The boys are back drinking.... soda. Do you remember Season 2, when we investigated if soda is a dirty word? Three years later we're digging up this topic once again. Instead of sticking to the big soda guys (Coca Cola, I'm looking at you) we're drinking periphery soda brands- Fresca, Moxie, Jones, well you'll have to listen to find out whatever else. Joining Zack and Jim are Andrew Burnett of Drew's Honeybees, Andy Heist and Danny Lamothe. What soda do you like best? And is it still a dirty word?

Ah! The flowers are in bloom and it must be spring. For our spring episode, we're lucky to have Andy Heist with us in studio. After begging him for many years to come on Backyard Road Trips, he finally graced us with his presence. In addition to Andy, Zack's son Danny, his wife Jackie and his mom, Linda stop by to say hello. The group talk about all fun things coming up this spring including a new walk series from the Last Green Valley, Plymouth's (MA) craft beverage scene, and readying the house and garden for the season. All the while they try Jim's homemade hot sauce (delicious!) with him describing what goes into the hot sauce making process. Along with the sauce, they're sipping beer from home brewer, Mark Winters. To cool their palate, they sample three local vanilla ice creams; Arethusa Farms, Batch, and Hood while hearing about Andy's solar eclipse trip.

Zack and Jim have one thing to talk about, and that is Philadelphia. Zack recently got back from an outing to the City of Brotherly Love and shares with us the whole itinerary. From breweries to historic places, museums to Philly food, they talk about the best that the city has to offer. Along with travel tidbits of what to do in the present day, the duo share hilarious memories from Philly visits from yore. Toward the end of the show, another Philly traveler, Zack's son, Danny gives his two cents about what he likes to do for Philly phun. All while Zack and Jim sip on canned vodka sodas from Stateside Vodka of Philadelphia.

Today we sit down with Ken Lamothe, Radio DJ/C-movie actor/slow pitch softball legend and Zack's dad to talk about his very favorite backyard road trips. The conversation touches on all of the most important topics; craft beer, vacations, ear piercings and backyard floods. Jim, Zack and Ken all discuss what surprising locations have made the best road trip destinations and how to enjoy the culture of a place.

Jim and Zack bring in some hired help for this taste test; Danny and Ken- with three generations of Lamothes in all. They sit around and drink... milk substitutes. Tell the cows to stay in the barn because they sample Oat, Almond, and Soy. Which fake milk do you think came out on top?

Leading off for Season 5 is a special two part combined episode, a before and after guide to New York City. In the first half of the episode Jim asks Zack about his upcoming overnight to New York City. For the first time and after much pleading by his oldest for years, Zack is bringing the family to the Big Apple. He gives a rundown of what they plan to see. For the second half, Jim and Zack get back together for Zack to give a play by play of what they actually did. Zack's son Danny helps detail their NYC adventure. Take a listen to New York City- the plan vs the reality. 

Author and educator, Ian Cheney joins Zack and Jim to showcase their new podcast project, Red and White at Silver. As graduates of the Norwich Free Academy (CT) Class of 2001, the three are in the midst of recording this new podcast. As a preview, Ian, Zack and Jim describe what the new podcast is all about. They also share their own experiences as students at Norwich Free Academy, what makes the school extraordinary and even get to the root of Ian's last name. 

If any Class of '01 NFA graduates are interested in being a guest on the Red and White at Silver podcast, please email backyardroadtrips@gmail.com.

Annually Jim and Zack taste fall beers for this podcast. It dawned on them that they have never held an actual Oktoberfest-only beer taste test. Atoning for their past sins, this was remedied with a taste test with everything under the Oktoberfest umbrella. These include the namesake Oktoberfest beers, Fest Biers and Marzens. In sampling, the pair talk about the differentiation of styles, rank what they like, and additionally discuss a home project they are currently working on.