Christmas Spectacular Five

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys treat the ancient aqueducts like a flume ride and splash right into Rome! Kiernan and Ryan talk Emperors, SPQR, why columns make the best decor, plus just a touch of new Pope speculation. Our episode on Vatican City: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-197-vatican-city/ Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: “The Fall of Rome” podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fall-of-rome-podcast/id1141563910 “SPQR” by Mary Beard https://a.co/d/71DS93Z  “Roman Holiday” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rL5QxXF0g8  Colosseum https://colosseo.it/en/area/the-colosseum/  Forum https://colosseo.it/en/area/the-roman-forum/  Palatine Hill https://colosseo.it/en/area/the-palatine/  Pantheon https://www.pantheonroma.com/home-eng/ Borghese Gallery https://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/  Bath of Diocletian https://museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it/en/baths-of-diocletian/  Trevi Fountain https://www.blacktomato.com/us/inspirations/the-history-of-romes-trevi-fountain/  Spanish Steps https://romesite.com/spanish-steps.html  Catacombs of Saint Sebastian https://www.catacombe.org/  Lego Trevi Fountain https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/trevi-fountain-21062 

On this episode of “Out of Office: A Travel Podcast,” the boys celebrate the pod’s 200th episode with travel icon Rick Steves! Kiernan chats with Rick about his latest book “On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer” and about how keeping a journal can make one into a keener observer of culture.  Rick’s philosophy of travel is that if you haven’t come back changed, you didn’t do it right. This interview will leave you changed. Plus, a new artistic saint! Things we talked about in today’s podcast: Rick Steves’ Europe https://www.ricksteves.com/  Free scans of every page of Rick’s journal https://www.ricksteves.com/about-rick/original-hippie-trail-journal  Saint Gaudi! https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/world/europe/antoni-gaudi-architect-saint.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare  Wanna help us celebrate 200? Leave a review (please)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-office-a-travel-podcast/id1438098925  And a final note from Ryan and Kiernan: RIP POPE FRANCIS!

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us on three day trips from Santiago, Chile. First is Valparaíso, a coastal city known for its hills, historic funiculars, and street art. Then on to Valle de Colchagua, where wine tastings and a standout meal at Fuegos de Apalta make for a vino day. Finally, head to the Andes to soak in the mineral pools at Termas Valle de Colina. Plus, Kiernan talks about his old friend Corn Husker 55! Leave us a 5 Star Review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-office-a-travel-podcast/id1438098925 Santiago Episode: https://outofofficepod.com/podcast/episode-194-santiago-chile/ The Hills: https://www.moon.com/travel/trip-ideas/the-hills-of-valparaiso-chile/ Restaurants: La Concepción & La Caperucita y el Lobo https://museobaburizza.cl/en/home/ Our wine tour provider: https://colchaguawinetours.com/

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys head to Krakow, the intellectual heart of Poland. The city is home to beautiful churches, endless Pope John Paul II memorabilia, one of the oldest universities in the world (Copernicus attended), and moving remembrances of Jewish citizens killed in the Holocaust. Plus, a quick detour to the historic Wieliczka Salt Mine. Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: Schengen Area: https://dailypassport.com/what-is-the-schengen-area/ Remains of the Ghetto wall https://g.co/kgs/ammrVVz Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory https://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en/branches/oskar-schindlers-enamel-factory MOCAK https://en.mocak.pl/ https://www.instagram.com/prosciuttko_/?hl=en

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys Catholic out hard. In celebration of Lent, “Conclave,” and a Catholic Jubilee Year, Kiernan talks us through the top sites to see in Vatican City. Rome is expecting 32M visitors this year, and now each and every one can listen to Out of Office! Things We Talked About on Today’s Episode: Jubilee 2025 https://www.usccb.org/jubilee2025  Holy Doors https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/5-holy-doors-what-every-catholic-should-know-ahead-of-jubilee-2025-4075  Saint Peter’s https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/  Pope John XXIII https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/martyrs-miracles-and-the-stuff-of-making-saints/  Vatican II https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-10/vatican-ii-council-60th-anniversary-video-history-background.html  Papal Altar and Canopy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter%27s_Baldachin  Chair of Saint Peter https://www.ncregister.com/cna/historic-chair-of-st-peter-on-public-display-in-vatican-basilica-for-first-time-in-150-years  Tomb of Saint Peter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter%27s_tomb  Saint Peter Statue https://stpetersbasilica.info/Statues/StPeter/StPeter.htm  La Pieta https://fa-inkwell.org/1039/arts/artists-review-la-pieta-one-of-michelangelos-earliest-works/  Vatican Museums https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html  Laocoon and his Sons https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Cortile-Ottagono/laocoonte.html  Gallery of the Candelabra https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-clementino/Galleria-dei-Candelabri/galleria-dei-candelabri.html  “School of Athens” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens  Sistine Chapel “In Our Time” episode https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0015vh8  Sistine Chapel pre-reading https://www.througheternity.com/en/blog/art/michelangelo-last-judgment-sistine-chapel-vatican.html  Omio https://www.omio.com/  Jenny Nicholson on the Star Wars Hotel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0CpOYZZZW4 

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan offers an overview of Berlin's museums, highlighting a few of his favorites, from the story of Hitler's rise and fall in an underground bunker to contemporary art in an old train station. Plus, Kiernan talks about Boston.

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan chats with Stephen Hiltner, the New York Times editor in charge of this year’s “52 Places to Go in 2025.” Stephen talks about some highlights from this year’s selections, plus a few spots that didn’t quite make the cut. Here’s what we cover in this episode: “52 Places to Go in 2025” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2025.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us south to Santiago, Chile, where he rides up a funicular and down a cable car to see the Virgin Mary. Plus, eating barnacles and flying out of Kafka Airport. The Month In Digital (Ryan’s Marketing Newsletter): https://monthindigital.substack.com/ Kafka Airport: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC2AdoIM1DD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Restaurants:  Peumayén Ancestral Food Sanguchería Ciudad Vieja The Singular Santiago’s Rooftop Bocanáriz Boragó  

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys talk about their holiday breaks and discuss why ski trips are well-worth the expense and steep learning curve. Plus, Ryan has a onesie! Here’s what we cover in this episode: NYT on European Skiing https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/travel/europe-skiing-budget.html  Beaver Creek https://www.beavercreek.com/  Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire https://www.cannonmt.com/tickets 

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, the boys celebrate the season with discussions of the Immaculate Conception (it’s not what Ryan thinks), an idea for holiday film commentaries yet to come, and the LAST Ugly Ornament contest. And another year passes without seeing pictures of the Nativity Ryan’s father painstakingly carved from a single block of wood. Here’s what we cover in this episode: Debora https://www.instagram.com/deborarest/?hl=en    LATAM 50 Best Restaurants https://www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/    “White Christmas” movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Christmas_(film)    Day of the Little Candles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Little_Candles    Reba McEntire “Christmas Guest” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57fS-9kGZqU    Jimmy Fallon “Chipmunks and Chestnuts” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CChx2qVNl0    Kiernan’s Ugly Ornament for Ryan https://johnderian.com/products/mushroom-person-ornament?srsltid=AfmBOoqJ58ABMzRZ1iiMibeH0zVvGJn3ZumEEEhUAHIicz2ZfBsFIk4T    Ryan’s Ugly Ornament for Kiernan https://www.etsy.com/listing/1814317312/bespoke-funny-prank-xmaschristmas?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ugly+ornament&ref=sr_gallery-1-9&pro=1&pop=1&content_source=fde4cc23f7c035e7d3ac14a1cd6a7a4bf6a9e3ed%253A1814317312&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1