Travel Tales from the #nerdbirds
By #nerdbirds
Travel Tales from the #nerdbirdsFeb 25, 2024
Live on a Plane, Canada Edition: Porter Airlines Inaugural to Toronto (#176)
Since Brendan and Sebastian had never been on an inaugural flight, it was time to go on one (eh?) and go on one they did: Porter Airlines from San Francisco to Toronto. Listen in as Rachel attempts to stay sane with the two most animated #nerdbirds (on a small plane) (for five hours) while reviewing the airline and learning a few insider tips from the Canadian crew. A fellow traveler joined as an impromptu guest at the end, with stories of working at an airport.
The Best and Worst Travel Moments of 2023 (#175)
What do the Newark, New York JFK, and Seattle airports have in common? Could burnt avocado toast in Chile compete with a Times Square Applebees for the worst food on the ground? #nerdbirds Brendan, Charlie, Rachel, and Sebastian share their answers to the best and worst flights, airports, hotels, food, and experiences of 2023.
Brakes on a Plane & Future Travel Experience Expo Recap (#174)
Still more September travel stories await, with Rachel recapping her afternoon at the "CES of Aviation" and a more-recent thwarted attempt at a millionth mile flight. The two events had more in common than she realized, and she and fellow #nerdbird Sebastian ponder how much technology can help during a flight disruption.
Virgin Voyages Cruising & Cereal Vending Machines (#173)
More stories from late summer travels await, with #nerdbird Sebastian sharing his Rockstar experience on Virgin Voyages. Rachel's only contribution is explaining why she no longer travels during the summer, despite stumbling upon a cereal vending machine, finding a rat in the Detroit airport, and observing fireworks from high above in Utah.
Blimp Rides, Alaska Airbus Farewell, Million Mile Flight Quest: September Travel Tales (#172)
Travel Tales return with a focus on late summer/September experiences: Eric talks about his spontaneous ride on a blimp, Charlie recaps a record number of canceled flights, and Rachel starts to ponder where to take a millionth mile flight.
Lightning Round: Passport Edition, Part 2 (#171)
When Lightning Round episodes were the rage in 2020, some of the #nerdbirds answered questions about all things passports. For 2023, a few more (Brendan, David, Pilot Sarah, Sebastian) appear and share thoughts on passport design from esoteric countries (and a micronation), what happens when one loses all forms of ID when traveling, and the end of passport stamps with the move toward biometric IDs.
Pilot Sarah's Retirement Flight: From Paper Airplanes to Water Cannons (#170)
Pilot Sarah retired as a commercial airline pilot in January and reflects on her final flight -- "a wedding and a funeral on the same day" -- complete with rolling delays, paper airplanes, water cannons, and heartfelt tributes. She and co-host Rachel also chat about what happens during retirement flights, and changes in an industry with a pilot shortage.
Cheeky Air India Design & Airport Art Musings (#169)
As a nod to our (not-so-former?) Design Series episodes, #nerdbirds Brendan and Rachel discuss an exhibit of Air India's award-winning vintage Maharaja posters at Poster House in NYC, and share interesting art finds during a recent San Francisco airport field trip.
Spontaneous Antarctica & Expert Cruise Advice (#168)
What happens when 27-time Disney Cruiser Sebastian and first-time "it's-not-a-cruise-it's-an-expedition-ship" Rachel record an episode? Typical #nerdbird banter ensues, from (lack of) Internet connectivity and handling seasickness to ship (and flight) upgrades. Learn from all of Rachel's mistakes when she spontaneously went to Antarctica as Sebastian summarizes advice for planning a smooth(er) journey.
Anniversary Musings & Pilot Sarah's Post-Retirement Life (#167)
It's anniversary month: Five years since the Virgin America final flight where the #nerdbirds met, and three years of this podcast! Co-host Rachel chats with Sebastian, Pilot Sarah, and Brendan about how travel has changed and what their magic wish would be to transform anything in aviation. Listen in as they reminisce from parody airline websites to going thru security pre-9/11, and get a sneak peek at Pilot Sarah's new career.
Pilot Sarah's Retirement Flight: Tales from Family Members (#166)
While honorary #nerdbird Pilot Sarah was flying her final flight with a commercial airline, friends and family were having a good time sharing stories of her love of aviation. Listen in as #nerdbird David learns about life with a pilot in the family from Sarah's spouse, brother-in-law, and son -- live on the flight.
Inaugural 2022 Recap: ZipAir Tokyo, JetBlue to Kansas City, Delta's A321neo (#165)
Uncomfortable Travel Questions, Live on a Plane: The Parent Edition (#164)
More Uncomfortable Questions: Laundromat Woes in Japan & Culture Comparisons (#163)
A Travel Newcomer Answers the Uncomfortable Questions (#162)
Flex Your Travel Ninja Muscle, Level 2: Back to the Gym (#161)
Scent Tales From the #nerdbirds (#160)
Goats & Bloat: Revenge Travel Tales From Switzerland, Milan, & Lake Tahoe (#159)
Heat, Smog, Tsunamis: Planning & Surviving Weather-Related Travel (#158)
Is it Worth Reading When You Travel? (#157)
Show notes and resources can be found at nerdbirds.co/episode157/
Summer Tales: Authentic Maui, Biased Facial Recognition, Prison-Themed Hotel (#156)
Meet Flight Attendant Joey: It's (Also) All About the Food (#155)
This is the last episode for Season 8, and co-hosts Kai and Rachel decided that if most Europeans get weeks of summer off, they can too! We'll return in August.