Host Don Murphy has been a medical research assistant at the Salk Institute For Biological Research, a park ranger, director of California State Parks and deputy director of the U.S. National Park Service. He has traveled the world representing the United States on the World Heritage Commission. Don is the author of several books: “Love Vignettes”, a collection of love sonnets; “Beth”, a coming of age story of a young girl; and several children’s books.
Don was honored by the University of California, San Diego as one of its top 50 Alumni. For fifteen years he led executive leadership seminars at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado and at the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. For the past ten years Don has led Making Sense of Science Seminars to promote science literacy among seniors.
Embracing Nature
We evolved with nature—not apart from it. Our ancestors lived in forests, roamed plains, and drank from rivers. Even though modern life has taken us far from that way of living, the connection remains hardwired into our DNA. Have you ever noticed how your mood improves after a walk in the woods? Or how stargazing can make your worries melt away? That’s not coincidence, it’s biology. As our Experts in this area of the site explain, time spent in natural environments can reduce cortisol (the Stress hormone), lower blood pressure, and boost feelings of happiness and vitality. More than that, nature nurtures our creativity. Some of the world’s greatest thinkers—from Darwin to Thoreau—found inspiration in wild places. The raw, untamed energy of nature has a way of igniting our inner spark.
This bond between humans and nature becomes even more apparent when we’re kids. Watch a child chase butterflies or marvel at a waterfall, and you’ll see pure joy. As adults, we often lose that wonder. Whether you’re seeking adventure, healing, or inspiration, nature is waiting to welcome you. All you have to do is step outside—and step into wonder.
Douglas B. Jones Author: Medicare for the Lazy Man, Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!; Medicare Enrollment Guide (Download free from my site); Medicare Drug Plans, A Simple D-I-Y Guide!;
Nothing hits quite like the warmth in your chest when you make someone smile. It’s that moment when a small gesture, kind word, or unexpected act of kindness flips someone’s day around, and somehow, it flips yours too. You walk away lighter, happier, more connected to the world around you. But h…
Nothing hits quite like the warmth in your chest when you make someone smile. It’s that moment when a small gesture, kind word, or unexpected act of kindness flips someone’s day around, and someho…
Nothing hits quite like the warmth in your chest when you make someone smile. It’s that moment when a small gesture, kind word, or unexpected act of kindness flips someone’s day around, and somehow, it flips yours too. You walk away lighter, happier, more connected to the world around you. But have you ever asked yourself why that feels so good? Why do you feel more fulfilled making someone else happy than chasing your own happiness directly?
The answer is layered—woven from threads of psychology, biology, and even spirituality. We’re not just people looking for joy; we’re built t…
"What are the stories that people can participate in and see themselves in? I think that's one of the keys that we can unlock when it comes to the whole climate narrative is telling stories that build the scaffolding blocks to a larger narrative that people want to be a part of, and we need to make …
"What are the stories that people can participate in and see themselves in? I think that's one of the keys that we can unlock when it comes to the whole climate narrative is telling stories that build…
"What are the stories that people can participate in and see themselves in? I think that's one of the keys that we can unlock when it comes to the whole climate narrative is telling stories that build the scaffolding blocks to a larger narrative that people want to be a part of, and we need to make it feel inevitable….The way that justice prevails, whether it's environmental justice or any kind of justice, I think it's that the leaders make it feel inevitable. And that's the climate movement's job. And I think we have every opportunity and ability to do that." Melissa Jun Rowley on Electric …
A special conversation with author Dr. Will Tuttle on their book “The World Peace Way: Six Keys to Health and Harmony for All.”Dr. Will Tuttle has spent over five decades studying what it actually takes to be healthy — not just physically, but psychologically, spiritually, and socially. A form…
A special conversation with author Dr. Will Tuttle on their book “The World Peace Way: Six Keys to Health and Harmony for All.”Dr. Will Tuttle has spent over five decades studying what it actually…
A special conversation with author Dr. Will Tuttle on their book “The World Peace Way: Six Keys to Health and Harmony for All.”Dr. Will Tuttle has spent over five decades studying what it actually takes to be healthy — not just physically, but psychologically, spiritually, and socially. A former Zen monk, PhD, and author of the international bestseller The World Peace Diet, he joins this conversation to walk through his newest book, The World Peace Way, a practical guide built around six keys: diet, spiritual practice, relationships, movement, nature, and creativity.What makes this conve…
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, sharing their favorite ways to experience Asheville's natural beauty. From spectacular wa…
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & …
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, sharing their favorite ways to experience Asheville's natural beauty. From spectacular waterfalls and colorful wildflowers to fascinating mushrooms, butterflies, and wildlife encounters, this conversation highlights why Western North Carolina is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.Known for its stunning mountain scenery, Asheville is surrounded by incredible outdoor destinations includin…
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, sharing their favorite ways to experience Asheville's natural beauty. From spectacular wa…
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & …
In celebration of Great Outdoors Month, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Adventures in Asheville" Podcast features cohosts Steve and Karen Wilson, owners of the Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast, sharing their favorite ways to experience Asheville's natural beauty. From spectacular waterfalls and colorful wildflowers to fascinating mushrooms, butterflies, and wildlife encounters, this conversation highlights why Western North Carolina is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.
