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Welcome to Episode 143 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian is jetting Down Under to cheer on his nephew in the Sydney Marathon, and enjoy a little well-deserved R&R.

Before boarding the long-haul flight, the guys clear up a few pending items in the cabin:

The Great Waffle Debate: Mapmaker Eric weighs in on chicken and waffles. Even though the bird doesn't fly, Eric is firmly on Team Brian, endorsing the total perfection of savory poultry paired with a sweet waffle.

Insurance Loophole Turmoil: Allianz reimbursed...

Welcome to Episode 142 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian conclude his high-flying coverage from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh—successfully sticking the landing and preventing this from turning into a six-episode epic!

To accomplish this incredible feat of event logistics, today's episode is a packed, extended feature with zero pit stops. We are holding all general listener feedback and Listener Lu at the gate—she will be back on frequency next time, just in time for Brian’s upcoming trek back to Australia.

The Oshkosh field recordings continue with an out...

Welcome to Episode 141 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian are bringing you on-the-ground, high-flying coverage straight from the flight line at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!

With a mountain of field recordings to get through—and the guys determined not to turn Oshkosh into another six-episode Singapore Airshow mega-series—Listener Lu’s question is held in a temporary holding pattern until next time. However, the guys make room on the runway to respond to listener feedback from Listener Jim and Chef Kathy.

Before rolling the tapes, Brian shares his first...

Welcome to Episode 140 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian is finally touching down in Wisconsin for the greatest aviation celebration on Earth: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!

Before diving into the flight line coverage, the guys make a few important cabin announcements:

Micah officially admits he has a problem. Thanks to Brian’s constant temptation, Micah has gone all-in on opening new credit cards strictly for the lucrative Sign-Up Bonuses. The point balance is sky-high—now he just needs to book a few long-haul itineraries to actually spend them!

Bria...

Welcome to Episode 139 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah welcome back Eric the Mapmaker to chart out his recent trek to Memphis and break down every single delicious stop on his culinary itinerary.

Before getting to the main course, the guys open up a packed mailbag:

The 3 Million Mile Question: Listener Melissa wants to know—now that the dust has settled—does Brian really feel that flying 300,000 miles a year was worth the massive effort to lock in Lifetime Premier 1K status with United?

Listener Lu R...

Welcome to Episode 138 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah are crossing the Atlantic to talk with the one and only Terrific Tanya about her recent UK adventures.

Before bringing our guest into the studio, Micah and Brian check the mailbag for any last-minute updates. But wait… there are absolutely zero ground delays today! With no general listener feedback and a rare episode off from Listener Lu, the guys take advantage of the completely clear skies and cruise straight into the main conversation.

Tanya recently jetted over to En...

Welcome to Episode 137 of The Journey Is The Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah are back in the studio and catching up with everyone's favorite culinary traveler, Chef Kathy.

Before bringing the Chef into the cabin, Micah gives us an honest status update on his Chase Sapphire Reserve card now that he’s hit the six-month mark. With the premium card market getting more expensive by the day, Micah breaks down exactly which features, lounge perks, and travel credits he’s used to justify that hefty annual fee.

With zero ground delays on t...

Welcome to episode 136 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian are catching up with Julian Kheel from Points Path—one of their absolute favorite browser extensions (even if Brian still wants to call it an "application").

Before the deep dive into point values, Brian is checking his gear for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh!  If you're heading to the show this summer, let Brian know so you can connect in person.

And because it wouldn’t be an complete episode without her, we dive back into the mailbag to answer yet anoth...

Welcome to episode 135 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian are back together to recap an incredible milestone celebration—Momma Coleman’s spectacular 91st birthday party—along with a fantastic combined aviation meetup in Toms River, New Jersey.

Because the airspace is completely packed, the guys are temporarily skipping the listener feedback segment. However, they did hear from their favorite frequent flyer, Listener Lu. Micah thinks she might be stuck in a bit of a holding pattern, though, because her question sounded suspiciously similar to a previous one!

Before...

Welcome to episode 134 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian are back with a packed show featuring international adventures, listener mail, and the ultimate puzzle of frequent flyer routing.

Before getting to the main interview, the guys dive into Listener Lu’s fascinating question about Delta sponsoring a premium lounge inside The Sphere in Las Vegas. Should you expect incredible visuals, immersive entertainment, and knowing Vegas, a very long line to get in, or will this be a boring airport lounge?

Next, we head across the Atlantic to the E...

Welcome to episode 133 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian have a fascinating conversation with Retired Captain Mukhedkar, a former Indian Air Force instructor and Captain for Air India. "Capt. Mookie," as we were lucky enough to call him, joined us from India. He is currently recovering from heart surgery, so while his voice is a bit weathered, the wealth of history he shares is more than worth the listen.

Captain Mookie brings over 45 years of aviation experience to the table, spanning both military and commercial operations. With more than tw...

Welcome to episode 132 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian bring the epic storytelling of Brian’s trip to Singapore to a close. You might be wondering, "Will it ever end???" and the answer is finally yes—this is the final installment covering the Singapore Airshow 2026.

To make sure we reached our destination in under an hour, the guys skipped the standard listener feedback mailbag this week. However, we did have to address a trending story brought to us by listener Lu regarding pets on planes. We share our thoughts on the...

Welcome to episode 131 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Micah and Brian continue the epic storytelling of Brian’s trip to Singapore. You might be wondering, "Will it ever end???" but the journey is progressing.

Before the guys reach the main event, they dive into some essential listener feedback. Listener Peter shares some fantastic tips and tricks regarding Kosher meals—information so good that Brian plans to implement these strategies the next time he’s at 30,000 feet. 

Then, listener Lu checks in to get the guys' thoughts on the recent changes t...

Welcome to episode 130 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah continue their discussion of the Singapore Airshow 2026, Sadly, again, there is no listener feedback.  However, Listener Lu still wants to know stuff.  This time it’s about picture taking and filing etiquette on an airplane.

Then, Micah gives us a new update on his cousins Thailand adventures. Yes, the questions keep coming.  Brian also gives an update on the delayed departure of Momma Coleman who was flying on Spirit.  Seems like someone is telling a story or there really was weather casi...

Welcome to episode 129 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah continue their discussion of the Singapore Airshow 2026, Sadly, there is no listener feedback.  However, Listener Lu didn’t let us down and she wants to know about the WiFi wars. Then, Micah gives us an update about his cousins Thailand adventures, an update on Chase cash back cards and Brian corrects himself on business class layouts.  

For the main event, Brian and Micah continue to discuss the Singapore Airshow 2026.  Brian was impressed with the static displays and chalets offered by some of th...

Welcome to episode 128 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah discuss the trek to the Singapore Airshow 2026, but first, the guys have some listener feedback to clear from the runway. Listener Eric writes in about his luggage choices and why "Team Carry-On" sometimes hits maximum capacity for his lifestyle, while Listener Mark issues a "correction notice" to Brian regarding the Auto Train. We also hear from Listener Tanya, who gives us a nice climb in altitude with a compliment on our last episode featuring Carlos of Plane Talking UK.

As we...

Welcome to episode 127 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this episode, Brian and Micah are joined by Carlos, the founder of Plane Talking UK, for a deep dive into the world of aviation podcasting from a UK perspective. 

Before the guys get to the main event, they start with some essential ground handling from listener Marc. He checks in to discuss the legendary durability of Kirkland Signature luggage and gives us the lowdown on the new location for Geno’s Steaks in Hampton, Virginia—a destination definitely worth the detour.

The conversation then moves t...

Welcome to episode 126 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this show, Micah has an interview with Eric The Mapmaker.

We are kicking off this week’s podcast by celebrating the heartbeat of the show—our listeners. 

We first hear from Mark in Largo, FL, who shares his recent biking adventures. Mark was also one of our winners of Brian Kelly’s book, How to Win at Travel, and it’s inspiring to see him putting those strategies to use on his own local trails. 

We also welcome back Listener Lu, who asks a t...

Welcome to episode 125 of The Journey Is the Reward!

On this show, Micah and Brian get to talk about one of our most favorite aviation TV shows... well, the planes of our move favorite TV show.

But first, we heard from one of our listeners—truly, the best part of the show!

No Listener Lu question this week. Hopefully, she is on vacation to someplace warm and that’s preventing her from sending in a question.

On today’s show Brian and Micah get to talk about dramatic fiction, but dramatic fiction...

Welcome to episode 124 of The Journey Is the Reward!

Although the Government might have been shut down, that didn't stop Brian from hitting the throttle, braving the airports, and executing a cross-country flight plan to see Mama Coleman. He performed a masterful landing right on her doorstep!

But before we get into Brian's unscheduled government-shutdown-defying mission, we heard from some of our listeners—truly, the best part of the show!

·       Listener Martha wrote in, asking why I give out gifts to the flight crews. Someone's never heard of the importance of crew resource management!

· ...

Welcome to episode 123 of The Journey Is the Reward!

We're back to our regularly scheduled programming—or, as we like to call it, our regularly scheduled flight plan—as we track Brian's recent trip to the frigid but fabulous state of Minnesota. His itinerary was packed: he attended an unforgettable concert by the legendary Sir Paul McCartney and spent time performing essential Uncle Duties with his niece in St. Paul.

But first, let's check the cargo hold for some listener mail!

·       Listener Sharon wrote in, asking us to rewind the tape and explain how we got into thi...

Welcome to episode 122 of The Journey Is the Reward!

