Nature Connection Radio

A small portion of America's historic tallgrass prairie is preserved in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma. Only about 4% of tallgrass prairie still exists and it is one of the most diverse biological environments on earth.  In celebration of American Adventures Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show features travel writer Kathleen Walls who shares her Tallgrass Prairie experiences touring the Flint Hills Discovery Center and Konza Prairie Biological Station in Kansas. Read her story, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/flint-hills-tallgrass-an-amazing-ecosystem/  Kathleen Walls is publisher/writer for American Roads and Global Highways at https://www.americanroads.net/.  She is also an author. See her books at https://katywalls.com/  This podcast is also shared on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend" and "Nature Connection" shows. Keep up with Big Blend Radio's Network of Podcasts, here: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwo

We're going on a wildlife safari through Etosha National Park in Namibia on this episode of Big Blend Radio's JO GOES EVERYWHERE! Podcast with travel writer and photographer Jo Clark.  Etosha is the largest salt pan in Africa, and is Namibia’s largest wildlife sanctuary that's home to a wide variety of birdlife as well as lions, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, two different zebras, hyenas, springboks, elands, Black and White rhinos, and the elusive leopard. Read Jo's article about her experience here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/etosha-national-park-safari/  Jo Clark is a travel writer and photographer based on South Carolina’s Grand Strand. She has a thirst for knowledge, history, great food, and wine! Her Big Blend Radio podcast "Jo Goes Everywhere!" airs every 2nd Sunday at 7pm EST. Follow the show on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yfkjm8sd 

It's all about foals, fillies, and colts on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "ABC's of Horses" equestrian podcast with Christy Wood. Topics of is discussion include breeding, foal prep, birth assistance, post-birth care. Christy Wood is a World Champion horse trainer, also exhibiting in jumping and trail. She is a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, and is a carded horse show judge with 7 breed associations. Along with being an author and instructor, she is the owner of Wood N Horse Training Stables in Three Rivers, California. Learn more about Christy, her equine services, and her books, at: https://wdnhorse.com/  The "ABC's of Horses" Podcast with Christy Wood airs every 2nd Saturday. Listen to the latest episodes here: https://abcs-horses-christywood.podbean.com/  This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection," and "Nature Connection" podcast channels. 

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features acclaimed climate and environmental scientist Rob Jackson who discusses his new book, "Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere." There aren’t many climate books that are clear-eyed about the enormity of the challenges before us and also optimistic. "Into the Clear Blue Sky" manages to reframe climate solutions in a narrative of optimism by focusing on the incredible innovators paving a new path forward. More at: https://robjacksonbooks.com/  Rob Jackson is the Chair of the Global Carbon Project, a Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, and a professor of earth science at Stanford University. Through global scientific leadership and groundbreaking research, communications, and policy activities, Jackson’s work has reduced millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions and improved human health, safety, and air and water quality. One of the top five most-cited clima

This episode of Big Blend Radio features journalist and best-selling author David Lipsky who discusses his latest book, "The Parrot and The Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial."  Now published in paperback, he turns his prodigious talent to the twin stories of our lifetime: climate change and truth. Lipsky explores how “anti-science” became virulent in American life—through the history of climate denial and its consequences. Featuring an indelible cast of heroes and villains, mavericks and swindlers, "The Parrot and the Igloo" delivers a real-life tragicomedy―one that captures the extraordinary dance of science, money, and the American character.

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features travel writer and photographer Julie Dee Suman who discusses the Osprey Conservation efforts and recreational, bird watching, and educational opportunities at Patuxent River Park in Maryland. Read her article about the park, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/discover-patuxent-river-parks-osprey-population/  Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/  This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Channel. 

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" Podcast covering her recent visit to remote Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. Isle Royale is one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the country, averaging twenty to thirty thousand visitors annually. Established as the nation’s 25th national park in 1940, Isle Royale sits in the northwestern portion of Lake Superior and preserves more than 130,000 acres of land designated as wilderness. The park consists of one large island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands and encompasses 850 square miles. This includes submerged land, which extends four-plus miles out into the largest freshwater lake in the world. Check out Debbie's article and video feature, here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/experience-the-allure-of-the-wild-at-michigans-isle-royale-national-park/ Big Blend Radio's "Global Adventures with Debbie Stone" podcast airs every 4th Tuesday. Follow the pod

