Rephonic
Artwork for Unpacked by Afar

Unpacked by Afar | Travel Smarter, More Responsibly

Afar
Travel
Sustainability
Afar
Travel Tips
Cruising
California
Charleston
Experiential Travel
Wisconsin
Travel Planning
Solo Travel
Puerto Rico
Albuquerque
Holiday Travel Season
Solar Eclipse
Japan
Madison
Bad Bunny
Travel Insurance
Best New Hotels

Unpacked by Afar is your weekly guide to where to go, how to travel, and everything worth unpacking in between. Each week, host Aislyn Greene and the Afar team travel the world and dig into the big questions behind every great trip, from the best new hotels and national parks to traveling more responsibly. Some weeks we follow a story through music, food, and culture. Others we tackle a tricky top... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes203Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelArtsFoodSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacked by Afar

Latest Episodes

Welcome to the fourth and final episode of a four-part Unpacked series on Dubai travel, this time focused on Dubai culture. People love to say the city is all shopping malls and construction cranes, so guest host Nicola Chilton sets out to prove that... more

Welcome to episode three of a four-part Unpacked series on Dubai travel, this time focused on Dubai food: how a city long known for celebrity chefs and global concepts has grown a homegrown food scene with a flavor all its own.

Guest host Nicola Chi... more

YouTube

In a new ongoing series, Afar is asking a deceptively simple question: What does a UNESCO World Heritage designation actually do? This episode starts in North Queensland, Australia, home to two UNESCO sites that sit side by side: the Great Barrier Re... more

YouTube

Welcome to episode two of a four-part Unpacked series on Dubai travel, this time focused on Dubai hospitality: how a city with more than 800 hotels and 150,000 rooms built a world-class hotel scene on one of the Arabian Peninsula’s oldest traditions:... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Kathy Johnston
Chief Chocolate Officer of Mirzam, a Dubai-born bean-to-bar chocolate maker
Mirzam
Episode: Dubai Food Tips From the Chefs Who Know It Best
Mohammad Orfali
Chef and co-owner of Orfali Bros, Three Bros, and Manao
Orfali Bros
Episode: Dubai Food Tips From the Chefs Who Know It Best
Eric Fisher
Marine biologist and Biology Manager at GBR Biology
GBR Biology
Episode: A Marine Biologist, a Kuku Yalanji Guide, and the Real Story Behind Two UNESCO Sites in North Queensland
Juan Walker
Kuku Yalanji guide, language teacher, and owner of Walkabout Cultural Adventures
Walkabout Cultural Adventures
Episode: A Marine Biologist, a Kuku Yalanji Guide, and the Real Story Behind Two UNESCO Sites in North Queensland
Philippe Zuber
CEO of Kerzner International
Kerzner International
Episode: Dubai Hospitality and the Making of a World-Class Hotel Scene
Mohammed Kazim
Cultural entrepreneur, co-founder of Tamashee
Tamashee
Episode: Dubai Hospitality and the Making of a World-Class Hotel Scene
Sahar Al Awadhi
Emirati chef, born and raised in Dubai; founder of Abra at Etihad Museum
Abra (Restaurant) / Etihad Museum
Episode: Dubai Travel Tips From a Longtime Resident and a Native Emirati Chef
Emma John
Afar writer and author who contributed a road-trip story across Victoria, Australia
Afar
Episode: The Australia Spa Road Trip That Won Over a Wellness Skeptic
Kathryn Romeyn
Freelance travel writer who has covered Southeast Asia since 2014
Afar Media
Episode: How to See Thailand’s Wonders Without Feeling Like a Tourist

Hosts

Aislyn Greene
Host of Unpacked by Afar, Afar Media
Aislyn Green
Host of Unpacked / Feel-Good Friday segment

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 98 ratings
  • Feel Good Friday!

