Rick Denton: 0:00

Hey CX Passport travelers we have come to, as you can see in the background here, time of year when the light gets a little bit longer, the day should get a little bit shorter, but the angles certainly get a little bit longer. And it's time to be thinking about that wonderful end of your holiday period. And so I'll be taking a few weeks off as I do and one of the fun traditions that had been started here with CX Passport is a put together a little compilation of some of the more fun parts of the episode which frequently find themselves happening during the first class lounge. So over the next couple weeks, we'll go into rerun mode here and I hope you enjoy this compilation of a few select ones it's really hard to pick. But if you select ones from the first class lounges throughout 2023 I hope you enjoy these, I'd know that I enjoyed putting them together. And I hope that you are getting excited about what will be the launch of season three as we get into 2024. I already know the lineup of our first series of guests and it is already fantastic and I am super excited to share that with you once we get to 2024 But until then, take a little break here. Stop down and join not just me in the first class lounge. But this week we'll join Megan Basler from the US Tshili Khupe from the UK, Jennifer Meunier from Brazil, Tyler Saxey from the US, Sandra Thompson from the UK. And then George Nakatsuka from Japan. Enjoy! Alright, Megan, we're gonna take a little break from technology, I think all of us would enjoy taking a little break from that we're going to pivot out of the business world here and talk a little travel a little change of pace. Yeah, I know that the California to Austin flights not that long, but I can see there's some disruptions sometimes that can be a challenge on a flight and it can be nice to stop in the first class lounge. So I want to invite you to do that. And join me here in the first class lounge we'll move quickly here and have a little bit of fun what is a dream travel location from your past?

Megan Bassler: 2:06

From my past, okay, I'm probably gonna get some judgment here because it doesn't require a passport. But Hawaii by far is probably my favorite place ever. I was very fortunate I got to travel to Hawaii, you know, kind of throughout my childhood and then my husband and I actually went on our honeymoon to Hawaii this past January. So definitely have a sweet spot for Hawaii Maui if I'm being more specific

Rick Denton: 2:31

and getting even more precise. So first of all, there will never be judgment on CX passport. That's not who we are. So you travel wherever you want. And realize that Hawaii is an international destination to many around the globe. Very proud passport for some so it was a absolutely welcome within the list and congratulations by the way, what a wonderful place to celebrate a wedding. What is looking forward what is a dream travel location you've not been to yet?

Megan Bassler: 2:56

Oh, that's a good one. Okay, I'm very, very top of my list has always been Italy. I've heard amazing things. It looks beautiful. But honestly, I think it's because my three major food groups are Pizza, pasta and bread. Actually, if we're talking for let's throw wine and wine in there, but yeah, Italy's always been number one on my list.

Rick Denton: 3:18

You and I are food spirit animals. It is sounds like oh yeah, we share a very similar approach and enjoyment of that which is wonderful because the next question the first class Lounge is what is a favorite thing of yours to eat?

Megan Bassler: 3:33

Okay, so we're not talking carbs. Like I just mentioned on the carbs. I also I really love sushi. And actually fun fact I'll share real quick. The sushi restaurant I grew up going to up in the bay area where I'm from a few years ago redid their menu and the Megan role is now officially on the menu. No

Rick Denton: 3:56

way. Yeah, well congratulations. I'm

Megan Bassler: 3:59

about that. Thank you.

Rick Denton: 4:00

Okay, we'll talk we'll talk off Mike as to where that restaurant is. And we'll go we'll go I'll go check that out sometime and enjoy the the Megan roll what is in the Megan roll?

Megan Bassler: 4:10

See this is where you're gonna think I'm boring. It's nothing super fantastic. It's ultimately like a good ol California roll with some salmon on top and some special sauces and toppings and things so I'm not extremely experimental when it comes to my food but it was I always ordered the same thing every time I've I've gone since I was honestly four or five. That was pretty awesome. They added it.

Rick Denton: 4:35

That's awesome. And I I will discard your disclaimers. It doesn't matter whether it's complex or simple. If it's still something special, it is something special. You're talking to someone who lives in Texas and barbecue can be one of the most simple items out there and is still incredibly special. It's going the other direction if you're eating sushi that young. This will be an interesting answer. But what is something your parents forced you to eat but you hate it as a Should

Megan Bassler: 5:02

I was and still am honestly so picky when it comes to food like I, it's, I'm weird, I'm weird with my food preferences. Growing up, I would just say in general veggies they tried to push veggies on me constantly wasn't about it even today, I could be a lot better about eating my greens. But I'd say just like that whole category as a whole was always a struggle getting me to

Rick Denton: 5:27

love it veggies come up quite a bit as an answer to that question. So thinking to the travel you even to why you have Italy and in the future, you've got other destinations I'm sure you've been to and you want to go to what is one travel item, not including your phone, not including your passport that you will not leave home without?

Megan Bassler: 5:45

Oh, that's a good one. You know, for Christmas, one of our partners actually gifted me a Kindle. And I've never been a big reader. Over the years, it was more kind of like personal growth books, things like that. But since January, I've read 13 books and it's become like a true passion and kind of obsession so I think I'd have to say I would bring my Kindle

Rick Denton: 6:18

Well, Tshili, as I mentioned, that would be the first time that that topic has come into the show. It shows though regardless of product regardless, it really does show that element of listen is not just collecting the information, there's that analyze part of it as well that you talked about with the business analysts. But we're gonna stop all business talk here for a little because it can be a little exhausting to be in the business world. You've got clients all over the globe, perhaps you've done some traveling to make sure and see them and help them advance in their business. And so I want to have you join me here in the first class lounge we'll take a little break here move quickly and have some fun here. What is a dream travel location from your past?

Tshili Khupe: 6:59

Oh my past that would be Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It's on the border of suburbia. It's absolutely amazing. It's one of the seven wonders of the world and it's just honestly you have to be there and you'll see it'll pictures and things like that but being there and just looking at it looking this wonder it's incredible. There really is. I

Rick Denton: 7:19

really really want to get to that the pictures do look beautiful. I've done Niagara Okay, that's it for us in the Western Hemisphere I want to see wuzhou falls down in the southern hemisphere and then Victoria Falls Holy Cow I've heard just spectacular to hear you say it just makes me want to get there even more so thinking of travel that I want to get to now it's your turn. What is a dream travel location you've not been to yet? I'd love

Tshili Khupe: 7:44

to go to Australia. I'd love to again. I haven't been there yet because it's such a long trip. And pretty expensive as well. But it's on my bucket list. I want to go to Australia I want to visit honestly Sydney. Obviously the Harbour Bridge short does not want to visit I've got friends who live out in Melbourne so I want to go out there and Melbourne see that and just immerse myself because apparently the Australian culture in the British culture pretty similar, but it's like moving Britain and then putting in a hot country with dangerous animals.

Rick Denton: 8:18

Yes, yes. Certainly want to get there as well. It's far trip for me as well. What is a favorite thing of yours to eat?

Tshili Khupe: 8:29

Oh, I love a bubble sausage. And it's spelled Bo ERWO Rs. Yeah, it's a beef sausage with like, mix spices a bit. It is absolutely incredible. If you've never tried it, you have to have to have to look it up. Find it. Try it.

Rick Denton: 8:49

I will. I will. And you're the second guest to bring that up. I had a guest from South Africa. And he mentioned that specific role. And that's like the not the number one reason I want to get to South Africa. But it certainly is bumped up in the list because he spoke of it so highly. So I understand your excitement around it. I can't wait to have it. Let's go the other direction. What is the thing you hated? And your parents forced you to eat it as a kid.

Tshili Khupe: 9:13

So there is so well I'm originally from Zimbabwe, my parents are from Zimbabwe. And when we visited there, there is a word that grows on these trees and it's called them a Pawnee worm. And they basically used to basically pick it then you grab his head and you get all the green stuff out. There's dried and then you fry it was sold on an oil and it was a worm to me, right I was like That's disgusting. But they were like you've got to try it. So I've tried a lot of foods and I think them are actually forcing me to eat that and try that meant that I've just managed to try loads of different delicacies from all around the world and it's kind of opened my mind up to trying things.

Rick Denton: 9:56

You and I so chili that is not my item of things. My parents fortunately eat but similarly, I'm willing to at least try something once. And you're right. Let's go around the globe. Try some things. That's okay, then we're gonna have to like it again. But that openness to try it at least once. So speaking of your travels, let's go back to travel what is one travel item not including your phone, not including your passport that you will not leave home without?

Tshili Khupe: 10:21

Oh, it's got to be my pillow. My Travel Pillow. Oh, I love that.

Rick Denton: 10:31

Oh, Jennifer, I mean, everything you just said is what I love about Thailand. It is that is an interesting perspective that you brought there, I hadn't really thought of the fact that, you know, coming from a very touch oriented culture to one that is not so touch oriented. And yet you still feel warmth there. That's a point that I had never thought of before and haven't heard before. So I'm I'm glad you shared that I have never learned something even about a culture that I thought I knew pretty well and love deeply. One thing I do know. And it's true of where I'm coming from out of Texas, USA, true of you coming out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thailand's a long way away from where we live. And that travel can wear you down and it can be nice to stop off in the lounge, especially the first class lounge. So today, I'm going to invite you to stop off here with me in the first class lounge. We'll move quickly here and have a little bit of fun. Now, this may be the answer. You've already told us. But I'm curious what is a dream travel location from your past? Well,

Jennifer Meunier: 11:29

no surprises here. Actually, Thailand? Yeah. Yeah, I've always dreamed to go there. And it was everything I was expecting for. And I highly recommend to everyone actually.

Rick Denton: 11:42

Well, I highly recommend it as well. Just not too many of you because I don't want everybody there. But it is a wonderful place. Absolutely. Okay, let's go the other direction. Jennifer, what is a dream travel location you've not been to yet.

Jennifer Meunier: 11:53

Actually, there's so much location I want to go and to the most exotic one. And also a lot of here in Brazil, because it's a huge country and you have every time something new to know about. But the one place that I've always dreamed about is actually New York because I'm a huge fan of the TV show Friends. So I'm a friend's generation and I always loved it. So I think I even postpone always district because I want it to be so perfect that I can't decide to go

Rick Denton: 12:28

well that's awesome, Jennifer, I know that when we by family when we went to New we've been there several times now it's a little easier for me to get to certain and when we did go there we did do some friends elements like we of course went to the corner where their apartment was even though of course it has nothing to do with your apartment and all of those things so I definitely hope that you go there. It makes warms this hosts hearts since I tried to make every title of CX passport a friend's like title the one with or the one where they so you are in good company here as someone else who loves the TV show Friends and I there's so much more than New York as well. So I hope that you get there someday. One thing about Brazil one thing about Thailand one thing about Brazil, New York. Phenomenal food, right? These are all great places. So what is a favorite thing of yours to eat?

Jennifer Meunier: 13:16

Well, that's actually the complicated question for me because everything every but you know, thinks I'm French. I'm Rich is girl so yeah, I can't live without cheese first. Oh my gosh.

Rick Denton: 13:31

I love cheese. You make me so happy. Friends and cheese. I've got everything that I need. You gotta go the other direction. Yeah, we'll go the other direction. Jennifer, what is something your parents forced you to eat? But you hate it as a kid? Well,

Jennifer Meunier: 13:45

I think my mom is gonna kill me when she hears this because she's an incredible chef, and everything that she cooks is absolutely a magazine. But I mean, when you think as a kid, there are centered things that sometimes we don't eat, you know? And she used to make us liver and me and my brother were like, Oh my God. I mean, the texture. You know, it's Yep. It was something that was very hard for us. Oh, my gosh.

