Sandi Klein's Conversations With Creative Women

You're about to meet multi-talented, accomplished, determined Vashti Cunningham. A track and field athlete specializing in the high jump, this young woman has her share of impressive stats and then some. An important part of her coaching help and support has come from her dad, Randall Cunningham, retired NFL quarterback, and her mom, Felicity de Jager Cunningham, a former member of the prestigious Dance Theater of Harlem. Athletics aside, Vashti manages to balance her career with her other passions: fashion design, modeling, and photography. It's safe to say, you're going to 'fall in love' with this warm, genuine, terrific creative woman!

Singer, songwriter Carol Lipnik weaves together folk, traditional pop, world music, and art into a unique hybrid. Acclaimed for her multi-octave range and original songs, The New York Times calls Carol an “ethereal vocal phenomenon,” and Michael Musto of Out Magazine wrote that she "is a wonderful amalgam of Joni Mitchell, Lotte Lenya, Theda Bara, and Stevie Nicks, but totally original." So sit back and enjoy our conversation with the eclectic and versatile Carol Lipnik.

Therese Shechter is an award-winning filmmaker/writer and founder of Trixie Films, a feminist production company that combines humor, activism, and personal storytelling to 'upend' what's considered sacred about motherhood. Her most recent film, "My So-called Selfish Life,' focuses on one of society's biggest taboos - women who choose not to become moms. Lots to talk about? You bet! So join us for this 'no holds barred conversation.

Expanding our world, pushing boundaries, indulging our curiosity - Katie Winter's passion and personal mission. And to that, Katie's flagship program, The Museum of Education Foundations, takes a holistic look at schooling, exploring it in ways that combine history, philosophy and art. It does so through the Winter School, a one-room schoolhouse in Lecompton, Kansas that has been in Katie's family since it was built in 1870. We cover a lot of ground in this fascinating and important conversation.

Crystal Berger is developing a product that makes it easier for digital platforms, local and national networks, and podcasters to discover, vet and book on-air talent. Her work has been featured on the FOX News Channel, Dr. Oz, and Trinity Broadcasting. She's the author of "Be Extraordinary: Claiming a Life of Purpose, Passion, and Prosperity. And that's not all. Crystal is the recipient of the NAACP's Freedom Fighter Award, UN Social Media Ambassador, and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Nix is an eighth-grader at R.J. Grey Junior High School in Acton/Boxborough, Mass. They participate in Destination Imagination with their STEM Team. Nix is also on the swim team. They are applying to a technical high school to pursue their interest in multimedia engineering. You're in for a 'tell it like it is' conversation with one engaging, bright, savvy 14 year old.

You're about to meet and get to know one of the foremost conductors of our time, who just happens to be, the first woman to serve as head of a major orchestra not only in the U.S., but South America, Austria, the U.K. Born into a musical family, Marin Alsop took violin lessons as a child and says she knew at age 9 that she wanted to be a conductor. She graduated from Juilliard and in the years since, spent 14 years as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony;  serves as Chief Conductor and Curator of Chicago's Ravinia Festival; Conductor of Honour of Brazil's Sao Paulo Symphony. The list is endless. Marin's also the subject of the documentary, THE CONDUCTOR, which debuted in 2021 at New York's Tribeca Film Festival. We know you'll enjoy meeting the internationally renowned Marin Alsop.

Deborah Feingold happens to be one of the world's most lauded, respected, iconic photographers. She's captured images of everyone from Mick Jagger, to Prince, to Madonna to Barack Obama to John Boehner, to Danny Meyer. Her work has appeared in The Village Voice, New York Times, Rolling Stone, Newsweek. Deborah's skill and talent putting her subjects at ease has resulted in the kind of rare moments of honesty and intimacy that have become the hallmark of her work. This creative woman has lots of stories to share, so sit back and enjoy one truly fascinating conversation.

Dance has been an integral part of Constance Stamatiou's life since she was a little girl. She began her training at Pat Hall's Dance Unlimited and the North Carolina Dance Theater in her home state. She eventually made her way East and was awarded a Fellowship at the Ailey School. A member of Ailey II, joined the Company in 2007...and rejoined in 2016. Constance has performed at the White House Dance Series, participated in a TED Talk with the brilliant Judith Jamison and has been a guest performer on several television shows. We can't wait for you to meet the charismatic, talented, engaging artist and mother of 2!

Lauren Hadaway is an LGBTQ+ writer/director with a background in sound editing and mixing, who has worked on a roster of films. Setting her sights higher, Lauren's debut feature, THE NOVICE, premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival winning multiple awards. The film is a gritty, dark, coming-of-age story that follows a college freshman who joins her school's rowing team and obsessively pushes herself beyond her breaking point. You won't want to miss this honest, no-holding-back conversation with one helluva woman.

