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Unpacked, Five Questions: Why This Photographer Spent Four Weeks in the Egyptian Desert
Apr 28, 2026
18m 45s
Forget the Algorithm. Here's How to Actually Eat Well When You Travel.
Apr 16, 2026
42m 02s
The Joyful Instrument That Became the Sound of Hawai'i
Apr 14, 2026
18m 56s
How Two Years of Phone-Free Travel Rewired the Way I See the World
Apr 9, 2026
44m 37s
In the Age of AI, This Is What Only a Travel Advisor Can Do
Apr 2, 2026
38m 06s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/28/26 |  Unpacked, Five Questions: Why This Photographer Spent Four Weeks in the Egyptian Desert✨ | photographytravel+4 | Nathalie Mohadjer | AfarNew York Times+2 | Egyptian DesertSiwa+1 | SiwaEgypt+5 | — | 18m 45s | |
| 4/16/26 |  Forget the Algorithm. Here's How to Actually Eat Well When You Travel. | Jennifer Hope Choi plans every trip the same way: open a Google doc, start with food, and build outward from there. As a former Bon Appétit editor, 13-year restaurant industry veteran, and author of a travel memoir, she has strong opinions about Michelin guides (skip ‘em), low-rated restaurants (sometimes worth it), and why you should always follow your optician's food recs. She also edited Afar’s debut Travel to Eat series, which includes three stories: Jeju black pork and a life-changing soup, Sherpa cuisine in the Rockies, and why Portland, Maine, might be America’s best bakery town. Meet today's guest Jennifer Hope Choi is a senior editor at Afar and the architect of its Travel to Eat series. A former Bon Appétit editor and 13-year restaurant industry veteran, she is also an award-winning writer and author of the travel memoir the Wanderer’s Curse. Her work spans food and culture, and the messy, joyful overlap between the two. In this episode How Jen’s latchkey childhood, early Food Network shows, and her Korean grandmother’s pancakes shaped a lifelong obsession with eating Why the Google doc comes first: Jen’s method for building food-forward itineraries from Reddit threads, local papers, and stranger recommendations The case against Michelin stars, lines around the block, and treating a trip like a personality — and what to do instead Inside the three stories of Afar’s Travel to Eat series: a transcendent bowl of Jeju black pork soup, Sherpa cuisine taking root in the Colorado Rockies, and the baking scene quietly transforming Portland, Maine Jen’s #1 travel food tip: ask the shop clerk, not the algorithm Links & resources Read the Travel to eat series: America's best bakery town, a life-changing pork soup, and the rise of Sherpa cuisine in the Colorado Rockies Read Jen's memoir, The Wanderer’s Curse Follow Jen on Instagram Read MFK Fisher's The Art of Eating, Jen’s favorite food book Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:30 Growing Up Food-Obsessed 00:06:30 How to Eat Your Way Through a City 00:11:30 Lists, Stars, and Letting Go 00:21:30 The Travel to Eat Series 00:30:00 Tips for Eating Well on the Road Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 42m 02s | ||||||
| 4/14/26 |  The Joyful Instrument That Became the Sound of Hawai'i | It started as an abandoned ukulele on a wall. Afar’s Aislyn Greene hadn’t touched it in two years — but that idle instrument sent her down a rabbit hole into one of the most joyful origin stories in music. The ukulele arrived in Hawai'i on a Portuguese immigrant ship in 1878, got a royal endorsement from a king and queen, fell into obscurity, and then took over the world. Along the way, a family of master craftsmen has been hand-finishing every instrument for over a century, and one of the greatest string players alive still can’t believe people underestimate it. Meet today's guests Roy Sakuma is a musician, educator, and founder of Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, Hawaii’s most famous ukulele school with four locations. In 1971, he launched the Ukulele Festival Hawai'i, now the state’s top summer event, and has spent 50 years making the case that the ukulele is no toy. Chris Kamaka is the third-generation owner of Kamaka Ukulele, the oldest continuous ukulele manufacturer in the world, founded in Honolulu in 1916. Each of the 1,000–1,500 ukuleles they produce annually is hand-played by Chris before it leaves the shop. Jake Shimabukuro is a virtuoso musician widely regarded as the greatest ukulele player alive. He has sold out concert halls worldwide and recently collaborated with Mick Fleetwood on a Blues album. In this episode How Portuguese immigrants and Hawaiian royalty together created — and named — the ukulele Why Kamaka Hawai'i still air-dries koa wood for up to six years before touching it How Roy Sakuma’s free Ukulele Festival in 1971 sparked a global revival from his backyard Jake Shimabukuro on recording a tribute to Christine McVie with Mick Fleetwood — and why low expectations are a gift What it’s actually like to take a ukulele lesson from Roy Sakuma (Aislyn finds out live on mic) Resources Listen to Afar's ukulele playlist Sign up for lessons at Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios Explore the instruments at Kamaka Ukulele Listen to the music of Jake Shimabukuro Visit the Ukulele Festival Hawai'i Chapters 00:00:00 The Ukulele's Origins 00:02:00 Hawaii's Royal Endorsement 00:03:30 Inside the Kamaka Workshop 00:06:00 Roy Sakuma and the Festival 00:09:30 Jake Shimabukuro's Journey 00:13:00 A Lesson With Roy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 18m 56s | ||||||
| 4/9/26 |  How Two Years of Phone-Free Travel Rewired the Way I See the World | What if the secret to a great trip was leaving your phone in airplane mode — forever? Journalist Lisa Abend has been doing exactly that, arriving in cities she's never researched, GPS turned off, without a hotel reservation or itinerary of any kind. The result isn't chaos; it's the kind of travel that actually surprises you. In this episode, Lisa makes a compelling case for leaving the phone out of the travel process. Meet this week's guest Lisa Abend is a Copenhagen-based journalist and former Time magazine correspondent who covers food, culture, and travel across Europe. She is the creator of The Unplugged Traveler, a Substack newsletter in which she visits a new European city each month without internet access, a booked hotel, or a plan, and writes about what she finds. In this episode How social media and over-researched itineraries have stripped travel of serendipity, and what Lisa is doing about it The step-by-step logistics of arriving in a foreign city with no hotel, no map, and no plan — and why it's less stressful than it sounds A birthday coincidence on a Cotswolds hiking trail that felt like the universe intervening Why "second cities" — not capitals — are the ideal places to try unplugged travel for the first time How nearly two dozen phone-free trips have changed the way Lisa navigates daily life Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Backpacking Before the Internet 00:04:30 What the Internet Took From Travel 00:09:30 The Unplugged Traveler Newsletter 00:13:00 How to Choose a Destination 00:15:30 Arriving With No Hotel Booked 00:20:00 A Cotswolds Birthday Surprise 00:27:00 Finding Food Without the Lists 00:32:00 Travel as Meditation 00:35:30 Tips for Going Unplugged Resources Subscribe to Lisa's The Unplugged Traveler newsletter on Substack Read Lisa's travel stories for Afar Use Skyscanner — flight search tool Lisa uses to find cheap fares Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 44m 37s | ||||||
| 4/2/26 |  In the Age of AI, This Is What Only a Travel Advisor Can Do | You've got more booking tools than ever — so why would you hire a travel advisor? In this episode, Afar editorial director Billie Cohen sits down with travel journalist and matchmaker Wendy Perrin, founder of wendyperrin.com, to answer the questions travelers actually have: What can an advisor do that you can't do yourself? When does it make sense — and when doesn't it? How do you find a good one, interview them, and understand what you're paying for? From crowd-skipping at Venice to landing the perfect Egyptologist, Wendy makes the case for what truly expert trip planning looks like. In this episode Why connections (not booking tools or AI) are the real currency of great travel The difference between advisors who specialize in you vs. those who specialize in a place How to interview a travel advisor (and what their answers reveal) What travel actually costs — and why it often isn't itemized Why multi-gen trips and post-pandemic travel are driving a new wave of advisor use Chapters 00:00:00 Why Travel Advisors Still Matter 00:03:00 Advisors vs. Agents vs. Tour Operators 00:06:00 What a Great Advisor Can Do 00:13:00 Choosing and Interviewing an Advisor 00:24:00 Fees, Costs, and Transparency 00:28:00 Cruise Specialists and Misconceptions 00:33:00 Who's Using Advisors Now Links & resources Wendyperrin.com and Wendy's Wow List of top trip designers Listen to our Unpacked episode about cruise travel advisors Explore the Afar Travel Advisory Council Follow Afar at @afarmedia on Instagram and TikTok More travel planning resources at afar.com Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 38m 06s | ||||||
| 3/27/26 |  An Architect's California: From LA's Secret Garden to the Magic of Joshua Tree | This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest has been shaping the way Californians live, work, and gather for three decades. Barbara Bestor is the founder of Bestor Architecture, a Los Angeles studio she's led since 1995 — at a time when very few women were doing so. Her work spans coffee shops and corporate headquarters, wineries and community music centers, private homes and historic restorations. She's on the AD 100 list of top architects and designers and has been called one of the most influential architects working in LA today. In this episode, she shares her process, her influences, and the places in California that never stop inspiring her — from a former cult compound in Joshua Tree to a secret rooftop garden at Walt Disney Concert Hall. On this episode, you'll learn: • What "informal formalism" means — and why it's the best description of California's design DNA • How the LA fires, post-COVID remote work, and multi-generational households are reshaping what people want from their homes • Why adaptive reuse is finally having its moment in California • How to actually crack the code on Ojai and Big Sur (hint: find the vegan restaurant and ask your server) Travel recommendations from Barbara: Los Angeles Take the stairs at LA Phil to the rooftop garden Walk the Bradbury Building lobby (free; you'll recognize it from Blade Runner), then cross to Grand Central Market and ride Angel's Flight back up to MOCA. For neighborhoods: Melrose Hill is the current place to be; Magnolia and Victory Blvd in the Valley are time-capsule California. Northern California Stay in the original Charles Moore–designed Condominium One at Sea Ranch In the Bay Area, stay at the Julia Morgan–designed Berkeley City Club Ojai & Big Sur In Ojai, go to a vegan restaurant and ask your server where to go — that's how you find the hidden hot springs. Hotel El Roblar (designed by Ramin Shamshiri) is the new splurge hotel in Ojai. In Big Sur, Nepenthe is the move: a Wright-influenced 1950s restaurant with a giant patio and sweeping views. Joshua Tree Drive in from the top and exit at the low desert — two completely different biomes. Stay at the Institute of Mentalphysics, where the rooms were designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright Catch a show at Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown, then detour to Palm Springs and take the Sunnylands tour for "peak high-sixties modernist golf living." Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 From Cambridge to California 00:04:00 What Informal Formalism Means 00:06:00 Designing for How We Live Now 00:09:00 California's Architectural Legacy 00:16:00 LA Neighborhoods Worth Exploring 00:23:00 An Architecture Tour of California 00:34:00 Joshua Tree and the Desert 00:39:00 Where Barbara Goes to Recharge Resources Bestor Architecture Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube. Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring Roderick Wyllie and Obi Kaufmann. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 43m 59s | ||||||
| 3/27/26 |  The Naturalist Who's Been Decoding—and Painting—California's Wild Spaces for 30 Years | This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest is one of its most original voices. Obi Kaufmann is a naturalist, writer, and illustrator whose California Field Atlas series has redefined what a nature book can be. His books — filled with hand-painted watercolor maps, poetry, and decades of ecological research — don't tell you where to go or what you're looking at. They ask why the landscape works the way it does, and what it means to truly belong to a place. In this episode, Obi talks about growing up exploring Mount Diablo in Northern California, what makes a field atlas, and why he believes the future of California conservation depends on better poetry. On this episode, you'll learn: What a "field atlas" is — and why Obi had to invent the genre himself How Indigenous stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge are reshaping conservation in California Why Obi, one of California's great wilderness writers, is a proud city dweller in Oakland What to expect from his next three books Where to go right now to experience California's wildflower season at its peak Travel Recommendations from Obi: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — Keep your eye on the California Native Plant Society or CalFlora for super bloom alerts; the window can be as short as a week Death Valley National Park — Another prime super bloom destination; timing is everything Big Sur — Highway 1 is open again; Obi recommends climbing a mountain and watching for California condors, which have rebounded from just 17 individuals in 1987 to over 500 today Pinnacles National Park — The smallest and least visited national park in California, with condor sightings along the High Peaks Trail; Obi calls it "a beautiful gem of wilderness" Mount Diablo — Obi's home mountain, 25 miles east of San Francisco; a lifelong study in ecological wonder Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Growing Up on Mount Diablo 00:05:00 Inventing the Field Atlas 00:10:00 Conservation and the Word "Wilderness" 00:30:00 Living as an Urban Naturalist 00:37:00 What's Next: Books 7 Through 10 00:41:00 Where to Experience California Now Resources Obi Kaufmann's website and books Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring architect Barbara Bestor and landscape designer Roderick Wyllie Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 48m 54s | ||||||
