Table & Compass

Clean water and sanitation touch nearly every part of life: health, education, safety, economic opportunity and human dignity. 
On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast, Lisa D. Smith is joined by co-hosts Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough of Wanderers Compass for a conversation with His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Nabhit Kapur, Permanent Observer to the United Nations for the Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency on Water and Sanitation for Africa (WSA).
Dr. Kapur began as a psychologist and mental health advocate, founding the Peaceful Mind Foundation and World Leaders for Mental Health. He explains how that work in Africa led him to the UN and to water and sanitation. He shares why women and girls are central to the solutions, including through his WaterHer initiative, and what happens to a community when clean water is a long walk away. He also describes a visit to a small town in Ghana where children walk five kilometres each way for a bucket of water.
The conversation covers how a small UN observer mission works, from taking ideas to member states to getting them to the grassroots, and how WSA's science-based approach shapes its projects. He describes the sanitation and water clubs in Nigerian schools and a youth sanitation and water Model UN planned for next year. Joelle and Ryan add what they've seen traveling, including Sint Maarten's dependence on rainwater and desalination and the questions they ask hotels about protecting local water. The episode ends with what gives Dr. Kapur hope.
Recorded just ahead of UN General Assembly 81 in September 2026. Whether you live in a city, a village or a hotel lobby, you can ask what is happening with water in your own community.
RESOURCE LINKS:- Dr. Nabhit Kapur on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnabhitkapur - Water and Sanitation for Africa (WSA): https://wsa-un-ny.org/index.php - UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6 - New episodes of Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast air every first Monday, here: https://table-and-compass.podbean.com/  - Learn more about Joelle Machia & Ryan Slough, Founders & Publishers of Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/  - Explore Big Blend Radio and Big Blend Magazines: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/  

Blind musician, producer, and speaker Joey Stuckey joins Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation rooted in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals on reducing inequality and building accessible communities. 
Joey shares the story of surviving a childhood brain tumor, how his parents' insistence on travel and unrestricted access to knowledge shaped who he became, and what decades of navigating the world as a blind man have taught him about the gap between the appearance of accessibility and the real thing. 
The conversation moves through national parks, museums, TSA checkpoints, assistive technology, and Joey's own reframing of equity versus equality — landing on a simple, practical philosophy: ask "how can I help?" and let people answer for themselves.
RESOURCE LINKS:- Learn more about Joey Stuckey: https://joeystuckey.com/ - Explore more of Joey Stuckey on Big Blend Radio: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/t/joey-stuckey - Learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals - New episodes of Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast air every first Monday, here: https://table-and-compass.podbean.com/ - Learn more about Joelle Machia & Ryan Slough, Founders & Publishers of Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/ - Explore Big Blend Radio and Big Blend Magazines: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/ 

In recognition of Amazon Day (Sept. 5), we're sharing this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Nature Connection" Podcast that features co-directors Rob Grobman and Chelsea Greene who discuss their acclaimed documentary film, "We Are Guardians," produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker, actor, and environmental activist Fisher Stevens.
Available worldwide on digital platforms including Amazon, Apple TV, and Tubi, "We Are Guardians" takes viewers deep into the Brazilian Amazon, where Indigenous Guardians risk their lives to protect one of Earth's most vital ecosystems from illegal logging, mining, land grabbing, and deforestation.
The conversation explores the complex intersections of politics, economics, history, science, and environmental stewardship while highlighting the critical role Indigenous communities play in safeguarding the rainforest. Rob and Chelsea share how the film came together, the dangers they faced while filming, and the hope they found through the resilience, courage, and leadership of the people working to protect the Amazon.
They also discuss how deforestation impacts global climate stability, biodiversity, freshwater resources, and local communities, and share practical ways individuals can support conservation efforts through advocacy, consumer choices, and direct action.
Watch the film, host a screening, support Indigenous Guardians, and learn more at https://www.weareguardiansfilm.com/ 

