

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 20, 2019 • 44min
Overtourism with WashPo’s Hannah Sampson
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan interviews Washington Post journalist Hannah Sampson about overtourism—its causes, potential solutions, and ways that you can be a conscientious traveler. Both Leonardo DiCaprio and komodo dragons are discussed. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Follow Hannah Sampson on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahbsampson https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2019/06/17/were-age-overtourist-you-can-avoid-being-one-them/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2019/06/18/these-are-cities-overtourism-could-threaten-next/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/world/asia/indonesia-komodo-national-park-dragons.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/business/medical-tourism-mexico.html

Aug 13, 2019 • 55min
Peru Part 2
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan again talks about his travels in Peru, a country so packed with wild jungle, Inca walls, and colonial churches that it needs 2 episodes. In this second installment, the boys talk about Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco_School https://www.eater.com/2018/2/21/17033912/mil-virgilio-martinez-cusco-peru-menu-reservations-photos-moray-ruins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollantaytambo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maras,_Peru https://www.salkantaytrekking.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salcantay https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu https://lalucha.com.pe/

Aug 6, 2019 • 1h 1min
Peru Part 1
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks about his travels in Peru, a country so packed with wild jungle, Inca walls, and colonial churches that it needs 2 episodes. In this first installment, the boys cover a brief history of the Inca Empire, the sights and foods of Lima, and the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Plus, Kiernan does a startlingly realistic peccary impression. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/29/travel/state-parks-western-united-states.html https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/american-travel-writer-slammed-videoing-16626721 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_Basilica_of_Lima https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_and_Convent_of_San_Francisco,_Lima https://mnaahp.cultura.pe/ https://www.museolarco.org/en/ https://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/nikkei-peruvian-japanese-food https://www.perunature.com/amazon_lodge/tambopata-research-center/ http://www.llamainnnyc.com/ http://www.friorico.com/aboutus.html

Jul 30, 2019 • 52min
State Parks with Peter Kujawinski
This week on Out of Office:A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks to New York Times travel journalist Peter Kujawinski about his epic exploration of 53 state parks across the United States. His trip revealed extraordinary scenery, troubling Native American history, and little known presidential facts. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/travel/state-parks-eastern-united-states.html https://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/ https://www.mass.gov/locations/walden-pond-state-reservation https://www.robertfrostfarm.org/visit-farm https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/harriman https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custer-state-park/ https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/kodachrome-basin/ http://www.ctvisit.com/listings/sleeping-giant-state-park https://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/ https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2971.htm https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/GiantCity.aspx http://mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/state-parks/wall-doxey http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ulkBctY_JM https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/20/arts/cesar-pelli-dead.html

Jul 23, 2019 • 48min
The Ups & Downs of B&Bs
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys debate the merits and drawbacks of staying at traditional B&Bs. They explain how to set conversational parameters, the likelihood of ghost sightings, and why there’s no such thing as a dog that licks too much. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/climate-smart-commitment/ https://www.misterbandb.com https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/opinion/machu-picchu-airport.html

Jul 16, 2019 • 49min
NASA Mission Control at Johnson Space Center
This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan speaks with NASA’s Sandra Tetley, who oversaw the brand spankin’ new restoration of Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Visitors will experience Apollo 11’s launch, moon landing, and return as if they were there. Tetley talks about the detective work that goes into restoration—and several historic NASA sites that are slated for demolition. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/behind-the-scenes-at-nasas-newly-restored-historic-apollo-mission-control/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/space-tourism-with-professor-matthew-weinzierl/id1438098925?i=1000428689021 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_quarantine_facility https://slate.com/technology/2019/07/dominican-republic-tourism-deaths-not-unusual-overblown.html http://www.scoutingny.com/demonically-possessed-owls-in-herald-square/

Jul 9, 2019 • 48min
Sleeping in Spanish Monasteries
This week on Out of Office, Kiernan speaks with Miriam Murcutt and Richard Starks, authors of “Room with a Pew: Sleeping Our Way Through Spain’s Ancient Monasteries.” You’ll learn about secret menageries, the lopped-off limbs of saints, and party-animal nuns. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/06/24/this-is-nightmare-woman-fell-asleep-mid-flight-woke-up-trapped-dark-plane-alone/?utm_term=.561f4457d458 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009GI7816/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 http://www.starksmurcutt.com/ https://www.paradores-spain.com/ http://www.reidsguides.com/t_h/t_h_convents.html https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/01/us/alabama-wasp-nest-warning-trnd/index.html

Jul 2, 2019 • 51min
Patriotic Places
This week on Out of Office, in honor of the 4th of July the boys each compile and compare a list of 5 places that embody the story of America. Plus, Kiernan accidentally curses. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/06/can-democrats-win-back-the-internet-in-the-age-of-trump https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Street_(Toronto) https://diowinebar.com/ https://domestiquewine.com/

Jun 25, 2019 • 56min
National Parks of the Pacific Northwest
This week on Out of Office, Kiernan talks about his recent trip to Mount Rainier National Park, Crater Lake National Park, and Olympic National Park, plus why the Pacific Northwest speaks to his Star Wars-obsessed soul. The boys also chat about why you shouldn’t be surprised if a mountain goat comes knocking on your bathroom door. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/13/frida-kahlos-only-known-voice-recording-may-have-been-found-in-mexico https://www.npr.org/2019/06/16/733225445/notre-dame-holds-first-mass-since-fire-devastated-the-historic-paris-cathedral https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=676&v=1GR_NqXFNdA https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/mountain-goat-relocation-begins-in-olympic-national-park/

Jun 18, 2019 • 48min
Documentary Filmmaker Chase Whiteside
This week on Out of Office, Ryan talks to documentarian Chase Whiteside about his film “América” and what it’s like to travel the world on the film festival circuit, including screenings in Iraq and Kosovo. Plus, a callback to our beloved Natural Wine episode! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: https://americadocumentary.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_Boulevard https://www.moma.org/calendar/film/5068 https://passportindex.org