This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan chats with one of our all-time favorite guests—food writer and researcher Anissa Helou. She's just published "Lebanon: Cooking the Foods of My Homeland" and spills the secrets of tabbouleh, falafel, skewered meat, hummus, labneh, and many other Lebanese specialities.

Things We Talk About in This Episode:

Anissa's last interview with us

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/out-of-office-a-travel-podcast/id1438098925

"Lebanon: Cooking the Foods of My Homeland"

https://bookshop.org/p/books/lebanon-cooking-the-foods-of-my-homeland-anissa-helou/77fff24da4bf58f4?ean=9780063334922&next=t

Pope Leo at the Sagrada Familia

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/world/europe/pope-leo-sagrada-familia-barcelona-visit.html

This week we take a return trip to episode 122 of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast.

Kiernan talks about Rocky Mountain National Park ahead of the busy summer season. From majestic peaks to glassy lakes, RMNP is one of America's premiere parks with hikes and sights accessible to all age ranges and abilities. Plus, Ryan talks about Peru prep.

Rocky Mountain National Park

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

The Stanley Hotel

https://www.stanleyhotel.com/

Grand Lake Lodge

https://www.grandlakelodge.com/

Allenpark Lodge

https://allensparklodgebnb.com/

Smokin' Dave's BBQ

https://smokindavesbbq.com/

The Donut Haus

http://www.donuthaus-estespark.com/

Falcon Guide

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Hikes-Rocky-Mountain-National/dp/1493046780/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LNBPCIWSMUAE&keywords=rocky+mountain+easy+day+hike&qid=1654717385&s=books&sprefix=rocky+mountain+easy+day+hi%2Cstripbooks%2C74&sr=1-1

"The Motorcycle Diaries"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Motorcycle_Diaries_(film)

The New Yorker's "Flight Attendants Fight Back"

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/05/30/flight-attendants-fighting-back

This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," 2 of the palest podcast hosts in the business spotlight 6 amazing beaches across the US, Mexico, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Things We Talk About on Today's Episode:

Ocean City, Maryland https://www.ococean.com/

Northern Shore MA Beaches – Crane Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, Plum Island, Coffins Beach https://www.visit-massachusetts.com/northofbostoncapeann/beaches/

Barú, Colombia https://colombia.travel/en/cartagena-de-indias/visit-beach-baru

An Bang Beach, Vietnam https://www.vietnamairlines.com/us/en/plan-book/travel/travel-guide/an-bang-beach-hoi-an

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico https://visitpuertovallarta.com/things-to-do/beaches

Brighton, England https://www.visitbrighton.com/things-to-do/attractions/beachfront

Pope Leo's Peru https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziN1QrXh5vs

Harvard's ties to slavery https://www.harvardmagazine.com/university-news/harvard-enslaved-people-database-descendants

This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan covers the history and highlights of the Bronx Zoo. We also touch on Scientology, Mitt Romney, callings to the priesthood, and Colombia's biodiversity.

Things We Talk About on Today's Episode:

Little Red Lighthouse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Red_Lighthouse

Bronx Zoo

https://bronxzoo.com/

William Temple Hornaday and the Bison

https://siarchives.si.edu/history/featured-topics/stories/william-temple-hornaday-saving-american-bison

The Atlantic's "Best Free Restaurant Bread in America" by Caity Weaver

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/best-free-restaurant-bread-america/686582/

Trump's photo added to US passports

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-state-department-introduces-new-us-passports-celebrating-america250

This week on Out Of Office, Ryan and Kiernan explore Spain's Costa del Sol, from Málaga's layered history of Roman and Moorish influence to Marbella's relaxed, sun-soaked Old Town. It's a quick dive into how this region became a global tourism hotspot, blending culture, beaches, and just the right amount of indulgence.

This week on "Out of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan takes us to one of Europe's greatest natural treasures: Plitvice Lake National Park in Croatia. Beautiful ice-blue lakes and gorgeous waterfalls are lined with easy-to-navigate boardwalks, and hiking trails traverse the whole park. Plus, Ryan isn't moving to Austria as early as we thought!

Things We Talked About in Today's Episode:

Rick Steves is on tour!

https://www.ricksteves.com/about-rick/wheres-rick

Rick Steves interview

https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/rick-steves-is-back-for-episode-200/id1438098925?i=1000704427247

Plitvice Lakes National Park

https://np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/

Plitvice Hikes

https://www.afar.com/magazine/visiting-plitvice-lakes-national-park-in-croatia

Titanic drone show

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/tv/video-3629983/Video-Drone-recreates-Titanics-historic-Belfast-departure.html

Map of art and cultural destruction in Iran

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/25/we-are-trying-to-preserve-the-memory-of-our-people-archaeologists-create-map-tracking-damage-to-iran-heritage-sites

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan recommends national parks for you to visit this summer, based on your preferences. Looking for zero crowds? Yearning for high-adrenaline action? Searching for variety? KPS unleashes his NPS knowledge.

Things we talked about in today's podcast:

Kiernan on NPR

https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-culture-show/march-10-2026-shaina-taub-on-suffs-a-secret-boston-st-patricks-day-and-fabiola-mendez

National Parks of the Pacific Northwest

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/national-parks-of-the-pacific-northwest/id1438098925?i=1000442664674

State Parks with Peter Kujawinski

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-parks-with-peter-kujawinski/id1438098925?i=1000445675724

Things from up children's noses

https://apps.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/opinion/ideas/graphics/lost-found/

Burning PA Town

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/centralia-pennsylvania-rebirth

On this episode of Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Ryan talks about sheltering in place in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico during the 2026 Jalisco Operation.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-3608909/Tourist-stranded-Mexico-El-Mencho-operation.html

This week, as Kiernan is skiing in real life and Ryan is freshly back from Puerto Vallarta, Out of Office: A Travel Podcast takes a return trip. The boys talk about their holiday breaks and discuss why ski trips are well worth the expense and the steep learning curve. Plus, Ryan has a onesie.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

NYT on European Skiing https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/travel/europe-skiing-budget.html

Beaver Creek https://www.beavercreek.com/

Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire https://www.cannonmt.com/tickets

This week on the pod, the boys talk about their favorite food experiences, from Peru to Dubai, with a little Eastern Shore of Maryland thrown in. Plus, learn which European cities are the most densely packed and perfect for traveling on foot.

LAST STOP:

Ryan: https://www.travelawaits.com/3021526/most-walkable-cities-in-europe-from-new-study/

Kiernan: https://www.datarescueproject.org/save-our-signs-the-peoples-archive/

This week on Out of Office: A Travel Podcast, Kiernan chats with Stephen Hiltner, the New York Times editor in charge of this year's "52 Places to Go in 2026." Stephen walks us through this year's top picks and themes.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

"52 Places to Go in 2026" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2026.html

"Top 10 Reader Favorites from our '52 Places to Go' List" https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/travel/places-to-go-readers-picks.html