It is an honor to introduce Lek Chailert, an award-winning conservationist, who has spent the last 20+ years working tirelessly to improve the condition and promote the welfare of elephants in her native Thailand and throughout Asia. In 2005 she was named "Hero of Asia" by Time Magazine and in 2010, was honored by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as one of six Women Heroes of Global Conservation. Not only has her work been documented by National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, Animal P...
Dec 25, 2018•32 min•Ep. 138
She's baaack! And we couldn't be more excited. Actress/comedienne Julie Halston holds a special place in the Conversations with Creative Women universe. This marks her 4th appearance and for good reason. Julie's got a lot going on, including her latest role: Rita Marshall, the tough producer in the Broadway-bound production of "Tootsie," the musical based on the classic 1982 film starring Dustin Hoffman. You won't want to miss our conversation with this very funny, talented creative woman!...
Dec 19, 2018•37 min•Ep. 137
Dec 11, 2018•34 min•Ep. 136
"It's impossible to be Iranian and not political." Artist Shiva Ahmadi shares her personal story of growing up in Tehran during the Revolution and Iran-Iraq War. She talks openly about leaving her parents to come to the States, where she has lived and worked since 2003. This is a riveting, captivating and emotional conversation you won't want to miss.
Dec 04, 2018•31 min•Ep. 135
Meet award winning scholar, historian, author, artist Nell Painter, the Edwards Professor of American History, Emerita at Princeton University. Her acclaimed works of history include, "Standing at Armageddon," "Sojourner Truth, "and the New York Times bestseller, "The History of White People." But her most recent book is all about second chapters. Old in "Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over," chronicles Nell's return to the classroom as an undergrad to study painting, following her retirement ...
Nov 27, 2018•29 min•Ep. 134
Direct from Australia - filmmaker Sue Thomson. She began her professional career working on Public Television in Melbourne and then went out on her own, writing and directing several documentaries. The most recent - THE COMING BACK OUT BALL. This film follows a group of older LGBTI folks who are invited to attend a ball celebrating age, gender and sexuality identity. It is a heart-warming, honest and moving look at their lives. Join us for a conversation with this creative woman from "Down Under...
Nov 20, 2018•35 min•Ep. 133
Singer/songwriter/actress/activist - all describe Margo Seibert. She began her acting career in Washington, D.C. made the move to NYC in 2010 where she was cast as Adrian in the Broadway musical ROCKY; originated the role of Jane in Broadway's first a cappella musical IN TRANSIT and starred in the world premier of THE THANKSGIVING PLAY. Then there's Margo's solo album, "77th Street" which features original songs that incorporate eclectic rock and folk influences. Once again, lots to talk about w...
Nov 13, 2018•33 min•Ep. 132
Patricia Harman spent most of the 60s and 70s living in rural communes in Washington State, Connecticut, Minnesota and West Virginia where she and her husband, along with a group of like-minded friends bought a farm. It was there, by accident, that she attended her first home birth. That had quite an impact; she became an RN, the first step in getting certified as a nurse-midwife, a career that has lasted more than 30 years. She subsequently re-invented herself, and became a best selling author....
Nov 06, 2018•29 min•Ep. 131
Abby Epstein's career has been a rich and rewarding one. It began in 1992 in Chicago when she formed her own theatrical company. She directed several plays there before moving to New York to work on "Rent" and "The Vagina Monologues." Then in 2004 she moved into film and 3 years later formed a partnership with Rikki Lake. They've made several documentaries together including the award-winning, "The Business of Being Born." Their latest collaboration - "Weed The People." It explores the use of ca...
Oct 30, 2018•39 min•Ep. 130
Jessica Leonard's worked in some of New York's most storied restaurants: Daniel, 11 Madison Park, the James Beard House, but it was her love of chocolate that inspired her to go out on her own. In February, 2018, she opened Miss Maude's Bar of Chocolates in her home state of Virginia. The name refers to Virginia native Miss Maude who came of age in the Roaring 20s and left home for the big city, to among other pursuits, find the world's best chocolates. Jessica's added her brand to that list. Fi...
Oct 23, 2018•30 min•Ep. 128
Polly Draper does it all. She's an awarding-winning actress, writer, producer and director. Probably best known to fans as Ellyn Warren in the 80's tv hit Thirtysomething, Polly was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1998 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama series. Her latest project: STELLA'S LAST WEEKEND. She wrote, directed, and stars in the movie, which also features her 2 sons, Nat and Alex Wolff. We talk about the personal and professional in this open, honest, conversation with y...
Oct 16, 2018•28 min•Ep. 129
Jackie Rivera describes herself as a nomadic, theater-maker who acts, directs, stage manages and designs, and as such, is part of The Syndicate. This NYC-based ensemble theater company's mission is to "produce new plays by women, queer and trans artists." It advocates for diversity in how and which stories it tells. Jackie has plenty of stories of her own to tell - unique, quirky and heartening.
Oct 09, 2018•31 min•Ep. 125
Pat Addiss didn't start out wanting to be a theatrical producer. She was busy running the promotion company she founded, but after 30 years, she handed the reins over to her daughter. Then in 2005, after 'learning the tools of the trade,' Pat went on to produce more than 18 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions including: Spring Awakening, Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike and Desperate Measures. And...she's never looked back!
Oct 02, 2018•30 min•Ep. 126
Angels, spirit guides, aura. What exactly does it mean to be clairvoyant? No clue? We'll you're about to find out. Tori Quisling, founder of the New York Center for Clairvoyant Development, has spent the last 30 years as a professional clairvoyant and teacher, offering readings on a myriad of topics including: mediumship, past lives, career, health, relationships, spiritual path choices. Sit back and enjoy this other worldly conversation!
Sep 25, 2018•35 min•Ep. 127
Molly Carr might be a millennial, but boy has she got some resume! She's a professional violist, chamber musician, educator and the founder/director of Project: Music Heals Us. Created in 2014, this non-profit provides free, live musical performances in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, homeless shelters and refugee camps. We guarantee you'll be inspired and awed by this incredibly talented, creative woman!
Sep 18, 2018•39 min•Ep. 124
A theatrical press agent for 40 years, Susan Schulman has worked with some of Broadway's most talented folks: Yul Brynner, Zero Mostel, Lauren Bacall, Katherine Hepburn, Alec Baldwin, Glenn Close. Susan's chronicled her rich and rewarding career in her book, "Backstage Pass to Broadway: True Tales from a Theater Press Agent," published in 2013. Now comes, "Backstage Pass to Broadway: More True Tales." Join us as Susan talks tales and more in this engaging, lively conversation.
Sep 11, 2018•36 min•Ep. 122
Making a return engagement is the classy, accomplished, multi-talented singer/songwriter Vivian Sessoms. And once again, we cover a lot of territory. In a beautiful tribute, Vivian shares the impact the iconic Aretha Franklin had and has on her both personally and professionally. And...she also talks about the impetus for her new, powerful double-album LIFE, scheduled to be released on Baby Buddha/Ropeadope November 2nd.
Sep 04, 2018•40 min•Ep. 123
Money matters to Jill Schlesinger. And to that end, the Certified Financial Planner covers the economy, markets, investing and whatever else contains a $-sign. An Emmy-nominated Business Analyst for CBS News, she shares her expertise on the network's radio and tv stations across the country. You'll want to make time to listen to Jill's jaw-dropping, but empowering stories about what it's been like to be a woman in a man's world.
Aug 28, 2018•37 min•Ep. 121
This week, we revisit our episode with singer-songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker Rhonda Ross Kendrick. Her parents are music industry icons. Mom is Diana Ross; dad is Motown founder and hit maker Berry Gordy. The oldest of Diana's 5 children, Rhonda's maternal half-sister is actress Tracee Ellis Ross. So...put your 'to do' list on the back burner and spend the next 30+minutes with a very classy, refreshingly honest, creative woman.
Aug 21, 2018•33 min•Ep. 120
You'll want to meet and get to know Special Education teacher Dena Grushkin, who recently retired after 35 years in the classroom. However, a 2004 trip to Nigeria turned out to be a seminal moment in her life, opening her eyes to the reality of children living and attending school under the most challenging circumstances. She managed to raise $5,000 from friends, colleagues and strangers for books and other supplies. That visit prompted Dena to create the Nigerian School Project, a nonprofit edu...
Aug 14, 2018•35 min•Ep. 119
