A Bend in the Road

Episode 49: Anna Quindlen: Live from the Friends Foundation Author Luncheon

At the beginning of April, the Ridgewood Library Friends Foundation hosted their 36th Annual Author Luncheon with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anna Quindlen. It sold out - 416 tickets! - in an unprecedented 5 days. We are so pleased that Anna allowed us to publish her interview and talk from the event, moderated by host Roberta Panjwani. We talked about her book More Than Enough, aging, the joy of getting older, living in the moment, and how reading makes us greater and more human, because it requires us to walk in someone else’s shoes. Things we talked about in this episode:  * Anna Quindlen’s Fiction and Nonfiction Books [https://annaquindlen.net/] * One True Thing film [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=ef5fb46a2a3e8e1b&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1063US1063&sxsrf=ANbL-n7YQ-XlfrGtHRawMSwzalnAk517gQ:1776200379592&q=one+true+thing+film&si=AL3DRZHCeZEsX3-CsvvLZIg5Ht46cyUzA0fYCRQMGNqToBgFzPfocYgjpxHM3gonOOO4SNU1KZwFQc4ifvJUo4l8cpbq_zocgKtxNMWxTMkaYWgv2IaUvlY%3D&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwiasrOFnu6TAxWmMlkFHRdeNHoQyNoBKAB6BAgPEAA&ictx=1&biw=1920&bih=919&dpr=1]  * Pulitzer Prize [https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/anna-quindlen]  * New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/anna-quindlen] writing * Villanova Commencement Speech [https://www.cs.oswego.edu/~wender/quindlen.html] (2000) * Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour in Vogue [https://www.vogue.com/article/meryl-streep-anna-wintour-may-cover-2026-interview]; interviewed by Greta Gerwig * Author Amy Bloom [https://www.amybloom.com/] * Author Jennifer Egan [https://jenniferegan.com/] * Author Maggie O’Farrell [https://www.maggieofarrell.com/] * Author Tana French [https://tanafrench.com/] * Friends Foundation of the Ridgewood Public Library [https://www.supportridgewoodlibrary.org/] Episode Credits * Our thanks to the Friends Foundation of the Ridgewood Public Library for putting on an outstanding author luncheon and supporting the library in such meaningful ways.  * A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims. * Our Assistant Producer for this episode is Elias Rosner. * Our Editor is Kaleigh Diamond with additional edits by Elias Rosner. * Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner. * Our Digital Media Producers are Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond.  * Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. * Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Episode 48: Author Russell Shorto: Taking Manhattan

This month Roberta talks to Russell Shorto about his new book Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America, which drawing on deep archival research to offer a fresh take on America’s beginnings and the transfer of power in the region from the Dutch to the British.  Rebecca Fraser of the Times Literary Supplement says of the book: "Shorto is earnest, humorous, intellectual, intense and high-minded. . . Any reader curious about New York, and the unique energy and warmth of its inhabitants, will be fascinated by Russell Shorto’s highly enjoyable reconstruction of Manhattan Island’s transition to English rule." Things we talked about in this episode: * New Netherland Institute [https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/] * Island at the Center of the World [https://www.si.edu/object/island-center-world-epic-story-dutch-manhattan-and-forgotten-colony-shaped-america-russell-shorto:siris_sil_799576] * The New Amsterdam Project at The New York Historical [https://www.nyhistory.org/library/the-new-amsterdam-project] * New York Historical Museum: ld Masters, New Amsterdam [https://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/old-masters-and-new-amsterdam] (May 1 to August 30, 2026.) This first-of-its-kind exhibition uses the paintings of Rembrandt and his contemporaries to help us envision life in the little Dutch settlement that would become New York. Ridgewood Library cardholders, reserve free NY Historical passes here [https://ridgewoodlibrary.org/library-services/museum-passes/]!  * Rancho Mirage Writers Festival [https://rmwritersfest.org/] Episode Credits: * For more information about Russell, his books and writings, and tour schedule, please visit russellshorto.com [http://russellshorto.com]. * A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims. * Our Assistant Producer and Editor for this episode is Elias Rosner. * Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti and Elias Rosner. * Our Digital Media Producers are Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond. * Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. * Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Episode 47: Author and Podcaster Adnan Virk: Let's Go to the Movies!

This month on A Bend in the Road, Roberta is joined by broadcaster, film critic, and host of the Cinephile podcast Adnan Virk for a lively deep dive into the movies that matter now. Known for his sharp insights and contagious love of cinema, Virk brings his passion, encyclopedic knowledge, and signature blend of humor to talk Oscars buzz, under-the-radar gems, the state of movie theaters, streaming’s impact on film culture, and the performances everyone will be arguing about this year. Things We Talked About * Adnan Virk's podcast, Cinephile with Adnan Virk (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2hn7m9ux5J7RCbVPUIaBGe], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cinephile-with-adnan-virk/id1117459728]) * Adnan Virk’s book, Cinephile: Interviews, Essays, and Tales from the Red Carpet [https://www.amazon.com/Cinephile-Interviews-Essays-Carpet-Stories/dp/1684818540] (You can also borrow a copy [https://rgwdkiosk.search.bccls.org/search/card?id=8217ef21-9a6d-56bc-9c70-13cd0864b3e5&entityType=FormatGroup] from the Ridgewood Public Library!) * 2026 Academy Award Nominations [https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2026] Referenced Films * Good Fellas * Taxi Driver * Mean Streets * End of the Affair * Blue Moon * Train Dreams * The Last Temptation of Christ * The Royal Tenenbaums * Citizen Kane * The Magnificent Ambersons * Silence * Hugo * The King of Comedy * Raging Bull * Dead Poets Society * Boyhood * First Reform * Ash Wednesday * True West * Before Sunrise Trilogy * The Substance * Poor Things * Bugonia * Moonlight * Green Book * Battleship Potemkin * One False Move * The Man Who Wasn’t There * Fargo * Secrets and Lies * Hard Truce * First Reformed * Affliction * I, Tonya * Barbie * Wolf of Wall Street * Lady Bird * Magnolia * There Will Be Blood * Boogie Nights * Uncut Gems * A Complete Unknown * Call Me By Your Name * Field of Dreams * Walk the Line * Bohemian Rhapsody * Rocketman * Song Sung Blue * Sweet Dreams * Deliver Me From Nowhere * The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Episode Credits * A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims. * Our Assistant Producer for this episode is me, Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond.  * Our Editors are Roberta Panjwani and Elias Rosner.  * Our Technical Directors and Audio Engineers are Matt Giannotti, John Lubas, and Elias Rosner. * Our Digital Media Producers are Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond. * Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. * Our thanks to Kaleigh for joining us in the studio today. * The clip of “Hooray for Hollywood,” written by Johnny Mercer and performed by Rosemary Clooney, is courtesy of Concord Jazz, Taxi Driver is courtesy of Columbia Pictures Entertainment and One Battle After Another is courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

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. Things We Talked About This Episode * Laurie Gwen Shapiro [https://lauriegwenshapiro.com/] and her writings * Amelia greets the press after landing in Hawaii in January 1935 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adtxXNcvu8U]  * Amelia Earhart’s Speech: “A Woman’s Place in Science (20th Century Time Machine [https://www.youtube.com/@20thCenturyTimeMachine] Episode Credits * A Bend in the Road is written, hosted, and produced by Roberta Panjwani and created by Roberta Panjwani and Diane Sims. * Our Assistant Producer for this episode is me, 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 Producers are Elias Rosner and Kaleigh Diamond.  * Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims. * The clip of Amelia’s remarks from 1935 after landing in Hawaii is courtesy of Historicus Joe. The clip from Amelia’s “A Woman’s Place in Science Speech” is courtesy of 20th Century Time Machine.  * Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas.

Episode 45: Author Gretchen Rubin: Get Happy (Rebroadcast)

Kick off the new year with a special rebroadcast of episode 18! 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 [https://gretchenrubin.com/books/]: Life in Five Senses, The Four Tendencies, The Happiness Project, and more. * Podcasts [https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/]: Get Happier and More Happier with Gretchen Rubin * Happier [https://thehappierapp.com/] app * The Happiness Project [https://the-happiness-project.com/] * Quizzes [https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/]: The Four Tendencies and Five Senses * Metropolitan Museum of Art [https://www.metmuseum.org/] 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 Sims * Our 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 Rosner * Original Music is written and performed by Diane Sims * Our Digital Media producer is Elias Rosner * Logo and Website created by Parker Gaidimas * Special 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 [http://gretchenrubin.com/].