The Spontaneous (Travel!) Story of How Afar Came to Be

No plan. No luggage. Five weeks in India. Joe Diaz and Greg Sullivan, dreamed up Afar on a beach in Goa more than 15 years ago. In this candid episode from our sister podcast, Unpacked, they reflect on what they’ve learned by helping people travel deeper. From the spontaneous trips that honed the company’s values to how they’ve helped shape the travel industry, get an inside look into the transformative power of rallying around travel as a force for good. 

But, How Many Kitchen Tables Have You Visited? 

In this episode, discover:

How Afar helped pave the way for “experiential travel.” 

The origin and impact of Learning Afar, which gives students access to travel. 

How you can continue to shape travel as a force for good in the world.  

Going Home with a Rickshaw Driver. 

Don’t miss these memorable moments:

[2:03] It started without a plan—or luggage. 

[14:55] The first step: transformative travel education. 

[25:15] Spin the globe and other stories that have impacted them the most. 

[37:49] A trip to Cairo that led to a surgeon’s debut on The Daily Show.

[45:15] A friendly debate on travel practices—from packing to plane rides.   

The Transformative Power of Teachers Turned Travelers. 

Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz met in the classroom, so when they traveled to India and found a deeper way to travel, they had to share that with others. In this lighthearted conversation, they share the spontaneous travel stories that have impacted the industry and continue to sustain Afar 15 years later. 

In this episode you’ll learn how Afar went from an idea to a multi-faceted media company, how they’ve pivoted over time to hone their impact on the world and how you can travel in a more conscious and connected way. 

Resources

• Explore Afar’s 15-year anniversary hub of favorite stories, including:  

A Skeptic Visits the Holy Waters of Lourdes.

What It’s Like to Navigate Cairo’s Chaos as a Blind Traveler. 

• Read the transcript of this episode.

• Listen to the podcast episodes mentioned in this episode: 

A Blind Man’s Trip Will Change the Way You Go on Safari. 

A Blind Surfer Takes On Kauai’s Legendary Waves.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.