Sandi Klein's Conversations With Creative Women

It's no surprise that there are far fewer women conductors than there are men. HOWEVER, the times, they are a changin.' Women are cracking that glass ceiling and while the percentage is small, it only serves to encourage other women to pick up the baton. One of those women is Kalena Bovell, Assistant Conductor - Memphis Symphony Orchestra. She has an impressive resume, having worked at the Civic Orchestra of New Haven, the Hartford and St. Louis Symphonies. Join us as Kalena shares her love, passion and joy for making beautiful music.

Ann Farmer writes...a lot. An independent journalist and longtime contributor to Emmy magazine, Ann's profiled actors, tv writers, directors and producers. She also spent 10 years with The New York Times covering crime and breaking news. Ann's articles have appeared in the Village Voice, Dance Magazine, the DGA Quarterly and the American Bar Association's Perspectives Magazine. She researched, wrote and produced Lock and Key, a criminal justice show that aired on Court TV. Clearly, there's plenty to talk about with this very prolific, accomplished and creative woman.

Director, screenwriter, producer, instructor - all describe Tanzanian-American filmmaker Ekwa Msangi, who divides her time between Kenya and New York. Her latest project and first feature film, is the award-winnIng and critically acclaimed FAREWELL AMOR. It tells the story of an Angolan immigrant, whose wife and daughter join him in the States after a 17year separation. It is powerful, emotional, life-affirming. Ekwa's goal as an artist is "to transform our society's images and relationships with African cultures and to empower African filmmakers in telling their stories." Join us as Ekwa, direct from Nairobi, shares her story.

Afa Dworkin is passionate about promoting diversity in classical music and does so as President and Artistic Director of The Sphinx Organization. It supports a national roster of distinguished musicians of color and reaches more than 2 million people worldwide. Its network has grown to more than 60 symphony orchestras. An accomplished violinist, Afa is a recipient of Kennedy Center's Human Spirit Award and was named one of Musical America's Top 30 Influencers. We're excited for you to meet and get to know this talented, committed musical mover and shaker!

Meeting and getting to know so many creative women got me to thinking: why not start a bit younger - really younger? And so… I reached out to a pair of creative girls who I know very well: Ella and Clara Klein, my 7-1/2 and 5-1/2 year old granddaughters! Creativity is second nature to these two. They love to paint, draw, work with clay, make their own pinatas, read, write their own stories and plays, and work on special projects with their very creative parents. So join me for CWCW's first ever conversation with the 'younger set.'

This is a first for me - having a conversation with a creative woman in Moscow! Inna Blokhina, a journalist who worked at several major Russian television networks, also happens to be a filmmaker. She formed her own company, "Inwaves Production," and in 2012 completed her first full-length documentary, ON THE WAVE. Believe it or not....it's all about...surfing in the Soviet Union! Who knew? That was followed by her latest film, the award-winning SHE IS THE OCEAN. It follows 9 women from around the world, whose profound love for the ocean, is the 'tie that binds.' Plenty to talk about with this female force of nature! 

Kate Hackett is another creative woman whose career involves the big screen.  She happens to be an Emmy winner for her editing expertise on the Netflix series, CHEER, which chronicles the high stakes cheerleaders face. Her editing credits include the Emmy winning series, LAST CHANCE U and the Sundance documentary HALF THE PICTURE. Kate has directed art films for large screen concerts and her latest project, OLEANDER, is a short about a sexually active teen who wages a social media war against her Christian abstinence program. Kate plans to make OLEANDER into a full length feature. 

Author, journalist, public speaker, educator, world traveler, musician - all describe Dori Jones Yang. Dori's written 7 books - her most recent, WHEN THE RED GATES OPENED, marks her first memoir. It follows her 8 year stint as a foreign correspondent for BusinessWeek. She was one of the first Americans to cover China during the tumultuous 1980s - when its leaders allowed private enterprise and free markets - but also when a million peaceful protestors filled Tiananmen Square demanding democracy. This is one riveting, uplifting, fascinating conversation you won't want to miss!

Eva Noblezada took Broadway by storm several years before being named one of the honorees of Forbes Magazine's prestigious 30 under 30 list for 2020. At the 'ripe old' age of 17, Eva was cast as Kim, the lead in the 2014 and 2017 revivals of MISS SAIGON, for which she earned her first Tony nomination for Best Actress in a musical. Tony nomination #2 was for her performance as the Eurydice in the hit musical HADESTOWN. And now, Eva's impressive list of credits includes the big screen. She makes her film debut in YELLOW ROSE - which follows a Filipino teenager in Texas, determined to pursue dreams of becoming a country music star. We cover a lot of ground in this open, honest, no holds barred conversation!

Haroula Rose wears many hats: singer/songwriter, director, producer. Her big screen directorial debut, ONCE UPON A RIVER, (she also wrote the screenplay), was named one of the 'most anticipated films' by Filmmaker Magazine. Haroula's resume also includes short films and documentaries. When she's not writing or directing, Haroula makes music - her songs can be heard in films, tv series and commercials. Needless to say, lots to talk about with this multi-talented, creative woman.

Chef, culinary entrepreneur, activist - just three of the hats worn by Ashley Rouse. She also happens to be the founder of Brooklyn-based Trade Street Jam Company, a minority and woman-certified batch jam company. Ashley creates fruit forward and clean tasting vegan jams that are low in sugar, but high in flavor. A few enticing samples:  Blueberry-Lemon- Basil Jam, Smoked Yellow Peach, Strawberry-Chipolte-Fig. Join us for this mouth watering conversation with yet another creative woman.

Lena Olin is one accomplished, celebrated, respected actress, considered the greatest to come to the States from Sweden since Ingrid Bergman. While still in drama school, she made her on-screen debut in Ingmar Bergman's "Face to Face," and continued working with him both on stage and film. Lena made her English language film debut in "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." That led to other well-known films including "Chocolat," directed by her husband Lasse Hallstrom. Nominated for several acting awards, Lena's latest project is "The Artist's Wife," co-starring Bruce Dern. We know you'll so enjoy meeting and getting to know this terrific, creative woman!

You're about to meet and get to know one helluva woman! 75-year-old Gloria Allen is a transgender woman who grew up in the 50s and 60s on Chicago's South Side and transitioned from George to Gloria after high school, but obviously before the Stonewall Uprising. Her story is riveting, empowering, inspirational. Case in point - while in her 60s, Gloria started a charm school for homeless trans youth - hence the 'Mama.' And....Mama Gloria is the title of a documentary (directed by former CWCW guest Luchina Fisher) that chronicles the life of this amazing woman. This is a conversation you won't want to miss!

Selene Castrovilla lives in the past...and that's a good thing! Her work focuses on exposing the concealed truths about our nation's history, including the impactful and poignant way women contributed to the making of America. There's a lot to learn in this fascinating look back with this accomplished author and educator.

We are revisiting our conversation with Yilian Cañizares, a truly fascinating, unique, multi-talented violinist, vocalist and composer who makes beautiful music by artfully blending jazz, classical and her Afro-Cuban roots with her unique voice. Yilian’s songs range from the poignant to the exuberant. Her warmth, enthusiasm and honesty are palpable and….contagious. You’ll be hooked!

Maria Loi? A force of nature! She's a celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author, Greek Food Ambassador, Author, Social Activist, Philanthropist. Did we whet your appetite? Tune in and meet this amazing, creative, accomplished dynamo!

Simply put, Dr. Kathryn Anthony is a powerhouse! As Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she's its longest serving female faculty member. Dr. Anthony has written for numerous publications and is the author of 5 books, including Designing for Diversity: Gender, Race and Ethnicity in the Architectural Profession. And...she also happens to be the Vice President of the American Restroom Association. COVID109 has forced experts to rethink the designs of public spaces, which obviously includes the most private of those spaces. This is one fascinating, eye-opening and important conversation you won't want to miss.

When it comes to living her life, nothing seems to stand in Ashley Lyn Olson's way. At 14, a horrific car accident killed her father, crippled her mother, injured her younger sister and left Ashley paralyzed. Her physical limitations didn't stop her from seeing the world. And...in 2006, she founded wheelchairtraveling.com, a resource for people with disabilities. The site averages 25,000 monthly visits and its 70+ videos have been viewed half a million times. You'll want to meet this passionate, ballsy, determined, young woman.

Sara Bernstein is Executive Vice President at Imagine Documentaries, the documentary division of Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment. Her latest project, REBUILDING PARADISE for National Geographic and directed by Howard, chronicles the devastating firestorm that ravaged the city of Paradise, California in 2018. Before joining Imagine, Sara was Senior Vice President at HBO Documentary Films. Needless to say, we cover a lot of ground with this 'cinematic' producing powerhouse!

Talk about a creative woman! Jessica Swale fits that bill and then some. Her first play, Blue Stockings, premiered at Shakespeare's Globe in 2013. Then came Nell Gwynn, which won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Jessica is making her feature film debut with the newly released period drama, Summerland. She also wrote the screenplay. We know you'll enjoy meeting this accomplished, passionate, fascinating woman.