| 3/27/26 |  He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned. | This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest has literally shaped the ground beneath many Californian's feet. Roderick Wyllie is an award-winning landscape architect and founding partner of Surfacedesign Inc. A rare San Francisco native, he's helped design some of the Bay Area's most beloved public spaces, including the Lands End Visitor Center above Sutro Baths, a plaza at the Golden Gate Bridge, and Mission Bayfront Park. He also teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In this episode, Roderick talks about growing up in 1970s San Francisco, what it means to design with rather than against a place, and why he thinks California's greatest creative export might be optimism. On this episode, you'll learn: What it was like to grow up in San Francisco in the 1970s and 80s — and how that "wild frontier" shaped Roderick's creative practice Why Surfacedesign approaches every project like a crime scene investigation, searching for the story embedded in the land How Roderick thinks about water — both as a design tool and as a precious resource in a drought-prone state What he's learning from a current winery rethink at the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Where he sends travelers who want to experience California through the lens of landscape and design Travel Recommendations from Roderick: Wineries & Gardens Faust, Napa Valley — A Victorian estate with planting designed to move from light to dark, inspired by the mythology of Faust; beautiful valley views Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma — One of California's most historically significant wine sites, beautifully sited with two landmark historic buildings Scribe, Sonoma — A more informal, less precious winery experience; Roderick especially admires the landscape work by Terramoto Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek — A masterwork dry garden celebrating the succulent landscape; Roderick calls it "spectacular" Lotusland, Montecito — A fantasy of a California landscape with a larger-than-life history; the opera singer founder married nine times The Huntington, San Marino/Pasadena — Impeccably maintained, a spectacular garden destination Parks & Natural Spaces Golden Gate Park, San Francisco — "It always feels a little bigger than I think it's going to be" Point Reyes / Inverness — Roderick's favorite stretch of coast, particularly for seeing tule elk in the fog Blunk Space gallery, Point Reyes Station — A small gallery connected to the legacy of California sculptor JB Blunk Restaurants & Markets Valley Bar + Bottle, Sonoma — Informal, locally sourced, creative; Roderick's top pick Zuni Café, San Francisco — A California cuisine institution on Market Street; intimate despite its size Ferry Building Farmers Market, San Francisco — "Incredible to see these purveyors that are focused on peppers only or something like that" Modern Appealing Clothing (MAC), Hayes Valley — A quietly iconic SF clothing store recently named one of the 50 best in the US by the New York Times; Roderick designed a small interior garden inside the space Art & Culture Minnesota Street Project, Dogpatch — A collection of galleries with constantly rotating programming Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito — Roderick and his team designed eucalyptus-inspired play structures; worth a visit even without kids Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Growing Up in San Francisco 00:05:00 How Surfacedesign Works 00:08:00 Iconic Bay Area Projects 00:14:00 Water as Design and Resource 00:20:00 Designing Winery Landscapes 00:27:00 The California Creative Mindset 00:35:00 Where to Go in California Resources Surfacedesign Inc. — Roderick's firm Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring naturalist Obi Kaufmann and architect Barbara Bestor Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 44m 13s | ||||||
| 3/19/26 |  Drama, Geopolitics, and Glory: Inside the World Cup | Show Notes The World Cup is more than a soccer tournament — it's a mirror for geopolitics, national identity, and the power of global fandom. In this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down with British journalist Jonathan Wilson, author of The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup, to explore the drama, corruption, and beauty that have defined the tournament across a century. In this episode, you'll learn: How hosting the World Cup has evolved from a nation-building tool to its current complex state — and who benefits now. What the expansion from 32 to 48 teams really means for the quality and spectacle of the game. Which teams Jonathan is watching in 2026, and the dark-horse picks you might not have on your radar. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to the World Cup Edition 00:01:30 Jonathan's Soccer Origin Story 00:07:30 Soccer, Politics, and Power 00:11:00 Who Actually Benefits From Hosting 00:21:30 The 2026 Expansion to 48 Teams 00:31:30 Teams to Watch in 2026 00:35:30 Stadiums With Stories Meet this week's guest: Jonathan Wilson, British sports journalist and author of The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup Resources: Explore Jonathan Wilson's books and writing on his website. Read The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup for the full sweep of FIFA history and drama. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 41m 48s | ||||||
| 3/17/26 |  This Theater Was a Refuge for Queer Americans. Now It's Been Reborn. | She’s 104 years old, newly renovated, and she’s ready for her close-up. On this episode of Unpacked: America 250, host Aislyn Greene talks about the newly renovated Castro Theatre in San Francisco, a $41 million transformation of one of America’s most beloved LGBTQ+ landmarks. Aislyn sits down with Mary Conde, SVP at Another Planet Entertainment, the independent concert promoter behind the renovation, to explore what it took to bring this icon back to life, and why this was always about more than a building. In this episode, you'll learn The history behind the Castro Theatre, from a Lebanese immigrant’s grocery store to a 1,400-seat icon. How the Castro became the heartbeat of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. What a $41 million renovation actually looks like, from a peach-glazed ceiling to a color-changing chandelier. The story of the organs (yes, plural) that have defined the Castro’s sound for decades. Why Another Planet Entertainment sees this as a gift to San Francisco, not just a business investment. Chapters 00:00:00 The Castro's Comeback 00:02:00 From Grocery Store to Icon 00:05:30 A Safe Harbor for a Community 00:09:00 Inside the Renovation 00:13:00 The Organ's New Life 00:15:30 What's Coming Next Meet this week’s guest Mary Conde, Senior Vice President at Another Planet Entertainment and a lifelong San Franciscan who has shaped the city’s music scene for decades. Another Planet is the independent concert promoter behind Outside Lands and the recent mayoral inauguration party, and the company that took on the Castro’s renovation. Resources Read the transcript of this episode. Explore the history of the Castro Theater. Buy tickets for upcoming Castro events. Read about the Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 19m 32s | ||||||
