Podcast appearances and mentions of brian thacker

Follow best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a unique, mad-cap adventure to three of the remotest countries on Earth. Inspired by the intrepid spirit of explorers of old, Brian decided to tear up the guidebook, switch off the phone and turn up to a country knowing absolutely nothing about it in advance. He picked three countries at random: the east African country of Togo, the South Pacific islands of Wallis & Futuna and the Central Asian mountains of Kyrgyzstan. He boarded the plane with absolutely no clue of the language, culture, where to stay or what to see. He was simply rolling the dice and letting the universe decide what kind of trip he would have.  Like his heroes of the golden age of exploration, when much of the world was still undiscovered and no one knew what wonders awaited beyond the horizon, Brian was taking a step into the unknown. But, unlike those legends of adventure, Brian's just an ordinary bloke. He wouldn't be risking his life searching for lost tribes in the Amazon or crossing deadly deserts, he was just traveling, like all of us do, in search of good times, new experiences and the pure joy of exploring this amazing planet.  Brian's story inspires all of us that we needn't be extreme adventurers to be real explorers, we just need to tear up the guidebook, turn off your phone and step into the unknown. CONNECT WITH BRIAN Brian's book of this story if called ‘Where's Wallis: Travels Without a Guidebook', you can find out more about that and all Brian's other books at www.brianthacker.tv. Instagram: @bthacker Brian writes and presents a bunch of our other podcasts, if you enjoyed this one check out The Travel South Dakota Stories podcast. Scroll back and look for the episodes about Palm Springs too! CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.  Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast  Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what's coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they're most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us. MARCH EPISODES ADVENTURE: No Guidebook, No Google, No Clue: Togo, Wallis and Kyrgyzstan with Best-Selling Travel Author Brian Thacker We follow best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a unique, mad-cap adventure to three of the remotest countries on Earth: Togo, East Africa; Wallis & Futuna, in the South Pacific; and the Central Asian mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Inspired by the intrepid spirit of explorers of old, Brian decided to tear up the guidebook, throw away the phone and turn up to a country knowing absolutely nothing about it in advance.  IMMERSION: Homecoming: Chief Joseph's Promise and the Flight of the Nez Perce We go on location to the traditional lands of the Nez Perce, in eastern Oregon, to uncover a piece of history unknown to most outsiders. In the late 19th century, the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe were driven from their homeland. 200 warriors, protecting hundreds more women and children, fought for five days against 520 US soldiers. Their leader, before surrendering, promised his people that one day they would come home. After nearly 200 years, his promise may just be starting to come true. BUCKET LIST: Whale Watching in Victoria, B.C. We go to the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada for a bucket list adventure spotting humpback and orca whales. Victoria is one of the best places in North America for whale watching and Nik Coutino, a local guide and expert, shares his best experiences, all set to immersive music and sound design. ADVENTURE: Becoming Forrest with Ultra Runner Rob Pope 15,600 miles, 422 days, and 2 boxes of chocolates, Rob Pope tells the story of his epic journey retracing the exact run that Forrest Gump did in the movie. It's a really fun story, Rob is a hilarious guy, but it's also incredibly inspiring. Before she passed away Rob's mum told him to do one thing in his life that truly makes a difference, and boy did he do it.  Rob is also the host of the Red Bull podcast How to be Superhuman – we shared the first episode of their 3rd series last month. If you missed it, check it out. It's awesome. *** If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.  Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast  Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As soon as they walked into the barracks at Fort Sisseton, they were handed muskets - heavy Springfield 63s from the Civil war era - given a uniform and told to march.    Presenter Brian Thacker and producer Jason Paton thought they were just covering the annual Sisseton historical festival, in South Dakota, as spectators.    Turns out they were getting enlisted in the army. The Union Army that is.    Join us as we march back in time today to 1864 where cavalry, artillery and infantry reenactors come together each year to bring this piece of history to life with period accurate food and music, military demonstrations, dances and much more. Including a few ghosts in a haunted old hospital where they had to spend the night.  Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: -  Ali Tonsfeldt from Fort Sisseton -  Captain Bruce Bekkering and Amy from the Cavalry troop -  Captain Kevin Ganz and the rest of the 13th Sioux Falls regiment   If you feel like joining the Union Army at Fort Sisseton next year, you can. Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com If you enjoyed this episode, check out the full series on the Travel South Dakota Stories podcast Apple Podcasts Spotify Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker wrote and presented the episode, Jason Paton did the field recording and audio production. www.armchair-productions.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what's coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they're most excited to share.   A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us.   February episodes:   ADVENTURE: Long Rider Filipe Masetti takes us on a two-and-a-half-year journey riding his horse from Canada, where he emigrated, to his home in Brazil. Making friends with the cartel, hiding out from gun shots, becoming a local hero, and finding the love of his life. @filipemasetti   RED BULL RHINO RUN: We've partnered with Red Bull's How to be a Superhuman podcast to bring you the first episode of their new series. In it, we follow extreme endurance rider Abdullah Zeinab on the Rhino Run, a 1,700-mile bike packing race across South Africa and Namibia, one of the hardest rides in the world. Check out the full series, it's awesome: How to be a Superhuman.   IMMERSION: Producer Jason Paton and presenter Brian Thacker get unwittingly drafted into the Union Army for A civil war re-enactment in front of thousands of people. They survive hours of marching drills, musket firing lessons and a spooky stay in the old hospital. Part of our Travel South Dakota Stories series.   JOURNEY: To celebrate Black History Month, we're bringing back one of our all-time favorite episodes. Eric Cedeño, aka the Bicycle Nomad, rides 1,900-miles from Montana to Missouri to recreate a journey taken by the 1897 all-black infantry unit known as the ‘Buffalo Soldiers'. @bicycle_nomad   ***   If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.    Reviewing the show helps other people discover it and helps us continue to produce it. If you like episode, please consider a quick review on your favorite podcast platform. You don't have to write anything just click those five (hopefully) stars!   Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!   Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast   Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before movie star colonies, country clubs and pool parties, the first people to lay claim to Palm Springs were the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians. The spring waters were sacred to the local tribes, and today people from around the world visit the area to take in its healing waters.  But there's wellness in more than just the water. The desert surrounding Greater Palm Springs is believed to hold a special energy. It's something you can feel when you come here. The wide-open expanses lifting away stress and worry, like a warm desert wind. So, take a deep breath, because in this episode, we're going to relax, refresh and recharge. We take the sacred waters at the Spa at Séc-he, join a local tribe member for Bird Song at the source of the spring, take part in a sound bath, and discover how the stars and night sky affect your body and mind.  Recorded on location in immersive surround sound, this episode is designed to give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real.  Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:  -  Daniel Spencer from the Spa at Séc-he  -  John Preckwinkle III from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians  -  Liz Cortez from Heart and Sol Yoga  -  Ron Treat, from the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory  -  Caitlin from Sky Watchers Star Tours  PLAN YOUR GREATER PALM SPRINGS TRIP  Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com  FOLLOW ARMCHAIR EXPLORER Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast You Tube: @armchairexplorer Newsletter: armchair-explorer.com Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode. Review us and you will be blessed with good travel karma. CREDITS This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker wrote and hosted the series. Jason Paton did the field recording and produced the show, along with Aaron Millar. And Charles Tyrie helped with audio editing. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They call it The Land of Stone and Light because of the way sunlight plays on its rocky terrain. It is a geological tapestry of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, home to one of the richest fossil beds on the planet. The Lakota people called it Mako Sica, which is where it got its name. But there is nothing bad about the Badlands. Recorded on location in immersive stereo surround, join presenter Brian Thacker on a journey through South Dakota's Badlands National Park. We'll find ancient fossils and murder pigs, become an unwelcome visitor in a prairie dog town, and go horseback riding through an endless sea of grass under the shadows of rocky buttes straight out of a western movie. Welcome to the Land of Stone and Light, where bad means good. FIND OUT MORE Our on location ‘Immersion' documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Go to travelsouthdakota.com for everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure. CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Brian Thacker wrote and presented this episode. Jason Paton did the field recording and production. Aaron Millar was executive producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what's coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they're most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us. December episodes: ADVENTURE: Whale Warriors We join best-selling author and activist Peter Heller on board an eco-pirate ship as they battle illegal Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean. IMMERSION: Ancient Kingdoms We cross the Arabian desert to the city of Tayma, take part in the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, and explore one of the largest oases in the world. BUCKET LIST: The Everest of Cage Dives In the Neptune Islands of Australia, home to the most Great White Sharks on the planet, there is a cage dive that drops you all the way to the ocean floor. And it was set up by the guy who survived the shark attack that inspired the movie, Jaws. IMMERSION: Welcome to the Badlands Join best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a journey deep into the Badlands of South Dakota. We find ancient fossils on hiking trails, become an unwelcome visitor in a prairie town, and go horseback riding through an endless sea of grass, straight out of a western movie. WANDERLUST: The Curiosities of Christmas Island. We sit down with travel journalist Martin Symington to hear about his journey to one of the most remote places on Earth. No, Santa doesn't live there. Yes, David Attenborough thinks it's awesome. BUCKET LIST: 100-mile Pub Crawl Host Aaron Millar takes us on a 100-mile pub crawl along the South Downs Way, a long-distance footpath that crosses the South Downs National Park in England. IMMERSION: Wellness in the Desert We're back with Brian Thacker in search of some New Year's nature-inspired wellness: healing waters, indigenous bird song and Joshua Tree National Park at night. *** If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The thing about eating a meal with people is it breaks down barriers … But then beer elevates that to the magic of the intoxication of a shared experience. That is why beer and pizza go well together - the primal solving of the human conflict problem and the primal mysticism, paired perfectly.” – Tony Schultz, Stony Acres Farm Here's to those who Wisconsin … that's what they say in this part of the world.  Because traveling here is not so much about exploring a place as discovering a mindset.  In this two-part documentary series, recorded on location, we'll be searching for that Wisconsin state of mind. Today we'll be looking for it through the lens of its food. But this episode is as much about community and culture as it is eating well. They say we are what we eat, and if that's true then tracing the history of food also tells the story of a place, and its people. We'll be throwing kerosene on bubbling cauldrons, figuring out how to use a traditional Oneida corn pounder, and meeting the organic farmers who have marinara in their blood. I hope you're hungry because dinner is about to be served. This episode was recorded on location during a weeklong road trip through the state. We hope you enjoy our journey, and if it inspires you to take one of your own – you can. All our on-location documentaries are designed to be trips that you can repeat exactly as we did it – or just pick the stuff you love. Go to travelwisconsin.com to find out more. Thank you to our guests: Kirby Metoxin, council member of the Oneida Nation Lea Zeise from the Oneida Emergency Food Pantry Becky Webster from Ukwakhwa Farm  Jeremy ‘torch' Klaubauf at the Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim and Tony Shultz, and the whole crew, at Stony Acres Farm This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Aaron Millar, wrote and presented the episode, and produced it with Jason Paton. Brian Thacker led our pre-production. Ally Nisbet did the field recording. And Charles Tyrie did the audio production and sound design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode I'm joined by Brian Thacker of Virginia. Brian has been bow hunting whitetails for the past 40 years and has a lot to offer as far as the mindset it takes to grind through season after season. I've been fortunate to spend time with Brian and really enjoy his positive outlook and how he approaches his season year after year. We dive into how he has learned to keep his mind right when hunts aren't going as planned. We go over his most recent success in Ohio. Later, we dive into great bowhunting stories that Brian has had over the years. There's a lot to gain from this episode. Hope y'all enjoy!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/runandgunpodcast/support

