Big Blend Radio
Viva Variety! Hosted by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Magazines, Big Blend Radio educates, entertains and inspires! Topics include: Music, Books & The Arts; Travel & Recreation; Food & Drink; National Parks & Public Lands; History & Culture; Nature & Environment; Home & Garden; Family & Education; Business & Career; and much more!
Big Blend Radio broadcasts new episodes from our network of shows daily.
Episodes

Friday Aug 23, 2024
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Celebrate National Wellness Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast with Judy Karnia who gives an overview of forest bathing its benefits.
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Judy Karnia is a travel writer, life coach, and nature therapist. As a forest therapy guide, she is certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and leads walks to help people connect with nature, which can improve their physical and mental health. Learn more and book a forest bathing session with Judy here: https://www.forestbathingfinder.com/guide-profile/judyk/
Follow Judy's travel adventures at https://judykarnia.com/
Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 2nd and 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/
This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Quality of Life," "Women Making History," and "Big Daily Blend" podcast channels. Follow Big Blend Radio's Network of Podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
It's all about Beer, Burgers, Meat Pies & More on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show!
Featured Guests:* Roger Bell - President of the Jefferson Highway Association* Chase Miller - One Great City Brewing Co. - https://www.ogcbrewingco.com/ * Beth Hilburn - Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma - https://hi-waycafe.com/
Podcast links mentioned in this episode:* Guiness World Records on the JH - https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/guinness-world-records-on-the-jefferson-highway/ * MVPA Convoy: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/mvpa-historic-convoy-on-the-jefferson-highway/
The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/
This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST. Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
If you love seafood and want to keep cooking to a mininum, how about making ceviche? This episode of Big Blend Radio's EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY Show features Ivan Flowers, a 5-Star Chef and Culinary Instructor, who shares how to make his easy mixed seafood ceviche. Check out the recipe here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/mixed-seafood-ceviche/
Follow Big Blend Radio's EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY Show here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm36M-s22iuKRDKPlZXl46Lr

Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
From who, where, and when, and what percent to give, this episode of Big Blend Radio's Vacation Station "Hey Wanna Go" Travel Show with travel advisor Cheryl Ogle deep dives into the world of tipping and gratuities.
Check out Cheryl's blog on tipping etiquette for travelers: https://heywannago.wordpress.com/2024/08/13/gratuities-tipping/
On Big Blend Radio every third Wednesday, Cheryl is a world traveler, accredited travel advisor, and owner of Hey Wanna Go that specializes in travel to Europe and the UK, as well as river and ocean cruises. More: https://heywannago.com/

Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
From the Colorado River, American River and Green River, to the Salmon River, Tatshenshini, and Pacuare River, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" podcast covers six of Linda's favorite river experiences. You can read her article about her "river rat" adventures, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/confessions-of-a-river-rat/
Expanded essays on Linda's trips on the Green River, Salmon River, and the Tatshenshini, (also known as Raven’s River) are included in "Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales." Sections of the story Tough Cookies in Costa Rica details her time on the Pacuare River. "Destination Deep Time" about rafting the Grand Canyon and a story about Georgie White the Wild Cat of the Canyon, winner of the Solas Award for Best Destination at Travel Tales publications, are included in "Lost Angel Unleashed: Stories from the Heart."
Follow Linda Ballou's adventures at https://lostangeladventures.com/ and learn more about her books at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/
Listen to Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Show every 3rd Wednesday at High Noon PST, here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm3Bmktgu8osUzx2VOF35dgO&feature=shared

Tuesday Aug 20, 2024
Tuesday Aug 20, 2024
Celebrate American Adventures Month and the End-of-Summer with this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Go to Natchitoches” Podcast. From the Cane River Zydeco, Big Foot, and Meat Pie Festivals to the Natchitoches Parish Fair and a new Corn Hole Tournament, Paige Alost and K. Nicole Connell of Natchitoches Tourism share what to experience at the end of August and throughout September in Natchitoches.
Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest settlement in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. Plan Your Visit to Natchitoches and check out the event calendar at https://natchitoches.com/
Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show and check out the past episodes here: https://natchitoches-louisiana.podbean.com/

Monday Aug 19, 2024
Monday Aug 19, 2024
This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel writer and author Sandra Bornstein who shares her personal story of travel and skiing while grieving the loss of her husband, Ira.
In 2020, their world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, terminal brain cancer. Even though he was diagnosed with only 12-18 months to live and they were coping with COVID restricted travel, Ira and Sandra adopted the motto—Keep Moving and Live Without Regrets. Even though Ira is gone, Sandra has continued to live by his motto through travel and skiing, which have helped her tremendously. She hopes that her lifestyle choices will encourage others to embrace life when they are faced with a spouse's terminal diagnosis and subsequent death. Read her recent stories that focus on traveling and grieving: * https://www.wanderwithwonder.com/the-magic-of-skiing-while-grieving/ * https://www.travelworldmagazine.com/2024/06/a-respite-from-grief-a-week-at-hilton-health/
Sandy Bornstein, a Colorado based travel writer, has visited dozens of countries, and lived as an expat teacher in Bangalore, India. She is the award-winning author of "May This Be the Best Year of Your Life" which is a resource for people contemplating an expat lifestyle, and "100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die." Keep up with her at https://thetravelingbornsteins.com and https://sandrabornstein.com
Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/
Follow this Podcast Channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1chVylr9kzBMftUgBoLS-m

Monday Aug 19, 2024
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Celebrate National Dog Month (August) with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection" Show that features Alison Rand, author of the contemporary memoir, "Walking Alison: A Poodles’s Mostly True Story of Helping Her Human Navigate Life."
The healing relationship between a dog and her human is at the heart of "Walking Alison." Chronicling their regular walks around her Upper West Side neighborhood, this big-hearted book describes the significant relationship between Alison and her wise, yet opinionated, canine companion known as Dea. Dea nudges her human to engage with the world and appreciate everyday magic, even in the face of hardship. From processing grief to recovering from illness, Dea sees it all—and with deep wisdom, gives insight that can only be gleaned from looking through the eyes of a beloved pet.
Alison's previous memoir, “A Place Called Grace,” follows her misadventures as she struggles to find her footing as an actress in New York and Rome, Italy. Keep up with her at https://alisonrandauthor.com/
Big Blend Radio's PET CONNECTION Show is cohosted by Angela Laws, veteran pet sitter, and community manager at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/
This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Quality of Life" and "Big Daily Blend" Podcast Channels. Follow the "Pet Connection" podcast at https://pet-connection.podbean.com/

BIG BLEND RADIO
Viva Variety, the Spice that Adds Quality to Life!
This is the place to catch up with all the new episodes from the Big Blend Radio Network of podcasts. There's something for everyone, and something new to listen to every day with topics that include Music, Books & The Arts; Travel & Recreation; Food & Drink; National Parks & Public Lands; History & Culture; Nature & Environment; Home & Garden; Family & Education; Business & Career; and much more.
Big Blend Radio podcasts are hosted and produced by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter publishing team behind Big Blend Magazines, and full-time travelers on the Love Your Parks Tour.
Subscribe to the Big Weekly Blend e-Newsletter to get the latest articles, recipes, podcasts and magazines, and visit BlendRadioandTV.com and NationalParkTraveling.com.
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