Women Making History

Pascale Naussens: Pure & Simple - A Natural Food Way Of Life

With it being National Blueberry Month, we decided to revisit our Big Blend Radio chat with renowned Belgian bestselling culinary author, former international model, and accomplished ceramic artist Pascale Naessens.  She brings her passion for health and cooking with romantic flair to her first U.S. book, ‘Pure & Simple: A Natural Food Way Of Life’ (2017). Hear her talk about her book, and how creating conscious eating habits can provide freedom from carbohydrate addiction, and boost happiness. She also shares how to make her healthy and delicious Fluffy Blueberry Cake!Learn more about her book "Pure & Simple" here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/pascale-naessens-pure-simple-a-natural-food-way-of-life/Check out her Fluffy Blueberry Cake recipe here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/fluffy-blueberry-cake/ 

Carla Cooke - A Time to Remember

The future of singer-songwriter Carla Cooke, the youngest daughter of the legendary Sam Cooke, mirrors the image of her father, and her style is diverse in Gospel, Christian, R&B, Soul, Pop and the contemporary sound that embraces today's culture. On this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio she discusses her singing career and album “A Time to Remember” which covers renditions of her father’s hit songs including “A Change is Gonna Come”, “Summertime” and “Lost and Looking” as well as several of her original compositions. Carla tours with the “The Sam Cooke Experience” where she performs unforgettable hit songs of her father and gives inside stories about his musical career. More info: http://blendradioandtv.com/listing/carla-cooke-a-time-to-remember/ 

Children's Book Author Nicole Magistro - Read Island

Calling all explorers! If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? This "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio features author Nicole Magistro who discusses her debut children's book, READ ISLAND (2022). Illustrated by Alice Feagan, the book shares the delightful story of a very brave girl and her animal friends who traverse the seas in search of an island made of books. Nicole Magistro is a professional reader and amateur mother who lives in the mountains of Colorado. She owned a bookstore for 15 years, wrote thousands of book reviews and memorized a few too many bedtime stories. Her favorite place in the world is the real Read Island, which inspired this story.  More: https://www.myreadisland.com/ 

Multi-Instrumentalist Lisa Gee - Shut It Down

This shared episode of Big Blend Radio from fall of 2023, features acclaimed singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Lisa Gee. Hear about her music, songwriting, and EP "Shut It Down" that was produced and co-arranged by legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Beck Bogert Appice; Ozzy Osbourne, and Rod Stewart), and features veteran bassist James LoMenzo (Megadeth, John Fogerty, Black Label Society, White Lion) and Don Mancuso (Lou Gramm Band, Black Sheep, D-Drive, Lips Turn Blue).
"Shut it Down" offers a musical tribute to the human experience. Songs of love, hate, exhilaration, exuberance, and the inevitable fallout we are all forced to confront at some point in our lives, radiate from the record via its cutting-edge production, infectious rhythms, and powerful vocals. Gee delivers this to her listeners and more, in a compact celebration of enchantments, vicissitudes, and uncertainties. https://lisagee.rocks/ 
Special thanks to the National Parks Arts Foundation: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly

With today being the birth anniversary of gangster George Kelly Barnes (July 18, 1900 – July 17, 1954), aka "Machine Gun Kelly," we're revisiting this "From the Vault" Big Blend Radio interview with award-winning author Barbara Casey who discusses her book "Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind "Machine Gun" Kelly." This biography showcases how with a lust for danger, Kathryn Kelly masterminded the crimes that took her and her husband, and others who included her own mother and stepfather, on a spree across Minnesota, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. Starting with smaller crimes that included bootlegging, smuggling liquor onto an Oklahoma Indian reservation, and other petty crimes, she encouraged her husband, George Kelly, toward a life of more serious criminal activity that eventually escalated into bank robberies, kidnapping and extortion. Many believe that it was Kathryn, after giving him a machine gun, who developed George's feared persona and the name of "Machine Gun Kelly." Although much has been written about Machine Gun Kelly, there is very little known about Kathryn. Through narrative, FBI files, rare quotes from George Kelly's son and other relatives and associates, extensive research, and several photographs, "Kathryn Kelly - The Moll behind Machine Gun Kelly" is the first book ever written about a woman who chose to follow a life of crime during the Prohibition era.

Wai-nani - A Voice from Old Hawaii

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" she discusses her novel “Wai-nani - A Voice from Old Hawaii.” 
Through Wai-nani's eyes, experience the Hawaiian society as it existed when Captain James Cook arrived at Kealakekua Bay in 1779; ride the billowing seas with Eku, the wild dolphin she befriends; learn why she loved the savage, conflicted ruler, Makaha; walk with her as she defies ancient laws and harsh taboos of the Island people; share the love she received from all who knew her and learn how she rose to become the most powerful woman in old Hawai'i. More: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/wai-nani-a-voice-from-old-hawaii/ 
View Linda's Wai-nani Wayfinder video: https://youtu.be/rksKsDNtK6Y?si=CoHQDNNdsQWENrB_ 
Follow Linda Ballou's adventures at https://lostangeladventures.com/
and learn more about her books, including "Wai-nani" at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ 
NOTE: The "Wai-nani" audiobook is currently unavailable.
Listen to Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures" Show every 3rd Wednesday at High Noon PST,  here on YouTube:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzIUCV2e7qm3Bmktgu8osUzx2VOF35dgO&feature=shared 
Featured music on this episode is “Hi’ilawe” by Makana. http://makanamusic.com/ 

Celebrating the World of Women in Travel Writing

Enjoy Travel Tuesday with this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Tuesday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show that Celebrates Women in the World of Travel Writing.
Recorded in January 2022, this panel discussion features travel writer members of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA):- Linda Kissam - http://allingoodtaste.info/ - Sharon K. Kurtz - http://sharonkkurtz.com/ - Marie Goff - https://www.travelnotesandstorytelling.com/ - Betsi Hill - https://betsiworld.com/ 
Learn more about the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association at https://www.ifwtwa.org/

Christy Wood and Linda Ballou - Books for Horse Lovers

In honor of National Celebration of the Horse Day, this episode features two equestrian women who wrote Books for Horse Lovers.
FEATURED GUESTS:* CHRISTY WOOD is a world champion horse trainer also exhibiting in jumping and trail, a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, a carded horse show judge with 7 breed associations, and owner of Wood N Horse Training Stables in Three Rivers, California. Hear about her books "Hoofprints Across Time: A Trail Ride to Remember," “Ranger: The Little Horse with a Big Heart,” and “Your Best Horse Show: A Guide for Managers and Exhibitors."  Visit: https://wdnhorse.com/ 
 *  LINDA BALLOU is a horse lover, world traveler, outdoor enthusiaast, travel writer, and author of multiple books including  "Embrace of the Wild: Inspired by Equestrian Explorer Isabella Bird" and "The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon: A Transforming Journey on the John Muir Trail." Visit: http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/ This episode originally aired on the Big Daily Blend podcast in January 2024.