The 2 Best Unpacked by AFAR Podcast Episodes
1) Let's Scale Back That Revenge Travel, Shall We?
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 t...Show More
2) How Maps Reveal the Secrets of our World
You may use Google Maps every day, but how often do you think about how that map was made—and more importantly, who made it? In today’s episode of Unpacked, we do just that. You’ll never again look at...Show More
3) The Naturalist Who's Been Decoding—and Painting—California's Wild Spaces for 30 Years
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 Cal...Show More
4) He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
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 Cal...Show More
5) Drama, Geopolitics, and Glory: Inside the World Cup
Show Notes The World Cup is more than a soccer tournament — it's a mirror for geopolitics, national identity, and the power of global fandom. In this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down...Show More
6) This Theater Was a Refuge for Queer Americans. Now It's Been Reborn.
She’s 104 years old, newly renovated, and she’s ready for her close-up. On this episode of Unpacked: America 250, host Aislyn Greene talks about the newly renovated Castro Theatre in San Francisco,...Show More
7) The Hidden History of the World's Most Powerful Travel Document
Before you board an international flight, before you cross a border, you need a passport. But how much do you really know about the little book that controls where you can and cannot go in this world?...Show More
8) The Military Secret That Could End Your Jet Lag Suffering
Jet lag doesn't have to ruin your trip. On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares her game-changing experience using a jet lag protocol originally developed for Navy SEALs—and digs into t...Show More
9) Beyond the Canals: An Insider’s Guide to Amsterdam’s Real Neighborhoods
Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most overtouristed cities—but it’s also so much more than the crowds in the city center suggest. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar’s ongoing Off the Tourist Trail s...Show More
10) The Lowdown on 2026: Everything You Need to Make It Your Best Travel Year Yet
Is it okay to watch a violent movie next to a stranger's kid on a plane? Should you abandon your airline loyalty card? And wait—is March actually the real start of the new year? On this episode of Un...Show More