    Love the new Feel Good Friday series!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Happy Traveler5
    United States4 months ago
  • Behind the scenes

    Wonderful podcast that takes us behind the scenes of Afar. The recent episode about a photographer’s assignment in Egypt delves into the trust that must be built before any photos are made. A good mix of travel tips and insights into how magazines are put together.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe's View
    United States6 months ago
  • It good

    Good

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    List h
    United Statesa year ago
  • Slow, dreary and a really bad presenter

    Could have been an interesting podcast but too much waffle from the presenter whose vocabulary doesn’t extend much past “wow’

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Disgruntled BA traveller
    United States3 years ago
  • Wrong place to go for ethics advice

    AFAR is a partner of the Saudi regime that has a long history of silencing dissent—from murdering journalists to imprisoning Wikipedia editors, denying basic human rights to immigrants, and LGBTQ+ citizens continue to be legally tortured and imprisoned. AFAR needs to get its own house in order and say no to Saudi money before handing out advice on ethics to anyone.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    WmWordsworth
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive on storytelling quality and guest variety, with high production standards.
Listeners appreciate the depth on local voices and practical travel insights.
Thoughtful, well-researched travel conversations that respect different cultures.
A few critics note inconsistencies in pacing or presenter style in isolated episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Marine Biologist, a Kuku Yalanji Guide, and the Real Story Behind Two UNESCO Sites in North Queensland
Q: So, land back is not the right way to refer to this, because it's really just a, yeah, okay.
Walker describes the handover as joint management, saying it gives Indigenous people a greater role in managing country but does not yet guarantee traditional access. He hopes future changes will provide more rights to practice culture and create economic opportunities.
A Marine Biologist, a Kuku Yalanji Guide, and the Real Story Behind Two UNESCO Sites in North Queensland
Q: So we asked Dr. Fisher whether the designation does anything in terms of day-to-day protection, funding, or research.
Fisher says World Heritage status can make the reef a symbol for change and unite tourism operators, researchers, Traditional Owners, and industry, while emphasizing that reducing emissions is essential.
Dubai Food Tips From the Chefs Who Know It Best
Q: What produce do you like to use that's grown locally? What are your favorite local ingredients?
Orfali says his restaurants use cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, corn, turnips, and kale from local farms. He values the freshness and crunch of locally grown cucumbers and says he prefers supporting local sources when using fish.
Dubai Food Tips From the Chefs Who Know It Best
Q: What makes it a Dubai cuisine and why is that different from what you find in any other major international city?
Orfali says Dubai's mix of communities and cuisines changed his palate after he moved from Syria. He calls his cooking Dubai cuisine because it represents the city's diverse immigrant communities, while emphasizing that deliciousness and freedom of cooking matter most.
The Australia Spa Road Trip That Won Over a Wellness Skeptic
Q: How did your idea of wellness change before, during, and after this trip?
Wellness shifted from a potentially selfish activity to a practice that enhances generosity and presence for others; mindfulness and being in the moment became valued as a tool for US-to-others empathy and connection, not just personal relaxation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unpacked by Afar

What is Unpacked by Afar about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Unpacked by Afar presents thoughtful, culture-rich travel conversations that span architecture, food, history, and community. Episodes frequently blend on-site reporting with expert voices—from local guides and chefs to historians and editors—exploring how places shape identity, how travel can be responsible and inclusive, and how cultures intersect through food, design, and storytelling. Noteworthy are its deep dives into regional histories, sustainable travel angles, and profiles of people and places that illuminate both well-known destinations and overlooked communities. The show often pairs practical tips for travelers with broader conversations about safety, representation, and the responsibilities that come with exploring the world.

Where can I find podcast stats for Unpacked by Afar?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Unpacked by Afar. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Unpacked by Afar and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Unpacked by Afar get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Unpacked by Afar, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Unpacked by Afar?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Unpacked by Afar, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Unpacked by Afar have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Unpacked by Afar has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Unpacked by Afar?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unpacked by Afar:

1. Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways
2. Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners
3. NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
4. The $100 MBA Show
5. Travel with Rick Steves

How many episodes of Unpacked by Afar are there?

Unpacked by Afar launched 4 years ago and published 203 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unpacked by Afar?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Unpacked by Afar?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Unpacked by Afar from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Unpacked by Afar?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Unpacked by Afar. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Unpacked by Afar?

Recent guests on Unpacked by Afar include:

1. Kathy Johnston
2. Mohammad Orfali
3. Eric Fisher
4. Juan Walker
5. Philippe Zuber
6. Mohammed Kazim
7. Sahar Al Awadhi
8. Emma John

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days