Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Liz Collins is a New York City-based artist, textile, fashion designer and teacher who describes herself as process and materials-driven - working to create hard lines, graphic images and vibrating fields with explosions of color. Recognized internationally for her use of machine knitting to create groundbreaking clothing, textiles and installations, Liz has elevated the relevance of yarn and extended the use of textiles beyond the body - moving them into space and architecture. Enjoy this conversation with a very creative woman.

You're about to meet one helluva woman. Cabaret singer and actress, Lillias White has been described as a "one-of-a-kind performer who combines the sass of a classic blues mama with the skill of a Broadway star." Her Broadway credits include Barnum, Dream Girls, Cats, Chicago, and The Life, which landed her a Tony award. Lillias is also the recipient of a Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award, Obie and a daytime Emmy. She's sung at Carneige Hall, Lincoln Center as well as The Kennedy Center. She's also been on the big and small screen. Sit back and let Lillias entertain you.

Dancer, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator, Diane Jacobowitz' career is an impressive and distinguished one. She has taught dance to countless children and adults over 26 years...and ran her own dance company, Diane Jacobowitz Dance Theater for 15. It's her work as Executive and Artistic Director at Dancewave that has been her focus since 1995. She founded the non-profit to bring dance to a broad spectrum of New York City youth - especially those who lack the financial resources to afford pre-professional training. Get to know this upbeat, committed and passionate creative woman.

Meet feminist artist, curator and author Robin Kahn. Her paintings, drawings, sculptures, have been exhibited internationally since 1990, and can be found in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art, The Smithsonian Museum of Women in the Arts, and the J. Paul Getty Museum, to name just a few. Robin says her artistic practice is committed to expanding the definition of art by exploring new strategies for engaging the public. To that end, she recently co-curated "The Value of Food: Sustaining a Green Planet." The exhibition, installed throughout the vast interior of Manhattan's majestic Cathedral of St. John the Divine, focused on food security, sustainability and accessibility. Her introduction to and relationship with food and art is a fascinating and inspirational one. Tune in and learn why.

Tahrir Square, the conflicts in Libya, and Syria, the refugee crisis in Europe. Award winning photo-journalist Nicole Tung has shared powerful, poignant, searing images in a career that began shortly after she graduated from college in 2009. Nicole talks openly, honestly, chillingly about her work documenting 'humanity at its worst, its best and everything' in between. No one should miss this conversation.

Shonica Gooden moves through life with talent, style and class. A passionate dancer, singer, actress who grew up in Atlanta, Shonica now calls the Big Apple home - performing on and off-Broadway. Her musical theater credits include the mega hit Hamilton, Bring it On: The Musical and Cinderella.  She's gone on the road with that show and Matilda, the Musical. Shonica's also performed with the American Dance Machine for the 21st Century.  She made her film debut in TED 2 in 2015. Shonica is warm, funny, and simply fabulous! 

We may not know her name, but Susan Bennett's been a part of most of our lives for many years. The voice actor and singer has been on hundreds of radio and TV ads for clients that include: McDonald's, Macy's, Goodyear, Papa Johns, Fisher Price and Delta Airlines. But...you probably know her best as the original voice of SIRI! In fact, in October, 2013, she read the Top Ten List on Letterman after revealing herself as the Apple iPhone know it all. Settle in for one helluva fascinating conversation.

Dancer and doctor. Not your typical career path. But it's the one taken by Nikki Feirt Atkins. Learn how this former professional dancer and Founder/Producing Artistic DIrector of the American Dance Theater for the 21st Century manages two seemingly different (although she doesn't think so) disciplines - art and science. Nikki's story - personal and professional - is a fascinating and empowering one.

Little did Kristin Russo know that coming out during Thanksgiving dinner, when she was 17, would have had the impact it did on her life. That was back in 1998. In 2010, she co-founded EveryoneIsGay.com -- one of the only advice sites for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth and their parents. Three years later, The Parents Project was born -- which provides answers to a slew of questions asked by moms and dads whose children had recently come out. To say that Kristin will always have her work cut out is a helluva understatement.

She's baaack! It's time for another scintillating, provocative, 'no stone left unturned' conversation with award-winning actress, voice-over artist, comedian and writer Nancy Giles. The winner of 2 Emmys for her on-air commentaries on the acclaimed CBS News Sunday Morning, Nancy, once again, offers her her take on politics, race, pop culture and body image. Sit back, enjoy and get ready to laugh out loud!

Dana Gunders has her work cut out. A Staff Scientist at the prestigious National Resources Defense Council, she leads the organization's work on reducing food waste and promoting sustainability throughout our food systems and supply chains. Dana is the author of the Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook, which she describes as a 'light-hearted kitchen reference book packed with handy information to help reduce the amount of food wasted in our daily lives." By the way, the average household of 4 spends about $120 a month on food that's never eaten! Tune in - there's plenty of food for thought in this conversation.

Readin', writin,' rithmetic, repast. It's a combination Nancy Easton strongly supports. In 2005, she co-founded Wellness in the Schools (WITS). As Executive Director, Nancy's goal has been to inspire healthy eating, environmental awareness and fitness as a way of life for children in the public schools. She has helped WITS grow from 3 New York City public schools to more than 70 - impacting some 40,000 students. WITS works with a committed team of professionals, including renown, well-respected Executive Chef Bill Telepan.

Born and raised in Pakistan, Afia Nathaniel moved to New York City just weeks before 9-11 to begin an MFA fellowship at Columbia University's film program. After getting her degree in 2006 Afia began work on her first feature, Dukhtar, which tells the story of a  mother and her young daughter who escape from their home in the Pakistani mountains to save her child from an arranged marriage. Ten years in the making, Dukhtar (which mean daughter) premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

You're in for a riveting, eye-opening, disturbing conversation with Donna Ferrato. The internationally acclaimed and awarding-winning photojournalist is behind the groundbreaking documentation of the hidden world of domestic violence. Her book, Living With the Enemy, went into 4 printings and along with exhibitions and lectures, sparked a national discussion on sexual violence and women's rights. This is a conversation that should not be missed.

Artistic Director Shannon O'Neill takes us behind the curtain at Manhattan's popular and highly respected Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Home for all things comedy, UCB hosts improv, stand-up, sketch, talk/variety. Shannon's a very funny lady who performs every Friday night with The Stepfathers and then on Sunday nights hosts and performs with UCB Theater's longest running show, ASSCAT3000.