A broadcast journalist, radio host, documentary filmmaker, public health advocate, PhD candidate, Perri Peltz's career is a rich and rewarding one. As a filmmaker, her focus has been on health and social justice. However, her newest for HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS takes us 'outside the box.' ALTERNATE ENDINGS: Six New Ways to Die in America," explores the varied and non-traditional options of those who have chosen to celebrate life and take control of what will happen when they die. It is an intimate,...
Aug 13, 2019•45 min•Ep. 171
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 ...
Aug 06, 2019•29 min•Ep. 170
If you're a film, tv and theater person, you're probably familiar with Catherine Wolf's work. Currently, she plays Kevin Bacon's sarcastic mother-in-law on the Showtime series "City on a Hill." Her resume also includes roles on "Oz," "Sex and the City," "Law and Order" and "Cagney and Lacey." Catherine's film credits are numerous: she was Jennifer Connolly's mom in the Oscar-nominated "Little Children." She's also acted in several Harold Pinter plays and happens to be the Founding Producing Dire...
Jul 30, 2019•32 min•Ep. 169
Producer Wendy Federman and Broadway? Perfect together. Her 80+ co-productions include the highly acclaimed and award-winning: To Kill A Mockingbird, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, and Network. Wendy also happens to be a member of the John F. Kennedy Center's National Committee for the Performing Arts. And...she is also a 2019 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. There's plenty to learn in this 'theatrical' conversation with a committed patron of the arts!
Jul 23, 2019•38 min•Ep. 168
Family businesses are nothing new, but the GEEKY FAB FIVE STEM is not your ordinary mom and pop partnership. Actually, it's a mom and daughter venture. 13 year old Lucy Lareau and her mom Liz are the co-creators of this graphic novel series based on Lucy's elementary school experiences, where students learn to make a difference. Their goal is to inspire girls to reach their potential and work together for a better world. We guarantee our conversation with this creative duo will inspire you!...
Jul 16, 2019•35 min•Ep. 167
Nam Holtz was abandoned at birth in her native Korea, and at six months was adopted by a loving American family. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs. It was clear Nam had talent - after graduating college with a BFA in dance, she was cast in the Broadway production of The King and I, and toured the U.S. in Miss Saigon and Flower Drum Song. She's also acted in film and tv. Growing up, Nam never really thought about "her past." But that changed when her older sister gave birth. It became the cataly...
Jul 09, 2019•33 min•Ep. 166
How to describe Tracy Edwards? Let's start with determined, accomplished, ballsy, adventurous, passionate. In 1989, when she was in her mid-20's, Tracy and her crew of 11 females became the first-ever all-women's team to compete in the grueling, prestigious, 32,000 mile Whitbread Round the World sailing race that begins and ends in Southampton, England. How she managed to pull this off (besting male crews in their class, by the way) is the focus of the inspiring, empowering documentary, "Maiden....
Jul 02, 2019•52 min•Ep. 165
Jamie Costello is Philadelphia-born and bred. That's where she went to college - earning as Associate Degree in Fashion from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Jamie left the city of Brotherly Love for the Big Apple, where she's lived and worked for several years. But it's her very personal story that she shares with us. Our first transgender guest, Jamie takes us on her journey, when at the age of 4 she knew she was different and also knew it was something she couldn't tell her parents. Join us...
Jun 18, 2019•44 min•Ep. 164
You're about to meet and get to know Beth Prevor, Co-founder and Executive DIrector of Hands On. For the past 30 years, this service organization has been advocating for access to the cultural arts for members of the Deaf community and audiences with disabilities. She has produced more than 500 sign-interpreted productions at some of New York's most prestigious theaters and has led workshops on accessibility and the arts for organizations throughout the U.S. Beth, by the way, is the 2015 recipie...
Jun 11, 2019•34 min•Ep. 163
Born and raised in Mississippi, Aizzah Fatima is a New York City based actress/writer/producer/playwright. A graduate of the the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Aizzah's one-woman play, "Dirty Paki Lingerie" explores what it means to be Muslim and Pakistani-American in today's world. It's been performed all over: New York City, London, Toronto, Pakistan, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Lots to talk about with this very funny, tell it like it is, creative woman.
Jun 04, 2019•36 min•Ep. 162
What it does it take to land a role on Broadway, Off-Broadway and beyond? We posed that question and many more to Jamibeth Margolis, who's spent more than 20 years as a professional casting director in New York, before going out on her own. Her credits are numerous and include: "Fiddler On The Roof" in Yiddish, the "Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miz," "Miss Saigon" and "Cats." There are also multiple television pilots and on camera industrials for major U.S. companies. Oh...and Jamibeth also teach...
May 28, 2019•35 min•Ep. 161
Entrepreneur, visionary, activist, author...all describe Aliza Sherman. In 1995 she founded Cybergrrl, the first full-service, female-owned web company and the first global internet networking organization for women. Newsweek noticed and named Aliza one of the Top People Who Matter Most on the Internet. She's currently the CEO of Ellementa, a global women's cannabis wellness network. Her work has been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, Time, CNN, CNBC and MSNBC. And....she's the author of 12 books...
May 21, 2019•38 min•Ep. 159
Melissa Iwai has wanted to be a children's book author and illustrator as far back as she can remember. She has illustrated more than 30 picture books, beginning with Night Shift Daddy published in 2000. Melissa also wrote and illustrated Soup Day and Pizza Day. And speaking of soup and pizza - when she's not creating visual art, Melissa can be found in her kitchen, cooking, baking and developing new recipes. In fact, she was a 2010 Cooking Light Reader Recipe winner. We're so glad Melissa took ...
May 14, 2019•37 min•Ep. 160
For Andrea Grody her extensive resume is a testament to her talent. She's the Music Director, Supervisor, Vocal and Incidental Arranger for the Broadway hit musical TOOTSIE. She 'did' the same for THE BAND'S VISIT, which won 10 Tony Awards. Andrea's whose Off-Broadway and regional theater credits are extensive, also wrote STRANGE FACES, a full-length musical. There's a lot to learn about musical theater from this inspiring, accomplished, creative woman.
May 07, 2019•41 min•Ep. 158
Actress, playwright, story teller - all describe Marian Licha. She combines them all in her one-woman show, "Frida VIce-Versa." Born in Puerto Rico, Marian draws on 'real life' stories, especially those that empower women. And to that end, her play conveys how Frida Kahlo's spirit prevailed despite the male-dominated artistic world. Frida Kahlo, nothwithstanding, Marian also finds plenty of humor in the inevitable culture clash that comes with being a Latina in an Anglo culture.
Apr 30, 2019•29 min•Ep. 157
Reading novels written by Kate Christensen can certainly turn into an addiction. Her characters are compelling, flawed and so relatable. The author of seven books, Kate won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for her fourth novel, "The Great Man." Her most recent, "The Last Cruise," was published in 2018. She's also written two culinary memoirs, "Blue Plate Special" and "How to Cook a Moose," which won the 2016 Maine Literary Award for Memoir. Join us for an open, honest, really fascinating conversation...
Apr 23, 2019•39 min•Ep. 156
Meet another creative woman with an impressive resume. Pamela Green's professional life includes directing and producing music videos, commercials, motion graphics, feature film titles. She's the founder of Legwork Collective, which locates and obtains the rights to unusual and rarely seen before footage, stills, audio and artifacts used in features, docs, tv series and commercials. 10 years in the making, Pamela also wrote, directed and edited the documentary "Be Natural," the untold story of A...
Apr 09, 2019•29 min•Ep. 154
We couldn't be more excited to have you meet and get to know Alix Strauss, New York Times columnist and featured lifestyle, travel and trend writer. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including: The Financial Times, Entertainment Weekly, Conde Nast Traveler, Time Magazine. She's also an award-winning author. Perhaps you've read "The Joy of Funerals," "Death Becomes Them: Unearthing the Suicides of the Brilliant, The Famous and The Notorious," and "Based Upon Availability." Alix is a...
Apr 02, 2019•48 min•Ep. 153
Talk about an accomplished, creative, committed woman! A globally recognized human rights advocate, Nancy Schwartzman also happens to be a director, producer, and media strategist. She uses storytelling and technology to create safer communities for women and girls. Her debut documentary, "Roll Red Roll," chronicles the sexual assault of a teenage girl by several members of a revered high school football team in the tight-knit community of Steubenville, Ohio. This searing, visceral, awarding win...
Mar 26, 2019•39 min•Ep. 152
Rachel Carey is a filmmaker, author and playwright. "Ask for Jane," her first feature as writer/director, is based on the true story of an underground abortion network in Chicago. From 1969 until 1973 when Roe v Wade was passed, a collective of college students helped more than 11,000 women get safe, illegal abortions. Rachel's first full-length play, "Phases" was nominated for Best Play and a pair of acting awards at the 2012 Thespis Festival. Her debut novel, "Debt" was published in 2013. Rach...
Mar 19, 2019•32 min•Ep. 150
Entrepreneur Sydney Sherman is on a mission. She's the CEO and co-founder of Faire.Shop, a new kind of online marketplace that promotes and expands fair and ethical trade practices by selling ethically sourced products - from beauty and fashion to home goods and necessities. Headquartered in Austin, Faire's vision is a world without poverty, where everyone can "thrive in a dignified, economically sustainable way." You'll want to meet and get to know this committed, passionate and inspirational w...
Mar 12, 2019•26 min•Ep. 149
Meet Gigi de Manio, one of the country's pre-eminent wedding photographers. Since forming Genevieve de Manio Photography ( www.demaniophotograpy.com ) in 1997, she's photographed more than 475 weddings and was there when Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent and John Henry, the owner of the Boston Red Sox all said their "I do's." Gigi's work has been featured in dozens of wedding magazines and newspapers, including Modern Bride, Boston Weddings as well as a profile i...
Feb 26, 2019•33 min•Ep. 147
Roberta Hoskie has one helluva story to share. A high school drop-out and a mom at 17, Roberta was on welfare living in a Connecticut homeless shelter. But with a lot of grit, determination, moxie and smarts she turned her life around. She is the founder and owner of a successful business - Outreach Realty, which has morphed into 3 divisions: Residential Property Management, Tenant Placement and Maintenance Services. Roberta is also passionate about giving back. Her non-profit, Outreach Foundati...
Feb 19, 2019•33 min•Ep. 146
In 2017 Linda Shelton was named among Dance Magazine's most influential people in dance today. Here's why: since 1993 she's been the Executive Director of The Joyce Theater Foundation, the NY-based non-profit that has served the dance community for more than 30 years. Before joining the Joyce, Linda was the General Manager of The Joffrey Ballet and held various management positions at the Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation and managed tours for the Bolshoi, Moscow Virtuosi and composer Philip Glass. C...
Feb 12, 2019•33 min•Ep. 145
Deb Brandon's career is an eclectic one to say the least. Born in England, raised there, Israel and Switzerland, she lives in Pittsburgh and is a math professor at Carnegie Mellon University, which is where she earned her PhD. Deb's a respected textile artist whose book, "Threads Around the World" describes how artisans from 25 diverse cultures create traditional fiber arts using centuries old methods. Deb is also a brain injury survivor who underwent 3 surgeries in as many weeks. She kept a dia...
Feb 05, 2019•31 min•Ep. 144
When Eve Durante married into a large Italian family, she learned a lot from her mother-in-law when it came to shopping, prepping, cooking and serving Sunday dinners and holiday meals. Eve's passion for delicious, clean eating was very much on display in her own kitchen - especially when it came to her home-made tomato sauce which she bottled and gave to family and friends. It earned rave reviews and Eve knew it was time to share her culinary skills with a much wider audience. So, in 2015 The Vi...
Jan 29, 2019•32 min•Ep. 143
Stefanie Nelson's on the move - literally. A director/choreographer, she is the founder of the Stefanie Nelson DanceGroup. The New York City-based contemporary performance ensemble has been described as instinctual, untamed and edgy. Stefanie's also the founder and artistic director of Dance Italia, an annual summer event in Agrapoli and Lucca. The program has welcomed more than 300 students from 20 countries. It's our pleasure to introduce yet another, passionate, committed, creative woman....
Jan 22, 2019•36 min•Ep. 142
Watch out world - here comes Thursday Williams! She might be 17, but Thursday has an impressive list of credits to her name. She's participated in a variety of debates at Brooklyn Law School and NYU; completed a judicial internship through the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program, is president of her high school, is an explorer and member of the Youth Community Council for the 103rd Police Precinct in Queens. And although she's not a professional actress, Thursday was a cast ...
Jan 15, 2019•32 min•Ep. 141
Pearl Gluck has stories to tell, including her own. As a filmmaker she's been doing so for 20 years. Pearl, who grew up in the insular, cloistered tight-knit Hasidic community of Boro Park, Brooklyn, left to attend college. She's written, directed several documentaries and award winning short films. And now, "The Turn Out," Pearl's first full-length feature which explores sex trafficking at rural truck stops. Pearl shares her personal and professional journeys in this open, honest, heart-warming...
Jan 08, 2019•37 min•Ep. 140
Michelle Walshe finds herself in a unique category - one of the very few female filmmakers to direct a sports documentary. And what a documentary it is. "Chasing Great," follows 34 year old Richie McCaw, considered by many to be THE best rugby player ever, through his final season as captain of the All Blacks. "Chasing Great" happens to be the highest grossing documentary in New Zealand history and one of the top 100 highest grossing documentaries of all time. Michelle and her husband also happe...
Jan 01, 2019•33 min•Ep. 139
