A Note From That KEVIN!

Travel

Audio By Carbonatix

I want to begin this month’s note with a heartfelt thank you. Your enthusiasm during our recent “Meet the Host” contest absolutely floored me. The turnout was far beyond what I anticipated, and your energy reminded me once again why this community of fellow travelers, dreamers, and explorers is so special. Every entry felt like a window into your excitement for discovery—and it fuels me to keep bringing you stories and experiences worth sharing.

And if you’re wondering… yes, there may just be another chance ahead. Imagine this: a trip to New York City at Christmastime. The lights, the shows, the skating rinks, the shop windows dressed in holiday magic—there’s nothing quite like it. I can’t say too much yet, but stay tuned. If you thought Times Square in summer was thrilling, just wait until you see the city in December.

Speaking of Times Square, I owe a tremendous word of thanks to Tom Harris of the Times Square Alliance and Cristyne Nicholas of the Broadway Association for inviting my bride and me to this year’s Taste of Times Square. What a night! Dozens of restaurants spilling onto the streets, the air filled with the aromas of sizzling meat, fresh herbs, sweet desserts, and bold spices. We sampled, we laughed, and we left full—not only in stomachs but in spirits. It was New York at its best: lively, flavorful, and utterly fun.

A similar sense of joy came just across the river in Bergen County, New Jersey, where my dear friend Linda Perillo welcomed us to her book signing at the Perillo Tours headquarters. If you’ve never visited, the space itself is gorgeous—classic, inviting, and buzzing with energy. The turnout for Linda’s signing was impressive, but not surprising; she has a gift for storytelling, and her passion for travel shines through in every page she writes. It was an honor to be there and celebrate her milestone alongside so many others who admire her work.

Recognition also came this month from closer to home. I want to express deep gratitude to the New York State Broadcasters Association for honoring Salem Media of New York for its service, and to Urban Hope NYC for their ongoing mission of making a difference in our communities. In a season where the world often feels fractured, it is humbling to be reminded of how local partnerships and organizations can be beacons of hope.

But if I’m honest, the week didn’t end in celebration. From Wednesday on, my world grew still, and words came slower. The news of the assassination of my colleague, Charlie Kirk, hit hard. My Townhall columns this past week attempted to make sense of it; my radio show covered little else. And this weekend, That KEVIN Show will be a two-hour tribute to Charlie across Salem News Channel, Salem Radio Network, BizTV, and our newest affiliates—AM970 The Answer in New York City and KWTO AM & FM in Springfield, Missouri. (Springfield, of all places—the very city of my birth. Life has a way of circling back in ways we can’t predict.)

There have been many emotional moments these past days, more than I’ve had the chance to fully process. And yet, through it all, one truth steadies me: God is good. His presence is what motivates and animates everything I seek to accomplish. It is the source of my courage when the headlines shake me, the anchor in grief, and the joy behind the adventures I share with you here in That Passport Life. My prayer is that, even when you’re simply reading these travel reflections, you feel that same presence of hope, peace, and purpose.

All for now, friends. Until we meet again—whether in print, on the airwaves, or perhaps on the streets of New York at Christmastime—thank you for journeying with me.

Warmly,

Kevin McCullough