Hey Campfire Embers!
Happy Veterans Day! To all the members and retired members of the military, thank you for your service!
🎙 My New Secret Weapon for Capturing Brilliant Ideas
This might surprise you—but I’m obsessed with fitness. From running to triathlons to hiking, I love pushing the limits. For years, I’d have brilliant ideas during a 15-mile run… and then poof—gone the second I stopped. Like my brain just hit the off switch.
A few weeks ago, I found this lightweight digital recorder that doesn’t even need Bluetooth, and it’s been a total game-changer. I clipped it on during a hike with my friend David this weekend—and the conversation it picked up was crystal clear.
I uploaded the file to Fireflies.ai and the summary blew me away. This combo—recorder + AI transcription—is now my favorite creative hack on the trail.
🛠 Gear links:
🤖 Why You’re Still Sleeping on ChatGPT (and Shouldn’t Be)
Even with 800 million weekly users, half of you still haven’t tapped into the most powerful tool of 2025—ChatGPT. Sara and I use it constantly. Honestly, I probably use it enough for 20 people.
We used RV Travel GPT to help plan our 2027 Alaska trip—and it’s like having a smart travel agent who never sleeps. You don’t have to repeat yourself, and it pulls together the best insights in seconds.
People say “ChatGPT makes stuff up,” but here’s the truth—so does Google. The difference? With ChatGPT, you skip the endless clicking and get a clear summary fast.
💡 If you can type a question into Google, you can use ChatGPT. It’s that simple. Start saving time, sanity, and maybe even a few gallons of diesel.
👉 Read how we’re planning trips with ChatGPT
🎙 Mike Was on Side Hustle Nation!
If you’re wondering what Side Hustle Nation is—it’s an awesome podcast hosted by Nick Loper that dives into creative side gigs and smart business ideas each week. I’ve been a fan for years, and this week I finally got my 15 minutes of fame... okay, more like 3 minutes, but still a win!
Take a listen here!
📊 Last Week’s Poll Results
What kind of trip are you dreaming about for 2026?
- 🏔 National Park road trip — 0%
- 🏕 Camping + hiking combo — 33.3%
- 🚐 Cross-country RV loop — 33.3%
- ☀️ Lazy beach escape — 33.3%
Thanks to everyone who chimed in—it’s fun seeing where your adventures are headed next!
🗳️ This Week’s Poll: What’s Your Favorite Way to Use AI on the Road?
- 🤖 Planning routes and itineraries
- 🎙 Transcribing conversations or notes
- 📸 Editing travel photos
- 💬 Writing blog or journal entries
- 😅 Haven’t tried it yet (but I’m curious!)
Hit reply and let us know. We will give away 1 Starbucks Gift Card to a lucky ember who replies!!
Last week's winner - Bianca A.
🎄 Coming Soon: Kentucky’s Best Christmas Lights!
We’re working on a Christmas Lights in Kentucky Directory—a fun, interactive map to help families find the brightest, most magical displays this season. Stay tuned—it’ll drop just before Thanksgiving, perfect for planning those cozy December weekends.
And for my fellow AI-curious readers, next week we’ll dive into how to use ChatGPT like a pro—step-by-step, no tech jargon. We want all our Embers to be AI pros by 2026.
🔥 Quick Recap
- 🎙 Test this tiny digital recorder on your next hike or run – link
- 🤖 Try Fireflies.ai for instant conversation summaries – link
- 🚐 Use ChatGPT or RV Travel GPT to plan your next trip – read more
- 🗳 Vote in this week’s poll below!
Thanks for reading, friends—see you on the trail (or maybe on Fireflies 😉).
Happy travels,
Mike
Our Campfire Unplugged
mike@ourcampfireunplugged.com
Follow Our Adventures Across Social Media! 📲
We LOVE using YouTube and TikTok (no crazy dances from us!) to scout new places before we visit—and we share tons of travel tips, campground reviews, and fun shorts from our adventures too!
We would love your support:
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