What better way to kick off the new year than by planning your next great adventure? On this episode, we're sharing another podcast which will make your adventures brighter, the Everyday Bucket List Podcast. Karen Cordway and her husband (and co-host) Rich share their best tips for setting ambitious but achievable travel goals and bucket list ideas for 2025.

From sparking brain growth (yes, really!) to dreaming so big it makes others laugh, they bring a mix of practical advice, inspiration, and fun personal stories to help you turn "someday" into today. Plus, you'll learn about the 'FILL' method (think free, local, and low-cost adventures) and why listening to birds might just be the easiest—and cheapest—way to boost your happiness.

Whether you're itching to learn a new skill, find accountability partners to keep you on track, or just need a good laugh with a 'dream chuckle,' Karen and Rich have you covered. Tune in to map out your best year yet—without breaking the bank.

Highlights:

• Welcome to the Everyday Bucket List Podcast: Kick things off with Karen and Rich.
• New Year, New Goals: How to set resolutions you'll actually stick with.
• Travel and Brain Health: Turns out vacations can grow new brain cells (science says so).
• Learning New Skills: Why trying new things keeps your mind sharp and your bucket list full.
• The Power of Accountability Partners: Your secret weapon for staying on track.
• Dream Chuckle: Setting goals so big, they make you—and everyone else—laugh.
• The FILL Method: Free, Interesting, Low-Cost, and Local adventures to spice up your year.
• Birdsong and Wellbeing: The surprising way to boost your happiness for free.
• Tips Series: How to map out your year with ease and enthusiasm.
• Conclusion: Plan, dream, and stay motivated all year long.

Ready to fill your year with unforgettable experiences? Grab your coffee (or tea), hit play, and start dreaming big!

Happy Holidays!

For our list of BEST travel items, head to StackingAdventures.com/GearOfTheDay

Want to contribute to future shows about Ireland, Wine Tours, Walt Disney World vacations, or Budgeting for better travel? Call our voicemail and be a part of future shows! You'll have five minutes to tell your story, so have fun! StackingAdventures.com/Voicemail

Ever wonder where to find the most haunted hotspots in the country? Buckle up, because in this episode, Joe and Crystal share the spine-tingling ghost tours recommended by our Adventurers! From Savannah’s famous hearse ghost tours to the mysterious halls of the Winchester Mystery House and Salem’s historical haunts, we’ve got your next spooky adventure covered.

Plus, we highlight our Gear of the Day, swap some amusing travel stories, and give you the lowdown on must-visit ghost tours across the country. Grab your flashlight, and let’s dive into a hauntingly great adventure together!

• Adventurer Picks: Chilling listener recommendations for the top ghost tours and haunted attractions.
• Savannah’s Hearse Ghost Tours: Explore this city’s rich (and spooky) history on four wheels.
• Winchester Mystery House: A house built for ghosts? Step inside this labyrinthine wonder in San Jose.
• Salem, Massachusetts: Unravel the mystery of the Salem Witch Trials and explore its haunting history.
• Gear of the Day: Don’t hit the road without this travel essential.
• Top Ghost Tours Across the U.S.: From Chicago to New Orleans, discover eerie destinations Adventurers swear by.
  • Chicago’s gangster-filled ghost tours.
  • New York City’s haunted gangster landmarks.
  • New Orleans cemetery tours that reveal secrets of the past.
  • Baltimore’s haunted pub crawls and ghostly tales.
  • San Diego’s Haunted Gaslamp Quarter.
  • Eureka Springs’ Crescent Hotel, one of the most haunted hotels in the country.
• Listener Stories: Personal encounters that might just give you goosebumps.
• Upcoming Adventures: A sneak peek at next week’s show and how you can join the fun!

Pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a little courage), and get ready for a spooky escape filled with laughter, thrills, and unforgettable travel inspiration!

Looking for our Gear of the Day pick? Head to StackingAdventures.com/GOTD

Want to share YOUR favorite wine tour, Ireland adventure, or another? Head to StackingAdventures.com/MyStory

Are you making the most of your travel points? Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just dipping your toes into the world of rewards, this episode of Stacking Adventures is a must-listen. We’re joined by Cindy Greenstein, aka The Points Mom, who shares her insider secrets for getting top value from your travel rewards. From transferring points for better deals to stacking perks for triple the benefits, Cindy's advice will help you elevate your travel game.

Why You Should Tune In:

• Learn how to organize your spending to maximize flexible rewards.
• Discover strategies for navigating loyalty programs and staying ahead of changes.
• Get inspired by real-life wins from Cindy and Crystal’s travel adventures.

Episode Highlights:

• Personal travel stories and lessons learned along the way.
• Cindy’s journey from CPA to travel rewards expert.
• Practical tips for getting started with points and maximizing redemptions.
• The art of transferring points and using flexible rewards programs.
• Insider strategies for earning and using airline status, including American Airlines.
• Live audience questions answered, including smart travel and healthy travel tips.
• Top credit card strategies for personal and business expenses.
• How to stack points for even bigger rewards.
• Highlights from FinCon, networking tips, and building your travel hacking community.

Final Thoughts:
Cindy’s actionable advice and relatable stories will inspire you to take control of your rewards strategy and start stacking points like a pro. Don’t leave free travel on the table—tune in and learn how to turn everyday spending into unforgettable adventures!

Additional Resources:

• Follow Cindy Greenstein, The Points Mom
• Join the Stacking Benjamins Basement Facebook Group for More Travel Tips

Why does wine taste different when you're sipping it abroad? And how do you design a wine tour that’s both unforgettable and Instagram-worthy? Today, we pop the cork on all things wine tourism with Kylie Sherriff, an Australian expat who traded her banking career for the lush vineyards of Chile.

Kylie takes us behind the scenes of wine tourism, revealing the secrets to crafting the perfect wine tour, the pitfalls of DIY adventures, and why guided tours often come with a richer bouquet (pun intended).

From tips on choosing the right wineries to stories of transitioning from spreadsheets to grapevines, this episode is a toast to adventure, culture, and, of course, wine! Stick around until the end for our fun recommendations on festive wine gear that’ll elevate your next tasting experience.

Episode Highlights:

• Wine tour experiences from Virginia to Switzerland
• Meet Kylie, the wine tourism expert
• Secrets to designing the perfect wine tour
• Why guided tours outshine DIY wine adventures
• A road trip pit stop with a wine twist
• Exploring wine regions across Europe
• The unique wine culture of Australia
• Kylie's transition from banking to vineyards
• Starting a new adventure in South America
• The magic of Chilean wine experiences
• How to book a wine tour with Kylie
• Fun wine accessories and souvenirs to enhance your experience
• Final thoughts on what makes a wine tour memorable

This week on Stacking Adventures, Joe and Crystal take us on a journey through Peru with two unique travel stories and a treasure trove of tips for travelers of all styles.

First, Carrie and Eric share their unforgettable slow-travel experience, staying in an Airbnb, shopping at vibrant local markets, and immersing their kids in Peruvian culture. They reveal how to avoid tourist traps and truly connect with the local community. Next, Jim from Florida contrasts his mid-range adventure with a tour company, Other Way Round Travel, highlighting the perks of guided tours, tackling health and safety challenges, and embracing flexibility while abroad.

As always, we sprinkle in practical advice, like how to pronounce 'Viator' (spoiler: you’ve been saying it wrong!), plus a teaser for our upcoming wine tour adventure in Chile. We also spotlight essential travel gear that won't break the bank, all featured on our Amazon page.

Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and actionable tips to make your next adventure memorable and stress-free.

• Welcome to today’s travel stories.
• Carrie and Eric’s slow travel adventure in Peru.
• Comparing travel styles: Luxe, budget, and everything in between.
• Today’s gear pick and practical travel tips.
• Thanksgiving plans and our travel philosophy.
• A day in Peru: Living like a local.
• Discovering markets and building community connections.
• World schooling and making social media count.
• Guided tours and the perks of shoulder season travel.
• Machu Picchu, unexpected adventures, and magic moments.
• Listener feedback and guessing the gear of the day.
• Shoutout to the Everyday Bucket List podcast.
• Guess what’s in our gear spotlight.
• Call for your travel stories—share your adventures!
• Listener highlights and our hotline details.
• Joe’s hilarious Peruvian mix-up.
• Safety tips and social posting etiquette.
• Jim’s mid-range adventure in Peru.
• Navigating tour groups and making connections.
• Peru’s challenges and highlights through Jim’s eyes.
• Sacred Valley gems and what’s next on the itinerary.
• Travel essentials, safety insights, and packing like a pro.
• Sneak peek at upcoming adventures and Thanksgiving wishes.

Got a story, tip, or question for the show? Leave us a voicemail (HTTP://stackingadventures.com/mystory) —we’d love to feature you! And don’t forget to check out our gear recommendations to make your next trip unforgettable (HTTP://stackingadventures.com/gotd).

Adventurer Ann joins us today to share her travels through Ireland. Her road trip avoided the major tourist spots so that they could see the "real" parts of the country. What did they experience? How about soaring cliffs, the Lousitania museum, AirBnBs, wonderful foods, and Irish scones! Ann shares all of her best travel tips, including how she creatively made it to Ireland on points and what she'd do differently if she went again (and she definitely plans to go again!).

Looking for our gear of the day list? We added a great new one on today's show. You'll find the whole list at HTTP://stackingadventures.com/gotd

Share YOUR Ireland adventure with us by heading to HTTP://stackingadventures.com/mystory. You'll have five minutes to detail the good, bad, and ugly. Whether it's a funny anecdote or best practices, we want to hear!

Emmy winner Joseph Rosendo joins us! In this special episode, Joseph, known for his PBS show 'TravelScope,' shares invaluable travel tips focusing on the importance of immersing oneself in local cultures rather than merely visiting tourist sites. He emphasizes the need to interact with locals to truly enrich your travel experience. The episode also covers Joseph's thoughts on packing smartly, the significance of speaking a few phrases of the local language, and the art of bargaining responsibly. His candid reflections will give you not only important tips, but also practical advice to enhance your future travels.

RUN OF SHOW

• Introduction to a Special Episode
• Greatest Hits and Special Interviews
• Travel Insights with Joseph Rosendo
• Engaging with Locals
• Supporting the Show
• Upcoming Episodes and Listener Contributions
• Interview with Joseph Rosendo
• Behind the Scenes of Travel Scope
• The Essence of Travel Experiences
• The Importance of Language in Travel
• Curiosity and Spontaneous Interactions
• The Art of Bargaining
• Final Thoughts and Reflections

Looking for our awesome gear of the day page? You'll find all of our favorite travel aids, hacks, and fun toys here: https://stackingadventures.com/gotd

We need your help! We are prepping episodes on New Orleans, Ghost Tours, and Peru & Chile! If you have adventures in these areas, share your stories with us for a future episode of the podcast! You'll have five minutes to tell your story, so let it fly! HTTP://stackingadventures.com/mystory

Today, we'll take you to BACK to Japan, a place that Crystal visited and shared her experiences from. Now we share YOUR hilarious and insightful adventure stories, including mishaps like throwing up in your boss's wife's shoes, avoiding canceled flights due to typhoons, and playing the exchange rate game. We also gather practical travel tips including public transportation, eating at 7-Eleven, and must-try food experiences. Learn the importance of not over-planning, early starts to beat the crowds, and how to make the most out of your trips. This episode is packed with both funny and useful advice to make your future Japan trips unforgettable.

RUN OF SHOW

• Introduction and Japan Trip Teaser
• Adventurers Share Their Stories
• Joe's Daughter's Japan Experience
• Teaching English in Japan
• Travel Tips and Cultural Insights
• Public Transportation in Japan
• Japanese Toilets and Bathroom Culture
• Japanese Cuisine Adventures
• 7-Eleven in Japan: A Unique Experience
• Gear of the Day Teaser
• Travel Planning Insights
• Exploring Japan: Key Destinations
• Travel Tips and Personal Anecdotes
• The Importance of Flexibility in Travel
• Navigating Japan's Transportation System
• Unique Experiences and Local Cuisine
• Final Travel Tips and Reflections
• Gear of the Day and Closing Thoughts

Find more episodes, blog posts, and our gear of the day at https://stackingadventures.com.