Épisodes

  • This Ordinary Thing Film: Humanity, Courage & the Holocaust
    Dec 4 2025

    Filmmaker Nick Davis joins Big Blend Radio to discuss his powerful new documentary, This Ordinary Thing, releasing December 5, 2025 (Cinema Village, NYC) with a theatrical roll out and VOD Release to follow on March 31, 2026. Blending performance, personal testimony, and historical narrative, This Ordinary Thing explores the profound acts of humanity that occurred during the Holocaust—ordinary people who risked everything to save the lives of strangers. Through the stories of rescuers and survivors, the film reveals the duality of human nature during one of history’s darkest moments, highlighting the courage, compassion, and moral clarity that emerged in the face of unimaginable brutality.

    Nick Davis shares insights into his creative process, the emotional weight of telling these stories, and the remarkable cast of actors who bring these moments to life. The conversation reflects on trust, moral choices, and the critical importance of remembrance—making this episode especially timely for today’s world and a meaningful tie-in for the documentary’s release.

    Visit: https://www.thisordinarything.com/

    Voir plus Voir moins
    14 min
  • Wandering Through Bavaria: A Train Adventure of History, Culture & Heritage
    Dec 3 2025

    In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Wander the World with Sharon,” award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz takes us on a captivating train journey through beautiful Bavaria. Exploring at her own pace, Sharon visits historic cities, spa towns, wine regions, and cultural landmarks — all while reflecting on how travel deepens our understanding of history and broadens our connection to the world.

    From Nuremberg’s profound World War II history to the wellness traditions of Bad Kissingen, the opulence of Bayreuth, the wine heritage of Würzburg, and the beer culture of Bamberg, Sharon reveals the many layers that make Bavaria such a rich and rewarding destination. Her journey also explores the medieval magic of Rothenburg, the region’s architectural treasures, and the importance of remembrance at historical sites. Whether traveling solo or with others, Sharon shows how exploring Bavaria by train offers unmatched flexibility, insight, and inspiration.

    📝 Read Sharon’s “All Aboard Bavaria!” article in the all-new Big Blend Wander the World Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/gyoy/#p=1

    🌍 Learn more about Sharon K. Kurtz and her global adventures: https://sharonkkurtz.com

    🎧 This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio’s Vacation Station, and Way Back When channels: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    📅 Tune in on the first Wednesday of every month at 12pm CST: https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com

    Voir plus Voir moins
    31 min
  • Celebrating 110 years of the Historic Jefferson Highway
    Dec 1 2025

    This special episode of the Jefferson Highway Podcast celebrates 110 years since Edwin T. Meredith first launched the idea of the Jefferson Highway, the historic “Pine to Palm” route connecting Winnipeg to New Orleans.

    Cohost Roger Bell, President of the Jefferson Highway Association, joins the conversation to explore the highway’s history, the early challenges in its creation, the role of community participation, and the ongoing mission to map, preserve, and promote this international heritage road.

    Learn how traveling the Jefferson Highway supports small towns, preserves historic corridors, and continues America’s tradition of discovery through road-tripping and cultural connection. Visit the Jefferson Highway Association at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

    We also highlight two major new resources now available for modern travelers: 🌐 NEW: Jefferson Highway Travel Guide Website – The brand-new online guide featuring updated travel directories, lodging, historic stops, attractions, and community resources along the route. The interactive map is in progress, but the directories are fully live. The quarterly digital Jefferson Highway Travel Guide publication will be out in January 2026. Visit https://www.jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com/

    📰 NEW: Jefferson Highway Dispatch – Our new Substack publication offering traveler insights, historical stories, updates from the road, special features, and community spotlights. Subscribe: https://jeffersonhighwaydispatch.substack.com/

    🎙️ This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio’s "Vacation Station," "Way Back When," "Road Trip Radio," and "Big Daily Blend" podcast channels. Explore the network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    Voir plus Voir moins
    41 min
  • Magical Moments in Morocco with Wilderness Travel
    Nov 26 2025

    On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Global Adventures with Debbie Stone, we celebrate an exciting milestone — the launch of Debbie’s brand-new Global Adventures Digital Magazine, where each podcast episode now integrates with her immersive travel stories and photography.

    This week, Debbie takes listeners on a dazzling journey through Morocco, based on her recent private tour with Wilderness Travel. From the Imperial cities of Rabat and Fez to the sweeping sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, Debbie recounts “pinch-me” moments filled with history, culture, culinary discoveries, and the genuine warmth of Moroccan hospitality.

    She also shares smart travel tips, insights into local customs, and stories from unique accommodations that elevated her Moroccan adventure into something extraordinary.

    🌍 Read the Morocco feature in her new Global Adventures Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/qiqy/

    🎧 Listen & Subscribe: https://global-adventures-debbie-stone.podbean.com/

    🎙️ This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio’s "Vacation Station," "Way Back When," "Parks & Travel," and "Big Daily Blend" podcast channels. Explore the network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    Voir plus Voir moins
    55 min
  • A Visit to Windsor Castle and Historic Runnymede in England
    Nov 22 2025

    Join historian and UK tour guide Glynn Burrows of Norfolk Tours for a fascinating journey through the history, architecture, and cultural significance of Windsor Castle and nearby Runnymede, the birthplace of the Magna Carta. From medieval fortifications to royal traditions, Glynn explains what makes Windsor Castle such an extraordinary place to visit — and what travelers should know before they go.

