Produced by Big Blend Radio, the Big Daily Blend is a themed podcast that celebrates holidays and observances, pop culture, and historic happenings. Broadcasting daily,  you can follow the podcast below or listen to the shows on your favorite podcast outlet

Big Daily Blend Podcast - 2024-2025

Select Big Blend Radio "A Toast to The Arts" podcasts and interviews that focus on music, books, film, theater, dance, performing and visual arts, and entertainment.

A Toast to The Arts Podcast: 2024-2025

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), who talks about the organization's unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and Chaco Canyon and Fort Union in Northern New Mexico. Hear about how these artist residency opportunities are perfect for artists of all mediums, from painters and sculptors to photographers, composers, writers, musicians, and more.

NPAF is a non-profit offering unique Artist-in-Residence Programs, Museum In-Loan Programs, and Workshops inspired by our National Parks, National Monuments, and World Heritage Sites. NPAF has supported over 300 programs, over 120 artists, and been the conduit for over a million dollars in artwork donations.  

Learn more: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

National Parks Arts Foundation Artist Residencies in 2024

This episode of Big Blend Radio celebrates 17 years of podcasting, plus the Big Weekly Blend podcast expanding to become the Big Daily Blend, and themed show that celebrates holidays and observances, pop culture and historic happenings. 

FEATURED GUESTS:
- Johnny Schaefer - Award-winning  vocalist and songwriter who co-hosts Big Daily Blend every 1st Sunday. More:  https://hearjohnny.com/
- Eva Eldridge – Travel writer and editor who writes various Big Blend publications. More: https://evaeldridge.com/
- Steve Schneickert - Actor, performer, and Big Blend Radio's Hollywood Historian. More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/steve-schneickert-hollywood-history/

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “A work of art does not answer questions, it provokes them; and its essential meaning is in the tension between the contradictory answers.” Leonard Bernstein

BIG WINDY MUSIC MIX Playlist:
- YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/5n7b5szy
- Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/3jdtawvj

PUZZLE OF THE DAY: Big Windy Crossword Puzzle: http://tinyurl.com/46c38mpp

RECIPE OF THE DAY is the Ultimate Black Bean Burgers by Chef Candy Lesher: http://tinyurl.com/36wk672x

MOVIES & BOOKS OF THE DAY: "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wind in the Willows."

Big Blend Radio Celebrates 17 Years and a New Daily Podcast

In celebration of National Fourth Grader Day that's observed every second Monday of January, this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast features Ivan Levin, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Communications for the National Park Trust, who discusses the organization's initiatives to introduce kids to parks where they can learn, play, and be inspired to become America’s strongest, most diverse generation of park stewards.

One of their key programs is Annual Kids To Parks Day, a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. The day connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands through thousands of park events that promote discovery and exploration in the great outdoors. More at https://parktrust.org/

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.” Theodore Roosevelt 

BOOK OF THE DAY is "The Great Weather Diviner" by Rob Long and Andrew Dolberg. Hear their Big Blend Radio interview: http://tinyurl.com/5ews6849

MUSIC OF THE DAY is the new "Bearings" album by traveling composer Ben Cosgrove. Hear his latest Big Blend Radio interview: http://tinyurl.com/57cumfvk

MOVIE OF THE DAY is Steve Schneickert's Hollywood History podcast on National Parks: http://tinyurl.com/2p9yhxsb

PUZZLE OF THE DAY is an online jigsaw puzzle of Big Trees Trail in Sequoia National Park. See: http://tinyurl.com/uwu3a29d

RECIPE OF THE DAY is a list of tips from cookbook author Ruth Milstein on planning a family picnic in the park.  See: http://tinyurl.com/pkb8snv9

Ivan Levin - Celebrating Kids in Parks

In celebration of International Creativity Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast features Steve Piacente who shares how creativity is a key ingredient for the recipe of life. Hear about his books, life coaching practice, and new commercial photography venture. 

Steve Piacente is the owner of Next Phase Life Coaching, a novelist, photogragher, former journalist, and Director of Training at The Communication Center in Washington, D.C. His novels include, “Bella,” “Pretender,” and “Bootlicker.” His latest non-fiction book is “Your New Fighting Stance: Good Enough Isn’t, and You Know It.”  Steve’s books are available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3rn6et9u

You can learn more about Steve's life coaching services at https://www.stevepiacente.com/ and view and purchase his photography at https://www.piacentephotos.com/

QUOTES OF THE DAY are:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." (Einstein)
"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." (Jack London)

MUSIC OF THE DAY is "Here's to Life" by Shirley Horne.

MOVIES OF THE DAY: "Once Upon a Time in America," and "As Good as it Gets."

PUZZLE OF THE DAY is an online jigsaw puzzle of a deer in snow, photo by Steve Piacente. See: http://tinyurl.com/2tjby55s

Steve Piacente - Celebrating Creativity in Life

In celebration of National Houseplant Appreciation Day (January 10, 2024), this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast features nature photographer Margot Carrera Margot Carrera Fine Art Photography & Design  who talks with Nancy & Lisa about orchids, sacred geometry, the health and wellness benefits plants provide, and more. View Margot's photography and designer gifts at http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it.” Confucius

PUZZLE OF THE DAY is an online jigsaw puzzle of orchid blossoms. Photo by Margot Carrera: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/nature-connection-plants-and-parks/
 
MUSIC OF THE DAY is "Black Orchid" and "Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants" album by Stevie Wonder. Listen on YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/bdfynakn
Listen on Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/4emxx4nb

BOOKS OF THE DAY: "The Secret Life of Plants" by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, and "Hi Cacti: Growing Houseplants & Happiness" by Sabine Palermo - interview here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/sabine-palermo-hi-cacti/

MOVIES OF THE DAY: "Adaptation" with Nicolas Cage - see: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268126/

Margot Carrera - Orchids and Houseplants

In celebration of National Arkansas day (January 11), this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Show features Tiffany Bertram, innkeeper and owner of Tiffany's Bed & Breakfast near Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hear about the Natural State's parks and destinations, music and movie pop culture, food, history, and more. Check out Tiffany's B&B here: https://www.tiffanysbedandbreakfast.com/

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The sound of the blues, rhythm and blues, country music, is what we lived for, black and white alike. It gave you the strength to sit on one of those throbbing Allis-Chalmers tractors all day if you knew you were gonna hear something on the radio or maybe see a show that evening." Levon Helm 

ARKANSAS BLEND MUSIC PLAYLIST:
- YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/8yddwpn2
- Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/56pevwyh

PUZZLE OF THE DAY: Playing Cards Mural in Hot Springs online line jigsaw puzzle: http://tinyurl.com/5jpwzsme

RECIPES OF THE DAY: Breakfast at Tiffany's recipes for Green Chile Egg Bake and Coconut Banana Bread: http://tinyurl.com/yvwawx2c

BOOK OF THE DAY: "The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice" by David Hill

MOVIES OF THE DAY: "Sling Blade," "Walk the Line," and "The First Boys of Spring."

Tiffany Bertram - Amazing Arkansas!

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Stephen DiJoseph, a renowned Billboard-honored pianist, vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Hear about his partnership with Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group) for his new record release, Songs Dreams Circumstance, that features 12 award-winning songs earning praise and recognition from critics and competitions. 

DiJoseph is reminiscent of such iconic and varied artists as Michael Hedges, Peter Gabriel, Keith Jarrett, Cat Stevens, and John Mayer. More at https://www.stephendijoseph.com/

Songs Dreams Circumstance

Stephen DiJoseph - Song Dreams Circumstance

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, award-winning author Michael J. Cooper discusses his latest historical fiction novel, "Wages of Empire." 

In the summer of 1914, 16-year-old Evan Sinclair leaves home to join the Great War for Civilization. Little does he know that, despite the war raging in Europe, the true source of conflict will emerge in Ottoman Palestine, since it's from Jerusalem where the German Kaiser dreams to rule as Holy Roman Emperor. Filled with such historical figures as Gertrude Bell, T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, Faisal bin Hussein and Chaim Weizmann, “Wages of Empire” follows Evan through the killing fields of the Western Front where he will help turn the tide of a war that is just beginning, and become part of a story that never ends.

Learn more at https://michaeljcooper.net/

Author Michael J. Cooper - Wages of Empire

In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month and National Literacy Month, Big Blend Radio welcomes award-winning author Rudy Ruiz to discuss his latest novel, The Border Between Us. Longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, this poignant coming-of-age story follows Ramón López, a young man growing up on the U.S.-Mexico border who dreams of becoming an artist in New York while navigating the weight of family expectations, cultural identity, and the sacrifices tied to the American Dream.

In this conversation, Ruiz shares insights on the immigrant experience, bilingualism, and the complexities of cultural identity. He reflects on family dynamics, the strength of women in his narrative, and the role of literacy in empowering dreams and aspirations. Ruiz also highlights how storytelling can challenge stereotypes, foster understanding, and create community across borders.

Listen as we explore themes of ambition, sacrifice, resilience, and belonging, all through the lens of one of today’s most authentic voices in borderland literature.

Learn more about Rudy Ruiz and his work at: https://rudyruiz.com/

Author Rudy Ruiz - The Border Between Us

Select Big Blend Radio interviews that are featured in the digital, interactive Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Parks & Travel Magazine. Hosted by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, mother-daughter travel team and publishers.