Travel blogger Kim Dinan quit her job, sold her home in Portland and convinced her husband to embark on a round-the-world travel adventure with no timeline or particular destination in mind. On the eve of their departure, they received an unusual going away gift from friends…a yellow envelope with $1,000 and three simple instructions for giving it away during their travels.

Kim chats with Big Blend Radio about her new memoir, "The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and A Life-Changing Journey Around the World", that shares how the gift traveled with her through a rickshaw race in India, volunteering at a children’s literacy and arts center in Ecuador, visiting a tiny island in Peru, trekking across Nepal, and beyond. As Kim distributes the gift to people she encounters along the way, she learns that money does not have a thing to do with the capacity to give, but that giving—of ourselves—is transformational.

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 30, 2017.

Dr. E. (née Elaine Richardson), an Ohio State University professor turned recording artist, has risen far beyond the streets she once walked and worked as a teenage victim of sex trafficking. Now with "Mutha Werk," the new single from her upcoming autobiographical album, "Songs for the Struggle," and "Boy, I'm Feelin' You", a song on the soundtrack of Fox's hottest new show, "STAR," starring Queen Latifah, Dr. E continues to beat the odds.  

Today, Dr. E is a professor of Literacy Studies, in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Cleveland State University, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. E taught for two years at the University of Minnesota, and for nine years at Penn State University. She has written or co-authored five academic books and detailed her life's travails in her memoir, "PHD to Ph.D.: How Education Saved My LiFe" on New City Community Press. She has also produced, performed and toured her one-woman play, which was adapted from her book by Dr. Mary Weems.

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 30, 2017.

Author and illustrator Judy Clement Wall discusses her new book, “Find Your Awesome: A 30-Day Challenge to Fall in Love with Your Playful, Imaginative & Colorful Self”. Published by HCI Books, ‘Find Your Awesome’ is an illustrated creative journal adventure that’s filled with fun, and designed to guide you to a more relaxed, playful, more lovable and creative you. The best part? There are no rules. No expectations. No judgments. Just 'you' time, to let your mind go wild and create.  Let your freak flag fly!

Judy has illustrated several coloring books in the popular Inkspirations series, including Marci Shimoff’s "Inkspirations For Women", and Jack Canfield’s "The Power of Positive Inking", due from HCI Books  May 30, 2017. Judy is dedicated to exploring the intersection of fearless love and wild creativity, and her art can be found on everything from wine labels and lampshades, to book covers and greeting cards. Her writing has been published in literary journals and on websites such as Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, BeliefNet, and The Rumpus. To see more of her art and read her published work, visit her website at: www.judyclementwall.com. 

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired live on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 30, 2017.

Author and illustrator Judy Clement Wall discusses her new book, “Find Your Awesome: A 30-Day Challenge to Fall in Love with Your Playful, Imaginative & Colorful Self”. Published by HCI Books, ‘Find Your Awesome’ is an illustrated creative journal adventure that’s filled with fun, and designed to guide you to a more relaxed, playful, more lovable and creative you. The best part? There are no rules. No expectations. No judgments. Just 'you' time, to let your mind go wild and create.  Let your freak flag fly!

Judy has illustrated several coloring books in the popular Inkspirations series, including Marci Shimoff’s "Inkspirations For Women", and Jack Canfield’s "The Power of Positive Inking", due from HCI Books  May 30, 2017. Judy is dedicated to exploring the intersection of fearless love and wild creativity, and her art can be found on everything from wine labels and lampshades, to book covers and greeting cards. Her writing has been published in literary journals and on websites such as Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, BeliefNet, and The Rumpus. To see more of her art and read her published work, visit her website at: www.judyclementwall.com. 

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired live on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 30, 2017.

Dr. E. (née Elaine Richardson), an Ohio State University professor turned recording artist, has risen far beyond the streets she once walked and worked as a teenage victim of sex trafficking. Now with "Mutha Werk," the new single from her upcoming autobiographical album, "Songs for the Struggle," and "Boy, I'm Feelin' You", a song on the soundtrack of Fox's hottest new show, "STAR," starring Queen Latifah, Dr. E continues to beat the odds.  

Today, Dr. E is a professor of Literacy Studies, in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Cleveland State University, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Dr. E taught for two years at the University of Minnesota, and for nine years at Penn State University. She has written or co-authored five academic books and detailed her life's travails in her memoir, "PHD to Ph.D.: How Education Saved My LiFe" on New City Community Press. She has also produced, performed and toured her one-woman play, which was adapted from her book by Dr. Mary Weems.

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 30, 2017.

Travel blogger Kim Dinan quit her job, sold her home in Portland and convinced her husband to embark on a round-the-world travel adventure with no timeline or particular destination in mind. On the eve of their departure, they received an unusual going away gift from friends…a yellow envelope with $1,000 and three simple instructions for giving it away during their travels.

Kim chats with Big Blend Radio about her new memoir, "The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and A Life-Changing Journey Around the World", that shares how the gift traveled with her through a rickshaw race in India, volunteering at a children’s literacy and arts center in Ecuador, visiting a tiny island in Peru, trekking across Nepal, and beyond. As Kim distributes the gift to people she encounters along the way, she learns that money does not have a thing to do with the capacity to give, but that giving—of ourselves—is transformational.

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 30, 2017.

Join Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Spirit of America Magazine, for Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sundays Variety Show!

On This Episode:

- The Yellow Envelope – Kim Dinan, travel writer and blogger at So-Many-Places.com and author of ‘The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and A Life-Changing Journey Around the World’.

- Songs for Struggle - Dr. Elaine Richardson, an Ohio State University professor turned recording artist, has risen far beyond the streets she once walked and worked as a teenaged victim of sex trafficking. Hear about her upcoming autobiographical album, "Songs for the Struggle”, and her memoir, "PHD to Ph.D.: How Education Saved My LiFe".

- Find Your Awesome – Author and illustrator Judy Clement Wall talks about her new book, “Find Your Awesome: A 30-Day Challenge to Fall in Love with Your Playful, Imaginative & Colorful Self”, an illustrated journal filled with fun designed to guide you to a more relaxed, playful, more lovable and creative you.

Join Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Spirit of America Magazine, for Big Blend Radio’s Champagne Sundays Variety Show!

On This Episode:

- The Yellow Envelope – Kim Dinan, travel writer and blogger at So-Many-Places.com and author of ‘The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and A Life-Changing Journey Around the World’.

- Songs for Struggle - Dr. Elaine Richardson, an Ohio State University professor turned recording artist, has risen far beyond the streets she once walked and worked as a teenaged victim of sex trafficking. Hear about her upcoming autobiographical album, "Songs for the Struggle”, and her memoir, "PHD to Ph.D.: How Education Saved My LiFe".

- Find Your Awesome – Author and illustrator Judy Clement Wall talks about her new book, “Find Your Awesome: A 30-Day Challenge to Fall in Love with Your Playful, Imaginative & Colorful Self”, an illustrated journal filled with fun designed to guide you to a more relaxed, playful, more lovable and creative you.

Located in central California’s rich agricultural region, Tulare County is home to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest, and a number of charming and historic communities to explore like Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Exeter, Dinuba, Woodlake, Lindsay, Springville, and the art community of Three Rivers. 

Big Blend Radio travel discussion focusing on Summer in California’s Sequoia Country in Tulare County. Sequoia Tourism Council guest panelists include Donnette Silva Carter – Tulare Chamber of Commerce, Alicia Embrey - Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Suzanne Bianco - Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This Big Blend Radio segment originally aired live on BlogTalkRadio.com on Aopril 28, 2017.

Located in central Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park was established on July 17, 1916 as the country’s first memorial to the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the park has two separate sites where Abraham Lincoln was born and lived early in his childhood. Listen to the Big Blend Radio interview with Stacy Humphreys - Chief of Interpretation at Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, and Stephanie McMillin – Executive Director of Springfield Tourism Commission.

This Big Blend Radio interview originally aired live on BlogTalkRadio.com, on April 28, 2017.