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From casting to composing, let's explore Taylor Swift's actual role in helping pals Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in taking over It Ends with Us from Justin Baldoni! Plus, a Super Bowl 2025 recap and my new obsession with Onisha Robinson, the American Queen of Pakistan. Ready for a junk-free start to 2025? Head to www.ThriveMarket.com/nofilter and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol. Get $10 off your first month's subscription & free shipping when you go to www.Nutrafol.com & enter promo code NOFILTER Show off new sides of yourself this year. Go to www.paireyewear.com and use code NOFILTER for 15% off your first pair. Shop New Merch now: https://merchlabs.com/collections/zack-peter?srsltid=AfmBOoqqnV3kfsOYPubFFxCQdpCuGjVgssGIXZRXHcLPH9t4GjiKoaio Book a personalized message on Cameo: https://v.cameo.com/e/QxWQhpd1TIb Listen to The Pop Report: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pop-report/id1746150111 Watch Disaster Daters: https://open.spotify.com/show/3L4GLnKwz9Uy5dT8Ey1VPi Join the Zack Pack Community to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs3Zs51YaK-xw2U5ypi5eqg/join Couldn't get enough? Follow @justplainzack or @nofilterwithzack
Growing up in St. Louis in the 1950s and 60s, Lee Hendrix was taught to fear the Mississippi River. But the sense of adventure it offered ended up being the seed that became a five decade career of piloting boats on the Mississippi. In this encore episode, Hendrix discusses his book, “Peep Light,” where he shares stories about the dangerous work of starting as a deckhand and later ascending to the pilothouse. He also talks about what it was like to pilot passenger vessels, including the grand American Queen, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' largest towboat, the MV Mississippi.
Recorded on July 14, semi-retired Steam Engineer Mark Veum joins me to share memories of some previous podcast guests who'd made up a cast of characters that converged aboard the storied AMERICAN QUEEN. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and still living there today, Mark tells stories of time spent on vessels sailing the Great Lakes, some others down in the Gulf of Mexico, and a few in the passenger vessel industry cruising up and down the western rivers of the United States. We also discuss a few literary efforts of his, one upon which I may well be working with him next year. Hope you enjoy it. Season of the Witch: A Great Lakes Shipwreck Tale https://www.amazon.com/Season-Witch-Great-Lakes-Shipwreck/dp/0595216323
Did you know that one-quarter of all North American fish species are native to the Mississippi? Or that it shelters 300 species of birds during seasonal migrations? The Mississippi River runs through the heart of the nation, shaping its history and identity. But few of us understand its essence. It's a life-giving force that sustains thriving ecosystems across wetlands, prairies, and bluffs. He has driven virtually all the Great River Road, hiked, and canoed the river on multi-day expeditions, and cruised on the American Queen steamboat as a guest lecturer. In The Wild Mississippi, Dean not only shares the wonders of the river, but he also shows you where to experience them firsthand. Pick up this must-read guide and get ready to experience the river wild!https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dean-Klinkenberg/author/B003W3UCIM?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=truehttp://www.yourlotandparcel.org
Recorded on June 23, another New Yorker joins me on the show whose father was a longshoreman on Staten Island. Frank Rivera found himself in boot camp for his 18th birthday looking to become a United States Marine, two decades later he'd become Watchman and Riverlorian on the AMERICAN QUEEN, and is now driving delivery trucks in his semi-retirement. He joins me to discuss his early life in a northeast fishing town, his adventures in the Marine Corps that began in the late 80s, and he talks us through 20 years of service in the US Military, his introduction to the passenger vessel industry, some challenges he faced in the meantime, and his life as a part of the mighty AMERICAN QUEEN's rich and fabled history. As her Riverlorian, he researched, trained, and lectured about the lore and history that so defined the memory of that ill-fated and much-loved vessel.
Growing up in St. Louis in the 1950s and 60s, Lee Hendrix was taught to fear the Mississippi River. But the sense of adventure it offered ended up being the seed that became a five decade career of piloting boats on the Mississippi. Hendrix discusses his new book, “Peep Light,” where he shares stories about the dangerous work of starting as a deckhand and later ascending to the pilothouse. He also talks about what it was like to pilot passenger vessels, including the grand American Queen, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' largest towboat, the MV Mississippi.
A HOT PRESIDENT?! This book is surely a fantasy novel. Greer is just living her life as a college professor when the Vice President of the United States walks into her office and tells her the President wants to have a meeting with her. She already has a steamy history with BOTH men, but when her relationship with President Maxen Ash Colchester is rekindled she starts to realize she still has plenty of feelings for the VP. How will she navigate this absolute pickle?! This book is unhinged, so tune into this episode of Smut Up and Listen to hear Charlotte, SHELBY (!!!!) and Jena tell Riley all about it! Book Credit: American Queen by Sierra Simone
Vanessa Miller is a best-selling, award-winning author and playwright. Vanessa's novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine Bestseller's List. Miller's work has received numerous awards, including the 2022 Best Christian Fiction award for her novel Something Good at the African American Literary Awards Show. She has worked with numerous publishers: Urban Christian, Kimani Romance, Abingdon Press and Whitaker House. She is currently working on promoting The American Queen with Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins). The American Queen by Vanessa Miller In 1869 a kingdom rose in the South. And Louella was its queen. Over the twenty-four years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there's no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry. But when William finally listens to Louella's pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles. Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. Though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness and fight for the freedom and dignity of all. Grab your coy of The American Queen by Vanessa Miller https://a.co/d/2T64MUI
Finally joining me on the podcast, Mrs. Allison Baley chronicles her journey through life and her exposure growing up to the water and the industries it supports. She later attended SUNY Maritime College and made her way into the industry first on passenger vessels that traveled throughout the inland rivers, the storied AMERICAN QUEEN among them, and more recently into the barging world aboard, primarily, the CRIMSON GEM at ARTCO. Follow her on Facebook and connect on LinkedIn to follow her adventures out there between the levees.
Salute to me I'm your American Queen. In this episode, we deep dive into Taylor Swift's song “King of My Heart” from reputation. Join us as we discuss the power dynamics and military references in the song, as well as themes of wealth, luxury, and the British Royal Family. We even attempt to dissect how the music changes to reflect the song's themes and lyrics. We're left wondering: is this just a schoolgirl crush? Infatuation? Or the love of the speaker's life, the end of all the endings? Tune in and find out! Mentioned in this episode: King Arthur "You're Losing Me" Marxist Theory Episode Switched on Pop (Book) Switched on Pop (Podcast) Satire Episode “Satisfied,” Hamilton Affiliate Codes: Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro *** Episode Highlights: [1:50] How we do a deep dive [4:06] “Salute to me I'm your American Queen” [9:23] “All the boys and their expensive cars” [11:00] How the music changes to reflect the song's lyrics [13:47] “Now you try on calling me baby…” [20:37] “Is this the end of all the endings?” [29:23] What is the purpose of the song? Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe Follow us on social! TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.
If you're like me, as you've driven along the Mississippi River, or even around the country, you've noticed communities that aren't doing too well. Many of these are older urban areas, but I see plenty of small towns struggling, too. What's going on? Isn't this just the free market at work? To dig into this issue, I invited my brother, Kevin Klinkenberg, onto the podcast. Kevin is an architect and planner who has spent much of his career working to improve communities. In this episode, we talk about what makes cities and towns good places to live. Kevin describes the traditional way that cities and towns developed and how we upended all that in the United States. Kevin briefly details some of the policies that transformed development patterns and the consequences of those policies. We finish by looking at two Mississippi River towns—one that is doing well and one that isn't. Kevin emphasizes that there are no silver bullets to magically turn places around, but communities aren't helpless, either. In the Mississippi Minute, the American Queen has been in the news, but for all the wrong reasons. The company went bankrupt, and a rival bought their boats in the bankruptcy auction. Will the American Queen return to river cruising? We don't know, yet, but you can let the company know you'd like to see that happen.
Join us as we bid a fond farewell to the iconic Tropicana hotel in Las Vegas and explore the hidden gems that still make the city shine. We'll take you on a journey to discover authentic experiences off the beaten path and share our insider tips for scoring unbelievable luxury travel deals that will make your dream vacation a reality. We also dive into the fascinating world of virtual travel and ponder its potential to inspire wanderlust in the 21st century. Highlights 00:00 - Introduction 01:03 - Las Vegas and the closing of the Tropicana Hotel 04:51 - Hidden gems and authentic experiences in Las Vegas 07:48 - Business class airfare deals to Europe 11:34 - Working with a travel advisor to find airfare deals 14:01 - Domestic river cruising in the United States with American Queen 18:42 - 50% off deal at Club Med resorts in Mexico, Caribbean and Canada 22:24 - Great deal on Holland America 9-night Alaska cruises 26:08 - Fishing excursion experience on an Alaskan cruise 27:35 - The rise of virtual reality in travel 33:41 - Virtual tours as travel inspiration and alternative 35:36 - Giveaway of a vacation package for two 36:00 - Wrap-up Enter the Giveaway: https://notouristsallowed.com/raffle/ NTA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notouristsallowed321/ NTA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@notouristsallowed-aninside7994 NTA Podcast Links: https://podfollow.com/no-tourists-allowed-an-insiders-guide-to-travel NTA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-tourists-allowed _ Produced by Podcast Studio X.
