Backyard Road Trips

Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler
  • 5.0 (9)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Once an avid traveler, writer Zack Lamothe's faraway travel dreams were put on hold as he became a father in 2015. Since then, he's focused on traveling in his own backyard. First a website, and now a podcast where cohosts and New Englanders, Zack and Jim Wheeler talk hiking trails, family-friendly activities, places they enjoy, craft beer and whatever else they desire to. (Along with plenty of harebrained banter). Read more at www.backyardroadtrips.com

  1. 12/26/2025

    Season 6, Episode 16- Festival of Lites (Lighter Beer Taste Test)

    Jim's sister Kiki has a problem. She's a long time Michelob Ultra drinker but after years of listening to the Backyard Road Trips podcast, she's ready to dip her toe into the world of craft beer. Jim and Zack have been tasked with finding the perfect gateway beer. Jim has devised a plan- a blind taste test of lighter beers. These are a mix between macro and micro brews, with Mich Ultra being one of them. Jim, Zack and Kiki are joined by Kiki's daughter (and Jim's niece) Kitta. Will she be able to identify the Ultra? Listen up to find out! Prost!

    1h 4m

  2. 12/16/2025

    Season 6, Episode 15- Chatting with Melissa Rodway

    Zack and Jim are excited to welcome Melissa Rodway to the show. Melissa is an adventurer, writer, podcaster and owner of FLY Travel Media. Melissa shares with us some of her favorite (and least favorite) travels around the world, how she fits travel into her schedule, and her favorite backyard road trips. For more information about Melissa, check out www.flyrodway.com, as well as her memoir, The People You Meet.

    47 min

  3. 11/22/2025

    Season 6, Episode 14- Hot Ones- Hot Peppers and Hot Topics!

    After a year of growing a variety of hot peppers, it's harvest time! Jim shares his peppers with Zack and guests including his wife, Katie Wheeler and good friend Tim Lawless. The four share nibbles of hot peppers that become increasingly hotter on the Scoville scale, all while broaching hot topics, including dogs in stores and reclinging airplane seats. Listen up!

    51 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    Season 6, Episode 13- Zero ABV Taste Test

    Zack and Jim are back with guest, Tim Lawless. Initially the conversation begins with their favorite fall beers, with references to past pumpkin beer taste tests (see earlier seasons). Eventually, it descends into the world of non-alcoholic beer. Why would it be appealing? Do any of the NA beers make the cut? Listen to find out!

    1h 2m

  5. 10/13/2025

    Season 6, Episode 12- Boos and Brews with Tim Lawless

    Jim, Zack, and special guest, Tim Lawless join us for a session of Brews and Boos. Jim, homebrewer extraordinaire, let's sample four of his newest beers: a spicy pumpkin ale, a holiday ale, a black IPA, and a smoked stout. In addition, the trio shares with us their favorite scary stories, especially ones that have happened close to home.

    56 min

  6. 09/12/2025

    Season 6, Episode 11- Chatting with Angela Andrieux

    Jim and Zack welcome photographer, Angela Andrieux, to the show! Angela shares with us her passion for photography, how she initially got into taking pictures and her favorite backyard road trips. She also tells us all about Mylio, the photo archival company where she works.

    38 min
  7. Season 6, Episode 10 - Red & White @ Silver

    08/18/2025

    Season 6, Episode 10 - Red & White @ Silver

    Jim, Zack and special guest Ian Cheney welcome you to a very special episode. In this episode, they preview their new podcast, which launches in September, called "Red & White @ Silver".  The trio are graduates of the Norwich (CT) Free Academy, Class of 2001. After Ian was a guest on Backyard Road Trips, he conceived of the idea for this podcast. Ian, Zack and Jim would spend the next two years interviewing more than 40 fellow graduates from NFA's Class of 2001 to find out where life has taken them. Episodes will be airing once a week through June in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of their senior year in high school. Many thanks to the NFA Foundation, which has been unwavering in its support of this project!

    29 min

  8. 07/31/2025

    Season 6, Episode 9 - Catching Up with Ian Cheney

    Jim and Zack welcome Ian Cheney back onto Backyard Road Trips. Ian has been on here to tell us about his book, as a guest for a historical discussion, and to share information about our other podcast project, Red and White at Silver. This time, though, he's sharing his own travel tidbits and more. Jim also talks travel as he clues us in on his recent trips, including a multi-day hike of the Nipmuck Trail in Connecticut, travels to the White Mountains and Universal Studios. Ian shares his recent overnight voyage in his own town, his upcoming Disney World vacation and his ideal trip. Zack shares about quick trips to New Hampshire, Acadia National Park and Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Once an avid traveler, writer Zack Lamothe's faraway travel dreams were put on hold as he became a father in 2015. Since then, he's focused on traveling in his own backyard. First a website, and now a podcast where cohosts and New Englanders, Zack and Jim Wheeler talk hiking trails, family-friendly activities, places they enjoy, craft beer and whatever else they desire to. (Along with plenty of harebrained banter). Read more at www.backyardroadtrips.com

Information

  • Creator
    Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020
  • Show Website
    Backyard Road Trips