On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), travel writer Robin O'Neal Smith shares her unforgettable journey along the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, exploring legendary Old West towns, fascinating museums, historic landmarks, and the stories that helped shape the American frontier.

Travel through iconic destinations including Dodge City, Abilene, Wichita, and Hays, where you'll discover attractions like Boot Hill Museum, Old Cowtown Museum, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Keeper of the Plains, Fort Hays, and more. Robin also discusses how television classics like Gunsmoke helped preserve interest in America's western heritage while highlighting the real history behind these remarkable communities.

Perfect for history lovers, road trippers, and anyone planning an unforgettable Kansas adventure, this episode celebrates the people, places, and stories that continue to define the American West—making it a fitting listen as America commemorates its 250th anniversary.

Read Robin O'Neal Smith's article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/kansas-gunsmoke-trail

Plan your own Kansas Gunsmoke Trail adventure: https://www.kansasgunsmoketrail.com/ Learn more about Robin O'Neal Smith: https://robinonealsmith.com/

Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/

Follow this podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/

Check out the Big Blend Radio Travel Food & Wine Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1

Can travel connect generations?

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wanderer's Compass" Travel Podcast, travel writers Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough explore how traveling through Europe—from France and Belgium to Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands—creates meaningful connections through castles, history, culture, food, and local traditions.

This inspiring conversation celebrates the educational value of travel, showing how exploring together encourages curiosity, confidence, cultural appreciation, and lifelong learning for travelers of every age.

⭐ Stay through the end to hear Ryan's son make his first-ever podcast appearance, sharing his favorite memories from the journey and what travel has taught him.

In celebration of French-American Heritage Month, this episode also explores France's rich cultural and historical heritage.

- Read their companion article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/traveling-europe-with-a-child

- Hear about their adventures in Ireland last year: https://wandererscompass.podbean.com/e/travel-ireland-with-kids/ - Follow Wanderer's Compass: https://wandererscompass.com

- Listen to More Wanderers Compass Podcast Episodes: https://wandererscompass.podbean.com/

- Check out the Wanderers Compass Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/WANDERERS-COMPASS-MAG-2026/

Few bands have shaped music, fashion, and popular culture quite like Boy George & Culture Club. Perfect for Pride Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts" Podcast features acclaimed filmmaker Alison Ellwood who shares the story behind her compelling documentary chronicling the band's extraordinary rise, lasting influence, and enduring legacy.

Known for celebrated music documentaries including "The Go-Go's", "Laurel Canyon," and "Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing," Alison discusses the extensive archival research, rare footage, and authentic storytelling that bring Boy George and Culture Club's remarkable journey to life. The conversation explores the band's impact on music, identity, fashion, LGBTQ+ visibility, and the cultural conversations that continue to resonate today.

Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival before its North American release, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of one of pop music's most influential and groundbreaking bands.

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World" Podcast, award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz explores the timeless beauty of Charleston, South Carolina, Kiawah Island, and Savannah, Georgia, sharing highlights from an unforgettable Lowcountry journey filled with history, nature, coastal charm, and Southern hospitality.

Beginning in Charleston, Sharon discovers the city's rich colonial history, vibrant arts scene, historic neighborhoods, beautiful gardens, and acclaimed restaurants before attending a family wedding at the luxurious Sanctuary on Kiawah Island. She then heads south to Savannah, where charming public squares, centuries-old architecture, fascinating museums, rooftop bars, and scenic riverfront views reveal why the city remains one of America's most romantic destinations.

Along the way, Sharon shares memorable wildlife encounters—from dolphins and bald eagles to herons and alligators—along with recommendations for historic walking tours, harbor sailing excursions, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Bonaventure Cemetery, exceptional Lowcountry cuisine, and the welcoming culture that makes this region so special.

As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, Charleston, Kiawah Island, and Savannah offer unforgettable opportunities to experience the history, culture, landscapes, and hospitality that have helped shape our nation's story.

📝 Read Sharon's "Low Country Escape" article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/low-country-escape

📖 Check out Sharon's Big Blend Radio "Wander the World" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/gyoy/#p=1

🌍 Learn more about travel writer & photographer Sharon K. Kurtz: https://sharonkkurtz.com

🎙️ Tune in on the first Wednesday of every month at 12pm CST: https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com

This shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Toast to The Parks & Arts” Show features Tanya Ortega, founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), in a fascinating conversation about Gettysburg National Military Park, its enduring artistic legacy, and the vital role artists play in preserving America's history.

