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Unpacked by AFAR

Unpacked by AFAR

AFAR Media

Unpacked by AFAR unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. We're here to help you navigate the travel world, whether you want to hack your points and miles, figure out where to travel next, or need advice on an ethical dilemma. Because the world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.
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Top 10 Unpacked by AFAR Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Unpacked by AFAR episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Unpacked by AFAR for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Unpacked by AFAR episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Unpacked by AFAR - How Travel Can Help Us Grieve
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03/02/23 • 34 min

We turn to travel for a thousand different things: Connection, adventure, vacation, learning, family, the list goes on. One element of life and travel we don’t often discuss is grief. But today, we’re going to.

In this episode, Erin Hynes—host of the podcast Curious Tourism—shares the ways that we can use travel to navigate some of the more difficult elements of life. She shares her own story and interviews two experts with very different experiences around grief.

Follow Erin:

http://pinatravels.org/

https://www.instagram.com/pinatravels/

https://twitter.com/pinatravels

Follow Zac:

https://www.workinprogressto.ca/zac

https://www.instagram.com/zed_eh_see/

Follow Andrew:

https://www.andrewsteven.com/

https://trailweight.com/

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Unpacked by AFAR - Let's Scale Back That Revenge Travel, Shall We?
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06/16/22 • 27 min

Today, we're talking about revenge. Well, sort of. In this episode, writer Paige McClanahan—host of the Better Travel Podcast—explores the concept of "revenge travel." While it's so tempting to want to take revenge on the time we lost to Covid, Paige invites us to think more deeply about our impact on communities around the world, many of which are more vulnerable coming out of the pandemic. Through conversations with Harold Goodwin of the UK-based Responsible Tourism Partnership and Judy Kepher-Gona, of Kenya's Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, Paige offers tips on how to be kinder, more aware travelers—and how to have a little fun along the way.

This episode is sponsored by Explore Asheville, who shares our belief in the power of ethical travel. https://www.exploreasheville.com/

Resources:

Paige McClanahan: https://www.paigemcclanahan.com/

Harold Goodwin: https://responsibletourismpartnership.org/who-we-are/

Judy Kepher-Gona: https://sttakenya.org/

Have a travel conundrum you want us to unpack? Tweet us, DM us on Instagram, or post on our Facebook page.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFARmedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afarmedia/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfarMedia/

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Unpacked by AFAR - Unpacked Returns: A Bigger, Brighter World Awaits
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01/04/24 • 1 min

It's a fresh new year! And we all know that this also means that there's a fresh year of travel to plan, discoveries to be made, and adventures to be had. And Unpacked by AFAR is here for you every step of the way. AFAR editors will share the places they're dreaming of visiting this year. A cruise expert will unveil the best places to cruise in 2024, as well as the best cruise lines to sail with, even if you're not a cruiser. (And a little hint: These companies are more sustainable than ever.) We'll reveal the best ways to use and accrue air and hotel rewards, how to build a travel budget, deal with awkward plane encounters, and so much more.

And this season on Unpacked by AFAR, we're going farther than ever (literally) in our new series "Unpacking." Host Aislyn Greene is visiting some of our favorite places in the world and reporting back, meeting with the locals who define these places and sharing tips on how to best explore them.

So join us every Thursday beginning January 18th. Because the travel world is complicated. We're here to help you unpack it.

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, Travel Tales by AFAR, a series of first-person stories about the trips that change our lives.

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What if they don’t understand me, speak too fast, or worse—ignore my attempt and revert to English? Polyglot and Babbel instructor Noël Wolf, is well-versed in overcoming barriers and connecting with locals through language learning. From how learning 10 phrases led to being treated like family, to learning Spanish by playing volleyball— she shares the secrets to having deeper travel experiences through language learning.

Learn a Language, Unlock a Culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Responses for when you’re in a sticky language misunderstanding.
  • The ways that language learning can enrich your travels—and your character.
  • How to set realistic goals and take steps toward fluency.

