local & charitable
Taste & Talk is a purpose-driven women’s salon where giving and receiving go hand in hand. Our gatherings blend thought-provoking conversation, curated wine, and authentic community—creating space for women to support impactful causes while gaining insight and inspiration for life’s “messy middle.”
We bring together women who value connection, depth, and action. Each salon expands networks, strengthens friendships, and sparks the kind of conversations that turn shared experience into collective impact.
Founded in Westchester County, New York, Taste & Talk began as a single living-room gathering and, in 2026, expanded to salons across the country—laying the foundation for a growing Give & Get movement that empowers women through community, conversation, and purpose.
Each salon selects a female- and/or family-focused charity as its annual beneficiary. Guests enjoy curated wine varietals, and a portion of bottle purchases extends the evening’s impact beyond the room.
This is just the beginning. A growing national community of women gathering with intention—committed to pouring purpose into every conversation.
all giving salon
Taste & Talk is a purpose-driven women’s salon, which means it gives to its participants while its participants give back. Taste and Talk’s goal is to bring communities together while supporting other communities in need.
Taste & Talk Chappaqua supports Hope’s Door, an organization that seeks to end domestic violence and to empower victims to achieve safety, independence, and healing from the trauma of abuse.
Established 45 years ago, Hope’s Door prevents, responds to, and partners to end domestic and intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse. They provide a 24/7/365 crisis, support, and information hotline (the gateway to all their services) as well as emergency shelter to ensure individuals are safe from the threat of violence. Engaging in domestic violence education and training in schools and community centers throughout Westchester County, Hope’s Door offers counseling, advocacy, and legal services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. All of their services are provided free of charge to victims and survivors, relying on the generosity of private and corporate donors as well as federal, state, and county grants.
Taste & Talk Greenwich supports HER SECOND ACT, a groundbreaking feature documentary that shatters the silence around the most explosive, yet misunderstood time in a woman’s life: MIDLIFE.
HER SECOND ACT is about more than menopause. It’s a bold, unapologetic exploration of the myriad of monumental shifts that women experience during this new season of life and the duality of aging. Through intimate storytelling and unflinching honesty, this documentary is a rallying cry for every woman who’s been told she’s past her prime.
Co-directors Constance Zimmer, Abby Epstein, and supporting partner L’Oréal Paris, join an all-star, mission-driven line-up, including so far; Amy Schumer, Sandra Oh, Padma Lakshmi, Carla Hall, Laura Benanti, Stacy London, Margaret Cho, Paulina Porizkova, and Ricki Lake. We’re not just changing the conversation. We’re reframing the narrative around women and aging – for ourselves and generations ahead.
Taste & Talk Los Angeles supports Miry’s List, a nonprofit organization dedicated to welcoming newly arrived refugee families into local communities with dignity, warmth, and sustained support. Through an innovative, crowdsourced model, Miry’s List connects resettling families with practical resources, meaningful friendships, and joyful neighbors ready to help them build new lives.
Miry’s List’s wrap-around approach extends well beyond initial government assistance, ensuring families are supported long after arrival. By building cultural bridges and fostering genuine connections, the organization is transforming how Americans engage in welcoming newcomers. Since 2016, Miry’s List has mobilized more than 256,000 people nationwide to support over 1,000 refugee families from countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Moldova, Syria, and Ukraine. Through its online wishlist platform alone, more than 25,000 housewarming gifts have been delivered directly to families as they begin their new chapters.
Taste & Talk – Tenafly supports Bergen Family Promise, an organization committed to helping families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence. Through a holistic, family-centered model, Bergen Family Promise provides emergency housing, stabilization services, and long-term support that empowers families to rebuild their lives.
By addressing both immediate needs and root causes, Bergen Family Promise partners with families to secure safe housing, financial stability, and pathways toward self-sufficiency. With the support of volunteers, community partners, and donors, the organization works to ensure that no family in Bergen County has to face homelessness alone.
people behind the salon
Lauren Gellert
Founder
Lauren is a long-time media producer and executive, and a leader in pop culture content creation. Throughout her career, she has overseen programming for multiple cable networks including VH1, Court TV, truTV, Ion Media. Her most recent executive job was leading the original programming and production team at AMC Networks WEtv where she built the brand into a number one cable destination for Women. Known for blending data-driven and creative strategies while fostering dynamic talent on and off camera, Lauren has been the creative force behind numerous brand-defining cable franchises. She currently works as a media consultant and producer with multiple platform and production partners.
Lauren graduated with honors from Northwestern University. She is a member of New York Women in Film & Television, and a founding member of the New York board of directors of Step-Up Women’s Network, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing philanthropy and volunteerism among women in entertainment and media. Through her family’s 501c3 company “Sharing With You,” Lauren launched the community based purpose driven women’s salon called “Taste & Talk.” Monthly, she curates thought leaders to speak to about women’s health, well-being, family finance & entrepreneurship, while providing wine tastings selected by a local sommelier and an opportunity for networking and collaboration among participants. Throughout her career Lauren has been active in mentorship, volunteerism, and community building where she continues to identify and develop talent, fostering communication and amplifying diverse voices.
Amy Bialek
Board Member
Amy Bialek is a physical therapist specializing in rehabilitation technology for people with neurological injuries. She is passionate about helping people who have had strokes, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or any other neurological conditions regain mobility and improve their quality of life.
Amy enjoys volunteering at her temple, hiking and biking, playing cards, and reading. She enjoys participating in social groups that foster connection while making a meaningful impact. Amy is the mom to 3 daughters and 2 dogs.
Jill Cantor
Board Treasurer & Member
Jill spent over three decades practicing as a tax attorney and CPA in both public accounting and private industry. She recently stepped away from her full-time role to consult independently and refocus on a long-standing passion: classical Pilates. Jill is a classically certified Pilates instructor and health coach who teaches at Body & Mind Pilates Training Studio in Chappaqua, where she is dedicated to helping individuals improve strength, posture, mobility, and overall well-being as they age through thoughtful, classical movement. She integrates her health coaching background to support clients in making sustainable lifestyle changes that promote long-term health and resilience.
Outside the studio, Jill enjoys weight-training, hiking, traveling, baking, reading, and attending theater performances. She values staying actively engaged in her community and enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years, their three children, and their dog.
Stephanie Gold
Board Member
Stephanie Gold is a partner and head of production at a New York-based fine art and fashion photography studio. She is also the founder of a content creation studio serving international fashion, accessory, and beauty brands. As an attorney, Stephanie has represented major financial institutions and dedicated pro bono work to domestic violence victims and nonprofit organizations focused on women’s justice and healthcare.
A mother of three daughters, she also shares her home with two dogs and a cat. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and listening to live music.
Shara Goldfarb
Board Member
Shara Goldfarb is a partner at Miller Law Group, a boutique full-service family law firm with offices in New Rochelle and Manhattan. She helps clients prioritize the well-being of their children through out-of-court solutions such as collaborative law, mediation, and negotiation whenever possible.
Shara is also a passionate advocate, particularly for children in contested custody cases and for survivors of domestic violence. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, music, traveling and spending time with her two children, family, and friends.
Samantha Golub
Board Member
Samantha Golub is a 3rd grade teacher at The Leffell School in White Plains, NY. She is deeply passionate about inspiring young learners and promoting kindness within her community. As a lifelong learner, Samantha enjoys volunteering whenever possible and always welcomes opportunities to grow both personally and professionally while making a positive impact on those around her.
Samantha has known her husband most of her life and together they have two children and a dog. She loves a full house, spending time outdoors, and attending live music events.
Shira Kaplan
Board Member
Shira Kaplan is an in-house commercial attorney at Mastercard, where she leads the Identity Solutions and Financial Crimes legal teams, focusing on enhancing authentication, security, and trust of digital interactions. She embraces Mastercard’s mission of “doing well by doing good,” and regularly leads and participates in mentor programs, pro-bono, and other local volunteer work.
Shira is a mom of 2 kids and 1 dog, an active member of Chabad, an avid reader, and a passionate yogi.
Amy Knox
Board Member
Amy Knox is a Special Education teacher at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, CT where she teaches writing, literature and science to students with language-based learning differences. She volunteers through her temple and UJA and is committed to helping children with economic and educational disadvantages.
Amy is a mother of 2 kids in their 20s and enjoys yoga, travel, and finding shopping deals.
Cori Landry
Board Member
Cori Landry is a stay-at-home mother to her three kids and one dog. With several deaf family members, her volunteer work centers mostly on endeavors for the hearing and visually impaired. She helped her son create a club at Horace Greely raising money to buy hearing aids for low-income deaf people in the Bronx and opens her home monthly to train and socialize dogs for the Guiding Eyes program.
Cori is a passionate philanthropist, tennis player, and animal lover.
Ekaterina Milchtein
Board Member
Ekaterina Milchtein is a physician specializing in family medicine. Working for NYP Westchester Medical Practice in Mt.Vernon, NY, she takes care of patients of all ages and different backgrounds. Originally from Russia, she is passionate about travel, fitness, and healthy living.
She enjoys reading, theater, skiing, hiking, and game nights with her family. She is a mom to three kids.
the hosts
Lauren Gellert
Chappaqua, New York
Lauren is a long-time media producer and executive, and a leader in pop culture content creation. Throughout her career, she has overseen programming for multiple cable networks including VH1, Court TV, truTV, Ion Media. Her most recent executive job was leading the original programming and production team at AMC Networks WEtv where she built the brand into a number one cable destination for Women. Known for blending data-driven and creative strategies while fostering dynamic talent on and off camera, Lauren has been the creative force behind numerous brand-defining cable franchises. She currently works as a media consultant and producer with multiple platform and production partners.
Lauren graduated with honors from Northwestern University. She is a member of New York Women in Film & Television, and a founding member of the New York board of directors of Step-Up Women’s Network, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing philanthropy and volunteerism among women in entertainment and media. Through her family’s 501c3 company “Sharing With You,” Lauren launched the community based purpose driven women’s salon called “Taste & Talk.” Monthly, she curates thought leaders to speak to about women’s health, well-being, family finance & entrepreneurship, while providing wine tastings selected by a local sommelier and an opportunity for networking and collaboration among participants. Throughout her career Lauren has been active in mentorship, volunteerism, and community building where she continues to identify and develop talent, fostering communication and amplifying diverse voices.
Julie Flakstad
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Julie is the co-founder of The Midlife Collective, a media platform and social movement that produces and supports storytelling initiatives, including documentaries, film/TV, and podcasts, to help reframe women and aging. As the Executive Producer of Her Second Act, a groundbreaking new documentary on women in midlife, and Producer of The Midlife Truth Project, a research-based platform turned Ambie-nominated podcast, Julie’s work aims to unravel the myriad of transitions that women face as they settle into their 40s and 50s and empower them to reimage what midlife looks like. As a writer, speaker, and pro-aging advocate, her work creates space for women to share their stories around aging, relationships, changing family dynamics, and more. Julie is a connector, educator, and agent of change.
Wendy Mantell
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Wendy Mantell spent over 23 years as a lawyer, first as a litigator at Greenberg Traurig and then supporting brands like Hulu, FanDuel, and Bird. Recently, Wendy transitioned careers to become a Certified Relationship Coach. Utilizing her skills in problem-solving, communication, and emotional intelligence, she aims to empower individuals to nurture honest and authentic personal relationships. Wendy is excited to collaborate with her sister Lauren, the founder of Taste and Talk, to launch engaging salons in Los Angeles focused on community and women’s empowerment.
Wendy lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jon, and her two teenage sons and enjoys hiking, yoga, and seeing as much live music as possible.
Leslie Teicher
Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly, New Jersey
Leslie has spent her career in education, rooted in the belief that we are all lifelong learners who deserve to be a part of communities that are safe, inclusive, inspiring, and filled with rich and meaningful opportunities for growth. With a background in special education, Leslie worked to create learning environments more inclusive of students with varied learning needs and abilities. Leslie’s interests have grown to include helping students navigate prejudice and hatred, appreciate different perspectives, and feel empowered to stand up to hate and prejudice. Today, Leslie is working on developing supportive housing for adults with special needs that is inclusive and integrated with the broader community.
Leslie has three children and two dogs, loves yoga, and has served on various boards for her synagogue and in her community, rooted in fostering connections to Israel and her broader Bergen County community. Leslie is also passionate about helping address food insecurity for families.