23 episodes

Has there ever been, over the course of your life, a moment or event that changed things forever? Where life zigged instead of zagged? Where suddenly you were on a new path, staring out at a horizon you never thought possible? For our guests, there have.Welcome to A Bend in the Road, where our host, Roberta Panjwani, interviews people from all walks of life about the times they took their own journey down a new path, just after a bend in the road. A Bend in the Road from the Ridgewood Public Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgewood Library and was created by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

A Bend in the Road Ridgewood Public Library

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 9 Ratings

Has there ever been, over the course of your life, a moment or event that changed things forever? Where life zigged instead of zagged? Where suddenly you were on a new path, staring out at a horizon you never thought possible? For our guests, there have.Welcome to A Bend in the Road, where our host, Roberta Panjwani, interviews people from all walks of life about the times they took their own journey down a new path, just after a bend in the road. A Bend in the Road from the Ridgewood Public Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Ridgewood Library and was created by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

    Episode 23: Fernando Fernandez, From Wall Street to Wine country

    Episode 23: Fernando Fernandez, From Wall Street to Wine country

    Fernando Fernandez has always had a passion for wine, so when his time in NYC's financial industry was thrown into chaos by the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, he transformed that passion into an award-winning career out on the opposite coast. Join A Bend in the Road host Roberta Panjwani as she talks to Fernando about Puerto Rico, his favorite places to spend time, and creating a meaningful label.

    Things we talked about in this episode:
    Colluvialwine.com
    Ron del Barrilito rum
    Wine Education Council
    Allen Meadows’ Burgohund
    Felix Bonilla - artist
    Willem de Kooning - artist
    Blind Ambition - documentary
    Mondovino - documentary
    Colluvial Wine Facebook
    Colluvial Wine Instagram
    Harriman State Park

    Episode Credits: 
    Our thanks to Fernando Fernandez for joining us in the studio today and for our colleague and friend Theresa Callaghan for the introductionA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producers and editors for this episode are Melissa Egan and me, Elias Rosner. Our Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner Logo and Website created by Parker GaidimasThe clip of Allen Meadows is courtesy of the Wine Education Council Finally, the clinking and clanking you heard while Fernando was talking about his wines were, in fact, his wines! Or at least their lovely bottles.

    • 34 min
    Episode 22: Deborah Kampmeier, "The Gilded Age" Director

    Episode 22: Deborah Kampmeier, "The Gilded Age" Director

    Deborah Kampmeier's move from the independent filmmaker on silver screen to prestige TV on The Gilded Age has a surprise first act appearance from Oprah and Ava DuVernay? Join Deborah as she sits down with Bend in the Road host Roberta Panjwani to talk about “The Ava Effect,” an accidental email that connected her to many of the best directors in the business, and some fascinating moments from Season 2 of The Gilded Age and Harlan Coben’s Shelter.

    Things we talked about in this episode:
    Deborahkampmeier.com
    Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY arts & social impact collective
    Queen Sugar on OWN
    The Gilded Age on HBO
    Harlan Coben's Shelter on Prime
    Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+

    Episode Credits
    Our thanks to Deborah Kampmeier for being with us todayA Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias RosnerOur Editors are Melissa Egan and Elias RosnerOur Technical Director and Audio Engineer is Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media Producer is Elias Rosner and Melissa EganLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasAudio clips are courtesy of HBO Max and Amazon Prime

    • 35 min
    Episode 21: Victim Advocates Aiza Stevens & Hoku and Library Therapy Dog Coordinator Victoria Schnure

    Episode 21: Victim Advocates Aiza Stevens & Hoku and Library Therapy Dog Coordinator Victoria Schnure

    As we embark on Year 3 of our podcast journey, A Bend in the Road is thrilled to share an inspiring episode that we hope will warm your hearts this winter. Joining us in this episode is Aiza Stevens and the incredible therapy dog Hoku, both vital members of the Orem Police Department's Victim Advocacy Program in Utah, along with Ridgewood Public Library’s very own Victoria Schnure, who helps run the library's fantastic Read to a Dog program. Both discuss their passion for what they do and their hope for the future. Stay tuned at the end for a special appearance by Carol and Liberty, the therapy dog as they prepare to hear a wonderful story from a young reader. 

    Things we talked about in this episode: 
    Ridgewood Library Youth Services Instagram video of a therapy dogRidgewood Library Children’s Services (This is where you can sign up to read to a dog!)The Orem Police Department’s Victim Assistance ProgramAdditional therapy dog programs in Utah that were mentioned:
    Intermountain Therapy Animals from Salt Lake City, UTSkye’s dog training from West Jordan, UT4 Paws 4 Patriots from Ogden, UtahEpisode Credits:
    A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims.Our Assistant Producers for this episode are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner.Our Editors are Melissa Egan and Elias Rosner.Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias Rosner.Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims.Our Digital Media Producer is Elias Rosner .Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.Audio clips are courtesy Aiza Stevens and KEUR Radio.Special thanks to Aiza Stevens and Hoku for joining us today from the Orem Police Dept, to our very own Victoria Schnure for sharing her experience coordinating the Ridgewood Library's Read of to a Dog program and to Carol & therapy dog Liberty.

    • 25 min
    Episode 20: Roger Durling, Santa Barbara Film Festival Executive Director

    Episode 20: Roger Durling, Santa Barbara Film Festival Executive Director

    From universities to coffee shops, from Broadway shows to the local movie theater, from Panama to NJ to France to NY to Santa Barbara, our guest this episode has had quite the journey to where he is now. Join guest host Diane Sims for a riveting conversation with Roger Durling, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Film Festival for the last 20 years, on how he fell in love with the silver screen, found his way to Santa Barbara, and saved & transformed the nearly dead film festival.

    Things we talked about in this episode:
    The Santa Barbara International Film Festival
    Cinema In Flux by Roger Durling
    SBIFF 2023 - Angela Bassett Discusses "The Jacksons" & "What's Love Got To Do With It?"
    SBIFF 2022 - Roger Durling Opening Night Speech
    SBFF 2023 - Outstanding Performer of The Year Award Honoring Cate Blanchett (Complete Event)
    The Telluride Film Festival
    Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts
    The Peddie School

    Episode Credits:
    A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer for this episode is Melissa Egan.Our editors are Melissa Egan and Roberta Panjwani with additional edits by Elias RosnerOur Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Charles Gallo and Elias RosnerOriginal Music is written and performed by Diane SimsOur Digital Media producers are Elias Rosner and Melissa EganLogo and Website created by Parker GaidimasSpecial thanks to Roger Durling and our guest host Diane SimsClips of Roger Durling and Angela Bassett are courtesy of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

    • 1 hr 11 min
    Episode 19: Guggenheim Curator Megan Fontanella: "Every Painting Tells a Story"

    Episode 19: Guggenheim Curator Megan Fontanella: "Every Painting Tells a Story"

    You've certainly heard of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and its varied collections. What you may not know is what guides those collections. Megan Fontanella, the Guggenheim's Curator for Modern Art and Provenance, would tell you a good exhibit, and good art education, comes down to two statements: Every painting tells a story. Every object has lived a life. Join Roberta as she talks with Megan about those statements, about the history of the Gugg' and her role in bringing art to life.

    Megan is a strategic leader, art historian, and curator whose research encompasses late 19th- and early 20th-century European and U.S. avant-gardes and specializes in the field of provenance research - the study of an object's ownership history, from its creation to present day. Since joining the curatorial staff at the Guggenheim in 2005, she has organized or co-organized over thirty exhibitions for the Guggenheim’s museums in Bilbao, New York, Venice, and formerly Berlin.

    Things we talked about in this episode:
    The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
    Kandinsky and the “Blue Mountain”
    Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim
    Horse by Geraldine Brooks

    Episode Credits:
    Clips featured in this episode are courtesy of the Guggenheim Museum. Our thanks to Sara Fox for providing clearances. A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane SimsOur Assistant Producer for this episode is me, Elias Rosner.Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner with additional edits by Melissa Egan.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 Megan Fontanella for being with us today.  

    • 41 min
    Episode 18: Author Gretchen Rubin: Get Happy

    Episode 18: Author Gretchen Rubin: Get Happy

    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.

    • 35 min

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9 Ratings

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