Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip

Zoey Goto: Cars, creativity and canvas

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Route 66 is lined with some of the world’s most unmistakable artwork, and over the highway’s 100 year history, it has acted like a huge living canvas for American art. In this episode, Sean is joined by fashion, lifestyle and travel journalist and author Zoey Goto to explore the route’s striking visual identity, from glowing neon motel signs to giant roadside sculptures to folk art.

They chat to sculptor Mark Cline, who has dedicated his recent career to creating Muffler Men, giant fibreglass statues that line Route 66. And they pay a visit to Galena in Kansas, where they chat to mural painter Sandra Dawn, who’s been creating some special work to mark 100 years of Route 66.

Thank you to our contributors:

Mark Cline, Sculptor

https://www.instagram.com/sandradawnmurals/

To see Sean and Zoey in the studio, watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5sN2bRGx_w

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #zoeygoto #seanfletcher #roadtrips #america #usa #route66 #americancentenary #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ainsley Harriott: A taste of Route 66

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Route 66 serves up a mouth-watering taste of America, with flavours and influences from around the world. In this episode, Sean Fletcher hits the road with legendary TV chef Ainsley Harriott to explore the people, dishes and stories behind the food of the Mother Road.

They chat to Bobby Lee, owner of The Big Texan, about a landmark year as the restaurant celebrates 66 years in business alongside Route 66’s centenary. And in Springfield, Illinois, they meet Josh Waldmire of the Cozy Dog Drive-In to hear the story of his family’s long connection to this legendary roadside institution.

Salivation for the nation! Yeah, boy!

Thank you to our contributors:

www.bigtexan.com

www.cozydogdrivein.com

To see Sean and Ainsley in the studio, watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qOLy7rWv8Y

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #ainsleyharriott #foodanddrink #food #chef #seanfletcher #roadtrips #america #usa #route66 #americancentenary #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ray Mears: The great outdoors

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

When you think of Route 66, tarmac, classic cars and neon signs might be the first things that come to mind. But the Mother Road is also home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the United States. In this episode, legendary explorer Ray Mears joins Sean Fletcher to share his experiences of the natural wonders found along the route, as well as the unique wildlife that inhabit the US heartland.

Sean and Ray also speak to author and historian Jim Hinckley, whose unrivalled knowledge of Route 66 brings the journey to life. He offers fascinating insights into Petrified Forest National Park, along with other must-see attractions in Arizona and beyond.

Thank you to our contributor:

https://jimhinckleysamerica.com/

To see Sean and Ray in the studio, watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT_CeqC_Odk

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #raymears #nature #outdoors #seanfletcher #roadtrips #america #usa #route66 #americancentenary #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Cole: Roots of the road

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

One hundred years. 2,500 miles. Eight states. Route 66 is a living, linear museum: a road where every mile has a story. Joining Sean Fletcher is author, TV presenter and avid motorcyclist Henry Cole, who has travelled the Mother Road not once, but three times.

Together, they meet Arizona-based author and historian Jim Hinckley to discover how Route 66 became so much more than a highway. And in Amarillo, Texas, they visit a brewery right on the route to hear from Amy Von Lintel about the history, and spirit, of her corner of the Mother Road.

Thank you to our contributors:

https://jimhinckleysamerica.com/

https://www.instagram.com/panhandlearthistory/

To see Sean and Henry in the studio, watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-sw0BUFlA

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #henrycole #motorbikes #seanfletcher #roadtrips #america #usa #route66 #americancentenary #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James King: Stories from the screen

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

For aspiring actors, Route 66 was more than just a highway: it was a pathway to Hollywood. In this episode, Sean Fletcher sits down with film critic James King to explore why the Mother Road became such a powerful symbol of ambition, opportunity and the pursuit of stardom in American culture.

Sean and James also speak to Jim Harris, executive director of the Santa Monica Pier and the pier's resident historian, about why filmmakers have been drawn to this iconic location generation after generation. They also meet Renee Charles, president of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association, who restored the historic gas station known as Cars on the Route, one of the key inspirations behind the Disney and Pixar classic Cars.

Thank you to our contributors:

https://www.santamonicapier.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CarsOnTheRoute/

To see Sean and James in the studio, watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQ-eO84AFk

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #jamesking #movies #films #seanfletcher #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suzi Quatro: Music of the Mother Road

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

There aren’t many people out there who can say they have spent 63 years on the road, but rock ’n’ roll legend Suzi Quatro is one of the few. Suzi has lived through countless eras of music, performing up and down the United States and across the globe. Sean speaks to her about her life as a touring musician and the various sounds and artists that evolved along Route 66.

Sean and Suzi chat to the manager of the Bob Dylan Centre in Tulsa, Steve Jenkins, about the huge archive on display there and the other unmissable stops in the city. They also chat to The 66 Ramblers, a rock band from Springfield, Illinois, who have been busy celebrating the highway’s centenary.

Thank you to our contributors:

https://the66ramblers.com/

https://bobdylancenter.com/

To see Sean and Suzi in the studio, watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhPqOPfOK1Q

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #suziquatro #rocknroll #seanfletcher #bobdylan #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing... Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In this eight-part series, journalist and broadcaster Sean Fletcher connects with his American roots, joined by famous figures who’ll help him pay tribute to the iconic Route 66 in its 100th year. Along the way he’ll learn how their lives were touched by it and meet the local characters keeping the spirit of this legendary highway alive.

Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher is brought to you by Visit The USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group.

Subscribe here for your weekly dose of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip with Sean Fletcher and read more at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/

CREDITS

Host: Sean Fletcher

Telegraph Media Group

Executive producers: Abby Draycott, Jasmin Nahar, Rachel Truman, Vanessa Woodgate

Creative director: Jonathan Clayton-Jones

Video producer: Ed Emsley

Designer: Dan Knight

Platform Media

Producer: Alice Tilley

Executive Producers: Mick Tucker, Aidan Seymour-Judd

#telegraph #visittheusa #partnerships #podcast #seanfletcher #campaign #ad #celebrityinterviews #celebrityinterview

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.