Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast

This week on “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” Star Wars enthusiast Kiernan puts on his Jedi robes and communes through The Force with Jimmy Mac, host of the Star Wars podcast “Rebel Force Radio.” The two dig into how Disney has endeavored to bring the galaxy far far away to life at Galaxy’s Edge— AKA Star Wars Land—and in the new immersive experience The Galactic Starcruiser. Be forewarned: these two nerd out deep. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rebel Force Radio https://www.rebelforceradio.com/  Rancho Obi-Wan https://ranchoobiwan.org/  Galloping Ghost https://www.gallopingghostarcade.com  “Behind the Attraction” Star Tours https://dorksideoftheforce.com/2021/07/13/star-tours-explored-disney-behind-the-attraction/amp/ Galaxy’s Edge https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/star-wars-galaxys-edge/  Kowakian Monkey-Lizard https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Kowakian_monkey-lizard  Starcruiser https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/overview Nal Hutta https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Nal_Hutta  The Twins https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/The_Twins_(Hutts)  Financial Times on Airline Food https://www.ft.com/content/018f132b-864d-4c53-8ebf-a5cad8ee4bdb

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” Kiernan recounts his travels in the secluded mountain kingdom of Bhutan, which just last week reopened its borders to tourists after 2.5 years of COVID restrictions. Extraordinary scenery, Gross National Happiness, and penis deities abound! Things We Talked About: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gho https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kira_(Bhutan) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/opinion/bhutan-is-no-shangri-la.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drukpa_Kunley https://themalamarket.com/ http://time.com/5534495/hot-abraham-lincoln-statue/

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” Ryan transports us to a magical land filled with ketchup rivers and museums of miniatures. No, not Narnia. Pittsburgh! He’s also joined by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Senior Food Writer and Dining Critic Hal B. Klein to hear how the food scene is more than perogies. Hal B. Klein: https://twitter.com/halbklein https://www.post-gazette.com/life/food Pittsburgh Links: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/ https://carnegiemuseums.org/ Last Stop:  https://twitter.com/lawrence_wright/status/1569127019895455744?s=20&t=j-OqK2U5OykqWej51Tb4Ww https://immersivevatican.com/ https://www.artmajeur.com/en/magazine/2-art-news/the-sistine-chapel-set-for-netflix-demolished-just-after-it-was-used-5-million-dollars-go-up-in-smoke/332002

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys take a return trip to Episode #9 to discuss one of Kiernan’s top travel destinations: Iceland! Easily accessible from both Europe and the US, Iceland is a country like no other—wind, sand, snow, volcanoes, glaciers, and maybe the hardest-to-pronounce words on Earth! The Museums Of Iceland: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-87-the-museums-of-iceland/ Iceland Episode Links:  https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/jorunnsg/ingvellir-national-park https://www.icelandtravel.is/attractions/geysir/ http://gullfoss.is/ https://visitreykjavik.is/hellisheidi-power-plant-geothermal-energy-exhibition https://www.amazon.com/Home-Carson-Ellis/dp/0763665290/ref=asc_df_0763665290/

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” Kiernan and journalist Lauren Sloss talk through the ups and many downs of Recreation.gov, the one-stop shop for getting confused on booking anything at National Parks and other federal public lands. Plus, Ryan and Kiernan close out summer talking about serf wear (yep, that spelling is correct.) Things we talked about in today’s podcast: The Guardian’s Notre Dame restoration article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/20/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-rebuild-medieval-carpenters-guledon  Lauren’s NYT article “National Park Booking App Leaves Users Feeling Lost in the Woods”: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/travel/nps-recreation-gov.html Hipcamp https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US  CNBC’s “Happiest Travel Destinations’ https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/28/club-med-top-10-happiest-travel-destinations-in-north-america.html   

On this episode of Out Of Office, the boys take a return trip to episode #4, Historic Houses In America, from October 2018. Visiting a good historic home is the closest you can get to walking directly into the brain of a famous person. The boys pick their favorite 6 historic homes in the USA—and what living person’s home they would most like to visit. Things we talked about in today’s episode: Historic Houses in America Part 2: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-35-historic-houses-in-america-part-2/ https://www.rangerdoug.com https://www.instagram.com/ryannewyork https://www.instagram.com/kiernanpschmitt

