x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Travel Tales by Afar

Travel, at its best, changes the way we see the world. Join us each week as we dig into stories from people who took a trip—and came home transformed. Travel Tales by Afar is your ticket to the world, no passport required.

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

21:44

The Ambassador, the President, and Me: an Unlikely...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/08/28

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

en

31:30

'Pack Light' Is a Lie: What a 16-Year-Old Learned...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/08/19

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,

en

18:29

Replay: Why a Wildlife Biologist Traded Mice for the...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/08/14

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

en

27:11

400 Miles of Faith: A Hitchhiker's Guide to Finding Home

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/08/07

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

en

34:53

Wait, Coleslaw Is What? The Surprising Tales of...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/07/31

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

en

36:28

Summer Replay! The Surfer Who Feels Everything

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/07/24

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

en

51:18

Space, Sea, and the Nudge That Saved His Life

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/07/17

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

en

37:44

The Woman Who Turned Dancing into a Passport to the...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/07/10

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

en

22:02

A Ride Through South Dakota’s Most Misunderstood...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/07/03

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

en

32:06

What Touring America Taught a Southern Comic About...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/06/26

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

en

28:52

In the Warming Arctic, These Inuit Traditions Refuse...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/06/19

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

en

42:50

I Solo Hiked 7,500 Miles from Cape Town to Cairo—and...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/06/12

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

en

33:22

Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Ate Around the World With...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2025/02/18

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

en

29:55

Pro Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Travel: Introducing...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/11/14

How do you manage stress when you’re traveling during the holidays? And is it better to book with points or cash during some of the busiest travel days of the year? Believe it or not, it’s almost time to book your holiday travel, and our friends at NerdWallet have some tips for traveling stress-free. In this special episode of NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, their objective finance journalists answer real-world questions to help you make smarter decisions with your money and help your finances

en

63:40

The Spontaneous (Travel!) Story of How Afar Came to Be

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/09/12

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

en

20:43

Want to Get to the Soul of Switzerland? Jump Into a...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/08/29

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

en

48:20

Only 10 People Have Walked Around the World—and One Dog.

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/08/22

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

en

18:34

A Cross-Country Road Trip Helped Make the World Safer...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/08/15

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

en

23:44

I Traveled the World With President Obama. Now, I...

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/08/08

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

en

34:23

When Zebras Taught Me to Drive in Namibia

Travel Tales by Afar ·

2024/08/01

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

en

86 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger