Sexual Abuse Survivor & Children’s Advocate Sylvia & Me podcast

16:24

This year has been a whirlwind, hasn't it? For Sylvia & Me, October marked a huge milestone – our 5th anniversary! Five years of conversations, stories, and connections. Five years of incredible women sharing their wisdom, their laughter, and sometimes, their tears. Over these past five years, I've had the privilege of interviewing just under 200 women. Each one with a unique story to tell, each one inspiring and empowering in their own way. This podcast has always been about giving women a platform to share their experiences, their triumphs, their challenges, and their wisdom.…

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Life Après Retirement 30:58

21 weeks ago30:58

30:58

When I decided to retire, I said now I'm going to do the little things that have been tucked away. Just in time to celebrate the holidays…Mary Barneby is back! Forget rocking chairs and bingo! Mary Barneby is rewriting the rules of retirement. She's 'rewiring'! This former CEO is trading boardrooms for book launches and wedding vows. Join me as I catch up with Mary, one of our first-ever guests, and discover how she's embracing her "life après" with energy and enthusiasm. Get ready to be inspired to live your best life, no matter what stage you're at! Former CEO of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut and Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, Mary shares her secrets to finding purpose and passion in this new chapter. Plus, we delve into the fascinating fact that both organizations she led were founded by women in their 50s and 60s – proving it's never too late to make a difference!…

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Reimagining Spinsterhood 35:29

22 weeks ago35:29

35:29

Join me with fellow podcast host Lucy Meggeson, the host of Spinsterhood Reimagined. Lucy debunks myths about relationship bliss and celebrates the freedom and fulfillment of being single and childfree. In this insightful podcast, Lucy Meggeson delves into the myths surrounding relationships and challenges societal expectations placed on women. Listeners will be empowered to take control of their lives. Believing and loving yourself is key to being happy. Spinsterhood is no longer the old, lonely woman sitting by the window. Whether you're happily childfree or seeking liberation from societal norms, this episode will leave you feeling positive and excited about your life on this vast, spinning planet we call home.…

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Evolving Elders 33:22

23 weeks ago33:22

33:22

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Phyllis Ayman, author of Dignity & Respect: Are Our Aging Parents Getting What They Deserve?, who coined the empowering term "Evolving Elders." Phyllis challenges the negative connotations associated with aging and champions a person-centered approach to care and caregiving.…

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Wings of Knowledge 33:11

24 weeks ago33:11

33:11

The nonprofit Mercy Learning Center empowers low-income women, including immigrants and those who haven't completed high school, through education. They provide free childcare, ensuring mothers can focus on achieving their goals. "When you give a woman the tools to believe in herself, the possibilities are limitless," says CEO Lindsay Wyman.…

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Improv and Life 34:48

25 weeks ago34:48

34:48

'Every day of your life is an improv scene.' Erin “Big” Diehl is a business improv edutainer, 'failfluencer', and keynote speaker. Founder and CEO of improve it! Erin created a unique professional development company. Erin uses improvisational comedy and experiential learning to thrive in ever-changing environments. And she does it with a whole lot of laughs along the way. Erin combined her eighteen years of leadership experience with her improvisational comedy expertise to create a mindset shift for busy, stressed out leaders in her newest Amazon Best-Seller and Top New Release, I SEE YOU!…

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Gilded Life to Golden Handcuffs 43:31

26 weeks ago43:31

43:31

In her memoir Golden Handcuffs: An Immigrant's Pursuit of Happiness, Varuni tells her story. From gilded life to 'golden handcuffs' Varuni shares a story that is not readily known. An immigrant's story and the hoops that were necessary to navigate. Her home was India, she met her husband in India, an American living in America. Varuni's journey through immigration and visas, school, work, social isolation and family. How resilience and strength got her through.…

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Accidental Influencer with Chutzpah 35:42

27 weeks ago35:42

35:42

Who knew ... really, she had no idea but her 'why not' attitude made Annie Korzen an 'accidental influencer'. Who would want to watch an eighty-something on Tik-Tok? Turns out over 435,000 would. Annie calls herself 'a comedic storyteller', a term she coined as we spoke. She'd appeared in the hit series Seinfield because she said 'why not'. That attitude has led her to take risks, to live life with humor and not be afraid to face life. Annie is a writer, teacher, speaker, actress and sensation. And author of The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart, and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer.…

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Celebrating Live with Women of a Certain Age 43:15

28 weeks ago43:15

43:15

Live from Noble Salon we celebrate the 5-year anniversary of "Sylvia & Me' with Women of a Certain Age. Our first live, in-person podcast and a conversation with a group of Women of a Certain Age. Sharing stories, insights and experiences, these ladies are not going to be 'aged out'! Friendship, trust, overcoming fear and having each other's backs! With more than 30 years on various stages, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional Theater and more, ladies let's kick up our heels. Going past their comfort zone, anything goes. The ladies: Ann Alford, Lynne Colatrella, Tracey Marble, Ellen Krinick-Porto and Gail Yudain and their musical director Jerold Goldstein. A huge shoutout to all who have had my back and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. And a big thank you to all the women who have shared their stories.…

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The Ultimate Oasis 34:14

30 weeks ago34:14

34:14

“Gay dares to write for me, for women – things we can never say.” Jacqueline 'Gay' Walley's latest novel, "The Waw," takes readers on a mesmerizing journey from New York to the serene English seaside. Through her insightful storytelling, Gay uncovers the innermost thoughts of women. She leads us on a captivating quest to explore 'The Waw,' the ultimate oasis.…

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Women In Politics 29:30

31 weeks ago29:30

29:30

Women in Politics – Don’t Tell Her She Can’t! It was 1973, East Hampton needed a Town Supervisor. She was told 'no one will elect a woman.' Those words would keep with her forever and blazed a future she hadn't thought of. Judith Hope ran, won and became East Hampton's first female Town Supervisor serving three terms. Turns out, Judith was the first female town supervisor in all of Long Island. Local politics and women are quite the combination. Judith ran on an environmental ticket. She got the 2% transfer tax passed which has raised over a billion dollars and is responsible for saving more than 5,000 acres of open space,…

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Sexual Abuse Survivor & Children’s Advocate 24:48

32 weeks ago24:48

24:48

Award-winning author Kathy Picard returns to the podcast. A survivor of sexual abuse as a child, Kathy has been a children's advocate for over twenty years. When we first met Kathy her book Life with My Idiot Family: A True Story of Survival, Courage & Justice over Childhood Sexual Abuse had just been published. It started when Kathy was only seven. She thought the abuser was her father. At seventeen Kathy learned that her abuser and rapist was actually her stepfather.…

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Childhood Trauma , Adulthood and Resilience 26:08

33 weeks ago26:08

26:08

Sally Baker, Award-winning London-based therapist with over 25 years of experience, shares her journey of resilience after childhood trauma. At the age of seven, she was sexually assaulted, taking her 30 years to process this experience. Sally, who initially worked with women facing sexual abuse and domestic violence, emphasizes the importance of overcoming negative self-judgments and societal barriers. In her latest book, "The Getting of Resilience from the Inside Out: A Practical Guide to Learning Resilience at Any Age, No Matter Your Upbringing," Sally delves into strategies for developing resilience from within. She highlights the need to re-assess unhealthy coping mechanisms to effectively navigate life's challenges. Resilience, as Sally suggests, stems from empowering oneself and learning to be strong in the face of adversity.…

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She Wolves of Wall Street 44:39

34 weeks ago44:39

44:39

Her novel The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free could have been the precursor to her newly released 'She Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street.' As author and historian Paulina Bren told me, she 'followed the women out of the Barbizon Hotel in New York to Wall Street' from the late 1950s and 1960s to 9/11, Women looking for interim work, found their way to Wall Street. Out of the three jobs that were available to women: receptionist, secretary or clerk, Wall Street paid the most. And so began the entry of the She Wolves of Wall Street. The men were the brokers making the money, the women were their support staff. The women were watching and learning. Wall Street was being manned by women!…

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Witch of Wall Street Breaking Glass 40:19

35 weeks ago40:19

40:19

he 'Witch of Wall Street' breaking through the 'glass ceiling'. That would be Patricia Walsh Chadwick. When we last talked with Patricia in 2020 her first book "Little Sister, A Memoir" had just been released and we were left with the idea that there was more to come. A woman of resilience and determination, Patricia's story continues. At the age of seventeen she had been ejected from the only home she'd known since she was five. Turns out it was a cult, a cult that had cut her off from the outside world. How did this teenager who had never even used a phone, turn into a dynamo on Wall Street? Patricia's new book "Breaking Glass, Tales from the Witch of Wall Street" tells the story of a woman who didn't take no for an answer and broke through the old boy's club. Her career started in 1972 at a time when a woman's role on Wall Street was mainly administrative. How then did Patricia work her way up to becoming a portfolio manager overseeing $6 billion dollars of client assets? Listen to a fascinating conversation with Patricia.…

Sylvia & Me

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Toscanini Musical Love Story 35:59

37 weeks ago35:59

35:59

September is Classical Music month so let’s start with one of the greatest musicians, Maestro ArturoToscanini. For seventeen years Samuel Antek was first violinist for Toscanini. This Was Toscanini was written by Samuel Antek. His sudden death in 1958 never gave him the chance to finish. His daughter Lucy Antek Johnson expanded on her father’s story with This Was Toscanini: The Maestro, My Father, and Me. In 2021 the hardcover was published with pictures, and the audiobook has now followed. Swapping out pictures for music, from rehearsals to performances, Lucy allows the listener in to hear the passion and dedication of a genius. Listen and you will hear an excerpt from the first rehearsal of Brahms. Yes – in this episode!…

Sylvia & Me

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Reality or TV Show? 32:07

37 weeks ago32:07

32:07

Orange is the New Black – reality or just a TV show? Dr. Stephanie S. Covington, an internationally recognized clinician, author, organizational consultant, and lecturer. Stephanie sheds light on the realities faced by incarcerated women in her new book “HIDDEN HEALERS: The Unexpected Ways Women in Prison Help each Other Survive.” The book highlights the brutalities these women endure within a system not designed for them. In our conversation she emphasizes the kindness they offer each other to navigate their challenges. It’s essential to recognize that the majority of women in the criminal justice system have themselves been victims of harm.…

Sylvia & Me

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Family, Marriage, Divorce, Motherhood 31:43

37 weeks ago31:43

31:43

New York Times Bestselling author Joyce Maynard’s latest novel How the Light Gets In is a story of family dynamics. Marriage, divorce, motherhood, raising children and letting go and the realization that ‘We don’t tell our children who they should be. They tell us who they are and what they believe. And it may not always be what we want to hear.’…

Sylvia & Me

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Third Girl from the Left 40:33

37 weeks ago40:33

40:33

The Other Side of Broadway and the AIDS Epidemic Christine’s dream had come true, she was a dancer, the ‘Third Girl from the Left’ in the cast of the Tony Award-winning show A Chorus Line, first in London and then Broadway. Unfortunately it was the early 1980s and the onset of the AIDS epidemic. A conversation with Christine Barker, author of Third Girl from the Left, her story of what life was like for her, a young woman having to make impossible choices. Her start in New York, her dream job, and eight shows a week. In the middle of it all was the AIDS epidemic and its impact on those around her affected by this unknown. Among them was her brother Laughlin. Christine’s choice was to take care of her dying brother and others she was close to. When asked why she wanted to write this, Christine answered ‘Because sometimes the story is all that is left.’ Christine retired from her theater career and has turned her sights to another dream – writing. She holds an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She is currently working on her next project.…

Sylvia & Me

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Beauty Industry’s Most Feared Woman 34:17

41 weeks ago34:17

34:17

This week an eye-opening conversation with beauty journalist Jessica DeFino. Beauty standards have an impact on our lives, often without us even realizing it. ‘The beauty industry reels us in by calling it ‘beauty’ and assigning it metaphysical powers. I really think we would be better off if we called the beauty industry the appearance industry.’…

Sylvia & Me

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Flame Bearers Women Olympians & Paralympians 32:11

42 weeks ago32:11

32:11

Joining the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the Flame Bearers, celebrating women athletes changing the Sports Industry. This year is the first Olympics with gender parity. And it’s only fitting to have a conversation with Jamie Mittelman, Founder of Flame Bearers. Jamie doesn’t want to tell the stories of these trailblazing female athletes. No, she wants to empower these women to share their stories by telling them in their own words. Media coverage of women athletes represents just 15% of sports coverage. Of that 15%, the majority ‘look just like me’ as Jamie says…white and able-bodies from the global north. Jamie and Flame Bearers is on a mission to change that by also telling stories of brown and black, LGBTQ, and women and girls with disabilities. Providing diverse role models so that little girls know that they can do it too. The first media production company dedicated to ‘elevating the best women athletes in the world’, Flame Bearers has worked with over 135 Olympians and Paralympians from 65 countries.…

Sylvia & Me

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Glorious Broad Aging Imaginatively 31:55

43 weeks ago31:55

31:55

Maryjane Fahey is aging Imaginatively & Unapologetically. Founder of GLORIOUS BROADS, Maryjane defines a Glorious Broad as independent, unconventional and fearless. She's a woman who is funny, has had a few 'restarts' over the years and likes her wrinkles. A woman who is proud of her age and who's not done yet. Our conversation covers everything from living life on her own terms, why GLORIOUS BROADS, the women who inspired her, sex at 60+ and more. Maryjane's motto: 'It's never too late.'…

Sylvia & Me

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Mt. Everest Taking Risk 39:58

45 weeks ago39:58

39:58

Taking risk as a path to grow is exactly what Dr. Mimi Zieman believes and did. In her memoir Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure, Mimi takes us through her journey. As a 3rd year medical student Mimi joined an expedition attempting a new route on the East Face of Mt. Everest as the doctor. Mimi would be the only woman. A conversation about a coming of age story and the risks we take to become our truest selves. A child of immigrants, her father a Holocaust survivor, Mimi delves into the struggles she faced as a young woman. She is candid about her eating disorder, feeling small and how tap dancing helped her find her voice.…

Sylvia & Me

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Canopy Meg Einstein of the Treetops 26:53

46 weeks ago26:53

26:53

This week, I had the privilege of engaging in a fascinating conversation with Dr. Meg Lowman. Known as "Canopy Meg," she is a globally-renowned forest canopy scientist. The Wall Street Journal dubbed her the "Einstein of the treetops". Meg has dedicated her life to the conservation of trees and forests worldwide. A pioneer in forest canopy ecology, Meg has conducted extensive research in forests spanning 46 countries across all seven continents.. Her work has earned her the title of one of the world's foremost "arbornauts" — individuals who study the intricate ecosystems of forest canopies. Meg refers to them as the Earth's "eighth continent."…

Sylvia & Me

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Single…Nonmarried…Breaking Assumptions 58:17

47 weeks ago58:17

58:17

Health or happiness - why do we assume married people are healthier and happier? Pro-marriage and haves and have nots - let's get into this. Where is the raw data? What was the control group? The promise that marriage is a happy place - is that reality? Are marrieds healthier? I needed to bring back and bring together two women, Jaclyn (Jackie) Geller, Ph. D. and Joan DelFattore, Ph. D. Jackie is an expert in the field of marriage research and marriage history. Joan is a retired professor and single by choice.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Holocaust’s Hidden Children 34:07

48 weeks ago34:07

34:07

The hidden children of the Holocaust was a story that author Jennifer Rosner had not heard about. In her latest novel ONCE WE WERE HOME, she tells their story. Throughout her journey, she became captivated by the intricacies of finding a sense of belonging and identity. Jennifer encountered a woman who worked on a post-WW2 mission to recover Jewish orphans hidden in Christian settings for safety. Jennifer's exploration of this lesser-known aspect of history highlights the moral complexities of displacing children who had already endured the trauma of losing their original families.…

Sylvia & Me

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Guide for Slaying Dragons 36:47

49 weeks ago36:47

36:47

A Missouri girl in a New York world is slaying dragons. Susan L. Combs, author and founder of “Pancakes for Roger” is on a mission. This week a conversation with Susan and ‘Pancakes for Roger: A Mentorship Guide for Slaying Dragons’. With a drive to ‘Do more, better’ we discuss the three facets of life that her late father taught her: 1. The person you’re with 2. The thing you do for a living and 3. The place you live. And the lessons she learned from her Midwestern upbringing to the two-plus decades in New York City. Susan reminds us that it’s the little things in life that can make a huge impact.…

Sylvia & Me

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Are You Calling Me a Racist? 26:43

50 weeks ago26:43

26:43

Racism and conventional diversity workshops, are they the solution? Educator, activist and sociologist Sarita Srivastava, Ph.D challenges conventional ways of dealing with racism. Sarita's debut book "Are You Calling Me A Racist?": Why We Need to Stop Talking About Race and Start Making Antiracist Change reveals why these efforts have failed to effectively challenge racism. This week an in-depth conversation with Sarita analyzing the emotional and historical roadblocks that anti-racist efforts have faced. Instead of ‘Feel-Good racial politics', we need to make concrete, collective changes to our practices and spaces. And answer the question: Why does antiracism flounder where it seems it should be most likely to succeed?…

Sylvia & Me

1
Outdoor Adventures at Any Age 35:28

51 weeks ago35:28

35:28

This week, with Award-winning and New York Times-Bestselling author Caroline Paul. Caroline had been an outdoor adventurer her whole life. In her newest book, "TOUGH BROAD," Caroline explores how outdoor adventure can improve our lives as we age, defying societal norms and expectations. Caroline delves into the positive impact of outdoor adventure on brain health, physical vitality, mindset, and overall well-being. Through inspiring stories, she urges women in their fifties, sixties, and beyond to embrace the outdoors, redefining their futures.…

