In this episode of Road Gang Radio, host Jimmy Mac sits down with journalist and nostalgia storyteller Rolando Pujol, also known as The Retrologist.

From the golden days of McDonaldland characters to the rise (and fall) of fast food roadside icons, Rolando shares why these places hold such a special spot in American culture — especially for travelers and truck drivers who’ve experienced them along their routes.

Rolando has spent three decades in New York newsrooms and now runs The Retrologist, a project dedicated to preserving and celebrating roadside Americana. His love for small-town stories, fast food nostalgia, and the quirky corners of American culture has captured the imagination of thousands across Instagram and Substack.

In this conversation:

The retro comeback of McDonaldland

Why fast food nostalgia resonates with drivers

Stories from the American roadside

How places like McDonald’s, Burger King, and others shaped travel culture

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen on iHeartRadio using the links below.

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Trucking with OOIDA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr...