wilderness or uncovering lost history, Michael Girard is captivating audiences across the world. An accomplished speaker, Michael combines thrilling adventure stories with humor, insight, and powerful life lessons to keep audiences engaged, entertained, and inspired.
With over 30 years of exploration experience, Michael has led daring expeditions, mapped uncharted caves, piloted remote-operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), and rediscovered forgotten landscapes buried by time. Along the way, he has collected extraordinary stories of survival, discovery, and the hidden wonders that nature conceals in its darkest corners.
Speaking Topics & Audiences
Michael has presented at conferences, libraries, private organizations, historical societies, schools, and National Speleological Society (NSS) chapters across the country. His talks appeal to a broad range of audiences, including:
✔ Adventure & Exploration Enthusiasts – Journey into the unknown and uncover hidden worlds.
✔ Students & Educators – Inspire the next generation of explorers and critical thinkers.
✔ History & Science Lovers – Discover forgotten places and the stories they hold.
✔ General Audiences – Engage with thrilling real-life adventures that push the limits of human endurance.
What to Expect from Michael’s Talks
✅ Engaging & High-Energy Storytelling – Hear first-hand accounts of real-world adventure.
✅ Motivational & Thought-Provoking Insights – Learn how exploration teaches us to push past fear, embrace the unknown, and pursue big goals.
✅ Behind-the-Scenes Exploration Secrets – Discover what it truly takes to venture into nature’s hidden places.
Michael’s expeditions are more than just adventure—they are a call to action. He illustrates the power of boldness, persistence, and stepping beyond comfort zones, showing that everyone has an inner explorer waiting to be awakened. His talks challenge audiences to embrace their own potential and take the first step toward something extraordinary.
Book Michael for Your Next Event
📩 contact@michael-girard.com
For Michael Girard, adventure isn’t about being the most extreme—it’s about taking that first bold step beyond your comfort zone. Through thrilling real-life stories, Michael shows audiences how the modern world is still a golden age of exploration—and how tapping into curiosity and passion can spark incredible journeys of discovery. His talks are more than just adventure stories; they are a call to action. With contagious enthusiasm, Michael inspires audiences to break routine, embrace the unknown, and turn small steps into extraordinary experiences.
Virtual presentations may take place behind a screen, but Michael Girard ensures they are just as immersive, engaging, and inspiring as a live event. With over 12 years of experience delivering remote talks to national and international audiences, Michael brings adventure to life through captivating storytelling, stunning visuals, and interactive engagement. His virtual presentations energize your inner explorer and leave audiences feeling inspired to seek their own discoveries.
Seamlessly navigating teleconferencing technology, Michael makes sure every event runs smoothly. When needed, his skilled team manages logistics and audience interaction, allowing for dynamic Q&A sessions and a truly interactive experience. Whether speaking to students, professionals, or general audiences, his presentations break the digital barrier and bring the thrill of exploration directly to viewers—no matter where they are in the world.
The word “underground” often evokes secrecy, mystery, or danger. It is a place long feared, rarely seen, and barely explored—a world hidden beneath our feet. While most expeditions focus on the surface, the sky, or the sea, Michael Girard ventures into the last great unknown: inner space.
Exploring the subterranean world requires careful planning, precision, and modern technology. With a dedicated team of underground explorers, Michael pushes the boundaries of what is known, venturing into the deep, dark realms that have inspired myths and legends for centuries. From the eerie passages of Beowulf’s domain to uncharted depths, he shares riveting tales of discovery, danger, and the unexpected surprises lurking in the shadows.
Though these expeditions are often physically exhausting and mentally demanding, they also bring moments of humor, camaraderie, and profound insight. Michael reveals that the true reward of exploration is not just in reaching the destination—but in the challenges, people, and experiences along the way. Sometimes, the journey itself is the greatest adventure.
For over 20 years, Michael Girard has encountered petroglyphs and post-European settlement inscriptions during his expeditions. Some remain part of popular culture, while many have faded into obscurity, hidden deep within the forests of New England. While some carvings have well-documented meanings, others remain enigmatic relics of the past, sparking debate and curiosity.
Four years ago, Michael set out on a mission: to locate, document, and analyze every known and newly discovered stone inscription across the Northeast. Since then, he has uncovered 46 stone carvings—some previously recorded but long forgotten, others entirely undocumented until now. However, finding these inscriptions is only the beginning. The real challenge lies in unraveling their stories.
Using local records, archaeological data, legends, and lore, Michael works to place each petroglyph within its historical context. Some carvings remain shrouded in mystery, while others hint at lost narratives waiting to be rediscovered. His research bridges the gap between fact, folklore, and speculation, offering a deeper understanding of these ancient and colonial-era markings.
In his presentation, “Stories in Stone,” Michael unveils new insights, fresh discoveries, and cutting-edge imaging technology that reveal details hidden to the naked eye. For those inspired to pursue their own research, he also shares accessible tools and resources, many of which are available for little to no cost.
Michael Girard doesn’t just talk about adventure—he lives it. With infectious enthusiasm and a passion for pushing beyond the ordinary, he inspires audiences to break free from routine, challenge their limits, and embrace the unknown.
Through riveting stories of exploration, perseverance, and unexpected discovery, Michael proves that extraordinary achievements aren’t reserved for the fearless—they’re built through bold first steps, relentless curiosity, and the determination to keep going. His down-to-earth style, humor, and relatable struggles make his journey feel accessible, showing audiences that they, too, are capable of more than they imagine.
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Michael’s message is simple but powerful: greatness isn’t about talent—it’s about taking action. His talks ignite the drive to start something new, take risks, and embrace discomfort as a stepping stone to success. Audiences leave his presentations energized, empowered, and ready to embark on their own adventure—whether that means tackling a personal goal, chasing a long-buried dream, or simply daring to step outside their comfort zone.
Researching an expedition can be an adventure of its own. While digging through archives, Michael Girard often stumbles upon peculiar, long-forgotten moments in America’s early history—stories too strange to ignore. Like the call of the Sirens, these tales pull him in, compelling him to uncover the truth buried beneath centuries of myth, mystery, and shifting cultural perspectives.
Over the years, Michael has amassed a collection of astonishing stories—lost cities of gold, monsters lurking in the wilderness, ghouls haunting the frontier, and shadowy figures erased from history. These bizarre accounts, drawn from historical records, firsthand testimonies, and folklore, challenge us to rethink the line between fact, fiction, and the power of belief.
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In his presentation, Michael transports audiences back in time, sharing these strange but true tales through the eyes of those who lived them. He reveals how myths and legends reflect the fears, hopes, and evolving cultures of America’s earliest settlers. While schools teach the major milestones of history, Michael shines a light on the eerie, unexplained, and forgotten moments that make the past far stranger—and more fascinating—than we were ever told.
Want to dive deeper into Michael’s latest expeditions, discoveries, and past projects? You can explore more of his work through the links below, where he shares insights, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments from his adventures.
If you find his work fascinating, why not bring the experience to your audience? Book Michael for a live or virtual event and let him take you on a journey into the unknown.
