Nature Connection Radio

Author and adventurer Inga Aksamit returns to this shared Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) — to take us snorkeling for two weeks aboard the MV Bilikiki in the Solomon Islands. 

From a camouflaged crocodile fish and venomous sea kraits to a floating village market and the Coral Triangle's marine biodiversity, Inga shares what it's like to...

On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Quiltripping Travel" Podcast, travel writer and photographer Rose Palmer shares her epic month-long journey across Southern Africa with her husband — starting with wine tasting in Cape Town, riding the historic Rovos Rail into Zimbabwe, chasing wildlife and waterfalls at Victoria Falls, safari glamping in Botswana's Khwai Private Reserve and Okavango Delta, and ending with a river ...

Just 30 minutes from Portland, Tualatin Valley is Oregon's underrated wine country — home to 40+ wineries, one of the state's most ethnically diverse food scenes, tax-free shopping, and a 21-mile paved trail past a giant wooden troll. 

On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show," presented in partnership with the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Sylke Neal-Fi...

Michael Calhoun, a lifelong resident of Vernonia, Oregon and Board Chair of the Columbia Soil & Water Conservation District, joins this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Podcast — timed to National Park Week 2026 — to share the story of the Banks-Vernonia Trail, a 20-mile former logging railroad that became Oregon's first rails-to-trail conversion and later earned National Recreation Trail cer...

Sasha Waters, director and producer of the new American Masters documentary "Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World," joins Big Blend Radio to talk about bringing the life of one of America's most beloved and most private poets to the screen.

Mary Oliver was a bestselling poet and Pulitzer Prize winner whose work — including "Wild Geese" and "The Journey" — has reached readers far beyond the usual poetry audience...

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 scie...

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 shared 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 H...

Celebrate American Adventures Month with this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Jo Goes Everywhere!” travel podcast featuring writer Jo Clark who takes us into the wild and wonderful world of Audubon’s Francis Beidler Forest Center and Sanctuary in Harleyville, South Carolina—an extraordinary old-growth forest and swamp ecosystem filled with ancient trees, wildlife, birds, waterways, and fascinating...

Welcome to this shared inaugural episode of Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast with hosts Lisa D. Smith, Joelle Machia, and Ryan Slough.

Pull up a chair for global conversations that shape a better world as we explore how travel, community, culture, and collaboration connect to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In this debut episode, the hosts are joined by Carlisle Richardson, an internation...

In recognition of World Rainforest Day, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast features co-directors Rob Grobman and Chelsea Greene who discuss their acclaimed documentary film, "We Are Guardians," produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker, actor, and environmental activist Fisher Stevens.

Available worldwide on digital platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, and Tubi, "We Are Guardians" takes viewers deep into the B...

Celebrate Great Outdoors Month with this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's Quiltripping Travel" Podcast. Travel expert, photographer and host Rose Palmer joins producer Lisa D. Smith from France — where she's in between trips — to share her unforgettable experience aboard Windstar's brand-new Star Seeker on its inaugural Alaska cruise. 

Unlike the big-ship experience, the Star Seeker's small size unlocked a side ...

What happens when you travel — not for sightseeing, but for the soul? In this shared and heartfelt episode of Big Blend Radio's "Soul Diving Sunday" Show, Live & Die Happy Coach Shelley Whizin shares her extraordinary pilgrimage to South Africa, where she spent time on the sacred land of the White Lion Global Protection Trust alongside lionhearted leadership author Linda Tucker and spiritual activist Andrew Harvey.

Shell...

In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, sharing their favorite ways to experience Asheville's natural beauty. From spectacular waterfalls and colorful wildflowers to fascinating mushrooms, butterflies, and wildlife encounters, this conversation highlights why West...

In this special "Getting to Know You" episode of Big Blend Radio, we celebrate National Creativity Day and reconnect with longtime Big Blend friend, travel writer, author, and storyteller Elaine Masters as part of the launch of our new online community, Big Blend Media House, and its Front Porch News newsletter.

A longtime Big Blend contributor and friend, Elaine is known for her thoughtful travel writing, cultural sensitivity, env...

In this special “Getting to Know You” episode of Big Blend Radio, we chat with author, environmental attorney, geologist, and eco-conscious living expert Cheryl Leutjen about sustainability, creativity, community building, and finding joy in challenging times.

Known as “The Eco-Worrier,” Cheryl shares how humor, playfulness, and intentional gatherings can help people reconnect with nature and each other. Fro...

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Quiltripping Travel with Rose” podcast, travel writer and photographer Rose Palmer shares her unforgettable expedition cruise through Antarctica and South Georgia Island, exploring not only the breathtaking glaciers and wildlife, but also the strict environmental protections and sustainable tourism practices that help preserve one of Earth’s last great wildernesse...

Join travel writer Barbara Redding along with Troy Campa and Rene Ibarra of Camiba Cultural Tours as they share how responsible tourism supports ecosystems, preserves culture, and connects travelers to meaningful experiences.

Discover the incredible migration of the Monarch Butterfly to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, and learn how local communities and conservation efforts are working together to protect this natural wond...

In this inspiring episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Nature Connection” Show, we’re joined by acclaimed author, ornithologist, and conservationist Scott Weidensaul to discuss his powerful new book, "The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet" (W. W. Norton & Company, April 21, 2026).

Listen as Scott shares compelling stories of bird recovery, global conservation efforts, and the surprisi...

In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Quiltripping Travel with Rose” podcast, travel writer and photographer Rose Palmer shares highlights from her unforgettable journey through Patagonia, one of the most breathtaking and remote regions in South America.

From the awe-inspiring glaciers of Los Glaciares National Park to the dramatic peaks of Torres del Paine National Park, Rose takes us deep into Patagonia’s ...