The parent company of the American Queen riverboat has canceled all future cruises and has ceased operations... Vanderburgh County Commissioners pass a resolution in opposition to a proposed Centerpoint Energy rate change... A well-known police horse in Evansville has died, Blondie had served the community since 2015 alongside handler Officer Wood....See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tourism transit gianit Hornblower Group has entered bankruptcy protection, and American Queen Voyages has shut down. | Frommer's
American Queen Voyages reviews its policies after a majority of travel advisors refuse to sell it to customers. | Frommer's
Talking with Vanessa Miller, author of the historical fiction novel The American Queen. This novel is based on actual events that occurred between 1865 - 1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life. Learn more about Vanessa and her books at vanessamiller.com The resources Vanessa mentioned to look up the age of words are: etymonline.com merriam-webster.com -- Buy a copy of The American Queen and support Vulgar History by using this link. -- Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout -- Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping) -- Support Vulgar History on Patreon -- Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren each week as she crafts a new story with one of her author guests!This week we have USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone. We're pairing a gruff, alpha Navy SEAL hero with... a food critic? A really fun social media food critic, making this the perfect Grumpy X Sunshine. And it all starts with with a secret that can't be revealed. Find out what happens on the inside!And if you enjoy this episode, you'll love A MERRY LITTLE MEET CUTE by Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy.About Sierra Simone:Sierra Simone is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk). Her notable works include Priest, American Queen, and Misadventures of a Curvy Girl, and her books have been featured in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, and Buzzfeed. She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.You can also find Sierra Simone's website here.These are some of the books and shows referenced inside...RatatouilleThe MenuIt Happened One Summer by Tessa BaileyLabor Day by Joyce MaynardNever Been KissedEverything Everywhere All At OnceYou get to help us pick our story prompts inside the Storytime with Skye Podcast Facebook group. Join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1030813154714760
Frits van der Werff, the new senior vice president-guest experiences for American Queen Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about what his company in terms of experiences aboard the American Empress, including locally influenced cuisine, very comfortable accommodations, entertainment and more. American Empress cruises the Colombia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest, a very different but equally engaging river cruise offering great scenery, important U.S. history and great dining. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
Hello everyone! In this episode I talk about my most recent read, The American Queen trilogy by Sierra Simone. I hope you enjoy it!Shop: https://bookshop.org/shop/ReadingWithChristineFigsContact: ReadingWithChristineFigs@gmail.com
Marcia Hines arrived in Australia just 16 years old, and unknowingly pregnant. She planned to stay for six months, but 50 years later, she still calls Australia home
Marcia Hines arrived in Australia just 16 years old, and unknowingly pregnant. She planned to stay for six months, but 50 years later, she still calls Australia home
Join Brianna and Sheena for this extra long and extra special episode of the Smut Your Mouth Podcast with special guest Kenzie—where the gals get in the patriotic and chaotic spirit with 'American Queen' by Sierra Simone. The Smut Your Mouth podcast is not your grandma's book club. We read romance of all kinds, and talk all things spicy, saucy, sassy and nasty. https://linktr.ee/smutyourmouthpodcast
Liz and Emily are revisiting the Priest world with this week's pick “Sinner” by Sierra Simone. And Emily is back to full rage mode, but hey - at least there wasn't any soaking in this one! Check us out on: Instagram @smutandswearwordspod TikTok @smutandswearwordspod Got a spicy book we need to read? Email us at smutandswearwordspod@gmail.com Want to read the book? You can buy it here on Amazon. Other popular books by Sierra Simone include “American Queen” and “A Lesson in Thorns” If you love Sierra Simone, check out our episode on “Priest”!
Cindy D'Aoust, president and CEO of American Queen Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her company's decision to refocus on river cruises for the 2024-25 season on the Mississippi, Upper Mississippi, Snake and Columbia rivers with three ships—American Queen, American Countess and American Empress (with American Duchess in reserve for charters). AQV will sell its two lake cruise vessels, Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator. AQV will continue to sell Alaska expedition cruises no Ocean Victory. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
Sam and Rachel begin the episode saluting to their American Queen after her epic Nashville weekend because all at once the album they've been waiting for (ooh whoa) is announced! Speak Now comes out July 7! After getting over that excitement,they change their priorities and get into the Swift of the week “King of my Heart.” Rachel admits to not moving to this song like a Motown beat at first but after breaking it down, she understands Sam's school girl crush to this Reputation song. For any show notes, visit our website at: https://swiftandswigspod.substack.com/. Follow our socials @swiftandswigspodcast on Instagram and TikTok! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/swift-and-swigs-with-sibs/message
Sex and politics. This is the first book we have read that mixes the two. We are all for sex but we don't love politics. Regardless, we decided to give it a go and see what all the hype was about. We meet Greer at a very young age. She is the granddaughter of a former vice president, and is thrown right into the party scene by her grandfather who uses her as a sort of spy, she likes doing this, and quickly becomes immersed in the political scene. The book skips ahead 10 years and then backwards 5. In both of these time jumps we meet Embry and Maxen. Embry is the current day vice president and Maxen, also known as Ash, is the current day president. The love triangle of these 3 individuals runs deep, but as we find out, nothing is ever as it seems. Is love enough or is there a line that once crossed means you can't really go back? This weeks pleasure read: Hannaford Prep by J. Bree --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-smut-hive/support
Regina Charboneau, culinary ambassador for American Queen Voyages, also known as the Biscuit Queen, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report, about all the great food and dining experiences she's developed for the river, lake and expedition cruise line. Known as a Southern cooking expert, Charboneau has been consulting with American Queen Voyages since it began, and is now back overseeing all of its menus. For more information, visit www.AQVoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
(from 2014) for Women's History Month.... John Oller, author of "American Queen: The rise and fall of Kate Chase Sprague- Civil War Belle of the North and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal." At one point in her life, Kate Chase Sprague was by far the most famous woman in America.
John Waggoner, founder and chairman of American Queen Voyages, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how his river, lake and ocean cruise line is being reinvented with a new president and executive team to offer a multitude of luxury cruise experiences. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
Cindy D'Aoust, president and CEO of American Queen Voyages (AQV), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report aboard the American Queen about how she is working to transform the river, lake and expedition cruise line into an even more luxury experience. AQV is focusing on delivering even better regional cuisine, more entertainment and better shore excursions. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
Cindy D'Aoust, president and CEO of American Queen Voyages, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about her strategy for the river, lake, ocean and expedition cruise company, which now has a new executive team, new support for local communities, an even better relationship with travel advisors and much more. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
Hoher Besuch aus Amerika! Heute begrüßen wir Florian Schneider von der Reederei American Queen Voyages. Euch erwartet ein besonderer Einblick in die bezaubernde Welt der Schaufelraddampfer. Seid gespannt, was Euch der Mississippi zu bieten hat, warum man Alligatoren mit Marshmallows anlockt & was es in naher Zukunft Neues gibt ;)
Discover the many sights America has to offer.
Writing can be a joyous experience until all the pressures on what to write come crashing down on you. Sometimes, trying to write what your agent wants takes away all the spark and passion you have for writing. Today's guest, Sierra Simone, is all too familiar with this feeling. What snapped her back was simple advice: WRITE FOR YOU. This led her to write a Jane Eyre fan fiction turned Gothic Victorian erotica, where she discovered taboo and erotic romance. Sierra is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling former librarian. Her notable works include Priest, American Queen, and Misadventures of a Curvy Girl. In this episode, she joins Ella Barnard to talk about her journey to making her own path in writing taboo topics. She also dives deep into writing good sex scenes, the benefits of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and how self-knowledge helps your career.
Welcome to the Main Street to the World Podcast where we will be talking everything travel each week. April & Lynne went on an expedition cruise with American Queen Voyages to Alaska! This is part 2 of our review!Be sure to check out our new feature, we have transcriptions for the podcast now. The Main Street to the World Podcast is hosted by April Botta, Whitney Mattox, & Lynne Macolini. We are proudly sponsored by Coasters & Castles Travel. For more information, check out www.travelcnc.com. Main Street to the World also has a blog. Check it out at http://www.mainstreettotheworld.com Main Street to the World is on YouTube too, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrgRTIIgM3Kxjozq0IuiWwA Be sure to tell us what you would like us to talk about. Email us at info@travelcnc.com.Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mainstreettotheworldInstagram page: https://www.instagram.com/mainstreettotheworld/Be sure to check out our sponsor: http://www.travelcnc.comCall us at 844-422-8785#mainstreettotheworld#msttw#msttwblog#msttwpodcast#travelingin2022#dreamnowtravellater#travelpodcast#memories#2022wishes#travelupdate#takethetrip#CCT2022#alaska#oceanvictoryship#expeditioncruising#tlingittribe#whales#otters#bears#glaciers
Welcome to the Main Street to the World Podcast where we will be talking everything travel each week. April & Lynne went on an expedition cruise with American Queen Voyages to Alaska! This is part 1 of our review!Be sure to check out our new feature, we have transcriptions for the podcast now. The Main Street to the World Podcast is hosted by April Botta, Whitney Mattox, & Lynne Macolini. We are proudly sponsored by Coasters & Castles Travel. For more information, check out www.travelcnc.com. Main Street to the World also has a blog. Check it out at http://www.mainstreettotheworld.com Main Street to the World is on YouTube too, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrgRTIIgM3Kxjozq0IuiWwA Be sure to tell us what you would like us to talk about. Email us at info@travelcnc.com.Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mainstreettotheworldInstagram page: https://www.instagram.com/mainstreettotheworld/Be sure to check out our sponsor: http://www.travelcnc.comCall us at 844-422-8785#mainstreettotheworld#msttw#msttwblog#msttwpodcast#travelingin2022#dreamnowtravellater#travelpodcast#memories#2022wishes#travelupdate#takethetrip#CCT2022#alaska#oceanvictoryship#expeditioncruising#tlingittribe#whales#otters#bears#glaciers
Welcome to the Main Street to the World Podcast where we will be talking everything travel each week. April & Lynne went on an expedition cruise with American Queen Voyages to Alaska! This is part 1 of the series!Be sure to check out our new feature, we have transcriptions for the podcast now. The Main Street to the World Podcast is hosted by April Botta, Whitney Mattox, & Lynne Macolini. We are proudly sponsored by Coasters & Castles Travel. For more information, check out www.travelcnc.com. Main Street to the World also has a blog. Check it out at http://www.mainstreettotheworld.com Main Street to the World is on YouTube too, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrgRTIIgM3Kxjozq0IuiWwA Be sure to tell us what you would like us to talk about. Email us at info@travelcnc.com.Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mainstreettotheworldInstagram page: https://www.instagram.com/mainstreettotheworld/Be sure to check out our sponsor: http://www.travelcnc.comCall us at 844-422-8785#mainstreettotheworld#msttw#msttwblog#msttwpodcast#travelingin2022#dreamnowtravellater#travelpodcast#memories#2022wishes#travelupdate#takethetrip#CCT2022#alaska#oceanvictoryship#expeditioncruising#tlingittribe#whales#otters#bears#glaciers
Regina Charboneau, restaurateur and culinary educator, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about her return to American Queen Voyages (AQV) as culinary ambassador initially focused on Southern cuisine. Born and raised in Natchez, Miss., Charboneau's first cooking jobs were actually in Alaska before she studied in Paris, so it is no stretch for her to create dishes like Alaskan King Crab chowder for Ocean Victory, AQV's new expedition ship in Alaska. For more information, visit www.AmericanQueenVoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast -- with supplemental pictures and video -- can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
The Acid Capitalism show went live this week. The Alchemist's hair morphed into a flock of seagulls. The Acid Capitalist levitated above the week's noise. He's a plastic thief with no belief in what he steals. A shirtless Good Kid B.a.a.d City holds it together. The Capitalist raps, 'The American Queen, she be smoking Prozac, The Totalitarians, they be smoking Napalm.' Macro thoughts from a bunker on a ting rock on a sea of oblivion. The church is open for prayers#chinanews #economics #trading #tradingstrategy #apocalypse
Joe Jiffo, vice president of sales for American Queen Voyages (AQV), talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about how to travel advisors can sell AQV's Alaska expeditions on the new Ocean Victory. Jiffo points out that guests will be able to participate with scientists' open research for California Polytechnic State University, as well as enjoy food overseen by AQV's culinary ambassador Regina Charboneau. For more information, email Joe.Jiffo@AQVoyages.com or visit www.AQVoyages.com. No time to watch this video? Although you will not see images and video of what is being discussed, you can listen to the audio podcast with the same title, available on Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean, iHeartRadio, Google, Amazon Music/Audible and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox.
John Waggoner, founder and chairman of American Queen Voyages (AQV), gives Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report a tour of Ocean Victory, AQV's new expedition ship, which just sailed its maiden voyage to Alaska. Waggoner highlights the mud room, Zodiacs, kayaks, two Jacuzzis, infinity pool, spa, gym and more. For more information, visit www.AmericanQueenVoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast -- with supplemental pictures and video -- can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
For Women's History Month: John Oller, author of "American Queen: The Rise and Fall of Kate Chase Sprague, Civil War 'Belle of the North' and Gilded Age Woman of Scandal." The daughter of Samuel Chase (a member of President Lincoln's cabinet), she was for a time the most famous woman in America - and one of the wealthiest and most influential - before her life was engulfed in a ruinous sex scandal.
American Queen Voyages Mississippi River Cruise Review with Real Travel Expert Larry Jackson, owner of Cruise Holidays of Viera located in Melbourne Florida. Larry joins Ken to review his recent river cruise on the Mississippi river aboard the American Duchess. What is an American river cruise like and are they for everyone? Larry provides his take on American Queen Voyages. Discover the entertainment, on shore excursions, the towns one visits and the, sometimes, quite surprising sights and sounds to be found along the Mississippi river. Learn the history of American Queen Voyages (formerly the American Queen Steamboat Company)and Victory Cruise Lines. Are you looking for a relaxing river cruise close to home? Then this river cruise review is for you. Contact Real Travel Experts: questions@realtravelexperts.com https://realtravelexperts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RealTravelExperts/ https://www.instagram.com/realtravelexperts/ Contact Cruise Holidays of Viera: ocruiseholidays@cfl.rr.com Cruise Holidays of Viera Website: https://justcruisinviera.com/
Joe Jiffo, vice president of sales for American Queen Voyages, formerly American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruises, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the company's new itineraries for river, Great Lakes, ocean and expedition; new programs designed to assist and incentivize travel advisors; and what "all-inclusive" truly means on an American Queen Voyages journey. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast -- with supplemental pictures and video -- can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
John Waggoner, founder and chairman of American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Line, talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about the rebranding of his company as American Queen Voyages as it expanded beyond rivers to lakes, oceans and expedition cruising. Waggoner also recalls the history of his company, which began with one classic Mississippi paddlewheeler. For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com. If interested, the original video of this podcast -- with supplemental pictures and video -- can be found on the Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
There are a lot of critical skills we have to develop as writers, but none is more important than creativity. You can be productive, think like a business person, and have great networking skills. But without the ability to see the connections between ideas and be creative on demand, you are dead in the water as a writer and an artist. That's why I'm excited to feature a conversation with my good friend Ginger Moran. She is a published and award-winning writer, teacher, and single mother of two boys. Her areas of expertise are in nonfiction and fiction writing, editing, and creative survival. She has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in English from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. Her first novel, The Algebra of Snow, was nominated for a Pushcart Editor's Choice Award and published in 2012. In the last year, she has released two more novels, American Queen and The Body of Summer. In this conversation, Ginger and I chat about the importance of creativity and how to bring about more creativity in your everyday life. Every time I speak with Ginger, I get new insights on how to be a better artist and writer, and I'm sure you will too! Click on one of the links below to connect with Ginger or purchase her novels: GingerMoran.com American Queen by Ginger Moran The Body of Summer by Ginger Moran Follow Ginger on Twitter Connect with Ginger on Facebook Follow Ginger on Goodreads *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more! Connect with Kent: https://DailyWriterLife.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders
There are a lot of critical skills we have to develop as writers, but none is more important than creativity. You can be productive, think like a business person, and have great networking skills. But without the ability to see the connections between ideas and be creative on demand, you are dead in the water as a writer and an artist. That's why I'm excited to feature a conversation with my good friend Ginger Moran. She is a published and award-winning writer, teacher, and single mother of two boys. Her areas of expertise are in nonfiction and fiction writing, editing, and creative survival. She has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in English from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. Her first novel, The Algebra of Snow, was nominated for a Pushcart Editor's Choice Award and published in 2012. In the last year, she has released two more novels, American Queen and The Body of Summer. In this conversation, Ginger and I chat about the importance of creativity and how to bring about more creativity in your everyday life. Every time I speak with Ginger, I get new insights on how to be a better artist and writer, and I'm sure you will too! Click on one of the links below to connect with Ginger or purchase her novels: GingerMoran.com American Queen by Ginger Moran The Body of Summer by Ginger Moran Follow Ginger on Twitter Connect with Ginger on Facebook Follow Ginger on Goodreads *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community. Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more! Connect with Kent: https://DailyWriterLife.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders
Cruise News Briefing - August 12, 2021. Another Royal Caribbean ship heads out for a test cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line celebrates a year of missed holidays in one big buffet. American Queen river ship returns to sailing after an 18-month pause. Cruise line stocks for CCL, RCL, and NCLH.
We've got a guest in da house! The ladies are joined by special guest, Sunny, to break down American Queen by Sierra Simone. For most of her adult life, Greer has been in love with two men, who happen to be best friends. One the President of the United States, the other, his running mate. Who will she choose? Or is there a third option? The ladies also discuss the newest podcast spokesdog Bucky Barnes, whether or not Veronica can stick the landing, and that belief that sound is language and each language is our own. Sponsor us, SAFELITE and PASSIONFLIX! You can purchase American Queen by Sierra Simone here, or inquire at your local bookstore. SHOW INFORMATION: Website: www.chicklitbookclubpodcast.com Twitter: @ChickLitPodcast TikTok: ChickLitBookClub Pinterest: ChickLitBookClubPodcast Email: chicklitbookclubpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: ChickLitBookClubPodcast Youtube: YouTube Facebook: Facebook Patreon: Support Us Here Book Recommendations: Romancing Mr. Bridgerton - Julia Quinn Beneath the Surface - Emily McIntire Podcast Recommendations: Small Town Murder - https://shutupandgivememurder.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chicklitbookclubpodcast/support
In this episode we tackle some of the biggest questions plaguing society. Was Barney a purple pederass? Is Kodak's business acumen at an elite level? Is Moneybagg Yo really married to the double cup? Will plastic surgery become more human than human? Is Kamala Harris interested in representing voters or in being the first American Queen? This podcast is for entertainment purposes ONLY!
The world's crowned American Queen Salome Burgess
Mary Lynne Bracewell, from Expedia Cruises in Snohomish and Sammamish Washington, speaks with Karen Freundlich from American Queen Steamboat Company to talk about River Cruising!Come Home to the Heart of AmericaTime stands still as our authentic collection of paddlewheelers offers a voyage on peaceful waters that will carry you to thrilling destinations along the way. We invite you to take advantage of opportunities for both interactive and introspective activities that allow guests to experience new places without the anxieties of the unknown.American Queen Steamboat Company cruises the rivers of America - the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Snake and Columbia!
KRLD CEO Spotlight wth Kevin Rabbitt, CEO, Hornblower Group (City Experiences, American Queen Steamboat Co.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kari Tarnowski, American Queen Steamboat Company's new senior vice president of marketing, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report aboard the new American Countess, the newest riverboat to join the American Queen fleet on the Mississippi. Tarnowski, a veteran of ocean cruise lines, talks about her first impressions of the new riverboat, the main features of American Countess, and how it will be marketed to travel advisors and their clients. For more information, visit www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com. Insider Travel Report Youtube channel or by searching for the podcast's title on Youtube.
Big-ship cruising is still grounded in the U.S., but the travel industry took a big step forward this month with the restart of river cruising for the first time since the pandemic began. American Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company both launched ships on the Mississippi with – hopefully – more to come. The big news last week was the launch of American Queen’s paddlewheeler, the American Countess, a debut that was nearly 12 months overdue. But even the ship’s christening in New Orleans wasn’t without a hitch: The CDC nearly forced the line to call off the launch over a dispute over the ship’s operating certificate (even though American Queen had committed to reduced capacity, the ship can technically carry more people than the maximum currently required by the CDC to sail). In this episode, senior editor Jeri Clausing and American Queen CEO John Waggoner dialed in from the new American Countess, which operated its inaugural cruise from New Orleans to Memphis last week. Waggoner spoke with Clausing and Folo host Rebecca Tobin about the new ship; how safety protocols for guests work onboard and on land; controversy around vaccine requirements for river cruise guests; and the excitement of getting back on the waters again. Related reading: Dispatch, American Countess: Taking protocols in stride https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-cruise-ship-naming-in-2021-with-masks-and-distancing American Countess’ debut cruise is back on after CDC dispute is resolved https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Countess-sailing-is-back-on-after-CDC-dispute-is-resolved Domestic river cruise lines get rolling again today https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Domestic-river-cruise-lines-get-rolling-again-today American Queen and Victory cruise lines will require vaccinations https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Victory-require-vaccinations American Queen Steamboat Company https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Discover the brewing history of the Heart of Georgia! Beer in the South may have formally originated in Macon, a town smack in the middle of Georgia and just 90 miles outside of Atlanta, with the opening of Russell and Peter's Macon Brewery in 1837. It closed in 1878, but paved the way for the Acme Brewing Company, one of the largest in the South before Prohibition. Today, proud brewers are bringing beer back to Macon at the Macon Beer Company, Ocmulgee Brewpub, Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen, and Fall Line Brewing Company. Suggested beers when visiting: American Queen 5% (Macon Beer) and Satisfied (Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen). Information for this episode comes from the Acme Brewing Historical Society and Macon Community News. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brewerytowns/support
Join us as we tell you what to expect from our brand spanking new Taylor Swift podcast!
