Travel Tales by AFAR: Real Stories of Transformative Journeys
Inspiring, heartfelt, and sometimes funny—these firsthand travel stories show how journeys reshape us and the world we inhabit.
Travel Tales by AFAR is a podcast dedicated to the profound ways travel can change our lives. Drawing on authentic, first-person accounts, each episode features writers, creatives, and ordinary people sharing stories about journeys that have left them changed, inspired, or awakened to new perspectives. Sometimes hilarious, frequently touching, and always genuine, these narratives invite listeners to reflect on their own potential for transformation through travel.
Introduction: Why Stories Matter in Travel
Travel writing has always celebrated tales of discovery, but AFAR’s approach goes deeper—focusing on the inner shift that comes from venturing out of the familiar. By bringing these stories to audio, Travel Tales by AFAR aims to connect listeners not just to places but to the universal experiences of curiosity, vulnerability, and growth that travel inspires. The podcast elevates the voices of diverse adventurers—from bestselling authors and chefs to everyday explorers—each illuminating a new facet of what it means to wander bravely and return changed.
How Travel Tales by AFAR Began
The podcast is an evolution of AFAR’s commitment to deep, personal storytelling. Launched in 2020, it emerged from a series of live and salon-style events previously co-hosted with The Moth and sponsored by Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase. By moving to audio, AFAR extended its unique blend of storytelling to a wider, avid audience, even amidst the global pause on travel brought by the pandemic.
- Inception: Originated from live tours and storytelling salons before shifting to digital audio.
- Partner Support: Supported since day one by the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase, ensuring editorial independence and quality.
- Production Team: Collaborations with audio experts like Boom Integrated guided the podcast’s high production values.
Core Themes: Transformative Journeys, Inner and Outer
Each episode centers on the core belief that travel is more than checking off destinations—it’s a pathway to personal evolution, cross-cultural understanding, and sometimes healing.
Key threads running through seasons include:
- Transformation: Stories where venturing abroad or journeying far from home sparks lasting internal change—overcoming trauma, discovering self-worth, or unlocking creative purpose.
- Belonging and Identity: Explorations of finding (or not finding) belonging in unfamiliar places, particularly through the lens of race, heritage, or community.
- Courage and Resilience: Narratives that highlight how facing the unknown brings out resourcefulness and resilience.
- Cultural Discovery: Encounters revealing the complexity, beauty, and sometimes contradiction of different cultures and environments.
- Reflection and Meaning: Honest reflections on what travelers learn about themselves and the world.
Podcast Structure and Storytelling Approach
What sets Travel Tales by AFAR apart is its format. Each 15- to 30-minute episode is:
- Narrator-led: Told in the first person by the traveler, writer, chef, or creative who lived the experience.
- Conversational: Frequently, host Aislyn Greene interviews guests, diving deeper into motivations, takeaways, and the transformative nature of their journeys.
- Sound-rich: Integrates ambient audio and music, immersing the listener in both place and emotion.
Seasonal arcs often group stories by theme or by the nature of the travel experience, providing both variety and coherence for regular listeners.
Signature Episodes: Standout Stories Across Seasons
The heart of Travel Tales by AFAR lies in its episodes. Across multiple seasons, the show has highlighted journeys that are as diverse in geography as in life lessons. Here are select examples:
| Episode | Featured Guest | Main Journey | Themes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Healing Powers of Maine’s Forests | Abdi Iftin | Walking through Maine’s woodlands on a journey of healing from PTSD | Nature, Healing, Resilience |
| I Got Stood Up in Paris! | Michelle Buteau | Comedic misadventure of friendship (and romance) in Paris gone awry | Humor, Friendship, Self-Discovery |
| Arctic Revelations | Maggie Shipstead | How a trip to the Arctic unlocked the creative process for a Booker-shortlisted novel | Inspiration, Solitude, Creativity |
| Space to the Ocean Floor | Jim Kitchen | Traveling from outer space to the ocean’s depths in one year | Exploration, Limits, Perspective |
| Chronicling Culinary America | Dr. Jessica B. Harris | Tracing the diverse roots and stories of America’s food culture | Culture, Food, Heritage |
| Road Trip Across Namibia | Nicole Galteland | Learning to drive stick shift and wild encounters with zebras in Namibia | Adventure, Fear, Growth |
| Biking America Without Money | Daniel Troia | Cycling coast-to-coast relying on kindness | Resourcefulness, Generosity, Connection |
| The Benefits of Walking | Tom Turcich | A global trek on foot, finding peace and perspective | Mindfulness, Endurance, Transformation |
| 400 Miles Hitchhiking Oregon | Santi Elijah Holley | Exploring belonging and race across Oregon | Identity, Faith, Courage |
Season Highlights and Evolution
Season 1: From Print to Podcast
The inaugural season transformed 15 of AFAR’s print stories into audio, tapping the magazine’s deep storytelling tradition.
