Why do Americans love driving so much?

This week on Open Tabs, Billy and Joe dive into America's obsession with road trips, RVs, road-trip memories, and the freedom of the open road. Joe shares his experience as an RV owner during the COVID travel boom, while Billy compares van life, international travel, trains, and life on the road.

They debate driving vs flying, explore whether high-speed rail could ever work in America, discuss the future of personal flying vehicles, and share some hilarious rapid-fire travel takes.

Whether you're a road-trip veteran, an RV enthusiast, or someone who'd rather fly than spend 10 hours behind the wheel, this episode is packed with stories, travel debates, and plenty of laughs.

🎙️ Open Tabs Podcast — Ctrl + Alt + Discuss

00:00 - Welcome & The RV Boom During COVID
01:40 - What Exactly Counts as an RV?
03:15 - Joe's RV Ownership Journey
05:50 - The Hidden Costs of RV Life
08:30 - RVs vs Hotels, Airbnb & Camping
11:30 - Why Americans Love Driving
13:00 - Europe vs America: Different Ways to Travel
17:20 - How Far Is Too Far to Drive?
21:10 - Joe's 29-Hour Cross-Country Road Trip
24:00 - Why Road Trips Build Relationships
27:30 - Billy & Joe's Birmingham Road Trip Memory
29:15 - Hidden Gems Along America's Highways
33:20 - Dream Two-Week Road Trips
37:15 - Are RVs Losing Popularity?
38:00 - Why America Is Behind on High-Speed Rail
43:40 - The Future of Transportation & Flying Cars
49:50 - Why Americans Prefer Being in Control
54:00 - Rapid Fire Travel Takes
01:01:00 - Final Thoughts & Closing

Atlanta is hosting the world this week—and we’re asking the uncomfortable question: are we actually ready? In this episode, Billy and Joe dive into what visitors will notice when they land at Hartsfield‑Jackson, from the sheer size of America to Atlanta’s car‑first culture and the much‑debated MARTA transit system.

We talk about recent crime headlines on MARTA, new multi‑million‑dollar security measures, and the long‑overdue upgrade to Atlanta’s train fleet—including open‑gangway cars, charging ports, and better luggage and bike space. Then we zoom out: why do Americans love driving so much, why is public transit so hard to get right in a spread‑out Southern city, and what would it take for Atlanta to feel like Barcelona or London on rails?

It’s not all doom and gloom—we also give Atlanta its flowers. We get into Southern hospitality, the BeltLine, the “Hollywood of the South” film boom, the civil‑rights legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the city’s insanely underrated food scene (barbecue, Waffle House, Truett’s, ramen, fusion spots, and more), and what locals totally take for granted.

Finally, Billy closes with a reminder about Georgia’s local elections, why city and state races matter so much to your daily life, and why you can’t complain if you don’t vote.

00:00 Welcome to Episode 18
01:10 Atlanta Hosts the World Cup
02:20 What Surprises International Visitors About America?
06:00 Why Americans Love Cars
11:00 Atlanta's Transportation Challenge
13:30 MARTA Safety Concerns & Federal Investigation
19:20 MARTA's New Train Cars
24:20 Can Atlanta Transit Keep Up With Growth?
30:40 Is Atlanta Ready For The World Stage?
31:20 What Atlanta Should Be Known For
34:40 Atlanta's Food Scene & Southern Hospitality
36:00 Coca-Cola, Civil Rights & Atlanta History
38:10 What Atlantans Take For Granted
45:00 Best Foods To Try In Georgia
49:30 The Atlanta BeltLine
53:00 Georgia Election Day Reminder
54:10 Closing Thoughts

🎙️ Open Tabs Podcast
Two friends. Infinite tabs. Zero agenda.

If your brain always has 37 tabs open, you're in the right place.

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New episodes of Open Tabs every Monday from Atlanta, Georgia.

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For the first time ever, Billy and Joe are recording the Open Tabs Podcast in the same room—and what starts as a conversation about getting older turns into a surprisingly deep discussion about friendship, vulnerability, mental health, and why so many of us still don't feel like real adults.

Why do friendships become harder to maintain as we age? Why does losing a close friend feel like grief? And why do so many people in their 40s still feel like they're just pretending to have life figured out?

Along the way, Billy shares his experiences with depression and finding community through mental health treatment, while Joe reflects on parenting teenagers, vulnerability, and the importance of investing in relationships that truly matter.

Whether you're navigating adulthood, struggling with loneliness, or wondering if everyone else has life figured out (spoiler: they don't), this episode is for you.

00:00 – First In-Person Recording & Looking Older
02:15 – Feeling Like You're Still a Kid
06:00 – Friendships Across Different Life Stages
09:10 – Losing Friends & Being Ghosted
15:40 – Why Vulnerability Is Worth the Risk
20:00 – The Friends You Can Always Count On
22:45 – Why Adulting Never Gets Easier
27:15 – Finding Friendship Through Mental Health Struggles
32:00 – Depression, Stigma & Oversharing
36:10 – Trauma Bonds vs. Healthy Relationships
40:30 – Final Thoughts on Grace, Acceptance & Connection