Travel Tales from the #nerdbirds

Join #nerdbirds Rachel & Kai as they talk about hidden gems in Northern California as the final part of a series guide on a road trip from Seattle down to the SF Bay Area. Rocky rough coasts, volcanic byways or lush redwood forests? It's all in your reach in Northern California!

With the start of the Olympics, #nerdbirds Brendan, David, and Rachel reminisce about traveling for sporting events around the world. From triathlons in Japan where participants break mid-event to BBQ to stopping for elevenses on the hiking trail in England, they ponder the idea of the American need to cross the finish line first vs. other cultures that focus more on the journey. They also share t...

#nerdbirds Charlie and Rachel talk about their first memories of New York City in the late 90s/early 2000s -- interspersed with a 2019 trip report with David and Sebastian to visit the TWA Hotel preview at the new World Trade Center. They also share advice for first-time travelers to the city that truly never sleeps, including things to do if the city feels overwhelming.

Join #nerdbirds Kai & Rachel as they chat about roadtripping down I-5 from Seattle and through the state of Oregon - Mt. St. Helens, the other Vancouver, Portland, Eugene, Junction City, Grants Pass, Medford -- along with stops along the Oregon Coast.

Time for a sonic boom! #nerdbird Rachel has her hands full with both Brendan and Sebastian's witty banter, from Sebastian reminiscing about his flight on the famous Concorde to Brendan sharing thoughts on design in the Jet Set era. They also discuss the book Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of the Concorde and ponder Boom Supersonic's vision of a flight to anywhere in the world in 4 hours or l...

#nerdbird co-host Kai found himself missing the Finnish midsummer holiday, so Rachel thought it would be fitting to talk about global celebrations in the summer and how Americans make them their own, from Scandinavian Days in Oregon to Japanese Obon Festivals in California.

After this week's planned episode encountered technical difficulties, #nerdbird Rachel rounds up Charlie and Sebastian to chat about anything, starting with things to see in Antarctica. They eventually decided to go for Round Two of the 50 States Challenge, and talked about travels (and deep-dish pizza and BBQ) in Illinois, Arizona, Tennessee, New Mexico, South Dakota, and North Carolina.

#nerdbirds Kai & Rachel continue their discussions about the great state of Washington, going a bit further afield from the Seattle metro area to the north and west. Into the northern Puget Sound islands, Bellingham, the exclave of Point Roberts and the majestic Olympic Peninsula. Hear about what's it's really like to live in the tiny town of Forks, thrust into the popular spotlight thanks to the...

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai chat about the Emerald City and all there is to do around it. Listen in for the best ice cream shops, bookstores in Seattle, as well as the best gardens, beaches, and museums in the Seattle metro region.

What happens when #nerdbirds Sebastian and Rachel shadow an airport information desk? All kinds of amusing moments, which leads them to thinking about non-frequent travelers and how to best navigate confusing airport environments.

What do South Carolina, Colorado, North Dakota, Alaska, and Nevada have in common? In #nerdbirdland, they were the results of Kai spinning a wheel and Rachel having to think about experiences in each state. From Charlie's recent experience in Charleston to flying on a plane with skis in Alaska, Rachel points out that any place can be interesting with the right mindset.

#nerdbirds Brendan & Kai muse on how music has set the stage for travel and how it heightens, supports & cements the experiences we have when we travel. Hear how Kai fell in love with his all-time favorite music artist on a flight, and how Brendan has playlists to match phases of flight.

Search for "Hawaii like a local" and you'll find dozens of articles claiming what to do to have an authentic Hawaiian travel experience. #nerdbird Rachel quizzes Oahu native Sebastian on these topics to get the real scoop.

#nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel chat about dipping their toes into the travel world post-vaccination, from a Delta First Class flight to an encounter with influencers in Big Sur.

Our 100th episode coincides with the 3rd anniversary of the final flight of Virgin America -- where our podcast crew met! #nerdbirds Brendan, Charlie, David, Sebastian, and Pilot Sarah play a custom Jeopardy-like game with travel trivia created by Kai and Rachel. Explore the geographical origins of cheesecake and other popular foods, find out just how much cheese and BBQ Brendan and Sebastian can...

What do jet lag, travel health insurance, and Pudin Hara have in common? Find out as Rachel quizzes fellow #nerdbirds Charlie and David on their travel safety know-how.

In this final episode of Travel from a Futurist Perspective, #nerdbirds Kai and Rachel are challenged to think about past travel patterns, current innovations in the travel world, and things they could do to make a difference. They discuss innovation in areas from airplanes to cruise ships, share advice for preparing the everyday traveler for the near future of travel, and ponder the purpose of th...

In Part 2, #nerdbirds Rachel & Kai look at selected pain points in the travel journey using futurist tools and flip them on their head, starting the thought process about how they might look in the future - but not before talking about the current state of travel a little more first!

It's been 364 days since we aired Episode 1! How has the travel industry changed, and what do these changes bode for the future? In Part 1, #nerdbirds Rachel and Kai look at travel thru the lens of a futurist, citing stories and examples from four patterns of change: growth, collapse, constraint, and transform.

In Tibet, travel is about being "uncertain about everything" to grow your mindset. #nerdbirds Kai and Rachel ponder this statement through stories of their own uncomfortable travel moments, and consider how personal growth happens using the Japanese concepts of kensho (incremental growth over time) and satori (mindblowing, life-changing, aha! moments).

What are the best places to see, experience and eat in California? Join born & raised California #nerdbirds Kai & Charlie, along with long-term California resident #nerdbird Rachel as they talk about the Golden State, its natural beauty, and food -- and bust some stereotypes along the way!

Why do people travel for business, and what does the future of business travel look post-pandemic? Will people go back to the same old thing, or will it take a different tack? #nerdbirds Rachel and Kai chat about everything from quality over quantity, how long it's been since they've been on a plane, and how sustainability, digital nomadism, and the widespread adoption of remote work could change...

Watch this episode at nerdbirds.co/episode91 [//nerdbirds.co/episode91] -- #nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel continue from their First Time in Japan episode [https://nerdbirds.co/episode52/] to share tales and advice on navigating a country with social norms that are the complete opposite of the USA.

Ice in drinks. Winning is the only thing. Perfectly straight teeth. #nerdbirds Rachel and Kai boomerang from last week's Culture Zaps to look at Americans and their charming, quirky, and maddening habits.

#nerdbirds Rachel & Kai riff on culture shocks & culture zaps - that experience we all have when we run into something that is different from how we're used to. They talk about experiences near and far, and how these cultural differences help us see the world differently.