Sharon and Sean record remotely for the first time! They dedicate this episode to their newfound hero, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York. Don’t get Cuomo FOMO - listen to this episode ASAP! Stay safe everyone!! (Otherwise Cuomo WILL find you) **Please bear with us on the audio quality as we work through the kinks of recording remotely as we honor the CDC’s social distancing guidelines**

Subway Sagas

Cuomo FOMO

Sharon and Sean are finally back! They record a mini episode in Central Park to catch up amid the COVID-19 craziness. Don't worry, they recorded into their own phones and maintained a distance of 12 feet (twice the required 6 feet!) at all times. They discuss the vital importance of transit during these trying times for NYC (and the country and world at large!). They also share their newfound love for Governor Andrew Cuomo based on his excellent handling of COVID-19 pandemic. Sean takes a moment to set the record the straight about New York State's impending shutdown of non-essential businesses, clarifying as Gov Cuomo did, that it is NOT a  lockdown or shutdown of the state, nor is it a shelter in place mandate. Hope you are all staying safe out there! More content coming soon!! <3 

Sharon and Sean are finally back! They record a mini episode in Central Park to catch up amid the COVID-19 craziness. Don't worry, they recorded into their own phones and maintained a distance of 12 feet (twice the required 6 feet!) at all times. They discuss the vital importance of transit during these trying times for NYC (and the country and world at large!). They also share their newfound love for Governor Andrew Cuomo based on his excellent handling of COVID-19 pandemic. Sean takes a moment to set the record the straight about New York State's impending shutdown of non-essential businesses, clarifying as Gov Cuomo did, that it is NOT a  lockdown or shutdown of the state, nor is it a shelter in place mandate. Hope you are all staying safe out there! More content coming soon!! 

COVID-19 Central Park Catch-up

In the final episode of 2019 and the Season Finale of Subway Saga’s Second Season, Sharon and Sean discuss their 2019 Transit Top Ten. Listen to hear what they feel were the biggest transit happenings of the year. And be sure to tune in for the Season 3 Premiere in early 2020! ? During News of the Week, Sharon shares yet another NYT article about tracing lost New York through postcards, while Sean talks about the latest NYC internet sensation, Coffee Rat. Also, Sharon doesn’t know how to handle strangers complimenting her fake shoes from Vietnam.

Transit Top Ten of 2019 ??

Christmas is oh so near ? and Sean & Sharon enjoy the holiday season with one of their favorite festive pastimes - riding the MTA's holiday nostalgia train! They discuss that and then dive into the meat of this episode's topic, NYC's Christmas Blizzard of 2010. Sean leads that discussion as he lived through said blizzard, and his recounting of it quickly turns into a tirade against former three-term mayor of New York City and current contender for President of the United States of America, Michael R. Bloomberg. Sean shocks Sharon by stating that the horrendous handling of the blizzard and its aftermath is one of the top five things that come to mind when he thinks of Bloomberg's time as mayor of NYC. The blizzard resulted in helpless commuters sleeping in LIRR trains at Penn Station, hundreds of buses stuck in snow drifts throughout the city, sky-high snow mounds of garbage, and stranded straphangers on a freezing A-train in Queens. The mass chaos caused by the 2010 blizzard is one of the main reasons the Governor now tends to shut down the MTA and ban cars from the road when forecasts call for a major snow storm to strike NYC.  ?The more you know? During News of the Week, Sean shares an article about how a recent slush storm gummed up service on a subway line with the fancy new CBTC technology, while Sharon discussed the origin story of the Churro Lady viral video.  Sharon brings back the Know Yo' Stops segment, highlighting the amazing McNulty's Tea & Coffee Co. off the Christopher Street 1 stop.  Also, Sean finally calls Sharon out for her gross hyperbole.

The Christmas Blizzard of 2010?❄️??