Palm Springs is a must-visit for cinephiles, history buffs, adventure seekers, architecture enthusiasts and foodies, but this desert city is better known as the home of glitz and glamour.   Today, we are stepping back in time to when Palm Springs was Hollywood's favorite hideaway, when mid-century architecture shaped the town and suavely clad folk sipped martinis by the pool. In this episode, we're going to visit Frank Sinatra (or his house and favorite restaurant at least), tour the Shag House with Shag himself, meet Barbie and Elvis for dinner and craft cocktails with Palm Springs very own Mr Tiki. Recorded on location in immersive surround sound, this episode is designed to give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real.   Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:   -  Our guide Kip from the Palm Springs Historical Society -  Artist and style king Josh Agle, better known as Shag -  Barbie queen and Modernism Week CEO Lisa Vossler Smith -  Dan Ruiz from the Ingleside Inn -  Brian Mitchell, the food and beverage manager, and all the staff from Melvyn's   PLAN YOUR GREATER PALM SPRINGS TRIP Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.    Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!   Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast   Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Brian Thacker wrote and presented this episode; Jason Paton did the field recording and audio production; and Aaron Millar was the executive producer . Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“People can't believe how we live out here on the land, and under the stars. Maybe it's just the freedom of it. Once you get that red dirt in your blood and your socks, you can't get rid of either one of them. It just stays with you, and you're going to find that out if you stick around very long.” Norris Church, Kanab The Western is as finely layered as the red rock deserts and dusty towns that serve as their backdrop. Ever since they first appeared on the silver screen, Westerns have been rife with opposing viewpoints, contradictions and complexities as varied as the people who watched them.  Gunslingers, shoot outs, declarations of love and revenge – the heroes and villains of Western movies have come to define the American psyche in ways that no other genre ever has. This is the first of our insight episodes, audio documentaries that dive deep into the subjects that make places come alive: from anthropology and history to music, art and more. But today, we're going to the movies. Utah celebrates 100-years of movie magic this year. It has served as the backdrop for everything from alien planets to Jurassic worlds. But it's most famous for the Westerns that were shot here. It's easy to see why they were. Walk amongst the high buttes and slot canyons of Utah, and it's hard not to feel like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid might jump out at you at any minute.  This episode will take you to the places where some of the most iconic Westerns were shot, from Monument Valley to Kanab. We're going to dive into the past and learn what it was really like making them and explore how the films made here have helped to shape a vision of the old west – good and bad – that has spread around the world. Whether you're a movie buff or you've never watched a Western before, we guarantee after listening to this you'll be itching to hop on a horse and ride off into the sunset. PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP To make this episode, we visited Monument Valley and Kanab, both beautiful places we highly recommend. If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too - just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA. Thank you to the guests who featured in today's episode: Norris Church with the Adventure Tour Company in Kanab adventure-tour-company.com Andrew Patrick Nelson, Film and Media Arts Chair at the University of Utah. Check out his podcast, How the West was Cast.  Dennis Judd, Kanab movie expert CREDITS This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer and wrote the episode. Jason Paton did the recording, mix and sound design. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer. www.armchair-productions.com CONNECT If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.  Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Leaving a review of the show will bring you even more. Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rodeo in the United States is a reflection of the spirit of the American West, and a tradition rooted in the folklore and culture of the country. But in South Dakota, it's not only the official sport - it's a way of life.  Join us as we go on a wild ride at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo where over 300,000 people from all over the world descend on Rapid City to watch more than 120 different events. We join a father and son team at the ranch rodeo, cheer on Gill the border collie at the sheep dog trials, take part in a bachelor cattle auction and watch seven-year-old Kreed hang on to a sheep for dear life in mutton bustin'. But we're not just watching from the outside, we mic up the cowboy and cowgirl competitors to take us inside the arena and show us what it feels like to ride in a rodeo for real. Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: -  Sheepdog handler and dog lover Linda Loulias -  Sheep shearer Mike Por and Loren Opstedahl. -  Kreed, our fearless mutton buster -  And the boys from Lakota Funds and the Corn Creek Bandits PLAN YOUR SOUTH DAKOTA TRIP Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Brian Thacker wrote and presented this episode, Jason Paton did the field recording and production, and Aaron Millar was the executive producer. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's to those who Wisconsin … that's what they say in this part of the world.  Because traveling here is not so much about exploring a place as discovering a mindset.  In this two-part documentary series, recorded on location, we'll be searching for that Wisconsin state of mind. Today we'll be looking for it through the lens of its music, architecture, theater - and motorbikes. It's a story about how art can connect us more deeply with the land, and how the land inspires it. Wisconsin is renowned as being home to some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you'll ever meet. During our weeklong road trip recording this podcast, we found that and lots more from Native American drums and motorcycle rides, to pizza farms and a praying mantis who just won't get off the stage. We hope you enjoy our journey, and if it inspires you to take one of your own – you can. All our on-location documentaries are designed to be trips that you can repeat exactly as we did it – or just pick the stuff you love. Go to travelwisconsin.com to find out more. Thank you to our guests: The Menominee Nation Shane Webster, from the Wind Eagle band of Menominee singers and drummers. Ryan Hewsom, the preservation director at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin. Patty Heaston, the communications director at the American Players Theater. Company actors Marcus Truschinski and Jessica Ko. And Director Robert Ramirez. And Chris Ribstine and Tim McCormack from the Harley Davidson Museum. This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Aaron Millar, wrote and presented the episode, and produced it with Jason Paton. Brian Thacker led our pre-production. Ally Nisbet did the field recording. And Charles Tyrie did the audio production and sound design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the heart of the California's Sonoran Desert the city of Palm Spring's emerges like a green oasis surrounded by a sea of red. It's known for food, art, glamour, glitz but head outside the city boundaries to Greater Palm Springs and there's plenty of adventure too. Today we're going to be exploring the region's wild side - and we're not talking about lavish pool parties (more of that later in the series). We're going horseback riding through canyons beside palm-fringed creeks, snowshoeing through pine forests on the top of soaring peaks; we'll be taking an off-road jeep in search of the San Andreas Fault and rappel off 100-foot boulders in the desert dreamscapes of Joshua Tree National Park. Recorded on location in immersive surround sound, this episode is designed to give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real. Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: - Wilderness Park Aid Christopher Gabriel Zazueta from San Jacinto State Park - Morgan Levine from Reed Jeep Tours - Tuesday from Smoke Tree Stables - And our fearless rappelling guide Jaden Wyszpolski from Stone Adventures PLAN YOUR GREATER PALM SPRINGS TRIP Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com FOLLOW ARMCHAIR EXPLORER Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast You Tube: @armchairexplorer Newsletter: armchair-explorer.com Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode. Review us and you will be blessed with good travel karma. CREDITS This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker wrote and hosted the series. Jason Paton did the field recording and produced the show, along with Aaron Millar. And Charles Tyrie helped with audio editing. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Nobody's down here except for us ghost people and the hotel staff. And some of the hotel staff in the past wouldn't come down here by themselves. Things happen in here. Things have happened to me.” – Kate, Ghost Tour Guide at the Bullock Hotel, Deadwood Tales of the Wild West and lawless frontiers are ingrained in American culture - and in Deadwood, the discovery of riches in the southern Black Hills in 1874 kicked off one of the largest gold rushes in America. Not long after, Deadwood became a rough-and-ready boomtown that steadily lured bands of outlaws, gamblers, and gunslingers. Join us as we mosey down Deadwood's streets in search of famed tales and legendary residents from this wild frontier. We begin our adventure in Saloon No 10, where we join a local gunslinger (or an actor who plays a gunslinger - in daily gunfights in the streets of Deadwood) for a game of poker at the table where Wild Bill Hickok was shot dead. We then head down into the dark basement bar of the Bullock Hotel chasing ghosts and getting well and truly spooked. Lastly, we end up, as many locals have ended up, at Moriah Cemetery. There we make the pilgrimage to Wild Bill's grave where visitors have left flowers, bullets, and small bottles of Jack Daniels. Through it all, we discover that Deadwood is truly alive. Well, besides the ghosts. It's a place where the wild west spirit lives on. You can feel it – and the former coarse and cavorting town is now a lot less rough, but just as much fun. - Brian Thacker, presenter Thank you to everyone who featured on this show: - Andy Mosher, Deadwood Alive - Kate McGraw, Bullock Hotel Ghost tours We'd like to thank our gunslinging Andy Mosher and our ghostly guide Kate McGraw who gave us their time and stories. Recorded on-location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it's like to be there; it's designed to let you feel what it's like for real. Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry www.armchair-productions.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine a road trip up the southern Californian coast stopping off at cool little beach towns along the way. But instead of doing it in a car, on the highway, getting stuck in traffic, with nothing to do or see … you surf it instead. The Pacific Surfliner train travels 351 miles from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, through Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and more … and for much of that journey you are literally hugging the coast so closely you can almost smell the ocean. In today's episode, recorded on location, host Aaron Millar, and producers Jason Paton and Ally Nisbet, head out on a long weekend ‘track trip' down the So-Cal coast. “This is one of my favorite trips of the year so far. A lot of the episodes we make are about proper adventures, and deep stories about culture and history. This was just pure fun. I love southern California, and hope this episode captures that spirit and special vibe of the west coast. Kerouac had it wrong, the open tack beats the open road any day for me … especially when there's surfing at the end of the line.” - Aaron Highlights include: · Kayaking with sea lions in Santa Barbara · Spotting dolphins in Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of Ventura · Catching waves with pro-surfer John Daniels in Oceanside · Riding one of the most beautiful stretches of the Pacific Surfliner: gorgeous headlands, mist covered mountains, and ocean waves crashing on the shore Thanks to Pacific Surfliner for helping to make this trip possible. If you like what you hear and fancy taking the scenic route yourself, you can book your tickets at pacificsurfliner.com. Students under 25 get a 15% discount Thanks also to santabarbaraca.com, visitventuraca.com, visitoceanside.org, Andre from Cal Coast Adventures, all the crew at Island Packers, Jim Kempton from the California Surf Museum, and John Daniels from Learn to Rip Surf Lessons Follow the show on Instagram @armchairexplorerpodcast This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker did our pre-production, Jason Paton and Ally Nisbet did the field recording and audio production, Aaron Millar wrote and presented it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maiku. Yá'át'ééh. And hello!   You can't really know a place without hearing from the people who have always been there. Utah is the sacred and ancestral home of eight different tribal nations, including the Paiute, Navajo (Diné), Shoshone, Goshute, and more. And today, we're learning as much about their histories and cultures as we can.   Join us as we listen to Southern Paiute music under the stars, see a traditional Diné fireside dance, sample fry bread with a unique twist, step inside a traditional hogan in Monument Valley, and learn about what being Native American means in 2024.   Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:   -Daniel Bullets of the Southern Paiute Tribe -The Adventure Tour Company of Kanab -Louis Williams of Ancient Wayves Tours in Bears Ears National Monument -Harold Simpson and Cody of Simpson's Trailhandler Tours, as well as Marilyn, all of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park -David Libbert of Black Sheep Cafe in Provo -Larry Holliday of Goulding's Lodge   PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP   If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA. SOCIAL Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com. CREDITS This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer and wrote the episode. Jason Paton did the recording, mix and sound design. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dinosaurs and dark skies have a lot more in common than you'd think...and Utah happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience both of them firsthand. In this episode, join host Aaron Millar as he explores Utah through both time and space. From coming face to face with a wall of dinosaur bones to stepping onto a top-secret active dinosaur dig site and behind the scenes at the fossil preparation lab, you'll learn about how dinosaurs lived in the past -- and still exist today -- firsthand from the experts. Then, dive into dark skies with NASA-strength telescopes and some of the world's most prominent Dark Sky activists, who'll help us to not only see the stars...but to see the planets too. Yes, even Pluto. Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: -Ranger Dan Johnson from Dinosaur National Monument -Tylor Birthisel, Dr. Jason Cryan, and Dr. Randy Irmis of the Natural History Museum of Utah -Dr. Alan Titus of the Bureau of Land Management -Volunteers Dr. Randy Johnson, Dr. Sue Beardmore, Andy Moleski, and Alex Politch with the Natural History Museum of Utah -Dr. Anil Seth of the University of Utah -Kevin Poe of the Dark Rangers in Bryce   -PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA. -CREDITS This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer and wrote the episode. Jason Paton did the recording, mix and sound design. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2793 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about U.S. Army 1st LT Brian Thacker and his Congressional Medal of Honor award honors. The featured story comes from the We are the Mighty website and was … Continue reading →

