Thursday, April 17, 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET

Grae Wellness, 89 5th Avenue (between 16th & 17th Streets), Suite 808, New York

$30 WMG members; $39 for non-members

Join Michelle Garside, author, speaker, and co-founder of Soul Camp Creative, for a transformational evening to celebrate the evolution of your professional identity, honoring where you stand today and the growth that awaits you.

This event provides the opportunity to reflect on your current strengths, embrace your evolving purpose, and connect with a community that understands the power of authenticity. With Michelle’s guidance, you will gain the clarity and resilience needed to step into your next chapter with confidence.

Michelle has worked with thousands of authors, consultants, creatives, founders, and entrepreneurs to redefine their brands and reposition themselves in powerful ways. Typically, her breakthrough brand sessions are valued at $3,500, but attendees will receive an exclusive laser coaching session as part of their attendance fee.

Whether you want to pivot, reposition, or start something entirely new, this evening will give you the tools to move forward with clarity and purpose.

What to Expect:

• Breakthrough Sessions with Michelle Garside – Gain clarity on your career path, uncover your personal brand, and determine your next steps.
• Breathwork with Kathleen Booker – Tap into your inner power through a gentle yet powerful breathwork session, releasing fear and uncertainty while fostering resilience and clarity.
• Networking & Connection – Connect with like-minded professionals navigating similar transitions. Build relationships, share insights, and leave with renewed inspiration.
• Light bites and drinks

What to Bring:

• A notebook and pen to capture insights and breakthroughs.

What to Wear:

• Comfortable attire that allows you to breathe, move, and fully engage in the experience.

Now is the time to reclaim your power, find your direction, and step into the next version of yourself. Join us for an evening of transformation, connection, and possibility.

WMG notebooks will be provided to the first 10 people who register and attend.

Speakers:

Kathleen Booker’s breathwork sessions offer a powerful opportunity to heal emotional wounds and release pent-up anger and fear. Her practice, rooted in rhythmic and conscious GENTLE breathing techniques, enables participants to move through stuck emotions and soothe and reset their nervous systems. By focusing on the breath, women will find calm amidst the chaos and tap into their internal wellspring of  inner power. 

Michelle Garside will guide participants in a future-visioning workshop that empowers them to connect with who they want to BE during this pivotal moment in history. Through visualization and guided journaling, women will identify the traits they need to embody to step into their power and begin shaping the future they envision. 

All proceeds from this event support the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation. If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, click here. 

Refund Policy

• Earlier than 48 hours before the event: If you know you'll be unable to use your ticket more than 48 hours before an event, you can request a full refund by emailing info@womensmediagroup.org, OR you can donate the fee to the nonprofit Women's Media Group Educational Foundation by not requesting a refund.

• Within 48 hours before an event: No refunds. These ticket fees will automatically be converted to a donation to the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation.

Tuesday, April 22, 12:00-1:15 p.m. ET

Free for WMG members; $15 for non-members (Zoom)

This discussion explores how digital newsletters on platforms like Substack and others have transformed the media landscape, creating new opportunities for independent journalists and content creators. Our panelists will examine the factors driving this shift—from declining trust in traditional media to new subscription models that allow direct creator-audience relationships. We'll discuss the economic viability of newsletter-based journalism, the challenges of building sustainable audiences, and what this trend means for the future of news, commentary, and specialized content. Join us for insights on how these nimble, focused publications are redefining what it means to be a journalist in the digital age.

Moderator: 

Founder of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations, Kathleen Schmidt, is a strategist who applies her in-depth experience in all aspects of the industry, including as a publicist, literary agent, acquisitions editor, and ghostwriter, to every project she takes on. Her career encompasses 30 years of creating and directing impactful and strategic global media, marketing, and branding campaigns for politicians, A-List celebrities, athletes, and high-profile personalities. To date, she has worked on 50 New York Times bestsellers, and her clients have continuously appeared in top-tier national print, broadcast, and radio outlets such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, Vogue, ELLE, Financial Times, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Sirius XM.

 

Panelists:

Marisa Kabas is a Brooklyn-based independent writer and reporter. After watching the journalism infrastructure crumble over the last decade, she decided that she needed to have a place where she could share her work and thoughts no matter what. Thus, her newsletter and website, The Handbasket, was born. She has deeply covered former Congressman George Santos, the police raid on a small Kansas newspaper, and Elon Musk’s antisemitism.

Jo Piazza is a bestselling author, podcast creator, and award-winning journalist. Jo is the national and international bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance, We Are Not Like Them, You Were Always Mine, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, The Knockoff, and How to Be Married. Her work has been published in ten languages in twelve countries, and four books have been adapted for film and television. Jo's podcasts have garnered over twenty-five million downloads and regularly top podcast charts. Her new book, Everyone is Lying to You, will be published by Dutton in July. Her newsletter, Over the Influence, can be found on Substack.

Leigh Stein makes fun of what the internet is doing to us. She is the author of six books, including the critically acclaimed satirical novel Self Care and a gothic novel titled If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You, forthcoming from Ballantine in 2025. She has written culture pieces and personal essays for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker online, Airmail, Allure, ELLE, BuzzFeed, The Cut, Salon, and Slate. Her newsletter, Attention Economy, can be found on Substack.

Kat Tenbarge is an award-winning independent journalist. She writes Spitfire News, a newsletter covering internet culture, politics, and media. Much of her reporting focuses on gender, violence, and pop culture. Kat has broken major stories containing sexual assault and harassment allegations against influencers and celebrities. She covers AI and the growing impact of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes, as well as social media smear campaigns against abuse victims. Before founding Spitfire News, Kat worked as a tech and culture reporter at NBC News. Before that, she was a senior digital culture reporter at Business Insider.

All proceeds from this event support the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation.

Refunds available up to 24 hours before the event. No refunds for cancellations made within 24 hours of the event.

Wednesday, April 30, 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET

Free for WMG members; $15 for non-members (Zoom)

Whether you want to start your own podcast or are already an experienced podcaster, this session will help you get started, craft compelling content, plan strategic marketing, and grow your audience. 

Learn how to develop engaging episodes using Adobe Podcast, design eye-catching cover art, and implement proven strategies to expand your reach.

This session is ideal for people who want to learn how a podcast can help boost their marketing reach as well as for podcasters who want to take their projects to the next level.

What You’ll Learn:

• Craft Engaging Content – Structure episodes that captivate listeners and build a loyal audience.
• Enhance Audio Quality – Use AI-powered tools to improve sound clarity and production value.
• Design Standout Cover Art – Create professional visuals that make your podcast stand out.
• Boost Your Podcast’s Reach – Leverage social media, SEO, and strategic partnerships.
• Monetize & Scale – Explore revenue streams and sustainable growth strategies.

Join us for expert guidance and a live Q&A to get your podcast noticed and thriving! Plus, apply what you learn at this event right away with a 30-day free trial to Adobe Podcast. 

Speakers:

Arielle Nissenblatt loves listening to and helping people make podcasts. She writes a podcast recommendation newsletter, EarBuds Podcast Collective, hosts a few podcasts about the podcast industry, and is on the board of governors at The Podcast Academy. She is a community ambassador for Adobe Podcast and has a goal of connecting creators with tools that help them get the job done. 

Harmony Jiroudek leads customer education and community for Adobe Podcast, bringing extensive experience in audio and video products, e-learning, and creative technology. With a strong background in developing educational programs and resources, she specializes in empowering creators to maximize their potential through innovative tools and solutions. Her work focuses on building connections and fostering engagement within the creative community while ensuring customers have the knowledge and support they need to succeed.

This is a ✏️WMG Lunch & Learn✏️ event! WMG Lunch & Learns are part of a series of midday events designed to help you learn, grow, and connect in only 60 minutes. This presentation is fully interactive to give participants opportunities to share their voices. 

All proceeds from this event support the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation.

Refunds available up to 24 hours before the event. No refunds for cancellations made within 24 hours of the event.

Thursday, May 15, 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET

Tsion Cafe in Harlem, 763 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10031

$45 for WMG members; $55 for non-members

Join us for a memorable evening of networking, culture, and cuisine at Tsion Cafe, the popular Harlem restaurant of chef and author Beejhy Barhany. In celebration of her new cookbook, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond, Beejhy invites WMG members and friends to experience the flavors and traditions of Ethiopian and Israeli cuisine. She will be joined by literary agent Sally Ekus, Knopf senior editor Tom Pold, and writer and cookbook collaborator Elisa Ung for a discussion about bringing this unique cookbook to life.

Guests will enjoy:

• A plant-based buffet dinner featuring dishes inspired by Gursha

• A signature cocktail crafted from a recipe in the book

• A panel discussion on the making of Gursha with Beejhy Barhany, Sally Ekus, Tom Pold, and moderator Elisa Ung

• A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony led by Beejhy Barhany

• Dessert, book sales, and a signing with the author

This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow food lovers, gain insight into cookbook publishing, and learn about the culture and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community. All are welcome!

Speakers:

Beejhy Barhany is the founding owner and executive chef of Tsion Cafe, an Ethiopian and Israeli restaurant in Harlem’s historic Sugar Hill neighborhood. She is the author of Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond, ​​a cookbook featuring more than one hundred accessible and healthy recipes, stories, and traditions from the intersection of the African and Jewish diasporas. Beejhy was born in Ethiopia, raised mostly in Israel, and moved to New York in 2001. In 2003, she founded BINA Cultural Foundation, a cultural organization dedicated to the empowerment of the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) community within the United States. She is a frequent cooking teacher and speaker at Jewish cultural events in the New York area. She lives with her husband and two children in Harlem. 

Sally Ekus is a Senior Literary Agent at JVNLA where she spearheads The Ekus Group, a boutique culinary division specializing in cookbook and lifestyle titles. She represents a wide range of culinary, health, wellness, and lifestyle talent, from first-time cookbook authors to chefs, restaurant owners, professional food writers, bloggers, online creators, and journalists. On the non-culinary side, Sally represents books about caregiving and parenting, and is expanding into select other non-fiction genres. From concept to contract, she has brokered over 300 book deals with top publishers. Sally hosts an online community called How to be a Cookbook Author and writes the Not So Secret Agent newsletter. She is a mom, taco lover, and improvisor.

Tom Pold is a senior editor at Alfred A. Knopf, where he acquires and edits cookbook and food narratives for Knopf Cooks, as well as handles backlist titles for Knopf Cooks Classics, like Julia Child, Marcella Hazan, Edna Lewis and Madhur Jaffrey.  

Moderator: 

Elisa Ung, an award-winning writer and former restaurant critic, was honored to partner with Beejhy Barhany on the writing of Gursha. She has more than 20 years of professional storytelling experience and a passion for telling stories of immigration, food, dining, and mental health. She is the co-author of Mango and Peppercorns (Chronicle Books, 2021), a memoir by Tung Nguyen, Katherine Manning, and Lyn Nguyen (a Vietnamese refugee, her American hostess, and the daughter they raised together), which won the 2022 IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) award for Literary or Historical Food Writing. Her recent collaborations also include the New York Times bestseller The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook by Monique Volz and the Audible Original Be Well: A Guide to Better Mental Health for All by psychiatrist Dr. Jessica Clemons. She is a former food critic and dining columnist for the Bergen Record and Northjersey.com and a former state government reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Refund Policy

• Earlier than 48 hours before the event: If you know you'll be unable to use your ticket more than 48 hours before an event, you can request a full refund by emailing info@womensmediagroup.org, OR you can donate the fee to the nonprofit Women's Media Group Educational Foundation by not requesting a refund.

• Within 48 hours before an event: No refunds. These ticket fees will automatically be converted to a donation to the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation.

