Sandi Klein's Conversations with Creative Women

Born and raised on a farm in the Midwest, Natasha Silver Bell struggled with undiagnosed learning disabilities. Despite those obstacles, she became a star athlete, entered a local beauty pageant and at 19 won Miss Michigan USA. Being selected in the top 6 of Miss USA, led her to New York where she worked as a Ford model. That glamorous, exciting time was also marked by an eating disorder and substance abuse. Natasha managed to turn things around and "move to the winning side." And so today, the divorced mother of 3 and former addict, is a certified Addiction Recovery Coach who works with individuals to help them create healthy lifestyles, make positive choices and find their authentic selves.

Art is Jane Curley's passion. It's also her profession. She has a PhD in Art History from Yale and works as an independent curator specializing in the art of illustration. Jane's worked with the Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass., and is the guest curator for a special exhibit at the New York Historical Society marking the 75th anniversary of the classic children's book, "Madeline," brought to life by author/illustrator Ludwig Bemelsman.

Meet mother/daughter duo Susan and Pamela Bob.  Each in their own right happens to be a very talented actress. Pamela is currently part of the cast of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, 2014 Tony winner for best musical. Susan, who's had her share of roles on and off-Broadway, was the original Dee in the Pulitzer Prize winning play, No Place to be Somebody. This twosome weighs in on life both off and on stage in this no holds barred conversation.

There's not a whole lot of down time for Cindy Cooper, awarding winning playwright, journalist and author. So far she's written 14 full length plays and several non-fiction books. As a journalist, Cindy writes frequently about social justice and human rights - her articles appearing in dozens of newspapers and magazines, websites and anthologies. Obviously....there's a lot to talk about!

Kate Clinton is nothing short of hilarious, in fact, she's been

described as the most talented lesbian comedienne ever, but her audience

extends well beyond the gay community. Her humor is irreverent,

liberating and 'on the money.' In addition to performing, Clinton's

worked extensively with social justice and non-profit groups. Here what all the fuss is about in this week's rebroadcast.

Meet Jessica Dermody, producer/director/writer and actress Lolita

Brinkley. Their paths have come together in the production of Life

Without Parole. The powerful 6-character play is based on the original

transcripts and testimonies of inmates at the California Institution for

Women at Chino who were convicted of killing their abusive partners. Jessica's the director, Lolita - one of the cast members. Our conversation extends well beyond the play to include their lives on stage, as well as in front of and behind the camera.

Actress/Producer Lorraine Rodriguez Reyes has a lot to talk about:

growing up in the Bronx, getting her MFA from Harvard, spending a

semester at the Moscow Art Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre

Training, auditioning, performing and landing roles on stage, television

and film, including "Mami Confessions," her one-woman show. Tune in to

hear her tell-it-like-it is tale of 'making' it as a performer.

Rebecca Parrish uses film and video to share the stories of real people,

their struggles and their successes. An award-winning film-maker,

based in Chicago, Rebecca is the director of Radical Grace. The

documentary follows three amazing, passionate and committed American

nuns who risk their standing in the Church after being censured by the

Vatican for 'radical feminism.'

New Mexico's Teresa Loveless was born into a family of artists. When

she was 4, Teresa's grandmother, Rachel Brown, known for her work

creating and promoting weaving and textile arts, gave her a loom and

taught her to weave. In 1980 Brown began Weaving Southwest, a gallery

and yarn-dyeing business outside Taos. Teresa currently runs the

business - carrying on Rachel's legacy. She hand dyes an array of

weaving and knitting yarns, teaches contemporary tapestry weaving and

represents several local artists in the gallery. Her's is a true labor

of love.

Nancy Giles is opinionated...and that's a good

thing. The actress, comedienne, voice over artist has been sharing her

'take on life' since 2002 when she joined CBS Sunday

Morning as a commentator/contributor. Nancy's views, cutting and

comedic have garnered her an Emmy and two "Gracie" Awards from American

Women in Radio and Television/Alliance for Women in Media. No topic's

off-limits in this 51%: Conversations with Creative Women rebroadcast.