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PODCAST

Unpacked by Afar

Unpacked by AFAR tackles one tricky topic in travel each week. Whether you want to hack your points and miles, figure out where to travel next, or need advice on an ethical dilemma, we"re your expert travel guides. Because the travel world is complicated. We"re here to help you unpack it.

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

37:29

The World's Best Cities List Is Out. Here's How They...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/11/05

How do you determine what makes a great city? This week on Unpacked, Afar editor at large Laura Dannen Redman sits down with Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy, to unpack the firm’s annual World's Best Cities ranking. Chris explains how the list measures livability, lovability, and prosperity; the UK city that still tops the chart; the methodology changes that reshaped the top 100; and what the ranking means for overtourism, climate risk, and destination marketing. In this

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33:12

"The Amazon at Night Is Dolby Sound"—What It’s Like...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/11/05

Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of ⁠Afar magazine⁠, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips. In the final episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine LaGrave speaks with Ryan Knighton, a memoirist, screenwriter, surfer, and Afar contributing writer, about his first trip to Peru with Intrepid Travel. Blind since his late

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22:41

In Botswana, Tracking Lions and Elephants—By Bike

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/10/29

Welcome to Unpacked: Five Questions. In honor of our latest issue of Afar magazine, which focuses on epic trips—the kind of adventures that change your world—we're hearing from the writers and photographers who chronicled and captured those trips. In the third episode of the series, host and Afar executive editor Katherine La Grave speaks with Afar contributor Chris Colin about his first safari — a family trip through Botswana that mixed biking, Land Cruisers, salt pans, and intimate wildlife

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27:16

Unpacked, Five Questions: Finding Flow on Canada's...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/10/22

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with journalist Chloe Berge, who spent 13 days paddling 80 miles down Canada's Firth River—one of the country's oldest and most northern rivers—before reaching the Arctic Ocean. This epic journey through Ivvavik National Park combines adventure, science, and deep cultural history in one of the most remote regions on Earth. Chloe shares her

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21:00

Unpacked, Five Questions: A Ski Photographer's Love...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/10/15

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with photographer Kari Medig, who has spent 15 years traveling the world documenting ski culture—from Austria's iconic Hahnenkamm downhill to landlocked Lesotho. But one region has captivated him above all others: the Balkans. Kari shares his journey through Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, revealing why these mountains—many

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33:06

Replay: The Land of Hot Air Balloons, Heritage...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/10/09

Albuquerque isn't just a stopover—it's a destination where ancient land meets modern vision. On this replay episode of Unpacked, join host Aislyn Greene as she discovers why this Southwestern city has become a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, food innovators, and cultural preservation. From sunrise balloon rides to Indigenous-led breweries, explore the Albuquerque that's rooted in 10-million-year-old landscapes and 700 years of Pueblo heritage.In this episode, you'll learn: How Albuquerque

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43:18

A Local's Guide to England's Best-Kept Secrets

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/09/26

This isn't just London—it's England, and there's so much more beyond the royal stereotypes. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar's ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—join host Aislyn Greene as she explores hidden England with travel journalist Lottie Gross. From rebellious Bristol to underground cave networks, discover the layers of England that even locals often miss. Lottie shares her insider knowledge on experiencing authentic English culture, avoiding tourist traps, and finding magic in

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20:51

Giants of the Highway: The Secret Story Behind Route...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/09/24

Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" story, and in this fourth episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Illinois to explore the towering fiberglass giants that once ruled America's highways. From Bob Prewitt's rodeo horse trailers to Texaco's massive "Big Friend" campaign, this episode

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40:08

Beyond the Ring Road: An Iceland Insider’s Guide to...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/09/11

Iceland is so much more than the Golden Circle and Northern Lights—there's a vast country that exists beyond the tourist hotspots. On this episode of Unpacked, join host Aislyn Greene as she speaks with travel writer Ali Wunderman, who has been exploring the country for more than a decade. Ali shares how to connect with authentic Icelandic culture, avoid the crowds, and discover the spots that most visitors miss. From traditional lopapeysa sweaters to remote West Fjords adventures, learn how to

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26:51

Unpacked, Five Questions: The Secret Life of New...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/09/05

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with feature writer Harrison Hill, who is working on his forthcoming book The Oracle's Daughter. For his latest Afar feature celebrating New York City's 400th birthday, Harrison embarked on a borough-hopping journey to visit the oldest family-owned businesses across all five boroughs—from record stores and restaurants to bars and delis beloved

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26:00

Unpacked, Five Questions: When a British Writer Meets...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/08/22

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with London-based writer Emma John, author of three books and Afar contributing writer, who recently visited Door County, Wisconsin—her 43rd U.S. state. Nicknamed "the Cape Cod of the Midwest," this sleepy peninsula surprised Emma with its unique blend of small-town charm and unexpected sophistication. Emma shares her discoveries about

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21:43

Paradise by Design: The Florida Story

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/08/18

Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" package, and in this third episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Florida to explore the architectural fantasy that transformed swampland into America's playground. From Henry Flagler's gilded age railroad hotels to Carl Fisher's dredged Miami Beach

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21:44

A Slow Traveler's Guide to Korea's (Second) Busiest City

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/08/01

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story.In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with New York Times bestselling author and Afar contributing writer Peggy Orenstein, who recently traded her usual slow-travel style for the bustling energy of Busan, South Korea's second-largest city. Known for her thoughtful explorations of walking trails like the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage and Slovenia's Juliana Trail, Peggy discovered that

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16:24

This Beat Is the Real Heart of D.C.

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/07/29

Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. The mini series is part of Afar's "⁠52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year"⁠ package, and in this second episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Washington, D.C. to explore go-go music—the uniquely American sound that's been moving communities for fifty years. From Chuck Brown's groundbreaking fusion of funk, hip-hop, and

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28:13

From Controversial Pizza to Comeback Stories:...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/07/25

In this special Unpacked bonus episode, we're going behind the scenes of our newView From Afar podcast, which spotlights the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Afar editors traveled to the floor of IPW, the annual travel conference organized by the U.S. Travel Association to share the best of America with the rest of the world. In this episode, we hear from Afar editorial director Billie Cohen, who conducted interviews over two intense days, covering everything from major cities

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29:34

Newark's Comeback, L.A.'s Wildfire Recovery, and This...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/07/25

In this special Unpacked bonus episode, we're going behind the scenes of our newView From Afar podcast, which spotlights the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel. Afar editors traveled to the floor of IPW, the annual travel conference organized by the U.S. Travel Association to share the best of America with the rest of the world. In this episode, we hear from Afar senior editor Michelle Baran, who conducted interviews over two intense days. She shares her takeaways from powerhouse

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12:17

From Freezing to Steaming: A Minnesota Love Story

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/07/14

Welcome to Unpacked, America 250, a new mini series celebrating the music, art, food, and more that makes America, America—in honor of our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. The mini series is part of Afar's "52 Places to Travel in the U.S. This Year" package, and in this inaugural episode, host Aislyn Greene takes us to Minnesota to explore how Finnish sauna culture has evolved into a uniquely American tradition.From Finnish homesteaders who built saunas before houses to modern Minnesotans

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20:21

What Happens After You Buy That One-Euro Italian House?

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/07/04

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a new series where we go behind the scenes of one great travel story.In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with Afar contributing writer Lisa Abend, who recently traveled to Sicily to investigate the viral phenomenon of European countries selling homes for one euro. Based in Copenhagen, Lisa explores what really happens after the headlines fade—both for the buyers chasing their dreams and the Sicilian communities welcoming newcomers. She shares

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17:34

Unpacked Minis, Five Questions: For One Writer, This...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/05/23

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a new series where we go behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with author and journalist Bonnie Tsui, whose father has lived in Guangzhou, China, for decades. In the 2025 Culture Issue of Afar she writes about how a recent trip to the city transformed three generations of relationships. She shares tips for first-time visitors, why you should visit Guangzhou for the food, and the ways one city can bridge

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17:13

Unpacked Minis, Five Questions: For Some of the...

Unpacked by Afar ·

2025/05/09

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a new series where we go behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this inaugural episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with award-winning writer Anya von Bremzen to discuss her journey through Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico's exciting wine region just two hours from San Diego, which she wrote about in Afar's spring issue. Von Bremzen, a James Beard Award-winning culinary writer who recently published National Dish in 2023, shares why this area is the

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125 results

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