Welcome to the What to Read Next Podcast!! Today’s guest is Megan from Queen Bee Reads Instagram and blog account. In this episode, we chat about contemporary and historical romance recommendations. BOOKS RECOMMENDED Gossip Girl by Cecilia Von Ziegler Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James Twilight by Stephenie Meyer The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey More Jade by Laura Pavlov Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn Tessa Dare The Governess Game by Tessa Dare Verity by Colleen Hoover Regretting You by Colleen Hoover The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn Score by Victoria Denault Slammed by Victoria Denault Pucked series by Helena Hunting Enemies to Lovers The Hating Game by Sally Thorne Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston Well Met by Jen DeLuca Contemporary Romance The Locker Room by Meghan Quinn Hot Cop by Laurelin Page American Queen by Sierra Simone The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez Only When It’s Us by Chloe Liese Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert The Royal We by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks Anticipated New Release Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert The Heir Affair by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks CONNECT WITH MEGAN Queen Bee Reads Frolic Articles Instagram SUPPORT THE WHAT TO READ NEXT PODCAST! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends JOIN PATREON COMMUNITY Join the What to Read Next Podcast Patreon Romance Book Club. We are offering one tier Weekly Recommendation + Early Access to Author Interviews and other bonus podcast content + Access to Patron-only Facebook Group: + Twice a month Zoom meetups (Backlist Book Club & Author Q&A ) + Conversation with Publishers + Rolling IG Chat: $5 This is a great romance loving community where you will get book recommendations, make new friends and an opportunity to discover to new to you authors, series and genres to binge on. Want to join the fun? Sign up today; https://bit.ly/WTRNRomanceBookClub FROLIC PODCAST NETWORK What to Read Next Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts! CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN WhattoReadNextBlog.com Instagram Goodreads Twitter
American Queen Steamboat Company is resuming river cruises in August—but are the safety measures sufficient? | Frommer's
Katrina Jackson never actually left: we talk about Scandal, why impermanence and entropy are the root cause for readers' desire for a happily ever after - or at least according to my theory, and how Katrina's research on Black romance as liberation is coming along. We also discuss Blind Date with a Book Boyfriend by Lucy Eden, a true romcom novella that turns the one-day courtship trope on its head.03:05 - What Kat’s been up to. Scandal. Contagion. Growing jalapenos.14:21 - Kat’s Research: Black Romance as Liberation41:53 - HEA, HFN, Andrea’s grand theory of romance50:53 - The fantasy of resolution59:16 - Blind Date With A Book BoyfriendShelf Love:Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of HopeCheck out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episodeGuest: Katrina JacksonTwitter | Instagram | Kat’s Email newsletter | Beautiful & DirtyWe Read:Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend by Lucy EdenNotes:03:05 - What Kat’s been up to. Scandal. Contagion. Growing jalapenos.Shelf Love Episode 017 - An Unconditional Freedom by Alyssa Cole with Katrina JacksonShelf Love Episode 023. Katrina Jackson: Communication, Polyamory + Financial ConversationsIce Planet PodcastAndrea’s episode of Ice Planet PodcastKatrina’s episode coming soon!American Queen by Sierra SimoneThe Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan14:21 - Kat’s Research: Black Romance as LiberationResearching the Romance Conference - Kat’s PresentationShelf Love Episode 013. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams with Steve Ammidown (Steve is the archivist at the Browne Pop Culture Library at BGSU and was organizing the Researching the Romance Conference)Beverly Jenkinsbell hooks All About LoveBe Not Afraid by Alyssa ColeThat Could be Enough by Alyssa ColeLet Us Dream by Alyssa ColeShelf Love Episode 041. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang with Dr. Maria DeBlassie - we discussed “bodice rippers” and the origins of the romance genre, problematic warts and allGeorgette Heyer was an Antisemite and Her Work is Not Foundational Historical Romance by Felicia Grossman on Romance Daily NewsFelicia was also on the podcast and discussed this in the episode about History“The dynamacy” - Shelf Love Episode 014. Equivalent Exchange by Christina C. Jones with Funmi B. - Black Indie RomanceShelf Love Episode about Rose Lerner’s Work41:53 - HEA, HFN, Andrea’s grand theory of romanceWhat are Romances About? Twitter Survey with responsesAndrea’s Venn Diagram - scroll to the bottom of the page50:53 - The fantasy of resolutionHappier with Gretchen Rubin with Dan Harris - the episode that got me thinking about entropyKit Rocha’s Beyond Series59:16 - Blind Date With A Book BoyfriendThe Ripped BodiceZaida PolancoLucy Eden’s NewsletterSierra Simone’s Harvest of Sighs featureLydia San Andreas storyBefore moviesJodie Slaughter’s Just One MoreJack Harbon’s Meet Cute ClubMan at Work by Elaine Fox58 Novellas for a Quick Hit of HopeBeautiful & Dirty by Katrina Jackson
Lola Savage is a model, singer, actress and an influencer. She spoke to Cos Canino about her background, what she has been up to and what to expect from her.
Our guest on Travel Talk by ALTOUR & The Travel Authority is Barbara Davis, Manager, Training & Sales Support for American Queen Steamboat Company. Journey Back in Time with these uniquely American River Cruises. They offer cruises to Lower and Upper Mississippi Rivers, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland Rivers, Columbia and Snake River. These unique sailings provide you with regionally inspired dining, Broadway caliber entertainment, enrichment, guided shore excursions and authentic paddle wheel riverboats following in the footsteps of the great steamboat era travelers but with modern refinements.
Auspicious beginning, right? Don’t miss a single moment of our 2020 episodes — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined!We’re back next week (WE PROMISE!) with Born in Ice, by none other than the queen herself, Nora Roberts. Read Born in Ice at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo or your local indie. SHOW NOTES: Jen misquoted a famous scene in Chinatown; it's actually "my sister and my daughter." Yikes.Pretty sure if you're fancasting us into this clip from Grease about the Pink Ladies, Sierra is Rizzo.We've talked a lot about Sierra's books on the podcast, but it was on the Small Town Romance interstitial that Sarah joked all of Sierra's books take place in Menage County, Kansas.The Romance for RAICES auction was the brainchild of Suzanne from Love in Panels and raised TWENTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS! You should definitely support her blog and patreon if you can. The crisis on the border is ongoing and getting worse. Please continue to support romance's teams at RAICES and The Young Center.We were going to rickroll you by talking about Peggy Sue Got Married and pirate romances, but we're nice that way and didn't. FWIW, Jen still thinks the plot of Peggy Sue Got Married is haunting.Sierra is also, of course, the founder, owner, and operator of The Simone Scale, which does not include teabagging even, but has been, because she loves us, updated to include pegging. The image is on our website in show notes.We did a lot of research for this episode!Everyone wants the right pegging playlist, and of course there's one on Spotify. What a world! Besides Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman, we offer up for your consideration Back It Up, Boys by Peaches and Behind the Wheel by Depeche Mode.Here are some Sierra Simone recommended toys and harnesses. She says of the toys, "The small is VERY gently sized and some men may feel more comfortable with a toy is that isn’t a hyper-realistic reproduction of a cock."Elia Winters is a Fated Mates favorite, and we want to thank her for her help thinking through the implicatons for gender essentialism and cisnormativity in this discussion. Buy her books! Her latest Three For All has pegging.Sierra mentioned "that law about gas expanding to fill a space" -- well, I phoned Jonathan, a friend who teaches chemistry, and he says that's called entropy or Boyles Law of Kinetic Molecular Theory. Learn more about it here from Professor Dave, a Jonathan-approved chemistry youtube instructor.Samhain and Ellora's Cave (which was especially messy) were two earlier and now shuttered publishers of erotic romance.Jen Porter wrote a great twitter thread about erotic romance and character development.That's What She Said.Sarah mentioned "the RITA entry window" and goddamn if that's not a bitter pill to swallow right now. She's sorry.A little about what it means to be allosexual.Check out Roan Parrish's short story A Good Old Fashioned Chanukah Pegging, starring Ginger and Christopher from Small Change.Everyone knows you need a flared base on your butt plugs, or at least anyone who follows Jenny Nordbak knows.Romance as sex ed is complicated, but Scarlteen is on the job, and Teen Vogue would never steer you wrong.The Pegging Song that Adriana sent us from Twitter is amazing, and we want to thank @shutupaida for being so gracious about letting us play it during the podcast. Also, be sure to watch Big Mouth on Netflix, because she's writing for it now!I guess Katee Robert isn't the only one staging elaborate scenes with her Barbie dolls.The Rogue Anthologies are pretty great and there are quite a few of them.Jen had to do a major "retcon" on this hero in the Tamsen Parker book in order to read it. It's fine, really.Special thanks to our special guest Sierra Simone! You can find her on Instagram or Facebook. Read her New Camelot series, the first is American Queen! She also joined us on our MacRieve episode, and we talked about Priest, a book that blooded Sarah.You can buy a Pegging the Patriarchy button and other Romancelandia buttons at stickers at Jen's shop run by her best friend Kelly, and Sarah's t-shirts and swag from Jordandene.Next week, we'll be talking about Born in Ice by Nora Roberts! We mean it!Much thanks to all the members of the Pegging Cabal for their amazing, generous donation, and for asking us to do this episode: E is reading, Jennifer, Stephanie Blackhart, Amanda, Kini, Melinda, Tempest Bonds, Michelle Boule, JS Lenore, Eve Pendle, and Isabel. Give them a follow, or maybe this related account, Is There Pegging? But whatever you do, don't make everyone think that something is wrong with Colin Firth. We hope you enjoyed the episode!
Today I am joined by American Queen Steamboat Company's Senior Director of Product Development, Ruth Richebacher. Other AQSC interview: https://soundcloud.com/brittonfrost/avid-travel-with-britton-54 Mississippi Itineraries write-up: https://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/2019/11/u-s-river-cruise-itineraries-the-mississippi-river/
Today I am joined by American Queen Steamboat Company's Senior Director of Product Development, Ruth Richebacher. Other AQSC interview: https://soundcloud.com/brittonfrost/avid-travel-with-britton-54 Mississippi Itineraries write-up: https://www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/2019/11/u-s-river-cruise-itineraries-the-mississippi-river/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our guest is Barbara Davis, Manager, Training & Sales Support for American Queen Steamboat Company, offering Uniquely American River Cruises. Voyages on authentic paddlewheelers include a pre-cruise hotel night, all meals, wine and beer with dinner share excursions in each port of call and more. With regionally inspired fine dining, Broadway-caliber entertainment and enrichment, and comprehensive guided shore excursions, passengers will follow in the footsteps of explorers Louis and Clark through some of the most scenic areas in the world. Travel on the mighty Mississippi and its tributaries aboard the iconic Amirian Queen and be transported back in time to an era of leisurely and romantic travel. Share special Holiday themed cruises or special themes like American River BBQ Bourbon Cruises. After extensively cruising amidst the charms and gracious style of unique vessels you will be forever changed, by cruising with American Queen Steamboat Company.
This week on Avid Travel With Britton Frost we are joined by EVP Hotel Operations & New Construction at American Queen Steamboat Company, David Kelly. David and I sat down to discuss what American Queen Steamboat Company has to offer on the Mississippi, as well as what its sister company, Victory Cruise lines, has to offer in the rest of North America. Check out the latest Cruise News at www.avidcruiser.com/blog/ www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/blog/ Contact me: britton.frost@gmail.com
This week on Avid Travel With Britton Frost we are joined by EVP Hotel Operations & New Construction at American Queen Steamboat Company, David Kelly. David and I sat down to discuss what American Queen Steamboat Company has to offer on the Mississippi, as well as what its sister company, Victory Cruise lines, has to offer in the rest of North America. Check out the latest Cruise News at www.avidcruiser.com/blog/ www.rivercruiseadvisor.com/blog/ Contact me: britton.frost@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join us today on a uniquely American River Cruise Experience. Our guest Barbara Davis, Manager of Training & Sales Support for American Queen Steamboat Company, take us along the best in US River Cruises. Enjoy all-inclusive luxury cruising in the heart of America with the history, culture and nature of the famous US Rivers. Authentic America is out there just waiting to be discovered and it is unlike anything you have ever experienced before.
Jeff talks about going to the reading and Q&A for Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar's In Case You Forgot. The guys also talk about their recent trip to see the musical The Drowsy Chaperone starring Bruce Vilanch. It's a Heidi Cullinan double feature this week as Will reviews Nowhere Ranch and Jeff reviews The Doctor's Secret. Jeff talks with Jacqui Greig, the creator and editor of Blush magazine. Jacqui talks about why she created the magazine and what sparked her love of all things romance. We also find out about the books that she writes and how she encourages anyone who is interested to start an online magazine. Complete shownotes for episode 197 along with a transcript of the interview are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Interview Transcript – Jacqui Greig This transcript was made possible by our community on Patreon. You can get information on how to join them at patreon.com/biggayfictionpodcast. Jeff: Thanks for coming to the podcast Jacqui it is so great to have you here. Jacqui: My absolute pleasure. Jeff: So Will and I have loved “Blush” since the first issue came out and. Jacqui: Thank you. Jeff: I love what one of the things on the website that talks about you where it says “I may or may not have started this publication and in order to fangirl my favorite authors without getting slapped with a restraining order.” Jacqui: Pretty much. Jeff: Which sounds so awesome. It’s like a mission statement. Jacqui: But it’s so true. I used to finish reading a book and then I just I loved it so much that I wanted to be best friends with the author. I wanted to know everything about them. I just you know wanted to delve into their heads I guess. And that’s kind of what “Blush” lets me do. Yeah without getting hit with a restraining order. Jeff: We feel the same way about the podcast it’s so great to just dive in with these folks. Jacqui: Yeah absolutely. Jeff: Tell us a little bit for our listeners who may not have discovered blush yet. What is the magazine kind of all about besides obviously of course romance books? Jacqui: So essentially, it’s an online magazine for romance readers. So I just wanted something that was specific for people who read romance and there’s already so many amazing blogs and podcasts that I just thought a magazine would be a fun way of getting that information across. And yeah. So it’s kind of interviewing authors, looking at the different books that are coming out at the moment, the different trends in the industry. I’m calling it an online digital platform. There’s even things like I imagine what a particular heroine in a book would wear. And I based a fashion page on that. So it’s just kind of interpreting the romance genre in different ways. Jeff: It really is because you go so much further than a Book Review blog or like what we do on the podcast because you do have, as you mentioned, the fashion thing or I believe in June it was the ‘book crush’ with Jamie Frazier which everybody can have that crush, right? Jacqui: Right? Jeff: There are elements of reviews that work their way in, but then you do some dives on the industry too, or talking about tropes and such. Jacqui: Yeah. I think that’s probably my background in journalism as well. I used to work on magazine in Sydney. I worked in a travel magazine and on a hair magazine of all things. And then I started my own magazine, a women’s lifestyle magazine, which was print – that was more than 10 years ago now. So the industry has evolved so much since then and it’s so much easier to do a digital magazine than it is a print magazine. Yes. So I just thought I’d give it a go. Jeff: How do you decide what goes in to each issue. Because there’s so many things to pick from. Jacqui: I know there’s so many things to pick from and it’s actually been a little – it’s getting easier every month because the magazine is getting more widely known and people are actually messaging me, emailing me, then giving me content ideas, which is fantastic, but it’s just whatever I like. Yeah. I don’t know. Whatever I’ve been reading or what I’ve seen or I am quite big on Instagram I get a lot of inspiration there. Jeff: Yeah. And I enjoy watching your Instagram just because it’s so creative. Jacqui: I’m a graphic designer as well so I see lots of cheeky quotes and things like that and I just redesigned them for my own purposes which is fun. Jeff: Your July issue will have been out a short time by the time this episode airs. What can readers find in July? Jacqui: So I’m super excited. In July I have three authors that I definitely fangirl over. So I’ve got Eve Dangerfield. I’ve got an interview with her. I have an interview with Sarah MacLean and an interview with Abbi Glines. Jeff: Wow. Three of them are all in the same issue. Jacqui: Yeah, well in my very first issue I had Beverly Jenkins and Kylie Scott and I thought, “Right, I’m happy to finish this right now. I’ve reached my peak.” That was epic for me. I think romance authors are so generous with their time and knowledge and it’s just such a beautiful, interesting industry to be in. Jeff: Yeah, it really is because there’s so many warm people who are just happy to tell their story and tell everybody about their books. What are the regular sections that readers look for each month? Jacqui: So I generally start with a ‘Lust-Haves’, which is just kind of products/bookish things that basically I would like to be spending my money on. I think in one issue I had a pair of cashmere socks that were like one hundred and ten dollars and I had a girlfriend calling me, she said, “You didn’t buy those, did you?” I didn’t. I’d like to. So yeah, we did ‘Lust-Haves’, we do an IG profile. I pick an Instagram account that’s really inspiring and has gorgeous images and profile them. We’ve got our author interviews. I generally have a couple of features. So for example, in the current issue we did one on the rise of rural romance. So it’s basically Australian authors writing romance set in rural settings… on farms which is really lovely. I live in a small country town myself, so I can really identify with that. We do a ‘Book Crush’ every issue. So that’s just a hero that we’ve got a bit of a crush on at the time and it’s really fun to contact the author and find out what they had in mind when they were writing that character. I get them to share their Pinterest pages with inspiration that they drew when writing, which I love. And there’s a bookshelf at the back, which features a lot of books, and it’s a really great showcase for indie authors I think. So yeah, that’s kind of it. Jeff: You say that’s kind of it, but that’s a lot. I mean, there’s a lot of stuff that goes into these issues. What kind of overall timing and process goes into creating a single issue? Jacqui: Well, having done in my previous life the print lifestyle magazine that was a whole circus. So I had staff and we had an office and because that I was spending forty thousand dollars an issue just to print it. So it was big. Right. So because [Blush] is digital – it’s online – my overheads are tiny, it’s literally me sitting at my kitchen table and, I have I don’t have it here, but I literally designed up on an A3 bit of paper for weeks and split it into the days and split the jobs across it and I laminated it so that I can write over the top of it – every issue. And it’s actually not too involved I think because I know what I’m doing. And I love what I’m doing. And I think as a working mother you become… I just have to get shit done. Like I just, I’ve got no windows in between kids being at school or ballet lessons or you know all of that kind of jazz. I just have to really, really be productive with my time and bang it out. Jeff: And I think the online magazine in a lot of ways gives you a much broader design to work with than if you were locked in to any kind of website format. Jacqui: Yeah, I think it’s fun because you can flip through the pages. It kind of it feels interactive and you can, you know, I can put gifs onto the pages so there’s movement, there’s different animations that you can use. And it’s just readers really like the tactile experience of a physical magazine. And because I can’t do that, I think a digital magazine – it is still something different from a blog post and not to say that, you know, there’s some fantastic blogs out there, but this is just a different format. Jeff: Yeah, it’s a different medium, but it’s going to be interesting, I think to see if other people move in that direction. I think we’re all so used to seeing blogs that this is another similar but different way to go. Jacqui: Yeah, it’s just a bit fun, little bit different. Jeff: July is also kind of a milestone for you because it’s six months old for the magazine – issue number six. What’s your favorite thing to write about so far in those six months? Jacqui: I think the interview with Beverly Jenkins, that was kind of amazing. She’s an icon in the industry and she’s so generous and I couldn’t believe that she’s giving me the time of the day, especially because I hadn’t published a magazine by that stage. I literally had nothing to show her. She just kind of said, “Yeah sure.” So that was really incredible. I do freelance digital marketing, which I’ve just stopped, and I’m focusing all my energy on ‘Blush’ because I really want to give it a go. I felt like I was building other people’s dreams, helping them build their dreams and I wasn’t really putting any time into my own. So yeah, I’m kind of all in with this. I got skin in the game now. Jeff: That’s awesome. It’s a good feeling. Jacqui: Yeah, it really is. And I do need to say my husband is super supportive and I’m very lucky. But yeah, like this is my gig now. Jeff: What’s surprised you over the six months. Jacqui: I don’t know if it was surprise. It was probably just reinforced how wide and how deep this romance genre is and how amazing it is. I mean, if Alexa Riley can beat Michelle Obama in the rankings on Amazon, that’s huge. Jeff: And you’re right about the romance genre being so big. I have found, so far, that you try to cover seemingly all of it. You’ve featured all kinds of romance including LGBTQ romance. Jacqui: Well, that’s a that’s a big sector and it’s valid and I know that, especially in the states, you’ve been having a lot of diversity talk at the moment – and so you should. ‘Blush’ is a vehicle for the romance industry and I want it to encompass all aspects of that. Jeff: And we talked a little bit before we started recording that it was ‘Blush’ that first put ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ on our radar as the thing we needed to watch out for in the spring. Jacqui: Well, I’m sure you hadn’t seen it with me, you would have seen it very soon because it has been so well received and validly So like she’s amazing, Casey’s [McQuiston] she’s going places. Jeff: Yeah, absolutely. What got you into romance? Jacqui: So my parents owned a newsagent when I was younger. And romance novels were distributed by magazine companies, which meant that if they didn’t sell, it was cheaper to rip the cover off and throw it out than it was to send it back to the company. So I used to scavenge through the back bin and I just fell into it. I read to my heart’s content. The only problem was, that because it didn’t have a cover, I knew the title, but without that image on the top on the cover and the title, I can’t remember any of them. And probably I was reading so many of them, I was just kind of consuming them. But yes, so that’s how I got into it – scavenging. Jeff: That is awesome. What a great way to get books. Jacqui: I know right. I mean it’s so demoralizing and awful for an author to think about – that’s how some of your books may end up. I don’t know if that’s still the practice – I would hope not. But yeah, that’s back when I was 12 or 13. That’s how we did it. Jeff: On the other hand, I mean how terrific that it must be – Yes, they didn’t get paid for – but they inspired somebody to go out and create something like this later in life. Jacqui: Well that’s true. That’s a really nice way of looking at it. Oh, thank you. Jeff: You can’t remember some of the titles and authors obviously, but do you remember what tropes and what sort of elements of the story fueled your interest in the genre? Jacqui: I read a lot of the historicals, which I loved. But I kind of stopped reading for a while – going through high school and then university – and got back into it with Kylie Scott, who’s an Australian author who wrote a romance in a zombie apocalypse, which is very far removed from historical romance, but freaking awesome. She wrote two books and a novella and then found mainstream success with her Rockstar romances. But she kind of got me back into reading romance, her and Amy Andrews who is another Australian author. She’s got a ‘Sydney Smoke’ rugby series, which is a series of books set around a rugby team in Sydney and she just has the dialogue down pat, like she is so dynamic with her writing. Yeah, she is really, really incredible. I think those two got the ball rolling to get me back into it and now I don’t really have a favorite trope or a favorite genre. I will literally read anything you put in front of me. I will read it. Jeff: That’s awesome. I’m kind of the same way. Will has is his thing where he likes contemporary/low angst – may take a few diversions off that path… But if I like the blurb, I’m at least game to see where it goes. Jacqui: Exactly. Yep. I’m with you. Jeff: Now, since we are an LGBTQ romance podcast, what are some of your recent reads, kind of in that genre. Jacqui: So what I’ve really loved is that some of my favorite authors are diversifying. I guess they’re going into that queer space. So Kate Canterbury, she wrote The Walsh series – which I devoured I loved – and then it’s an offshoot. There’s a lobster fisherman who marries Aaron and Nick in book 6. And So the lobster fisherman he gets his own book and he falls in love with a tech tycoon. And honestly it was one of the hottest romances I’ve ever read. Like it was. She nailed it. And that was her first male/male book. And I just went, “Oh wow, you’ve done such a good job.” Also Tessa Bailey she wrote a male/male. What’s it called… I wrote it down. ‘Heat Stroke’. She wrote ‘Heat Stroke’ which is just really sweet. And the relationship between the two men, it was so believable and she’s really good at characterization. She’s fantastic, but my absolute favorite of mine is Sierra Simone, who wrote the ‘Camelot’ series. So it starts with ‘American Queen’ goes to ‘American Prince’ and I actually haven’t read the third one because I got a spoiler and I don’t have the emotional fortitude at the moment. Jeff: I understand how that it goes. Jacqui: But she just writes… So it’s a male/female/male, but the two guys, they’ve been in love for so long before Greer, the woman, actually comes into it and just the depth of their love for each other. And she’s, I mean, it’s kind of filthy – the writing, but awesome. It’s emotional and it’s just, yes, she’s fantastic. Jeff: Since you look at romance really from around the world for ‘Blush’, because you’re in Australia and have read so many Australian authors, do you see a difference of what romance is around the world – what gets written into the books from the native authors? Jacqui: I think that a lot of Australian authors are actually setting their books in the US. I don’t know if that’s a marketing thing or if that’s just what they read and that’s what they want to write, but then there’s a whole crop of Australian authors who are writing rural romance, which is set on an Australian farm as opposed to an American ranch. So you know there are differences in words I guess. I don’t know. Apart from that though, I kind of think everyone’s just writing their own happily ever after. And it’s and in different ways, using different tropes, different locations. I do wish that there were more Indigenous Australians writing romance novels. I think that would be amazing. There are some amazing Indigenous authors, just not so many writing romance, so that that would be really incredible to see. I actually am writing as well. I’m sure everyone who reads is trying to write as well. So I’ve just published my second book, but I would like to co-author a book with… I grew up in a small country town with a high indigenous Aboriginal population. So I went to school with all of these Aboriginal girls and I need to make contact with them and see if one of them will sit down with me and co-write a book, a romance from their point of view. I think that would be amazing. I don’t think that I would have the guts, I guess, to write from that point of view, even if I had a sensitivity reader come in and read it afterwards. I really do think that their issues and their worldviews and, you know, they have their differences and you’ve got to do justice to that. Jeff: So what do you write? Tell us a little bit about your books. Jacqui: Well my full name is Jacqueline, and my maiden name is Hayley, so they’ve written under Jacqueline Hayley. And second, which literally I published yesterday, it’s ‘Getting Under Her Skin’, and it’s set in Sydney. So they’re contemporary romances that are a little bit sexy, I don’t think I really want my mum reading them. Jeff: Yeah that’s awesome. Any chance of a male/male book in your future? Jacqui: Yeah, I think So but I think that, again, I would want to team up with a gay male author to help me do that. Like, I just I don’t want to presume that I would know their life experiences. So I think that would be super fun. Jeff: I hope you get to do that. We’d have to have you back on the show to talk about that when it comes out. Jacqui: Absolutely. Jeff: What can you tell us about upcoming issues [of ‘Blush’] for the rest of this year? Jacqui: Oh, the rest of this year. So I’m actually heading to the Australian Romance Writers Association, their annual conference is in Melbourne, and I have lined up some authors that I’m going to do video interviews with as bonus content for my readers. So we’re just finalizing the details of that, but I do think that video, which can be embedded into the magazine – in the magazine we also find YouTube clips and things as well, the digital magazine format allows for that, which I think is really fun. The video will start to become a little bit more of a thing with the magazine, as much as I don’t really want to see myself on video, I think that it would be really fun for authors, who are normally behind the pen – behind the computer – and you don’t see their faces or hear them. I think that that would be a really fun thing to do. Jeff: Very much looking forward to that. It’s great seeing how the video gets in there to really make this interactive magazine. What’s the best way for people to keep up with ‘Blush’ online and how do they get the subscription? Tell us all about that. Jacqui: So at the moment, to be able to read the magazine, you have to head to the website which is blushmagazine.com and sign up with your email address. So it’s free. And then the magazine gets emailed to you, well a link to the magazine gets sent to you, so that you can view the magazine. Previous issues are available on the website, so you can you can click through there, but probably I’ most prolific on Instagram. That’s kind of where that’s my jam. That’s what I like doing. So you know, for cheeky quotes and books that are coming up, all the behind the scenes of what I’m doing here, that’s Instagram, is where it’s at. Jeff: Very cool, and can readers of the magazine get in touch and suggest ideas? Jacqui: Absolutely. I love it. The interaction is one of the best things that I love about what I’m doing, so I get DMs on Facebook, Instagram, and my email is hello.BlushMagazine@gmail.com. Jeff: And what would you say to anybody who is like, “Gosh, I really like that. Maybe I should start my own.” Jacqui: Yeah. So I guess have a look at the different platforms that are out there to do a magazine on. I use readymag which I really love. But there’s also issu, which I’m kind of looking at as I get bigger. That might be where I go just because you can get more stats on what particular pages people are staying on longer. That kind of thing. So I guess just have a really clear view of what you want to put in your magazine, you’ve got to structure it like a real magazine. So go and get a physical magazine, you need a contents page and an editor’s letter and kind of build it from there, but just know that readers like continuity, so if you’re going to start a section, you’ve got to kind of continue it. So have a really clear idea of what kind of content you want to do. I haven’t done this and I probably should have build up content so that you’re an issue ahead of yourself so that, you know, just to for timing I guess, that would make life easier. I like making things hard for myself. Give it a go, like why not? Compared to the money that I used to put into print publishing, digital publishing… there’s barely any any cost. So yeah, give it a go. Jeff: Cool. Hopefully somebody will take up the inspiration because – at least the way we feel concerning podcasts, the more podcasts the better, the more magazines the better, the more blogs the better. Jacqui: Built this industry! Jeff: Yes absolutely. Well Jacqui, thank you so much for telling us about ‘Blush’, we’re going to link up to everything we talked about- the authors and the magazine – in the show notes, and we look forward to see what comes out in future issues. Jacqui: Thank you so much for having me. It was just the highlight of my week. Thank you so much. Book Reviews Here’s the text of this week’s book reviews: Nowhere Ranch by Heidi Cullinan. Reviewed by Will. Admittedly, I’m a little late to the party when It comes to this book. When I posted online that I’d finished reading Nowhere Ranch, I got a slew of responses, “Isn’t it the best?”, “That’s my favorite Heidi book.” So, for the few that haven’t yet experienced the sexy wonder of this cowboy romance, Nowhere Ranch is about a young guy named Monroe, Roe for short. He’s the prototypical lone cowboy who’s just landed a job at Nowhere Ranch. On one of his free nights, Roe travels several hours away to the nearest gay bar. To his surprise he runs into his boss, Travis Loving. After some flirty banter and surmising that they are both definitely into each other, they spend one wild night together in Travis’s hotel room. Roe tries to keep things professional with his boss, but Travis is just too damn irresistible. After a trip to the rodeo, he gives into his desire yet again. His hook-ups with Travis are so amazing that he begins to reconsider his ‘no relationships’ policy. When it comes to the bedroom, Roe likes things a little kinky. Travis is more than willing to give him everything he wants. After a rough and raunchy tumble in a horse stall on his birthday, Roe is so turned on and turned around, that he just doesn’t know what to do. Guys, this book is incendiary. I’m no expert when it comes to Heidi Cullinan’s books, but the few that I have read, have ridden that delicious line between sweetly romantic and utterly filthy. The kink explored in Nowhere Ranch isn’t your mommas 50 Shades style slap ‘n tickle. This is hardcore stuff in the best possible way. Back to the story. Hailey, the daughter of the ranch foreman, becomes fast friends with Roe and it becomes her personal mission to tutor Roe so he can get his GED. After learning some English composition basics, Roe writes an essay especially for his boss entitled, “Why Travis Loving Should Fuck Me”. What’s wonderful is that the entire text of the essay is included as part of the story. It’s sweet, it’s funny, and it leads to some more smoking hot sex for our two heroes. Unfortunately, the course of true love never did run smooth. A letter from the family that rejected Roe years earlier, forces him to examine what “home” really means. Home is definitely Nowhere Ranch. Some drama eventually forces Roe to make an unwanted trip to deal with the backwards, judgmental people he once called his family. With Travis and Hailey by his side, he sets things to rights and accepts that he is, in fact, worthy of his very own happily-ever-after. There’s a brief time jump at the end of the story to show us just how happy the happily-ever-after is for Roe and Travis. It’s wonderfully schmoopy and surprisingly sweet for a story that is so dang filthy. It just goes to show, that in the hands of a skilled author, kink doesn’t have to equal dark or angsty. The story of two hot and horny cowboys can be just as swoon-worthy as the lightest of rom-coms. The Doctor’s Secret by Heidi Cullinan. Reviewed by Jeff. This book had me at its cover with its clean design, heartbeat along the top and the handsome doctor. And I snatched the audiobook out from under Will because Iggy Toma was doing the narration. As with my other experiences with Heidi and Iggy, this one was above and beyond. The Doctor’s Secret brings Dr Hong-Wei Wu, or Jack as he tells the staff to call him, to Copper Point, Wisconsin. Hong-Wei’s left a high powered residency and his family in Texas to re-locate to this tiny town that needs a surgeon. He also hopes to lead a quiet life here. That’s derailed almost as soon as he steps off the plane because he meets Simon Lane, the hospital’s surgical nurse and the person who was dispatched to pick him up. Simon wasn’t quite ready for the attraction either. He’s in Copper Point working alongside his two best friends who all wanted to stay and give back to their home town–a place so small Simon’s sure he’ll never find a man for him. Hong-Wei is torn from the beginning because he came to Copper Point to get away from complications, but he can’t deny the immediate attraction to Simon. He tends to put himself under a tremendous amount of pressure to always do the right thing, even if that means saying yes to things he doesn’t want. As Simon learns more about Hong-Wei–from his love of classical music as well as his dislike for most pop music, his love of Taiwanese food and even the meticulous way he wants his operating room set up–only made him fall for the man more. Simon’s incredible from the get go. Instead of using “Jack,” Simon wants to use Hong-Wei’s given name and takes the time to learn how to pronounce it. It’s super adorable too how Simon can’t believe Hong-Wei might be flirting with him–their interactions at the hospital are super cute as they both easily get flustered. Their potential relationship comes with great risk. Copper Point is a small town with small town drama and shenanigans. St. Ann’s Hospital has a stranglehold on its employees with a hospital board that attempts to rule with an iron fist. This includes a no-dating policy. As they grow closer though, Hong-Wei’s having none of it, insisting he’ll protect Simon. Simon’s friends Owen and Nick, also doctors at the hospital, help the two get together in secret. As you can imagine neither men want to live in secret, and the more they fall for each other it becomes more difficult to keep it. Beyond Simon catching Hong-Wei’s attention, he starts to fall for the entire town of Copper Point. From the owners of his favorite restaurant to his co-workers to the local orchestra. It’s far more than he ever planned for and he’s not quite sure how to manage all the feelings of peace and happiness he has here. When a medical emergency forces Hong-Wei to reveal more of himself than he planned, the major power struggle begins around the dating policy and the future of St. Ann’s. Heidi does a tremendous job about making us care not only for Hong-Wei and Simon, but for everything that’s at stake for the town. There’s so much to love in this book between Simon and Hong-Wei, their friends, the citizens of Copper Point. The book also has one of the best grand gestures ever. It gave me all the feels. Kudos to Iggy Toma for a brilliant performance, infusing everyone with strong emotions and rich personalities. The tender moments between Simon and Hong-Wei are perfection. I’m looking forward to Owen and Nick’s books in the series. Owen’s is already out but I’m hanging tight for the audio and Nick’s book releases in August.
To find out more about the Wisconsin Great River Road please check out the website www.WiGRR.com to find out more about the Lock and Dam system please check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/usace.saintpaul/Bob: Jim Rand, Chief of Lock and Dams for the St. Paul District Army Corps of Engineers, joining us this month on the Wisconsin Great River Road Microcast. The first question I have for you, Jim, is, what is a lock and dam?Jim: A lock and dam has a dual function: to create pools, and to pass traffic. A lock and dam is very similar to a set of stairs. Each lock has its individual stair height. If we break into two parts, there’s a dam, and what that does is that allows us to maintain a 9-foot navigation channel in the upper Mississippi River. That 9-foot channel allows us to pass loaded commercial traffic – barges, towboats is what they’re commonly referred to – up and down the river system from St. Paul all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. Bob: So the purpose mainly is for commerce on the river?Jim: Correct. The dam itself is there to maintain the 9-foot navigation channel, and that will allow us to pass commercial traffic.Bob: How much traffic goes on the mighty Mississippi River on a typical year?Jim: Last year, for us, for the St. Paul District, from Lock 10, Guttenberg, Iowa, north, we passed around 107 million tons of commodities.Bob: And that keeps how many trucks off the road? Do you know?Jim: I do. One 15-barge tow is equivalent to about 1,050 semis. So if we look at that in a length scenario, a towboat fully loaded with 15 barges is about a quarter-mile long. And those equivalent commodities in semi trucks, it’s just shy of 14 miles, bumper-to-bumper.Bob: So you’re taking a lot of traffic off the roads. That way, people will be able to get out and enjoy the Great River Road from driving it rather than having to deal with all that traffic from here to there.Jim: CorrectBob: Jim, why would somebody want to stop by and see a lock and dam?Jim: We get a lot of people watching the eagles. We get a lot of otters around the locks, so we have a lot of people watching wildlife. The other thing that they do a lot is, they just stop by to watch boat traffic, and to watch fishermen. We get a lot of the cruise paddlewheelers – the American Queen, Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen. That’s a big event. They put their schedules out well in advance, so we get quite a turnout for those events when those boats pass through. We have several open houses at our locks and dams up and down the river that normally we try to coincide with a local community festival. We allow people on the site so they can see how everything works. We’ll let the kids blow the horn and all that kind of fun stuff. We do allow fishing around our structures from the shore, so we get a lot of fishermen in the spring, summer, fall timeframe. We’ve got a lot of ice fishermen around right now. There’s always quite a bit of action around the lock and dam.Bob: Jim, as you know, this winter has been a winter of records with all the snow that we’ve had. Once that snow starts to melt, it will obviously find its way to the Mississippi. When that happens, do you open up the locks and the dams and allow all of the water to flow so that way it doesn’t flood?Jim: The locks and dams in our district are for navigation purposes only. They’re not flood control structures. Congress has given us the authority to maintain these pools at a certain sea elevation. Our lock operators adjust that dam. There are big gates over there – roller and tainter gates – they adjust that plus or minus normally two-tenths of a foot tolerance from the guidance from our Water Control Management Office up in the district. We can hold back to only a certain flow of water – every site is a little different – and then we raise those gates out of the water and it becomes open river.Bob: What is the life expectancy of the lock and dam structure?Jim: When they were built in the 30s, the life expectancy was 50 years.Bob: Obviously, we’ve gone past that.Jim: Obviously, we’ve gone well past that. We’ve done some significant upgrades to both of our electrical systems, both to our operating systems, to our control houses. Based on our cyclical maintenance, we’ve been able to prolong the lifespan of these structures.Bob: That’s fantastic you’ve been able to do that and keep the history alive. We talked a little bit earlier about the barges. What about pleasure crafts on the Mississippi River? Are they able to lock through?Jim: Yes. We’ll lock just about anything through. The paddleboards where people stand up and paddle, we can’t lock those through, and a jet ski that you have to stand up on to operate, the reason being the operator would be in the water in the locking process. We don’t want that.Bob: Where can people find out more information about how they can see when boats may be going through, or when they can find out when some of the open houses are where they can actually go on and see the insides of a lock and dam?Jim: The best resource today is probably social media. We advertise all of our open houses through our St. Paul District Corps of Engineers Facebook page. That’s probably the one-stop shop for all of our events that are coming up.Bob: Is there a place close by each of those locks where you’re able to tie off and maybe see some of the communities like Perrot State Park or Trempealeau Mountain or downtown La Crosse or Prairie du Chien or any of those places?Jim: Yeah. Most of them have local marinas that rent out slips where you can dock your boat. I’m not sure if you can tie up a boat at Riverside [Park] in La Crosse, but I know Trempealeau, for example, has the Trempealeau Marina. They’ll allow you to tie up there. There are walking paths uptown. I know the Genoa Lock and Dam has tie-off points on the backside of their upper guide wall where recreational boaters can tie off there and go uptown. There are a lot of local resources for a boater to stop and then to walk uptown and check out the local communities.
A cruise ship has installed a roller coaster and a U.S. hotel is using robots to deliver room service, would female travelers like to see “women's only” sections on flights? In our Smarter Traveler segment, Mark shares the list, which features his personal pet-peeve, Mark has spent much of the week on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Reporter Clayton Whitehead joins him to talk about the cruise and some of its destinations in Mississippi, We also talk with the ship's “Riverlorian,” the steamboat version of a floating historian, and Mark gives his review of the American Queen.
Silly, sexy, and serious, we cover it all this week!
A cruise ship has installed a roller coaster and a U.S. hotel is using robots to deliver room service, would female travelers like to see “women’s only” sections on flights? In our Smarter Traveler segment, Mark shares the list, which features his personal pet-peeve, Mark has spent much of the week on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Reporter Clayton Whitehead joins him to talk about the cruise and some of its destinations in Mississippi, We also talk with the ship’s “Riverlorian,” the steamboat version of a floating historian, and Mark gives his review of the American Queen.
Our guest today is Barbara Davis for American Queen Steamboat Company. the steamboats are U.S. built, U.S. flagged and U.S. crew. American Queen is the perfect getaway for nature lovers and history buffs alike.
Episode 8: “Ohio v. Celebrity” (Kate Chase) Alex and author John Oller sit down again to discuss America’s first celebrity, Cincinnati’s Kate Chase. They discuss the Civil War-era “belle of the north” and her decades in the public spotlight during the Gilded Age. Alex discusses John’s 2014 book, American Queen, about the beautiful and well-educated Kate Chase. We look at her years in Cincy, Columbus and her fascinating life in our nation’s capital, where she was known as “Mrs. Lincoln’s Rival.” Appearances by Abraham and Mary Lincoln, James Garfield, her father Salmon P. Chase and her rocky marriage to Senator William Sprague. Enjoy this little-known story of one Ohio woman’s rise to American royalty and her ultimate fall from grace. Rate/review the show on iTunes and email us your thoughts at ohiovtheworld@gmail.com.
In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Caitlin and Rebecca get on a boat. No, that's wishful thinking. Instead, Caitlin tells Rebecca about the history of steamboats and how these ships played a role in the growth of Memphis. This episode begins with an introduction to Caitlin's favorite steamboat captain, singer and songwriter John Hartford. Sure, he won three Grammy's for "Gentle on My Mind" but her preferred track is "Don't Leave Your Records in the Sun." Who doesn't love a good tip set to music? Steamboats played a huge role in the economic growth of cities along the river, as well as the entire United States, in the early 19th century. These massive ships were able to take large amounts of freight and passengers both up and down the country's major rivers and tributaries due to the newfangled steam power technology. The very first steamboat on the Mississippi River was The Orleans way back in 1811. It was launched from Pittsburgh and worked alright, but many design and technological improvements were quickly on their way. The boats that followed were named the Comet, the Vesuvius, the Enterprise, and the Washington. But only The Enterprise boldy went where no man had gone before. By 1810, there were twenty steamboats on the river. At first they were made of wood and fueled by wood, but later that fuel became coal. At first, it took three weeks to make the trip up the Mississippi River to Ohio. But as time progressed and more powerful engines were constructed, better boiler systems came into play, pilots got more experienced, and dangers were removed from the river, this trip was cut down to just four days. Because of construction methods, fires, and frequent damage by obstacles along the river, a steamboat lasted, on average, about five years. By the 1830s, over 1,200 boats were chugging up and down the waterways. Memphis became a prominent port out of its slave trade. This was one catalyst for the First Battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862, a naval battle that many citizens went out to watch. The Union won the battle, and Confederate naval control of the river was pretty much nonexistent after that. Tom Lee Park is located on the riverfront, and is named for an African American riverworker, who himself couldn't swim, rescued, on his own, 32 drowning people from sinking of the M.E. Norman in 1925. So what was life like on a steamboat back in the day? Well, supposedly, beer was the #1 drink in the 1800s, also known as the glory days of the riverboat. There was a lot of gambling on the boats, and pilots often raced each other. There are several very famous races with well-known captains documented from history. These pilots were highly skilled, as they didn't have instruments and navigational readouts to go on. Instead, they learned from experience where the sandbars, rocks, snags, and landmarks were along the river. They also had to know about stuff that changed all the time, like river depth and current, and much of that was understood through understanding swirls, ripples, and what the color of water meant... and then pairing that knowledge with a gut instinct for the feel of the boat. In the early 20th century, steamboat usage began to decline. Passengers began using a faster form of transportation – the train. Then came the Great Depression, which saw a decline in almost every industry. Shipbuilding technology had improved to where diesel engines were being used a lot more. Diesel tugs required smaller crews, which meant less wages. Plus, the technology was just better. So by the 1940s, steamboats were considered outdated. These days, only a few riverboats still run on steam. According to research, the Belle of Louisville, the Natchez, the Minne-Ha-Ha, the Chautauqua Belle, the Julia Belle Swain, and the American Queen are still operating. In 2008, the U.S. government put an end to overnight passage on steamboats except with the permission of Congress. In Memphis, you can still get out on the water on a riverboat. The journey begins on the cobblestone landing, built by immigrants from 1850 to 1890. It's presence made a big difference in Memphis becoming such a huge port city because it could withstand the mules loading and unloading all the heavy goods. As of 1996, it's estimated that more than 800,000 of the original cobblestones are still there, although it's all in great disrepair. It's the last complete stone landing on any waterfront in the country. In the 1950s, most riverboat-related activities moved to President's Island. In 1955, the Memphis Queen Line was founded by Captain Ed Langford. In 1960, his part-time captain, Tom Meanley, purchased the company. He later endeavored to build the Memphis Queen III from 1977-1979, and then the Island Queen from 1982 to 1984, from the ground up. They made the hulls at Meanley Shipyard behind Captain Tom's house in Whitehaven, and then a house-moving company took them to McKellar Lake about 12 miles away. From there, they were towed to the cobblestone landing where the smokestacks, pilot house, and decks were added. You can ride the Island Queen, the Memphis Queen III, or the Memphis Showboat on sightseeing trips, dinner cruises, and private charters. For full show notes, go to memphistypehistory.com/steamboats
This week, Travel Today with Peter Greenberg returns to the sea, with a look at ships (ocean liners, cruise ships, riverboats) and ports. Peter Knego, Cruise Journalist and Historian, talks about the R.M.S. Queen Mary and other famous cruise ships of the past, with stories of some of the legendary personalities who sailed—and in some cases lived full time—on the ships. Julie Bartolotto, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Long Beach, talks about about the fascinating history of Long Beach, especially the port. Then it’s on to the Mississippi, with the American Queen‘s “Riverlorian” Jerry Hay. It’s all about storytelling, and Hay claims that while historians have to stick to the truth, riverlorians often weave a tall tale into their stories. Some of the truths of the Mississippi are that there were river pirates. Mark Twain gave the river international notoriety, and although most people know Mark Twain was not his real name, many are unaware he borrowed the pseudonym from someone else. Frequent cruiser, Gene Sloan of USA TODAY, talks about sailing on more than 100 cruise ships. Frank J. Del Rio, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, talks about the evolution of the cruise industry (some would call it a revolution) and how the market is starting to shift to China. There’s all of this and more as Travel Today with Peter Greenberg goes out to sea for our last show of 2016. Happy New Year everyone!
This week we get a river cruise review of American Queen Steamboat Company's American Queen. We recently took a three-night voyage from New Orleans on this 19th-century steamboat and will give you a comprehensive review. While onboard, Ted Sykes, President of American Queen Steamboat Company sat down and chatted with us about the American Queen, the history, and what makes a Mississippi River cruise so appealing.
Zee and Jay talk about great locations in the Caribbean, Los Cabos, all the unused vacation time in America and Zee's Destination of the Week.
This week on Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the American Queen river boat on the Mississippi River, en route from Memphis to New Orleans. Joining Peter on this real paddle wheeling steamboat will be Scott McCartney, Travel Editor of The Wall Street Journal, with a report on airlines adding extra seats to their planes. Jerry Hay, the American Queen‘s Riverlorian, explains how historians stick to the truth, but riverlorians tell great tales (some of them tall). Some of the truths of the Mississippi are still stranger than fiction, with pirates, robbers, and of course, the legendary exploits (and the derivation of the name) of Mark Twain. Additionally, Melinda Morris from The Times-Picayuneshares information about some of New Orleans’ jazz fest secrets. American Queen Captain Brent Willits talks about what’s changed on the river—as well as what has never changed. There’s all of that and more as Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the American Queen Steamboat Company, aboard the American Queen river boat, as it moves down the mighty Mississippi.
This week on Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the American Queen river boat on the Mississippi River, en route from Memphis to New Orleans. Joining Peter on this real paddle wheeling steamboat will be Scott McCartney, Travel Editor of The Wall Street Journal, with a report on airlines adding extra seats to their planes. Jerry Hay, the American Queen‘s Riverlorian, explains how historians stick to the truth, but riverlorians tell great tales (some of them tall). Some of the truths of the Mississippi are still stranger than fiction, with pirates, robbers, and of course, the legendary exploits (and the derivation of the name) of Mark Twain. Additionally, Melinda Morris from The Times-Picayuneshares information about some of New Orleans’ jazz fest secrets. American Queen Captain Brent Willits talks about what’s changed on the river—as well as what has never changed. There’s all of that and more as Travel Today with Peter Greenberg comes from the American Queen Steamboat Company, aboard the American Queen river boat, as it moves down the mighty Mississippi.
Cruise into yesteryear on the venerable American Queen paddlewheel steamboat, where baseball and other themes are always added attractions. Learn more from Jeff Krida, co-founder and vice chairman of American Queen Steamboat Company, when he visits with Dan and Christine Thursday March 28 at 8p on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio.com.Travel Itch will also offer listeners an exclusive discount on the two July baseball cruises. Images: American Steamboat Logo, American Queen 1, 2 & 3, Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman Jeff Krida with Priscilla Presley