Travel Tales by Afar

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 Kerala's ancient Jewish communities with a former college boyfriend turned U.S. Ambassador to India and a mutual friend who orchestrated their reconnection. From sacred sunrises where three seas converge to an impossible meeting with the last two Jews of Kochi, Charmaine discovers that sometimes journeys into the past have the power to change your life—especially when you have good friends by your side. Don't miss these transformative moments The dinner party revelation that set everything in motion Why Charmaine's childhood bedroom featured only one map—of India The legend of her ancestor who saved a ruler's son in 10th-century India Traveling by presidential motorcade through Kerala's lush landscapes The 4 AM journey through cyclonic winds to witness sunrise where three seas meet Meeting Keith and Queenie, the reclusive last Jews of Kochi who "never see visitors" The moment in the sacred waters that changed everything How friendship, timing, and ancestral calling converged to open a new chapter Resources Learn more about Charmaine Craig at charmainecraig.com Buy Charmaine's books: Miss Burma and My Nemesis Read Charmaine's Spin the Globe trip to Portugal or listen to theTravel Tales episode Read the transcript of the episode 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 expected—from the vibrant yellow and purple buildings that felt "more real" than NYC's concrete jungle, to zip-lining through mountain canyons in a sudden downpour, to discovering that "pack light" advice might be the biggest travel myth of all. In this episode, we follow Jayla's journey from pre-trip excitement to post-adventure wisdom, as she learns about leadership, gratitude, and what it really means to be prepared for the unexpected. Don't miss these unforgettable moments: Why Jayla loves the smell of airports and considers flying a gift The colorful contrast between Guatemala's vibrant buildings and NYC's concrete jungle Working with elementary school kids who copied her every move (including snack time) An epic zip-lining adventure that turned into a rain-soaked truck ride sing-along The tamale that challenged her Chipotle-loving palate How flushing toilet paper became a luxury she'd never considered The floating egg chair moment overlooking volcanoes that perfectly captured her gratitude Why she's officially converting from underpacker to overpacker (and her advice for fellow picky eaters) Resources Learn more about Learning Afar and how to support future student travelers 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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?" email with "Sure. Come over. See you in September." McCall's journey from studying desert mice to becoming a polar bear researcher took her from the semi-arid landscapes of British Columbia to the frozen sea ice of Hudson Bay, where she learned that conservation isn't just about data—it's about connection, storytelling, and what she calls "big feelings." Don't miss these unforgettable moments: Growing up with black bears as backyard visitors (and banging pots to make them leave) The "imposter syndrome" email that changed everything Sleeping on a tundra buggy and mistaking a polar bear for a rock Getting stranded alone on moving sea ice in -30°F weather The mortifying moment of accidentally pointing a shotgun at your helicopter pilot (who later became her husband) Holding her first polar bear cub and feeling the weight of conservation responsibility Why emotion and storytelling are the key to saving Arctic habitat The sobering reality: this polar bear population has dropped from 1,200 to just over 600 bears The Science Behind the Story: McCall explains why polar bear conservation requires a completely different approach than other wildlife protection—you can't fence sea ice or hire patrols to guard it. Saving polar bears means addressing global climate change, making it one of the most complex conservation challenges on Earth. Resources: Learn more about Polar Bears International Discover Churchill, Manitoba as a polar bear viewing destination Read the transcript of this episode Listen to Alysa McCall's TED talk 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 color in one of America's whitest states, this journey would test whether Oregon would accept him or leave him standing on the side of the road. What he discovered during those three days hitchhiking along Highway 101 changed everything. From sleeping on church roofs to walking barefoot on the beach with a wealthy New Yorker, and listening to a mother's fight for youth spaces to riding with speeders heading to court, Holley found that Oregon's people had stories to tell—and that he was the perfect stranger to hear them. Don't miss these unforgettable moments Why Holley thought of himself as a teenage "brown-skinned Kerouac" in Michigan Walking barefoot on an Oregon beach with a wealthy stranger in a red convertible The mom who's single-handedly saving her town's crumbling teen center with mop buckets and determination A white-knuckle ride with a speeding driver on his way to DUI court The paper mill ghost town and one man's 15-year story of economic change Sleeping on a church roof under the stars (and why Holley calls it "urban camping") The Willie Nelson cassette tape that sparked a conversation about human connection How three days on Highway 101 revealed Holley's future as a journalist Resources Visit Santi Elijah Holley's website: santielijahholley.com Read his book An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created Read the transcript of the episode Read Santi's Afar story about New Orleans 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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." Her new book, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine, weaves together the three cultural strands that created what we eat today: Indigenous, European, and African influences. But prepare to have your assumptions shattered—coleslaw is Dutch, cookies aren't American, and the "wok hand" of enslaved African Americans shaped Southern food in ways we're only beginning to understand. Don't miss these eye-opening revelations: Coleslaw comes from Dutch "kool sla" (cabbage salad)—not American at all Cookies and waffles are Dutch gifts hiding in plain sight The "wok hand" concept and why Southern food doesn't taste British How barbecue represents the cultural braid of Africa and Europe Dr. Harris's childhood travel bug that started at the UN International School Her 50+ year relationship with a French host family Building chosen families across three continents: France, West Africa, and Brazil Why she's wittier in French and can flirt better too The personal recipes closest to her heart: her mother's fried chicken and grandmother's watermelon rind pickles Resources: Read Dr. Jessica B. Harris's Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine Watch High on the Hog on Netflix and read the book Read her memoir, My Soul Looks Back Learn more about Chef Sean Sherman's indigenous food work Read an excerpt on afar.com from Dr. Harris's Vintage Postcards from the African World: In the Dignity of Their Work and the Joy of Their Play Read an interview on afar.com with Dr. Harris about New Orleans, where she also lives for part of the year Read the transcript of the episode. 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 form of freedom. The episode opens with host Aislyn Greene interviewing Ryan about his surfing background and travel philosophy, then transitions into Ryan's captivating first-person story (read by actor Andrew Galteland). After 13 years of mastering the waves near his Vancouver Island home, Ryan decided to challenge himself by surfing completely unfamiliar waters in Hawaii. What unfolds is a story about trust, collaboration, and finding liberation in the most unexpected places. In this episode, you'll discover How a deaf friend taught a blind man to surf in a comedy of miscommunication Why Ryan describes surfing as "dancing with a wave" and his escape from the "boredom of being safe" The art of guidance—what makes a great travel guide versus one who just shows you around How Ryan navigates ocean dangers by feeling water currents and listening to wave patterns Don't miss these powerful moments Ryan's first taste of freedom on an 11-foot surfboard that felt like "riding a sidewalk" The ingenious toe-hook technique that got Ryan safely through dangerous rip currents Using a clock face system to communicate wave direction when words barely carry over ocean noise The profound realization that surfing takes him "deeper inside" while sighted surfers look outward How Ryan's wife Tracy demonstrates ultimate trust by dropping him at the beach and returning hours later Resources Read more of Ryan's travel stories on afar.com Follow Ryan Knighton on X Listen to Andrew and producer Nikki's podcast Looters Previous episode: Ryan's Zimbabwe safari adventure 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Earth from space, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Jim reveals how travel transformed him from a frantic collector into a mindful connector—and how trusting his instincts literally saved his life. In this episode, you'll discover How travel resolved an existential crisis—and changed everything What it's really like to rocket into space at 2,300 miles per hour Why listening to life's "nudges" can be a matter of survival Don't miss these transformative moments Growing up with "genetic wanderlust" and seeing America backwards from a station wagon The Afghan marketplace moment that shifted his approach from collecting to connecting Negotiating a space travel prenup and the emotional stages of preparing for launch Slapping himself awake at 2,300 mph because he wasn't going to be "that guy" The profound silence of space and seeing Earth without borders Smuggling pounds of stickers to space in oversized socks (sorry, Blue Origin!) Descending seven miles down to find life thriving in the most inhospitable conditions The nudge that saved his life when he walked away from the doomed Titan submersible Resources Read the transcript of the episode Follow Jim Kitchen on Instagram Learn more about Blue Origin space tourism Read about the Challenger Deep and Mariana Trench exploration 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 you follow your passion. In this episode, you'll discover How cultural appreciation differs from cultural appropriation—and why permission is key What it's like to film a travel show without rehearsals or mirrors Why dance reveals migration patterns and cultural connections across continents Don't miss these transformative moments [03:00] How Mickela's mission evolved from selfish adventure to platform for marginalized communities [06:00] The weekly Zoom meetings with Māori elders that made filming in New Zealand possible [11:00] Growing up in an immigrant family—from slaughtering chickens in Italy to catching the travel bug [14:00] The Europade festival that reminded her why she fell in love with this work [19:00] How Irish sean-nós connects to Appalachian clogging and eventually becomes tap dancing [23:00] Why the Caribbean is her favorite place to see cultural fusion in action [28:00] Her best travel advice: Find what you love at home, then do it everywhere you go Read the transcript of the episode Follow Mickela Mallozzi on Instagram. Watch Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi seasons 7 and 8 (premiering December 2025) Read more about Mickela's adventures in Ireland and Morocco on afar.com. 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠View From Afar⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 see. 125 Bikers, 50 Miles, and One Beginner Biker In this episode, you’ll discover: Biker Belles, the annual women’s ride that breaks biking stereotypes. What it’s like to attend Sturgis Buffalo Chip, one of the nation’s oldest music festivals. Why winding through the Black Hills in South Dakota is so much better on a bike. The Side of Sturgis Most Tourists Miss Don’t miss these transformative moments: [03:08] What it’s like to arrive at one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country [07:35] This annual ride shows the feminine side of biking culture. [11:51] That moment when a motorcycle ride becomes a soul-filling, sightseeing tour. [14:21] Tears, Jelly Roll, and pork parfaits: Going beyond biking at Sturgis Buffalo Chip Resources Read the ⁠transcript⁠ of the episode Follow Jaymee Sire on ⁠Instagram⁠ Listen to her on the ⁠Food Network Obsessed⁠ podcast Learn more about the ⁠Sturgis Buffalo Chip⁠ and the ⁠Biker Belles⁠ ride 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 details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. From Cracker Barrel to Comedy Clubs In this episode, you'll discover: How a Kentucky kid who thought Calgary was "international travel" became a touring comedian Why the Pacific Northwest produces Katherine's favorite audiences (hint: they're cold, drunk, and unpretentious) The secret to reading crowds from the arm-crossing Midwest to the hootin'-and-hollererin' South What makes small towns like Great Falls, Montana, comedy gold Comedy Across America [06:15] Growing up in Louisville with dreams of horses and trips to Churchill Downs[15:30] The cultural shift from 31 years in the Southeast to touring nationwide[22:45] Decoding regional audience reactions—from Midwest nodders to Southern hollerers[28:20] Why Pacific Northwest crowds are a comedian's dream[35:10] The legendary Arizona crowd work story and learning to read local "creatures" A Comedian's Guide to Regional Humor Katherine Blanford's sharp Southern wit has earned her spots at comedy clubs nationwide, with her latest special "Catholic Cowgirl" showcasing her unique perspective on growing up in Kentucky horse country. Her approach to comedy goes beyond just getting laughs—she studies each town like an anthropologist, understanding what makes different communities tick. In this episode, you'll hear how Katherine transforms her childhood obsession with horses (she couldn't have one, so she became one) into crowd work gold, and why she had to retire her famous "neigh-off" challenge after Chicago audiences got too competitive. Resources Read the transcript of the episode Catch Katherine live at upcoming shows in Sunnyvale, California, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa See her at Red Rocks this October with Bert Kreischer About Travel Tales by Afar 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and our industry-focused podcast, View From Afar. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 life. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Debbie takes us inside Kuujjuaq's remarkable cultural revival, from throat-singing performances to traditional sewing centers, where elders pass down survival skills that have sustained Inuit life for generations. Plus, we explore how climate change is forcing this resilient community to adapt while holding fast to their identity. Ancient Arts in Modern Times In this episode you'll learn: How throat singing survived decades of government suppression to become a global art form Why traditional sewing and qamutiik-making are essential to cultural preservation What climate change means for Arctic communities living on the front lines A Culture of Resilience, With A Little Help From Community [04:30] The "Poor Little Puppy Song" and the stories behind throat singing traditions [12:15] Inside the sewing center where women reclaim traditional clothing-making skills [18:20] How eider down harvesting connects ancient practices with modern technology [22:45] The polar bear in town that signals a changing Arctic What Cultural Preservation Should Be All About Award-winning travel writer and Métis journalist Debbie Olsen brings a unique Indigenous perspective to exploring cultural traditions. Based in Canada, her work focuses on connecting with Indigenous communities and understanding how ancestral knowledge survives in the modern world. In this episode you'll hear how Kuujjuaq's community centers—from throat singing groups to carpentry workshops—represent more than skill-sharing; they're acts of cultural healing that help Inuit people reclaim what colonization tried to erase, all while preparing future generations for an uncertain climate future. Resources Read the transcript of this episode. Learn more about Debbie's work at wonderwoman.ca Follow Debbie on Instagram @wanderwoman_deb. Explore Nunavik travel experiences through NunaWild. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, Mario shares how walking 7,500 miles permanently changed the way he travels—and lives. Plus, we dive into what sustainable tourism really looks like and the aftermath of reverse culture shock. 7,500 Miles: From Cape Town to Cairo In this episode you’ll learn: Why Turks and Caicos is a microcosm for the power of sustainable tourism. What it’s like to cross the white desert in Egypt. How local culture in Cape Town, Sudan, and El Salvador reshaped Mario’s perspective on travel. An Epic Sojourn, With A Little Help From Locals [02:50] This childhood TV show planted the seed for adventure, before it was famous. [08:38] The local encounter that changed everything on day one. [14:41] When a dog attack in Sudan led to a Tedx talk. [22:19] What happens next? Reverse culture shock and the need for adventure. What Traveling Should Be All About Eco-explorer and former professional athlete, Mario Rigby has travel in his blood. Born in Turks and Caicos, raised in Germany, and now living in Canada, Mario’s expeditions focus on sustainability and human connection. In this episode you’ll hear how a walk from Cape Town to Cairo, guided him to a lifestyle of adventurous movement, that included biking across North America and living among Algeria’s nomadic tribes. Resources: Read the transcript of this episode Learn more about Mario’s work on his website. Follow Mario on Instagram: @mariorigby 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠Unpacked⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 explore the foods that taste like home in six different countries. What Do Kimbap, Ndambe and Chicken Fried Steak Have in Common? On this episode you’ll learn: How National Geographic’s team created epic, transformative travel experiences for celebrities. The tastes and origin stories that transformed Antoni Porowski, from kelp soup in Korea to ndambe in Senegal. The ways that food and travel can connect people to their deepest roots. Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Will Eat Anything—Except This Don’t miss these transformative, travel moments: [03:06] “I was the pickiest eater ever growing up!” [10:01] Kelp, crying, and Korean connections with Awkwafina. [17:18] James Marsden sheds a light on chicken fried steak. [19:21] Antoni Porowski tests his foodie limits with Henry Golding. [20:04] The surprising connections that changed the way Antoni Porowski approaches food. Why The Perfect Meal Should Remind You of Your Childhood Every episode of Antoni Porowski’s new show, No Taste Like Home, took three to six months of research: from tracing family trees to exploring the origins of traditional foods. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, discover what Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski learned about the universality of place, comfort and connection by taking celebrities on epic journeys to explore their culinary and familial roots. Resources: Follow Antoni Porowski on Instagram Stream the show, No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski. Watch this episode on Youtube. Read the episode transcript. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 transformative power of rallying around travel as a force for good. But, How Many Kitchen Tables Have You Visited? In this episode, discover: How Afar helped pave the way for “experiential travel.” The origin and impact of Learning Afar, which gives students access to travel. How you can continue to shape travel as a force for good in the world. Going Home with a Rickshaw Driver. Don’t miss these memorable moments: [2:03] It started without a plan—or luggage. [14:55] The first step: transformative travel education. [25:15] Spin the globe and other stories that have impacted them the most. [37:49] A trip to Cairo that led to a surgeon’s debut on The Daily Show. [45:15] A friendly debate on travel practices—from packing to plane rides. The Transformative Power of Teachers Turned Travelers. Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz met in the classroom, so when they traveled to India and found a deeper way to travel, they had to share that with others. In this lighthearted conversation, they share the spontaneous travel stories that have impacted the industry and continue to sustain Afar 15 years later. In this episode you’ll learn how Afar went from an idea to a multi-faceted media company, how they’ve pivoted over time to hone their impact on the world and how you can travel in a more conscious and connected way. Resources • Explore Afar’s 15-year anniversary hub of favorite stories, including: A Skeptic Visits the Holy Waters of Lourdes. What It’s Like to Navigate Cairo’s Chaos as a Blind Traveler. • Read the transcript of this episode. • Listen to the podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: A Blind Man’s Trip Will Change the Way You Go on Safari. A Blind Surfer Takes On Kauai’s Legendary Waves. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. How Rivers Reveal Years of Swiss Culture In this episode you will learn: How the Rhine was transformed into a meeting place for swimmers What river swimming reveals about the people and culture of major Swiss cities What our changing world could mean for the future of alpine river swimming. Behind Every Great Swiss City, There’s A River. Don’t miss these transformative travel moments: [5:19] A legacy of guarding the rights of swimmers in Basel. [8:14] Three distinct relationships with the Rhine. [11:07] An insightful swim at Rheinbad Breite, a 125-year-old bathhouse. [12:54] What does climate change mean for the future of Alpine river swimming? Swimming for a Slice of Life Afar contributor, and author of Why We Swim, Bonnie Tsui has swimming in her DNA. Her parents met in a pool in Hong Kong, she worked as a lifeguard growing up in New York, and she often swims when she travels—she's the perfect person to explore Switzerland’s river swimming culture. In this episode you’ll learn how to enhance a trip to Switzerland by swimming its rivers, hear how locals see rivers as an important thread in the fabric of Swiss life and culture, and be inspired by the people who are working to protect the future of alpine river swimming. Resources • Read the transcript of the episode • Order Bonnie’s book Why We Swim • Read more of Bonnie’s work on her website. • Pre-order Bonnie's latest book, On Muscle:The Stuff That Moves Us and Why it Matters. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 thousand miles later, they were done and back home in New Jersey. And now, two years later, Tom has released his memoir, The World Walk: 7 Years. 28,000 Miles. 6 Continents. A Grand Meditation, One Step at a Time. In his Travel Tale, Tom reads an excerpt from the book, a moment set in the Peruvian desert about a year and a half into his journey. At that time, he’d already been held up by knife point and chased by semi-feral dogs in South America. The novelty of his walk had worn off and as he shuffled through the desert, he started to lose sight of why he was attempting this journey. And then he encountered a special restaurant with a special individual, one that revealed that he was indeed on the right path. Tom and host Aislyn Greene also talk about what it was like to return to “real” life after seven years of walking, his relationship to walking now, and where he wants to go next. Copyright © 2024 Tom Turcich. Excerpted by permission of Skyhorse Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube on August 29th. Buy Tom's book on Amazon and on Barnes & Nobles. Follow Tom on Instagram. Read our feature on Tom and Savannah. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 and forth—and back again—across the United States. He was working a job that required constant travel, and as a queer person, he was always on the lookout for spaces that were both welcoming and queer owned. On their third trek across the States, he realized that if he was looking for these kinds of businesses, other LGBTQIA2S+ travelers would be too. So he founded Everywhere Is Queer, a map that helps those travelers find welcoming, queer-owned spaces around the world. In this week’s episode, Charlie shares their journey from a young, searching kid in Wisconsin to successful entrepreneur, and everything in between. And in the companion interview with Charlie on YouTube, he shares some of their favorite queer-owned places and businesses, where he wants to go from here, and how road-tripping helped them see that the country is really more alike than it seems. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Explore the map or download the app (iOS) (Android). 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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!—visiting embassies, hobnobbing with celebrities, and yes, traveling alone, much of which she’s chronicled in her new memoir, Undiplomatic. She also got a peek into the diplomatic world, where “I would never see any Black people in the U.S. embassies,” she told me. Until she worked in the White House, she had no idea that something like the U.S. Foreign Service existed. And that sparked an idea: To start a nonprofit that would help other Black girls access these opportunities. In 2014, she founded beGirl.World Global Scholars, a two-year program that culminates in a big international trip. In today’s episode, she takes us on that first journey. She and her cofounder, Marcella, took 10 girls to London and Paris, a two-week whirlwind that was delightful and stressful, learning a lot about what to do—and what not to do. Plus, in the companion interview on YouTube, Deesha shares all the behind-the-scenes details about traveling with the Obamas, what it’s like to fly on Air Force One, and the delightful challenge of transitioning back to “normal” travel after eight years of diplomatic luxuries. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Order Deesha’s book, Undiplomatic. Learn more about, and support, beGirl.World. Follow Deesha on her website and on Instagram. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the situation that this week’s storyteller, Nicolle Galteland (also known as Nikki) faced on a year-long, round-the-world trip that included a week in Namibia. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Nikki is Afar’s podcast engineer, and in this episode she steps in front of the mic to tell her tale. At age 23, Nikki applied for, and received, a special solo travel grant that allowed a certain number of undergrad and graduate students to travel around the world for a year, provided they did it totally on their own. Her itinerary included Tajikistan and Zambia, Thailand and Singapore, and getting around mostly involved planes or trains. But in Namibia she knew she wanted to do a road trip, and at the time the only cars available had a manual transmission. Which she didn’t know how to operate. But she’d always wanted to learn, so she recruited a few helpers, mapped out a course, and lurched off into the desert sunset. Hundreds of zebras, dozens of stalls, and one flat tire later, she found her way. And don’t miss our companion YouTube interview, where Nikki shares more about the grant, how this episode reinvigorated her love of wildlife—and gets on her soapbox about the ways that traveling solo as a woman can change your life. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the companion Q&A on YouTube. Explore more of Nikki’s work on her website. Listen to Looters, the sci-fi/Western role-playing podcast that Nikki coproduces with her husband, Drew. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 home the next day. But then her guide, Hanno, mentioned something about the country’s “open café days,” where Estonians across the south open their homes, cook food, and serve anyone who wanders in. Smart traveler that she is, Billie changed her flight home and joined Hanno in a very unique foodie road trip through the south. In our companion video for the episode, Billie shares some of the discoveries that didn’t fit into her story—including an encounter with an Estonian wedding hazing involving Santa Claus—and her travel superpower, talking to everyone. She also shares some of the favorite foods she ate, from freshly made onion rolls to a red currant cake baked by the grandmother of one of her new friends. So really our only tip for you this week is: Don’t listen to this one hungry. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Read about Billie's bog hike in Estonia. Explore the Onion Route Buffet Day Learn more about Tartu's European Capital of Culture 2024 (events). Find more food festivals in Estonia. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 therein lay the challenge. Because while she looked like everyone else, she didn’t have “the cultural competence to back it up.” She persevered, however, and this “hidden outsider” status ended up deepening her experience in Mumbai and fundamentally altering the course of her career. (She shares more in our companion YouTube interview.) It’s a funny, sweet story that touches on the power of early travel to shape our lives and the importance of intentionally seeking out, and sticking with, travel that puts us outside our comfort zone. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Buy her book, Tread Brightly: Notes on Ethical Travel. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 her solo travels as a young woman, and is an incredibly prolific and passionate entrepreneur and traveler. She hosts the 85 Percent podcast (named for the fact that women still make 85 percent of the travel decisions), is working on a docu series about influential women over the decades, and recently wrote a book, Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo, among many other things. She’s also married, with young children, and early on in her relationship with her husband, Marvin, it became clear that they had very different ideas about travel. Beth wanted a full itinerary that packed in all the sights. Marvin wanted a cocktail on the beach. And then on a trip to Greece, with a 24-hour layover in Istanbul, Marvin asked Beth a question that would change the trajectory of her travel life. Her story is sweet, funny, and such a good reminder of the power of the agenda-less trip. (Fire is also involved.) Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Buy her book, Wander Woman. Listen to Beth’s podcast, 85 Percent. Explore the Wanderful community. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 host of The Circle and has stand-up specials—including the award-winning Welcome to Buteaupia—on Netflix and Comedy Central. She is the cohost of the podcast Adulting, and the executive producer, writer, and star of Survival of the Thickest on Netflix. She lives in the Bronx with her husband and twins. She and her husband also run Van der Most Modern, a vintage furniture store in Brooklyn. Resources Read Michelle's book, Survival of the Thickest Watch Survival of the Thickest and Welcome to Buteaupia on Netflix Listen to her podcast, Adulting Follow her on Instagram 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 food or money. He thought that if he was forced to rely on the kindness of strangers, he would also have an opportunity to connect with the communities he was passing through. In some ways, it went exactly as he’d planned and hoped (people were often kind, generous, and curious about his journey). In other ways, it was a completely different experience than he’d expected (as his appearance changed, so did people’s reaction to him). He wound up stretching the trip beyond his original three-month plan: By the time he’d arrived in New York, he hadn’t found exactly what he was searching for so he decided to cycle back to California. Seven months later, he returned home—and a year later, he released a documentary about his experience, We Are All in This Together. Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Watch We’re All in This Together on Amazon or Apple TV. Sign up for Daniel’s newsletter for details about when he’ll be screening the film in your city. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the violin—expanding into bluegrass and classical music, finding his footing as a musician. Tess had read about a place in Italy called Cremona, where some of the world’s most famous violins are made. This is where Antonio Stradivari was born and worked, as well as other world-renowned luthiers. So Tess decided to take Bennett—and her husband and her young daughter, who also plays the violin—to Cremona to learn more about the instrument that had taken over their lives. In this week’s episode of Travel Tales, she shares that journey. They listened to outdoor concerts, explored music museums, and most importantly, met with one of the city’s luthiers, who still makes extraordinary stringed instruments by hand—some out of trees he himself cut down. And, as you’ll soon hear, they came home with much more than memories. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Watch the companion interview with Tess on YouTube. Explore Tess’s work on her website. Read Tess’s most recent book of poetry (an anthology she edited), Leaning toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 large part because, up until a few years ago, there really wasn’t an easy way for travelers to access them. Last year, Afar deputy editor Tim Chester traveled with outfitter Journeys With Purpose to explore the nascent tourism industry in both destinations, thanks to the efforts of Rewilding Argentina and Tompkins Conservation. As you’ll hear in the episode, Kris and the late Doug Tompkins have spent decades preserving land in Chile and Argentina. (If the names seem familiar, Kris was a CEO at Patagonia, and Doug founded the North Face.) Over the years, the couple acquired hundreds of thousands of acres in both countries and turned them into national parks before donating it all to the Chilean and Argentine governments. The teams that run the parks have reintroduced endangered species, including panthers and sea otters, and allowed the land to recover from years of abuse—essentially rewilding wide swaths of the countries. And now, the parks are open to travelers. Tim is kind of our environmental guru here at Afar and has covered the concept of rewilding quite a bit, but this was the first chance he had to see the work up close and personal. His trip was muddy, adventurous, and just a little bit life-changing. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Watch the companion interview with Tim on YouTube. Explore Rewilding Argentina and Tompkins Conservation. Learn more about Journeys With Purpose. Visit El Impenetrable National Park or Patagonia Azul. Listen to our interview with Kris Tompkins about the work the conservation has done (and continues to do) in Argentina and Chile. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 tale in an episode from last season, about how a grizzly bear changed his life, and she met biologist Alysa McCall, whose life was also altered by a bear, though this one was of the more polar sort. Yes, she’s a polar bear biologist, and in the first episode of this season, she explains how she fell in love with the world’s largest land predator up in Churchill, Manitoba. As you’ll learn, Alysa didn’t intend to become a polar bear biologist, but once she met these magnificent creatures, she was hooked. They also happen to be one of the most well-known symbols of climate change—as the sea ice shifts and disappears, polar bears can’t hunt and live the way they used to, which also increases human-wildlife conflict. But Alysa—who now works for Polar Bears International—is positive about the future and about the bears’ welfare. Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Watch the companion interview with Alysa on YouTube. Explore Polar Bears International. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 anything else that is likely to terrify-slash-excite. His adventures also serve another purpose: as representation for plus-size travelers. Jeff is the founder of Chubby Diaries, a community he built after he realized that no one in travel media looked like him. He has since used his platform to build that representation and to push for the travel industry to be more inclusive. Don't miss these moments! 3:34: What Never Say Never is all about 4:29: The scariest moment of his first season 6:34: What it was like to learn to sumo wrestle 12:56: His first trip to Japan as a young adult 16:52: How he became a travel writer and influencer 19:29: The importance of representation for plus-size travelers 28:37: How the travel industry could better support plus-size travelers Meet this week’s guest Jeff Jenkins, host of the National Geographic show Never Say Never Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Watch Never Say Never on Disney+. Explore the Chubby Diaries. Follow him on Instagram and YouTube. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 rainforest and helped build relationships with the Coastal First Nations who have lived there for thousands of years and now steward the land. During the pandemic, he also helmed the largest coastal cleanup ever embarked upon, which is part of his mission to only participate in regenerative tourism. Don't miss these moments! 4:02: The beginning of the Q&A with Kevin. 4:31: What it was like growing up on a Canadian island. 6:46: Why the Great Bear Rainforest is so important. 11:00: Why regenerative tourism matters. 14:22: Kevin's Travel Tale. Meet this week’s guest Kevin Smith, owner of Maple Leaf Adventures Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Explore the Great Bear Rainforest. Listen to Kevin’s TED Talk. Learn about Maple Leaf Adventures’ tours. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 not quite as bizarre as it sounds. And as he bicycles through quaint streets, meditates along charming canals, and visits the De Stijl artifacts that still exist, Chris learns that, just maybe, De Stijl's philosophy is still applicable today. Don't miss these moments! 3:31: The beginning of Chris's Q&A. 7:55: What he appreciated most about the city. 9:47: Why De Stijl's art has endured. 14:25: Chris's Travel Tale. Meet this week’s guest Chris Colin, AFAR contributing writer Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Enjoy Chris’s book Off, a picture book about an analog world. Visit Utrecht and explore De Stijl for yourself. Listen to Chris’s other Travel Tales about renting a friend in Tokyo and grappling with the mystery of train travel on the Coast Starlight. Follow him on Instagram. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 hankering to surf in a location he doesn’t know intimately. So this year, he traveled to Kaua‘i, where he found a guide—a surfer named Johnny—who pushed both of their boundaries so that Ryan could ride a new wave. Don't miss these moments! 4:21: An interview with Ryan about how he learned to surf and what it's like to spend most of your life on other people's elbows. 24:03: Ryan's travel tale, read by actor Andrew Galteland Meet this week’s guest Ryan Knighton, AFAR contributing writer Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Read Ryan's story about going on safari in Zimbabwe, his trip to Jordan, and his original Spin the Globe in Cairo. Listen to Ryan's original Travel Tale. Read Ryan’s book, Cockeyed: A Memoir. Watch Billions. Follow him on X. A special thanks to Andrew Galteland, who read Ryan's story for him. You can follow Andrew on his podcast, Looters, a sci-fi western role-playing show. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 moments! 2:25: Her introduction to French food 8:13: Truffle hunting in Burgundy with the world's cutest truffle dog 18:32: Lyon's most famous food tradition 21:32: An introduction to spelunking—and wine-tasting 25:59: The magic of Aix-en-Provence In the episode, you'll understand how to better explore this trail, which invites travelers to get to know France's most famous gastronomic regions in new ways. Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Explore the Vallée de la Gastronomie. Follow me on Instagram. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 & Resort. She shares what makes the hotel special, what's coming next, and sits down with our journalist to talk about how travel has influenced her. Don't miss these moments! 4:35: Dolly welcoming everyone to her hotel press conference 7:34: What's next for her tourism efforts 11:52: What Dolly looks for in a hotel (it might surprise you!) 14:11: How travel can be an education 17:33: Dolly sings Heartsong Meet this week’s guest Dolly Parton. Need we say more? Elaine Glusac, a travel journalist who writes for the New York Times and AFAR. Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Learn more about Dolly’s new hotel, HeartSong Lodge & Resort. Read Dolly’s new book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones. Listen to the song that inspired the name for the hotel, Heartsong. Follow Elaine on Instagram. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. This year, you can follow us on Amazon Music! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: The things that make home feel like home, even when it doesn't look the same A new connection with Nigeria's Yoruba traditions How food could help her unite her many selves Don't miss these moments! 2:59: An excerpt from Yewande's new cookbook, My Everyday Lagos 5:19: Her arrival in the United States as a teenager 6:53: How she fell in love with food 12:22: Her first trip back to Nigeria 18:30: How all of that came together in her new cookbook In the episode, you'll learn more about Nigerian cuisine, Yoruba traditions, and how, for one traveler, returning home was the catalyst for deep change. Meet this week’s guest Yewande Komolafe, food writer and cookbook author Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Learn more about Yoruba traditions in Nigeria. Read Yewande's column and recipes in the New York Times. Buy Yewande’s cookbook, My Everyday Lagos. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 and along the way, she found: Well-preserved remnants of World War I. A rich farm-to-table cuisine. Cultural legacies, including a lengthy history of beekeeping. Fantastic hiking, that leads along the Sava River and through icon spots like Lake Bled. Don't miss these moments! 2:37: An interview with Peggy. 8:15: Her first day on the trail. 11:27: How the Juliana Trail came together. 14:33: Exploring Slovenian culture along the trail. 19:31: Visiting Lake Bohinj. 21:08: Losing her phone on the trail. 26:47: Toasting with a septuagenarian on a mountaintop. 30:58: The last day on the trail. 34:16: Peggy's ode to American pop music In the episode, you'll understand what it's like to hike the Juliana Trail, the trail's highlights, and how Peggy faced down her inner overachiever. Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Learn more about the Juliana Trail and plan your own hike. Read Peggy’s other AFAR stories: hiking the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan, horseback riding in Wyoming, and exploring Yunnan, China. Buy Peggy’s latest book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 helped her find Mumbai’s pulse, who helped her fall in love with the city’s colors and tastes and smells. When Ila Mami passed away, Shruti wasn’t sure what Mumbai would hold for her. So she traveled to Mumbai to find out—with her four-year-old daughter in tow. Along the way, she discovered: What it's like to visit a place after the loss of a loved one. Her favorite memories of exploring Mumbai with her aunt How creating new memories with her daughter redefined the city for her in new ways. Don't miss these moments! 3:31: How writing nonfiction is different than writing fiction 6:01: Her expectations for the trip 7:16: Her daughter's memories of the trip 8:35: The hardest part of the trip 10:01: The beginning of Shruti's travel tale In the episode, you'll understand how one traveler coped with grief and created new memories in Mumbai. You'll also get an insider's look at the vibrant, busy, full-of-life city on the west coast of India. Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Read the story Shruti wrote for the magazine Buy Shruti’s novel, The Archer, and short story collection, A House Is a Body. Follow Shruti on Twitter. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 well as: The ways that art can help us understand a place more deeply. Mae’s favorite places on her Picasso art tour. How the places that Picasso lived are reflected in his art. The places that impacted Picasso the most throughout his life. Don't miss these moments! 1:56 An interview with Mae about her trip 11:27 The beginning of Mae’s travel tale, in Málaga, Spain, where she explored bull-fighting culture and its impact on Picasso 20:04 Mae’s visit to Barcelona, where Picasso began to rebel 24:18 Her visit to Paris, where Picasso rose to international fame 28:02 The last spot she visited in Nice, France, where Picasso spent his final days in Antibes and Mougins From Mae, you'll learn how art can shape our perception of place, the ways that the cities Picasso lived in affected his art, the more complicated parts of Picasso’s legacy, and much more. Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Read Mae’s story about following in Picasso’s footsteps and book your own tour. Read Mae’s essay about growing up in Texas. Follow Mae on afar.com. Follow Mae on Instagram. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 down with Baratunde to talk about season two, including: Where he traveled, including the swamps of Georgia, the rivers of New Mexico, and the snowy hills of Maine. What he learned about the United States and our current (and past) relationship with nature. The ways that Indigenous views of the land are more frequently being adopted in a positive way. How you can better understand the United States, through nature. Don't miss these moments! 7:04: The way this season changed Baratunde 8:46: Where Baratunde's relationship with nature began 13:18: The most surprising moments of the season 24:43: The scariest moments in the season (including a petrifying tree climb) 35:31: His very own travel tale From Baratunde, you'll learn about how to embrace the cold like a Mainiac, why the Suwannee River is so important to people in Georgia and Florida, the ways that individuals are finding creative ways to combat climate change, and so much more. Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Watch America Outdoors on PBS. Listen to Baratunde’s podcast, How to Citizen. Read his comedic memoir, How to Be Black. Inspired to get outdoors? Find some inspiration on our website. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 trip, about what travel means to them, and the ways it can transform us. Listen in for people like Baratunde Thurston, Jeff Jenkins, and even the queen of country, Dolly Parton. Everyone has a travel tale, what’s yours? 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 parenthood. Read more about Michelle Law: http://www.michelle-law.com/ Explore Australia: https://www.afar.com/travel-guides/australia/guide 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 hear about. And then one day, she decided to do something about it. So she booked a trip to Vienna, a city renowned for its singing talent—and the place where her musical odyssey begins. Listen to Emma's books Wayfaring Stranger: https://geni.us/GWtmOcb Self Contained: https://geni.us/JUcD Follow Emma online Instagram: @emmajohnauthor Twitter: @em_john Her website: https://emmajohn.com/ The story that inspired it all: https://www.afar.com/magazine/viennas-moment-learning-to-love-opera-in-the-city-of-music 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: https://www.afar.com/magazine/solo-traveler-jr-harris-on-a-life-of-adventure And don't miss J.R.'s book: Way Out There: Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781680511208 Amazon: https://geni.us/DKPBL 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: https://www.tourismireland.com/ 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Oklahoma, who shared his song, Mandy Sue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1CKhoc4vjc 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 inspired host Aislyn Greene's Canada trip: https://pdst.fm/e/chrt.fm/track/B6A62C/traffic.megaphone.fm/AFAR9710174884.mp3 Learn more about Esteban! https://www.estebangast.com/ 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, and more that accompanies it. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/2660/9781779504524 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, or follow him on Twitter. You can watch his documentary, The Weight of Water, on Amazon. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 learned along the way. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 pair of underwear do I pack for a weekend?" or "When should your boyfriend give up on his rap career"? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adulting-with-michelle-buteau-and-jordan-carlos/id1463400941 Thanks for listening! Explore more travel tales at afar.com. 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 details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices