Travel Tales From the #nerdbirds

While honorary #nerdbird Pilot Sarah was flying her final flight with a commercial airline, friends and family were having a good time sharing stories of her love of aviation. Listen in as #nerdbird David learns about life with a pilot in the family from Sarah's spouse, brother-in-law, and son -- live on the flight.

Because #nerdbird Eric can't hog all of the airline inaugural celebrations, co-host Rachel finally goes on an inaugural flight (ZipAir from Tokyo to San Jose) and swaps tales with Eric's inaugural flights: JetBlue from Boston to Kansas City, and Delta's new A321 from Boston to San Francisco. They share the wild and wacky tales of pomp, random airports, and chalk cookies -- and look ahead to finding flights in 2023. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In the first of a series of episodes recorded during Pilot Sarah's retirement flight festivities, #nerdbirds co-host Rachel's seatmate David gets asked the uncomfortable questions during dessert (with a few inflight interruptions). Listen in on David's take on feeling rich and growing up with those who weren't into adventure or travel. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The "ask the #nerdbirds the same uncomfortable questions" series continues, with co-host Kai quizzing Brendan and learning that even a Los Angeles native can enjoy public transit! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Continuing from last episode's conversation about flexing your creative travel muscle, #nerdbird Rachel asks Charlie the six questions she and Kai answered in December 2022. Charlie's answers share a perspective on only recently starting to travel, combined with managing family group trips. Bonus tidbits on renewing American passports and using mobile data in Japan are included :) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

#nerdbirds Kai and Rachel revisit the Travel Ninja Gym and up the ante with stories and advice on how travel can spark inner transformation -- or not! Few stones are left unturned as they discuss situations and topics that force them to think about how, why, and how often to travel. Part 1 of a 2-part end-of-year series.

#nerdbirds Kai & Rachel discuss how scents are one of the strongest memory recall triggers, and how scents impact our journeys, for better or for worse! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Travel Tales Time! #nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel compare their recent trips based on phases from the Traveler Lifecycle. Contrast Brendan's meticulous planning a year in advance vs. Rachel's three days, along with how they arrived, top moments, top hiccups, and heading home. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

#nerdbirds Kai and Rachel ponder how weather factors into planning for and rolling with the travel punches, with stories from dealing with heat in Singapore and Hawaii, to smog in China, a tsunami in Tokyo, and bitter cold in Berlin. They ponder whether avoiding places because you don't like the weather is just learning what you like vs. living a more "authentic" experience. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When #nerdbirds co-host Rachel overheard Brendan pondering what (paper-based) books to bring on an upcoming trip, she wondered if anyone else reads while traveling. Learn more about what the other #nerdbirds (don't) do, listen to a few stories of books that inspired tourists and fellow airline travelers, and find some short stories from our past review of Airplane Stories for your next trip. Show notes and resources can be found at https://nerdbirds.co/episode157/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The #nerdbirds are back after a summer break full of flight delays and cancellations -- with thoughts on the complexities of cruise ships, what's an "authentic" Hawaiian experience, a prison-themed hotel and scooter adventures in Helsinki, experiences with bias in facial recognition software at the airport, and a preview of our next episode (good reads when traveling). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Pilot Sarah needs some company in the honorary #nerdbird department, so it's time to welcome Flight Attendant Joey! Co-host Rachel dug up the lightning round initiation questions from 2020 and Joey was more than up to the task, with tales of travelers losing common sense when they board a plane and favorite eats while on the road (although Rachel still isn't sure about Joey's favorite restaurant in Seoul, where you could suffocate on your extremely fresh meal!). They both banter about their favorite quiet airplanes, Airbnbs vs. hotels, and the dream of an airline that only accepts nice passengers :) This is the last episode for Season 8, and co-hosts Kai and Rachel decided that if most Europeans get weeks of summer off, they can too! We'll return in August. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

It's time for another Brendan's Book Club episode, where he and fellow #nerdbird Rachel review "The World: Travels 1950-2000" by Jan Morris. A deeply fascinating series of articles from Jan's travel assignments to every part of the world, the book also includes a tale of her gender transition. The #nerdbirds explore her white British (and often colonial) perspectives when writing along with her keen powers of observation, and make connections to how we live and explore cultures today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

In a quick return to a shorter Travel Bite episode, #nerdbirds Kai and Rachel ponder the awkwardness of restarting travel after so much time staying put, and provide a quick update on our "slow season" post-episode 150. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Pilot Sarah spent two months earlier this year becoming a Captain, and answers questions from the #nerbirds -- everything from bathrooms on airplanes to the number of stripes pilots wear on their sleeves, flight simulator pranks, and the changing views of Earth from far above. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai are joined by fellow #nerdbird Sebastian to talk about cruising and all the ins and outs that come with it - including fun things to do on the ship, how Sebastian handles seasickness, and a reminder to always read your cruise documents so you aren't caught out at the wrong disembarkation port. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

It's the fourth anniversary of the final Virgin America flight where the founding #nerdbirds met, and our 150th episode! Brendan and Rachel channel their inner game show hosts, with contestants Charlie, David, Kai, and Sebastian trying their hand at the Password game show. Will Charlie be able to defend his title from last year's 100th episode Jeopardy! special to become a supernerdbird? Listen in and find out! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Making memories is core at any travel experience - and souvenirs are one physical representation to evoke those memories. But does it make sense to always buy souvenirs when travelling? And for whom? #nerdbirds Rachel & Kai talk about their souvenir philosophies, their favorite treasures and alternatives to the standard souvenir. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Brendan's Book of the Month is an anthology of super-short stories from the website Airplane Reading (airplanereading.org), where readers submit a travel story that involves an airport or airplane and everything imaginable that can happen at either. Selected works were placed into a book in 2016; Brendan and co-host Rachel share highlights from their favorite stories, which sparks touching and hilarious memories from their own travel journeys. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Charlie and Rachel continue last week's topic on lonely moments during solo travel with Charlie's contrasting stories of trips in New York City and Japan. They segue to self-awareness during travel, which includes making sure one's mental health and emotional needs are met. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Solo travel, just like any other kind of travel has it's positives and negatives. Rachel & Kai discuss both sides, how they kicked loneliness to the curb while still maintaining the positives of solitude and making your own way through the travel world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Nearly two years after the first stay-at-home order, #nerdbirds David and Rachel catch up in real life with a trip to an aviation memorabilia show and a super-late lunch afterwards. While waiting for their food, they thought about midday eating events that aren't labeled lunch. David recalls the Washington DC brunch scene and Rachel muses on brunch in Omaha, elevenses in England, and fika in Sweden. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Food is an integral part of travel - so #nerdbirds Rachel, Kai & Sebastian chat about their favorite breakfasts, where to get them, what to eat, and the travel stories that go with them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

If you can find a way to make concrete airport towers look cool, you can probably do anything! #nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel review "The Art of the Airport Tower," a photographic book and Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit. They discuss favorite photos, and Brendan shares trivia on Disney's purchase of a Southern California airport. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Travelling the world is a great way to experience new cultures and get out of your comfort zone, but company leaders tend to be anything but diverse. #nerdbirds Rachel & Kai chat about one Black-led travel startup (localeur.com) and their own experience with travel and how it has opened their eyes to diversity and how we learn and benefit from diversity. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai riff on how laundry is done differently around the world - and some very unique ways to wash (or not) your clothes, rugs, and so much more! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdsbirds Rachel & Kai chat about their individual favorite travel apps: MarineTraffic (track boats around the world!) & Rome2Rio (want to get from Point A to Point B? Here's how...) respectively - and also their shared joy for Flightradar24. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

For 2022, #nerdbird Brendan will pull a travel/aviation/airport/design-themed book from his library for the Book of the Month. This episode looks at Airline Visual Identity 1945-1975, a hefty part-art part-story book looking at 13 airlines from around the world and the items that made their brands tick. The majority of items are in the form of posters that showcase travel destinations and aircraft -- from cartoony mid-century modern to photography. Listen in as Brendan and Rachel share favorite stories and posters from the book, and go to the associated blog post to check out some of their favorite images (https://nerdbirds.co/episode139) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

For the last episode of Travel Bingo, Rachel settles on the word "suitcase." Kai & Sebastian share stories of how to choose the right baggage for your needs and how NOT to lose it along the way. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

This week's January Travel Bingo word is "kids," which sent almost all #nerdbirds running away screaming except for Brendan and Charlie. Rachel and Brendan reminisce about 1980s gum (and soda) flavors, and Charlie finds new ways to mess with his travel karma when flying with family. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

