Current Episode

Episode 54: Columbia University Professor Dr Peter Coleman: Conflict: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
What if the key to resolving conflict isn’t avoiding it, but learning to navigate it better? Columbia University professor Dr. Peter Coleman thinks so. An expert in constructive conflict resolution and a sustainable peace expert, he’s explored the forces that drive conflict, from our families and workplaces to communities and nations. Join Roberta as she and Dr. Coleman discuss how even our deepest disagreements can be navigated with greater wisdom, adaptability, and understanding.

Episode 54: Columbia University Professor Dr Peter Coleman: Conflict: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
What if the key to resolving conflict isn’t avoiding it, but learning to navigate it better? Columbia University professor Dr. Peter Coleman thinks so. An expert in constructive conflict resolution and a sustainable peace expert, he’s explored the forces that drive conflict, from our families and workplaces to communities and nations. Join Roberta as she and Dr. Coleman discuss how even our deepest disagreements can be navigated with greater wisdom, adaptability, and understanding.
Past Episodes

Episode 17: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: Learning to Be Brave
“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.

Episode 16: One Weekend This Summer: Our Time in the Canyon with Joni, Brandi & 27,000 Friends
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.”

Episode 15: String Thing Studio Founder Felicia Eve
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.

Episode 14: Writer Ben Greenman
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.

Episode 13: Oprah’s Book Club Director Leigh Haber
Publishing icon, editor, and former Vice President of Book at O magazine, Leigh Haber joins us this episode to discuss books, writers, audiences, and the connections between them. Join host Roberta Panjwani as we 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.

Episode 12: Actor Robert Sean Leonard
What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? These are the questions that Tony Award winning actor Robert Sean Leonard grapples with. Join him and Roberta as they talk about his work as an actor and some of the artists he’s collaborated with. Wondering why that name sounds familiar? You might recognize Robert as Neil Perry from Dead Poets Society, Dr. James Wilson in House MD, or onstage as Edmund on O’Neill’s A Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
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

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,”

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

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

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

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.

Episode 27: J.D. Jackson: To Act You Have to Listen (Rebroadcast)
As we prepare for our special Camp Stories episode in August, we wanted to take a look back at our very first episode that aired on May 18, 2022 featuring J.D. Jackson.
J.D. is an award-winning audiobook narrator with 400 credits to his name and counting. A 2020 inductee

Episode 26: Danielle Cohen: Sustainable Nutrition and Community Connection Founder and President (SNACC)
Ridgewood resident Danielle Cohen embraces not only the importance of eating high quality food, but also of culinary education. Danielle created SNACC, an after-school youth development program that provides weekly at-home cooking lessons led by professional chefs, helping students create healthy and eclectic dishes. Danielle knows top-grade food can impact

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

Episode 24: Singer/Songwriter, Sherma Andrews: “Messenger of Hope”
From Trinidad and Tobago to the world stage, Sherma Andrews’ journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Starting at Boston’s Berklee School of Music, she’s played with some of the greats at venues like Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden, leaving audiences spellbound. Roberta talks to Sherma about some of her