Best Rick Wenger Podcasts (2024)

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S3, Ep. 12: Walrus Syndrome: The Psychology of Travel 44:33

12M ago44:33

44:33

If you’re like us, you spend a lot of time wondering what's going through people’s minds when they’re at the airport. Why do they crowd around the gate before boarding when their group won’t be called for another 20 minutes? Why do those same people stand up the second the flight pulls into the gate, even when they’re seated in row 57? Michael Brei…

1
Stories From The Road: 30 Years After The Revolution, Romania Is Still Rebuilding 12:22

12M ago12:22

12:22

In this week's Stories From The Road, Tim reads one of the most impactful pieces he's ever worked on as an editor. Writer Iuliana Marchian, a native Romanian, wrote a piece about the impact of the 1989 revolution against Communist rule in Romania. The piece covers the development of personal freedoms and how they've impacted trust in government, as…

1
S3, Ep. 11: Facing Fear and Sailing Antarctica with Lisa Blair 40:43

1y ago40:43

40:43

Sailing all the way around Antarctica is no easy task. Just ask today’s guest, “extreme sailor” Lisa Blair. She holds the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the continent, a title she almost perished in order to gain. Lisa joins the show to discuss her dangerous adventures in the Southern Ocean , her new book, “Facing Fear: The First Woman …

1
Stories From The Road: What It’s Like To Sail To Antarctica on a Cruise Ship’s Maiden Voyage 12:22

1y ago12:22

12:22

It's called Drake's Right of Passage for a reason. Eben learned this the hard way back in December, when he embarked on the maiden voyage of the Sylvia Earle, a new ship from Australian cruise line Aurora Expeditions. En route he battled 20-foot waves, rowdy passengers, and the seclusion that only accompanies being stuck on a boat at the bottom of …

1
S3, Ep. 10: A Mad Search for Crappie On Mississippi's Lake Washington 26:50

1y ago26:50

26:50

Brad Chappell has spent a day or two on the water. As a professional fishing guide, it’s his job to take traveling fishermen out in search of Crappie, a freshwater game fish that’s part of the Sunfish family. It’s also his job to take newbies like Tim and Eben out, if they were to visit Lake Washington in Greenville, Mississippi. This week, Brad jo…

1
Stories From The Road: Powder Lines + Cultural Clarity in Kyrgyzstan 12:27

1y ago12:27

12:27

In February, Tim embarked on a backcountry ski expedition into the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Along with a crew of five other skiers and snowboarders, he spent a week in a high-altitude yurt camp, ascending and descending 12,000-foot peaks and learning about Kyrgyz culture. When three Russian draft dodgers skied into camp one afternoon, the…

1
S3, Ep.9: Jasper the Friendly Ghost Writer: Interview with an AI Chatbot 29:28

1y ago29:28

29:28

This week, we're exploring the true power of artificial intelligence by interviewing Jasper, an AI chatbot. Jasper's massive computer brain knows a lot more than you'd think, and it's equal parts impressive and frightening. We'll test Jasper's travel chops, get some useful recommendations, hear about its love life, and learn whether or not it's com…

1
Stories From The Road: To Check A Bag Or Not To Check A Bag, That Is The Question 9:21

1y ago9:21

9:21

Today on Stories from the Road, Eben and Tim debate one of air travel's most divisive topics: whether or not to check a bag, when you don't necessarily need to. Eben is a firm non-bag-checker, and for his part, he reads his report on why you'll never catch him hanging 'round the baggage carousel. Tim isn't necessarily anti. He often checks his snow…

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S3, Ep. 8: How Artificial Intelligence Will Shape The Travel Industry's Future 45:49

1y ago45:49

45:49

Artificial intelligence is a controversial yet fascinating topic, particularly since the release of Chat GPT in November 2022. Matador Network founder and CEO Ross Borden joins No Blackout Dates to discuss how AI will shape the future of travel – from the way we research and plan trips to how we actually book and pay for them. The timing of today’s…

1
Stories From The Road: For The Truly Dedicated, Northern BC Is The Best Place To Heli-Ski 10:58

1y ago10:58

10:58

This week on Stories From The Road, Tim reads the report of his heli-skiing adventure in northern British Columbia. As a dedicated snowboarder, embarking on a journey like this had long been a dream of his -- and last March, he had the opportunity to make it happen. He recounts the emotion that overtook him at times throughout the four-day expediti…

1
S3, Ep. 7: What It's Like To Be a Foreign Correspondent 34:49

1y ago34:49

34:49

Foreign correspondents have a unique role to fill – reporting on situations happening across the world, for an audience back home. Tommy Walker has spent over a decade overseas, covering everything from current events to travel lifestyle. Tommy joins No Blackout Dates to share the inside scoop on what’s it like to be on the ground covering breaking…

1
Stories From The Road: Sometimes a Dream Trip is One You've Already Taken 7:33

1y ago7:33

7:33

On this week's Stories from the Road, Tim reads a story by Matador's Alex Bresler, in which she argues in favor of revisiting countries rather than always visiting new places. The piece questions our need to constantly be adding new countries to our "travel list," and explores the benefits of returning to an old favorite. One of these benefits? Rea…

1
S3, Ep. 6: Inside The Life Of A Traveling Exotic Dancer 42:41

1y ago42:41

42:41

These days, more and more jobs can be done while traveling. That includes stripping – and today, Stella is here to talk about what it’s like to travel to different strip clubs around the country as a professional dancer. She’s worked at clubs from Florida to Chicago to the northeast, and she breaks down the differences in the job based on location,…

1
Stories From The Road: Visiting a Concentration Camp Is Not Just an Excursion. It’s a Lesson in Humanity. 10:55

1+ y ago10:55

10:55

In this week's Stories From The Road, Eben reads aloud his narrative of visiting the remains of the Treblinka concentration camp in Poland. As someone with ethnic ties to the Holocaust, the experience painted a vivid picture of one of humanity's biggest atrocities. For Eben's travel companion, visiting Treblinka proved equally jarring. Relevant lin…

1
S3, Ep. 5: How to travel to the world’s most (allegedly) dangerous places 41:22

1+ y ago41:22

41:22

Travel to places far off the typical tourist track – think Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia – is an increasingly common theme here on No Blackout Dates. As the founder of Untamed Borders, a tour operator that hosts guided trips to places like Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Yemen, and elsewhere, James Wilcox knows more about the logistics of visiting often misunder…

1
Stories From The Road: Are Coworking Spaces Worth It Or A Waste Of Money? 13:31

1+ y ago13:31

13:31

The second installment of Stories From The Road pits Tim and Eben against each other in one of their most classic debates: whether or not coworking spaces are worth the money. Tim is famously pro-coworking, having held memberships at spaces across the world from Bali to Oaxaca to Colorado. He credits coworking for helping him find friends, clients,…

1
S3, Ep. 4: New Year, Same Pod, Fresh 2023 Travel Takes 35:08

1+ y ago35:08

35:08

To kick off 2023, Tim and Eben plunge into the depths of the travel industry – uncovering the trends they expect to see this year, along with their best travel stories from 2022. The hosts also break down the destinations doing things the right way – whether that be reframing an outdated image, innovating new ways to experience the destination, or …

1
S3, Ep. 3: On the Pacific Crest Trail, Kids Included 39:29

1+ y ago39:29

39:29

Marketa and David Daley hiked 1,300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail -- an impressive feat far greater than most will ever accomplish in the wild. But the Daley's did it with their three young children, a monumental undertaking that required guts, parental instinct, and a lot of pep talking. Marketa joins No Blackout Dates to discuss the expedition…

1
Stories From The Road: My Car Broke Down in the Sahara, and It Taught Me About Trust 7:38

1+ y ago7:38

7:38

We're trying something new this week on No Blackout Dates. To complement our interview episodes, every other week we will feature a read-aloud of a crazy travel story from Matador Network. This week's adventure is from writer Nicholas Mancall-Bitel, entitled "My Car Broke Down in the Sahara, and It Taught Me About Trust." The story is read aloud by…

1
S3, Ep. 2: In Search of the Loch Ness Monster 41:43

1+ y ago41:43

41:43

Few myths are as world-renowned as the Loch Ness Monster. Willie Cameron is Nessie’s biggest advocate, a lifelong resident of the region surrounding Scotland’s most famous lake, and a pioneer of Loch Ness tourism. He joins the show to educate the curious and dispel any naysayers, shedding light on the legend of Nessie and why so many believe that s…

1
S3, Ep. 1: Exploring Asia’s Vanishing Cultures with Kevin Kelly 44:47

1+ y ago44:47

44:47

To kick off Season 3 of No Blackout Dates, Tim and Eben welcome Wired magazine co-founder Kevin Kelly . In addition to creating one of the most influential magazines in the tech space, Kevin has spent much of his life traversing Asia, documenting the vanishing cultures of the world’s largest continent. He discusses this project, known as Vanishing …

1
Welcome to Season 3 of No Blackout Dates 3:12

1+ y ago3:12

3:12

No Blackout Dates is back -- bigger and better than ever -- for Season 3. Matador Network's official podcast takes an unfiltered dive into the world of travel, as told through the stories of guests who lead extraordinarily unfiltered lives. Adventures on tap this season include Wired magazine co-founder Kevin Kelly on his new project documenting th…

1
S2, Ep. 42: The Free World Against Tyranny: The Fundraising War in Ukraine 36:50

1+ y ago36:50

36:50

Vladyslav Stadnyk has been raising funds to equip Ukraine’s military for over eight years. He joins the show this week to provide an inside perspective on what it’s really like in Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia in February. Based in Kyiv, Vlad strikes a defiant and positive tone that captures the determination of Ukrainians to defe…

1
S2, Ep. 41: Searching For Incan Gold on Peru's Colca River 48:27

2y ago48:27

48:27

Eugene Buchanan has done everything that you’d like to say you’ve done. He’s searched for Incan treasure in an uncharted South American Canyon. He’s paddled Russia’s Bashkaus River with a ragtag crew of adventurers speaking multiple languages. And he’s raised a family in the always dangerous environs of a Colorado mountain town. He’s also written b…

1
S2, Ep.40: Living The TEFL Dream In Japan 42:46

2y ago42:46

42:46

Zach Rosenbloom lived the TEFL dream and taught English in Japan for two years. Zach joins the show today to talk about one of the easiest ways to move abroad and have a job when you get there – teaching English to students in a foreign country. He discusses what it’s like to move somewhere and adapt to the place culturally, and what it’s like spea…

1
S2, Ep. 39: What It's ACTUALLY Like To Be On A Cooking Show 45:37

2y ago45:37

45:37

Autumn Moretti was a MasterChef Season 11 runner-up. That means that she not only crushes it in the kitchen, but she’s dealt with Gordon Ramsay and other tough talkers face to face – and lived to tell the story. In today’s ep, Autumn spills the beans on what life is actually like on the inside of those well-trimmed cooking shows we all love to watc…

1
S2, Ep. 38: Bringing Pride To The National Parks 46:00

2y ago46:00

46:00

Mikah Meyer is the gay Bear Grylls that America’s national parks fans have always needed. As the first person to visit all 419 US National Parks Service sites, Mikah has established himself as a leader in bringing LGBTQ+ rights to the forefront of the American outdoors. He speaks at events and churches around the country about his quest to promote …

1
S2, Ep. 37: From the Peace Corps To The Life Corps 53:47

2y ago53:47

53:47

If you’re both American and an avid traveler, you’ve likely considered joining the Peace Corps. Today, Tim and Eben speak with someone who did it – Ingrid Olson, an RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) who served in Senegal from 2015 until 2017. During her time in Africa, Ingrid worked primarily in women’s health, but had a hand in a number of oth…

1
S2, Ep. 36: From Mexico to Saudi Arabia: A Mid-Year Recap 33:54

2y ago33:54

33:54

A lot has happened for Tim and Eben in recent weeks. Most notably, Tim got Covid – finally. Beyond that, though, the pair have embarked on international travels that have offered fresh perspectives on global gallivants. This week, instead of probing the experiences of someone else, we look inward for a mid-year recap. Tim discusses what it was like…

1
S2, Ep. 35: How To Party At The Edge Of The World 51:10

2y ago51:10

51:10

A stunning backdrop makes every party better. No backdrop better proves this than Iceland’s Westfjords, which served as the setting for the first-ever Detour Discotheque earlier this year. Jonny Ensall, Ink’s Global Editor in Chief and the mastermind behind the shindig, joins No Blackout Dates this week to talk about how he wrangled a crew of top-n…

1
S2, Ep. 34: Surprise Travel Is The Trip You Never Knew You Needed 39:46

2y ago39:46

39:46

You’ve heard of solo travel, adventure travel, and even revenge travel. But what about surprise travel? This week’s guest Lillian Rafton is here to enlighten us all on the new trend in travel – traveling to a mystery destination, potentially even somewhere you’ve never heard of. Lillian’s business Pack Up and Go sets up travelers – from solo to lar…

1
S2, Ep. 33: What Airbnb's Biggest Update In A Decade Means For You 38:03

2y ago38:03

38:03

To say that Airbnb has revolutionized the process of booking – and enjoying – travel accommodations would be an understatement. Where else can you book a forest treehouse, a high-rise apartment with a rooftop pool, and a houseboat on the ocean, all in the same place? Airbnb just launched the biggest updates to its platform in a decade, and Catherin…

1
S2, Ep. 32: The Guts and Glory of Touring The World in a Rock Band 43:35

2y ago43:35

43:35

Touring in a rock band is one of the most fantasized about – and widely misunderstood – lifestyles in the modern world. While everyone thinks it's all backstage parties and endless excess, the reality is far more down to Earth, though no less interesting. Dan Aid is here to set the record straight on tour life, having been around the globe with the…

1
S2, Ep. 31: The Joys and Pains of Travel With Kids 39:32

2y ago39:32

39:32

Mother’s Day is coming up. For the No Blackout Dates crew, this is a holiday where we celebrate the brave and courageous mothers in our lives. The day is more personal for Monet Hambrick, however – a traveling mother of two who has spent the bulk of the past decade gallivanting across the globe with her family in tow. She’s written a children’s boo…

1
S2, Ep. 30: Photographer Chris Burkard on Risking It All For The Perfect Shot 51:01

2y ago51:01

51:01

To make a living traveling the world, you have to get down to the essentials. Photographer and global explorer Chris Burkard joins No Blackout Dates to discuss how, exactly, he manages to do that. Chris shares insight on everything from what makes a good story to how he packs for expeditions. One constant theme through all of this? Risk management.…

1
S2, Ep. 29: The Untold Truths of Travel Nursing 47:48

2y ago47:48

47:48

Molly Duane has one of the most important jobs in two industries – she’s a nurse, for one, and a traveling nurse at that, easily catapulting her to the top of the list of who should rightfully get that final standby seat on any packed flight. Her work has taken her from her home in Salt Lake City to rural Montana, Houston’s concrete jungle, and els…

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S2, Ep. 28: Let There Be Red Light: Inside Amsterdam's Sex Industry (Greatest Hits Rerun) 1:00:00

2y ago1:00:00

1:00:00

In 2021, the city of Amsterdam announced it would move its sex workers out of the famed Red Light District in the heart of the city. Visitors have long ventured to the Red Light District, some to hire a sex worker and others out of sheer curiosity. This curiosity is part of why the city made the decision to relocate its sex workers – the women had …

1
S2, Ep. 27: The Charmed Life of Travel with Sebastian Modak 40:23

2y ago40:23

40:23

Sebastian Modak is living the dream. As the 52 Places Traveler for The New York Times in 2019, he visited 52 places around the globe in a single year – and turned around a dispatch about each of them. A “third culture kid” who grew up as a vagabond between the US, Hong Kong, Colombia, India, Indonesia, and elsewhere, Sebastian is accustomed to pick…

1
S2, Ep. 26: Expatriating And The Life Of An "Orbiting Spouse" 37:12

2y ago37:12

37:12

AJ Kinney coins a new phrase for us on today’s pod. The “orbiting spouse” is someone who moves somewhere because their partner got a sweet job offer – and ends up loving it so much that they full-on expatriate. AJ and his wife moved to Grand Cayman from Minnesota, a sharp lifestyle change from hunting and camping to fishing and fruity cocktails. AJ…

1
S2, Ep. 25: The Great Indoors (Greatest Hits Rerun) 59:03

2y ago59:03

59:03

“Gatekeeping” is an unfortunate but common practice in outdoor-centric communities. Comedian Ivy Le is joining us today to discuss how this issue can be addressed. Ivy hosts the podcast FOGO: Fear of Going Outside, one of Spotify’s most popular new podcasts, documenting Ivy’s experience as an avid indoorswoman venturing (reluctantly) into outdoor a…

1
S2, Ep. 24: Behind the Hype of WeWork, Remote Work, and Coworking 47:54

2y ago47:54

47:54

To cowork or not to cowork? The pod’s age-old controversial question is finally getting addressed by an expert. We’re learning the truth about whether co-working spaces are bullsh*t or if they actually provide real value to remote workers. Joanne Flynn Black a former WeWork employee who lived through the company’s most turbulent era, is joining us …

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S2, Ep. 23: Concerning Hobbits: How Lord of the Rings Remade New Zealand Tourism 40:42

2y ago40:42

40:42

“The Lord of the Rings” revolutionized the Fantasy and Adventure genres in both print and film. What’s often overshadowed by the smashing success of the franchise is the impact LOTR had on the country that served as the backdrop for much of the footage in the film series – New Zealand. Ever since “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” …

1
S2, Ep. 22: Dispelling Tequila Myths with the Añejo Aficionado 48:20

2y ago48:20

48:20

Rob Gerard is a tequila influencer in the truest sense. As founder of The Tequila Collective, Rob shows off (code phrase for “indulges in”) fine tequilas of all stripes. He has built a following based on his extensive knowledge of the world’s favorite agave liquor, a savant cross between Reposado Recommender and Anejo Assassin. As it turns out, our…

1
S2, Ep. 21: Traveling Circus -- Life According to a Professional Clown 43:02

2y ago43:02

43:02

No matter what you think of clowns, you likely have no idea what their lifestyle is actually like. From living on a train with Ringling Bros. to performing for kids at a children’s hospital, Joy Powers has done it all on the professional clown circuit. She joins the pod this week to discuss what it’s like to clown for a living. You’ll learn what it…

1
S2, Ep. 20: Booking Travel with Crypto, for Dummies 46:29

2y ago46:29

46:29

You have thoughts on cryptocurrency. Whether your opinion is bullish or bearish, it’s undeniable that the concept of DeFi (decentralized finance) is causing quite a ruckus in the media. How will cryptocurrency impact travel? To find out, we invited Ben Rogers on the show. Ben is the Chief Marketing Officer at Travala, a travel booking website that …

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S2, Ep. 19: People, Places, and Bathrooms to Love According to Samantha Brown 55:17

2y ago55:17

55:17

Samantha Brown is the reason you want to spontaneously book a flight to the other side of the world. She’s been in the travel hosting game for over 20 years, and you may recognize her from iconic shows like Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, and Girl Meets Hawaii. Her newest endeavor is called Places to Love, and Brown describes it as her ode to tra…

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S2, Ep. 18: Overlanding Europe and Africa on the Janga Bus 55:31

2y ago55:31

55:31

Remi Bumstead did what all of us have talked about doing at some point: buying an old bus and driving it across Africa to donate to a school for deaf kids. Ok, maybe not all of us. Remi’s bus, dubbed the Janga Bus, was bought in Germany, fixed up in the UK, and driven south from London across Europe and into Africa en route to The Gambia. Upon arri…

1
S2, Ep. 17: The Real Heroes of Machu Picchu 42:25

2+ y ago42:25

42:25

Marinel de Jesus is the type of outdoors-person the world needs more of. As the founder of The Porter Voice Collective, Marinel advocates for porters’ rights in top international trekking destinations including Peru and the Himalayas. She rallies for better working conditions, pay, and even food for the hard-working porters lugging our gear up the …

1
S2, Ep. 16: Running With The Buffalo In Bali 43:56

2+ y ago43:56

43:56

Marko Randelovic is a documentary filmmaker and photojournalist from the UK whose work focuses heavily on Southeast Asia. Marko joins No Blackout Dates to discuss his new film, Makepung, which debuts on Matador Network on January 12. Makepung tells the story of Bali’s long-running tradition of buffalo racing. That’s right – there’s a dedicated coho…

1
S2, Ep. 15: New Year, Same Us: A 2021 Retrospective 32:57

2+ y ago32:57

32:57

You know those recap episodes your favorite TV show slips in mid-season, because they’re too lazy to put out new content? And you know how you usually skip it? Well, this is our recap episode, but don’t skip it just yet. No Blackout Dates is ringing in 2022 by doing exactly what they say you shouldn’t do in the new year – living in the past. Not on…

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