For this week's Travel Bingo, #nerdbirds Rachel, Sebastian & Kai chat about... coffee! And also about drinks to get at a coffee house/cafe when traveling if coffee really isn't your thing, along with some serious time warp advice on finding cool coffee spots in Hawaii. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Season 7 starts with an offshoot from Travel Bites: Travel Bingo! #nerdbirds Rachel & Kai take one word and offer a tale and a tip. This week they talk about ATMs & money - how to get it when you're travelling and how to pay for things in this increasingly cashless society! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai finish off season 6 by sharing the interesting story of Thor Pedersen, a Dane who is attempting to visit every country in the world without flying. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai provide a travel bites tip for the holidays (and really all year round!). Those near-ubiquitous QR codes have helped to create a touchless environment when eating out, searching for information or getting you on a plane, train or bus. On rare occasion though, a QR code may point you towards something malicious. Listen in for a tip or two on keeping your information safe! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai talk about an article from Vivienne Dovi, founder of Melanin Travel - outlining bias and privilege in travel, and how stereotypes unfairly paint countries or entire continents in negative lights, when in reality they're perfectly fine places to visit. Pro tip: Apply your critical thinking skills to whatever you hear about a certain destination. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Kai & Rachel delve into the science-based aspects of travel and how the act of travel improves our moods, creates joy and gets us of our comfort zone. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

After digesting Thanksgiving, your first thoughts probably aren't about airport announcements, but #nerdbirds Rachel & Kai chat about the slow reduction of airport-wide announcements and how technological improvements have made audio announcements less necessary - and the concept is spreading to airports around the world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai chat about how to take care of yourself when travelling - planning for any and all eventualities, espousing BYO... whatever in case Plan A isn't available. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Any rules for when to purchase travel have gone out the window since 2020. #nerdbirds Kai and Rachel try to answer the #1 question asked by their non-travel-obsessed friends, using stories of their own attempts to book international travel in recent weeks. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai riff on selected ways to travel responsibly from an article - and also reminding viewers Ameri-centric views don't apply everywhere, so do your research! Spoilers... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Kai & Rachel chat about the future of hotels and how they've been affected by the pandemic, and what the path forward will be for hotels, such as work from hotel packages or the unbundling (or accelerated unbundling) of items previously included as part of hotel prices. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

Co-hosts Kai and Rachel chat about the changing nature of airport lounges and trying to stay healthy during long-haul travel. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

It only took 18 months from our first episode for #nerdbird Mark to finally appear for his intro with our now-vintage lightning round questions! Unlike the founding #nerdbirds, Mark was not on the Virgin America final flight in 2018 and brings different perspectives on aviation, including his time at Boeing and decades-long loyalty to Delta (not to mention the decade of roadtrips with co-host Rachel). This is also our first live episode at an airport, so enjoy the background sound effects. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai bring you another Travel Bites episode, opining on an opinion article about overgrowth and overtourism. While the opinion piece covers the Vancouver, BC metro area and especially the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver, BC and Whistler, BC - Rachel & Kai talk about other places they've experienced overtourism/overgrowth and the best ways to mitigate it on a personal level. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai riff on where queer travel has come from and where it's going, and how it's helped other marginalized groups improve their own travel experiences, too. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds co-hosts Rachel and Kai taking a bite-sized look this week at an article about how major European cities like Amsterdam, Prague & Barcelona are looking to restrain, curate, and generally enhance positive tourism (read: rowdy tourists, hen/stag parties, etc.) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

For Season 6, #nerdbirds co-hosts Rachel and Kai are playing with a new format -- a maximum 5-minute chat about one "thing." This week looks at an article about the origins of wheels on luggage and the surprising role gender had in its slow adoption. Read the in-depth article here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/24/mystery-of-wheelie-suitcase-how-gender-stereotypes-held-back-history-of-invention --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Sebastian and Rachel say goodbye to Season 5 by pondering the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, from where they were on that day to what's happened with travel since -- including changed packing habits and navigating the new world of Security Theater. They also chat about the tribute musical "Come From Away" and Rachel's unplanned stop in Gander, Newfoundland, which then spurred stories of medical emergencies on planes -- all interjected with the typical #nerdbird humour, non sequiturs, and bad puns :) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

It's Labor Day weekend in the US -- picnics and BBQs galore -- and #nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel reminisce with travel stories of all things drinkable: whiskey tasting in Tennessee and Japan, Guinness in Ireland, unique wineries in Central and Northern California, a surreal submarine bus tour in LA, Italian drinking culture, and nonalcoholic cocktails in the airport lounge. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai talk about travelling with animals, travelling to see animals, and the experiences we have with animals during our travels. Goats in Mongolian buses, dog guides in Ireland and long-haul parrots in New Zealand! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support

#nerdbirds David and Rachel talk about life in New England in the fall -- from where to see different types of fall colors to other activities in Vermont, with a sprinkling of New Hampshire, upstate New York, and Maine. David shares stories from growing up in southern Vermont, and Rachel shares a trip to find fall colors that includes a train from New York and driving from Vermont to Maine. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nerdbirds/support