Language: A Cultural Currency of Appreciation.

Don’t miss these memorable moments:

[2:36] Becoming your full self and how culture shapes you.

[5:20] Don’t sweat the small stuff: Tips for speaking with confidence.

[16:27] The many benefits of embracing a new language.

[21:46] Love Is Blind and other avenues to success.

Tell Me: How Do People Really Speak?

Noel is a German polyglot — she speaks English, French, Spanish and Italian fluently and is currently learning Dutch and Brazilian Portuguese. Follow her tips to ditch the flashcards and make real-life connections with even the smallest amount of language knowledge.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to have more authentic travel experiences through language learning. Whether your goal is to order gelato or gain a better understanding of culture, follow these tips to set attainable goals and speak with confidence as soon as you land.

Resources

  • Learn from Noël at Babbel. *Afar listeners can use code 1432288 to get 55 percent off a lifetime subscription.*
  • Read the transcript of this episode.
  • Explore more Afar content for language learners:

The Easiest Languages for English Speakers to Learn.

Why We Shouldn’t Always Use Translation Apps When We Travel.

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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

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Summer is coming. And while it's not looking like this season will be as insane as summer 2023, it's still best to begin planning now. So on this week’s episode of Unpacked, AFAR's mighty destination teams discusses what's to come. They share the best places to visit this summer—think Southern Hemisphere—and what you need to tackle now to stay ahead of the came. Plus, we unpack the best visa expeditors and the best way to use those points and miles. (Hint: It involves outsourcing.)

Meet this week’s guests

Resources

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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

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This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

A pet orangutan, a 106-year-old grandma, and a wedding where 10,000 guests were fed. When writer and host of NPR’s The Splendid Table, Francis Lam, heard stories from his friend Azalalina Eusope about her life in Penang, Malaysia, he couldn’t help but marvel at them.

But when the San Francisco-based chef (who has served Barack Obama and the Malaysian prime minister) invites Francis to come home with her after a decade away, he discovers the complex family dynamics that underpin her stories—and the ways that food can bind even the most complicated families.

Five Generations of Street Vendors

In this episode, explore:

  • What it’s like to visit street vendors in Penang, Malaysia
  • How a fine-dining chef recreates traditional Malaysian dishes
  • Some of the food traditions of the Mamak people in Malaysia

Remaking the Past with Laksa

Don’t miss these transformative moments:

[04:09] Star anise and curry: Rediscovering Malaysia’s comforts.

[08:42] The sights, smells and salts of Penang’s street food scene.

[10:04] “I felt so gross for having my notebook with me.” A bittersweet homecoming.

Time Travel Through Tripe Salad

As a teen, Azalina Eusope vowed she wouldn’t follow in the footsteps of the four generations of Mamak street vendors that came before her.

In this episode, the San-Francisco based, Malaysian chef returns home with writer and host of NPR’s The Splendid Table, Francis Lam. Together, they discover how cooking Malaysian dishes does more than preserve her culture—it grants her the power to reclaim it.

Resources:

Read Francis’ original story on afar.com

Follow Francis Lam on Instagram

Dine at Azalina’s in San Francisco

Check out NPR’s The Splendid Table

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Where will you be on April 8, 2024? In case that date isn’t burned into your brain, it’s the day the sun, Earth, and the moon will completely align, creating a total solar eclipse that will sweep over a section of the United States. It will plunge cities around the U.S.—from Austin, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, into darkness for up to four minutes and 27 seconds and, according to our guest today, will be “the greatest science event in human history.”

That’s because it’s going to be one of the most accessible celestial events to happen in recent times: The path of totality crosses some of the most populated areas of the United States, and astro-tourists will flock to places like Texas in droves. Scott Roberts, today’s guest, will also be there, guiding a small group of people through the event at a ranch in Leakey, Texas.

To be honest, I wasn’t planning on traveling for the eclipse, but after interviewing Scott, I started to wonder if I’m missing out: He likens viewing an eclipse to some of his peak life experiences, nearly up there with witnessing childbirth. He’s seen four solar eclipses since he started photographing them as a young man, and now he’s a kind of eclipse evangelist.

