Episode 149: Jenny Buccos, Director, Producer, Explorer

This episode generously sponsored by:

Jenny is a multi-award winning director and producer of the long running program called Project Explorer, and the founder of Project Explorer.org. which is a free multimedia website designed to educate kids about global cultures and histories. She has explored six continents, in over 500 episodes, and has met incredible people and seen amazing places.

She is currently working on a television show to bring this programming to an even wider audience. Jenny is incredibly purpose driven, an explorer, an entrepreneur, and is living her mission every day. I am very inspired by her and I’m sure you will be too.

Episode 148: Ayser Salman, Author

This episode generously sponsored by:

Today I interviewed my friend, Ayser Salman, for the second time, because her book, The Wrong End of the Table: A Mostly Comic Memoir of a Muslim Arab American Woman Just Trying to Fit in is coming out on March 5th, so I wanted to have her on to talk about it. She was previously on episode 47, so that was awhile ago and if I am remembering correctly, it was hilarious, and maybe because we were having wine and cheese. So, if you want to hear her entire story, go listen to that episode, or more relevantly, buy her book. Which you can order here.

Get the book

Episode 147: Matt Birch, Agent

This episode generously sponsored by:

I took a detour into male ally-ship and spoke with Matt Birch. Matt is a partner at the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) and is a co-head of the physical production department. He came up through production, reluctantly became an agent in 2009, and makes sure to bring a little something different to the art of agent-ing.  I met Matt while recording for the soon to launch podcast called Catch A Break – which is the insider’s guide to breaking into and navigating Hollywood (which you’re going to want to know about, click here to subscribe so you will be notified when it launches.)

During that interview, Matt mentioned he was on the men’s committee of #TimesUp, which as you can imagine made my ears perk up and I immediately booked him for this show to dig a little deeper. This corresponds with the feeling I have been having that it is time to start bringing men into the conversation and engaging them in the process toward equality. And Matt is one of the men who are actively evolving and trying to be part of the solution. We talked about #MeToo/TimesUp and harassment, hiring practices, the wage gap, how men are talking to each other, and a little bit about how men can hold each other accountable in ways that will be effective.

Episode 144: Susanne Preissler, Executive Producer

Susanne is the Owner and Executive Producer at renowned production company Independent Media. She has been in the entertainment and advertising industries for over 15 years and worked with some of the feature filmmaking world’s biggest names. This success has also built a knowledge and awareness around the massive gender biases and struggles intertwined within the female entrepreneurial world.

We talk about her journey, the world of commercials, and the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the business.

Episode 142: Laura Maria Censabella, Playwright

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This is my month for playwrights, and today I have another very special episode with playwright Laura Maria Censabella. She wrote the play, Paradise which was commissioned by Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and was a runner-up for the 2016 Saroyan/Paul Playwriting Prize for Human Rights. And lucky for us in LA, the West Coast premiere of Paradise, presented by Viola Davis’ and Julius Tennon’s  JuVee Productions and American Oasis,  is opening at the Odyssey Theatre, January 26th at 8pm and running through February 17th. You can get tickets at www.plays411.com/paradise.

Laura is an award winning playwright, a daytime Emmy winning screenwriter and teaches
playwriting and new play development at the New School for Drama, where she has been honored with the Distinguished University-Wide Teaching Award. She graduated from Yale University and is currently writing the screenplay for Paradise.

check out the BRIC Foundation Summit here: https://bricfoundation.org/2019summit/

Episode 141: Kim Gruenenfelder, Author

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For episode 141 I sat down with Kim Gruenenfelder. Kim is a bestselling author known for writing romantic comedy fiction novels. I have read most of her books and had so much fun talking with her. Her debut novel, "A Total Waste of Makeup", has been published in six languages and eight international editions to date, and is followed by a sequel, "Misery Loves Cabernet". "Keep Calm and Carry a Big Drink" is a sequel to 2010's "There's Cake in My Future." Her fifth published novel, "Love The Wine You're With", which details the adventures of a group of friends who open a wine bar, was released in 2017. Her current novel "Hangovers and Hot Flashes", available now, follows the lives of protagonists in their forties. Who knew that writing a book about women in their 40’s would be controversial, but turns out it is. She will tell us all about it.

Apologies in advance to fur parents of fur babies.

check out the BRIC Foundation Summit here: https://bricfoundation.org/2019summit/

Episode 138: Julia Camara, Filmmaker, Writer

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To kick off this year, I sat down with writer and filmmaker Julia Camara. Originally from Brazil, Julia has made several award-winning shorts. She has also written the feature films Area Q, Open Road, and Occupants. She recently released her experimental feature film called In Transit, which won Best Experimental film at the Glendale International Film Festival and is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video.

We talked about her career, her films, and spent a minute unpacking the Kavanagh hearings, as we recorded during that week. Somehow, we kept our sense of humor, because we laugh a lot about the absurdity of gender inequality.

Episode 135: apparentlyjack, Jacqueline Legan and Katie Koeblitz

This episode brought to you by:

Jacqueline is a veteran Director of Video Production, and currently the Founder and Executive Producer at apparentlyjack. Jacqueline’s background spans almost every aspect of the filmmaking process from development to delivery, in both the branded and Independent film spaces with films and commercials starring well known Directors and Talent.    

With over ten years producing Independent Film, Katie is currently the Head of Independent Content at apparentlyjack. Katie’s production background includes work on both narrative and documentary feature films. Most recently, Katie produced documentaries G-Funk, A More Civil War, and The Untitled MMW Documentary. On the narrative side, Katie co-produced The Land, Galveston, and also had a hand in the coming-of-age film The Kings of Summer, which premiered at Sundance.                      

After many years in the advertising and film  industries, Jacqueline decided to go out on her own to form the content studio, apparentlyjack. apparentlyjack’s mission is to bring cinematic storytelling and storyline driven content to brands and independent film in a variety of formats.               

apparentlyjack champions equality, diversity, and inclusivity both behind and in front of the     camera. They have dedicated a portion of the company to empowering and mentoring other   women in entertainment and are working with various organizations to reach gender parity   by 2020.  For more information about apparentlyjack, visit www.apparentlyjack.com.     

Episode 134: Julia Lynn Huffman, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Coach

This episode is brought to you by:

Julia started out in broadcast journalism and acting, and then transitioned to working behind the camera. Having worked in the television industry for over two decades and cutting her teeth as a coordinator, writer, producer, shooter and editor for companies like E! Entertainment, Steven Bochko Productions and HGTV, Julia went on to direct, write and produce her own feature film and become one of a handful of female directors to win multiple awards in the film festival circuit and secure world-wide distribution for her first feature film, endorsed by Dr Jane Goodall, Medicine of the Wolf.

Julia just finished her short film WOLF SPIRIT starring world renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg and will be using the film as a tool for education about the value of wolves and their necessary place on the north American landscape.

We talked about her passion projects, tenacity in the business, and the state of women in the world. As we do.

You can reach Julia via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-h-30a7734/

Episode 133: Ally Iseman, Actor, Writer, Producer

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Ally is an actor, writer, and producer. She has worked on stage in productions like Jekyll & Hyde, as well as on screens big and small including shows like American Housewife, Criminal Minds, and Days of Our Lives. Ally makes an appearance in Nicole Conn's newest feature film Nesting Doll, in Jorge Xolalpa Jr.'s latest feature A Giant Without A Head, and as a lead opposite Ray Wise and Bonnie Bedelia in the feature film Life On The Rocks.

Ally has spoken on numerous panels about gender parity and intersectional, inclusive feminism and does her best to align herself with work that has an eye on advocacy. Her internationally award-winning film Wedlocked, an LGBTQ comedy about gay divorce toured at over 45 film festivals worldwide securing digital, broadcast and theatrical distribution.

Most recently she can be seen in the feature film Solver, hosting the new plant-based food travel show The Road Less Eaten, and in her gender parity comedy series Flip the Script, which is being produced in partnership with Women In Film. 

Ally is driven, fearless, and hilarious. Grab your tea and enjoy some time with us.

You can find out more about Ally here: www.allyiseman.com.

Episode 130: Ellen Gerstein, Actor, Writer, Producer, Director

This episode is brought to you by:

Ellen is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and actor. She is a member of: Women In Film, The Alliance of Women Directors, LA Film Team, Film Independent, The Actors Studio and SAG-AFTRA. Apart from having a million credits in film, television and theatre, she has also worked as a psychotherapist, and a stand-up comic.

Without sounding too biased, this is one of my very favorite interviews. If you have ever studied acting in New York, this will take you back. Ellen is delicious, and prepare yourself, you are about to fall in love with her.

You can find Ellen here: www.ellengerstein.com

Episode 129: Sue Obeidi, Director of MPAC's Hollywood Bureau

This episode is brought to you by:

Sue is the Director of the Hollywood Bureau of the Muslim Public Affairs Council or MPAC. Since MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau was launched in 2011, Sue has blended the love of her faith with her love of film, television, and digital series to change and expand the narrative of Islam and Muslims in the entertainment industry.

Behind the scenes, Sue engages decision makers and creatives to improve the quality and number of authentic, nuanced, and inclusive presentations of Islam and Muslims so that audiences can see Muslims as vital contributors to creating social and cultural change in America and around the world. She also enriches the pool of Muslim talent in Hollywood by nurturing and connecting them to those who can assist with their careers, both on the creative and business sides of the industry.

In 2017, Sue was chosen for Variety's Inclusion Impact Report as one of 60 changemakers making the entertainment industry more inclusive.

We had a great and timely conversation.

Click here to get tickets for the convention for Advancing America Toward Justice on November 10th.

