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Viva Variety! Hosted by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Magazines, Big Blend Radio educates, entertains and inspires! Topics include: Music, Books & The Arts; Travel & Recreation; Food & Drink; National Parks & Public Lands; History & Culture; Nature & Environment; Home & Garden; Family & Education; Business & Career; and much more!

Location:

Tucson, AZ

Networks:

BlogTalkRadio

Description:

Viva Variety! Hosted by Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Magazines, Big Blend Radio educates, entertains and inspires! Topics include: Music, Books & The Arts; Travel & Recreation; Food & Drink; National Parks & Public Lands; History & Culture; Nature & Environment; Home & Garden; Family & Education; Business & Career; and much more!

Twitter:

@BigBlendMag

Language:

English

Contact:

P.O. Box 90153 Tucson, AZ 85752 7604753308


Episodes
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Linda Kissam - Sailing in Style

9/7/2024
On this episode of Big Blend Radio, Linda Kissam "Food, Wine & Shopping Diva" talks about her sailing adventures on an 8-day yacht club flotilla in the Puget Sound. Destinations included Poets Cove Marina in Bedwell Harbour, Ganges and the Salt Spring Marina, Telegraph Harbour, and Hornby Island. Read Linda's article about her experiences, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/adventures-on-an-8-day-yacht-club-flotilla/ Travel writer Linda Kissam appears on Big Blend Radio every first Saturday. Follow her podcasts here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1LoD5wiSJu4NM4KZxuJYoj Follow Diva Linda's adventures here: https://allingoodtaste.info/

Duration:00:50:46

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Cinematographer Jeff Reed - Nature and Wildlife in National Parks

9/7/2024
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 wildlife weaved seamlessly with stories of rich culture, history and geological landmarks. Along with a discussion about the biodiversity in our parks, and the threats some species are facing, Jeff also talks about how they captured some of the incredible footage you can see in the series. Starting Sept. 8, 2024, "National Parks: USA" Is available on the National Geogrpahic channel on Hulu: https://on.natgeo.com/3Qor0Ko Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday, with expisodes througout the month, in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/ Follow Big Blend Radio's Network of Podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork Images featured, courtesy of National Geographic.

Duration:00:43:30

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Musician Rachel Mari Kimber Goes to Saguaro National Park

9/6/2024
This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features musician and composer Rachel Mari Kimber, the National Parks Arts Foundation's Fall 2024 artist-in-residence at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Rachel Mari Kimber is a musically creative artist from Wales, UK. She composes, sings, plays guitar and cello, orchestrates, harmonises, teaches, and produces, all from the heart. She also plays cello and sings for the band Black Forest Society, and also for Happy Joy Harmony. More: https://freeyourspiritheal.wixsite.com/love Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

Duration:00:38:44

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Donna George - September is Sweet and Spicy

9/6/2024
From local honey and Medjool dates to jalapeno peanut brittle and all kinds of salsas, relishes, and preserves, celebrate the sweet and spice of September with this episode of "The Peanut Patch," a Big Blend Radio foodie podcast featuring Donna George. Check out Donna's recipe for Pita Pockets with Chinese Chicken-Peanut Sauce: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/pita-pockets-with-chinese-chicken-peanut-sauce/ Open from October-April and located in Yuma, Arizona, The Peanut Patch is a southwest tradition for farm fresh peanuts, culinary gifts, and sweet treats. Shop online year-round and learn more at https://thepeanutpatch.com/ The Peanut Patch podcast airs every 1st Friday at 12pm Arizona Time. Listen to episodes and follow the show here: https://peanut-patch.podbean.com/

Duration:00:19:46

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Early Fall Adventures in California's Sequoia Country

9/6/2024
From the Dark Sky Festival to the Tulare Chamber Crush Party, a country fair and unique musical concert, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast focuses on early fall fun in Tulare County. Located in Central California, Tulare County is home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest, and charming art and agricultural communities including Visalia, Tulare, Exeter, Dinuba, Porterville, Three Rivers, Lindsay, and Woodlake. Featured guests from the Sequoia Tourism Council include Holly Brown - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Suzanne Bianco - Visit Visalia, and Cassidy Collins - Tulare Chamber of Commerce. Plan your visit with these websites mentioned in the podcast: - Sequoia Tourism Council: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm - Visit Visalia - https://www.visitvisalia.com/ - Tulare Chamber of Commerce: http://www.tularechamber.org/ - Big Blend Radio interview with painist Hunter Noack: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/classical-pianist-hunter-noack-in-haleakala-national-park/

Duration:00:29:39

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Peggy Fiandaca - Pairing Wines with Mexican and Southwestern Cuisine

9/4/2024
Get ready to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15, 2024) and International Grenache Day (Sept. 20) on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" podcast. Hear about the start of the harvest season at the LDV Winery Vineyard, Peggy's wine term of the month, and tips on pairing wine wih spicy Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Check out Peggy's pairing tips and recipes here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/pairing-wine-with-mexican-fare/ Featuring Peggy Fiandaca, who along with her winemaker husband Curt Lawrence Dunham owns and operates LDV Winery in Arizona, "Wine Time with Peggy" airs every 1st Wednesday at 4pm Arizona time. Follow the podcast here: http://tinyurl.com/42j5zucj Learn more about LDV Winery at https://ldvwinery.com

Duration:00:47:51

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Sharon K. Kurtz - Fly Fishing on the Flathead River

9/4/2024
On this episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast with Sharon K. Kurtz, she shares her experience with Pursuit Glacier Park Collection, where she and 5 other travel writers learned the art of fly fishing. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River, bordering Glacier National Park in Montana, is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, stunning scenery, and exceptional rafting and fishing opportunities. But what truly sets it apart for a fly-fishing float is the thrill of navigating rapids, adding an adventurous twist to the experience amidst breathtaking wilderness. Read about Sharon's adventures, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/fly-fishing-the-flathead-river/ Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World with Sharon" Podcast features award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz. New episodes air every first Wednesday at 12pm CST at https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com/ Sharon Kurtz is an accomplished travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to exploring the world and sharing her adventures through compelling storytelling. Her travels have taken her to more than 50 countries on six continents—her carry-on is always packed, ready for the next adventure. Enjoy Sharon’s writing at https://sharonkkurtz.com/.

Duration:00:23:57

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Heavy Mountain Music and Beer Fest in Asheville, North Carolina

9/3/2024
Get ready for Halloween with this episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Tuesday "Adventures in Asheville" Show that focuses on Heavy Mountain Music and Beer Fest, held Oct 25-26, 2024 at the Orange Peel and Burial Beer's Eulogy. Featuring an array of iconic artists and genre spanning acts, exclusive pours from the area’s finest breweries, and hair-raising visual installations to set the mood for the southeast’s heaviest Halloween party! Check out the music line up and get your tickets, here: https://www.heavymountainfest.com/ Featured Guests are festival organizer Ray Worth, and Big Blend Radio regulars Steve & Karen Wilson "Mr & Mrs Wild, who own and run The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/ Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Show airs every 1st Tuesday. Follow the show on PodBean: https://adventures-asheville.podbean.com/ This episode is also being shared and featured on other Big Blend Radio Network Channels including the "Big Daily Blend," "A Toast to The Arts," "Eat, Drink & Be Merry," and "Rants, Raves & Rock 'n Roll." Check out our network of podcasts: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

Duration:00:35:00

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Mike Guardia - Two Hispanic US Military Heroes to Know About

9/2/2024
This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Military Monday" Show with award-winning military historian and author Mike Guardia honors two Hispanic US Military Heroes, Alfred Velazquez Rascon and Raul Perez "Roy" Benavidez. ALFRED VELAZQUEZ RASCON is a retired US Army lieutenant colonel. In 2000, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as a medic near Long Khánh Province during the Vietnam War. On more than one occasion Rascon exposed himself to enemy fire and grenades by covering the bodies of those whom he was aiding with his own. In addition to Vietnam, Rascon also served as a medical officer in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. MASTER SERGEANT RAUL PEREZ "ROY" BENAVIDEZ was a US Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valorous actions in combat near Lộc Ninh, South Vietnam on May 2, 1968, while serving as a member of the United States Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War. MIKE GUARDIA is the author of over 20 other military history books including "The Combat Diaries: True Stories from the Frontlines of World War II." His latest book is the Amazon best-seller, “Fire in the Hole: Tales of Combat with the 1st Engineer Battalion in Vietnam.” More: https://mikeguardia.com/ Mike Guardia appears on Big Blend Radio's military history shows every 1st Monday. Follow his podcast here: https://mike-guardia-military-monday.podbean.com/

Duration:01:10:54

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Steve Wallis - Hannah: The Soldier Diaries

9/2/2024
Celebrate Military Monday and Music Monday with this episode of Big Blend Radio that features professional theater writer, producer, and author Steve Wallis. Hear about "Hannah: The Soldier Diaries," a powerful story of love, loss, and hope that takes listeners through a theater-like experience, with an audiobook that immerses listeners in an emotionally charged narrative from the comfort of their own homes. Wallis invites listeners to meet Hannah as she begins a relationship with Lance Corporal Jack Webb in summer 2012 and is quickly smitten. Hannah has to decide quickly whether to embark on a whirlwind affair or walk away, as the couple only has four weeks together before Jack has to return to the army to fight in the Afghan War. More: https://hannahthesoldierdiaries.co.uk/

Duration:00:33:45

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Shelley Whizin - Embracing Life Fully After Fifty!

9/2/2024
As we navigate through life, especially after reaching the milestone of 50, we become more acutely aware of our mortality. The mirror reflects changes we didn’t expect, and the world around us shifts in ways that can be both disorienting and enlightening. This episode of Big Blend Radio's SOUL DIVING SUNDAY Show with transformational life coach Shelley Whizin focuses on the Unexpected Gift of Mortality. Shelley's chapter, "Are You Ready to Die?" in the bestselling book "50 and Fabulous, Navigating Wrinkles, Spasms & Generational Chasms," is not about death in the traditional sense; it’s about embracing life with every fiber of our being, recognizing the preciousness of each moment. Check out the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/50-Fabulous-Navigating-Wrinkles-Generational/dp/B0D953ZKQ1 SHELLEY WHIZIN is the founder and CEO of the Soul Diving Institute™ and author of "What Do You Bring to the Table? A Savory, Sensory and Inspirational Guide to Living a Yummy Delicious Life." Keep up with her here: https://www.shelleywhizin.com/ Tune into Big Blend Radio's "Soul Diving Sunday with Shelley" show every first Sunday here: http://tinyurl.com/2bjbectk

Duration:00:33:14

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Back To School Youth Education Celebration

9/1/2024
Celebrate Youth Education with this "Back to School Party" episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Podcast! FEATURED GUESTS - JOHNNY SCHAEFER is an award-winning singer-songwriter who joins us as cohost every 1st Sunday. Visit: https://hearjohnny.com/ - MARIA CHAMBERLAIN, who discusses homeschooling, is co-owner and innkeeper of The Inn at Oxbox Acres in Milan, New Hampshire. Viist: https://www.oxbowacresnh.com/ - JEFF NELLIGAN, author of "Four Lessons From My Three Sons: How You Can Raise Resilient Kids." Visit: https://www.nelliganbooks.com/ Listen to the Big Daily Blend, here: https://big-daily-blend.podbean.com/

Duration:01:41:35

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Life Lessons from Baby Boomers

8/31/2024
Welcome to the first quarterly episode of Big Blend Radio's "Life Lessons" Show focusing on lessons from Baby Boomers. After all, August is Boomers Making a Difference Month! in case you're wondering, Baby Boomers are preceded by the Silent Generation and followed by Generation X. So. people born between 1946 -1964 during what is known as the mid-20th century baby boom. This show features a panel discussion plus a solo expert interview segment. FEATURED GUESTS: - Travel writer and photographer Jo Clark https://www.haveglasswilltravel.com/ - Organizational trainer & author Rita Sever https://supervisionmatters.com/ - Author and editor Clifford Garstang https://cliffordgarstang.com/ - Parenting author Jeff Nelligan https://www.nelliganbooks.com/ - Travel writer & author Lisa Evans https://writerlisa.com/ - Vocalist & composer Johnny Schaefer https://hearjohnny.com/ This episode is featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend," "Quality of Life," and "Success Express" Podcast Channels. Follow our Big Blend Radio Network of Shows, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

Duration:01:08:00

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Author Bridey Thelen-Heidel - Bright Eyes Memoir

8/31/2024
This episode of Big Blend Radio features Bridey Thelen-Heidel, advocate and teacher, and author of the memoir, "Bright Eyes: Surviving Our Monsters and Learning to Live Without Them," (She Writes Press, September 24, 2024). A raw and immersive account of growing up alongside an abusive, narcissistic mother, "Bright Eyes" is an astonishing narrative of Bridey’s tenacious spirit, commitment to optimism in the face of unspeakable trauma, and dedication to breaking cycles of abuse. Learn more and pre-order the book here: https://bridey-thelenheidel.com/ Watch Bridey's popular TedX talk "ROB The Trauma: Steal Back Your Life," here: https://bridey-thelenheidel.com/tedx

Duration:00:53:51

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Best Beaches - Destinations and Family Memories

8/30/2024
In honor of National Beach Day (August 30), this episode of Big Blend Radio's VACATION STATION Travel Show focuses on Beach Destinations and Family Memories. Enjoy the group conversation and individual segments that follow and share beach experiences from Tonga and England, to South and North Carolina, New Jersey and Long Island, Mississippi and Texas, and beyond! GROUP CONVERSATION - JO CLARK, travel writer and photographer, talks about her local beach community of The Grand Strand in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach area. Check out her Grand Strand travel guide: https://recipestravelculture.com/60-miles-beaches-make-a-grand-strand/ - DIANE DOBRY, travel writer, talks about her family vacations in Noyac Bay, close to Sag Harbor, Long Island. Read her story: https://discoverydaze.com/2021/11/15/sag-harbor-li-a-walk-through-history/ - JULIE DEE SUMAN, travel writer and photographer, talks about her family vacations in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina, and beyond. Visit: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/julie-dee-suman-travel-writer-and-photographer/ INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS - LISA EVANS, travel writer and author of "100 Things To Do in Coastal Mississippi Before You Die," talks about Ship Island in Mississippi. Follow her website for articles covering Ship Island and coastal Mississippi: https://writerlisa.com/published-stories-and-interviews/ - ROSE PALMER, travel writer and photographer, talks about her family vacations in Ocean City, New Jersey. Follow Rose and her travel adventures around the world, on her site https://quiltripping.com/ - SHARON K. KURTZ, travel writer and photographer, shares her beach and nature adventures during her winter visit to Port Aransas, Texas. Read her article about her trip https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/discover-the-timeless-allure-of-port-aransas/ - GLYNN BURROWS, owner of Norfolk Tours in England, talks about the Beachs of England. Read his article about Walking England's Coastline: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/walking-englands-varied-coastline/ - STEVE & KAREN WILSON, aka "Mr & Mrs Wild," are owners of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast in Asheville, North Carolina. They talk about their beach and whale watching experiences that go from Southern California to Tonga! You can hear even more about their whale watching adventures around the world, here: https://youtu.be/9ElVnSudQ7U?feature=shared

Duration:01:41:39

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Medical Insider with Author Marschall Runge, M.D., PhD

8/29/2024
This "Medical Insider" episode of Big Blend Radio features author Marschall Runge, M.D., PhD, who is the executive vice president for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan, dean of the Medical School, and CEO of Michigan Medicine. He earned his doctorate in molecular biology at Vanderbilt University and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine. He was a cardiology fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the author of over 250 publications and holds five patents for novel approaches to health care. As a Texas native who spent fifteen years in North Carolina and an avid thriller reader, Runge has experienced so many you-can’t-make-this-up events that his transition to fiction was inevitable. His debut medical thriller "Coded to Kill" is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. More at: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/author-marschall-runge-md-phd/

Duration:00:45:34

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California's Workplace Violence Prevention Act

8/28/2024
This episode of Big Blend Radio's California Employment Law podcast with San Diego attorney Ward Heinrichs covers California's new Workplace Violence Prevention Act and why employers need to be aware of it, and most importantly put a plan in place. Based in San Diego, California, Ward represents both employers and employees in almost all areas of labor law. More: https://bestemploymentattorneysandiego.com/ Ward Heinrichs appears on Big Blend Radio very 4th Wednesday. Follow his podcast appearences here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm3jXMGjBdJrHc4zxpoWFP5O

Duration:00:34:14

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Women Who Protect the Earth

8/28/2024
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 end-of-life care, cultivating community and peaceful cultural traditions, citizen science, and so much more! FEATURED GUESTS: - LINDA BALLOU, travel writer, author, and podcaster. Hear her podcast about South America that also includes a segment about land conservationist Kristine Tompkins: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/lost-angel-travel-adventures-in-south-america/ - MARIA CHAMBERLAIN, co-owner and innkeeper of The Inn at Oxbow Acres, a beautiful and sustainable Bed & Breakfast in Milan, New Hampshire. learn more: https://www.oxbowacresnh.com/ - SHARON K. KURTZ, travel writer and photographer. See her article about Christy Walton's eco-ranch Rancho Cacachilas in Baja California Sur: https://sharonkkurtz.com/authentic-adventures-at-rancho-cacachilas-baja-california-sur/ - EVA ELDRIDGE, travel writer and editor, talks about consumers who embrace environmentally practices in their homes and gardens like she does in Tucson, Arizona. See: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/eva-eldridge/ - LEA BROVEDANI, trust expert and end-of-life doula, talks about green burials and women pioneers in this new eco-friendly technology. Visit: https://souljourneydoula.com/ - CHERYL LEUTJEN is the author of “Love Earth Now: The Power of Doing One Thing Every Day,” a candid, often humorous exploration that reveals her own imperfect journey toward living an eco-friendly lifestyle. More: https://cherylleutjen.com/ - ROSE PALMER is a travel writer and author. Read her article about Sadako Sasaki who survived the Hiroshima bombing but then died 10 years later from leukemia, and started the movement to make origami paper cranes as a symbol for peace: https://quiltripping.com/childrens-peace-monument-and-sadako-sasaki-stroy/ - JO CLARK is a travel writer and photographer who talks about Kelly Chigumbura of Zimbabwe, the head of THE BRAVE ONES who are women in charge of the protection and conservation of 11,000 elephants in Phundundu Wildlife Park. Check out Jo's article about her visit to Etosha National Park in Namibia: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/etosha-national-park-safari/ - ELAINE A. POWERS is a retired laboratory biologist who writes science-based children’s book and continues her work as a citizen scientist for iguana conservation, serving on the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group. More: https://elaineapowers.com/

Duration:01:18:30

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Rafting the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, Utah

8/27/2024
On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" Podcast, Debbie shares her Colorado River running adventures through Utah's Cataract Canyon with OARS. Cataract Canyon is a section of the Colorado River between Moab, above Lake Powell, and the Grand Canyon. The river flows through the heart of Canyonlands National Park, the largest national park in the state. In addition to superb whitewater, those who run “Cat” are rewarded with a sublime landscape and fascinating geology. Check out Debbie's article and podcast about her adventure, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/ride-the-wave-train-through-utahs-cataract-canyon/

Duration:00:33:52

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Western Kentucky Road Trip

8/26/2024
This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Road Trip Radio" Podcast focuses on the fun places and experiences Steve & Karen Wilson "Mr & Mrs Wild" enjoyed on their Western Kentucky Road Trip with stops in Tennessee and South Carolina. Highights included JBJ's in Nashville, Casey Jones Distillery, a Caboose Farm Stay, Rock the Dam Festival, National Corvette Museum, Downtown Bowling Green, White Squirrel Brewery, Mammoth Cave National Park, and a Scott Stapp Concert in Greenville. Check out their article, map, and video here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/western-kentucky-road-trip/ FEATURED GUESTS: - STEVE & KAREN WILSON own and run The Lion and The Rose Bed & Breakfast in the heart of the Montford Historic District in Asheville, North Carolina. Visit: https://www.lion-rose.com/ - MARIAH HUGHES - National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where you can learn about the evolution of the Corvette—America’s Sports Car. More: https://www.corvettemuseum.org/ - CODY TURNER - Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky who are known for their award-winning bourbon, barrel cuts, and shine. More: https://www.caseyjonesdistillery.com/

Duration:00:57:43