If there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure. From the adrenaline-pumping to the meditative, the outdoors in Utah is a veritable playground for exploration. In Part One of Uniquely Utah adventures, we spent the morning fly fishing on the teal waters of Flaming Gorge, followed by an afternoon of mountain biking, chasing sharp turns with a pro rider. In Part Two, follow along as we ride on muleback to trace the steps of ghostly gunslingers through narrow slot canyons, rappel over the sides of redstone cliffs (sometimes directly into mud), and finally attempt the legendary 50-foot ski jump directly into a pool at Park City's Olympic Park. Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: -Fly fisherman Ryan Kelly at Flaming Gorge -Expert canyoner and guide Micah Mansfield with East Zion Adventures -Pro mountain biker Eric Porter in Park City -Trail guide McClain from Meecham Outfitters -Ski coach Ryan Devine from Park City's Olympic Park -Two-time Olympic medalist Shannon Bahkre PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays/ Self-Drive-Experience-Utah-Life-Elevated or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA. SOCIAL Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com. CREDITS This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer. Jason Paton recorded, wrote, mixed, and sound designed the episode. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Utah: Life Elevated, the documentary podcast that will take you all around Utah on an unforgettable road trip. Today, we're diving into some of Utah's unique adventures...because if there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure!  From rappelling down canyon walls to churning up dirt on a mountain bike, there are so many ways to get a taste of the outdoors in this great state. Join us for some unforgettable experiences, from fly fishing in the pristine Flaming Gorge to riding mules through slot canyons to braving a 50-foot ski jump...directly into a pool. Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: -Fly fisherman Ryan Kelly at Flaming Gorge -Expert canyoner and guide Micah Mansfield with East Zion Adventures -Pro mountain biker Eric Porter in Park City -Trail guide McClain from Meecham Outfitters -Ski coach Ryan Devine from Park City's Olympic Park -Two-time Olympic medalist Shannon Bahkre PLAN YOUR UTAH TRIP If you want to learn more about experiencing the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to VisitUtah.com or follow along on social media @VisitUtah. International listeners can also book this itinerary directly as a package, with lots of other bonus experiences too -- just visit AmericanSky.co.uk/Utah-Holidays or learn more about all the incredible destinations around the state at VisitTheUSA.com or on social media @VisitTheUSA. SOCIAL Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. Want travel tips and advice? Questions about this episode? Message me! Sign up for the monthly newsletter at armchair-explorer.com. CREDITS This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker managed pre-production. Jenny Allison was the in-field producer. Jason Paton recorded, wrote, mixed, and sound designed the episode. Aaron Millar hosted and served as executive producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are going skiing! The Austrian Alps are arguably the best place in Europe for family skiing. It's less expensive than many other countries, the ski schools are excellent and many resorts have been built specifically with families in mind. If you're thinking about booking a ski trip this year, or maybe just dreaming of some winter fun, this episode is for you. Behind The Page Award-winning ski writer Mike MacEacheran takes his family skiing to Austria just about every year. He fills us in on what makes it so special from Kinder Hotels and kid spas to his favorite resorts and more. @MikeMacEacheranMeet the ExpertAustrian ski instructor Alice Reeves gives us the lowdown on ski school and shares her top tips for teaching your little ones. Book Alice for your next trip at Ski School Alpendorf – just request her by name!20 QuestionsWe play a version of the infamous family car game with James Cove, the founder of Planet Ski. He tells us his favorite Austrian resorts for little kids, big kids, the best views, the best après ski, and more. Don't Take Our Word For itCute alarm! 11-year-old Elise tells us what she loves about ski holidays, from candy bribes and hot chocolates to nailing her first expert runs. Bedtime Story Host Aaron Millar reads you a bedtime story from one of our favorite Family Traveller articles. Written by Nicola Venning, it describes a recent trip to Sankt Lambrecht with her family … guaranteed to send you off to a blissful winter dream!The LowdownFind out everything you need to know about skiing in Austria at www.austria.infoThe resorts featured in this episode are:Tyrolean resorts:KitzbühelPaznaun-IschglArlberg region with St. Anton am Arlberg and LechSölden in ÖtztalSt. Johann in TirolPitztal GlacierSkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – BrixentalMayrhofen in ZillertalPatscherkofel in Innsbruck Resorts in SalzburgerLandSaalfelden-LeogangZell am See-KaprunSt. Johann in SalzburgThe adventure doesn't stop when you have kids; it's just the beginning. Brought to you by Family Traveller magazine, the global voice of authority on family travel, each episode offers in-depth expert advice and all the know-how family travellers like you need to make the most of your time away.Find out more: www.familytraveller.com @familytravellerProduced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Written and hosted by Aaron Millar. Produced by Brian Thacker. Audio editing and sound design by Charles Tyrie. www.armchair-productions.com

