Big Blend Radio

A Visit to Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country

Have you experienced the Hill Country of Texas? From wine tasting and live music, and history, this episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast is all about historic Fredericksburg, Texas. 
Fredericksburg is a small town with a big personality, where you can really sense the blend of cultures that shaped its character. From its roots as a German settlement in 1846, the town has managed to hold onto that Old World charm while embracing a bit of Texas spirit. And, with over 100 vineyards and tasting rooms in the region, this town has truly earned its place on the wine map. Then there's Luckenbach which became famous in the 1970s as a country music hotspot. Learn more at https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/ CHECK OUT SHARON'S ARTICLE about her adventures in Fredericksburg here: https://shebuystravel.com/things-to-do-in-fredericksburg-texas/ 
Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World with Sharon" Podcast features award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz. New episodes air every first Wednesday at 12pm CST at https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com/  
Sharon Kurtz is an accomplished travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to exploring the world and sharing her adventures through compelling storytelling. Her travels have taken her to more than 50 countries on six continents—her carry-on is always packed, ready for the next adventure. Enjoy Sharon’s writing at https://sharonkkurtz.com/. 

Visiting and Supporting Asheville This Holiday Season

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Tuesday "Adventures in Asheville" Show focuses on visiting Asheville and supporting this popular mountain destination post Hurricane Helene.
Featured Guests- KAREN WILSON, who along with her husband Steve, owns and runs The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/    ** See their GoFundMe page:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-asheville-bed-breakfast-hurricane-recovery 
- JAY SCHULTZ - Retired Army Officer and owner of Spartan Photography known for his drone and aerial work (as seen in the podcast photo). More: https://spartanphotography.zenfolio.com/ ** Also follow his social media accounts for his giveaway:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spartan.Photo - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spartanphotoavl/ 
- NICOLE WILL - Co-Founder of Asheville Wellness Tours that offers customizable wellness and yoga retreats and experiences in the mountains of Western North Carolina. More at https://ashevillewellnesstours.com/ *** See their GOFUNDMe Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-asheville-wellness-tours-recovery 
LINKS OF SUPPORT (Thanks Nicole):* Elderflower Care: https://www.elderflowercommunity.org/ * Conserving Carolina: https://conservingcarolina.org/  * Asheville GreenWorks: https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/ * Mountain True: https://mountaintrue.org/ * WNC Strong: Rebuilding Together Grant Fund (For profit businesses with fewer than 100 employees - not industry specific!): https://www.mountainbizworks.org/helene/wnc-strong-rebuilding-together-grants-2/  * WE ARE Grant (Women Owned Businesses): https://weareasheville.org/pages/founding-member* Explore Asheville Voluntourism: https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/voluntourism-ways-give-back-when-visiting-asheville  
Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Show airs every 1st Tuesday. Follow the show on PodBean: https://adventures-asheville.podbean.com/ 

Supporting Parks, The Arts, Kids and Military Families

'Tis the Season of Giving and this episode of Big Blend Radio explores the myriad of ways to support our parks, the arts, military, kids and families, and more. Enjoy these inspiring conversations that offer practical ideas for giving back. 
ON THIS EPISODE:- IVAN LEVIN gives an overview of the preservation and educational programs that the National Park Trust offers. Established in 1983, this non-profit dedicates 86% of its resources to park preservation and its youth, family, and military programs. Visit https://parktrust.org/  
- CHRISTY WOOD, world champion horse trainer and author,  talks about her fundraising efforts to support the Independence Fund in purchasing all-terrain track chairs and funding caregiver programs for wounded veterans. Visit: https://independencefund.org/ and keep up with Christy at https://wdnhorse.com/ 
- VICTORIA CHICK, an artist based in Silver City, New Mexico, talks about raising funds to build the Southwest ​Regional ​Museum ​of ​Art ​and ​Art ​Center, ​which would be the first fine art museum in southwest New Mexico. Learn more at https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/ and visit Victoria's site at https://victoriachick.com/ 
- CLIFFORD GARSTANG, an author and writer based in Staunton, Virginia talks about some of his local non-profits including the Heifetz International Music Institute - https://heifetzinstitute.org/; the Staunton Music Festival - https://www.stauntonmusicfestival.org/, and the American Shakespeare Center - https://americanshakespearecenter.com/. Learn more about Cliff's writing at https://cliffordgarstang.com/ 
- LISA EVANS, travel writer and author, talks about the Operational Christmas Child program through Samaritan's Purse, see: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/. She also discusses ways to give back to areas in need, and how to be a "Good Samaritan" during the holiday travel season. Keep up with Lisa at: https://writerlisa.com/ 

Books and Holiday Gifts for Equestrians and Horse Lovers

Do you have an equestrian or horse lover on your holiday shopping list? If so, check out this episode of Big Blend Radio featuring author and world champion horse trainer Christy Wood who talks about her various books and horse-related gifts that include horseshoe decor and more. Visit her website and online store here: https://wdnhorse.com/ 

Boomer Generation Novels for Holiday Gifts

In celebration of the Holiday Shopping Season, award-winning and best selling author Mike Nemeth discusses his two Boomer Generation novels that revolve around the main character Eddie Kovacs. What a wonderful set of books for those from the boomer era and younger. More at: https://mikenemethauthor.com/ 

A Holiday Gift for Women's History Enthusiasts

In celebration of the Holiday Shopping Season, this episode of Big Blend Radio features author Kimberly Hess who gives an overview of her book, "A Lesser Mortal: The Unexpected Life of Sarah B. Cochran." A fantastic gift for women's history enthusiasts, Pennsylvania history buffs, and philanthropists, this groundbreaking biography covers the extraordinary life of Sarah. B. Cochran “The Coal Queen.” More: https://unexpectedlifeofsarahbcochran.com/ 

Novels and Short Story Collections for Holiday Gifts

Looking for the perfect book for those avid readers and bookworms in your life? Check out our Holiday Shopping chat with author, writer, and editor Clifford Garstang who gives an overview of his novels and short story collections that make idea gifts. More at https://cliffordgarstang.com/ 

Genealogy Gifts for Family History Research

Kick start your holiday shopping this Cyber Monday with Aryn Youngless on Big Blend Radio! Aryn is a writer, author, and geneaologist. Check out her genealogy gifts, books & journals, and family history research services here https://www.genealogybyaryn.com.  
You can also visit her Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpringHeeledJackM