Coffee With Jim

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 ...

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 wor...

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...

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 ...

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....

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 R...

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 ...

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...

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 Amer...

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. 

I...

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,...

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 ...

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 ...

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 t...

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...

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 bu...

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 Ariz...

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...

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 Mo...