A Bend in the Road

From Trinidad and Tobago to the world stage, Sherma Andrews' journey is nothing short of extraordinary.  Starting at Boston's Berklee School of Music, she's played with some of the greats at venues like Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden, leaving audiences spellbound.  Roberta talks to Sherma about some of her greatest inspirations (Aretha, Whitney, Billie) and her lifelong mission of being a messenger of hope.Things we talked about in this episode:Sherma Andrews WebsiteMontreux Jazz Festival in SwitzerlandBillboard Music AwardsRidgewood Library’s 100th Anniversary Celebration (Sherma enters at 1:16)Berklee College of MusicThe Lincoln CenterOther Musicians mentioned:Aretha FranklinBranford MarsalisBritney SpearsChaka Khan Donna SummerEtta JamesMichael FeinsteinRoberta Flack Whitney HoustonEpisode Credits:Thanks to Sherma for providing clips. “Looking for Something” from her album Guilty, is written and performed by Sherma Andrews. “I Have Nothing” appears on her album Legendary Lady Singers is written by David Foster and Linda Thompson “"Over the Rainbow", from the Ridgewood Library’s 100th anniversary celebration is written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip HarburgA 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. Editing by Melissa Egan and Roberta Panjwani. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Melissa Egan and Elias RosnerOriginal theme Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner Logo and Website created by Parker GaidimasThanks for joining us and we’ll see you at the next bend in the road.

Fernando Fernandez has always had a passion for wine, so when his time in NYC's financial industry was thrown into chaos by the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, he transformed that passion into an award-winning career out on the opposite coast. Join A Bend in the Road host Roberta Panjwani as she talks to Fernando about Puerto Rico, his favorite places to spend time, and creating a meaningful label.Things we talked about in this episode:Colluvialwine.comRon del Barrilito rumWine Education CouncilAllen Meadows’ BurgohundFelix Bonilla - artist Willem de Kooning - artistBlind Ambition - documentary Mondovino - documentaryColluvial Wine FacebookColluvial Wine InstagramHarriman State ParkEpisode Credits: Our thanks to Fernando Fernandez for joining us in the studio today and for our colleague and friend Theresa Callaghan for the introductionA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producers and editors for this episode are Melissa Egan and me, Elias Rosner. Our Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner Logo and Website created by Parker GaidimasThe clip of Allen Meadows is courtesy of the Wine Education Council Finally, the clinking and clanking you heard while Fernando was talking about his wines were, in fact, his wines! Or at least their lovely bottles.

Deborah Kampmeier's move from the independent filmmaker on silver screen to prestige TV on The Gilded Age has a surprise first act appearance from Oprah and Ava DuVernay? Join Deborah as she sits down with Bend in the Road host Roberta Panjwani to talk about “The Ava Effect,” an accidental email that connected her to many of the best directors in the business, and some fascinating moments from Season 2 of The Gilded Age and Harlan Coben’s Shelter.Things we talked about in this episode:Deborahkampmeier.comAva DuVernay’s ARRAY arts & social impact collectiveQueen Sugar on OWNThe Gilded Age on HBOHarlan Coben's Shelter on PrimeStar Trek: Picard on Paramount+Episode CreditsOur thanks to Deborah Kampmeier for being with us todayA 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 RosnerOur Editors are Melissa Egan and Elias RosnerOur Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media Producer is Elias Rosner and Melissa EganLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasAudio clips are courtesy of HBO Max and Amazon Prime

As we embark on Year 3 of our podcast journey, A Bend in the Road is thrilled to share an inspiring episode that we hope will warm your hearts this winter. Joining us in this episode is Aiza Stevens and the incredible therapy dog Hoku, both vital members of the Orem Police Department's Victim Advocacy Program in Utah, along with Ridgewood Public Library’s very own Victoria Schnure, who helps run the library's fantastic Read to a Dog program. Both discuss their passion for what they do and their hope for the future. Stay tuned at the end for a special appearance by Carol and Liberty, the therapy dog as they prepare to hear a wonderful story from a young reader. Things we talked about in this episode: Ridgewood Library Youth Services Instagram video of a therapy dogRidgewood Library Children’s Services (This is where you can sign up to read to a dog!)The Orem Police Department’s Victim Assistance ProgramAdditional therapy dog programs in Utah that were mentioned:Intermountain Therapy Animals from Salt Lake City, UTSkye’s dog training from West Jordan, UT4 Paws 4 Patriots from Ogden, UtahEpisode Credits: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 Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Our Digital Media Producer is Elias Rosner .Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Audio clips are courtesy Aiza Stevens and KEUR Radio.Special thanks to Aiza Stevens and Hoku for joining us today from the Orem Police Dept, to our very own Victoria Schnure for sharing her experience coordinating the Ridgewood Library's Read of to a Dog program and to Carol & therapy dog Liberty.

From universities to coffee shops, from Broadway shows to the local movie theater, from Panama to NJ to France to NY to Santa Barbara, our guest this episode has had quite the journey to where he is now. Join guest host Diane Sims for a riveting conversation with Roger Durling, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Film Festival for the last 20 years, on how he fell in love with the silver screen, found his way to Santa Barbara, and saved & transformed the nearly dead film festival.Things we talked about in this episode:The Santa Barbara International Film FestivalCinema In Flux by Roger DurlingSBIFF 2023 - Angela Bassett Discusses "The Jacksons" & "What's Love Got To Do With It?"SBIFF 2022 - Roger Durling Opening Night SpeechSBFF 2023 - Outstanding Performer of The Year Award Honoring Cate Blanchett (Complete Event)The Telluride Film Festival Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing ArtsThe Peddie SchoolEpisode Credits:A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer for this episode is Melissa Egan.Our editors are Melissa Egan and Roberta Panjwani with additional edits by Elias RosnerOur Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Melissa EganLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Roger Durling and our guest host Diane SimsClips of Roger Durling and Angela Bassett are courtesy of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

You've certainly heard of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and its varied collections. What you may not know is what guides those collections. Megan Fontanella, the Guggenheim's Curator for Modern Art and Provenance, would tell you a good exhibit, and good art education, comes down to two statements: Every painting tells a story. Every object has lived a life. Join Roberta as she talks with Megan about those statements, about the history of the Gugg' and her role in bringing art to life.Megan is a strategic leader, art historian, and curator whose research encompasses late 19th- and early 20th-century European and U.S. avant-gardes and specializes in the field of provenance research - the study of an object's ownership history, from its creation to present day. Since joining the curatorial staff at the Guggenheim in 2005, she has organized or co-organized over thirty exhibitions for the Guggenheim’s museums in Bilbao, New York, Venice, and formerly Berlin.Things we talked about in this episode:The Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumKandinsky and the “Blue Mountain”Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim Horse by Geraldine BrooksEpisode Credits:Clips featured in this episode are courtesy of the Guggenheim Museum. Our thanks to Sara Fox for providing clearances. A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer for this episode is me, Elias Rosner.Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner with additional edits by Melissa Egan.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias RosnerLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Megan Fontanella for being with us today.  

Yale graduate Gretchen Rubin had quite the pivot when she went from clerking for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to founding the Happiness Project. How that came to be and what her surprising path to a life of more energy, creativity, luck, and love entails (hint: tune in to the five senses) is the focus of this month's episode. An acclaimed communicator, known for her ability to distill and convey complex ideas with humor and clarity, Gretchen's books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over thirty languages, she has an award-winning podcast, and she also has an app. Join Roberta as she sits down with Gretchen to discuss this lifelong exploration into happiness, how we respond to expectations and her daily trips to the Met Museum.Things We Talked About in This Episode:Books: Life in Five Senses, The Four Tendencies, The Happiness Project, and more.Podcasts: Get Happier and More Happier with Gretchen RubinHappier appThe Happiness ProjectQuizzes: The Four Tendencies and Five SensesMetropolitan Museum of ArtEpisode Credits:Clips featured in this episode are courtesy of Gretchen Rubin.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer is Elias Rosner.Our Editor this episode is Roberta Panjwani with additional edits by Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias RosnerLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Gretchen Rubin for being with us today.You can find information about The Happiness Project and Gretchen’s books, podcasts, quizzes, resources, and articles at gretchenrubin.com.

"Being brave is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day. " - How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith and Life,  In June of 2020, with the eyes of the world watching and the ears of the world listening,  Bishop Mariann Budde had the courage to speak up about the mistreatment of protestors at the hands of the police and the misuse of St. John's Church in Washington D.C.  Her experience during that time, and the days and weeks that followed, led her to write How We Learn to be Brave.As the ninth bishop of Washington, Bishop Budde is the spiritual leader for 86 Episcopal congregations and ten Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. She is also the first woman elected to this position. Join Roberta as she talks to Bishop Budde about that seminal moment in 2020, courage and faith, and a little bit of Eleanor Roosevelt to round things out.Things we talked about in this episode:Episcopal Diocese of WashingtonHow to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith and LifeEleanor Roosevelt: The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and MuseumEpisode CreditsClips featured are copyright FDR Library and CNN.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Elias RosnerOur Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner Logo and Website created by Parker GaidimasOur thanks to Bishop Mariann Budde for being with us today.You can find How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith and Life wherever you get your books. For  more information about all of Bishop Budde’s writings and work, please visit the Episcopal Diocese of Washington at edow.org.

Take a trip to the Pacific Northwest with Roberta to experience the epic return of the legendary musician Joni Mitchell during Brandi Carlile’s “Echoes through the Canyon” weekend at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington State. Roberta talks with concertgoers who traveled across the country—and the world–about the impact that Joni and music has played in their lives. We hear many remarkable moments from the June 9 & 10, 2023 shows featuring Joni, Brandi, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford and many more. Highlights include “A Case of Blue,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Both Sides Now,” and “The Circle Game.”Things we talked about in this episode:Gorge AmphitheatreJoni Mitchell at Newport CD featuring the Joni JamThe MusiciansJoni MitchellBrandi CarlileAnnie LennoxSarah McLachlanMarcus MumfordAllison RussellLuciusTaylor GoldsmithBlake MillsCelisse HendersonWendy & LisaBen LusherTim HanserothPhil HanserothRick WhitfieldJosh NeumannEpisode CreditsA Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Editor for this episode is Roberta Panjwani with consultation from Diane Sims and additional edits from Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Special thanks to the Gorge Amphitheatre, Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Marcus Mumford and all of the musicians featured in this episode.Additional thanks to Greg Raj, Kelly, Ellen and everyone who shared their experiences. And to Andrea–this episode is for you.

Felicia Eve has been everything: a podiatrist, a stay at home mom, a fundraising consultant, and, currently, a business owner as the CEO and founder of String Thing Studio, a yarn shop in Brooklyn. Join Felicia as she sits down with host Roberta and shares her stories on life, loss, and most importantly, yarn.Things we Discussed in the Episode:String Thing StudioFelicia on Now This NewsKeep a Child AliveEpisode CreditsA Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Olivia Esteban.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Olivia Esteban.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Special thanks to Felicia and Parker for being with us today.