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Pet Connection" Podcast features award-winning author and journalist Wendy Lyons Sunshine who discusses her new book, "Tender Paws: How Science-Based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs."  Full of illustrative cases and thoughtful insights to support dog welfare and inspire your own pet parenting journey, "Tender Paws" explores parallels between human and canine research; delves into attachment theory, the effects of trauma, parenting styles, and sensory issues; and offers strategies that meet the needs of all dogs — often in unexpectedly simple ways. Out now, "Tender Paws" reveals why love alone isn’t always enough and how evidence-informed parenting practices can help. More: https://www.wendylsunshine.com/  Big Blend Radio's PET CONNECTION Show is cohosted by Angela Laws, veteran pet sitter, and community manager at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/   This episode also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast Channel. Follow the "Pet

It's all about how to read and understand your horse's energy and emotions on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "ABC's of Horses" equestrian podcast with Christy Wood. Christy Wood is a World Champion horse trainer, also exhibiting in jumping and trail. She is a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, and is a carded horse show judge with 7 breed associations. Along with being an author and instructor, she is the owner of Wood N Horse Training Stables in Three Rivers, California. Learn more about Christy, her equine services, and her books, at: https://wdnhorse.com/  The "ABC's of Horses" Podcast with Christy Wood airs every 2nd Saturday. Listen to the latest episodes here: https://abcs-horses-christywood.podbean.com/  This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection," and "Nature Connection" podcast channels. 

Celebrate Parks & Recreation Month and National Forest Week with this episode of Big Blend Radio that was recorded onsite with Steve & Karen Wilson, owners and innkeepers of the The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast in the heart of the Montford Historic District in Asheville, North Carolina. Hear about author Wilma Dykeman and Jean Webb who worked to protect and preserve the French Broad and Swannenoa Rivers and the Asheville parks connected with the rivers on a 17-mile green path. Learn how Edith Vanderbilt honored her late husband's wishes of selling an 86,000-acre tract of the Biltmore Estate to create Pisgah National Forest, one of the first national forests east of the Mississippi River. And, find out about the Daughters of the American Revolution who planted 50,000 Spruce Trees to create the Jubilee Memorial Forest within the Pisgah National Forest on the Blue Ridge Parkway. RESOURCE LINKS: * The Lion & The Rose B&B: https://www.lion-rose.com/  * Wilma Dykman Legacy: https://www.wi

It's all about beautiful Slovenia on this episode of Big Blend Radio's WANDER THE WORLD WITH SHARON podcast with Sharon K. Kurtz. Located in Central Europe, Slovenia offers breathtaking natural landscapes, a rich history, and a solid commitment to eco-friendly practices.  Over half of Slovenia's terrain is covered in pristine forests, making it a leader in forest conservation and green initiatives. This compact country boasts numerous protected areas, including the majestic Triglav National Park. Read Sharon's article about her experiences here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/discovering-green-slovenia/  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 a

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Tuesday "Adventures in Asheville" Show  focuses on the conservation work and visitor experience at the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville. WNC Nature Center connects people with the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountain region by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, and advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity. Featured Guests: - Steve & Karen Wilson - Owners and innkeepers of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, a stunning pink lady in the Montford Historic District. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/     - Cindy Smith - Director of Development of the Friends of the WNC Nature Center. More: https://wildwnc.org/  Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Show airs every 1st Tuesday. Follow the show on PodBean: https://adventures-asheville.podbean.com/ 

In honor of Great Outdoors Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Show features legal and environmental historian, author, and attorney Lowell E. Baier. Hear about his latest book, "Earth’s Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter."  "Earth's Emergency Room" is a celebration of 50 years of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). In the book, Baier provides an insightful and entertaining history of the ESA’s dramatic highs and lows. He profiles his work with the ESA from its inception to the present, and with the key figures who shaped its history, from field biologists to Presidents of the United States. Baier ultimately calls on all Americans to embrace a spirit of bipartisanship and conservation to strengthen the law that has been the Earth’s emergency room for half a century. More at https://lowellebaier.com/ and https://esaat50.com/  You can also listen to his earlier Big Blend Radio interview about the history and importance of the Endangered Species Ac

In honor of Great Outdoors Month and National Rivers Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Parks & Travel" Show features award-winning author Kevin Fedarko who discusses his new book, "A WALK IN THE PARK: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon."  It shares the odyssey Kevin his best friend and photographer Pete McBride undertook to transect the entire length of the Grand Canyon, a feat billed by the handful of experts who have managed to complete it as “the toughest hike in the world.”  A WALK IN THE PARK is an ode to such vanishing places, and a deeply moving plea for the preservation of America’s greatest national treasure.  More: https://www.kevinfedarko.com/  Follow Big Blend Radio's PARKS & TRAVEL Podcast on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/5tkdvm5a 

