Coffee With Jim – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Pete Oprisko isn't old enough for a drivers license. But family vacation road trips and books have instilled in him an infectious curiosity as well as a passion for the American story, historic preservation, road trips, and legendary Route 66. So, if you are curious about how we ensure Route 66 and the great American road trip remain relevant in decades to come, and what will inspire a new generation to preserve Route 66 landmarks, today's program is for you.

Next week on Coffee With Jim it's a healthy dose of inspiration to embrace life through challenging adventures. Our guests is free lance journalist and adventurer Pam LeBlanc. An Austin-based freelance writer who specializes in stories about outdoor adventure and recreation, LeBlanc writes the weekly Fit City column. Her adventurers include a back to nature 5K, rappelling down a 38-story building, and an odyssey on the John Muir Trail in California. Invite your friends and join us for a lively conversation. www.pamleblancadventures.com

Today's program is sponsored in part by your support through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & Rav Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Connie's Shoppe and Wagon Wheel Motel, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel and RouteTrip USA. 

Tom Saluzzo, today’s guest, is a man on a mission. His vision of a museum that preserves artifacs from WWI to the Vietnam War will soon be a reality. But what makes this museum unique is the focus that is being placed on the exhibits and educational programs that tells the stories of men and women who served. 

Tom's road to pawnshop manager and museum organizer has been a long and twisted one. Along the way there was a stint as an aircraft mechanic, pilot, farmer, and large animal veterinarian assistant. Now he is well on his way to making the Museum of The Great Wars in Kingman, Arizona, a destination in a town with a rich aviation history that includes the WWII Kingman Army Airfield. This episode of Coffee With Jim is about chasing dreams, how a passion for the sharing of America's amazing story can inspire a new generation, and living life to its fullest.  

Today's episode is made possible through your support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Two Lane America, Connie's Shop and Wagon Wheel Motel, RouteTrip USA, and Deana Nelson State farm Insurance. 

Next week on Coffee With Jim - How do we ensure Route 66 and the great American road trip remain relevant in 2030? What inspires the next generation to preserve Route 66? Will a generation raised with tablets, smart phones, and video games be passionate about road trip adventures? I am asked those questions often. Today we get answers, insight and inspiration as our guest is Pete, an amazing young man that is passionate about the American experience that is a Route 66 adventure. Join the conversation. Invite your friends!

The past, present, and the future of Route 66 in Tulsa is our focus on this episode when we are joined by Steve Clem, author of Route 66 in Tulsa from Arcadia Publishing. Clem, a passionate Route 66 enthusiast and a trustee at Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum, co wrote this book with Becky Hatchett is president of the Southwest Tulsa Historical Society and volunteers at the Route 66 Historical Village. To order signed copies of Route 66 in Tulsa ($25.00 plus $5 for shipping) - route66intulsa@gmail.com

It's another smile inducing and road trip inspiring shared adventure with author, humorist, and author Jim Hinckley! In today's conversation with Steve Clem we talked about the Route 66 centennial, one of a kind restaurants along Route 66 in Tulsa, upcoming events, historic theaters, neon signs, historic preservation, the amazing Cyrus Avery, and much, much more. Come along for the ride. 

Thanksgiving. A time for reflection. Today's program is a bit different. It's a one sided conversation about holidays, holiday history, holiday traditions, gratitude, and family and friends (like Dries Bessels that I forgot to credit when talking about the latest book). So, what are you grateful for this holiday season? 

Mid century style, retro road trips, and the importance of websites in historic preservation and small business marketing were just a few of the subjects discussed in today's  wide ranging, occasionally smile inducing conversation with Mary-Frances O’Dea. Lustron homes (quirky prefabricated post WWII houses made of steel with porcelain enameled finish), time capsule motels, road trips, neon signs, muffler men, Schitt’s Creek, and the multi-colored kitchens of the 1950s were also woven into the lively and fast paced conversation.

Mary-Frances O’Dea is a Mid-Century enthusiast and accomplished web developer. Her work has been featured in national publications and in more than two decades of blogging. She is well known for bringing a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to every project. As the founder of the successful website development business Apricity Marketing (www.apricitymarketing.com), she specializes in creating innovative and effective digital solutions that help businesses thrive.

Next week on Coffee With Jim, we delve into the fascinating and complicated stoy of American holiday's from Thanksgiving and Christmas to Labor Day and the family vacation. 

Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored by Two Lane America - Roadrunner Lodge Motel - Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park - Wagon Wheel Motel - RouteTrip USA - Deanna Nelson State Farm Insurance - Cactus Inn Motel. Coffee With Jim is also made possible through support on Patreon.

Our guest on today's episode is Dal Smilie, Tin Can Tourists ambassador at large and co host of Tin Can Tourist Route 66 Centennial Caravan. We talked about the history of Tin Can Tourists, Curtis Wright and Airstream trailers, the Route 66 centennial, Studebaker trucks and the history of Studebaker in this wide ranging, road trip inspiring, smile inducing conversation.

Tin Can Tourists The Original Vintage Trailer and Camper Club - www.tincantourists.com

Tin Can Tourist Route 66 Centennial Caravan June 7, 2026 – June 14, 2026, two caravans that both end up in Texas. This is an official Route 66 Centennial event recognized by the Route 66 Centennial Planning Commission. https://route66centennial.org

Next week on Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, we will be talking about quirky lodging, the planning of retro road trips, mid century style from architecture to neon signs, preservation and historic landscaping when we visit with Mary-Frances O’Dea of Retro Roadtrip. 

Today's program is supported by listeners through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Two Lane America, Cactus Inn Motel (McLean, Texas), Roadrunner Lodge Motel (Tucumcari, New Mexico), Wagon Wheel Motel (Cuba, Missouri), Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, RouteTrip USA, and Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance in Kingman, Arizona. 

Needles, California Mayor Janet Jernigan joined us this morning to discuss community revitalization, the Route 66 centennial, cultural and heritage tourism, and the importance of building cooperative partnerships. We also discussed the upcoming Route 66 Info Fair scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026. 

With presentations, authors, a car show, live music, El Garces tours and other programs, this event is an excellent opportunity to discover Needles, and to celebrate the Route 66 centennial as well as the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Route 66 Info Fair is also a tremendous promotional opportunity for Route 66 business owners, and for Route 66 communities. Brochures, visitors guides, and other promotional materials can be sent to: JANET JERNIGAN, 920 W BROADWAY, NEEDLES CA 92363

The materials will be provided at the Route 66 Info Fair. I will be on hand to assist with Route 66 travel planning, and use these visitor guides and brochures. 

Coffee With Jim, and the Jim Hinckley's America, is sponsored by these promotional partners:

• Jim Hinckley's America on Patreon -
• Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico - 
• Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - 
• Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri - 
• Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico - 
• RouteTrip USA - 
• Cactus Inn Motel, McLean, Texas - 
• Two Lane America - 
• Deana Nelson, State Farm Insurance, Kingman, Arizona - 

On today's program it's a wide ranging conversation with Laura Misajet, Director of Museum Operations & Public Outreach at Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association in Goffs, California. The link between a 19th century camel caravan and Route 66. Edsel Ford's epic odyssey in the summer of 1915. The story of a pre Columbian trade route from the coast of California to New Mexico. A Harvest Host camp ground, an opportunity and "A Camp With Camels" event to kick off Route 66 centennial celebrations. An historic ten stamp mill. A Mojave Desert ghost town transformed into a destination.

That's just a small sample of why you will want to share this smile inducing, road trip inspiring episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, with friends. 

Today's program is sponsored in part by: 

• Supporters of Jim HIinckley's America on Patreon - 
• The 1950s gem that is the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas - 
• RouteTtrip USA, the bespoke holiday specialists for adventures in the US or Canada - 
• The 1960s time capsule Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico - 
• The iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri - 
• Two Lane America, making the great American road trip easier than ever -
• Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a modern, full service RV park wrapped in a museum - 
• Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, a true Route 66 experience starts and finishes with Gilligan's - 
• Deana Nelson, State Farm Insurance, Kingman, Arizona, a hometown hero - 

It's fittingly promoted as a dessert museum, an interesting blend of old fashioned ice parlor and local hangout, and a huge collection of Superman memorabilia. But this is not the only thing that makes Supertam On 66 in Carterville, Missouri popular with locals, and a destination for the Route 66 enthusiast.

There is also the infectious enthusiasm of owners Chris and Andrea Briley, and their passion for providing the folks in Carterville and neighboring communities, as well as the international Route 66 community, with a memory making stop that blurs the line between past and present. 

On today's program it's a fun and lively road trip inspiring conversation between the Briley's and Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America about entrepreneurial adventures, building a sense of community, the changing face of small town America, and the magic of Route 66. Do you have someone in your town or city possessed with a sense of community and a strong entrepreneurial spirit that should be spotlighted? 

Today's program is sponsored in part by listeners through Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Wagon Wheel Motel, RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance in Kingman, Arizona, Cactus Inn Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and Two Lane America. 

Cyrus Stevens Avery is known today as the Father of Route 66. But he was more, much more. Visionary highway commissioner, businessman, pioneering rangleand conservationist, and innovator. The legacy of the U.S. Highway 66 Association, a manifestation of Avery's genius and ability to build a network of cooperative partnerships,  lives on as the Route 66 renaissance.

On today's episode we visit with Joey Madia that is bringing the Cyrus Avery story to life for a Route 66 centennial road show, and a series of educational programs. Madia is a master at bringing historic personalities to life. His list of accomplishments is lengthy - novelist, screenwriter, playwright, actor, historical educator, storyteller, and director. He has designed history based puzzles for escape rooms in North Carolina, Scotland, and the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

To contact Madia and schedule a Cyrus Avery program - joeymadiawriter@gmail.com

Today's program is sponsored in part by supporters of Jim Hinckley's America through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Deana Nelson State Farm in Kingman, Arizona, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Wagon Wheel Motel, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, Cactus Inn Motel, and Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park.