Episode 126: Nell Scovell, Writer, Director

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For this episode I got to interview Nell Scovell. Nell wrote JUST THE FUNNY PARTS ... And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boys’ Club. This is an hilarious must read. I read it twice and ate it whole. In addition to that gem of a book, Nell Scovell is a television and magazine writer, producer, director and collaborator on the #1 New York Times bestseller Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.

She is the creator of the television series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and her TV writing credits include The Simpsons, Coach, Monk, Murphy Brown, Charmed and NCIS. She has directed two movies for cable television and an episode of Awkward.

She has contributed to Vanity Fair, Vogue, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. This was very exciting for me, and hopefully for you too.

Episode 124: Sara Laschever, "Women Don't Ask"

This episode is brought to you by:

Sara is the co-author, with Linda Babcock, of two groundbreaking books about women and negotiation, Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation—and Positive Strategies for Change and Ask for It! How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want.

From Sara’s bio, “Whether they want higher salaries, better career opportunities, or more help at home, women are much less likely than men to ask for what they want. When women do ask, they tend to mimic the forceful, competitive negotiating style favored by men, which often backfires. Sara looks at why women feel reluctant to ask for what they need and deserve—and reveals the shockingly high price paid by women, their employers, and the economy as a whole if they don’t address this persistent phenomenon. She shows women how to recognize more opportunities to negotiate, manage the anxiety they may feel when they approach a negotiation, and employ negotiating strategies that have been shown to work especially well for women.

Sara lectures widely and teaches workshops about women and negotiation and women’s leadership challenges for organizations in the U.S. and around the world.”

We are very lucky to have her on the show for a very delicious conversation. We NEED THIS!

Episode 118: Mir Harris, Time's Up, Activist

This episode generously brought to you by:

Mir is the Manager of Operations and Community Engagement at Time's Up. I was first introduced to Mir through a piece she wrote that knocked me out. I asked her to read it on the show. Mir is an activist, a thoughtful and conscious leader, and possesses a personal power that is expressed through service. Prepare yourself, you are about to be inspired. I mean no pressure, I don’t mean to oversell it. You tell me. (You’ll be inspired.)

Episode 115: Monica Levinson, Producer, Production Executive

This episode is generously sponsored by:

Monica is the President of Production for ShivHans Pictures and comes from a long line of working women in her family. In fact, her grandmother owned a liquor store and her mother started the First Women’s Bank of Maryland.

Monica produced Bruno, Borat and Zoolander (to name a few), and she was the production supervisor on Private Parts. Check out her IMDB, you will be impressed.

We got real about the business and how to balance self-preservation with ambition in this male-dominated industry.  When do you speak up vs when do you send your message through other channels? Do you want to be right or do you want to be effective?

EP 110: Heidi Basch-Harod, Executive Director Women's Voices Now

Heidi Basch-Harod is the Executive Director of Women’s Voices Now, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which uses the medium of film to advocate for global women’s rights. They carry out their mission with an annual online film festival, a free streaming archive of international women’s rights based films, educational programs, screening events, and multimedia workshops.

She has spent her career as a human rights activist and also is a producer of the award-winning feature documentary Honor Diaries, and the highly-acclaimed short film, In Search of America, Inshallah.

Among other quotables, she said this, “no matter who you are or where you’re from women have incredible capabilities for survival.” Isn’t that the truth?

Episodes 108 & 109: Dana Belcastro and Debra Bergman, Production Executives

Dana Belcastro is EVP Feature Production at Twentieth Century Fox and Debra Bergman is EVP Production and Head of Production Scripted at Paramount TV. They are also the co-founders of the Women’s Production Society – the organization for female top-level production executives. We talk about their journey up through production and to the top of the studio machines.

There was a moment in the last year when they realized as a body of women they are powerful, and are in a unique position to create some change. So, that is exactly what they are doing.

We talked for so long and about so many topics, this will be two episodes. This can be your week to binge on female production executives.

These women are formidable.

Episode 104: Prarthana Joshi - Filmmaker

Prarthana (PJ) is a Production Designer, Producer, Editor – Artist. She moved to California from India several years ago to attend film school and then work in the film industry. She has been working here ever since, until recently, when her green card was denied, and she has to leave the country this very week. This is a story of immigration, the pursuit of art, and the agency of people to live and work where they desire.

Also, PJ is a producer on this project. Please follow and join the cause: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/the-apple-tree#story

Episode 102: Carina Chocano, Writer

Carina is a Writer and wrote the book called You Play the Girl - On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, train wrecks, and other mixed messages. Carina has written for tons of magazines and was a film critic at the LA Times, Entertainment Weekly and Salon.

She is whip smart and we had a fiery conversation about feminist cultural theory. We deconstructed the system that promotes discrimination, and the subtleties that make us question ourselves for decades before looking outward. Hold on to your hats.

After all, if you can't talk about the system without getting offended or taking it personally, how are we ever going to talk about anything?