Quality of Life Radio

Faye Brenner - Collywobbles: Tales of Travel, Life, and Anxiety

An irresistible compulsion to travel and a nervous affliction: put these together and you get the collywobbles, that jittery feeling one gets from anxiety. 
This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Vacation Station" Travel Show features author and world traveler Faye Brenner who chats about some of her travel experiences and her book "Collywobbles: Tales of Travel, Life, and Anxiety." 
Part memoir and part travelogue, "Collywobbles" takes readers on amusing journeys from climbing up to the gargoyles atop Notre Dame to crawling through the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam, all the while wrought with multiple anxieties - from the fear of heights to the fear of getting lost. As she seeks ways to overcome her angst, Faye continues to pursue worldly pleasures in the arts, food, phalluses, and, oddly enough, toilets. More at https://www.fayebrenner.com/

Poet Lauren Martin - Night of the Hawk

This episode of Big Blend Radio celebrates Earth Month and National Poetry Month with Lauren Martin who discusses her book, "Night of the Hawk: Poems" which will be out on May 14, 2024 through She Writes Press. 
A powerful and wise poetry collection on shamanism, feminism, and disability, "Night of the Hawk" tells untold stories of the marginalized. Inspired by the Lauren's own experiences as an aging woman living with chronic illness, the poems in this collection will inspire readers to seek compassion and kindness in an often inhospitable world. 
LAUREN MARTIN is a psychotherapist, poet, and a devoted Ìyânífá. She lives in Oakland, California. Lauren studied poetry at Sarah Lawrence College. She spent years writing without submitting her work due to a long shamanic journey, which led her to both Ifá, and to the writing of this collection of poems. More at: https://www.laurenmartin.net/ 

Author Cheryl Leutjen - Love Earth Now

Enjoyed this shared episode from Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast featuring Cheryl Leutjen, author of "Love Earth Now: The Power of Doing One Thing Every Day."
As a geologist, environmental law attorney, spiritual practitioner and, most importantly, devoted mother, Cheryl understands that most people don’t have an endless reservoir of time, money and energy to devote to Earth-friendly practices. That’s why she wrote "Love Earth Now," a candid, often humorous exploration that reveals her own imperfect journey toward living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Each chapter includes gentle prompts to help readers uncover their own capacity for making meaningful changes, one step at a time. More: https://loveearthnow.us/
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/

Author Aaron Arsenault - The Climate Diaries

After working in the climate-tech industry for the past fifteen years, debut author Aaron Arsenault is excited to inspire readers ages 9-12 to combat climate change. On this episode of Big Blend Radio, he discusses his climate fiction novel, “The Climate Diaries, Book One: The Academy” (Borrowed Planet Press, April 2024).
"The Climate Diaries: Book One," takes readers on an eco-adventure with troublemaker Jax Wilkinson, who is recruited by a top secret organization dedicated to preparing the next generation of climate-fighters. Learn more at https://www.aaronarsenault.com/ 

Soul Journey Doula - Earth-Friendly Memorials and Burials

This episode of Big Blend Radio's SOUL JOURNEY DOULA podcast with death doula Lea Brovedani focuses on earth-friendly memorials and burials. Featured guest is Alethea Valley, General Manager of the Point Arena Forest for Better Place Forests. Better Place Forests offers a sustainable memorial within a protected place in the forest for ashes of a loved one to be returned to the earth. Each tree can accommodate more than one loved one and also beloved pets (which is not allowed in traditional settings). The beautiful, peaceful setting is sustainable and safe for trees and the wider forest ecosystem. More: https://www.betterplaceforests.com/ Sustainable Memorials Aligns with Lea's 5 Pillars of Support as a Death Doula:* Spirit - Uphold beliefs and practices* Emotion - Honor feelings* Mind - Life review and gleaning meaning* Body - Increase comfort, health and safety* Practical - Create completionsLearn more about Lea's work at https://souljourneydoula.com/ Follow the podcast here: http://tinyurl.com/b6c9jfnu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Anne Abel - Mattie, Milo & Me

If you've ever known and loved a dog, it's not hard to understand why they're dubbed "[human’s] best friend." But they're often so much more – our confidants, our teachers and even our healers. This episode of Big Blend Radio features Moth StorySLAM winner Anne Abel who discusses her new memoir, "Mattie, Milo, and Me" (She Writes Press, April 2024). The book shares the central role her dogs played in her healing journey as a survivor of parental abuse, and severe depression. Hear how she unwittingly rescues Milo, a dog with serious aggression issues, and finds herself unable to give up on him. Milo is dangerous, and Anne would never do anything to endanger her sons – but she also believes that everyone deserves a second chance. More: https://anneabelauthor.com/ It's the perfect podcast conversation to celebrate National Pet Day (April 11) and Canine Compassion Month (April). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reggie Reed - The Day My Mother Never Came Home

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Wednesday "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features Reginald “Reggie” Reed who discusses some of his life story that's shared in his True Crime memoir, "The Day My Mother Never Came Home"It's an emotional rollercoaster as he recounts the unimaginable tragedy that shook his world at just six years old. From the heart-wrenching murder of his mother to the shocking revelation 35 years later, that his own father “may” have been behind it all. This is a story of perseverance, resilience, and finding strength in the face of continued unspeakable darkness. The memoir is avaiable for pre-order now. More at https://www.rlreed.com/For more about Books Forward, visit https://booksforward.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shelley Whizin - How to Navigate Stress

April marks National Stress Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the pressures we face and how they impact our lives. Today's episode of Big Blend Radio's QUALITY OF LIFE Show is shared from Big Blend Radio's SOUL DIVING SUNDAY Show with transformational life coach Shelley Whizin. In this conversation she focuses on how to navigate stress so you can find joy amidst life's challenges. Read her article that shares insight and advice, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/finding-joy-amidst-lifes-challenges/SHELLEY WHIZIN is the founder and CEO of the Soul Diving Institute™ and author of "What Do You Bring to the Table? A Savory, Sensory and Inspirational Guide to Living a Yummy Delicious Life." Keep up with her here: https://www.shelleywhizin.com/ Tune into Big Blend Radio's "Soul Diving Sunday with Shelley" show every first Sunday here: http://tinyurl.com/2bjbectk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.