Podcasts about Afar

https://cdn.enduringword.com/audio/devotional/Devotional06232026.mp3 The post To All Who Are Afar Off – Acts 2:38-39 – June 23, 2026 appeared first on Enduring Word.

Welcome to Walking the Way. My name is Ray, and I really want to say thank you to everyone for listening in as we continue to explore what it means to have a regular rhythm of worship.  CreditsOpening PrayerRay BorrettBible verseEzekiel 5:15Thought for the dayRay BorrettBible PassageEzekiel 5GOD'S WORD Translation (GW) Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.Prayer Handbookprayer handbook WTW 2026.pdfSupporting Walking the WayIf you want to support Walking the Way, please go to: https://ko-fi.com/S6S4WXLBBor you can subscribe to the channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/walkingtheway/subscribeTo contact Ray: Please leave a comment or a review. I want to find out what people think and how we make it better.www.rayborrett.co.ukwalkingthewaypodcast@outlook.comwww.instagram.com/walkingtheway1

It's Feel-Good Friday, and Unpacked host Aislyn and producer Nikki are joined by a guest they've been waiting weeks to record with: Afar senior editor Lucy Kehoe, who also edits our UK sister title, Suitcase. Three stories, all good news, landing fittingly on Juneteenth. This week's stories: A landmark opening in Chicago lands right on Juneteenth: a nearly 20-acre campus on the South Side, a decade in the making, that's less presidential library and more civic gathering place, right down to an Oval Office anyone can sit in. Five new museums are arriving in one famously museum-rich city this year, from a vertigo-inducing glass storehouse where you can watch conservators at work to a love letter to teenage subcultures, Walkman included. A newly protected stretch of the South Pacific roughly the size of the Amazon rainforest. One that's Indigenous-led, tourism-friendly, and home to about three-quarters of the world's coral species. Plus: Nikki's very specific dream of finally meeting a dugong in the wild. Tune in every Friday through June for a fresh trio of stories from Afar's favorite travel writers and editors. We'll see you next week. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Feel-Good Friday 00:02:00 You Are America 00:04:00 London's Museum Boom 00:08:00 Protecting the Coral Triangle 00:11:00 In Search of Dugongs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a hotel the best? Not just new, not just beautiful, but worthy of a list that thousands of travelers plan their year around? For Afar senior deputy editor Jennifer Flowers, it comes down to a single test: does this hotel have a story? Not a marketing story—a real one, rooted in the place it sits, the community around it, or the history in its bones. In this episode, Afar editorial director Billie Cohen sits down with Jenn to go behind the scenes of the 2026 Best New Hotels list, one of the biggest the team has ever assembled at 40 properties. Jenn explains how the year-long vetting process actually works (yes, every hotel was personally visited), why she pairs the right writer with the right destination, and what separates a genuine standout from a merely beautiful place to stay. Along the way, Billie and Jenn travel from a nonprofit lodge reachable only by boat or seaplane at the edge of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest, to a working dairy farm in Japan's Tohoku region, to a six-suite, solar-powered lodge on regenerating land in South Africa. They dig into the year's biggest themes: the rise of women hoteliers at the founder and CEO level, the surprising number of “new” hotels that are actually painstaking restorations of centuries-old buildings, the reinvention of the all-inclusive, and a growing hunger for ethical access to the world's wild places. See the full 2026 Best New Hotels list at afar.com/bestnewhotels. Chapters 00:00 — What Makes the Best 02:00 — The Story Test 08:00 — A Sleeper Hit 10:00 — Reviving an Icon 14:00 — Earning Your Luxury 18:00 — Part of the Place 20:00 — Surprised in Palm Beach 23:00 — New Hotels, Old Souls 28:00 — All-Inclusive, Reimagined 32:00 — Why Humans Still Matter Stay connected Follow Afar on Instagram and TikTok Follow Billie Cohen on Instagram Follow Jennifer Flowers on Instagram Stay connected Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Pauline Hanson's appeal seemingly grows by the week, at least according to opinion polls, how is she building a coalition that might not deliver her government but could make One Nation the second biggest party in the next parliament? Senator Hanson has never been an explicitly religious politician but there is small but important religious constituency that she is trying to woo.  India is in the midst of statue-building frenzy, with monuments springing up all over the country to the 17th century Hindu leader known as Shivaji. The warrior king has become a symbol – yes, another – of the rising power of Hindu nationalism, given his history of fighting the Mughal empire. But are his most ardent fans misreading Shivaji's legacy?  We have an image of Ethiopia as a harsh, even forsaken place, of famine and a landscape literally cracked by rising global temperatures. But Ethiopia's a country of resilient, resourceful people, who could thrive, if only world powers stopped meddling. That's the message of Australian aid worker VALERIE BROWNING. She's been living in Ethiopia's Afar region for 53 years, running an extraordinary organisation that's helped half a million women. She's back in Australia to visit family and publicise the work of the Barbara May Foundation that helps fund her work. Guests:Dr Benjamin Moffitt is a political scientist at Monash University and has been charting the progress of One Nation. Anupreeta Das is South Asia correspondent for The New York Times who has been following the Shivaji trend. She's author of Billionaire, Nerd, Saviour, KingValerie Browning is a nurse and author of "Maalika: My Life among the Afar Nomads in Africa”. She founded the the Afar Pastoral Development Association and the Barbara May Hospital.  

We have an image of Ethiopia as a harsh, even forsaken place, of famine and a landscape literally cracked by rising global temperatures.But Ethiopia's a country of resilient, resourceful people, who could thrive, if only world powers stopped meddling. That's the message of Australian aid worker VALERIE BROWNING. She's been living in Ethiopia's Afar region for 53 years, running an extraordinary organisation that's helped half a million women. Valerie's back in Australia to visit family and publicise the work of the Barbara May Foundation that helps fund her work. Guest:Valerie Browning is a nurse and author of "Maalika: My Life among the Afar Nomads in Africa”. She founded the Afar Pastoral Development Association and the Barbara May Maternity Hospital.  

Welcome to "Travel to Listen," a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes rolling out every other week, Tim takes us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it's the shortcut to a place's soul. This week, he heads into the high desert of Southern California to find out why the Mojave has been spawning some of rock's most original sounds for decades. Along the way, he discovers a landscape that's every bit as wild and inspiring as the music it produces. In this episode What “desert rock” actually means—and how the Mojave Desert's extreme heat, isolation, and silence forged a uniquely sun-baked, heavy sound that's impossible to replicate anywhere else The family tree of the genre: from Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age to Fu Manchu and a sprawling network of bands centered around Joshua Tree and 29 Palms The Mojave Experience, a two-day desert rock festival organized by Patrick Brink of the band Volume—and his plans to bring it back bigger next year Why the California desert has drawn musicians, filmmakers, and creatives for decades: from Gram Parsons' storied final days—and why Roc Gardner left New York to build a creative retreat called Escape in the desert Where to go and what to do: Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown, Pappy & Harriet's, generator parties under the stars, and why the area rewards a few slow days off the beaten path Meet this week's guests Patrick Brink is the frontman of Volume, a desert rock band from 29 Palms, California. He organized the Mojave Experience, a two-day desert rock festival featuring Kyuss alumni and scene veterans, and plans to bring it back bigger in spring 2027. Roc Gardner is a songwriter, entrepreneur, and the founder of Escape, a creative retreat for musicians, artists, filmmakers, and thought leaders set on the high desert outside Joshua Tree. A former New Yorker, Roc has hosted everyone from Usher to the Arctic Monkeys since opening. Guest host Tim Chester is a freelance travel and culture writer who has spent the past 20 years exploring the world through the lens of music. His reporting has appeared in NME, Spin, and Afar, and his travels have taken him from Manhattan to Malawi and Beijing to Berlin in search of the festivals, scenes, and stories that reveal a city's soul. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to the Desert 00:01:00 What Is Desert Rock? 00:02:00 Volume and the Mojave Experience 00:03:00 The Scene's Family Tree 00:04:00 Isolation, Extremes, and the Desert Sound 00:05:30 Space, Dynamics, and the Mojave Aesthetic 00:06:00 Desert Spirituality: the Integratron and Giant Rock 00:07:00 Generator Parties and Local Radio 00:08:00 Rock and Roll History in the Desert 00:09:00 Roc Gardner and Escape 00:10:30 The Creative Pull of the High Desert 00:12:00 Why You Should Visit A Music Fan's Travel Guide to the California Desert The high desert around Joshua Tree rewards slow travel. Most of the key spots are within easy reach of the town of Joshua Tree or 29 Palms. Here's how to do it like a fan. Start here: the essential stops Joshua Tree National Park—a designated Dark Sky Park and one of the most visually distinctive landscapes in North America, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. Hike, climb, and stay after dark for the stars. Pioneertown—an original 1940s cowboy movie set built by Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, still largely intact and walkable. The Integratron—a dome-shaped structure built by UFO enthusiast George Van Tassel in the 1950s. Book a sound bath and let the acoustics do their work. Giant Rock—one of the largest freestanding boulders in the world, a sacred site for the Serrano people and a legendary UFO gathering spot in the 1950s. Earthless played an immense show here. It's on YouTube. Hear live music Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace—the legendary honky-tonk saloon and music venue a mile outside Pioneertown. Paul McCartney has played here. Capacity: 300 inside, 1,000 outside. If anyone serious is touring through the desert, they're playing Pappy's. Local Show on Z107.7—Pat Kerns curates a two-hour showcase of local desert bands every Sunday on the area's community radio station: folk, punk, spaced-out psychedelia, and everything in between. The Mojave Experience—Patrick Brink's desert rock festival, planned to return in spring 2027. Check the website for lineup and dates. Stay and create Escape—Roc Gardner's creative retreat for musicians, artists, and anyone looking to swap city static for desert silence. Used by Usher, the Arctic Monkeys, and a long list of creatives. Rancho de la Luna—the legendary desert recording studio that inspired Escape, used by artists across the rock spectrum for decades. Go a little deeper Desert rock playlist—check the show notes for a curated playlist featuring Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Volume, Earthless, and more. Load it up for the drive in. Gram Parsons shrine—the small shrine behind a rock in Joshua Tree National Park, marking where rock's greatest cosmic cowboy spent his final days. Worth finding if you know where to look. Generator parties—informal outdoor concerts powered by generators, a desert tradition going back decades. Check local listings for upcoming shows, especially in fall and winter. Up next on Travel to Listen Tim heads to Detroit to hear big news at the Motown Museum—and to find out what's driving a musical renaissance in one of America's most storied music cities. New episode in two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Rush fans — a father, a son, and Spartacus — walk into a podcast. There’s no punchline, just the tape rolling on a conversation that was going to happen anyway, and you get to be the fly on the wall. Two of them just flew home from LA, where they stood in the room and watched Rush kick off the tour nobody was sure would ever come. The third has been taking it all in from a distance, which is its own peculiar thing when you once mixed front of house for the band for years. You’ll get the origin stories — a kite-flying contest in early-seventies St. Louis, an R40 playlist that turned a kid into a lifer — plus enough on the drummer question (yes, Anika Nilles) and show-count stats to earn the Rush-nerd badge none of them will quite cop to. Then it gets real. This is a band that fans and insiders alike once quietly accepted was finished, now back out there proving otherwise, and that turns the talk toward something bigger than setlists. You get to do this. Whether it’s thousands of people or a Tuesday night for a dozen, that gratitude is the whole game — the reason to Always Be Performing no matter how rough the bus ride was. Stick around for a ten-year-old’s perfectly timed gut check that still lands two decades later. Press play, and join Lucas Hamilton, Robert Scovill, and Dave Hamilton for a tour through the opening of Rush’s comeback — from inside the room, and from afar. 00:00:00 Gig Gab 538 – Monday, June 15th, 2026 June 15th: British Beer Day Guest co-hosts: Lucas Hamilton and Robert Scovill 00:02:46 Rush Stats All three co-hosts have seen Rush live with 2 drummers Lucas and Anika are tied for Rush shows… as of this recording 00:04:39 Robert Scovill was living in St. Louis when he saw Rush with Rutsey KC Kite Flying Contest 00:07:31 Lucas's Rush origin story 00:08:31 About that whole live concert sound thing Spoiler: Rush always sounded good 00:11:02 Favorite Rush heirlooms 00:13:55 I want a Red Barchetta for my midlife crisis Rush 2026 Tour started with 12 dates 00:16:02 That opening song, that opening night Rick Beato's Breakdown of Xanadu 00:23:40 Anika Nilles' dropped stick recovery Getting the first mistake out of the way moments into the first song of Rush’s 2026 Reunion tour 00:27:21 Time Stand Still for those emotional moments 00:33:11 Lights and video for 2112 – in the cave! 00:34:00 Singing 2112: Presentation at the tops of our lungs 00:38:50 Moving Pictures to open night 3 set 2 00:40:13 Loren Gold's keys and vocal harmonies And Geddy Lee’s voice, too! 00:44:29 The composition of YYZ Alex Lifeson is the most underrated guitarist in rock and roll 00:45:48 Anika Nilles is just a star 00:49:25 Anika grooving during A Passage to Bangkok 00:52:22 The physicality of playing Rush music The wisdom of days off in between shows for the entire Rush Fifty Something tour 00:57:41 You know what we get to do today? We get to go play music in front of thousands of people! This is the best job on earth 01:01:23 Who is Spartacus? 01:03:33 Gig Gab 538 Outtro Follow Lucas Hamilton On Instagram Follow Robert Scovill On Facebook On Instagram On LinkedIn RobertScovill.com (where you'll find The Back Lounge) Contact Gig Gab! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram feedback@giggabpodcast.com Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Three Rush Fans and Rush’s 2026 Comeback Tour: From the Room and From Afar – Gig Gab 538 appeared first on Gig Gab.

