Coffee With Jim

It's a dusty desert crossroads with quite a story. It is mentioned in the song about getting your kicks on Route 66. And it has a connection to Louis Chevrolet, Hollywood history, Charles Lindbergh and even Pamela Anderson. By tapping into its amazing story Kingman is being transformed into a destination, a small town with a sense of community infused with infectious enthusiasm,  On this episode of Coffee With Jim from Jim Hinckley's America we talk about my adopted hometown's amazing story, and how that story is being used to transform the city. It's another tale of inspiration, from road trips to historic district transformation.  Jim Hinckley's America is a shared adventure. Do you have an adventure to share? Do you have a story of community transformation to share? Drop us a note! 

The best way to discover America is wth a road trip. And the best road trip is on Route 66. Two days or two weeks, a Route 66 adventure is almost magical.  In this episode author Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America talks about a recent road trip, shares a few tips, and gives a few recommendations for motels, restaurants and attractions. Road trip inspiration, telling people where to go, and sharing America's story. It's what we do!  Recommendations include:  Lodging and restaurants in Stroud, Oklahoma Lodging in Tucumcari, New Mexico Restaurants in Tulsa and Weatherford, Oklahoma Restaurants in Gallup, New Mexico  Coffee With Jim and Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored in part through listener support on Patreon. It is also made possible by RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner Gift Shop, Route 66 Navigation, and Gilligan's Route 66 Route 66 Tours. 

The Fourth of July is a holiday that allows the nation to consider our past without being stuck there. And it is an opportunity to look forward without forgetting where it came from. Yes, it is fireworks, family, friends, music and barbecues. And yes, it is a time for reflection. Our nation's founders did not leave us with a finished product when they signed the Declaration of Independence or replaced the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They left us a framework, a challenge, and a goal to pursue. That has been the message shared by presidents for more than 200 years. The history of Fourth of July celebrations is one of the most fascinating chapters in America's story. And sharing America's story is what we do at Jim Hinckley's America.  We do this with support from listeners through Patreon. We also do this with support from the folks at Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park.   

Burbank, California is a rare urban gem. It retains a mid century California vibe and a sense of identity even though it is surrounded by the largest megalopolis in the country. On today's episode Jim Hinckley shares tips for exploring the area, and takes the listener to 1950s time capsule diners and restaurants. And he also has found a delightful neon lit mid 1950s motel that is centrally located to just about everything! Coffee With Jim and Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored by listeners through Patreon. It is also made possible by the support of the Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and RouteTrip USA. 

Celebrating the American story is more than fireworks and festivals. The nation’s 250th anniversary is a time for reflecting on legacy, what it means to be an an American and the future.  For President Gerald Ford the bicentennial was an unprecendented opportunity to heal and unite the country after the tumultuous years of Vietnam, the Watergate scandal and President Nixon’s unprecedented abuse of power, and a decade of assasinations and riots. He tasked his cabinet and challenged congress to use the bicentenial as a catalyst for uniting the country. Ford saw his loss to Jimmy Carter by a mere two percent as another opportunity to bring the nation together.  That was an act that Carter, media, and members of congress later praised for healing the nation. This was in stark contrast the election of 1876 or 2020. Coffee With Jim is made possible through the support of listeners on Patreon. It is also made possible by Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deanna Nelson State Farm Insurance, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA and Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucuncari, New Mexico. 

Not many people know that the cornerstone for the American auto industry, and the U.S. highway system, is the bicycle. And not many people know that Henry Ford played a role in the establishment of Cadillac, that a tsunami of manure was resolved with electric buses, or that David Buick made his firt fortune with plumbing innovation.  So, that is where this book would begin, the origins of the auto industry. This is a new-old-idea keeps popping into my thoughts. Like a Model T Ford pushed into a back corner of the barn for decades, there are project ideas that are shelved until there is more time to transform them into a reality. That project is Bathtubs, Birdcages & Chevrolet.  Coffee With Jim, the Podeban edition, is where we share chapters from America's amazing story. Coffee With Jim, the Sunday morning virtual diner where we gather to talk road trips, adventure, and historic preservation,  Jim Hinckley's America is sponsored by listeners through Patreon. It is also made possible by Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.  

Dawn of a new era on Main Street. A renaissance movement is transforming towns large and small as grassroots initiatives restore vibrancy to historic business districts. Kingman, Arizona, my adopted hometown is an example of how a community can be transformed into a destination for visitors as well as for people looking for a place to open a business, to raise a family or to retire.  Innovative projects and initiatives brought to fruition by the passionate volunteers at Kingman Main Street are a shining example of what can be accomplished with vision, with leadership, and with focus on building a sense of community and community purpose. The work of this organization and other grassroots initiatives serve as an excellent case study on how to restore an historic business district.  Kingman Main Street -  Kingman Tours - 

That didn't work. We were enjoying a delightful and inspiring conversation with Matt Wagner and Leslie Anne Eades that are working with Patrick O Connor and Margaret McMullan on a documentary about Joe Barr's attempt to set a non-stop cycling world record on Route 66. A brief internet outage brought the program to an abrupt end at the 29 minute mark.  It was sort of like planning the ultimate road trip and then having the wheels fall of the bus at the end of the driveway. Still, the comments have been positive. If you would like more information about Joe Barr's Route 66 adventure this link is for his website. Follow along on Instagram @joebarrroute66filmproject Join us on Sunday mornings, 7:00 Arizona time for Coffee With Jim on the Jim Hinckley's America YouTube channel.   

Life after sixty slows down but the world seems to be moving faster. In this shared adventure author Jim Hinckley shares a milestone, and provides a darkly comedic update on his ongoing battle with tech.  In this new series from Jim Hinckley's America, Jim will be sharing surprising chapters in the American story, and his thoughts about life lived in the shadow of turning seventy. It's a another shared adventure.  Jim Hinckley's America is made possible through listeners support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, RouteTrip USA, and Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance. 

It's the dawn of a new era at Jim Hinckley's America and we wanted to share some exciting, and a few darkly comedic, updates. On today's program: We confirm that Jim Hinckley and Jim Hinckley's America is still going strong -  Provide an update about Coffee With Jim, our weekly podcast -  Invite you to check out a few new additions to the Jim Hinckley's America network -  Spark a bit of excitment about this new chapter in the Jim Hinckley's America story -  Invite you to share the adventure as we tell America's story and inspire a road trip or two - 

On today’s episode of Coffee With Jim we visit with Professor Peter Dedek, author and professor of public history at Texas State University. Peter has a delightful new book, Hip To The Trip, Route 66 centennial edition that provides some interesting perspective on this storied old highway. Aside from a thorough dive into the history of the road and the evoution of its culture, this fully revised update of the classic first edition highlights how the renaissance has reshped Route 66. Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. But like a good book, when one chapter ends another begins. The live stream Coffee With Jim podast on Podbean is coming to an end. In mid May the live stream option will no longer be available. Stay tuned for details but at this time it looks like we will be moving the program to our Substack hub or YouTube channel.   

Today's program was a double header with one common theme, Route 66 centennial celebrations. First was our conversation with Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and director of the National Trust’s Preserve Route 66 Initiative. We started with a discussion about restaurants and revitalization initiatives in Tulsa, and the upcoming Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan, organized by the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership. And then we talked about the AAA Route 66 Road Fest as well as the 37th annual Route 66 Fun Run organized by the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, an epic Route 66 centennial celebration. Our conversation was chock full of road trip inspiration, and a healthy dose of Rhy’s infectious enthusiasm for all things Route 66. Our conversation will inspire thoughts of road trips, building a sense of community, and historic district revitalization.  Next we talked with Jessica May about the upcoming Route 66 Fun Run and progress made by the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation on development of the wrold's first electric vehicle museum in Kingman, Arizona. Linking the two topics was a discussion about EV evolution and development, new tech, and road trips in a Tesla.  On May 3, we continue our discussion about Route 66 as our guest will be Peter Dedek, author and professor of public history at Texas State University. Peter has a delightful new book, Hip To The Trip, Route 66 centennial edition that provides some interesting perspective on this storied old highway. Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. Join us for a road trip inspiring conversation that will provide you with a different persepctive on the most famous highway in America. Invite your friends! Coffee With Jim is made possible through the support of listeners on Patreon. It is also sponsored by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner Gift Shop, Wagon Wheel Motel, and RouteTrip USA.    

I have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to visit with David Schwartz of David Schwartz Photography - www.picsonroute66.com. His work to document America’s two lane highways with photographic artistry has inspired countless road trips. But it is his focus on iconic Route 66 that has made him a legend. Attesting to his dedication to the craft and his artistic skills, David recently announced, ”In recognition of this sustained work, several of my Route 66 images were selected for the official U.S. Postal Service Route 66 Centennial Stamp Collection.” If you are a road trip enthusiast, are getting excited about Route 66 centennial milestones, or are a passionate photographer this program is for you! Next week on Coffee With Jim, we will be visiting with Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and director of the National Trust’s Preserve Route 66 Initiative. This conversation will be akin to kicking off the day with a double shot of espresso. Rhy’s infectious enthusiasm will inspire thoughts of road trips, building a sense of community, and historic district revitalization. Share the adventure, join the conversation, and invite your friends. Coffee With Jim is made possible through the listeners support on Patreon. It is also sponsored in part by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner Gift Shop, Wagon Wheel Motel, and RouteTrip USA.     

On this episode of Coffee With Jim, if the soft vibrant glow and entrancing hum of neon is an inspiration for your road trips, today’s conversation with Todd Matuszewicz is not one that you will want to miss. Our hour together went by far to quickly as we discussed the history of neon signs, neon sign preservation, how the Route 66 centennial has contributed to the renaissance of neon signage, and an ambitious initiative to relight the night in Colorado with neon. We even squeezed in a mention of the upcoming Hotel Beale scaffold neon sign relighting on May 2 in Kingman, Arizona and the recent relighting of the towering Chrysler Plymouth neon tower in Bristow, Oklahoma. And we found a few ways to inspire a road trip or two by discussing neon lit treasures such as the century old Grand Central Market along Route 66 in the historic heart of Los Angeles.  On the April 19, 2026, epsiode of Coffee With Jim, I have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to visit with David Schwartz of David Schwartz Photography. His work to document the roadside on America’s two lane highways with photographic artistry has inspired countless road trips. David recently announce, ”In recognition of this sustained work, several of my Route 66 images were selected for the official U.S. Postal Service Route 66 Centennial Stamp Collection.” If you are a road trip enthusiast or passionate photographer this program is for you! Coffee With Jim is listener supported through Patreon. It is also sponsored in part by Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance - Two Lane America - Roadrunner Lodge Motel - Wagon Wheel Motel - Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park - Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner Gift Shop - RouteTrip USA. 

On today’s program we are serving up a heaping helping of road trip inspiration and innovative ideas about historic preservation, cultural and heritage tourism, related economic development, and the Route 66 centennial. Today’s guest is Ken Busby, Executive Director & CEO, Route 66 Alliance and Contributing Editor of Route 66 Sentinel magazine. We will be discussing the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and innovative programs and initiatives that are revitalizing the Route 66 corridor in that city.  Do you have plans for celebrating America's 250th anniversary on the Main Street of America? Is your community tapping into historic preservation, heritage and cultural tourism, and road trips as a catalyst for economic development?  Next week on Coffee With Jim - If the soft vibrant glow and entrancing hum of neon is an inspiration for your road trips today’s conversation with Todd Matuszewicz is not one that you will want to miss. We will be talking about the history of neon signs, neon sign preservation, and an ambitious initiative to relight the night in Colorado with neon. Big changes are coming to Coffee With Jim in May. Details were shared on the Jim Hinckley's America website.  You asked and we listened! Coffee With Jim mugs now available on the Kingman Tours website gift shop.  Coffee With Jim is made possible by listeners through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance - Two Lane America - Roadrunner Lodge Motel - RouteTrip USA - Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV - Wagon Wheel Motel - Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner Gift Shop 

Take the excitement of the Route 66 centennial, add a vintage 1973 Chrysler New Yorker, a passion for road trips, and a desire to honor the memory of an old friend, Hans Granberg, a Finnish Chrysler enthusiast. This is the perfect recipe for an epic once in a life time adventure. The trip hasn't even started and the adventure already added some zest to today's lively wide ranging conversation with Markku Jaakkola and Jacob Gilbert.  The duo will be taking to the road in August with plans to experience Route 66 as well as meet the people that infuse a road trip on this storied highway with infectious magic. And they are hoping that their trip will inspire other vintage car owners to discover America with a road trip or two, and to join them for a few miles as they motor west toward California.  You can learn more about the work to make the car road ready, the Route 66 road trip planning, and then the adventure at the Detroit's Unforgotten Wheels website.  Next week on Coffee With Jim we are serving up a heaping helping of road trip inspiration and innovative ideas about historic preservation, cultural and heritage tourism, related economic development, and the Route 66 centennial. Today’s guest is Ken Busby, Executive Director & CEO, Route 66 Alliance. We will be discussing the AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and innovative programs and initiatives that are revitalizing the Route 66 corridor in that city. Invite your friends and join the conversation. Today's program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Wagon Wheel Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and RouteTrip USA. It is also listener supported through Patreon. 

It’s a riveting story of 19th century crime, violence, the railroad, racial tension, and injustice in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California. Steve Reyes has a diverse background that includes work in law enforcement and with courts. That made him the perfect person for unraveling and telling this fascinating story in his book, Four Miles East of Bagdad. Aside from a lively conversation about a desert oasis with a Route 66 connection we found time to talk about ghost towns, forgotten cemeteries in the desert, immigrants and 19th century railroad life in the Mojave Desert.  Today's program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Wagon Wheel Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and RouteTrip USA. It is also listener supported through Patreon.  Next week on Coffee With Jim, take the excitement of the Route 66 centennial, add a vintage 1973 Chrysler New Yorker, a passion for road trips, and a desire to honor the memory of an old friend, Hans Granberg, a Finnish Chrysler enthusiast. This is the perfect recipe for an epic once in a life time adventure. And it will make for a lively conversation. Invite your friends and join our conversation with Markku Jaakkola and Jacob Gilbert.

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-jfwgn-1a6f9dc Will Grant, today's guest, has mastered the art of living a rich balanced life filled with adventures that blur the line between past and present. His book The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000 Mile Horseback Journey Into The Old West is a masterfully written account of one of these epic adventures. The book blends a childhood passion for the romanticism of the Wild West, a fascination for people and their stories, work as a cowboy and horse trainer, and a career in journalism. In our far ranging conversation we talked about his odyssey along the Pony Express Trail, the changing face of the American west, colorful characters, and a search for authentic history. And we also found time to discuss a horse race across Mongolia, and other adventures. Curious? Next week on Coffee With Jim it’s a riveting story of 19th century crime, violence, the railroad, racial tension, and injustice in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California. Steve Reyes has a diverse background that includes work in law enforcement and with courts. That made him the perfect person for unraveling and telling this fascinating story in his book, Four Miles East of Bagdad. Join us for what promises to be an interesting conversation about a desert oais with a Route 66 connection. Coffee With Jim is sponsored in part by listeners through Patreon. It is also sponsored by RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and Wagon Wheel Motel.

Will Grant, today's guest, has mastered the art of living a rich balanced life filled with adventures that blur the line between past and present. His book The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000 Mile Horseback Journey Into The Old West is a masterfully written account of one of these epic adventures. The book blends a childhood passion for the romanticism of the Wild West, a fascination for people and their stories, work as a cowboy and horse trainer, and a career in journalism. In our far ranging conversation we talked about his odyssey along the Pony Express Trail, the changing face of the American west, colorful characters, and a search for authentic history. And we also found time to discuss a horse race across Mongolia, and other adventures. Curious? Next week on Coffee With Jim it’s a riveting story of 19th century crime, violence, the railroad, racial tension, and injustice in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California. Steve Reyes has a diverse background that includes work in law enforcement and with courts. That made him the perfect person for unraveling and telling this fascinating story in his book, Four Miles East of Bagdad. Join us for what promises to be an interesting conversation about a desert oais with a Route 66 connection. Coffee With Jim is sponsored in part by listeners through Patreon. It is also sponsored by RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Two Lane America, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and Wagon Wheel Motel. 

We had a bit of an audio issue and do apologize but if you have a fascination for aviation history, and are looking to add some zest to a Route 66 adventure, this program is for you! Paul Gaines and Tim Gerlich are writing a new chapter in the long and colorful aviation history in Kingman, Arizona. The Aviation Heritage Center that they are creating will be an educational center that inspires and that connects future generations to the aviation, engineering, and innovation history of Kingman. Did you know that Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart have a Kingman connection? Did you know that the Kingman Airport along Route 66 is chock full of tangible links to the WWII Kingman Army Airfield and is home to a delightful breakast or lunch stop cafe?  Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. So, invite your firends and lets share a high flying adventure with Tim and Paul. And next week on Coffee With Jim we visit with Will Grant who has mastered the art of living a life of adventure that blurs the line between past and present. His book The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000 Mile Horseback Journey Into The Old West is a masterfully written account of one of these epic adventures. First was a childhood passion for the romanticism of the Wild West. After college he worked as a cowboy and horse trainer. Then came a career in journalism, a horse race across Mongolia, and a prospecting adventure in Arizona. Curious? Today's program is sponsored by viewer support through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Deana Nelson State Farm, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Wagon Wheel Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Two Lane America, amd RouteTrip USA. 

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-3kvfd-1a5c1a8 Katie Barthlow of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona has an infectious enthusiasm for Route 66, for building a sense of community, and for inspiring young people to dare to dream big. Join us for a fun conversation that will inspire a road trip or two, encourage you to make a difference in your community, and provide insight into a new generation of passionate preservationists and Route 66 enthusiasts. Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. Join the conversation and invite your friends! Coffee with Jim is sponsored in part through Patreon. Our promotional partners include Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Two Lane America, Wagon Wheel Motel, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and RouteTrip USA.

Katie Barthlow of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona has an infectious enthusiasm for Route 66, for building a sense of community, and for inspiring young people to dare to dream big. Join us for a fun conversation that will inspire a road trip or two, encourage you to make a difference in your community, and provide insight into a new generation of passionate preservationists and Route 66 enthusiasts. Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. Join the conversation and invite your friends! Coffee with Jim is sponsored in part through Patreon. Our promotional partners include Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Two Lane America, Wagon Wheel Motel, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and RouteTrip USA.   

Source: https://www.podbean.com/eau/pb-9eqdh-1a5188c A hallmark of the Coffee With Jim program is wide ranging conversation with fascinating and inspiring people. Today we took that to a whole new level! The discussion ran the gamut from penguins in Antarctica and hiking the John Muir Trail to exploring the Big Bend country of Texas, remaining relevant and engaged as we age, and running a naked 5k. And Pam LeBlanc with an infectious enthusiasm was fascinating as well as inspiring.  If you enjoy stories about people that chase, and then live, the dream, this program is for you. And if you want encouragement to live life to its fullest, this program is also for you. And if you want more fascinating stories, adventures lived vicariously, and inspiration to embrace life, check out Pam LebBlanc's Adventures website.  Today's prqgram is made possible in part through your support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.  Next week on Coffee With Jim - Katie Barthlow of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona has an infectious enthusiasm for Route 66, and for inspiring young people to dare to dream. Join us for a fun conversation that will inspire a road trip or two, encourage you to make a difference in your community, and leave you with thoughts about what it means to embrace life at any age. Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. Join the conversation and invite your friends!

A hallmark of the Coffee With Jim program is wide ranging conversation with fascinating and inspiring people. Today we took that to a whole new level! The discussion ran the gamut from penguins in Antarctica and hiking the John Muir Trail to exploring the Big Bend country of Texas, remaining relevant and engaged as we age, and running a naked 5k. And Pam LeBlanc with an infectious enthusiasm was fascinating as well as inspiring.  If you enjoy stories about people that chase, and then live, the dream, this program is for you. And if you want encouragement to live life to its fullest, this program is also for you. And if you want more fascinating stories, adventures lived vicariously, and inspiration to embrace life, check out Pam LeBlanc's Adventures website.  Today's prqgram is made possible in part through your support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Two Lane America, RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.  Next week on Coffee With Jim - Katie Barthlow of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona has an infectious enthusiasm for Route 66, and for inspiring young people to dare to dream. Join us for a fun conversation that will inspire a road trip or two, encourage you to make a difference in your community, and leave you with thoughts about what it means to embrace life at any age. Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure. Join the conversation and invite your friends!  

Pete Oprisko isn't old enough for a drivers license. But family vacation road trips and books have instilled in him an infectious curiosity as well as a passion for the American story, historic preservation, road trips, and legendary Route 66. So, if you are curious about how we ensure Route 66 and the great American road trip remain relevant in decades to come, and what will inspire a new generation to preserve Route 66 landmarks, today's program is for you. Next week on Coffee With Jim it's a healthy dose of inspiration to embrace life through challenging adventures. Our guests is free lance journalist and adventurer Pam LeBlanc. An Austin-based freelance writer who specializes in stories about outdoor adventure and recreation, LeBlanc writes the weekly Fit City column. Her adventurers include a back to nature 5K, rappelling down a 38-story building, and an odyssey on the John Muir Trail in California. Invite your friends and join us for a lively conversation. www.pamleblancadventures.com Today's program is sponsored in part by your support through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & Rav Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Connie's Shoppe and Wagon Wheel Motel, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel and RouteTrip USA. 

Tom Saluzzo, today’s guest, is a man on a mission. His vision of a museum that preserves artifacs from WWI to the Vietnam War will soon be a reality. But what makes this museum unique is the focus that is being placed on the exhibits and educational programs that tells the stories of men and women who served.  Tom's road to pawnshop manager and museum organizer has been a long and twisted one. Along the way there was a stint as an aircraft mechanic, pilot, farmer, and large animal veterinarian assistant. Now he is well on his way to making the Museum of The Great Wars in Kingman, Arizona, a destination in a town with a rich aviation history that includes the WWII Kingman Army Airfield. This episode of Coffee With Jim is about chasing dreams, how a passion for the sharing of America's amazing story can inspire a new generation, and living life to its fullest.   Today's episode is made possible through your support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Two Lane America, Connie's Shop and Wagon Wheel Motel, RouteTrip USA, and Deana Nelson State farm Insurance.  Next week on Coffee With Jim - How do we ensure Route 66 and the great American road trip remain relevant in 2030? What inspires the next generation to preserve Route 66? Will a generation raised with tablets, smart phones, and video games be passionate about road trip adventures? I am asked those questions often. Today we get answers, insight and inspiration as our guest is Pete, an amazing young man that is passionate about the American experience that is a Route 66 adventure. Join the conversation. Invite your friends!

Our visit with Mayor Janet Jernigan in Needles, California will surely inspire a road trip or two! A discussion about the upcoming Route 66 Info fair at the historic El Garces Harvey House Hotel scheduled for February 14, 2026 kicked things off. Then we talked about upcoming events including the annual rodeo, new motels in Needles, restaurants, and the town's surprising connection with some Hollywood classics. And we discussed why this often overlooked community on the banks of the Colorado River should be considered as a destination for a great road trip or for opening a business on Route 66.  Give a listen and then share your memories of a visit to Needles.  Today's program is sponsored in part by listeners support through Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Connie's Shoppe and Wagon Wheel Motel, RouteTrip USA, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and Two Lane America.   

The Route 66 centennial as a catalyst for historic preservation. Building a sense of community and community purpose through historic preservation. The importance of and challenges associated with preserving mid century homes and commercial architecture. The dollars and cents of historic preservation. Our discussion on this episode of Coffee With Jim with Mary-Frances O'Dea, a writer, editor, historic preservation consultant, and the founder of Mid-Century Style magazine, was wide ranging and thought provoking. This episode may be over but the conversation continues. Did our conversation lead to thoughts about historic preservation in the town that you call home? We would like to hear from you about endangered mid century properties, preservation projects that transformed your community, outside of the box thinking that transformed an historic district, or your thoughts about the importance of historic preservation. Jim Hinckley's America is a shared adventure! So, let's share the adventure that is preserving the past for the future.  Jim Hinckley's America, and Coffee With Jim, is made possible through Patreon. It is also made possible with support from our promotional partners including Two Lane America, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Connie's Shop and Wagon Wheel Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, RouteTrip USA, and Roadrunner Lodge Motel.     

Prepare to be inspired! After a few minutes of technical difficulties Roger Naylor and Jim Hinckley resorted to a phone call for a wide ranging conversation about legendary Route 66 and adventures in the Grand Canyon State. Aside from Roger's latest book, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip, these two stoytellers discussed hiking trails, great hole in the wall diners, the infectious magic of Route 66, the challenges and benefits of AI, self publishing, the rewards and pitfalls of being a writer, and adapting to changing times.  Roger Naylor is more than an author, adventurer, and speaker that sparks a bit of smile inducing wanderlust with every program. He is an Arizona treasure. HIs has written 10 books, and his feature articles about hiking and exploring his beloved Arizona has appeared in the Arizona Republic, The Guardian, USA Today, and Arizona Highways. In 2018, after years of writing features for the official Arizona State Visitors Guide, Roger was inducted into the prestigious Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame. He is also the narrator on the Verde Canyon Railroad excursion train. His new book, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip, is ideal for planning an adventure or as a travel companion. In Roger's unique style you are introduced to 110 restaurants, 90 activities and events, and 40 motels, hotels, and inns. There is also a listing of short side trips that willl add some flavor to a Route 66 odyssey in Arizona. Autographed copies are available though his website - www.rogernaylor.com Next week on Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, our guest will be Mary-Frances O'Dea of Mid-Century Style magazine. We will start with a conversation about the role of historic preservation in fostering development of a sense of community. Where we go from there depends on questions asked by the audience! Coffee With Jim is made possible through Patreon. Is also made possible through support of our promotional partners - Two Lane America - Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - Connie's Shop & Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri - Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Kingman, Arizona - RouteTrip USA - Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico -      

If you are a fan of adventures on dusty backroads, the roads less traveled, ghost towns, and desert discoveries this program is for you! Our guest on this episode of Coffee With Jim is Steve of the amazing Sidetrack Adventures YouTube channel.  Steve has taken his audience on rides along the only road that provides access to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, along Route 66 to Budville with its dark history, and to ghost towns long buried under the waters of Lake Mead. To date Steve has shared more than 315 adventures, the colorful stories of pioneering characters, and tales of trails in the Mojave Desert.  Next week on Coffee With Jim, we will be visiting with journalist and adventurer Roger Naylor. Roger has a new book, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip, and that alone should make for an interesting and road trip inspiring conversation.  Today's program is made possible through support of Jim Hinckley's America with Patreon. It is also sponsored by our advertising partners - Roadrunner Lodge Motel, RouteTrip USA, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Two Lane America, Wagon Wheel Motel & Connie's Shop, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.  

The new season of Coffee With Jim kicked off with a healthy dose of inspiration and conversation about the wonders of Kingman and western, Arizona, the life of an artist, public art, and building a sense of community. Our first guest for the 2026 season was J.C. Amberlyn, an artist, journalist, author, photographer, and animator that is passionate about art, animals, and adventure in the Arizona outback. She was honored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department for her work on wildlife in 2008 with the Outdoor Writer of the Year award. In Kingman, Arizona for her contributions to the arts in her community she was recognized with a Women Making History award. Next week on Coffee With Jim, our guest will be Steve of the popular Sidetrack Adventures YouTube channel. You can bet that this will be a lively discussion as Steve has spent years seeking out the road less traveled, the stories behind them, and the forgotten towns that were the reason for these backroads.  You asked and we listened! The official Coffee With Jim mug is now available on the Kingman Main Street Kingman Tours website gift shop. International shipping is available.  Coffee With Jim is made possible with your support through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Deanna Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, RouteTrip USA, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, Two Lane America, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico.    

It's an organized hoarders dream shared with the world. And it is a collection of time capsules without equal along US 6, forgotten cousin of Route 66. The amazing Harold Warp's Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska was the focus of today's conversation with Dustin Southworth. Where else will you find a 1930s Crosley refrigerator with radio built into the door, the world's oldest Buick, an operational mid 19th century carousel, a tea set gifted to Abraham Lincoln, and art work by Charles Russell? This incredible museum complex of 28 buildings on 20 acres is home to more than 50,000 irreplaceable items arranged in groups and in the chronological order of their development including more than a dozen vintage aircraft, antique tractors, 350 antique cars, a real Pony Express station, original Curier & Ives prints, locomotives, toys, cameras, and much, much more!  Sharing America's story and inspiring road trips. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America. Preserving America's story is what they do at Harold Warp's Pioneer Village. Learn more about this amazing museum complex in our recent blog post.  Today's program is sponsored in part through Patreon. It is also made possible with the support of RouteTrip USA - Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance - Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri - Two Lane America - Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico   

Big things will be happening along Route 66 in the Texas Panhandle next year! Gary Daggett, President, and Brady Wilson of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas joined us on today's program and provided a Texas sized helping of road trip inspiration. In between our conversation about steakhouses, Brenda at the Midpoint Cafe, and Brady's recent trip to South Africa as an ag student, we discussed the Texas Old Route 66 Association Motor Tour scheduled for October 1–3, 2026 that includes a pre-party in Shamrock on Oct 1 with live music from The Road Crew, followed by the tour itself. The Road Crew is the creator of the Jim Hinckley's America theme song. The Texas Route 66 Festival, June 4–13, 2026, a 10-day celebration in the Texas Panhandle featuring cattle drives, parades, car shows, art walks, and live music, with a finale in Amarillo was also a topic of dicsussion. Enhancing this event will be the Tin Can Can Tourist Route 66 centennial caravan. On the November 16 episode of Coffee With Jim we talked with Dal Smilie, Tin Can Tourists ambassador at large and co host of the Tin Can Tourist Route 66 Centennial Caravan. You can find more information about these and other Route 66 centennial events in Texas at - Old Route 66 Association of Texas - https://www.rt66oftexas.com/ Today's program is made possible through your support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by RouteTrip USA, Two Lane America, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Wagon Wheel Motel, and Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance. 

Our guest this morning is Steve Purdy, a master juggler that often has projects in print, broadcasting, photography, public relations and consulting all going at the same time! His new book, Mascots in Motion, is described as ”An art book celebrating 40 years of photographing the details of special cars and of telling their stories.” But it is much more than that as Purdy masterfully captures the details that once transformed mere automobiles into rolling fine art scultpure. Signed copies of Mascots in Motion - https://shunpikerproductions.com About Shunpiker Productions Shunpiker Productions, LLC is the business entity encompassing the projects of Steve Purdy, mid-Michigan based writer, photographer and producer. Most projects revolve around automobiles including product reviews, travel stories, automobile fine art, interviews, motorist issues and enthusiasm for automobiles old and new. Next week on Coffee With Jim our guest is Brady Wilson of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas. Archived copies of Coffee With Jim - https://jimhinckley.podbean.com/ Coffee is Jim is made possible thorough listeners support on Patreon. It is also sponsored by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico, RouteTrip USA, Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri, Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Two Lane America.