Quality of Life Radio

Big Blend Radio Network

Expert Big Blend Radio interviews, conversations and podcasts focusing on Health and Wellness, Family and Relationships, Education, Beauty and Style, and Personal Development.

  1. FEB 2

    Daily Love Vows: 365 Invitations to Choose Love

    "Weddings are a moment, but relationships are living beings." In this special episode of Big Blend Radio's 'Soul Diving Sunday' Podcast with Shelley Whizin "Live & Die Happy Coach," we celebrate the launch of her new e-book, "Daily Love Vows: 365 Invitations to Choose Love." Shelley discusses the 'Third Entity'—the living bond between two people—and why love isn't a one-time promise, but a daily practice. Learn how to move past the 'loudness' of life to return to presence, intimacy, and joy through simple, powerful daily rituals. SPECIAL GIFT: In honor of National Wedding Month, Shelley is offering FREE digital access to the entire book throughout February. Read for free here: https://www.liveanddiehappy.com/books-resources/daily-love-vows READ Shelley's article: https://bigblendlifestyle.substack.com/p/is-your-relationship-a-living-being Shelley Whizin is known as the Live & Die Happy Coach, a transformational guide who has spent over four decades honoring the full arc of the human experience. As an author, interdisciplinary life coach, wedding planner and officiant, and end-of-life midwife, Shelley specializes in the sacred art of connection. Learn more at https://www.liveanddiehappy.com As part of Big Blend Radio's National Wedding Month programming, this episode is also featured on the "Big Daily Blend" and "Quality of Life" Channels. Explore the network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    42 min
  2. JAN 13

    Glendora: Isabelle Armand on Her Mississippi Delta Documentary

    "A moving testament to the Mississippi Delta, Glendora reveals how the bonds of family and home transform structural scarcity into profound community resilience." Nancy J. Reid, Big Blend Radio In this episode of Big Blend Radio, filmmaker, cinematographer, and writer Isabelle Armand discusses her feature documentary GLENDORA, an intimate, five-year collaboration with a small African-American community in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.  Created with—and by—the people who live there, GLENDORA captures daily life through personal testimonies and shared rituals such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, and community gatherings. Isabelle shares how sound, atmosphere, and visual storytelling play a vital role in transporting viewers into the town, revealing both its challenges and its deep cultural richness. Music emerges as a powerful thread connecting generations in Glendora, from church hymns and gospel traditions to local rappers creating their own music videos. The town’s cultural identity is also rooted in Delta blues history, as Glendora is the birthplace of the son of legendary bluesman Sonny Boy Williamson, reflecting a legacy of music as expression, memory, and resilience. The conversation further explores the importance of historical context and collective memory. Glendora is part of the Civil Rights Trail, and it is also where Emmett Till was murdered in 1955—a defining event that continues to shape the town’s identity and the broader understanding of racial injustice in America. GLENDORA makes its World Premiere at DWF: NY 2026, screening Friday, January 16, 2026 at 4:45 PM at Regal Union Square in New York City. Visit: https://glendora.my.canva.site/ and https://danceswithfilms.com/glendora/

    15 min
  3. JAN 1

    Focused for 2026: Embracing Theme Words for the New Year

    Happy New Year 2026! In this special episode of Big Blend Radio, we are officially celebrating 19 years of podcasting! To kick off the year with focus and inspiration, we are exploring the "Theme Word" concept. Instead of resolutions, a Theme Word acts as your North Star—guiding your mindset and decisions all year long. Join us as nine of our regular Big Blend experts share the words they’ve chosen to lead them through 2026, covering everything from resilience and hope to community and gratitude. FEATURED GUESTS & WEBSITES: * Steve Piacente – Author, Photographer, Life Coach, and Communication Specialist. Visit: https://www.stevepiacente.com/ and https://www.piacentephotos.com/  * Lea Brovedani – “The Trust Architect” is a Leadership Expert, Author, and Speaker. Visit: https://leabrovedani.com/ and https://leabrovedanispeaker.com/  * Shelley Whizin – “The Live & Die Happy Coach” is an Author and Transformational Life Coach. Visit: https://www.liveanddiehappy.com/  * Terri Guthrie – Travel Writer and World Explorer & Host of the Travel with Terri Podcast. Visit: https://travelwithterri.net/  * Clifford Garstang – Award-winning Author, Writer, and Editor. Visit: https://cliffordgarstang.com/  * Kathleen Walls – Travel Writer and Author. Visit: https://americanroads.net/ and https://katywalls.com/  * Judy Karnia – Travel Writer and Certified Forest Bathing Guide. Visit: https://travelingnature.com (Read her theme word article here: https://travelingnature.com/top-tips-for-meeting-people-while-traveling-solo/ )  * Johnny Schaefer – Award-winning Singer-Songwriter. Visit: https://hearjohnny.com/  * Glynn Burrows – Family History Expert and owner of Norfolk Tours UK. Visit: https://norfolk-tours.co.uk/  🎶 MUSIC FOR A FRESH START: Need the perfect soundtrack for your new year? Listen to our "Music for a Fresh Start" conversation with musical artists Joey Stuckey, Johnny Schaefer, and Anna Karney, and check out their curated music playlist on Spotify: https://bigblendarts.substack.com/p/music-for-a-fresh-start

    1h 29m
  4. 12/11/2025

    Author Alex Woodard - Ordinary Soil Novel

    This episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features Alex Woodard—singer-songwriter, author, and storyteller—who discusses his powerful new novel, "Ordinary Soil" (Greenleaf, Aug. 12, 2025). According to the National Rural Health Association, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than those in any other profession, a sobering reality that underscores the hidden cost of modern agriculture. "Ordinary Soil" steps directly into this cultural reckoning, blending science, ancestral trauma, environmental urgency, and hope into a deeply emotional and thought-provoking story. When a young farmer—burdened by a mysterious family legacy and mounting despair—attempts to take his life beneath a rotting burial elm, he sets off a chain of events that uncovers long-buried truths about farming, chemical dependency, and the intergenerational wounds carried in the land itself. At the heart of the novel is a startling idea: healing our bodies, minds, and communities may begin in the soil beneath our feet. In this engaging conversation, Alex shares his transition from music to fiction, the real-life inspiration behind the novel, and how a chance encounter during a surf trip at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic shaped the story. He discusses Oklahoma’s agricultural history, the lingering legacy of the Dust Bowl, and why storytelling is essential for addressing complex topics like mental health, environmental responsibility, and consumer choice. Known for his artistic sensitivity, Woodard weaves peer-reviewed science into narrative fiction, creating a novel that serves as both a wake-up call and a balm—one that dares to offer hope in a time of crisis. "Ordinary Soil" is also available as an audiobook narrated by the legendary Scott Brick, bringing added depth to this resonant and timely story. Learn more about Alex and "Ordinary Soil" at https://www.alexwoodard.com/  Learn more about Books Forward at https://booksforward.com/  This episode is featured on Big Blend Radio’s “A Toast to The Arts,”  "Quality of Life," and “Nature Connection” podcast channels! Explore the Big Blend Radio Network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

    43 min

Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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Expert Big Blend Radio interviews, conversations and podcasts focusing on Health and Wellness, Family and Relationships, Education, Beauty and Style, and Personal Development.