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Description
Pop Culture Passport is your guide to quirky, cool, and nostalgic travel across the U.S.—from movie filming locations and theme parks to roadside attractions and pop culture museums.
If you'd happily add 60 minutes to your trip to visit a filming location, the Jell-O Museum, or a roadside diner from your favorite TV show, this podcast is for you.
Every other week, I’ll take you behind the scenes of iconic and offbeat destinations, sharing their history, stories, and the fun details. Along the way, we’ll dive into theme parks, explore quirky museums, and uncover the real places behind your favorite movies and shows.
I'm Beth Schillaci—aka the Roaming Yeti. I’m a travel content creator, pop culture nerd, and obsessive road trip planner who somehow turns an 8-hour drive into a 21-stop itinerary (because you never know what you’ll find). I’m also the creator of the Quirky & Cool Travel Guide, a curated directory of unique U.S. destinations, and I share even more travel stories and pop culture finds on The Roaming Yeti Blog.
Think of this as traveling with your slightly nerdy, sort-of-cool friend who thrives on deep dives, unique finds, and laughter-filled road trips.
Grab your Pop Culture Passport—let’s roam.
138 Episodes
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Send a text Episode 138 Candy stores aren’t just about sugar. They’re about memory, place, and tradition. In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re traveling across the country to explore some of America’s most iconic candy stores, from one of the oldest candy companies in the country to neighborhood nostalgia archives and full-scale candy destinations. In this episode, we explore: The maritime roots of American candy at Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie in Salem, MAHow Economy Candy in NYC ...
Send a text Episode 137 What happens when a small Pennsylvania town becomes one of the biggest snack producers in America? In this Snack Society Report, we head to Hanover, Pennsylvania — a place where pretzels and potato chips aren’t just snacks… they’re part of the town’s identity. In This Episode How Hanover became the Snack Food Capital of the WorldThe history of Utz Quality Foods and Snyder’s of HanoverThe confusing (and fascinating) story of Snyder’s of BerlinWhat it’s like shopping a...
Send a text Episode 136 If you’re traveling to Atlanta for the World Cup… will you only see the stadium version of the city, or will you side quest into the places locals actually love? Atlanta is getting ready to welcome the world, and yes, the stadium energy is going to be incredible. But some of the most memorable parts of this city live outside the official fan zones. While researching this episode, I kept coming back to one idea: many of Atlanta’s most beloved places exist because someon...
Send a text Episode 135 Did you grow up with King Cake… or was Fat Tuesday pancakes-for-dinner night? In this Snack Society episode, we’re opening both the Snack Files and the Test Kitchen to explore the foods Americans eat on the day before Lent — whether you call it Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. From Louisiana bakery culture to Pennsylvania Dutch kitchen traditions, this episode looks at how food helps us mark time, build community, and share one last moment of indulgence toge...
Send a text Episode 134 What if you could actually visit Hawkins, Dunder Mifflin, or the Double R Diner? In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re taking you on a TV pilgrimage to the real-life towns behind some of your favorite fictional places. From the brick-lined square that doubled as Hawkins, Indiana, to the shadowy forests of Twin Peaks, these locations aren’t just filming sites; they’re places you can walk through, eat in, and explore for yourself. What You’ll Discover: Where to ...
Send a text Episode 133 From English toffee at the Original Farmers Market to the best smash burger I’ve ever had, this Snack Society field report is a highlight reel of food and drink stops in LA that have us still talking. These are the spots we tried and loved during our LA trip—unexpected gems, neighborhood favorites, and breweries with serious food game. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Where to find melt-in-your-mouth English toffee and potato-filled crepes in LAA smash burger that now...
Send a text Episode 132 Ever wonder where to shop or snack like a pop culture nerd in Los Angeles? From iconic comic shops and vintage bookstores to on-screen diners and galactic cantinas, this episode is your guide to the quirky, cool, and cinematic side of LA, one bite and book at a time. In this episode, I share: The bookstores and record shops where Hollywood history lives onWhere to shop for actual TV costumes (with a scavenger-hunt twist)A legendary pub from The Office, plus a Star Wars...
Send a text Episode 131 Heading to the Finger Lakes, Niagara Falls, or even Buffalo? Don’t skip Rochester — this city’s full of side quests you didn’t know you needed. In this episode, we’re heading to Western New York for a quirky detour through Rochester — a city that’s quietly cool, full of history, and packed with creative surprises. From legendary guitar stores and speakeasies to living art galleries, this stop proves you don’t need to travel far to find something extraordinary. In this ...
Send a text Episode 130 What were your favorite travel moments this year — the unexpected discoveries, weird details, or hidden gems that stuck with you? In this final episode of 2025, I’m taking a look back at some of the quirky and cool destinations that weren’t in Los Angeles (shocking, I know). From ghost stories and blue ice cream to offbeat art museums, these moments stuck with me in the best way. Plus, I’ll share what’s coming in 2026 — including a big year for the Snack Society, more ...
Send a text Episode 129 What was your go-to candy in the 80s — and why do those flavors and wrappers still feel so nostalgic today? In this episode, Beth sits down with Jason Liebig, one of the country’s top nostalgia experts and the self-described Indiana Jones of snacks. Jason is a brand historian, packaging archivist, and behind-the-scenes consultant for hit shows like Stranger Things, Mad Men, The Goldbergs, and more. Together, they dig into the sweet, surprising world of 1980s candy — fr...
Send a text Episode 128 Did you know there’s an entire trail of Santa-themed parks across the U.S.—some dating back more than 75 years? In this festive episode, I unwrapped a twinkle-lit road trip through America’s Santa Parks — the vintage theme parks, roadside attractions, and holiday wonderlands that keep the Christmas spirit alive all year long. From the snowy streets of Alaska’s North Pole to the retro reindeer rides of New England, each stop tells a story of nostalgia, creativity, and p...
Send a text Episode 127 What happens when Disney builds a brand-new park… and it flops? When Disney California Adventure opened in 2001, critics called it everything from “underwhelming” to “a state fair with better landscaping.” But two decades later, it’s one of Disney’s most beloved parks — home to Cars Land, World of Color, and Avengers Campus. In this episode, I’m tracing the park’s incredible transformation — from a cost-cutting experiment to a storytelling triumph. We’ll explore: The u...
Send a text Episode 126 Ever walked into a hotel lobby and felt a strange sense of déjà vu? Maybe it’s the chandeliers, the marble floors… or the feeling you’ve seen this place before, like in a movie, a show, or even a Taylor Swift video. In Los Angeles, some hotels don’t just host guests, they host entire worlds. In this week’s episode, we check into some of LA’s most cinematic hotels to uncover how these iconic spaces became part of Hollywood’s story — from early Academy Awards banquets to...
Send a text Episode 125 Would you explore a town where the residents left long ago — but the spirits never did? This week on Pop Culture Passport, we're taking a road trip through America’s eeriest and most intriguing ghost towns. These aren’t just abandoned buildings and dusty streets — they’re places where legends still echo, and the past feels just a little too close. In this episode, I’ll take you to 8 ghost towns with fascinating backstories, haunted legends, and quirky revivals. From fo...
Send a text Episode 124 What if you could walk into a room filled with real props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes treasures from The X-Files? In this episode, I interview Kelly and Jim, the dedicated collectors and co-founders of the X-Files Preservation Collection in Saratoga Springs, NY, the only museum in the world solely focused on the groundbreaking series. This episode dives deep into fandom, preservation, and the personal stories behind one of TV’s most iconic shows.In this episode, y...
Send a text Episode 123 What do haunted saloons, vampire folklore, and alien encounters have in common? They all live in museums you can actually visit — and we're taking you there in this Halloween-ready episode of Pop Culture Passport. Whether you're a fan of horror movies, the paranormal, witchy vibes, or just love an eerie gift shop, this curated guide covers some of the spookiest and most fascinating museums across the U.S. In this episode, you’ll hear about: A museum that houses actual ...
Send a text Episode 122 What’s it like to walk through Sheldon and Leonard’s apartment, visit the Friends fountain, and the school from Abbott Elementary—all in the same afternoon? Join me on this behind-the-scenes adventure through the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank, California. In this episode, I’m taking you along for one of the most iconic pop culture experiences in LA. From backlot facades and famous soundstages to Batmobiles and butterbeer, we’ll explore: How the studio tour works ...
Send a text Episode 121 Have you ever wondered where Walt Disney lived, worked, and dreamed—before Disneyland? In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re heading off the beaten path in Los Angeles to explore the real-world locations tied to Walt’s early career and creative spark. From humble homes to historic restaurants, this is a walk through Walt’s LA. 🎙️ In this episode, you’ll discover: Where Mickey Mouse came to lifeThe backyard railroad that planted the seeds of DisneylandThe cotta...
Send a text Episode 120 What do a Paris museum, a Route 66 road trip, and a carousel pig have in common? They all showed up in the most unexpected way during a walk along the Santa Monica Pier. In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, I’m sharing the charming, surprising story behind one of California’s most iconic boardwalk carousels—and why one particular animal stopped me in my tracks. Here’s what you’ll discover: Why the Santa Monica Pier is the unofficial “End of Route 66”The surprising ...
Send a text Episode 119 What do swan boats, silent films, and a rack of vintage Disney clothes have in common? They’re all part of the story in LA’s Echo Park—a neighborhood with deep Hollywood roots and a laid-back creative spirit. In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we take a walk around Echo Park Lake, dive into its surprising film history, and share what it’s like to explore the area today. Here’s what you’ll discover: The real-life inspiration behind Echo Lake at Hollywood StudiosEc...
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