Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This week on “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” Kiernan chats with Sarah Robbins, the COO of 21C Museum Hotels, a unique chain that combines modern art and comfortable accommodations. They talk through what it takes to run both a thriving hospitality business AND a compelling art operation. Plus,

Things we talk about in this week’s episode:

“North to Alaska”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoqVPcXDtUs 

21C Museum Hotel

https://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/ 

New UNESCO World Heritage Sites

https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/08/02/a-roman-road-sand-dunes-and-gold-mines-these-are-the-24-new-unesco-world-heritage-sites-fo

Dems whipping airlines into shape

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/01/g-s1-14662/airline-junk-fees-family-seating-dot  

This week on “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys put on their finest yacht-wear and head to that enclave of the rich and famous, The Hamptons. Kiernan talks about what exactly “The Hamptons” refers to, logistics of exploring there as a tourist, and a few cultural treasures hidden out among the seaside mansions.

Things we talk about in this week’s episode:

Hamptons Jitney

https://www.hamptonjitney.com/hjmobile/

Surf Lodge

https://thesurflodge.com/ 

Montauk Point Lighthouse

https://montaukhistoricalsociety.org/montauk-point-lighthouse/ 

Coopers Beach

https://www.discoverlongisland.com/listing/coopers-beach/1047/ 

Parrish Art Museum

https://parrishart.org/ 

Pollock-Krasner House

https://artistshomes.org/site/pollock-krasner-house-and-study-center 

Green River Cemetery

https://greenrivercemetery.org/ 

Museo Cacao

https://museocacao.com/ 

Palmero’s Breaththrough Saint

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/europe/palermo-catholic-saint-hindu-pantheon.html  

Buy “Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide”

https://bookshop.org/p/books/secret-boston-an-unusual-guide-kiernan-schmitt/21037780?ean=9782361957179 

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Boston-Unusual-Guide-guides/dp/2361957175 

On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan digs in on regional Italian cuisine with one of the show’s most interesting guests ever: opera and Italian cuisine expert Fred Plotkin. Fred talks us through some of the most popular and most obscure foods of Italy, sharing history and wonderful anecdotes all along the way. Part 2 of 3!

Things we talk about in this week’s episode:

“Italy for Food Lovers”

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/italy-for-food-lovers

Fred Plotkin biography

https://www.wqxr.org/people/fred-plotkin/ 

The Atlantic’s “Crying Myself to Sleep on the Biggest Cruise Ship Ever” by Gary Shteyngart

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/05/royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-icon-of-seas/677838/

CNN’s Grandmother and Son Are on the Move

https://www.cnn.com/travel/grandma-joy-ryan-grandson-seven-continents/index.html 

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan discusses his recent trip to Maine’s Downeast region, including Acadia National Park. From lobsters to seascapes to yurts (yes: yurts), Maine earns its nickname of “Vacationland,” so don your best Bean boots and give a listen.

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

Downeast Maine

https://visitmaine.com/places-to-go/downeast-and-acadia 

Acadia National Park

https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm 

Beals, Maine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beals,_Maine 

Great Wass Island Preserve

https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/great-wass-island/ 

Jasper Beach

https://coastalcare.org/2011/02/jasper-beach-machiasport-maine-usa/ 

Bill Coperthwaite Yurt and Dickinsons Reach

https://www.yurtinfo.org/the-yurt-foundation 

Roque Bluffs State Park

https://www.stateparks.com/roque_bluffs_state_park_in_maine.html 

Blue Ridge Parkway

https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

Thai National Park is mailing back trash left behind by tourists

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/09/18/tourist-trash-mail/   

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan catch-up on their summer adventures, donate to museums in need, and dust off the mics for their new biweekly pandemic-related schedule change. Plus, Kiernan forgets ever recording an episode about how to pack!

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

Park Predators

https://parkpredators.com/ 

Leslie-Lohman Museum

 https://www.leslielohman.org/ 

Edward Gorey House

https://edwardgoreyhouse.org/ 

Edward Gorey in his fur coat

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/30/style/edward-gorey.html 

The Gashlycrumb Tinies

https://www.brainpickings.org/2011/01/19/edward-gorey-the-gashlycrumb-tinies/ 

Rick Steves DVD Anthology Set

https://shop.pbs.org/WC5782.html?p=1&websource=PBSGOOGLE7&source_code=PBSGOOGLE7&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnqH7BRDdARIsACTSAdtTgOzHyGAtdEAsrCuWrPUg77sN1YeroAfySL4DAHMQOREpgKohiFUaAij7EALw_wcB 

Rick Steves’s “For the Love of Europe”

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/travel-news/august-2020/video-of-the-month

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison

https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Toni-Morrison/dp/1400033411 

“The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A4ATV0A/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 

Belle Meade Plantation

https://bellemeadeplantation.com/journey-to-jubilee/

Austin Street Brewery in Portland, ME

https://www.austinstreetbrewery.com/florens 

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan has a whizbang interview with author and “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Conor Knighton who spent a year visiting every American National Park. His new book “Leave Only Footprints” shares his tales from the trails. Needless to say he is now Kiernan’s idol. 

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

“Leave Only Footprints” by Conor Knighton

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600367/leave-only-footprints-by-conor-knighton/

“CBS Sunday Morning” Crater Lake Old Man segment

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/on-the-trail-crater-lakes-old-man/

“CBS Sunday Morning” Denali Sled Dogs segment

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/on-the-trail-the-dogs-of-denali-national-park/

“CBS Sunday Morning” Biscayne National Park

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/on-the-trail-biscayne-national-park/

Conor Knighton sings “America the Beautiful” in every National Park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsIvhZL3Y8k

Synchronized Fireflies 

https://www.nps.gov/cong/fireflies.htm

Museums in danger of closing

https://www.aam-us.org/2020/07/22/united-states-may-lose-one-third-of-all-museums-new-survey-shows/

Encarta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encarta

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan talk about the decision of Disney World and many other theme parks to open despite the global pandemic. Plus, murders in National Parks! Is everywhere fun trying to kill us??

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

Disney Reopening
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/

Theme Parks Opening Across the Country
https://www.delish.com/food-news/a32872190/amusement-parks-reopening-pandemic/

Hagia Sophia: Museum to Mosque
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53366307

Park Predators podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/park-predators/id1517651197

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan talk about The Grand Tour, that historic tour through Europe that young men of a certain rank used to embark upon to complete their education. Plus, we design our own modern Grand Tour of the USA!

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

The Grand Tour
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Tour

BBC “In Our Time” Grand Tour episode
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548fs 

The Talented Mr. Ripley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talented_Mr._Ripley_(film) 

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan listen to Rick Steves’s online commencement address and offer their thoughts on his advice to the graduates of 2020. Plus, the Last Stop is back!

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

Rick Steves Commencement Address

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdlho9wpG20 

David Foster Wallace Commencement Address

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI

Reichstag reopening

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/440771.stm

Franciscan Order

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciscans

Jesuit Order

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus

“The Great” on Hulu

https://www.hulu.com/series/the-great-238db0d4-c476-47ed-9bee-d326fd302f7d

New Yorker’s “Thirty-Six Thousand Feet Under the Sea” by Ben Taub

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/05/18/thirty-six-thousand-feet-under-the-sea

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan shares his newly found love for hiking during quarantine and Kiernan updates us on the latest unexpected twist in his Quest for Rick Steves.

Things we talked about in today’s podcast:

AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/

Harriman State Park
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/145

Black Creek Preserve / Ulster Park 
https://www.scenichudson.org/explore-the-valley/scenic-hudson-parks/black-creek-preserve/

Schunemunk Mountain 
nynjtc.org/park/schunemunk-mountain-3  

South Mountain Reservation 
https://www.essexcountyparks.org/parks/south-mountain-reservation 

Rick Steves Waving
https://www.edmondsbeacon.com/story/2020/05/04/news/hello-from-eight-oaks/23103.html