Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

The Brooklyn Museum's "Killer Heels: The Art of the High Heeled Shoe" is a stunning, fascinating and jaw-dropping exhibit that's been generating a lot of buzz. It's organized by Lisa Small, the Museum's curator of exhibitions. She takes us on the journey from the 17th century to present day - from traditional Chinese Manchu platforms to Christian Louboutin's 8-inch stilettos, just two of the more than 160 pieces of footwear on display through February, 2015. Tune in and walk a mile in her shoes.

Meet Shelley Bernstein, Vice Director of Digital Engagement and Technology at the Brooklyn Museum. She and her staff are expanding the 187 year old Museum's community-oriented mission through digital projects. The newest initiative, part of the Bloomberg Connects Program, will have staff members stationed at a hub using an app to field questions from visitors (in real time) as they move through the galleries. It's fascinating, exciting and cutting edge....and you can hear all about it.

Lacey Schwartz is the director and subject of Little White Lie, a riveting, powerful, emotional documentary that traces her upbringing as an only child in a white, Jewish family in upstate New York. However, it was during her freshman year in college that she learned the truth.  When confronted, her mother finally acknowledged having had an extra-marital affair...and that her biological father was in fact, black. Lacey, who is also the CEO of Truth Aid, a company that makes movies, produces multi-media content and performs educational outreach on social issues, makes for a fascinating conversation.

With a small but dedicated professional staff and 8,000 volunteers, God's Love We Deliver provides 4,600 meals each weekday to people in the New York City metropolitan area who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves. The person overseeing this critical lifeline is President and CEO Karen Pearl. Learn all about this amazing operation that's been around for 30 years.

Young people can change the world, especially when they're matched with experienced leaders. That's the philosophy behind the Global Good Fund, founded in 2011 by Carrie Rich, who has worked tirelessly to make the world a better place. Her grit, determination, and refusal to take 'no' for an answer makes her a real force to be reckoned with. Tune in and be inspired.

On a summer day in 1984, while driving to the airport for her first international modeling gig, 19 year old Canadian Wendy Crawford was hit by a drunk driver. Wendy never walked again. As she struggled to come to terms with life as a quadriplegic, Wendy saw the need to develop a way to raise awareness of, and become an advocate for, women facing physical challenges. So, in 2002, she founded mobileWomen.org, an online magazine that provides information and a community for women in wheelchairs. Her story is one we all need to hear.

Most of what we eat, drink, use every day of our lives comes packaged in petroleum plastic, which is designed to last forever. Only a paltry 5% of the plastics produced is recovered... a fact certainly not lost on the 5 Gyres Institute, which researches plastic pollution across the world's oceans, while engaging communities in finding solutions. You can't afford to miss this conversation with Anna Cummins, the group's Executive Director and co-founder.

Never underestimate the power of a girl and her pen. It's that philosophy that propelled Keren Taylor to start WriteGirl, an non-profit literacy program for underserved 13-18 year old girls in the L.A. area. Since its inception in 2001, it has helped hundreds of teens find their voices/calling and in 2013, Michelle Obama presented Keren and WriteGirl with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the highest honor given to such endeavors. And just this year, Keren was selected a CNN Hero for her creative efforts to help young people. She is truly an inspiration.

Born and raised on a farm in the Midwest, Natasha Silver Bell struggled with undiagnosed learning disabilities. Despite those obstacles, she became a star athlete, entered a local beauty pageant and at 19 won Miss Michigan USA. Being selected in the top 6 of Miss USA, led her to New York where she worked as a Ford model. That glamorous, exciting time was also marked by an eating disorder and substance abuse. Natasha managed to turn things around and "move to the winning side." And so today, the divorced mother of 3 and former addict, is a certified Addiction Recovery Coach who works with individuals to help them create healthy lifestyles, make positive choices and find their authentic selves.

Art is Jane Curley's passion. It's also her profession. She has a PhD in Art History from Yale and works as an independent curator specializing in the art of illustration. Jane's worked with the Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass., and is the guest curator for a special exhibit at the New York Historical Society marking the 75th anniversary of the classic children's book, "Madeline," brought to life by author/illustrator Ludwig Bemelsman.

Meet mother/daughter duo Susan and Pamela Bob.  Each in their own right happens to be a very talented actress. Pamela is currently part of the cast of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, 2014 Tony winner for best musical. Susan, who's had her share of roles on and off-Broadway, was the original Dee in the Pulitzer Prize winning play, No Place to be Somebody. This twosome weighs in on life both off and on stage in this no holds barred conversation.

There's not a whole lot of down time for Cindy Cooper, awarding winning playwright, journalist and author. So far she's written 14 full length plays and several non-fiction books. As a journalist, Cindy writes frequently about social justice and human rights - her articles appearing in dozens of newspapers and magazines, websites and anthologies. Obviously....there's a lot to talk about!

Kate Clinton is nothing short of hilarious, in fact, she's been described as the most talented lesbian comedienne ever, but her audience extends well beyond the gay community. Her humor is irreverent, liberating and 'on the money.' In addition to performing, Clinton's worked extensively with social justice and non-profit groups. Here what all the fuss is about in this week's rebroadcast.

Meet Jessica Dermody, producer/director/writer and actress Lolita Brinkley. Their paths have come together in the production of Life Without Parole. The powerful 6-character play is based on the original transcripts and testimonies of inmates at the California Institution for Women at Chino who were convicted of killing their abusive partners. Jessica's the director, Lolita - one of the cast members. Our conversation extends well beyond the play to include their lives on stage, as well as in front of and behind the camera.

Actress/Producer Lorraine Rodriguez Reyes has a lot to talk about: growing up in the Bronx, getting her MFA from Harvard, spending a semester at the Moscow Art Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, auditioning, performing and landing roles on stage, television and film, including "Mami Confessions," her one-woman show. Tune in to hear her tell-it-like-it is tale of 'making' it as a performer.