On this edition of Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome acclaimed author and adventure historian Peter Stark to explore the quiet corners of America—places drivers pass through, but rarely pause to appreciate.

In his book The Last Empty Places, Peter guides us through remote, rugged, and resonant American landscapes—places where silence still reigns and history lingers. He shares stories of journeys into these out-of-the-way places and what they reveal about the American spirit, identity, and endurance.

But that’s not all. In honor of the 250th birthday of the United States, Peter also rewinds to June 1775, when a not-so-successful young officer named George Washington was named Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. What did Washington bring to the table—beyond a sharp uniform and a fondness for silver lace? Peter unpacks the unexpected story behind Washington’s rise to command.