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Artwork for Unpacked by Afar

Unpacked by Afar

Afar
Travel
Sustainability
Solar Eclipse
Madison
Hawaii
Cultural Tourism
Wisconsin
Luxury Hotels
Albuquerque
Estonia
Cruising
Explore Scientific
Airstream
Astronomy
Culinary Diversity
Farmers Market
Restaurant Industry
Local Communities
Afar Media
Lamu, Kenya

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes159Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Unpacked by Afar

Latest Episodes

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. ... more

YouTube

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 ... more

YouTube

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 to... more

YouTube

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 to... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Barbara Bestor
Founder of Bestor Architecture, LA-based architect
Bestor Architecture
Episode: An Architect's California: From LA's Secret Garden to the Magic of Joshua Tree
Obi Kaufmann
Naturalist, writer, and illustrator; creator of the California Field Atlas; author published by Hay Day Books
California Field Atlas / Hay Day Books
Episode: The Naturalist Who's Been Decoding—and Painting—California's Wild Spaces for 30 Years
Roderick Wyllie
Award-winning landscape architect and founding partner of Surfacedesign Inc.
Surfacedesign Inc.
Episode: He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
Noelle Laveau
Chief Marketing Officer for the North Texas World Cup Organizing Committee
North Texas World Cup Organizing Committee
Episode: He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
Jonathan Thompson
Freelance journalist and England native living in Dallas
Independent journalist
Episode: He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
Jonathan Wilson
British journalist and author of The Power and the Glory, The History of the World Cup
Author, Journalist
Episode: Drama, Geopolitics, and Glory: Inside the World Cup
Mary Conde
Senior Vice President at Another Planet Entertainment
Another Planet Entertainment
Episode: This Theater Was a Refuge for Queer Americans. Now It's Been Reborn.
Patrick Bixby
Professor of English at Arizona State University; author of License to Travel, A Cultural History of the Passport
Arizona State University
Episode: The Hidden History of the World's Most Powerful Travel Document
Dr. Jamie Zeitzer
Stanford circadian rhythm researcher
Stanford University
Episode: The Military Secret That Could End Your Jet Lag Suffering

Host

Aislyn Greene
Host of Unpacked by Afar, travel writer associated with Afar Media

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 86 ratings
  • It good

    Good

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    List h
    United States5 months 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 States2 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 States3 years ago
  • Toms world walk

    Many thanks to Jason and Tom for the humble and rich conversations.

    Sharing the complex story of Toms walk in a very caring yet educational

    manner. Just awesome. Reading Toms own words in the book is next.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CLiebhardt
    United States3 years ago
  • Really interesting podcast

    This first episode was s thought-provoking.

    looking forward to hearing more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    goneabroad
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners criticize pacing or presenter style as too long-winded at times.
Listeners praise thoughtful, substantive travel conversations and fresh destination ideas.
Audience values the podcast's focus on responsible, ethical travel and local culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
Q: How do you approach projects like a winery in California to preserve a sense of place while making spaces for conversation and reflection?
The guests discuss a garden-forward approach that emphasizes seasonality, scaled intimate spaces, and a domestic sense of gathering, while drawing inspiration from local landscapes and historical contexts to make the experience feel uniquely Californian.
He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
Q: How would you describe San Francisco now in terms of creativity or artistic expression?
He explains that the medium changes but the California mindset remains, with a focus on outdoor experiences year-round, the region's modernist roots, and a willingness to experiment with new forms like driverless cars as part of the landscape.
He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
Q: So can you tell me about your relationship with California and specifically this city?
Roderick describes a personal history with Northern California rooted in family ties and a creative evolution influenced by San Francisco's changing landscape, emphasizing the state's blend of outdoor living and technological influence as core to his practice.
An Architect's California: From LA's Secret Garden to the Magic of Joshua Tree
Q: How would you describe what you do and what you're interested in designing in California today?
I'd say informal formalism is what I'm interested in, a Bohemian modernism that uses space and living patterns to create environments that feel alive and natural, not monumental, and that respond to how people live now.
The Hidden History of the World's Most Powerful Travel Document
Q: What is the origin and evolution of the passport as a concept and as a document?
The passport began as a talismanic, protective document carried by messengers in ancient times, evolving into a tool that tracks movement and verifies identity, with stamps and photographs becoming standardized during the First World War era. Over the 20th century, passports became deeply tied to citizenship and state sovereignty, while modern trends push toward digital systems and increased surveillance, reshaping the meaning and experience of travel.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Unpacked by Afar

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

Unpacked by Afar consistently centers travel as a lens for culture, ethics, and real-world experiences. Episodes spotlight emergent destinations, culinary scenes, and sustainability-minded travel, often featuring Afar contributors, travel writers, and editors who share on-the-ground insights from places like Amsterdam, Saba, East London, Penang, Danang, and Rabat. The show frequently pairs practical tips with larger conversations about overtourism, responsible tourism, and how travelers can engage more authentically with local communities. A standout trait is its willingness to explore niche destinations and timely travel trends (from 2026 planning to Michelin-starred dining in small towns) through thoughtful interviews and firsthand report... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Unpacked by Afar?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unpacked by Afar:

1. NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
2. Zero To Travel Podcast
3. Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
4. Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
5. Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston

How many episodes of Unpacked by Afar are there?

Unpacked by Afar launched 4 years ago and published 159 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Unpacked by Afar?

Recent guests on Unpacked by Afar include:

1. Barbara Bestor
2. Obi Kaufmann
3. Roderick Wyllie
4. Noelle Laveau
5. Jonathan Thompson
6. Jonathan Wilson
7. Mary Conde
8. Patrick Bixby

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.

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