Travel Tales by Afar – Details, episodes & analysis

No plan. No luggage. Five weeks in India. Joe Diaz and Greg Sullivan, dreamed up Afar on a beach in Goa more than 15 years ago. In this candid episode from our sister podcast, Unpacked, they reflect on what they’ve learned by helping people travel deeper. From the spontaneous trips that honed the company’s values to how they’ve helped shape the travel industry, get an inside look into the transformative power of rallying around travel as a force for good.  But, How Many Kitchen Tables Have You Visited?  In this episode, discover: How Afar helped pave the way for “experiential travel.”  The origin and impact of Learning Afar, which gives students access to travel.  How you can continue to shape travel as a force for good in the world.   Going Home with a Rickshaw Driver.  Don’t miss these memorable moments: [2:03] It started without a plan—or luggage.  [14:55] The first step: transformative travel education.  [25:15] Spin the globe and other stories that have impacted them the most.  [37:49] A trip to Cairo that led to a surgeon’s debut on The Daily Show. [45:15] A friendly debate on travel practices—from packing to plane rides.    The Transformative Power of Teachers Turned Travelers.  Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz met in the classroom, so when they traveled to India and found a deeper way to travel, they had to share that with others. In this lighthearted conversation, they share the spontaneous travel stories that have impacted the industry and continue to sustain Afar 15 years later.  In this episode you’ll learn how Afar went from an idea to a multi-faceted media company, how they’ve pivoted over time to hone their impact on the world and how you can travel in a more conscious and connected way.  Resources • Explore Afar’s 15-year anniversary hub of favorite stories, including:   A Skeptic Visits the Holy Waters of Lourdes. What It’s Like to Navigate Cairo’s Chaos as a Blind Traveler.  • Read the transcript of this episode. • Listen to the podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:  A Blind Man’s Trip Will Change the Way You Go on Safari.  A Blind Surfer Takes On Kauai’s Legendary Waves. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

Not only can you swim in the rivers of Bern and Basel— but thousands of locals regularly take the plunge. From a morning commute to a relaxing weekend escape, discover how rivers are at the heart of everyday Swiss life. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim, follows the currents of Switzerland's alpine rivers into the depths of history, culture and identity.  How Rivers Reveal Years of Swiss Culture In this episode you will learn:  How the Rhine was transformed into a meeting place for swimmers What river swimming reveals about the people and culture of major Swiss cities What our changing world could mean for the future of alpine river swimming.   Behind Every Great Swiss City, There’s A River. Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:  [5:19] A legacy of guarding the rights of swimmers in Basel. [8:14] Three distinct relationships with the Rhine. [11:07] An insightful swim at Rheinbad Breite, a 125-year-old bathhouse.  [12:54] What does climate change mean for the future of Alpine river swimming? Swimming for a Slice of Life Afar contributor, and author of Why We Swim, Bonnie Tsui has swimming in her DNA. Her parents met in a pool in Hong Kong, she worked as a lifeguard growing up in New York, and she often swims when she travels—she's the perfect person to explore Switzerland’s river swimming culture.  In this episode you’ll learn how to enhance a trip to Switzerland by swimming its rivers, hear how locals see rivers as an important thread in the fabric of Swiss life and culture, and be inspired by the people who are working to protect the future of alpine river swimming.  Resources • Read the transcript of the episode • Order Bonnie’s book Why We Swim • Read more of Bonnie’s work on her website.  • Pre-order Bonnie's latest book, On Muscle:The Stuff That Moves Us and Why it Matters.  Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

In late 2016, Daniel Troia was struggling with grief. Grief over the loss of his parents and grief over the division he saw unfolding on his TV, night after night. It made him angry, and that made him want to do something to change things, or at least to change his perception of things.  So, in 2018, he set out on a cross-country bike ride. His plan was to ride from California to New York—with no food or money. He thought that if he was forced to rely on the kindness of strangers, he would also have an opportunity to connect with the communities he was passing through. In some ways, it went exactly as he’d planned and hoped (people were often kind, generous, and curious about his journey). In other ways, it was a completely different experience than he’d expected (as his appearance changed, so did people’s reaction to him).  He wound up stretching the trip beyond his original three-month plan: By the time he’d arrived in New York, he hadn’t found exactly what he was searching for so he decided to cycle back to California. Seven months later, he returned home—and a year later, he released a documentary about his experience, We Are All in This Together.  Read the transcript of the episode. Listen to the episode on YouTube. Watch We’re All in This Together on Amazon or Apple TV. Sign up for Daniel’s newsletter for details about when he’ll be screening the film in your city. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. 

When poet Tess Taylor’s son, Bennett, was three years old, he heard the violin for the first time. For weeks afterward, every day he asked her for a violin, so finally she took him into a local violin shop and asked for help. The shop owner put a tiny violin and bow in his hands and Bennett asked, “But how do I make it sound beautiful?”  Fast-forward nearly a decade and Bennett was still playing the violin—expanding into bluegrass and classical music, finding his footing as a musician. Tess had read about a place in Italy called Cremona, where some of the world’s most famous violins are made. This is where Antonio Stradivari was born and worked, as well as other world-renowned luthiers. So Tess decided to take Bennett—and her husband and her young daughter, who also plays the violin—to Cremona to learn more about the instrument that had taken over their lives.  In this week’s episode of Travel Tales, she shares that journey. They listened to outdoor concerts, explored music museums, and most importantly, met with one of the city’s luthiers, who still makes extraordinary stringed instruments by hand—some out of trees he himself cut down. And, as you’ll soon hear, they came home with much more than memories.  Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Watch the companion interview with Tess on YouTube. Explore Tess’s work on her website.  Read Tess’s most recent book of poetry (an anthology she edited), Leaning toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. 

When most of us think about nature in Argentina, our minds go immediately to Patagonia—which is a spectacular place worth visiting (it’s one of the most memorable places I’ve been to). But in this week’s episode, we’re exploring two regions in Argentina that most travelers miss: El Impenetrable National Park in the north and Patagonia Azul in the south.  These places are relatively unfrequented in large part because, up until a few years ago, there really wasn’t an easy way for travelers to access them. Last year, Afar deputy editor Tim Chester traveled with outfitter Journeys With Purpose to explore the nascent tourism industry in both destinations, thanks to the efforts of Rewilding Argentina and Tompkins Conservation.  As you’ll hear in the episode, Kris and the late Doug Tompkins have spent decades preserving land in Chile and Argentina. (If the names seem familiar, Kris was a CEO at Patagonia, and Doug founded the North Face.) Over the years, the couple acquired hundreds of thousands of acres in both countries and turned them into national parks before donating it all to the Chilean and Argentine governments. The teams that run the parks have reintroduced endangered species, including panthers and sea otters, and allowed the land to recover from years of abuse—essentially rewilding wide swaths of the countries. And now, the parks are open to travelers. Tim is kind of our environmental guru here at Afar and has covered the concept of rewilding quite a bit, but this was the first chance he had to see the work up close and personal. His trip was muddy, adventurous, and just a little bit life-changing.  Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Watch the companion interview with Tim on YouTube. Explore Rewilding Argentina and Tompkins Conservation. Learn more about Journeys With Purpose. Visit El Impenetrable National Park or Patagonia Azul. Listen to our interview with Kris Tompkins about the work the conservation has done (and continues to do) in Argentina and Chile.  Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. 

Today we’re launching Travel Tales, season five. And we’re kicking off this season with a roar, although the subjects of today’s episode (polar bears) are much quieter than you’d imagine.  Nearly two years ago, host Aislyn Greene attended a TED Talk event in New York, held in partnership with the Canadian tourism board. There she met environmentalist and entrepreneur Kevin Smith, who shared his tale in an episode from last season, about how a grizzly bear changed his life, and she met biologist Alysa McCall, whose life was also altered by a bear, though this one was of the more polar sort. Yes, she’s a polar bear biologist, and in the first episode of this season, she explains how she fell in love with the world’s largest land predator up in Churchill, Manitoba.  As you’ll learn, Alysa didn’t intend to become a polar bear biologist, but once she met these magnificent creatures, she was hooked. They also happen to be one of the most well-known symbols of climate change—as the sea ice shifts and disappears, polar bears can’t hunt and live the way they used to, which also increases human-wildlife conflict. But Alysa—who now works for Polar Bears International—is positive about the future and about the bears’ welfare.  Resources Read the transcript of the episode. Watch the companion interview with Alysa on YouTube. Explore Polar Bears International.  Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. 

How often do you do something that scares you? This week on Travel Tales by AFAR, Jeff Jenkins—host of the National Geographic show Never Say Never—reminds us that life begins where our comfort zone ends. On his show, Jeff tests the limits of his physical and mental abilities. He climbs mountains, cave dives, learns to sumo wrestle, races in a Maori canoe (called a waka), and does basically anything else that is likely to terrify-slash-excite.  His adventures also serve another purpose: as representation for plus-size travelers. Jeff is the founder of Chubby Diaries, a community he built after he realized that no one in travel media looked like him. He has since used his platform to build that representation and to push for the travel industry to be more inclusive. Don't miss these moments! 3:34: What Never Say Never is all about 4:29: The scariest moment of his first season 6:34: What it was like to learn to sumo wrestle 12:56: His first trip to Japan as a young adult 16:52: How he became a travel writer and influencer 19:29: The importance of representation for plus-size travelers 28:37: How the travel industry could better support plus-size travelers Meet this week’s guest Jeff Jenkins, host of the National Geographic show Never Say Never Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Watch Never Say Never on Disney+. Explore the Chubby Diaries.  Follow him on Instagram and YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN

The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the most spectacular, pristine protected places in Canada. But it wasn't always this way. Kevin Smith, a boat captain who grew up in British Columbia and now owns and operates Maple Leaf Adventures, was instrumental in helping turn the local economy from extraction (logging) to tourism. Since then, he's guided thousands of travelers through the wilds of the rainforest and helped build relationships with the Coastal First Nations who have lived there for thousands of years and now steward the land. During the pandemic, he also helmed the largest coastal cleanup ever embarked upon, which is part of his mission to only participate in regenerative tourism. Don't miss these moments! 4:02: The beginning of the Q&A with Kevin. 4:31: What it was like growing up on a Canadian island. 6:46: Why the Great Bear Rainforest is so important. 11:00: Why regenerative tourism matters. 14:22: Kevin's Travel Tale. Meet this week’s guest Kevin Smith, owner of Maple Leaf Adventures Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Explore the Great Bear Rainforest. Listen to Kevin’s TED Talk. Learn about Maple Leaf Adventures’ tours. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN

Can geometric shapes heal the world? That's what the artists of the De Stijl movement—which came of age in the Netherlands after World War I—believed. Piet Mondrian is one of the most famous members of this group, which forbade circles and embraced light, color, and geometry as a way to move past the chaos of the war. As AFAR contributing writer Chris Colin discovers on a trip to Utrecht, that's not quite as bizarre as it sounds. And as he bicycles through quaint streets, meditates along charming canals, and visits the De Stijl artifacts that still exist, Chris learns that, just maybe, De Stijl's philosophy is still applicable today. Don't miss these moments! 3:31: The beginning of Chris's Q&A. 7:55: What he appreciated most about the city. 9:47: Why De Stijl's art has endured. 14:25: Chris's Travel Tale. Meet this week’s guest Chris Colin, AFAR contributing writer  Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Enjoy Chris’s book Off, a picture book about an analog world. Visit Utrecht and explore De Stijl for yourself.  Listen to Chris’s other Travel Tales about renting a friend in Tokyo and grappling with the mystery of train travel on the Coast Starlight. Follow him on Instagram.  Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN

For writer Ryan Knighton, surfing is one of the rare occurrences where he feels completely free. Because, in addition to being an excellent writer, a dad, and a curious individual, Ryan is blind. But that's never stopped him from exploring the world. So more than a decade ago, he learned to surf and has been riding the waves near his home in British Columbia ever since. But he’s always had a hankering to surf in a location he doesn’t know intimately. So this year, he traveled to Kaua‘i, where he found a guide—a surfer named Johnny—who pushed both of their boundaries so that Ryan could ride a new wave. Don't miss these moments! 4:21: An interview with Ryan about how he learned to surf and what it's like to spend most of your life on other people's elbows. 24:03: Ryan's travel tale, read by actor Andrew Galteland Meet this week’s guest Ryan Knighton, AFAR contributing writer  Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Read Ryan's story about going on safari in Zimbabwe, his trip to Jordan, and his original Spin the Globe in Cairo. Listen to Ryan's original Travel Tale. Read Ryan’s book, Cockeyed: A Memoir. Watch Billions.  Follow him on X.  A special thanks to Andrew Galteland, who read Ryan's story for him. You can follow Andrew on his podcast, Looters, a sci-fi western role-playing show. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN