Big Daily Blend

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 

Harry Belafonte was a legend in music, but the film "Following Harry" isn’t about his music. It’s about what he did when the music stopped. In this Big Blend Radio conversation, host Lisa D. Smith talks with Emmy-nominated filmmaker and editor Susanne Rostock, director of "Following Harry" and its companion film, "Sing Your Song," about the last twelve years of Harry Belafonte’s life and the new generation of artists and activists he mentored.
Susanne shares how the film began. "Sing Your Song" ended with Harry looking straight at the audience and asking, “What do we do now?” Not long after, he invited her to move her editing equipment into his brand-new office, which became a hub of activism where you never knew who might walk in. She talks about the podcast she once planned to make there, and how a front-row seat to Harry’s conversations with young people turned into a film about how movements are built.
You’ll hear why young people listened to Harry: he was gentle, he was a true conversationalist, and he wasn’t there to lecture. He left what Susanne calls “a trail of crumbs” and invited the next generation to pick it up, or bring something better. We talk about the mentors who shaped him, including Paul Robeson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela, and about why passing the baton mattered so much to him.
Lisa also shares her own connection to the story. She grew up in Kenya and South Africa listening to Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, and Susanne talks about Harry’s love for African music and the power of the album he made with Makeba. We also talk about love with conviction, doing what you can with the platform you have, the role of the arts in crossing divides, and Susanne’s work editing the film, which Nancy J. Reid (Big Blend Media) called seamless.
Perfect for Global Diversity Month, this episode is about common humanity, mentorship, and what we choose to leave behind for the next generation. Following Harry is available on Amazon Prime in the US and Canada, starting October 13, 2026.
Watch the trailer and get more information on the film:https://www.followingharry.org/ 
More from Big Blend Media House:https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com 

Celebrate America 250 in upstate South Carolina! On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Jo Goes Everywhere" Podcast, travel writer Jo Clark takes us to Ninety Six National Historic Site, a backcountry crossroads where 12 roads met and later the site of the longest land siege of the American Revolution, from May 22 to June 18, 1781. This park also turned 50 this year.
Jo walks us through the Star Fort and Kosciuszko’s brick-lined mine tunnel. She also tells the tale of the engineer who got shot in the butt, poses for a selfie with the big replica gun, and explains why the kids’ tunnel is such a hit. She shares what it’s like to hear reenactments and cannon fire (earplugs recommended!) and why Lake Greenwood State Park is worth adding to your trip.
Then it’s time to eat and stay. Jo takes us to Break on the Lake and Indigenous Underground, where Chef Erica “Trudy” McCier serves soul rolls and Black Eye Pea Gumbo. She also stops at Main Street Coffee Co., The Rough House and 96 Pecan Company (don’t miss the Lemon Crunch!), and spends the night at The Veranda on Main. At the end, Jo toasts with her Spooktacular Halloween Cocktail.
RESOURCE LINKS:- Read Jo’s full article, with all the details, tips and links to every stop: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/ninety-six-national-historic-site - Get Jo’s Spooktacular Halloween Cocktail recipe: https://recipestravelculture.com/spooktacular-halloween-cocktail/ 
Follow More of Jo:-  https://www.haveglasswilltravel.com/ - https://recipestravelculture.com/ - Jo Goes Everywhere! Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/jo-goes-everywhere-podcast - Jo Goes Everywhere! Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/jo-goes-everywhere-magazine 

Travel writer Erin Coyle takes us to Oman, where a cup of coffee is an invitation and hospitality is a way of life.
On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host Lisa D. Smith talks with IFWTWA member Erin Coyle, a freelance travel writer and ESP teacher who moved to Oman in 2018 to teach, started writing about travel during the pandemic, and now lives in Muscat.
Erin shares what it’s really like to travel in Oman: the warm welcome, the customs worth knowing, the food, and the landscapes that pleasantly surprise first-time visitors.
In this episode:- Why Oman feels calm and welcoming to travelers, and where it sits on the map- Erin’s path from teaching English in Sur to writing about travel- What an Omani wedding looks like, from the late-night start to the bride’s grand entrance- How to dress respectfully in a Muslim country, from wadis to mosques- Oman’s food: shuwa (goat cooked in the ground), mishkek kebabs, kabuli rice, and Paplou fish soup- Why coffee is the heart of Omani hospitality, plus dates, halwa, and the secret of shaking your cup- Modern Muscat versus traditional villages, falaj water channels thousands of years old, and a skyline with no skyscrapers- Wine and alcohol for travelers, wellness and breathwork, and nature from mountains to coast- Erin’s Hot Pot and the one-pot meals every culture shares
It's the perfect episode to celebrate Global Diversity Awareness Month! 
READ ERIN'S OMAN ARTICLE:- https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/oman-hospitality-things-to-do 
CONNECT WITH ERIN:- https://erinshotpot.com - https://www.instagram.com/erinshotpot/ - https://www.facebook.com/erintravelwriter 
IFWTWA:- International Food Wine Travel Writers Association:https://www.ifwtwa.org/ - More Food, Wine & Travel podcast episodes:https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa - Travel, Food & Wine Podcast Magazine:https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine 

Celebrate Pizza Month, Italian American Heritage Month, and Family History Month with pizza, wine, and Sicilian family stories in this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" Podcast!
Peggy Fiandaca, co-owner of Arizona's LDV Winery, starts with a fall update from the vineyard and the tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale, including a Burgundy wine talk, Petite Sirah in November, trivia night, and two new wine releases. Then she and Lisa D. Smith dive into Peggy's Italian American heritage: growing up Sicilian in Chicago, why so many Italian immigrants came to America and the discrimination they faced, and the close-knit extended family and Sunday suppers that shaped the way she cooks.
Peggy shares the Sicilian pizza traditions of her childhood, a thick, rectangular, focaccia-style pizza baked in an olive-oil-slicked pan and made at home every Friday night. She also explains her Wine Term of the Month, Nero d'Avola, Sicily's flagship red, and what makes a ragù different from a Sunday sauce. Then it's time for pizza and wine pairings: what to pour with a cheesy slice, ham and pineapple, Margherita, and white pizza, plus why pizza for brunch with bubbles sounds like a great idea.
LINKS & RESOURCES- Get Peggy's pizza and wine pairing tips, plus more of her Italian-style recipes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/how-to-pair-wine-with-pizza - Learn more about LDV Winery: https://ldvwinery.com - Check out the "Wine & Bites" Recipe & Podcast Digital Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/fmlb - Follow "Wine Time with Peggy" Podcast: https://wine-time-peggy.podbean.com/