Sharon and Sean tackle a trending topic in this episode - the New York Time's interactive digital post about the NYC subway map. Check it out for yourself here and see if your favorite parts of it align with Sharon & Sean's -  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/02/nyregion/nyc-subway-map.html The whole feature takes less than 10 minutes to get through, and it's guaranteed to be some of the best 10 minutes of your day (besides the minutes you spend listening to this episode, of course)! Before they dive into the NYT's super cool subway map feature, Sharon and Sean catch up on how they spent their Thanksgiving weekends, which of course mostly involves Sharon talking about hers. Sharon is justified in dominating this conversation as she watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade irl, and witnessed firsthand as Ronald McDonald wreaked havoc. She is also reminded of an illogical MetroCard quirk based on the experience of her international visitor, former Subway Sagas guest, Victorrrrria! (@victoriamartinezbarrera) During News of the Week, Sharon shares a New York Times article about a full Thanksgiving dinner on the L train, and Sean discusses a non-NYT article about the deal the MTA recently struck with its major union.  Also, Sharon and Sean disagree about a nostalgic treat. 

? NYT's Interactive Subway Map Experience ???

Sean and Sharon have a very special Thanksgiving treat for you all - Jamie, THE Pilgrim Woman in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, joins them for this episode to peek behind the curtain and unveil the magic that goes into putting on the iconic American spectacle. Jamie is a true parade VIP, with TV time and all! You may remember Jamie from the "Saint-Georges" episode earlier this year when she told the amazing tale of how a Parisian metro worker serenaded her over the station intercom for her birthday. Jamie continues to amaze with incredible inside knowledge of and stories about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, including the secret Parade Studio warehouse in Jersey, costume party-buses, horse pooper-scoopers with rolling trash cans, political activist protesters, television cues, social strata of parade positions, and so much more! Jamie is dedicated to being part of the magic of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, having participated in it for nearly a decade now and even seeing an ex each Thanksgiving for the sake of a prime parade post. She's a pro balloon-head handler at this point, helpin' them march over potholes with ease. There's literally no better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than listening to this totally topical episode! During News of the Week, Sean discusses how the MTA intentionally flooded a G train entrance in Brooklyn while the station was open, and Sharon milks her new New York Times subscription by choosing an anti ferry article just to piss off Sean, which ends up backfiring. Sharon and Sean also catch up a bit after Sharon's terrible LA trip that caused her to miss meting the one and only ANDY BYFORD at the Riders Alliance gala. Jamie and Sharon sass Sean for not taking the opportunity to pimp the podcast to Mr. Byford. Sean did manage to discuss #BusLyfe with Andy Byford, and he and Sharon end up speculating about Mr. Byford passing the time on his prime bus-watching perch.  Also, Sharon learns what an air marshal is.  *This podcast is not sponsored by Macy's or any of its affiliates. Sean, Sharon, and Jamie are simply big fans of the Magic of Macy's. 

Special Character Escorts

Sharon is back from VietJetsetting across Vietnam and is excited to tell Sean and all of you lovely listeners about it! Unlike with their trip to Buenos Aires, Sharon keeps the focus mostly on transit and transit-adjacent topics, and limits the content to one episode instead of stretching it across four. Her VietJetsetting of course includes planes, as well as a healthy dose of #BoatLyfe. She shares taxi adventures in an Uberless land, reminiscent of her and Sean's BA Taxi App exploits. She also discusses how Hanoi is all about that #MotorbikeLyfe. Beyond transit, Sharon's Vietnam voyage includes bats, monkeys, crocodiles, mausoleums, strange street food, angry tailors, and so much more!  During News of the Week, Sharon vents about a drastic price hike on the JFK AirTrain, while Sean breathes a sigh of relief that his office will be relocating out of Midtown East before a 20-year MTA construction project kicks off there. Also, Sharon takes a four-hour boat cruise with her coworkers and lives to tell the tale. 