In observance of National Pet Preparedness Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Pet Connection" Podcast focuses on pet and horse safety and disaster preparedness.  FEATURED GUESTS - ANGELA LAWS - Cohost, veteran petsitter, and community manager at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/  - CHRISTY WOOD - World champion horse trainer, instructor, author, and horse show judge. See: https://wdnhorse.com/  The American Red Cross has steps you can follow to make an emergency plan for your animals. See: https://tinyurl.com/mtpv5x4s 

From Hay to Carrots, it's all about the Equine Diet on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "ABC's of Horses" equestrian podcast with Christy Wood. Christy Wood is a World Champion horse trainer, also exhibiting in jumping and trail. She is a winner in extreme trail obstacle challenges, and is a carded horse show judge with 7 breed associations. Along with being an author and instructor, she is the owner of Wood N Horse Training Stables in Three Rivers, California. Learn more about Christy, her equine services, and her books, at: https://wdnhorse.com/  The "ABC's of Horses" Podcast with Christy Wood airs every 2nd Saturday. Listen to the latest episodes here: https://abcs-horses-christywood.podbean.com/  This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection," and "Nature Connection" podcast channels.

In celebration of June being Great Outdoors Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast with the Sequoia Tourism Council focuses on the upcoming Hike and Heal Sequoia National Park Wilderness Wellness Retreats. These retreats are facilitated by Sydney and Barry Williams of Hiking My Feelings in partnership with the Sequoia Parks Conservancy Field Institute. Starting in June, there will be three retreats this summer. FEATURED GUESTS: - NICOLE STIVERS of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Lake Kaweah. They fund and enable park projects and programs that protect, preserve, and provide access to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  Visit https://sequoiaparksconservancy.org/  - SYDNEY WILLIAMS -  Author, and Founder & CEO of Hiking My Feelings. This unique organization is on a mission to improve community health by creating opportunities for people to experience the healing power of nature. More at:

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast features Jessica Carter, Director of Parks and Public Engagement at Save the Redwoods League, who discusses the 3rd Annual California State Parks Week happening June 12-16, 2024.  Through over 200 special in-person community events and virtual programming, this week-long event celebrates California’s 280 state parks and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places. California State Parks Week is presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California, and California State Parks Foundation.  Visit: * https://castateparksweek.org/   * https://www.parks.ca.gov/  * https://www.savetheredwoods.org/  * https://parkscalifornia.org/  * https://www.calparks.org/  Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast airs every 4th Friday in collaboration with Margot Carrera, a fine art nature photographer who is passionate about the environment. More: http://margotcarrera.etsy.com/  This  episode is also featured on Big Blend Ra

In observance of National Rescue Dog Day, this inaugural episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Pet Connection" Podcast is all about Rescue Dogs and Cats with conversations that span from adoptions and volunteering to petsitting and behavioral care.  FEATURED GUESTS - Angela Laws - Cohost, veteran petsitter, and community manager at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/  - Mabel Lujan - Senior Communications Director at Asheville Humane Society in North Carolina. More: https://www.ashevillehumane.org/  - Steve & Karen Wilson - Pet Parents and Animal Welfare Advocates, and owners of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast in Asheville, North Carolina. More: https://www.lion-rose.com/ 

From the Andes to Patagonia, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Lost Angel Travel Adventures with Linda Ballou" covers her 17-day sojourn into South America with Overseas Adventure Travel. You can read her stories on her South American experiences on NABBW.org here: * Chile: https://tinyurl.com/5n8caxzj * Patagonia: https://tinyurl.com/33ffa7be When Linda visited Chile and Patagonia, conservation efforts spearheaded by Kristine Tompkins were underway. When her husband, Doug Tompkins, died in a kayaking accident in 2015, she picked up the pieces of their shared dream to purchase millions of acres in Patagonia and Chile with the plan to give the land to the government to create a national park system that would rival the one we enjoy here in the U.S. In this Ted Talk she provides all the details with images of the transformation she is leading in Patagonia and Chile. https://youtu.be/UWothcLpazU?si=pwm6HXxkzWnjcnzM In 2023 National Geographic produced the film "Wild Life" spotlighting Tompkins efforts. Trailer: