A human interest podcast featuring stories based on actual experiences I have had while traveling by train or bus. Episodes put the listener in the middle of dramatic human interaction with fellow travelers. Shocking — Amusing — Confounding — Reassuring.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/7/20/16/21df9085-0f78-4a10-8b70-d99655d339f1_rails_and_trails_-_july.mp3

Characters surface, from buoyant to grim, during a circuitous trip through New England and back to Chicago.

Funny Things Happened on the Way through New England

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/6/22/22/8aac5954-b590-4ddb-9541-a597369f6584_rails_n_trails_06-22-23.mp3

A series of lively conversations with vibrant personalities during an all-day and overnight train trip from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and then on to Chicago.

The Amtrak Pennsylvanian and the Capitol Limited.

A series of lively conversations with vibrant personalities during an all-day and overnight train trip from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and then on to Chicago

A Palm Reader, a Teacher, an Amish Mountain Man, and a Chaplain. Philly to Chicago via Pittsburgh

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/5/20/1/ebbf119d-b029-4acf-8f00-b1038f40220e_redemption__transition_and_trains.mp3

A new type of content, discussing the metaphorical role of trains in recorded music. For this episode, we dig into some of the music of Johnny Cash, including his prototypical I’ve Got a Thing About Trains.

Johnny Cash — Redemption, Transition, and Trains

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/10/22/71550983-ba48-490d-8d03-6c55712d44a9_rails_and_trails_april_10th.mp3

An animated bus trip from Los Angeles to the Central Valley includes a front row seat to the LA Teachers Strike, and a bust involving at least a dozen law enforcement officers.

An animated bus trip from Los Angeles to the Central Valley includes a front row seat to the LA Teachers Strike, and a bust involving at least a dozen law enforcement officers

A Teachers strike , a bust, and a bus with dead batteries.  Downtown LA to Fresno.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/10/23/29500d3e-78b3-4984-891e-3a504c973914_rails_and_trails_april_10th_clip_1.mp3

Jump on board for an animated coach ride from downtown LA up to the Central Valley. Includes a front row seat to the LA teachers strike and a bust involving at least a dozen law enforcement officers.

Jump on board for an animated coach ride from downtown LA up to the Central Valley. Includes a front row seat to the LA teachers strike and a bust involving at least a dozen law enforcement officers

Trailer — A Teachers strike, a bust, and a bus with dead batteries. LA to Fresno.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/24/12/c78f22dc-8898-481f-826f-6023f6aece64_rails_and_trails_episode_6.mp3

Personalities and Performance, from the Cafe to the Cafe Car,

Cardinal Rules — Train from DC to Chicago

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/24/12/2f4d86fc-9b5e-481e-b314-2566c8477c54_ep6_clip.mp3

Personalities and performance — from a cafe to the cafe car.

Trailer — Cardinal Rules

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/23/15/3c3f1c2a-5a6c-4c35-8bd7-4c5c10d4dd9e_ep5_clip_2.mp3

A stabbing, a failed barter, and a genuine smile during a marathon bus ride from Orlando to Chicago.

Trailer — A Wink and a Series of Nods.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/23/10/467c795f-9aa1-4541-be61-955f701234a8_ep4_clip.mp3

Courage, anger, and goodness converge on Amtrak route from Albuquerque to Chicago.

Trailer — 90% Asters

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/23/10/fea924ec-ae69-48c8-bdd3-500bbed434d7_rails_and_trails_episode_4.mp3

Courage, anger, and goodness converge on an Amtrak route from Albuquerque to Chicago.

90% Asters — Train from Albuquerque to Chicago

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/23/15/44902b77-4835-4ba1-8ea5-7309401f125b_rails_and_trails__episode_5.mp3

A stabbing, a failed barter, and a genuine smile during a marathon ride from Orlando to Chicago

A Wink and a Series of Nods. Bus ride from Orlando to Chicago

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/12/14/c4a6ba9f-b114-4c94-b3bf-051532e3f7f7_ep3_clip_2.mp3

Random acts of generosity occur during a train ride from Portland to Chicago.

Trailer 2 — Generosity at the Edges.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/12/14/a6516069-077a-47b7-8366-1ba87232b6f8_ep3_clip_1.mp3

Trailer — Generosity at the Edges

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/12/14/e4d6cccc-ead8-437e-a041-c6fabc56a62e_ep2_clip_2.mp3

A wild bus ride across Pennsylvania — with a miscreant driver during a winter storm.

Trailer 2 — Storming Across Pennsylvania

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/12/14/7e6ceab3-f89d-450e-b119-46a63ca8d2f0_ep2_clip_1.mp3

A wild ride across the Keystone State with a miscreant driver during a winter storm.

Trailer — Storming across Pennsylvania

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/12/14/b666e702-d52e-45c6-81eb-fa9627dfcd23_ep1_clip_2.mp3

Sneak peek into the lively interaction in a bus station.

Trailer 2 — A Night in Kentucky

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/12/14/6b9cf085-f580-426b-a025-c3a56fd3777a_ep1_clip_1.mp3

A sneak peek into the lively interaction in a bus station.

Trailer — A Night in Kentucky

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/1/23/139ee01a-6e20-444b-9352-45cfbda4f557_rails_and_trails_episode_3.mp3

Random acts of generosity occur during train ride from Portland to Chicago.

Random acts of generosity occur during train ride from Portland to Chicago.

Generosity at the Edges — Train from Portland to Minneapolis

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/1/23/c0abe5e3-fd9a-46c0-9b19-87ec57318064_rails_and_trails_episode_2.mp3

A wild bus ride across the Keystone State, with a miscreant driver in a terrifying winter storm.

A wild bus ride across the Keystone State with a miscreant driver in a terrifying winter storm.

Storming Across Pennsylvania — Bus from Philadelphia to Chicago

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/1/26/15/598b860b-86a2-4622-833b-b360d9d074e9_rails_and_trails_episode_1.mp3

Colorful characters create drama and anxiety while held up in the bus station.

A Night in Kentucky — Bus ride from Lexington to Louisville to Chicago

A human interest podcast telling stories, 15-20 minutes long,  of interaction with people and places I encounter while traveling the country on trains on buses.