Women Making History

Genealogist Insider with Aryn Youngless

It's National Family Fun Month which offers us all a good reason to deep dive into our Family History! Spending time with grandparents, aunts and uncles or cousins? Maybe ask them about some of those forgotten family stories and then follow up on them. Today's episode of Big Blend Radio's WAY BACK WHEN History Show features genealogist and writer Aryn Youngless who specializes in piecing together ancestry mysteries and crafting keepsake family history books. She combines genealogy research with a passion for telling captivating stories. More at https://www.genealogybyaryn.com/ 

Exploring Vienna - From Majestic Palaces to Coffeehouse Culture

It's all about Historic Vienna on this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast with Sharon K. Kurtz.  Vienna, Austria’s capital, is where history, art, and culture come together. With its stunning architecture, grand palaces, and top-notch museums, it’s a city that captures the imagination. 
Vienna is a perfect blend of rich history, classical music, and architectural wonders, making it a must-visit for culture lovers. Read Sharon's article about her experiences in Vienna, including learning about Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I on 24 April 1854 until her assassination in 1898. More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/exploring-vienna-majestic-palaces-to-coffeehouse-culture/ 
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://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm1ALXeV1vR6H10EtkPvgDW5 
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/ or follow her on https://www.instagram.com/shar_kurtz/ 

Funny Ladies in Hollywood History

With today being the birth anniversary of Lucille Ball (August 6, 1911 - April 26, 1989), we're revisiting this recording where Steve Schneickert recalls the Funny Ladies in Hollywood History, including Betty White, Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing and Bette Midler! 

Author Barbara L. Pagano - The 60-Something Crisis

This "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio's "Writer's Wednesday" Show with Books Forward features Barbara L. Pagano, author of "The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement." It's the first book to circumvent the tired and conventional approaches of finding purpose, passion, or happiness, or using reinvention to discover a path of fulfillment after 60. 
In "The 60-Something Crisis," Barbara L. Pagano presents a clear, practical framework through four portals—geography of place, yield, kinship, and freedom—to navigate and support future well-being and happiness. More: https://the60somethingcrisis.com/ 

The Life and Career of Artist Kyra Markham

In celebration of American Artists Appreciation Month, this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio features Victoria Chick, a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector, who discusses the life and career of artist and actor Kyra Markham. More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/the-life-and-career-of-artist-kyra-markham/ 
A long-time contributor to Big Blend Magazines and guest expert on Big Blend Radio, you can catch new episodes with Victoria every third Saturday. More: https://victoriachick.com/  

Poet Carissa Garcia and Artist Chelsea Bighorn

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "A Toast to The Arts & Parks" Podcast features National Parks Arts Foundation artists-in-residence Carissa "Lucky" Garcia and Chelsea Bighorn.
Carissa “Lucky” Garcia is an Indigenous/Chicana writer, poet, performing artist, community organizer, anti-oppression educator and Indigenous Justice advocate. Her NPAF residency was in Chaco Culture National Historical Park in Northern New Mexico. Hear her initial interview about her writing and poetry, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/poet-carrisa-garcia-goes-to-chaco/
A mixed media artist, Chelsea Bighorn’s work is the result of her combining traditional Native American design with elements from her Irish American heritage. Her NPAF residency was in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Hear her initial interview about her art, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/artist-chelsea-bighorn-in-saguaro-national-park/
Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation’s unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Award-winning Author Andrea Thome

With today being National Colorado Day and August being Read-a-Romance Month, we're revisiting our Big Blend radio conversation with award-winning author Andrea Thome who discusses her novel “House of Belonging” that whisks readers away to the Rocky Mountains for some steamy romance, drama and suspense! “
“House of Belonging” is the final book in the Hesse Creek Series, and while each title in the series can be read independently, Thome’s dedicated fans will recognize some familiar characters who peppered the pages of her first novel, “Walland,” and her second book, “Seeds of Intention.” 
Andrea is a former broadcast journalist, having covered both sports and news during her career. In her novels, she explores some of her favorite travel destinations, from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to the Colorado Rockies, painting rich backdrops that become characters themselves. Thome lives in Chicago with her husband (a retired Hall of Fame baseball player and their two children. She spends her spare time traveling and pursuing her other passion—photography. See a sampling of her photography and learn more about her books at https://www.andreathome.com/ 

Park Ranger Insider: Jim and Gayle Sleznick

Celebrate World Ranger Day with this “From the Vault” Big Blend Radio interview with Jim and Gayle Sleznick. We recorded this conversation onsite in late spring 2015, on a visit to San Benito County, Central California, the eastern gateway destination to Pinnacles National Park. It only took a few minutes to find out that they have one incredible life story to tell about living and working in various National Park units. Gayle’s park story begins in Death Valley, where her father worked, and where her mother had to travel out to Riverside, California to give birth to her. Jim’s park story started when he was a teenager, on family vacations in parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. His park career began with a summer job in Crater Lake, where he met Gayle. They married when he began his full-time park ranger job in Lake Mead. Together for over 55 years, they lived and worked in several parks including the Gila Cliff National Monument, Virgin Islands National Park, Yosemite National Park, Lava Lake Volcano National Park, and beyond. Jim eventually retired from Pinnacles National Park, and they moved about 45 minutes northwest of the park, to the historic village of San Juan Bautista, which is on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. They helped to create the local Anza Trail, a beautiful hiking trail that overlooks the valley. We recently learned that Jim passed away at the age of 91, on April 21, 2024. May he rest in peace. Our hearts go out to Gayle and his family. He is missed.