Season 2: Fresh Perspectives and New Voices
Assigned 15 new stories that delved into travel’s unexpected gifts, from the solidarity of Pan Am flight attendants to wildlife rescues in Kenya.
Season 3: On the Road Again
In perhaps its most ambitious bid, AFAR sent five storytellers on trips specifically to collect their narratives in real time. This season captured both the logistical challenges and the raw, unfiltered reactions that mark true adventure.
Season 4 and Beyond: Personal Conversations & Expanding Reach
With each new season, the podcast has moved toward deeper, more personal conversations between host Aislyn Greene and her guests—contextualizing each journey in the traveler’s broader life and worldview.
Resilience, Adaptation, and Response to Challenges
Launching in 2020, Travel Tales by AFAR faced the unique challenge of creating travel content as the world stood still during the pandemic. Rather than falter, the team used this moment to underscore the emotional need for connection, escapism, and inspiration—bringing travel’s mental and emotional rewards to a homebound audience.
- Audience Response: By end of 2022, downloads were up over 200%, reflecting the podcast’s resonance with a travel-hungry world.
- Accolades: Top rankings in the travel podcast category and recognition in media such as National Geographic.
- Promotional Partnerships: Collaboration with other major podcasts (Not Lost, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown) to cross-promote and grow listenership.
Impact and Listener Engagement
The podcast’s success is measured not just in numbers but in engagement: listeners return for each new episode, hungry for authentic voices and the invaluable lessons only the road can teach. The show has succeeded in making travel content more personal, tangible, and relatable—proving that great travel stories are timeless, whether journeys are halfway across the globe or close to home.
- Unique Listeners Growth: Up 16% in 2022 vs. 2020.
- Downloads Growth: Up 51% in same period.
Special Features and Offers for Listeners
As part of the Airwave podcast network, the show extends special offers and discounts to listeners, enhancing the travel experience for those ready to head out on their own adventures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What makes Travel Tales by AFAR different from other travel podcasts?
A: Its exclusive focus on first-person, transformative travel stories, narrated by the travelers themselves, creates an immersive and emotionally engaging experience rarely matched in the podcast genre.
Q: Who are the typical storytellers on the show?
A: Guests range from well-known authors and journalists to chefs, comedians, academics, and everyday adventurers. Each brings a unique perspective shaped by their background, expertise, and the journey they share.
Q: How can I listen to Travel Tales by AFAR?
A: The podcast is available on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the AFAR website. Subscribing ensures you receive new episodes as they’re released.
Q: Can I share my own travel story?
A: While the podcast primarily features invited guests, listeners are encouraged to connect via AFAR’s newsletter and social channels to share their own transformative experiences. Some listener input may inspire future episodes or features.
Q: What other content does AFAR offer?
A: In addition to Travel Tales, AFAR produces the “Unpacked” podcast—which dives into complex travel topics weekly—as well as travel itineraries, articles, videos, and more on digital and print platforms.
Explore Further: Get Involved
- Subscribe to Travel Tales by AFAR on your podcast platform of choice.
- Sign up for AFAR’s “Behind the Mic” newsletter to get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and future episode previews.
- Take advantage of travel-focused special offers available to listeners through AFAR and its partners.
- Follow AFAR on social media for community connection and story sharing.
Key Takeaways: Why These Tales Matter
- Travel can transform lives—not only by changing our view of the world, but by changing the way we see ourselves.
- Real stories, told with vulnerability and humor, help listeners find meaning and inspiration in their own journeys—both literal and metaphorical.
- Podcasting is a uniquely powerful format for these stories, reconnecting us with the ancient tradition of oral storytelling, but extending it to a global audience.
- Community and connection: In a world that can often feel divided, these narratives highlight our shared experiences and the humanity that binds us all.
Preview: What’s Next on Travel Tales?
Season after season, Travel Tales by AFAR continues to pursue new voices and fresh horizons. Upcoming themes explore art pilgrimages, culinary explorations, adaptive travel, and inspiring figures who show how accessible travel can be to all. Whether you’re a longtime fan or first-time listener, there’s always a new journey worth taking.
