A Toast to The Arts

Author Francine Falk-Allen - A Wolff in the Family

Happy National Family Day! This episode of Big Blend Radio features award-winning author Francine Falk-Allen. A fan of genealogy research, Francine enjoyed uncovering her family’s history, and traced both her maternal and paternal ancestors back to the 1600s. She never imagined that one day she’d discover a jaw-dropping family secret.
Based on a true story, Falk-Allen’s “A Wolff in the Family” (She Writes Press, Oct. 1, 2024) is a riveting saga of prejudice, passion, and revenge. What mysterious scandals led a father to abandon his five youngest children—and the elder siblings to keep their shame a secret for eighty years? More at: https://francinefalk-allen.com/ 
This episode is featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend," "A Toast to The Arts," "Women Making History," and "Way Back When" Podcast Channels. Follow our Big Blend Radio Network of Shows, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Rockin' Music That Inspires, Motivates, and Makes You Feel Good!

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Show with co-host Joey Stuckey, celebrates music that inspires, motivates, and makes us all feel good! After all, isn't music our emotional medicine?  
This episode also kicks off Joey's Annual ALIVE DAY which we will celebrate on Big Blend Radio with select musical guests on Sept. 29, so stay tuned here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm2zNDtr23NbGx4q90u3Ok0f&feature=shared 
Co-host of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Show every 4th Sunday, Joey Stuckey ‪is known as the Music Ambassador of Macon, Georgia "The Southern Rock Capital of the World." He's an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, and sound engineer. More: https://www.joeystuckey.com/ 
THIS EPISODE'S MUSIC PLAYLIST (please add your favorite song that you want listed in the playlist in the comments)* ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGHUZITwHVJIxK_KiGglJ3GPAtCzTdcF5&feature=shared * ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4w1bGfyI3ju3MMSvl7Cstl?si=c30594aff39c4765 
Follow the BIG DAILY BLEND Show, here: https://big-daily-blend.podbean.com/ 

The History of National Park Posters

This episode of Big Blend Radio's WORLD OF ART Podcast with artist Victoria Chick focuses on the history of National Park Posters. These icon collectibles originated in the 1930s and early 1940s as part of the WPA Federal Art Project, which began as part of the effort to recover from the Great Depression. Read Victoria's article about the posters here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/history-of-national-park-posters/ 
And, as discussed in this episode, here's our interview with Robert Decker who discusses his park photography and posters: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/national-park-photographer-robert-decker  
Victoria Chick is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. Visit: https://victoriachick.com/ 
Victoria appears on Big Blend Radio every 3rd Saturday. Follow the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3an38624 

Director Marc Saltarelli - Studio One Forever

This episode of Big Blend Radio's TOAST TO THE ARTS Show features Marc Saltarelli, an award-winning director with work in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. Hear about his latest film, STUDIO ONE FOREVER.
A beacon of dancing and freedom for gay men looking for identity in a world that saw them as outcasts, Studio One was a haven and the blossoming center of nightlife in West Hollywood. From merging the gay community and Hollywood elites like Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart to being at the forefront of the LBGTQ+ rights movement and the fight against the AIDS crisis, the venue was more than just a disco, it was a movement.
STUDIO ONE FOREVER, the untold story of America's iconic gay disco, world premiered at Outfest Los Angeles in July 2023 and was selected by over twenty festivals to date, garnering several audience choice awards.  It was an Austin Film Festival jury award nominee for best documentary and won Best of Fest at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuHmJhq_LJI 
STUDIO ONE - Coming soon to Theaters, VOD & BluRay: September 13-19 - Landmark Sunset in West HollywoodOctober 3rd - Laemmle NoHo - with Q&AOctober 8th - Available on all VOD platforms
Full details at https://marcsaltarelli.com/  
This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend" Podcast. Check out our network of shows, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Author Ann E. Lowry - The Blue Trunk

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features debut author Ann Lowry who discusses her novel, "The Blue Trunk."
When Ann Lowry inherited an ancestor's blue travel trunk, she had no idea that this artifact was about to take her on a three-year journey of discovery. She was told that the trunk’s previous owner, a great-great aunt, had been institutionalized for insanity. Despite meticulous genealogy research, she was unable to uncover any facts about her and concluded that she must have spent her entire adult life in an asylum. 
Lowry was inspired to write "The Blue Trunk" (Sept. 10, 2024, Koehler Books) to help reclaim her ancestor’s voice and shed light on these all-too-common institutionalizations. Seamlessly weaving historical fiction with contemporary life, Lowry’s tale explores identity, strength, and connection across decades. Visit: https://www.annlowry.com/ 

Teen Suicide Prevention

In observance of World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) and National Suicide Prevention Month (Sept), this episode of Big Blend Radio focuses on Johnny Schaefer's new song "When It's Your Kid" as well as teen suicide prevention and the pressures youth face today. Watch the music video:  https://youtu.be/CfqF8q1BgQc?feature=shared 
FEATURED GUESTS: - JOHNNY SCHAEFER - Award-winning singer/songwriter https://hearjohnny.com/ - LINDA CORELY - Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker of  "Parkland: Healing a Community and a Nation https://daydreamproductionhouse.com/ - GEOFFREY LEVIN - Musician, composer, singer/songwriter https://www.geofflevin.com/ - SUSAN HOLDER - Vocalist, Manager for Melissa Manchester

Filmmaker Amy Nicholson - Happy Campers

This episode of Big Blend Radio features filmmaker Amy Nicholson who discusses her documentary "Happy Campers." The film chronicles the final days of a working-class summer colony in a scrappy trailer park that just happens to hold the secret to a rich life.
In a waterfront campground off the coast of Virginia, residents spend their summers living spitting distance apart in rust-bitten RVs. They chuckle about the modest rent they pay for a million-dollar location, but what makes them the luckiest people in the world is more than just stunning sunsets, it’s the community they’ve created.
Beneath cliched trailer park stereotypes lies an unlikely utopia where all are welcome. Neighbors help each other out, and share everything from power tools to simple pleasures. Loneliness and isolation are inconceivable. 
When their affordable paradise is sold to developers, the residents brace for eviction and the loss of friendships that span generations. They hold tight to their final days in the sun. The well-heeled crowd that takes their place will never be as wealthy.
Learn more: https://www.happycampers.film/ 

Musician Rachel Mari Kimber Goes to Saguaro National Park

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/