Way Back When

Exploring The Presidio: San Francisco’s Best-Kept Secret

In honor of Military Appreciation Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wanderers Compass" Travel Podcastwith Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough—founders of Wanderers Compass Travel Blog—takes listeners on an immersive journey through The Presidio in San Francisco. Spanning 1,500 acres next to the Golden Gate Bridge, this unique National Park Service site blends natural beauty, historic landmarks, and cultural intrigue into one unforgettable destination.
From crashing Pacific waves to towering eucalyptus groves, The Presidio is a place of quiet wonder and powerful storytelling. Joelle and Ryan dive into its rich history and share personal highlights, including their Top 14 Things to Do, dining favorites, and lodging tips.
📝 Read their article:  https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/exploring-the-presidio-san-franciscos-best-kept-secret/ 🌍 Follow Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/ 
📅 New Episodes:Catch Wanderers Compass every second Monday on Big Blend Radio: https://wandererscompass.podbean.com/ 
🎧 Also featured  on “Vacation Station," "Big Daily Blend,” "Parks & Travel" and "Way Back When" podcast channels. Listen on the Big Blend Radio Network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Galveston: Where History, Hurricanes & Hauntings Meet the Sea

Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wander the World with Sharon," where award-winning travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz takes you on a journey through Galveston, Texas—a vibrant coastal city shaped by its rich history, powerful storms, ghostly legends, and Gulf Coast charm.
From walking The Strand and sailing the historic Elissa, to honoring the roots of Juneteenth, visiting haunted hotels, and indulging in local seafood, Sharon shares insider tips and captivating stories from her return trip to this fascinating destination—one of the busiest cruise ports in the U.S.
📍 Plan your Galveston getaway: https://www.visitgalveston.com 
📝 Read Sharon’s article on Galveston: https://shebuystravel.com/things-to-do-in-galveston/ 
🎙️ Sharon has explored over 50 countries across six continents, and brings each destination to life through her compelling storytelling and photography. Discover more of her work at https://sharonkkurtz.com. 
📅 New episodes of Wander the World with Sharon air the first Wednesday of every month at 12pm CST: https://wandertheworldwithsharon.podbean.com 
🎧 Also featured on Big Blend Radio’s channels including Big Daily Blend, Way Back When, and Vacation Station: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Explore Historic LA Roadside Attractions with Mimi Slawoff

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's ROAD TRIP RADIO, travel writer Mimi Slawoff shares highlights from her new book, "Historic Los Angeles Roadsides" (Reedy Press). 
Discover quirky and historic spots along Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, Mulholland Highway, and more—from Redondo Beach and Malibu to Hollywood and downtown LA. Get the inside scoop on LA’s fascinating roadside history and hidden gems. Learn more at https://mimislawoff.com/ 
This episode is also featured on Big Blend’s "Parks & Travel," "Vacation Station," and "Way Back When" podcast channels. Subscribe:  https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Miners Hall Museum in Franklin, Kansas

On this episode Big Blend Radio’s “Historic Jefferson Highway” Show we journey to Franklin, Southeast Kansas, to spotlight the Miners Hall Museum, located right on the historic Jefferson Highway. Our featured guest is Phyllis Bitner, Chair of the Miners Hall Museum Foundation, who shares powerful insights into the region’s coal mining legacy, rich immigrant history, and the iconic Amazon Army March led by women fighting for miners' rights.
Explore must-see local attractions like the Coal Camp, Arma-Franklin Sidewalk (the longest sidewalk connecting two communities), and Franklin Community Park. Phyllis also unveils exciting news about Dragline Park, a upcoming new free public tourist attraction that will feature the largest walking dragline preserved for display in the U.S., coming soon to Highway 69 & 47 on the Jefferson Highway.
We also dive into the museum’s role as a Jefferson Highway Tourist Center, and discuss the 2025 Jefferson Highway Association Conference, happening June 4-7 in McAlester, Oklahoma – another historic coal mining town – along with the Sociability Caravan, June 2-4.
🚗 The Jefferson Highway, known as the “Pines to Palms Highway”, stretches from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana, weaving through communities with deep historical roots and cultural pride.
🔗 Learn more:- Miners Hall Museum: https://www.minershallmuseum.com/ - Jefferson Highway Association: https://jeffersonhighway.org/ 
📅 Tune in every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except holidays) to the "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/ 

Author J.E. Weiner – “The Wretched and Undone”

In this compelling episode of Big Blend Radio, we’re joined by acclaimed debut author J.E. Weiner to discuss her haunting Southern Gothic novel, “The Wretched and Undone.” Set in the mysterious Texas Hill Country, this genre-defying tale blends real historical events, personal supernatural encounters, and a bold reimagining of the Western and Texas Noir genres—lifting silenced voices and illuminating long-buried truths.
🖋️ J.E. Weiner is a Northern California-based writer and novelist whose powerful storytelling bridges Southern Gothic, grit-lit, and historical fiction. Her manuscript for The Wretched and Undone was a 2024 Killer Nashville Top Pick and Claymore Award Finalist for Best Southern Gothic.
📚 In this episode, we explore:- The real-life supernatural experiences that inspired the novel- The art of blending genres like Texas Noir, Southern Gothic, and Western fiction- The historical underpinnings and cultural influences behind "The Wretched and Undone"
🔗 Connect & Learn More:Visit https://www.jeweiner.com to discover more about J.E. Weiner’s writing.
🎙️ This episode is featured on Big Blend Radio’s “Way Back When” and “Toast to The Arts” podcast channels. Explore the full Big Blend Radio Network: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

Mir Bahmanyar - The Houdini Club

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s WAY BACK WHEN History Show features Mir Bahmanyar—acclaimed author, military historian, and TV/film producer—discussing his gripping new book, "The Houdini Club: The Epic Journey and Daring Escapes of the First Army Rangers of WWII," releasing April 22, 2025.
A former U.S. Army Ranger who served in the Second Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Mir Bahmanyar brings unmatched authenticity to the story of WWII’s elite “Darby’s Rangers.” He shares the untold, uncensored saga of the original Army Ranger battalions—highlighting their brutal training, combat missions across North Africa, Sicily, France, and Italy, and the legendary POW escapes that earned them the nickname “The Houdini Club.”
Bahmanyar draws from firsthand interviews, personal correspondence, and newly uncovered historical sources to portray the raw courage and human drama behind one of America’s most daring military units. His military expertise, deep research, and storytelling make this episode a must-listen for history lovers, military buffs, cultural travelers, and fans of WWII true stories.
Mir Bahmanyar holds a B.A. in History from University of California at Berkeley and an M.A. in War Studies from King's College London. Mir served on the Board of Directors for the 75th Ranger Regiment Association and was an Associate Historian of the World War Two Ranger Battalions Association. Learn more about his work and books: https://www.mirbahmanyar.com/ 
Subscribe to Big Blend Radio's WAY BACK WHEN History show, here: https://way-back-when-history.podbean.com/ 

Art Museums in the 21st Century

From the Minneapolis Institute of Art to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas (pictured), and even the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain—this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s WORLD OF ART podcast with artist and art historian Victoria Chick concludes her three-part series on the History of Art Museums, highlighting the evolution and innovation of 21st-century art museums in America.
This art-focused podcast explores how modern museums are redefining the way we experience and interact with art, from cutting-edge architecture and community engagement to the transformation of museum collections and their exhibits.
Victoria Chick is the visionary behind the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico. She’s also a contemporary figurative artist and a collector of early 19th and 20th-century American prints. Learn more about her work and the museum initiative, and explore her three-part article series on the history of art museums:
PART ONE: The Origins of Art Museums: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/articles/art-museums-a-history-part-one  
PART TWO: Growth of Art Museums in the 19th and 20th Centuries: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/articles/art-museums-a-history-part-two    
PART THREE: 21st-Century Art Museums in America: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/articles/art-museums-pt-3 
🎨 Visit Victoria Chick’s portfolio: https://victoriachick.com/ 
🎙️ Tune in to Big Blend Radio's World of Art Podcast every 3rd Saturday for engaging conversations on art history, contemporary art, museum culture, and more: https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/ 
This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio’s Way Back When and Toast to The Arts podcast channels. Explore the entire network of educational and arts-focused shows: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork  

Author Marty Neumeier - Octavo

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Books & Authors" Show with Books Forward features Marty Neumeier, author of "Octavo."
Follow the clues as a biophysics graduate and a retired art historian discover a mysterious manuscript in a Northern Italian town alongside works from Francesco Melzi, the last known apprentice to Leonardo da Vinci. "Octavo" is the story of da Vinci’s obsession with a murder, the manuscript that proves it, and the two women racing to publish it before their violence-driven client finds them.
The book comes out in October 2025, but you can get the installments "The Scarlett Files" on Substack, here: https://martyneumeier.substack.com/ 
Learn more about Marty and his life in design, here: https://www.martyneumeier.com/