Christmas Spectacular Five

On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan digs in on regional Italian cuisine with one of the show’s most interesting guests ever: opera and Italian cuisine expert Fred Plotkin. Fred talks us through some of the most popular and most obscure foods of Italy, sharing history and wonderful anecdotes all along the way. Part 2 of 3! Things we talk about in this week’s episode: “Italy for Food Lovers” https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/italy-for-food-lovers Fred Plotkin biography https://www.wqxr.org/people/fred-plotkin/  The Atlantic’s “Crying Myself to Sleep on the Biggest Cruise Ship Ever” by Gary Shteyngart https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/05/royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-icon-of-seas/677838/ CNN’s Grandmother and Son Are on the Move https://www.cnn.com/travel/grandma-joy-ryan-grandson-seven-continents/index.html 

On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan grades ChatGPT, evaluating its organization of three weekend getaways. Ryan shares tips on how to correctly leverage ChatGPT for travel plans. Introducing a fresh segment, "The Layover," Ryan chats with Tommy Wallach from Hatch Escapes on the launch of their latest immersive adventure, "The Ladder." Things we talk about in this week’s episode: ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/ Hatch Escapes:  https://www.hatchescapes.com/ OOO Episode on Escape Rooms: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-50-escape-rooms-with-tommy-wallach/ LAST STOP Ryan: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-accelerates-plan-to-unleash-apex-predator-near-rural-community-over-widespread-local-opposition   Kiernan: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/willy-wonka-musical-parody-inspired-by-viral-event-1235852849/  

On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan interviews one of the show’s most interesting guests ever: opera and Italian cuisine expert Fred Plotkin. Decades ago, Fred published a breakout hit for intrepid eaters: his book “Italy for the Gourmet Traveler.” During COVID, he collaborated with frequent “Out of Office” guest Rick Steves on a new update, which the duo published in 2023 as “Italy for Food Lovers.” Fred’s knowledge proved so encyclopedic, this will be Part 1 of 2! Note: Some SFX are missing from the top of the show, which explains the weird pauses. We’ll talk about it on the next episode.  Things we talk about in this week’s episode: Willy Wonka Immersive Experience https://www.salon.com/2024/03/02/fyre-festival-20-everything-to-know-about-the-less-than-stellar-willy-wonka-immersive-experience/  “Italy for Food Lovers” https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/italy-for-food-lovers Fred Plotkin biography https://www.wqxr.org/people/fred-plotkin/  “The Myth of Your Phone’s Airplane Mode” https://qz.com/phone-airplane-mode-myth-1851286214  “Pod Save the World” CPAC Doubles Down on Creepy Autocrats https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cpac-doubles-down-on-creepy-autocrats/id1200016351?i=1000647359648 

On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Ryan ventures to Buenos Aires and shares his top neighborhood picks, eats too much steak, and embarks on a quest for elderly giraffes. Also, the boys debut a fresh segment called Nonsense Banter. Ryan's BA photos on Insgagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C32MfWpuTpH/?img_index=1 Other Links: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/air-canada-must-honor-refund-policy-invented-by-airlines-chatbot/

In this episode of "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Ryan speaks with Dawn Padmore, Vice President of Awards at the James Beard Foundation, about the newly released list of semi-finalists and how the JBF discovers these exceptional restaurants across the United States. Additionally, Ryan and Kiernan share some of their favorites from the list. The JBF: https://www.jamesbeard.org/ Semi-Finalists List: https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2024-james-beard-awards-semifinalists Notre Dame Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notre-dame/id1438098925?i=1000436877749

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” Kiernan talks to Amy Virshup, the Travel Editor of the New York Times, about the paper’s just released “52 Places to Visit in 2024” list. Plus, the boys launch a new segment called “The Judy Alert” to help Ryan’s mother determine whether her son is in danger. Things we talk about in this week’s episode: “52 Places to Go in 2024” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2024.html  Quito, Ecuador episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/quito-ecuador/id1438098925?i=1000610538652  Ecuador Travel Advisory https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ecuador-travel-advisory.html  White House Press Release on Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument  https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/08/fact-sheet-president-biden-designates-baaj-nwaavjo-itah-kukveni-ancestral-footprints-of-the-grand-canyon-national-monument/   

