Sonstein Sessions

9/11 community lawyer Michael Barasch of Barasch & McGarry & FDNY Chief Richie Alles join me for an update on their DC lobbying efforts to restore and permanently extend the Victim Compensation Fund to help ailing first responders and other 9/11 toxin victims.‬‬

‪I see a lot of movies so when I laugh my ass off in a movie, WOW! “Long Shot” is my favorite comedy so far this year. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen in a romance? It works! Director Jonathan Levine joins me.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/11 community lawyer Michael Barasch of Barasch & McGarry & FDNY Chief Richie Alles join me for an update on their DC lobbying efforts to restore and permanently extend the Victim Compensation Fund to help ailing first responders and other 9/11 toxin victims.‬‬

‪I see a lot of movies so when I laugh my ass off in a movie, WOW! “Long Shot” is my favorite comedy so far this year. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen in a romance? It works! Director Jonathan Levine joins me.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carmine Street Guitars in Greenwich Village is a NYC jewel. For more than 40 years Rick Kelly has been making guitars, using old wood from NYC buildings. Ron Mann made the doc “Carmine Street Guitars”, which you can see at The ‪Film Forum‬. Rick Kelly and Ron Mann join me.

Another ‪hidden figures‬ story: Alice Guy-Blaché just may be the most important woman you NEVER heard of. She was making narrative films before 1900 using color and sound. More than 1,000 films! Many with story lines that still resonate today, turning the sexes upside down and inside out. She made a movie with an all African-American cast. So why do we NOT know who she is?! The doc “Be Natural” explores the story - you can see it at ‪the IFC Center‬. I speak with director, writer and producer Pamela Green.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carmine Street Guitars in Greenwich Village is a NYC jewel. For more than 40 years Rick Kelly has been making guitars, using old wood from NYC buildings. Ron Mann made the doc “Carmine Street Guitars”, which you can see at The ‪Film Forum‬. Rick Kelly and Ron Mann join me.

Another ‪hidden figures‬ story: Alice Guy-Blaché just may be the most important woman you NEVER heard of. She was making narrative films before 1900 using color and sound. More than 1,000 films! Many with story lines that still resonate today, turning the sexes upside down and inside out. She made a movie with an all African-American cast. So why do we NOT know who she is?! The doc “Be Natural” explores the story - you can see it at ‪the IFC Center‬. I speak with director, writer and producer Pamela Green.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown has begun for the 20th anniversary Earth Day in 2020. John Opperman, Executive Director of Earth Day Initiative joins me to tell you how to make a difference when it comes to saving the Earth. From cows to congestion pricing, we tackle it all.

This is the 10th year for Disneynature films and you MUST take the family to see the latest: “Disneynature: Penguins”! It’s beyond adorable...and educational. Get a behind-the-scenes-look with the co-directors, producer and the President of The Global Penguin Society.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown has begun for the 20th anniversary Earth Day in 2020. John Opperman, Executive Director of Earth Day Initiative joins me to tell you how to make a difference when it comes to saving the Earth. From cows to congestion pricing, we tackle it all.

This is the 10th year for Disneynature films and you MUST take the family to see the latest: “Disneynature: Penguins”! It’s beyond adorable...and educational. Get a behind-the-scenes-look with the co-directors, producer and the President of The Global Penguin Society.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you haven’t yet been to the ‪9/11‬ Memorial & Museum, it really is a must-see, especially before visiting The World Trade Center at One World Trade. A new area outside the museum is about to open: The Glade, a space honoring the first responders we have lost to ‪9/11‬ toxins. ‪9/11‬ Memorial & Musuem EVP Michael Frazier tells us about this exciting new addition.

Vlada Knowlton is the mom of an 8 year old transgender daughter. She tells their story in her documentary “The Most Dangerous Year”, which is now open in NYC. Vlada talks about an issue that's largely misunderstood. The “dangerous” part for Vlada and her transgender daughter is the push for the bathroom laws.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you haven’t yet been to the ‪9/11‬ Memorial & Museum, it really is a must-see, especially before visiting The World Trade Center at One World Trade. A new area outside the museum is about to open: The Glade, a space honoring the first responders we have lost to ‪9/11‬ toxins. ‪9/11‬ Memorial & Musuem EVP Michael Frazier tells us about this exciting new addition.

Vlada Knowlton is the mom of an 8 year old transgender daughter. She tells their story in her documentary “The Most Dangerous Year”, which is now open in NYC. Vlada talks about an issue that's largely misunderstood. The “dangerous” part for Vlada and her transgender daughter is the push for the bathroom laws.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know women are largely responsible for the fall of ISIS? Director Eva Husson joins me to discuss her incredibly compelling film “Girls Of The Sun.” It's based on the true story of women who were separated from their families and turned into sex slaves by ISIS. They broke free and then formed warrior units to fight them. Husson’s movie is riveting, powerful and historic- PLUS it’s just a great film.

Back in September I met Kimberly McDonagh at the plaque ceremony at FDNY headquarters honoring the FDNY’ers who had died in the last year from ‪9/11 connected illnesses. Her husband was FDNY LT. Eddie McDonagh. I asked Kimberly if she could join me on “Sonstein Sunday” but she wasn't ready to share Eddie's story just yet. It was too raw, too soon. Six months later, we met again at a lunch the FDNY Family Support unit organized for FDNY widows and caregivers of those suffering ‪from 9/11 illnesses. I was the keynote speaker and followed Kimberly, who had the room in tears, talking about her husband’s illness and the life they shared. Afterwards she told me she was ready. Kimberly bravely and eloquently tells Eddie's story now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know women are largely responsible for the fall of ISIS? Director Eva Husson joins me to discuss her incredibly compelling film “Girls Of The Sun.” It's based on the true story of women who were separated from their families and turned into sex slaves by ISIS. They broke free and then formed warrior units to fight them. Husson’s movie is riveting, powerful and historic- PLUS it’s just a great film.

Back in September I met Kimberly McDonagh at the plaque ceremony at FDNY headquarters honoring the FDNY’ers who had died in the last year from ‪9/11 connected illnesses. Her husband was FDNY LT. Eddie McDonagh. I asked Kimberly if she could join me on “Sonstein Sunday” but she wasn't ready to share Eddie's story just yet. It was too raw, too soon. Six months later, we met again at a lunch the FDNY Family Support unit organized for FDNY widows and caregivers of those suffering ‪from 9/11 illnesses. I was the keynote speaker and followed Kimberly, who had the room in tears, talking about her husband’s illness and the life they shared. Afterwards she told me she was ready. Kimberly bravely and eloquently tells Eddie's story now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.