A Toast to The Arts

Boy George & Culture Club: Behind the New Documentary with Director Alison Ellwood

Few bands have shaped music, fashion, and popular culture quite like Boy George & Culture Club. Perfect for Pride Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts" Podcast, acclaimed filmmaker Alison Ellwood shares the story behind her compelling documentary chronicling the band's extraordinary rise, lasting influence, and enduring legacy.
Known for celebrated music documentaries including "The Go-Go's", "Laurel Canyon," and "Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing," Alison discusses the extensive archival research, rare footage, and authentic storytelling that bring Boy George and Culture Club's remarkable journey to life. The conversation explores the band's impact on music, identity, fashion, LGBTQ+ visibility, and the cultural conversations that continue to resonate today.
Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival before its North American release, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of one of pop music's most influential and groundbreaking bands.

Painted Ponies: Exploring Southwest Artist Ted DeGrazia's Joyful Side

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Tales of Southwest Artist Ted DeGrazia" Podcast, Executive Director Lance Laber shares the story behind the new "Ted DeGrazia's Painted Ponies" exhibit at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun in Tucson, Arizona.
Featuring paintings, watercolors, sculptures, carousel horses, and merry-go-round imagery, this colorful new exhibition celebrates Ted DeGrazia's lifelong fascination with horses, childhood, imagination, and joy. Lance discusses how DeGrazia captured emotion through his art, his love of children, and why these cheerful works reveal another side of one of the world's most reproduced artists.
The conversation also revisits the remarkable story behind DeGrazia's 1975 tax protest, when he burned over a million dollars' worth of his own paintings in Arizona's Superstition Mountains, celebrates his Flag Day birth anniversary, and explores the gallery's current rotating exhibits, including "Ted DeGrazia's Unseen Landscapes" and "DeGrazia Paints the Seri Indians."
Known as one of the most reproduced artists in the world, Ted DeGrazia captured the spirit of the Southwest through bold, expressive paintings that reflected the region's people, cultures, landscapes, and traditions. Today, his legacy continues through the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, a National Historic Landmark nestled in the foothills of Tucson's Santa Catalina Mountains.
Current Rotating Exhibits• Ted DeGrazia's Painted Ponies – On display through January 27, 2027, featuring cheerful paintings, sculptures, carousel horses, and merry-go-round imagery celebrating childhood wonder.• Ted DeGrazia's Unseen Landscapes – Rare watercolors, oils, and ink drawings hidden from public view for decades. On display through September 2, 2026.• DeGrazia Paints the Seri Indians – A fascinating look at DeGrazia's documentation of the Comcaac (Seri) people of Sonora, Mexico. On display through September 2, 2026.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is a 10-acre National Historic Landmark featuring over 15,000 original works of art, including paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and more. Learn more: http://www.degrazia.org 
🎙️ New Tales of Ted DeGrazia episodes air every 4th Sunday. Follow the podcast: https://ted-degrazia.podbean.com 

Getting to Know Joey Stuckey, Part 2: Creativity, Curiosity & the Future of Music

In Part Two of this special Big Blend Radio “Music Success Insider” spotlight conversation, Joey Stuckey dives deeper into creativity, storytelling, media evolution, and the personal passions that shape his artistic life.
From unconventional performance venues and community engagement to songwriting, curiosity, and the changing digital media landscape, Joey reflects on the experiences and inspirations that continue to fuel his career. He also shares thoughts on perception, authenticity, creative freedom, and why understanding yourself is key to lasting success in music and media.
This candid and wide-ranging conversation reveals the heart behind Joey’s work as a musician, educator, producer, and storyteller.
🎧Listen to Part 1, here: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/joey-stuckey 
🎸 Joey Stuckey is an award-winning blind guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer, educator, and owner of Shadow Sound Studio in Macon, Georgia. Learn more: https://www.joeystuckey.com/ 
🌐 Explore Big Blend Media House & Subscribe to the Front Porch News: https://bigblendmediahouse.com/ 

Ken Newman on Who Are the Bad Guys, Music, Humanity & Social Change

Music has long been a powerful way to reflect the world around us, spark conversation, and inspire change. In this episode of Big Blend Radio, singer-songwriter Ken Newman discusses his thought-provoking new single, "Who Are the Bad Guys?", exploring how music can challenge perspectives while encouraging empathy and meaningful dialogue.
Originally from San Francisco and now spending much of the year in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, Ken shares how his surroundings, life experiences, and passion for storytelling shape his songwriting. The conversation also explores creativity, authenticity, activism, community, environmental awareness, and the enduring power of small acts of kindness to make a difference.
Inspired by legendary artists like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and David Bowie, Ken creates music that lives at the intersection of poetry, social commentary, and emotional honesty.
Learn more about Ken Newman, listen to his music, and follow his latest projects: https://www.kennewmanmusic.com/ 
Album art is by Misisipi Mike Wolf. Musician image is by Karen Cooper.

