A Bend in the Road

Watch this episode on YouTube as well!Can even our closest friendships fall apart? This month Roberta Panjwani talks with Susan Shapiro Barash about her new book Estranged: How Toxic Female Friendships can be Mended or Ended which explores the hidden reality of female friendship—when bonds break, and what comes next.Things we talked about in this episode Estranged: How Toxic Female Friendships Can be Mended or Ended by Susan Shapiro BarashSula by Toni MorrisonEpisode CreditsOur thanks to Susan Shapiro Barash for joining us today.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer, Editor, and Digital Media Producer is Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

We continue our celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary with Brenda S. Cox: Austen expert, scientist, and author of the new book Fashionable Goodness, which explores how Austen wove deep moral truths into her characters’ lives, shedding light on the faith and values that shaped her work. Join us for an insightful discussion on Austen’s enduring moral lessons, her faith, and the timeless wisdom embedded in her novels plus a special introduction from Breckyn Wood, host of the official JASNA podcast: Austen Chat!Things we talked about in this episode:Brenda S. Cox’s Faith, Joy, and Jane Austen blogAusten Chat Podcast with Breckyn WoodJane Austen Festival in Bath, EnglandJane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and  Mansfield ParkJASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America)Episode CreditsOur thanks to Brenda Cox and Breckyn Wood for joining us today.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer and Digital Media Producer for this episode is Elias Rosner. Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.The clip of Sonatina No. 4 from "Six Sonatinas" by Ignace Joseph Pleyel is courtesy of PianoXML.The clip from the Mansfield Park audiobook read by Frances Barber is courtesy of Audible.The clip from the 2008 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility is courtesy of BBC, WGBH Boston.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Join Rebecca Romney, a rare book dealer and author, as she delves into the literary world surrounding Jane Austen. Discover the influence of Frances Burney on Austen through an intriguing find that initiated her research. She discusses Austen's unique style and how societal factors shaped the writing careers of women like Radcliffe and Inchbald. The conversation also explores the significance of rare book provenance and the use of social media to bring these treasures to a wider audience. A captivating exploration of literature and its hidden gems!

Roberta sits down with RPL director Lorri Steinbacher and “What’s in a Name?” journalist and essayist Jeannette Cooperman for a lively and thought-provoking conversation about the power of names. From given names and nicknames to hyphenation and reinvention, the trio explores how names shape identity, carry meaning, and spark emotion. At the heart of the discussion is The Names, a brilliant new novel by Florence Knapp that raises big questions about who we are—and who we might become.Things we talked about in this episode:Jeannette Cooperman“Naming Names: From Birth Names to Stage Names, from HUAC to Gravestones, Why Your Name becomes a Form of Fate”  by Jeannette Cooperman from The Common ReaderThe Names by Florence KnappEpisode Credits:Our thanks to Jeannette Cooperman and Lorri Steinbacher for joining us today. You can learn more about Jeannette at jeannettecooperman.wordpress.com and her essays for The Common Reader at commonreader.wustl.edu/authors/jeannette-cooperman/The 1964 clip of “What’s Your Name?” was performed by Don & JuanA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner. Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Singer/songwriter Gary Solomon was just 19 when he found himself in the crowd at The Last Waltz—The Band’s iconic 1976 farewell concert. Filmed by Martin Scorsese and widely considered the best concert film of all time, it was stacked with legends like Robbie Roberston, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, and Neil Diamond. In this episode, Gary shares what it was like to witness that historic night firsthand, and digs into other iconic shows that shaped a generation—from Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue to Simon & Garfunkel’s 1981 Central Park reunion. This is music history through the eyes of someone who lived it.Things we talked about in this episode:The Last Waltz documentary (1978); live show from 1976The Band: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson & Richard Manuel)Bob Dylan and The Band during The Last WaltzJoni Mitchell and Neil Young sing “Helpless” during The Last WaltzThe Winterland Ballroom, San FranciscoGary Solomon’s upcoming dates for The THE BAND BandGary Solomon’s Bob Dylan showEpisode Credits: Our thanks to Gary Solomon for joining us in the studio today. You can learn more about Gary and his upcoming dates with “The Band’s” shows at thethebandband.com.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner. Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

1993, when Sue Rodin saw gender inequality in her workplace, she didn’t just get frustrated—she took action. Tapping into her network, she founded Women in Sports and Events (WISE), an organization built to support and elevate professional women in the sports industry. More than 30 years later, WISE is still going strong, with 25 chapters across the U.S. and Canada and over 6,000 members. Rodin has been called an “Eternal Optimist”—and today, you’ll see why.Things we talked about in this episode:WISE (Women In Sports Events)Women in the Business of Sports — Then and NowWISE Executive Leadership Institute: Rodin ScholarshipShe’s Got Game podcast with Swin CashJulie FoudyEpisode Credits: Our thanks to Sue Rodin for joining us today in the studio. For information about WISE please visit: wiseworks.orgA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner. Our Editors are Elias Rosner and Roberta Panjwani.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

