Way Back When

In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Jillian Sliwinski of Visit Flanders takes listeners on a journey through Flanders, Belgium, a region rich in history, art, culture, and culinary traditions. The conversation explores Flanders’ central role in European history, including its connections to...

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 peo...

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 conne...

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 commun...

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 Trave...

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 g...

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 Unive...

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 co...

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 t...

In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Merle Rosenstein shares her experiences at the Rougarou Fest in Houma, Louisiana, part of the Annual IFWTWA Conference in Lafayette (October 2025). Merle highlights the rich culinary culture, the legendary Rougarou in local folklore, and the importance of...

In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Quiltripping Travel with Rose” podcast, travel writer and photographer Rose Palmer takes us on a captivating journey through Malta, the independent island nation nestled between Sicily and North Africa. With a history stretching back over 5,000 years, Malta is a treasure trove of cultural influences, architectural marvels, and remarkable resilience. Explore th...

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Food, Wine & Travel Show with the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) features Inge Morascini, Executive Director of Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism, who shares what makes these two Pacific Northwest gems so special. From the dramatic coastal scenery and rich military and maritime history to the islands’ deep-rooted sense of c...

Recorded on location at the Fighter Pilot Reunion for the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, this special Veterans Day episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Travel with Terri” Show honors the dedication, service, and legacy of those who have taken to the skies in defense of freedom. Hosted by Terri Guthrie, this inspiring discussion features four special guests — Ron Guthrie, J...

In honor of Veterans Day and National Military Appreciation Month, Big Blend Radio's "Way Back When" History segment welcomes acclaimed documentary filmmaker Michael Pack to discuss his powerful Iraq War film, "The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah" airing November 10, 2025, on PBS nationwide. This documentary chronicles the two deadliest battles of the Iraq War—Najaf against the...

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Tales of Ted DeGrazia" Show, Lance Laber, Executive Director of the DeGrazia Foundation, shares updates on the latest exhibits, visiting artists, and the annual La Fiesta de Guadalupe celebration at DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun in Tucson, Arizona. The conversation highlights Ted DeGrazia’s artistic legacy, the gallery’s focus on Southwest culture, and its conti...

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s 1st Friday “Toast to The Parks & Arts” Show highlights the powerful connection between art, nature, and military history through the work of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). From painters and poets to filmmakers and chefs, the NPAF’s artist residency programs welcome diverse creatives into America’s national parks, where they interpret stories that h...

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 magical river cruise through storybook Bavaria. From historic cities to charming medieval villages, Sharon shares her solo travel experiences exploring this enchanting region of Germany. Sharon discusses the rise of solo travel, especially among women, and...

In this on-location episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Travel with Terri” Show, hosts Terri and Ron Guthrie explore the River Road region of Louisiana, uncovering the fascinating history, plantations, and cultural significance that line the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. They visit and discuss some of the area’s most iconic sites including Destrehan Plantation — the oldest docum...

In this engaging episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Road Trip Radio," Route 66 expert and author Jim Hinckley takes us on a nostalgic and insightful journey down America’s most famous highway — the legendary Route 66. Jim’s latest book, “Route 66: 100 Years,” (Quarto, November 4, 2026) commemorates a century of this iconic road with stories, photographs, and essays that capture the spirit, history, and...

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Vacation Station" Travel Show features travel writer and author Kathleen Walls, publisher of American Roads and Global Highways, who takes listeners on a lively journey through Key West, Florida, the southernmost city in the United States.  From the colorful history of the Conch Republic and the six-toed cats of the Hemingway Home and Museum, to ghostly legends,...

In celebration of National Book Month and National Arts & Humanities Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “A Toast to The Arts” Show features award-winning travel writer Barbara Redding, who takes us on a literary adventure through Denmark. From the Karen Blixen Museum, home of the famed author of Out of Africa, to Kronborg Castle, the real-life setting that inspired Elsinore in Shakespear...

Airing on National Make a Difference Day, this thought-provoking episode of Big Blend Radio’s "English Connection" Show features historian and tour guide Glynn Burrows of Norfolk Tours, who explores rebellion through the ages — from Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot to Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement. Inspired by Guy Fawkes / Bonfire Night (November 5), this conversation looks at how acts...

Explore the rich history, community pride, and small-town charm of Pittsburg, Texas, in this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Historic Jefferson Highway” Show. Co-host Roger Bell, President of the Jefferson Highway Association, is joined by Pittsburg Mayor David Abernathy to share insights into the city’s heritage, growth, and future as a destination along this legendary travel route. It's a great ep...

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) celebrates Italian-American Heritage Month and Family History Month with Valerie Fortney-Schneider—writer, author, genealogist, and expat living in Italy. Valerie shares her experiences from nearly 20 years of living in Italy, from her ancestral region of Bas...

Celebrate National Book Month and National Arts & Humanities Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Lost Angel Travel Adventures” podcast featuring author and travel writer Linda Ballou. In this conversation, Linda discusses the similarities and contrasts between her novel “Wai-Nani: A Voice from Old Hawai‘i” and the Apple TV series “Chief of War” created by Jason Momoa. She explores Ha...