Oneika Raymond ends her wellness journey in Maui, Hawai‘i's second largest island known for its diverse landscapes, from lush rainforests to sandy beaches. There, she meets up with locals who help her become a more mindful malihini, or visitor, to the island by connecting with the Hawaiian language and history and shopping local. Oneika begins her day with a morning Hawaiian language lesson on Kā‘anapali Beach with Luana Kawa’a, a language teacher who’s been instructing students to speak the...

Oneika Raymond is hungry. And, luckily, she’s headed to Mexico City, one of the most exciting culinary destinations in the world — and a place she always finds herself coming back to. There, she visits three eating and drinking spots that connect her to the layered flavors and history that give Mexico City its particular sabor, or flavor, to deepen her understanding of the dynamic capital. Oneika starts her day off early with a sunrise float through Xochimilco, an historic and active canal...

If you’re enjoying About the Journey, we think you’ll love Longer Tables with Chef José Andrés. Each episode, world renowned chef José Andrés welcomes friends from the worlds of culinary and creative arts, politics and media to pull up a chair at the table. Together, they dig in to find out how food shapes the world and makes us who we are. This week, we're rolling José’s conversation with Asheville, North Carolina-based chef and restaurateur Katie Button. Katie’s journey started with the...

Oneika Raymond chats with good friend and fellow expert traveler Monet Hambrick, founder of  the family travel blog The Traveling Child, about the positive benefits of traveling as a family. Together, they offer up tips, tricks and all the tea for how to do family travel right. Monet started The Traveling Child in 2016 with her husband after an international trip with their 8-month-old first born led to tons of folks wanting to know how they pulled it off. Monet’s been encouraging and...

Oneika Raymond heads to New Orleans, Louisiana to connect with the people and history of Tremé, one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in the U.S. There, she’ll sit with some of the Tremé culture bearers of music, food and history to build a deeper understanding of the city’s roots. Oneika sets off from her hotel, W New Orleans French Quarter. It’s a short commute to her first stop of the day in the Tremé: Kermit’s Tremé Mother in Law Lounge, the last standing jazz lounge in the...

Oneika Raymond sits down with solo travel expert Beth Santos, founder of Wanderful, a global travel community for women. Together, they talk about how traveling on your own can be an opportunity for personal growth and share expert tips on how to make the most of your solo travels. Beth takes a mindset-first approach to traveling solo on your own terms, and recently authored a book that explores her philosophy: Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World,...

Oneika Raymond kick starts this season in Sedona, Arizona, a desert oasis tucked in the Verde Valley and known for its stunning red rock formations and energy vortices. There, she embarks on a wellness journey to explore how Sedona encourages visitors to slow down to reconnect to themselves. She meets up with three locals who help her tap into Sedona’s must-visit stops to experience self discovery and mindful travel. Oneika starts her day with a morning hike to Yavapai Vista to meet with...

About the Journey is back! This season, host and travel journalist Oneika Raymond goes on a wellness journey to four distinct places with the power to transform those who come to visit. Join us every other Friday through early October as we mindfully get to know ourselves and the world around us through meaningful, nurturing travel.

Oneika Raymond is off to Berlin's neighborhood of Kreuzberg, a thriving multicultural district just south of Mitte, for the final stop on her journey. There, she meets up with Dalad Kambhu, the chef and owner of Michelin-starred Thai restaurant, Kin Dee. Together, they take a walking tour through Kreuzberg to get to know the district, and its large and growing collection of women-led eateries. Oneika and Dalad meet each other in front of Kitten Deli, a women-owned breakfast joint that...

Oneika Raymond dials into Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, where historian Sherman ‘Dilla’ Thomas takes us on a bus tour through the birthplace of gospel music and Black History Month located just four miles south of the city’s downtown. Bronzeville has quickly become the most popular neighborhood tour that Dilla offers through his bus tour company, Chicago Mahogany Tours, thanks in part to the viral TikToks that Dilla makes to illuminate the history and contributions of Bronzeville,...

Oneika Raymond heads to Little River, Miami, a creative hub north of downtown and across the bay from Miami Beach. There, she’s joined by local entrepreneur Isabella “Izzy” Acker for a driving tour of the area where Isabella launched Tigre Sounds, a global music discovery platform with a focus on Latin artists. Through it, Isabella hosts live Tigre Sessions, or music events in lesser-known neighborhoods and venues across the city.  Oneika meets up with Isabella at Sweat Records, an...

Oneika Raymond dials into South Central, Los Angeles, where local cycling enthusiast Michelle Moro takes us for a tour in her beloved hometown. Born and raised in South Central, Michelle knows her neighborhood inside and out - but she still takes the time to explore like a traveler when she documents her bike rides on her TikTok, @miche1ada. To showcase the past and present of historic South Central, Michelle hops on her glittery blue bike for a ride up South Central Avenue, one of the...

Oneika Raymond travels to the heart of Peckham, a bustling neighborhood in South London just a few miles southeast of the Thames River. There, she joins local author Jendella Benson for a walking tour of the district she holds dear. Peckham is where Jendella set her debut novel, Hope and Glory, in order to pay tribute to the town and its Nigerian-British community. Oneika meets up with Jendella at Peckham Rye station to kick off the tour of Rye Lane, Peckham’s main thoroughfare and the place...

Host Oneika Raymond takes the A-line up to Washington Heights, a loud, vibrant Dominican neighborhood in New York City, to join local Hector Espinal for a walking tour of his hometown. Hector is the co-founder of We Run Uptown, the first-ever running group in uptown Manhattan, and the perfect guide to get to know the streets of Washington Heights.     Oneika joins Hector at Locksmith Bar, a popular local watering hole and the meeting point for We Run Uptown’s weekly Monday runs, before...

What does it mean to truly know a city? About the Journey is a travel show about getting off the beaten path to better understand the places we visit. In Season 3, travel journalist and Marriott Bonvoy member Oneika Raymond visits lesser-known neighborhoods in six iconic cities across the world. With the help of locals who know their neighborhoods best, Oneika learns what makes these destinations one-of-a-kind: from the sights, sounds and flavors, to the hidden gems, and so much more. About...

Oneika Raymond walks Castro Street with filmmaker and drag performer Joshua Grannell (he/him) on their way to opening night of Frameline, the largest and longest running queer film festival in the world. The Castro is a historic San Francisco neighborhood which first became known as a hub for the Gay Civil Rights Movement of the 1970s. Oneika meets up with Joshua, or Peaches Christ, outside Queer A.F., a queer arts space dedicated to keeping LGBTQ+ artists in the Bay Area. It’s also the site...

If you’re enjoying all of the stories we shared so far, we want to reintroduce you to another podcast: Travel Tales by AFAR. Hosted by AFAR Deputy Editor Aislyn Greene, Travel Tales explores the way that travel shapes us. Each episode follows a storyteller who took a trip—and came home transformed. In their new season, they’re getting back on the road to share the real stories and sounds from recent trips. We’re sharing one episode with you today. Hear comedian Esteban Gast reflect upon...

Oneika Raymond dials into Vancouver's historic Chinatown to learn how local entrepreneur Carol Lee has been leading the charge to save the historic neighborhood. Carol is the chair and founder of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, and is dedicated to revitalizing the neighborhood without losing its invaluable cultural heritage. Oneika learns about the history of the Chinese community in Vancouver, and how Chinatown became home for many after the Canadian Pacific Railroad was completed in...

Oneika Raymond makes her way to Dallas, Texas on Juneteenth weekend for the legendary 33rd Annual Texas Black Invitational Rodeo to get to know Black cowboy culture and history, a part of the American story that often goes untold. From galloping horses and the hoots and hollers of the more than 300 competing Black cowboys and cowgirls to the reverential sound of the Black National Anthem performed by Dallas local Angel White, we take you behind the scenes of one of the most popular rodeo...

Oneika dials into Puerto Rico to talk about regenerative travel with Carmen Portela and Iris Landruá of Local Guest, a tourism agency that connects visitors to sustainable experiences. She’ll learn about the rich natural beauty of the Caribbean island and hear how Local Guest is partnering with locals to share their knowledge of the island with visitors looking to travel more consciously. Carmen and Iris give us insight into how nature and city life collide in San Juan, something they felt...

Oneika Raymond travels to the Mile High City and hits the trail at Denver’s Genesee Mountain Park to learn more about how we can make the outdoors a more welcoming place for all. She’ll lace up her hiking boots to join Denverite Beth Bradley for a short trek along the Genesee Summit Trail, a short drive from downtown Denver. Beth is a plus-sized hiker whose relationship with her body and her hometown were transformed forever when she went for her first hike. We’ll hear how Beth didn’t always...

Oneika Raymond heads to Anacostia, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington D.C., to visit Mahogany Books, the community's first Black-owned bookstore in over two decades selling works by Black authors. She'll meet with co-founders Derrick and Ramunda Young – partners in business and life – to discuss the impact of selling Black literature in a predominantly Black neighborhood, their own ties to Southeast D.C. and how their community has warmly embraced their shop tucked inside the...

About the Journey is back! This season, host and travel journalist Oneika Raymond takes us on a six-city journey around North America to chat with locals and ask them what it means to travel better. Join us every Friday starting on August 26th as we see the world in more meaningful ways. 

Jamaican Jerk Chicken in Toronto, towering museums in Ottawa, and matcha eclairs in Montreal. Join Host Oneika Raymond on a road trip from Ontario to Quebec to see some of the diversity of people, places, and foods that Canada has to offer. We start our journey in Toronto, where Oneika grew up. On Eglinton Avenue, we meet up with Oneika’s friend and local newscaster Brandon Gonez to learn about the neighborhood of Little Jamaica. We hear about some of the best food on this strip at places...