Skip to main content
Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

Tea. Toast. & Trivia.

By Rebecca Budd

Blogger.Visual Storyteller.Traveler: Exploring the creative spirit within a dynamic, ever-changing global world. The pursuit of artistic excellence is an essential element of our humanity; it speaks to the soul of our culture and society, allowing us to celebrate our individuality and our togetherness. My goal: to encourage a deep and profound awareness of our personal journeys. Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast All Rights Reserved © 2019 -2024 by Rebecca Budd
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Joan Dunnett on Reading Sir Walter Scott

Tea. Toast. & Trivia.Apr 20, 2021

00:00
19:51
Celebrating “Up Helly Aa” with Sarah McBurnie

Celebrating “Up Helly Aa” with Sarah McBurnie

S6 E4:  Celebrating “Up Helly Aa” with Sarah McBurnie


January 30, 2024, the Last Tuesday of January. The fire festival of Up Helly Aa is happening. A huge torchlight procession of hundreds of Vikings is marching through the streets of Lerwick, carrying flaming torches and singing traditional Norse skalds.


Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.


Thank you for listening in.


I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.


I have arrived in Lerwick, Shetland to meet up with my friend, Sarah McBurnie who was our guide on our 2018 Shetland adventure.  Up Hella Aa is happening.  Sarah has invited us to celebrate Shetland’s Norse heritage with her.   I have always wanted to attend Up Helly Aa, so join me for a Viking adventure that promises feasting, music, and dancing!


Up Helly Aa or Up Holy [Day] All A Celebration of Norse Heritage!


On January 30, 2024, the last Tuesday of January, the fire festival of Up Helly Aa is happening in Lerwick, Shetland. This festival carries a rich tapestry of influences that give it a unique flavor and significance.

The first influence stems from the Yuletide celebrations, which traditionally began on the 5th of January, known as Old Yule, and culminated in Up Helly Aa, 24 days later. This final day was marked with fire, feasting, and frolic, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

The second influence is rooted in the old Shetland custom of guizing, where individuals disguised themselves, visited friends’ houses, performed turns, and then revealed their true identities. This tradition added an element of surprise and merriment to the festivities.

The celebration of Shetland’s Norse heritage is a central pillar of Up Helly Aa. In the north of Scotland, the Vikings, who were feared in other parts of the world, are celebrated as symbols of strength and resilience. The Norse heritage is embodied in the iconic sight of a burning longship, symbolizing the journey of a deceased Norse Jarl to Valhalla, an evocative and powerful tribute to the Viking legacy.


The amalgamation of these influences creates a vibrant and captivating Viking adventure at Up Helly Aa, as participants pay homage to Shetland’s rich and enduring Norse heritage.

Northlink Ferries has taken this opportunity to look back at the other years that were significant for Up Helly Aa: Up Helly Aa through the years.

Edgar Hopp "Phoenix Rising" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/IKHlHvgHSN/

Kikoru "Clouds Over Mountains" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EbaDeotpAO/


Feb 27, 202420:40
Norman Orenstein on Composing, Producing and Recording Music

Norman Orenstein on Composing, Producing and Recording Music

S6 E3: Norman Orenstein on Composing, Producing and Recording Music Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am travelling virtually to Toronto, Ontario where the music scene is vibrant and diverse, from indie rock to hip-hop, jazz to electronic.  I am thrilled that Canadian musician, composer and producer, Norman Orenstein, has joined me today to discuss music and the creative process.

Norman is the President of NORMAN ORENSTEIN MUSIC INC. (NOM Inc.), specializing in music production and publishing. As a member of The Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), he brings over 20 years of experience in composing, arranging, and recording live musicians for feature films, television movies, and television series.

Norman is the controller of the NOM Music Library, where he negotiates with record companies, writers, and publishers to secure synchronization and master use licenses. His expertise in the industry has led him to be a panelist at prestigious events such as the North By Northeast (NXNE) Music Festival and the Worldwide Short Film Festival Symposium, where he shares his success stories and insights on the director-composer relationship in film and TV music.

With an extraordinary background in music composition and production, Norman continues to contribute his talents to the world of film and television, creating captivating music scores that enhance the storytelling experience.

Thank you for joining Norman and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.  Norman's music is featured in the podcast. The introduction piece was entitled "Highliner. The piece featured in the closing comments was from Norman's score for the film "Kidnap Capital."

And a very special thank you Norman for sharing your insights, knowledge, and experience. It is an honour to showcase your music in our conversation. You have given us a deeper appreciation for the artistry behind your work.   I am inspired by your passion for music and storytelling.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Norman Orenstein on and his website Norman Orenstein Music to experience his amazing, unforgettable music.


I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Thank you for joining Norman and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.

Music by Norman Orenstein- ⁠Norman Orenstein Music⁠ (used with permission)

"Highliner"

"Kidnap Capital" Norman's Score from the film Kidnap Capital

Feb 14, 202419:24
Celebrating Robert Burns with Address to A Haggis

Celebrating Robert Burns with Address to A Haggis

S6 E2: Celebrating Robert Burns with Address to A Haggis


Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. Burns is best known for his poetry written in the Scots language, with works such as “Auld Lang Syne,” “Address to a Haggis,” and “Tam O’ Shanter.” His poetry often reflects themes of love, nature, and Scotland’s cultural heritage.

Robert Burns’ influence on Scottish literature and culture is profound, and his work continues to be revered and celebrated through events like Burns Suppers, which are held annually around the world to commemorate his life and literary contribution.

Haggis holds a significant place at a Burns Supper due to its historical and cultural connections to Robert Burns and Scotland. The traditional Scottish dish, immortalized in Burns’ poem “Address to a Haggis,” is celebrated as a symbol of Scottish heritage and a tribute to the poet’s legacy. Its inclusion in the supper reflects the deep appreciation for Burns’ work and the rich tapestry of Scottish culture and traditions. The ritual of addressing and consuming the haggis is a poignant and festive way to honour the impact of Robert Burns on Scottish literature and identity.

Come join me to celebrate Robert Burns with his iconic “Address to a Haggis”! The vivid imagery and spirited language invite us to join in the festivities of a Burns Supper and pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Scotland’s beloved national poet.

Music by Traditional "Auld Lang Syne (Traditional Version" Epidemic Sound

⁠www.epidemicsound.com/track/H9ncuJOolx/


Jan 19, 202413:01
D.G. Kaye on her podcast “Grief - The Real Talk”

D.G. Kaye on her podcast “Grief - The Real Talk”

S6 E1: D.G. Kaye on her podcast “Grief - The Real Talk”

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. 

I am delighted that blogger, non-fiction writer, memoir author and podcaster, Debby Gies and I are connecting Toronto and Vancouver, Canada.

Debby is a Canadian author, writing under the pen name of D.G. Kaye. She writes about real life and the events that she has had to navigate through and overcome.  Her intent is to inspire others by sharing her stories and the lessons that have come along with them.

In her podcast “Grief – The Real Talk”, Debbie speaks from the heart and from personal experience.   She takes listeners through the painful journey of her grief after losing the love of her life, sharing her observations about the changes that occur during the grieving process.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this profound and moving conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Debby and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Debby, for sharing your insights on grieving. Losing a loved one is an inevitable part of life. It is a deeply emotional and challenging experience that requires careful consideration.

I invite you to meet up with Debby on her blog, D.G. Kaye Writer.com , on her podcast– Grief, The Real Talk, her Amazon Page and on Goodreads.  It is a place that welcomes profound conversations that reminds us to Live, Love, Laugh and Breathe. 

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you. Music by David Celeste "The Bloom of Her Skin". Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/8KN2JKoLoG/

Jan 08, 202420:56
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

S5 E23: A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales” is a delightful prose work by the Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas. First published in 1954, the piece is a nostalgic and vivid recollection of the author’s childhood memories of Christmas time in Wales. Thomas takes readers on a journey through the sights, sounds, and experiences associated with the festive season.'
Through rich imagery, Dylan Thomas portrays the joy and excitement felt by children as they anticipate the arrival of Christmas. He reflects on the small yet significant moments that make the holiday special, like gathering with loved ones, enjoying festive meals, and engaging in playful adventures.
The narrative is imbued with a sense of warmth, whimsy, and the universal nostalgia that accompanies the holiday season. Thomas's prose captures the essence of childhood innocence and the timeless magic of Christmas, creating a lyrical and enchanting atmosphere that resonates with readers of all ages.
"A Child's Christmas in Wales" celebrates the beauty and wonder of the holiday season.



This year, I chose "A Child's Christmas in Wales" to celebrate the joy and laughter of the festive season. As I read Dylan Thomas's remembrance of long ago Christmases, I recalled my childhood memories of family and friends, dinners and singing, hugs and laughter.
May this festive season bring you warmth, laughter and cherished moments with your loved ones. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Rebecca

Music from Epidemic Sound:
Megan Wofford "Deck the Halls" (piano Version)
www.epidemicsound.com/track/Erq5jycgqC/
Home for the Holidays "Home for Christmas" www.epidemicsound.com/track/sdKFLVmayx/
Howard Harper-Barnes "Christmas Wonders" www.epidemicsound.com/track/Jb1FWEg88c/
Howard Harper-Barnes "The Gift of Giving" www.epidemicsound.com/track/UzvWf4Pq8E/
Johannes Bornlöf "The First Fall of Snow" www.epidemicsound.com/track/UzvWf4Pq8E/
John B. Lund "A Christmas Lullaby" www.epidemicsound.com/track/Mor63mOsPB/

“A Child’s Christmas in Wales” is in the Canadian public domain.
Dec 25, 202328:06
Eglund on the Emergence of AI Technology

Eglund on the Emergence of AI Technology

S5 E22: Eglund on The Emergence of AI Technology

“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”  Marcus Aurelius

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.

The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic of debate among experts in the field. AI has been around for decades, but recent advances in technology have allowed for rapid development in the field. As AI continues to evolve, it will become increasingly integrated into our lives and businesses.

Should we fear the emergence of AI technology? Will AI control our lives and take away our jobs and careers?  Will AI be used to create malicious software?  Will AI replace human creativity and knowledge?"

To discuss these questions, I am travelling virtually over 7900 kilometers to Berlin, Germany to meet up with my friend, Eglund, journalist and writer. Eglund is an engineer and publicist. He worked as a science journalist and reporter in Africa for several German newspapers.  Since 2005, his focus has been on the environmental initiatives.

As a specialist journalist for renewable energies, he works within media related to the ecological energy transition, first of all about solar energy.  Eglund has in-depth experience with AI in optimizing the efficiency of solar energy systems.  As a journalist and writer, he has insight into how AI will impact on creative endeavours.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Thank you to you, Eglund, for sharing your insights on Artificial Intelligence.  We are living in a complex world that demands our highest participation.  It is heartening to know that we can all make a difference.

Dear listeners, thank you for joining Eglund and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.  Stay tuned for another stimulating conversation with Eglund. 


Music by Howard Harper-Barnes "The Light From Within" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/OiHw16ODbX/

Dec 12, 202325:51
Paul Andruss on Storytelling, Bards, & Sir Walter Scott’s Lochinvar

Paul Andruss on Storytelling, Bards, & Sir Walter Scott’s Lochinvar

S5 E21: Paul Andruss on Storytelling, Bards, & Sir Walter Scott’s Lochinvar Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia! Thank you for listening in. I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. I am heading across the ocean to Wales, a beautiful country full of magic, mystery, music, and brilliant writers and poets.  I am excited to reconnect with a great storyteller – Paul Andruss. Paul is the author of the Young Adult magical realism trilogy, the Jack Hughes Books. He has written several short stories and novellas.   Over the past several months, Paul and I have been exploring the evolution of storyteller.   Who were the bards of old?  What stories have come through the centuries?  How do we add our stories to the greater narrative of humanity. This is your invitation to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. Listeners, thank you for sharing this moment with Paul and me on Tea Toast and Trivia. I invite your to meet up with Paul on Goodreads and on Amazon.  You are only an internet click away from a daring and exciting adventure. This is your invitation to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. Until next time, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures take you. Music by Epidemic Sound Bonnie Grace "Portal" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/p6RFg3iUtu/ Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen "The Fellowship" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/RvoaSQzcbj/ Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen "The Bard's Tale"https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/1mht2puewa/
Nov 20, 202316:03
Catherine Cavendish Reading The Haunting of Henderson Close

Catherine Cavendish Reading The Haunting of Henderson Close

S5 E20:  Catherine Cavendish Reading “The Haunting of Henderson Close” Welcome to Tea. Toast. and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline. 

Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome to the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home. 

I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am delighted that Catherine Cavendish has graciously agreed to be our guest author reading from her novel, The Haunting of Henderson Close.  In the depths of Edinburgh, an evil presence is released. Listen to Cat’s voice take you to Edinburgh with her atmospheric novel. Be prepared – you will feel the approaching dread of horror.

Thank you for joining Cat and me on Tea Toast & Trivia “Authors reading their Books.”

And a very special thank you, Cat, for reading from The Haunting of Henderson Close.  I read this book late into the night with the lights on!

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Cat on FacebookTwitter (X), InstagramMastodonGoodreadsAmazon, and her website and blog, Catherine Cavendish. You are only an internet click away from being swept away on a haunting adventure. 

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.

Epidemic Sound: Music

Jon Björk “Colossal Terror”

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uIztS7Sbkb/

Trailer Worx “Basement Nightmares” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/gR4dlFGYNQ/

Trailer Worx “Danger Lures” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/oRcCuDUQej/

Howard Harper-Barnes “Hope and Prayers” https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/OF8HRp9uXx/

 

Epidemic Sound: SFX

Composition Horror https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uIztS7Sbkb/

Piano Keys https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/BcPE25v5uw/

Swoosh https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/DeeA0Vle4F/

Drone Dark Scary https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/UIwDy30jBc/

 


Oct 31, 202335:01
Resa McConaghy on Graffiti Lux Art & More

Resa McConaghy on Graffiti Lux Art & More

"The very first work of art in the street that I took pictures of was in Winnipeg. It is a Charlie Chaplin mural, with a fab story behind it. I posted it in 2013." Resa McConaghy Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am heading over the Rocky Mountains across the Prairie Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, to the vibrant city of Toronto, Ontario to meet up with Resa McConaghy, blogger, artist, photographer, and established costume designer in film, television, and digital media. 

Resa has worked her costume designer magic on productions for Showtime, ABC, Disney, CBS, CBC, Hallmark, and more.   She brings out personalities with her costume designs and adds dramatic moods to each scene by balancing texture and colours.

Resa’s passion for photography and outdoor ephemeral art, is captured in her website, Graffiti Lux Art & More, Today, Resa invited us to walk with her as she explores the vibrant art murals found in the alleys, side streets, and neighbourhoods of Toronto.

Thank you for joining Resa and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a very special thank you and shout out to Resa – you live life with compassion, hope, and bold enthusiasm.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Resa on Graffiti Lux Art & More and her website  Art Gowns and You are only an internet click away from the world art, adventure, glamour and fantasy.

Exciting News Update: Resa's 1500th post Gala Celebration is happening Thanksgiving weekend 2023!

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.

Music by Kikoru "Seeing the Truth" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/MRrj00qtFC/

Oct 09, 202319:21
Brian on Fear of Missing Out

Brian on Fear of Missing Out

S5 E18: Brian on Fear of Missing Out Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia

Thank you for listening in!

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.

Today,  I’m heading over the Canadian Rockies to St. Albert, Alberta.

Brian, my brother, has come back to continue the conversation  on embracing a greater journey. How do we live the fullest in that stage of life that we find ourselves in? How do we embrace the twists and turns that life gives us? How do we gracefully give up the things of youth and embrace the age of active wisdom?  

Today, Brian and I will be discussing FOMO, which is the short form of “fear of missing out.” FOMO is that uncomfortable, even anxious, feeling you get when think that other people might be having a good time without you. FOMO can happen at any stage of life “from childhood to old age”

Thank you for joining Brian and me on this conversation.

Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures take you.


Music by Eric Williams "When I'm Out With You" Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uHpfYQgRg0/


Sep 04, 202313:18
D Wallace Peach on A Poet’s Voice

D Wallace Peach on A Poet’s Voice

S5 E17: D Wallace Peach On A Poet's Voice


moonlight stitches lace

frosty hems on scarlet leaves

glints of fallen stars

D. Wallace Peach, Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse


Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.


The Moons of Autumn: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse, edited by Colleen M. Chesebro and JulesPaige is a profound exploration of Japanese and American syllabic poetry. The theme of this journal was influenced by the Harvest, Hunter’s, and Frost moons, which are the names given to the three full moons that transpire during the autumn months. Within the pages of this poetry collection, the diverse mix of syllabic poetry has ignited my desire to explore a poetic journey.


Today, I am delighted that D. Wallace Peach whose poetry is featured in “The Moons of Autumn” has joined me to give voice to her poetry. Welcome to podcast series, “A Poet’s Voice”, which brings words of poetry from across the world to your home.


Diana lives on my side of the world, just south of the Canadian Border. She is a best-selling author of fantasy fiction who loves writing poetry. An avid supporter of the arts in her local community, she organizes and publishes annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography. She and her husband live in a log cabin, situated on a mountain. She has found a place of belonging, surrounded by evergreens in the lush, green wilderness of the Oregon rainforest.


I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Diana and me on Tea Toast & Trivia to reflect on the beauty of poetic words.


Thank you, Diana for sharing your insights on how poetry allows us to describe the world around us in unexpected ways. This has been a wonderful conversation.


Listeners you can meet up with Diana on her website D. Wallace Peach Books, Amazon and Goodreads. You are only an internet click away from journeys that enrich the soul.


Until next time we meet, dear friends, keep reading and reciting poetry.

Safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by:

Kikoru "Sitting by the Shore"https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/pRliUujadr/

Trevor Kowalski "For What Is Right" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/WzOf5ZyHdy/

Gavin Luke "To the Moon and Beyond" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/H6shp6f3WB/

More Than Family "Choir Hymn" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zLlZB2Y3zt/

Benjamin Monday "The Secretary's Daughter" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xtiAcqdEac/

Epidemic Sound



Aug 15, 202321:48
Dr. Derek Bryce on Cultural Heritage, Destinations and Tourism

Dr. Derek Bryce on Cultural Heritage, Destinations and Tourism

S5 E16: Dr Derek Bryce on Cultural Heritage, Destinations and Tourism

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am travelling virtually to Glasgow, Scotland, where I am meeting up with Dr. Derek Bryce, Senior Lecturer Marketing, The University of Strathclyde.

Derek’s research has been influenced by his extensive involvement in the UK and Canadian travel management sector and his academic studies in tourism and business.  His PhD in Cultural Studies has positioned him to bring a strong historicist and humanities perspectives to teaching and research in the Marketing domain, where his contextual focus is on Cultural Heritage, Destinations and Tourism

Why do we travel? Does our heritage influence our choice of destination.  Do we feel a connection with the locations of our ancestors?   These are the questions that will be discussed today.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Thank you, Derek, for sharing your knowledge, experience, and insights. You reminded me that travel offers us a chance to expand our horizons and gain a better understanding of the world around us.

Travel opens our minds to new ideas and perspectives, to recognize that our personal stories link to the past, influence the future, and become interwoven within the greater narrative of humanity.


Listeners, thank you for joining Derek and me on Tea Toast and Trivia.


“See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.” Ray Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451

Music by Trailer Worx "Morning Lights" Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yO0oRrARBw/

Jul 31, 202317:12
Dave Astor on Being a Blogger and a Writer

Dave Astor on Being a Blogger and a Writer

S5 E15: Dave Astor on Being a Blogger and a Writer Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Today, Dave Astor and I are once again bridging the 3,923 kilometers between Montclair New Jersey and Vancouver, British Columbia

Dave is the author of the 2017 literary-trivia book “Fascinating Facts About Famous Fiction Authors and the Greatest Novels of All Time” and the 2012 memoir “Comic (and Column) Confessional.” Dave serves as a National Society of Newspaper Columnists board member and writes the weekly “Montclairvoyant” topical-humor column for Baristanet.com. 

Dave’s weekly Sunday morning blog posts on DaveAstorOnLiterature.com generate great conversations, which have prompted me to think, consider and share my thoughts over the past years.  I am delighted that Dave has graciously agreed to join me to discuss what it means to be a blogger and writer. 

It’s time to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Listeners, thank you for joining Dave and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you Dave for sharing your insights on blogging and writing, sharing ideas, and creating spaces for connections and conversations.

In closing, I wanted to share a quote from Dave’s book, Fascinating Facts:

“Literature can send our minds to another time and place, allowing us to forget our lives and troubles for a few precious hours.  It can educate us about history, open our minds, increase our empathy, make us think, give us things to converse about, and/or provide plenty of excitement along with the escapism.” Dave Astor

I invite you to connect with Dave on Dave Astor on Literature.   You are only an internet click away from meeting up with a great discussion with kindred spirits.

Until next time, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you. Music by More Than Family "House of Cats and Dogs" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/r0PqZ90QzU/

Jul 18, 202317:38
Luanne Castle on A Poet’s Voice

Luanne Castle on A Poet’s Voice

S5 E14: Luanne Castle on A Poet’s Voice “Note how the red rose,velvet worn by early frost,clings confidentlyto its own treacherous stem,never accursed by mirrors.” Luanne Castle Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you. Today, I am delighted that Luanne Castle poet, writer, blogger and art journalist has joined me to give voice to her poetry. Welcome to the podcast series, “A Poet’s Voice”, which brings words of poetry from across the world to your home. Luanne Castle’s poetry explores the breadth and depth of the human experience. In her book, Kin Types, she speaks of the hopes and challenges of ordinary lives from the past. Her first collection of poetry, Doll God, studies traces of the spirit world in human-made natural objects.  Today, Luanne shares her thoughts and insights on her latest poetry collection “Rooted and Winged.” I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for joining Luanne and me on Tea Toast & Trivia to reflect on the beauty of poetic words. Thank you, Luanne, for sharing your insights on how poetry allows us to describe the world around us in unexpected ways.  This has been an extraordinary conversation. Listeners you can meet up with Luanne Castle on her websites Writersite.org, and  Luanne Castle, Amazon,  Instagram, and Goodreads.  You are only an internet click away from poetry that enriches the soul. Until next time we meet, dear friends, keep reading and reciting poetry. Music By Epidemic Sound Jon Björk "Calcifer" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/VLISBRrfkD/ Johannes Bornlöf "Dancing in the Rain" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/5mSFeLx0wa/ Johannes Bornlöf "As I Dream" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4cUBo6wPFR/ Trevor Kowalski "The Reunion" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/7jwK8DH0WQ/ Aerian "Endurance" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/GQmo9r7nDO/ Trevor Kowalski "For What Is Right" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/WzOf5ZyHdy/
Jul 03, 202324:43
Julie Riso on A Winter Walk

Julie Riso on A Winter Walk

S5 E13 Julie Riso on A Winter Walk

February 2022, Winter: this one so cold, dark, eternal. Outside the window, a moon encased in ice vapor, cradled in the forest’s naked embrace. A languid ascent from the realm of dreams. A gentle command: release to receive. Be open to that which you never considered.

J.D. Riso La Vagabonde Vs. The Machine February 26, 2023 Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am delighted and thrilled that writer, Julie Riso, from her Substack “Wish I Were Here” blog and I are connecting Vancouver and Northern Michigan for a discussion on A Winter Walk.

Julie has created a space that welcomes authentic conversations. She writes that many years ago, she chose to follow an unmarked path – the one filled with detours, dead ends, hitchhikers, kitschy roadside attractions, and unexpected destinations. I knew immediately that I found a kindred spirit.

“Wish I Were Here” is Julie’s travel memoir that explores her journeys through place and time. She inspires readers to live their personal stories and to recognize the connection to nature and all creatures who share our world.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Thank you for joining Julie and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Julie for sharing your insights on a Winter Walk, of creating space for personal reflection and communion with nature.  You have inspired me, and I know that you have encouraged listeners to recognize the importance of solitude, of seeking an inner journey.  It is where our story begins and becomes interwoven within the fabric of all that has come before and all that will come after.

I invite meet up with Julie on  Wish I was Here. It is a place that inspires us to wait, listen to our hearts, discover our dreams, and walk with nature in peace with ourselves and with all who walk this earth.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you. Music by Johannes Bornlöf "Let's Run Away Together" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/k2mc9bQtD4/

Jun 19, 202316:22
Julianna Wagar on the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and The Lyon in Mourning Project

Julianna Wagar on the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and The Lyon in Mourning Project

S5 E12: Julianna Wagar on the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and the Lyon in Mourning Project

Sing me a song of a lad that is gone,

Say, could that lad be I?

Merry of soul he sailed on a day

Over the sea to Skye.

 

Billow and breeze, islands and seas,

Mountains of rain and sun,

All that was good, all that was fair,

All that was me is gone.

Sing me a Song of a Lad that is Gone By Robert Louis Stevenson Vocals and music by Julianna WagerWelcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. The 1745 Jacobite rebellion has been romanticized in literature and media.  However, this was a difficult and complex period.  The stories of those who lived during this time have been captured in “The Lyon in Mourning” manuscript, which was compiled by Rev Robert Forbes.  The tragic Battle of Culloden shattered the hopes of restoring the Stuarts to the throne.  The communities and social structure of the Scottish Highlands were changed forever.  

Dr. Leith Davis, Professor of English at Simon Fraser University and Director of Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Scottish Studies, is currently investigating and creating a Digital Humanities project on “The Lyon in Mourning”.   This project is a collaboration with the National Library of Scotland and SFU’s Digital Humanities Innovation Lab. 

Today, I am joined by Julianna Wagar, Dr. Davis’s research assistant, to share her thoughts on the Lyon in Mourning project. Julianna recently completed her BA at Simon Fraser University in English, Gender, and Women’s Studies. She is currently working towards her MA in English at SFU. Her research interests include eighteenth-century Scottish literature, women’s literature, and Scottish women’s travel writing.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia.

I invite you to meet up with Julianna and Dr. Leith Davis at the Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University. The Centre, located at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby campus, provides a focal point for faculty, students, and all who are interested in exploring Scottish history and culture and the connections between Scotland and Canada in the contemporary global landscape.  It is a place where the past reaches out to our time and reminds us to live boldly, with courage and hope.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Trabant 33 "Dreams of the Brave" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zhMobBG9tX/

Jun 05, 202325:46
Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene on Dead of Winter and Creating Epic Stories

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene on Dead of Winter and Creating Epic Stories

S5 E11: Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene on Dead of Winter and Creating Epic Stories

“As the moon cast its light on simple grave markers, the air was split by a sliver of pale gray light. It shimmered like the giant star sapphires of ancient Tiglath.

Thunder pealed.

The splinter of light seemed to bulge forward and retract, again and again, until it shattered as if lightning had struck. The sound reverberated through the ground. Gravestones toppled.”

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, Prologue, Journey 1 Forlorn Peak


Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.


I am thrilled that Teagan Geneviene has joined me on Tea Toast & Trivia to discuss her epic narrative, ⁠Dead of Winter⁠. The adventure is presented in a series of 14 Journeys that begin in the Flowing Lands at Forlorn Peak. The heroine, Emlyn, is a 12-year-old girl who sees and hears spirits. She receives a supernatural warning that she knows is not about the weather: “Winter is coming!”

Teagan makes brilliant use of serialization to enhance a reader’s experience, encouraging us to savour the narrative and to reflect with expectation to what comes next.

I finished Dead of Winter during a horrendous snowstorm which added atmospheric energy as the storyline moved into the final scene.  I marvel at Teagan’s ability to bring together a magnificent epic with elegance, humour, and compassion.  I laughed and cried, worried, and fretted over what was to become of Emlyn, Zasha, Osabide and all the characters that she brought to life.   

Thank you for joining Teagan and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a special thank you, Teagan for sharing your insights and experiences in creating “Winter Is Coming.”

I invite you to meet up with Teagan at Teagan’s Books . You are only an internet click away from meeting up with Emlyn, her teacher Osabide, and The Watcher.  You will  be swept away on an exciting adventure.

It is time to put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion.

Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your journey leads you.


Music by Deskant "As Loch Awe Weeps

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/6PagpxgiQC/

Music by Edgar Hopp "Guarded Skies"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ibxNuh7UM4/

Epidemic Sound


May 23, 202327:54
Brian on Transitions

Brian on Transitions

S5 E10: Brian on Transitions Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia!

Thank you for listening in!

Life is full of transitions, from the small daily changes to the major life-altering events. Navigating these transitions can be challenging and overwhelming, but it’s a necessary part of growth and progress. Whether it’s starting a new job, moving to a new city, or experiencing a personal loss, transitions can be difficult to navigate.  Perhaps when we experience uncertainty and ambiguity, that is when we do our best work.

Embracing new stages in life is recognizing that change is inevitable. It is our opportunity to experience a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live and engage.

Brian, my brother, came back to continue the discussion on embracing a greater journey.  Today, we are looking at transitions and life cycles. How to navigate the stages of life. (This podcast was recorded during the months of a Canadian Winter. Brian lives in Alberta known for cold weather and sunny skies. I live in Vancouver rainforest.)

So put the kettle on and add to the conversation on TeaToastTrivia.com. I am your host and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you

I will be taking a short break from blogging and podcasting to head out into an adventure.  I and will be back soon and look forward connecting over the blogosphere. During this time, comments will be closed. Thank you for your understanding.


Music by Eric Williams "When I'm Out With You" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/uHpfYQgRg0/

Apr 26, 202309:40
Macbeth’s Witches Chant with Shehanne Moore and Catherine Cavendish

Macbeth’s Witches Chant with Shehanne Moore and Catherine Cavendish

S5 E9: Macbeth’s Witches Chant with Shehanne Moore and Catherine Cavendish

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

The 400th anniversary of the first folio of Macbeth is set to take place in 2023. Published in 1623, the first folio is considered one of the most important works of William Shakespeare. It is a collection of 36 of his plays, including Macbeth, and is an important part of the literary canon. The anniversary of this folio will be celebrated around the world, with events taking place to commemorate the work of William Shakespeare and the impact the folio has had on literature and culture.

Catherine Cavendish, writer of Gothic horror and Shehanne Moore, writer of exhilarating historical romances, have joined me to commemorate this momentous milestone. 

With the magic of WIFI, we have brought Dundee Scotland, Southport England, and Vancouver, Canada together to whisk you back four hundred years to meet the Three Witches of Macbeth, the trio of supernatural beings often referred to as the “Weird Sisters.” They are believed to be the embodiments of fate and destiny. Are you ready????

And a very special thank you, Cat and Shey, for conjuring the drama and force of the Three Witches and celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s first folio.

Listeners,  I invite you to meet up with Cat on her website, Catherine CavendishFacebookTwitterInstagramAmazon and  Goodreads,

I invite your to meet up with Shey on her website, Shehanne Moore, TwitterAmazon and Goodreads.

Thank you for joining Cat, Shey and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music and Foley by Epidemic Sound

Trevor Kowalski "You're Not Hiding Very Well" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/o6WvffFGpS/ Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen "Path to the Abyss" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/qZi97YkZ2X/ Cobby Costa "Pressure Put" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/OO15NJCT41/ Traditional "Sarabandes Version 2" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/wMyNWRkrNC/

Apr 10, 202319:46
Rachel McAlpine A Poet’s Voice on Aging

Rachel McAlpine A Poet’s Voice on Aging

S5 E8: Rachel McAlpine A Poet’s Voice on Aging


What is your job?

"What is your job when you no longer have a job? What is your work when you don’t go to work any more? When you retire you gain such a lot—like freedom and time and multiple choice. You left with relief so why this incongruity of grief? Work gave you friends, a schedule, a label a space and a fable a reason to get out of bed a dress code and your daily bread and at your very core a sense of who you are and what you’re for." © Rachel McAlpine

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am traveling virtually to Christchurch, New Zealand, to meet with Rachel McAlpine, a digital content pioneer, eminent New Zealand poet and author of 30+ books.  She joins me today to discuss her poetry and embracing our evolving journey with joyful anticipation.

Rachel became obsessed with the ageing process from a personal point of view. At 75, when she discovered that her life expectancy was 99, she devised a boot camp for her bonus years. The outcome of this initiative was realistic optimism and a sense of control.  Now at 82, Rachel is helping others to confront the mixed blessing of longevity.  She inspires confidence that we can shape our old age. 

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Rachel and me on Tea Toast & Trivia to discuss how to be old.

Thank you, Rachel for sharing your profound insights on how the gift of longevity. This has been a wonderful conversation.

Listeners you can meet up with Rachel on her website, Write Into Life, Amazon and Goodreads.  You are only an internet click away from journeys that enrich the soul.

Music by Epidemic Sound

S.A. Karl "Castor" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/BUaOZZJ5UG/

Claude Signet "Together Is Better" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/gPLIAeQ0Cj/

More Than Family "This Way My Dear" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/qMY1hUHSLT/




Mar 27, 202319:18
Mary Lunnen on Embracing our Inner Wisdom

Mary Lunnen on Embracing our Inner Wisdom

S5 E7: Mary Lunnen on Embracing our Inner Wisdom

“I cannot know, none of us can, what the year ahead will bring.  I can make plans and hope that they will become reality. And they may well change through my choice or through circumstances outside my control. My ‘word of the year’ for 2023 is ‘Presence’…To be in the moment as much as possible.” Mary Lunnen, Dare to Blossom January 2023

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Join me as I travel virtually to Wadebridge, a town in north Cornwall, England, to meet up with writer, artist and Global Life Coach, Mary Lunnen.  I first met Mary through a mutual friend and frequent guest on TTT, Liz Humphreys. Liz shared three “rediscovery cards” in an Instagram Post.  These rediscovery cards are used by Mary for guided meditation and reflection. I was intrigued!  Dare to Blossom Life Coaching with Mary is based around the principle of rediscovering our inner wisdom and awakening to a sense of wellbeing.

It is time to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

Thank you for joining Mary and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you, Mary, for sharing your insights on coaching, on seeking an inner wisdom, on embracing the unknown and being open to possibilities.

Listeners,  I invite you to meet up with Mary on her website, Dare to Blossom, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I know that you will be inspired by the Mary’s story and her dedication to living boldly within a complex, ever changing world.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your journey leads you.

Mary’s latest book: Your Compass Rose Speaks

“The culmination of all my work over the last twenty years since establishing Dare to Blossom Life Coaching in 2003, this book offers you a way to explore the tools and processes that I have developed over this time, along with insights of my journey along the way, and stories from those who have joined me.” Mary Lunnen


Music by David Celeste "April in Detroit" Epidemic Sound 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Y3IFt1ExKU/

Mar 13, 202323:55
Ken Gierke on A Poet’s Voice

Ken Gierke on A Poet’s Voice

S5 E6:  Ken Gierke on A Poet’s Voice

warmth of a pale light

found as clouds part

rewarded

while seeking the moon

on a cool autumn night

Ken Gierke, The Moons of Autumn, Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

The Moons of Autumn: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse, edited by Colleen M. Chesebro and JulesPaige is a profound exploration of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.  The theme of this journal was influenced by the Harvest, Hunter’s, and Frost moons, which are the names given to the three full moons that transpire during the autumn months.   Within the pages of this poetry collection, the diverse mix of syllabic poetry has ignited my desire to explore a poetic journey.

Today, I am delighted that Ken Gierke, whose poetry is featured in “The Moons of Autumn,” has joined me to give voice to his poetry. Welcome to podcast series, “A Poet’s Voice”, which brings words of poetry from across the world to your home.

Ken Gierke retired and moved from Western New York to Missouri.  Time spent on or near the water has always been important to Ken. In a past life, that meant boating and scuba diving. Today, it means kayaking or walking along a river or stream. It may even mean sitting on a shoreline, writing poetry. Ken finds threefold reward in poetry – reading, writing, and the acceptance of his readers.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Ken and me on Tea Toast & Trivia to reflect on the beauty of poetic words.

Thank you, Ken for sharing your insights on how poetry allows us to describe the world around us in unexpected ways.  This has been a wonderful conversation.

Listeners you can meet up with Ken on his website rivrylogr.com and on Amazon. You are only an internet click away from journeys that enrich the soul.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, keep reading and reciting poetry.

Safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by 

1) Yonder Dale "To All a Good Night" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/PqpBEBUUhI/

2) Johannes Bornlöf "Burned Letters" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Vchv0ZhyC4/

3) Bonn Fields "Love at First Glance" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Vchv0ZhyC4/

4) Megan Wofford "Starlight Wonder" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/CO9LsVYIWT/


Feb 27, 202321:04
John Quinn on The Dundee Connection with Mary Shelley

John Quinn on The Dundee Connection with Mary Shelley

S5 E5:  John Quinn on The Dundee Connection with Mary Shelley


“I lived principally in the country as a girl and passed a considerable time in Scotland. I made occasional visits to the more picturesque parts; but my habitual residence was on the blank and dreary northern shores of the Tay, near Dundee. Blank and dreary on retrospection I call them; they were not so to me then. They were the eyry of freedom, and the pleasant region where unheeded I could commune with the creatures of my fancy.

Mary Shelly, In the introduction to the 1831 edition, Frankenstein

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Who was Mary Shelley?  What is her connection to Dundee?  What influence did Dundee have on her writing of Frankenstein?

I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Dundee, Scotland where I am meeting up with John Quinn, writer, poet, and lyricist to discuss these questions.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining John and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, John for sharing your insights and your commitment to the city of Dundee and the memory of a young teenager who would give the gift of her book, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus to the world.

