The Women's Current

For Pat Lynch, Founder WomensRadio(R) her former boss gave her a lifeline. Pat's immediate boss really liked her marketing ideas. The problem was, he could never answer the question as to when they would be implemented. So Pat went up the line to his boss who told her: ‘You know your boss has been here longer and he has a family. So maybe you should find another job.’ Words that eventually propelled her to where she is now.

By the age of 25, Pat had served as the Press Secretary for a U.S. Senator and Congressman. She then founded her first advertising agency in Atlanta, Georgia.  Pat has been listed twice in The Worlds Who’s Who of Women. And she was the first person to use radio and TV to promote real estate.

In 1996, she began a broad-based company, Women’s Online Media and Education Network, to promote communication for and about women.  It is currently producing WomensRadio® and a unique high quality and low cost tool called AudioAcrobat®.  With streaming credits from Microsoft, the first programs began in 1998, making the site the first to stream for women!  W.O.M.E.N. targets niche markets using the Web, wireless technologies, and social media and provides a platform for women leaders and also not-for-profits which serve women and issues that affect women, children and families.

‘It takes an overwhelming amount of courage to do something in the face of all opposition.’

My conversation with Pat Lynch:

Breaking into the man’s world of advertising

How a nightmare of words turned into an opportunity

A long journey

Seeking advisement

Competitors and sharing of ideas

Overcoming fear of new ideas

The beginnings and the why of WomensRadio(R)

Women’s online media and education creation

What women want to hear about

So much more to do

Olivia Campbell,  author of the non-fiction book, Women In White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine. Women in White Coats takes us back to the early 1800’s. Before there were any women doctors, it was a time when women were dying from treatable diseases. Dying because they avoided medical demeaning and painful examinations that were only given by male doctors. It sounds unbelievable, but a diagnosis of illness for a woman held quite a stigma. A stigma that could hinder her ability to marry, work or be received in polite society.

Enter Elizabeth Blackwell, Lizzie Garret Anderson and Sophie Jex-Blake. Three women who fought for a woman’s place in this male-dominated medical field. Olivia introduces us to these incredible women who led the way. Three very different women, different in personality and circumstances. How did they create the first time medical care for women by women? Based on extensive research, Olivia Campbell tells their compelling and courageous story.

A gripping and revealing conversation with Olivia Campbell:

2 similar riots and the spark – Philadelphia, PA and Edinburgh, Scotland

3 years of research – New York, London and Edinburgh

Women and the dare

Meet Elizabeth Blackwell and her journey

Florence Nightingale vs Elizabeth Blackwell or Nurse vs Doctor

1st medical school for women

The meeting

Elizabeth, Lizzie and Sophia and the Women’s Medical School in London

Medical school then and medical school now

Why women needed women doctors

Women, medical profession then and now

Harassment, sexism and the medical profession

The effects of the pandemic

Meet Olivia Campbell

Olivia Campbell is an independent journalist, essayist and author. Her focus is on the intersections of medicine, women, history and nature. Olivia's work has appeared in publications like The Atlantic, New York Magazine/The Cut, The Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Smithsonian Magazine.

Women In White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine is her first book.

Olivia holds a master’s degree in science writing from John Hopkins University and an undergraduate degree in journalism from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers. Olivia lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, three sons and their cat.

'You just think it's one day after another but when you get a break and can reflect I feel like the perspective that it's given me has allowed me to reset.'

Zibby Owens is a very busy mom of four. The CEO of Moms Don’t Have Time To, Zibby founded the media company featuring podcasts, publications and communities. Zibby hosts the award-winning podcasts Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books and Moms Don’t Have Time to Lose Weight. She is the author and editor of the anthology Moms Don’t Have Time to: A Quarantine Anthology. All of the proceeds from the anthology go to the Susan Felice Owens Program for Covid-19 Vaccine Research in honor of her late mother-in-law.

She is the Editor in Chief of Moms Don't Have Time to Write, a Medium Publication, and founder of The Zibby Awards, celebrating the overlooked parts of books (such as best dedication, author photo, and publicist). She also founded the Moms  Don't Have Time To Fellowship.

Named "NYC's Top Book-fluencer" by Vulture and on Oprah's list of top podcasts two years in a row, Zibby is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America, The Washington Post, Good Day LA and other media outlets.

Zibby lives in New York with her husband Kyle Owens and their four children ages 6 – 13.

Our conversation and moms' time:

‘There’s so much associated with having kids that you don’t even get to spend time with your kids.’

Taking the time

Parenting

Do I really need to…all those playdates and activities

Essays, podcast and publishing

Gatherings and all those authors

Covid-19 and its effects

A love for reading and writing

The journey

This week’s ‘My Reading Corner’, I talk with bestselling author Tami Charles. Her newest YA novel, Muted has already received wide acclaim. Although considered a YA (Young Adult) author, her novels are meant to be read by parents and adults. With stress and social media, dreams and promises, Tami’s books are ones that help her young adult audience know that they’re not alone. For the older generation, they give insight into the minds of young adults.

Muted brought back Tami’s time tasting fame in her teens and early twenties. She was a member of an all-girl R&B trio. How about performing for Boys II Men, BET and Showtime at the Apollo? The main character of Muted had to be a young girl searching for fame as a songwriter. Once Tami realized that, the words flowed and a powerful story was written. It’s a story of ambition, music and exploitation. And it’s the story of innocence lost and young women regaining their voices.

Meet Tami

Tami is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter. She’s written numerous books for children and young adults. Like Vanessa, her middle school debut book earned a Top 10 spot on the Indies Introduce and Spring Kids’ Next lists, three starred reviews and a Junior Library Guild selection.

As a teen and into her early twenties, Tami unclicked the buttons, and was as loud as hell as a member of a 1990’s R&B singing group. Muted brought her back to the music industry and found her writing and singing her songs.

Tami herself has said: We had a song on the radio that played at like 2 in the morning when everyone was sleeping. We didn’t make it to the grand stage, but those were the times of my life!

‘If hard work was what it was going to take to make it to the top, then that's exactly what I'd serve up - black girl mixed with grit stardust spice magic.’

A powerful conversation with Tami Charles:

The all-girls R&B, fame and music

Teenagers, dreams and asperations

Ambition and exploitation

Workplace violence and women

Putting a lens on the music industry

Young women regaining their voice

Writing for young adults

All Because You Matter – a picture book with love and a lullaby

Muted – a YA novel-in-verse

The audiobook, her songs and her voice

When I started talking to Abby, I went into the conversation with the idea that I would be talking to someone who was funny. And for sure, she is. Funny, warm and able to talk candidly about herself. So candidly, that I knew this is exactly the conversation needed for so many. With much humor and humility, Abby speaks about her own struggles. Her struggles with an eating disorder, her intimidation of those who are supposed to be in the know and how improv and comedy helped her hide. And how she finally took control. Control that she is not letting go of.

“Anything I should know before I go home?” I asked the chief cardiologist, trying not to sound terrified.

“Just don’t lift stuff over 10 pounds for a few weeks.”

“My baby is over 10 pounds.”

Abby refers to herself as a performer, obsessive compulsive comedian, writer and mom. She wrote and performed with The Second City, The Upright Citizen’s Brigade, HBO, Nick Jr., and NPR. And the first all-female improv group found Abby among its performers.

Abby's essays have appeared in The New York Times, Self, Jane, and Elle. One was adapted for the television series Modern Love. Abby currently co-hosts the Chucklepath Comedy Show with Molly Reisner. She is the author of five books including Miss You Love You Hate You Bye, named a 2020 Buzzfeed Best Book for Mental Health Awareness Month. And Abby most recently co-authored Sanctuary, a YA (Young Adult) dystopian novel.

A candid conversation with Abby:

The start of being funny

Why improv – putting it out there

Not being ‘precious’ about it

1st improv female group

Performer, comedian and mom – how about SpongeBob

Mental health issues

A reckoning and getting help

Finding solace in writing

Personal essays

Young adults, rock bottom and friendship

Miss You Love You Hate You Bye – friendship and mental health

Finding confidence to speak up – knowing your own body

Judithe Little is the award winning author of two historical novels, ‘The Chanel Sisters’ and ‘Wickwythe Hall.’ She grew up in Virginia where she earned her B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Judithe studied at the Institute of European Studies and the Institut Catholique in Paris. Afterwards she was an intern at the U.S. Department of State. Judithe then went on to earn her law degree from the University Of Virginia School Of Law where she was on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Law and a Dillard Fellow.

Judithe lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and three children and is presently working on her third novel.

'Coco's freedom translated into her clothing. She wore men's pants to ride in and realized how comfortable it was.'

Gayle Kabaker and Sonya Kitchell

Gayle Kabaker, mother and daughter Sonya Kitchell, one a world renowned freelance illustrator and artist, the other a two-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter. One a new grandmother, the other a new mom...mothers and daughters.

The bond between a mother and her children starts early on.  For Gayle and Sonya the bond is even stronger. Five months ago, baby Mona made it a trio.

Gayle is a world renowned longtime freelance artist and illustrator. She's published over 5 New Yorker covers. Vitalvoices.org, an organization that invests in women leaders worldwide, commissioned Gayle to do 100 portraits. Gayle illustrated the book 'Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower.'

Using her art to make a difference, Gayle's work is connected to equality, the environment and civic involvement. For the one-year anniversary of the 2017 Women's March, Gayle was among the artists who the Washington Post commissioned. Gayle's illustration was a takeoff on 'Wonder Woman' showing a caped young woman wearing a T-shirt that says 'Voting Is My Super Power.'

Sonya is a two-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter and teacher of music. At the age of 17, Sonya had her first international-selling record 'Words Come Back to Me.' Moving from her hometown of Ashfield, MA to New York City, Sonya spent time in Europe and Asia, She worked as a side musician and songwriter-for-hire. She also delved into photography and film. Sonya worked with many of the greats of our time, including the legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock.

Mother & Daughter

Mom was her daughter's original manager, traveling with her throughout the U.S. and overseas. The fun didn't stop there. Mother and daughter have worked together on several projects. Gayle designed a series of animated illustrations for a client that included a short musical soundtrack composed by Sonya.

A conversation with Gayle Kabaker & Sonya Kitchell:

9 year old & her budding career

Bonding and art

Traveling mother and daughter

Art and music

The journey can be tough, the outcome worth it

No stage-mom here

Mom wisdom

Daughter wisdom

Grandma wisdom

The 'Antidote Workshop'

Co-authors of the newly published What's You Story? A Journal for Everyday Evolution, Rebecca Walker and Lily Diamond give us an interactive roadmap for beginning a new life story.

Rebecca Walker is an award winning writer, feminist and activist. She has contributed to the global conversation about race, gender, power and the evolution of the human family. Rebecca has written, developed and produced film and television projects with Warner Brothers, NBCUniversal, Amazon, HBO and Paramount. And she has spoken at over 400 universities and corporate campuses.

Awarded the Women Who Could Be President from the League of Women Voters, Rebecca was also named by Time magazine as one of the most influential leaders of her generation.

Rebecca has authored and edited seven bestselling books. Black White and Jewish, Autobiography of a Shifting Self and Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After A Lifetime of Ambivalence, a memoir, are among her bestselling books. She also teaches her masterclass, The Art of Memoir. Rebecca is a graduate of Yale University.

Lily Diamond is an award winning writer, educator and advocate. Her work is focused on democratizing wellness for accessible practices.

Lily is the creator of the internationally beloved blog Kale & Caramel.  She is also the author of the bestselling memoir-cookbook Kale & Caramel: Recipes for Body, Heart and Table. And it was named one of the top cookbooks of 2017 by the New York Times, The Independent, and Cooking Light.

A graduate of Yale University, Lily's writings have appeared in VICE, Healthyish, the Huffington Post, Better Homes and Gardens and Eating Well.

A powerful conversation with co-authors Rebecca Walker and Lily Diamond:

Finding the voice

Writing your story - a transformative experience

Encountering your mind

Relationships with body, people, nature & technology

Why interactive

Moving through memories

Journaling - what you remember or how you want to remember

Seeking answers

The need to belong

Walking through a day in your life

Giving yourself permission

Creating the roadmap

What do you think of when you hear music? Does it bring back memories? Does it make you want to get up and dance? Let's add voice into the mix and think about the images that your mind conjures up.

Ilyana Kadushin uses both music and voice. And both manage to affect change, whether narrating or performing a book, producing music or co-hosting the podcast 'No, I Know.'  Ilyana has delved into the world of performance, film, art and music melding these creative mediums. Always a part of the storytelling process, Ilyana wrote and performed the one woman "Devour the Apple" musical. She also performed the audio of Stephenie Meyer's bestselling Twilight novels and narrated the heartbreaking memoir of Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad, The Lost Girl.

Incredible as it may sound, something positive came out of Superstorm Sandy...the creation of Stories Love Music. Ilyana and her creative partner and husband, James Harrell, were asked to help with some of the displaced seniors. Not knowing what to expect or how they could help, they chose something they both did well...they played music and sang. Music tugs at the heart and can brighten up even the bleakest of times. The moment evolved into Stories Love Music, a nonprofit program for caregivers of seniors with dementia and Alzheimers.

Ilyana is an award winning film producer. She won HBO's 2011 Best Documentary for Separate, But Equal. She also won the Audi Award for audiobook narration and is an adjunct faculty of voice and public speaking at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

As a producer and co-host of the podcast No, I Know, Ilyana and husband James, feature live music and spirited conversation.

A conversation with Ilyana Kadushin:

A little microcassette player

A fascination with voices

Landing in New York City & Tisch School of the Arts

How about some 'voice watching'

Twilight series and Edward's character

Jeremy Irons inspiration

Nadia Murad and The Lost Girl

Storytelling and performing

Superstorm Sandy

The 'spell of music'

A senior, a song (Shalom Aleichem), a memory and a voice

Voice Performance Coaching

Stories Love Music

Paulina Bren is the author of The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free.  It's the fascinating true story of one of the first residences for women only. From its opening in 1928 to the present, Paulina brings us the evolution of both the place and the women who stayed there. Located in the heart of New York City, it drew women from all over the country. Each one brought ‘a suitcase and a dream.' Paulina delves into how the Barbizon was supposedly setting women free. And explains the reality of how it didn't. Some made it, others did not.

Known as a safe haven for the 'Modern Woman' seeking a career, the women all were expected to have the same goal. That goal being one of marriage, family and suburban living. Some of the famous among its residents were Sylvia Plath, Joan Crawford, Grace Kelly, Liza Minelli, Ali MacGraw, Cybill Shepherd and Joan Didion.

Meet Paulina 

A writer, historian and professor, Paulina teaches International Studies, Women’s Studies, and Media Studies at Vassar College.  Her previous books include the award winning The Greengrocer and His TV: The Culture of Communism after the 1968 Prague Spring. Paulina is also co-editor of a collection of essays entitled Communism Unwrapped: Consumption in Cold War Eastern Europe.

She alternates her time between the Bronx, Poughkeepsie and MetroNorth. Paulina was born in the former Czechoslovakia and lived in the U.K. before moving to the United States. She received her B.A. from Wesleyan University, her M.A. from the Jackson School for International Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle and her PhD in Modern European History from New York University.

My conversation with award-winning author Paulina Bren:

The Bell Jar and Sylvia Plath’s inspiration

The building of a ‘safe haven’

The many women

The 30’s and restrictions on women

Single women, hotels and no check-in after 6pm

Ambitions and society

Women, careers and goals

Rich and poor

The not-so glamorous modeling career

Contests and summer internship

The hidden stories, lost ambitions and suicides

‘The Women’ and standing their ground

A timeline for the women’s movement

The start of equality and the end of The Barbizon