Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Originally from Romania, Georgiana Uhlyarik and her parents left when she was a teenager. They spent a year in Israel before moving to Toronto where Georgiana received an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Art History from York University. She is Associate Curator of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Toronto, home to more than 90,000 works of art. Georgiana's had numerous curatorial collaborations and participated in an international research network exploring feminism and curating. We cover a lot of ground in this engaging and illuminating conversation.

In her decades long career as an award-winning investigative journalist, former television executive and documentary filmmaker, much of Civia Tamarkin's focus has been on criminal and social justice. She's covered stories all around the world, including the fall of Vietnam. Her latest project is "Birthright: A War Story." This riveting, feature length documentary tells the story of "how women have become collateral damage in the aggressive campaign to take control of reproductive health care and to allow states, courts and religious doctrine to govern whether, when and how women will bear children." This is yet another conversation you can't afford to miss.

Sheila Head and Norma Lana, two very funny, accomplished and creative women have joined forces both personally and professionally. They first met at voice over auditions - one thing led to another and 4 years ago they got married. Sheila, an actress, comedy writer and improv pro and Norma, also a writer, actress/producer, media trainer put their talents together and are behind the pulpy comedy, "Hollywood Nurses." Sheila's the co-writer, Norma, the producer. In case you had no idea, "the mid-1950s was the heyday of pulp novels and the unique expression of queer sexuality in paperback." We talk about that and lots of other 'stuff' in this no-holds barred, hilarious, engaging conversation.

Meklit Hadero was just 2 when she, her two older sisters and parents fled to the U.S. from Ethiopia to escape the violence that followed the country's 1974 revolution. They settled in Iowa before moving to Brooklyn, New York where Meklit sang in choirs and was introduced to the music of Billie Holiday. She continued singing while attending Yale University, earning a degree in political science. But music remained an important part of her life. Meklit eventually settled in San Francisco, developing and performing her own sound - a combination of jazz, folk and East African influences; what she describes as, "music coming from in-between spaces." You can't afford to miss this conversation with the talented, passionate, committed artist and activist, MeklitHardero.

This week we revisit our conversation with Susan Fisher Sterling. The National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington, D.C. is the only major museum dedicated solely to celebrating the creative contributions of women. Founded in 1987, NMWA not only champions women artists, it also directly addresses the gender imbalance in presenting art worldwide. Susan Fisher Sterling has been with the NMWA since 1988 when she was hired as an associate curator. In 2008, she was named Director. Susan has built her career and the stature of the museum around the message of equity for women through the example of excellence in the arts. Tune in as she shares what that's been like and what's in store as NMWA prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Rebecca Harrell Tickell's acting career began at a very young age. She went from performing in school plays in Vermont to New York, where at the tender of age of 9, she got a starring role in the Christmas movie classic Prancer. It was on to L.A. and more film and tv roles. In 2007 she moved from acting to pursue her dream of combining environmental activism, filmmaking and production. She and her future husband Josh Tickell joined forces and through their company Green Planet Productions, have made several documentaries that focus on social causes. We cover a lot of ground in our conversation with this creative, committed, passionate woman.

Talk about creativity! Singer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, producer Erin McKeown is known as an artist who dispenses with stylistic boundaries. Her music includes pop, swing, rock, folk, electronic. Erin, who’s performed here, there and everywhere has released 9 studio albums. She has also worked closely with a range of non-profits focusing on passion for media justice and immigration reform. Here’s yet another ‘not to be missed’ conversation.

Lois Robbins is one busy actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles on the daytime soap operas - One Life to Live, Loving, Ryan's Hope, and All My Children. She has also guest starred on Sex and The City, Law and Order, Kingpin and Once and Again. Lois' film credits include Blowtorch, Juvie, and Ithaca, directed by and starring Meg Ryan. Then there's theater. She has starred in a pair of world premier musicals - My History of Marriage and A Time for Love. Lois has also written a one-act play - L.O.V.E.R - Baring it All. And if all that isn't enough, she's writing a novel. Listen in as Lois shares talks about her varied and accomplished acting career.

Singer, songwriter, and Jersey girl Pamela Flores makes soulful, personal, impassioned music. She also uses her music to effect change. She's the co-founder of Lakehouse Voices, which partners with young people to bring music to area senior centers. Pamela also bravely shared her personal story to host a benefit concert to raise awareness against sexual violence. Join us for an honest, yet uplifting conversation with this amazing talented young woman.

Thanks to filmmakers Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Olelbaum, the world can finally meet and get to know Gertrude Bell, considered the most powerful woman in the British Empire in her day. "Letters from Baghdad," their feature documentary, details how this extraordinary woman helped shape the modern Middle East following World War I. In spite of being called the 'female' Lawrence of Arabia, Bell has been virtually written out of its history...until now. There's lots to learn from this fascinating conversation.

For Susan Johnson it's all about entertainment. After a successful career as a music video director, she decided to move over to movies, becoming an independent producer. Her first produced feature, Mean Creek premiered at Sundance and Cannes in 2004 and was released by Paramount Pictures and Focus Features. A total of 10 films followed, but for Susan, the time had come to 'go' behind the camera. She made her feature directorial debut with Carrie Pilby. Based on a best selling young adult novel, it premiered at the 2016 Toronto Film Festival. Susan talks openly and honestly about her career and what it's like being a woman in a man's world.

You're about to meet and get to know one of ballet's most acclaimed dancers. The incomparable Wendy Whalen spent a record-setting 30 years dancing with the New York City Ballet. She's performed just about every major Balanchine role and worked closely with Jerome Robbins; has been a guest artist with the Royal and Kirov Ballets and has danced on nearly every major stage worldwide. Wendy's also the focus of the documentary "Restless Creature," that presents an intimate portrait of her 2014 departure from the NYCB. Simply put: you won't want to miss this conversation!

With a readership of 2 million, Latina Magazine is the largest women’s magazine edited by and for Latin women. It’s the flagship property of Latina Media Venture which, “remains completely focused on celebrating the culture, honoring the past and enriching the future of Latina women in the U.S.” VerkyBaldonado, who has been part of the LMV family since 2009, was named Latina’s Fashion Director in 2013. She has since taken on a more global role as Latina Media Venture’s Editor-At-Large. Join us and get to know this accomplished, engaging, creative woman.

Join us for Part 2 of our conversation with Malky Goldman and Melissa Weisz, two working actresses who abandoned the insular, cloistered, tight-knit Jewish community in which they were raised, to live, work and experience life in modern-day New York.

Malky Goldman and Melissa Weisz grew up in Brooklyn's Hasidic Satmar community - an extremely insular world that has very little to do with secular society. They knew next to nothing about theater, film, tv - all of which fall under the heading of sacrilegious. Both women broke away from the only life they knew - went to college, graduated and eventually became actresses. They also joined forces to form their own film company. Stop what you're doing, and listen in as Malky and Melissa share what it was and is like to follow their dreams.