I leave you with this quote,

“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be his world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Trabant 33 "Fountain of Miracles" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/hBLXkhqXiS/


Feb 13, 202318:18
Celebrating Up Helly Aa with Sarah McBurnie

Celebrating Up Helly Aa with Sarah McBurnie

S5 E4: Celebrating Up Helly Aa with Sarah McBurnie


January 31, 2023, the last Tuesday of January, the fire festival of Up Helly Aa is happening. A huge torchlight procession of hundreds of Vikings is marching through the streets of Lerwick, carrying flaming torches and singing traditional Norse skalds.

Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I have arrived virtually in Lerwick, Shetland to meet up with my friend, Sarah McBurnie who was our intrepid guide on our 2018 Shetland adventure.

Up Helly Aa is happening tonight.

Sarah has invited us to celebrate Shetland’s Norse heritage with her.   I have always wanted to attend Up Helly Aa, so join me for a Viking adventure that promises feasting, music, and dancing!

Listeners, thank you for joining Sarah and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you Sarah for sharing the excitement of Up Helly Aa.   You were an excellent guide on our visit to Shetland and I’m looking forward to meeting up with you again on Tea Toast Trivia.

Listeners, I invite you to connect with Sarah on her website, See Shetland. Sarah conducts exclusive guided tours with personalized itineraries for visitors to Shetland from all over the world.

We came as visitors to experience this amazing place and left as friends, thanks to Sarah and the many people we met along the journey through the Shetland Islands. You are only an internet click away from a remarkable adventure that will take you from birdwatching, archaeology to the celebration of Up Helly Aa

Until next time we meet dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Kikoru  "Clouds Over Mountains" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EbaDeotpAO/

Jan 31, 202319:51
Celebrating Robert Burns & The Address to A Haggis
Jan 25, 202313:07
On the Road with Bryan Davis and Cary Hubbard

On the Road with Bryan Davis and Cary Hubbard

S5 E2: On the Road with Bryan Davis and Cary Hubbard


“Cars are almost part of my physiology. I grew up playing amongst the dusty shelves of my family’s auto parts store. In my reckless youth pushing our delivery trucks to the point of mechanical failure was the best way I could find to learn about cars and how they worked. As a responsible adult I channel that interest into connecting with fellow enthusiasts through events, writing and social media.”

Bryan Davis, Esoteric Automotive Antiquarian

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in!

I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am travelling virtually to Albuquerque to meet up with Cary Hubbard of Cary’s Garage, who you know from the Project Z Car Revival podcast series at Tea Toast & Trivia.  From Albuquerque, Cary and I are winging our way across to New York to connect with Bryan Davis, Automotive Writer, and Social Media Manager.  Bryan is known as an Esoteric Automotive Antiquarian who is dedicated to the history, design, manufacture, and “roadability” of the unloved cars of the Malaise Era.

Cary and Bryan are the podcast hosts of Motors and Martinis that take us on amazing road adventures. What is an Automotive Antiquarian?  What is the “Malaise Era?”  And how can there be unloved cars?  These are the questions that will be answered today.

This is going to be a great discussion so put the kettle and join the conversation.

Thank you for joining Cary, Bryan, and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Cary and Bryan for a brilliant discussion on memorable cars and memorable moments.

I invite you to meet up with Cary and Bryan on their podcast Motors and Martinis where you will find them talking about cars and all things esoteric.  Bryan’s website, Bryan Raab Davis will link you to Malaise Motors, the Little Facebook Group the Could.  Join Cary on his YouTube Channel, Cary’s Garage, which is dedicated to his love of Vehicles. Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles. His cars come from all corners of the globe!

Cary and Bryan have promised to come back for another road trip adventure.

Until next time we meet, safe travel wherever your adventures lead you


Music by Plain Stroll "Leave the Lights On." #EpidemicSound


https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/9oOwDuHvGF/

Jan 17, 202324:27
Catherine Cavendish on Writing Gothic Horror

Catherine Cavendish on Writing Gothic Horror

S5 E1: Catherine Cavendish on Writing Gothic Horror

“1941. In the dark days of war-torn London, Violet works in Churchill’s subterranean top secret Cabinet War Rooms, where key decisions that will dictate Britain’s conduct of the war are made. Above, the people of London go about their daily business as best they can, unaware of the life that teems beneath their feet. Night after night the bombs rain down, yet Violet has far more to fear than air raids. A mysterious man, a room only she can see, memories she can no longer trust, and a best friend who denies their shared past… Something or someone – is targeting her.” Catherine Cavendish, Dark Observation

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Join me as I travel virtually to the sea in Southport, England, to meet up with writer, Catherine Cavendish, who has given us paranormal, ghostly, and Gothic horror novels and novellas. Her novels include Dark ObservationIn Darkness, Shadows Breathe, The Garden of Bewitchment. The Haunting of Henderson Close, The Devil’s Serenade, The Pendle Curse, and Saving Grace Devine.

Time to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation.

As many of you know, Edinburgh feels like my second home.  I just purchased Cat Cavendish’s “The Haunting of Henderson Close.”  This is the blurb:

In the depths of Edinburgh, an evil presence is released. Hannah and her colleagues are tour guides who lead their visitors along the spooky, derelict Henderson Close, thrilling them with tales of spectres and murder. For Hannah it is her dream job, but not for long. Who is the mysterious figure that disappears around a corner? What is happening in the old print shop? And who is the little girl with no face?

This is going to be an amazing read.  I will keep the lights on.

Thank you for joining Cat and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. And a very special thank you, Cat, for sharing your insights on writing, embracing the unknown and being open to possibilities.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Cat on her website, Catherine Cavendish, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads. You are only an internet click away from being swept away on a haunting adventure.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your journey leads you.

Music by #EpidemicSound

Spectacles Wallet & Watch "Ghouls"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/i9zCHFRdAJ/

Howard Harper-Barnes "Mysterious Forest"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jR4dVTZ5wr/


Jan 03, 202321:38
Season’s Greetings from Ottawa, Ontario

Season’s Greetings from Ottawa, Ontario

S4 E46: Season‘s Greetings from Ottawa, Ontario

Wishing You The Joy Of Family

The Warmth Of Friends &

The Gifts Of Laughter, Peace & Love!

Rebecca

A special thank you to my brother, Brian R Brodhead, who provided the music accompaniment of Silent Night.

Dec 25, 202202:18
Merril D Smith on A Poet’s Voice

Merril D Smith on A Poet’s Voice

Season 4 Episode 45: Merril D Smith on A Poet’s Voice

"frost-specked

the grass glistens

 in October moonlight,

silvered pale…a scurry of mice,

ghost-like." 

Merril D. Smith, The Moons of Autumn: Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

The Moons of Autumn: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse, edited by Colleen M. Chesebro and JulesPaige is a profound exploration of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.  The theme of this journal was influenced by the Harvest, Hunter’s, and Frost moons, which are the names given to the three full moons that transpire during the autumn months.   Within the pages of this poetry collection, the diverse mix of syllabic poetry has ignited my desire to explore a poetic journey.

Today, I am delighted that Merril D Smith whose poetry is featured in “The Moons of Autumn” has joined me to give voice to her poetry. Welcome to the series, “A Poet’s Voice”, which brings words of poetry from across the world to your home.

Merril D. Smith is a writer, editor, independent scholar, and poet. She is the author and editor of several books. Merril’s poetry is often inspired by the natural world around her. Her poetry has been published by several presses, and she is working on a full-length poetry collection, as well as some smaller collections. In April 2022, Nightingale & Sparrow Press published her first full-length collection, River Ghosts.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Merril and me on Tea Toast & Trivia to reflect on the beauty of poetic words.

Thank you, Merril for sharing your insights on how poetry allows us to describe the world around us in unexpected ways.  I have enjoyed traveling virtually to New Jersey to walk along the Delaware River with you.

Listeners, you can meet up with Merril D. Smith on her website Merril D Smith, Amazon and Goodreads.  You are only an internet click away from poetry that enriches the soul.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, keep reading and reciting poetry.

Safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by: 

Claude Signet "No One But Yourself" 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/l89C9VoigE/

David Celeste "Everyday People"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/T32oSvAWoI/

Emily Rubye "Remember"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/KSh4jHCiBF/

#EpidemicSound

Dec 05, 202220:57
Emma Trotter on Lyon in Mourning and the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion

Emma Trotter on Lyon in Mourning and the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion

S4 E44: Emma Trotter on Lyon in Mourning and the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion

"The Lyon in Mourning is a collection of Journals, Narratives, and Memoranda relating to the life of Prince Charles Edward Stuart at and subsequent to the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.The formation of this collection was to a great extent the life-work of the Rev. Robert Forbes, M.A., Bishop of Ross and Caithness.” From the Preface, Lyon in Mourning

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.

Dr. Leith Davis, Professor of English at Simon Fraser University is a co-founder of the Department of English’s Master of Arts program with Specialization in Print Culture. She is the Director of Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Scottish Studies.  Her current project, which she discussed in a previous TTT podcast, is on The Lyon in Mourning, Memoirs of The Rebellion of 1745. It is a collaboration with the National Library of Scotland and SFU’s Digital Humanities Innovation Lab.

Today, I am joined by Emma Trotter, Dr. Davis’s research assistant, to share her thoughts on the Lyon in Mourning project.  Emma is currently finishing up her Undergraduate BA at Simon Fraser University in English and completing her Certificate in Writing & Rhetoric. Her research interests include 17th-century American and Puritan literature, as well as late 18th-century feminist literary criticism.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Emma and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Emma, for opening the doors of the past and demonstrating the power of story to influence our lives today.

I invite you to meet up with Emma and Dr. Leith Davis at the Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University. The Centre, located at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby campus, provides a focal point for faculty, students, and all who are interested in exploring Scottish history and culture and the connections between Scotland and Canada in the contemporary global landscape.  It is a place where the past reaches out to our time and reminds us to live boldly, with courage and hope.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Trabant33 "Dreams of the Brave" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zhMobBG9tX/

Nov 29, 202221:06
Timothy Price on Music and Creative Endeavour

Timothy Price on Music and Creative Endeavour

S4 E43: Timothy Price on Music and Creative Endeavour


Reflections dive deep
Into swift waters stilled
Winter’s magic ethereal light
Walks on water, river sprites
Tiptoe under thin light gleaming
Watchful sliver moon alone

Slips between shadows, darkness
Chimeric light leads me home

Excerpt from a Walk in Winter by Timothy Price

@TimothyPrice

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am traveling virtually to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet up with my blogger friend, writer, poet, musician, and photographer, Timothy Price. He joins me today for a discussion on music and creative endeavour.

I have been following Tim’s blog since my first introduction to him on Resa McConaghy’s blog,  Art Gowns, The Art of Glamorous Fantasy. Tim has a marvelous sense of humour and a love of photography and music.  What I especially appreciated about Tim is that he provides sustained support and encouragement for artistic pursuits.

Tim reminds me that creativity opens us to experience a deeper understanding of who we are and how we relate to the world around us.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Tim and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Tim, for a brilliant discussion on music and creative endeavours.

I invite meet up with Tim and his friends on his blog Off Centre Not Even.   It is a great place to hang out and listen to music,

Until next time, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Martin Landstrom "(Why are you) Telling Me No."  #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/lHsD0R61l1/

Nov 21, 202224:54
The Trio on Living the Dream
Nov 08, 202215:59
D.L. Finn on A Poet’s Voice

D.L. Finn on A Poet’s Voice

S4 E41:  D.L. Finn on A Poet’s Voice

blood red trees

autumn’s forest glows

hunter moon

D.L Finn, Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

The Moons of Autumn: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse, edited by Colleen M. Chesebro and JulesPaige is a profound exploration of Japanese and American syllabic poetry.  The theme of this journal was influenced by the Harvest, Hunter’s, and Frost moons, which are the names given to the three full moons that transpire during the autumn months.   Within the pages of this poetry collection, the diverse mix of syllabic poetry has ignited my desire to explore a poetic journey. 

Today, I am delighted that D.L. Finn whose poetry is featured in “The Moons of Autumn” has joined me to give voice to her poetry. Welcome to the first podcast in the series, “A Poet’s Voice”, which brings words of poetry from across the world to your home.

D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, a unique autobiography, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining D.L. Finn and me on Tea Toast & Trivia to share the beauty of poetic words.

Thank you, D.L. Finn for sharing your insights on how poetry allows us to describe the world around us in unexpected ways.


Music by David Celeste "Wake Up with Me" 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/lNvPapTBle/

Music By Rannar Sillard "Worlds Apart" 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/DfrxaRrTVW/

#EpidemicSound


Oct 24, 202216:59
Tristan Price and Cary Hubbard on the Project Z Car Revival

Tristan Price and Cary Hubbard on the Project Z Car Revival

S4 E40: Tristan Price and Cary Hubbard on the Project Z Car Revival

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia! Thank you for listening in!

I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

A few weeks ago, I attended a family wedding in Squamish, British Columbia, the town famous for mountain biking and hiking in summer and snowmobiling and back-country skiing in winter. When we arrived in the parking area of our hotel, we were surprised to find a Red 1993 Suzuki Sidekick JL parked in a nearby parking space.   Even more amazing, when we looked closer, we realized that this was the car that we purchased in 1993.  When we met up with the current owner, we were told that she was the fourth owner of our car.

Cars have personal histories, too!

Today I am excited that I will be heading back Cary’s Garage for an update on the Project Z Car Revival project.   You will recall that Tim Price from Off Center & Not Even  introduced me to Cary Hubbard from Cary’s Garage a few months ago. Cary picked up a 1980 Datsun 280ZX that he was going to get back on the road.   

Today, a special guest is joining Cary and me on TTT. 

Tristan Price, the owner of the 1980 Datsun 280ZX, has come to tell the history behind this special car.

This is going to be a great discussion so put the kettle on, stop by and add to the conversation.

Thank you for joining Tristan, Cary, and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

And a special thank you, Tristan and Cary for the history and update on the legendary 1980 Datsun 280ZX. I have enjoyed this conversation.

I invite you to meet up with Cary on his YouTube Channel, Cary’s Garage. This channel is dedicated to Cary’s love of Vehicles. Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles. His cars come from all corners of the globe!  You are only an internet click away from being on an extraordinary road adventure with the Project Z Car Revival.

Until next time we meet, safe travel wherever your adventures lead you.

Music by Plain Strolls "Leave the Lights On." Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/9oOwDuHvGF/

Oct 11, 202227:15
Looking Back with Frances on Farming

Looking Back with Frances on Farming

S4 E38: Looking back with Frances on Farming

"There are few left alive now who remember those days.  There were none of the new inventions of tractor driven machinery that became available to the more prosperous farmers in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.  The machinery was horse or mule driven.  For the women, there were no modern stoves or refrigerators.  Milk and butter were kept cold by lowering the items into the cisterns in the warm summer months.  Cooking stoves used for preparing meals made the kitchen extremely and almost unbearably hot in the summertime.” Frances, My Mother's Memoirs

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for listening in!

Today, I am joined by my mother, Frances, to remember what it was like to live on a farm in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

We invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion.

Thank you for joining Frances and me on Tea Toast and Trivia.

Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.

Sep 19, 202212:47
Darlene Foster Reading Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral

Darlene Foster Reading Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral

S4 E38: Darlene Foster Reading Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral

Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline.

Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome to the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.  I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am thrilled to introduce Darlene Foster who has graciously agreed to be our guest author reading from her novel, Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral (An Amanda Travel Adventure Book 9) which I have pre-ordered to be delivered to me in Kindle and paperback format on September 13, 2022.    I confess that I wanted a preview of Amanda’s exciting new adventure in Paris - the City of Light or in French, La Ville-Lumière.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you for joining Darlene and me on Tea Toast & Trivia “Authors reading their Books”.

And a special thank you, Darlene, for reading from Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral.  I look forward to tagging along with Amanda and her best friend, Leah, as they explore the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles, and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, while being drawn into the mystery surrounding the destructive fire of Notre Dame cathedral.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Darlene on Amazon, Goodreads and her website and blog Darlene Foster, which she created for writers, readers, travelers, dreamers, friends and friends she has not met yet.  It is a place where stories dwell.

Until next time, dear friends, save travels wherever you adventures take you.


Music by Jon Alger "Falling Raindrops" 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/OIfeErDZZZ/

Music by Trailer Worx "Sunshine in my Pocket"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/6idSWR6vo6/

#EpidemicSound


Sep 12, 202216:49
H.S. Eglund on the Sun and Solar Energy

H.S. Eglund on the Sun and Solar Energy

Season 4 Episode 37: H.S. Eglund on the Sun and Solar Energy Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am you host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you. I am travelling virtually over 7900 kilometers to Berlin, Germany to meet up with my friend, Eglund, journalist and writer, to discuss the sun and the energy that comes from the sun. Eglund believes that the topic of solar energy should not be reduced to the technical side of solar cells.  Humanity has had and continues to have a connection to the sun throughout history. Eglund is an engineer and publicist. He worked as a science journalist and reporter in Africa for several German newspapers.  Since 2005, his focus has been on the environmental initiatives. As a specialist journalist for renewable energies, he works within media related to the ecological energy transition, first of all about solar energy. I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you Eglund, for sharing your insights and latest developments in solar energy.  It is heartening to know that we can all make a difference. Dear listeners, thank you for joining Eglund and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.  Stay tuned for Eglund’s return for another stimulating conversation. Until next time, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you. Music by Bonn Fields "Can You See the Stars From Here" #EpidemicSound https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/h35mpxlwTx/
Sep 05, 202223:43
Shehanne Moore on Dundee’s Famous Poet, William McGonagall

Shehanne Moore on Dundee’s Famous Poet, William McGonagall

S4 E36:  Shehanne Moore on Dundee’s Famous Poet, William McGonagall


“I may say Dame Fortune has been very kind to me by endowing me with the genius of poetry.” William McGonagall, The Autobiography of Sir William Topaz McGonagall

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.  

I am your host; Rebecca Budd and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Join me as I travel virtually to Broughty Ferry, Scotland, Dundee’s Historic Seaside Village, to meet up with my friend, writer, and publisher, Shehanne Moore. Shehanne has given us exciting historical romances – O’Roarke’s Destiny, His Judas Bride, Loving Lady Lazuli, The Unraveling of Lady Fury, and the list goes on.

As many of you know, Shehanne, has extensive knowledge of classical literature.  A few months ago, she introduced me to William McGonagall, one of Scotland’s best-known poets. I confess that I had never heard this name before.

William McGonagall was the son of the working-class Irish handloom weavers. He was born in 1825 in Edinburgh and raised in Dundee.  Some say that William McGonagall was the worst poet ever to commit pen to paper and yet, his poetry has never been out of print since his death in 1902. His influence is seen in the works of Spike Milligan, The Muppet Show, Terry Pratchett, and Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Who was William McGonagall?  Why was his poetry deemed “the worst?”  Was he a fool or a genius?  These are the questions that will be discussed today.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you, Shehanne for introducing me to an unforgettable poet who persevered despite ridicule by those who looked down on his lowly station and humble verse.  The more I read about William McGonagall, the more I see his brilliance.

The poem “Attempted Assassination of the Queen” by Knight of the White Elephant of Burmah, William McGonagall can be accessed on the following link:

Attempted Assassination Of The Queen

Thank you for joining Shehanne and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

I invite you to meet up with Shehanne on WordPress, Pinterest, and Twitter. You are only an internet click away from being swept away on a daring adventure.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures take you.


Music by: #EpidemicSound

Howard Harper Barnes "Behind Every Powerful Man"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yKWtfxzmse/

Claude Signet "Together is Better"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/gPLIAeQ0Cj/


Aug 29, 202221:54
Joseph Macdonald on Engaging within a Global Community

Joseph Macdonald on Engaging within a Global Community

“There is no way to define my engagement in this process other than to call it a passion.  A passion for supporting immigrants and refugees in every way possible and for enhancing communication and understanding for all people.” Joseph Macdonald, Strategic and Business Development Specialist

S4 E35:  Joseph Macdonald on Engaging within a Global Community

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am travelling virtually across the Canadian Rockies to Calgary, Alberta, where I am meeting up with Joseph Macdonald, an innovative thinker who connects with businesses to facilitate overcoming challenges.  Joseph is a brilliant communicator who fosters a sense of purpose and commitment within organizations, both private and public, enhancing opportunities for growth and influence. He believes that collaborative problem-solving encourages personal growth and increased job satisfaction.

Joseph is involved in many projects and initiatives.  Today, he has joined me to talk about working with partners from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and three Calgary immigrant serving organizations to deliver workshops on transcultural communication skills.

What is the definition of transcultural communication?  How do we acquire this skillset?  What are the benefits to us personally and to our communities? These are the questions that will be discussed today.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you, Joseph, for sharing your knowledge, experience, and insights.  Although we have never met in person, you have been a source of encouragement to me over the years.  You remind me that we are living the story of our generation.  Our stories will link to the past, influence the future, and become interwoven within the greater narrative of humanity.

Listeners, I invite you to connect with Joseph on LinkedIn and the website, Transcultural Communications Workshop

Until next time we meet dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Experia "Never Give Up" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Lv2ddiD84X/

Aug 22, 202224:24
Looking Back with Frances on Sod Houses

Looking Back with Frances on Sod Houses

S4 E34: Looking Back with Frances on Sod Houses

Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.

May 22, 2022, The City of Vancouver held a symposium to feature best practices in green roof design, maintenance and policy making on the West Coast.  This was in response to Vancouver’s ambitious targets of having all new buildings “carbon neutral” by 2030.  One of the strategies is to promote green roofs as a way of managing rainwater.  It is called the RainCity Strategy.

The United States Environment Protection Agency supports this strategy: “Green roofs have been proven to help reduce heat islands.”  The European Commission recognizes the multiple benefits of green roofs in a new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.

Green Roofs are emerging as a global strategy.   And yet, green roofs have been with us throughout history.  We continue to build on knowledge that has come before. As Isaac Newton remarked a few centuries ago: “if I have seen further [than others], it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Today, I am joined by my mother, Frances, to discuss sod houses. I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion.

"Carl A. Oman was a tall, very handsome man.  He was born and spent his early childhood in Oman, Sweden.  His surname came from his birthplace, a choice was made to change the family name when they came to the United States.  He came as a young unmarried man, possibly to prepare for the arrival of the rest of his family.  Many of his relatives settled in Minden, Nebraska, but he chose to homestead approximately fifteen miles between the towns of Callaway and Arnold, Nebraska.  Gothenburg lay 24 miles to the south. There is not much information about his family, but he did have brothers who “made it well”.  One settled further to the west and one chose to go to Alaska to mine for gold." Frances, My Mother’s Memoirs

Thank you for joining Frances and me on Tea Toast and Trivia as we looked back at how sod houses created family homes.

Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.

Special note: When I entered the world of podcasting in 2019, my first goal was to preserve my mother, Frances’s story.   Frances was raised on a farm in Nebraska during the eventful decades of 1930’s and 1940’s.   We read about the Great Depression that spanned the years from 1929 – 1939 and acknowledge that it was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world.  And yet, it is when we hear the stories of those who lived in those years that we come to appreciate how history continues to influence our present reality.


Music by Emily Rubye “In Another Life” #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zBn6lcut8W/


Aug 16, 202210:32
Travelling to Halifax with Michelle Hunter

Travelling to Halifax with Michelle Hunter

S4 E33: Traveling to Halifax with Michelle Hunter

Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

Living in the reality of Covid-19, travel has been curtailed, internationally as well as domestically.   While travel is coming back, I have found that virtual travel is possible through the alchemy of technology.

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia – “The Virtual Journey” which will explore new horizons through the eyes of a friend.  As Marcel Proust reminds me, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Today, I am traveling back to Halifax to meet up with my friend and colleague, Michelle Hunter. Halifax is located in the Maritime Province of Nova Scotia on the Eastern Coast of Canada. Halifax is also the home of my Alma Mater, Dalhousie University, where Michelle and I first met twenty years ago.

Michelle Hunter is the Acting Director of the Centre for Executive and Graduate Education, Dalhousie University.  She has been a support for hundreds of graduate students over the years offering a compassionate voice, helping students achieve a home-work-study balance.

Welcome to Halifax!

Time to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this adventure with you.

Thank you, Michelle, for an amazing travel adventure. I felt I was in Halifax with you, walking in Halifax Public Gardens.

Dear listeners, thank you for joining Michelle and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Until next time we meet, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by: Trabant 33 "Dreams of the Brave"  Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zhMobBG9tX/

Aug 08, 202216:42
Dan Antion Reading “Knuckleheads: Book 1 in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series

Dan Antion Reading “Knuckleheads: Book 1 in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series

S4 E32: Dan Antion Reading “Knuckleheads: Book 1 in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series”

Welcome to Tea. Toast. and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.

Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline.

Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.

I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am delighted that Dan Antion has joined me from Hartford Connecticut as our guest author reading from his freshly published book, “Knuckleheads, the first book in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series. This story introduces the main characters in this series, in which the next two books will follow in late summer and early winter 2022.

Dan Antion was born outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up and attended college in the area around western Pennsylvania.   As many of you know, Dan has written and published the popular No Facilities blog since 2011. A lifelong interest in writing became a reality after he retired from a successful 42-year-long career in information management.

This promises to be an exciting event so put the kettle and add to the conversation.

Thank you for joining Dan Antion and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. Authors reading their Books.

And a special thank you, Dan, for taking us on an adventure through your book Knuckleheads.  I have enjoyed reading Knuckleheads – Book 1 and look forward to the next two books that will soon to be available.

Listeners, I invite you to meet up with Dan on his blog, No Facilities, Amazon and Goodreads.

Until next time, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.

Music by Bireli Snow "Lightweight" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/D6AkAa8fwM/

Music by Cody Francis "I remember Well" Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/LhfEcq46IM/

Aug 01, 202220:28
Lily Style on the Love Story of Emma, Lady Hamilton & Lord Nelson

Lily Style on the Love Story of Emma, Lady Hamilton & Lord Nelson

S4 E31: Lily Style on the Love Story of Emma, Lady Hamilton & Lord Nelson

Lily Style “Horatia’s Secret” Lady Hamilton, illuminated by the early evening sun, smiled radiantly. “Horatia, my darling, but you are doing so very well. You are walking all by yourself, and so far! Good Lord Nelson will be so proud when I tell him; and I am proud too! God bless you, my darling!  Come here and give me a hug.’ She held her arms wide, encouraging her to toddle further, but caught her as soon as she stumbled, and drew her in close. “Oh, you are such a clever, and very good girl!’”

Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia.

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Lily Style, writer, historian, and genealogist, and I are once again connecting the village of South Brent in Devon, Britain and Vancouver, Canada to discuss the remarkable life and legacy of Emma, Lady Hamilton, the great love of Admiral Lord Nelson.

Lily is the direct descendant of Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma, Lady Hamilton.  She explores the past to piece together the real human stories lying behind dry facts. She writes regularly for Nelson-related publications. Horatia’s Secret is her first historical novel. And I understand that she is currently writing her next novel, The Tailor Prince.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia.

A special thank you, Lily for sharing your insights, your dedication to discovering the stories that have been hidden in the folds of history.

Listeners, thank you for joining Lily and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.

I invite you to connect with Lily on her website, Lily Style,  on AmazonGoodreads, and Emma Hamilton Society.

Until next time we meet, dear friends, keep safe wherever your adventures take you.


Music by Trevor Kowalski "Uphill Aspiration" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/E8U9IUJtfs/

Jul 25, 202221:42
Valerie Peachey on Time and What is Next is Now

Valerie Peachey on Time and What is Next is Now

S4 E30:  Valerie Peachey on Time and What is Next is Now

Søren Kierkegaard “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia!

Thank you for listening in.

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Oxford Languages defines the word “time” as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.  The idea of travel through space and time.   It can also be described as a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.

And that is only the beginning, for there are many meanings embedded in this 4-letter word.

I am delighted that Dr. Valerie Peachey has joined me on Tea Toast and Trivia to share her insights on our relationship with time throughout our lives.  Valerie has lived many adventures and continues to add new adventures to her life story.  So put the kettle on and add to this exciting discussion on Tea Toast & Trivia.

A special thank you, Valerie, for sharing your insights on living in the “now,” embracing our personal adventures, welcoming new challenges, pursuing new sources of meaning and ways in which to give back to our communities both local and global.

