Stay ConnectedOut 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.
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
Petra's Stone and Mineral Collection
The Herring Era Museum
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
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
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
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
Knoxville Museum of Art's Thorne Miniatures Rooms
https://knoxart.org/exhibitions/thorne-rooms/
Downtown Wine+Spirits
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
Toxic Cyanobacteria in Zion National Park
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/
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
Leslie-Lohman Museum
Edward Gorey House
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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