Sylvia & Me

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‘Dialed In’ with Dr. Dana Sinclair 30:07

52 weeks ago30:07

30:07

This week a conversation with Dr. Dana Sinclair, Performance Psychologist and author of Dialed In: Do Your Best When It Matters Most. From Olympic champions to a teenager performing in a school play, we all perform, it's part of who we are. Does confidence in ourselves mean that we're going to perform well? As Dana explains, confidence is overrated, it's a feeling, but performance is about what we do. Performance means focusing, being there in the moment. 'Talent will not ensure success without focusing; being there in the pressure moments.' Positive self-talk is a key component to successful performance. And courage is a great word. Dr. Dana Sinclair is a registered psychologist. She holds doctorates from the University of Cambridge and the University of Ottawa. Dana is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, and a member of the American Psychological Association.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Children Survival and Hope 28:16

1 year ago28:16

28:16

What happens after we survive and experience something life-changing and traumatic? Award-winning young adult author Veera Hiranandani’s new historical fiction Amil and The After addresses this question. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, Veera also asked herself how can we heal as individuals and as a society? Written in part through the drawings of young Amil, the story follows the aftermath of the partition of India and Pakistan. It’s a journey like the one members of her family had made. ‘We as humans keep finding ways to divide ourselves and attack marginalized communities.’ Although her books are called ‘young adult’, adults need to read them. Veera’s novels gives us an understanding of a child’s perspective. And a boy’s longing for stability and hope during a tumultuous time.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Grit Cheerleading Style 32:11

1 year ago32:11

32:11

Mix grit, resilience, cheerleading, persistence, passion, compassion and style and you get Risa Kostis. From a very young age a stage and cheerleading was in her future. That is until a car accident at 17 had her navigating a different course. One that would take all of her ingredients and push her to a place she could never have imagined. The accident had left her with a traumatic brain injury and reconstructive facial surgeries. Self-taught, and determined, Risa is no longer the underdog. She is a celebrity stylist, stylist, and personal shopper. Risa helps women tell their story through what they wear, giving them confidence and letting them shine. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of The Rescue Kit Company, a fashion emergency kit company.…

Sylvia & Me

1
A Manifesto Against Ageism 35:11

1 year ago35:11

35:11

Ashton Applewhite is a pro-aging advocate and author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. She began blogging about ageism in 2007, speaking about it in 2012 and hasn't stopped. Aging is not a problem to be fixed or a disease to be cured. We live in a world that encourages us not to think about aging. It's time for a radical aging movement against ageism. And we need to start by confronting our own bias. Let's ask ourselves how do we feel about age and aging? It's difficult to go a day without seeing an ad for an anti-aging product or a new lifestyle to keep us young. We can't stop getting older, but we sure can embrace it. As Ashton says, we're all 'Old People In-Training'.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Craving Spring and A Mother’s Quest 31:02

1 year ago31:02

31:02

Ann Batchelder is the author of Craving Spring: A Mother’s Quest, a Daughter’s Depression, and the Greek Myth That Brought Them Together. Ann shares her story of her daughter’s journey with mental health and addiction. As mothers we are always looking for ways to be a ‘good’ mother. What if who we need to be is a ‘skilled’ mother? And learn how to ask for help.…

Sylvia & Me

1
American Ex-Wife Reframing Divorce 42:45

1 year ago42:45

42:45

New York Times Bestselling author Lyz Lenz is 'reframing' divorce and getting rid of the stigma. Her latest book, This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage - and - Started My Life is a memoir/manifesto. Lyz debunks the myth of the 'happily ever' marriage scenario and gives us the straight talk about divorce. 'The stigma exists because everybody is afraid of a liberated woman'.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Just A Girl From the Bronx 37:55

1 year ago37:55

37:55

Just a girl from the Bronx. That’s Francine Farkas Sears, the first American businesswoman invited to China after President Nixon re-established trade relations. The groundbreaking trip included twenty-five men and Francine. Francine's first leap into entrepreneurship began in her teens with a babysitting business. Her second was revolutionizing a salon armed with an idea, $1,000 cash, 7th Avenue and Pucci-like dresses. Next an entry level at Alexander’s Department store followed by a stint as a famed Wall Street stockbroker leading the path for women. Alexander’s called her back where she worked her way up to become Fashion Director and Vice President. Francine was simultaneously raising a young family. Today she is the proud mother of five grown children. That girl from the Bronx turned herself into one of the most influential, successful women.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Historical Fiction Madam Secretary 36:51

1 year ago36:51

36:51

Frances Perkins is a woman I’ve come to know, admire and am in awe of through Stephanie Dray’s newest novel Becoming Madam Secretary. The first female cabinet member in U.S. history, she was Labor Secretary to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In a political time dominated by men, Frances Perkins was America’s leading advocate for workers’ rights and industrial safety. Fair Labor Standard Acts, Social Security…thank you Frances.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Retail Pioneer, Global Trendsetter 38:11

1 year ago38:11

38:11

Retail pioneer and global trendsetter, Liz Lange, transformed maternity wear in 1997 and gave women the empowerment to shine. Her brand, Liz Lange Maternity, became a game-changer for celebrities and regular women alike. In the early 2000s, Liz Lange became a household name as a retail pioneer and global trendsetter. Her licensing deals with Nike, Target, and HSN established her as a fashion icon, with her maternity collaborations and ready-to-wear line becoming wildly popular. Lange's book, "Liz Lange's Maternity Style: How to look Fabulous during the Most Fashion-Challenged Time," published by Random House in 2003, further cemented her status as a fashion expert.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Small Legacies and a Trophy 27:10

1 year ago27:10

27:10

It started with a piggy bank, well sort of. Among Amanda's late husband's passions was financial wellness. Not finding anything but plastic children's piggy banks, Amanda made her own, a solid wood piggy bank. A piggy bank with three compartments: giving, saving and spending. Her son's financial education was not going to start in a plastic piggy bank. It was part of his father's legacy, the Enduring Legacy Bank. And it turned out to be the start of Small Legacies.…

Sylvia & Me

1
The Women and Vietnam 31:31

1 year ago31:31

31:31

March is Women's History Month. Let's take a moment to acknowledge the forgotten heroes of the Vietnam War- the women veterans. Approximately 10,000 women served in Vietnam as nurses, medical personnel, and military intelligence in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Award-winning author Kristin Hannah's newest historical fiction, The Women, sheds light on the untold stories of these brave women.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Politics of Adoption 37:34

1 year ago37:34

37:34

Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood. The title is quite powerful as is its author, Gretchen Sisson, PhD. Gretchen has been making waves with her groundbreaking studies on abortion and adoption in the US. Her work sheds light on the experiences of women who have relinquished their child for adoption since Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court's dissent in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health from Justices Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor cited Gretchen's research. The stories of relinquishing mothers reveal a larger societal problem of our country's refusal to care for families at the most basic level.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Recipe for a Good Life 34:10

1 year ago34:10

34:10

What ingredients do you need? It really doesn't take a lot for this particular recipe, the Recipe for a Good Life. Bestselling Canadian author Lesley Crewe is making her American debut and we could all use this recipe. This may be her 15th novel for her Canadian readers, but I can definately say, her new American readers will catch up. For Lesley her writing started as an exercise for understanding her world and in doing so, we get an invitation to look into ours. How many of us think that only writers get writer's block like the protagonist in her latest novel? And how many of us get into the weeds while trying to find that 'grand, elusive goal? Lesley's recipe is a simple one that comes with huge victories from within ourselves. In our conversation she lets us in to one of the most unthinkable time of her life. And shows us how even from our darkest moments, we can shine a light.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Female Scientists Breaking Barriers 42:36

1 year ago42:36

42:36

Dr. Brooke Grindlinger, Chief Scientific Officer of the NY Academy of Sciences didn't take the conventional female scientist’s route. Instead of the traditional, academic path, Brooke pursued her passion of science communications. Brooke is breaking barriers faced by women in STEM and works with young female scientists pursuing their own 'unconventional' paths. By leveraging her voice and platform, Brooke engages and educates audiences, emphasizing the importance of science in shaping the future.…

Sylvia & Me

1
When Freedom Speaks 34:48

1 year ago34:48

34:48

The First Amendment and freedom of speech are being battled daily. But the First Amendment is not just the written or spoken word, it's also the freedom of expression. Lynn Greenky started her professional career as a lawyer. Ten years ago Lynn began teaching an undergraduate course about the First Amendment. She was disturbed about the lack of civics education in the U.S. Lynn is the author of When Freedom Speaks: The Boundaries and Boundlessness of Our First Amendment Right.…

Sylvia & Me

1
Mah Jongg and Grey Gardens 31:34

1 year ago31:34