As part of the ongoing Big Blend Radio NPAF Retrospective, Tanya explores how artist residencies help interpret the stories, landscapes, and emotions that make Gettysburg one of America's most significant historic places. From the iconic Gettysburg Cyclorama painting and inspiring memorials to innovative virtual reality experiences and contemporary artistic interpretations, the discussion highlights how art keeps history alive for new generations.

The conversation also delves into Gettysburg's Civil War legacy, the Gettysburg Address, the importance of preserving cultural heritage, and the power of public lands to connect us with our nation's shared history. Along the way, Tanya shares stories about the Klingel House, personal reflections on Gettysburg, and why artists continue to play an essential role in helping us understand the past while inspiring future generations.

This episode is part of the Big Blend Radio NPAF Retrospective, celebrating ten years of conversations with National Parks Arts Foundation artists-in-residence and the remarkable places that continue to inspire creativity across America's public lands.

🏛️ Plan Your Visit to Gettysburg National Military Park: https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm

🎨 Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/

📖 Explore the "Artists in Parks" Digital Publication: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/qryf/

🎙️ Listen to more Toast to The Parks & Arts episodes: https://parks-arts.podbean.com/

Journey through the history of California's Sequoia Country as we explore the parks, people, and places that have shaped Tulare County—from giant sequoias and Indigenous heritage to military history, railroads, agriculture, and the communities that continue to preserve the region's remarkable legacy.

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's California's Sequoia Country podcast, discover the fascinating stories behind Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the General Grant Tree, Colonel Allensworth, Native American tribes, historic communities, museums, and the agricultural traditions that continue to define this remarkable region. Learn how nature, history, and culture come together to create one of California's most inspiring destinations.

Featured guests from the Sequoia Tourism Council include: * Suzanne Bianco – Visit Visalia: https://www.visitvisalia.com/ * Holly Streit – Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: https://nps.gov/seki/index.htm * Shannon Schroth – Exeter Chamber of Commerce: https://www.exeterchamber.com/ * Dwight Miller – Exeter Historian

📍 PLAN YOUR VISIT: * Sequoia Tourism Council: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ * Museum Alliance of Tulare-Kings Counties: https://matkc.org/ * California's Sequoia Country Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-podcast * Big Blend Radio's "California's Sequoia Country" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-magazine

📡 This episode celebrates America 250 and Parks & Recreation Month (July 2026).

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, join Donna George, owner of The Peanut Patch in Yuma, Arizona, for a fascinating journey through the remarkable story of one of America's most beloved foods—the peanut.

Discover how peanuts became an American staple, from their agricultural importance and the groundbreaking innovations of George Washington Carver to their role during wartime, family traditions, baseball games, county fairs, road trips, and Fourth of July celebrations. Donna shares surprising peanut facts, explains why peanuts are actually legumes rather than nuts, and offers creative recipe ideas along with delicious ways to enjoy peanut butter, peanut brittle, and other peanut-inspired treats.

Whether you're planning a summer road trip, celebrating America 250, or simply love discovering the stories behind America's favorite foods, this episode celebrates the ingenuity, resilience, and agricultural heritage that make the humble peanut an enduring American icon.

🛒 Shop year-round: https://thepeanutpatch.com/

🍽️ Recipes From The Peanut Patch Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/Recipes-from-The-Peanut-Patch/

🎧 Listen & follow the podcast (new episodes every 1st Friday): https://peanut-patch.podbean.com/

As part of Big Blend Radio's America 250 celebration, this special episode of Way Back When explores one of the most pivotal moments leading to the American Revolution.

Travel writer Debbie Stone shares her immersive visit to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, where interactive exhibits, costumed interpreters, authentic replica tea ships, and fascinating Revolutionary War artifacts bring the events of December 16, 1773 vividly to life. From tossing tea into Boston Harbor to discovering the stories behind the patriots who helped shape American history, Debbie explains why this engaging museum experience is a must for history lovers of all ages.

The conversation also explores the significance of the Boston Tea Party, remarkable artifacts including one of the only surviving tea chests from the original protest, Abigail's Tea Room, and how visitors can connect this experience with nearby Revolutionary War sites in Lexington and Concord.

Whether you're commemorating America's 250th Anniversary, or planning a history-filled trip to Boston, this episode offers inspiration to experience one of America's defining stories firsthand.

📖 Read Debbie's articles: - https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/boston-tea-party-ships-museum - https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/history-comes-alive-in-lexington-concord-part-1

🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Global Adventures with Debbie Stone: https://global-adventures-debbie-stone.podbean.com/

📚 Explore Debbie's Global Adventures Digital Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/qiqy/