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys revisit their 2023 Travel New Year’s Resolutions, set down some new ambitions, respond to some SCATHING listener reviews, and then relax into full New England Winter Mode with a city guide to Stowe, Vermont. Things we talk about in this week’s episode: Vermont Covered Bridges https://www.vermontbridges.com/goldbrk.htm#:~:text=The%20Gold%20Brook%20Bridge%20in%20Stowe%2C%20built%20in%201844%2C%20is,Vermont's%20Howe%20truss%20railroad%20spans.  Stowe Mountain Resort https://gostowe.com/listing/stowe-mountain-resort/ Trapp Family Lodge https://www.trappfamily.com/about-us.htm  Stowe Recreation Path https://www.stowerec.org/parks-facilities/rec-paths/stowe-recreation-path/   Bear Pond Books https://stowebooks.com/  Idletyme Brewing Company https://idletymebrewing.com/ Alchemist Beer https://alchemistbeer.com/  “25 Stunning Sites in South America” by The Discoverer https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/25-stunning-sites-south-america/XvHyVpKgiwAG5ann?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2004919419 Japanese Plane Collision https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/02/world/asia/tokyo-haneda-plane-fire.html  Alaska Airlines Boeing Loses a Door Plug Midflight  https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/us/alaska-airlines-boeing-passengers.html   

Grab your nog, it’s the annual OOO Christmas Spectacular where the boys put aside their passports to focus on Santa’s operational efficiencies and Sesame Street Christmas music. Things we talk about in this week’s episode: Rankin Bass Musicals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rankin/Bass_Animated_Entertainment  Freeze Miser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEbFfoBPfw4  The Largest Nativity Scene in South America https://www.expreso.ec/ocio/cultura/cuenca-reclama-pesebre-grande-latinoamerica-173858.html  “Santa Baby” by Ariana Grande https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlR0MkrRklg   Cookie Monster’s “12 Days of Christmas” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQCmsuK-Lmw  Ugly Sweater Ornament https://www.ebay.com/itm/255838445784?hash=item3b9128e0d8:g:Uj4AAOSwodVjeaGy&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8NPxIqG7TEJv1y5rq1ngNG9jrGcrhJezWdhmJou2WW3KRzFtstVU77F2rBgYqUVIGP%2FOuTkPbL09UTcSjPoyXy7TJRs5s8aCpCpqz4C%2FU4Ym%2F4cP%2BNrvCbzs4Hc4gIkqx2uZXJFhWyT%2BB3HqTtzxOFLuzeWvjTOmvF%2Bo1REtDZhOxtuRqLBaTwwoNpLZhq%2B550zP5Qaw%2Ba%2BpSyt1HNJMpJF0OdHdKPKCXtN%2BDHNOdgnStEqShRLcQLhiz2Ngnrp4SGQQKQO%2BohqLxrI0iGz8pksqxDSb0SjLR%2FgxG1yA6rylPFbvl3EBfTOHJruagIQlYQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4jryaSNYw Ugly Possum Ornament https://www.jdevlinglassart.com/bac-185-possum-ornament/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAj_CrBhD-ARIsAIiMxT84-U1us_3R7qrv4OkXqRFy_GWNyikBaBFlB6SgDuxyP4TcVLy45rcaAhhaEALw_wcB   

This week on the pod, join Ryan as he explores Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. Discover a Millennial Malecon, delve into miniature history museums teeming with pirates, and encounter feral iguanas. Also, stay tuned as Kiernan learns what a chameleon is. Things we talk about in this week’s episode: Quito Episode: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-149-quito-ecuador/ https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-crime-cocaine-fernando-villavicencio-4f96684926c2600e2483373555a7cf42 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malec%C3%B3n_2000 https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/pacific-coast-and-lowlands/guayaquil/attractions/museo-en-miniatura-guayaquil-en-la-historia/a/poi-sig/1504404/363353 https://www.theworlds50best.com/discovery/Establishments/Ecuador/Guayaquil/Casa-Juli%C3%A1n.html https://www.theworlds50best.com/discovery/Establishments/Ecuador/Guayaquil/Mikka.html The Last Stop: Ryan: Z-Food in Quito (https://zfoodquito.com/) Kiernan: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/us/death-valley-lake.html   

This week on the pod, Kiernan takes us to merry old England to visit sites related to William Shakespeare in honor of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the First Folio. Without the Folio, we would likely have lost half—HALF!—of Shakespeare’s plays. Libraries around the world will be hosting special events throughout the year, and there’s never been a better time to head to the theatre! Things we talk about in this week’s episode: Ryan’s OTHER podcast Red Pen https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/red-pen-a-grammar-podcast/id1658608663  Folio 400 https://folio400.com/where-are-they/  Panda Diplomacy https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/us/politics/panda-zoo-china.html  Atlanta Zoo https://zooatlanta.org/activity-type/wild-encounters/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAu9yqBhBmEiwAHTx5pxOo1X0nXLy7cGyxIpUqgR-UgVVrsz2trHpg2aUUxlotA-4Pp-j6_hoCQtEQAvD_BwE  NYer article about Panda Mating https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/02/bears-do-it  Folio anniversary write-ups we like https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/books/review/shakespeares-first-folio-turns-400.html  https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2023/november/the-first-folio-at-400  Misc: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/theater-floorboards-shakespeare-uncovered-2376341