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast, hosts Lisa D. Smith, Joelle Machia, and Ryan Slough welcome acclaimed author, naturalist, explorer, and photographer James Michael Dorsey for an inspiring conversation about protecting indigenous cultures, wildlife, and global heritage through respectful travel, education, and storytelling.
Drawing from decades of travel to more than 60 countries, James shares remarkable firsthand experiences with remote indigenous communities, endangered languages, threatened wildlife, and fragile ecosystems. Together, the panel explores how responsible travel, cultural understanding, and international cooperation can help preserve our shared human and natural heritage while supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conversation also examines UNESCO World Heritage Sites, biodiversity conservation, the impact of war on people and landscapes, sustainable tourism, disappearing oral traditions, and why every traveler can help become a steward of culture, history, and nature.
Learn more about James Michael Dorsey, his books, photography, and global work: https://jamesmichaeldorseyauthor.com/ 
Listen to the Big Blend Radio "Before They Vanish" Podcast with James Michael Dorsey: https://before-they-vanish.podbean.com/ 
Learn more about Joelle Machia & Ryan Slough, Founders & PUblishers of Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/ 
Learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:https://sdgs.un.org/goals 
Explore Big Blend Radio and Big Blend Magazines:https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/ 
New episodes of Big Blend Radio's "Table &Compass" Podcast air every first Monday, here: https://table-and-compass.podbean.com/ 

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Big Blend Radio's "Table & Compass" Podcast with hosts Lisa D. Smith, Joelle Machia, and Ryan Slough.
Pull up a chair for global conversations that shape a better world as we explore how travel, community, culture, and collaboration connect to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this debut episode, the hosts are joined by Carlisle Richardson, an international relations expert whose career has included serving as Ambassador of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations and as a United Nations Economic Affairs Officer. Carlisle played a key role in negotiations that helped establish the landmark Sustainable Development Goals and contributed to preparations for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Together they discuss:- Why the Sustainable Development Goals matter to everyone- - How travel builds understanding across cultures- The importance of protecting heritage sites and cultural identity- Sustainable tourism and water conservation- Community-led solutions that create global impact- Inspiring children and future generations to become changemakers- The role of storytelling in preserving culture and encouraging sustainability- Why every individual can help build a more resilient future
Whether you're passionate about travel, conservation, education, culture, or simply making your community stronger, this conversation offers practical inspiration and a hopeful perspective on creating positive change—one story and one connection at a time.
Carlisle's Books📚 The Soft Underbelly — https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Underbelly-Carlisle-Richardson-ebook/dp/B0H2FLMPN8/ 📚 Rose Grows Veggies — https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Grows-Veggies-Carlisle-Richardson/dp/1068739991 📚 Island Journeys: The Impact of the Island Way of Life at Home and Abroad — https://www.amazon.com/Island-Journeys-Impact-Life-Abroad/dp/1599326124 
Resources & Links➡️ Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/ ➡️ Big Blend Media House: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/ ➡️ The Steppes of Henry Foundation: https://theglobalhenry.org/ ➡️ UN Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals 
New episodes of Table & Compass air every first Monday on Big Blend Radio: https://table-and-compass.podbean.com/ 

In this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Wanderers Compass" Travel Podcast, Joelle Machia and Ryan Slough, founders of the Wanderers Compass Travel Blog, explore the global importance of sustainable tourism and the growing call for responsible travel. This is the episode that inspired the new podcast Table & Compass. It originally aired in Nov. 2025.
They discuss their recent experiences at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where Joelle spoke on sustainable tourism. The role of water, equality, and cultural preservation were central themes, reflecting on how tourism impacts local communities—from small towns to major cruise destinations. The conversation highlights the importance of engaging local voices (especially women), protecting biodiversity, and preserving authenticity in travel experiences.
Through inspiring stories and examples of successful sustainable practices around the world, this episode reminds travelers that small, mindful actions can make a big difference in creating a more responsible, connected world.
📰 Read their article “Sustainable Tourism at the UN”: https://www.wandererscompass.com/sustainable-tourism-at-the-un/  
🌐 Learn more and Wanderers Compass: https://www.wandererscompass.com/  
📅 New episodes of Wanderers Compass air every second Monday on Big Blend Radio. Subscribe and listen to more episode: https://wandererscompass.podbean.com/ Table & Compass airs every 1st Monday: https://table-and-compass.podbean.com/