Sandi Klein's Conversations With Creative Women

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.

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 with one helluva creative woman!

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 Alice Guy-Blache, the first female filmmaker, who made her first movie in 1896 at the age of 23...and went on to write, direct and produce more than 1,000 films!

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 also the editor of "Have I Got a Guy for You," an anthology of mom-initiated dating horror stories. She shares that and so much more in this irreverent, funny, honest conversation.

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 winning film goes behind the scenes to expose the 'boys will be boys' culture. Nancy also created the White House award winning app, Circle of 6, aimed at reducing sexual violence among America's youth. This is one conversation you won't want to miss.

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. Rachel has also taught at several colleges and universities, including Yale, her alma mater.

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 woman.

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 in the New York Times Sunday Styles section. For Gigi, her work is truly a labor of love.

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 Foundation, advocates affordable housing for low and moderate income families. We cover a lot of ground in this honest, open conversation with this inspirational woman!

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. Clearly, Linda's career is rich and varied and one that she shares in our wide-ranging conversation.

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 diary, which eventually evolved into a book: "But My Brain Had Other Ideas: A Memoir or Recovery from Brain Surgery." We cover a lot of ground in this open, honest, life affirming conversation.

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 Vine was born. Currently, there are five flavors of tomato sauce, four salsas and a honey-sweetened ketchup that can be found in more than 2,000 stores nationwide (www.foodsofthevine.com). Join us for a mouth-watering conversation with this culinary and entrepreneur.

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.

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 as a debater in the highly acclaimed, successful Off-Broadway play, What "The Constitution Means to Me." Clearly, Thursday can hold her own any day of the week!

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 conversation.

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!

"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.

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 from Princeton. Needless to say, we cover a lot of territory in this conversation with such an accomplished, fascinating, creative woman.

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."