The Women's Current

A former actress (you may have spotted Judith in one of the original Star Trek series episodes), Judith Sherven coined the phrase The Fear of Being Fabulous. A clinical psychologist with more than 35 years’ experience as a psychotherapist, transformational executive coach and business consultant, Judith practices alongside her husband Jim Sniechowski, also a PhD Clinical Psychologist. Judith is an executive coach for a number of tech companies. She helps leaders overcome any insecurities they have about maximizing their leadership: Their Fear of Being Fabulous.

Both Judith and Jim are on retainer at both LinkedIn and Credit Karma. Judith writes for LinkedIn as an influencer. She inspires managers to engage their team members with their trademarked program: Overcoming the Fear of Being Fabulous. It's been called “the missing link in personal and professional development.”

Judith has been on over 3,000 radio and TV shows including Oprah, The View, 48 Hours and Canada AM as a guest expert. Together, Judith and Jim have written 7 LA Times bestselling books.

Both had been professional actors for a long time before they met in 1987. And both discovered that their Fear of Being Fabulous had prevented them from moving forward with their acting careers. This brought them on a 6 year journey of creating their program.

A conversation with Judith:

Self-sabotaging a successful acting career

The Fear of Being Fabulous incubation

The Barbizon connection

Patterns identified and their connections

Meeting Jim and their journey

Owning your own excellence

Asking for more with confidence

Relationships of all kinds – personal and professional, family and friends

Owning your uniqueness

‘You are a miracle’

Making yourself stronger

Sharon G. Flake is a multi-award winning young adult and children’s author. She is a three-time winner of the Coretta Scott King award. Her latest book, The Life I’m In follows her groundbreaking debut novel The Skin I’m In. The impact of her debut novel more than 20 years ago, is felt today. Sharon’s books withstand the test of time. It was a given that a sequel was needed, even if it took her 20 years to be convinced of it.

Sharon continues to take on the tough issues: race, self-esteem, self-protection and empowerment. Issues that teenagers can face on a daily basis. With the advancement of technology, these issues can be paralyzing. And she always reminds us that we are talking about children. Teenagers are not adults. They are still children and we need to protect them. With The Life I’m In, Sharon takes on the multi-billion dollar business of human trafficking, targeting venerable teens.

Prior to becoming an author, Sharon was a counselor for teens at a foster placement agency. Excelling as a counselor, Sharon garnered valuable insight into teens, adoption and foster parenting.

Sharon had literally exploded onto the literary scene with The Skin I’m In over 20 years ago. And she was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start. Since then, she has won multiple Coretta Scott King Author Awards. Many of her novels have received ALA Notable and Best Books for Young Adults citations from the American Library Association. You can visit her website at sharongflake.com.

This week’s ‘Sylvia & Me – My Reading Corner’ a conversation with author Sharon G. Flake

Teenagers and children

Bullying

Responsibility

Social media and teenage pressure

Remember – these are children

Predators and human trafficking

Survival and the power of human empathy

Compassion and its powerful cure

1st question asked

It’s no longer taboo to talk about menopause. In fact, it’s one of the healthiest topics for women to talk about. Dr. Fatima Khan is the ‘Menopause Specialist.’ She is an expert in perimenopause and menopause. Using a holistic approach to women’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, Fatima is empowering women through the transition.

Fatima completed her medical training in the United Kingdom from Imperial College London in 2007 where she received a Bachelor in Medicine and a Bachelor in Surgery. She also received a Bachelor in Science in Pharmacology and Therapeutics with the publication of her research.

After extensive training at Kings College London, Fatima received an Advanced Menopause Certificate accredited from the British Menopausal Society and faculty of Reproductive and Sexual Health. Fatima undertook further training in the USA on optimizing hormonal health for anti-aging and longevity. She also sees patients at AGORA Specialist Centre.  Fatima is involved in teaching medical students at the Epworth Clinical School at the University of Melbourne.

Fatima and her medic husband currently live in Melbourne with their daughter. She actively educates women on menopause awareness through her social media platform.  https://instagram.com/menopausespecialist?igshid=2zg06ux1u11c

A very informative and much needed conversation with Dr. Fatima Khan:

Journaling and being aware of your body

Mind-Body Connection

Heart disease and dementia

Hormone replacement

Estrogen

Perceptions and myths

A continuing conversation

The debut of our special Thursday's segment 'Sylvia & Me - My Reading Corner' with author and portrait photographer, Jona Frank. Known for her portraits surrounding youth culture, Jona made a slight detour and wrote a memoir. Not one for doing what is expected, Jona’s memoir is done not with words, but with photographs. But if you’re thinking, great, a book of old photos…you're wrong. 'Cherry Hill: A Childhood Reimagined´ stars Laura Dern as her mother.

Jona grew up in the 60’s in suburban Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Her mother lived the life that a suburban housewife was supposed to live. The men went into the City, a grey background while the women stayed at home, tending to their house and family. The stereotypical suburban woman, Jona’s mother never deviated from the standards that had been set for her. She did what was expected of her, not what she may have wanted to do. But Jona rejected this way of life and went on to construct her life from within herself. The result -  Jona is living her life freely, rejecting the standards that others have set.

Meet Jona Frank:

Meet Jona Frank, whose high school passion for photography led her to study at the University of California on a scholarship. Jona did go home after graduating, but returned to Los Angeles pursuing her personal dreams, not other’s expectations and standards.

Her works have been exhibited at such venues as the Smithsonian’s National Gallery in Washington, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, and the Kimbal Art Center.

Our conversation:

A photo shoot in a small town in England and a connection with Cherry Hill

Suburbia and the stereotypical woman

Art class, a blank piece of paper, a phone call and tulips

Doing it her own way

Societal norms and individual desires

Casting Laura Dern

Staged pictures and the strain of maintaining an image

Recreating the non-Kodak moments

Creating images between reality and cinematic fantasy

What’s next

Bunmi Laditan, is an award winning, Webby nominated writer. Most of you may know her by her moniker ‘Honest Toddler.’ Her debut novel, Confessions of a Domestic Failure, is a satirical, realistic look at motherhood. Bunmi has outdone herself with her latest book, : Honest Prayers to a God who Listens.

She had originally written this collection of poetry and prayers as a way of following her own spiritual journey. With candor, self-aware humor, and a profound insight, Bunmi saw that so many were struggling with similar journeys. And so with much humility, she agreed to publish Dear God. The book is for anyone seeking to reconnect as well as for those looking for a good word. Bunmi shares her journey, a journey of emotions that we all experience at different points in our lives – doubt, anger, love, desperation, gratefulness and more.

Dear God was featured on the Today Show and Bunmi is a contributor to Parenting.com, Mothering.com, iVillage.com, the New York Times and the Huffington Post. Bunmi lives outside of Montreal with her family. Her social media following is large. But more impressive is that there is communication between her and her followers, not just emoji’s. Bunmi relates and is not afraid of having a conversation, even with someone who disagrees with her.

A candid conversation with Bunmi:

Childhood and faking it

Marrying at 16 and converting to Judaism

Culture not religion

Identity as a Jewish wife and mother

Divorce and becoming a seeker

Struggles with depression and anxiety

Journey to reconnect with God

Raising her three children

Jenny Lecoat grew up in Channel Islands, 15 years after World War II. She knew her family’s history, but she didn’t know the horrors that they had experienced. Her curiosity peaked in her 30’s when Jenny saw photos of her family being shown in documentaries on national British television. Seeing them, Jenny realized that she had a responsibility to tell their story and the story of Channel Islands. Especially after having heard a variety of differing stories of the people and the islands’ occupation by the Nazis.

There are stories that need to be told and stories that should never be forgotten. Stories that tell the history of events that have taken place. And stories that need to correct the ones that have not been remembered correctly. One such story is the story of Channel Islands and its occupation by the Nazis.

She may never have written a novel before, but she had done quite a bit of writing. You see, Jenny had been a stand-up comedian writing her own material. She also wrote for sitcoms and soap operas. And then onto dramas and more serious historical subjects. In 2017 Jenny wrote the screenplay for ‘Another Mother’s Son’, the true story of her great-aunt who, during World War II, hid a young Russian war prisoner.

‘The Girl From Channel Islands’ is a historical novel based on the true story of Hedy Bercu and the woman who hid her from the Nazis for 18 months, Dorothea Le Brocq. The book debuted in February of 2021 in North America. It made the New York Times bestseller list its first week.

This week I talk with Jenny Lecoat:

Transitioning from standup comic to writing a New York Times bestseller

Her dad at 5 and the occupation

What you don’t know about the Channel Islands

The timing of the North American publication of The Girl From Channel Islands and the release of her movie, ‘Another Mother’s Son’

The untold stories of the heroes of the Resistance

Why this story needs to be told and remembered

How does it start

Never forget

What’s next

Meet Jenny Lecoat:

Jenny is a New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter, former standup comedian, newspaper and magazine feature writer and teacher.  Over the last thirty years Jenny has written for a wide range of formats including feature film, television drama, sitcoms and sketch shows. She has taught screenwriting courses and is a qualified teacher of English as a Foreign Language. Jenny has studied British Sign Language enabling her to work with D/deaf writers and actors. She lives in Essex Sussex, UK with her husband, writer Gary Lawson.

For Nikki Edmundson it all started with a single pair of her own boots - cowgirl boots that is. She cut them down to fit, folded them over and, as the saying goes: 'These boots are made for walking.' Turns out that everyone wanted their own pair with their own story. And so, in the small town of Harrison, Montana, Canty Boots was born.

‘I really had no option except to give them away, sell them or cut them and I cut them. So I cut and rolled them and when I wore them into town, everyone gave me compliments. I just figured why not, you know, why not start selling them. So that's how we started.’ – Nikki Edmundson, Founder Canty Boots®.

And that was how Nikki Edmundson started Canty Boots®. She opened an Etsy store and her first customer was from Australia. First sale and already Nikki was international!

Cowboy boots always make a statement. And boy, are they ever hard to part with.

Security vs Passion

Nikki had to make a choice - start her career as a teacher or design and handmake cowgirl boots. Teacher = stability...Boot Designer/Maker = passion and fulfillment. She made the right choice for her and it's been a great journey.

Who's Been in My Boots?

Try Victoria Secret's Models, Katy Perry, Tanya Tucker, Nahko Bear and Cam Newton, just to name a few.

This week's conversation with Nikki Edmundson:

All it takes is the first

Passion vs Security

Her all women's team

Rural and hot

Bringing stories together

Memories and walking

He's a rancher

Mom of four

It's all in the name

Finding the balance

Keeping it close to home

Turning Memories into Walking Stories

Nikki learned quickly that selling footwear, especially cowgirl boots online could result in huge returns. Not all boots fit the same. Having cut down and refreshed her own pair, people had started asking her to do the same for them. So she took it a step further. Now Nikki is giving people the chance to hold onto memories and turn their own boots into their own unique story. The result...boots that her customers know will fit and walk in their story.

This past November marked the 10 year anniversary of the release of Utah author Ally Condie’s Matched, #1 New York Times bestseller. Matched was on the list for more than a year. And the first in what would become a trilogy.

Last week marked the 1 year anniversary of the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. It didn’t seem possible that a year later we would have a chance to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Dystopian and The Pandemic

What do they have in common? The word ‘dystopian’ comes to mind: ‘relating to, or being an imagined world or society in which people lead fearful lives’.

The difference: The last year was real and full of fear. Matched was imagined.

Matched, a dystopian young adult novel has been read by a wider readership than the young adult population. The first in a series of three, it has been compared to ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Twilight’.

This week’s conversation is with Ally Condie

How did the idea for Matched come about? And why the young adult audience? I had the  privilege to talk with Ally recently. Our conversation covered these questions and so much more:

Chaperoning a high school prom

Best dresses, red carpet and the dark side

Experiences of teaching and inspiration

Society and choices

Building a society around a character

Good intentions taken to extremes

‘A nice girl’ wakes up

Teenagers, women, choices and waking up

The Pandemic – and yes there’s one in the 3rd book, written over 6 years ago

‘Suburban dystopian romance’

What’s next?

Meet Ally Condie

The author of young adult and middle grade fiction, Ally's novel Matched was a #1 New York Times and international bestseller. The sequels to the trilogy, Crossed and Reached, are also on the NY Times bestsellers list. Matched was chosen as on of YALSA's 2011 Teens' Top Ten and named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Book of 2011.

Ally is also the author of Atlantia, a New York Times bestseller,  and Summerlost, a finalist for the 2017 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery.

She is the founder and director of the WriteOut Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation that runs writing camps for rural teens.

Born in Cedar City, Utah Ally has a degree in English Teaching from Brigham Young University. Ally lives with her husband and four children in Pleasant Grove, Utah. In 2017,  Ally graduated from Vermont College of Fine Arts with a Master's in Fine Arts Degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults. You can follow Ally on Twitter and Instagram (ally.condie).