This is a rebroadcast of episodes 6 & 7 from October 19, 2022. What power does poetry have to help us navigate the challenges of life? How do we approach art and how does it approach us? Join our guest host Diane Sims for a journey through these questions, and many others, with Pádraig Ó Tuama in an episode so big, we had to split it into two.In Part 1, Pádraig Ó shares his relationship with art, reconciliation and the ongoing road toward finding ourselves.In Part 2, we dig into the questions of acceptance and identity Pádraig grappled with as a youth growing up in Ireland, and in the tall shadow of the Catholic Church, and what innate sensibility gave him the fortitude to step into those headwinds, instead of turning away, with a brief stop in the land of knitable television near the end.For those new to Pádraig’s work, he is an Irish poet and the host of the hugely popular podcast Poetry Unbound – now on its sixth season – as well as a theologian and conflict mediator.Links mentioned in the episodes:Pádraig’s WebsiteThe TenX9 Storytelling ProjectCorrymeelaMorton DeutschBilly CollinsSix Feet Under“If You’re Going To Look Like a Wolf They Have to Love You More Than Fear You”Original Episode Credits:A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer is, Elias Rosner Our Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Elias RosnerOur Editor is Elias Rosner Our Digital Media producers are Sabrina Garcia and Elias RosnerLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Pádraig Ó Tuama for talking with us today and to Shannon Hearn for her help

This is a rebroadcast of episodes 6 & 7 from October 19, 2022. What power does poetry have to help us navigate the challenges of life? How do we approach art and how does it approach us? Join our guest host Diane Sims for a journey through these questions, and many others, with Pádraig Ó Tuama in an episode so big, we had to split it into two.In Part 1, Pádraig Ó shares his relationship with art, reconciliation and the ongoing road toward finding ourselves.In Part 2, we dig into the questions of acceptance and identity Pádraig grappled with as a youth growing up in Ireland, and in the tall shadow of the Catholic Church, and what innate sensibility gave him the fortitude to step into those headwinds, instead of turning away, with a brief stop in the land of knitable television near the end.For those new to Pádraig’s work, he is an Irish poet and the host of the hugely popular podcast Poetry Unbound – now on its sixth season – as well as a theologian and conflict mediator.Links mentioned in the episodes:Pádraig’s WebsiteThe TenX9 Storytelling ProjectCorrymeelaMorton DeutschBilly CollinsSix Feet Under“If You’re Going To Look Like a Wolf They Have to Love You More Than Fear You”Original Episode Credits:A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer is, Elias Rosner Our Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Elias RosnerOur Editor is Elias Rosner Our Digital Media producers are Sabrina Garcia and Elias RosnerLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Pádraig Ó Tuama for talking with us today and to Shannon Hearn for her help

In their new film Rebel with a Clause, grammar guru Ellen Jovin and director Brandt Johnson head off on a road trip to all 50 states to show how comma fights, rather than divide, can bring us closer together. Join Roberta as they talk about the power of language, taking a grammar stand, and the New York Times bestselling book that started it all.Things we talked about in this episode:Rebel with a Clause filmRebel with a Clause book and Ellen Jovin’s Grammar TableBrandt JohnsonOxford (Serial) CommaSyntaxis CommunicationEpisode Credits: Our thanks to Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson for joining us today. You can learn more about Ellen, Brandt, and the book and film at rebelwithaclause.com and grammartable.com. A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner. Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Have you ever had a teacher who completely changed the way you see the world? Today, we’re shining a spotlight on one of those incredible educators—Ted Opderbeck! With 30 years of award-winning teaching under his belt, Ted has dedicated his career to putting empathy and global awareness at the heart of every lesson. Roberta talks to Ted about how he’s taking his passion even further in his new role with TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission). He’s here to share his journey, his inspiring work, and his thoughts on “refirement” (not retirement!)—a fresh approach to purpose and impact in life’s next chapter.Don’t miss this chance to be inspired by Ted’s story and learn how small acts of empathy can ripple out into big change.Things we talked about in this episode:Ted OpderbeckTEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship MissionSocial Entrepreneurship in the Classroom50 Inspiring Ideas of Social EntrepreneurshipRefirementEpisode Credits: Our thanks to Ted Opderbeck for joining us in the studio today. You can learn more about Ted and his work at teeem.org/ (that’s teeem).A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner. Editing by Elias Rosner and Roberta Panjwani. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner.Original theme Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Melissa Egan. Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas