The Balance Dilemma

Author Patricia Dunn demonstrates how real life often is stranger than fiction. This Bronx-bred Italian woman ended up in California, a Muslim, arrested, and a single mom - although not necessarily all at the same time. Pat’s experiences inspired her latest novel LAST STOP ON THE SIX . . . though it took 25 years to finish. Find out why and what we can learn about persistence and pivots. And aspir...

New York Times best selling author Frank Schaeffer introduces his latest book, “Fall in Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy”, a post-coronavirus “blueprint” for social changes needed to put living ahead of work. Schaeffer also explains why he - a 68 year old heterosexual male - wants to be a ‘mother’.  And it has nothing to do with gende...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the latest statistics, one in every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. T.J. Hills is one of those women. In her new book Sex, Drugs, Babies and Breast Cancer: Health Benefits of Estrogen Gene Testing , she shares her personal story. What put her (and other women) at risk and how it might have been avoided, are just some of...

Lawyer, wife, mother, and embodiment of the American dream. Carol’s parents immigrated to the United States in search of a better life for their family. It’s an amazing story that Carol shares with us. In her professional life, Carol not only represents clients but is committed to bringing up other women, through mentoring and advocacy. Learn how she and her family navigated the pandemic, between...

Born and bred in East Texas with roots on a cattle ranch, artist Melinda Buie came to New York after college to pursue her artistic dreams. Before establishing her own studio in Port Chester, NY, Melinda worked for the Whitney Museum of American Art, Gluckman Mayner Architects, and The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation. Now the mother of two school-age boys, Melinda shares with us the path to...

Hosts Maura Carlin and Christie Derrico return to the studio to begin the second season of The Balance Dilemma. They catch up on summer fun - it includes a RV trip - and discuss going forward. Lessons from prior guests, expected future guests, and more research are all on tap in this episode. Episode originally aired live on WVOX-AM on September 16, 2021.

This amazing woman pursued a career in foreign service that enabled her to also serve herself, her family, and the world. Carlotta Ferrero's career has taken her to conflict zones around the world, including Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Her most recent assignment put her in Saudi Arabia with her family. Hear how she parlayed her resume of policy development, justice reform, peace b...

Loretta McCarthy, Managing Partner of Golden Seeds LLC, provides our listeners with an Investment 101 recap that includes how to fund your dream venture or someone else’s, through Golden Seeds’ network of venture capital angel investors. Venture capital v. private equity. Stages of development. Whether this route of entrepreneurship can provide balance. We discuss it all. Plus, learn how you can a...

Tech gave Pat Sigmon a career and future, long before ‘women in tech’ was a ‘thing’. Following multiple pivots and reinventions, now she’s giving back, as a professor, mentor, advisor and judge in ‘Shark Tank’ like college competitions. With a degree in computer science (earned at night while raising children) and after working at a large company, she founded her own company. Thirty or so years la...

Where are we going and how shall we get there? Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, tackles both of these questions from the perspective of life, travel, and career. Born, bred, and educated in Ireland, Audrey came to the United States after winning the U.S. Visa lottery. What she thought might be a fun year of travel, turned into what is now a 20+ year career at American Express....

Suzanna Keith and Sonal Rinello explain how hellocareerguru.com - a career trainer using artificial intelligence (AI) - can help you navigate the corporate lattice. This new technology application - built by women, for women - provides personalized coaching. In this episode, not only do Suzanna and Sonal share personal stories but also explain how a customized career game plan is your ticket to fu...

David L. Marcus is an admissions coach, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, author, and devoted father. As an admissions coach, Dave helps each student find the right college, or grad school, as well as assisting those who decide that college is not the right path. He works with students of all backgrounds and aspirations. He's also coached many students whose parents are going through divorces, jo...

Daniel Carlin, producer of Tony Nominated Slave Play , and Wednesday Derrico, Executive Director of Experimental Bitch Presents (EBP ), tell their stories as young performers to professionals in the entertainment biz. Hear when and what to expect as the curtain rises for the return of in-person Broadway theater. And, of course, they share thoughts about success and balance. BTW, consider this the...

Elaine DiCostanzo tells us about hitting the refresh button on her career, with the help of a returnship program. Both an attorney and a medical doctor, she opted to stay home and raise her children. Fast-forward nearly 20 years later, Elaine returned to the workforce. But what field did she choose, law or medicine? You’ll have to listen in for her decision and how she did it.

Dr. Tahira DuPree Chase has over 25 years of experience as an educator, author, leader, public speaker and full-time mom. She currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Greenburgh Central Seven district in Westchester County, New York for which she was nominated the Top 25 Superintendents to Watch National Award.

From a farm in Oklahoma with dreams of Broadway and show business, not only did Heather Capelle make it to stage, screen, cruises and Disney . . . but now she’s preparing a new generation. From her story, you’ll hear about Disney University (yes, it’s a real thing), the life of an actor, and her mission as Owner and Artistic Director of Artistree Performing Arts in Mamaroneck, NY . Did life on a f...

What happens when a woman takes over the restaurant kitchen? She can stand the heat . . . but where’s the balance when you are Chief, Cook and Bottlewasher. Hear Anna Maria’s story from immigrant to Executive Chef for NYC’s Gracie Mansion to Chef/Owner of her own establishments. Larchmont, NY lost out when she sold Anna Maria’s Restaurant, but Rye won with her Anna Maria’s Wine Bar which opened we...

In a dual career family, do two equal careers with relatively equal hours, responsibilities and income, lead to balance? We pose that question to guest Stefan Kuczinski, since he and his wife are both teachers in Westchester County, NY raising two daughters. Moreover, Stefan was an early adopter of the benefits of paternity leave and shares his experience.

Katherine Frankel was born in Australia, attended school in France, returned to Australia and completed a law degree. She worked as a flight attendant for an international airline before moving to management and implementing new equal opportunity laws. Katherine then emigrated to the US where she worked as entrepreneur/business owner and journalist. She retired at 38 to write and travel.

Dr. Christine Whelan is a clinical professor in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is the author of several books including "Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women" and "Generation WTF."

Leslie Josel, an ADHD-student and parenting coach, is an award-winning entrepreneur, having founded Order Out Of Chaos – an organization whose mission is to help parents guide their students to success in learning and in life.

Toni Cortese spent 25 years working on Wall Street . . . in the proverbial “boys club business.” She discusses what it was like being a woman there, raising a family, how to make it work . . . and how she left and pivoted to a new career. Aspects of Toni’s Wall Street life are reminiscent of the heroine in the book, “I Don’t Know How She Does It.” Alternatively, what went on around her might have...

During the holidays, a lot of celebrations are centered around indulgent eating and drinking, so we were eager to sit down and chat with Dr. Bruce Bloom of Bloom Metabolic Insights . This timely conversation about functional medicine, metabolic health, diet, and nutrition was so informative and insightful.

We sit down with Michelle Gross to discuss career changes, building a business from the ground up, fitness, managing her daughter's performing arts career, balancing all of this with family, and more!

In Episode 4, we sat down with the amazing rower, teacher, and coach John Brisson! We discussed everything from his multiple career paths to taking care of the home front - and of course, parenting with his wife Jo, who is a rockstar surgeon and mother!