 On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan chats with The New Yorker’s Alex Ross about his recent article “A Grand Tour of Germany’s Opera Paradise.” Ross explains how the German government’s investment in the arts allows directors and actors to take more artistic risks—and keeps ticket prices within reach of the average person and tourist. Germany’s network of over 80 opera houses means that even small towns can be home to extraordinary theater. Plus, bratwurst! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: “A Grand Tour of Germany’s Opera Paradise” in The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/06/20/a-grand-tour-of-germanys-opera-paradise   Alex’s latest book Wagenerism https://www.amazon.com/Wagnerism-Art-Politics-Shadow-Music/dp/0374285934  Coburger bratwurst http://www.germanfoodguide.com/wurstdetail.cfm?wurst_number=7  The Concorde returns https://www.cnet.com/culture/concorde-revolutionized-air-travel-when-could-supersonic-flights-come-back/  Salem’s last witch exonerated https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/last-convicted-salem-witch-is-finally-cleared-180980516/ 

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan chats with Kim MacQuarrie, author of 5 books covering the history, flora, and fauna of the Andes and the Amazon. For a fun drinking game, take a shot every time Ryan mispronounces something in Spanish. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Kim MacQuarrie’s books: https://www.amazon.com/Kim-MacQuarrie/e/B001JS7QNQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share https://www.latimes.com./world-nation/story/2022-07-27/americans-are-flooding-mexico-city-some-mexicans-want-them-to-go-home

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast we head back to Peru! Ryan is joined by documentarian Chase Whiteside to talk about their recent trip; they chat about what to do in Lima, Arequipa, & Cusco, with a specific focus on their foodie adventures and Incan sites in the Sacred Valley. Also, Ryan LOVES alpaca. Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Lima:  Museo Jade Riverahttps://www.instagram.com/museojaderivera/?hl=en Museo Larco:https://www.museolarco.org/en/ Central:https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/default.html Maido:https://maido.pe/en/ Manduco Ristorante Pizzeria Italiano:https://www.facebook.com/ManducoBarranco Isolina:https://isolina.pe/ Mérito:https://www.meritorestaurante.com/ Convento De San Francisco:https://www.afar.com/places/convento-de-san-francisco-lima Arequipa: Chicha por Gaston Acurio:https://chicha.com.pe/ Museo Santuarios Andinos:https://www.facebook.com/MuseoSantuariosAndinos Zig Zag:https://zigzagrestaurant.com/en/zig-zag-en/ The Train:https://www.belmond.com/trains/south-america/peru/belmond-andean-explorer/ Cusco & The Sacred Valley: Mil:https://milcentro.pe/ Palacio Del Inka Marriott Bar https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/cuzlc-palacio-del-inka-a-luxury-collection-hotel-cusco/dining/ Kiernan’s 2019 Peru Trilogy: Part 1 (Episode 44): https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-44-peru-part-1/ Part 2 (Episode 45): https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-45-peru-part-2/ Part 3 - Machu Picchu (Episode 53): https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-53-peru-part-3-machu-picchu/ State Parks with Peter Kujawinski (Episode 43):https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-43-state-parks-with-peter-kujawinski/ Man Walks Around The World:https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/this-man-and-his-dog-spent-seven-years-walking-around-the-world/index.html 21 Life-Changing Trips:https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/bucket-list-destinations

On this week’s episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan talks about Glacier National Park, including hiking highlights, red jammers, and classic lodge parkitechture.  Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Sugo Arte https://m.facebook.com/sugoarteconconservacion/posts/?ref=m.facebook.com&mt_nav=0&__nodl&_rdr Glacier National Park https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm  Going-to-the-Sun Road https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/goingtothesunroad.htm  Grinnell Glacier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinnell_Glacier  History of the Lodges https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/historyculture/lodges-and-chalets.htm  Moon Guide (yes I like the old one!) https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Glacier-National-Park-Handbooks/dp/1598807501  Kim MacQuarrie's The Last Days of the Incas https://www.amazon.com/Last-Days-Incas-Kim-MacQuarrie/dp/0743260503  Caves 101 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caves-101/id1438098925?i=1000449238134