Big Daily Blend

Super Fun Adventures in Asheville 2025

Happy National Fun Day! Asheville, North Carolina is rebuilding after Hurricane Helene and is welcoming visitors back with open arms. Airing live from The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, this episode focuses on some of the unique experiences you can enjoy in Asheville such as the WNC Nature Center, Axeville Throwing Club, Asheville Pinball Museum, and more.Traveling to Asheville directly helps support the local businesses and regional community, and there is so much to do from brewery hopping and rooftop cocktails to public art viewing and shopping, chasing waterfalls and hiking, and visiting some of the area’s iconic attractions like the Biltmore Estate, Pisgah National Forest, and the North Carolina Arboretum. ON THIS EPISODE OF BIG BLEND RADIO'S "ADVENTURES IN ASHEVILLE" SHOW:* STEVE & KAREN WILSON – Owners of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. This charming lodging destination is back open and welcoming visitors.  More: https://www.lion-rose.com/ * CINDY SMITH - Director of Development of the Friends of the WNC Nature Center. The WNC Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity. More: https://wildwnc.org/* GLEN MERCHANT – Owner and founder of Axeville, the first axe throwing club in Asheville.  Opened in 2019, the club is designed to allow guests to safely throw axes at targets while enjoying local beer, cider and wine selections in a modern and cozy space.  More: https://throwaxeville.com/

Author Maura Casey - Saving Ellen

Celebrating Women's History Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio features award-winning journalist Maura Casey who discusses her debut memoir, "Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery” (Skyhorse Publishing, April 1, 2025). The book crafts a vivid and poignant narrative of a working-class family’s resilience in the face of a terminal diagnosis.
Growing up in a family torn by addiction and financial hardship, Maura’s early years were shaped by instability and survival. Cared for by Dr. Mary Hawking (sibling of Stephen Hawking), her sister Ellen’s life-threatening battle with kidney disease added another layer of heartache, but it also deepened Maura’s understanding of courage and family bonds. Through it all, Maura has reframed the pain of her past, uncovering hope and meaning even in life’s darkest chapters. More: https://www.caseyink.com/ 
For over 30 years, Casey was an opinion writer for three New England newspapers and The New York Times, where she had a seat on the exalted Times editorial board. Today, Casey writes a weekly column, Casey’s Catch, at https://maurac.substack.com    

Author Joan Fernandez - Saving Vincent

We all know Vincent van Gogh, but who was the powerhouse woman who turned his failed art career into an international success?
In celebration of Women's History Month, and the birth anniversary of artist Vincent van Gogh (March 30, 1853), this episode of Big Blend Radio features author Joan Fernandez who discusses her book, "Saving Vincent: A Novel of Jo van Gogh." Releasing April 15, 2025 through She Writes Press, this historical fiction novel reveals the hidden true story of the woman who made Vincent van Gogh the artistic giant he is today.
Joan Fernandez is a novelist who brings to light courageous women’s brilliant deeds in history. “Saving Vincent” was recognized by the American Writing Awards, winning their 2024 art award. More: https://www.joanfernandezauthor.com/ 

Novelist Iris Mitlin Lav - Gitel's Freedom

Celebrate the end of Women's History Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio that features author Iris Mitlin Lav, who discusses her historical novel, "Gitel's Freedom."  This depression-era book shares the story of Jewish immigrants and one woman’s journey toward personal freedom. It's a compelling tale of women’s resourcefulness and resilience amid limiting and often oppressive expectations.   
IRIS MITLIN LAV earned an MBA from George Washington University and an AB from the University of Chicago. She enjoyed a long career in public policy analysis and management, and she taught public finance at Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University. Her first novel, “A Wife in Bangkok,” was published in 2020 by She Writes Press. “Gitel’s Freedom” is her second novel. More at https://irismitlinlav.com/  

Swedish Rock Star Nina Soderquist

Celebrate International Women in Music Day with this "Blast from the Past" episode of Big Blend Radio (2017) featuring Swedish performer, rock star and “field artist” Nina Söderquist. Hear about her music career and success in London's West End with the musical SPAMALOT, her music career, and single at the time “Goodbye”, a duet with Björn Skifs (Blue Swede, “Hooked on a Feeling”).  More: www.NinaSoderquist.com 

Jefferson Highway Conference in McAlester, Oklahoma

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show focuses on the upcoming Annual Jefferson Highway Conference 2025 happening June 4-7 in McAlester, Oklahoma, with the Sociability Caravan running June 2-4. Plus, hear about the formation of the Jefferson Highway, as well as some of the McAlester's fascinating history.
FEATURED GUESTS:- ROGER BELL: Co-Host & President of the Jefferson Highway Association- BILLY SUMNER - Tourism Manager of City of McAlester. Visit: https://travelmcalester.com/ - ADELINE WHISENHUNT - Conference Organizer and Oklahoma Chapter of the Jefferson Highway Association.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/  
Learn more about the upcoming Jefferson Highway Travel Guide project and be part of the effort, here: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com/ 
This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except on holidays). Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/  

American Women Who Made History

In celebration of Women's History Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Women Making History" Podcast shines the spotlight on six noteworthy American Women who made a positive impact across the country and around the world. Featured guests are travel writers Barbara Redding, Jo Clark, Kathleen Walls, and Linda Ballou.
ON THIS EPISODE:- TEXAS WOMEN - Barbara Redding discusses Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson, First Lady of the US (1963-1969); Barbara Charline Jordan who the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction; and Anne Richards who served as the 45th governor of Texas (1991-1995). Learn more about Barbara at https://barbararedding.com/  
- IVEY COURTNEY STONE - Jo Clark shares the story of how during WWII Ivey volunteered for the WAVES, served as a communications watch officer in the Navy Department, and became one of 10,000 “Code Girls” -- Codebreakers -- for the US Navy. Keep up with Jo at https://haveglasswilltravel.com/  and https://recipestravelculture.com/ 
- SUSAN B. ANTHONY - Kathleen Walls shares how this prominent women's rights advocate and leader of the women's suffrage movement helped pave the way for the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. She was also involved in the anti-slavery movement, and temperance movement. Keep up with Kathleen at https://americanroads.net/  and https://katywalls.com/ 
- KRISTINE "KRIS" TOMPKINS - Linda Ballou talks about this former CEO of Patagonia's conservation work as president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation known for preserving, expanding, and creating national parks in Chile. (Photo featured is by James Q Martin, courtesy of McCarthyatTC, CC BY-SA 4.0, on Wikipedia.) More about Tompkins Conservation: https://www.tompkinsconservation.org/ Keep up with Linda at https://lostangeladventures.com/ 

Noteworthy Women in Artist Ted DeGrazia’s Life

Celebrate Women's History Month with this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Tales of Southwest Artist Ted DeGrazia" Podcast. Featuring Lance Laber, Executive Director of the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, this episode focuses on some of the noteworthy women in Southwest Artist Ted DeGrazia's life including his Mother, first wife Alexandra Diamos, second wife artist Marion DeGrazia, Carol Locust - Mother of musician Domingo DeGrazia, photographer Louise Serpa, and even country singer Sammi Smith.
Current exhibits at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun include "Ted DeGrazia in the Studio of Diego Rivera" (until Sept. 3, 2025), “Louise Serpa's Portraits of Ted DeGrazia” (until Sept. 3, 2025), and “The Way of the Cross” (until May 28, 2025). The Little Gallery is also host to visiting artists from now through April 4, 2025. 
Also hear about the exhibit "Bisbee Through the Eyes of Ted DeGrazia" on display at the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum and the Muheim Heritage House, in Bisbee AZ,  through May 26, 2025.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a 10-acre historic landmark nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. Opened in 1965, it is home to over 15,000 originals of Ted DeGrazia art pieces including oil paintings, watercolors, ceramics and sculptures. There are six permanent collections on display and several rotating exhibitions each year. More: http://www.degrazia.org/ 
This Big Blend Radio "Tales of Ted DeGrazia" podcast airs every 4th Sunday. Follow the show here: https://ted-degrazia.podbean.com/