Our Recent Podcasts
Enjoy some of our travel podcasts where we discuss famous locations and fantastic getaways in each and every exciting episode of the Trip Talk podcast.
Yikes! Some of the Worst Cars EVER Made
Posted on 12/16/2024
What seemed like good ideas at the time to motor moguls in Detroit and other car capitals sometimes turned out to be star-crossed cars that were so unpopular, they have[…]
Year-round Splendor in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Posted on 12/09/2024
In this encore episode, we talk with Destiny Egley, an authority on Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Open year-round, the city has become a popular resort location, noted for its five[…]
Roadside Yuletide with Erika Nelson (encore)
Posted on 12/02/2024
Erika Nelson, when she is not gracing the American landscape with her popular art projects, curates the Worlds Largest Collection of the Worlds Smallest Versions of the Worlds Largest Things.[…]
Welcoming the Holidays in Seattle and the Sound
Posted on 11/25/2024
Seattle and Puget Sound are shaking off the effects of a bomb cyclone, undeterred in their preparations for Thanksgiving weekend and the traditional kickoff of the Christmas holiday season. Matt[…]
Hitchcock, The Birds and Bodega Bay
Posted on 11/18/2024
Bodega Bay in California found immortality as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s natural horror-thriller, The Birds (1963) and continues to draw cinephiles, Hitchcock fans and curiosity seekers by the thousands[…]
Classic Road Trip Movies with Geoffrey Mark
Posted on 11/11/2024
From It Happened One Night to The Grapes of Wrath to Easy Rider to Thelma and Louise, some of the most iconic films ever made celebrate the dynamics of memorable[…]
Highway US-2: A Washington Wonderland
Posted on 11/04/2024
Jamie Jensen, seasoned road trip warrior and author of Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures On America’s Two-Lane Highways, is our guest for an exploration of Highway US-2 in Washington state.[…]
Seeking Out the Lively Spirits of Route 66
Posted on 10/29/2024
For our pre-Halloween episode, author and researcher Joey Madia joins us again; this time with a compilation of spectral thrills straight from the Mother Road! “Supernatural 66” is his term[…]
Queen Mary: Still Magnificent (and Haunted) at 90
Posted on 10/21/2024
The RMS Queen Mary turned 90 on September 26th, 2024 and she has never looked more resplendent. Located in Long Beach, California since its purchase by the city in 1967,[…]
Red, Yellow, and Orange in the Red, White, and Blue
Posted on 10/15/2024
Fall is among us, which means many of the green trees over the summer are now turning to their Autumn colors as Summer ends. New York Vinnie has been on[…]
Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, MO
Posted on 10/09/2024
In this edition of American Road Trip Talk, we pay a visit to the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri before it closes its doors on September 30. Since[…]
Rounding the Stadiums in a Baseball Road Trip
Posted on 09/16/2024
While the Big Leaguers are busy rounding the bases, we’ll be rounding the MLB ballparks in road trips designed just for baseball fans. From New York to Los Angeles and[…]
Michigan’s Scenic Route 22 & Hiking Trails
Posted on 09/09/2024
A great road trip doesn’t have to be done entirely by automobile. In fact, some of the best views can only be witnessed by parking your vehicle along the scenic[…]
Cruising the Last Frontier
Posted on 09/03/2024
This week on American Road Trip Talk, meet New York Vinnie, filling in for Gary Mantz as he takes some time away from the show. In this edition, he chats[…]
Celebrating the Art Car Phenomenon with Erika Nelson
Posted on 08/26/2024
In this episode, artist and frequent contributor Erika Nelson shares her deep appreciation of Art Cars. An art car is a vehicle that has had its appearance modified as an[…]
Remembering Elvis 47 Years Later
Posted on 08/19/2024
47 years ago, Elvis Presley passed into history. The King of Rock and Roll “left the building” at the age of 42. Today, we remember his too-short life and celebrate[…]
Springfield, Illinois: International Route 66 Mother Road Festival 2024
Posted on 08/12/2024
Our guest for this week’s episode is Amy Beadle, Marketing Manager of the Springfield Illinois Convention & Visitors Bureau. She has exciting news to share about the upcoming 23rd Annual[…]
Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou
Posted on 08/05/2024
On this edition of American Road Trip Talk, discover Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, just 35 miles south of New Orleans and home to the unapologetic Cajun culture of Lafourche Parish. The[…]
Joyous Journey: Driving Across America by RV
Posted on 07/29/2024
Matt Shea is the guest host of American Road Trip Talk this week. Listen as he interviews Kristen Brandel and Christa O’Brien, two ladies that are living their road trip[…]
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan
Posted on 07/22/2024
Want to get far away from the noise and haste of daily life on your next vacation? Isle Royale National Park is a great destination for those seeking unspoiled beauty[…]
What a Weekend it Was: AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa
Posted on 07/15/2024
The AAA Route 66 Road Fest was held June 22-23, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and our guest, Joey Madia, was a featured speaker. If you were in attendance, lucky you![…]
Little Gems: Fishing, Camping and Hiking at Lakes in Washington
Posted on 07/08/2024
The great outdoors and western Washington are synonymous in the minds of fishers, hikers and campers who make the most of the mildest time of year. There are plenty of[…]
Scenic Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon
Posted on 07/02/2024
Cruising Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon from Cannon Beach to Gold Beach offers road-trippers a sizable stretch of scenic wonders and an opportunity to get acquainted with the easygoing hospitality[…]
Highway 101: A Road Trip Dream Come True
Posted on 06/24/2024
“Rainbows end down that highway where ocean breezes blow,” according to The Grateful Dead. When Mark Greene of Cars Yeah fame fulfilled a road trip dream alongside Blake, his then[…]
Star-Spangled Banner Historical Sites
Posted on 06/17/2024
On Flag Day in America, we dedicate this episode to three sites that celebrate the story of the Star-Spangled Banner: Fort McHenry, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and the[…]
