Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Dr. Carol Berkin, Professor of History

Jenifer Foote's resume in a word? Wow! She's a New York City-based actress, dancer, choreographer/associate director and teacher. Jenifer's Broadway credits include: "Hello Dolly!," "She Loves Me," "Holiday Inn," "On The Twentieth Century," "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "Follies," "Rock of Ages," "A Chorus Line" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Jenifer's also taught master classes in vocal performance, scene study and dance. You'll want to meet this creative woman, whose passion for her work is contagious!

Sophie Brooks got her Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television from New York University in 2012. And not quite 5 years later, has made her feature writing and directing debut with "The Boy Downstairs." The romantic comedy stars Zosia Mamet (she played Shoshanna Shapiro in the HBO hit "Girls"), who, after a few years living abroad, moves back to New York City. Unbeknownst to her, she rents an apartment in her former boyfriend's building. Sophie talks about her motivation as well as the challenges she faced in making her first commercial film.

Clearly, mounting a Broadway show is a herculean task that requires the talents and expertise of a whole cast of characters, far beyond the actors you see on stage. One of those players is the Company Manager. Who? In case you didn't know, the job of a Company Manager is one of the toughest in the theater. You're about to find out why. Tracy Geltman began her career at Maine State Music Theater as an apprentice before coming to New York, where she worked on "Hairspray," "War Paint," "Fun Home" and "The Band's Visit," to name just a few Broadway hits. Listen in as she talks about her love of theater and what it's like to be the Company Manager.

Joan Kron in a word? Icon. This 90 year old creative, accomplished, trendsetter's career has spanned more than 50 years! Among her many accomplishments: Joan co-founded the New York Times Home section, was the first fashion reporter for the Wall Street Journal, an editor at Avenue and a famed columnist at Allure magazines, where she literally invented the plastic surgery beat. And than last year "Take My Nose...Please,!" the first film she wrote, directed and produced was released. Lots to talk about?? You bet!

According to the National Restaurant Association, only 19% of chefs in the U.S. are women. You're about to meet one of them. Susan Spicer has been dubbed a one-woman industry in New Orleans. She is the chef/owner of 3 Big Easy restaurants: Mondo, Rosedale and the French Quarter's culinary landmark, Bayona. Inducted into the James Beard Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America and a member of the Culinary Hall of Fame, Susan shares her passion and drive to prepare creative classic dishes, while expanding on local culinary traditions.

Meet Lucie Canzoniero, who certainly has the creative street cred, just not the age. Lucie is a freshman at New York City's prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts Her major is technical theater, but she has many interests and talents. They include: photography, film and....wrestling! Lucie started taking pictures about 4 years ago. Last Spring she had the opportunity to accompany her dad to India where he was working on a documentary about an organization that helps girls, rescued from sex trafficking, get jobs and start new lives. Lucie, took lots of pictures and says the experience was inspirational and sparked in her a desire to "take pictures for the rest of my life." She'd better! You're in store for a very refreshing, open, honest conversation with one very classy female.

Although state courts handle more than 95% of all court cases in the U.S., a report from the American Constitution Society found that white men comprise 58% of state court judges; less than 33% are women and 20% are people of color. You're about to meet one of the 33%. Although recently retired, Joan Lobis spent more than 30 years on the bench, 26 as a New York State Supreme Court Judge. Her election to Civil Court in 1988 made Joan the first openly gay female judge in New York and then on the Supreme Court. She was one of the founding members of the New York City Bar Association's Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights. We cover a lot of territory during a conversation you won't want to miss.

Singer-songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, Rhonda Ross Kendrick is a force to be reckoned with. Her parents are music industry icons. Mom is Diana Ross; dad is Motown founder and hit maker Berry Gordy. The oldest of Diana's 5 children, Rhonda's maternal half-sister is actress Tracee Ellis Ross. So...put your 'to do' list on the back burner and spend the next 30+minutes with a very classy, refreshingly honest, creative woman.

Ellen Tilem knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a Cantor. In Jewish tradition the Cantor is a musician trained in the vocal arts, who along with the Rabbi, leads the congregation in prayer. But there's so much more for Cantor Tilem. She's been a member of the clergy at Temple Emeth, a reform congregation in Teaneck, New Jersey since 1994 following her Ordination from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion - School of Sacred Music. She officiates at weddings, funerals and baby namings. And, as an experienced Pastoral Counselor she connects with congregants who are struggling with life's challenges: grief, spirituality, illness, divorce. Join us as Cantor Tile shares her personal and professional stories.

You're about to meet activist, scholar, educator, critic, writer and publisher, Debbie Reese, Ph.D., an enrolled member of Northern New Mexico's Nambe Pueblo tribe. Her research and writing are centered on how Native Americans are represented in children's literature - from books for infants, through and including the young adult genre. She is the author of the critically acclaimed blog, American Indians in Children's Literature. This is one hell of an eye-opening, powerful and long overdue conversation.

Meet Michelle Materre, who during her 30+ year career, has amassed the following credits: producer, writer, arts administrator, distribution and marketing specialist and professor. For more than 20 years, her critically acclaimed film series,"Creatively Speaking," has been a respected forum for presenting works by and about women and people of color. Michelle is also a Associate Professor of Media Studies and Film at The New School. This creative woman has plenty to share, so sit back and enjoy this conversation.

Meet Michelle Materre, who during her 30+ year career, has amassed the following credits: producer, writer, arts administrator, distribution and marketing specialist and professor. For more than 20 years, her critically acclaimed film series, "Creatively Speaking," has been a respected forum for presenting works by and about women and people of color. Michelle is also a Associate Professor of Media Studies and Film at The New School. This creative woman has plenty to share, so sit back and enjoy this conversation.

Talya Tibbon is an award-winning documentary film and television director, producer and writer whose projects have focused on contemporary social and political issues. Talya has documented street gangs, drug dealers and users, former Guantanamo detainees setting out on a new path and now, perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time - the plight of refugees leaving war-ravaged Syria to seek asylum  in other countries. Her riveting documentary "SKY AND GROUND" chronicles the journey of one such family as they make their way from Aleppo, Syria, to a refugee camp on the border of Greece and Macedonia, to their eventual goal - Berlin. You can't afford to miss this honest, compelling conversation with one helluva creative, committed woman.

For Jodi Katz, it's all about the beauty business. Capitalizing on her expertise as the first US Creative Director of L'Occitane en Provence, Jodi founded Base Beauty Creative Agency. Its focus is strategic marketing, content creation, packaging design and advertising and includes successful campaigns for: Clinique, Con Air, Weight Watchers, L'Oreal-Paris.  Jodi not only talks about her work with giants of the beauty world, but also how she's forged partnerships with emerging brands to help grow their businesses.