Listeners, thank you for joining Valerie and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.  We would enjoy reading your thoughts and ideas on time and “what is next is now.”

Until next time, dear friends, safe travels wherever your adventures lead you.


Music by Francis Well "The Garden Repertoire"  #EpidemicSound 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/On6HBsHBxm/

Jul 18, 202220:59
Pete Springer Reading “They Call Me Mom”

Pete Springer Reading “They Call Me Mom”

S4 29: Pete Springer Reading “They Call Me Mom” 

Welcome to Tea Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in.  I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops are great places for book readings. There is something extraordinary about hearing the voice of an author reading their stories. Their voice and intonation are nuanced by the many hours of effort putting pen to paper.  They created the characters, structured the plot, and lived every twist and turn that creates bumps in the storyline.

Public libraries and bookstores have expanded their reach into a global community. Book readings have gone virtual.  We are learning to embrace technology in new ways.  Welcome the podcast series, “Authors Reading their Books”, which brings authors and their books from across the world to your home.  I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

I am thrilled to introduce Pete Springer who has graciously agreed to be our guest author reading from his book, They Call Me Mom. Pete is a former elementary school teacher (grades 2-6) in Eureka, California.  He said that he retired in 2016, but from what I have read, he is far from retired.  His passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers, which is demonstrated by his dedication to lifelong learning.

Thank you for joining Pete Springer and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. Authors reading their Books.

And a special thank you, Pete , for giving us insight into They Call Me Mom. You have inspired me, and I know that you have inspired readers and listeners to embrace a creative journey.

I invite you to meet up with Pete on his blog, Pete Springer, Amazon and Goodreads. It is a place that celebrates the joy of learning.

Until next time, dear friends, stay safe, be well.


Music by Trailer Worx "History Among Us" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xXxitkxwMU/

Jul 11, 202220:40
Colleen Chesebro on the Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry

Colleen Chesebro on the Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry

S4 28: Colleen Chesebro on the Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry


silver Luna’s soft glow highlights night
sky echoes stars, hoarfrost lace glints
upon fallen leaves of gold
tree shadow skeletons
shiver in the wind
autumn rushes
in the cold
before
dawn.

Colleen M. Chesebro
Word Weaving # 1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse


Welcome to Tea. Toast. & Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am delighted that writer and poet, Colleen Chesebro, and I are connecting Michigan and British Columbia to discuss the art of current and traditional forms of syllabic poetry.

Colleen believes that the art of crafting poetry strengthens our writing skills.  In her book, Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry, she writes: “When we create poetry, we gain command of language; cultivate a healthy vocabulary, master literary devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, and allegory.  We learn to work in imagery.”

Is writing poetry open to all of us?  How do we begin a poet’s journey? Where can we find support and encouragement from other poets?  These are the questions that will be discussed today.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you, Colleen for sharing your insights on how poetry allows us to describe the world around us in unexpected ways.   I am inspired by your final words in your book “Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry: Be bold. Be creative. Write some syllabic poetry.

Listeners you can meet up with Colleen on Word Craft Poetry,  Amazon and Goodreads. You are only an internet click away from the first step on your journey of learning the art of syllabic poetry.

Until next time, keep safe and be well.

Music by #EpidemicSound

Sight of Wonders "Hiro"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EByWyMm3WH/

Sight of Wonders "Japanese Garden"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/4EexXHllhO/

 

Jul 04, 202220:43
The Trio on Living the Age We Are, Right Now
Jun 27, 202215:50
Travelling to New Zealand with Mandy Henderson

Travelling to New Zealand with Mandy Henderson

S4 26: Travelling to New Zealand with Mandy Henderson

RETURN
I am home again.
My house seems too large, too empty.
In the silent hollow,
I fill vases with flowers.
Flowers for the kitchen window sill,
Cornflowers, lavender, nasturtiums.
Flowers for the bedroom,
Geranium, roses,
And some for the table.
The old posy ring brims full,
And in the stillness of the blooms,
There travels birdsong witho
ut,
And words within.
Mandy Henderson (Written in Dec 2014, after a family visit in Timaru)


Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this adventure with you.

Living in the reality of Covid-19, travel has been curtailed, internationally as well as domestically.   While travel is coming back, I have found, over the past months, that travel is possible through the alchemy of technology.

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia – “The Virtual Journey” which will explore new horizons through the eyes of a friend.  As Marcel Proust reminds me, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Today, I am traveling to New Zealand to meet up with my blogger friend, Mandy Henderson. New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses: the North Island and the South Island and over 700 smaller islands.

I invite you to put the kettle on and join the conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia. I have never been to New Zealand and am excited to be sharing this adventure with you.


Thank you, Mandy, for an amazing travel adventure. I felt I was New Zealand with you.

Dear listeners, thank you for joining Mandy and me on Tea Toast & Trivia. Homecoming is a place of belonging and well-being, where we are at one with ourselves and with the world around us. As Mandy wrote after a visit with family, “And in the stillness of the blooms, There travels birdsong without, And words within.”

Until next time we meet, keep safe wherever your adventures take you.

Music by Claude Signet "Time to Blossom" #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/yziSBUL167/

Jun 20, 202229:09
Tea and Oranges

Tea and Oranges

Season 4 Episode 25: Tea & Oranges

Welcome to Tea Toast & Trivia. Thank you for listening in.

This is a podcast in the series called, “It’s all about tea.”

I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with you. So put the kettle on and join me for Tea, Toast. and a little Trivia, where we will discuss the mysteries and adventures of tea: their origins, stories, aromas, and delicious tastes.

I’m making a special cup of tea today, one that is a reminder of friendships, past and present, and the conversations in between. This story dates to the early 1970’s when I moved from Winnipeg to Edmonton.  It was a time of beginnings, and I was eager for new adventures. For me, the 1970’s meant change and forging new possibilities and opportunities.  I was ready to meet new friends, live on my own and embark on an academic journey at University of Alberta.

Canada is a huge country.  There are 1,304.8 kilometres between Winnipeg and Edmonton, which according to my Google sources takes about 13 hours and 21 minutes to drive.  It was no small move.

Tonight, as I wait for my tea to steep, I take a backward glance over forty years and congratulate myself on choosing a city that changed the trajectory of my life.

Edmonton was where I was introduced to a famous blend of tea flavoured with a secret recipe (of course it would be secret) of orange rind and sweet spice.  Oh, the aroma was marvelous.  It was also a nod to my favourite young Canadian poet, Leonard Cohen.

"Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she's half-crazy but that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China”

Ah, Leonard Cohen.  Did Suzanne really serve him tea and oranges that came all the way from China?  Yes, she did! According to many sources, including NPR, when asked this question Leonard would reply:  “She fed me a tea called Constant Comment, which has small pieces of orange rind in it, which gave birth to the image.”

Constant Comment became my constant companion those years.   Even now, I keep a stash of Constant Comment teabags, wrapped in colourful foil, that when opened, releases a feel-good cinnamon and orange fragrance. Ahhhhh!!! And I say this, without any prompting from The Bigelow Tea Company.

Speaking of “feel good” sensations, the legend behind Constant Comment adds to the enjoyment of taking tea.  You may think that a tea connoisseur fashioned the blend.  After all, Constant Comments remains one of Bigelow’s most popular product.  It was an interior designer, Ruth Campbell Bigelow, who was the mastermind. For more on this story, I invite you to link to Alan Bisbort’s article “Bigelow Tea – A Connecticut Tea Party” in the Connecticut Explored magazine.

But what to name the tea?  Here is where serendipity stepped in.


Life has a way of evolving in ways that surprise and delight. We are born for exploration. Our curiosity and imagination have the power open doors of possibilities.

So, until next time, dear listeners, safe travels wherever your adventures take you. And don’t forget to bring along tea.
Jun 13, 202211:36
Lyn Morton on Photography, Stories and Community

Lyn Morton on Photography, Stories and Community

Season 4 Episode 24: Lyn Morton on Photography, Stories, and Community Welcome to Tea, Toast and Trivia. Thank you for listening in. I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.

I am delighted that I am travelling virtually to Hawthorne, New Jersey, where I am meeting up with photographer, mentor, and personal branding coach, Lynford Morton.

Lyn and I have known each other ever since I joined his on-line photo group that he mentored several years ago.  During this course, group members posted a photo a day with a short explanation. I confess being intimidated by the calibre of photographers, but soon felt a kinship and camaraderie within this group.  Lyn’s enthusiasm and inclusive approach opened the world of photography for me.

Branding & marketing is in Lyn’s blood. He sold his first logo at 12 years old when his school held a contest to see if anyone could create a logo. Lyn won first place and pocketed a tidy $25 prize. The school is still using Lyn’s logo to this day.

How has photography changed the way we view the world?  What is the future of photography in our digital age? How can we engage within a dynamic virtual world? These are the questions that will be discussed today.

I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting dialogue on Tea Toast & Trivia.

Thank you, Lyn, for sharing your knowledge, experience, and insights.  You have been a source of encouragement to me over the years.  You remind me that photography is personal because it tells our story and documents, along with all the other photos that circulate in our virtual world, the greater narrative of our generation.

Listeners, I invite you to connect with Lyn on his website, Shutterbug Life.

Until next time we meet dear friends, keep safe and be well.

Special note on statistics stated in the podcast: How many selfies are taken a day? According to Photutorial’s data, 92 million selfies will be taken daily across all devices in 2022. This number coincides with the fact that 2.3 billion photos are taken every day, 4% of which are selfies.


Music by Max Anson "Heart on Hold" #EpidemicSound 

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/okcVNLImxX/

Jun 06, 202220:44