Please Stand With a Local

Surprise, surprise, Sharon's going on another international jaunt, so she and Sean unite to record before she jet sets to Vietnam. ? This episode is all about the perfect tourist day in NYC, because Sharon just had one with her dad and wanted to talk about it. ? Sharon and Sean's tips for a perfect tourist visit in Fall of course include leaf-peeping ?, via a foliage boat cruise or a leisurely stroll through Central Park. The perfect tourist day also includes a range of other sites, from the basic, such as the Highline and the Vessel, to highbrow transit nerdy, including the Transit Museum Annex and a "secret" swanky cocktail bar at Grand Central.?? In terms of entertainment, you can't beat an LBJ play and a 1-train mariachi band.  During News of the Week, Sharon talks about the Mayor's crackdown on LES rowdiness and Sean discusses the Governor's crackdown on subway fare evasion. Also, Sean's angry bus rant pays unexpected dividends. ??

Residents of Queens are Going to be Mad as Hell ?

Happy Halloween!! Sharon and Sean have one more Buenos Aires episode for you (we promise this is the last one!). The topic of this episode is Tierra Santa, which is a religious theme park in Buenos Aires. It claims to be the first and only religious theme park in the world (we have not independently verified this claim). Tierra Santa is so magical that we don't want to spoil any of it here in the description - you'll have to listen to learn more! During News of the Week, Sharon discusses the NYC Subway's 115th birthday, while Sean talks about another theme park - the newly opened Nickelodeon Universe at the brand new American Dream megamall in north Jersey. Also, Sharon takes a Shining to an extremely large sweater. 

Tierra Santa

Are you ready for more Buenos Aires content? Sean and Sharon sure are! This episode is all about boat transit in BA. #FerryLyfe The dynamic duo discusses their ferry adventure to Uruguay via the delightful BuqueBus ferry company. Their Uruguay adventure includes choppy waters, a curious pancake-like dessert - "Que es pancake?", landmarks closed due to bad weather, and lots of storytime. They also recount their trek to the Tigre River region, which they traveled to and from via regional rail (along with some familiar feathered friends). They enjoyed a lovely catamaran ride on the river thanks to help of a particularly persuasive Brazilian.  In News of the Week, Sean discusses a close call about transit hero Andy Byford, while Sharon shares San Francisco's plans for their very own busway!  Also, Sean gives Sharon a very special gift. 

Catamaran Quorum

Sean and Sharon are back with more to say about their trip to Buenos Aires! This time they actually discuss transit, focusing on the SUBE card, which Sharon intentionally and affectionately mispronounces as SOOB. Before they SOOB, Sean takes on the NOOBs in recounting a recent Amtrak experience with an especially sassy conductor who was highly upset about a NOOB mistake some of the passengers made. ? He also vents about how Philly's SEPTA Key card is inferior to Buenos Aires' SUBE card due to the first batch of cards all expiring at once and the absurd process straphangers have to go through to recoup funds on an expiring card. ?Sharon deep dives into Buenos Aires' intriguing and complex bus system, including the eye-catching design of the buses and the archaic way to navigate the extensive system. ?Sean dissects the Subte (subway) system of Buenos Aires, from its history to the current modernization and expansion plans that are underway. ? During News of the Week, Sharon addresses the hot NYC topic on everyone's mind - the new 14th St busway, including its unexpected impact on city garbage trucks. ? Sean shares an incredulous story about an MTA worker who really cleaned up after being terminated. ?? Also, Sharon loses her ? over Magnolia's new monster cakes. ??

