Nature Connection Radio

One of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in which 230,000 people perished, will be National Geographic's biggest docuseries of autumn, 'Tsunami: Race Against Time.'  This episode of Big Blend Radio features Barry Hirshorn, the seismologist who, in 2004, was tracking all the data as it trickled in. During the chaos, Hirshorn had to make sense of data s...

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, award-winning author and journalist Simon Parkin discusses his new book, "The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice."  The first book to chart the history of the world’s largest collection of seeds, "The Forbidden Garden" shares the story of the Siege of Leningrad and how from 1941 to 1944, the scientists in the seed b...

Happy World Urbanism Day, aka World City Planning Day! This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features Sara C. Bronin who discusses her book, "KEY TO THE CITY: How Zoning Shapes Our World."  Zoning codes have become the most significant regulatory power of local government, determining how we experience our cities. Yet zoning remains invisible. In "Key to the City," Sara reveal...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast features renowned entomologist and professor Barrett Klein, PhD who examines the phenomenon of how humans and insects relate on a cultural level in his new book, "THE INSECT EPIPHANY:  How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture" (Timber Press | Hachette; Oct 2024).  Our world would look very different if we didn’t have insects—not ju...

Due to the recent devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Southeast USA, and in honor of October being Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month and National Animal Safety and Protection Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection" Show focuses on how to help pets, and grieving pet parents, after the hurricane disasters. NON-PROFITS TO SUPPORT: - https://www.humanesociety.org    - https://...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features acclaimed author Christopher Brown who discusses his new book, "A Natural History of Empty Lots: Field Notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys, and Other Wild Places."  A NATURAL HISTORY OF EMPTY LOTS is a genre-bending blend of naturalism, memoir, and social manifesto for rewilding the city, the self, and society. Through his kee...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast features science journalist and author Lisa M. Baril, author of "The Age of Melt: What Glaciers, Ice Mummies, and Ancient Artifacts Teach Us about Climate, Culture, and a Future without Ice." Around the world, ice has preserved some of history’s most fascinating artifacts, such as the skeleton of an Iron Age horse, wooden arrows with bi...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features Jeff Reed, showrunner and cinematographer of the new National Geographic series, "National Parks: USA." Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/z42Ph8A2Uh8?feature=shared   From Zion and Yellowstone to Katmai, the Everglades and Olympic, each park presents its own cast of animal characters. This five-part series features a blend of wi...

This Big Blend Radio "Women Making History" Podcast Panel discussion features guests who share how they work to protect the environment and talk about women they admire who work to protect the earth. Hear about environmentally activist women (and girls) of the past and present who are skilled in writing and the arts, hospitality and tourism, wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, progressive...

Celebrate National Wellness Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast with Judy Karnia who gives an overview of forest bathing its benefits.  Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Judy Karnia is a travel writer, life coach, and nature therapist. As a forest therapy guide, she is certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and leads walks to help people connect...

A small portion of America's historic tallgrass prairie is preserved in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma. Only about 4% of tallgrass prairie still exists and it is one of the most diverse biological environments on earth.  In celebration of American Adventures Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show features travel writer Kathleen Walls who sha...

We're going on a wildlife safari through Etosha National Park in Namibia on this episode of Big Blend Radio's JO GOES EVERYWHERE! Podcast with travel writer and photographer Jo Clark.  Etosha is the largest salt pan in Africa, and is Namibia’s largest wildlife sanctuary that's home to a wide variety of birdlife as well as lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, two different zebras, hyenas, springbo...

It's all about foals, fillies, and colts on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "ABC's of Horses" equestrian podcast with Christy Wood. Topics of is discussion include breeding, foal prep, birth assistance, post-birth care. Christy Wood is a World Champion horse trainer, also exhibiting in jumping and trail. She is a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, and is a carded horse show judge with...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features acclaimed climate and environmental scientist Rob Jackson who discusses his new book, "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 solution...

This episode of Big Blend Radio features journalist and best-selling author David Lipsky who discusses his latest book, "The Parrot and The Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial."  Now published in paperback, he turns his prodigious talent to the twin stories of our lifetime: climate change and truth. Lipsky explores how “anti-science” became virulent in American life—through the history of cli...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features travel writer and photographer Julie Dee Suman who discusses the Osprey Conservation efforts and recreational, bird watching, and educational opportunities at Patuxent River Park in Maryland. Read her article about the park, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/discover-patuxent-river-parks-osprey-population/   Big Blen...

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" Podcast covering her recent visit to remote Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. Isle Royale is one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the country, averaging twenty to thirty thousand visitors annually. Established as the nation’s 25th national park in 1940, Isl...

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Pet Connection" Podcast features award-winning author and journalist Wendy Lyons Sunshine who discusses her new book, "Tender Paws: How Science-Based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs."  Full of illustrative cases and thoughtful insights to support dog welfare and inspire your own pet parenting journey, "Tender Paws" explores parallels betwee...

It's all about how to read and understand your horse's energy and emotions on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "ABC's of Horses" equestrian podcast with Christy Wood. Christy Wood is a World Champion horse trainer, also exhibiting in jumping and trail. She is a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, and is a carded horse show judge with 7 breed associations. Along with being an author and i...

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month and National Forest Week with this episode of Big Blend Radio that was recorded onsite with Steve & Karen Wilson, owners and innkeepers of the The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast in the heart of the Montford Historic District in Asheville, North Carolina. Hear about author Wilma Dykeman and Jean Webb who worked to protect and preserve the French B...

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 episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Tuesday "Adventures in Asheville" Show  focuses on the conservation work and visitor experience at the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville. WNC Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich bi...

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, Baie...

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 th...

In observance of National Pet Preparedness Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Pet Connection" Podcast focuses on pet and horse safety and disaster preparedness.  FEATURED GUESTS - ANGELA LAWS - Cohost, veteran petsitter, and community manager at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/   - CHRISTY WOOD - World champion horse trainer, instructor, author, and horse show judge. See: https://wd...