Modhop Podcast - podcast cover

Modhop Podcast

Jake Redmanmodhop.com
DIY travel arrangements can be tough. Each week join experienced travel blogger, plane enthusiast and awkward party host Jake Redman as he and his travel-addicted co-host Anthony Ryan navigate modern travel from the best plane seats to the worst hotel rooms. We dig up the latest options in travel to help make you a better travel-planner.

Episodes

Anthony’s Philippines: “It was an Adventure”

It was a bit of a rough start to Anthony’s most recent visit to the Philippines. This time, he’s got his wife along to visit family and TRY to have a great time. Listen on and find out how AR got things back on track.

Jan 03, 202445 min

Anthony's Amazing Singapore - Toe Dipping Point of SE Asia

The podcast returns after a year-long sabbatical and Anthony's been doing all (or most of) the travelling. Hear tales of hawker stands , infinity pools and the great people of Singapore as we try to get our pod-chops back.

Sep 20, 202332 min

Anthony's Ireland: Hellman's Makes Ketchup Too

Anthony is back from Ireland with stories of beautiful countryside, cows in the road and tips for travel. From Galway to Dublin we dive into the details of his trip and learn what YOU can do to make your next Irish trek a better one.

Sep 30, 202236 min

Dallas, Disney and Deals. Our 100th Episode!

We were so excited to just sit down an do a new podcast, we forgot that this was our 100TH episode! Our plans for a star-studded salute to our pod-body of work was barely afloat at this point anyway so probably for the best that this is just a low-key event. That said, there was some wacky shenanigans aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight this week so we cover that along with a sweet discount for Uber One and point you to a solid breakdown on the current state of high-annual fee credit cards. Plus, we...

Jul 29, 202227 min

AirBnB Cancels Some Cancelling & Jake Thinks Charlotte is a Beach Town

AirBnB axes a covid-era cancellation policy and Jake forgot where Charlotte was in North Carolina…and such. We’re back with a few travel tidbits to cover along with random bits of domestic treks of our own. Get the early Spring vibes of Lake George, NY and Charlotte, NC (Anthony knows where it is) in our latest podcast. Listen now…

May 09, 202221 min

Goodbye Amex Platinum, Hello Milan!

The podcast returns after the guys get through another busy holiday season. Jake and Anthony dive into the planned revamp of the US passport renewal process and touch on more unruly behavior in the skies. Amex Platinum is on Jake’s chopping block once the increased new nearly $700 fee comes due so we break down why it’s not the value it used to be. Also, we finally wrap Anthony’s trip to France and Italy with his stop in Milan filled with drinks and apartment balconies with trees.

Jan 24, 202237 min

Lake Como and the Power of Kids Bop

We dive right into the second part of Anthony's Euro vacation with a chat about Lake Como. He dishes about what to do and what local hops are worth the walk. Plus we dig into changes to the American Express Business Platinum and why it and it's consumer level sibling are losing the war against perk-fatigue. Also, what the heck happened at Southwest? Listen here!

Oct 18, 202130 min

Anthony Talks Nice About Nice…France

Anthony is back and has lots to tell us about his first Covid-era overseas trip. Because he’s full to the brim with shareable info, we’re breaking it into a 3 part mini-series starting with Nice, France. Everything from how he got there to what you’ll need to do in order to get into a restaurant. Plus, travel news with Jake, parasailing and more!

Sep 22, 202148 min

Boom Go Our 100K Ultimate Reward Dreams

We start re-shaking off the rust as we dive into the 95th Modhop Podcast and diving into a ton of Chase-related news. Our fave travel points are up for grabs with a generous bonus for an initial spend on Sapphire Preferred AND news of a Sapphire Lounge trickles in. Plus, United's got plans to get places faster (like, BOOM fast) and we explore our bad spelling. It's all here, listen...

Jun 05, 202120 min

Free Vaccines, Weed And Donuts...In That Order

Anthony welcomes a new chair to his home office while Jake reconsiders Karaoke. Just a few of the topics the guys ramble on about in this episode of the Modhop Podcast. Plus, we explore a story about a Spirit passenger losing it mid-flight, new British Airways first class meals at home and FREE perks for getting vaccinated. Listen:

Mar 27, 202120 min

NJ has Scooters and NY is Open...sort of.

