A Bend in the Road

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.

Have you ever thought about sneezing on Larry King? Well, if you have, then you and Ben Greenman have that in common. Join Roberta Panjwani as she interviews Ben about some of his work and his forays into almost becoming a doctor. For the unfamiliar, Ben Greenman is the New York Times bestselling author of The Slippage and Superbad and the former longtime editor for The New Yorker. Not content to only do that, he’s also Questlove’s long-time collaborator and has written memoirs with George Clinton and Brian Wilson as well.Things we Discussed in the Episode:Ben’s BooksBen in the New YorkerBen in the New York TimesInterview with Questlove and George ClintonPrince InterviewEpisode 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 Ben for being with us today.

You know Oprah? Yeah. That Oprah. We don’t have Oprah but we do have the next best thing. Leigh Haber is the editor and former Vice President of Book at O magazine. Join us as she joins host Roberta Panjwani on a deep dive into Leigh’s role as Director of Oprah’s Book Club, what it’s like to interview writers (or as she calls them, Rock Stars) and the power of books to make change and do good in the world. Things we Discussed In the Episode:Oprah's Book ClubColum McCann InterviewDiana Gabaldon InterviewYou Are Here by Karen Lin-GreenbergVictory City by Salman RushdieSalman Rushdie New Yorker ArticleDances by Nicole CuffyA Small Sacrifice for Enormous Happiness by Jai ChakrabartiEpisode Credits:Special thanks to Leigh for being with us today.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Associate Producer and Editor for this episode is Olivia Esteban with additional edits by Elias Rosner.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.

What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? These are the questions that Tony Award winning actor Robert Sean Leonard grapples with. Join him and Roberta as they talk about his work as an actor and some of the artists he’s collaborated with. Wondering why that name sounds familiar? You might recognize Robert as Neil Perry from Dead Poets Society, Dr. James Wilson in House MD, or onstage as Edmund on O’Neill’s A Long Day's Journey Into Night.Things we Discussed in the Episode:Dead Poets SocietyHouse M.D.The Invention of LoveArcadiaLong Day’s Journey Into Night The Gilded AgeEpisode 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 Robert for being with us today.

Hot off the release of her latest standup comedy special, Plant Based Jokes, comedian and podcast host Ophira Eisenberg joins Roberta to discuss what it’s like to tell stories at The Moth, the riskiness involved with audience interactions, and how storytelling has changed since the pandemic. Ophira is currently the host of the podcast Parenting Is A Joke and as well as hosting the now-concluded Ask Me Another, NPR’s comedy trivia show, with Jonathan Coulter for 9 years.Things we Discussed in the Episode:Ophira’s Website: www.ophiraeisenberg.com Plant Based Jokes: https://800pgr.lnk.to/PlantBasedJokesIDParenting Is A Joke: https://link.chtbl.com/PIAJOphira on the Moth: https://themoth.org/search/results?q=ophiraNPR’s Ask Me Another: https://www.npr.org/programs/ask-me-another/ Episode CreditsA Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Olivia EstebanOur Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOur Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Olivia EstebanLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsSpecial thanks to Ophira for being with us today