For our first episode of the New Year, we are airing our Festivus grievances, just a little late. Jim and Zack welcome back Jim's sister, Kiki, and niece, Kitta, to the show. All while noshing on Jim's homemade spicy chocolates, the crew narrows down their biggest pet peeves, bracket style. Slow left lane drivers? Texters with bad etiquette? Shoppers who block the grocery aisle? Find out which pet peeve is the worst of them all.

Jim's sister Kiki has a problem. She's a long time Michelob Ultra drinker but after years of listening to the Backyard Road Trips podcast, she's ready to dip her toe into the world of craft beer. Jim and Zack have been tasked with finding the perfect gateway beer. Jim has devised a plan- a blind taste test of lighter beers. These are a mix between macro and micro brews, with Mich Ultra being one of them. Jim, Zack and Kiki are joined by Kiki's daughter (and Jim's niece) Kitta. Will she be able to identify the Ultra? Listen up to find out! Prost!

Zack and Jim are excited to welcome Melissa Rodway to the show. Melissa is an adventurer, writer, podcaster and owner of FLY Travel Media. Melissa shares with us some of her favorite (and least favorite) travels around the world, how she fits travel into her schedule, and her favorite backyard road trips. For more information about Melissa, check out www.flyrodway.com, as well as her memoir, The People You Meet.

After a year of growing a variety of hot peppers, it's harvest time! Jim shares his peppers with Zack and guests including his wife, Katie Wheeler and good friend Tim Lawless. The four share nibbles of hot peppers that become increasingly hotter on the Scoville scale, all while broaching hot topics, including dogs in stores and reclinging airplane seats. Listen up!

Zack and Jim are back with guest, Tim Lawless. Initially the conversation begins with their favorite fall beers, with references to past pumpkin beer taste tests (see earlier seasons). Eventually, it descends into the world of non-alcoholic beer. Why would it be appealing? Do any of the NA beers make the cut? Listen to find out!

Jim, Zack, and special guest, Tim Lawless join us for a session of Brews and Boos. Jim, homebrewer extraordinaire, let's sample four of his newest beers: a spicy pumpkin ale, a holiday ale, a black IPA, and a smoked stout. In addition, the trio shares with us their favorite scary stories, especially ones that have happened close to home.

Jim and Zack welcome photographer, Angela Andrieux, to the show! Angela shares with us her passion for photography, how she initially got into taking pictures and her favorite backyard road trips. She also tells us all about Mylio, the photo archival company where she works.

Jim, Zack and special guest Ian Cheney welcome you to a very special episode. In this episode, they preview their new podcast, which launches in September, called "Red & White @ Silver". The trio are graduates of the Norwich (CT) Free Academy, Class of 2001. After Ian was a guest on Backyard Road Trips, he conceived of the idea for this podcast. Ian, Zack and Jim would spend the next two years interviewing more than 40 fellow graduates from NFA's Class of 2001 to find out where life has taken them. Episodes will be airing once a week through June in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of their senior year in high school. Many thanks to the NFA Foundation, which has been unwavering in its support of this project!