Episode 143: Brian Flys to Sydney

<p>Welcome to Episode 143 of <em><strong>The Journey Is The Reward</strong></em><strong>!</strong></p><p>On this episode, Brian is jetting Down Under to cheer on his nephew in the Sydney Marathon, and enjoy a little well-deserved R&amp;R.</p><p>Before boarding the long-haul flight, the guys clear up a few pending items in the cabin:<br /></p><p><strong>The Great Waffle Debate:</strong> Mapmaker Eric weighs in on chicken and waffles. Even though the bird doesn't fly, Eric is firmly on Team Brian, endorsing the total perfection of savory poultry paired with a sweet waffle.</p><p><strong>Insurance Loophole Turmoil:</strong> Allianz reimbursed Brian a paltry $200 for a canceled flight due to a technicality in the policy fine print. Undeterred, Brian is filing a new claim with American Express to make sure he's made whole.</p><p><strong>Paying It Forward:</strong> Listener Mark Van Ramm generously donated his contest winnings—a copy of Brian Kelly’s <em>How To Win At Travel</em>—back to the podcast. Micah’s already plotting a brand-new giveaway contest so another listener can win it!</p><p>Before embarking on the 14-hour transpacific trek to Sydney, Brian took a detour to check out another incredible ride: the Space Shuttle <em>Endeavour</em> at the California Science Center. He was able to sit down with President and CEO <strong>Jeffrey Rudolph</strong> to discuss the magnificent new building built to display the shuttle in full launch position.</p><p>Then, it was strictly premium cabin luxury as Brian settled into <strong>United Polaris</strong> business class experience from LAX to Sydney. He breaks down the full flagship experience, highlighting the top-tier ground services and inflight amenities that make a 14-hour flight feel like a breeze.</p><p>So sit back, relax, and enjoy the stories. Because around here, <strong>the journey is the reward</strong>.</p><p>As always, our ears are blessed by the utterly soul-stirring, goosebump-inducing sounds of the <strong>Madalitso Youth Choir</strong>! Their Welcome and Goodbye songs, recorded straight from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, are pure magic.</p><p>You can always find the audio recording at <a href="http://www.thejourneyisthereward.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thejourneyisthereward.org</a>.</p>