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Transcript

2023 End Of Year Thank You! · Travel Mug Podcast

• 0:00
  Jenn: Hey everyone.
• 0:00
  Jenn: Welcome back to Travel Mug Podcast.
• 0:03
  Jenn: It's not Travel Tip Tuesday, but we thought that we would wrap up 2023.
• 0:10
  Jenn: I can't believe that we're here, Meggan
• 0:13
  Meggan: No, neither.
• 0:14
  Meggan: Neither can i.
• 0:15
  Meggan: A, this podcast is here and B, that we're as humanity is at the end of 2023.
• 0:20
  Jenn: Travel Mug Podcast is three and a half years old.
• 0:24
  Jenn: I, I don't, it doesn't seem like we've been doing this for that long.
• 0:28
  Meggan: I know our baby's growing up.
• 0:29
  Meggan: It's making me so sad.
• 0:31
  Jenn: It will be going to school before.
• 0:33
  Jenn: We know.
• 0:38
  Jenn: I thought that I would throw out a couple of fun facts for our listeners.
• 0:43
  Jenn: So, our most downloaded episode that we released in 2023 is a beginner's guide to Montreal.
• 0:51
  Jenn: Um, the most downloaded of all time is a beginner's guide to New York City, a Beginner's Guide to London, and then packing.
• 0:59
  Jenn: So people love the beginner's guides and need help with packing.
• 1:04
  Meggan: Well see if they're gonna go to these places.
• 1:06
  Meggan: They need to know how to pack.
• 1:07
  Meggan: So I think those are a, a good marriage.
• 1:10
  Jenn: Yes.
• 1:11
  Jenn: we welcomed eight new guests onto the podcast this year, which I know they're all great.
• 1:19
  Jenn: And it was our best year ever for downloads, and it was, um, it was great.
• 1:24
  Jenn: So we're just really thankful for all of the downloads and shares.
• 1:28
  Jenn: And Meggan, do you have like a personal favorite episode or one that stands out to you from, uh, from the last little bit?
• 1:37
  Meggan: I do.
• 1:38
  Meggan: So I, I know that your answer is similar and it's, I'm not stealing it.
• 1:42
  Meggan: I think we both just have similar tastes, but for me, I really liked, uh, the, how travel has changed over time episode it was kind of a departure from like our normal content and it was really fun to research.
• 1:56
  Meggan: I'm also super proud of our beginner's guides.
• 1:59
  Meggan: the one for London, England, of course, . This year brought us a lot of new listeners, and they always are usually a hit, and I'm glad our listeners enjoy them.
• 2:08
  Meggan: So more of those to come for sure.
• 2:11
  Meggan: What about you?
• 2:11
  Jenn: No.
• 2:12
  Jenn: Yeah, it's, I mean, it's hard to pick a favorite.
• 2:14
  Jenn: I remember being so excited when CATSA emailed us to reached out to be on the show.
• 2:20
  Jenn: I was like, CATSA that, like government was
• 2:24
  Meggan: I know.
• 2:24
  Meggan: We're both like the Canadian government would like to join our podcast.
• 2:28
  Jenn: what?
• 2:29
  Jenn: And I mean, I think it was a really good and helpful episode, but I just remember being like.
• 2:35
  Meggan: I know it was an honor.
• 2:36
  Meggan: Honest to goodness,
• 2:37
  Jenn: it really was It super exciting.
• 2:39
  Jenn: And uh, yeah, that was super cool.
• 2:41
  Jenn: And, and same, I really love the travel, how travel has changed episode, like it was just interesting to research for sure.
• 2:49
  Jenn: And we also got to travel to some fun places this year.
• 2:54
  Jenn: So I went to Disney with my husband and then I also explored some Florida outside of the parks, and I fell in love with Mount Dora.
• 3:03
  Jenn: I'm not even lying to you Now that it's cold outside here.
• 3:06
  Jenn: We've been looking at real estate and Mount Dora, just like, um, how can we move there?
• 3:12
  Jenn: Um, ,we also went to Boston this year for the first time.
• 3:17
  Jenn: We hadn't been there before.
• 3:18
  Jenn: We got to see John Mayer and I really loved Boston as well.
• 3:22
  Jenn: And, uh.
• 3:23
  Jenn: We got to do some, some other, you know, around Nova Scotia trips.
• 3:27
  Jenn: A lot of time spent in the Valley, which is one of my favorite places.
• 3:30
  Jenn: It is my favorite place in Nova Scotia, I think outside of the south shore.
• 3:34
  Jenn: So, yeah, lots of fun stuff.
• 3:36
  Jenn: Meggan, why don't you recap where, where you've been this year.
• 3:41
  Meggan: So 2023 took us to Cuba in the winter.
• 3:44
  Meggan: So that was in February.
• 3:45
  Meggan: While it was not everything we hoped and dreamed for, uh, we had perfect weather, perfect beach.
• 3:50
  Meggan: So, you know, I'm not sad about it now.
• 3:53
  Meggan: Um, looking back, those two things were definitely a highlight of the trip.
• 3:57
  Meggan: also got back to Bar Harbor a couple times.
• 3:58
  Meggan: Of course, we had lots of amazing weekend getaways this year.
• 4:03
  Meggan: The year before I had huge fomo.
• 4:05
  Meggan: After Europe was done, we had nothing booked, and I'm like, I'm not living like that again.
• 4:11
  Meggan: Um, so we had lots of weekends away.
• 4:13
  Meggan: We stayed at some really cool places this year, and a big shout out to New Brunswick.
• 4:17
  Meggan: Um, we found, some of our most, uh, favorite Airbnbs there this I would have to say though, our most favorite one was actually locally located in Clare Nova Scotia.
• 4:27
  Meggan: I booked Peter's 50th birthday.
• 4:30
  Meggan: It was perfect.
• 4:32
  Meggan: So lots of great exploring around, uh, new Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
• 4:36
  Jenn: Yeah.
• 4:37
  Jenn: So Meggan, what are your travel plans for 2024?
• 4:43
  Meggan: So, I am sure we will again, do a couple of weekends to break things up in the winter, uh, bar Harbor in May, as always.
• 4:51
  Meggan: And then we are going back to Iceland for two weeks in June.
• 4:55
  Meggan: So
• 4:56
  Jenn: Yay.
• 4:57
  Meggan: I know, I know.
• 4:58
  Meggan: We're obviously keeping an eye on, and the people and our thoughts there in Iceland hoping that the, a volcano does not erupt and things can go back to normal.
• 5:07
  Meggan: Nothing to do with the trip.
• 5:08
  Meggan: Just hopeful for the people in the country itself.
• 5:11
  Meggan: We'll figure the rest out.
• 5:13
  Meggan: Um, we do still need to plan another trip.
• 5:16
  Meggan: We intend to do a full week away somewhere.
• 5:20
  Meggan: . In September-ish.
• 5:21
  Meggan: We're still trying to figure that out.
• 5:23
  Meggan: I have a plan.
• 5:24
  Meggan: I need to get Peter on board.
• 5:25
  Meggan: more to come and plus my sister and I are going to meet up in Toronto.
• 5:30
  Meggan: She lives in Calgary.
• 5:32
  Meggan: so likely for a girl girls weekend sometime, maybe in September as well.
• 5:36
  Meggan: What about you?
• 5:38
  Jenn: Ooh.
• 5:39
  Jenn: So first up, we have Florida in February.
• 5:42
  Jenn: So similar to our trip from last year.
• 5:45
  Jenn: We're doing a couple days at Disney and then a couple days with our friends.
• 5:49
  Jenn: We're hoping to finally cross the Kennedy Space Center off of my list.
• 5:53
  Jenn: My husband's been before, but it's been on my list for like the last several trips and we just haven't done it.
• 5:58
  Jenn: So this time, um, we've also booked tickets to see Jason Mraz in Bangor, Maine, which I'm very excited.
• 6:05
  Jenn: Excited about seeing Jason Mraz and uh, yeah, I think we'll do a little bit of Maine exploring.
• 6:10
  Jenn: We may even check out Meggan's beloved Bar Harbor just to like see what all the fuss is about.
• 6:16
  Jenn: You know,
• 6:16
  Meggan: right.
• 6:18
  Jenn: uh, I'm also hoping for one other bigger trip in 2024, perhaps to Europe, probably in the fall.
• 6:25
  Jenn: We haven't ironed out those details yet, but I'm like, you know, similar to you.
• 6:29
  Jenn: I'm like, I'm working on it.
• 6:31
  Meggan: Yes.
• 6:32
  Meggan: Understood.
• 6:33
  Meggan: Understood.
• 6:34
  Meggan: We will update when everything comes together.
• 6:36
  Meggan: sure.
• 6:38
  Meggan: Now, from your perspective, obviously our perspective, what can people expect from us in 2024?
• 6:45
  Jenn: Yeah, I mean, more fun episodes.
• 6:48
  Jenn: We know that you guys love the Beginner's Guide episodes, so we're planning to keep expanding on that.
• 6:54
  Jenn: Of course, you'll get, um, travel, um, wrap up episodes, trip report episodes after we travel a bit, and Meggan, maybe we'll take a weekend getaway together.
• 7:05
  Jenn: I mean, who knows?
• 7:06
  Meggan: I think it's probably time.
• 7:09
  Meggan: Yeah, maybe.
• 7:14
  Jenn: Hopefully won't podcast.
• 7:16
  Jenn: We'll still be friends
• 7:18
  Meggan: I'm sure there'll be some stories outta that one.
• 7:21
  Jenn: so we hope that you'll stick around to find out.
• 7:24
  Jenn: So, uh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of both of our hearts.
• 7:29
  Jenn: Um, we wish you and your loved ones all the very best in 2024, and we can't wait to spend more time with you.
• 7:38
  Meggan: Definitely Happy New Year.
• 7:41
  Meggan: We'll talk soon.
• 7:43
  Meggan: All those good things.
• 7:44
  Meggan: It's been such a great year, Jen.
• 7:46
  Meggan: Thank you for being, um, the best podcast partner, girl could ever dream of.
• 7:51
  Meggan: You're the very best and you are the heart and soul, and thank you for everything.
• 7:56
  Meggan: It's, it's a pleasure and let's keep going.
• 7:58
  Jenn: let's keep going.
• 7:59
  Jenn: Like we're, we're just getting started.
• 8:02
  Meggan: That's right.
• 8:02
  Meggan: That's right.
• 8:04
  Jenn: All right.
• 8:04
  Jenn: Take care everyone.
• 8:05
  Jenn: Bye.
• 8:07
  Meggan: Bye.