From Africa and Asia to North America, this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast celebrates National Squirrel Appreciation Day (Every January 21st) with some fun facts about squirrels and their small rodent families.

SONG OF THE DAY: Ray Stevens, "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival": https://youtu.be/K16fG1sDagU?feature=shared

TRAVELING BIRD (SQUIRREL) FEEDER videos on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSquirrels

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast honors National Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed every third Monday of January. Hear about some of this Nobel Peace Prize honored and civil rights movement leader's great acommplishments, plus a Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" excerpt from an interview with travel writer Debbie Stone about her experience on the Birmingham Civil Rights Trail (2017) in Alabama. Full interview and article here: http://tinyurl.com/59jz597t

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Martin Luther King Jr.

SONG OF THE DAY: "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder who wrote this song to advocate for the creation of National Martin Luther King Jr Day. Listen: https://youtu.be/RcVZfJO01NI?feature=shared

BOOK OF THE DAY: "Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership” by HH Leonards. Info & Podcast: http://tinyurl.com/cb4pt5ta

MOVIE SUGGESTIONS in honor of Martin Luther King Jr, from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences: http://tinyurl.com/58hcvmmm

On January 19, 1915, Georges Claude patented the neon discharge tube for use in advertising (U.S. Patent 1,125,476). In honor of his noteworthy and iconic invention, we're revisiting this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio featuring Route 66 experts, authors, writers and photographers, Joe Sonderman and Jim Hinckley. Hear about their book “Route 66 Roadside Signs & Advertisements” that showcases the colorful history of commercial signage along “America’s Most Famous Highway.” For more Route 66 and Neon Sign fun, check out our interview Jeroen & Maggie Boersma, a husband-wife photography and travel team from Amsterdam, who talk about their adventures exploring and documenting America’s historic highways, classic and neon signs, and National Parks. You can see some of their photography in the book “Route 66 Roadside Signs & Advertisements,” https://soundcloud.com/bigblendradio/jeroen-maggie-boersma-66-kicks-photography

In honor of National Michigan Day, we're revisiting this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA todiscover some of the hidden gems and forgotten stories of Michigan with Amy Piper, author of "Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure" (Reedy Press). Amy Piper is a freelance travel writer, blogger, and photographer who specializes in luxury and multigenerational travel. She travels through the lens of a food lover and has been to 41 countries and 45 states around the world. A native Michigander, she is also the author of “100 Things to Do in Lansing Before You Die” (Reedy Press) and is published in the book "Midwest Road Trip Adventures." More at https://followthepiper.com/

Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/

Celebrate National Bootlegger Day (Jan. 17) and listen in as Big Blend Radio's "Happy Hour" show "goes on the run" from Georgia to Florida, South Carolina, Maine, New York City and finally to the backwoods of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Featured "Bootleggers and Runners" Include: - Author & Travel Writer Kathleen Walls: https://katywalls.com and https://americanroads.net/ - Author & Photographer Jo Clark: https://haveglasswilltravel.com and https://recipestravelculture.com - Author Matt Cost "King of Happy Hour": https://www.mattcost.net/ - Tiffany Bertram, owner of Tiffany's Bed & Breakfast: https://www.tiffanysbedandbreakfast.com/

RELATED ARTICLES OF INTEREST: - Big Blend Spirits Guide: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/bourbon-whiskey-moonshine-distilled-spirits/ - Dessert by the Light of the Moon: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/dessert-by-the-light-of-the-moon/ - Rocky Mount: https://recipestravelculture.com/rocky-mount-snuggles-against-blue-ridge/ - Yadkin Valley Wine Country: https://recipestravelculture.com/my-adventures-on-the-yadkin-valley-wine-and-shine-trail/ - Granddaddy Mimms: https://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/content.php?2836-Granddaddy-Mimm-s-Distilling-Company-Blairsville-Georgia - Blairsville: https://rovology.com/united-states/georgia/best-things-to-do-in-blairsville-georgia/ - Family Moonshine Biz: https://www.salon.com/2018/04/07/familys-moonshine-business-is-more-than-a-job-it-is-a-legacy-partner/

MUSIC PLAYLIST: Check it out n Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5End6Kf3bvJCwdmlV4MMLl?si=3b56306f85ed43ee

This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" and "Big Daily Blend" Podcast Channels. Check out our network of shows: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork

Celebrate National Quinoa Day with Ruth Milstein, who shares the health benefits of eating quinoa, tips on how to cook it, and discusses her Quinoa, Chicken & Herbs recipe which you can see here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/quinoa-with-chicken-and-herbs/

Ruth Milstein is the author of the Gourmand awarding-winning recipe book, "Cooking with Love: Ventures Into the New Israeli Cuisine." Learn more here: https://www.ruthmilstein.com/

Listen to Big Blend Radio's 3rd Sunday "Cooking with Ruth" podcasts here: https://cooking-with-ruth.podbean.com/

Celebrate National Walk Your Dog Month (January) with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Pet Connection" Show that focuses on the benefits of walking your dog (for humans and their pup pals), and safety tips.

Big Blend Radio's PET CONNECTION Show is hosted by veteran pet sitters Nancy J Reid & Lisa Smith, the mother-daughter team behing Big Blend Radio & Magazines, and cohosted by Angela Laws, veteran pet sitter, and community manager at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/

Check out this vetenarian approved article about the Benefits of Dog Walking on the Trustedhousesitters blog: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/blog/pets/benefits-of-dog-walking

Plus, Lisa's "Walks with Lucy" short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5di5oVKXh8Q

This episode is also featured on Big Blend Radio's "Big Daily Blend" Podcast Channel. Follow the "Pet Connection" podcast at https://pet-connection.podbean.com/

Celebrate Travel Tuesday and National Shop for Travel Day with this episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA that features Ross D. Levi, Executive Director of the New York State Division of Tourism.

From the Adirondacks and the Fingerlakes to Saratoga and the Big Apple, hear about the Empire State's seasonal activities and attractions thoughout its eleven travel regions, and some of the big celebrations and events coming up including the 2025 Bicentennial of the Erie Canal Completion, 2025 PGA Ryder Cup, Great Gatsby 100th Anniversary, America 250, and 2026 FIFA World Cup. Plan your New York State experience here: https://www.iloveny.com/

For more about the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) visit https://www.ifwtwa.org/