Prologue: The Origin Story
Early on in the pandemic, a good friend reached out to organize a regular Thursday virtual happy hour. It was a gift to have something to look forward in those first uncertain weeks and months. After the first session, he suggested that we take turns offering a discussion theme. My first reaction was, “We’re adults. We don’t need some mechanism for socializing.” I quickly found out how wrong I was. The first session—talking about our impressions of Bob Dylan’s “Murder So Foul”—allowed everyone on the call to share thoughts and ideas they never would have otherwise.
When it was my turn a few weeks later to suggest a topic, I went with “Talk about a memorable road trip you’ve taken.” Everyone approached the assignment with gusto, and the stories they told reinforced how universal the road trip was. One colleague shared experiences and details that I don’t think he’d told anyone else. The 90-minute session flew by. I decided immediately that I wanted to create a podcast devoted to road trip stories.
A few notes on our approach to this series. First, the story dictates the format. That means some episodes might be conversations, others could be interviews, and others might be told by the participant with little interruption. I hope that makes each episode fresh and a bit unpredictable. One of the joys of the road trip is never knowing what you’ll find.
Second, the episode can be about the inspiration for the adventure, the trip itself, or all of the ancillary incidents and conversations along the way. I think of it as the road, the ride, and the route. It’s not a travelogue or a blow-by-blow account of attractions along the way. The Travel Channel has that covered. I’m more interested in the participants’ recollections and reflections.
Third, the car itself can be as much of a character as the protagonists, because it speaks volumes about the experience it enables. I’m a big classic car fan; each car seems to have its own story, and its design is a reflection of the time it was produced. Not all of the cars in this series are so noteworthy, but they help to provide context.
Fourth, music is a huge part of any road trip. I think everyone might have indelible moments from their own travels where a song on the radio or a thoughtful selection provided the perfect soundtrack. I vividly remember driving through western Iowa one morning: the sun was rising, the corn fields were rushing by, and U2’s “In God’s Country” came on. I’m not even a big U2 fan, but it perfectly summed up that moment.
With these episodes, the people and the stories point the way. My friend Brian, who is a savant when it comes to cars, offers details into each machine. And my production partner Tyson and I write, perform, and record original music that serves as the score for each episode. It’s a few of the things I’m passionate about all woven together.
I have a few stories of my own to share in this series. But the bulk of the episodes feature other people. I’ve always enjoyed listening to other people’s stories. In fact, I often recall details of these anecdotes much more than my own experiences.
It’s been a pure joy to pull these episodes together, so I hope that comes through. And I hope you enjoy listening to these stories as much as I have in pulling them together.