When polar bear biologist Alysa McCall was growing up in Kamloops, British Columbia, watching black bears raid fruit trees outside her living room window, she never imagined she'd dedicate her life to their Arctic cousins. But sometimes the most profound career changes happen when you least expect them—like when a world-renowned scientist responds to your "what's the worst that could happen?" email with "Sure. Come over. See you in September."

McCall's journey from studying desert mice to becoming a polar bear researcher took her from the semi-arid landscapes of British Columbia to the frozen sea ice of Hudson Bay, where she learned that conservation isn't just about data—it's about connection, storytelling, and what she calls "big feelings."

Don't miss these unforgettable moments:

The Science Behind the Story:

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 other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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When Santi Elijah Holley, writer and author of An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created, was 25, he took the ultimate travel leap of faith: He hitchhiked 400 miles from Northern California to Portland through small-town Oregon. But for Holley—who had just moved to Portland from Michigan—it wasn't just about getting a ride. After a year of feeling like an outsider as a person of color in one of America's whitest states, this journey would test whether Oregon would accept him or leave him standing on the side of the road.

What he discovered during those three days hitchhiking along Highway 101 changed everything. From sleeping on church roofs to walking barefoot on the beach with a wealthy New Yorker, and listening to a mother's fight for youth spaces to riding with speeders heading to court, Holley found that Oregon's people had stories to tell—and that he was the perfect stranger to hear them.

Don't miss these unforgettable moments

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 other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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Dr. Jessica B. Harris⁠, renowned food historian and author of High on the Hog, which later became a hit Netflix series of the same name, reveals the shocking truth about American cuisine—it's not what you think. From her couch in Brooklyn with a Siamese cat wandering by, Dr. Harris unpacks the surprising origins of beloved American classics and introduces us to the concept of the "American braid."

Her new book, Braided Heritage: Recipes and Stories on the Origin of American Cuisine, weaves together the three cultural strands that created what we eat today: Indigenous, European, and African influences. But prepare to have your assumptions shattered—coleslaw is Dutch, cookies aren't American, and the "wok hand" of enslaved African Americans shaped Southern food in ways we're only beginning to understand.

Don't miss these eye-opening revelations:

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 other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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This is a replay episode from Season 4 featuring Ryan Knighton's journey to Kaua'i.

Ryan Knighton, AFAR contributing writer, TV writer for Billions, and author of Cockeyed: A Memoir, takes us on an extraordinary adventure to surf Hawaii's legendary Hanalei Bay. Despite being blind since his early twenties, Ryan has never let that stop him from exploring the world—and surfing has become his unique form of freedom.

The episode opens with host Aislyn Greene interviewing Ryan about his surfing background and travel philosophy, then transitions into Ryan's captivating first-person story (read by actor Andrew Galteland). After 13 years of mastering the waves near his Vancouver Island home, Ryan decided to challenge himself by surfing completely unfamiliar waters in Hawaii. What unfolds is a story about trust, collaboration, and finding liberation in the most unexpected places.

In this episode, you'll discover

Don't miss these powerful moments

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 other podcasts,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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Jim Kitchen, professor of entrepreneurship at UNC Chapel Hill, has visited all 193 countries, rocketed 66 miles into space with Blue Origin, and descended seven miles to the ocean's deepest point—but his most important journey was learning to connect rather than just collect experiences.

From childhood road trips in a wood-paneled station wagon to becoming one of only 700+ people who've seen Earth from space, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Jim reveals how travel transformed him from a frantic collector into a mindful connector—and how trusting his instincts literally saved his life.

In this episode, you'll discover

Don't miss these transformative moments

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 other podcasts,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mickela Mallozzi, Emmy award-winning host of PBS's Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, transforms strangers into dance partners across seven continents.

Whether learning sean-nós in Ireland or celebrating Matariki in New Zealand, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mickela reveals how asking permission opens doors to authentic cultural experiences—and why the best travel connections happen when you follow your passion.

In this episode, you'll discover

Don't miss these transformative moments

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 other podcasts,⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠View From Afar⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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Jaymee Sire⁠, host of Food Network Obsessed podcast, trades tasting menus for throttle grips at the legendary Sturgis Motorcyle Rally in South Dakota. 

Whether riding two-up through the Black Hills or bonding over leather stamping and welding with a multigenerational crew of women riders, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Jaymee reveals the side of Sturgis Buffalo Chip few outsiders get to see.

125 Bikers, 50 Miles, and One Beginner Biker

In this episode, you’ll discover: 

Biker Belles, the annual women’s ride that breaks biking stereotypes. 

What it’s like to attend Sturgis Buffalo Chip, one of the nation’s oldest music festivals. 

Why winding through the Black Hills in South Dakota is so much better on a bike. 

The Side of Sturgis Most Tourists Miss 

Don’t miss these transformative moments: 

[03:08] What it’s like to arrive at one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country

[07:35] This annual ride shows the feminine side of biking culture. 

[11:51] That moment when a motorcycle ride becomes a soul-filling, sightseeing tour.  

[14:21] Tears, Jelly Roll, and pork parfaits: Going beyond biking at Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Resources

Read the ⁠transcript⁠ of the episode

Follow Jaymee Sire on ⁠Instagram⁠

Listen to her on the ⁠Food Network Obsessed⁠ podcast

Learn more about the ⁠Sturgis Buffalo Chip⁠ and the ⁠Biker Belles⁠ ride

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 other podcasts, ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kentucky native and comedian Katherine Blanford takes us on a hilarious journey across America, sharing how different regions react to humor and why the Pacific Northwest has become her performing paradise. From childhood road trips to Cracker Barrel to navigating regional comedy crowds, Katherine reveals the art of connecting with audiences nationwide—plus her brutally honest airport confessions.

From Cracker Barrel to Comedy Clubs

Comedy Across America

[06:15] Growing up in Louisville with dreams of horses and trips to Churchill Downs
[15:30] The cultural shift from 31 years in the Southeast to touring nationwide
[22:45] Decoding regional audience reactions—from Midwest nodders to Southern hollerers
[28:20] Why Pacific Northwest crowds are a comedian's dream
[35:10] The legendary Arizona crowd work story and learning to read local "creatures"

A Comedian's Guide to Regional Humor

In this episode, you'll hear how Katherine transforms her childhood obsession with horses (she couldn't have one, so she became one) into crowd work gold, and why she had to retire her famous "neigh-off" challenge after Chicago audiences got too competitive.

Resources

About Travel Tales by Afar

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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When Métis writer Debbie Olsen heard the haunting sounds of Inuit throat singing for the first time, she felt an unexpected connection to her own Indigenous roots. In northern Quebec's remote Inuit region of Nunavik, she discovered how an entire community is fighting to preserve cultural traditions that were once banned—while adapting to a rapidly warming world that threatens their ancient way of life.

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Debbie takes us inside Kuujjuaq's remarkable cultural revival, from throat-singing performances to traditional sewing centers, where elders pass down survival skills that have sustained Inuit life for generations. Plus, we explore how climate change is forcing this resilient community to adapt while holding fast to their identity.

Ancient Arts in Modern Times

A Culture of Resilience, With A Little Help From Community

What Cultural Preservation Should Be All About

Award-winning travel writer and Métis journalist Debbie Olsen brings a unique Indigenous perspective to exploring cultural traditions. Based in Canada, her work focuses on connecting with Indigenous communities and understanding how ancestral knowledge survives in the modern world.

In this episode you'll hear how Kuujjuaq's community centers—from throat singing groups to carpentry workshops—represent more than skill-sharing; they're acts of cultural healing that help Inuit people reclaim what colonization tried to erase, all while preparing future generations for an uncertain climate future.

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, ⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Turks and Caicos native Mario Rigby landed in Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, a pair of worn-in sneakers, and a dream to walk the length of Africa, he thought maybe he'd made the worst mistake of his life. But actually walking across Africa? That brought peace and a deeper understanding of the power of hospitality, movement, and self discovery. 

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mario shares how walking 7,500 miles permanently changed the way he travels—and lives. Plus, we dive into what sustainable tourism really looks like and the aftermath of reverse culture shock. 

 7,500 Miles: From Cape Town to Cairo

In this episode you’ll learn: 

Why Turks and Caicos is a microcosm for the power of sustainable tourism. 

What it’s like to cross the white desert  in Egypt. 

How local culture in Cape Town, Sudan, and El Salvador reshaped Mario’s perspective on travel. 

An Epic Sojourn, With A Little Help From Locals 

[02:50] This childhood TV show planted the seed for adventure, before it was famous. 

[08:38] The local encounter that changed everything on day one. 

[14:41] When a dog attack in Sudan led to a Tedx talk. 

[22:19]  What happens next? Reverse culture shock and the need for adventure. 

What Traveling Should Be All About

Eco-explorer and former professional athlete, Mario Rigby has travel in his blood. Born in Turks and Caicos, raised in Germany, and now living in Canada, Mario’s expeditions focus on sustainability and human connection. 

In this episode you’ll hear how a walk from Cape Town to Cairo, guided him to a lifestyle of adventurous movement, that included biking across North America and living among Algeria’s nomadic tribes. 

Resources: 

Read the transcript of this episode

Learn more about Mario’s work on his website.

Follow Mario on Instagram: @mariorigby

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, ⁠Unpacked⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices