Travel Tales by Afar
Travel, at its best, changes the way we see the world. Join us each week as we dig into stories from people who took a trip—and came home transformed. Travel Tales by Afar is your ticket to the world, no passport required.
Episodes
The Ambassador, the President, and Me: an Unlikely Reunion in India
Author Charmaine Craig had always felt mysteriously drawn to India—pulled by childhood family legends of ancestors who arrived there centuries ago and copper plates inscribed with ancient privileges that still hang in a Kochi synagogue. But it would take a chance encounter at a dinner party—and the power of old friendship—to finally help her explore her roots.
She set out on a pilgrimage through
'Pack Light' Is a Lie: What a 16-Year-Old Learned About Travel (and Life) in Guatemala
When 16-year-old Jayla Nicholas from New York City packed her one carry-on suitcase for Guatemala, she thought she had everything figured out. A seasoned city kid who loves the smell of airports and dreams of seeing the world, Jayla was ready for her second international trip, an adventure through Afar's Learning Afar program with Global Leadership Adventures.
But Guatemala had lessons she never
Replay: Why a Wildlife Biologist Traded Mice for the World's Most Dangerous Predator
When polar bear biologist Alysa McCall was growing up in Kamloops, British Columbia, watching black bears raid fruit trees outside her living room window, she never imagined she'd dedicate her life to their Arctic cousins. But sometimes the most profound career changes happen when you least expect them—like when a world-renowned scientist responds to your "what's the worst that could happen?" emai
What 400 Miles of Hitchhiking the Oregon Coast Taught Me About Home
When Santi Elijah Holley, writer and author of An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created, was 25, he took the ultimate travel leap of faith: He hitchhiked 400 miles from Northern California to Portland through small-town Oregon. But for Holley—who had just moved to Portland from Michigan—it wasn't just about getting a ride. After a year of feeling like an outsider as a person of
Wait, Coleslaw Is What? The Surprising Tales of Classic American Foods
Dr. Jessica B. Harris, renowned food historian and author of High on the Hog, which later became a hit Netflix series of the same name, reveals the shocking truth about American cuisine—it's not what you think. From her couch in Brooklyn with a Siamese cat wandering by, Dr. Harris unpacks the surprising origins of beloved American classics and introduces us to the concept of the "American braid."
Summer Replay! The Surfer Who Feels Everything
This is a replay episode from Season 4 featuring Ryan Knighton's journey to Kaua'i.
Ryan Knighton, AFAR contributing writer, TV writer for Billions, and author of Cockeyed: A Memoir, takes us on an extraordinary adventure to surf Hawaii's legendary Hanalei Bay. Despite being blind since his early twenties, Ryan has never let that stop him from exploring the world—and surfing has become his unique
Space, Sea, and the Nudge That Saved His Life
Jim Kitchen, professor of entrepreneurship at UNC Chapel Hill, has visited all 193 countries, rocketed 66 miles into space with Blue Origin, and descended seven miles to the ocean's deepest point—but his most important journey was learning to connect rather than just collect experiences.
From childhood road trips in a wood-paneled station wagon to becoming one of only 700+ people who've seen Eart
The Woman Who Turned Dancing into a Passport to the World
Mickela Mallozzi, Emmy award-winning host of PBS's Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, transforms strangers into dance partners across seven continents.
Whether learning sean-nós in Ireland or celebrating Matariki in New Zealand, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mickela reveals how asking permission opens doors to authentic cultural experiences—and why the best travel connections happen when
A Ride Through South Dakota’s Most Misunderstood Festival
Jaymee Sire, host of Food Network Obsessed podcast, trades tasting menus for throttle grips at the legendary Sturgis Motorcyle Rally in South Dakota.
Whether riding two-up through the Black Hills or bonding over leather stamping and welding with a multigenerational crew of women riders, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Jaymee reveals the side of Sturgis Buffalo Chip few outsiders get to
What Touring America Taught a Southern Comic About Reading a Crowd
Kentucky native and comedian Katherine Blanford takes us on a hilarious journey across America, sharing how different regions react to humor and why the Pacific Northwest has become her performing paradise. From childhood road trips to Cracker Barrel to navigating regional comedy crowds, Katherine reveals the art of connecting with audiences nationwide—plus her brutally honest airport confessions.
