We read The Terror by Dan Simmons and The Incal by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius, and we have things to say.

Intro Credits
Sci Fi by Benjamin Tissot, www.bensound.com

Spacer Dreams #10 - The Terror and The Incal

This episode of Big Blend Radio features author Anna Monardo who discusses her new and award-winning memoir, "After Italy: A Family Memoir of Arranged Marriage" (Bordighera Press, May 14, 2024).

Author of "The Courtyard of Dreams" and "Falling in Love with Natassia," Anna pivots from her career as an established fictional author to reveal the truths she discovered while investigating her family’s story. Starting in Southern Italy, 1948 leading to the U.S. and igniting a family feud so volatile it leads to separation, domestic violence, and an inescapable legacy of fractured love. At 39, caught in her own failing “marriage of convenience,” Anna looks to her family’s immigration history as she charts her personal path to self-discovery and the adoption of her son.

Anna’s story speaks to those breaking the cycle of family trauma, the cultural conflicts among immigrant families, and the risks we take when going against family expectations. More: https://annamonardo.com/

Author Anna Monardo - After Italy Memoir

Tentokrát vám Kačí představí letní čtení, ideální na stanování pod hvězdami. Připravte si čelovku a začtěte se například do romantiky o druhých šancích a hledání pravé lásky.

Stanování s knihou: čtení s čelovkou | Čtivé léto 2024

S:1 Ep:2 Interview with Tony Weaver, Jr.

Hey friends! This week we're back to our regularly scheduled book talks! We're reading Moby Dyke by Krista Burton! We're talking about gay bars! Lesbian bars! Queer bars! What does that even mean in 2024? The importance of queer spaces and also what it means to be "allowed" into queer spaces in the first place! 

Theme song by Man With Roses

Lesbian bars have always been treasured safe spaces for their customers, providing not only a good time but a shelter from societal alienation and outright persecution. In 1987, there were 206 of them in America. Today, only a couple dozen remain. How and why did this happen? What has been lost—or possibly gained—by such a decline? What transpires when marginalized communities become more accepted and mainstream?

Moby Dyke is an insightful and hilarious travelogue that celebrates the kind of community that can only be found in windowless rooms soundtracked by Britney Spears-heavy playlists and illuminated by overhead holiday lights no matter the time of year.

EP133; Moby Dyke by Krista Burton

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features debut author Ann Lowry who discusses her novel, "The Blue Trunk."

When Ann Lowry inherited an ancestor's blue travel trunk, she had no idea that this artifact was about to take her on a three-year journey of discovery. She was told that the trunk’s previous owner, a great-great aunt, had been institutionalized for insanity. Despite meticulous genealogy research, she was unable to uncover any facts about her and concluded that she must have spent her entire adult life in an asylum. 

Lowry was inspired to write "The Blue Trunk" (Sept. 10, 2024, Koehler Books) to help reclaim her ancestor’s voice and shed light on these all-too-common institutionalizations. Seamlessly weaving historical fiction with contemporary life, Lowry’s tale explores identity, strength, and connection across decades. Visit: https://www.annlowry.com/

Author Ann E. Lowry - The Blue Trunk

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Michael Wolk, author of the immersive cyber novel "DevilsGame," that's crafted for the digital age, merging traditional storytelling with cutting-edge technology. 

DevilsGame invites you to step into a world where your mobile device isn’t just a tool—it’s a gateway to a gripping, interactive story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Follow the intense journey of Nathan Rifkin and Claire Bodine as they race against time to uncover a deadly conspiracy hidden within a viral mobile game. Its out now. Visit: https://devilsgame.com/

Author Michael Wolk - DevilsGame

Celebrate National Read a New Book Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio with acclaimed author Leonce Gaiter who discusses his writing and latest book, “A Memory of Fictions (or) Just Tiddy-Boom." 

For readers who like their fiction in the grand, old-school tradition comes a jazzy, genre-bending historical fiction/memoir featuring a compelling Black protagonist who presents a fascinating take on 'the Black anti-hero.' "A Memory of Fictions (or) Just Tiddy-Boom" (Legba Books) paints a vivid, wildly entertaining portrait of Jessie Vincent Grandier, the striving African American middle class that shaped him in the 1960s, and a Black man navigating white worlds through the Reagan 80s.

More at https://www.leoncegaiter.com/

Author Leonce Gaiter - A Memory of Fictions (or) Just Tiddy-Boom

Welcome back to Consider Yourself Hugged! Today, Michelle and I are diving into The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath—one of the most hauntingly personal books on mental health, identity, and societal pressure.

From the weight of expectations on women to the stigma surrounding depression and treatment, this book is filled with themes that still hit home today. But, as ChatGPT pointed out when I was researching, Michelle and I tend to approach heavy topics with a lighter touch—so we’ll do our best to balance depth with relatability in today’s conversation.

📖 In this episode, we explore:

✔️ The Bell Jar metaphor—what it teaches us about depression
✔️ Esther Greenwood’s journey—from New York to a psychiatric hospital
✔️ Societal expectations for women in the 1950s vs. now
✔️ Key quotes and moments that left an impact
✔️ How mental health treatment has evolved since Plath’s time
✔️ Lessons we can take from this book to better understand ourselves & others

We also share some personal reflections, unexpected moments of humor, and insights from our own experiences with mental health.

See show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/the-bell-jar-mentalhealth

Thanks for joining!
**Not intended to be therapy or replace therapy - If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources:
General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ About AA: https://www.aa.org/ 

Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health Expert 
Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. 

Connect with me:
https://www.tamiwest.com/ 
facebook.com/tamiwestseminars   
tamiwest@tamiwest.com

Hug 199 📚 "The Bell Jar": Breaking Free from Mental Traps 💡

House swaps, Mars, math, art masterpieces… Episode 1 of My Bookshelf Slays features a "Far and Away" incredible kickoff with Amy Poeppel discussing her latest book. When a woman in Dallas, TX and a woman in Berlin, German swap homes to escape their troubles, MORE trouble comes knocking!

Author’s Website: 
https://www.amypoeppel.com/

Instagram: 
‪@amypoeppel848‬ 

Show Notes: 
https://melwestemeier.com/podcast

#newrelease #bookrelease #womensfiction #AmyPoeppel  #MelissaWestemeier #Mybookshelfslays #podcaster #podcastepisode #podcastguest #bookpodcast #authorpodcast #authorsontheair #authorinterview #authorssupportingauthors #books #bookrecommendations  #great reads #popularfiction #literaryfiction

Amy Poeppel Far and Away My Bookshelf Slays ep 1

A Bi-Weekly Podcast about literature pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community hosted by Brendan Patrick & Sophie Green

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.

Thanks for visiting with us at for Consider Yourself Hugged: Mental & emotional well-being.” Do you find yourself thinking, "Life can be so overwhelming! I feel so frustrated all the time! I worry about everything! I wish I could speak up more and not be a doormat!" If you're looking for improved mental and emotional well-being, please join me every Wednesday as we talk about how to make positive choices in your life.

*Disclaimer:
The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on my experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources mentioned in the show notes.

About me:
Tami West, PhD 
Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and 
compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges. Her passion stems from a lifelong battle with an anxiety disorder which has uniquely equipped her to teach, encourage, and motivate others. 

Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity. 

Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including two books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. She is a mother of eight in a blended family and enjoys reading historical fiction, traveling with her husband Tim and family, and watching The Big Bang Theory.

The Authors on the Air Global Radio Network is an international digital media corporation featuring  podcasts, book reviewers and conference media coverage..  Our content is available on audio and video platforms in 153 countries.

New tracks tagged #bookpodcast