This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Way Back When History Show features author Sid Balman Jr., who discusses his historical fiction novel, “Seventh Flag.” The book follows a white family and a Muslim family in a small West Texas town in a vivid saga that analyzes how each subsequent generation deals with its own inner turmoil and trauma. As America itself grows, these two families grow with it -- observing the country’s increasing radicalization following events like the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, and 9/11. Even though the book is fiction, its themes are very much present in today's headlines.

Sid is a fourth generation Texan, Pulitzer nominee, and a veteran reporter who covered four major wars and traveled with two presidents and four secretaries of war during his career.

Featured music is “Texas Blue Moon” by Shelley King.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, modern prog rock artist Dave Kerzner shares discusses his music and album “Breakdown: A Compilation 1995-2019,” out now on Cherry Red Records. This 2 cd collection features  21 songs with over 2 hours of music produced by Kerzner.

Kerzner is a progressive rock artist and producer who has been making music since the mid-90s with artists such as Kevin Gilbert of Toy Matinee and others. In 2010 he co-founded the award-winning band Sound of Contact with Simon Collins and co-wrote/produced their debut album “Dimensionaut.” Since then, he has released two highly acclaimed studio solo albums “New World” and “Static” as well as several live albums. Kerzner has released a lot of music made with an array of collaborative projects such as his band In Continuum featuring special guests Steve Hackett of Genesis and more, Mantra Vega, a transatlantic project with former Mostly Autumn singer Heather Findlay, Lo-Fi Resistance with Randy McStine and star-studded tribute albums with his side project Sonic Elements.

Thanks to the National Parks Arts Foundation for sponsoring this episode.

Join hosts Nancy Reid & Lisa Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Magazines, for Big Blend Radio’s Way Back When History show. On this episode, genealogist Holly T. Hansen discusses how personal letters can help trace your family history. Read her article on BlendRadioandTV.com.

Holly T. Hansen aka “Miss Holly GenTeacher,” is the President and Founder of Family History Expos, Inc, and as an author, lecturer, editor, and publisher, has been instrumental in helping thousands understand the principles, strategies, and sources they can use to trace their roots in today’s ever-changing technological environment. She is the mastermind behind more than 50 Family History Expos held across the United States, and is dedicated to helping individuals and families, one-on-one, with their personal research needs. Currently, she is involved creating podcasts, webinars, and video presentations to help people move forward in their family history endeavors from the comforts of home.

 

Featured music is “The Letter” from “The Shel Talmy Sessions” EP by Everett Coast.

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s Toast to the Arts Show features Lance Laber, the Executive Director of DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, a 10-acre historic southwest landmark in Tucson, Arizona. Opened in 1965, it is home to over 15,000 originals of Ted DeGrazia art pieces including oil paintings, watercolors, ceramics and sculptures. There are six permanent collections on display and several rotating exhibitions each year. 

Hear about artist Ted DeGrazia’s fascinating career and new exhibits, “DeGrazia’s Circus,” “DeGrazia’s Saguaro Harvest,” and the annual “Way of the Cross.” Featured music is “Te Quiere Mucho” from the DeGrazia album, “Please Remember Me.”

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer Debbie Stone shares her experience in Monument Valley Park (known also by its Navajo or Diné name, Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii, which roughly translates to mean Valley of Rocks).  Straddling the Utah-Arizona border and occupying nearly 92,000 acres, the park comprises a small piece of the semi-autonomous Navajo Nation, the largest Native American territory in the U.S.  Fragile pinnacles of rock are surrounded by miles of dramatic mesas, monoliths and buttes, dwarf shrubs and trees, and sandy, windblown desert. Sandstone masterpieces tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, rising from the earth in an effort to meet the sky. The landscape overwhelms the senses and even the most jaded can’t help but be spellbound by these enduring images of the American West. Read Debbie's article on NationalParkTraveling.com. 

Fetaured music is "Winter Hawk" By Evren Ozan.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Toast to The Arts show, artist Victoria Chick discusses her painting collection “New Eyes on New Mexico”, which will be on display from February 7 - March 21, 2020 in the Richardson Gallery of the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Victoria is  a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. In this exhibit, cats are the narrative vehicle for her to share with viewers the sense of discovery of things unique to her Southwest New Mexico experience.

Featured music is “My High Desert Home” by Wally Lawder.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Vacation Station travel show, travel writer Mary Farah chats about her recent visit to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hear about this enchanting southwest city’s rich Native American history, iconic Route 66 culture, film locations (including "Breaking Bad"), wine tasting and dining opportunities, hot air balloon rides, and luxury lodging at Hotel Chaco. Read her story on BlendRadioandTV.com.

Featured music is “Chaco” by the Tall Men Group. Thanks to the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) for sponsoring this episode.

Join hosts Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith. publishers of Big Blend Magazines, for this Big Blend Radio Tourism Excellence discussion with Bobbi DePorter - Co-founder of SuperCamp, President of Quantum Learning Network, and creator of the 8 Keys of Excellence. This is part of the series on How to Put the “I” Back Into Community through a Responsible Tourism Plan that incorporates the 8 Keys of Excellence. The focus is on BALANCE, how to build a sustainable and responsible community. Check out the full article and interview series on NationalParkTraveling.com. 

Featured music is “Sands of Time” by Bay Station Band.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, travel writer Linda Kissam shares her guided tour experience of San Ildefonso Pueblo just outside Santa Fe in Northern New Mexico. Elmer Torres, guide and former governor of the San Ildefonso Pueblo, as well as Joanne Hudson of Tourism Santa Fe, also join the conversation. 

In the Southwestern United States, the term Pueblo refers to communities of Native Americans, both in the present and in ancient times. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material. 

Today there are now 19 pueblos in New Mexico, each with its own government but sharing a common prehistory and culture. The Northern Pueblos of New Mexico represent eight of the 19 Pueblo Tribes in the state. They are the oldest tribal communities in the US having descended from the ancestral cultures that once inhabited Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde and Bandelier.

Read Linda's article on NationalParkTraveling.com. 

Featured music is “Great Blue Sky,” by Evren Ozan.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s 1st Friday Toast to The Arts & Parks Show, world renown photographer, videographer, cinematographer and author Harun Mehmedinovic discusses his National Parks Arts Foundation dark skies photography artist-in-residence experience at Death Valley National Park.  He spent the month of Nov. 2019 in the park as part of his ongoing feature documentary project SKYGLOW, to film the night skies of the world. The SKYGLOW project functions on two levels — to showcase the amazing beauty of the night-sky through high definition timelapse videography, and also to raise awareness of the encroaching light pollution on natural areas globally, and show how different parks are combatting this problem.

In addition, Harun is the cinematographer and co-producer on ICE ON FIRE, a Leonardo DiCaprio-produced feature documentary for HBO which premiered in the Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival 2019, and a co-cinematographer on AKICITA, a documentary film which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2018.

Featured music is “Searching for the Moon” by Yagull.