It's Feel-Good Friday, when your Unpacked host (Aislyn) and producer (Nikki) get together to swap the stories making them feel good this week. And this week they're joined by Afar's director of photography, Michelle Heimerman. They share three stories that are making them feel optimistic this week. Stories like... Some genuinely good news for anyone who loves a beach: one of the world's most beach-blessed countries has spent the past decade quietly turning the tide on plastic pollution — and the playbook is more doable than you'd think. A high-altitude adventure that trades the summit selfie for something quieter and more lasting — proof that you can chase a punishing challenge purely for the experience, not the applause. Meet the women rewriting who gets to lead a safari — and why the guides who didn't grow up in the bush might just be the best ones behind the wheel. Resources Learn more about Bartek Ziemski Read more about Australia's plastic decrease Listen to the episode about ABC's female guiding program The Afar Nepal cover shoot ⁠video⁠ Ridwell, the recycling service Chapters Tune in every Friday through June for a fresh trio of stories from Afar's favorite travel writers and editors. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does a safari look like when the guide isn't a man? Award-winning writer and editor Ellen Carpenter went to Botswana's Okavango Delta to find out. (To learn more, read her Afar story about the experience.) Meet this week's guests Ellen Carpenter is a New York–based culture and travel journalist. She served as editor in chief of Hemispheres, United's inflight magazine, for seven years, and before that was an editor at Rhapsody, Nylon, Spin, and Rolling Stone. Baemule "Bae" Siethuka, 32, grew up in Tutume in northeastern Botswana and was working in HR when she saw African Bush Camps' guiding program posted on Facebook. She became the program's first graduate in 2025 and is now a junior guide at Atzaró Okavango. Tshidi Phalaagae, 28, is a trainee guide from Gaborone, Botswana's capital — a true city girl who came to the program with, in her words, "zero knowledge of nature." At the time of Ellen's visit, she was just a few weeks shy of graduating. Jessica Motshegwa, 26, is a trainee guide from Mmadinare, Botswana, who joined the program in 2025. She once tried to enlist in the Botswana army. A Facebook link from her cousin changed her path. In this episode you'll learn Why more than 90 percent of African safari guides are male — and what one company is doing about it How African Bush Camp(ABC)'s three-year female guiding program works, from theory exams to practical training to first solo drives What it was like for Bae, ABC's first female guide, to complete her training while pregnant — and earn her license when her son was six months old Why Dutch Kasale, ABC's head guide and mentor, says training women from the city is often easier than training men who grew up in the bush What makes a female guide's approach on the game drive feel different The moment Bae manifests a leopard into view About African Bush Camps ABC was founded in 2006 by Beks Ndlovu, one of a handful of Black Africans to own a safari company. He launched the female guiding program in late 2021 with an ambitious goal: 50 percent female guides across all 18 camps in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia by 2030. There are currently 12 women in the program — eight trainees and four qualified guides. Chapters 00:00 — Into the Okavango 02:00 — The Case for Change 06:00 — Meet Tshidi 08:00 —Bae Siethuka Takes the Wheel 13:00 — Tracking the Leopard 16:00 — Inside the Program 21:00 — Bae's Big Moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4-tii Maarso 2026, fadhi wadajir ah oo ay yeesheen labada gole ee baarlamaanka federaalka Soomaaliya ayaa lagu ansixiyay wax-ka-bedelka 11 cutub oo ka mid ah dastuurka kumeelgaarka ah, sidoo kale waxaa lagu ansixiyay wax-ka-beddelka saddex qodob oo ku jira cutubka 2-aad iyo saddex qodob oo ku jira cutubka 4-aad. Guddoomiyaha Golaha Shacabka oo shir guddoominayay kulanka ayaa sheegay in la soo gaba gabeeyay dib-u-eegista dastuurka, islamarkaana nuqulka cusub uu noqon doono dastuurka rasmiga ah ee dalka. Afar maalmood ka dib, 8-dii Maarso, Madaxweynaha ayaa saxiixay dastuurka cusub. Qeybtan 73-aad ee Maamul Wanaag Podcast, Mahad Waasuge iyo Avv. Burhaan Aadan Cumar, oo ah guddoomiyaha Guddiga Madaxa-bannaan ee Dib-u-eegista iyo Hirgelinta Dastuurka, waxay isla gorfeynayaan dib-u-eegista iyo wax-ka-beddelka dastuurka, habraaca loo maray, nuxurka arrimaha wax laga beddelay iyo khilaafka ka jira.  Contact Somali Public Agenda's Maamul Wanaag Podcast·      Tweet us at @somalipubagenda and @MahadWasuge (the host)·      Email us at podcasts@somalipublicagenda.orgThanks for listening!

