A Bend in the Road

This month on A Bend in the Road, Roberta is joined by broadcaster, film critic, and host of the Cinephile podcast Adnan Virk for a lively deep dive into the movies that matter now.Known for his sharp insights and contagious love of cinema, Virk brings his passion, encyclopedic knowledge, and signature blend of humor to talk Oscars buzz, under-the-radar gems, the state of movie theaters, streaming’s impact on film culture, and the performances everyone will be arguing about this year.Things We Talked AboutAdnan Virk's podcast, Cinephile with Adnan Virk (Spotify, Apple Podcasts)Adnan Virk’s book, Cinephile: Interviews, Essays, and Tales from the Red Carpet (You can also borrow a copy from the Ridgewood Public Library!)2026 Academy Award NominationsReferenced FilmsGood FellasTaxi DriverMean StreetsEnd of the AffairBlue MoonTrain DreamsThe Last Temptation of ChristThe Royal TenenbaumsCitizen KaneThe Magnificent AmbersonsSilenceHugoThe King of ComedyRaging BullDead Poets SocietyBoyhoodFirst ReformAsh WednesdayTrue WestBefore Sunrise TrilogyThe SubstancePoor ThingsBugoniaMoonlightGreen BookBattleship PotemkinOne False MoveThe Man Who Wasn’t ThereFargoSecrets and LiesHard TruceFirst ReformedAfflictionI, TonyaBarbieWolf of Wall StreetLady BirdMagnoliaThere Will Be BloodBoogie NightsUncut GemsA Complete UnknownCall Me By Your NameField of DreamsWalk the LineBohemian RhapsodyRocketmanSong Sung BlueSweet DreamsDeliver Me From NowhereThe Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold FryEpisode CreditsA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer for this episode is me, Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond. Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti, John Lubas, and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media Producers are Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Our thanks to Kaleigh for joining us in the studio today.The clip of “Hooray for Hollywood,” written by Johnny Mercer and performed by Rosemary Clooney, is courtesy of Concord Jazz, Taxi Driver is courtesy of Columbia Pictures Entertainment and One Battle After Another is courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

What really happened inside the marriage that helped turn Amelia Earhart into a legend? That's the question author Laurie Gwen Shapiro sought to answer in her new book: The Aviator and the Showman. Through newly uncovered letters and archival material, she reexamines the partnership between Amelia Earhart and George Putnam, revealing a marriage far more complex, modern, and strategic than the myths suggest.Join host Roberta as she sits down with Laurie to discuss this riveting book, Amelia's life, and the ambition, gender, power, and fame of early 20th-century America.Things We Talked About This EpisodeLaurie Gwen Shapiro and her writingsAmelia greets the press after landing in Hawaii in January 1935 Amelia Earhart’s Speech: “A Woman’s Place in Science (20th Century Time MachineEpisode CreditsA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer for this episode is me, 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 Producers are Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond. Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.The clip of Amelia’s remarks from 1935 after landing in Hawaii is courtesy of Historicus Joe. The clip from Amelia’s “A Woman’s Place in Science Speech” is courtesy of 20th Century Time Machine. Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Kick off the new year with a special rebroadcast of episode 18!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.

For those who want an extra visual component, this episode is also available on YouTube.This month, Roberta sits down with The New Yorker writer John Seabrook to talk about his new book The Spinach King, a chronicle of the rise and fall of his family's empire: Seabrook Farms. Recently selected as one of the 100 Most Notable Books of 2025 by the New York Times, it tells a story of ambition, innovation, and betrayal that built, and ultimately destroyed, one of America’s largest agricultural empires.Things We Talked About This Episode:John Seabrook’s The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American DynastyJohn Seabrooks’ writings for The New YorkerLIfe and Labor at Seabrook Farms, Rutgers UniversitySeabrook Farms documentary short1934 Seabrook Farms Strike: Black Workers in the Agricultural Industry of South Jersey 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)Episode CreditsOur thanks to John Seabrook 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.Clip from the 1934 Seabrook Farms Strike clip is courtesy Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, and the clip from the Seabrook Farms documentary is courtesy Indie Tommy Tips Restore and Review.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

For those who want an extra visual component, this episode is also available on YouTube.First responders are there for the community, continually caring and respond to the needs of others, but rarely do they take care of their own. This month, Roberta talks with Lt. Mark Panjwani and 9-1-1 Dispatcher Ricardo Martinez about the mental health issues and stigmas they face as well as the initiatives they are creating to support the heroes who keep us safe every day. A vital conversation about those who serve and protect us, often in silence.Things we talked about in this episodeRicardo Martinez Within the Trenches MediaPTSD911 DocumentaryBeverly Police DepartmentCopline (An Officer's Lifeline): 1-800-COPLINE (1-800-267-5463)Safe Call Now (for all first responders): (206) 459-3020McLean LEADER (Law Enforcement, Active Duty, Emergency Responder) Program, Mass General (for all first responders): (617) 855-3141FBI Academy, Law Enforcement Training Programs and ResourcesEpisode CreditsOur thanks to Ricardo Martinez and Mark Panjwani 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.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

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.