

Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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

Mar 29, 2021 • 53min
Ryan's Brooklyn
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us on a tour of one of his favorite places on earth—Brooklyn! With museums, parks, art festivals, and standout restaurants, who needs Manhattan? Plus, Ryan being Ryan and Brooklyn Being Brooklyn, natural wine is discussed at length. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Bushwick’s Murals and Galleries https://freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/brooklyn-tours/bushwick-brooklyn-walking-tour/ Bushwick Open Studios https://www.instagram.com/officialbushwickopenstudios Our episode on Natural Wine in Brooklyn: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-24-natural-wine-in-brooklyn/ Two new favs: https://www.winonasbk.com/https://www.beaubrooklyn.com/ Two older favs: https://www.legaragebrooklyn.com/ https://www.llamainnnyc.com/ Big Onion Tours https://www.bigonion.com/tours/ Secret Brooklyn Book https://jonglezpublishing.com/product/secret-brooklyn/ Sugaring at Maple Corner Farm http://www.maplecornerfarm.com/ Autobiographical novel about 1970s Bushwick. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/books/review/jacqueline-woodson-another-brooklyn.html

Mar 9, 2021 • 1h 4min
Boston Part 2: Kiernan’s Picks
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan takes us back to Massachusetts for the second installment of the Great Boston Trilogy. With the big blockbuster attractions behind us, Kiernan covers his personal favorite parks, museums, and universities. Warning: he does mention Harvard excessively. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Emerald Necklace Conservancy https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/ Franklin Park Zoo Remains https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/abandoned-zoo-ma/ Minuteman National Park https://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm Minuteman Poster by Paul Rand https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/minute-man-35737 Arnold Arboretum https://arboretum.harvard.edu/ JFK Presidential Library Coconut https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/coconut-bearing-rescue-message-mo-634852 New England Aquarium https://www.neaq.org/ Museum of Science https://www.mos.org/ “The Alchemist” at MIT https://listart.mit.edu/public-art-map/alchemist MIT Great Dome http://museum.mit.edu/150/70 MIT Campus Map https://whereis.mit.edu/ Sol LeWitt at MIT https://listart.mit.edu/public-art-map/bars-color-within-squares-mit MIT Museum https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/ 3 Lies on John Harvard https://blog.dce.harvard.edu/summer/3-lies-harvard Harvard Art Museums https://harvardartmuseums.org/ Rothko at Harvard https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/watching-them-turn-off-the-rothkos Harvard Natural History Museum Glass Flowers https://hmnh.harvard.edu/glass-flowers Northlandz Trainset https://northlandz.com/ New River Gorge National Park https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/travel/national-park-new-river-gorge.html

Feb 16, 2021 • 41min
USA Today’s Christopher Elliott on the Future of Travel
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan talks to travel journalist and consumer advocate Christoper Elliott on how the pandemic has changed travel and what the next year will look like as vaccinated people start to head out on the road and into the skies again. Elliott writes for USA Today, the Washington Post, and Forbes. Plus, Kiernan sings the praises of used bookstores (don’t worry—there’s no actual singing.) Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Christopher on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chriselliotts Christopher on the Web: https://chriselliotts.com/ https://www.elliott.org/ “Boston Statues” https://www.amazon.com/Boston-Statues-Katharine-Knowles/dp/0827170157 Grounds for Sculpture https://www.groundsforsculpture.org/

Feb 2, 2021 • 51min
NYT Travel Editor Amy Virshup Strikes Back!
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan welcomes back Amy Virshup, the editor of the New York Times Travel section. Amy and Kiernan dive deep into this year’s “52 Places to Love” list and the challenges of travel journalism in the midst of a global pandemic. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: NYT’s “52 Places to Love” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/travel/places-to-visit-vacation.html Turkmenistan’s Gates of Hell https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-gates-of-hell-turkmenistan Slovenia’s Church of the Holy Trinity https://www.istria-culture.com/en/the-holy-trinity-church-in-hrastovlje-i13