Maybe you, like me, didn’t make plans to see the eclipse. Or maybe you’ve had your plans locked in since 2022. Either way, Scott has a nugget of wisdom for you, from how to view your first solar eclipse (hint: just enjoy it) to the reason we should all celebrate the sun’s rise every day.

He’s also an avid Airstreamer and has been traveling around the country in a 1968 Overlander named Barbara Jean after his travel-loving mom. He shared how he downsized to the Airstream lifestyle and how this kind of travel allows him freedom to follow his celestial obsessions.

Resources

Meet this week’s guest

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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

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The issue of homelessness—or being unhoused, or facing housing scarcity—isn’t something we often talk about when it comes to travel, unless it’s in a negative sense. In this episode, however, we’re going to meet a London-based tour company that’s working on bringing homelessness into the tourism narrative.

It’s called Unseen Tours, a nonprofit founded in 2010 by Jayni Gudka. It offers London tours that touch on many of the city’s most popular sites and neighborhoods—Soho, King’s Cross—with a twist: They’re led by individuals who were once homeless. But the tours are not poverty tourism. They’re history-rich, city-focused walking excursions led by people with a very special kind of knowledge.

Meet this week’s guests

Resources

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, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

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Unpacked by AFAR - Is It Really Possible to Travel Like a Local?
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07/14/22 • 41 min

What does it mean when we say we want to "travel like a local?" It's a well-intentioned phrase, but also, well, impossible. In this episode, we'll unpack the concept of local travel. We’ll share tips on how to better connect in a new place, how to embrace our outsider status, and basically how asking ourselves these big questions can make our trips more fulfilling, and make us better guests in the world.

Resources:

Eric Weiner's essay: https://www.afar.com/magazine/five-ways-to-travel-more-responsibly

Eric's book, The Socrates Express: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781501129025

The digital accompaniment to the Unpacked podcast: https://www.afar.com/travel-inspiration/travel-for-good

Dr. Anu Taranath: https://www.anutaranath.com/

Dr. Anu's Book: Beyond Guilt Trips, Mindful Travel in an Unequal World: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781771134323

Jini Reddy: https://www.jinireddy.co.uk/

Jini's book, Wanderland: https://bookshop.org/a/2660/9781472951953

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In the world of travel legends, Rick Steves is right up there at the top. Since he launched his company in 1976, he has sent millions of Americans abroad, either through his guided tours or via his many, many guidebooks. But his mission—to “curate culture shock”—comes with a cost.

Rick has long been aware of the environmental impact of encouraging so many people to travel, but he found that carbon offset programs didn’t do enough to alleviate his concerns. So Rick and his team created the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Commitment, which donates $30 for every traveler on their tours to a carefully selected set of nonprofits.

Rick came on the podcast to chat about the program, as well as his views on ethical travel. But the conversation was so wide-ranging and rich—touching on everything from dual-narrative travel to his belief in the power of crossing borders—that we decided to split it into two episodes.

This week’s episode focuses on Rick’s constantly evolving views on travel, his mission, and his belief in self-imposed carbon taxes. And next week, we’ll drill down into his Climate Smart Commitment with his chief operating officer, Craig Davidson.

Resources

Catch up on Unpacked, season two:

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FAQ

How many episodes does Unpacked by AFAR have?

Unpacked by AFAR currently has 85 episodes available.

What topics does Unpacked by AFAR cover?

The podcast is about Places & Travel, Society & Culture and Podcasts.

What is the most popular episode on Unpacked by AFAR?

The episode title 'Let's Scale Back That Revenge Travel, Shall We?' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Unpacked by AFAR?

The average episode length on Unpacked by AFAR is 38 minutes.

How often are episodes of Unpacked by AFAR released?

Episodes of Unpacked by AFAR are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Unpacked by AFAR?

The first episode of Unpacked by AFAR was released on May 19, 2022.

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