

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

Jan 12, 2021 • 53min
Boston Part 1: The Must-Sees
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan discuss Boston’s biggest attractions, from educational walks to lovely parks, stellar museums to historic graveyards. And of course, what’s a trip to Boston without taking in a baseball game at Fenway and belting out “Sweet Caroline”? Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Freedom Trail https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/ Boston Common https://www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common Public Garden https://www.boston.gov/parks/public-garden Duck Statues https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/make-way-for-ducklings-statue Ether Monument https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/donate/ether-monument/ Granary Burying Ground https://www.bostonpreservation.org/advocacy-project/granary-burying-ground Old State House/Boston Massacre site https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/osh.htm Paul Revere House https://www.paulreverehouse.org/ Old North Church https://www.oldnorth.com/ USS Constitution https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ Bunker Hill Monument https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm National Park Black Heritage Trail https://www.nps.gov/boaf/virtual-black-heritage-trail-tour.htm Beacon Hill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_Hill,_Boston North End https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Boston Museum of Fine Arts https://www.mfa.org/ Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum https://www.gardnermuseum.org/ Symphony Hall https://www.bso.org/brands/symphony-hall/about-us/historyarchives/the-history-of-symphony-hall.aspx Little Boy saying “Wow” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZetePo1VhYo Fenway Park https://www.mlb.com/redsox/ballpark/tours John Adams https://www.hbo.com/john-adams The Golden Pinecone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_State_House

Dec 31, 2020 • 24min
Year in Review
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan look back on the spectacular year of 2020 and choose their top 3 favorite episodes from the archives. Ryan: Montreal: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-69-montreal/ The Grand Tour: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-80-the-grand-tour/ Socially Distanced Hiking Near NYC: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-78-socially-distanced-hiking-near-nyc/ Kiernan: Choosing a Travel Companion: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-74-choosing-a-travel-companion/ Chattanooga & Lookout Mountain: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-88-chattanooga-lookout-mountain/ Every National Park With Conor Knighton: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-82-every-national-park-with-conor-knighton/

Dec 24, 2020 • 35min
Christmas Spectacular Three
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ through song, ornament exchanges, and outdoor light displays. Don’t forget to hang up your sock! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Dyker Heights https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/dyker-heights-christmas-lights Somerville Lights Tour http://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour Peanuts at Beaumont Farms in Wallingford, CT https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Wallingford/Wallingford-News/Beaumont-Farm-holiday-light-display.html#gallery-3 Ryan’s ornament for Kiernan https://www.etsy.com/listing/703955588/felt-ornament-teddy-roosevelt-theodore?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=teddy+roosevelt+ornament&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1 Kiernan’s ornament for Ryan https://www.fun.com/santaur-is-coming-to-town-christmas-ornament.html?mpid=223910&gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA66UsRf8CG2dlb07N0rJ1TO8PDsVxFOfnbvKHFrJ9etInOtWhSoT9IRoCwLoQAvD_BwE Snoop Dogg and Anna Kedrick’s “Winter Wonderland/Here Comes Santa Claus” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sTvdeLQsMM Lou Monte’s “Dominick the Donkey” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca5wXojemRM

Dec 15, 2020 • 52min
Charleston Part 1
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan continue their tour of the South and spotlight Charleston’s history, food scene, and standout walks. Plus, a tale of a Ghost Dog named Poogan! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rainbow Row https://charleston.com/charleston-insider/lowcountry-lifestyles/the-captivating-history-of-rainbow-row Fort Sumter https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm Nathaniel Russell House Museum https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/nathaniel-russell-house/ Old Slave Mart Museum https://www.charleston-sc.gov/160/Old-Slave-Mart-Museum Stems & Skins https://stemsandskins.com/ Obstinate Daughter https://theobstinatedaughter.com/ Husk https://thegrocerycharleston.com/ The Grocery https://thegrocerycharleston.com/ The Ordinary https://eattheordinary.com/ Poogan’s Porch https://www.poogansporch.com/ Murakami Museum https://lithub.com/a-new-library-built-in-honor-of-haruki-murakami-will-open-in-2021/ Jumbo https://www.tufts.edu/about/jumbo#:~:text=The%20tale%20of%20Tufts'%20official,a%20veritable%20mecca%20on%20campus.

Dec 2, 2020 • 58min
Chattanooga & Lookout Mountain
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us back down south for another installment of his 30-part mini-series on the wonders of Tennessee. Ryan deems Chattanooga the “find” of his recent road trip, with highlights including Lookout Mountain, an underground waterfall, a cult-run deli, and plenty of creepy fairy tales. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Chattanooga overview https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga,_Tennessee Chattanooga Choo Choo song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGBwmLRNLJ4 Chattanooga Choo Choo movie trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgmFbar83Vw Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel https://www.choochoo.com/our-story Tennessee Riverwalk https://www.visitchattanooga.com/blog/post/a-guide-to-chattanoogas-riverwalk/ Harrison Bay State Park https://tnstateparks.com/parks/harrison-bay Yellow Deli and Twelve Tribes https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2018/may/19/yellow-delitwelve-tribes-back-spotlight-subje/471156/?bcsubid=cf4dcede-731f-4157-822e-1591f60c88ce&pbdialog=reg-wall-login-created-tfp The Funicular Ryan Ignored https://ridetheincline.com/ Ruby Falls https://www.rubyfalls.com/ Rock City https://www.seerockcity.com/ Lover’s Leap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lover%27s_Leap Fairyland Caverns https://enchantedamerica.wordpress.com/2014/07/19/fairyland-caverns-rock-city-ga/ Hudson River Museum https://www.hrm.org/ Odeuropa https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/world/europe/europe-historic-smells.html

Nov 17, 2020 • 58min
The Museums of Iceland
On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks to A. Kendra Greene, the author of “The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums.” The book is not only a primer on the huge number of museums on this small island, it is a deep dive into Iceland’s culture, history, and national psyche. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: “The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums” by A. Kendra Greene https://www.amazon.com/Museum-Whales-You-Will-Never/dp/0143135465 The Icelandic Phallological Museum https://phallus.is/en/ Petra’s Stone and Mineral Collection https://www.steinapetra.is/ The Herring Era Museum http://www.sild.is/en/ NYTimes “Sizing Up the Rural-Urban Travel Divide: Who’s Up and Who’s Down” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/travel/rural-versus-urban-travel-pandemic.html Red Snappers https://www.beansmeats.com/product/red-snapper-frankfurts/

Oct 31, 2020 • 59min
Day of the Dead/Día de Los Muertos
On this special early-release episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan learns about Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, by talking to Harvard Professor of the Study of Latin America Davíd Carrasco about the history and traditions of the holiday. Kiernan also talks to Texas Monthly writer José Ralat about pan de muerto, the festival’s signature bread of the dead. How about Ryan? You know Ryan. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Professor Carrasco’s video series for the Harvard Peabody Museum https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/Muertos José Ralat’s “Pan de Muerto is a Cross-Cultural Taste of History” https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/tex-mexplainer-pan-de-muerto-is-a-cross-cultural-taste-of-history/ Peabody Museum’s Altar https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/node/287 Catrina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Calavera_Catrina Museo Mural Diego Rivera https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_Mural_Diego_Rivera Papel Picado https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papel_picado Santa Muerte https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte Ay Mujer Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/AyMujer?ref=yr_purchases “Gustavo, The Shy Ghost” by Flavia Drago https://www.amazon.com/Gustavo-Shy-Ghost-Flavia-Drago/dp/1536211141

Oct 20, 2020 • 59min
Knoxville & The Great Smoky Mountains
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan hops in the jalopy and heads to Knoxville, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. Plus, Kiernan realizes that somehow they’ve recorded eighty four episodes without ever talking about Ryan’s proclivity for doll furniture. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Knoxville Urban Wilderness https://www.visitknoxville.com/urban-wilderness/ SoKno Taco Cantina https://soknota.co/ Market Square in Knoxville https://www.visitknoxville.com/blog/post/10-things-to-know-about-market-square/ The Sunsphere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunsphere Knoxville Museum of Art’s Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door https://knoxart.org/exhibitions/beauford-delaney-and-james-baldwin-through-the-unusual-door/?fbclid=IwAR0-LC-ypve4glLMCt8KO0snbhITplQMdBB0CWj1VxuvwZFmAB0vGYC6Ls4 Knoxville Museum of Art’s Thorne Miniatures Rooms https://knoxart.org/exhibitions/thorne-rooms/ Downtown Wine+Spirits https://www.dtwine.com Rainbow Falls, Great Smoky Mountains https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/rainbow-falls-pyv.htm Tuckaleechee Caverns https://tuckaleecheecaverns.com/development-of-caverns/ Avoiding Bear Attacks https://www.news.meredithlmg.com/general/what-not-to-do-in-a-bear-attack-push-your-slower-friends-down-in-attempts/article_531801ea-f4be-5571-be0f-e121786c1caa.html Toxic Cyanobacteria in Zion National Park https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/toxic-cyanobacteria-bloom-in-the-virgin-river-and-the-streams-of-zion-national-park.htm

Oct 6, 2020 • 52min
Downeast Maine
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/

Sep 22, 2020 • 52min
Summer Break Wrap-Up
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


