This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan and his family head to Chicago to explore playgrounds, kid-friendly museums, hot dogs, and Presidential Centers (okay, just one Presidential Center.) Plus, Pope Leo is a looker!

Things We Talked About:

First Trip to Chicago Episode

https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/first-trip-to-chicago/id1438098925?i=1000662387126

Devil Dawgs

https://www.devildawgs.com/

Williams Inn

https://www.williamsinnpizza.com/

Giordano's

https://giordanos.com/

Firecakes Donuts

https://firecakesdonuts.com/

Doughnut Vault

https://www.doughnutvault.com/

Maggie Daley Park

https://www.maggiedaleypark.com/things-to-do-see/play-garden

Lincoln Park Zoo

https://www.lpzoo.org/

Field Museum

https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/sue-t-rex

Mold-a-Rama

https://www.mold-a-rama.com/

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

https://www.griffinmsi.org/

The U-Boat

https://www.griffinmsi.org/exhibits/u-505-submarine

Swiss Jollyball

https://www.griffinmsi.org/exhibits/swiss-jolly-ball

606 Trail

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/606

Bird Eyes Art on The 606

https://www.wpr.org/shows/to-the-best-of-our-knowledge/100-bird-eyes-are-watching-you

Obama Presidential Center

https://obama.org/visit/

Pope Leo's Birthday Statue

https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2026/09/08/tallest-statue-pope-leo-peru/

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

https://lucasmuseum.org/

This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Ryan heads to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! He takes in the city's beaches, mountains, museums, historic sites, restaurants, natural wine bars, and more, with everything you need to know for your first trip to Rio.

Things We Talked About:

Brazil: A Biography
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374280495

Parque Bondinho Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf)
https://bondinho.com.br/

Christ the Redeemer + Corcovado Train
https://www.tremdocorcovado.rio/

Cais do Valongo
https://www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/muhcab/cais-do-valongo-patrimonio-mundial

Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
https://www.realgabinete.com.br/

Paço Imperial
http://www.pacoimperial.com.br/

Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro
https://www.gov.br/jbrj/pt-br

MAM Rio
https://mam.rio/

Museu da República — Palácio do Catete
https://www.gov.br/museus/pt-br/museus-ibram/museu-da-republica

Museu Nacional
https://museunacional.ufrj.br/

Talho Café
https://talhocapixaba.com.br/

Casa do Chef Jota
https://www.casadochefjota.com.br/

Artigiano
https://restauranteartigiano.com/

Quinta da Henriqueta
https://www.instagram.com/quintadahenriqueta/

Haru Sushi Bar
https://haruichiban.com.br/

Mocellin Steak
https://www.mocellinsteak.com.br/

OCYÁ Ilha (Taking a Boat!)
https://ocya.com.br/

Virtuoso Vinho
https://www.instagram.com/virtuosovinho/

Casa Tão Longe, Tão Perto (Botafogo)
https://www.instagram.com/casatltp.botafogo/

Belisco Bar de Vinhos (Botafogo)
https://www.instagram.com/belisco.rj/

Babbo Osteria
https://www.instagram.com/babboosteria/

ÊTTA Bar
https://www.instagram.com/etta_bar/

Coffee Five
https://coffeefive.com.br/

LAB Café
https://www.instagram.com/labcafe.rio/

Ryan: Dolly Parton + Great Smoky Mountains
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/knoxville-the-great-smoky-mountains/id1438098925?i=1000495407828

Kiernan: Rick Steves Purchases Edmonds Theater
https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/rick-steves-purchases-edmonds-theater-moviehouse/

This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan heads back to London for the first time post-COVID—with his mother! The two revisit old standbys, new attractions, and musicals, musicals, musicals!

Things We Talked About:

Harbor Country in Michigan

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/where-to-eat-harbor-country-southwestern-michigan?srsltid=AfmBOopMgZXXv0akMPuyVKPCwWrPAI2f7GlZ6apBb3rrjyT3faojo_j4

Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop

https://www.pollocks-coventgarden.co.uk/

Oliver

https://oliverthemusical.com/

Six

https://sixthemusical.com/london/

Operation Mincemeat

https://operationmincemeat.com/

Churchill War Rooms

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

V&A East Storehouse

https://www.vam.ac.uk/east/storehouse/visit#things-to-see-and-do

LIDAR podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-archeological-tech-is-rewriting-everything-we-know/id1237796990?i=1000784018446

Big Bend Construction

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/us/big-bend-border-wall-texas-construction.html

This week on the pod, the boys talk about New York State's Odyssey, from Troy to Ithaca in about two hours. Also, Ryan interviews historian Daniel Koch about why so many upstate towns have classical names.

Things Talked About on the pod:

Land of the Oneidas: Central New York State and the Creation of America, from Prehistory to the Present

https://a.co/d/0i15zgNN

Classical Place-Names and the American Frontier

https://antigonejournal.com/2021/10/classical-place-names-america/

"Coming Into the Country" by John McPhee

This week on the pod, the boys talk The Odyssey, and Ryan speaks with Laura Coffey about her Homeric travels chronicled in her book, Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss.

Things We Talked About:

Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss
https://a.co/d/0e1iMY8Z

MAP - The Odyssey: A Mythical Journey through The Real World
https://a.co/d/0hOUJ8Cf

Laura Coffey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/l_j_coffey/

This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan takes us through the history and artistry of Parkitecture—the architectural design of America's National Parks! Plus, Ryan researches the ideal number of days to go on vacation.

Things We Talked About in This Episode:

Colombia's Literary World Cup shirt

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/magical-realism-colombia-unveil-world-155300778.html

Insight Guides

https://www.insightguides.com/

Parkitecture

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/architecture/parkitecture.htm

President Truman tickling those rustic ivories

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/63-1333

"Park and Recreation Structures"

https://archive.org/details/parkrecreationst00good/page/n237/mode/2up

Ideal Vacation Length

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-012-9345-3

Conor Knighton is a Patriot

https://www.instagram.com/conorknighton/reel/DaYM4m6OtQQ/?hl=en

This week on the pod, the boys talk about their favorite subject: sports. The World Cup is captivating everyone, and the many visitors to the USA are soaking up all the Americana. Ryan chats with NPR's Ava Berger about what's captivating them.

Things We Talked About in This Episode:

https://www.nprillinois.org/2026-06-19/big-dogs-buc-ees-and-the-great-bbq-debate-world-cup-fans-discover-everyday-america

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/13/nx-s1-5856514/the-joys-of-reporting-on-3-teenagers-chasing-glory-in-the-world-series-of-birding

https://x.com/FreddyLA7

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/19/sport/video/merlin-the-duck-is-mexicos-unofficial-mascot-digvid-vrtc