Wednesday, May 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET

Penguin Random House, 1745 Broadway (between 55th & 56th Streets), Cerf-Lane Room

$15 for WMG members, $20 for non-members

5:30 - 6:30: Wine, cheese & networking
6:30 - 7:30: Program

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, WMG invites you to join us for an exceptional panel featuring distinguished AANHPI literary voices. This event celebrates the rich cultural tapestry and diverse perspectives that AANHPI authors bring to their work.

Experience an evening of meaningful conversation as our accomplished panelists share their creative journeys, cultural influences, and the inspirations behind their award-winning books. This special event offers a unique opportunity to explore themes of identity, belonging, and artistic expression through the lens of these remarkable storytellers. Their creativity will inspire you to claim your voice and harness your narrative power to tell your own story. 

This celebration of AANHPI literary excellence includes time for community connection and networking. Refreshments will be served. WMG members and non-members are welcome.

Moderator to be announced shortly

Panelists:

Katie Kitamura’s most recent novel is Audition. She is also the author of Intimacies, one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2021 and one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2021. It was longlisted for the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, and was a finalist for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. In France, it won the Prix Litteraire Lucien Barriere, was a finalist for the Grand Prix de l’Heroine, and was longlisted for the Prix Fragonard. Her third novel, A Separation, was a finalist for the Premio von Rezzori and a New York Times Notable Book. Her two previous novels, Gone To The Forest and The Longshot, were both finalists for the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award. Her work has been translated into 22 languages and is being adapted for film and television. She is a recipient of the Rome Prize in Literature, a Cullman Center Fellowship, as well as fellowships from the Lannan, Santa Maddalena, and Jan Michalski foundations. Katie has written for publications including The New York Times Book Review, The Guardian, Granta, BOMB, Triple Canopy, and Frieze. She teaches in the creative writing program at New York University.

Photo credit: Clayton Cubitt

Megha Majumdar is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel A Burning, which was nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize, and the American Library Association's Andrew Carnegie Medal. It was named one of the best books of the year by media including The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, The Atlantic, Vogue, and TIME Magazine. Her work has been supported by the Whiting, Civitella Ranieri, and Hawthornden foundations. Born and raised in Kolkata, India, she now lives in New York. Her new novel, A Guardian and a Thief, will be published by Knopf in 2026.

Photo credit: Marco Giugliarelli for the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, 2024

Hyeseung Song is a first-generation Korean American painter and the author of Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl. Docile has been called a "savagely beautiful memoir" by David Henry Hwang, a "revelation" by Chloé Cooper Jones and was named a "Best Book" by Apple and “Most Anticipated” by Electric Literature, BookRiot and more. Raised in Texas, Song studied philosophy at Princeton and Harvard Universities, and painting at the Grand Central Atelier in New York City. A two-time Greenshields award winner, TedX speaker, and resident artist of the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, the Vermont Studio Center and the Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program, Song has also taught at the Maryland Institute College of Art and the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is at work on her first novel. Song lives in Brooklyn and upstate New York. 

Photo credit: Jack Sorokin

Qian Julie Wang is the New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Country: A Memoir of An Undocumented Childhood, which was named a best book of 2021 by the New York Times, President Obama, NPR, Newsweek, and more. A graduate of Yale Law School and Swarthmore College, Qian Julie is also managing partner of Gottlieb & Wang LLP, a firm dedicated to advancing educational civil rights for marginalized populations. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

All proceeds from this event support the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation.

This is a ⚡️WMG Power Hour️⚡️ event! WMG Power Hours are part of a series of events focused on diversity and inclusion that will help members learn more about our diversified society and enhance our abilities to be supportive women, colleagues, citizens, and allies.

Refund Policy

• Earlier than 48 hours before the event: If you know you'll be unable to use your ticket more than 48 hours before an event, you can request a full refund by emailing info@womensmediagroup.org, OR you can donate the fee to the nonprofit Women's Media Group Educational Foundation by not requesting a refund.

• Within 48 hours before an event: No refunds. These ticket fees will automatically be converted to a donation to the Women's Media Group Educational Foundation.