I'm back from Japan and not going anywhere this week—except deep into YouTube land. In this episode, I share my mission to grow the Adventures Assemble YouTube channel from just 12 subscribers to the magical 1,000 needed to unlock monetization. I'm talking content strategy, upcoming nerdy adventures, and the weird, wonderful places I’m planning to visit (both near home and far away). From Snoopy statues to Star Wars retreats, Raiders of the Lost Ark filming locations to Atlas Obscura oddities, I’m figuring out how to turn nerd travel into a sustainable, fun business—and I’m taking you along for the ride.
📝 Show Notes:
In this episode, I talk about:
📌 Links Mentioned:
📣 Call to Action:
Got a weird or nerdy destination I should explore? Let me know and I’ll add it to my growing list of adventures. And if you haven’t yet—subscribe to this podcast, follow the blog, and hit that YouTube subscribe button!
I’m back from Japan! In this episode, I recover (barely) from the post-Star Wars Celebration plague and take you through the final stretch of my two-week nerd adventure across Japan. I recap my day trips to Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe—including sacred deer, curry that broke the internet, and the Osaka fried food fantasy known as kushikatsu. Plus, I share my emotional visit to Hiroshima, a last-minute return to Tokyo, and why I stayed in the wrong place in Tokyo. Spoiler: I’m already dreaming of my return.
Show Notes
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Mentioned in this episode:
Subscribe to Adventures Assemble
New episodes drop every Friday! Hit follow and join me as I bumble through nerdy destinations around the world—awkwardly, enthusiastically, and one convenience store egg salad at a time.
✏️ Episode Description:
In this deeply personal episode of Adventures Assemble, I check in from Osaka with a raw and real update on my first week in Japan. From the highs of epic ramen and electric baseball games to the lows of jet lag and a 102° fever, it’s been a wild ride—and not quite the one I expected.
I talk about attending Star Wars Celebration 2025, getting lost (and found) on trains, bonding with fellow fans, and navigating sickness abroad for the third Celebration in a row (yes, again). This is not the fantasy version of nerd tourism—it’s the actual adventure, bumps and all.
Whether you're planning your own trip to Japan or just want to hear what it's like to power through the chaos of a dream trip gone sideways, this one’s for you.
📌 Show Notes:
What I Cover in This Episode:
Tips & Takeaways:
Mentioned in This Episode:
Next Episode Tease:
I head to Kyoto! Temples, geishas, nerdy surprises, and (hopefully) a fully functioning immune system.
In this episode, I’m just 48 hours away from getting on a plane to Japan—and I’m feeling a wild mix of excitement and nerves! I break down my full itinerary, from Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo to day trips out of Osaka, a visit to Hiroshima, and wrapping it all up in Kanazawa.
I’ve got my ticket, passport, money, and smartphone—everything else I’ll figure out along the way. I also talk about what I’m packing, how I plan to handle jet lag, the gear I’m bringing to create content, and the nerdy (and delicious) things I’m most excited to check out. Spoiler: egg salad is absolutely on the list.
Whether you're prepping for your own Japan trip or just here for the ride, come along as I get ready to launch into my biggest nerd adventure yet.
🧳 What’s in This Episode:
🔗 Links Mentioned:
🎧 Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next episode, which will be recorded straight from Japan!.
📸 New videos coming soon to the Adventures Assemble YouTube channel.
It’s officially happening—I'm just two weeks away from heading to Japan for Star Wars Celebration 2025! In this episode, I talk through everything I’ve got planned so far (and everything I still need to figure out). From panel reservations that didn’t go my way to plotting late-night food tours in Tokyo, the itinerary is finally starting to come together. I’m excited, overwhelmed, and trying to figure it all out as I go. Come along for the chaos!
Show Notes:
👉 Follow along at Zoodletron.com for more blog updates, nerdy travel guides, and future episodes.
Thanks for being part of the journey—I can’t wait to share the adventure with you!
Description:
In this second episode of Adventures Assemble, I’m just three weeks away from boarding a plane to Tokyo for Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025—and wow, there’s still a LOT to figure out.
Join me as I talk through the panel reservation madness, what’s been announced so far, and my thoughts on all things Star Wars—from the original trilogy to the Disney+ shows (spoiler: I still haven’t finished Ahsoka). I also share a rough outline of my Japan trip plans, my fears about traveling solo, and a list of things I probably should’ve booked by now.
This episode is for fans who love Star Wars, fellow nerd travelers figuring it out as they go, and anyone wondering just how chaotic convention planning can get when you’re winging it across the Pacific.
In This Episode:
Mentioned:
Let’s Connect!
If you’re going to Star Wars Celebration or just want to say hi, shoot me a message through Zoodletron.com. I’d love to meet fellow fans and fellow nerd tourists.
Subscribe & Stay Tuned!
The next episode will cover what panels I (hopefully) scored, updates on my Japan itinerary, and more pre-trip chaos. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe—it helps new listeners find the show as I build this thing from the ground up.
Welcome to the very first episode of Adventures Assemble! I’m Ryan Hecht, and I’m heading to Japan for Star Wars Celebration 2025—and no, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing.
This podcast isn’t a polished guide from a seasoned world traveler—it’s a real-time journey from someone figuring it out as he goes. In this episode, I introduce the show, talk about what Adventures Assemble is all about, share the chaos of prepping for a major international nerd trip, and explain why buying tickets before you’re ready might be the secret to actually making things happen.
Whether you're a fellow fandom traveler or just want to hear what it's like to plan a trip to Japan without a clue, you're in the right place.
In This Episode:
Resources Mentioned:
Next Episode:
I’ll dig into figuring out where I’m going to stay, what I’m going to eat, and whether Tokyo Disney is happening. Also: more nerdy stuff!
