Big Daily Blend

Fiber Artist Nancy Hershberger in Fort Union

Celebrate National Quilting Day with this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show featuring fiber artist Nancy Hershberger, who talks about her experience as the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) artist-in-residence in Fort Union National Monument in Northern New Mexico. Nancy's art quilts have been shown in exhibitions in the US and internationally and she has been accepted and served as artist in residence for five residencies in units within the national park service, the most recent one being Fort Union. Follow Nancy's art at https://www.facebook.com/NancyHershberger 
Artist Fort Union was the largest frontier military post and supply center of the southwest. It also was the hub of commerce, national defense, and migration at the final stretch of the Santa Fe Trail. More: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/fort-union-national-monument/ 
The National Parks Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the promotion of the National Parks through creating dynamic opportunities for artworks that are based in our natural and historic heritage. All NPAF artist-in-residence programs are made possible through the philanthropic support of donors of all sorts ranging from corporate sponsors, small businesses, and art patrons and citizen-lovers of the parks. More: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Rob Jackson - Acclaimed Climate and Environmental Scientist

In honor of Celebrate Scientists Dayt, we're revisiting this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show that features acclaimed climate and environmental scientist Rob Jackson author of "Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere."
There aren’t many climate books that are clear-eyed about the enormity of the challenges before us and also optimistic. "Into the Clear Blue Sky" manages to reframe climate solutions in a narrative of optimism by focusing on the incredible innovators paving a new path forward. More at: https://robjacksonbooks.com/ 
Rob Jackson is the Chair of the Global Carbon Project, a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, and a professor of earth science at Stanford University. Through global scientific leadership and groundbreaking research, communications, and policy activities, Jackson’s work has reduced millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions and improved human health, safety, and air and water quality. One of the top five most-cited climate and environmental scientists in the world, he has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, and his research has been covered in many outlets, including The New York Times, Scientific American, and The Washington Post.  

Kim Dinan - The Yellow Envelope

Travel blogger Kim Dinan quit her job, sold her home in Portland and convinced her husband to embark on a round-the-world travel adventure with no timeline or particular destination in mind.
On the eve of their departure, they received an unusual going away gift from friends…a yellow envelope with $1,000 and three simple instructions for giving it away during their travels:
Rule #1: Don’t over think it!
Rule # 2: Share your experiences! (… if you want to)
Rule # 3: Don’t feel pressured to give it all away!
Celebrate National Good Samaritan Day with this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio featuring travel writer Kim Dinan who talks about her travels and the act of kindness, as documented in her memoir, “The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and A Life-Changing Journey Around the World.” Kim shares how the gift traveled with her through a rickshaw race in India, volunteering at a children’s literacy and arts center in Ecuador, visiting a tiny island in Peru, trekking across Nepal, and beyond.More at https://so-many-places.com/ 

Jennifer McGuinness - Bird-Friendly Gardening

How about celebrating National Plant a Flower Day (March 12) by Planting a Flower that feeds a Bird? On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" and "Garden Gossip" podcasts, Jennifer McGuinness discusses her latest book, "Bird-Friendly Gardening: Guidance and Projects for Supporting Birds in Your Landscape" (2014). Out now through Cool Springs Press, it's the ultimate and authoritative guide for cultivating a home landscape that embraces wildlife, specifically catering to a diverse array of native plants that nourish, shelter, and sustain birds.
Every individual has the power to significantly impact the lives of thousands of birds, whether they're passing through during migration or establishing a feathered haven for the next generation. Creating a bird-friendly haven for various species need not be an overwhelming task. The key lies in understanding the requirements of our avian companions and recognizing how native plants, coupled with intentional garden design, can fulfill those needs. In "Bird-Friendly Gardening," Jennifer McGuinness expertly presents this knowledge in an easy-to-follow, actionable format. More: https://frauzinnie.blogspot.com/ 

Spring and Summer in Historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA features Mary Grace Kauffman of Destination Gettysburg who gives a spring and summer overview of what you can experience in beautiful and historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, including Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. 
Spring and summer highlights include the Adam County Blossom Belt, Blossom Festival (April 26); Adams County Festival of Races (April 26-27), Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival (May 15th-18th & Aug. 14th-17th), Gettysburg Film Festival (May 8-11),  Battle of Gettysburg anniversary (July 1-3) and re-enactments (July 4-6), Gettysburg Bike Week motorcycle rally (July 10-13), Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival (July 20-21), plus, the new scenic summer train excursions. Visit Gettysburg and Make Monumental Memories! Filled with welcoming residents and diverse experiences, this quaint town is filled with stories to tell. Discover how Gettysburg captures the imagination, stirs the soul, and continues to draw visitors from around the world to its hallowed ground and beautiful countryside. More: https://destinationgettysburg.com/ 
Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ 

Diane Reeve: The New Face of HIV

In observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, listen to this "From the Vault" Big Blend Radio interview with Diane Reeve.Known as ‘The New Face of HIV’, Diane Reeve talks about how her ex-fiance cheated on her and knowingly infected her (along with numerous other women) with HIV. Her gut-wrenching journey for justice is documented in her memoir written with Jenna Glatzer, ‘Standing Strong: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Sisterhood and the Court Case that Made History.’ Inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Diane holds a 7th Degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, is the owner of Vision Martial Arts Center in Plano, Texas, and is a popular speaker on the topics of AIDS awareness and women's empowerment.

Crab au Gratin for Crab Meat Day

Celebrate National Crab Meat Day with this "From the Vault" Big Blend Radio episode with Leah Launey, retired innkeeper of Three Rivers Bed & Breakfast (now closed) in Three Rivers, California, who talks about seafood and how to make her crab au gratin recipe. See her recipe here: http://blendradioandtv.com/listing/crab-au-gratin/ 

Women Artists in Parks

Celebrate Women's History Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show with Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). From musicians, poets and writers to painters and textile artists, Tanya talks about the various women NPAF artists-in-residence over the years, and you can hear their Big Blend Radio interviews in this playlist here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/women-artists-in-parks/ 
National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) is known for offering unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Chaco Canyon and Fort Union in Northern New Mexico, and Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. These artist residency opportunities are perfect for artists of all mediums, from painters and sculptors to photographers, composers, writers, musicians, and more. Learn more: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 
Watch for Big Blend Radio's NPAF Retrospective, a digital publication featuring 8+ years of podcast interviews with artists and park representatives! Keep up with us by getting our newsletter at https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/join-our-newsletter/