August 28, 2025 • 30 mins
iHeartMedia Chicago presents the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast, hosted by Angela Ingram, iHeart Chicago's SVP of Public Engagement and produced by iHeart Chicago’s Paulina Roe. Angela hosts inspiring conversations with some of Chicago’s top women executives. Karen Cardarelli, Executive Director of FACETS Film Forum, joined Angela and ROCK 95.5’s Maria Palmer for the latest episode.
Since 2020, Karen Cardarelli has served as Executive Director of FACETS Film Forum, navigating the organization through the passing of its founder, reopening after the pandemic and launch of Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals. She is now ushering the organization through its 50th Anniversary celebration and fundraising campaign. Karen formerly worked in Chicago’s theater sector and served on the League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors. Currently, she proudly serves on the iHeartMedia Chicago Local Advisory Board and as the Board President of the Film Festival Alliance.
Check out the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast and be inspired! The Women Inspire Chicago podcast is sponsored by @Potbelly.
Connect with Karen Cardarelli:
IG, X, Facebook and YouTube - @facetschicago
https://www.facebook.com/karen.cardarelli
https://www.instagram.com/cardarellikaren/
Since 2020, Karen Cardarelli has served as Executive Director of FACETS Film Forum, navigating the organization through the passing of its founder, reopening after the pandemic and launch of Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals. She is now ushering the organization through its 50th Anniversary celebration and fundraising campaign. Karen formerly worked in Chicago’s theater sector and served on the League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors. Currently, she proudly serves on the iHeartMedia Chicago Local Advisory Board and as the Board President of the Film Festival Alliance.
Check out the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast and be inspired! The Women Inspire Chicago podcast is sponsored by @Potbelly.
Connect with Karen Cardarelli:
IG, X, Facebook and YouTube - @facetschicago
https://www.facebook.com/karen.cardarelli
https://www.instagram.com/cardarellikaren/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
iHeartMedia Chicago presents the Women Inspire Chicago podcast, hosted by
Angela Ingram, iHeart Chicago's SVP of Public Engagement and produced
by iHeart Chicago's Paulina Roux. Angela hosts inspiring conversations with
some of Chicago's top women executives, and this week, Karen Carterrelli,
executive director of Facets Film Form, joins Angela and of
(00:21):
Rock ninety five fives Maria Palmer for the latest episode.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, Karen Carterrelly, welcome to Women Inspire Chicago.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We are so excited to have you. Now. You have
got to feel special because we have a studio full
of women today for you, just for you.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Kay.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Feel slightly embarrassed, but very no, no, no, be embarrassed.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Hey, it comes with the territory, you know. When Hey,
when you're a great leader, this is what happens. We
have Maria Palmer, who is the co host of the
morning mosh Pitt on Rock ninety five to five, and
Paulina Roux, who is the executive producer. You just got
to prome, Okay, said a woman inspired Chicago and a
(01:05):
morning show contributor for the nationally syndicated The Fridge Show
That's heard in Chicago on one on three five. Kiss.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I am amazing, amazing A power group here.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
A power group professionals, of course, caer Wy. Don't you
share a little bit about your background for sure?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Well, I have had many years in the arts here
in Chicago and have lived here for thirty five years,
and I feel like I've grown up. You know, I
moved here as an adult and got married, but I
feel like I've grown up in Chicago. Started out in advertising, actually,
and around the time I was getting close to turning thirty,
(01:47):
realized that I did not see my future here. I
wasn't feeling the passion that I thought I should, that
I deserved to feel my day job, and went on
on to form a theater company, Emerald City Theater Company.
I co founded it with my husband and served families
(02:09):
and young children. And then about five years ago, felt
like I was ready for the next adventure and made
the leap into independent cinema, art house cinema, and I'm
the executive director of Facets Film Forum. You're in Lincoln Park.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Well, congratulations, you followed your dream and I think we
first encountered each other when you were an Emerald City
Theater and you know, once I meet someone, I tend
not to let them go.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
So now there you.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Are an active member of that I heard media Chicago
Local Advisory Board. You'll never be able to leave us.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
But it is a threat.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
That's warm, that's a warm, fuzzy pro that's a promise.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
But you know, it's great to have you as a
part of that board because that's where we come together
on a quarterly basis and talk about the issues that
are affecting the great city which we live, work and play,
and how as a collective group that we can make
a difference. And so you have been an integral part
of our board and so we are so very thankful
for you and grateful thank you for that.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
You know, it's I'm involved in a lot of groups,
but no group like that one. And it is a
rare moment for an arts person to sit in a
room with incredibly smart, passionate people who are thinking about
all aspects of the lives of Chicagoans. And you know,
I hear about a lot of social issues, social justice
(03:35):
issues that don't cross my path every day, and often
in that room, I'm kind of bewildered as to what's
my art's contribution to this conversation. But you force that
to happen, you welcome that to happen, and I think
(03:55):
that it's extraordinary, an extraordinary experience.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, thank you. I know that you have a heart
and a passion for the arts, So why don't you
share why you feel they're so important, particularly not only
in our city, but certainly in the schools.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, yeah, why are the arts so important? You know?
I have My dedication to the arts started with youth
arts for youth. I was a youth working in a
professional theater for young audiences in Ohio, and that's where
I developed my love for theater. So I wasn't even
(04:28):
thinking the arts so much. I was thinking theater. And
there are very few occasions in our life where many
people gather and have a shared experience where there's ideas
flowing and character and story different than sports, right, Like
sports are so important, but this is different. And as
(04:52):
a youth going through that training and then eventually founding
a theater company, I found nothing more rewarding than being
with a collaborative group that made this happen, made this
moment happen where all these families come together and have
this shared experience with their children. And I can recall
(05:13):
we especially focused on the families with younger children, like
under the age of twelve, and you know, the lights
would go down and the stage lights would come up,
and the story would begin, and these wonderful characters are
coming along and you see children feeling feelings, You see
them feeling excitement, and you rooting for you know, their
(05:34):
hero and climbing into their mom's lap, And like, I
would feel so proud that this art form helped make
that connection happen in a family, in a community. And
I think that that's just what keeps driving me when
it comes to arts, is that we're creating these connections.
That is a form of community. Maybe that only lasts
(05:56):
for an hour, you know, but it helps us all
feel like we have a sense of purpose when we
can be a part of a community like that. And
I think that's then, you know, when you're starting to
work in the schools, you're taking these experiences to the schools,
that becomes even more important. We can get our children
stopping looking at their screens and looking at each other
(06:18):
and looking at like people and having this shared moment.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Maria Palmer is going to host you this afternoon in
the iHeart Sound Studio for sixty minute conversation with the
women of iHeartMedia Chicago and other women in the community
to have this conversation about your leadership in the arts community.
This is something that is an integral part of what
we do here at iHeart in terms of Women Inspire
(06:44):
Chicago as we make connections and so the podcast is
just one element of the overall initiative of Women Inspire Chicago.
So we're looking forward to the after effect. I guess
I should say we'll say party, but the after effect
of this. But when we look your history, you are
really into community building at every level. And why don't
(07:07):
you talk about some of the other boards and organizations
that you are part of?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Now, Yeah, thank you, well, I was I wasn't thinking
about this quite so much. The iHeart Local Advisory Board
really started me thinking about how I can do more
so rewarding being a part of producing live theater, but
there's there's more to do when you can be thinking
(07:33):
about a sector and a larger a larger community. And
I think the next milestone for me and thinking about
that was the former Commissioner of the Department of Cultural
Affairs and Special Events, Mark Kelly. He established the Year
of Chicago Theater and I was invited on to that
planning group and for a year we just thought about
(07:56):
not just our own company and you know, can I
win that grant? And you know, did we have a
good audience today? Suddenly you're lifted up and you're thinking
about a whole sector and you care about each other.
You know, that becomes the goal and like I got
the bug. I was like, I want more of that,
and was after that welcomed onto the Board of Directors
(08:18):
of the League of Chicago Theaters. So to continue that
thinking about the sector and what a remarkable thing that
Chicago has done to become known globally as an important
theater town. Yes, and what that's done for not just
the culture and telling diverse stories and helping all of
(08:39):
us in some form see ourselves up on the stage,
but economically it's been important for Chicago. Like, suddenly I'm
starting to think about those things and how they all interact.
And that was very rewarding to get to serve on
that board. And then as I took the leap into film,
I shifted my attention there and what I saw in
(09:02):
the independent film community here in Chicago. You know, Chicago
is kind of following that footsteps of film now becoming
this huge, growing filmtown and it's an economic driver, but
the film community was very siloed. Whereas the theater community, actors, directors,
designers would all come together quite often, the film community
(09:23):
very siloed. Filmmakers over here and the union's over here,
and the film festivals over here. And I was hearing
people like describe that and say that there's something wrong here,
and I had just I just saw how theater did it,
and so I was like perfect place, perfect time, right person.
(09:44):
And I brought forward the idea that we create an alliance,
and it's the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals, which is
a program of facets, but it's the whole ecosystem of
film festivals, which is the independent cinemas, you know, music
books and Geene Cisco. It is the film festivals like
Chicago International and Black Harvest, and it's filmmakers who want
(10:08):
to you know, get to know those people. And so
it's been I wouldn't have thought that that would be
my path, you know, but I think I just that
my life experiences are putting me in the right place,
and it's just so personally rewarding to get to help
make those things happen.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I think that is true for all of us. Our
life experiences lead us wherever you know, God desires for
us to be. But Maria is obviously interested in theater
and film, and she leads.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
A you're very theatrical.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
She's very theatrical leads.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
She's on the stage every morning. So we certainly want
to hear from you as to the comments that Karen
has made about the importance of.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
The arts, and oh my gosh, well, I've have much
to say on the time that I certainly discuss more
post podcast, But especially when you were talking about bringing
it to youth and seeing how kids react to theater,
I think it's so cool psychologically too, because it teaches
kids empathy. If they don't have that sort of environment
(11:13):
that's teaching them that already, they can step into another
story and just know that there's another way to be,
or there's another perspective out there that, especially at that
age when your world is whatever your parents or caregivers
are creating for you, it gives them that other sense
of Oh, it's not just this, And I think that
(11:34):
that's such a cool thing. And I imagine that you
saw that as well.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Yeah. Empathy, yeah, number one empathy. You know, we would
also hear that it was an extraordinary experience for students
to leave their neighborhood and go to a physical, other
location and into an extraordinary space like a theater. That's
not something that is a regular part of life, you know,
(11:59):
And so even that was exciting. But I especially love
when a child gets to the age where they don't
want to just see it anymore. They don't want to
just be in the audience. Now, they want to do it. Yes,
they want to come up with the story and they
want to perform it and have that theater full of
friends and family come and show up for them.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Yes, and I.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
Love too that theater for me, especially theater the arts
in general. But that is the magic in the world.
Do you know when people talk about feeling those things
and wanting this extraordinary thing, they're thinking of theater. They're
thinking of those feelings that you can create. And I
don't know a single child that had been to a
theater when they were kids, but that wasn't a core.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Memory for them. Yeah, they didn't remember that for the
rest of their lives.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
It's the first time it's like whoa, not just lights,
camera action, but just I'm feeling with the audience and
all these people around me, and I'm connecting to this
actor on stage that isn't even you know, playing themselves.
They're playing this completely different person, but they are that
completely different person. And just all that connection and all
that magic, and you take that from the theater into
(13:08):
your real life because you want to replicate those feelings.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yeah. Eventually, one of my favorite productions that we did,
so I didn't mention that I was. I did a
year long improv training program and went into a Second
City's training program, and so at a certain point started
to infuse the lessons of improv into what we were
producing on stage. And we created a production that was
(13:36):
Doctor SEUs inspired and incorporated improv, and it would allow
the audience to help tell the story, to give their
ideas the way you often find it Second City. When
they asked for a suggestion, we were able to apply
some of those things. And that's when like that was
incredible magic. That's a professional actor and a child in
(13:57):
the audience and they're working together to create a story.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Yeah, and like you can see the kids kind of
get it, like they understand what's happening.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
That is so cool in general too.
Speaker 6 (14:05):
Like watching those little minds yeah develop, and like because
sometimes when adults, when it's the first time they're being
introduced to theater, they don't really maybe not understand it.
I'm sure that they understand, but it's scary, you know,
and it's vulnerable to sort of stick your neck out there.
And then you can just see these kids and they
(14:26):
don't even think about it being vulnerable or embarrassing.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
They're just like, I want it on whatever this is.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
They remember how to play. We forget our sense of
play as we get older.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
Yeah, that's so real.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
Okay, so so you go from theater to film? How
does that happen?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
It was because of youth Facets has been producing the
Chicago International Children's Film Festival for forty years. It's a
globally known film festival. It's Academy Award qualifying, which means
that you know, this is professional filmmaker submitting their films
(15:03):
to be invited into the festival and potentially to win
an award. And when they do win an award, that
means they automatically make the long list of an Academy
Award nomination.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
So it's an extraordinary honor to get to like help
potentially a young filmmaker, a newer filmmaker make an important
leap forward. So Academy Award qualifying film festival, so the
work submitted is extraordinary. That film festival was what I
(15:35):
knew about facets. I didn't know you know, other programs,
but I knew about that one because of my work
at Emerald City Theater. I had a young daughter. I
had sent her to the camp and we had attended
the festival. So that was our starting point was I
had this experience with families and youth and the education system,
and that's where our conversations began.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
Okay, so in film versus working in theater, what do
you like more?
Speaker 5 (16:04):
What do you like?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Gosh?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I know it's a loaded question, but on a podcast, Well,
I adore actors, but I don't adore being the executive director.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Actor.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
You don't want to be the mom.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
It's a lot. It's a lot. And we were producing
six seven shows a year, doing tours. There was a
lot going on and uh, you know, everyone needs to
be taken care of. So that's where a lot of
my attention was going. As you know, I'd always feel
that pressure of like I should really be out there fundraising.
But we have this you know issue.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Over here, a lot of personalities, a lot.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Of personalities, so that there aren't any actors and when
you're running an art house and someone else took care
of that, filmed them and handed us the film. You know, yeah,
so less people management in running an independent art house cinema.
(17:07):
But I will say like in theater, as I said,
we would produce about six shows a year, so you
have all year long to think about the six stories
you're going to tell, and you have all your long
to shape your messaging and you're supporting and thinking about
the production. And in art house cinema you're doing six
(17:28):
stories a week. You're you know, the films are flying, yeah,
and you don't have that same time to be that
thoughtful and to share with audiences all that maybe they
would like to know about the film. So very different
storytelling responsibility theater versus film.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Do you think that affects the product?
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I don't think so I hope it doesn't. I think
that the focus for us is different now with an
art house cinema, with Facets film form, we're thinking more
about the event of going to a film, your experience
of that evening, and how can we make it more
(18:15):
meaningful than not to put down our local commercial cinemas.
But sometimes they're kind of smelly and sometimes they're kind
of dirty, and sometimes nobody talks to you there, and
it's maybe a flat experience and less curated, you know,
kind of anything is on the screen. And what we
(18:36):
can do is create an environment where kind of like
we were describing about the theater, like you're with a
group of people, you know, strangers that intentionally came to
this film. It was it was thoughtfully selected, and you're
in a unique I mean, Facets is it's one hundred
and twenty five year old building, it's a fifty year
(18:56):
old organization. Extraordinary filmmakers have come through there and talked
to audiences like we weren't a Hertzog famously there not
too long ago. Lily Wachowski came by a few months
ago to talk about her work. Like that is where
we're focused is not only are we going to curate
these important films that you didn't know. You have to
(19:20):
see we also are, on occasion, going to connect you
to the filmmaker and give you an experience that you
will remember forever.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Oh that's so cool because I love the concept of
you're almost bringing theater to film.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
I mean, that's exactly.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Almost theater to film. Yeah, and I think it can
go even further. You know, I don't know about you all,
but I don't feel like my experience with a film
is complete until I've had a conversation about it. And
I think that that's what you can get at fassets
and at independent our houses is a place to linger
and talk, and the people around you are probably dying
(19:55):
to talk about.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
The story and share the story.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
As I sit here and listen to you, I stopped
counting the number of times that the word story came up.
And one of the important things that women inspire is
to share stories and storytelling. And so we wake up
one morning and all of a sudden, you are this
dynamic arts executive and you've always been in that chair.
(20:19):
But there are those of us who on the other
side that think, hmm, how did she get there? It
must have been an easy road. Reality is, it was
not an easy road, and you have not always been
at that chair, at the stage that you're in, and
you had all of these little steps in order to
get where you are today. So why don't you share
(20:39):
some of your pitfalls and some of your challenges and
what really drives you. Let's talk about Karen behind the scenes.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Oh my gosh, you know, I think that I am
an entrepreneur at hearts. My father was, my grandfather was
the first TV station manager in Pensacola, Florida in the
nineteen fifty whatever like it kind of runs in my family.
And I definitely, you know, at an early ish adult age,
(21:09):
formed of this theater company without having like the education
that says this is now what you should go do.
I didn't get an arts administration education. So it took
me a little while to realize that I needed to
take the responsibility of educating myself for whatever this company
(21:30):
was going to become, whatever was the leader I wanted
to be, and so I definitely needed to spend time
learning nonprofit financial management. But the bigger like this, the
education that's not done is leading people, leading culture, developing
(21:56):
a certain culture, a culture of feedback is what we're
focusing on. Right now in our organization, having learning how
to have vital conversations and hard and bold conversations, you know,
just as being a team leader, let alone a team participant.
This goes back to like managing actors, like I like,
(22:18):
oh my god, okay, these are not going to stop happening.
I have to learn how to do this well. And
you know they're not happy that they're only getting paid
ten dollars per show. I need to learn how to
talk about that and how to think about that. So
I think, like pitfalls would be, it took me longer
than I like to realize I needed to self educate.
(22:41):
I need to go and find the experts in the world.
And I needed to hold up a mirror and figure
out where I was lacking of knowledge. And so those
were the two big places that I focused on a lot.
For sure.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
How has your leadership grown over the years.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I felt it especially grow when I took the job
at Facets. You know, you kind of get this blank slate.
People don't know you, so I can I can portray
confidence that I don't feel, but I can act now
and they don't know that's what I'm doing. I definitely
(23:24):
feel myself talking less and listening more to inform better decisions.
And I feel myself now really comfortable with imparting authority
to others, giving that away. Sometimes people don't want it
(23:46):
and they you know, some of my team that to
build them up, like it's time and you can do
this and now this is going to be your job
to make these decisions.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Oh interesting, taking the like empowerment route versus the well
you have to do it.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, that's the mark of a great leader that you
are willing to delegate sometimes, you know, we get so
nervous about handing it off because what difference is. But
that's that's our charge as leaders, is to be able
to build up the next generation. Which brings me to
Paulina Rowe and Karen, what are your thoughts and what
(24:24):
advice would you have with Paulina as she's a next
generation of leaders in our industry.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Well, I would ask Paulina question for sure, like what
are what are the goals that you have Paulina?
Speaker 1 (24:40):
For me personally, I mean it truly is just to
grow as a media personality. And I feel like, you know,
everyone knows media has changed so much, you know, and
I feel like it's only going to continue to do so,
and it's so important to kind of be able to
you know, grow with it and speak to the audiences
in different ways. Right, So the audience is obviously on air,
but then the conversations continue on social Maria Palmer is
(25:03):
my social media start does She just like makes the
best content, and like learning from each other is so
important too, you know, coming up together and everything and
being able to like not gatekeep and share and stuff
and share resources and ideas that I think is just
so important. I feel like, especially as women, we really
need to stick together. So I think that's kind of
(25:24):
like my goal, right is just to be the best
version of myself.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And I had a baby a year and a half.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Ago, so I'm really like a new me and I'm
just you know, really trying to continue to grow in
every parts of my life.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah. Yeah, it's important.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
The you know the thing that maybe Paulini, you've been
thinking about this as you're kind of maybe seeing the
next ten years for yourself or whatever. It's interesting in
filming and media in the past five ten years, we've
seen that people artists are not waiting for their break making,
(26:00):
They're creating it.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
They're they're creating their own script story movie and they're
producing it themselves. They're not waiting for a studio to
pick it up, you know. And we've seen this with
some television hits. I think of Abbott Elementary, Yes, yeah, yeah,
my favorite, and you know, uh that stars the writer
(26:25):
directs and that is her story. Yeah right, And I
love that that's happening because then it's authentic, it's unique, right,
And I look at you, Paulina, and I wonder if
you think about that same thing like that, that you're
in a position to create shows, create whatever it is
you want. That's your voice, that is going to take
(26:47):
you to where you want to go every day.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
To be honest, I mean even I joke, but like
I feel like I've created even my own opportunity, right
Like on the morning show that I'm on, Like there
was no this was like eight nine years ago, there
was no position, Like I quite let just showed up,
you know, and I never laughed.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Like that's the true story.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I know that he was in her office. I was
sitting down hanging out. Everyone's like who is this girl?
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Like I was just going.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
In, you know and making my own way and creating,
like you said, opportunities and even like today, like I
think it's really important to have in my opinion, if
you do media like radio, to do like podcasting, right,
I think it's important to do social media.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Right.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
I know all these things take work, it's additional work,
but I think it's worth it at the end. So
I created a podcast. It's a mom podcast, but it's
a community that I've created as well, and we're having
like our first event next month. So like these little
steps that I'm taking, I'm hoping to like continue to
grow and like you said, I'm making my own lane
kind of in that space. So I think it's important.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
To do yeah. Yeah, and it's successful when you also,
I think have an ear to the people around you,
to the audiences, to the community. Yeah. I really enjoyed
with Emerald City and now watching how the audiences were behaving.
When were they bored? When did they seem like they
(28:04):
wanted something from us? You know, they're not going to
tell you, hey, I wish you had a more comfortable
lounge because I want to sit with my friends and
talk about this film we just saw. They're not going
to say that. But when they're all kind of just
clustering outside the cinema door and awkwardly in front of
the concession counter, and they're talking, talking, talking, and they
won't leave, you know, just watching, and then you suddenly
(28:25):
you see this need that no one could have named.
And I make that reference to the podcast that you've created,
like you're I think there's that empathy thing again. You're
you're connecting and watching and seeing what people need and
then you're figuring out how to fill that void.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Yeah, and you've written your own story.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
So when is the book coming out?
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And it's interesting because the event that we have after this,
the title is Behind the Curtain Beyond the Camera Leadership
Lessons from an Arts Executive. That's the title of your
new book.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
That is the title of me to.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Trademark that question. Now that we've made it public that
you have, you've written a beautiful story. I know that
the arts community in Chicago and really around the world
because you touch and feels so much, and you know,
Chicago is on the map, so people here and see
what you're doing. You're making a real difference in the community.
And it all started with Emerald City Theater, but it
(29:19):
also started with you opening up your mind and your
heart to create and to know that there was going
to be ups and downs and good days and bad days.
But the contribution that you're making to the arts community
in Chicago and beyond is phenomenal and so thank you,
Thank you for being a part of the Women Inspire
(29:40):
Chicago Podcast. We are looking forward to great things from
the Fastest film forum and celebration of fiftieth anniversary this year,
and so we know that you're all about fundraising for
that celebration. So where can people connect with you?
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yeah, well, facets dot org is our website and I'm
happy for people to go there and learn more about
the organization. And I am happy for people to reach
out to me at Karen at facets dot org. And
I'm hear more from the community of listeners. And so
incredibly grateful to you, Angela and the lab and iHeart
(30:18):
for so being so welcome and creating these forms for conversation.
How often do we get to just sit and talk
about stuff like this.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Thank you, Karen, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Thanks for listening to the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast, hosted
by Angela Ingram, produced by Paulina Rowe, presented by iHeartMedia
Chicago and sponsored by Potbelly.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Feed your group from small to larch with Potbelly Catering. Potbelly,
You've got to get it hot.
iHeartMedia Chicago presents the Women Inspire Chicago podcast, hosted by
Angela Ingram, iHeart Chicago's SVP of Public Engagement and produced
by iHeart Chicago's Paulina Roux. Angela hosts inspiring conversations with
some of Chicago's top women executives, and this week, Karen Carterrelli,
executive director of Facets Film Form, joins Angela and of
(00:21):
Rock ninety five fives Maria Palmer for the latest episode.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, Karen Carterrelly, welcome to Women Inspire Chicago.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We are so excited to have you. Now. You have
got to feel special because we have a studio full
of women today for you, just for you.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Kay.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Feel slightly embarrassed, but very no, no, no, be embarrassed.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Hey, it comes with the territory, you know. When Hey,
when you're a great leader, this is what happens. We
have Maria Palmer, who is the co host of the
morning mosh Pitt on Rock ninety five to five, and
Paulina Roux, who is the executive producer. You just got
to prome, Okay, said a woman inspired Chicago and a
(01:05):
morning show contributor for the nationally syndicated The Fridge Show
That's heard in Chicago on one on three five. Kiss.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I am amazing, amazing A power group here.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
A power group professionals, of course, caer Wy. Don't you
share a little bit about your background for sure?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Well, I have had many years in the arts here
in Chicago and have lived here for thirty five years,
and I feel like I've grown up. You know, I
moved here as an adult and got married, but I
feel like I've grown up in Chicago. Started out in advertising, actually,
and around the time I was getting close to turning thirty,
(01:47):
realized that I did not see my future here. I
wasn't feeling the passion that I thought I should, that
I deserved to feel my day job, and went on
on to form a theater company, Emerald City Theater Company.
I co founded it with my husband and served families
(02:09):
and young children. And then about five years ago, felt
like I was ready for the next adventure and made
the leap into independent cinema, art house cinema, and I'm
the executive director of Facets Film Forum. You're in Lincoln Park.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Well, congratulations, you followed your dream and I think we
first encountered each other when you were an Emerald City
Theater and you know, once I meet someone, I tend
not to let them go.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
So now there you.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Are an active member of that I heard media Chicago
Local Advisory Board. You'll never be able to leave us.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
But it is a threat.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
That's warm, that's a warm, fuzzy pro that's a promise.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
But you know, it's great to have you as a
part of that board because that's where we come together
on a quarterly basis and talk about the issues that
are affecting the great city which we live, work and play,
and how as a collective group that we can make
a difference. And so you have been an integral part
of our board and so we are so very thankful
for you and grateful thank you for that.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
You know, it's I'm involved in a lot of groups,
but no group like that one. And it is a
rare moment for an arts person to sit in a
room with incredibly smart, passionate people who are thinking about
all aspects of the lives of Chicagoans. And you know,
I hear about a lot of social issues, social justice
(03:35):
issues that don't cross my path every day, and often
in that room, I'm kind of bewildered as to what's
my art's contribution to this conversation. But you force that
to happen, you welcome that to happen, and I think
(03:55):
that it's extraordinary, an extraordinary experience.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, thank you. I know that you have a heart
and a passion for the arts, So why don't you
share why you feel they're so important, particularly not only
in our city, but certainly in the schools.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, yeah, why are the arts so important? You know?
I have My dedication to the arts started with youth
arts for youth. I was a youth working in a
professional theater for young audiences in Ohio, and that's where
I developed my love for theater. So I wasn't even
(04:28):
thinking the arts so much. I was thinking theater. And
there are very few occasions in our life where many
people gather and have a shared experience where there's ideas
flowing and character and story different than sports, right, Like
sports are so important, but this is different. And as
(04:52):
a youth going through that training and then eventually founding
a theater company, I found nothing more rewarding than being
with a collaborative group that made this happen, made this
moment happen where all these families come together and have
this shared experience with their children. And I can recall
(05:13):
we especially focused on the families with younger children, like
under the age of twelve, and you know, the lights
would go down and the stage lights would come up,
and the story would begin, and these wonderful characters are
coming along and you see children feeling feelings, You see
them feeling excitement, and you rooting for you know, their
(05:34):
hero and climbing into their mom's lap, And like, I
would feel so proud that this art form helped make
that connection happen in a family, in a community. And
I think that that's just what keeps driving me when
it comes to arts, is that we're creating these connections.
That is a form of community. Maybe that only lasts
(05:56):
for an hour, you know, but it helps us all
feel like we have a sense of purpose when we
can be a part of a community like that. And
I think that's then, you know, when you're starting to
work in the schools, you're taking these experiences to the schools,
that becomes even more important. We can get our children
stopping looking at their screens and looking at each other
(06:18):
and looking at like people and having this shared moment.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Maria Palmer is going to host you this afternoon in
the iHeart Sound Studio for sixty minute conversation with the
women of iHeartMedia Chicago and other women in the community
to have this conversation about your leadership in the arts community.
This is something that is an integral part of what
we do here at iHeart in terms of Women Inspire
(06:44):
Chicago as we make connections and so the podcast is
just one element of the overall initiative of Women Inspire Chicago.
So we're looking forward to the after effect. I guess
I should say we'll say party, but the after effect
of this. But when we look your history, you are
really into community building at every level. And why don't
(07:07):
you talk about some of the other boards and organizations
that you are part of?
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Now, Yeah, thank you, well, I was I wasn't thinking
about this quite so much. The iHeart Local Advisory Board
really started me thinking about how I can do more
so rewarding being a part of producing live theater, but
there's there's more to do when you can be thinking
(07:33):
about a sector and a larger a larger community. And
I think the next milestone for me and thinking about
that was the former Commissioner of the Department of Cultural
Affairs and Special Events, Mark Kelly. He established the Year
of Chicago Theater and I was invited on to that
planning group and for a year we just thought about
(07:56):
not just our own company and you know, can I
win that grant? And you know, did we have a
good audience today? Suddenly you're lifted up and you're thinking
about a whole sector and you care about each other.
You know, that becomes the goal and like I got
the bug. I was like, I want more of that,
and was after that welcomed onto the Board of Directors
(08:18):
of the League of Chicago Theaters. So to continue that
thinking about the sector and what a remarkable thing that
Chicago has done to become known globally as an important
theater town. Yes, and what that's done for not just
the culture and telling diverse stories and helping all of
(08:39):
us in some form see ourselves up on the stage,
but economically it's been important for Chicago. Like, suddenly I'm
starting to think about those things and how they all interact.
And that was very rewarding to get to serve on
that board. And then as I took the leap into film,
I shifted my attention there and what I saw in
(09:02):
the independent film community here in Chicago. You know, Chicago
is kind of following that footsteps of film now becoming
this huge, growing filmtown and it's an economic driver, but
the film community was very siloed. Whereas the theater community, actors, directors,
designers would all come together quite often, the film community
(09:23):
very siloed. Filmmakers over here and the union's over here,
and the film festivals over here. And I was hearing
people like describe that and say that there's something wrong here,
and I had just I just saw how theater did it,
and so I was like perfect place, perfect time, right person.
(09:44):
And I brought forward the idea that we create an alliance,
and it's the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals, which is
a program of facets, but it's the whole ecosystem of
film festivals, which is the independent cinemas, you know, music
books and Geene Cisco. It is the film festivals like
Chicago International and Black Harvest, and it's filmmakers who want
(10:08):
to you know, get to know those people. And so
it's been I wouldn't have thought that that would be
my path, you know, but I think I just that
my life experiences are putting me in the right place,
and it's just so personally rewarding to get to help
make those things happen.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I think that is true for all of us. Our
life experiences lead us wherever you know, God desires for
us to be. But Maria is obviously interested in theater
and film, and she leads.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
A you're very theatrical.
Speaker 5 (10:42):
She's very theatrical leads.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
She's on the stage every morning. So we certainly want
to hear from you as to the comments that Karen
has made about the importance of.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
The arts, and oh my gosh, well, I've have much
to say on the time that I certainly discuss more
post podcast, But especially when you were talking about bringing
it to youth and seeing how kids react to theater,
I think it's so cool psychologically too, because it teaches
kids empathy. If they don't have that sort of environment
(11:13):
that's teaching them that already, they can step into another
story and just know that there's another way to be,
or there's another perspective out there that, especially at that
age when your world is whatever your parents or caregivers
are creating for you, it gives them that other sense
of Oh, it's not just this, And I think that
(11:34):
that's such a cool thing. And I imagine that you
saw that as well.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Yeah. Empathy, yeah, number one empathy. You know, we would
also hear that it was an extraordinary experience for students
to leave their neighborhood and go to a physical, other
location and into an extraordinary space like a theater. That's
not something that is a regular part of life, you know,
(11:59):
And so even that was exciting. But I especially love
when a child gets to the age where they don't
want to just see it anymore. They don't want to
just be in the audience. Now, they want to do it. Yes,
they want to come up with the story and they
want to perform it and have that theater full of
friends and family come and show up for them.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Yes, and I.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
Love too that theater for me, especially theater the arts
in general. But that is the magic in the world.
Do you know when people talk about feeling those things
and wanting this extraordinary thing, they're thinking of theater. They're
thinking of those feelings that you can create. And I
don't know a single child that had been to a
theater when they were kids, but that wasn't a core.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Memory for them. Yeah, they didn't remember that for the
rest of their lives.
Speaker 6 (12:46):
It's the first time it's like whoa, not just lights,
camera action, but just I'm feeling with the audience and
all these people around me, and I'm connecting to this
actor on stage that isn't even you know, playing themselves.
They're playing this completely different person, but they are that
completely different person. And just all that connection and all
that magic, and you take that from the theater into
(13:08):
your real life because you want to replicate those feelings.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yeah. Eventually, one of my favorite productions that we did,
so I didn't mention that I was. I did a
year long improv training program and went into a Second
City's training program, and so at a certain point started
to infuse the lessons of improv into what we were
producing on stage. And we created a production that was
(13:36):
Doctor SEUs inspired and incorporated improv, and it would allow
the audience to help tell the story, to give their
ideas the way you often find it Second City. When
they asked for a suggestion, we were able to apply
some of those things. And that's when like that was
incredible magic. That's a professional actor and a child in
(13:57):
the audience and they're working together to create a story.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Yeah, and like you can see the kids kind of
get it, like they understand what's happening.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
That is so cool in general too.
Speaker 6 (14:05):
Like watching those little minds yeah develop, and like because
sometimes when adults, when it's the first time they're being
introduced to theater, they don't really maybe not understand it.
I'm sure that they understand, but it's scary, you know,
and it's vulnerable to sort of stick your neck out there.
