

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 4, 2020 • 1h 9min
Every National Park with Conor Knighton
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

Jul 22, 2020 • 44min
Disney World in the Pandemic
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 Reopeninghttps://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/ Theme Parks Opening Across the Countryhttps://www.delish.com/food-news/a32872190/amusement-parks-reopening-pandemic/ Hagia Sophia: Museum to Mosquehttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53366307 Park Predators podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/park-predators/id1517651197

Jul 7, 2020 • 45min
The Grand Tour
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 Tourhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Tour BBC “In Our Time” Grand Tour episodehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548fs The Talented Mr. Ripleyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talented_Mr._Ripley_(film)

Jun 23, 2020 • 46min
Rick Steves Commencement Commentary
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

Jun 2, 2020 • 38min
Socially Distanced Hiking Near NYC
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: AllTrailshttps://www.alltrails.com/ Harriman State Parkhttps://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 Wavinghttps://www.edmondsbeacon.com/story/2020/05/04/news/hello-from-eight-oaks/23103.html

Apr 7, 2020 • 30min
Feeding Your Wanderlust in Quarantine
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan discuss the frustrations of loving travel but being stuck at home. The boys offer recommendations for books, movies, and games to help you make it through this period of self-isolation. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: “The Big Oyster: History on the Half-Shell” by Mark Kurlansky https://www.amazon.com/Big-Oyster-History-Half-Shell/dp/0345476395 “The Great Influenza” by John M. Barry https://www.amazon.com/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Pandemic-History-ebook/dp/B000OCXFWE Disney True-Life Adventure Series https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/yellowstone-cubs/320qnEGAhtOm https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/the-vanishing-prairie/7ZRqoMTyqMfY https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/perri/4Y8BFJTYWdon Snowpiercer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowpiercer Travel Man https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKuSn_LSQ_U_8o35jjpi0xQ Drawful 2 https://www.jackboxgames.com/drawful-two/ - Listen to past episodes at: https://outofofficepod.com/ - Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ooopodcast/

Mar 17, 2020 • 15min
Coronavirus Coping
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan give a brief news update and discuss how they plan on running a travel podcast at a time when no one can, you know, travel. (Note: this was recorded on Friday, March 13 and news may have changed by the time it is released.) Things we talked about in today’s podcast: NYTimes “The Tickets Home Were $5,000. They Paid It.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/travel/coronavirus-travel-ban-paris.html T+L’s “These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch” https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours News Update: Dollywood Delays Opening Due to COVID 19 https://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Dollywood-delays-season-opening-due-to-COVID-19-concerns-568779471.html - Listen to past episodes at: https://outofofficepod.com/ - Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ooopodcast/

Mar 10, 2020 • 26min
WashPo’s Hannah Sampson on Coronavirus and the Travel Industry
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, we welcome back Hannah Sampson from the Washington Post to talk about how coronavirus is affecting tourism and the travel industry. Plus, Ryan explains why he’ll soon be humming “Jolene” 24-7. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: NYTimes “Almost Without Precedent”: Airlines Hit Hard By Coronavirus https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/business/coronavirus-airline-industry.html Slate “I’m a Luxury Travel Agent. We’re Screwed” https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/03/coronavirus-diaries-travel-agent-halt.html Hannah Sampson’s Coronavirus Coverage https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/hannah-sampson/ WNYC’s “Dolly Parton’s America” podcast https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america Joe Dator’s TSA cartoon https://twitter.com/JoeDator/status/1231977138779312132/photo/1 - Listen to past episodes at: https://outofofficepod.com/ - Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ooopodcast/

Mar 3, 2020 • 39min
Choosing a Travel Companion
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys talk about how to choose a companion who will complement—and perhaps even enhance—your travel experiences. Not all friends are cut out to be your dinner date and sleeping mate for days on end; this week’s epi will show you how to figure out who deserves a place on your reservations. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Edgar Allen Poe in New York City https://untappedcities.com/2012/08/10/in-search-of-poe/ Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreno in Detroit https://detroit.eater.com/2014/4/29/6234905/pupuseria-y-restaurante-salvadoreno - Listen to past episodes at: https://outofofficepod.com/ - Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ooopodcast/

Feb 25, 2020 • 45min
Obscure Museums of London Part 2
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan takes us back to London to talk through another 5 of his favorite obscure museums. Plus, Ryan realizes maybe he’s been a little too close-minded about all non-Bushwick places. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Episode 31 - Obscure Museums of London Part 1 https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-31-obscure-london-museums-part-1/ Museum of Brands https://www.museumofbrands.com/ Old Operating Theatre http://oldoperatingtheatre.com/ Sherlock Holmes Museum http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/ Museum of the Home https://www.museumofthehome.org.uk/ Canal Museum https://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/ Canal and River Trust https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ Asian Jewels in Flushing, Queens https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/Flushing-11354-Asian_Jewels-2v3pz2bf New Yorker’s “The Past and The Future of the Earth’s Oldest Trees” by Alex Ross https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/20/the-past-and-the-future-of-the-earths-oldest-trees - Listen to past episodes at: https://outofofficepod.com/ - Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ooopodcast/