“You're experiencing what you see on TV and the old western movies, the buffalo roaming across the prairie like that. It's that old west tradition that you don't see anywhere else in the world.” – Matt Snyder, Superintendent of Custer State Park Feel the ground rumble and the dust fly as sixty cowboys and cowgirls saddle up to bring in a thundering herd of 1,300 buffalo at the 57th Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. But we're not just watching it, we are in the thick of it as we get thrown around on the back of a truck chasing the herd across the wide-open plains. Listen to one of the riders Molly as she cracks her whip and corrals the galloping beasts. We also meet Lakota rider and manager of Bear Butte State Park, Jim Jandreau, who tells us what the buffalo means to the Lakota people. At the end of the long and tiring ride we join Molly's 87-year-old dad, who had just taken part in his 53rd roundup. Along the way we discover that although the roundup harks back to a different time, the adventurous spirit of South Dakotans that has been a way of life for centuries still lives on. And that spirit is infectious. -       Brian Thacker, presenter Thank you to everyone who featured on this show: -       Jim Jandreau, Bear Butte State Park -     Molly Olivier, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup -       Bob Lantis, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup -       Lydia Austin, Custer State Park   -       Kobee Stalder, Custer State Park   -       Matt Snyder, Custer State Park   Recorded on-location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it's like to be there; it's designed to let you feel what it's like for real.   Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure.   Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry www.armchair-productions.com

Saddle up and get ready for a wild ride because today, you're headed to the Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota! This episode is from The Travel South Dakota Stories, an immersive first-person podcast that takes you on a journey through the Land of Infinite Variety. In this episode, award-winning travel writer and host Brian Thacker takes you to one of my favorite hidden gem destinations in America, where you'll get to experience one of the most unique events in the state. Feel the ground rumble and the dust fly as sixty cowboys and cowgirls saddle up to bring in a thundering herd of 1,300 buffalo at the 57th Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. Through this compelling audio experience, you'll be right there with Molly, one of the cowgirls, as she cracks her whip and corals the galloping buffalo. You'll discover the buffalo's role in American and Native American History, hear from a Lakota rider who explains what the buffalo means to them, and so much more. Resources: Listen to The Travel South Dakota Stories podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You're experiencing what you see on TV and the old western movies, the buffalo roaming across the prairie like that. It's that old west tradition that you don't see anywhere else in the world.” – Matt Snyder, Superintendent of Custer State Park  Feel the ground rumble and the dust fly as sixty cowboys and cowgirls saddle up to bring in a thundering herd of 1,300 buffalo at the 57th Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. But we're not just watching it, we are in the thick of it as we get thrown around on the back of a truck chasing the herd across the wide-open plains. Listen to one of the riders Molly as she cracks her whip and corals the galloping beasts. We also meet Lakota rider and manager of Bear Butte State Park, Jim Jandreau, who tells us what the buffalo means to the Lakota people, and Molly's 87-year-old dad, who had just taken part in his 53rd roundup. Along the way we discover that although the roundup harks back to a different time, the adventurous spirit of South Dakotans that has been a way of life for centuries still lives on. And that spirit is infectious. Recorded on-location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it's like to be there; it's designed to let you feel what it's like for real. Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure. Thank you to everyone who featured on this show: -   Jim Jandreau, Bear Butte State Park -   Molly Olivia, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup -   Bob Lantis, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup -   Matt Snyder, Custer State Park -   Kobee Stalder, Custer State Park -   Lydia Austin, Custer State Park Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry www.armchair-productions.com. Written and presented by Brian Thacker. Field recording and audio production by Jason Paton. Executive Producer Aaron Millar. Theme music by the artist Sweet Chap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It's kind of interesting that people that come here to Crazy Horse Memorial, because it's almost like there's a spiritual calling. They don't know quite what it is. But they feel it.” – Paul LaRoche, Lakota tribe member and founder of the band Brulé.   The great Lakota Sioux Nation have become the international symbol of America's native people. Over 60,000 Lakota Native Americans live in South Dakota, and they believe that their very creation began in the Black Hills. Join us as we delve deep into South Dakota's rich native American history and culture. We begin our adventure by stepping out onto the arm of the Crazy Horse memorial with head carver Caleb Zilokowski (the grandson of Korczak Ziolkowski, who started it back in 1947).   At the base of Crazy Horse, we join Paul LaRoche who has been coming to Crazy Horse for 25 years with his award-winning band Brulé. Through his music and dance we learn about Paul's journey back into a Native American life he knew nothing about.   Along the way we uncover what makes Native American culture in South Dakota so unique. And as you hear these stories and the history of this fascinating and colorful culture, you'll soon discover that you need to experience South Dakota for yourself.   -       Brian Thacker, presenter   Thank you to everyone who featured on this show:   -       Caleb and Vaughn Ziolkowski, Crazy Horse Memorial   -       Joe Pulliam, Seven Council Fires Native Art   -       Paul LaRoche, Brulé   -       David Flute, for singing the Native prayer     Recorded on-location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it's like to be there; it's designed to let you feel what it's like for real.   Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure.   Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry www.armchair-productions.com