What would happen if you called your grandmother out of the blue and asked her to go camping that night? For Brad Ryan, that impulsive phone call sparked a seven-year journey across all 63 U.S. national parks. Along the way, he and Grandma Joy, now 96, healed old wounds, faced down lifelong fears, and became unlikely internet stars. Brad's new book, Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing One National Park at a Time, out June 16th, tells the whole story. In this episode, Brad talks with host Aislyn Greene about what he witnessed in his grandmother over those years—the phenomenon he describes as reverse aging, the way movement and purpose and intergenerational connection seemed to make her healthier and more coordinated over time, not less. He also reflects on the healing that happened in the car: the long stretches of road through South Dakota, the yellow line hypnosis, the conversations that finally surfaced after years of silence. And he shares what he learned writing the book: about his father, about his family's Irish roots, and about what it means to find pride in an imperfect lineage. In this episode Why Brad made the call—and what was happening in his life that led him there What Joy said when he pitched 63 parks How road trips create the conditions for conversations that can't happen anywhere else What the national parks offer as a place for connection across every kind of divide Grandma Joy's relationship with fear—near-drowning as a child, white-water rafting in Alaska at 90 Why Brad thinks the loneliness crisis among older Americans is something the parks could actually help address Resources Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing One National Park at a Time by Brad Ryan, out June 16th Read the Afar story about Brad and Joy Follow Brad and Grandma Joy on Instagram Check out Brad and Grandma Joy's summer 2026 book tour (stops in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and California) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Feel-Good Fridays. This week, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by Afar executive editor Kathrine LaGrave—and the three of them are ready to carry you into the weekend a little lighter, with stories about line dancing, travel with your dog, and the surprisingly simple science of being happy. The happy news Country line dancing is having a queer renaissance. Kathrine shares the story of Stud Country, a New York–based group offering country dancing parties and classes rooted in queer cowboy culture—open to everyone, from regulars to curious first-timers. It's getting a whole lot easier to travel with your dog. Nikki reports that searches for pet-friendly travel are up year-over-year, and a new wave of hotels isn't just tolerating four-legged guests—they're actively celebrating them, with welcome treats, room amenities, dog spas, and yes, an official Director of Pet Relations. Aislyn brings us back to Yale happiness researcher Laurie Santos, who went viral for teaching the most popular course in the university's history—and whose 2026 take on happiness comes down to one thing: more friction, more connection, less optimization. Travel, she argues, is one of the best tools we still have for getting out of our own way. Plus: a spirited debate about cowboy boot colors, a Yappy Hour proposal, and a vision for the ultimate Feel-Good Friday field trip—all dogs welcome. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Welcome to Feel-Good Friday 00:01:00 Boots, Belonging, and Stud Country 00:05:45 The Great Boot Color Debate 00:06:00 The Happiness Researcher You Need to Hear 00:10:00 Dogs Welcome: The New Pet-Friendly Hotel Era 00:14:30 Yappy Hour and Other Good Ideas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to "Travel to Listen," a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes rolling out every other week, Tim takes us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it's the shortcut to a place's soul. This week, he heads to Minneapolis to hear how a community center, a cold climate, and a once-in-a-generation genius combined to create one of the most distinctive sounds in American music, plus how the city is celebrating a decade since Prince's passing. In this episode How the Minneapolis sound emerged from the Great Migration, housing segregation, rock radio, and a community center called The Way, where a teenage Prince jammed alongside Morris Day and Terry Lewis Why Paul Peterson (dubbed St. Paul by Prince himself) believes the Minneapolis sound is joyous, funky, and built to last, and how his supergroup, the Minneapolis Funk All-Stars, is carrying it forward The story of historian Kristen Zschomler: how grief over Prince's death led her to track 50+ locations across Minneapolis where he lived, worked, and recorded, and her ongoing mission to get them on the National Register of Historic Places What Prince mastered at his childhood home in North Minneapolis. Plus, why Sound 80, the studio where he cut his first demo tapes at 19, was the launchpad for everything that followed How to experience Minneapolis in 2026: from Paisley Park to First Avenue, Bunkers Music Bar to the Dakota, and the five-day Prince Celebration festival in June marking the 10th anniversary of Prince's death Meet this week's guests Paul Peterson is a musician, songwriter, and former Prince collaborator, dubbed "St. Paul" by the Purple One himself. He was a member of The Time and The Family, appeared in Purple Rain, and is now the leader of the Minneapolis Funk All-Stars, an all-star alumni supergroup dedicated to keeping the Minneapolis sound alive. Kristen Zschomler⁠ is a historian and co-founder of the International Center 4 Prince Studies. She gives guided tours of Prince's Minneapolis and created Sound Around Tours, a self-guided audio tour app. She has researched and documented over 50 locations tied to Prince's life and work, and has successfully advocated for two of them to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Guest host ⁠Tim Chester⁠ is a freelance travel and culture writer who has spent the past 20 years exploring the world through the lens of music. His reporting has appeared in NME, Spin, and Afar, and his travels have taken him from Manhattan to Malawi and Beijing to Berlin in search of the festivals, scenes, and stories that reveal a city's soul. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Minneapolis 00:01:00 The Minneapolis Funk All-Stars 00:03:45 Music as Healing 00:06:45 What Made Minneapolis a Crucible 00:09:30 The Way and the Scene's Roots 00:12:45 Prince's Landmarks 00:15:30 Celebrating a Decade Since Prince A Music Fan's Travel Guide to Minneapolis Minneapolis is a walkable city with a thriving live music scene, and the landmarks of the Minneapolis sound are spread across a compact, navigable footprint. Here's how to do it like a fan. Start here: the essential stops Paisley Park—Prince's home, recording complex, and creative sanctuary in Chanhassen, just outside the city. Now a museum and events venue. Prince's childhood home—the North Minneapolis house where he mastered the piano, decoded albums note by note, and became Prince. Sound 80 Studios—the recording studio where a 19-year-old Prince cut the demo tapes that landed him his Warner Brothers contract. First Avenue—the venue Prince made famous in Purple Rain (he also recorded the song there, performing it live for the first time on that stage). Hear live music Bunkers Music Bar & Grill—the historic North Loop spot where Dr. Mambo's Combo plays every Sunday and Monday night. The Dakota—an intimate downtown jazz club with a packed calendar every night of the week. The Green Room—the venue where St. Paul and the Minneapolis Funk All Stars frequently play Plan for June Celebration 2026—the annual Prince estate event runs June 3–7 this year as a five-day gathering with concerts, dance parties, and unseen footage. The International Center 4 Prince Studies has programming June 1–2 as well, and a new community museum opening in North Minneapolis that flips the curatorial lens: instead of Prince's instruments, it collects the stories of the people he touched. Artists to watch L.A. Buckner and Big Homie David Feily Cory Wong Dylan Salfer Chris Lawrence Alex Rossi Nur-D Nunnabove Up next on Travel to Listen Tim heads to Southern California to explore the spacey, grungy desert rock scene—and to find out there's a lot more to the region than Coachella. New episode in two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They say it can't be done and Steven Nunez proves them wrong running his chain of 4 laundromats remotely from over a thousand miles away! In this episode of The Laundromat Millionaire Show learn his tips and tricks for building and managing a team from afar and whether he recommends for new owners to do it too!Our Sponsors: H-M Company Drain Troughs: https://www.draintroughs.com Alliance Laundry Systems: https://go.speedqueencommercial.com/flexibilityCents & LaundroWorks: https://www.trycents.com/Our Guest:Steven Nunez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-nunez-79265123/The Laundry Room Orlando: https://orlandolaundryroom.com/Referenced Links: Our website: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.comEpisode with Charles Measley: https://youtu.be/KS0hQCZ1dGwTimestamps 00:00 Episode 121 Intro – Steven Nunez 01:49 Spotlight: Curbside 2026 Event Discount02:33 Steven Nunez: A Remote Laundromat Operator06:23 Building 1st Store & Expanding to 409:00 Why Choose a Market 1K Miles Away12:20 Navigating Construction Challenges Remotely14:22 Partner & Family Close By15:01 Building a Team from Afar, Managing Operations and Preventing Theft23:17 The Future of Payment Systems in the Industry27:32 Organizational Structure and Employee Roles28:24 Challenges of Pickup and Delivery Logistics & Whether to Move to a Closed Facility35:10 Store Sizes & Property Costs35:52 Finding &  Hiring that Key Employee44:54 Incentives & Bonus Structures47:19 Order Management and Accountability48:17 WDF & Delivery Software49:08 Advice for Newbies54:21 Steven's Contact Information 

Welcome back to Feel-Good Fridays. This week, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are bringing you a special road trip edition — recorded live from the car somewhere in the forests of Michigan, microphones balanced on laps and sunscreen close at hand. It's a two-story episode today, and both come straight from the headlines of everyday life: Sunscreen use is up worldwide — and it's not just public health messaging that's doing it. Better formulas, the global influence of Korean and Japanese skincare, and a generational shift in sun-safety habits all play a role. Nikki and Aislyn dig into the data, swap their favorite SPF picks, and make the case for hand cream on road trips. The millennial song debate: NPR music journalists went looking for the one track that defines a generation, and landed on...well, we can't reveal that. But Aislyn and Nikki compare notes (Evanescence, No Doubt, Usher, J.Lo all make appearances), and share a playlist to soundtrack your own summer drive. Tell us your pick. Tune in every Friday through June for a fresh trio of stories from Afar's favorite travel writers and editors. We'll see you next week. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Feel-Good Fridays (On the Road Edition) 00:01:00 Sunscreen Use Is Up — Here's Why That's a Big Deal 00:04:30 SPF Picks for the Road 00:05:30 The Millennial Song Debate 00:08:00 Why “Paper Planes” Won 00:09:30 Closing Out the Era: “I Love It” 00:10:30 Our Personal Millennial Anthems Stay Connected Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asistăm la o disoluție îngrijorătoare a autorității morale în spațiul public, unde competența este sistematic marginalizată de nepotism, transformând instituțiile statului în feude personale imune la nevoile reale ale cetățeanului. . În timp ce datoria publică escaladează vertiginos pentru a întreține un aparat administrativ supraponderal și ineficient, reformele structurale profunde sunt amânate la nesfârșit din teama cinică de a nu pierde capital electoral. . Singura șansă de a rupe cercul vicios al subdezvoltării cronice este trecerea urgentă de la o economie bazată pe stimularea artificială a consumului la un model economic centrat pe producție internă, inovare și valoare adăugată mare. . Absorbția fondurilor europene nu trebuie privită ca un simplu exercițiu contabil de bifat statistici, ci ca pe ultimul tren strategic pentru modernizarea infrastructurii critice și reducerea decalajelor flagrante dintre regiuni. . Degradarea accelerată a sistemului educațional nu reprezintă doar o criză culturală, ci o vulnerabilitate majoră de securitate națională, capabilă să ne condamne la statutul de periferie economică a continentului pentru următoarele decenii. . O clasă politică responsabilă ar înțelege că stabilitatea macroeconomică nu se obține prin artificii fiscale de moment și suprataxarea sectorului privat, ci printr-o combatere agresivă a evaziunii și o disciplină financiară de fier. . Salvarea acestei societăți blazate depinde în mod direct de reinventarea meritocrației și de cultivarea unei elite tehnocrate veritabile, capabile să gândească dincolo de următorul ciclu electoral și să refacă încrederea spulberată în contractul social. IGDLCC înseamnă Informații Gratis despre Lucruri care Costă! Totul ne costă dar mai ales timpul așa că am făcut această serie pentru a mă informa și educa alături de invitați din domeniile mele de interes. Te invit alături de mine în această călătorie. Mi-am propus să mă facă mai informat și mai adaptat la schimbările care vin. Sper să o facă și pentru tine.

Welcome back to Feel-Good Friday. Every Friday through the end of June, Unpacked is popping into your feed with a brand-new series designed to carry you into the weekend a little lighter. Each episode, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by a different Afar staffer to share three travel stories that made them smile, tear up (in a good way), or rethink what's possible. Funny, inspiring, heartwarming—the only rule is no downers. This week, we're joined by Afar's deputy editor, Jennifer Flowers, and the three of us travel from the Himalayan foothills to the African savanna to the rolling hills of Sonoma. Together, we share: A corner of northern India that's quietly becoming a model for sustainable tourism, with tourism up 60 percent since 2018 and a network of community-run homestays that let you walk between guesthouses through pine and oak forests. The story of Craig, a celebrity super tusker elephant whose long, peaceful life in the wild is itself a conservation victory, and what his legacy says about decades of work in Kenya's Amboseli ecosystem A Sonoma incubator quietly rewriting who gets to make California wine, with one-of-a-kind small-batch bottlings to look out for from Leap of Grapes, Ward 4 Wines, and Mad Marvlus Tune in every Friday through June for a fresh trio of stories from Afar's favorite travel writers and editors. We'll see you next week. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Feel-Good Friday 00:01:00 Sustainable Tourism in Uttarakhand 00:04:00 Meet Craig the Super Tusker 00:06:30 A Conservation Win for the Wild 00:09:30 Down a California Wine Rabbit Hole 00:11:20 The Vanguard of Small-Batch Wine Stay Connected Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:01 The mind is obscured by many superstitious thoughts, like attachment, anger, and self-cherishing, which are based on grasping at an exaggerated object.00:06:47 While everything is empty of true existence, the ignorance projects true existence onto phenomena, like wearing colored glasses that make everything appear a certain color. We then allow our mind to believe this hallucination is real.00:14:52 Realizing emptiness helps generate strong compassion for sentient beings, seeing how they are suffering due to being ignorant of the way things actually exist. Their suffering comes from wrong concepts and mistaken ways of thinking.00:22:24 Realizing emptiness doesn't contradict bodhicitta, but rather makes one generate stronger bodhicitta. The positive thoughts like compassion and bodhicitta are not caused by or based on the ignorance grasping at true existence.00:26:20 Reciting Calling the Guru from Afar. The way to clean away the superstitious thoughts is through guru devotion - making requests to the guru from one's heart. One should strive to devote to the guru with the nine attitudes, such as viewing the guru as a buddha, following the guru's advice, and seeing the guru's actions as perfect and so on.00:36:30 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the recitation of Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, offering of a short mandala, and recitation of Migtsema mantras.00:51:35 The group recites the Lamrim prayer from Lama Chopa.00:59:05 The group recites the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation and other prayers from Lama Chopa.1:23:32 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the protector prayers and dedications.02:08:55 Lama Zopa Rinpoche tells about Geshe Lama Konchog's Life. Dedication prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Today, we're speaking with Lindsey Danis, a queer writer of fiction and essays whose writing has appeared in AFAR, Fodor's Travel, Condé Nast Traveler, Longreads and more.Lindsey's book (Out) On the Road: The Radical Joy of Queer Travel is out this month. In it, Lindsey weaves personal experience with data and interviews, and offers readers a framework for planning travel, navigating risks, and becoming self-reliant.Lindsey is also the founder of the LGBTQ+ travel platform, Queer Adventurers, that focuses on queer women and nonbinary people. Her work is all about empowering LGBTQ+ travelers to understand and advocate for their needs so that they can plan incredible adventures.We are an audience-supported platform. Become a paid member to support our work and get our many perks.Visit us at goingplacesmedia.com to learn more.Thanks to our Founding Members:RISE Travel Institute, a nonprofit with a mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel educationRadostina Boseva, a film wedding photographer with an editorial flair based in San FranciscoWhat you'll learn in this episode:The "how" of writing a book and securing an agentThe concept of queer joyWriting for LGBTQ+ audiences through a liberatory frameworkWhy queer stories aren't just for queer travelers, but for anyone interested in a more expansive and inclusive worldWhat mainstream travel advice often gets wrong about the queer experienceHow we can use our spending power to advocate for changePractical insights on how to be an ally to a queer travelerFeatured on the show:Read (Out) On the Road: The Radical Joy of Queer TravelLearn more about Lindsey's workFollow Lindsey on Instagram: @lindsey.danis.writerConnect with Lindsey on LinkedInCheck out Lindsey's platform, Queer AdventuresGet Lindsey's book proposal worksheetGet Lindsey's allyship guide for travelersRead Lindsey's piece for Eater about the restaurant industryCheck out the Everywhere is Queer appGoing Places is a reader-supported platform. Get membership perks like a monthly group call with Yulia at goingplacesmedia.com!For more BTS of this podcast follow @goingplacesmedia on Instagram and check out our videos on YouTube!Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don't forget to tag us @goingplacesmedia!And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Going Places or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You'll be helping us to bend the arc of algorithms towards our community — thank you!Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more. Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Welcome to Travel to Listen, a new Unpacked series hosted by veteran music journalist Tim Chester. Over four episodes rolling out every other week, Tim takes us into the cities where music is more than entertainment—it's the shortcut to a place's soul. This week, he goes to the source in Macon: meet the people keeping the city's legendary songbook alive, and find out why a trip here might be the most soulful detour you've never considered. In this episode How the Macon Music Revue transforms songs by Little Richard, the Allman Brothers, and R.E.M. into something new—without losing what made them legendary Why Charles Davis believes there's “something in the water” in Macon—and how the city's Indigenous roots may be part of its musical soul The story behind the new Otis Redding Center for the Arts: from a 1965 music camp at Otis's ranch to a full museum and education hub that opened in March 2025 What visitors to Macon often don't know about Otis Redding—the savvy businessman, devoted family man, and farmer who owned cows, chickens, and horses Where to eat, drink, and hear live music in Macon: from Capricorn Sound Studios to H&H Soul Food, where the Allman Brothers ate when they were broke Meet this week's guests Charles Davis is the frontman of the Macon Music Revue, a band that reinterprets the city's iconic catalog with a soul-forward sound all their own. A longtime Macon radio voice, Charles is one of the city's most active stewards of its musical legacy. Justin Andrews is the director of special projects and outreach at the Otis Redding Foundation, and the grandson of soul legend Otis Redding. He helped bring the Otis Redding Center for the Arts to life when it opened in March 2025. Guest host Tim Chester is a freelance travel and culture writer who has spent the past 20 years exploring the world through the lens of music. His reporting has appeared in NME, Spin, and Afar, and his travels have taken him from Manhattan to Malawi and Beijing to Berlin in search of the festivals, scenes, and stories that reveal a city's soul. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Macon 00:01:15 Inside the Macon Music Revue 00:04:15 Something in the Water 00:06:15 A Tour Through Southern Rock 00:09:45 H&H Soul Food and the Allman Brothers 00:10:30 Otis Redding's Vision Comes Home 00:13:45 The Man Behind the Music 00:15:00 Where to Hear Otis in Macon A Music Fan's Travel Guide to Macon Macon is walkable, the downtown is compact, and most of the music landmarks sit within a few square miles. Here's how to do it like a fan. Start here: the essential stops Capricorn Sound Studios & Museum—the birthplace of Southern rock. The Allman Brothers Band Museum at the Big House—the Tudor-style house where Duane, Gregg, Berry Oakley, and their families lived from 1970 to 1973. The Otis Redding Museum—View plane tickets, telegrams, the briefcase from the wreckage, and pictures pulled from Zelma Redding's personal archive. The Otis Redding Center for the Arts (ORCA)—The newest piece of the puzzle, opened March 2025: a youth music education hub, the O3 Recording Studio, and the outdoor Zelma Redding Amphitheater, where a bronze statue of Otis now welcomes visitors. Hear live music Grant's Lounge—the historic dive that served as an audition spot for Capricorn Records. The Douglas Theatre—built in 1921 as a venue for African American performers during segregation, and where a teenage Otis Redding won the teen talent competition so many times the organizers asked him to stop entering. Hargray Capitol Theatre—a beautifully restored downtown venue that brings in touring acts across genres. Eat and drink like a local H&H Soul Food—the legendary downtown spot started by Mama Louise and Mama Inez, who fed the Allman Brothers when they were broke. The Rookery—Get the burger, stay for the music, and listen for the Otis Redding song that always seems to be playing when you walk in. Go a little deeper Rock Candy Tours—weekly guided walking tours that connect the dots between the studios, homes, and venues. The Macon Music Trail—a self-guided trail of 43+ music sites with a free companion mobile app, including the Little Richard House and Rose Hill Cemetery, where Duane Allman and Berry Oakley are buried. The Macon Music Revue (Terminus Records, 2024)—listen to Charles's reinterpretations of “Losing My Religion,” “Stand Back,” and more. themaconmusicrevue.com Up next on Travel to Listen Tim heads to Minneapolis to get bright and bouncy with the city's funk scene—and to hear how the city is planning to mark the 10th anniversary of Prince's untimely passing. New episode in two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Feel-Good Fridays! Every Friday through the end of June, Unpacked is popping into your feed with a brand-new series designed to carry you into the weekend a little lighter. In each episode, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by a different Afar staffer to share three travel stories that made them smile, tear up (in a good way), or rethink what's possible. Funny, inspiring, heartwarming—the only rule is no downers. This week, they're joined by Afar's editorial director, Billie Cohen, and the trio covers all the elements: water, sky, and land. Together, they share: A Pacific Northwest conservation project that turns one of nature's most epic journeys into something you can actually root for, fish by fish The pilot who spent more than 50 years chasing a childhood dream—and just made history at one of the country's biggest airlines A weekend tradition in rural Minnesota where you can follow hand-painted signs from studio to studio, and the Estonian summer ritual Billie shared in a recent Travel Tale. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Feel-Good Friday 00:01:00 Rooting for Baby Salmon 00:05:00 United's First Female Captain 00:08:30 Quirky Local Trail Season 00:10:30 Open Cafés in Estonia (00:00) Welcome to Feel-Good Friday (01:00) Rooting for Baby Salmon (05:00) United's First Female Captain (08:30) Quirky Local Trail Season (10:30) Open Cafés in Estonia Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In last week's episode, host Aislyn Greene shared the story of towing a 20-foot Airstream down the Oregon coast in an all-electric Rivian truck — the campsite mishaps, the strangers who became friends, the joy of slow travel. This week, she's back with the practical guide: how an EV road trip actually works when you're towing, and what to know before you try one yourself. Aislyn sits down with Sarah Eslinger, who heads up Rivian's Adventure Network, to talk about how the company has been quietly building fast-charging infrastructure in the places EV drivers actually want to go — not just along interstates, but on the edge of Death Valley, outside Yellowstone, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and yes, all along Oregon's Highway 101. They get into why 70 percent of Adventure Network sites are trailer-friendly, how the built-in trip planner factors in elevation, heat, and trailer weight, and why Rivian tested its charging bays with an Airstream. Then Aislyn shares the five things she wishes she'd known before hitching up — from how much range to expect when towing, to the adapter you need to charge overnight at a campsite, to the trailer mirrors that will change your life. Whether you're EV-curious, RV-curious, or just love a good road trip, this one's a window into how the infrastructure for adventure travel is changing — and how much easier it's getting to take the scenic route. Chapters 00:00:00 Bonus Episode Setup 00:01:08 Inside Rivian's Adventure Network 00:03:15 Why the Trip Planner Works 00:05:08 Towing-Friendly by Design 00:06:50 Five Things to Know Before You Tow 00:09:25 The Verdict and What's Next Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Feel-Good Fridays. Every Friday from now through the end of June, Unpacked is popping into your feed with a brand-new series designed to carry you into the weekend a little lighter. Each episode, host Aislyn Greene and producer Nikki Galteland are joined by a different Afar staffer to share three travel stories that made them smile, tear up (in a good way), or rethink what's possible. Funny, inspiring, heartwarming—the only rule is no downers. For our debut episode, we're joined by Afar's Michelle Baran, who brings her own dose of feel-good to the mic. Together, the three of them share: – A celebrated food writer's reintroduction to her own hometown, and what travel can teach us about grief, grace, and seeing familiar streets with new eyes – A long-awaited transit milestone in a famously car-bound American city—and what it could mean for one of the world's biggest upcoming sporting events – A Vienna café where the pastries come with a side of intergenerational wisdom (and the bakers might just remind you of your own grandmother) Plus: a childhood alter ego involving wigs, doorbells, and a traveling comedy duo we did not see coming. Tune in every Friday through June for a fresh trio of stories from Afar's favorite travel writers and editors. We'll see you next week. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to Feel-Good Friday 00:01:30 A Food Writer Rediscovers Her City 00:04:30 LA Finally Builds the Train 00:09:00 The Grandmas of Vienna 00:12:30 A Childhood Story We Had to Share Resources – Yewande Komolafe's writing for The New York Times – LA Metro's D Line extension (opened May 2026) – Vollpension, the granny-run bakery and café in Vienna Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the person who knows how to tow has to leave — and you're left with a 5,000-pound Airstream, an electric truck, and 800 miles of Oregon coast ahead of you? On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares the story of the eight-day road trip she and her wife Jeannie took down the Oregon coast in August — towing an Airstream Basecamp 20 XE with a Rivian Tri-Motor R1T, with exactly zero towing experience between them. What was supposed to be a fully sustainable cycling-and-camping trip with friends became a crash course in trailer physics, EV charging, and the unexpected generosity of the RV community. In this episode you'll learn How Aislyn and her partner, Jeannie, went from zero towing experience to navigating a 5,000-pound Airstream down 500 miles of Oregon coast—and what actually made it possible The RV community secret nobody tells first-timers: once you've parked, everyone sits back and watches you do it Why the Rivian R1T's onboard charging calculator made range anxiety a non-issue, even towing a trailer across eight charging stops What Fort Stevens, Nehalem Bay, Cape Lookout, and Sunset Bay State Park each taught them about slowing down and asking for help The case for traveling in a way that forces you to rely on strangers—and why it felt especially powerful right now Plan your own Oregon coast trip Stay at the campgrounds we loved: Fort Stevens State Park, Nehalem Bay State Park, Cape Lookout State Park , and Bay Point Landing in Coos Bay. For your sunset swim: Sunset Bay State Park, south of Coos Bay. Plan your Oregon trip with Afar's Oregon guide. Read more about Afar's guide to road trips, including EV trips Borrow or rent a Rivian R1T and explore the Rivian Adventure Network — many sites along Highway 101 are designed for trailer-friendly pull-throughs. Tow an Airstream Basecamp 20 XE — Airstream's small, off-grid-friendly trailer built in partnership with REI. Chapters 00:00:00 The Plan vs. The Reality 00:03:30 Picking Up the Airstream Alone 00:06:10 First Drive on the Highway 00:08:30 Our First Parking Angel 00:11:00 The Nehalem Bay Disaster 00:14:30 Cape Lookout, Finally 00:18:30 A Bolt Falls Out 00:20:30 Why the Rivian Was the Hero 00:23:30 Sunset Bay 00:25:30 Coming Home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, executive editor Katherine LaGrave sits down with documentary photographer Nathalie Mohadjer, whose images of the desert oasis of Siwa appear in Afar's winter 2026 issue. For four weeks in Siwa, an ancient town some 450 miles from Cairo, Nathalie traded the typical three-day shoot for a slower kind of immersion — sharing breakfasts in the old town, spending afternoons with a local woman named Fatima, and bathing in a hidden cold spring with her family's kids. She talks with Katherine about photographing a community where Siwan women are rarely seen by outsiders, why patience and respect matter more than the camera itself, and how losing your sense of time in the desert can change the way you see a place. She also shares advice for travelers heading to Siwa — and the one moment she chose not to capture. Meet this week's guest Nathalie Mohadjer is a German-Iranian documentary photographer based in Paris whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Monocle, and Le Monde. Episode highlights How a stranger waving from a window in Siwa's ruins led to weeks of access to a local family's home, kitchen, and hidden swimming spots Why Nathalie spent nearly four weeks in Siwa — and what that kind of time reveals about a place that most visitors see in three or four days The ethics and art of photographing people in other cultures: when to put the camera away, and how to earn the moment rather than take it What makes Siwa's community so distinct from the rest of Egypt — and the Berber and Tuareg roots that shape its culture Nathalie's practical advice for travelers heading to Siwa: slow down, talk to strangers, and don't be afraid to follow an unexpected invitation Links & resources Follow Nathalie Mohadjer on Instagram Explore her visual story about Siwa, Egypt on Afar Explore her photographs of Oman in her first Afar feature Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:00 Arriving in Siwa 00:09:00 Meeting Fatima 00:17:00 Photographing with Patience 00:24:00 Timelessness and Culture 00:30:00 Advice for Travelers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we perceive a lady’s angst, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 241, penned by Kaavanmullai Poothanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse etches this difficult terrain in much detail. ‘துனி இன்று இயைந்த துவரா நட்பின்இனியர் அம்ம, அவர்’ என முனியாதுநல்குவர் நல்ல கூறினும், அல்கலும்,பிரியாக் காதலொடு உழையர் ஆகியநமர்மன் வாழி, தோழி! உயர்மிசைமூங்கில் இள முளை திரங்க, காம்பின்கழை நரல் வியல் அகம் வெம்ப, மழை மறந்துஅருவி ஆன்ற வெருவரு நனந்தலை,பேஎய் வெண் தேர் பெயல் செத்து ஓடி,தாஅம் பட்ட தனி முதிர் பெருங் கலைபுலம் பெயர்ந்து உறைதல் செல்லாது, அலங்குதலைவிருந்தின் வெங் காட்டு வருந்தி வைகும்அத்த நெல்லித் தீஞ் சுவைத் திரள் காய்வட்டக் கழங்கின் தாஅய், துய்த் தலைச்செம் முக மந்தி ஆடும்நல் மர மருங்கின் மலை இறந்தோரே! In this trip to the drylands, there’s much to be seen, as we listen to the lady say these words to her confidante, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left in search of wealth: “You say, ‘That lover of yours is a kind person, having not even a dot of dislike and possessing a deep, undying love', and speaking many such good words, you promise that he would render his grace. Yet, the one who used to be together with me, with a love that never wants to part away, is elsewhere, my friend, may you live long! Atop the hills, where tender sprouts of the bamboo shrivel, and those wide spaces, which resound with the swaying of bamboo stalks, swelter. In those barren spaces, which the rains have forgotten and cascades have abandoned, an old, huge stag, with much thirst, rushes towards a mirage, thinking it's the rain flowing, then disappointed, does not leave that place and move elsewhere, but sits there with sorrow in that scorching scrub jungle, where the mirage extends on, and here, taking a thick cluster of seeds from the sweet gooseberry that blooms in the drylands, and treating them like circular beans used as dice, the soft-headed red-faced monkey plays on, amidst the fine trees, which grow on the sides of the highlands, and it is to such a place that he has parted away to!” Let’s visit this challenging landscape and learn more! The lady starts by repeating the confidante’s words. Apparently, the friend had been cheering up the lady talking about the man’s deep love for her. The lady then talks about how the words are so sweet and kind, but she’s unable to accept that, as the man, who has always together with her, was now faraway. She then goes to talk about that place where the man’s at, in graphic detail. She points to the withering bamboo sprouts, the sweltering rocks of this region, and mentions the rains have deserted the place for long, making the land forget the meaning of a cascade. From these elements of land, she turns to the actions of elements of nature, and points to a stag, rushing towards something, only to find it’s nothing but a mirage, and having its thirst unquenched, helpless it sits there, not knowing where to go, and meanwhile, in the hills nearby, monkeys seem to pick seeds of sweet gooseberries, and play with them, as if they were mollucca beans used by humans as dice. The lady concludes by saying that’s how far the man had gone, implying it was impossible for her to accept her confidante’s consoling words about the man. The curious element here is how vividly the lady is able to see the place that she has never been to! This is poetic license, of course, but even there, there’s a grain of truth, echoing the inexplicable connectedness in the shared consciousness of those in love!

Today we're studying Exodus 19:6; 20:18 in just one minute! Grab your scriptures and let's dive into them together!And grab study guides for the whole family here: -Grab Kristen's copies of helpful PDFs and study guides here: https://shop.kristenwalkersmith.com/products/ Check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@startherestudy/shorts- To get Cali's scripture study guide for adults click here: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSSOr purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/06bWsVYVGet our NEW 365-day Old Testament daily devotional book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0p3Ds0t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer Hope Choi plans every trip the same way: open a Google doc, start with food, and build outward from there. As a former Bon Appétit editor, 13-year restaurant industry veteran, and author of a travel memoir, she has strong opinions about Michelin guides (skip ‘em), low-rated restaurants (sometimes worth it), and why you should always follow your optician's food recs. She also edited Afar's debut Travel to Eat series, which includes three stories: Jeju black pork and a life-changing soup, Sherpa cuisine in the Rockies, and why Portland, Maine, might be America's best bakery town. Meet today's guest Jennifer Hope Choi is a senior editor at Afar and the architect of its Travel to Eat series. A former Bon Appétit editor and 13-year restaurant industry veteran, she is also an award-winning writer and author of the travel memoir the Wanderer's Curse. Her work spans food and culture, and the messy, joyful overlap between the two. In this episode How Jen's latchkey childhood, early Food Network shows, and her Korean grandmother's pancakes shaped a lifelong obsession with eating Why the Google doc comes first: Jen's method for building food-forward itineraries from Reddit threads, local papers, and stranger recommendations The case against Michelin stars, lines around the block, and treating a trip like a personality — and what to do instead Inside the three stories of Afar's Travel to Eat series: a transcendent bowl of Jeju black pork soup, Sherpa cuisine taking root in the Colorado Rockies, and the baking scene quietly transforming Portland, Maine Jen's #1 travel food tip: ask the shop clerk, not the algorithm Links & resources Read the Travel to eat series: ⁠America's best bakery town⁠, a life-changing pork soup, and the rise of Sherpa cuisine in the Colorado Rockies Read Jen's memoir, The Wanderer's Curse Follow Jen on Instagram Read MFK Fisher's The Art of Eating, Jen's favorite food book Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:30 Growing Up Food-Obsessed 00:06:30 How to Eat Your Way Through a City 00:11:30 Lists, Stars, and Letting Go 00:21:30 The Travel to Eat Series 00:30:00 Tips for Eating Well on the Road Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been more than six weeks since Iranian-American Dorsa Derakshani has had any direct contact with her family in Iran. The Mizzou medical student shares what it's been like to watch the war in her home country from Missouri.

It started as an abandoned ukulele on a wall. Afar's Aislyn Greene hadn't touched it in two years — but that idle instrument sent her down a rabbit hole into one of the most joyful origin stories in music. The ukulele arrived in Hawai'i on a Portuguese immigrant ship in 1878, got a royal endorsement from a king and queen, fell into obscurity, and then took over the world. Along the way, a family of master craftsmen has been hand-finishing every instrument for over a century, and one of the greatest string players alive still can't believe people underestimate it. Meet today's guests Roy Sakuma is a musician, educator, and founder of Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios, Hawaii's most famous ukulele school with four locations. In 1971, he launched the Ukulele Festival Hawai'i, now the state's top summer event, and has spent 50 years making the case that the ukulele is no toy. Chris Kamaka is the third-generation owner of Kamaka Ukulele, the oldest continuous ukulele manufacturer in the world, founded in Honolulu in 1916. Each of the 1,000–1,500 ukuleles they produce annually is hand-played by Chris before it leaves the shop. Jake Shimabukuro is a virtuoso musician widely regarded as the greatest ukulele player alive. He has sold out concert halls worldwide and recently collaborated with Mick Fleetwood on a Blues album. In this episode How Portuguese immigrants and Hawaiian royalty together created — and named — the ukulele Why Kamaka Hawai'i still air-dries koa wood for up to six years before touching it How Roy Sakuma's free Ukulele Festival in 1971 sparked a global revival from his backyard Jake Shimabukuro on recording a tribute to Christine McVie with Mick Fleetwood — and why low expectations are a gift What it's actually like to take a ukulele lesson from Roy Sakuma (Aislyn finds out live on mic) Resources Listen to Afar's ukulele playlist Sign up for lessons at Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios Explore the instruments at Kamaka Ukulele Listen to the music of Jake Shimabukuro Visit the Ukulele Festival Hawai'i Chapters 00:00:00 The Ukulele's Origins 00:02:00 Hawaii's Royal Endorsement 00:03:30 Inside the Kamaka Workshop 00:06:00 Roy Sakuma and the Festival 00:09:30 Jake Shimabukuro's Journey 00:13:00 A Lesson With Roy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A homily delivered by Fr. Michael Maximous at St. Basil American Coptic Orthodox Church on April 10, 2026

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Preliminary prayers by students.00:15:25 As realizations of the three principal aspects of the path are dependent on the root, the realization of the guru devotion, the guru yoga, Rinpoche will teach on Calling the Guru from Afar before going over the commentary to the Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.00:28:48 Rinpoche mentions how important it is to correctly devote oneself to the guru and refers to the eight advantages of correctly devoting to the virtuous friend and eight shortcomings of having made mistakes in the relationship with the virtuous friend outlined in the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand.00:34:40 Rinpoche teaches on the preciousness of perfect human rebirth. When people face unbearable problems, they may wish to be animals like dogs or butterflies, thinking those lives are free of suffering. But if their body actually started transforming into an animal, they would panic, unable to handle the loss of human abilities like communication and freedom.00:51:29 Rinpoche tells about his first teachers in Solu Khumbu.01:06:48 Rinpoche tells about his experiences in Buxa and how he met Lama Yeshe. The Lam Rim Chenmo says that the definition of a disciple is the one who is devoting to the guru and the definition of a guru is the object to whom one is devoting. Rinpoche adds that according to Choden Rinpoche, from the teacher's side there also has to be the recognition that this is a disciple.01:08:20 Rinpoche tells about His Holiness Serkong Dorje Chang.01:16:26 Dedications prayers.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

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 travelers actually have: What can an advisor do that you can't do yourself? When does it make sense — and when doesn't it? How do you find a good one, interview them, and understand what you're paying for? From crowd-skipping at Venice to landing the perfect Egyptologist, Wendy makes the case for what truly expert trip planning looks like. In this episode Why connections (not booking tools or AI) are the real currency of great travel The difference between advisors who specialize in you vs. those who specialize in a place How to interview a travel advisor (and what their answers reveal) What travel actually costs — and why it often isn't itemized Why multi-gen trips and post-pandemic travel are driving a new wave of advisor use Chapters 00:00:00 Why Travel Advisors Still Matter 00:03:00 Advisors vs. Agents vs. Tour Operators 00:06:00 What a Great Advisor Can Do 00:13:00 Choosing and Interviewing an Advisor 00:24:00 Fees, Costs, and Transparency 00:28:00 Cruise Specialists and Misconceptions 00:33:00 Who's Using Advisors Now Links & resources Wendyperrin.com and Wendy's Wow List of top trip designers Listen to our Unpacked episode about cruise travel advisors Explore the Afar Travel Advisory Council Follow Afar at @afarmedia on Instagram and TikTok More travel planning resources at afar.com Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northeast Ohio Iranian community members react to ongoing war, talks of a ceasefire The war in Iran began just over a month ago, when airstrikes launched by the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the country for more than three decades. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named successor soon after. At least 1,900 Iranians have been killed since the war began, according to Iran's Health Ministry. On the U.S. side, 13 service members were killed, and more than 300 have been injured. Efforts to end the conflict remain uncertain. The U.S. has proposed a 15-point ceasefire plan, but Iranian officials have rejected it, calling the terms unrealistic. Last weekend, Pakistan's foreign minister announced that his country is willing to facilitate peace talks between the two nations. But beyond the headlines, the war is being felt deeply in Northeast Ohio. The region is home to a vibrant and longstanding Iranian American community that shares its culture through traditions such as local Ramadan festivities and One World Day. This year, Cleveland also hosted its first Nowruz, or Persian New Year, celebration at City Hall. Tuesday on the "Sound of Ideas," we'll turn to members of that community to hear how they are processing this moment — balancing ties to their heritage, concern for loved ones abroad and life here in the U.S. Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, one of our guests will be referenced by their first name only. Guests:- Mohammad Sohrabi, Northeast Ohio Resident- Hengameh Arjomandi, MBA Candidate, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University- Manouchehr, Northeast Ohio Resident Tax deadline nears Tomorrow is April, which in addition to the anticipated "April showers," means that Tax Day is approaching on April 15 — and there are some changes to take note of. For instance, a growing number of filers are facing tax refund delays amid the Internal Revenue Service's decision to phase out paper checks. And we'll talk about the change to "no tax on tips" in which some filers will be able to deduct up to $25,000 of tips from federal income taxes. Guest:- Alexis Kim, Tax Lawyer & Partner, Thompson Hine LLP

Bini-Aadamka ayaa markii ugu horreysay tan iyo sannadihii 1970-yadii dib ugu laabanaya Dayaxa. Afar xubnood oo duuliyeyaal ah ayaa muddo ka badan labo sano u tababaranayay, hawlgal qaadan doona ku dhowaad 10 maalmood, kaas oo dayax-gacmeed loogu diri doono hawada. Dayax gacmeedka ayaa isagoo xawaare dheereeya ku socda kusoo wareegi doona dayaxa , ka dibna ugu soo laaban doona dhulka.

