Past and Pen: Episode 11- Driven to Discover

Rosie Talley
Aug 4
4 min read

Meet Your Host:

Meet Your Host:

Hosted by: Rosie Talley, Author of Linus the Troll

Produced by: Sweet Meadowlark Stories

🌐 Author Website

📧 Email: pastandpen@gmail.com

Watch Episode Eleven:

https://youtu.be/H74sdEe3v_4

In this episode of Past and Pen, we hit the open road with real stories of invention, adventure, and determination. Meet Bertha Benz, the trailblazing woman who took the very first road trip in a motor car—proving to the world that the future of travel had arrived. With clever fixes (and a hatpin or two), Bertha's 66-mile journey changed everything.

Then, take a pit stop in France, where two brothers created the Michelin Guide—a clever way to sell more tires that eventually became one of the most prestigious restaurant awards in the world.

Finally, we cruise across the United States on the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental road—and discover how it helped spark America’s love for road trips (with a young Dwight D. Eisenhower along for the ride!).

Reading List:

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Bertha Takes a Drive by Jan Adkins – A picture book that brings Bertha's journey to life with illustrations and facts.
Road Trip Fun Facts For Kids: Travel Wonders To Ponder While You Wander - An Interesting Car Ride Activity by Ben Clardy
Road Trip! by Gary Paulsen – A funny and heartfelt middle-grade novel about an unexpected adventure. Dad and Ben haven't been getting along lately, and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's scheme, and he's got ideas of his own.
The Sun Will Come Out by Joanne Levy - Twelve-year-old Bea Gelman and her best friend Frankie are planning the BEST SUMMER EVER at Camp Shalom―a sleep-away camp. But at the last minute, Frankie bows out, leaving painfully shy Bea on her own
Road Trip with Max and His Mom by Linda Urban

Max is heading off on a road trip with Mom. With miles to travel, cousins to meet, and a tall roller coaster to ride (maybe), it will be an adventure!

The Vanderbeekers on the Road- Vanderbeekers hit the highway to give their dad the best birthday surprise EVER! by Karina Yan Glaser

For grown-ups: The Lincoln Highway: A Novel by Amor Towles

Writing Prompt:

Wheel-y Fun Writing Prompt

Imagine you are Bertha Benz, setting off on the world’s first long-distance car trip in 1888.Tell the story of your journey from Bertha’s perspective. What do you see, hear, and feel? What unexpected challenges do you face along the way—and how do you overcome them?

Write a short scene where the message appears at just the right moment. You can send your story, drawing, or ideas to pastandpen@gmail.com. I would love to see what you come up with.

Thanks so much for joining me as we explore the past and let our pens do the talking! New episodes drop every other Tuesday at 4 PM CST—so mark your sundials, set your hourglasses, or just let history repeat itself and tune in!

Patreon Members can answer the Question of the Month for a chance to be featured on the show! This month’s question is:

What’s one special memory you made this summer?

P.S. If you want even more summer reading fun, check out my new summer reading program ⁠Wander and Wonder⁠. It’s a parent/child book club with options for kids ages 4 to 12. You’ll get kitchen classroom recipes inspired by the books we read, a printable PDF journal with drawing or writing prompts, and hands-on activities to bring each story to life.

Dinner Conversations:

Bertha Benz took a huge risk driving the first car without telling anyone. Would you have been brave enough to do what she did? Why or why not?

The Michelin brothers created their famous guide to help people travel more—and sell more tires. Can you think of something helpful you could create that also supports something you care about?

Imagine taking a road trip in the early 1900s with no GPS or fast food. What would you pack in your car? How would you stay entertained during the trip?

The Lincoln Highway connected the country and inspired more people to travel.If you could take a road trip anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take with you?