1993, when Sue Rodin saw gender inequality in her workplace, she didn’t just get frustrated—she took action. Tapping into her network, she founded Women in Sports and Events (WISE), an organization built to support and elevate professional women in the sports industry. More than 30 years later, WISE is still going strong, with 25 chapters across the U.S. and Canada and over 6,000 members. Rodin has been called an “Eternal Optimist”—and today, you’ll see why. Things we talked about in this episode: WISE (Women In Sports Events) Women in the Business of Sports — Then and Now WISE Executive Leadership Institute: Rodin Scholarship She’s Got Game podcast with Swin Cash Julie Foudy Episode Credits:  Our thanks to Sue Rodin for joining us today in the studio. For information about WISE please visit: wiseworks.org 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 Elias Rosner and Roberta Panjwani. Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner. Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan. Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. Logo

This is a rebroadcast of episodes 6 & 7 from October 19, 2022.  What power does poetry have to help us navigate the challenges of life? How do we approach art and how does it approach us? Join our guest host Diane Sims for a journey through these questions, and many others, with Pádraig Ó Tuama in an episode so big, we had to split it into two. In Part 1, Pádraig Ó shares his relationship with art, reconciliation and the ongoing road toward finding ourselves. In Part 2, we dig into the questions of acceptance and identity Pádraig grappled with as a youth growing up in Ireland, and in the tall shadow of the Catholic Church, and what innate sensibility gave him the fortitude to step into those headwinds, instead of turning away, with a brief stop in the land of knitable television near the end. For those new to Pádraig’s work, he is an Irish poet and the host of the hugely popular podcast Poetry Unbound – now on its sixth season – as well as a theologian and conflict mediator. For those new to Pádraig’s work, he is an Irish poet and the host of the hugely popular podcast Poetry

In their new film Rebel with a Clause, grammar guru Ellen Jovin and director Brandt Johnson head off on a road trip to all 50 states to show how comma fights, rather than divide, can bring us closer together. Join Roberta as they talk about the power of language, taking a grammar stand, and the New York Times bestselling book that started it all. Things we talked about in this episode: Rebel with a Clause film Rebel with a Clause book and Ellen Jovin’s Grammar Table Brandt Johnson Oxford (Serial) Comma Syntaxis Communication Episode Credits:  Our thanks to Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson for joining us today. You can learn more about Ellen, Brandt, and the book and film at rebelwithaclause.com and grammartable.com.  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 Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner.  Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner. Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan. Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Have you ever had a teacher who completely changed the way you see the world? Today, we’re shining a spotlight on one of those incredible educators—Ted Opderbeck! With 30 years of award-winning teaching under his belt, Ted has dedicated his career to putting empathy and global awareness at the heart of every lesson.  Roberta talks to Ted about how he’s taking his passion even further in his new role with TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission). He’s here to share his journey, his inspiring work, and his thoughts on “refirement” (not retirement!)—a fresh approach to purpose and impact in life’s next chapter. Don’t miss this chance to be inspired by Ted’s story and learn how small acts of empathy can ripple out into big change. Things we talked about in this episode: Ted Opderbeck TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission Social Entrepreneurship in the Classroom 50 Inspiring Ideas of Social Entrepreneurship Refirement Episode Credits:  Our thanks to Ted Opderbeck for joining us in the studio today. You can learn more about Ted and his work at teeem.org/ (that’s teeem). 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

How did a fateful meeting with filmmaker M Night Shyamalan, ignite Melissa Davey’s own career of becoming a director herself. At age 65? Roberta talks with the documentarian and activist about taking risks, shining a light on the value of women over 65, and the importance of living each day to its fullest.  Things we talked about in this episode: Climbing Into Life Beyond Sixty Project Dierdre Wolownick Alex Honnold Free Solo Night Shyamalan Episode Credits: Our thanks to Melissa Davey for joining us. For more information about Climbing Into Life, Beyond Sixty and future projects, please visit melissadavey.com.  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 Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner.  Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner. Our Digital Media Producer is Melissa Egan. Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Take a trip to the Hollywood Bowl with Roberta and her sister Andrea and experience two once-in-a-lifetime shows with the legendary Joni Mitchell, alongside all-star guests like Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford, Elton John, Meryl Streep, and her Joni Jam band, performing deep cuts and classics like “Cherokee Louise,” “California,” “Sire of Sorrow,” “The Circle Game,” and “Come in from the Cold.”  Please see the notes below for the full list of artists.  (This is a companion to the documentary-length Episode 16 featuring the June 2023 show at the Gorge Amphitheatre, which is being rebroadcast alongside this episode.) Things we talked about in this episode: Joni Mitchell Brandi Carlile The Hollywood Bowl Variety magazine review of the Hollywood Bowl shows “Echoes through the Canyon” shows at the Gorge Amphitheatre, June 9-11, 2023  The Artists:  Abe Rounds Allison Russell Annie Lennox Ben Lusher Blake Mills Celisse Henderson Elton John Jon Batiste Josh Neumann Lucius Marcus Mumford Mark Isham Meryl Streep  Phil Hanseroth Rick Whitfield Rita Wilson Robin Pecknold  Sista Strings Taylor Goldsmith Taylor Mackall Tim Hanseroth Wendy & Lisa Episode Credits:  Please be sure to listen to the companion documentary-length Episode 16, One Weekend Last Summer, with Roberta and Andrea’s trip