Category: Producer

Making a return engagement is the classy, accomplished, multi-talented singer/songwriter Vivian Sessoms. And once again, we cover a lot of territory. In a beautiful tribute, Vivian shares the impact the iconic Aretha Franklin had and has on her both personally and professionally. And...she also talks about the impetus for her new, powerful double-album LIFE, scheduled to be released on Baby Buddha/Ropeadope November 2nd.

Meet Emmy award winning director Rachel Dretzin (PBS' Frontline), who has been producing and directing documentaries since 1994. Rachel, along with her husband, are the founders of Ark Media, a Brooklyn-based documentary production company. "Far From the Tree," Rachel's first feature documentary, is based on the New York Times best seller by Andrew Solomon. It explores the difficulties and challenges of raising a child who has Downs syndrome, dwarfism, autism, deafness, mental illness, is a child prodigy, or are transgender. The power of documentaries to educate, inform, empower is a focus of this fascinating, important and honest conversation with this committed, creative, accomplished woman.

Acclaimed filmmaker Debra Granik's movies focus on the disenfranchised, marginalized and compromised as is evidenced by the powerful "Winter's Bone," which launched the career of Jennifer Lawrence and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. Her latest, "Leave No Trace," tells the story of a father and his teenaged daughter who live off the grid in a nature reserve outside Portland, Oregon. We cover a lot of ground in this open, honest, fascinating conversation with a creative woman whose career has focused on exceptional people - both real and fictional.

Past guest Jennifer Baumgardner's back and for good reason. The feminist activist, journalist, author and former publisher of The Feminist Press has launched a new venture. She's the founder of Dottir Press, an independent publishing house. Dottir is Icelandic for daughter and speaks to its mission of passing down and building upon feminist intellectual and creative legacies to fill the void in our history and present culture through storytelling in all forms and for all ages. Join us for yet another important and powerful conversation.

You're about to meet yet another accomplished, creative female powerhouse. Deborah Grace Winer is an: author, dramatist, historian and producer. And...she's also a leading expert on the American Songbook and Musical Theater. Her shows have celebrated such icons as Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers. As you'll hear, Deborah's career is a rich and varied one.