Coffee With Jim

Navajo code talkers. Route 66 as the quintessential American road trip. Small town America and big cities. The international fascination with Route 66, that highways future, and the endangered small business.

Our conversation with Jonathan Bullington, a Chicago Tribune senior reporter, on this episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, provides a different perspective on the Route 66 experience. Bul...

Except for the savvy Route 66 (or Jefferson Highway) traveler, Joplin, Missouri may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of destination cities. But as we learned in this conversation with Patrick Tuttle, director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, that is about to change. Just check out the Visit Joplin tourism website and discover why this charming old mining town is perfect for a memory making weeke...

Public art does more than add a splash of color. It is a catalyst for building a sense of community. And as acclaimed Missouri based mural artist Ray Harvey of Ray Harvey Art noted during this mornings conversation, it can also be used to transform a community into a destination. Harvey detailed the transformation of Concordia into the official Patriotic Mural City of Missouri as an example. 

There is always a healthy dose of inspi...

This morning we served up a double dose of inspiration and a healthy heapin' of thought provoking ideas provided by our guest Anthony Arno of the Route 66 podcast and innovative Route 66 scholarship initiative. Today's program was a deep dive into the changing nature of education, projects that instill a passion for learning, and ideas on how to share the American story by getting students excitied about road trips and Route 66. 

T...

Jenn Tramaglino has come full circle. And she has had her share of adventures from Amsterdam to Las Vegas and Burning Man. Now she has returned to her roots in Kingman, Arizona. And with Kingman Rental Bikes she is adding her infectious enthusiasm to the renaissance that is transforming the historic heart of this desert crossroads on Route 66.

In our wide ranging conversation we talked about the long and winding road that led Jenn ...

Cafes new and old (Lewis Cafe 1938 and Sweeetie Pies Amish Bakery & Cafe 2025), the Route 66 centennial (and bicentennial), vagabond life, fund raising challenges faced by non profits, social media pros and cons, the appeal of roadside kitsch, historic preservation challenges, inspiring a new generation to discover the magic of the great American road trip, the charm of Cuba (Missouri), and the appeal of Albuquerque. On today's...

Viva Las Vegas! You won't find Elvis impersonators, white tigers, and glittering casinos in the original Las Vegas. But you will find a very special version of small town America peppered with one of a kind diners and cafes, and nearly 1,000 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

You will also find the last drive in theater in New Mexico. Hot springs. A tale of political eccentricity. A connection to Theodore Roosev...

If you are a fan of classic and vintage cars, automobile restoration, and love to hear about their history, this program is for you! Our guest today is Richard Lentinello, the former editor-in-chief of nine car magazines, including Hemmings Motor News, that recently launched Crankshaft, a quarterly publication, in August 2020. And in February 2023, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Antique Automobile Club of America...

Love them or hate them the electric vehicle is here to stay. And they have a history that is rather surprising. Did you know that the first pedestrian killed by an automobile in the US was struck by an electric taxi cab - in 1899? Did you know that the first car built by Ferdinand Porsche was electric? And that was in 1898! Did you know that in 1916 a company manufactured a gasoline/electric hybrid? 

But today's program is not just...

It made quite a stir when introduced in October 2014. Soon the musical road near Tijeras, New Mexico, a Route 66 community, that played a portion of "America The Beautiful" when driven over at a certain speed became quite an attraction.

But did you know that the idea of creating a musical highway is linked to the creative genius of Walt Disney? Surprisingly the concept is even older as the polyphon, a popular type of 19th-century d...

If you are old enough to remember Route 66 before the interstate highway you probably have fond memories of S & H Green Stamps. And if you use an app or Google instead of paper maps, chances are that you will soon be making your own memories with this American classic that was launched in 1896. Did you know that S & H Green Stamps is making a comeback, but with a modern twist?

On today’s program we talked with Carl Norloff ...

WOW! Thank you, Bianca Encinas of South Valley Main Street for a delightful, fascinating, road trip insiring, smile inducing, and thought provoking conversation. 

On this mornings episode of Coffee With Jim the spotlight is on Albuquerque and the south valley, an area rich with centuries of history, vibrant cultural heritage, and one of a kind restaurants. As a bonus this area is bisected by an early, and often overlooked, alignmen...

The AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma is more than just another Route 66 themed event. It is a fun filled, interactive, multifaceted, smile inducing, adventure inspiring, immersive celebration of the great American road trip, its past, its present, and its future. On today's episode we visit with Wade Bray, event organizer, and discuss Road Fest development, plans for the Route 66 centennial and why this is an event that sh...

On today’s program we take a detour from road trip inspiration to talk about internet and cybersecurity for small businesses, the threats that they face today, and protective options with security experts Jim Featherstone and Olivia Golaszewski of Internet Transformed - www.facebook.com/groups/internettransformed. If you use email, have a small business, order online or make use of on online banking this a program that shouldn’t be...

Dream big. Then dream bigger. Add a healthy dose of passion, vision, tenacity, infectious enthusiasm, and ambition. That is the recipe used by Lenore Knudtson and Tim Webb. The result is the transformation of an entire block along Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona, and a major contribution to the renaissance of that community's historic business district.

On today's program we talk with this dynamic duo about Tin Can Alley, Mudd on 66, ...

If today's visit with photographer David Schwartz of Pics on 66 had a common theme it would be inspiration. Inspiration to chase the dream. Inspiration for epic road trips. Inspiration for living life. 

For legions of Route 66 enthusiasts David Schwartz is known for his visual storytelling in Route magazine that captures the infectious magic that is the Route 66 experience. That, however, is only one facet of David's artistry. 

On ...

The Route 66 centennial, the Native American role in Route 66 history, the trials and tribulations of being a writer, the international nature of Route 66 and the future of that storied highway, and tales of preservation battles lost and won, are just a few of the subjects discussed in today's conversation with Jim Ross and Shellee Graham. Pioneers in the Route 66 renaissance movement, Ross and Graham are accomplished authors and h...

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could share the magic of a Route 66 odyssey with friends? Well, that is exactly what Linda Ly makes possible with The Route 66 Cookbook, a delightful blending of history, trivia, and the special recipes that have transformed some Route 66 gems into must stop destinations for the Route 66 traveler. This is no mere cook book. It is the ultimate souvenir for the enthusiast that wants to bring a bit of t...