And then you can just see these kids and they
(14:26):
don't even think about it being vulnerable or embarrassing.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
They're just like, I want it on whatever this is.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
They remember how to play. We forget our sense of
play as we get older.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
Yeah, that's so real.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
Okay, so so you go from theater to film? How
does that happen?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
It was because of youth Facets has been producing the
Chicago International Children's Film Festival for forty years. It's a
globally known film festival. It's Academy Award qualifying, which means
that you know, this is professional filmmaker submitting their films
(15:03):
to be invited into the festival and potentially to win
an award. And when they do win an award, that
means they automatically make the long list of an Academy
Award nomination.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
So it's an extraordinary honor to get to like help
potentially a young filmmaker, a newer filmmaker make an important
leap forward. So Academy Award qualifying film festival, so the
work submitted is extraordinary. That film festival was what I
(15:35):
knew about facets. I didn't know you know, other programs,
but I knew about that one because of my work
at Emerald City Theater. I had a young daughter. I
had sent her to the camp and we had attended
the festival. So that was our starting point was I
had this experience with families and youth and the education system,
and that's where our conversations began.
Speaker 6 (15:58):
Okay, so in film versus working in theater, what do
you like more?
Speaker 5 (16:04):
What do you like?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Gosh?
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I know it's a loaded question, but on a podcast, Well,
I adore actors, but I don't adore being the executive director.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Actor.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
You don't want to be the mom.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
It's a lot. It's a lot. And we were producing
six seven shows a year, doing tours. There was a
lot going on and uh, you know, everyone needs to
be taken care of. So that's where a lot of
my attention was going. As you know, I'd always feel
that pressure of like I should really be out there fundraising.
But we have this you know issue.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Over here, a lot of personalities, a lot.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Of personalities, so that there aren't any actors and when
you're running an art house and someone else took care
of that, filmed them and handed us the film. You know, yeah,
so less people management in running an independent art house cinema.
(17:07):
But I will say like in theater, as I said,
we would produce about six shows a year, so you
have all year long to think about the six stories
you're going to tell, and you have all your long
to shape your messaging and you're supporting and thinking about
the production. And in art house cinema you're doing six
(17:28):
stories a week. You're you know, the films are flying, yeah,
and you don't have that same time to be that
thoughtful and to share with audiences all that maybe they
would like to know about the film. So very different
storytelling responsibility theater versus film.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Do you think that affects the product?
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I don't think so I hope it doesn't. I think
that the focus for us is different now with an
art house cinema, with Facets film form, we're thinking more
about the event of going to a film, your experience
of that evening, and how can we make it more
(18:15):
meaningful than not to put down our local commercial cinemas.
But sometimes they're kind of smelly and sometimes they're kind
of dirty, and sometimes nobody talks to you there, and
it's maybe a flat experience and less curated, you know,
kind of anything is on the screen. And what we
(18:36):
can do is create an environment where kind of like
we were describing about the theater, like you're with a
group of people, you know, strangers that intentionally came to
this film. It was it was thoughtfully selected, and you're
in a unique I mean, Facets is it's one hundred
and twenty five year old building, it's a fifty year
(18:56):
old organization. Extraordinary filmmakers have come through there and talked
to audiences like we weren't a Hertzog famously there not
too long ago. Lily Wachowski came by a few months
ago to talk about her work. Like that is where
we're focused is not only are we going to curate
these important films that you didn't know. You have to
(19:20):
see we also are, on occasion, going to connect you
to the filmmaker and give you an experience that you
will remember forever.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Oh that's so cool because I love the concept of
you're almost bringing theater to film.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
I mean, that's exactly.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Almost theater to film. Yeah, and I think it can
go even further. You know, I don't know about you all,
but I don't feel like my experience with a film
is complete until I've had a conversation about it. And
I think that that's what you can get at fassets
and at independent our houses is a place to linger
and talk, and the people around you are probably dying
(19:55):
to talk about.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
The story and share the story.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
As I sit here and listen to you, I stopped
counting the number of times that the word story came up.
And one of the important things that women inspire is
to share stories and storytelling. And so we wake up
one morning and all of a sudden, you are this
dynamic arts executive and you've always been in that chair.
(20:19):
But there are those of us who on the other
side that think, hmm, how did she get there? It
must have been an easy road. Reality is, it was
not an easy road, and you have not always been
at that chair, at the stage that you're in, and
you had all of these little steps in order to
get where you are today. So why don't you share
(20:39):
some of your pitfalls and some of your challenges and
what really drives you. Let's talk about Karen behind the scenes.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Oh my gosh, you know, I think that I am
an entrepreneur at hearts. My father was, my grandfather was
the first TV station manager in Pensacola, Florida in the
nineteen fifty whatever like it kind of runs in my family.
And I definitely, you know, at an early ish adult age,
(21:09):
formed of this theater company without having like the education
that says this is now what you should go do.
I didn't get an arts administration education. So it took
me a little while to realize that I needed to
take the responsibility of educating myself for whatever this company
(21:30):
was going to become, whatever was the leader I wanted
to be, and so I definitely needed to spend time
learning nonprofit financial management. But the bigger like this, the
education that's not done is leading people, leading culture, developing
(21:56):
a certain culture, a culture of feedback is what we're
focusing on. Right now in our organization, having learning how
to have vital conversations and hard and bold conversations, you know,
just as being a team leader, let alone a team participant.
This goes back to like managing actors, like I like,
(22:18):
oh my god, okay, these are not going to stop happening.
I have to learn how to do this well. And
you know they're not happy that they're only getting paid
ten dollars per show. I need to learn how to
talk about that and how to think about that. So
I think, like pitfalls would be, it took me longer
than I like to realize I needed to self educate.
(22:41):
I need to go and find the experts in the world.
And I needed to hold up a mirror and figure
out where I was lacking of knowledge. And so those
were the two big places that I focused on a lot.
For sure.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
How has your leadership grown over the years.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I felt it especially grow when I took the job
at Facets. You know, you kind of get this blank slate.
People don't know you, so I can I can portray
confidence that I don't feel, but I can act now
and they don't know that's what I'm doing. I definitely
(23:24):
feel myself talking less and listening more to inform better decisions.
And I feel myself now really comfortable with imparting authority
to others, giving that away. Sometimes people don't want it
(23:46):
and they you know, some of my team that to
build them up, like it's time and you can do
this and now this is going to be your job
to make these decisions.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
Oh interesting, taking the like empowerment route versus the well
you have to do it.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, that's the mark of a great leader that you
are willing to delegate sometimes, you know, we get so
nervous about handing it off because what difference is. But
that's that's our charge as leaders, is to be able
to build up the next generation. Which brings me to
Paulina Rowe and Karen, what are your thoughts and what
(24:24):
advice would you have with Paulina as she's a next
generation of leaders in our industry.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Well, I would ask Paulina question for sure, like what
are what are the goals that you have Paulina?
Speaker 1 (24:40):
For me personally, I mean it truly is just to
grow as a media personality. And I feel like, you know,
everyone knows media has changed so much, you know, and
I feel like it's only going to continue to do so,
and it's so important to kind of be able to
you know, grow with it and speak to the audiences
in different ways. Right, So the audience is obviously on air,
but then the conversations continue on social Maria Palmer is
(25:03):
my social media start does She just like makes the
best content, and like learning from each other is so
important too, you know, coming up together and everything and
being able to like not gatekeep and share and stuff
and share resources and ideas that I think is just
so important. I feel like, especially as women, we really
need to stick together. So I think that's kind of
(25:24):
like my goal, right is just to be the best
version of myself.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And I had a baby a year and a half.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Ago, so I'm really like a new me and I'm
just you know, really trying to continue to grow in
every parts of my life.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah. Yeah, it's important.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
The you know the thing that maybe Paulini, you've been
thinking about this as you're kind of maybe seeing the
next ten years for yourself or whatever. It's interesting in
filming and media in the past five ten years, we've
seen that people artists are not waiting for their break making,
(26:00):
They're creating it.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
They're they're creating their own script story movie and they're
producing it themselves. They're not waiting for a studio to
pick it up, you know. And we've seen this with
some television hits. I think of Abbott Elementary, Yes, yeah, yeah,
my favorite, and you know, uh that stars the writer
(26:25):
directs and that is her story. Yeah right, And I
love that that's happening because then it's authentic, it's unique, right,
And I look at you, Paulina, and I wonder if
you think about that same thing like that, that you're
in a position to create shows, create whatever it is
you want. That's your voice, that is going to take
(26:47):
you to where you want to go every day.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
To be honest, I mean even I joke, but like
I feel like I've created even my own opportunity, right
Like on the morning show that I'm on, Like there
was no this was like eight nine years ago, there
was no position, Like I quite let just showed up,
you know, and I never laughed.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Like that's the true story.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I know that he was in her office. I was
sitting down hanging out. Everyone's like who is this girl?
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Like I was just going.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
In, you know and making my own way and creating,
like you said, opportunities and even like today, like I
think it's really important to have in my opinion, if
you do media like radio, to do like podcasting, right,
I think it's important to do social media.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Right.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
I know all these things take work, it's additional work,
but I think it's worth it at the end. So
I created a podcast. It's a mom podcast, but it's
a community that I've created as well, and we're having
like our first event next month. So like these little
steps that I'm taking, I'm hoping to like continue to
grow and like you said, I'm making my own lane
kind of in that space. So I think it's important.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
To do yeah. Yeah, and it's successful when you also,
I think have an ear to the people around you,
to the audiences, to the community. Yeah. I really enjoyed
with Emerald City and now watching how the audiences were behaving.
When were they bored? When did they seem like they
(28:04):
wanted something from us? You know, they're not going to
tell you, hey, I wish you had a more comfortable
lounge because I want to sit with my friends and
talk about this film we just saw. They're not going
to say that. But when they're all kind of just
clustering outside the cinema door and awkwardly in front of
the concession counter, and they're talking, talking, talking, and they
won't leave, you know, just watching, and then you suddenly
(28:25):
you see this need that no one could have named.
And I make that reference to the podcast that you've created,
like you're I think there's that empathy thing again. You're
you're connecting and watching and seeing what people need and
then you're figuring out how to fill that void.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Yeah, and you've written your own story.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
So when is the book coming out?
Speaker 2 (28:45):
And it's interesting because the event that we have after this,
the title is Behind the Curtain Beyond the Camera Leadership
Lessons from an Arts Executive. That's the title of your
new book.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
That is the title of me to.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Trademark that question. Now that we've made it public that
you have, you've written a beautiful story. I know that
the arts community in Chicago and really around the world
because you touch and feels so much, and you know,
Chicago is on the map, so people here and see
what you're doing. You're making a real difference in the community.
And it all started with Emerald City Theater, but it
(29:19):
also started with you opening up your mind and your
heart to create and to know that there was going
to be ups and downs and good days and bad days.
But the contribution that you're making to the arts community
in Chicago and beyond is phenomenal and so thank you,
Thank you for being a part of the Women Inspire
(29:40):
Chicago Podcast. We are looking forward to great things from
the Fastest film forum and celebration of fiftieth anniversary this year,
and so we know that you're all about fundraising for
that celebration. So where can people connect with you?
Speaker 3 (29:55):
Yeah, well, facets dot org is our website and I'm
happy for people to go there and learn more about
the organization. And I am happy for people to reach
out to me at Karen at facets dot org. And
I'm hear more from the community of listeners. And so
incredibly grateful to you, Angela and the lab and iHeart
(30:18):
for so being so welcome and creating these forms for conversation.
How often do we get to just sit and talk
about stuff like this.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Thank you, Karen, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Thanks for listening to the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast, hosted
by Angela Ingram, produced by Paulina Rowe, presented by iHeartMedia
Chicago and sponsored by Potbelly.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Feed your group from small to larch with Potbelly Catering. Potbelly,
You've got to get it hot.
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.