A Bend in the Road Ridgewood Public Library

Yale graduate Gretchen Rubin had quite the pivot when she went from clerking for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to founding the Happiness Project. How that came to be and what her surprising path to a life of more energy, creativity, luck, and love entails (hint: tune in to the five senses) is the focus of this month's episode. An acclaimed communicator, known for her ability to distill and convey complex ideas with humor and clarity, Gretchen's books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over thirty languages, she has an award-winning podcast, and she also has an app. Join Roberta as she sits down with Gretchen to discuss this lifelong exploration into happiness, how we respond to expectations and her daily trips to the Met Museum.

Things We Talked About in This Episode:
Books: Life in Five Senses, The Four Tendencies, The Happiness Project, and more.
Podcasts: Get Happier and More Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Happier app
The Happiness Project
Quizzes: The Four Tendencies and Five Senses
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Episode Credits:
Clips featured in this episode are courtesy of Gretchen Rubin.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer is Elias Rosner.Our Editor this episode is Roberta Panjwani with additional edits by Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias RosnerLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Gretchen Rubin for being with us today.You can find information about The Happiness Project and Gretchen’s books, podcasts, quizzes, resources, and articles at gretchenrubin.com.

"Being brave is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day. " - How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith and Life, 

In June of 2020, with the eyes of the world watching and the ears of the world listening,  Bishop Mariann Budde had the courage to speak up about the mistreatment of protestors at the hands of the police and the misuse of St. John's Church in Washington D.C.  Her experience during that time, and the days and weeks that followed, led her to write How We Learn to be Brave.

As the ninth bishop of Washington, Bishop Budde is the spiritual leader for 86 Episcopal congregations and ten Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. She is also the first woman elected to this position. Join Roberta as she talks to Bishop Budde about that seminal moment in 2020, courage and faith, and a little bit of Eleanor Roosevelt to round things out.

Things we talked about in this episode:
Episcopal Diocese of Washington
How to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith and Life
Eleanor Roosevelt: The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Episode Credits
Clips featured are copyright FDR Library and CNN.A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Elias RosnerOur Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner Logo and Website created by Parker GaidimasOur thanks to Bishop Mariann Budde for being with us today.You can find How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith and Life wherever you get your books. For  more information about all of Bishop Budde’s writings and work, please visit the Episcopal Diocese of Washington at edow.org.

Take a trip to the Pacific Northwest with Roberta to experience the epic return of the legendary musician Joni Mitchell during Brandi Carlile’s “Echoes through the Canyon” weekend at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington State. Roberta talks with concertgoers who traveled across the country—and the world–about the impact that Joni and music has played in their lives. We hear many remarkable moments from the June 9 & 10, 2023 shows featuring Joni, Brandi, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford and many more. Highlights include “A Case of Blue,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Both Sides Now,” and “The Circle Game.”
Things we talked about in this episode:
Gorge Amphitheatre
Joni Mitchell at Newport CD featuring the Joni Jam

The Musicians
Joni Mitchell
Brandi Carlile
Annie Lennox
Sarah McLachlan
Marcus Mumford
Allison Russell
Lucius
Taylor Goldsmith
Blake Mills
Celisse Henderson
Wendy & Lisa
Ben Lusher
Tim Hanseroth
Phil Hanseroth
Rick Whitfield
Josh Neumann

Episode Credits
A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Editor for this episode is Roberta Panjwani with consultation from Diane Sims and additional edits from Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Special thanks to the Gorge Amphitheatre, Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Marcus Mumford and all of the musicians featured in this episode.Additional thanks to Greg Raj, Kelly, Ellen and everyone who shared their experiences. And to Andrea–this episode is for you.

Felicia Eve has been everything: a podiatrist, a stay at home mom, a fundraising consultant, and, currently, a business owner as the CEO and founder of String Thing Studio, a yarn shop in Brooklyn. Join Felicia as she sits down with host Roberta and shares her stories on life, loss, and most importantly, yarn.

Things we Discussed in the Episode:
String Thing Studio
Felicia on Now This News
Keep a Child Alive

Episode Credits
A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Olivia Esteban.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Olivia Esteban.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Special thanks to Felicia and Parker for being with us today.

Have you ever thought about sneezing on Larry King? Well, if you have, then you and Ben Greenman have that in common. Join Roberta Panjwani as she interviews Ben about some of his work and his forays into almost becoming a doctor. For the unfamiliar, Ben Greenman is the New York Times bestselling author of The Slippage and Superbad and the former longtime editor for The New Yorker. Not content to only do that, he’s also Questlove’s long-time collaborator and has written memoirs with George Clinton and Brian Wilson as well.

Things we Discussed in the Episode:
Ben’s Books
Ben in the New Yorker
Ben in the New York Times
Interview with Questlove and George Clinton
Prince Interview

Episode Credits
A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Olivia Esteban.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Our Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Olivia Esteban.Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Special thanks to Ben for being with us today.

You know Oprah? Yeah. That Oprah. We don’t have Oprah but we do have the next best thing. Leigh Haber is the editor and former Vice President of Book at O magazine. Join us as she joins host Roberta Panjwani on a deep dive into Leigh’s role as Director of Oprah’s Book Club, what it’s like to interview writers (or as she calls them, Rock Stars) and the power of books to make change and do good in the world. 

Things we Discussed In the Episode:
Oprah's Book Club
Colum McCann Interview
Diana Gabaldon Interview
You Are Here by Karen Lin-Greenberg
Victory City by Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie New Yorker Article
Dances by Nicole Cuffy
A Small Sacrifice for Enormous Happiness by Jai Chakrabarti

Episode Credits:
Special thanks to Leigh for being with us today.
A Bend in the Road is written, hosted and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.
Our Associate Producer and Editor for this episode is Olivia Esteban with additional edits by Elias Rosner.
Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.
Our Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Olivia Esteban.
Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.
Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.