Big Daily Blend

Janine Kovac - The Nutcracker Chronicles

In celebration of February 7th being National Ballet day, enjoy this recent episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features award-winning author Janine Kovac who discusses her memoir, "The Nutcracker Chronicles," that blends her personal life with the events in ballet’s most famous show: “The Nutcracker.” 
Out now, "The Nutcracker Chronicles” tells the story of Janine’s pursuit of an elusive dream that compels her to endure blistered toes, weekly weigh-ins, second-hand pointe shoes, and constant insults from her directors. Why can’t you just dance like a pretty girl?  
JANINE KOVAC enjoyed a twelve-year career as a professional ballet dancer in Iceland, Italy, San Francisco, and her hometown of El Paso, Texas. She is the author of “Brain Changer: A Mother’s Guide to Cognitive Science” and “Spinning: Choreography for Coming Home." More at: https://www.janinekovac.com/     
More about Books Forward at https://booksforward.com/ 

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Celebrate National Sweet Potato Month, and National Vegan Cuisine Month, with this "From the Vault" Big Blend Radio episode with 5-Star Chef Ivan Flowers who shares his recipe and cooking tips for making homemade Baked Sweet Potato Fries. See his recipe: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/baked-sweet-potato-fries/

Pairing Wine with Sweets

Get ready for Valentine's Day and celebrate the Month of Love with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" podcast with Peggy Fiandaca who talks about pairing wines with sweets and desserts. Check out Peggy's recipe for Spiced Apple Chutney Wontons, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/spiced-apple-chutney-wontons/ 
Along with her winemaker husband Curt Lawrence Dunham, Peggy Fiandaca owns and operates LDV Winery in Arizona. Learn more at  https://ldvwinery.com/ 
"Wine Time with Peggy" airs every 1st Wednesday at 4pm Arizona time. Follow the podcast here: http://tinyurl.com/42j5zucj 
This episode is also being shared and featured on other Big Blend Radio Network Channels including the "Big Daily Blend," and "Eat, Drink & Be Merry." Check out our network of podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Making Stuffed Mushrooms with Ruth Milstein

Celebrate National Stuffed Mushrooms Day with this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio featuring Ruth Milstein, author of the Gourmand award-winning recipe book “Cooking with Love: Ventures Into the New Israeli Cuisine." See her recipe here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/stuffed-mushrooms/Featured music, with permission, is "Holy Water" by www.AllisonAugust.com

Piet Dalmolen - Time Stands Still Album

This Music Monday episode of Big Blend Radio features Northern California guitarist/singer/songwriter Piet Dalmolen discusses his long-awaited debut album TIME STANDS STILL.
Boasting eight eclectic compositions, this talisman resonates through an ambitious amalgam of sublime psychedelic rock, soulful jazzy blues, and indie-Americana. Bobbing and weaving amidst the foundational chemistry of bass, drums, and various keyboards, Piet’s superb guitar and understated vocals coalesce to create a dense, potent vessel of joy and vulnerability. The album also features Matt Engel on keyboards, Tommy Fitzmaurice on drums, and Ian Taylor on bass, 
An influential trip to Maui resulted in most of the music heard on TIME STANDS STILL. This intentional collection reveals a reluctant poet reawakened, mining inspiration from life’s trials and tribulations, and discovering knowledge of self amid the glorious environs of sacred Hawaiian Islands.  More at https://www.pietdalmolen.com/ 

Big Blend Radio World Party 2025

Celebrate International Friendship Month with Big Blend Radio’s WORLD PARTY that aired live on Feb. 2, 2025, with hosts Nancy J. Reid & Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team behind Big Blend Magazines, guest cohost Johnny Schaefer, and special guests in the world of travel, writing, and music. 
FEATURED PARTY GUESTS & SEGMENTS:– JOHNNY SCHAEFER, cohost of Big Blend Radio’s “Big Daily Blend” Show every 1st Sunday, is an award-winning singer-songwriter. Visit: https://hearjohnny.com/
– CHRISTINA LINHARDT is a singer, actor, performance artist, director, writer, and model. Visit: http://www.circussanctuary.com/
– JON DAWSON & JOHN GUY BARWICK are North Carolina musicians who have just released the EP “Coastal Chase”. Visit https://johnguybarwick.bandcamp.com/album/coastalchase and https://343collective.com/thirdofnever/
–  SHARON K. KURTZ is an award-winning travel writer and photographer. Visit https://sharonkkurtz.com/
– LISA EVANS is a travel writer, travel advisor, and author of “100 Things to Do in Coastal Mississippi Before You Die.” Visit https://writerlisa.com/
– BARBARA REDDING is a travel journalist and photographer. Visit: https://barbararedding.com/
– GLYNN BURROWS is a family historian and owner of Norfolk Tours in England. Visit: https://norfolk-tours.co.uk/
– JO CLARK is a food, wine, and travel writer, and photographer. Visit: https://haveglasswilltravel.com/
– DR RANSDELL is an author, traveler, musician, and teacher. Visit: https://www.dr-ransdell.com/
– ANGELA LAWS is a world traveling pet sitter and community manager of https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/
– SHELLEY WHIZIN is a world traveler, transformational coach, and author. Visit: https://shelleywhizin.com/

Self-Renewal for the Body, Mind and Spirit

This episode of Big Blend Radio's SOUL DIVING SUNDAY Show with Shelley Whizin celebrates Self-Renewal Day (Feb. 2), a day dedicated to stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing activities that nurture our growth, maturity, and joy. It’s an opportunity to take a deep breath, reflect on our lives, and renew ourselves—mind, body, and spirit.
Read Shelley's article about Self-Renewal, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/a-call-to-care-for-yourself/ 
And, check out the new seasonal Big Blend "Soul Diving" digital publication featuring her past articles and podcasts here:  https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ylqx/#p=1 
SHELLEY WHIZIN is the founder and CEO of the Soul Diving Institute™ and author of "What Do You Bring to the Table? A Savory, Sensory and Inspirational Guide to Living a Yummy Delicious Life." Keep up with Shelley and her coaching programs, courses, and workshops here: https://www.shelleywhizin.com/ 
Tune in to Big Blend Radio's "Soul Diving Sunday with Shelley" show every first Sunday here: http://tinyurl.com/2bjbectk 

A Visit to Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country

In honor of National Texas Day, we're sharing this recent episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast that's all about historic Fredericksburg, in this heart of the Lone Star State's popular Hill Country region.
Fredericksburg is a small town with a big personality, where you can really sense the blend of cultures that shaped its character. From its roots as a German settlement in 1846, the town has managed to hold onto that Old World charm while embracing a bit of Texas spirit. And, with over 100 vineyards and tasting rooms in the region, this town has truly earned its place on the wine map. Then there's Luckenbach which became famous in the 1970s as a country music hotspot. Learn more here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/a-visit-to-fredericksburg-in-the-texas-hill-country/