Known for its stunning mountain scenery, Asheville is surrounded by incredible outdoor destinations includi…
Author and artist Jill G. Hall, 71, joins us with her luminous new novel On a Sundown Sea, inspired by the mysteries surrounding the visionary woman who built Lomaland—a utopian community near the home Jill grew up in. Fascinated since childhood by the stories whispered throughout her neighborhood…
Author and artist Jill G. Hall, 71, joins us with her luminous new novel On a Sundown Sea, inspired by the mysteries surrounding the visionary woman who built Lomaland—a utopian community near the h…
Author and artist Jill G. Hall, 71, joins us with her luminous new novel On a Sundown Sea, inspired by the mysteries surrounding the visionary woman who built Lomaland—a utopian community near the home Jill grew up in. Fascinated since childhood by the stories whispered throughout her neighborhood, for more than a century, Hall spent five years researching the extraordinary life of Katherine Tingley, tracing her journey from Massachusetts roots to her profound spiritual and artistic influence on the West Coast. When Jill began writing after a twenty-year career as an educator, she never imag…
The Diagnosis That Changes Everything
When Catherine received her Early-Onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis in her fifties, it was the kind of news that stops time. For those living through it, especially as a partner and caregiver, the reality doesn’t match what most people imagine from the disease’s…
The Diagnosis That Changes Everything
When Catherine received her Early-Onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis in her fifties, it was the kind of news that stops time. For those living through it, especially a…
The Diagnosis That Changes Everything
When Catherine received her Early-Onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis in her fifties, it was the kind of news that stops time. For those living through it, especially as a partner and caregiver, the reality doesn’t match what most people imagine from the disease’s name. Early-Onset Alzheimer’s doesn’t announce itself with dramatic memory loss on day one. Instead, it arrives quietly, in small moments that you might dismiss until they start accumulating.
What many people don’t realize is that Alzheimer’s progresses differently for everyone. Catherine�…
In this fascinating episode of The Midlife Makeover Show, Wendy Valentine sits down with Heather Grzych — author, Ayurvedic medicine teacher, past president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and host of the globally ranked Wisdom of the Body podcast. Heather shares how she went from a…
In this fascinating episode of The Midlife Makeover Show, Wendy Valentine sits down with Heather Grzych — author, Ayurvedic medicine teacher, past president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Associa…
In this fascinating episode of The Midlife Makeover Show, Wendy Valentine sits down with Heather Grzych — author, Ayurvedic medicine teacher, past president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and host of the globally ranked Wisdom of the Body podcast. Heather shares how she went from a high-powered corporate career to becoming one of the leading voices in Ayurvedic health and wellness — and how a deeply personal journey with fertility, divorce, and self-discovery led her there. Together, Wendy and Heather explore the ancient science of Ayurveda, how your unique mind-body type (…
In this fascinating episode of The Midlife Makeover Show, Wendy Valentine sits down with Heather Grzych — author, Ayurvedic medicine teacher, past president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and host of the globally ranked Wisdom of the Body podcast. Heather shares how she went from a…
In this fascinating episode of The Midlife Makeover Show, Wendy Valentine sits down with Heather Grzych — author, Ayurvedic medicine teacher, past president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Associa…
In this fascinating episode of The Midlife Makeover Show, Wendy Valentine sits down with Heather Grzych — author, Ayurvedic medicine teacher, past president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and host of the globally ranked Wisdom of the Body podcast. Heather shares how she went from a high-powered corporate career to becoming one of the leading voices in Ayurvedic health and wellness — and how a deeply personal journey with fertility, divorce, and self-discovery led her there. Together, Wendy and Heather explore the ancient science of Ayurveda, how your unique mind-body type (…
Every cup of tea has a story.
Some stories begin with the planting of leaves.Some begin around a kitchen table.Some travel across oceans.And some stories begin on a small island, where a young person’s dreams grow into a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
The Cape Breton Tea Compa…
Every cup of tea has a story.
Some stories begin with the planting of leaves.Some begin around a kitchen table.Some travel across oceans.And some stories begin on a small island, where a young pers…
Every cup of tea has a story.
Some stories begin with the planting of leaves.Some begin around a kitchen table.Some travel across oceans.And some stories begin on a small island, where a young person’s dreams grow into a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
The Cape Breton Tea Company is honoured to introduce:
1897 GenerosiTEA
A blend created to celebrate the story of Obediah E. Smith (1863–1934) — a son of Port Hood Island, a successful tea entrepreneur, and a man whose generosity left lasting gifts for the people of Inverness County.
The affirmation chosen for t…
Olivia L.
June 3, 2026
Joan Michelson 
Khudania Ajay 
Lisa Smith 
Gail Zelitzky & Catherine Marienau 
Anthony Copeland-Parker 
Wendy Valentine 
Michelle Greenwell