Getting to Know Peggy Fiandaca: Wine, Winemaking & Community

Cooking Louisiana: Cajun Culture, Gumbo Secrets & the Spuddy Experience

Get ready for National Herbs & Spices Day (June 10) with this flavorful episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), featuring Spuddy Faucheux — Cajun cook, instructor, entrepreneur, and owner of the Cajun Cooking Experience in Vacherie, Louisiana.  Located right along the historic Jefferson Highway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Spuddy's place is one of those rare finds that turns a road trip into a memory. Spuddy breaks down Louisiana's renowned cuisine — why gumbo is the ultimate multicultural dish (African okra, French roux, German sausage, Spanish seasoning, and indigenous filé all in one pot), the real difference between gumbo and jambalaya, and why the best seasoning always starts with salt and pepper. Along the way, he shares the story behind his legendary nickname (hint: it involves Sputnik), why he traded 27 years in the restaurant business for cooking classes, and what happens when a UK couple, a pep rally of sixth graders, or an 8-year-old girl walks into his kitchen and takes over. This is Louisiana food culture at its warmest — history, community, storytelling, and a whole lot of flavor!  LINKS & RESOURCES - Visit Spuddy: https://www.cajuncookingexperience.com/ [https://www.cajuncookingexperience.com/]  - Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ [https://www.ifwtwa.org/]  - Follow this podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/ [https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/]  - Big Blend Radio "Food, Wine & Travel" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1 [https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1]  - Big Blend Media House: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com [https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com]

Beyond the Postcard of the Caribbean: Voices of Sint Maarten & Beyond

Some islands invite you to relax. This one invites you to discover. Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month with Part Two of this shared Caribbean series where Big Blend Radio's "Wanderers Compass" hosts Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough sit down with three extraordinary voices who have made Sint Maarten their home — each one a living thread in the cultural fabric of the Friendly Island. Former and first Prime Minister and current President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams shares her lifelong journey of public service and her deep passion for the island she has helped shape since its first days as a constituent country within the Dutch Kingdom. May-Ling Chun, Director of Tourism, pulls back the curtain on Sint Maarten's bold new direction — from Carnival preservation and the St. Martin Flavors culinary platform to sustainable tourism and quality over quantity. And in an unplanned but unforgettable conversation, five-decade resident, musician, composer, and entrepreneur Clarence Derby takes us inside the story of Arrow's global hit "Hot Hot Hot" — and shares why giving back will always matter more than the money. Stay tuned to the end for a special music clip from Clarence himself. LINKS & RESOURCES - Full article that includes Part One of the Podcast Special: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/beyond-the-postcard-of-the-caribbean [https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/beyond-the-postcard-of-the-caribbean]  - Follow Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/ [https://www.wandererscompass.com/]  - Listen to More Wanderers Compass Podcast Episodes: https://wandererscompass.podbean.com/ [https://wandererscompass.podbean.com/]  - Check out the Wanderers Compass Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/WANDERERS-COMPASS-MAG-2026/ [https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/WANDERERS-COMPASS-MAG-2026/]

International Food Wine & Travel Writers Conference 2026 in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is having a moment — and the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) is heading there for their 2026 Professional Development Conference, October 18–21! Big Blend Radio host Lisa D. Smith sits down with three IFWTWA board members to give you the inside scoop on everything that awaits at this year's conference. GUESTS: - Cori Solomon — IFWTWA President & Conference Co-Chair: https://www.writtenpalette.com [https://www.writtenpalette.com]  - Susan Lanier-Graham — Press Trips Committee Chair & Conference Co-Chair: https://www.wanderwithwonder.com [https://www.wanderwithwonder.com]  - Andrew Harris — Culinary Advisor & Conference Co-Chair: https://socalrestaurantshow.com [https://socalrestaurantshow.com]  CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS: - Exclusive private dinner at High Stakes — Chef Paul Bartolotta's brand-new restaurant, opened just for conference attendees - Cheese workshops, Bloody Mary demos & opening reception at Milwaukee Public Market -  Professional development panels — Inside the Industry, Media Kits That Work, No Stupid Questions & more - Milwaukee Day — art museum, Harley-Davidson Museum, brewing history, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, African American history tour, spy bar lunch & more - Closing reception at the historic Women's Club of Wisconsin - Pre & post trips: Shipshewana, Indiana & New Glarus, Wisconsin and more. Open to all IFWTWA members and non-members, the Conference will be hosted at the non-smoking Pottawatomi Hotel & Casino. Day passes available for local Milwaukee writers! LEARN MORE & REGISTER: https://www.ifwtwa.org/2026-ifwtwa-conference/ [https://www.ifwtwa.org/2026-ifwtwa-conference/]