Classic Hollywood Restaurants Then and Now
Posted on 06/10/2024
Don’t you wish you could dine where legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age loved to meet, greet, drink and eat? Good news: you still can! In this episode, Geoffrey Mark, a[…]
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA
Posted on 06/03/2024
In advance of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, we feature The National D-Day Memorial, located in Bedford, VA. It has been called “a must visit for anyone interested in World[…]
Memorial Day Weekend 2024 in Western Washington
Posted on 05/28/2024
We often hear the phrase, “All gave some, some gave all.” Today’s episode is in honor of Memorial Day, dedicated to the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in[…]
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Near Nashville
Posted on 05/20/2024
In this episode, step into the world of Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States. History comes alive within the walls of The Hermitage, his magnificent house. Hear the[…]
Car Culture Looks Beyond the Baby Boomers (Encore)
Posted on 05/13/2024
Move over, Boomers! In American auto culture, the trend toward younger enthusiasts with upwardly mobile careers and a taste for the finer things in life has become increasingly evident. Mark[…]
Ely and White Pine County, Nevada Adventures
Posted on 05/06/2024
In this episode, meet Kyle Horvath, Director of Tourism for all of White Pine County, Nevada which includes Ely and the gateway community to Great Basin National Park, Baker. Listen[…]
Route 66, Ike and the Interstate
Posted on 04/29/2024
Stretching from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road” and the “Main Street of America,” was one of the country’s major thoroughfares for[…]
Springfield, Illinois: Great Times Ahead in Summer 2024
Posted on 04/22/2024
Planning a 2024 summer road trip? Our guest Amy Beadle is the marketing manager at the Springfield (Illinois) Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this episode, we hear about a plethora[…]
Welcome to the Dark Sky City of Flagstaff, AZ
Posted on 04/15/2024
Flagstaff, AZ was named the world’s first International Dark Sky City by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) on October 24, 2001. Skywatchers are always welcome here and so are Astrotourism[…]
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2024
Posted on 04/08/2024
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates the glory of Spring and the abundant splendor of Mother Nature from April 1st to April 30th, 2024. In this episode, Matt Shea provides[…]
Best Places to View the Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024
Posted on 04/01/2024
The Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024 is approaching fast and Jamie Jensen, who is celebrating publication of the 10th Edition of his Road Trip USA travel guide, joins[…]
American Luxury: Henry M. Leland, Founder of Cadillac and Lincoln
Posted on 03/25/2024
Henry Martyn Leland was an American machinist, inventor, engineer, and automotive entrepreneur. He founded the two premier American luxury automotive marques, Cadillac and Lincoln. His motto was, “Craftsmanship a creed,[…]
Inappropriation on the American Road
Posted on 03/18/2024
Erika Nelson joins us to recount a pop-up show at TeePee Junction in Lawrence, Kansas. Erika responded to the “Hillbilly Halfwit”, Armando Minjarez responded to “La Salsa Man”, and Mona[…]
Adventure Drives for When Spring Arrives
Posted on 03/11/2024
Mark Greene of Cars Yeah says, “For me an adventure drive is when you go off the freeway and onto the back roads, or no roads, out into the wilderness.[…]
Small Town Charm in the Evergreen State
Posted on 03/04/2024
Washington State has more than her fair share of small towns with plenty of charm to lure visitors away from the city life of Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma et al as[…]
Sundown on the Mother Road (Encore)
Posted on 02/26/2024
Route 66 is a long story that is still being told. The glory of The Mother Road endures with a resilience underscored by her responsiveness to movements of not only[…]
Seaside Aquarium in Beautiful Seaside, Oregon
Posted on 02/19/2024
Seaside Aquarium is one of the oldest aquariums on the West Coast. Founded in 1937, the aquarium is privately owned and the descendants of some of the founders still are[…]
When Beatlemania Came to America
Posted on 02/12/2024
On February 9, 1964, The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and on that electrifying night, Beatlemania swept across America. Geoffrey Mark is our guest for[…]
From Phoenix to Vermont and Back With Jessica Dunham
Posted on 02/06/2024
Travel author Jessica Dunham has driven from Phoenix to Vermont and back again six times; the people and places she has had the privilege of experiencing are treasured memories. In[…]
Nevada-Arizona Adventure with Jamie Jensen
Posted on 01/30/2024
A road trip from southern Nevada to Arizona (or vice-versa) will bring spectacular desert vistas and stunning historic places into view. Hoover Dam and Laughlin in Nevada; Bullhead City, Arizona[…]
Edsel, Etc. Woulda Coulda Shoulda Cars
Posted on 01/23/2024
They seemed like a great idea at the time: cars that were produced with big ambitions in mind but that failed to win over the public while others went through[…]
Vintage Cafes in Western Washington
Posted on 01/16/2024
Western Washington is home to many vintage venues for dining and socializing that proudly maintain their links to the past. Matt Shea is back with first-hand experiences to share about[…]
Muskegon Museum of Art in Michigan
Posted on 01/09/2024
The Muskegon Museum of Art, founded on a tradition of aesthetic excellence, is committed to fostering the life-long study and appreciation of the visual arts. We visit with Art Martin,[…]
Revel in a Wonderland at Bear Lake
Posted on 01/03/2024
The Bear Lake Valley is a recreational paradise! Bear Lake on the Idaho-Utah border is often called “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its intense turquoise blue water. Jet ski, go[…]
In Memoriam of Automotive Luminaries 2023
Posted on 01/03/2024
In this episode, Mark Greene joins us to memorialize several highly esteemed gentlemen of the automotive world who passed away in 2023. Each leaves a beautiful legacy and all will[…]