Hold onto your tray tables, folks, because in this episode, we're not just flying—we're doing a full 180-degree turn on our usual format! We've deployed the flaps for a fresh introduction, and Brian takes the controls to interrogate (er, interview) Micah about his recent aerial journey from Portland, Maine, all the way to Philadelphia for a very important mission: attending his niece's wedding. 

But first, we're diving into the mailbag! 

Listener Murilo sent in an audio message wanting the full story behind why your host refuses...

Welcome to episode 121 of The Journey Is the Reward!

All good flights must come to an end, and sadly, the incredible 15-day Southern Africa adventure of a lifetime is concluding! 

Join Brian and crew as their journey wraps up and they depart Botswana.  

Fortunately, he remembers to pull out the microphone at the airport lounge to capture a fantastic conversation with the rest of the crew: Barb, Jim, Gerrit, and Malin. 

It's a bittersweet moment as the group parts ways, with Gerrit and Malin flying off to Windhoek, Namibia, while Barb, Jim, and Bri...

Welcome to episode 120 of The Journey Is the Reward!

Prepare for the continuing high-flying stories and adventures across Southern Africa.

The episode begins with Ground Control Howie taxiing the group to the Cape Town International (CPT) for the next leg of their journey, a flight to Victoria Falls. Immediately, they encountered turbulence with Brian's Priority Pass access, resulting in a temporary grounding. However, quick thinking from either Gerrit or Jim bypassed the holding pattern. They successfully executed a rescue mission, allowing Brian to join the crew in the lounge closer to the departure gate, ensuring smooth sail...

Welcome to episode 119 of The Journey Is the Reward!

Get ready to ascend to cruising altitude, because this episode is a first-class ticket straight into the culinary and cocktail world of the skies! Brian takes you along as he walks the Airline Passenger Experience trade show—an entire show dedicated to what fills those little metal carts... and Brian ate and drank everything he could.

We kick off with some listener correspondence from Listener Aavi who asks if we've ever requested a special meal. Did we navigate the complexities of "low-sodium" or "kosher," or are we happy...

Welcome to episode 118 of The Journey Is the Reward!

We want to dive right into the main topic this week, but first, let's address the elephant in the control tower.

We have zero listener feedback, the best part of the show when you write in. No questions from Listener Lu, the second-best part of the show. So it seems like the digital winds are calm, or maybe everyone is too busy packing their bags for our next adventure.  Who knows…

While the feedback section is experiencing a bit of radio silence, our listener audience i...

Welcome to episode 117 of The Journey Is the Reward!

We've got a full manifest for this episode. First up, we're taking on some listener feedback from Terrific Tanya. She's been listening to Chris Hutchins on the Tim Ferriss Show and says we're both right about points versus cash back. Sorry, Tanya, you can't be a straddler on this one! Just like you can't say you love both Airbus and Boeing equally, you've got to pick a side—Team Points or Team Cash Back.

As always, our listeners are the real experts on this crew, so keep...

Welcome to episode 116 of The Journey Is the Reward!

We're cleared for takeoff on a great episode today. First, we're hitting the skies with some feedback from Listener Barbara. She’s asking about Clear Air Turbulence.  She is also curious if Brian is ever concerned about it while he's busy socializing with the flight crew in the back of the plane.

As always, our listeners are the real experts on this show, so keep those questions coming to: brian@TheJourneyIsTheReward.org.

Then, Listener Lu wants to know about the person in Italy who threw...

Welcome to episode 115 of The Journey Is the Reward!

We're getting right to the main event today. There's no listener feedback on the flight plan for this episode, and for a good reason. We’ve got an extended interview with our guest, Captain Armando, and his First Officer that you won’t want to miss. But as always, we want to hear from you, so keep those questions coming to: brian@TheJourneyIsTheReward.org.

We did, however, manage to squeeze in a quick flight-deck discussion. Our listener Lu wants to know about passengers bringing smelly foods onto...

Welcome to episode 114 of The Journey Is the Reward.

We're cleared for a jam-packed flight today. First, we've got some listener feedback from Mike, who's got the scoop on a new bus service for getting into Manhattan from the three NYC airports. He’s giving us a new approach to ground transportation. Our listeners are the real experts on this crew.

Next, Listener Jessie is asking about the real-world situation with the fire recovery in SoCal—it’s a topic the news has been ignoring. Brian is on the ground and will give you an honest...

Welcome to Episode 113 of The Journey Is the Reward! 

While our inbox might be empty, that's probably because we don't constantly remind you that you are the most vital part of this show! But hey, if you've got burning questions, insights, or just want to tell us how much you adore our dulcet tones, send them to ⁠brian@TheJourneyIsTheReward.org⁠. Micah and Brian are standing by, ready to answer all your queries. And if we've managed to ruffle your feathers, feel free to air your grievances at ⁠IAmReallyOffended@yahoo.com⁠. Yes, that's a real email address, and yes, we do read...

Welcome to Episode 112 of The Journey Is the Reward! 

This week, we're cleared for an eventful flight, featuring everything from passenger triumphs to professional pilot insights.

First up, fasten your seatbelts for a trip report from listener Mark VanRamm. Despite hitting a bit of turbulence, Mark proves that a positive attitude is the best carry-on, navigating his travel woes with grace. We've all been there – sometimes the only thing we can control is our squawk code!

Then, listener Lu sends us a distress signal about the ever-dreaded flight cancellation, specifically pondering the hypothetical (or perhap...

Welcome to Episode 111 of The Journey Is the Reward! 

On this week's show, we're absolutely thrilled to welcome a true titan of the skies, soon-to-be Lifetime Global Services member, Fozz Mahmud of the Dots, Lines, and Destinations podcast. This man has more air miles than a commercial airline, and we can't wait to pick his brain.

But before we ascend to that altitude, we've got some essential pre-flight checks. First up, we're answering a question from Listener Francis, who's curious about navigating the complexities of flying around and within closed airspace. And because we never shy away...

Welcome to Episode 110 of The Journey Is the Reward! This week, Brian and Micah have a great show lined up for you, featuring an insightful interview Micah recorded with our good friend, Steven Ivey, a corporate pilot, plus a few other interesting tidbits.

First up, Listener Sarah wrote in asking about the show’s updated introduction where Brian mentions flying over 6 million miles. She wants to know how that's possible when he is still just a bit over 3 million with United. And Brian is excited to finally pull back the curtain and share the full story behind that...

Welcome to Episode 109 of The Journey Is The Reward!  We are generally much less offended than our email inbox suggests! This week are thrilled to welcome back the cartographic genius himself, Eric the Mapmaker.

But before we dive into Eric's latest adventures, we had to address a burning question from the email account – emphatically named Imreallyoffended@yahoo.com.

Then, Listener Mike hit us up with a real puzzler about gifting flight crews, because apparently, Reddit has decided that kindness gets you fired. Who knew?! 

And speaking of flight decks, Listener Lu drops a fantastic q...

Welcome to Episode 108 of The Journey Is The Reward! This week, we're navigating some significant changes at United, shooting the Breeze with Micah, and as always, hearing from our incredible listeners.

First up, Listener Melissa is asking for a much-anticipated health update from Micah – and yes, she might have playfully accused Brian of being a pain in Micah's butt! 

Plus, Micah continues to unpack the ever-popular packing segment with some invaluable additional advice.

Listener Lu returns with another intriguing question about spotting famous people on planes. 

Then, buckle up as Brian gives us...

On Episode 107 of The Journey Is The Reward, we once again get to talk with Momma Coleman, thanks to the limo services provided by Chef Kathy.   Sure, it doesn’t sound right at this point but it will make sense as you listen to the episode.   But before we get to the main event, Listener Matt has a follow-on question to my packing skills.

Listener Lu wants to know about the $100 hamburger, as it relates to flight.  Although calling it a $300 hamburger is probably more accurate these days.

Then it’s time for the main segment, Bri...

On Episode 106 of The Journey Is The Reward, our favorite aviation aficionados, Micah and Brian, are back, ready to pack for a trip and navigate the turbulent skies of memory lane. 

First up, we've got a burning question from Listener, Lu! Did Qatar handle the unfortunate dead passenger situation with the grace and dignity they should have or were there areas for improvement.

Then, it's time for some serious travel talk! Micah, clearly envious of Brian's ninja-like packing skills, grills him on how he manages to jet-set for weeks without the dreaded checked baggage. Prepare for...

On Episode 105 of The Journey Is The Reward, Prepare for liftoff!  Your intrepid co-pilots, Brian and Micah, chart a course from the tarmac of Burbank to the stratosphere of Seattle. The mission of Brian? To attend the Seattle Aviation and Aerospace Bash, orchestrated by the stellar Isaac Alexander!

But before achieving orbit, our flight crew tackles a query beamed in by Listener Lu. She wondered about a passenger who was confused about why airlines don’t fly in a straight line. Brian and Micah address some decidedly off-course information about the flight, transmitted by none other than Elon M...

Episode 104 of The Journey Is The Reward it’s time for a wild ride from pizza critiques to “Paradise” found! So buckle up, adventure junkies!

First up, we're diving headfirst into the delicious drama of Listener Mark's pizza review. Turns out, Momma Coleman's taste buds were NOT impressed… for a second time.  Ouch! Guess not all pies are created equal. 

Then, Micah drops a tech bombshell: the mythical 10-year AirTag battery! Will it survive the test of time? Brian's ready to put on his scientist hat and report back in a decade. We're holding you to that, Br...