The 1940s and 1950s saw changes to how women were portrayed in film. A change from the victim of the 1930s. Post World War II films introduced the ‘Femme Fatale’ and with it women characters who were mysterious and dangerously seductive, not victims. During the war, women had taken the place of men in the workforce, bringing an independence that for many, had never been experienced before.  These movies were known as ‘Film Noir’ (French for ‘dark film’), classics of the 1940s and early 1950s.

'The Queen of Noir' Ann Chernow

So I turned my attention to ‘The Queen of Noir’, renowned artist Ann Chernow. Ann has been painting this genre for over a decade. She does paintings, prints and drawings always in the abstract capturing the essence of the ‘Femme Fatale’. Ann has gone from actual portraits of the films’ stars, to imaginary faces of film, to painting scenes from the films to inventing scenes from ‘Film Noir’ movies. Then came a night alone at an Italian restaurant in NYC and a bottle of wine. The evening resulted in creation of ‘Bad Girls’ – eight separate stories and eight separate images.

Film Noir and Femme Fatales have been with her ever since that evening.

‘The reason for women: everybody has a guess. It’s psychological. It has to do with the women in the films. The women in Noir movies all had fabulous clothing and the men just had gray suits and hats. There’s nothing to paint – just gray suits and hats, so the male figure is sometimes an abstract support.’

Meet Ann Chernow

Artist, ‘Queen of Noir’, Mother, Grandmother and Teacher. Ann has taught art for over 26 years. Born in New York City in 1936, Ann has been a resident of Westport, Connecticut, considered a haven for artists for the last 50+ years. Ann is a beloved leader in the extended arts community. She has worked in the mediums of lithography, silkscreen, etching and colored pencil as well as oil painting.

Ann’s second husband, Burt Chernow founded the Housatonic Museum of Art. He was an art historian and professor at the Housatonic Community College. Burt passed away in 1997. Ann later became the life partner of actor and documentarian, Martin West (d. 2020).

Ann’s work evokes a sense of veiled mystery. A veiled mystery that is the essence of Film Noir and Ann’s creativity.

I had the privilege of talking with Ann about our favorite genre of film, her beginning, her philosophy, the pandemic and her continued mining.

Age 3 ½ - the beginning

The RKO theaters and going to the movies at 11

Victims and Heroines

The ‘Queen and King’ of Noir

Femme Fatales

1930’s and Post World War II

Those clothes

The abstract

‘That looks like my grandmother’

Miss Bette Davis

How to get an invitation

Artists and life

Advice to young artists

Keep on mining

Diversity and the 'Token'

How does one start with be diverse without having a ‘token?’ Meet Crystal Byrd Farmer. She teaches organizations who acknowledge the need for diversity but don’t know where to start. She works with organizations and people who are dedicated to social justice and the diversity of people they want to employ, across identities of race, LGBTQ, education, socioeconomics and disability.

In today’s atmosphere, the topic of diversity and inclusion has become a heated and often misunderstood conversation. Educators and employers have tried many ways to be what they would consider ‘diverse and inclusive’. There’s busing when it comes to schools. In business there’s a certain air of being diverse by having a woman employee, an employee who is a person of color, an older employee, etc. There are ratios of people of diverse colors and cultures, and rules and regulations that have been put in place. Unfortunately, these good intentions can have the opposite result of what was intended. For some, they become the ‘token’.

Crystal Byrd Farmer

Crystal knows firsthand what it is like to be the ‘Token’. Growing up in a lower income black community, Crystal was bused to a middle school in a middle class white community. Crystal became the ‘Token.’

Crystal Byrd Farmer is the author of The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in Your Organization. No punches pulled, Crystal wrote The Token which has been called provocative, humorous and an accessible guide for well-meaning people who acknowledge the need for diversity but don’t know where to start.

An engineer turned educator, organizer and speaker, Crystal focuses on cohousing Black, and polyamorous communities. Crystal founded the Freedom School in Gastonia, NC. She serves on the Editorial Review board of Communities Magazine and is passionate about encouraging people to change their perspectives on diversity, relationships, and the world. Crystal lives in Gastonia, NC.

This week's conversation with Crystal is candid and revealing:

Being a 'token' in middle school

Asking a question that can be harmful

Macroaggression

Bias

Privilege - both white and black

Freedom School & Self-Directed Learning

Doing "The Work'

Norms

Meetings and location, location, location

Recognizing different cultures

Ways to be inclusive