Big Blend Radio

Forget the Christmas Carol postcard version of Charles Dickens. On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "English Connection" Podcast, Glynn Burrows digs into the real story — a childhood shaped by his father's debtor's prison, a stint in a blacking warehouse, and a writing career so prolific it basically invented the serialized soap opera decades before television existed.Along the way, he digs into what Victorian England was really like for the poor, why Dickens' novels mattered as social record as much as entertainment, and the genuine mystery still surrounding his personal life — including a young actress named Ellen Ternan and a sister-in-law who moved in three years after his separation. Glynn also makes the case for why doing your own research matters, whether you're tracing Dickens' story or your own family history.It all wraps up with where you can actually go in England today to walk in Dickens' footsteps — from his Portsmouth birthplace to his grave in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner — and a reminder that gratitude looks a little different once you know what people were living through less than 200 years ago.📖 Read Glynn's article, "A Dickens Tour of England: From Portsmouth to Poets' Corner": https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/dickens-tour-of-england 🌐 Visit English Connection: https://EnglishConnection.uk 📚 Explore Glynn's English Connection Digital Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/english-connection-magazine 🎙️ Listen to more episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/english-connection-podcast 

In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s SUPERVISION MATTERS Podcast, organizational coach and author Rita Sever exploreS what it really means to create an inclusive workplace culture — and why building a real team is healthier than thinking of coworkers as a “work family.”Rita explains why employees who feel included and connected are more engaged, committed, and likely to stay, while organizations that foster community are better positioned for innovation, teamwork, and change. She and Lisa discuss the warning signs of exclusion, from workplace cliques and isolated employees to meetings where certain voices never get heard.The conversation also explores how leaders and HR professionals can create a culture where everyone has an opportunity to contribute, including introverts, neurodivergent employees, new hires, and people whose experiences or perspectives may differ from the majority.Rita emphasizes that inclusion isn't just about having policies in an employee handbook. Leadership has to put those policies into action. She shares practical ideas for more inclusive meetings, communicating expectations, recognizing hidden workplace rules, watching retention patterns, supporting employees through individual supervision, and creating an environment where people feel safe speaking up.Rita also compares workplace teams to sports teams — where different people bring different skills, support one another, take ownership of both wins and losses, and work toward a shared goal.Because a strong workplace community doesn't just improve the employee experience. It can ripple outward to customers, clients, retention, innovation, teamwork, and the overall success of an organization.📌 Resources & Links🔹 Rita Sever / Supervision Matters: https://supervisionmatters.com/ 🔹 Supervision Matters Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/supervision-matters-magazine 🔹 Listen to all Supervision Matters episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/supervision-matters-podcast-with-rita-sever 

Filmmaker Casey Carter joins Big Blend Radio to talk about his feature documentary debut, "To Use a Mountain," which traces the search for a permanent U.S. nuclear waste repository back to the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Casey and Lisa dig into the six candidate communities featured in the film — in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Nevada — and the farmers, miners, tribal leaders, and citizen scientists who fought back when their land was marked as a possible dumping ground for the nation's most dangerous waste.The conversation traces a direct line from that 1980s fight to today's headlines: Casey explains how the current data-center boom and a so-called "nuclear renaissance" are reviving interest in new reactor sites, including small modular reactors proposed for underground placement near data centers. Lisa connects the dots to ongoing battles over public lands, from Chaco Canyon to Bears Ears, and asks what it means for communities asked to carry this burden for 10,000 years with no lasting solution in sight."To Use a Mountain" opens theatrically at DCTV in New York on Friday, August 21st, and arrives on VOD through Grasshopper Film in early 2027.Learn more: https://www.touseamountainfilm.com 

It's the very first episode of "Pets, Plots & Poisons" Podcast! Mystery authors Matt Cost and BJ Magnani launch their new Big Blend Radio show with the story of how they met (a New England Crime Bake conference), what they're each writing now, and a secret collaboration between their characters.BJ shares her latest Dr. Lily Robinson thriller, "We'll Always Have Poisons," sending her poison-toting protagonist to Cape Town, Sydney, and Brussels. Matt talks through "EveryThing vs. Max Creed,: book two in his Modern-Day Chronicles of Max Creed series — and reveals he and BJ already crossed universes once, co-writing a novella with Curt Wendelboe called "Death on Out to Sea Island," where Lily Robinson meets one of Matt's own characters: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/curt-wendelboe/death-on-out-to-sea-island.htm They dig into the craft side too: Matt's plotting formula (a major turn every 12.5% of the book) versus BJ's "pantser" approach of plotting in thirds. Both trace their mystery obsession back to childhood favorites like The Black Stallion, Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden, and talk about why pets make such rich material for crime writers — from cadaver dogs to serial killers' pets.And BJ delivers the first-ever Poison of the Month: aconitine, a cardiac toxin from monkshood (wolfsbane) that can kill within minutes.Next month: screenwriter-turned-mystery-author Jule Selbo joins the show.Learn more about the hosts:- BJ Magnani: https://www.bjmagnani.com/ - Matt Cost: https://www.mattcost.net/ - Explore the Pets, Plots & Poisons show page (and subscribe): https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/pets-plots-poisons-podcast 

In Part Three of her “Lessons Learned from Travel” series, travel writr Linda Ballou takes us into the wilds of Alaska and Canada for a powerful story about adventure, wilderness, and environmental stewardship.In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Lost Angel Travel Adventures” Show, Linda reflects on her journey down the Tatshenshini River, also known as Raven’s River, which begins near Haines, Alaska, travels through Canada, and flows toward the Gulf of Alaska. She shares an excerpt from her book "Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales," describing the river’s glaciers, wildlife, birds, salmon, and breathtaking wilderness—and the profound effect the journey had on her.But this adventure became much more than a rafting trip. Linda explains how experiencing this pristine wilderness transformed her from an “adventure junkie” into an environmentalist and inspired her to become involved in the fight against the proposed Windy Craggy mine. She also discusses the current threat of the Palmer Project in the Chilkat River Valley, the importance of the region to the Tlingit people, and its significance as habitat for salmon, bears, and thousands of bald eagles.Linda also explores what travelers can learn from rivers: letting go, unplugging from the outside world, being fully present, listening to nature, and finding your own “inner river” or current during times of change.The conversation ultimately becomes a call for environmental stewardship and citizen action, reminding us that travelers are temporary members of the communities and landscapes they visit—and that protecting wilderness requires a constant vigil.🌎 American Adventures Month: This episode celebrates the spirit of exploring and protecting America's extraordinary natural landscapes.RESOURCE LINKS:🎧 Listen to the new audiobook edition of Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler's Tales: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Angel-Walkabout-Travelers-Tales/dp/ 🌍 Linda Ballou:https://www.LindaBallouAuthor.com https://www.LostAngelAdventures.com 🎙️ Subscribe to Lost Angel Travel Adventures Podcast:https://lost-angel-travel-adventures.podbean.com 📖 Explore the NEW Lost Angel Travel Adventures Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/podcast-retrospective/ 

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Journey Jukebox" travel podcast, travel writer Lisa Evans takes us to Cody, Wyoming, a fascinating Western destination where the spirit of the Old West is still very much alive.Located just outside Yellowstone National Park, Cody combines Western history, art, craftsmanship, music, rodeo, and living history in a destination that's worth more than just a quick overnight stop. Lisa shares her experiences exploring the city's many layers, from the extraordinary Western functional art at By Western Hands to the historic buildings and frontier stories of Old Trail Town.The episode also takes us to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody Cattle Company, and the Cody Stampede Rodeo, where Lisa experienced her first "real" rodeo. She also discovers the city's lively music scene and talks about the musicians she added to the Journey Jukebox playlist.With American Adventures Month and America 250 as part of the conversation, this episode is an invitation to explore a destination where American history, Western heritage, artistry, entrepreneurship, and entertainment come together. As Lisa discovered, Cody is much more than a gateway to Yellowstone—it's a destination worth spending several days exploring.🗺️ Cody, Wyoming Travel Planning Resources- Lisa's article on By Western Hands: https://www.seegreatart.art/discovering-cody-wyomings-legacy-of-western-art-at-by-western-hands/ - Irma Emporium: https://www.irmahotel.com/ - The Chamberlin Inn - https://chamberlininn.com/ - Heart Mountain WWII Japanese American National Historic Landmark: https://www.heartmountain.org/ - Buffalo Bill Center of the West: https://centerofthewest.org/ - The Cody Cattle Company: https://thecodycattlecompany.com/ - Cody Stampede Rodeo: https://www.codystampederodeo.com/ - Cody Firearms Experience: https://www.codyfirearmsexperience.com/ - By Western Hands: https://www.bywesternhands.org/ - Old Trail Town: https://oldtrailtown.org/ 🎵 Journey Jukebox Music Playlist on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7humUf03LIW04t8LiJSSN9?si=71c11c52c77c4596 Lisa's Cody playlist includes artists such as Righteous Vendetta, Kaylen Beasley, and Luke Bell, giving the episode its own musical Western soundtrack. 🎧 More about the Journey Jukebox Podcast: New episodes air every 3rd Tuesday at 6pm CST:  https://journeyjukebox.podbean.com/ - Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/JOURNEY-JUKEBOX---2026/#p=1 

Discover Shelby County, Kentucky, just east of Louisville, with Janette Marson, President and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism, on this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).Known as the Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World, Shelby County offers an authentic Central Kentucky experience where horses, bourbon, food, farms, history, shopping and outdoor adventures come together.Janette takes us inside the region's remarkable horse culture, including more than 100 Saddlebred farms, Thoroughbred farms and the largest Icelandic horse farm in North America. We also explore the area's bourbon heritage, including Bulleit and the special mother-daughter team behind Jeptha Creed Distillery.Food is another big part of the story, from Kentucky barbecue and bourbon mash-fed livestock to Talon Winery, local restaurants, farm-to-table dining and family farms such as Mulberry Orchard and Gallrein Farm.We also talk about historic downtown Shelbyville and Simpsonville, antique shopping, family attractions, horseback riding, lakes, fishing, camping, golf, festivals and the region's growing appeal for road trippers and pet-friendly travelers.And because Shelby County is a four-season destination, Janette shares ideas for visiting throughout the year—from bourbon tours and horse farms to fall pumpkins, winter shopping and spring and summer horseback riding.- Explore Shelby County, Kentucky: https://www.visitshelbyky.com/  - Learn More About IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - Follow the Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/  - Check out the "Travel, Food & Wine" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1  

End-of-summer and fall are a wonderful time to experience Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana! From church and school fairs and live music to Bunkie Trade Days, Halloween fun, local food and seasonal events, there are plenty of reasons to visit.In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Travel Avoyelles" podcast, hosts Lisa D. Smith talks with Wilbert Carmouche and Mary Guillory of the Avoyelles Commission of Tourism about what's happening throughout Avoyelles Parish as summer winds down and fall begins.They talk about upcoming fairs, community events, live Cajun and Zydeco music, Halloween celebrations, shopping, art, food and local traditions—including the church and school fairs that bring communities together throughout the fall.You'll also hear about some of the food that makes Avoyelles special, from gumbo and jambalaya to homemade cakes, cochon de lait, locally grown produce, sweet potatoes and those wonderful fair plate lunches.As always, the best way to experience Avoyelles is to get out and meet the people, enjoy the food and become part of the community.* Plan Your Avoyelles Parish Visit & Get Event Info: https://travelavoyelles.com/ * Listen to new episodes and follow the Travel Avoyelles podcast: https://travel-avoyelles.podbean.com/