Nature Connection Radio
It’s all about Nature, Wildlife, Science, and the Environment on Big Blend Radio’s NATURE CONNECTION Podcast. Hosts are Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, mother-daughter travel team on the Love Your Parks Tour and publishers of Big Blend Magazines.
Episodes
This episode of Big Blend Radio’s “California’s Sequoia Country” podcast explores the incredible federal parks and public lands of Tulare County, California—home to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Pixley National Wildlife Refuge. From towering giant sequoias and rich wildlife habitats to cultural heritage and night skies, discover what makes this region so...
In this inspiring episode of Big Blend Radio’s Nature Connection Podcast, we explore the joy of birding in the Great Lakes region with expert birder, educator, and author Dexter Patterson, host of the Bird Joy podcast and co-founder of Wisconsin’s BIPOC Birding Club.
Dexter shares insights from his new book, Birds of the Great Lakes: Best Little Book of Birds, an accessible and beautifully designed guide to more than 100 commonly o...
In this thought-provoking episode of Big Blend Radio, acclaimed author David Baron discusses his award-winning book, "The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America."
Long before Martians became the stuff of science fiction, many Americans believed they might actually exist. David explores how late 19th- and early 20th-century scientists, astronomers, and the media became captivated by Mars...
The conversation also highlights the importance of planning additional activities, managing expectations, and embracing the unpredictability that comes with chasing natural wonders. Whether you're a photographer, a dreamer, or an adventurer, this episode offers both awe and actionable advice.
📖 Read Rose’s Article "Tips to See the Northern Lights": https://quiltripping.com/tips-to-see-the-northern-lights/
This episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features Alex Woodard—singer-songwriter, author, and storyteller—who discusses his powerful new novel, "Ordinary Soil" (Greenleaf, Aug. 12, 2025).
According to the National Rural Health Association, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than those in any other profession, a sobering reality that underscores the hidden cost of modern agricu...
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 the legacies of millennia still shap...
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 coastal and environmental conserva...
In this engaging Big Blend Radio conversation, filmmaker and debut novelist TJ Derry talks about his powerful new novel "Carried Away: Surviving the Unimaginable" — a story that begins as a laid-back surf trip and spirals into a gripping fight for survival. When burned-out New Yorker Cole joins friends on a remote Indonesian island chain seeking clarity and connection, he finds beauty, friendship, and love — until a catastrophic ts...
In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Wanderers Compass" Travel Podcast, Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough, founders of the Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, explore the global importance of sustainable tourism and the growing call for responsible travel.
They discuss their recent experiences at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where Joelle spoke on sustainable tourism. The role of water, equality,...
On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Nature Connection" podcast, Dr. Amy L. Stark talks about her new illustrated children’s book, "A Magical Loveliness of Ladybugs," which encourages kids and families to reconnect with nature. Based on a true story, the book follows young Jan as she discovers her room filled with ladybugs — and along the way, readers learn how these tiny garden helpers play a big role in our environment.
Dr. Star...
This Big Blend Radio conversation with debut author Claudia Daher dives into her powerful new science fiction novel, “R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens – We Are One” (Pegasus Publishing, September 28, 2025). The story follows a diverse group of teens secretly training in an alternate reality video game to defend Earth against water-stealing aliens — a thrilling adventure that bridges timelines from ancient Atlantis to a near-fut...
In this on-location episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Travel with Terri” Show, travel writer Terri Guthrie talks with Gaylene Ore, Executive Director of the Grand County Tourism Board, about the breathtaking beauty, outdoor adventures, and welcoming hospitality that make Grand County, Colorado such a special destination.
Recorded onsite at the historic Grand Lake Lodge, Terri shares highlights from her visit and her stay at both Grand ...
This episode of Big Blend Radio features renowned author, climate activist, and clean energy expert Bill McKibben, who talks about the transformative power of solar energy and his new book HERE COMES THE SUN: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization (W.W. Norton & Company; Aug. 19, 2025).
McKibben explains why solar power is now the cheapest energy on the planet and no longer an “alternative” but the ma...
In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Travel with Terri” Show, travel writer Terri Guthrie shares her family’s multi-generational adventures in the San Antonio Hill Country. From exploring the awe-inspiring Natural Bridge Caverns and experiencing the breathtaking bat emergence at Bracken Bat Cave, to interacting with giraffes and exotic birds at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, Terri highlights the wonder and joy of connecting wi...
This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Nature Connection show features climate storyteller and activist Denali Sai Nalamalapu, author of “Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance” (Timber Press / Hachette, May 13, 2025).
Based in Southwest Virginia, Nalamalapu is a powerful new voice in climate storytelling and a leader in one of Appalachia’s most courageous environmental resistance movements. Holler chronicles the fight against the...
In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Nature Connection Show, we expose the urgent threat facing Florida’s black bears: the proposed return of trophy hunting. Our featured guests—Adam Sugalski, founder of OneProtest, and Kathleen Walls, travel writer and animal rights activist—delve into the history, controversy, and consequences surrounding bear trophy hunting in the state.
Despite widespread public opposition, Florida officials ar...
This episode of Big Blend Radio shines a spotlight on North East Trees, an award-winning urban greening nonprofit committed to building climate resilience and advancing environmental equity in underinvested communities throughout Los Angeles.
Featured Guests: 🌳 Joe Laskin – Director of Development, North East Trees – https://www.northeasttrees.org/ 🌿 Cheryl Leutjen – Author of “Love Earth Now” and “Madness on the Brink of Eco-...
Celebrate National Parks & Recreation Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Travel with Terri” Show featuring travel writer Terri Guthrie, who shares her recent adventures in Corpus Christi, Texas—officially known as the Birdiest City in America!
From vibrant wetlands and hundreds of bird species to the famous annual birding festival, Corpus Christi is a top destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Terri h...
Join us for a delightful "Happy Hour Hang Out" on Big Blend Radio as we celebrate National Picnic Month and Parks & Recreation Month! This engaging episode explores the pure joy of picnicking, the profound benefits of connecting with nature, and our favorite spots and foods for an outdoor feast from Arizona to England.
We dive into the calming practice of forest bathing, the therapeutic power of nature's sounds, and the breath...
Noise is everywhere—disrupting our sleep, increasing our stress, and wrecking our focus—yet it's often dismissed as a minor nuisance. But what if it’s a major environmental issue hiding in plain sound?
This episode of Big Blend Radio's Nature Connection Show features author and science writer Chris Berdik, who dives into the surprising science and urgent implications behind his new book, "Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World―and H...
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