Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Mehret Mandefro

What doesn't Dr. Mehret Mandefro do? She's a primary care physician, anthropologist, social activist, filmmaker. Mehret's also President of Truth Aid, the non-profit production company she co-founded with past guest Lacey Schwartz. You can't afford to miss our conversation with this amazing, committed 'force of nature.'

Robbyne Kaamil

Robbyne Kaamil wears lots of hats. In alphabetical order she's an: activist, actress, author, radio personality, relationship expert and singer. Needless to say, there's plenty to talk about. So sit back, and tune in to this no-holds barred conversation.

Zetta Elliott, PhD

Meet Zetta Elliott, PhD - educator and feminist writer. She's won several awards for her books for young readers. A tireless advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing, Zetta says, "I write predominantly about black children because I grew up believing I was invisible in the real world, and it hurt just as much to discover that I was also invisible in the realm of the imaginary." This conversation is important and eye-opening.

Venida Chenault, PhD

Believe it or not, only 26.4% of college presidents are women. Venida Chenault, PhD is one of them. A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi and Kickapoo tribes, she is the President of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. For more than 117 years, American Indians and Alaska Natives have been sending their children to Haskell, the premier tribal university in the United States. Join us for a fascinating, eye-opening and much needed conversation.

Ann Jacobs

Ann Jacobs has worked in the criminal justice field on both the local and national level for more than 40 years. Since 2011, she has been the Director of the Prison Re-entry Institute at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice. At PRI, Ann oversees numerous projects, including the Prison to College Pipeline. During her career, Ann has designed and implemented innovative programs for men, women and families involved in the criminal justice system. Meet this committed, passionate woman on a mission.

Elizabeth Van Meter

Elizabeth Van Meter's acting career includes live theater, independent films, comedy and video game voice overs - but it's her work as a documentary filmmaker and founder of The Purpose Project that drives her today. Its goal:  to find individuals here and abroad, who against all odds, are making positive changes in their corners of the world.  In Elizabeth's documentary Thaos' Library, we meet a young Vietnamese woman, who despite physical deformities caused by agent orange, wants nothing more than to bring books to the children of her village. Elizabeth says she didn't choose Thaos' story - it chose her and she had to tell it for her own sanity.  

Leanne Brown

Little did Leanne Brown know that a project for her Masters Degree in Food Studies at NYU would change her life and the lives of thousands of others. Stunned by the number of Americans on food stamps, Leanne asked herself, how well can someone really eat on $4 a day - the amount provided by the government? She answered that question by developing recipes made of whole, unprocessed foods that promote the joy of cooking and show just how delicious and inspiring an inexpensive meal can be when made at home. The result? Her book - Good and Cheap - Eat Well on $4/Day. Meet Leanne, named one of Forbes 2015 30 Under30 - Food & Drink.

Caren Merrick

Caren Merrick - risk-taker, business-woman, philanthropist. She and her husband co-founded a business-to-business software company in their basement, took it public on the Nasdaq and eventually sold it for $540 million dollars. Caren's also the Founder and CEO of Your Pocket Mentor a mobile app and digital publishing company. She's a founding investor of Venture Philanthropy Partners, AND sits on numerous company boards. This is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Seret Scott

^{Meet Seret Scott, actress, director, playwright, cultural historian. She won the prestigious Drama Desk Award for her Broadway debut in My Sister, My Sister. Seret's also appeared in several movies and film and television shows. Her work as a Director is a rich, varied and rewarding one and includes Off-Broadway and regional theater - from the Old Globe in San Diego, to Yale Rep to New York's Roundabout Theater. She recently directed The Whipping Boy, the powerful play about the Civil War that featured an all-male cast. Join us as we shine the spotlight on the decades long career of the multi-talented Seret Scott.}

Jessica Oliveira

Jessica Oliveira's goal is to educate and empower women who don't have the resources we take for granted. And to that end, the OB-GYN Physician Assistant with a Masters in Medical Education, is involved with Saving Mothers. The aim of this non-profit is to eradicate preventable maternal deaths and birth related complications in the developing world. In 2013 Jessica became the Guatemala Program Coordinator and then last year launched The Saving Mothers School of POWHER - Providing Outreach in Women's Health and Educational Resources. Tune in to meet this committed and compassionate go-getter.