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Episode 46: Author Laurie Gwen Shapiro

What really happened inside the marriage that helped turn Amelia Earhart into a legend? That’s the question author Laurie Gwen Shapiro sought to answer in her new book: The Aviator and the Showman. Through newly uncovered letters and archival material, she reexamines the partnership between Amelia Earhart and George Putnam, revealing a marriage far more complex, modern, and strategic than the myths suggest.

Join host Roberta as she sits down with Laurie to discuss this riveting book, Amelia’s life, and the ambition, gender, power, and fame of early 20th-century America.

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Episode 46: Author Laurie Gwen Shapiro

What really happened inside the marriage that helped turn Amelia Earhart into a legend? That’s the question author Laurie Gwen Shapiro sought to answer in her new book: The Aviator and the Showman. Through newly uncovered letters and archival material, she reexamines the partnership between Amelia Earhart and George Putnam, revealing a marriage far more complex, modern, and strategic than the myths suggest.

Join host Roberta as she sits down with Laurie to discuss this riveting book, Amelia’s life, and the ambition, gender, power, and fame of early 20th-century America.

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Past Episodes

Episode 33: Melissa Davey: Filmmaker on a Mission

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.

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Episode 32: Joni Mitchell @ the Hollywood Bowl

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

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Episode 31: Directors Pete Davis and Rebecca Davis

Director siblings Pete Davis and Rebecca Davis are on a mission! A mission to get you to join a club. A mission, based on the groundbreaking work of legendary social scientist Bob Putnam, that led them to make a documentary: Join or Die: a film about why you should join a club … and why the fate of America might depend on it. They stopped by to talk to Roberta about this hopeful and engaging film and how it explores the power of coming together, the importance of real-life connections, and how joining groups can transform communities. Don’t miss out on this thought-provoking conversation! Things we talked about in this episode: Join or Die: A film about why you should join a club…and why the fate of America depends on it. Bowling Alone by Bob Putnam Episode Credits: Our thanks to Pete Davis and Rebecca Davis for joining us today.  You can learn all about the film, team, and how to attend or host a community screening at joinordiefilm.com.   To read more about Dr Bob Putnam and his book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community please visit bowlingalone.com.  You can follow Pete on twitter @PeteDDavis, and subscribe

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Episode 30: Ben Avery, Australian Journalist/True Crime Podcast Host

In April 1994, Anthea Bradshaw married her high school sweetheart in a beautiful Adelaide wedding. 96 days later, she was found lifeless in a pool of blood, in Brunei, South East Asia, half a world away from home. This month, Roberta talks with Ben Avery, an Australian journalist and host of the Just Married podcast, who is investigating what really happened to Anthea and dives into our love, and obsession, with True Crime.

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Episode 29: Live at RPL: Davy Rothbart’s FOUND Tour

Join the FOUND Magazine crew for a raucous celebration of the best lost, tossed and forgotten items from across the country. Davy Rothbart — bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and frequent presence on NPR’s This American Life — shares his all-time favorite finds, while his brother Peter, a rising folk music star, performs exquisite (and rowdy) songs based on found notes. The Rothbart Bros. are joined by world-famous sword swallower and magician Brett Loudermilk, winner of America’s Got Talent. Roberta talked with the gang before the live show which was filmed at the Ridgewood Public Library for an upcoming TV documentary series, Executive Produced by Mark Duplass (The Morning Show; The League) & Jay Duplass. Details to come! Things we talked about in this episode: Found Magazine & TourDavy Rothbar on This American Life: Mr Rothbart’s Neighborhood: I Found Your Letter; Bad Morning America  Peter Rothbart’s YouTube Channel Episode Credits: Our thanks to Davy Rothbart, Peter Rothbart, Brett Loudermilk, and their crew for joining us in the studio today  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

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Episode 28: Camp Stories

Inspired by This American Life’s “Notes on Camp” episode, we asked you for camp stories, and you delivered! Roberta listens to memories of summer days spent at camps, and see how a few short weeks can leave impressions for a lifetime.

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Past Episodes

Episode 25: Author Mary Beth Keane

The New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes, stopped by the Ridgewood Library for an author event to discuss her latest novel The Half Moon about a couple in a small town navigating the complexities of marriage, family, and longing. Host Roberta Panjwani–and audience members–asked Mary Beth about

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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

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Gretchen Rubin Featured

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

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