“Nobody's down here except for us ghost people and the hotel staff. And some of the hotel staff in the past wouldn't come down here by themselves. Things happen in here. Things have happened to me.” – Kate, Ghost Tour Guide at the Bullock Hotel, Deadwood   Tales of the Wild West and lawless frontiers are ingrained in American culture - and in Deadwood, the discovery of riches in the southern Black Hills in 1874 kicked off one of the largest gold rushes in America. Not long after, Deadwood became a rough-and-ready boomtown that steadily lured bands of outlaws, gamblers, and gunslingers. Join us as we mosey down Deadwood's streets in search of famed tales and legendary residents from this wild frontier. We begin our adventure in Saloon No 10, where we join a local gunslinger (or an actor who plays a gunslinger - in daily gunfights in the streets of Deadwood) for a game of poker at the table where Wild Bill Hickok was shot dead.   We then head down into the dark basement bar of the Bullock Hotel chasing ghosts and getting well and truly spooked.   Lastly, we end up, as many locals have ended up, at Moriah Cemetery. There we make the pilgrimage to Wild Bill's grave where visitors have left flowers, bullets, and small bottles of Jack Daniels.   Through it all, we discover that Deadwood is truly alive. Well, besides the ghosts. It's a place where the wild west spirit lives on. You can feel it – and the former coarse and cavorting town is now a lot less rough, but just as much fun.   -       Brian Thacker, presenter   Thank you to everyone who featured on this show:   -       Andy Mosher, Deadwood Alive   -       Kate McGraw, Bullock Hotel Ghost tours   We'd like to thank our gunslinging Andy Mosher and our ghostly guide Kate McGraw who gave us their time and stories.   Recorded on-location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it's like to be there; it's designed to let you feel what it's like for real.   Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure.   Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry www.armchair-productions.com