Renowned anchor and correspondent for ABC News, Diane covers breaking news and special events. She's appeared on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline, and hosts ABC News Live Update. She is also an author. A former insomniac, Diane's book, THE SLEEP FIX: Practical, Proven and Surprising Solutions for Insomnia, Snoring, Shift Work and More is must reading for those of us who struggle to fall and stay asleep. You won't fall asleep listening to our fascinating, important and fact filled conversation with this accomplished, creative woman.

We've had the honor and privilege of having another conversation with the very creative, innovative and multi-talented artist Dell Hamilton. She's back to share her latest project for the ICA/Boston Foster Prize: "The End of Susan, The End of Everything." The multi-media installation is an homage to her mentor and friend, art historian Susan Decker who passed away in 2016. Join us for another fascinating, heartwarming and honest conversation with this very special guest.

Karen Mason makes music. The Broadway actress and concert artist is a 13-time MAC winner (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs), and in 2019 she received a MAC Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen has starred on Broadway, Off-Broadway, television, and has performed in concert as well as in the recording studio. Listen in as she shares the highlights of her rich and rewarding musical/theatrical career.

Amy Gravino in a word? Cando. A force of nature, Amy was diagnosed with autism at the age of 11 and is currently a leader on sexuality, autism, and neurodiversity in sex education. And to that end, she is President of ASCOT, which offers autism consulting, college coaching, and mentoring services for various organizations, schools, and individuals on the spectrum and their families. She's also an award-winning writer, has given TED Talks, and spoken at the UN on World Autism Awareness Day. You'll be blown away by this open, brutally honest, heartfelt conversation with a woman who's not afraid to speak her mind!

For Darsie Alexander, it's all about art. Since 2018, she has been Chief Curator at the Jewish Museum located on New York City's famed Museum Mile. Founded in 1904, it's the first institution of its kind in the US and one of the oldest Jewish Museums in the world. Darsie's resume is an impressive one: Executive Director of the Katonah Museum of Art, Chief Curator of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Senior Curator at the Baltimore Museum of Art and Photography Curator at Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art. Join us for a fascinating, illuminating conversation about the power of art to teach, provoke, bring joy and purpose to our lives.

With more than 25 years in the business, Geeta Gandbhir has worked on a wide range of films - narratives and documentaries focusing on racial justice, social inequity and gender. Geeta's the recipient of 2 Emmys, four Peabodys and numerous other accolades. "Black and Missing," her latest project for HBO, is a 4-part series that follows 2 sisters-in-law who are founders of the Black and Missing Foundation. The pair works to expose Black missing persons cases that are marginalized by national media and law enforcement. This must-see TV takes on new urgency given the renewed conversation about the 'missing white woman syndrome.'

A new Discovery+ series follows Roo Powell as she exposes some of the internet's most dangerous child predators. She and her team of professionals join forces with law enforcement to find and arrest these creeps. How? This 38 year old mother of 3 transforms herself into a 15 year old to reveal the true identities of the men who are reaching out to her. Join Roo in this race against time as she convincingly navigates these dangerous waters. This is one conversation you can't afford to miss.

Talk about a creative woman! Samantha Holmes is a sculptor / visual artist based in both the Bronx and Ravenna, Italy. Her work explores the impact of "distortion on patterns sourced from science, religion and art history." She works in stone, metal and paper, creating intricate, lace-like sculptures - her most recent, Mundillo - a monument to women's work and the cultural dynamism and was inspired by Puerto Rican lacework. Samantha's work has been exhibited in the States and internationally.  

Award-winning journalist Erin Moriarty has spent the past 30+ years at CBS NEWS, and since 1990, as a correspondent on 48 Hours, TV's most popular true-crime series. A 9-time Emmy winner, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alliance for Women in Media in 2019. Erin's also the host of "My Life of Crime" podcast which focuses on many of the cases she's covered. We know you'll want to hear all about the life and times of this acclaimed, veteran correspondent.

New York-based Uli Beutter Cohen is the creator of Subway Book Review, a social movement that explores belonging to a time and place through writing and photography. Her work has been featured in Vogue, New York Magazine, Esquire, Glamour and The Guardian. Uli's first book, “Between the Lines: Stories From The Underground” (as in the NYC Subway System), is a love letter to books, The Big Apple, and our collective potential. Uli spent more than 10 years 'riding the rails,' observing, interviewing and photographing straphangers. We know you'll enjoy meeting this uniquely creative woman who clearly 'marches to her own drummer!'