    He also touches on the importance of respecting historical sites, why Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace serve very different purposes, and what makes the Magna Carta at Runnymede a cornerstone of democratic history.

    Read Glynn’s full article: Windsor Castle & Runnymede: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/a-visit-to-windsor-castle-and-runnymede/

    Learn more about Glynn & book a custom tour: Norfolk Tours: https://norfolk-tours.co.uk/

    Listen to Glynn’s monthly podcast (airs every 4th Saturday): English Connection Podcast: https://english-connection.podbean.com/

    🎙️ This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio’s "Vacation Station," "Way Back When," and "Big Daily Blend" podcast channels. Explore the network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    Voir plus Voir moins
    34 min
  • Dr. Matthew Restall: The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus
    Nov 20 2025

    Historian and award-winning author Dr. Matthew Restall joins Big Blend Radio’s "Way Back When" History Show to discuss his latest book, “The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus” (W. W. Norton, October 7, 2025).

    A leading expert on Latin American and colonial history, Dr. Restall is the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of History and Anthropology and Director of Latin American Studies at Penn State University. He is also the author of over 30 books, including "Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest" and "When Montezuma Met Cortés."

    In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Restall untangles the nine myths—Columbus’s “nine lives”—that have shaped the explorer’s enduring cultural and political presence. From competing origin stories and beatification campaigns to fictionalized biographies, scandals, and shifting national narratives, he examines how Columbus became both a hero and an antihero in the American imagination.

    While exploring the impact of Columbus’s voyages on Indigenous peoples, Dr. Restall also explains how immigration, patriotism, and modern identity politics have kept Columbus at the center of debates about history, morality, and national mythmaking. This episode offers a thoughtful and nuanced look at why Columbus still matters today—and why understanding his story requires examining multiple perspectives.

    Learn more about Dr. Restall: http://matthewrestall.com/

    In celebration of National Life Writing Month, which recognizes how stories, biographies, and personal histories shape our understanding of the world, this episode is also featured on the Big Daily Blend show. Explore the Big Blend Radio Network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    Voir plus Voir moins
    35 min
  • Exploring New Brunswick, Canada: Indigenous Heritage, Sea Caves & The Bay of Fundy
    Nov 19 2025

    In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Journey Jukebox" travel podcast, travel writer Lisa Evans continues her Canadian adventures as she explores the Indigenous history, cultural heritage, and natural wonders of New Brunswick.

    From learning with First Nations Storytellers to experiencing the dramatic tides of the Bay of Fundy, Lisa uncovers powerful histories, geological marvels, and heartfelt community stories. Highlights include a visit to St. Martins Sea Caves, the scenic Fundy Trail Parkway, the tidal-access-only Ministers Island, and historic Partridge Island, along with delicious coastal cuisine and memorable local encounters.

    Destinations featured: St. Martins, Bay of Fundy, Hopewell Rocks, Ministers Island, Partridge Island, Beaver Harbor, Fundy Trail Parkway, Saint John area.

    Listen to Part One of Lisa's Canadian Journey: https://journeyjukebox.podbean.com/e/st-john-new-brunswick/

    Travel Resources & Links Mentioned: * First Nations Storytellers: https://www.firstnationsstorytellers.com/ * Ministers Island: https://www.ministersisland.net/ * Partridge Island History: https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=191 * Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park: https://www.parcsnbparks.ca/en/parks/33/hopewell-rocks-provincial-park * St. Martins Sea Caves: https://www.todocanada.ca/city/saint-john/listing/st-martins-sea-caves/

    🎵 Listen to the Journey Jukebox Spotify Playlist inspired by travel: 👉 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7humUf03LIW04t8LiJSSN9?si=54c7630328284648

    📚 Lisa Evans is the author of 100 Things to Do in Coastal Mississippi Before You Die 🌐 https://writerlisa.com/ 🌐 https://www.gosmart.travel/advisors/lisa/evans

    📅 New episodes air every 3rd Tuesday 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: https://journeyjukebox.podbean.com/

    Voir plus Voir moins
    44 min
  • Author Michael Engelhard - No Place Like Nome Permalink
    Nov 16 2025

    Award-winning author and anthropologist Michael Engelhard joins Big Blend Radio’s "Way Back When" History Show to discuss his new book, “No Place Like Nome: The Bering Strait Seen Through Its Most Storied City.”

    Blending anthropology, history, personal reflection, and vivid storytelling, Engelhard explores the legendary city of Nome, Alaska—a cultural, ecological, and historical crossroads where the legacies of millennia still shape the present. From mammoths and shaman hoards to Cold War landmarks, reindeer herders, adventurers, hustlers, drummers, dancers, and whalers, his book highlights a region steeped in myth, resilience, and human ingenuity.

    In this lively conversation, Engelhard discusses cultural migration across the Bering Strait, the impact of climate change on Arctic landscapes, the interconnectedness of humans and nature, and the powerful role of storytelling and language in preserving Indigenous cultures. He also shares insights into the origins of Nome’s name and how its past continues to echo through environmental, social, and cultural challenges today.

    Learn more and get the book: https://michaelengelhard.com/

    Celebrating Native American Heritage Month and National Life Writing Month through an exploration of history, culture, community, and place, this episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend," "Nature Connection," and "Parks & Travel" Podcast channels. Explore the network, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    Voir plus Voir moins
    49 min