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It’s officially happening—I'm just two weeks away from heading to Japan for Star Wars Celebration 2025! In this episode, I talk through everything I’ve got planned so far (and everything I still need to figure out). From panel reservations that didn’t go my way to plotting late-night food tours in Tokyo, the itinerary is finally starting to come together. I’m excited, overwhelmed, and trying to figure it all out as I go. Come along for the chaos!

Show Notes:

• My failed attempt at getting into the big Star Wars Celebration panels
• Why Andor is still one of my all-time favorite Star Wars stories
• My plan for surviving jet lag without… actually planning for it
• Tokyo adventures: izakaya crawls, sake tastings, and my upcoming baseball game at the Tokyo Dome
• Trying to choose between staying in Osaka or Kyoto (or both?)
• Why Hiroshima is a must-visit on this trip
• Real talk: I’m not a travel expert, but I’m learning along the way
• Updates on the podcast and YouTube channel—yes, I’m bringing my mic to Japan!
• What I still need to lock down (hotels, trains, tours... oh my)

👉 Follow along at Zoodletron.com for more blog updates, nerdy travel guides, and future episodes.

Thanks for being part of the journey—I can’t wait to share the adventure with you!

Description:
In this second episode of Adventures Assemble, I’m just three weeks away from boarding a plane to Tokyo for Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025—and wow, there’s still a LOT to figure out.

Join me as I talk through the panel reservation madness, what’s been announced so far, and my thoughts on all things Star Wars—from the original trilogy to the Disney+ shows (spoiler: I still haven’t finished Ahsoka). I also share a rough outline of my Japan trip plans, my fears about traveling solo, and a list of things I probably should’ve booked by now.

This episode is for fans who love Star Wars, fellow nerd travelers figuring it out as they go, and anyone wondering just how chaotic convention planning can get when you’re winging it across the Pacific.

In This Episode:

• My honest takes on Star Wars movies and shows (yes, even the prequels)
• Which panels I’m hoping to reserve—and why Andor is my #1 pick
• What I’m actually doing in Japan beyond Celebration (spoiler: eating egg salad and petting deer)
• How I feel about going solo, not speaking fluent Japanese, and still making it work
• Early plans for Akihabara, Osaka, Kyoto, and Expo 2025
• A peek into future episodes and nerdy travel dreams (hello, Halfling Marathon)

Mentioned:

• Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 Panel Schedule
• Tokyo travel prep chaos
• My Millennium Falcon Metal Earth model (pray for me)
• My undying love for Andor
• Yomiuri Giants baseball tickets ✅

Let’s Connect!
If you’re going to Star Wars Celebration or just want to say hi, shoot me a message through Zoodletron.com. I’d love to meet fellow fans and fellow nerd tourists.

Subscribe & Stay Tuned!
The next episode will cover what panels I (hopefully) scored, updates on my Japan itinerary, and more pre-trip chaos. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe—it helps new listeners find the show as I build this thing from the ground up.

Welcome to the very first episode of Adventures Assemble! I’m Ryan Hecht, and I’m heading to Japan for Star Wars Celebration 2025—and no, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.

This podcast isn’t a polished guide from a seasoned world traveler—it’s a real-time journey from someone figuring it out as he goes. In this episode, I introduce the show, talk about what Adventures Assemble is all about, share the chaos of prepping for a major international nerd trip, and explain why buying tickets before you’re ready might be the secret to actually making things happen.

Whether you're a fellow fandom traveler or just want to hear what it's like to plan a trip to Japan without a clue, you're in the right place.

In This Episode:

• What is Adventures Assemble and who the heck is Ryan?
• Why I’m going to Japan (and why I booked it before figuring anything out)
• A quick look back at my past Star Wars Celebration experiences (2019, 2022)
• What we know (and don’t know) about Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo
• My very loose plans: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, ramen, egg salad sandwiches
• The myth of “I’ll go someday” and why action beats perfection
• My promise: I’m learning as I go, and you’re coming with me

Resources Mentioned:

• Zoodletron.com – Blog + guide for Star Wars Celebration 2025
• YouTube Channel (Coming Soon)
• Translator apps & Suica cards
• YouTube channel recommendation: Kensho Quest

Next Episode:
I’ll dig into figuring out where I’m going to stay, what I’m going to eat, and whether Tokyo Disney is happening. Also: more nerdy stuff!