Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Meet Australian-born film editor, writer, director, producer Jessica Thompson, who moved to New York City in 2010 and where she co-founded Stedfast Productions, a collective of visual storytellers who use imagery to entertain, provoke thought and explore the human condition. Jessica, who has several short films under her belt, recently made her feature writing and directing debut with "Light of The Moon." It premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and won the audience award for Best Narrative Feature. It tells the story of Bonnie, a young, successful Latina architect who is sexually assault walking home after spending the evening with friends at a bar in Brooklyn. There's plenty to talk about with yet another, creative, accomplished, engaging woman.

Money matters to Jill Schlesinger. And to that end, the Certified Financial Planner covers the economy, markets, investing and whatever else contains a $-sign. An Emmy-nominated Business Analyst for CBS News, she shares her expertise on the network's radio and tv stations across the country. You'll want to make time to listen to Jill's jaw-dropping, but empowering stories about what it's been like to be a woman in a man's world.  

Jumping off buildings, setting herself on fire, falling down a flight a stairs - all in a days work for stuntwoman Shawnna Thibodeau. Her list of film and tv credits is mind numbing and includes: "X-Men," "War of the Worlds," "Spiderman 3," "The Borne Ultimatum," "Ugly Betty," "Law and Order" and "Oz." Shawnna's been a stunt double for Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman and Carrie Mulligan. There's a lots to talk about with this daredevil who's also a wife and mother of 2 young children.

Professor Liz Bucar

How many licensed female auctioneers can you name? It's probably fair to say none. Well, that's about to change. Meet Kathleen Guzman, the second licensed woman auctioneer in the U.S. and possibly the world. Kathleen is the Managing Director of Manhattan's Heritage Auctions (the 3rd largest auction house in the world). With more than 40 yeas experience in the art and antiques industry, Kathleen's expertise is much in demand. She's appeared on the PBS series, "Antiques Roadshow," a host on QVC, as well as Oprah, Good Morning America Today and CNN. This is one truly interesting and enlightening conversation.

Chandrika Tandon's a creative, passionate, successful woman and then some! Not only is she a Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer, but also a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. You won't want to miss this inspirational conversation as Chandrika shares her personal journey to enlightenment - balancing life as a singer/composer and a corporate executive.

Meet yet another very talented, funny, creative woman. Amy Engelhardt is a composer, lyricist, singer and teacher. Quite frankly, it would take several paragraphs to list all her credits. And clearly, there will be many more to come. So why not just sit back and enjoy a conversation with this dynamo. You'll be glad you did.

Alison Desir is a force to be reckoned with. Passionate about community, mental health and fitness she got into distance running in 2012 as a way to cope with depression. It turned her life around. She founded Harlem Run and Run 4 All Women, and has been named by Women's Running as one of twenty women who are changing the sport of running, Alison takes a breather to sit down with us and share her inspirational story.

Born and raised in Russia, Liza Moiseeva attended college in the U.S., hoping to swim professionally. She had no idea her focus would change dramatically once she began an international studies program at Virginia's Old Dominion University. She got hooked on non-profits, charity and grass roots programs. After her first job with a global network of micro-finance organizations, Liza went back to school, got an MBA in Finance. Today she is the Co-Founder and Director of GlobeIn, a monthly subscription service of artisan-made products from around the world. Its mission is to help eliminate poverty through fair wages and job creation. Get to know yet another passionate, committed female dynamo!

Amy Marcs has been there, done that. She's an actress, playwright, voice-over artist, professor and ordained interfaith minister/spiritual counselor. And...she's also the writer and star of her critically acclaimed one-woman show, "Nice Tits," during which she shares life as a breast cancer patient and survivor. Amy's story is raw, brutally honest and absolutely hilarious. And quite frankly, so is our conversation. So sit back and get to know this warm, open, funny, creative woman.

Talk about a creative woman! Costume designer Holly Hynes has a whopping 250 ballets to her credit, more than 70 with the New York City ballet where she served as Director of Costumes for 21 years. Holly's designs have been worn by dancers around the world including: The Bolshoi, London's Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theater, National Ballet of Canada and Ballet de l'Opera National de Paris. You won't wan to miss this fascinating back stage tour of the world of ballet.

Painter and printmaker Marlena Vaccaro has been part of the New York City art world for more than 30 years. She also happens to be the creator, director and curator of Manhattan's Carter Burden Gallery, allowing her to marry her two passions: art and advocacy. Carter Burden is one of the only galleries in the world and the only one in New York City with a minimum age requirement. It only accepts submissions from artists 60 and over. Joins us for a fascinating conversation with yet another accomplished and committed woman.

Award-winning director Cynthia Hill's newest documentary series is the 8-part "Road to Race Day," which offers a behind the scenes look at the world of NASCAR racing told through the people who make it happen. Cynthia's made it happen with her films that focus on critical but often overlooked stories of the American South...and beyond. Perhaps you're familiar with "A Chef's Life," her first tv series which has been broadcast on PBS since 2013. It won both a Peabody and Daytime Emmy Award. There's plenty too talk about with this born and bred North Carolinian who also happens to be....a pharmacist!

Manhattan's Rubin Museum of Art gives new meaning to "Night at the Museum." Visitors have Dawn Eshelman to thank for that! As Head of Programs she creates interactive events that explore over-arching ideas in art. They include lectures, movie screenings, live music dance, demonstrations and...sleep-overs! It's Dawn who came up with the Rubin Museum's Dream Over Program. There's plenty to talk about in this behind-the-scenes look at one of New York City's premier museums that is dedicated to the collection, display and preservation of the art and cultures of the Himalayas.

If anyone epitomizes grit, determination and heart it's Dr. Arabia Mollette.  Even though she always wanted to be a doctor, achieving that goal was going to be no easy feat for a child from a broken home, surrounded by crime, drugs, alcohol and despair. But she sure as hell did!  There's no way you can afford to miss the inspiring, life-affirming, riveting story of Dr. Arabia Mollette.