What do narcotics prosecutions, medical malpractice, and DEIB advocacy have in common? They are all part of the career path guest Melissa G. Andrieux, Esq. traveled. And to hear Melissa tell it, while a television show inspired her dream of being a district attorney, the rest was unexpected. But it represents her willingness to pivot, say yes, and advocate for her needs. Topics include the yes dilemma, saying no, imposter syndrome, and self-care.

At Dorf, Nelson & Zauderer LLP (a Gender Fair certified firm), Melissa is the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer and Client Relations Officer. Outside the firm, Melissa not only is a voice and speaker about DEIB, but she also serves as an Ambassador to the Business Council of Westchester, a Board Member of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association (WWBA), and co-chair of the WWBA’s DEI Committee.

Episode recorded April 17, 2024, at the LMC Media Podcast Studio

You don’t usually expect a successful business presentation to conclude with a ride in an ambulance. And when it happens, it can be life-changing. That’s the case with guest Lori Pine, Founder and CEO of The Joy CEO.

Climbing and traversing her way up and across the proverbial corporate ladder, Lori’s career took her to VP status at global brands like Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, and Campbell’s Soup Company. Household names for sure, but when a need arose at home, she answered the call. Lori is now an executive coach for ambitious, high-performing professional women over 40 who are seeing more purpose and passion in their everyday lives, helping them to find clarity and reclaim their joy.

Episode recorded April 3, 2024 at the LMC Media Podcast Studio. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com.

Firm believers that every woman has a story (or several) to tell, The Balance Dilemma Hosts Christie Derrico and Maura Carlin organized, along with The Bronxville Women’s Club, a panel of three powerhouse women authors, Loren Stephens, Bethany Saltman, and Lauren Marino, to discuss Women and the Power of the Written Word.”

 Hear the stories behind the storytellers and learn about the pitfalls they had to overcome to become writers. Hear what it takes to write and publish a book. Topics addressed include: Strategies and avenues to publication. Should you hire a writing coach? Understand the difference between a literary agent and an editor. What are the pathways to publication, including the differences between hybrid, self, and traditional publishing?

Video will be available on TBD’s youtube channel. Stay tuned!

Episode recorded at The Bronxville Women’s Club by LMC Media on March 7, 2024. Special thanks to Mike Witsch for recording.

Have millennials figured out the secret to balancing (aka juggling or integrating) career and family? TBD turned to Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C, a millennial mom herself, to discuss whether the struggles still exist - and answers/solutions.

Lauren is a writer, lawyer, wife, mother, and social worker specializing in supporting millennial moms and young women through life transitions. Helping women solve their balance dilemmas (in TBD language). Lauren is also trained by the Fair Play Institute and Nurturing Mamas Network where she trains other mental health professionals about gender equity advocacy and the maternal mental load. 

Episode recorded March 20, 2024 at the LMC Media Podcast Studio. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

Figuring out the college admissions process and how to help your student get in to the school of their choice, continues to baffle parents and children, leaving everyone anxious, angsty, and maybe even a bit angry. Guest Kerry Roberts advises on how to legally (unlike the parents involved in the infamous Varsity Blues scandal) work the admissions process.

Applying her 20+ years of corporate marketing and branding experience to college placement, Kerry now helps students identify and apply to the right colleges for them—skirting the dreaded “sea of sameness” in school selection.  On this episode of TBD, Kerry explains the process as well as her approach, driven by data, compassion, and creativity. She describes the different application timetables (around the 12-minute mark) and provides a sanity-inducing strategy for the college search process. Kelly is certified in college counseling through UCLA.

Episode recorded February 3, 2024. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

Establishing and maintaining a retail fashion business is tough, even under the best circumstances. But what about when it burns down? Followed by a global pandemic. Now the founder and owner of four Love Bella Boutiques, with a fifth on the way, Ellie Zieminski describes how she survived and thrived. Balancing business and family she shares her advice, and thanks the community that supported her along the way.

Episode recorded at Love Bella Larchmont January 31, 2024. Video will be available on The Balance Dilemma YouTube channel as well.

Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

Artist on the inside, business woman on the outside, award-winning jewelry designer Alexia Connellan discusses her path to success in business, art, and life. Christie and Maura met Alexia when she spoke at a Savvy Ladies event entitled “How to Curate the Good Life: Defining Your Strategies to Live as You Truly Desire” . . . and naturally caught our attention. 

On this episode of TBD, Alexia describes her evolution from a successful career in information technology to a gemstone expert and jewelry designer. As it is for so many of us, Alexia’s path was paved with curves, detours and pivots, while staying true to her roots and passions.

And for anyone who loves gems that sparkle and shine (and really, who doesn’t?), Alexia describes the process of creating a special jewelry piece.

You can see the gems Alexia describes in the episode in The Balance Dilemma show notes on the website.

Episode recorded December 20, 2023. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

We can’t resist a visit to Melinda Buie’s art studio . . . so we did it again on December 6, 2023. Back in 2021, Melinda was the guest on TBD Episode 24 and allowed us (and some fans) to see her studio in person.

This time, her studio held about 60 TBD and Buie fans . . . happy to see and hear about how she and her work have evolved. Turn the volume up high and have a listen. Admittedly some parts are hard to hear, but with art seeing can be more important than hearing. Video will be available on TBD’s (new) youtube channel. Stay tuned!

Episode recorded December 6, 2023. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

For many the balance dilemma begins with parenting . . . an endeavor that guest Katherine Sellery reminds us we’re never trained to do. While running her own commodities trading business in Hong Kong, with a young son, her desire to learn more led her to training. Ultimately Katherine made a full career pivot and created her own parenting communication method - The Conscious Parenting Revolution. Even better, her method, she says, works with adults and in business settings.

Learn about the 3Rs - retaliation, rebellion, resistance - and what you can do. And be sure to check out her book 7 Strategies to Keep Your Relationship With Your Kids From Hitting the Boiling Point and website. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com.

Episode recorded October 6, 2023

An expert in gender studies and the gender divide, TBD guest Susan Shapiro Barash describes how commuter-train eavesdropping led to her first book (and study), A Passion for More, about why women cheat in relationships. As she tells TBD, it’s likely more common than you think and growing.

Susan’s written work - and there are 13 nonfiction and 4 fiction books (the latter under her pen name Susannah Marren) - explores the roles of women in society, including taboo issues many are afraid to discuss. Her books explore women’s relationships, including rivalry (Tripping the Prom Queen), lying (Little White Lies, Deep Dark Secrets), second wives (Second Wives: The Pitfalls and Rewards of Marrying Widowers and Divorced Men ), and toxic friends (Toxic Friends).

A professor of gender studies, Susan explains what this all means for American women, wives, and society. One thing she makes clear is that “The most important and single act [to change things] would be if women earned equal pay for equal work, because until that is established, we're marginalized."

And yes, we asked whether she had cheated in a relationship. You’ll have to listen for her answer.

Episode recorded November 7, 2023. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com