In the Warming Arctic, These Inuit Traditions Refuse to Disappear
When Métis writer Debbie Olsen heard the haunting sounds of Inuit throat singing for the first time, she felt an unexpected connection to her own Indigenous roots. In northern Quebec's remote Inuit region of Nunavik, she discovered how an entire community is fighting to preserve cultural traditions that were once banned—while adapting to a rapidly warming world that threatens their ancient way of
I Solo Hiked 7,500 Miles from Cape Town to Cairo—and Found Connection at Every Step
When Turks and Caicos native Mario Rigby landed in Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, a pair of worn-in sneakers, and a dream to walk the length of Africa, he thought maybe he'd made the worst mistake of his life. But actually walking across Africa? That brought peace and a deeper understanding of the power of hospitality, movement, and self discovery.
In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar
Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Ate Around the World With Your Favorite Celebrities. These Are the Meals That Still Haunt Him
Antoni Porowski, our favorite culinary expert from Queer Eye, takes you behind-the-scenes of his new National Geographic show, No Taste Like Home (premiering February 23, 2025). In this episode, he shares the connection that sent him crying off camera with Awkwafina, the dish that defeated his adventurous palate with Henry Golding, and how his Polish roots served him well while helping celebrities
The Spontaneous (Travel!) Story of How Afar Came to Be
No plan. No luggage. Five weeks in India. Joe Diaz and Greg Sullivan, dreamed up Afar on a beach in Goa more than 15 years ago. In this candid episode from our sister podcast, Unpacked, they reflect on what they’ve learned by helping people travel deeper. From the spontaneous trips that honed the company’s values to how they’ve helped shape the travel industry, get an inside look into the transfor
Want to Get to the Soul of Switzerland? Jump Into a River.
Not only can you swim in the rivers of Bern and Basel— but thousands of locals regularly take the plunge. From a morning commute to a relaxing weekend escape, discover how rivers are at the heart of everyday Swiss life. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim, follows the currents of Switzerland's alpine rivers into the depths of history, culture and identity.
Only 10 People Have Walked Around the World—and One Dog.
Tom Turcich and his dog, Savannah, completed their world walk in 2022. On this week’s episode of Travel Tales, we hear their story.
We first talked with Tom and Savannah back in 2021, when they were in Kyrgyzstan, six years into their journey, which began in 2015. They had been held up by the pandemic, which was only one of many ordeals they faced on their circumnavigation. A year and a few thousa
A Cross-Country Road Trip Helped Make the World Safer (and More Fun!) for Queer Travelers
Road trips are such funny things. They allow more room for whimsy and spontaneity. They can inspire frank conversation, sitting side by side with someone, looking out at endless stretches of highway. And they can be dull (all that endless highway) in a way that somehow opens your mind to other possibilities and maybe even other lives.
That’s what happened for Charlie Sprinkman as he drove back an
I Traveled the World With President Obama. Now, I Help Give Young Women the Same Chance.
Deesha Dyer never thought she’d wind up in the White House. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, she desperately wanted to travel but it always felt out of reach. Until she landed a coveted internship in the Obama administration, working in the office that arranged all of the president’s travel. Over the next eight years, she would travel around the world with the President and First Lady—in style
When Zebras Taught Me to Drive in Namibia
Imagine this: You’re slowly driving through Etosha National Park, Namibia’s renowned conservation area. There are elephants and zebras and antelopes and lions all around you. In fact, you’ve been warned not to exit your car because of those very lions, which are pros at camouflaging themselves in the desert landscape. And then your car stalls—because you don’t really know how to drive it.
That’s
Is This Europe’s Most Underrated Food Tradition?
Some of our favorite travel moments are the ones you’d never in a million years expect. These are where the best travel stories are born. And this week, Afar’s executive editor, Billie Cohen, has a very delicious, very serendipitous story for us.
As you’ll hear in the episode, Billie was in Estonia (one of Afar’s picks for where to travel in 2024) for work. It was 9 p.m. and she was due to fly ho
In Mumbai, Everyone Thought I Was a Local. Here’s How I Became One.
When Afar editorial director Sarika Bansal was 22, she moved to Mumbai. As you’ll hear in her Travel Tale this week, she grew up in New York and visited India (where her parents were born) frequently. Yet the visits often felt cloistered. But many years later in Mumbai, she didn’t have to worry about meeting family expectations, and she was free to develop her own connection with the place. And th
The Unexpected Magic of a Turkish Barbershop
When it comes to relationships, often there’s the planner—and then there’s the go-with-the-flow-er. And today’s episode of Travel Tales by Afar is all about what happens when the planner hesitantly chucks the travel to-do list and lets serendipity lead the way.
Beth Santos is the planner in this particular story. She’s the founder of Wanderful, an online women’s travel community that grew out of
Replay: Comedian Michelle Buteau, "I Got Stood Up in Paris!"
This week, we’re replaying one of our favorite Travel Tales episodes: Comedian and actress Michelle Buteau—and her best friend—fly to Paris to meet their supposed French boyfriends. Only things don’t exactly go to plan . . .
Michelle Buteau is a comedian and actress, known for her roles in Always Be My Maybe, The First Wives Club, Someone Great, Russian Doll, and Tales of the City. She is also the
Why This Man Biked Across the United States—Without Any Food or Money
In late 2016, Daniel Troia was struggling with grief. Grief over the loss of his parents and grief over the division he saw unfolding on his TV, night after night. It made him angry, and that made him want to do something to change things, or at least to change his perception of things.
So, in 2018, he set out on a cross-country bike ride. His plan was to ride from California to New York—with no
A Poet’s Pilgrimage to Italy’s Violin-Making Capital
When poet Tess Taylor’s son, Bennett, was three years old, he heard the violin for the first time. For weeks afterward, every day he asked her for a violin, so finally she took him into a local violin shop and asked for help. The shop owner put a tiny violin and bow in his hands and Bennett asked, “But how do I make it sound beautiful?”
Fast-forward nearly a decade and Bennett was still playing t
Big Animals, and Even Bigger Adventures, in a Part of Argentina Few Travelers Visit
When most of us think about nature in Argentina, our minds go immediately to Patagonia—which is a spectacular place worth visiting (it’s one of the most memorable places I’ve been to). But in this week’s episode, we’re exploring two regions in Argentina that most travelers miss: El Impenetrable National Park in the north and Patagonia Azul in the south.
These places are relatively unfrequented in
I’ve Made Polar Bears My Life’s Work. Here's Why Everyone Should Travel to See Them.
Today we’re launching Travel Tales, season five. And we’re kicking off this season with a roar, although the subjects of today’s episode (polar bears) are much quieter than you’d imagine.
Nearly two years ago, host Aislyn Greene attended a TED Talk event in New York, held in partnership with the Canadian tourism board. There she met environmentalist and entrepreneur Kevin Smith, who shared his ta
The Plus-Size Traveler on a Mission to Change the World
How often do you do something that scares you? This week on Travel Tales by AFAR, Jeff Jenkins—host of the National Geographic show Never Say Never—reminds us that life begins where our comfort zone ends.
On his show, Jeff tests the limits of his physical and mental abilities. He climbs mountains, cave dives, learns to sumo wrestle, races in a Maori canoe (called a waka), and does basically anythi
A Canadian Grizzly Bear Changed My Life
The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the most spectacular, pristine protected places in Canada. But it wasn't always this way. Kevin Smith, a boat captain who grew up in British Columbia and now owns and operates Maple Leaf Adventures, was instrumental in helping turn the local economy from extraction (logging) to tourism. Since then, he's guided thousands of travelers through the wilds of the rain
Life Lessons From a Dutch Art Movement
Can geometric shapes heal the world? That's what the artists of the De Stijl movement—which came of age in the Netherlands after World War I—believed. Piet Mondrian is one of the most famous members of this group, which forbade circles and embraced light, color, and geometry as a way to move past the chaos of the war. As AFAR contributing writer Chris Colin discovers on a trip to Utrecht, that's n
A Blind Surfer Takes on Kauai’s Legendary Waves
For writer Ryan Knighton, surfing is one of the rare occurrences where he feels completely free. Because, in addition to being an excellent writer, a dad, and a curious individual, Ryan is blind. But that's never stopped him from exploring the world. So more than a decade ago, he learned to surf and has been riding the waves near his home in British Columbia ever since. But he’s always had a hanke
On France’s Newest Food Trail, Life Is One Long, Gorgeous Meal
What's it like to eat your way along France's Vallée de la Gastronomie, a 400-mile food trail that begins in Dijon and ends in Marseille? That's the question we're exploring in this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR. Host Aislyn Greene, who spent some formative time in France as a 20-something, returns to hunt truffles, meet famous French cows, and taste wine in a cave.
Don't miss these momen
Dolly Parton Went From a One-Room Cabin to a Smoky Mountains Empire
The Great Smoky Mountains have had an outsized impact on Dolly Parton—they shaped the way she grew up, influenced her music, and are the only place where she feels truly restored. Which is why she has spent her adult life giving back to the region, primarily through tourism. On this week's episode, we travel to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for the unveiling of Dolly's new hotel, HeartSong Lodge & Reso
A Food Writer Returned to Nigeria. The Experience Helped Her Reclaim Her Roots.
After 15 years of living in the United States, food writer—and author of the new cookbook My Everyday Lagos—Yewande Komolafe finally revisited her home city: Lagos, Nigeria. In this episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, we hear the story of that journey and how it helped her heal, and how it helped her reconnect with the Nigerian foods she grew up with. On that first trip back home, she discovered:
Th
Facing Mountains, Loss, and My Inner Overachiever on Slovenia’s Newest Hiking Trail
Writer and avid hiker Peggy Orenstein is exactly the kind of person you should send off into the wilderness with an iPhone and a pair of hiking boots. And for this episode, we did just that. In October 2022, Slovenia rolled out the 167-mile Juliana Trail, a route that circles Slovenia's Triglav National park and the Julian Alps and takes walkers back in time. Peggy tackled a portion of the trail a
Traveling With the Ghosts of Mumbai
How does a place change when the person who defined it for you is now gone? That's the question we're exploring in this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR. Author Shruti Swamy grew up in the United States, but her parents grew up in Mumbai, India, so she has a unique relationship with the city, in some ways intimate and in some ways totally distant.
Her aunt, Ila Mami, was the person who helpe
50 Years After Picasso’s Death, I Retraced His Life in Europe
50 years after Picasso’s death, AFAR associate editor Mae Hamilton traveled to Spain and France to retrace his life in Europe. She started in Málaga, Spain, where Picasso was born, and ended in Mougins, where Picasso spent his final days. As an art lover, she believes that art is one of the best ways to get to know a place. In this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, Mae shares her story as we
Comedian Baratunde Thurston Travels From Oregon to Maine to Tell a Better Story of America
Comedian and writer Baratunde Thurston wants to tell a better story of us. The narrative around the United States is often one of fracture and discord. So in his PBS show, America Outdoors, he travels around the United States to better understand Americans' deep connections with nature—and how that tells a more positive story of the country. In this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, we sit d
And We're Back! Introducing Travel Tales, Season 4
Tales Tales is back! Starting Thursday, October 5th, each week, we’ll share a story of someone who took a trip—and came home transformed. We’re going to be hearing about a whirlwind Picasso art pilgrimage, what it’s like to eat your way through France, how a blind surfer navigates new waves, and so much more.
And this season, host Aislyn Greene is sitting down with each guest to talk about their t
For Two Australian Sisters, a Trip to Cairns Brings Living Dinosaurs, Wild Forests—and a Chance to Reconnect
Want to meet mentholated ants, see the forest that inspired Avatar, and search for living dinosaurs? Head for Cairns, Australia, home to the world's largest tropical rainforest. Australian playwright Michelle Law is our guide this week: Last summer, she and her sister took a road trip through the region to explore Indigenous culture, zoom through the rainforest, and bond over the mysteries of pare
Learning to Sing in Vienna, the City of Music
In this episode, we’re traveling to Vienna with AFAR contributing writer Emma John.
Emma has music in her blood. She grew up in London playing classical violin, and about a decade ago, she traveled to the American South to learn to play bluegrass, a journey she chronicled in a story for AFAR, and in her book Wayfaring Stranger. But in all those years, she avoided singing, for reasons you’ll soon
1,500 miles, Three Cities, One Mini Cooper: A Septuagenarian Explorer Hits the Road
J.R. Harris is the greatest traveler you’ve never heard of. On a road trip through Canada and Maine, he meditates on a lifetime of adventure—and the enduring power of a great road trip.
You can follow J.R. on Instagram, @jrinthewilderness, or via his website: https://www.jrinthewilderness.com/
This story was inspired by a feature by AFAR deputy editor Katherine LaGrave—read the full story here: ht
A Roguish Irish Road Trip in Search of One's Roots
Brendan Francis Newnam, host of the Not Lost podcast, is a Croatian-Irish reporter who’s traveled the world. But in all his wanders, he’d never really given his Irish side a chance—until now.
Subscribe to Brendan's podcast, Not Lost: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/not-lost
And follow him on social media: @BFNewnam: https://twitter.com/BFNewnam
And a special thanks to the Tourism Ireland team: htt
A Love Letter to the West Coast by Rail
On Amtrak’s Coast Starlight, writer Chris Colin and his 13-year-old daughter, Cora, meet a Mike Tyson impersonator, marvel at the golden West Coast, and embrace the trancelike nature of the train.
Read more about Chris's harebrained shenanigans! http://www.chriscolin.com/
And don't miss the José Andrés podcast that Chris produced, Longer Tables: http://www.joseandres.com/podcast/
Thanks to Oklahom
In Colombia, Searching for Culture—and Connection
As a kid, comedian Esteban Gast tagged along when his parents visited family in Colombia. But he’d never established his own relationship with the culture—until now. Join Esteban as he confesses his deepest darkest family secrets (well, kinda), has his first-ever "real" talk with his cousin Camilo, explores Cartagena's ubiquitous plaques, and yes, parties without his parents!
The episode that insp
On the Road Again: Introducing Season 3
Here at AFAR, we have been traveling. We imagine you've been out and about as well—or maybe you've just finally booked that big dream trip. Well, this season Travel Tales hits the road too. Five storytellers took trips in recent months, capturing the sights and sounds along the way. Every other Thursday, beginning September 1st, you'll hear one of those stories—and the challenges, joys, lessons, a
A Look Back: Embracing the Unknown in Rio de Janeiro
In our last summer replay, we revisit an anxious traveler: On a last-minute trip to Rio de Janeiro, author Carmen Maria Machado luxuriates in beach feasts, practices small talk—and confronts her travel anxiety.
Resources:
Carmen's website: https://carmenmariamachado.com/
Her book, In the Dream House: A Memoir: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781644450383
And The Low, Low Woods: https://bookshop.org/a
A Look Back: Kayaking Blind Through the Grand Canyon
In our next summer replay, we hear from adventurer Erik Weihenmayer. Erik lost his vision at age 13, but he never lost his thirst for adventure. In the decades since, he has rock-climbed in California and ice-climbed in Antarctica. In 2008, he decided he wanted to kayak through the Grand Canyon. It was, as you can, imagine quite a ride.
Read more about Erik on his website, listen to his podcast,
Summer Replay! Meet the Globetrotting Women of Pan Am
In our next summer replay, we revisit what we can learn about life and friendship from the women of Pan Am. These women, who flew for Pan Am in the 1960s and 1970s, were spirited, adventurous, trailblazers who lived life mostly on their own terms. Julia Cooke, author of Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am, spent four years researching their lives and shares what she learne
Summer Replay! Comedian Michelle Buteau Got Stood Up in Paris
Welcome to our summer replays, where we air some of our (and your) favorite episodes of the past seasons as we build up to season three, launching on August 25th. Today, we're sharing comedian Michelle Buteau's hilarious account of getting stood up in Paris at age 19. If you want to hear more from Michelle, check out her podcast, Adulting, where she answer life's essential questions like "How many
Unpacked by AFAR: "Let's Scale Back That Revenge Travel, Shall We?"
Hey Travel Tales listeners, we're working hard on Season 3. In the meantime, we've got a special treat for you: A preview of our first episode of Unpacked by AFAR. In it, writer and podcast host Paige McClanahan digs into the concept of revenge travel and how we can be kinder to the places we visit. You can listen to the full episode on our Unpacked feed.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to si
Rough Waters: Kayaking Blind Through the Grand Canyon
Erik Weihenmayer lost his vision at age 13, but he never lost his thirst for adventure. In the decades since, he has rock-climbed in California and ice-climbed in Antarctica. In 2008, he decided he wanted to kayak through the Grand Canyon. It was, as you can, imagine quite a ride.
Read more about Erik on his website, listen to his podcast, or follow him on Twitter. You can watch his documentary,
The Highways That Carry Us Home
It’s time to head for America’s heartland. Our guide will be Kelli Jo Ford, a Virginia-based writer, teacher, and author of Crooked Hallelujah, a much-praised novel that follows four generations of Cherokee women. In this episode Kelli Jo takes us on the road: For years, she’s made regular pilgrimages to Oklahoma to visit her family. As a kid living in Texas, those trips were especially poignant:
In Ghana, a Chef Finds Open Arms—and Open Kitchens
As a kid growing up in London, chef Zoe Adjonyoh learned to cook by watching her father make the foods he ate as a kid growing up in Ghana. As an adult, she opened a restaurant devoted to dishes like spicy, peanut butter–laced groundnut stew. A decade into her career, Zoe realized she wanted to know more about Ghanian cuisine—and her own family. Here’s what happened when she landed in Accra with a
A British Violinist Embraces the Music of the American South
In the early 2000s, AFAR contributing writer Emma John—a classically trained British violinist—fell for the Americana-inspired music of bands like the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons. She desperately wanted to recreate that bluegrassy sound, but her attempts at home didn’t go so well. So she bought a ticket to North Carolina with the vague idea of figuring things out. Fate brought her Fred, a ba
The Māori Village Where New Zealand Tourism Began
Rēnata West was born and raised in a Māori village on New Zealand’s North Island, and his family has been telling stories for more than 200 years as the pioneers of tourism in New Zealand. In this episode, Rēnata shares how his community learned to embrace tourism that both protects his people and preserves their rich culture—a model he now seeks to spread to other Indigenous communities.
Learn mo
Why Johnson City, Tennessee, Is My Nepal
When Carolina Quiroga-Stultz turned 30, she wanted to meditate in Nepal and “figure out her life,” she said. Instead, she wound up moving from Colombia to Johnson City, Tennessee, to learn how to be a professional storyteller specializing in the myths of Latin America. Here’s how the move challenged her, confused her—and, ultimately, changed the course of her life.
Read more about Carolina here—an
Searching for Inspiration in the Norwegian Arctic
Seven years ago, author Maggie Shipstead traveled to the Arctic to begin her next book. She was there as part of an Arctic Residency that connects artists with the icy landscape. But when she arrived in the Svalbard archipelago, she had only the seed of an idea. As she sailed around the archipelago—along with 27 other artists—Maggie discovered that inspiration can come in mysterious ways.
Enjoyed
Tuscany Is a Book-Lover’s Paradise
As a college student on her first trip to the Tuscan town of Lucca, writer Lisa Abend discovered a shop that specializes in customized ex libris, also known as bookplates. She desperately wanted one, but knew she needed more life experience before she could commit to such a personal thing. Three decades later, she returned to Lucca in search of that print shop—and her very own ex libris.
Read the
Lessons About Travel—and Friendship—from the Women of Pan Am
The women who flew for Pan Am in the 1960s and 1970s were spirited, adventurous, trailblazers who lived life mostly on their own terms. In this week’s episode, we’ll meet a few of those women. Julia Cooke, author of Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am, spent four years researching their lives. Along the way, she learned a few lessons about travel—and friendship.
Be sure t
Comedian Michelle Buteau: I Got Stood Up in Paris!
Comedian Michelle Buteau traveled with her best friend, Cynthia, to Paris to drink wine and meet French boys, because that’s what you do when you’re in your 20s and searching for love (or lust). Only things didn’t exactly go to plan . . .
Michelle Buteau is an actress and comedian (you may have seen her Netflix comedy special Welcome to Buteaupia). She’s also the host of the new Discovery Plus sh
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka (Kinda) Finds Her Dad in Bali
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka never really knew her dad. As a kid, she and her grandmother had moved from Japan to L.A. and, over the years, her relationship with her dad dissolved. Years later, she flew to Bali—where her father had retired—in an attempt to reunite. She thought they’d drink on the beach and stroll through tropical forests. Her dad, however, had a very different reunion in mind.
Hear mo
Finding Home in London's Carnival
Author Louis Chude-Sokei was born in what is now Nigeria, spent part of his childhood in Jamaica, and came of age in Los Angeles. This mix of places and cultures shaped his life—but also left him feeling unmoored. One day, as an adult traveling home to the United States from Nigeria, he passed through London just in time for the city’s famous Notting Hill Carnival. And there, in that swirl of musi
Chasing a Lost Recipe in the Philippines
Chef Sheldon Simeon grew up eating his grandmother’s revered pork adobo—well, a version of it. See, the dish had evolved since his grandparents emigrated from the Philippines to Hawai‘i in the 1930s. He wanted to recreate the dish as it once was, but Alzheimer’s had robbed his grandmother of her memory. And so he headed to the Philippines in search of his roots—and the original recipe.
Be sure to
Inside a Daring Giraffe Rescue in Kenya
A decade ago, a group of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes was relocated to a remote lakeside peninsula in Kenya. But in recent years, due to rising water levels, the peninsula became an island, trapping the giraffes. In 2020, a team of conservationists set up a daring rescue—one that wildlife photographer Ami Vitale traveled to document. This is her tale.
Explore Ami's work (and her new nonprofit)
The Healing Power of Maine's Forests
Soon after author and reporter Abdi Iftin arrived in the United States—the country he had dreamed of living in for so long—he was diagnosed with PTSD. Growing up in Somalia during the civil war had left its mark. His American doctors recommended medication, but Iftin was determined to find another way. What did he discover? The healing power of Maine’s forests.
Learn more about Abdi—and buy his me
Season 2 Trailer: The World Awaits
Here at AFAR, we're beginning to dip our toes back into the travel waters. Maybe you, too, have booked your first flight? Or maybe you’re planning a summer road trip. Or perhaps you’re just now beginning to explore your home city or town. Wherever you’re at, we have heaps of travel inspiration for you in season two of Travel Tales by AFAR, launching June 10th.
Get ready for stories, every Thursday
Embracing the Unknown in Rio de Janeiro
On a last-minute trip to Rio de Janeiro, author Carmen Maria Machado luxuriates in beach feasts, practices small talk—and confronts her travel anxiety.
Resources:
Carmen's website
Buy now: "In the Dream House: A Memoir."
Buy now: "The Low, Low Woods."
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes de
In India, Learning to Speak the Language of the Forest
How does a nature-phobe learn to love the forest? Writer Shahnaz Habib returns to the jungle beyond her hometown in Kerala, India, to find out.
Resources
Read Shahnaz's work on AFAR.
Follow Shahnaz on X.
Preorder Shahnaz's new book, Airplane Mode.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes deta
Ghana’s Outstretched Hand
Recalling her first trip to Africa, journalist Heather Greenwood Davis reflects on missed opportunities—and a legacy she’s finally ready to explore.
Resources
Follow Heather's family travels on her website.
Watch archival footage of the trip.
Follow Heather on Instagram and X.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming n
The First Female Flamenco Guitarists, Turning Suffering Into Passion
Growing up, Lavinia Spalding believed she was destined to become a tocaora, or a female flamenco guitar player. It didn’t exactly happen, for reasons you’ll soon hear. One day, decades after giving up on her dream, something shifted. On a whim, she emailed three of the biggest tocaoras in Spain to ask for lessons. To her surprise, they said yes.
Resources
Listen to this playlist, which features
What a Canadian Train Trip Can Teach Us About Kindness
Colleen Kinder is a bona-fide Canadian. Well, kinda. See, she married a Canadian last year. And through him, she’s gotten to know Canada in all its friendly glory. But there was one place she hadn’t yet explored: the ViaRail train system. So we sent her on a 800-mile train trip through the Maritimes. On the way, she discovered what it really means to be Canadian. (It’s so much more than saying “so
A Walk on Japan's Quiet Side
No crowds. No cosplay. On the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route—as author Peggy Orenstein discovers—it's just temples, trees, and a warm bath at the end of the day.
Resources
Listen to Peggy's story about hiking the Juliana Trail in Slovenia.
Read Peggy’s other AFAR stories: horseback riding in Wyoming and exploring Yunnan, China.
Buy Peggy’s latest book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While
In Pursuit of Portugal
As she follows the trail of the country's most beloved author, novelist Charmaine Craig meditates on loss and hope.
Resources
Read Charmaine's original story for AFAR.
Follow Charmaine on her website.
Buy Charmaine's books, Miss Burma and My Nemesis.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes d
How to See the Morocco Most Tourists Don't
On a three-week, 500-mile bike trip through the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, photographer Peter Bohler and his fiancée, Celia, learn when to say "yes" to adventure.
Resources
Check out Peter's photos—including a few from Morocco!—on his website or on Instagram.
And read Celia's version of events on AFAR.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behi
Is Amsterdam Really as Tolerant as It Seems?
AFAR chose a destination at random and sent political commentator Sally Kohn on 24 hours’ notice to a city renowned for its “coffee shops” but where tolerance has its limits.
Resources
Follow Sally on Instagram @sallykohn or X @sallykohn.
Buy her book, The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity.
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Beh
A Malaysian Chef Reclaims Her Past with Laksa
A pet orangutan, a 106-year-old grandma, and a wedding where 10,000 guests were fed. When writer and host of NPR’s The Splendid Table, Francis Lam, heard stories from his friend Azalalina Eusope about her life in Penang, Malaysia, he couldn’t help but marvel at them.
But when the San Francisco-based chef (who has served Barack Obama and the Malaysian prime minister) invites Francis to come home
Why a Train Trip Across the U.S. Is the Fastest Way to Slow Down
Can a train be a travel destination? Welcome to “Amtrakistan.”
On a quest to cure his chronophobia and calm his anxious mind, Eric Weiner, the bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss, books a roomette on an Amtrak train that travels from Washington D.C. to Portland,Oregon.
Crossing the Country in a Caboose
On this episode you’ll learn:
What it’s like to take a four day trip on an Amtrak t
The Incredibly True Story of Renting a Friend in Tokyo
A day in the life of a rent-a-friend can run the gamut of pretend engagements, crying at funerals and a 30-second selfie with a teenager. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, contributing writer Chris Colin travels to Tokyo to rent a friend.
At first, he expected nothing but kitsch. But as he navigates his newly forged—and reasonably priced—friendships with Miyabi,Yumi and Yusuke, what he le
Why Did I Bring a Teenager to Venice?
Hoping to recreate the same magical trip she took as a teen, author Emma John takes her friend’s 13-year-old daughter to Venice. But instead of awe, she’s filled with anxiety as she flies through a packed itinerary and struggles to impress her teenage companion. Will a reluctant teenager give into the wonders of the Floating City?
A Gondolier Wake Up Call
In this episode, discover:
Ideas for a w
Recommended
Artículos de Abre la Biblia
ANA DE LAS TEJAS VERDES - Libros
Supreme Court Decision Syllabus (SCOTUS Podcast)
the JustPod
Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast
The Daily
Doctor Zhivago Slow Read
Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
The Theory of Psychoanalysis - Carl Jung
A Life Engineered
پادکست بهزاد بلور | Behzad Bolour's Podcast
