Travels With Randy Podcast Route 66 In The Fall of '26 Episode 7: Joplin, 13.3 Miles Of Kansas, And Eastern Oklahoma Is Live

Bubba and Randy discussed the impact of Amazon Prime Day on book sales, with both agreeing that while sales during the event are high, the weeks leading up to and following Prime Day tend to be lower due to discounting and consumer expectations. They also talked about changes in media consumption, noting how people now use phones instead of physical newspapers and how this affects attention spans. The conversation concluded with a discussion about ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) and its effects on listeners.

Randy discussed his current Route 66 trip, explaining that he now drives only two hours per day and stays at Cracker Barrel, Walmart, or rest stops, allowing him to visit museums and take breaks. He shared positive experiences in Illinois and Missouri, noting that Illinois did a good job with Route 66 preservation despite concerns it might be like California. Randy has now traveled through Oklahoma and Kansas, with particular mention of Galena, Kansas which features Route 66 landmarks including Mater and Gearhead Curios.

Randy discussed the current state of Route 66 in Kansas, noting that the 13-mile stretch through Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs remains largely unchanged despite its historical significance. They highlighted the Rainbow Bridge as a notable feature and observed that these small towns have experienced population decline while maintaining relatively few businesses. Randy expressed concern about abandoned buildings and gas stations along the route, suggesting that making Route 66 a national trail would help incentivize revitalization efforts in these communities.

Randy described a Route 66 trip from Springfield to Joplin, highlighting several historical sites including a century-old barbershop with gas station history, the Red Oak II sculpture museum created by Lowell Davis, and the Boots Court Motel in Carthage. The discussion noted that many family businesses along Route 66 have been operated for generations, which is unusual compared to other industries where younger generations typically leave family operations. Randy also mentioned that Route 66 through Joplin was under significant construction during the visit, making it difficult to access and photograph some areas.

Randy discussed his distribution of Route 66 calendars across multiple states, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, with counters in various towns along the route. He highlighted the scenic benefits of driving Route 66 instead of the toll interstate, offering a more relaxing and informative journey through smaller towns. The conversation included a fun fact about Quapaw, Oklahoma, being the hometown of BJ Honeycutt from the TV show MASH, confirmed by Beth during the call.

Randy and Bubba discussed the differences in population sizes between California and Illinois towns, with Randy noting how surprising it was to see smaller towns in Illinois compared to California's larger suburbs. The conversation then shifted to future robotics and AI developments, with Bubba expressing concern about how rapidly technology is advancing and the ethical implications of AI-generated content that is indistinguishable from real humans. They discussed how AI is already being integrated into their work processes, including podcast technology that can automatically generate conversation summaries.

Bubba and Randy discussed the integration of AI into everyday technology and its impact on business processes. Bubba shared how he uses Bubba AI to automate tasks related to analyzing product lists, reducing the time required from eight hours to a few hours. Randy highlighted how AI tools like Muse and Vector can streamline tasks such as email management and cleaning up contacts. They also explored how advancements in photography technology, including shooting in RAW format and using tools like Adobe Lightroom, have democratized high-quality image capture, allowing even smartphone users to achieve professional-looking results.

Randy discussed his approach to photography, describing himself as a documenter rather than a technical photographer who waits for perfect lighting conditions. He shared details about his Route 66 photography project and his recent visit to the Coleman Theater in Miami, Oklahoma, which he had previously been unable to access due to limited opening hours. During the conversation, Randy revealed for the first time that he had acted in high school plays and college productions, including a role as a Puerto Rican gang member in "Crossing the Switchblade" at Southern California College in 1985.

Randy shared details about his recent Route 66 trip in Oklahoma, highlighting key attractions including the Coleman Theater, Ribbon Road, Totem Pole Park, Chelsea's underpass mural, and the Blue Whale of Catoosa. He noted that while many motels along the route remain abandoned due to reduced traffic, some have been converted into unique accommodations like an old gas station turned Airbnb. Randy also described visiting Texola, a small town with only about 40 residents, where he discovered that the town's well-maintained church had burned down just a week before his visit.

Randy and Bubba discussed their podcast's progress, noting they are approaching 40,000 followers on Facebook and have had posts reach 500,000 views. They planned to continue their Route 66 journey next week, covering from Tulsa to Texas, and discussed Randy's upcoming trip to Alaska to visit eight national parks. The conversation also touched on their social media strategy across different platforms and Bubba's challenges with copyright issues on YouTube and other platforms.

 

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