Women Making History

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.

Author Kristine Ochu - Campfire Confessions

Celebrate International Friendship Day with this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio that features Kristine Ochu, author of "Campfire Confessions" (2022). The story focuses on three childhood best friends - Annie, Sondra, and Jo – who reunite for on an adventure that is equal parts hilarious, dangerous, and enlightening. Of course, when best friends get together….those deep secrets find a way of coming out...KRISTINE OCHU is founder of “The Night of a Woman’s Soul – Creating Your Amazing Life” workshops and is a former Human Resource Executive with a MAIR from the University of Minnesota. She is a member of the Global Women’s Club, Women in Film and Video New England, Harvard Square Script Writers, and community groups. A former log-rolling champion, she still log-rolls along with being an avid hiker, kayaker and explorer. Having previously written screenplays and a children’s book, Kristine incorporates her love of nature and adventure into all her stories. She lives with her husband and their rescue golden retrievers, and splits her time between Hayward, Wisconsin and Amelia Island, Florida. More at: https://www.kristineochu.com/ 

Deena Metzger - Award-winning Author, Poet, Essayist

With today being National Rain Day and Eco Monday, we're revisiting our Big Blend Radio interview with award-winning author, poet, and essayist Deena Metgzer who discusses her novel “A Rain of Night Birds” (2017) which has been called "a momentous and needed confrontation between indigenous knowledge and the modern scientific mind." Deena Metzger is a radical thinker on behalf of the natural world and planetary survival, a teacher of writing and healing practices for 50 years, and a writer and activist profoundly concerned with peacemaking, restoration, and sanctuary for a beleaguered world. More: https://deenametzger.net/ 

Nancy Lawson - The Humane Gardener

With today being World Nature Conservation Day, we're revisiting this Big Blend Radio interview with Nancy Lawson, author of “The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife." In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards.Nancy is also the founder of Humane Gardener, an outreach initiative dedicated to cultivating compassion for all creatures great and small through animal-friendly, environmentally sensitive landscaping methods.  She speaks frequently to local and national audiences and volunteers as a master naturalist and master gardener in central Maryland. After an early career in newspaper journalism, she worked for more than 15 years as an editor and publisher at The Humane Society of the United States, leading the creative teams behind the organization’s award-winning print and digital magazines. More at https://www.humanegardener.com/ 

Sabina Palermo - Growing Houseplants and Happiness

With today being "Take Your Houseplant For a Walk Day" we thought we'd revisit this episode of Big Blend Radio with Sabina Palermo, author of "Hi Cacti: Growing Happiness & Houseplants."  Note: We don't think she walks her houseplants though, unless it's to a more suitable location in her home!
Plant care is self-care. As we all know, spending time with nature reduces stress, anxiety and depression while boosting your immune system, reducing blood pressure, aiding sleep and improving concentration.  "Hi Cacti" shares how to say hello to 20 easy-to-love houseplants, and goodbye to life’s stresses as you learn to mindfully care for your plants, and yourself. This book is perfect for budding beginners or green goddesses alike & rooted in a journey of self-awareness. Learn through mindful moments of watering, nurturing & simply appreciating plants how to grow alongside your own leafy buddies. More:  https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/sabine-palermo-hi-cacti/ 

Photographer Olivia Grey Pritchard

With todaay being National Dog Photographer Day, we're revisiting our Big Blend Radio conversation with award-winning photographer Olivia Grey Pritchard, who discusses her photography and beautiful and heartwarming coffee table book, “MUTTS: A Celebration of Mystery Mixed Breeds.” MUTTS aims to inspire joy and connection when readers look through these photographs. And for people who haven’t considered adopting a rescue pet before, this book shows that mutts have just as many unique, lovable, and desirable qualities as pedigreed dogs.Pritchard’s mission with this book is to call attention to the heartbreaking fact that according to the ASPCA, over half a million dogs are euthanized in US shelters each year, and to encourage more rescue adoptions. In addition to fostering more love for mutts, a portion of the proceeds from the book are being donated to organizations that rescue and spay/neuter, including Take Paws Rescue, Animal Rescue New Orleans, Zeus’ Place, Greta’s Ark Animal Rescue, Trampled Rose Rescue, and the LASPCA.After five years as a United Nations photographer working in combat zones, Olivia moved to New Orleans in 2012 and began serving families with her unique perspective of the visual legacy we want to create for our children (with fur and without!). Through her work behind the camera and creating her archival-quality artwork that families cherish for generations, Olivia preserves both the milestone and the everyday memories.Olivia has owned mutts her whole life—from a border collie mix named Spike that her mom found as a puppy trying to get milk out of a carton and a husky mix named Wylie who met the school bus every afternoon, to the most loyal hound / shepherd mix named Chester who loved to sun himself in a certain spot in the front yard. So it’s no surprise that as an adult, she has a 120 pound St. Bernard / retriever / shepherd rescue named Jasper—the most patient, protective, devoted dog ever.
 More: https://www.oliviagreypritchard.com/ 

Chef and Author Cathy A. Lewis

Today is National Culinarians Day that annually honors cooks and chefs. So, we're revisiting our Big Blend Radio chat from 2022 with Cathy A. Lewis. Hear about her incredible culinary career, but mostly about her novel “The Road We Took: Four Days in Germany 1933,” a gut-wrenching debut from a curious daughter who unlocks a time-capsule and inspires readers to “never forget.”  "The Road We Took" is a historical fiction novel that looks into Hitler’s deadly plans nine years before the start of World War II and the Holocaust. Lewis came up with the idea in 2018, after rediscovering a small, tattered suitcase belonging to her deceased father featuring his daily journal and mementos from his six-week trek in 1933 through Europe with his Boy Scout Troop on their way to the 4th World Scout Jamboree held in Godollo, Hungary. Check out the full story about "The Road We Took" on BlendRadioandTV.com.
Now, what about her culinary career? Cathy has spent over 40 years as a professional chef after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She was the first female Executive Chef for the Servico Corporation, where she served The Philadelphia Eagles, The Philadelphia Flyers and The Philadelphia 76’ers. Over the course of her career, Cathy capitalized her creative talents as a restaurant owner and partner, conceptualizing and creating brands for three successful startup businesses, Food Works, in Pittsford, New York, The Bagel Bin in Penfield, New York, and The Nick of Thyme in Brentwood, Tennessee. It was at the Nick of Thyme that Cathy developed long standing relationships within the music industry. Her clients included Donna Summer Sudano, Naomi Judd, Wynonna Judd, numerous Christian and country music artists, world-renowned wine collectors Billy Ray Hearn and Tom Black. After the sale of her business, Cathy cooked for and traveled extensively to movie locations with actress and activist Ashley Judd and her husband, three-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti.  She continues to cook privately for exclusive clients and friends. Learn more about Cathy (she has a second book in the works) here: https://www.cathyalewis.com.