Big Daily Blend

October is Blindness Awareness Month and Emotional Wellness Month, and this conversation fits both. Director and filmmaker Gina LeVay Goldstein joins Big Blend Radio to talk about "Blind AF," the award-winning documentary following blind Paralympian, Army veteran and world-record holder Shawn Cheshire on a 60-day, 3,600-mile solo bike ride across America.
Shawn lost her sight to a brain injury in 2009 while working as a paramedic, and the film goes far beyond the miles. Gina explains how she met Shawn in 2015, how the story grew from an endurance ride into a film about trauma, healing and reclaiming your authentic self, and why trauma “tells no time.” She also talks about the filmmaking, the team behind it, and the moment on the road when a stranger reminded Shawn that blindness isn’t a disability, it’s a difference.
Among others, Gina thanks executive producer Jeff Zimbalist, editor Michael Culyba, and cinematographers Cristobal de Alba and Benjamin Soto of Zenith Adventure Media.
"Blind AF" premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival, won Best of Fest at the 2025 Sedona International Film Festival, and is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi and Documentary+.
LINKS & RESOURCES:Watch the film: https://www.blindafdoc.com Meet the team: https://blindafdoc.com/the-team Shawn Cheshire: https://www.shawncheshire.org Big Blend Media House: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com 

Pittsburgh has long carried a reputation as a gritty steel-mill town with not much to see or do. Travel writer Debbie Stone grew up in Chicago hearing exactly that, but she kept hearing whispers that the city had changed, so she went to see for herself. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures" Podcast, Debbie shares the museums, art and views that changed her mind.
Debbie takes us through the Heinz History Center, where six floors cover everything from Pittsburgh's inventions to the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood puppets, the story behind Heinz's 57 varieties and an eleven-foot ketchup bottle. Then it's the seven-story Andy Warhol Museum and his famous silver wig, the Mattress Factory's site-specific installations, and the colorful public art of Randyland. Debbie also explains why Pittsburgh is the city of bridges, shares tips for getting around, and visits the Fort Pitt Museum and Point State Park. She rides the historic Duquesne Incline up Mount Washington, cruises the three rivers with Gateway Clipper, and stays at the Drury Plaza Hotel, a historic Federal Reserve Bank building.
RESOURCE LINKS:- Read Debbie's article and see her photos: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/pittsburgh-buzz-worthy-museums-attractions - Plan your Pittsburgh visit: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com - More from Debbie Stone: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/debbie-stone-travel-writer - Global Adventures Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/global-adventures-debbie-stone - Global Adventures Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/global-adventures-travel-magazine 
New episodes of Big Blend Radio's Global Adventures Podcast with Debbie Stone air every 4th Tuesday at 7pm ET. 

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 shared 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 shared 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 

Halloween is a blast for us, but it can be a scary, and sometimes dangerous, night for the pets in our house. On this shared 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 

Celebrate National Book Month with award-winning crime novelist James W. Ziskin who joins Matt Cost and BJ Magnani on this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Pets, Plots & Poisons" Podcast to talk about his "Ellie Stone" Mysteries, set in the 1960s, and his new standalone suspense novel, "The Prank."
The conversation starts with pets: Saint and Millie’s dirt-road romance, Dr. Watson the fetch-playing cat, and Jim’s cats Tuppy and Boko, including Tuppy’s ice cube “launch pad.” 
Then Jim explains how a pug named Little Leon sneaks into every "Ellie Stone" book, why he’s named after Trotsky, and what it takes to write a 1960s female reporter as a man. They also dive into Dante, the Decameron and Ellie’s trip to Italy, how Jim wrote about 80,000 words of "The Prank" in roughly 40 days, and a plot tip on pantsers, plotters and keeping your continuity straight. BJ closes with her poison of the month: cyanide, plus the 1982 Tylenol poisonings that changed packaging forever.
Pets, Plots & Poisons airs every 3rd Thursday on Big Blend Radio.
LINKS:- James W. Ziskin: https://jameswziskin.com/ - BJ Magnani: https://www.bjmagnani.com - Matt Cost: https://www.mattcost.net - Pets, Plots & Poisons podcast channel: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/pets-plots-poisons-podcast 

Author Kayla Hardy on "The Quarter Queen," her debut historical fantasy reimagining Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, and her rebellious daughter, Ree. 
Voodoo queens, secret societies, and the mother-daughter bond that can make or break a family. For National Book Month, Kayla Hardy joins Big Blend Radio’s "Books & Authors" with Books Forward, to talk about The Quarter Queen, a lush, richly researched story of two generations of powerful women in a magically and racially divided 1840s New Orleans.
In the novel, Ree finds her formidable mother, Marie, comatose in the bayou and has to uncover the secrets of Marie’s past to save her. Enemies are circling, including a puritanical Brotherhood of alchemists, the slaveholding mayor of the city, and Ree’s childhood best friend turned witch hunter.
In this conversation, Kayla talks about:- Growing up between Ohio and Louisiana Creole country, and how childhood summers hooked her on Marie Laveau- Why slavery itself, the system, is the true villain of the book- Voodoo’s blend with Catholicism: magic, psychology, or both?- The Brotherhood’s obsession with purity, secret societies, and alchemy- Ree’s coming-of-age and mothers and daughters seeing each other as whole people- Her years of writing and querying before the book deal, and how a TV pilot became a novel
Kayla Hardy is a mythology expert and multi-hyphenate author and screenwriter of Louisiana Creole descent. She earned her PhD in creative writing and African American literature from SUNY Binghamton University, where she is an adjunct professor and an accomplished scholar of Black folklore, mythology, and Voodoo. "The Quarter Queen" (Ballantine) is her first novel, named an Essence Most Anticipated Book of 2026 and a Book Riot Best New Book of March.
Kayla Hardy’s website: https://KaylaHardy.com Books Forward: https://booksforward.com/ Big Blend Media House: https://www.BigBlendMediaHouse.com