Parks & Travel

Sharon K. Kurtz - Discovering Green Slovenia

It's all about beautiful Slovenia on this episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast with Sharon K. Kurtz. Located in Central Europe, Slovenia offers breathtaking natural landscapes, a rich history, and a solid commitment to eco-friendly practices. 
Over half of Slovenia's terrain is covered in pristine forests, making it a leader in forest conservation and green initiatives. This compact country boasts numerous protected areas, including the majestic Triglav National Park. Read Sharon's article about her experiences here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/discovering-green-slovenia/ 
Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World with Sharon" Podcast features award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz. New episodes air every first Wednesday at 12pm CST at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1ALXeV1vR6H10EtkPvgDW5 
Sharon Kurtz is an accomplished travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to exploring the world and sharing her adventures through compelling storytelling. Her travels have taken her to more than 50 countries on six continents—her carry-on is always packed, ready for the next adventure. Enjoy Sharon’s writing at https://sharonkkurtz.com/ or follow her on https://www.instagram.com/shar_kurtz/ 

Author Lowell E. Baier - Earth’s Emergency Room

In honor of Great Outdoors Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features legal and environmental historian, author, and attorney Lowell E. Baier. Hear about his latest book, "Earth’s Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter." 
"Earth's Emergency Room" is a celebration of 50 years of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). In the book, Baier provides an insightful and entertaining history of the ESA’s dramatic highs and lows. He profiles his work with the ESA from its inception to the present, and with the key figures who shaped its history, from field biologists to Presidents of the United States. Baier ultimately calls on all Americans to embrace a spirit of bipartisanship and conservation to strengthen the law that has been the Earth’s emergency room for half a century. More at https://lowellebaier.com/ and https://esaat50.com/ 
You can also listen to his earlier Big Blend Radio interview about the history and importance of the Endangered Species Act as well as his two related books The Codex of the "Endangered Species Act: Volume 1, The First Fifty Years", and "Endangered Species Act: Volume 2, The NextFifty Years." Listen: https://youtu.be/HPo-Mfb5i3c?feature=shared 
Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/ 

Outdoor Adventures on the Historic Jefferson Highway

Celebrate Great Outdoors Month and National Rivers Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show that focuses on Itasca State Park in Minnesota and the Empress Boat Club in Iowa Falls.
FEATURED GUESTS:- ROGER BELL, President of the Jefferson Highway Association. Info: https://jeffersonhighway.org/  - CONNIE COX - Lead Interpretive Naturalist at Itasca State Park in Minnesota. More: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00181#homepage - JESSICA TJARKS - Empress Boat Club in Iowa Falls, Iowa. More: http://www.empressboatclub.org/ 
The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST. Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/ 
Featured photo of Mississippi Headwaters with People, Copyright (2024), State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. Reprinted with Permission courtesy of MN DNR. Photo of Empress Boat, courtesy Empress Boat Club.

Debbie Stone - Exploring the Outer Banks of North Carolina

In celebration of Great Outdoors Month and Oceans Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" Podcast, is all about the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands along the coastline of North Carolina. It boasts 100-plus miles of wide-open shoreline, charming villages and towns, and plenty of historical attractions. From the history of flight to lighthouses, wild horses, beaches, shopping and dining, there’s something for everyone. Check out Debbie's article and video feature, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/lots-to-love-about-the-outer-banks/  Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" podcast airs every 4th Tuesday. Follow the podcast here:  https://global-adventures-debbie-stone.podbean.com/ 

Author Kevin Fedarko - A Walk in the Park

In honor of Great Outdoors Month and National Rivers Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show features award-winning author Kevin Fedarko who discusses his new book, "A WALK IN THE PARK: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon."  It shares the odyssey Kevin his best friend and photographer Pete McBride undertook to transect the entire length of the Grand Canyon, a feat billed by the handful of experts who have managed to complete it as “the toughest hike in the world.” 
A WALK IN THE PARK is an ode to such vanishing places, and a deeply moving plea for the preservation of America’s greatest national treasure.  More: https://www.kevinfedarko.com/ 
Follow Big Blend Radio's PARKS & TRAVEL Podcast on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/5tkdvm5a 

Oceans, Seas, Rivers & The Great Outdoors Of England

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "English Connection" show with Glynn Burrows is all about the oceans, seas, rivers, and outdoor experiences you can enjoy in the United Kingdom. From walking coastal paths to cruising on a narrowboat, check out Glynn's article that spotlights some of the beautiful and memorable adventures you can have, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/oceans-seas-and-rivers-of-england 
Glynn Burrows is the owner of Norfolk Tours in England. He appears on Big Blend Radio every fourth Saturday covering England as a travel destination as well as family history research. Follow his podcasts here: https://tinyurl.com/4bjzn3um 
Learn more about Norfolk Tours at https://norfolk-tours.co.uk/ 

Lost Angel Travel Adventures in Costa Rica

From hiking through tropical rainforests to outrigger surfing, it's all about Costa Rica on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou." Hear about Linda's recent 13-day trip to Costa Rica with Overseas Adventure Travel.
You can read Linda's articles about her trip NABBW.org here:- Part 1: From the Lush Rainforests to the Shining Sea: https://tinyurl.com/3x6t9ked - Part 2: A Little Country with a Big Heart: https://tinyurl.com/46p4mrks 
Watch Linda's YouTube playlist of short videos from her recent visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUfBG36FykHl4ZkQ5vsX9OVS1BfX8Bj6l 
To learn more about  Linda’s adventures with Active Central/South American tours in Costa Rica, read her essay "Tough Cookies in Costa Rica" in her travel collection "Lost Angel Walkabout" which is available on her site at https://tinyurl.com/yc6y6vmk 
Follow Linda Ballou's adventures at https://lostangeladventures.com/ and learn more about her books at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ 
Listen to Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Show every 3rd Wednesday at High Noon PST,  here on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm3Bmktgu8osUzx2VOF35dgO&feature=shared 

The Gettysburg Cyclorama and Painters Philippoteaux

This episode of Big Blend Radio's WORLD OF ART Podcast with artist Victoria Chick focuses on the Gettysburg Cyclorama depicting “Pickett’s Charge up Cemetery Ridge” at the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. The innovative Gettysburg Cyclorama was the work of father-son painter duo Henri Philippoteaux (1815 – 1884), and Paul Philippoteaux (1846 – 1923). Read Victoria's article about it all here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/dioramas-cycloramas-and-the-painters-philippoteaux 
Victoria Chick is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. Visit: https://victoriachick.com/ 
Victoria appears on Big Blend Radio every 3rd Saturday. Follow the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3an38624