Advertise on podcast: Backyard Road Trips

For our first episode of the New Year, we are airing our Festivus grievances, just a little late. Jim and Zack welcome back Jim's sister, Kiki, and niece, Kitta, to the show. All while noshing on Jim's homemade spicy chocolates, the crew narrows down their biggest pet peeves, bracket style. Slow left lane drivers? Texters with bad etiquette? Shoppers who block the grocery aisle? Find out which pet peeve is the worst of them all. 

Jim's sister Kiki has a problem. She's a long time Michelob Ultra drinker but after years of listening to the Backyard Road Trips podcast, she's ready to dip her toe into the world of craft beer. Jim and Zack have been tasked with finding the perfect gateway beer. Jim has devised a plan- a blind taste test of lighter beers. These are a mix between macro and micro brews, with Mich Ultra being one of them. Jim, Zack and Kiki are joined by Kiki's daughter (and Jim's niece) Kitta. Will she be able to identify the Ultra? Listen up to find out! Prost! 

Zack and Jim are excited to welcome Melissa Rodway to the show. Melissa is an adventurer, writer, podcaster and owner of FLY Travel Media. Melissa shares with us some of her favorite (and least favorite) travels around the world, how she fits travel into her schedule, and her favorite backyard road trips. For more information about Melissa, check out www.flyrodway.com, as well as her memoir, The People You Meet. 

After a year of growing a variety of hot peppers, it's harvest time! Jim shares his peppers with Zack and guests including his wife, Katie Wheeler and good friend Tim Lawless. The four share nibbles of hot peppers that become increasingly hotter on the Scoville scale, all while broaching hot topics, including dogs in stores and reclinging airplane seats. Listen up! 

Zack and Jim are back with guest, Tim Lawless. Initially the conversation begins with their favorite fall beers, with references to past pumpkin beer taste tests (see earlier seasons). Eventually, it descends into the world of non-alcoholic beer. Why would it be appealing? Do any of the NA beers make the cut? Listen to find out!

Jim, Zack, and special guest, Tim Lawless join us for a session of Brews and Boos. Jim, homebrewer extraordinaire, let's sample four of his newest beers: a spicy pumpkin ale, a holiday ale, a black IPA, and a smoked stout. In addition, the trio shares with us their favorite scary stories, especially ones that have happened close to home. 

Jim and Zack welcome photographer, Angela Andrieux, to the show! Angela shares with us her passion for photography, how she initially got into taking pictures and her favorite backyard road trips. She also tells us all about Mylio, the photo archival company where she works.

Jim, Zack and special guest Ian Cheney welcome you to a very special episode. In this episode, they preview their new podcast, which launches in September, called "Red & White @ Silver".  The trio are graduates of the Norwich (CT) Free Academy, Class of 2001. After Ian was a guest on Backyard Road Trips, he conceived of the idea for this podcast. Ian, Zack and Jim would spend the next two years interviewing more than 40 fellow graduates from NFA's Class of 2001 to find out where life has taken them. Episodes will be airing once a week through June in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of their senior year in high school. Many thanks to the NFA Foundation, which has been unwavering in its support of this project! 

Jim and Zack welcome Ian Cheney back onto Backyard Road Trips. Ian has been on here to tell us about his book, as a guest for a historical discussion, and to share information about our other podcast project, Red and White at Silver. This time, though, he's sharing his own travel tidbits and more. Jim also talks travel as he clues us in on his recent trips, including a multi-day hike of the Nipmuck Trail in Connecticut, travels to the White Mountains and Universal Studios. Ian shares his recent overnight voyage in his own town, his upcoming Disney World vacation and his ideal trip. Zack shares about quick trips to New Hampshire, Acadia National Park and Doylestown, Pennsylvania. 

Jim and Zack welcome Laura Giles onto the show. Laura is a guide who leads groups in a variety of tours; spiritual retreats, sacred travel and nature-based excursions, among others. She chats with the duo all about what she does and her inspiration. For more information, check out Laura's website at www.lauragiles.me

Jim and Zack welcome travel writer, actress, and photographer Joanna Kalafatis to the show! In addition to acting in shows, Maestro in Blue and Love Rat, Joanna runs the website, www.losethemap.com. Not only does she write on her own blog, but she has also authored the Moon Travel Guide: Best of Greece as well a two guides to abandoned northern and southern California. Joanna grew up in Greece and New York City, later living in Los Angeles. She talks about how to balance her multiple careers, cultural misunderstandings, how to recharge while traveling, and her favorite backyard road trips!

Jim and Zack welcome Alexandra Lauren, also known as the Bucket List Mermaid to Backyard Road Trips! Alexandra lives in an RV and is constantly traveling. A native-Coloradoan, she has traveled to over 45 countries! She shares with us her adventures as a mermaid, yes a literal mermaid. She also talks about what's been on her bucket list, hiking with a mermaid tail and travel mishaps, including escaping a forest fire and her brush with a skinwalker! 

Jim and Zack welcome the curator of the Mattapoisett Museum, Connor Gaudet, onto the show. Connor walks us through the museum's fine collection, including a model of the ship, the Wanderer. He shares with us this backstory of his career in museum work, from Manhattan to Mattapoisett as well as his personal favorite backyard road trips. Located on the South Coast of Massachusetts, the Mattapoisett Museum showcases a fine collection of artifacts from the history of the town. 

Jim and Zack have two special guests on air today: Dave Lehan and Dan Carlon. Each year, Dave and Dan join Zack and two others for a guys weekend in Portland, Maine. They discuss their favorite Portland activities- which mainly consist of breweries. They detail the route they take, from Maine Beer Company, to the hotel to a night on the town. The group analyzes the perks of each stop and what they look forward to on their next journey. 

Now that spring is here once again, it's time to talk about rebirth, renewal, and re-energizing our travel plans. A few special guests join Jim and Zack- Jackie, Zack's wife and Danny, Zack's oldest son, as well as our buddy, Dave Lehan. Danny shares about his recent trip to Philadelphia including his visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and to a 76ers basketball game. Dave relates his recent travels to Upstate New York. And the whole bunch shares their most awkward situations.