Love Is Strength: Pride Month and World Caring Day Special

What does it mean to truly care — for yourself, your community, and the world? On this special World Caring Day and Pride Month edition of Big Blend Radio, host Lisa Smith and award-winning singer-songwriter and co-host Johnny Schaefer welcome two extraordinary guests for a conversation about love, empathy, music, and the courage to be human. 🎬 Geoffrey Levin — founder of the rock band PEOPLE! and director of the new documentary Brothers Broken — shares his journey from the San Francisco folk scene (alongside Jerry Garcia, Jefferson Airplane & Janis Joplin) to 46 years in Scientology, and his long road back to love and family. 🎵 Grammy Award-winning Melissa Manchester reflects on her anthem "A Better Rainbow" — written the morning of President Obama's second inauguration — and what it means to write a song as a prayer. She also shares news about her upcoming role in the musical Cagney and her new album Audacity with Ann Hampton Callaway. The conversation moves through chosen family, the demonization of empathy, the science of gratitude, and why love is not a weakness — it's a muscle. 🎵 Music to Celebrate Pride Month & World Caring Day Playlist: - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Lat96RCZV7cc6KKXjKq4n?si=n5ceqYt6R5ey_7M9d78nWA [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Lat96RCZV7cc6KKXjKq4n?si=n5ceqYt6R5ey_7M9d78nWA]  - YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGHUZITwHVJI4crWLzr9x6gx8Mu6XWWvJ&si=a4dzNyU8vSWeUKEO [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGHUZITwHVJI4crWLzr9x6gx8Mu6XWWvJ&si=a4dzNyU8vSWeUKEO]  📌 LINKS: 🎬 Brothers Broken Documentary: https://www.brothersbroken.com [https://www.brothersbroken.com]  🎬 Watch/Stream Brothers Broken: https://geni.us/brothersbroken [https://geni.us/brothersbroken]  🎵 Johnny Schaefer: https://hearjohnny.com [https://hearjohnny.com]  🎵 Melissa Manchester: https://melissamanchester.com [https://melissamanchester.com]  🌐 Big Blend Media House: https://bigblendmediahouse.com [https://bigblendmediahouse.com]

Discover Tacoma & Pierce County: History & Art, Mount Rainier & The Salish Sea

Celebrate the beauty, culture, and adventure of Washington State on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Sip, Savor & Travel" Podcast with travel writer Linda Kissam, the "Food, Wine & Shopping Diva." Featured guest Matt Wakefield of Visit Tacoma-Pierce County shares insider tips on exploring Pierce County, a diverse destination where mountains, waterfront communities, vibrant cities, charming small towns, and outdoor adventures come together. From the iconic Mount Rainier to Tacoma's thriving arts scene, unique museums, scenic hiking trails, local culinary experiences, and hidden treasures, discover why Pierce County is an ideal destination for road trippers, outdoor enthusiasts, food lovers, and culture seekers alike. PLAN YOUR VISIT - Read Linda's article: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/pierce-county-tacoma-summer-travel-guide [https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/pierce-county-tacoma-summer-travel-guide]  - Plan Your Visit to Pierce County: https://www.visitpiercecounty.com/ [https://www.visitpiercecounty.com/]  FOLLOW LINDA'S ADVENTURES - More about Linda:  https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-writer-linda-kissam [https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-writer-linda-kissam]  - Explore Linda's "Sip, Savor & Travel" Digital Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/sip-savor-travel-magazine [https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/sip-savor-travel-magazine]  - Listen to more episodes of Big Blend Radio's "Sip, Savor & Travel" Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/sip-savor-travel-podcast [https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/sip-savor-travel-podcast]  Video and photo footage courtesy of Visit Tacoma-Pierce County.