Roddy McDowall: The Human Behind the Hollywood Legend with Author Samuel Garza Bernstein

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts" Podcast, author Samuel Garza Bernstein discusses his acclaimed new book, "Roddy McDowall: An Actor's Life," offering an intimate look at one of Hollywood's most beloved and versatile performers.
Best known for his roles in "How Green Was My Valley," "Lassie Come Home," "Planet of the Apes," and countless film, television, and stage productions, Roddy McDowall enjoyed a remarkable career that spanned six decades. Beyond the fame, however, was a complex, creative, and deeply compassionate individual whose story continues to inspire audiences today.
Drawing from Roddy McDowall's extensive archives at Boston University, Garza Bernstein shares insights into the actor's early years as a child star, the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, his vivid imagination and creative pursuits, his lifelong friendships with Hollywood legends, and his passion for preserving film history. The conversation also explores how archives reveal the person behind the public image, the ethics of AI in publishing, and McDowall's experience navigating Hollywood as a gay man during a time when authenticity often came at great personal and professional risk.
Published in time for Pride Month, "Roddy McDowall: An Actor's Life" celebrates the enduring legacy of an extraordinary artist whose kindness, talent, resilience, and humanity left an indelible mark on generations of performers and movie lovers alike.
Learn more about Samuel Garza Bernstein and his work:https://samuelgarzabernstein.com/ 
Whether you're fascinated by classic Hollywood, film history, LGBTQ+ history, biographies, or the people behind the legends, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. 

Women Spies of WWII: Author Pam Webber on Espionage & the Miracle of Massawa

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author Pam Webber discusses her new novel, "Massawa: A Tale of Illusion, Espionage, and Love," the first book in a new World War II series inspired by the little-known "Miracle of Massawa" in Eritrea, North Africa.
Set in 1942 during the height of World War II, the novel follows fledgling OSS agent Kit Thomas as she embarks on her first mission to investigate the theft of military payroll funds and uncover a dangerous conspiracy threatening Allied operations in the Red Sea region. Along the way, readers encounter espionage, deception, romance, wartime intrigue, and the remarkable story of the women who served as spies during WWII.
In this fascinating conversation, Pam shares the real history behind the novel, including the role of the OSS—the precursor to the CIA—how women were recruited into intelligence work, the influence of MI6 on American spy training, and the strategic importance of North Africa in the Allied war effort. She also discusses her extensive research, from declassified documents to personal letters, and how she created her courageous protagonist, Kit Thomas.
Learn more about Pam Webber and her books at https://www.pamwebber.com 
Visit Big Blend's new home: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/ 

Art Spotlight on Fletcher Martin: The Self-Taught Artist Who Became an American Master

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "World of Art" Podcast, artist and art historian Victoria Chick explores the life and legacy of Fletcher Martin (1904–1979)—a self-taught American artist whose talent, determination, and keen powers of observation helped him become one of the most respected illustrators and muralists of his era.
From humble beginnings in the American West to working as a boxer, miner, illustrator, muralist, teacher, and war correspondent, Martin lived the experiences he later captured through his art. Victoria discusses how his unconventional path shaped his artistic voice, his work on Depression-era post office murals, his illustrations for major publications, and the inspirational approach he brought to teaching aspiring artists.
The conversation also highlights the importance of preserving artistic heritage, the role of observation in creative development, and how artists can remain true to their own vision while learning from those who came before them.
Victoria is a contemporary figurative artist, a collector of early 19th and 20th-century American prints, and the visionary spearheading the development of the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico.
🔗LINKS & RESOURCES:- Victoria’s article on Fletcher Martin: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/artist-fletcher-martin - Victoria Chick: https://victoriachick.com/ - Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/ - World of Art Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/the-world-of-art-podcast     

Seven Questions with Author Matt Cost: Writing, Dogs & Life Lessons

In celebration of Dog Dad Day (June 20), this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Getting to Know You" series spotlights mystery and historical fiction author Matt Cost, whose love of dogs, storytelling, and creative adventure shines in both his books and everyday life.
Through a fun seven-question game, Matt shares insights into his writing journey, favorite hobbies, life lessons, future goals, and the canine companions who have inspired characters throughout his mystery novels. From his popular Maine-based mystery series and thriller adventures to upcoming historical mysteries, Matt offers a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process, the power of storytelling, and why his advice to aspiring writers is simple: "Just do it."
Listeners will also get a glimpse into the imaginative concept behind Big Blend Media House, the new digital home where curiosity, creativity, and community come together.
Pssst! Matt is also preparing to launch the new Big Blend Radio podcast "Pets, Plots & Poisons" with fellow author B.J. Magnani. Premiering this August and airing every third Thursday, the show will explore mysteries, crime fiction, pets, storytelling, and the creative lives of authors.
Learn more about Matt Cost: https://www.mattcost.net/ 
Check Out Matt's Big Blend "Author Success Insider" Q&A:https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/author-success-insider-matt-cost/ 
Explore Big Blend Media House: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/