Strap in, we're taking you to Idaho and Africa! Seeing the Big Five in Africa is a bucket list destination for most travellers. Kirstie Bedford talks to African safari specialist Patrick Clementson, who has spent more than 25 years exploring the continent, about what makes it so magical. www.abercrombiekent.com.au And one for the powder hounds, Belinda Jackson chats with US-based author, travel writer and podcaster Brian Thacker, who provides an insight into the little-known ski fields of Idaho. www.brianthacker.tv Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theworldawaits/message

On episode six hundred and fourteen, the story of Allen J Lynch is told and episodes for all of March, April, May, and most of June, will be living recipients (mostly from the Vietnam War). Happy 78th birthday to Brian Thacker! Read today's story: https://www.talesofhonorpodcast.com/stories/allen-j-lynch  For Allen's book: https://amzn.to/3n4jlEO Be sure to visit our website for more information as the show goes on at: www.talesofhonorpodcast.com. Thanks for listening and be sure to share with friends and family!

Follow best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a unique, mad-cap adventure to three of the remotest countries on Earth. Inspired by the intrepid spirit of explorers of old, Brian decided to tear up the guidebook, switch off the phone and turn up to a country knowing absolutely nothing about it in advance. He picked three countries at random: the east African country of Togo, the South Pacific islands of Wallis & Futuna and the Central Asian mountains of Kyrgyzstan.  He boarded the plane with absolutely no clue of the language, culture, where to stay or what to see. He was simply rolling the dice and letting the universe decide what kind of trip he would have.  Like his heroes of the golden age of exploration, when much of the world was still undiscovered and no one knew what wonders awaited beyond the horizon, Brian was taking a step into the unknown. But, unlike those legends of adventure, Brian's just an ordinary bloke. He wouldn't be risking his life searching for lost tribes in the Amazon or crossing deadly deserts, he was just traveling, like all of us do, in search of good times, new experiences and the pure joy of exploring this amazing planet. Brian's story inspires all of us that we needn't be extreme adventurers to be real explorers, we just need to tear up the guidebook, turn off your phone and step into the unknown.We're traveling with …Brian's book of this story if called ‘Where's Wallis: Travels Without a Guidebook', you can find out more about that and all Brian's other books at www.brianthacker.tv.  Go and check that out, he's a lot of fun to travel with.Join the CommunityIf you're enjoying the show, please consider showing your support by buying me a pint! If you like what you hear and think that two episodes a month is worth the price of a frosty beverage, then please go to www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcast. … you'll get ad-free episodes, access to our explorer's community and exclusive content not available anywhere else. Buy me a pint! ... the next round will be on me.Thank you Sponsors!Today's episode is sponsored by Wondrium. Wondrium is like Netflix for your brain, an enormous encyclopedia of mind-blowing audio and video content designed for curious people just like us. I love it and I think you will too. Go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get a 14-day free trail with access to thousands of hours of audio and video content, from travel guides and documentaries to courses taught by the world's greatest professors. All for free, no strings attached. Check it out!Let's Hang outFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode 

Guest Speaker Pastor Brian Thacker Ezekiel 38 by Pastor Tim Romero

1 Corinthians 12:12 - 31 Presents With Purpose Part 2 (Church On Fire Series) Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Philemon Forgive Pastor Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Daniel 11 - The Absolute Truth & Accuracy Of God's Word (Brian Thacker Counter Culture Series) by Pastor Tim Romero

Daniel 10 Mighty Representation Through Persistent Prayer (Counterculture Series)Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Award winning travel book author Brian Thacker has lived in Minneapolis for 8 months. Lu and Matt find out what it's been like over there since the tragic death of George Floyd. 

Genesis 32:22-32 Wrestling With God - Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Romans 5 - 8 The Products Of Salvation - Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Brian Thacker Galatians 5:16-26 by Pastor Tim Romero

During the Vietnam War, all too often the chaos of battle found Allied forces trapped and facing annihilation in hostile territory. The situation called for courageous men to rise above their fears and carry out some of the deadliest missions in the history of warfare. Forward Observers, often alone, moved ahead of the Allied forces to secure vital vantage points. They served as the eyes of the artillery gunner in delivering rounds on enemy targets. In this episode, Medal of Honor recipients Barney Barnum and Brian Thacker tell their dramatic stories, In Their Own Words.

Romans 8 Living Your Life In The Power Of The Holy Spirit Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Ephesians 3 The Revealing Of God's Mystery - Pastor Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Ephesians 2 Reconciliation Through Grace - Pastor Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Acts 14 - Pastor Brian Thacker by Pastor Tim Romero

Brian Thacker’s seventh travel book is Tell Them to Get Lost – Travels with the Lonely Planet guidebook that started it all. Travelling South-East Asia with a copy of the first-ever shoestring guidebook, published in 1975, Brian travels through Portuguese Timor, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Burma. Interview by Valerie Khoo, director of Sydney Writers' Centre. www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au www.valeriekhoo.com

The Dogs fall at Furman and now prepare to host Western Carolina.  Kevin Higgins gives us his thoughts on his football team, which seeks its first SoCon win on Saturday.   Also, Medal of Honor recipient Brian Thacker shares his story of service in Vietnam.    Thacker is among several Medal of Honor recipients participating in this weekend's events on The Citadel campus, as part of the annual Medal of Honor Society Convention.