Coffee With Jim

Meet John Paget, September 14, 2025

Acclaimed documentary film producer John Paget, our guest on this episode, launched his career on Route 66 in 1994. That was the year he took to the road with with his camera and his 1969 Cadillac Coupe de Ville convertible. That was the first of several adventures on legendary Route 66 that were captured in Route 66: An American Odyssey and Route 66: Return to the Road with Martin Milner. Fittingly he has returned to the iconic highway to document the Route 66 centennial. 

On today's program we discussed the ongoing evolution of Route 66, the Kickstarter initiative launched to bring this documentary to completion, the highway's centennial, the unique nature of the Route 66 community, and the role of immigrants in the highways' past, present and its future. And we took a few detours with discussions about the ancient village of Acoma in New Mexico, and his documentary Almost Elvis, a comedic documentary deemed the definitive look at the competitive world of Elvis impersonators.

Jim Hinckley's America is a shared adventure! Join us for a fun, smile inducing, though provoking, road trip inspiring conversation with legendary film producer John Paget. 

Today's program is sponsored in part by supporters of Jim Hinckley's America on Patreon. It is also sponsored in part by Two Lane America, the Texas gem that is the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Deana Nelson State Farm in Kingman, Arizona, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel, the 1960s time capsule that is the Roadrunner Lodge Motel, the besopke US and Canadian holiday specialists at RouteTrip USA, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours. 

 

 

A Visit With Rhys Martin, September 7, 2025

You are assured a conversation filled with a healthy dose of inspiration as well as exciting news about Route 66 and the Route 66 centennial, grants, community development, and the great American road trip when Rhys Martin stops by for a visit. Rhys is the president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, manager of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Preserve Route 66 Initiative that is offering grants to Route 66 business owners, an accomplished photographer and author, and the creator of the fascinating Rhys Pieces blog. 

Next week on Coffee With Jim we visit with acclaimed documentary film producer John Paget. Paget is creating an official Route 66 centennial feature documentary that will chronicle the story of this iconic highway and the people that ensure it remains relevant and vibrant as a new century dawns.

Today's program is sponsored through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Deana Nelson State Farm Insurance in Kingman, Arizona. David Brenner at the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, a 1960s time capsule, the bespoke US and Canada holiday specialists at RouteTrip USA, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Connie Echols at the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and Austin Coop at Two Lane America. And we can't forget Vickie Ashcraft, president of the Route 66 Association of New Mexico and owner of the timeless Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park in Albuquerque. Thank you!