This week, The Boys unwrap their favorite book picks for the holiday season — from globe-trotting history to wild presidential tales to the secret life of gas stations in the American South. They also dig into new national park surcharges for foreign visitors.

The Books:

"Lafayette in the Somewhat United States" by Sarah Vowell — https://www.amazon.com/Lafayette-Somewhat-United-States-Vowell/dp/0399573100 Amazon+1

"Bolívar: American Liberator" by Marie Arana — https://www.amazon.com/Bol%C3%ADvar-American-Liberator-Marie-Arana/dp/006073509X

"The Magician" by Colm Tóibín — https://www.amazon.com/Magician-Novel-Colm-T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/dp/0307952879

"Wilderness Warrior: TR and the Crusade for America" by Douglas Brinkley — https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Warrior-Crusade-American-Brinkley/dp/0066210372

"Rightful Heritage: FDR and the Land for America" by Douglas Brinkley — https://www.amazon.com/Rightful-Heritage-America-Douglas-Brinkley/dp/0812980040

"Dead Presidents: An American Adventure into the Strange Deaths and Surprising Afterlives of Our Nation's Leaders" by Brady Carlson — https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Presidents-American-Surprising-Leaders/dp/1631493952

On this episode of "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan talks to Richard Stone, author of "Project Mayflower."

Things we discussed on today's episode:

"Project Mayflower" book

https://bookshop.org/p/books/project-mayflower-building-and-sailing-a-seventeenth-century-replica-richard-a-stone/a3f94ee44f9babb4?ean=9781493084364&next=t&next=t&affiliate=books

Plimoth Patuxet Museums

https://plimoth.org/

Plymouth Rock

https://seeplymouth.com/listing/plymouth-rock/

Pilgrim Hall Museum

https://www.pilgrimhall.org/

Sail250

https://www.sailboston.com/sail250/

Green-Wood Cemetery New Yorker article

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/06/09/green-wood-cemeterys-living-dead

This week on the pod, the boys dive into their favorite museum heists, from Boston to Bogotá.

On this week's episode of "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast." Kiernan talks to Richard Fain who served as CEO of Royal Caribbean for 33 years. Richard and his team oversaw—and essentially invented—the evolution of the cruise ship industry from a niche business to a global behemoth. His new book "Delivering the WOW" gives the behind the scenes story, with tons of great tidbits (how do you build an ice rink on a ship?) and business advice.

Things We Talk About on Today's Episode

"Delivering the WOW"
https://www.deliveringthewow.com/

Richard Fain
https://www.deliveringthewow.com/about-richard

Adrian McKinty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_McKinty

Black Rabbit
https://www.netflix.com/title/81630027

Crazy Horse Memorial
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/style/a-hike-to-crazy-horse-stirs-patriotism-and-doubt.html

On this episode of "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," the boys discuss historic homes and parks related to Kiernan's favorite President, Theodore Roosevelt. Brace yourselves for high adventure—assassins, deadly predators, and poor eyesight.

Things we discussed on today's episode:

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace

https://www.nps.gov/thrb/index.htm

American Museum of Natural History

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/theodore-roosevelt-memorial/roosevelt-rotunda

Sagamore Hill

https://www.nps.gov/sahi/index.htm

TR Gravesite

https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visit-the-roosevelt-gravesite-at-young-s-cemetery.htm

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm

Upcoming Presidential Library

https://www.trlibrary.com

Theodore Roosevelt Island

https://www.nps.gov/this/index.htm

Architectural Digest Detroit

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/detroit-is-booming-and-its-a-must-visit-for-design-lovers

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan and Ryan travel the world over to share our favorite obscure museums. From Kuala Lumpur to Hartford, CT, we've got some surprises on this one.

Things we talk about on this week's episode:

Wadsworth Athenaeum

https://www.thewadsworth.org/

Button Museum

https://buttonmuseum.org/

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Bogotá (MAC)

https://museu.ms/museum/details/17154/museo-de-arte-contemporaneo-de-bogota

Islamic Arts Museum

https://iamm.org.my/

Museum of Socialist Art

https://www.artandobject.com/articles/museum-socialist-art-bulgarias-de-facto-museum-communist-history

Museum of Apiculture

https://mro.si/en/musem-of-apiculture

NYC School Architecture

https://www.untappedcities.com/cbj-snyder-shools/?ref=daily-newsletter

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan loads up the family and heads to sunny Detroit. On our previous Detroit episode (Epi 153), we focused on the art and major tourist attractions, and this time around we hit up Detroit's surprisingly lovely nature (read: Belle Isle) and amazing local eats (read: Dearborn, MI.)

Things we talk about on this week's episode:

Saint Sebastian is a gay icon

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/lgbt-artwork-marks-saint-sebastian-feast-day

Basilica of Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls

https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/basilica-san-sebastiano-outside-walls

Detroit 101

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/detroit-101/id1438098925?i=1000617683551

Detroit Riverfront

https://www.detroitriverfront.org/

Cullen Family Carousel

https://www.detroitriverfront.org/plan-your-visit/things-to-do/cullen-family-carousel-seasonal

Belle Isle

https://www.belleisleconservancy.org/

Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse

http://detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/livingstone-memorial-lighthouse

The Gothic Room

https://www.detroithistorical.org/exhibitions/gothic-room

James Scott Memorial Fountain

https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/james-scott-memorial-fountain

Halal Food Guru

https://www.tiktok.com/@halalfoodguru

Altayeb

https://www.yelp.com/biz/altayeb-of-dearborn-dearborn

Pupuseria

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Salvadoran&find_loc=Detroit%2C+MI

Leila

https://www.leiladetroit.com/

Detroit style pizza

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-pizza-restaurants-detroit?srsltid=AfmBOooztxdpsnekr53gxRIgkbl654hgGtOqjTYgjNCaX1QnyzGizSbO

Boston's Detroit Pizza Co

https://www.dpcboston.com/s/order#most-popular

Pie Sci

https://piescipizza.com/

Ryan can't go to Singapore

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz60z98nzx7o

On this episode of Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan takes us to Guatapé, Colombia, land of big rocks and little zócalos, with an interview with tour guide Oscar Lujan. Plus, Kiernan takes us back to London for a preview of The Darkest Hour: The Musical.

Things we talk about on this week's episode:

Oscar:
https://www.instagram.com/medellinpeaks/

Ryan:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNbi4w4pQzI/?igsh=MWR0ZnczM2doczBxeg%3D%3D

Kiernan:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/british-history-royals-rebels-and-romantics/id1516524780