
Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast
Out of Office is a travel podcast hosted by us, Ryan Davis and Kiernan Schmitt. From early childhood, we were each infected with a serious case of wanderlust (among other things.)
We define travel broadly, from local day trips to high-flyin’ overseas adventures. Every episode, we dig into one topic—ranging from the serious to the silly, the practical to the outlandish—and give advice on how to get out there and explore the world.
Latest episodes

Oct 12, 2021 • 42min
Top Olmsted Picks
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys return to discussing one of Ryan’s personal heroes: the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. They discuss Olmsted’s signature style, how his family cashed in on the family name, and 8 top Olmsted designs outside of the world famous Central Park. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Ryan’s interview with a renowned Olmsted biographer https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-101-the-travels-of-frederick-law-olmsted/ Olmsted 200 https://olmsted200.org/ Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site https://www.nps.gov/frla/learn/management/index.htm Biltmore in Asheville, NC https://www.biltmore.com/blog/olmsteds-deliberate-approach/ Back Bay Fens in Boston, MA https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/park-overview/back-bay-fens/ US Capitol Grounds in Washington D.C. https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/buildings-grounds/capitol-building/capitol-grounds Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT https://www.myrecordjournal.com/Archive/2015/11/ColumnJWK-rj-111315 Prospect Park in Brooklyn https://www.prospectpark.org/learn-more/park-history-slideshow/ Belle Isle in Detroit, MI https://www.modeldmedia.com/features/belle-isle-olmsted-legacy-041816.aspx Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, NY https://www.saratoga.com/hotspots/congress-park/ Olmsted NYC Restaurant http://olmstednyc.com/ Rick Steves Interview in the New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/rick-steves-says-hold-on-to-your-travel-dreams

Sep 23, 2021 • 50min
Montreal and Quebec City 2021
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan brings us back to Quebec City and Montreal in our first ever follow-up travel guide episode. Ryan recommends great new bars and restaurants, along with some old standbys and natural wonders. And don’t worry: there’s plenty of French names to be massacred. Montreal Episode: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-69-montreal/ Quebec City Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/qu%C3%A9bec-city/id1438098925?i=1000463905461 Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec https://www.mnbaq.org/ Lévis Forts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9vis_Forts Montmorency Fallshttps://www.sepaq.com/destinations/parc-chute-montmorency/ Little Burgundy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Burgundy September Cafe https://www.septembersurf.com/ - Vin Mon Lapin Until November - The Infinite: https://phi.ca/en/exhibitions/the-infinite-montreal/ Lachine Canal National Historic Site https://www.pc.gc.ca/fr/lhn-nhs/qc/canallachine Sam Knight’s “New Yorker” article on the British National Trust and its grappling with a history of slavery and empire https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/23/britains-idyllic-country-houses-reveal-a-darker-history

Aug 31, 2021 • 52min
Portland, Maine
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks about his favorite New England neighbor: Portland, Maine! Portland offers gorgeous seaside walks, standout restaurants, and plenty of historical and cultural must-dos. Portland is also heaven for the discerning beer-enthusiast. Plus, National Park conspiracies! Things We Talked About: Quebec City podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/qu%C3%A9bec-city/id1438098925?i=1000463905461 Smithsonian National Postal Museum interview https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smithsonian-national-postal-museum-with-director/id1438098925?i=1000438061317 Holy Donut https://theholydonut.com/ Duckfat https://www.duckfat.com/ Hugo’s https://www.hugosmaine.com/ Eventide https://www.eventideoysterco.com/ Eventide Cookbook https://www.eventideoysterco.com/shop/eventide-cookbook The Honey Paw https://www.thehoneypaw.com/ Izakaya Minato https://www.izakayaminato.com/ Nura https://www.nuraportland.com/ Longfellow Books https://www.longfellowbooks.com/ Allagash Brewing Company https://www.allagash.com/ Bissell Brothers https://bissellbrothers.com/ Oxbow Blending and Bottling https://oxbowbeer.com/ Austin Street Brewery https://www.austinstreetbrewery.com/ Lone Pine Brewing Company https://lonepinebrewery.com/ Goodfire Brewing https://www.goodfirebrewing.com/ Breakwater Lighthouse/Bug Light https://www.visitportland.com/blog/2020/03/11/bug-light-park/ Choragic Monument of Lysicrates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choragic_Monument_of_Lysicrates Portland Freedom Trail https://www.mainehistory.org/PDF/walkingtourmap.pdf Eastern Promenade https://easternpromenade.org/the-eastern-promenade Eastern Promenade Olmsted plan https://www.portlandmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3377/Eastern-Promenade-Master-Plan Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad https://mainenarrowgauge.org/ West End https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_(Portland,_Maine) Peak’s Island ferry https://www.cascobaylines.com/schedules/peaks-island-schedule/ Peak’s Island https://www.cascobaylines.com/islands/peaks-island-maine/ Casco Bay Mail Boat https://www.cascobaylines.com/maine-boat-tours/specialty-cruises/mailboat/ The Missing 411 National Park conspiracy episode https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4794 Milk Street’s Sweet Corn Cake https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/mexican-sweet-corn-cake

Aug 17, 2021 • 49min
100 Years of the Appalachian Trail
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews journalist Steve Holt on the 100 year history of the Appalachian Trail, from the luminaries that conceived it to the conservationists protecting it today. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Quebec episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/qu%C3%A9bec-city/id1438098925?i=1000463905461 An Idea Turns 100: A Photo History of the Appalachian Trail: https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/history/an-idea-turns-100-a-photo-history-of-the-appalachian-trail/ Steve Holt https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/author/sholt/ Appalachian Mountain Club https://www.outdoors.org/about/ Appalachian Trail Conservancy https://appalachiantrail.org/ Dartmouth’s Rauner Library https://www.dartmouth.edu/library/rauner/ The Trouble History of Inclusion in American Outdoor Spaces https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/history/the-troubled-history-of-inclusion-in-american-outdoor-spaces/ Ryan’s Delaware Water Gap Hike https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/appalachian-nst.htm Kiernan’s Bear Mountain Hike https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/connecticut/appalachian-trail-bear-mountain-to-race-brook-falls

Aug 3, 2021 • 41min
Our Top Travel Movies
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan and Kiernan share their top picks for travel movies that really get their wanderlust pumping! Though Ryan might be a bit more of a cinephile, Kiernan’s had enough hours of plane-viewing to hold his own. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Dump trucks supercut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UluH0QmnwfM&t=1095s Our interview with the creator of Accidentally Wes Anderson https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/exploring-accidentally-wes-anderson-with-creator-wally-koval/ Talented Mr. Ripley https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134119/ “The Grand Tour” episode https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-80-the-grand-tour/ Before Sunrise https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112471/ Midnight in Paris https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 The Trip https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740047/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 Grand Budapest Hotel https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Planes, Trains and Automobiles https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 HBO’s The White Lotus https://www.hbo.com/the-white-lotus “CBS Sunday” Morning Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cbssundaymorning/

Jul 6, 2021 • 59min
The Travels of Frederick Law Olmsted
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews Justin Martin, the author of “Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted” about the legacy of America’s most influential and prolific landscape architect. Plus, Olmsted’s journeys into nature inspire the boys to recount their favorite state parks in the Last Stop. Part Two: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-106-top-olmsted-picks/ Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Justin Martin’s website https://justinmartin1.com/ “Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted” https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Frederick-Olmsted-Lawrence/dp/0306821486 “A Fierce Glory: Antietam—The Desperate Battle That Saved Lincoln and Doomed Slavery” https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Frederick-Olmsted-Lawrence/dp/0306821486 National Parks are Overrun https://nypost.com/2021/06/14/pandemic-fatigued-americans-are-overrunning-national-parks/

Jun 17, 2021 • 1h 13min
Rick Steves and Conor Knighton
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys celebrate the show’s 100 episode milestone with a major update on the Quest for Rick Steves and a visit from the show’s most popular guest. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rick Steves on Out of Office video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC4Fj53Wbu8 Conor Knighton interview from Episode 82 https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-82-every-national-park-with-conor-knighton/ In the Jailhouse Now https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-7-in-the-jailhouse-now/ Historic Homes in America https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-4-historic-houses-in-america/

Jun 3, 2021 • 50min
Boston Part 3: Boston Harbor & Harbor Islands
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan wraps up the Great Boston Trilogy by diving deep into Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands. Kiernan speaks to Boston Harbor Now’s Director of Programming Rebecca Smerling, who shares her encyclopedic knowledge of the must-do’s and secret gems of Boston’s epic waterfront. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Boston Harbor Islands https://www.bostonharborislands.org/ Boston Harborwalk https://www.bostonharbornow.org/what-we-do/explore/harborwalk/ USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/visit/museum-ship/plan-your-visit/ Boston Sea Wall Murals https://seawalls.org/activation/boston-usa/ Long Wharf Middle Passage Marker https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/12/02/in-the-age-of-black-lives-matter-new-england-faces-its-own-role-in-slavery Deer Island tour https://www.mwra.com/02org/html/faqstidi.htm Castle Island Sugar Bowl Walk https://www.mass.gov/doc/castle-island-trail-map/download Spectacle Island https://www.bostonharborislands.org/spectacle-island/ Georges Island https://www.bostonharborislands.org/georges-island/ Historic Boston Light Lighthouse https://www.nps.gov/boha/learn/historyculture/boston-light.htm Blackberries on Lovells Island https://www.bostonharborislands.org/lovells-island/ Little Island https://littleisland.org/ London Highline https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/26/a-new-sky-garden-for-london

May 11, 2021 • 58min
Exploring “Accidentally Wes Anderson” with Creator Wally Koval
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews Wally Koval, the creator of “Accidentally Wes Anderson,” the brilliant Instagram account—and now book!—capturing the most interesting and idiosyncratic places on Earth. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Accidentally Wes Anderson: AWA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accidentallywesanderson AWA Website & Newsletter: https://accidentallywesanderson.com/ AWA Book: https://accidentallywesanderson.com/book/ “Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted” https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Frederick-Olmsted-Lawrence/dp/0306821486 Rick Steves Monday Night Travel https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel

Apr 27, 2021 • 53min
Post-Covid Travel Ad Campaigns
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan and Kiernan put on their marketing hats and analyze the many ad campaigns that are trying to convince people to travel post-Covid. In other words, the boys dig up campaigns from around the world and snark about how they would have done it better, because of course they would have. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Boston “All Inclusive” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7F1VCrt0BY Portugal “Hello World. It’s Me, Tomorrow.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgRwvUxmhOM Croatia “Safe Stay in Croatia” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_1pn_JOTU Redmond, Washington “You Stay You Pay” https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/redmond-wash-will-pay-you-to-visit-during-covid-16043806.php Indonesia “Waiting for You in Indonesia” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtQb3t_2SPA Utah “Forever Mighty” https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/forever