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| 3/12/26 |  The Hidden History of the World's Most Powerful Travel Document | Before you board an international flight, before you cross a border, you need a passport. But how much do you really know about the little book that controls where you can and cannot go in this world? On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down with Patrick Bixby, an English professor at Arizona State University and author of the book License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport, which explores how a bureaucratic document became one of the most emotionally loaded objects in human history. In the episode, they discuss the passport as a paradox: a document that simultaneously promises freedom and enforces control, that carries the hopes of liberation and the machinery of surveillance. You'll come away seeing that little booklet in your drawer in a completely different light. In this episode, you'll learn Why the passport as we know it was born out of World War I — and why those wartime controls never went away. How the word "passport" dates to 15th-century France, and why Shakespeare wrote about it. What Frederick Douglass's passport journey reveals about citizenship, race, and the fight for identity.Why the US passport ranks around 30th in global passport power — and what that means for American travelers. What's coming next: digital borders, blockchain credentials, and the end of the stamp. Key chapters 00:00:00 The Paradox of the Passport 00:04:00 A History Older Than Nations 00:09:00 The WWI Origins of Modern Travel 00:11:00 Gender, Race, and the Document 00:16:00 What Makes a Passport Powerful 00:20:00 Stamps, Surveillance, and the Digital Border 00:26:00 Do You Believe in the Passport? Meet this week's guest Patrick Bixby, English professor, cultural historian, and author of License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport Resources Read the afar.com story about the world's most powerful passports. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 34m 06s | ||||||
| 3/5/26 |  The Military Secret That Could End Your Jet Lag Suffering | Jet lag doesn't have to ruin your trip. On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares her game-changing experience using a jet lag protocol originally developed for Navy SEALs—and digs into the fascinating science of why it works. She speaks with Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, one of Stanford's leading circadian rhythm researchers, and Andrew Herr, the founder of Flykitt, who transformed military sleep science into a practical travel solution. In this episode, you'll learn What's really happening in your body when you cross time zones Why light exposure is exponentially more powerful than you think How psychology and expectation affect your jet lag experience The surprising role of inflammation in post-flight fatigue Episode chapters 00:00:00 The Unofficial Travel Tax 00:01:45 Inside Your Circadian Clock 00:05:30 Light, Food, and Melatonin 00:09:00 How Flykitt Was Born 00:11:30 The Protocol, Step by Step Meet this week's guests Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Andrew Herr, Founder of Flykitt Resources Read Aislyn's full Fly Kit review and experience Try Flykitt yourself: Afar listeners get 10% off with promo code AFAR10 Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 25m 20s | ||||||
| 2/27/26 |  Beyond the Canals: An Insider’s Guide to Amsterdam’s Real Neighborhoods | Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most overtouristed cities—but it’s also so much more than the crowds in the city center suggest. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar’s ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—host Aislyn Greene is joined by journalist Blane Bachelor, who moved to Amsterdam during the pandemic and has spent years navigating life as a resident. She shares how to experience the real Amsterdam—the neighborhoods, restaurants, and rhythms that exist just beyond the tourist-packed city center. In this episode, you’ll learn • Why Amsterdam’s overtourism problem is really concentrated in just a few city-center neighborhoods—and how to avoid them • The best neighborhoods to stay in, including the artsy Noord and the very-Dutch Oost • When to visit for fewer crowds: the Amsterdam Light Festival in November and King’s Day in April • How to experience the Red Light District (De Wallen) thoughtfully and with historical context • The unwritten rules of cycling in Amsterdam—and why this is not the place to shake off the cobwebs • Where locals actually eat and drink, including a 17th-century gilded unicorn and a cash-only Dutch bar Episode chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:30 Amsterdam's overtourism problem 12:00 Best neighborhoods to stay in: Oost and Noord 15:00 Best times to visit 21:00 Where to stay: hotels vs. Airbnb 24:30 First-timer tips for the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum 29:00 Navigating the Red Light District (De Wallen) 40:30 Dutch culture: directness, English fluency, and learning a few words 43:00 Cycling in Amsterdam: rules, etiquette, and survival tips Resources • Read Blaine’s Amsterdam Off the Beaten Path story on afar.com • Follow Blaine’s Dutch adventures on Instagram • Check out our Iceland and England Off the Tourist Trail episodes Where to Stay • Rosewood Amsterdam — The last hotel to be built in Amsterdam due to overtourism restrictions • Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht — Playful Dutch-designed interiors; canal-view rooms feel like you’re on the water • The Hoxton, Amsterdam — Two locations; the Eastern Docklands outpost is a local favorite • Hotel Arena — In Oost; known for its exceptional weekend brunch buffet What to Do • Anne Frank House — Book immediately; tickets drop every Tuesday at 10 AM Amsterdam time, six weeks out • Rijksmuseum — Check for evening hours for a slightly less hectic visit • Prostitution Information Centre (De Wallen) — A thoughtful entry point into De Wallen’s history and culture • Vintage salon boat canal tours — Go small and guided; avoid the large party “buses” • Amsterdam Light Festival — November–January; illuminated art along the canals • King’s Day (Koningsdag) — April 27; street markets, orange everything, genuinely local vibe • Free ferries from Amsterdam Centraal to Noord — Walk or ride your bike on; no ticket needed • Tulip fields near Keukenhof — View from the field edges in spring; don’t walk into the flowers • SAIL Amsterdam 2030 — The world’s largest maritime event, returning in 2030 Stay Connected • Sign up for Behind the Mic, our podcast newsletter with episode news and behind-the-scenes details. • Also from Afar: View From Afar (the future of travel) and Travel Tales (first-person travel stories). Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media’s podcast network. To advertise, contact advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 58m 24s | ||||||
| 2/21/26 |  The Lowdown on 2026: Everything You Need to Make It Your Best Travel Year Yet | Is it okay to watch a violent movie next to a stranger's kid on a plane? Should you abandon your airline loyalty card? And wait—is March actually the real start of the new year? On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene is joined by Afar editorial director Billy Cohen and deputy editor Michelle Baron for a wide-ranging conversation tied to Afar's annual Plan Your Travel Year package on afar.com. Together they break down what travelers actually need to know heading into 2026—from the shifting airline loyalty landscape and the true cost of travel credit cards to the events, destinations, and flight routes worth planning around this year. Plus: Michelle debuts a very special musical interlude. You'll want to stay for that. On this episode you'll learn: Why February (or maybe March?) is the real time to start planning your travel year How the airline loyalty and travel credit card game has changed—and what to do about it Which destinations are worth getting to before they blow up (Malta and Panama are calling) What events—from the World Cup to America's 250th—are shaping travel in 2026 Tips for stretching your PTO using federal holidays strategically Don't miss these moments: [01:45] The lightning round: TSA PreCheck, window vs. aisle, and travel credit cards in one word (or two) [09:45] Why the airline loyalty game "isn't so loyal anymore" [16:00] The Chase Sapphire Reserve breakup, and what it means for your points strategy [25:20] Biometrics, face scanning, and how close we really are to a passport-free airport [30:00] The lounge wars—and the case for a family-friendly soundproof play area [33:30] America 250: Tall ships in New York, a new Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a reexamination of the Battle of Little Bighorn [38:00] World Cup 2026: How to get tickets, where to stay, and why Providence might be smarter than Boston [44:30] How to stretch your PTO using federal holidays—and why Terry Ward changed Michelle's mind [48:30] Places to go before they get popular: Panama, Malta, Warsaw, and more [54:00] Revisiting the lightning round—and Billy's unexpected in-flight encounter with a Mad Men star's dad Resources: Explore Afar's complete Plan Your Travel Year package on afar.com. Read our story about whether or not airline loyalty is still worth it. Read Terry Ward's story on how to maximize your PTO in 2026. Read Afar's guide to 12 places to visit before they get popular. Explore Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list. Stay up to date with Afar's travel news coverage, including airline routes, loyalty programs, and credit card updates. Use points.me or Points Path to help maximize your miles and points redemptions. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 1h 07m 08s | ||||||
| 2/17/26 |  Why Spain’s Star Chefs Are Setting Up Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Tiny Towns | Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host and Afar executive editor Katherine LaGrave sits down with contributing writer Lisa Abend, a Copenhagen‑based journalist known for her deep reporting on food, culture, and the ways travel shapes communities. For her latest Afar feature, Lisa embarked on an ambitious road trip across northern Spain to visit five tiny towns where some of the country’s most exciting chefs are opening destination restaurants — and, in the process, helping revive regions long affected by depopulation. Lisa shares how she first discovered this movement, why these chefs are choosing villages of just a few hundred residents over major cities, and how their restaurants are sparking unexpected ripple effects — from new guesthouses to revived local food traditions. She also talks about the surprising absence of seafood in northern Spain’s inland kitchens, the emotional family histories behind many of these restaurants, and why chatting with gas‑station attendants might be the best road‑trip advice you’ll hear all year. On this episode you’ll learn: Why some of Spain’s most ambitious chefs are opening restaurants in remote villages How food tourism can help counter rural depopulation What makes northern Spain’s regional cultures so distinct — from language to landscape to cuisine Why hyperlocal cooking in these towns often excludes seafood, even when the coast is close How family history shapes the stories these chefs tell on the plate Don’t miss these moments: [03:00] The Madrid chef conference that sparked Lisa’s reporting [05:00] How a single restaurant can create a ripple effect across a small town [07:00] The surprising reason none of these restaurants serve seafood [14:00] Lisa’s best advice for road‑tripping across northern Spain [16:00] The gas‑station cherry exchange that became an unforgettable travel moment [21:00] The “pregnant bun” dish Lisa would eat again in a heartbeat [22:00] How family stories — and even abandoned villages — shaped the chefs’ menus Resources Read Lisa’s full Afar feature on Spain’s small‑town culinary revolution Follow Lisa Abend for more food and travel reporting Explore Afar’s Spain travel guides Visit the restaurants Lisa mentions in the episode and her story: Versátil, Monte, Arrea!, Ansils, Fuentelgato Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming episodes and behind‑the‑scenes details. You can also explore our other podcasts: View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first‑person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. To inquire about advertising, contact advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 30m 53s | ||||||
| 1/16/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors | It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Places like Saba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island with no beaches, no cruise ports, and the world's shortest commercial runway—just 400 meters long. What it does have: lush volcanic landscapes, 20 hand-built hiking trails, and a population of just over 2,000. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Bianca Bujan, a Vancouver-based travel journalist who shares the thrilling 12-minute flight from St. Martin, the island's gingerbread-house architecture, and why her teenager called it his favorite trip ever—despite spotty wifi and no beaches. Plan Your Saba Getaway Stay Juliana’s Hotel in Windward Side, a boutique property The Scenery Hotel, a new luxury boutique hotel opening in 2026 at the base of Mount Scenery Eat and Drink Tropics Cafe at Juliana's Hotel—popular with locals Try Saba Spice, a local handmade spiced rum served on ice Time your visit for the Saba Rum and Lobster Festival in November See and Do Hike Mount Scenery, technically the highest point in the Netherlands Try the Mas'Cohones Trail for spectacular views with a less strenuous climb Book a guided hike with Crocodile James, a local legend, via the Saba Conservation Foundation Join a Sea and Learn Foundation workshop for hands-on experiences like wild clay pottery with locals Resources Follow Bianca on Instagram or read her work on her website Explore Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list Follow us: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion E13: The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight E14: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse E15: (this one!) The Five-Square-Mile Caribbean Island That's Nothing Like Its Neighbors Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic. And explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 21m 41s | ||||||
| 1/15/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse | It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list: 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Like East London, where a billion-pound investment has transformed the 2012 Olympic Park into a creative powerhouse. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Nick DeRenzo, Afar's editorial director of newsletters (sign up here!) and a self-described Londoner at heart. Nick makes the case for hopping on the Elizabeth line and devoting time to the East Bank cultural quarter, where you can order a David Bowie costume at the V&A East Storehouse, dine on Chinese-Texas barbecue on a canal barge, and sweat it out in a community sauna. Plan Your East London Getaway (First, explore our London travel guide.) Stay Moxy London Stratford for budget-friendly stays The Stratford, an Autograph Collection hotel The Gantry, a Curio Collection by Hilton property Eat and Drink Barge East, a restaurant on a canal barge Chinese-Texas-style Uncle Hon’s BBQ Badu Café, a Black-owned coffee shop run by a youth athletics nonprofit Snacks and drinks along Hackney Bridge, an incubator space in an old candy factory See and Do Explore Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the heart of the East Bank cultural quarter Visit the V&A East Storehouse to see 250,000 objects—and use the "Order an Object" program for a personalized curator experience Catch a show at Sadler's Wells East, dedicated to non-ballet dance Soak at Community Sauna Baths, a not-for-profit with Scandinavian vibes Dance at Coven, London's first permanent Black-owned queer venue since the 1970s Coming in 2026 V&A East museum dedicated to East London design opens April 2026 BBC Music Studios moving to the area in 2027 London College of Fashion campus now open Resources Follow Nick on Instagram Explore Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list Follow us: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion E13: The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight E14: East London's Olympic Park Has Transformed Into a Cultural Powerhouse (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic. And explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 23m 28s | ||||||
| 1/15/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: The South Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight | It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list. And in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. So our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. Places like Adelaide, Australia, a city within a park that punches above its weight with world-class wine, a booming food scene, and Australia's only UNESCO City of Music designation. In this episode, producer Nikki Galteland interviews host Aislyn Greene, who traveled to Adelaide last year. Aislyn shares why she waited 10 years to visit, what makes Adelaide different from Sydney and Melbourne, and how to engage with Aboriginal history—including a new $35 million cultural center. Plan Your Adelaide Getaway (First, explore our Australia travel guide.) Stay Adelaide Marriott Eat and Drink Shobosho, a Japanese izakaya with a custom yakitori grill Golden Boy for Thai food in an art-filled space Fino Vino for a daily-changing tasting menu Ondeen in the Adelaide Hills for fireside dining Salopian Inn in McLaren Vale Lino Ramble Wines—ask for the fortified arinto Explore Barossa Valley for world-famous Shiraz McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills for boutique wineries Small Batch Wine Tours for off-the-beaten-path tastings The newly expanded Adelaide Central Market The Thebarton Theatre, a 1928 theater reopened after an $8M renovation Kangaroo Island for wildlife The Eyre Peninsula for a coastal road trip The Flinders Ranges for Outback landscapes Engage With Aboriginal Culture Yipti Yartapuultiku, the new $35.2M Aboriginal cultural center Bookabee Australia for the Adelaide Aboriginal Cultural Experience The Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum Know Before You Go New: United flies direct from San Francisco to Adelaide Best time: Australian fall (March–May) for harvest and mild weather Or plan around Adelaide Fringe (Feb–March) or WOMADelaide (March) Very walkable; rent a car only for wine country and day trips Resources Follow Aislyn on Instagram Explore Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list Follow us: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Australian City That Punches Above Its Weight (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 29m 02s | ||||||
| 1/13/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion | It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list—24 emerging regions and overlooked locales to explore this year. Like Fort Worth, Texas, a city that blends its cowboy heritage with world-class museums, a thriving food scene, and major developments on the horizon. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Nora Walsh, a travel writer and podcast host who fell hard for the "Unexpected City." She took line dancing lessons at the world's largest honky-tonk and had a chance sauna encounter that connected her with a community of female entrepreneurs. She digs into the city's incredible museum district, the revitalized Stockyards, and how to get yourself a proper cowboy hat shaped to your head. Related reading: Circle L Five: The Oldest All-Black Riding Club in Fort Worth Plan Your Fort Worth Getaway (First, explore our Texas travel guide.) Stay —Check into Hotel Drover in the Stockyards for a luxe take on Western heritage —Book The Crescent Hotel, a new modern hotel across from the Cultural District museums —Stay at Bowie House, an Auberge hotel and resort —Try The Nobleman, which just opened in Fort Worth —Watch for the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel opening in 2026 Eat, Drink, and Dance —Take line dancing lessons and boot scoot at Billy Bob's Texas —Have a drink at Low Doubt —Catch live music at Tulips FTW, a local live music venue —Explore the restaurants and bars along Mule Alley in the Stockyards —Visit the annual Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival Explore....\ —The Fort Worth Cultural District, home to four world-class museums —The Kimbell Art Museum —American West art and photography at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art —Contemporary works at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth —The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame—expanding in 2026 —The National Juneteenth Museum breaking ground in 2026 i —The daily cattle drive in the Fort Worth Stockyards —The Cowtown Coliseum rodeo —The Cowboys of Color Rodeo in January 2026 Shop —Get a proper cowboy hat shaped to your head at The Best Hat Store —Shop City Boots for cowboy boots specifically designed for women —Pick up Fort Worth–branded gear at Morgan Mercantile in Southside Resources • Follow Nora's work on Instagram and her website and podcast • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense E12: The Texas City Getting a Juneteenth Museum, FIFA World Cup Matches, and a Cowgirl Museum Expansion (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 20m 22s | ||||||
| 1/12/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense | It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. So our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. Places like Penang, Malaysia, a small island with one of Southeast Asia's most fascinating and underrated food and cultural scenes. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Kathryn Romeyn, a Bali-based journalist who explored Penang for the first time last year. Kathryn shares what it's like to wander the UNESCO-listed streets of Georgetown. She digs into the food—from char kway teow to laksa to the elaborate Malaysian breakfast culture that UNESCO recently recognized—and shares what's new on the island, including boutique hotels and a weekend art market that's become a creative hub for locals and travelers alike. Plan Your Penang Getaway Stay —Book a room the Millen Penang, Autograph Collection, a hotel on Millionaire's Row —Watch for Soori Penang, a new 15-room boutique hotel opening in January 2025 Eat and Drink —Try char kway teow, the iconic Penang dish of flat rice noodles stir-fried over charcoal flames with prawns, cockles, sausage, and bean sprouts —Eat laksa, the spicy, aromatic noodle soup that's a Penang obsession —Visit Mum's, a beloved Peranakan restaurant serving home-style cooking —Experience Malaysian breakfast culture (a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage) See and Do —Visit Hin Bus Depot on weekends for the art market —Visit Kek Lok Si Temple, home to the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas —Ride the Penang Hill funicular, the oldest in Southeast Asia (opened 1923), for panoramic views —Join the local hiking community via the Facebook group "Hiking Trails in Penang" (nearly 50,000 members)—they've created trails in the shapes of animals like elephants, unicorns, and even Pokémon characters Resources • Follow Kathryn's work on Instagram • Visit Kathryn's website • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing E11: Malaysia's Most Overlooked Island Is a Feast for Every Sense (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 32m 29s | ||||||
| 1/9/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing | It's a fresh new year and this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. Places like Da Nang, Vietnam's fifth-largest city and a coastal destination long beloved by Vietnamese travelers that's now drawing international attention with new luxury hotels, airline routes, and a Michelin-starred restaurant. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Liz Provencher, a food, drink, and travel writer who spent several weeks exploring Vietnam in 2025. Liz shares why Da Nang offers the best of both worlds: a bustling city with motor taxis and night markets, plus 40 miles of coastline, one of the last coastal rainforests in Vietnam, and regional dishes you literally cannot find anywhere else. Plan Your Da Nang Getaway (First, explore our Vietnam travel guide.) Stay —Book a room at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, located within the protected Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve, designed by Bill Bensley, the architect behind the White Lotus Thailand hotel —Watch for the Mandarin Oriental opening in early 2026 —The Nobu hotel is also coming in 2026—once complete, it will be the city's tallest building, located on the beachfront Eat and Drink —Start your morning with mì quảng, a turmeric noodle soup topped with shrimp (or chicken, pork, or frog), herbs, and a crispy rice cracker —Day trip to Hoi An for cao lầu, a noodle soup that can only be made there —Explore the night markets for street food and the bustling energy Vietnam is known for See and Do —Spend time on Da Nang's 40 miles of stunning coastline along the South China Sea —Hike the Son Tra Peninsula, a protected nature reserve in the northern part of the city that's home to one of the last coastal rainforests in Vietnam —Take a day trip to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 30 minutes away —Travel the coast in style on the Vietage Train by Anantara, a luxury train service connecting Da Nang to other cities along the central Vietnam coast Resources • Follow Liz's work on Instagram • Visit Liz's website • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 22m 29s | ||||||
| 1/8/26 |  Where to Go in 2026: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better | It's a shiny new year, so this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go list. And this year's list is a little different. Because in 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. Like the Columbia River Gorge, a Pacific Northwest icon where waterfalls tumble from towering cliffs, the landscape shifts from rainforest to arid grasslands in under two hours, and a historic highway is being transformed into a car-free trail. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Zoe Baillargeon, a Portland-based travel writer who has spent years exploring this 80-mile stretch of cliffs, rivers, and vineyards. Zoe shares what's new in the Gorge—from a glamping resort with stargazing tents and views of Mount Hood to a newly reopened hot springs spa with thousand-year-old Indigenous roots, plus a James Beard–recognized wine farm and a historic highway being transformed into a car-free trail. Plan Your Columbia River Gorge Getaway (First, explore our Oregon travel guide.) Stay —Book a stargazing tent at Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge, a new glamping resort on 120 acres near White Salmon —Soak in natural mineral hot springs at the newly refurbished Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa. Eat and Drink —Get in line early at Grasslands Barbecue, a Hood River food cart that sells out daily —Book a farm-to-table tasting experience at Hiyu Wine Farm, a biodynamic winery and James Beard semifinalist for outstanding wine program —Drive the Fruit Loop trail through the valley behind Hood River for wine tastings, u-pick fruit, and farm stands—stop at the Gorge White House for tastings and views See and Do —Drive the historic Columbia River Highway, the nation's first planned scenic byway, for waterfalls, forest views, and towering gorge walls —Hike or bike the newly opened Mitchell Point Tunnel section of the historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. —Watch (or attempt) windsurfing and kiteboarding in Hood River, one of the world's top destinations for wind sports —Visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles for regional history, or the Maryhill Museum of Art for an eclectic collection in a stunning setting Resources • Follow Zoe's work on Instagram • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 25m 45s | ||||||
| 12/17/25 |  Where to Go in 2026: Trade the Serengeti Traffic for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari | This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. For Laikipia, that means looking beyond the overcrowded Maasai Mara to discover a Kenyan plateau where half the country's black rhinos roam, where you might be the only vehicle at a sighting, and where conservation and community go hand in hand. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Alexandra Owens, a travel writer who specializes in conservation tourism and sub-Saharan Africa. Alexandra shares why this network of community-run conservancies offers a model for what safari can be: high value, low impact, and genuinely beneficial to local communities. Plan Your Laikipia Safari (Listen to the View From Afar episode about the Great Migration controversy.) Stay —Book a stay at andBeyond Suyian, a new lodge that opened in July 2024 on Suyian Conservancy —Try Segera Retreat, a conservancy with a collaborative relationship with local communities and a new rhino sanctuary —Stay at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, one of the original conservancies in the region, known for its rhino protection program and house-made goat cheese See and Do —Visit Ol Pejeta Conservancy to see the last two northern white rhinos on Earth—a mother and daughter—and learn about groundbreaking efforts to bring the species back from functional extinction —Consider hiring a safari advisor, especially if visiting multiple conservancies—they can help with charter flights and insider experiences. Alexandra recommends Tamsyn Fricker at Travel Artistry Africa and Chris Liebenberg at Piper & Heath Resources • Follow Alexandra's work on Instagram. • Visit Alexandra's website • Learn more about Space for Giants, the elephant conservation NGO working in Laikipia • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 30m 17s | ||||||
| 12/16/25 |  Where to Go in 2026: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret | This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. For Menton, that means looking beyond Cannes and Nice to discover a quieter corner of the French Riviera—one with candy-colored buildings, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, and lemons so sweet you can eat them like apples. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Jenn Rice, a food and travel writer who fell hard for Menton after a birthday dinner at Mirazur. Jenn shares why this town of 30,000—perched where France meets Italy—deserves a spot on your list. From a subtropical microclimate that produces IGP-protected citrus to affordable hotels with sea views and a culinary scene shaped by one very busy chef, Menton offers all the glamour of the Riviera without the flash. Plan Your Menton Getaway (First, explore our France travel guide.) Stay —Book a room at Hotel Napoléon, right across from the sea and walking distance to old town—rooms with terrace patios and views of the candy-colored buildings start around $200/night even in summer —Check out the newly renovated Villa Genesis, an older villa refurbished by Hotel Napoléon —Try Hotel Gabriel, a newly renovated boutique option with a more modern, hip vibe Eat and Drink —Splurge on dinner at Le Mirazur, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant from chef Mauro Colagreco—it starts with a tour of his garden overlooking the sea and mountains, and yes, you'll eat a lemon like an apple —Pick up sandwiches, lemon cake, and the famous lemon panettone (in season) at Mitron Bakery in old town, which uses the same artisanal ancient grains as Mirazur —Try the lemon pizza at La Pecoranegra, Colagreco's pizzeria focused on quality ingredients —For something unexpected, visit Colagreco's Argentinian steakhouse, Casa Fuego, down the street See and Do —Wander the old town, where candy-colored buildings tumble toward the sea in a scene reminiscent of the Italian Cinque Terre —Stroll the brand-new promenade along the waterfront —Hop on the train to Nice, Cannes, or other Riviera destinations—Menton makes a great, affordable home base Resources • Follow Jenn's work on Instagram • Visit Jenn's website • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 20m 34s | ||||||
| 12/16/25 |  Where to Go in 2026: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting | This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure. For Birmingham, that means discovering what Alabama's second-largest city really offers—especially its quietly stellar food scene that's been racking up James Beard nominations. In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Jenny Adams, a travel writer and Birmingham native now based in New Orleans. Jenny shares why this "big fish in a small pond" city deserves a second look—from its fourth-largest concentration of barbecue restaurants in America to Alabama white sauce, a downtown transformed by Railroad Park, and vintage shopping that rivals anywhere in the South. She also makes a case for an Alabama road trip, from Muscle Shoals to the Gulf Coast beaches. Plan Your Birmingham Getaway (First, explore our Alabama travel guide.) Stay —Book a room at The Elyton, a historic downtown hotel —Try The Painted Lady, a new boutique hotel in the city center Eat and Drink —Start your morning at Continental Bakery in English Village for old-world European pastries —Get a sandwich at The Garage Café, a collection of 1920s car garages with a courtyard bar where everything—including the furniture—is for sale —Try Birmingham barbecue at SAW's BBQ or Jim 'N Nick's, and don't skip the Alabama white sauce—a tangy, mayo-based condiment invented in Decatur —For Gulf seafood and oysters, head to Bayonet, a new raw bar —Sip fancy cocktails at Adios, a Mexican bar and James Beard semifinalist —For a bucket-list dive bar experience, go to The Nick for cheap domestics and live grunge bands See and Do —Walk or bike Railroad Park, a linear park built on former blighted railroad tracks —Tour Sloss Furnaces, the historic ironworks that defined Birmingham's industrial past —Visit the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to engage with the city's essential history —Catch a show at one of three restored historic theaters: The Alabama, The Carver, or The Lyric Shop —Browse Pepper Place, a collection of old brick warehouses with permanent shops and a Saturday farmers market —Find vintage treasures at Devore, with pieces spanning the Victorian era to the 1970s —Pick up artisan Alabama goods at Stone Hollow Farms (pickles, ginger syrups, cast iron cookware) and Design Supply (Southern artists and large-scale art) —Visit Shoppe, a garden store with a charming general store next door where you can eat a BLT while browsing tablecloths and vintage spoons Resources • Follow Jenny's work on Instagram • Visit Jenny's website • Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list • Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting (this one!) Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | 28m 27s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
5 placements across 5 markets.
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5 placements across 5 markets.