Ep. 071 - Plymouth, MA and Thanksgiving: Everything but the Turkey
This week, we're bringing the Thanksgiving thunder 🦃 and a summary on Plymouth, Massachusetts where it ALL began. We dive into the chaotic world of Thanksgiving travel with insane stats and stories. Do planes really only get delayed 15 minutes? And how far would you drive before admitting defeat? We’re also dishing about Thanksgiving food fails, tasty traditions, and sharing our own picks for best and worst holiday eats. Not everything belongs on the Thanksgiving table...right? 🤢 We’ll also school you on the wild world of Black Friday shopping, including a world record you won’t believe. And wait until you hear about the dishes the Pilgrims ACTUALLY served at the very first Thanksgiving meal back in 1621! Let’s just say eel was on the menu. 😳 Join us as we break down fun facts no one asked for about Thanksgiving travel, shopping, food, football and more! Whether you’re Team Turkey or Team Tofurky, this episode will definitely put you in a festive mood. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Ep. 070 - Quebec City
Quebec City, Canada has old-world European charm but is more edgy than cosmopolitan Montreal. Everyone still speaks French there, but there is WAY more tattoo culture. The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the world's most photographed hotel is in Upper City and below is the trendy St. Roch. Maple syrup, socialized medicine, high taxes and homelessness in the Quebec Province are also discussed.
Ep. 069 - Montreal
Beneath the hustle and bustle of the streets lies Montreal's famous underground city, known as “RÉSO.” This network of tunnels spans over 20 miles connecting metro stations, shopping malls, hotels, banks, offices, and even college campuses. It provides an extensive reprieve from the city's frigid winters and scorching summers. Beyond RÉSO, Montreal enchanted the James and Denise with its abundance of European charm and big city amenities. They soaked up the sights of Old Montreal's cobblestone streets and historic buildings.
Ep. 068 - Halloween with Clem the Demon: James Leary is Still Slaying!
The Skiptown All Stars are joined by actor James Leary, famous for playing the loose-skinned demon Clem on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They discuss meeting through their kids' preschool in LA, James' path from Texas to Chicago improv to commercial acting in LA. James landed the role of Clem, which grew from a minor part to ensemble status over 8 episodes. After Buffy ended, James did conventions for years then moved into writing for video games in Austin. He just voiced Clem again in the new Audible original Slayers, a Buffyverse story with old and new characters. James shares behind-the-scenes stories from voicing Slayers and his favorite horror movies for Halloween.
Ep. 067 - Sandra and Nik: An FHA Loan Success Story
With the median age of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. being around 33 years old, Sandra and Nick started their homebuying and homebuilding journey way ahead of the curve. Buying their first home at just 22 and 24 years old, this ambitious couple details their experiences with buying and building five different homes over the past two decades.
Through the highs and lows of the housing market, Sandra and Nick reflect on the lessons they’ve learned from being serial homebuilders at such a young age. They provide insight into navigating the homebuilding process, from working with architects and builders to picking finishes and avoiding budget pitfalls. While building their dream homes hasn’t always gone smoothly, their perseverance and willingness to start over is inspiring for any future homebuilder.
Ep. 066 - The PATH to the 201: Jersey City with Patrick Mason
Moving from small town Ohio to the bright lights and skyscrapers of New York City is a big change. For our friend Patrick, a TV news veteran with over 25 years in the NYC metro area, it has been a journey full of exciting opportunities and challenges. In this podcast episode, Patrick recounts his career path from college in Youngstown, OH to working his way up at major broadcast news stations in Manhattan.
He vividly describes the freewheeling NYC culture pre-9/11, and how the media landscape was permanently impacted after that fateful day. Patrick also shares entertaining behind-the-scenes stories of breaking news chaos, technological snafus, and the always hectic TV news life. We get the scoop on Patrick’s local life too, as he’s called Hoboken and now Jersey City home all these years. He tells us why avoiding a Manhattan commute was a smarter choice for his lifestyle.
Overall, Patrick reflects on the pros and cons of big city living, but makes clear his love for the opportunities and energy that only NYC can provide. He’s adapted to small apartments, subway commutes, and having family a plane ride away in Ohio. But through it all, Patrick feels privileged to have a front row seat to history in the media capital of the world.
Ep. 065 - Our New Roommate, Travis Kelce is Stedman and a 4-Hour Work Week… Really?
This blog summarizes a podcast episode where the hosts scrutinize the idea popularized in books like The 4-Hour Workweek that you can run a successful business by barely working. They provide real-world examples of high-achieving entrepreneurs like Mark Cuban to debunk these claims. The hosts conclude that while you don't have to kill yourself working, meaningful pursuits require dedication and sacrifice. They share insights from building their own podcast amidst family and work demands. The discussion covers striking a healthy balance between hustle and self-care. They emphasize efficiency and streamlining operations so your effort is focused on what matters. While passive income has its appeal, the hosts conclude there's no replacement for putting in the hard yards yourself, at least in a venture's early days. Their banter makes clear that sustainable success comes from loving what you do enough to work tirelessly while still prioritizing well-being.