Le 26 mars 2026, la ville éthiopienne de Harar, située à 400 kilomètres d'Addis-Abeba, a accueilli le festival Shuwalid. Inscrit fin 2023 au patrimoine culturel immatériel de l'humanité de l'Unesco, il vient clore la fin de six jours supplémentaires de jeûne après le ramadan. Toute la nuit, des dizaines de milliers de personnes fêtent, en danses et en chansons, ce « deuxième Aïd ». Avec notre correspondante à Addis-Abeba, Le cortège démarre doucement de la rue Amir Uga, ouvert par deux cavaliers. Un couple, drapé de manteaux rouges et dorés, suit derrière, entouré de gardes : la scène rejoue un mariage traditionnel harari. Ahmed, qui a grandi à Harar, représente le marié. « Cela fait deux ans que je participe aux célébrations, et pour moi, c'est important, car ce sont nos traditions. Donc je le fais vraiment avec plaisir », explique-t-il. Chaque année, la fête de Shuwalid réunit des dizaines de milliers de personnes en Éthiopie. Pendant deux jours, la ville est en effervescence. Sami Abdulwasim, directeur du bureau du tourisme et du patrimoine de Harar, souligne l'impact de l'événement : « Ce festival amène des visiteurs du monde entier, ainsi que des gens de tout le pays. Quand les gens viennent, ils prennent le temps de visiter la ville, restent un ou deux jours, donc les retombées économiques sont très importantes. » Si Shuwalid célèbre avant tout la culture harari, toutes les communautés alentour – Afar, Oromo, Somali – sont représentées. Des groupes de jeunes filles et de garçons de chaque région défilent en jouant leur propre musique. Ramadan, venu de Dire Dawa, à deux heures de route, est là pour la première fois. « C'est vraiment intéressant de voir la culture harari traditionnelle, je suis là pour ça. Mais il y a aussi des chants dans plusieurs langues, des vêtements de toutes les régions. Je suis vraiment surpris et content de voir tout ça », confie-t-il. C'est aussi une première pour Ali, étudiant originaire de la ville de Jijiga, en région Somali. « Je suis venu ici car c'est une culture différente de celle de la région Somali. Je veux voir les célébrations harari et écouter leur musique », dit-il. Célèbre dans le monde depuis son classement par l'Unesco en 2023, Shuwalid attire également des touristes et la diaspora éthiopienne, comme Legesse, qui vit en Suisse. « Ce que j'aime, c'est voir toutes les cultures réunies, c'est vraiment très cool. Pour moi, c'est une expérience unique en Afrique, et c'est génial », s'enthousiasme-t-il. Vers 19 heures, après un dernier iftar, le repas qui rompt le jeûne, la fête continue dans toute la ville jusque tard dans la nuit. Car le but de Shuwalid est aussi, pour la jeunesse harari, de trouver un ou une partenaire. À lire aussiÉthiopie: à l'Addis Jazz Festival 2026, vieille garde et nouvelle génération du jazz sur scène

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 today's guest has literally shaped the ground beneath many Californian's feet. Roderick Wyllie is an award-winning landscape architect and founding partner of Surfacedesign Inc. A rare San Francisco native, he's helped design some of the Bay Area's most beloved public spaces, including the Lands End Visitor Center above Sutro Baths, a plaza at the Golden Gate Bridge, and Mission Bayfront Park. He also teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In this episode, Roderick talks about growing up in 1970s San Francisco, what it means to design with rather than against a place, and why he thinks California's greatest creative export might be optimism. On this episode, you'll learn: What it was like to grow up in San Francisco in the 1970s and 80s — and how that "wild frontier" shaped Roderick's creative practice Why Surfacedesign approaches every project like a crime scene investigation, searching for the story embedded in the land How Roderick thinks about water — both as a design tool and as a precious resource in a drought-prone state What he's learning from a current winery rethink at the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Where he sends travelers who want to experience California through the lens of landscape and design Travel Recommendations from Roderick: Wineries & Gardens Faust, Napa Valley — A Victorian estate with planting designed to move from light to dark, inspired by the mythology of Faust; beautiful valley views Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma — One of California's most historically significant wine sites, beautifully sited with two landmark historic buildings Scribe, Sonoma — A more informal, less precious winery experience; Roderick especially admires the landscape work by Terramoto Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek — A masterwork dry garden celebrating the succulent landscape; Roderick calls it "spectacular" Lotusland, Montecito — A fantasy of a California landscape with a larger-than-life history; the opera singer founder married nine times The Huntington, San Marino/Pasadena — Impeccably maintained, a spectacular garden destination Parks & Natural Spaces Golden Gate Park, San Francisco — "It always feels a little bigger than I think it's going to be" Point Reyes / Inverness — Roderick's favorite stretch of coast, particularly for seeing tule elk in the fog Blunk Space gallery, Point Reyes Station — A small gallery connected to the legacy of California sculptor JB Blunk Restaurants & Markets Valley Bar + Bottle, Sonoma — Informal, locally sourced, creative; Roderick's top pick Zuni Café, San Francisco — A California cuisine institution on Market Street; intimate despite its size Ferry Building Farmers Market, San Francisco — "Incredible to see these purveyors that are focused on peppers only or something like that" Modern Appealing Clothing (MAC), Hayes Valley — A quietly iconic SF clothing store recently named one of the 50 best in the US by the New York Times; Roderick designed a small interior garden inside the space Art & Culture Minnesota Street Project, Dogpatch — A collection of galleries with constantly rotating programming Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito — Roderick and his team designed eucalyptus-inspired play structures; worth a visit even without kids Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Growing Up in San Francisco 00:05:00 How Surfacedesign Works 00:08:00 Iconic Bay Area Projects 00:14:00 Water as Design and Resource 00:20:00 Designing Winery Landscapes 00:27:00 The California Creative Mindset 00:35:00 Where to Go in California Resources Surfacedesign Inc. — Roderick's firm Explore the ⁠Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring naturalist Obi Kaufmann and architect Barbara Bestor Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 today's guest is one of its most original voices. Obi Kaufmann is a naturalist, writer, and illustrator whose California Field Atlas series has redefined what a nature book can be. His books — filled with hand-painted watercolor maps, poetry, and decades of ecological research — don't tell you where to go or what you're looking at. They ask why the landscape works the way it does, and what it means to truly belong to a place. In this episode, Obi talks about growing up exploring Mount Diablo in Northern California, what makes a field atlas, and why he believes the future of California conservation depends on better poetry. On this episode, you'll learn: What a "field atlas" is — and why Obi had to invent the genre himself How Indigenous stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge are reshaping conservation in California Why Obi, one of California's great wilderness writers, is a proud city dweller in Oakland What to expect from his next three books Where to go right now to experience California's wildflower season at its peak Travel Recommendations from Obi: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — Keep your eye on the California Native Plant Society or CalFlora for super bloom alerts; the window can be as short as a week Death Valley National Park — Another prime super bloom destination; timing is everything Big Sur — Highway 1 is open again; Obi recommends climbing a mountain and watching for California condors, which have rebounded from just 17 individuals in 1987 to over 500 today Pinnacles National Park — The smallest and least visited national park in California, with condor sightings along the High Peaks Trail; Obi calls it "a beautiful gem of wilderness" Mount Diablo — Obi's home mountain, 25 miles east of San Francisco; a lifelong study in ecological wonder Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Growing Up on Mount Diablo 00:05:00 Inventing the Field Atlas 00:10:00 Conservation and the Word "Wilderness" 00:30:00 Living as an Urban Naturalist 00:37:00 What's Next: Books 7 Through 10 00:41:00 Where to Experience California Now Resources Obi Kaufmann's website and books Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring architect Barbara Bestor and landscape designer Roderick Wyllie Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 today's guest has been shaping the way Californians live, work, and gather for three decades. Barbara Bestor is the founder of Bestor Architecture, a Los Angeles studio she's led since 1995 — at a time when very few women were doing so. Her work spans coffee shops and corporate headquarters, wineries and community music centers, private homes and historic restorations. She's on the AD 100 list of top architects and designers and has been called one of the most influential architects working in LA today. In this episode, she shares her process, her influences, and the places in California that never stop inspiring her — from a former cult compound in Joshua Tree to a secret rooftop garden at Walt Disney Concert Hall. On this episode, you'll learn: • What "informal formalism" means — and why it's the best description of California's design DNA • How the LA fires, post-COVID remote work, and multi-generational households are reshaping what people want from their homes • Why adaptive reuse is finally having its moment in California • How to actually crack the code on Ojai and Big Sur (hint: find the vegan restaurant and ask your server) Travel recommendations from Barbara: Los Angeles Take the stairs at LA Phil to the rooftop garden Walk the Bradbury Building lobby (free; you'll recognize it from Blade Runner), then cross to Grand Central Market and ride Angel's Flight back up to MOCA. For neighborhoods: Melrose Hill is the current place to be; Magnolia and Victory Blvd in the Valley are time-capsule California. Northern California Stay in the original Charles Moore–designed Condominium One at Sea Ranch In the Bay Area, stay at the Julia Morgan–designed Berkeley City Club Ojai & Big Sur In Ojai, go to a vegan restaurant and ask your server where to go — that's how you find the hidden hot springs. Hotel El Roblar (designed by Ramin Shamshiri) is the new splurge hotel in Ojai. In Big Sur, Nepenthe is the move: a Wright-influenced 1950s restaurant with a giant patio and sweeping views. Joshua Tree Drive in from the top and exit at the low desert — two completely different biomes. Stay at the Institute of Mentalphysics, where the rooms were designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright Catch a show at Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown, then detour to Palm Springs and take the Sunnylands tour for "peak high-sixties modernist golf living." Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 From Cambridge to California 00:04:00 What Informal Formalism Means 00:06:00 Designing for How We Live Now 00:09:00 California's Architectural Legacy 00:16:00 LA Neighborhoods Worth Exploring 00:23:00 An Architecture Tour of California 00:34:00 Joshua Tree and the Desert 00:39:00 Where Barbara Goes to Recharge Resources Bestor Architecture Explore the ⁠⁠Afar guide to California⁠ Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube. Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring Roderick Wyllie and Obi Kaufmann. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you listen to the oral transmission think, “May I be able to reveal each word to every sentient being and may they be able to actualize the path immediately in their mind when they hear it.” -Lama Zopa Rinpoche This month on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive podcast, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives teachings on guru devotion and a brief commentary on Pabongka Rinpoche’s Calling the Guru from Afar during an oral transmission of the text in Singapore in April 1992. You can read along with the transcript on the LYWA website.

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:54 Lama Zopa Rinpoche introduces Calling the Guru from Afar, a profound text by Phabongka Rinpoche that contains lamrim and tantric path.00:02:53 Without a guru, one cannot achieve realizations and enlightenment, even if one knows many texts by heart. Devotion to the guru is the cause of receiving blessings and attaining realizations.00:11:51 When devotion is lost, it becomes difficult to benefit the mind and have realizations, even from hearing Lamrim teachings. Devotion needs to be stable and established by reasoning.00:19:09 The objective of one's life is not just happiness for oneself, but to achieve enlightenment in order to enlighten all sentient beings. This is the greatest profit and success.00:27:46 Lama Zopa explains the yoga of eating - making offerings with each bite of food and meditating that oneself and the food are empty. This becomes a means of collecting extensive merit.00:40:57 In reality, despite the diversity of phenomena, everything is empty. Things function while being empty. Our basic meditation should be on emptiness.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Celebrating St. Patrick’s feast day on Trending with Timmerie: Episode Guide Saint Patrick’s battle with the Druid priests (3:15) The Lorica of St. Patrick & understanding God’s dominion over creation (23:17) Easter basket recommendations (38:03) Resources mentioned: The Day God's Helper Came https://ascensionpress.com/products/the-day-gods-helper-came?srsltid=AfmBOopOtysIWnpqOQDIrhOCgMCjPP5ptCcP5B3B8H0dDHfm5H8o4lUA Pray and Paint Rosary Books https://ascensionpress.com/products/pray-and-paint-mysteries-of-the-rosary-bundle?_pos=5&_sid=b75759399&_ss=r Arise: A 50-Day Journey into the Mystery of the Resurrection https://sophiainstitute.com/product/arise/ My First Interactive Rosary Book https://ascensionpress.com/products/my-first-interactive-rosary-book Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland: dePaola https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-Patron-Ireland-Tomie-dePaola/dp/0823410773 My First Examen Board Book: Catholic Kids Devotional on Daily Examen Prayer https://thelittleroseshop.com/products/my-first-examen-board-book https://shininglightdolls.com/ For Adults: Arise https://sophiainstitute.com/product/arise/?srsltid=AfmBOopXtwwx7lST1KNp0eP5d_Q3QiPFbbdpiMOWPIo5rD425YrJ6bZD Catholic Feast Days Cookbook https://www.catholiccompany.com/products/catholic-feast-days-a-cookbook-for-connecting-faith-and-food?variant=52363700404533&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=1453680900&hsa_cam=22788846930&hsa_grp=184931947320&hsa_ad=763821639775&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=pla-296303633664&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22788846930&gbraid=0AAAAAD_gYDF7obSdieVDhdDqTlR2UmgUC&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9-PNBhDfARIsABHN6-2zSpLwVIpKdPcKejVo66mt-NJPoileMYvbMwcm7sYdvVT2YNN9FN4aAswbEALw_wcB Catholic All Year https://ignatius.com/the-catholic-all-year-compendium-caycp/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23211240367&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ZLxg5M1hktxJEryy8WZECf-qyg&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9-PNBhDfARIsABHN6-1Ka94S-qiBp46gNa17YqlYz5i7Rm6wzM30FddiOsG8FedkJjjsI0MaAnBLEALw_wcB The Lorica Prayer – Saint Patrick’s Breast Plate Prayer I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In obedience of angels, In service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors, In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I arise today Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock. I arise today Through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From every one who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude. I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation St. Patrick (ca. 377)

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, a $41 million transformation of one of America's most beloved LGBTQ+ landmarks. Aislyn sits down with Mary Conde, SVP at ⁠Another Planet Entertainment⁠, the independent concert promoter behind the renovation, to explore what it took to bring this icon back to life, and why this was always about more than a building. In this episode, you'll learn The history behind the Castro Theatre, from a Lebanese immigrant's grocery store to a 1,400-seat icon. How the Castro became the heartbeat of San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community. What a $41 million renovation actually looks like, from a peach-glazed ceiling to a color-changing chandelier. The story of the organs (yes, plural) that have defined the Castro's sound for decades. Why Another Planet Entertainment sees this as a gift to San Francisco, not just a business investment. Chapters 00:00:00 The Castro's Comeback 00:02:00 From Grocery Store to Icon 00:05:30 A Safe Harbor for a Community 00:09:00 Inside the Renovation 00:13:00 The Organ's New Life 00:15:30 What's Coming Next Meet this week's guest Mary Conde, Senior Vice President at Another Planet Entertainment and a lifelong San Franciscan who has shaped the city's music scene for decades. Another Planet is the independent concert promoter behind Outside Lands and the recent mayoral inauguration party, and the company that took on the Castro's renovation. Resources Read the transcript of this episode. Explore the history of the ⁠Castro Theater⁠. Buy tickets for upcoming ⁠Castro events⁠. Read about the ⁠Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival⁠. Be sure to subscribe to the show and 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, and ⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lindy Alexander avoided ads for years because they felt "icky"… until she joined Get Paid Marketing and realized her results didn't require more complexity — they required less friction. In this episode, Lindy shares what shifted when she simplified how people bought (including one tiny change that made a bigger difference than she expected), and how GPM is different from any other program she joined. This Week on the Get Paid Podcast: The belief Lindy had about ads that kept her avoiding them (and what changed her mind) The small funnel adjustment that helped increase low-ticket conversions What she did differently inside GPM that led to a $50K+ launch without a live webinar The behind-the-scenes reason she almost didn't join (and what surprised her once she did) Why GPM felt "like an iceberg" after she got inside About Lindy Alexander: Lindy Alexander is a multi-award-winning freelance travel writer who has written for major Australian and international publications including Travel + Leisure, AFAR, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Sydney Morning Herald. After 10 years as a social worker, she transitioned into freelance journalism and later specialized in travel writing. She's the founder of The Freelancer's Year, a blog and online writing course hub for aspiring and established freelance writers who want to break into travel writing and land regular commissions. Mentioned in this episode: Get Paid Marketing (GPM): clairepells.com/waitlist  The Freelancer's Year (website): thefreelancersyear.com  Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Instagram: @lindyalexanderwriter Travel Writer Accelerator (TWA): https://thefreelancersyear.com/courses-resources/ttwa-apply/ Now, it's time to go get yourself paid Thanks for tuning into the Get Paid Podcast! If you enjoyed today's episode, head over toApple Podcasts to subscribe, rate, and leave your honest review. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, visit my website for even more detailed strategies, and be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. Now, it's time to go get yourself paid.

Since the 2024 election, search queries for moving abroad are uup 2,000 percent. Debra Gordon of Virginia talking with podcast host Rosemary Armao is one of the few Americans who to permanently emigrate because of politics.Debra Gordon is a health care communications professional who had specialized in researching and writing about the US health care system and medical issues for clinicians, businesses, and consumers. She has more than 30 years of experience, including a decade as a newspaper reporter covering medicine and later as a freelance medical writer. She received a bachelor's  in English from the University of Virginia and a masters in biomedical writing from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. She has just moved  with her husband  Keith and 5-pound dog, Pinot, from Virginia to Portugal.

This week I talk with Nikki Namdar--a member of the Iranian diaspora and the daughter of parents who fled Iran around the 1979 revolution--about what it feels like to watch Iran's unrest from an ocean away. Nikki shares her family's story of escape, grief, and longing for a homeland they may never be able to return to, and explains why so many in the diaspora feel erased in Western conversations about the region. We also discuss how social media shapes what Americans believe about global conflicts, why nuance feels “punished” online, and what “best case” scenario could look like for Iran--a future where the country remains intact, but free.

The arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday sent shockwaves across the globe. And although the targeted military operation was a success, the repercussions of ousting the authoritarian leader will be long-lasting and hard to predict.  To make sense of the new world order ushered in by President Trump's “Donroe Doctrine,” we convened a panel of experts: an oil industry specialist, a national security journalist, and an historian of Venezuela. Luisa Palacios is the managing director of energy transition finance at the Center on Global Energy Policy and the former chairwoman of the Citgo Petroleum Corporation. David Sanger is the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. He's played central roles on three teams that have won Pulitzer Prizes, and he's the author of four books, including his latest, “New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion and America's Struggle to Defend the West.” Alejandro Velasco is a historian, a professor at New York University, the former executive editor of the NACLA Report on the Americas, and the author of “Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and the Making of Modern Venezuela.” Together, they unpack the Trump administration's competing rationales for deposing Maduro; the feasibility of controlling Venezuela without American boots on the ground; the effect of “regime change” without actually changing the regime on the people of Venezuela; and the global implications for America's credibility. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices