Big Blend Radio

In honor of Global Diversity Month, explorer and author James Michael Dorsey takes us to Papua New Guinea, the most linguistically diverse country on earth, with more than 800 indigenous languages and thousands of dialects. 
On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Before They Vanish" Podcast, James talks with producer Lisa D. Smith about attending the Sing Sing festival, where as many as 150,000 people from dozens of tribes gather in feathers, face paint and towering headdresses, and about the Asaro people, the famous Mudmen.
Many people picture the Mudmen as brutal savages in huge clay masks, but James calls them one of the most peaceful tribes in Papua, and shares the story behind the masks: a river, gray mud, and attackers who thought they were seeing spirits. Today the Mudmen are moving from ancient warriors to modern entrepreneurs, with a television commercial, perfume ads, music albums and a website for booking performances. 
James also covers Papua New Guinea’s headhunting history, the Papuan litter bearers who helped Australian troops in World War II, travel tips for Port Moresby and Goroka, village life with roast pig and cassowaries, and why traditional peoples are never “backward.” The episode ends with a preview of his upcoming trip to Mongolia.MORE:
🌍 James Michael Dorsey’s website: https://jamesmichaeldorseyauthor.com/ 🎙️ More episodes of Before They Vanish: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/before-they-vanish 
New episodes of Before They Vanish air every 4th Monday on Big Blend Radio. 

Joey Stuckey, Macon, Georgia’s Official Music Ambassador, passed away on October 17, 2026. This is one more conversation with him, recorded on October 10, just before the release of his new album, King of Strings, which he cut live in a single twelve-hour day on Les Paul’s own 1957 console at the Les Paul Recording Studio in Hollywood.
Joey was a blind guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer, a Professor of Music Technology at Mercer University, and a longtime friend of Big Blend Radio. In this Music Talks conversation with Lisa D. Smith, he’s funny, opinionated, and generous with his stories. He talks about:- Why he made a CD instead of vinyl, and why a signed CD is “a souvenir of our time together”- Owning your music versus renting a license from the streaming services- How a request to touch Les Paul’s console for 15 minutes turned into the first album ever recorded there- Six songs, eight channels, no punch-ins, and a film crew capturing it all- The stories behind Temple in the Wind, Born to Be Your Toy, King of Strings, Hertsmere Blues, and Baby Don’t- Being ready when your shot comes, and being in the moment at a show
LINKS:- Listen to King of Strings: https://found.ee/joeystuckey-kingofstrings - Joey Stuckey on Big Blend Radio (YouTube playlist): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm2zNDtr23NbGx4q90u3Ok0f&si=yUxe5i9wpaAxCF-f - Joey’s website and his family’s statement: https://www.joeystuckey.com/ - More from Big Blend Radio: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/ 

October means one thing on English Connection: it’s time for ghost stories. On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "English Connection" Podcast, Glynn Burrows takes us on a tour of England’s spookiest corners, and England has no shortage of them.
Glynn takes us down into the dungeons of Norwich Castle, where prisoners were once held for years. He tells the story of a public hanging in 1849 that drew crowds from all over. He also explains how plaster casts were made of executed murderers’ heads so phrenologists could “read” their bumps, and why those casts are still on display.
From there it’s Norfolk’s legendary Black Shuck, the big black dog of East Anglian folklore. We wander through churchyards, battlefields and family vaults. We also get to the story Glynn loves to tell: Anne Boleyn arriving at Blickling Hall in a coach driven by a headless coachman and pulled by headless horses.
Along the way: Guernsey, the underground hospital below Dover Castle, and the question of why some old places feel so strange. It’s warm, a little eerie, and full of history.
LINKS & RESOURCES:- Glynn's article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/haunted-england-spooky-tours - English Connection Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/english-connection - English Connection Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/english-connection-magazine  - Keep up with Glynn and learn more about his custom tour services: https://www.englishconnection.uk/ - Follow the English Connection on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594366433338 

The Jefferson Highway begins in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and runs all the way to New Orleans. In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Jefferson Highway" Podcast, producer Lisa D. Smith and Jefferson Highway Association (JHA) president Roger Bell travel north with Lou Erickson of the Morris & District Centennial Museum and JHA Board Member Derek Thille of Winnipeg. 
You’ll hear how a 1919 garage photo sparked a whole town’s Jefferson Highway pride, from a parade float to the first official Jefferson Highway Association sign in Manitoba in a hundred years. Derek shares his Emerson-to-Morris road trip, and we cover old cars in snow, the Morris Stampede, Winnipeg’s must-sees, and where to eat.
RESOURCE LINKS:- Morris & District Centennial Museum: https://www.morrisdistrictmuseum.ca/ - Morden’s of Winnipeg chocolate: https://www.mordenschocolate.com/ - Jefferson Highway Association: https://jeffersonhighway.org - Get the guide, listen to more podcast episodes, and subscribe to the Jefferson Highway Dispatch: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com 

