Adventures Grounded in Pop Culture (a Top 5 episode!)
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Release Date: 08/19/2025
Stacking Adventures: Every Traveler Has a Story
Want to know how to travel smarter? Ask people who obsess over every dollar and still manage to see the world. Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy just got back from FinCon in Portland, where they collected travel wisdom from some of the sharpest money minds and most experienced travelers they know. These aren't Instagram travel influencers with brand deals—these are people who've figured out how to maximize every trip, extract value from corporate travel, and turn credit card points into actual adventures. From Lacey Langford's wallet-friendly strategies to Steve Stewart's genius networking...
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Here's what most music lovers get wrong about road trips: they hit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and call it done, missing dozens of museums where music history is still alive, personal, and unexpected. Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy sit down with Josephine Matyas and Craig Jones, co-authors of The Music Lovers' Guide to North America, who've spent decades visiting music museums across the continent—from world-famous institutions to tiny storefronts kept alive by passionate locals. They've got the insider stories about what makes each one special, which ones are worth the detour, and...
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Ready to turn your everyday spending into first-class experiences? In this episode of Stacking Adventures, Crystal Hammond, Joe Saul-Sehy, and Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez dig into the art (and a little science) of mastering travel points. Whether you’re a seasoned jet-setter or just starting to explore the rewards world, this episode will help you stack your points like a pro—and actually use them for those dream vacations. From strategic credit card pairing to maximizing transfer bonuses, the trio dives into how to make every dollar work double-time. You’ll learn how to build flexible reward...
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Ever wondered if ghost tours are actually fun, or just touristy gimmicks that sound better on Instagram than in real life? Crystal Hammond just got back from a ghost tour through Alexandria, Virginia with , and she's got answers. Spoiler: this one's worth the price of admission—especially if you like your history served with a side of haunted pub crawl. From the allegedly haunted Gatsby Hotel to the centuries-old Carlisle House, Crystal walks you through cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, and the kind of local stories that make you wonder if that cold breeze was just October air......
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What if the trip you've been dreaming about doesn't have to wait until retirement—or cost a fortune? Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy sit down with road-trippers Miranda and Jason, who just wrapped a 26-day adventure from Idaho to Oregon. Hot springs. Star-filled skies. A night in a giant flowerpot Airbnb (yes, really). And the best part? They didn't come home broke. Miranda and Jason break down exactly how they made it work: credit card points, camping hacks, and the art of saying "yes" to spontaneity without blowing the budget. Because here's the thing—adventure doesn't require endless...
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Imagine if you went to a place where people knew how to save money AND also to have fun? How about if those same people LOVED dishing out advice? Crystal and Joe attended FinCon, a financial media creator's conference in Portland, Oregon, and Crystal shoved her microphone in the faces of some of the TOP money people at the event. Luckily, they all loved it AND shared some incredible gems. From reward stacking to where to stay in the hotel, and from visas to food, we cover everything so that you're ready for your next adventure. Find our Gear of the Day at stackingadventures.com/GOTD Join the...
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Ever dream of packing five countries and a lifetime of memories into less than a month? Buckle up, Adventurer — this episode of Stacking Adventures takes you along for a whirlwind 26-day journey across Europe and beyond. Hosts Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy sit down with globetrotter Jon to unpack the highs, lows, and priceless lessons from his epic family sabbatical — a trip that covered Germany, England, France, Iceland, and Turkey in one unforgettable run. From castles and cathedrals to kebabs and cold plunges, we explore how John made the most of every stop — and how he paid for...
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What happens when you mix rolling vineyards, crashing waves, and a lake so blue it looks Photoshopped? You get Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond’s four-day adventure across Oregon. From sipping Pinot in the Willamette Valley to standing awestruck on the rim of Crater Lake, this whirlwind journey proves you don’t need months off to pack in once-in-a-lifetime moments. Along the way, Joe and Crystal share the highs, lows, and a few surprises—like where to find coastal gems that aren’t overrun with tourists, why Bend might be Oregon’s best-kept secret, and which travel snacks pass...
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Why settle for one vacation story when you can get a whole passport’s worth in a single episode? Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy are joined by fellow wanderlusters from the Stacking Adventures community to swap tales that stretch from Main Street U.S.A. to the shores of Zakynthos. Think budget-friendly Disney hacks, Parisian magic, Chicago deep-dish memories, and the kind of Greek beach you only find when you take a wrong turn and just keep driving. In true Adventurer fashion, these stories aren’t just about where we went—they’re about what we learned along the way. Whether...
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What happens when you spend a year crisscrossing the globe (and occasionally your own backyard) with a microphone, an eye for hidden gems, and a love of a good travel story? You get twelve months of unforgettable moments, unexpected lessons, and more “Gear of the Day” picks than we can count. In this milestone episode of Stacking Adventures, hosts Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy celebrate our first birthday in style—revisiting epic destinations, listener favorites, and the travel themes that defined our debut year. From the romantic charm of Italy and the windswept coasts of...
info_outlineEver daydreamed about stepping straight into the world of your favorite movie, book, or TV show? In this episode of Stacking Adventures, Crystal Hammond and Joe Saul-Sehy set off on a whirlwind journey through the destinations that captured their hearts—both the ones they’ve visited and the ones still waiting on their bucket lists. Some were inspired by Hollywood magic, others by literary pages, gaming consoles, or catchy song lyrics.
From wandering the romantic streets of Paris to tracing the history-soaked corners of Romania, chasing the mythical in a werewolf-haunted Bavarian forest, and imagining a stroll through the high-tech wonderland of Wakanda, this conversation is a globe-spanning mix of personal stories, live audience memories, and unexpected detours. You’ll hear how certain places leave a permanent mark—whether it’s sipping coffee in a real-life movie location or standing in a spot you’ve only seen in 8-bit graphics.
And because every good adventure needs a twist, Crystal and Joe also share some surprising destinations they never expected to love, shout out audience favorites from around the world, and reveal how you could score a premium Adventures by Disney backpack by joining the Stacking Adventures Clubhouse. If you’ve ever found yourself adding “just one more” dream trip to your list after watching a movie or reading a book, you’ll feel right at home here.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
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How movies, books, video games, and music can inspire real-world adventures
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The places Crystal and Joe have actually visited because of pop culture influences
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Unexpected travel experiences that changed their perspective
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Audience favorites—from Moroccan markets to Michigan’s Mystery Spot
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How to join the Stacking Adventures Clubhouse for exclusive perks and giveaways
Questions for Fellow Adventurers:
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Which movie, book, or song has most inspired your travel bucket list?
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Have you ever visited a place just because it was in a TV show or film? Was it worth it?
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If you could live inside one fictional location for a week, where would it be?
Share your answers on our call in line: StackingAdventures.com/MyStory
Want to win a backpack? Join our Facebook group! On Facebook search for "Stacking Adventures Clubhouse" and you'll be automatically entered to win a sweet Adventures by Disney backpack.