Rick Denton: 14:12

I have it's interesting. Jennifer liver has come up a couple times as that question. I think there's a generational thing that the generation prior was a little more liver oriented than perhaps the current one. After that a couple of times and I agree with you I remember some really bad liver and onion meals that I had to eat as a kid so I'm with you. Let's close out the lounge here. We got to go back and travel again. So what is one travel item not including your phone not including your passport that you will not leave home without?

Jennifer Meunier: 14:40

Well you know I live in Brazil. So there is one item that is in dispensary here it's Aqua Jana has you know the flip flop resilient. So I mean even in winter, we use it them all the time inside the house outside so we never live without it. Surely I also definitely that would be something that would be on my backpack.

Rick Denton: 15:11

Well, Tyler, I appreciate that the idea of having an account the regional differences and the like. Now, I don't know if you've had the opportunity to be both in Hoboken and Hong Kong, I believe at one time, maybe it still has Cathay Pacific had a nonstop flight from JFK to Hong Kong. And I'm sure other airlines do as well. Well, it's a long flight. I've done the DFW one, not the JFK one. And it's long. And it's nice to take a break when we're doing that sort of thing. So it's nice to if you got access to that first class lounge, especially the Cathay Pacific when they're in Hong Kong, but I'd like to invite you to join me here in the first class lounge we'll move quickly here and hopefully have a little bit of fun what is the dream travel location from your past?

Tyler Saxey: 15:47

Oh, like you said anywhere, anywhere in the snow I'm a big snow person. I love to go skiing. I currently live in Florida, so I haven't been able to do it. So anytime that I can go out and get some fresh powder and the mountains of Utah or Colorado that that's my dream vacation permit.

Rick Denton: 16:04

I love that I would love to be at Snowbird right now. Let's go the other direction. What is a dream travel location? You've not been to yet? Who?

Tyler Saxey: 16:15

That's a That's a good question. I've always thought Australia would be really cool. I've never been down under we have an amazing team down in Australia that I hope to get to see eventually. That is one place Sydney would be probably on a bucket list of places to go to.

Rick Denton: 16:32

Well, there you go. Let's let's use this clip for your next business justification if I need to go see my team over in Sydney Yeah, I like that idea. What is a favorite thing of yours to eat?

Tyler Saxey: 16:47

I'm a barbecue guy. Eating barbecue gloves. I've kind of I heard the saying that when you become 40 You've either got to become a master of woodworking or a master of smoking meats and I took the smoking meats approach and so I started doing my own barbecue brisket pulled pork chicken any anything off a barbecue is probably my go to

Rick Denton: 17:09

Oh Boy, that sounds really really good. I love this question I hate at the same time because it makes me hungry and want to get something to go eat now. Let's go the other way. What is the thing your parents forced you to eat but you hate it as a kid

Tyler Saxey: 17:25

I don't know if my parents ever forced me to eat it but I am not a tomato guy. I can eat just about anything. But the strange thing about it is I hate tomatoes by themselves but I love that I love salsa I love a fresh garden salsa. I love anything with tomatoes in it just not a point for me though.

Rick Denton: 17:47

I learned the variety of the answers well no it's not strange I've had tomatoes answered here before and I do hear it. It is funny how once you prep it then it's completely different I love tomatoes and but I There have been plenty of folks that have said no to squishy don't like it. What is one travel item not including a phone not including your passport that you will not leave home without

Tyler Saxey: 18:12

that's not including my phone. That's a tough one. Flip flops and swim so your guy I can make it just about I have my if I had my phone so I would say my swimsuit

Rick Denton: 18:32

Sandra, the comparison between a bot and your dog and I don't know I might challenge you, I might say that the dog may have a little more innate intelligence than some of the bots that I've interacted with. Got some great stories out there of some bots as we all do. Really, it certainly that that makes me chuckle to think of those two. Now, one of the things that can be nice that you talked about popping over to Vienna, but I'm sure you've had your fair share of longer travel than that. And travel can be a bit of a wearing time. And to take a little break can be enjoyable. So I'm going to invite you to take that same break right here and join me here in the first class lounge we're going to have a little bit of fun and hopefully move a little bit quickly as well. So what is a dream travel location from your past?

Sandra Thompson: 19:15

I can't just say one. So I'm going to say three really quickly. I'm going to say Erbert in Bali. I'm going to say hi Yan in Vietnam and I'm going to say Havana in Cuba probably Havana in Cuba is the number one out of those three is that okay?

Rick Denton: 19:31

That is very okay and you have made this American quite jealous as you know that it is either a mixture of challenging or illegal for me to travel to Cuba although there's things have softened up a bit so I always find it fascinating. What did you What did you notice in Havana that really caught your eye that made it particularly special for you?

Sandra Thompson: 19:51

The spirit of the place? You know the energy, the music that dancing? It was kind of electric.

Rick Denton: 19:59

Oh that It's awesome. Well, I, I'm gonna have to find a way to get there. As I hear more and more of my non American colleagues telling me about how wonderful it is. What is a speak? That's for my future? What about your future? What is a dream travel location? You've not been to yet Madagascar?

Sandra Thompson: 20:14

And it's on the list. It's on the list. It might be I might get there next year with all being well,

Rick Denton: 20:20

okay. What? Same question, what about Madagascar? Wouldn't I? It appeals to me. But what for you? Why? Because

Sandra Thompson: 20:27

it has apparently, some of the most unique environment species. And I am not aware that it's yet been. Dare I say this? spoilt? Yeah,

Rick Denton: 20:43

I see. Whereas you've heard of some other destinations where it? Well, we see the photos of the elephants. But if you look backwards, you see just the ring of Safari vehicles. And so I that's good to know about Madagascar. Now, maybe we should delete this out so that others don't hear what you said. And what is Sandra favorite thing to eat? A Welsh cake. I don't know what that is. Tell me more.

Sandra Thompson: 21:08

So my mom's side of the family comes from Wales. And she came to London when she was 15. But my aunties and my uncles or stayed in Wales, whenever I would go visit them. They would make me these little cakes, their likes. They're like very short. Scones. Okay. They are de Licious.

Rick Denton: 21:33

Oh, that sounds good. Well, as you may know, Wrexham FC has gained some notoriety in the US as they have been purchased by by famous folks and have have found themselves promoting. Now you've given me another reason to go to Wales other than seeing a Wrexham match. Now I gotta go check out these wills cakes, right, that sounds fan tastic. Now we're gonna go the other way on you. What is the thing your parents forced you to eat but you hated as a kid?

Sandra Thompson: 21:59

Do you know as a standing joke in my family? They'll say we've saved these for you sprouts. I mean, come on, who invented those things? That absolutely disgusting. I remember growing up and thinking I'm sure I can hide this under my knife. I'm sure I can do that. And I always got caught and I always had to eat them. And sorry, sorry for those sprout fans out there. But they're quite disgusting. Well,

Rick Denton: 22:27

you have found a sympathetic ear. And me that's my answer to this question as well. So you and I are of a very similar spirit. Let's go back to travel and close out the lounge here. What is one travel item, not including your phone, not including your passport, that you will not leave home without.

Sandra Thompson: 22:42

So this might be another shocker. To be honest with you, Rick, it's lockable freezer bags to be able to even get into the sea and not find all of the keys and all of your money is sodden. Then lockable freezer bag, inside my swimsuit, everyday is a happy day.

Rick Denton: 23:08

George a little change of pace here, as many would know, the distance to Japan, certainly from the US is quite a ways. And it can wear on the traveler and even travel inside of Japan, there's a lot more distance. And I think people realize, even if you are on that ship cars and the bullet train, right, it can take a little while. And so it can be nice to take a rest in the lounge as you're traveling. So I'd like you to join me here in the first class lounge. We'll move quickly here and hopefully have a little bit of fun. What is a dream travel location from your past.

George Nagatsuka: 23:38

So one of the areas I really enjoyed in my past travels, and actually it was a business trips. And I went to Madrid, Spain nice. And it was only for about a week. But I was able to after work, be able to do some sightseeing. And it was a very enjoyable time. And actually very similar in terms of how food is presented, that's founded here in Japan. Interesting.

Rick Denton: 24:12

Tell me more about that. I don't think that that would be a natural reaction that people would think that the Japanese and the Spanish presentations would be similar.

George Nagatsuka: 24:20

On Japan, there's places called is a Kaya. And basically, you get to order small, different dishes of great food. And based on that concept, and what I meant by similarities with Madrid is many of the places that I went to also have the same concept. Yeah, and so you're able to eat lots of tasty food on small little plates.

Rick Denton: 24:48

Thank you may have just given some listeners an idea for a new fusion restaurant. The is a kya tapas restaurant, and somehow blend that Let's, let's make that happen. I guarantee there's somebody in a trendier district than I am that's thinking of that idea and is about to come out with the Izakaya tapas. What about going forward? What is a dream travel location you've not been to yet.

George Nagatsuka: 25:16

I think a location wise, I have not traveled over abroad to like Central, Central America, Caribbean or South America. So I think those are spots that I would I'd like to consider visiting and learning more about, well,

Rick Denton: 25:34

I can assure you they're fantastic places having living where I live, I'm a lot closer to in fact, the family we just got back from the Dominican Republic, Caribbean destination for a daughter's school holiday. It's her last year of high school. And so we took a trip there. I highly recommended George get out and come over to this side of the world and enjoy it because it is it'll be a delightful Trick or treat. We talked about food. What is a favorite thing of yours to eat?

George Nagatsuka: 26:03

Yeah, that's a difficult question. Because I love all sorts of food. But if I have to think about it, it comes from my my past and growing up in New Jersey. So I love the Philadelphia cuisine and I think I have to say pizza is okay. It's my favorite type of food.

Rick Denton: 26:27

Well, I mentioned in the intro, we talked about MISA and we talked about meatballs, so I didn't quite get I was almost there with meatballs, pizza being and certainly some great pizza that can be found there. What about on the other side? What is the thing your parents forced you to eat, but you hate it as a kid?

George Nagatsuka: 26:44

Okay, so, you know, I grew up on my parents farm, and I had no issues with any of the vegetables that we grow. I think if I remember, I didn't really like having having instant ramen. There wasn't it wasn't, it was okay at the time. But when I came to Japan and having freshly made ramen and put it in front of you, it was a totally different concept. And it was it was fantastic. You know what instant ramen, I would have to say was something

Rick Denton: 27:22

not pleasant. Now college kids all around the US are going What do you mean? ROM and that's what I live on. Having experienced what you're describing it it's I didn't know it. I was completely ignorant of it as well. I only knew what came in the little packages here out of the grocery store. But now that I've experienced real and restaurant ramen, holy cow, there's a there's a difference to be had indeed. All right. With travel and I know you've done it with business, you've done it with personal what is that one item not including your phone, not including your passport that you will not leave home without.

George Nagatsuka: 27:55

Well through trial and error and mostly through the error side. I've I never leave home without my handy portable baggage scale to weigh my bags. Because, you know, I tend to when I go on business trips, buy a lot of souvenirs and things like that, and I end up paying for overweight luggage. So yeah, portable luggage scales. For me. It's something that I take all the time.

Rick Denton: 28:33

Thanks for joining us this week on CX Passport. If you liked today’s episode I have 3 quick next steps for you Click subscribe on the CX Passport youtube channel or your favorite podcast app Next leave a comment below the video or a review in your favorite podcast app so others can find and and enjoy CX Passport too Then, head over to cxpassport.com website for show notes and resources that can help you create tangible business results by delivering great customer experience. Until next time, I’m Rick Denton and I believe the best meals are served outside and require a passport.