Erika Nelson, when she is not gracing the American landscape with her popular art projects, curates the Worlds Largest Collection of the Worlds Smallest Versions of the Worlds Largest Things. “Roadside Yuletide” is a phrase we coined to describe public monuments erected for when ‘Tis the Season. They are seen around the country. Erika shares about several of the best. (encore presentation originally aired November 25, 2022)

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Seattle and Puget Sound are shaking off the effects of a bomb cyclone, undeterred in their preparations for Thanksgiving weekend and the traditional kickoff of the Christmas holiday season. Matt Shea, a frequent contributor to American Road Trip Talk, stops by with his detailed report on a variety of ceremonies and activities that offer family-friendly options for celebrating the “most wonderful time of the year.”

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Bodega Bay in California found immortality as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s natural horror-thriller, The Birds (1963) and continues to draw cinephiles, Hitchcock fans and curiosity seekers by the thousands more than 60 years later. The seaside village combines laid-back charm with the echoes of its cinematic past and permanent association with Hollywood’s Master of Suspense. Geoffrey Mark guests with stories and perspective regarding the area, the film, the stars and the man who conjured terror on the wing.

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From It Happened One Night to The Grapes of Wrath to Easy Rider to Thelma and Louise, some of the most iconic films ever made celebrate the dynamics of memorable characters taking to the open road. On this edition of American Road Trip Talk, we visit with classic Hollywood expert Geoffrey Mark to get the inside story of movies that took audiences on a vicarious ride to destiny.

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Jamie Jensen, seasoned road trip warrior and author of Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures On America’s Two-Lane Highways, is our guest for an exploration of Highway US-2 in Washington state. Listen and learn more about 325 miles of some of the finest scenery the Pacific Northwest has to offer from someone who knows whereof he speaks.

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For our pre-Halloween episode, author and researcher Joey Madia joins us again; this time with a compilation of spectral thrills straight from the Mother Road! “Supernatural 66” is his term for a paranormal tradition that dots all eight states of Route 66 landscape. Haunted hotels, theatres and museums will be the focus of our interview. Joey is a raconteur so relax, listen and enjoy his recounting of the sites and frights found on the Main Street of America.

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The RMS Queen Mary turned 90 on September 26th, 2024 and she has never looked more resplendent. Located in Long Beach, California since its purchase by the city in 1967, the legendary vessel is permanently moored as a tourist attraction, hotel, museum and event facility. As our guest Nicole Strickland can attest, the Queen Mary over the decades also has accrued a reputation for being among the most haunted ships in the world. Listen as Nicole shares her on-board encounters with the spirits of passengers and crew in addition to revealing historical facts and figures that explain why this nautical marvel is celebrated to this day.

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Matt Shea opens the creaky gates of Halloween Road Thrills in the Pacific Northwest! Everything from scary to fun for both kids to adults, he won't trick you into anything so you can treat yourself to some spooky Halloween excitement. These are the places you want to hit the road to in your Boo-ick or whatever you are driving!

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Fall is among us, which means many of the green trees over the summer are now turning to their Autumn colors as Summer ends. New York Vinnie has been on more road trips across the country than he can count, and he shares his experiences on where and what makes the best road trip adventures during the Fall season in Washington State and other parts of the country. He also provides the information you need to gear up and plan properly, no matter where you may be in the United States.

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In this edition of American Road Trip Talk, we pay a visit to the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri before it closes its doors on September 30. Since its grand opening in 1933 and opening the current store in 1977 from what used to be a Shell gas station, the Totem Pole Trading Post stocks its shelves with handcrafted gifts and merchandise that represent the image of Route 66. The owner of the shop, Tim Jones, joins us to reminisce on the legacy of Totem Pole Trading Post as he heads into retirement.

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