Jake and Anthony talk about scooter and bike programs in their respective towns (Hoboken and Jersey City, respectfully). A man is now free after Hertz ponies up his alibi and New York lifts quarantine restrictions. Plus, we toss around the idea of doing live events. Listen...

Mar 12, 202122 min

Getting To Greece & Our Big Ideas

The guys are back after a couple of months of work chaos. We get some rambling out of our system and chat about being off-brand before providing few details on how to start our own businesses. Travel? Sure, why not. Greece has a big to-do this Summer, we'll talk about that and tell you why stay-cations are still a good use of points. Listen... News Transcription As of today, restrictions for US Citizens travelling to Greece would have you in quarantine for 7 days on arrival BUT that’s a few days...

Mar 06, 202120 min

Alicia Keys In The Concorde Lounge & Part II With Joel Bruner

It's our last pod before Christmas! Jake talks about how he used his few minutes with Alicia Keys via a company (SiriusXM/Pandora) sponsored Zoom meet & greet to confirm details of something he saw at the JFK Concorde Room in 2014 (at the start of "#mileburn2014"). Plus we dig up a quick tip on "secret" Chase Ultimate Rewards partners, find out we're not CNN's fave podcast AND finish our interview with our YouTube pal Joel Bruner. Listen now.

Dec 19, 202040 min

Joel Bruner Seizes Opportunities And Starts A New Journey In Thailand

Building on the opportunities he's had traveling with and contributing to the blogs of travelling foodie Mark Weins (Migrationology, Eating Thai Food), Joel Bruner is charting his own YouTube course. After hitting some travel headlines, we talk with Joel in part one of our interview about the journey so far and how he's handling his growing popularity online.

Dec 12, 202033 min

Suitcase of Clean. Our Chat With Deena Lang.

We skip the whole news portion to talk with Jake’s longtime radio friend and co-founder of Emotional Support Threads Deena Lang about a whole Thanksgivning-style cornucopia of topics. From cleaning your AirBnB during covid times to travelling outside your political bubble, we cover lots of ground. Strap in for family travel tips and a few laughs. Listen now…

Nov 21, 202022 min

A Big Fat Amex Platinum Bonus & SO Much Random

We may veer off course a number of times in this podcast so feel free to skip in a bit for news on an Amex Platinum bonus with tons of potential to earn. We also chat about the major airline alliances pushing for quarantine-free travel soon. Plus, we talk about Zoom backgrounds, seasonal sadness and online chats. Listen now.

Nov 14, 202020 min

Air Marshalls & Angry Neighbors

Modhop hosts are fairly mild mannered but are apparently a nuisance as neighbors in your building. We talk at length about the noise problems in our respective homes but eventually get to some travel news and talk. Airline lounges are more open than you may have thought while Chase and Amex have some pretty good bonuses happening for existing card members. Plus, find out another reason why being a Federal Air Marshall might be less than fun. Listen…

Oct 31, 202021 min

United’s bold Plan for 2021 & our Terrible Plan for on-board Catering.

With Friday naps behind us (well, one of us), we dive into new data about how likely it is that you’ll get covid 19 on a plane. Plus, it looks like United is going to storm back into JFK with a vengance in 2021 and we look at a European airline’s plan to put some chefs back to work. To top it off we’ve got some bad ideas for food on airplanes. Yes, amidst the rambling about sound effects and flu shots, there’s a travel podcast. Listen….

Oct 17, 202020 min

JFK’s new Lounge, Japan & an App That Proves You’re Healthy.

Jake shares an embarrassing moment of lost patience before diving into news about the new Flagship Centurion lounge at JFK, an app that proves you're healthy and an airline that's hangin' in there. Plus, we talk about where we'd want to live in Asia on the arrival of some sort of normal. Dig in and listen now...

Oct 10, 202017 min

Jake Passes on IHG While Anthony Gets Le LIT!

Jake sets a record for getting off course talking about his new phone, why he’ll never fly a plane and his drug-dealing high school math teacher. Somewhere in the mix are our chats about the stellar IHG (Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Kimpton) credit card sign-up bonus and tearful goodbyes from furloughed airline employees. The podcast is here, listen! News Segment Transcript -Chase keeps throwing up credit card deals so it might be time to check your 5/24 again. The bank just posted new offers ...

Oct 03, 202020 min

Covid Tests, That Grocery Bonus and PeePal.

The guys are back again with some long-winded banter about pandemic times wrapped around some travel-related bits. A couple of airlines are offering Covid testing, we’ll break down who and how much. Plus, we’ll talk about Jake’s unintentionally comical appearance on last week’s #figureitoutfriday with pal Deena Lang. Listen… News Transcript & Related Links: Airlines are doing all they can to jumpstart travel. United announced this past week they’ll be offering Covid testing before flights…F ...

Sep 26, 202023 min

Chase Gets Flexy as we Fire the Podcast Back up.

We’re back to give our pal “Contributing Author” a break. We dust off our talking skills to chat about where US Citizens are currently welcome, why NOT to steal sand in Italy and vanishing airline change fees. Plus, we daydream (out loud) about where we want to go next.

Sep 12, 202019 min

New Chase Perks, Sanitizer On Planes & Mike Klein In Myrtle Beach.

After a few weeks of being too busy to pod, Jake and Anthony are back talking a little about travel news and a lot about continued lockdown. In news it's all about sanitizer on planes, Chase's latest round of perks to try and keep Sapphire Reserve customers and more. Plus, Jake talks to radio pal and host of the new podcast "My Jewish Parents" Mike Klein about what it was like to visit a (sort-of) socially distanced Myrtle Beach, SC over Memorial Day weekend. News Transcript: Sanitizer on Planes...

May 31, 202028 min

"Travel Bubbles" & Winning At Groceries

Antony and Jake barrel through kid interruptions (at Jake's house) with ease while catching up on grocery delivery strategies. We also talk about countries plans to restart tourism from a June 1 plan for Greece to Australia and New Zealand's "bubble" strategy. All that and the latest travel credit card Jake just got rid of...Listen:

May 10, 202024 min

YouTube Escapes & Magna-Tiles

Beyond our weekly grocery delivery chat, we peek into possible new solutions for social distancing on airplanes what it might be like to be a middle seat passenger post Covid 19. Plus, Anthony delivers his virtual-vacations online and we find some unusual beds at Tokyo Narita. Listen:

Apr 25, 202027 min

Airline Refunds & Cheering With Yoga Mats

The guys dial up for another check on each other's health and mental well-being. We skim a few stories including what some airlines are doing to keep their money and what hotels are doing to help in the Covid 19 crisis. Plus, Anthony's got some good ideas for passing the time on YouTube that we look forward to chatting about next time. Listen:

Apr 17, 202025 min

Dishes & Screaming Kids Podcast

Jake and Anthony dial in from their lock-down spots to talk about airlines extending elite status, the struggle to get groceries and what travel might look like in after-times. While Jake continues to build his emergency basement doomsday studio, his 800 square foot “home studio” brings the noise (dishes, kids playing) but we do our best to make a podcast out of it. Listen:

Apr 12, 202019 min

The Guys Catch Up In AM Quality...And Get $100 Back.

We're working on our connection but are getting some old AM Stereo-style static, so apologies for the fuzz. If you can handle that part, we get caught up on how each of us order groceries and how often we're going outside during the Covid 19 crisis. Plus, we talk about the Chase Sapphire Reserve $100 statement credit for existing members and Spirit Airlines sudden cancellation of flights to/from the New York metro. Listen here...

Apr 02, 202019 min

Jake’s Updated Guidance on Travel (Spoiler: Stay Home).

Our quickly evolving advice on upcoming travel is at a stand-still, much like most of our lives. Anthony is hunkered-down in Jersey City while we figure out how to do this remotely but Jake’s got some ideas for when you might want to start cancelling flights and takes an optimistic (and wild) guess at when we can start post Covid 19 travel-planning again.

Mar 16, 20209 min

New Fears = Old-Timey Fares & Flexibility

The guys talk about old photos before diving into this week's travel headlines. Airlines get new guidance on cleaning planes in wake of Covid 19 fears while AirBnB now recognizes "extenuating circumstances" in it's change and cancellation policy. Good deals are found in Delta SkyMiles deals and why it's better to call to make hotel reservations. Plus, Will Anthony's Dad make it back home?

Mar 06, 202025 min
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