I SOOB, you SOOB, he/she SOOBs

In this episode, Sharon and Sean scratch the surface of their recent trip to Buenos Aires (BA), Argentina. They cover their transit adventures getting to and from Buenos Aires (i.e. their trips to the airport and flights), and are saving their BA public transit adventures for another episode. However, this episode has plenty of #TaxiLyfe, including how to get around in a city where Uber is illegal and unreliable. Sharon and Sean spend the majority of the episode talking what they did, ate, and drank while exploring the beautiful city of Buenos Aires. Mate? Tango? Huge steaks? Vermouth-infused wine? Afternoon tea? Shark Tank Colombia? This episode has it all!  You'll be booking your trip to BA by the time you finish listening. During News of the Week, Sharon talks about the incredible Miss Subway Pageant while Sean recounts a thrilling race to JFK between the new Uber Copter service and the MTA.  Also, Sharon buys a diffuser after visiting  a fancy hotel.

?? Good Flag Weather ??

Sean convinces Sharon to allow them to dedicate an entire episode topic to him ranting about the sorry state of MTA escalators in Midtown East this past summer. Sean dubs it "The MTA's Summer of Escalator Hell" as he gets himself worked up venting about the number of broken escalators at the 53rd and Lex E/M station. His rant includes ever-changing timetables, egregious misuse of MTA resources, and passive-aggressive privately-owned escalators.  During News of the Week, Sharon shares a dark tale with a surprise fortunate ending, while Sean dissects an article about the progress (or lack thereof) the city has made in improving #BusLyfe. SEPTA makes an appearance in this episode’s anecdote. Also, Sean brings back M.T.A-holes with an offender that Sharon dubs the best M.T.A-hole segment yet. 

Nobody Likes Midtown East

Fear not! Sharon and Sean reunited after a brief hiatus to record more Subway Sagas episodes! ? They spend most of this episode catching up, which starts with Sharon recounting her latest weekend jaunt to Europe (of course ?) and quickly devolves into them both ranting about how terrible Amtrak is. ?Amtrak is awful for many reasons, including frequent breakdowns/delays, going backwards due to switch problems, confusing rules on the Crescent train, and the fact that there's no cafe car on the Keystone train. ☕️?However, one of the bright spots is the opportunity it affords for prime viewing of Jersey garbage fires. ? ? ? Sharon ties the episode's anecdote back to her European travels, recounting how she blended in with the locals on an Amsterdam tram by ignoring an aggro train conductor. ? During News of the Week, Sharon shares an article about mind-blowing subway stations ? of the former Soviet Union, while Sean discusses an "unusual" F train derailment in Queens. ? Also, Sharon snacks on unthawed frozen Trader Joe's pancakes. ???

There's No Cafe Car on the Keystone Train

Sharon and Sean venture out to JFK AIrport...for fun (!!) ???  No, they haven't (finally) completely lost it. They were on a quest to visit the fabulous TWA hotel! After you listen to this episode, you'll be hopping on the AirTrain to voluntarily visit JFK in your free time as well! ?? During News of the Week, Sharon discusses the recent bomb scare at Fulton Street subway station, while Sean shares an article about the incredible amount of days NYC Transit employees miss work, an average of 54 days last year (!!)  Sharon's anecdote goes back to the Great Brown Out of 2019, when a Con Edison explosion on the west side of Manhattan ground most subway lines to a halt. Sharon and Sean ventured out to a tiki bar ?? in Bedstuy that evening for Erica's (@ericaribou) - from the C Train Justice episode! - birthday. ? Sharon has quite an eventful journey out there, which culminates in a high-stakes B15 bus ride.  Also, Sean teaches Sharon a Shake Shack location in NYC she didn’t already know about ?

TWA Hotel Quest

A podcast about a couple o' 30-somethin's living it up in NY, and their adventures on the subway. Subway Sagas explores the crazy nuances of living in a giant city and highlights the silliness of everyday encounters. Usually there will be a random transit topic deep dive, and occasionally guests will come and share their anecdotes as well. Episodes will be released EVERY week (prolly) and will be around 30 mins a piece, perfect for your subway commute! For more fun, follow us @subwaysagaspodcast Follow Sean: @sduff87 Follow Sharon: @sharondipity3 Contact us: subwaysagaspodcast@gmail.com

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Subway Sagas

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