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Welcome to Episode 145 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah are back in the studio with a packed flight plan full of listener feedback, inflight ethics, and some transatlantic podcaster camaraderie.

The guys open the show clearing a little room in the mailbag with feedback from Listener Mark Van Ramm. Mark gives Brian full permission to sign his copy of Brian Kelly’s How To Win At Travel before it gets given away to a new home. Even better, Mark earns major bonus points with Brian as a fellow native Californian who boldly stands against avocados and guacamole—a rare and courageous stance in the Golden State!

Next, Listener Lu joins the frequency with a serious question about an inflight medical emergency where a doctor onboard refused to render aid after indulging in a few adult beverages. Micah weighs in with an sharp breakdown of Good Samaritan laws, legal liability, and why stepping in while impaired could lead to a massive legal tailspin.

Transitioning into our main feature, Micah brings in an exclusive field recording from his recent outing in Portland, Maine. He broke out the recorder to sit down with AJ from The Airline Pilot Guy Show for a great chat on aviation, flying, and food.
Then, Brian shares his joint recording session with Grant McHerron from Plane Crazy Down Under. As it turns out, capturing the interview required two separate approaches. The first attempt was suddenly waved off by a phone call from Grant’s son—who happens to be a master craft brewer. Naturally, a few cold ones were sampled during the making of the episode, leading to plenty of laughs, great stories, and a few secondary takes before successfully touching down.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at ⁠www.thejourneyisthereward.org⁠.

Welcome to Episode 144 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian continues his Australian expedition with a trip up to Brisbane, complete with fighter jet flybys, native wildlife encounters, and some unexpected transit quirks.

Before taking off for Queensland, the guys clear the runway with a few key updates. Listener Jimmy B writes in claiming the Great Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham debate is officially settled, but Micah invokes a 100-year historical rule to ensure the New Jersey breakfast feud lives on. Brian and Micah then explore the fascinating history of "Blue Laws," followed by a progress report on Micah’s descent into point-stacking madness. The valuation on his new credit card is rolling in—welcome to Team Points, Micah! Finally, after a brief hiatus, Listener Lu is back on frequency with a burning question about a viral, duct-tape-assisted passenger restraint on American Airlines.

For today's main itinerary, Brian steps us through his journey north from Sydney to Brisbane. A DiDi ride to Sydney Airport gets Brian to the Virgin Australia Lounge, leading into a discussion on ground transport and domestic lounge perks. Brian treats himself to a stay at the InterContinental Brisbane in the CBD, where the staff provided top-tier service even as the property counts down the days until its upcoming $1.3 million refresh. Thanks to a local river taxi strike, ferry rides along the Brisbane River were completely free with plenty of scenic stops along the way. Even better, Grant flew up from Melbourne to join Brian for front-row seats to C-17 and F/A-18 practice runs ahead of Brisbane’s massive Riverfire event.

No trip Down Under is complete without meeting the local wildlife, so Brian made sure to spend some quality time with native koalas before heading home. Wrapping up the journey, Brian faced a rogue DiDi driver on the way to the airport, navigated a mess of local terminal construction, and learned a brutal lesson in long-haul catering on why you should never order a special Kosher meal departing Australia. Now safely back on home turf, Brian is staring down three full weeks of backlogged mail!

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 143 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian is jetting Down Under to cheer on his nephew in the Sydney Marathon, and enjoy a little well-deserved R&R.

Before boarding the long-haul flight, the guys clear up a few pending items in the cabin:

The Great Waffle Debate: Mapmaker Eric weighs in on chicken and waffles. Even though the bird doesn't fly, Eric is firmly on Team Brian, endorsing the total perfection of savory poultry paired with a sweet waffle.

Insurance Loophole Turmoil: Allianz reimbursed Brian a paltry $200 for a canceled flight due to a technicality in the policy fine print. Undeterred, Brian is filing a new claim with American Express to make sure he's made whole.

Paying It Forward: Listener Mark Van Ramm generously donated his contest winnings—a copy of Brian Kelly’s How To Win At Travel—back to the podcast. Micah’s already plotting a brand-new giveaway contest so another listener can win it!

Before embarking on the 14-hour transpacific trek to Sydney, Brian took a detour to check out another incredible ride: the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center. He was able to sit down with President and CEO Jeffrey Rudolph to discuss the magnificent new building built to display the shuttle in full launch position.

Then, it was strictly premium cabin luxury as Brian settled into United Polaris business class experience from LAX to Sydney. He breaks down the full flagship experience, highlighting the top-tier ground services and inflight amenities that make a 14-hour flight feel like a breeze.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 142 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian conclude his high-flying coverage from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh—successfully sticking the landing and preventing this from turning into a six-episode epic!

To accomplish this incredible feat of event logistics, today's episode is a packed, extended feature with zero pit stops. We are holding all general listener feedback and Listener Lu at the gate—she will be back on frequency next time, just in time for Brian’s upcoming trek back to Australia.

The Oshkosh field recordings continue with an outstanding lineup of aviation guests:

• Capt. Dan from the iconic Goodyear Blimp.
• Steve from the Seaplane Pilots Association.
• Mark from Samaritan Aviation.
• Plus, various dedicated podcast listeners dropping by for what Brian affectionately dubs "Drunkfest."

To wrap up his week on the airshow grounds, Brian plays a bittersweet farewell to his 27-foot trailer command center and his legendary campermates—Susan, Tim, and Eyal.

Finally, Micah puts Brian in the hot seat for one last cross-examination: what are his final debrief thoughts, and will he be returning to AirVenture next year? With a few expert tips and survival tricks thrown into the mix, we can safely assume the answer is a resounding yes.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 141 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian are bringing you on-the-ground, high-flying coverage straight from the flight line at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!

With a mountain of field recordings to get through—and the guys determined not to turn Oshkosh into another six-episode Singapore Airshow mega-series—Listener Lu’s question is held in a temporary holding pattern until next time. However, the guys make room on the runway to respond to listener feedback from Listener Jim and Chef Kathy.

Before rolling the tapes, Brian shares his first-hand observations from the grounds: Oshkosh is massive, the aviation crowd is exceptionally friendly, and—perhaps most importantly for event logistics—the port-a-potties are shockingly clean.

From there, Brian brings us right into the action with an impressive lineup of field interviews and recordings, featuring:

• Jack Pelton, President of the EAA.
• Lydon from eVTOL pioneer Joby Aviation.
• Mike from Factory Direct Models.
• Capt. Dan from the iconic Goodyear Blimp.
• Plus, an exclusive interview with the proud owner of a classic Cessna 195!

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 140 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian is finally touching down in Wisconsin for the greatest aviation celebration on Earth: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!

Before diving into the flight line coverage, the guys make a few important cabin announcements:

Micah officially admits he has a problem. Thanks to Brian’s constant temptation, Micah has gone all-in on opening new credit cards strictly for the lucrative Sign-Up Bonuses. The point balance is sky-high—now he just needs to book a few long-haul itineraries to actually spend them!

Brian steps up to correct the record on his itinerary from last episode. With so many layovers, connections, and multi-segment hops logged, he got his own flight plan slightly inverted. But fear not—he’s cleared for the correct approach now.

To ensure this year's Oshkosh coverage doesn't drag out into a multi-part saga like their epic Singapore Airshow recap, the guys are holding all Listener Lu questions on the ground until next episode.

Getting to Oshkosh is always an adventure, and Brian's journey kicked off with a bit of unexpected flight deck turbulence in San Diego. The delay turned out to have a silver lining, netting him a stack of unplanned Hilton Honors points for his troubles. Plus, he got to test out United's blazing-fast Starlink Wi-Fi inflight—reporting back on whether it actually delivers supersonic download speeds at 30,000 feet.

Once on the ground in Wisconsin, Brian links up with Eyal to inspect their mobile command center for the week: a glorious 27-foot travel trailer. To wrap things up, Brian shares an edited recording of the official opening address from Jack Pelton, President of the EAA, setting the stage for an incredible week of aviation history and community.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 139 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah welcome back Eric the Mapmaker to chart out his recent trek to Memphis and break down every single delicious stop on his culinary itinerary.

Before getting to the main course, the guys open up a packed mailbag:

The 3 Million Mile Question: Listener Melissa wants to know—now that the dust has settled—does Brian really feel that flying 300,000 miles a year was worth the massive effort to lock in Lifetime Premier 1K status with United?

Listener Lu Returns: Now that official pricing has landed, Listener Lu is back with a burning question: Would Micah or Brian actually drop $495 to buy into United's new "Relax Row" product?

Plus, the Great New Jersey Breakfast Debate reaches a legendary truce. Micah highlights a listener’s proposal for the ultimate hybrid sandwich tailored specifically for Brian and Micah: half Taylor Ham, and the other (clearly superior) RIGHT half made with classic Pork Roll.

Then, Eric the Mapmaker steps up to the mic to give us the full trip report on his expedition to Memphis. From navigating local neighborhoods to executing a high-precision tour of iconic Southern food spots, Eric breaks down what to eat, where to go, and how to survive a high-calorie visit down South.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 138 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah are crossing the Atlantic to talk with the one and only Terrific Tanya about her recent UK adventures.

Before bringing our guest into the studio, Micah and Brian check the mailbag for any last-minute updates. But wait… there are absolutely zero ground delays today! With no general listener feedback and a rare episode off from Listener Lu, the guys take advantage of the completely clear skies and cruise straight into the main conversation.

Tanya recently jetted over to England to meet up with the chaps from Plane Talking UK to help them celebrate and record their monumental 600th episode of PTUK.

Tanya gives us the full, unfiltered trip report on her journey to the UK and the incredible festivities held at the historic Imperial War Museum Duxford. It’s an amazing story of aviation history, great community, and transatlantic travel—though her recap does leave Brian feeling just a little bit guilty for holding Micah back from joining in on the live adventure.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to Episode 137 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah are back in the studio and catching up with everyone's favorite culinary traveler, Chef Kathy.

Before bringing the Chef into the cabin, Micah gives us an honest status update on his Chase Sapphire Reserve card now that he’s hit the six-month mark. With the premium card market getting more expensive by the day, Micah breaks down exactly which features, lounge perks, and travel credits he’s used to justify that hefty annual fee.

With zero ground delays on the schedule, no listener mail, and a rare night off from Listener Lu, the guys take advantage of the completely clear skies and head straight into the main itinerary.

Chef Kathy recently joined Momma Coleman and Brian’s brother Shawn on the adventure of a lifetime to Ireland. Because you absolutely cannot have Momma Coleman flying in the back of the bus, Brian worked his frequent flyer magic to upgrade the family into United Polaris business class.

While exploring the spectacular Irish countryside, Chef Kathy didn't just sightsee—she also embedded herself in a local culinary school to sharpen her professional skills. And despite some chaotic driving logistics on the local roads, the crew made it back to Dublin in time to clear US Preclearance and immigration without a hitch.

The adventure didn't stop across the pond. Upon returning to the US, the Chef met right back up with the family to celebrate Momma Coleman’s legendary 91st birthday bash in Toms River, New Jersey. From there, she jetted out to Los Angeles to link up with Brian for an immediate road trip out to Las Vegas.

In the City of Blinding Lights, Brian and Chef Kathy took over The Sphere, catching the mind-bending production of The Wizard of Oz before returning to the venue for a high-energy No Doubt concert. Kathy breaks down the incredible visuals of the venue and contrasts the show with the venue's original residents, U2, for two completely different premium entertainment experiences.

Up next for the Chef? A solo expedition to Iceland—this time, safely out of range of the Coleman clan!

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.

Welcome to episode 136 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian are catching up with Julian Kheel from Points Path—one of their absolute favorite browser extensions (even if Brian still wants to call it an "application").

Before the deep dive into point values, Brian is checking his gear for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!  If you're heading to the show this summer, let Brian know so you can connect in person.

And because it wouldn’t be an complete episode without her, we dive back into the mailbag to answer yet another question from our most frequent of flyers, Listener Lu.

The guys wanted to have Julian back on the show because Points Path has been busy adding some serious "thrust" to its feature set. If you’re tired of guessing if you're getting a good deal, you’ll want to hear about:

• Hotel Point Values: You can now see the real-world value of your points on hotel stays right in your browser.
• Smart Alerts: Points Path is now acting like your personal air traffic controller, monitoring price drops on flights you’ve booked—or are even just considering—so you can rebook and save without the manual labor.

To wrap things up, the guys put Julian in the hot seat. They ask what he would do with a 100,000-point windfall, and his strategy might just surprise you. Plus, Julian gets honest about his own biggest "points turbulence"—the mistakes and regrets he's had while navigating the world of miles.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, the journey is the reward.

As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the Madalitso Youth Choir! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.

You can always find the audio recording at www.thejourneyisthereward.org.