Halloween is a blast for us, but it can be a scary, and sometimes dangerous, night for the pets in our house. On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection" Podcast, co-host Angela Laws of TrustedHousesitters and Lisa D. Smith sit down with veterinarian and best-selling author Dr. Gary Richter, known as America’s Favorite Veterinarian, to talk about keeping pets safe, calm and out of the candy stash.
Dr. Richter explains why chocolate, xylitol and even peanut butter can be a problem. He also covers the tinsel, ribbon and string that look harmless but can cause trouble when a pet swallows them. We talk about skeleton décor and crafting projects, and about costumes and masks, including when the better choice is no costume at all. Then we get to the doorbell, the open door and the fight-or-flight moments that send pets running, and why microchips matter. We also cover why cats are safest indoors, what to do about fireworks and thunder shirts, and how to walk your dog past a yard full of decorations.
Before we get to Halloween, Dr. Richter shares valuable insights about pet nutrition including allergies, overweight pets, dental health and what to look for on an ingredient label. He also tells us how to read your pet’s behavior and know when it’s time to call the vet.
Whether you’re handing out candy, hosting a party or just trying to get through trick-or-treat hour with a nervous dog, this one is for you.
🔗 LINKS- Ultimate Pet Nutrition: https://ultimatepetnutrition.com/ - Dr. Gary Richter on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petvetexpert/ - Dr. Gary Richter on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petvetexpert/?hl=en - TrustedHousesitters: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ - Pet Connection Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/pet-connection 

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Podcast, travel writer and author Linda Ballou takes us to Moab, Utah, the red-rock gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. She shares how a chance meeting in an airport led to her first kayak trip down Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River, and how much Moab has changed in the twenty years since her first visit.
Along the way, Linda explores Highway 128 along the Colorado River and the film museum at Red Cliffs Lodge. They talk about Thelma & Louise, John Ford, and the outlaws and moonshiners who once hid in Labyrinth Canyon. Then it’s on to the wonders of Arches, from Park Avenue to the Courthouse and the Three Gossips.
Hear about Edward Abbey's book "Desert Solitaire," his fight to stop the damming of Glen Canyon, and the toll of the uranium mining days. Then, a reflection on what a river can teach us about going with the flow. Linda offers options for every visitor, from half-day river trips to Jeep and photography tours, and a gentle reminder to tread lightly on the fragile desert.
MORE ON MOAB:- Episode page with Linda’s Moab guide & article excerpt: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/moab-utah-rivers-red-rock-abbey-country - Linda’s full Moab guide on NABBW: https://nabbw.com/expert-columns/searching-for-new-adventures-in-southeast-utah-linda-ballou-recommends-moab-as-your-perfect-springboard/ - Moab Visitor Center: https://www.moabtourismcenter.com/ Linda Ballou: https://www.LindaBallouAuthor.com 
FOLLOW LINDA:- Lost Angel Adventures: https://www.LostAngelAdventures.com - Linda Ballou Author Site: https://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ - Podcast: https://lost-angel-travel-adventures.podbean.com - Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/podcast-retrospective/ 

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Journey Jukebox" Podcast, travel writer Lisa Evans takes us to Clarksville, Tennessee. It isn’t the Clarksville of the Mississippi Blues Trail. It’s a river city less than an hour from Nashville that deserves a day, or several, all to itself. 
Lisa shares the history, the attractions and the public art that made this one of her favorite recent trips.
You’ll meet Olympic legends Wilma Rudolph and Pat Head Summitt, and hear how Wilma insisted her hometown welcome be open to everyone. Lisa tours the 1898 Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, explores the Historic Collinsville Pioneer Settlement (and makes her own butter), and heads underground at Dunbar Cave State Park, a rough, unlit cave with Native American art deep inside. She also shares the colorful murals, including Last Train to Clarksville (pictured) and Clarksville Starry Night, and the brand-new Wings of Liberty Museum at Fort Campbell.
Next month, Lisa returns with Clarksville’s food, wine and spirits. Don’t forget the Journey Jukebox Spotify playlist, where Jimi Hendrix, who was stationed at Fort Campbell, shares the mix with Roy Acuff.
Learn more, see photos & get travel planning resource links: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/clarksville-tennessee-history-caves-public-art 
LISTEN & CONNECT- Journey Jukebox Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/journey-jukebox-with-lisa - Journey Jukebox Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7humUf03LIW04t8LiJSSN9?si=3683d9bcf60649d3 - Lisa Evans Travel Features: https://writerlisa.com/ - Lisa's "All About Travel" Substack: https://substack.com/@allabouttravelwithlisa 

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel with Terri" Podcast, travel journalist Terri Guthrie continues her Mardi Gras Train series with a stop in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Terri calls it a casual coastal escape that feels worlds away from New Orleans, even though it’s less than an hour by rail. She walks us through Old Town’s art, boutiques and golf carts, her stay at the Pearl Hotel, and dinner downstairs at the Thorny Oyster, where she met owner and executive chef Jeffrey Hansell. There’s amberjack, a roasted beet salad with lemon ricotta, and a Bushwhacker at the Blind Tiger across the street.
Then we head next door to Waveland and its Ground Zero Hurricane Museum, which honors Hurricane Katrina’s impact and the resilience of the Gulf Coast. She also talks beaches, live oaks, resurrection ferns, and the live-for-today spirit of Mississippi and Louisiana. Next episode: Mobile, Alabama!
LINKS & RESOURCES- Get more information including travel planning links and the rest of the Mardi Gras Train series, see: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/bay-st-louis-mississippi-mardi-gras-train - Listen to more Travel with Terri Podcast episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/travel-with-terri - Visit Terri’s website: https://www.travelwithterri.com/ - Check out The Luxe Explorer Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.travelwithterri.com/magazine