Counting Countries

Hey now, I am your host Ric Gazarian on the 10th update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  We have a lot of news to share with you today.  So grab that coffee of if in Thailand, grab a chamanow and please listen in. The event is now about a month and a half a way.  But still time to join, use code BANGKOK to save at . Some quick updates ... we have added three new speakers, Luisa Yu, Matt Bowles and Sabbatical Tommy.  Luisa is well known in the community for her determination and her multi-decade quest to visit every country in the world.  She finished at age 79! So impressive.  Matt is the host of the super entertaining the , where he speaks with amazing travelers from around the world.  He will be speaking on his 10 plus years of being a digital nomad.  Tommy is a travel content creator on and also a polyglot!  That's cool. Are you scared of ghosts?  Did you know that ghosts play a cental role in Thai culture?  We have partnered with Bangkok Haunts to provide you with an introduction to ghosts and spirits in Thailand.  We offer a half day tour on November 14 and 18.  Check it out! First, I speak with Professor JP.  I think so many of us love lists and rankings.  So I am excited to share a new travel index will be premiered at the ETF.  The index is called the ETF/ABS Magellan Traveller Index.  This will rank the top 100 travelers in the world.  We will be sharing this list and announcing the top 3 ranked at ETF.  I want to thank both Most Traveled People and NomadMania for partnering with us and sharing their data. I also speak to 2 great individuals and partners of ETF.  These two people are sponsors of ETF and deserve a special thank you for supporting our event.  First up is Baba the founder of   Baba has been welcoming and introducing travelers to this amazing Saharan country.  Many members of the extreme travel community know and have traveled with Baba.  Please consider Baba if you are travelling to Mauritania.  Baba will be exhibiting at ETF as well as moderating a session on Mauritania to answer all of your questions. I also speak with Ahmed, the founder of Aknaf Alsawary.  Ahmed was my guide when I visited Iraq the other year.  Ahmed is a virtual sponsor of ETF.  Ahmed offers fixed date group tours to Iraq, and he is raffling a 50% off coupon to one of these trips at ETF.  In addition, ETF is pleased to announce that we can offer a $150 off these fixed date trips.  Contact me to get your $150 off his tour.  ric @ globalgaz.com And after I speak with Ahmed, I will do a little recap on the ETF and the ! Up first is Baba, please listen in and enjoy.    

Andy Hicks Counting Countries has traveled to 120 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  Today, we are speaking with Andy Hicks.  I have had the pleasure of meeting Andy at the first ETF in Armenia and the TCC meeting in May in the Azores.  Andy was raised in a non-travel environment, but a couple of pivotal trips propelled him into the 193 community and with his stated goal of every country by 50.   If you want to meet Andy Hicks and 206 other travelers join us in Bangkok. The Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Use discount code BANGKOK for $60, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . I’ll give an ETF recap at the end of this episode. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Adam “one-away” Hickman, Steph “Phuket” Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe “JL” Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sam Williams, and Ani Chaturvedi for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Andy that you will not hear.  I binge a ton of podcasts. I have just started listening to the Maverick Show podcast, hosted by Matt Bowles.  Maverick Show just celebrated his 300th episode.  Check out a most recent episode with Ashley Company.  She grew up as a military brat, living as a local in South Korea with her family.  Then she went on a multi-month epic trip visiting every country in South and Central America.  Check out Ashley.  Of course, Counting Countries is all about Chasing 193.  Matt is more focused on digital life and travel, but there are many interesting lessons and parallels within our community.  I was in Bangkok for this recording while Andy was in Denver. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Adam Hickman, Steph Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Phil Marcus, Sam Williams, and Ani Chaturvedi.     And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!  And write a review!More About Andy Hicks Counting Countries Where were you born: Lexington, KY USA What passport (s) do you hold: USA (2) Favorite travel book: probably Around the World in 50 Years by Albert Podell; Bradt guides 100% for trip planning Favorite travel film: Raiders of the Lost Ark (no kidding) Favorite travel app or website: EPS, Adam Hickman’s Top Tips, Geography Now! Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.): my sleep is extremely important – so eye shades, ear plugs, and Ambien; anything else I can buy locally Favorite food: probably sushi Favorite drink: good coffee and Coca Cola with real sugar when outside the US Favorite airline: Qatar Favorite hotel: not too focused on hotels but if I had to pick one, probably the Grovepark in Asheville, NC About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Andy Hicks Counting Countries   

I am excited to introduce to you two partners of the Extraordinary Travel Festival, Matt Bowles and Ian Cumming. Matt is a 10 year plus digital nomad, who hosts the very successful as well as a real estate investment company.  Matt can be found around the globe setting up shop in cities as diverse as Nairobi, Lagos or Luanda.  I am pleased to announce that Matt will be one of the speakers at the ETF.  You can connect with him here on . Ian Cumming is the founder of Travel Massive, a global networking platform for people who work in travel or are passionate travelers.  There are scores of chapters around the globe hosting events or meet people on the network whether they be entrepreneurs or content creators.  Travel Massive is also hosting our meetup on Thursday, November 14.  . I believe there are 3 main pillars of why you might want to consider attending the ETF, this November in Bangkok. First is the destination. Maybe BKK might seem too common. Well as a resident I would posit that this city offers so much beyond the Grand Palace, the Skybar and riding a tuktuk. This is a true onion; you can keep peeling back more and more layers and keep on exploring. Maybe you are missing some NM regions in Thailand, maybe a funicular or the new UNESCO site, Si Thep. Or you missed Laos or Brunei on your last visit. There are cheap flights to everywhere in ASEASN. Or maybe catch a direct flight to Bangladesh, Bhutan or Kazakhstan. There is so much to see here! Second, is the content. We have an incredible lineup of speakers. More will be announced. Please take a moment to look at the speakers on the ETF website. Everyone from Thor Pedersen who went to every country without flying, or Renee Bruns who has explored over 130 countries in a wheelchair, or the Sultan Randy Williams, who invented his own country. And last up, is the community, the network of extreme travelers whether you are Chasing 193 or maybe enjoy Iraq more than Italy. Then you have found your tribe.  We have some great events to share a drink and conversation with your fellow travelers …. Friday night will be a great party with music, Saturday will be the gala dinner, and, don’t leave early, we will be hosting the NomadMania Awards live in Bangkok on Sunday.  And we added in another meetup on Thursday evening, November 14th to check in with fellow attendees before the event officially kicks off on Friday morning.  The host of our meetup is . So think of Bangkok as the hub for the event. A hub with great infrastructure at great prices. The spokes are everywhere in Thailand or the region you can visit easily. Don’t get FOMO, come join the 170 plus who have already committed. And how many more will sign up in the next 3 months. Should be a lot of people! Feel free to go to the website, use code  to save, and join us in Krung Thep this November. If you have questions, reach out to me on SM, contact form on the website, or anywhere else. Please listen in and enjoy.  And check out the last episode on . Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #8

Luisa Yu has traveled to every country in the world   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  I am excited to have Luisa Yu on the podcast.  She is well known and beloved member to many in the community.  For those not in the know, Luisa just visited her last country this year.  She accomplished this goal as a 79 year old.  When many in her age group have retired to more placid and serene pastures, Luisa has demonstrated grit and determination.  And Luisa has not slowed down .. trips since she has completed the quest include Mogadishu, the north Caucasus, and the Kalash Festival in Pakistan.  Truly, she is an inspiration.  A quick show out to Phillipe for assisting in scheduling my conversation with Luisa.     A public service reminder, the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Discount code BANGKOK for $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . This $100 discount will be reduced starting September 1.  What I did not mention is at ETF we will be hosting a moderated conversation with Luisa and her multi-decade journey to every country in the world.  Luisa has a unique voice which is different than the traditional stereotype of a traveler in the extreme travel community.      Don’t get #FOMO over 170 people are committed!  Including of course, Luisa.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Adam “one away” Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Gin, Philippe ‘JL’ Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine OTB Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, and Sam Williams for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Luisa that you will not hear.  For those who listen a lot, I am a big fan of small world stories … and this is relevant when I introduce a new patron Ani Chaturvedi, who I randomly met while getting a Covid test in Armenia the other year.  Ani is originally from Mumbai but now is in San Francisco.  Regarding travel, Ani was inspired by his mom who made frequent trips to Mauritius and Singapore.  He is now Chasing 193 and nearing 70 countries. Welcome aboard!  And also a quick thank you to new patron, Craig, unknown last name at this time.     Besides hosting a podcast, I listen to a ton of podcast, including community favorites Palle Bo’s , and Francis Tapon, WanderLearn.  In fact, you can check me out on WanderLearn with Francis speaking about the ETF. But, I am late to the dance with the Maverick Show podcast, hosted by Matt Bowles.  Maverick Show has nearly 300 episodes and is ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts.  I recently found out about this travel podcast and I have started binging episodes.  Matt is a great host who guides the conversation while naturally sharing his travel experiences adding to the conversation.  I have heard great conversations with people like Eriva Vivro, who has lived an incredible travel life, living in multiple countries like Qatar, Thailand, Zambia, and now has been wintering in Ghana with her family.  Very, very cool.  Of course, Counting Countries is all about Chasing 193.  Matt is more focussed on digital life and travel, but there are many interesting lessons and parallels within our community.  I was in Boston for this recording while Luisa was in Miami. Please listen in and enjoy.        Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, Sam Williams, Aniruddh Chaturvedi, and Craig.        And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Luisa Yu Counting Countries About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Luisa Yu Counting Countries 

Join us in Bangkok for the in November of 2024. Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $100 (the discount will be reduced starting September 1). Reserve your place today. On this episode, I speak to 3 amazing people who you will also meet at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok on November 15-17. First up is Fadi Assi. Many people in the extreme travel community are familiar with Fadi and his generosity. He has welcomed many of us to Syria. Fadi is the founder of .  Fadi will be one of the speakers in Bangkok and will be sharing his wealth of knowledge.  If you are considering visiting, make sure you check in with Fadi. Second is Jon Beardmore.  Jon is an accomplished traveler and has undertaken a fascinating project, The Galapagos Postman Project.  We all love travel and sometimes incorporating in an additional quest has the potential of really adding to your travel experiences.  The Galapagos Postman Project is one of those really cool quests.  You can follow along on his quest on . And third is Evelthon Vassiliou.  He is another accomplished traveler who recently accomplished the 193.  Evelthon was ahead of the curve visiting places like Angkor Wat in the late 1990s.  Despite finishing the 193, he is still actively traveling.  Follow along on . I believe there are 3 main pillars of why you might want to consider attending the ETF, this November in Bangkok. First is the destination. Maybe BKK might seem too common. Well as a resident I would posit that this city offers so much beyond the Grand Palace, the Skybar and riding a tuktuk. This is a true onion; you can keep peeling back more and more layers and keep on exploring. Maybe you are missing some NM regions in Thailand, maybe a funicular or the new UNESCO site, Si Thep. Or you missed Laos or Brunei on your last visit. There are cheap flights to everywhere in ASEASN. Or maybe catch a direct flight to Bangladesh, Bhutan or Kazakhstan. There is so much to see here! Second, is the content. We have an incredible lineup of speakers. More will be announced. Please take a moment to look at the speakers on the ETF website. Everyone from Thor Pedersen who went to every country without flying, or Renee Bruns who has explored over 130 countries in a wheelchair, or the Sultan Randy Williams, who invented his own country. And last up, is the community, the network of extreme travelers whether you are Chasing 193 or maybe enjoy Iraq more than Italy. Then you have found your tribe.  We have some great events to share a drink and conversation with your fellow travelers .... Friday night will be a great party with music, Saturday will be the gala dinner, and, don't leave early, we will be hosting the NomadMania Awards live in Bangkok on Sunday.  And we added in another meetup on Thursday evening, November 14th to check in with fellow attendees before the event officially kicks off on Friday morning.  The host of our meetup is . So think of Bangkok as the hub for the event. A hub with great infrastructure at great prices. The spokes are everywhere in Thailand or the region you can visit easily. Don’t get FOMO, come join the 170 plus who have already committed. And how many more will sign up in the next 3 months. Should be a lot of people! Feel free to go to the website, use code to save $100, and join us in Krung Thep this November. If you have questions, reach out to me on SM, contact form on the website, or anywhere else. Please listen in and enjoy.  And check out the last episode on .

Jason Wang has traveled to 175 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  I am happy to introduce to you Jason Wang, an avid traveler, foodie, and photographer.  Not only is he Chasing 193, but he also chasing the 7 Summits.  Jason’s life tracks all of the great successes embodied by the best of American immigration.  A life which was originally defined by school and work was dramatically redefined by a gap year of travel after dental school.  He never looked back.   If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Discount code BANGKOK for $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . Come join to meet with some great partners of the extreme travel community, we have Fadi Assi of Golden Team in Syria, and David Van Driessche of Papua New Guinea, and Baba from T’Ore Mauritania.  We also have the three great travel groups participating as well, you will see representatives from NomadMania, Most Traveled People, and Every Passport Stamp.    Don’t get #FOMO over 165 people are committed!  Including Jason Wang. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Adam “one away” Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gin, Philippe ‘JL’ Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine OTB Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, and Sam Williams for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Jason that you will not hear. Time for our monthly 193 Milestones Segment, where we recognize travel accomplishments in the community.  Today, we will get updates from Steve Schwarms and Virginia Ko.  You will meet Virginia at the ETF in Bangkok. Let’s hear from both of them now.    I will be asking for travelers to submit audio files to recognize travel accomplishments.  To learn more follow the Counting Countries on and accounts and I will be making future call to actions.   I was in Bangkok for this recording while Jason was in Ulan Bator. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, Dale Wursten, and Sam Williams.    And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review!More About Jason Wang Counting Countries:   Where were you born Nanjing, China   What passport (s) do you hold USA  Favorite travel book “Into Thin Air” by John Krakauer  Favorite travel film Lost in Translation  Favorite travel app or website Swarm  Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.) iPhone  Favorite food Japanese  Favorite drink Soya Cincau (also known as the Michael Jackson drink)  Favorite airline Japan Airlines  Favorite hotel Nimmo Bay in BC, Canada 11. How to connect with Jason https://www.cityfoodsters.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jwang815/ https://www.instagram.com/jwang815 https://www.threads.net/jwang815 About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Jason Wang Counting Countries   

Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024.  Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $100.  . I believe there are 3 main pillars of why you might want to consider attending the ETF, this November in Bangkok. First is the destination.  Maybe BKK might seem too common.  Well as a resident I would posit that this city offers so much beyond the Grand Palace, the Skybar and riding a tuktuk.  This is a true onion; you can keep peeling back more and more layers and keep on exploring. Maybe you are missing some NM regions in Thailand, maybe a funicular or the new UNESCO site, Si Thep.  Or you missed Laos or Brunei on your last visit. There are cheap flights to everywhere in ASEASN.  Or maybe catch a direct flight to Bangladesh, Bhutan or Kazakhstan.  There is so much to see here! Second, is the content.  We have an incredible lineup of speakers.  More will be announced.  Please take a moment to look at the speakers on the ETF website.  Everyone from Thor Pedersen who went to every country without flying, or Renee Bruns who has explored over 130 countries in a wheelchair, or the Sultan Randy Williams, who invented his own country. And last up, is the community, the network of extreme travelers whether you are chasing 193 or maybe enjoy Iraq more than Italy.  Then you have found your tribe. So think of Bangkok as the hub for the event.  A hub with great infrastructure at great prices.  The spokes are everywhere in Thailand or the region you can visit easily. Don’t get FOMO, come join the 160 plus who have already committed.  And how many more will sign up in the next 6 months.  Should be a lot of people! Feel free to go to the website, use code BANGKOK to save $100, and join us in Krung Thep this November.  If you have questions, reach out to me on SM, contact form on the website, or anywhere else. I want to introduce three members of the community, three people who are coming to Bangkok, on this special episode.  Meet the attendee!  Please meet Virginia Ko, Zahid Williams, and Doug Mann. First up is Virginia Ko, a traveler who recently passed her 100th country.  Virginia grew up in Maylasia, moved to CA, and recently quit her job to Chase 193.  Wow!   . Next up is Zahid Williams.  Zahid is on his way to 100, but starting off with the challenging countries first.  We even met randomly in the Pacific earlier this year.    And last, I speak with Doug Mann.  Doug is a true expat.  Working for years in Germany and Japan, and now retired in Chiang Mai.    Please listen in and enjoy.  

Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  You might know Joel from his flowing beard on social media.  Joel is someone I have known of for years but virtually.  And in fact, we ran into each other randomly on our travels in Central Africa.  I speak with Joel and learn about his fascinating journey in life as well as Chasing 193.  Joel was very candid during this conversation about subjects that some people will avoid such as family and his faith.  This made our conversation richer and I appreciate that.   If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Discount code BANGKOK for $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . Why would you want to come?  Some might say Bangkok, been there, done that.  And that might be true.  But have you been to every Nomad Mania region in Thailand or every UNESCO site, even the new one, Si Thep, announced in September?  Or maybe you have missed Laos, Burma, or Brunei?  All have direct and economical flights.  Or even Bhutan or Bangladesh.  Think of ETF as the hub and everywhere else the spokes of wherever you want to explore.  Don’t get #FOMO over 160 people are committed! I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gin, Philippe ‘JT’ Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine OTB Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, and Sam Williams for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Joel that you will not hear. Time for our monthly 193 Milestones Segment, where we recognize travel accomplishments in the community.  Today, we will get updates from Mike Safo (check out his awesome podcast - the ), Luc Jones, who I met in Armenia, and Chantal Patton, who travels as a 5 person family unit.  You will hear their updates throughout the podcast.  Let’s hear from my buddy Mike.  I will be asking for travelers to submit audio files to recognize travel accomplishments.  To learn more follow the Counting Countries on and accounts and I will be making future call to actions.  Here are a couple of milestones to recognize now.   And take a look at GlobalGaz.com and look for Joel’s Counting Countries podcast, I shared the photo of Joel walking over the “bridge” in CAR.  I was in Boston for this recording while Joel was in San Diego. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, Dale Wursten, and Sam Williams.        And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Joel Oleson Counting Countries   

Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024.  Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $100.  . I believe there are 3 main pillars of why you might want to consider attending the ETF, this November in Bangkok.     First is the destination.  Maybe BKK might seem too common.  Well as a resident I would posit that this city offers so much beyond the Grand Palace, the Skybar and riding a tuktuk.  This is a true onion, you can keep peeling back more and more layers and keep on exploring.   Maybe you are missing some NM regions in thailand, maybe a funicular or the new UNESCO site, Si Thep.  Or you missed Laos or Brunei on your last visit. There are cheap flights to everywhere in ASEASN.  Or maybe catch a direct flight to Bangladesh, Bhutan or Kazakhstan.  There is so much to see here!   Second, is the content.  We have an incredible lineup of speakers.  More will be announced.  Please take a moment to look at the speakers on the ETF website.  Everyone from Thor Pedersen who went to every country without flying, or Renee Bruns who has explored over 130 countries in a wheelchair, or the Sultan Randy Williams, who invented his own country.   And last up, is the community, the network of extreme travelers whether you are chasing 193 or maybe enjoy Iraq more than Italy.  Then you have found your tribe.   So think of Bangkok as the hub for the event.  A hub with great infrastructure at great prices.  The spokes are everywhere in Thailand or the region you can visit easily.   Don't get FOMO, come join the 150 plus who have already committed.  And how many more will sign up in the next 6 months.  Should be a lot of people!    Feel free to go to the website, use code BANGKOK to save $100, and join us in Krung Thep this November.  If you have questions, reach out to me on SM, contact form on the website, or anywhere else.   Before I introduce my guest, a name from the past has reappeared.  William Simon Baekeland aka Jesse Simon Gordon aka William Gordon.   Maybe you do not know the back story.     William appeared on the scene years ago, a young, extremely well-traveled individual and the descendent of a billion-dollar fortune.  William won over some of the most experienced travelers and began to organize challenging trips for them.  In fact, I interviewed him for this .   Some of these trips took place, others didn’t, and refunds were scarce.   Harry Mitsisdis after a canceled trip put on his detective hat, and deduced that William Baekeland was really Jesse Simon Gordon from Birmingham, a product of limited means.  In short order, it was revealed that William/Jesse allegedly had fleeced over $800,000 from the travel community.  And I hosted another podcast , where several guests shared their experiences.     William/Simon then appeared to go dark … until now.   This episode was recorded a couple of weeks before the publication, so there will likely be more up to date news.  But it was discovered that William has relocated to Pitcairn Island and was working in some fashion for the government.    I was totally flabbergasted by this discovery.  Really.     William was hiding out in the most remote place in the world where he was most likely to be discovered.    I am sure we will learn a lot more in the future. First up is Marc Jorgensen, a traveler who recently passed his 100th country.  Marc has lived and worked in Brazil and also speaks Portuguese.  Marc and I discuss our joint southern African roadtrip.  Next up is Dima Zemsky.  Dima emigrated to the US from Ukraine as a teenager to start a new life in the states.  Dima is a member of the points community, and the spark of his travels began with a round the world trip.  And last, I speak with Matt Keffer.  Matt has leveraged his career and his business trips around the world into country counting.  He also was a working expat for three years in Germany.   With that in mind, I want to introduce three members of the community, three people who are coming to Bangkok, on this special episode.  Meet the attendee!  Please meet Marc Jorgenson, Dima Zemsky, and Matt Keffer.  Please listen in and enjoy  

Nabil Kazi has traveled to 129 countries   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I am excited to share my conversation with Nabil Kazi.  I connected with Nabil Kazi back in 2021 when he suggested a guest (Nick Butter - episode 95) for Counting Countries.  I guess everything comes full circle as Nabil is a guest on this episode. Nabil and I have been in contact ever since and even connected in person for dinner in Bangkok at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Charlie Browns.  Nabil has had two distinct chapters in his adult life.  Chapter One, an executive in the land of Hollywood and Chapter Two, as a full time traveler.  Maybe we can get some behind-the-scenes Hollywood insights.   Some of you might have heard the tragic news from Bamiyan in Afghanistan.  Nabil and I touch on this but while editing there are some greater details.  Apparently, a tour provider from our 193 community brought a group to Afghanistan.  Three Spaniard travelers and three Afghan locals were shot and killed.  In additional six travelers and Afghans were also injured.  Just a reminder when you ask in a conversation or online, “is it safe?” and many people respond, “I just went it is very safe, just go!”.  Remember it was very safe for that traveler, on that specific day, time, and location.  This is a country of 40 million and 250,000 square miles.  That traveler is not a security expert on Afghanistan.   If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Discount code BANGKOK of $100, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . Just a reminder for those who are coming or thinking of coming that we will be hosting the NomadMania Awards live in Bangkok on Sunday evening.  This is the great event that NM has been streaming on YouTube for the last several years.  This is a great opportunity to get together and recognize some travelers who are making a difference.  Don’t forget, Sunday evening, November 17 this year.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gin, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, and Sam Williams for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Wee Cheng that you will not hear.   And remember, we have a new feature on Counting Countries.  The idea is to celebrate wins in the 193 community and involve more people.  The inspiration came from my friends at Club 100 from Sweden.  They have been recognizing milestones on their great IG account - .  So make sure you follow along.  Today, we will get updates from Ted Nims, Justine “off the beaten path” Kirby, Raiiq Ridwan (former guest and ETF speaker).  You will hear their updates throughout the podcast.  Let’s listen to one now.     I will be asking for travelers to submit audio files to recognize travel accomplishments.  To learn more follow the Counting Countries on and accounts and I will be making future call to actions.  Here are a couple of milestones to recognize now.  And take a look at Nabil’s page on GlobalGaz.com Counting Countries page.  I share his Pakistani passport from when he was a small kid.     I was in Boston for this recording while Nabil was in Cali. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, Dale Wursten, and Sam Williams.        And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Nabil Kazi Counting Countries 1.  129 countries (not including Kosovo, Vatican, Palestine and Taiwan) 2.  I was born in Kuwait City, Kuwait 3. I hold a USA Passport 4. Favorite Travel Book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 5. Favorite Travel Film is Eat Pray Love 6. Must Carry Item when Traveling AirPods and Canon Camera 7. Favorite Food is Lebanese 8 Favorite Drink is hot latte with oak milk  9. Favorite Airline is Emirates 10. Favorite Hotel is Aman Resorts 11. Instagram handle is About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Nabil Kazi Counting Countries 

Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024.  Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $120.  .  The discount will be reduced starting in May, lock in your savings and buy now. Want to go to Bhutan?    Or you can join us on a tour to. I was fortunate to secure Richard Barrow as a speaker for the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  Richard has been living in Thailand since the mid-1990s.  He is one of the most knowledgeable individuals and a trusted source for all things Thailand for both the expat community and travelers coming to the region.   Make sure you follow up on Facebook or Twitter with him.

Tan Wee Cheng has traveled to 187 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Wee Cheng, a regional neighbor, and I have communicated on and off for several years, but like many of us in the community we were only virtual acquaintances.  That changed when I met Wee Cheng in person at an extreme travel dinner in Singapore last year and then a more recent catchup in Honolulu.  I was surprised to learn about Wee Cheng’s longevity as a traveler and also noted how he is a bit of an iconoclast in Singaporean culture when it comes to extreme travel.    If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  Discount code BANGKOK of $120 will end on May 1, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the . We love having diverse voices at the event.  Just in case you missed this speaker announcement, Raiiq Ridwan, who holds a Bangladeshi passport, will share the extra challenges he faces as an extreme travelers with one of the world’s weakest passports.  And Elene Chechina will share her stories of working full time, raising 3 children, and having deep connections across 3 continents all the while Chasing 193.  How does she do it? I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gin, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, and Sam Williams for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Wee Cheng that you will not hear.   Excited to welcome new patron, Sam Williams, who is Chasing 193.  He is balancing a lot - wife, 2 small kids, and a full time job.  So his first goal is 40 by 40, which he is on track for, and then a long marathon to 193!  He has a great 10th year anniversary to Singapore, Tokyo and the Maldives.  His IG is sswilliams41 so follow along -   We also have some extra content with Gin, in a segment called Meet The Patron.  Last episode we met Bisa Myles and this episode we are talking with Gin.  Gin caught my attention when she shared her Spotify podcast stats.  In 2023, she listened to over 10,000 minutes of Counting Countries.  I have a new BFF and you can learn about her during our conversation after I speak with Wee Cheng.     And that’s not it! We are rolling out a new feature on Counting Countries.  The idea is to celebrate wins in the 193 community and involve more people.  The inspiration came from my friends at Club 100 from Sweden.  They have been recognizing milestones on their great IG account - .  So make sure you follow along.  I will be asking for travelers to submit audio files to recognize travel accomplishments.  To learn more follow the CC IG and FB accounts and I will be making future call to actions.  Here are a couple of milestones to recognize now.   I was in Bangkok for this recording while Wee Cheng was in Singapore. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my - you rock!!  ….  Adam Hickman, Barry Hoffner, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Steph Rowe, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Sunir Joshi, Jorge Serpa, Justine Kirby, Phil “Marmaduke” Marcus, Sonia Zimmermann, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Per Flisberg, Dale Wursten, and Sam Williams.        And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Tan Wee Cheng Counting Countries • Where were you born: Singapore • What passport (s) do you hold: Singapore • Favorite travel book: Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey through Yugoslavia - by Rebecca West (1941) • Favorite travel film: The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) • Favorite travel app or website: Used to be LP Thorn Tree, still miss it. Maybe Nomadmania or FB EPS page – but I don’t like them as much as I love Thorn Tree. • Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.): Mobile phone! • Favorite food: Noodles! Or any derivative/similar – pasta, ramen. I crave for it if I go to a region without it. So happy to find pasta in Ethiopia/Eritrea, and rechta in Algeria. • Favorite drink: Coffee.  Not into alcoholic drink since I started getting gout flareups • Favorite airline: Singapore Airlines…natural for Singaporeans. Love the catering and the Singapore flavours of everything that reminds one of home. • Favorite hotel: Don’t have any. See hotels as very functional and seldom return to the same hotel even for cities that I revisit. • Travel map: https://nomadmania.com/profile/290/nm/nm/by/2024 About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Wee Cheng Counting Countries 

Elena Chechina has traveled to 158 countries   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  I met Elena back at the ETF in Yerevan and started to realize what a unique life she was leading.  She is a true global citizen with true family connections to Europe, Asia, and Africa.  Elena has somehow managed to balance the multiple moving parts of her life … 3 children, a spouse who lives and works in Northern Africa, a full time job, and of course Chasing 193.  In this conversation, we learn how she manages the complexity of her life.      The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  At the festival, we will have over 20 amazing speakers.  I am excited to announce new speaker Joe Cummings.  Joe has has spent time over six different decades in Thailand.  He wrote the first Lonely Planet Thailand Guide back in 1981. He offers an unique perspective on Thailand and travel that few have.  He is also a renaissance man, he is a linguist, an actor, and a musician.  You can buy your ticket now and use the code BANGKOK to save big at the .  If you have questions, just let me know.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Steph Rowe, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Elena that you will not hear.   I was in Bangkok for this recording while Elena was in Sweden. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.          And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Elena Chechina Counting Countries Where are you from & where do you live: I was born in Moscow. I live in Sweden. What passports do you hold: I hold 2 passports: Swedish and Russian. Favourite travel app: Couchsurfing NomadMania Must carry items: Powerbank and headphones if traveling solo Baby carrier & small stroller when I travel with kids Favourite food: Sushi and exotic fruits, pad thai Favorite drink: Traditional Sweet green tea with mint prepared by my husband in Mauritania Sugarcane juice  Favourite airlines: Emirates and AirAsia (for budget travel) Favourite hotel: Traditional yurt in Kyrgyzstan Couchsurfing with families around the world Favourite travel book: Books written by other travellers in our community like "Long Road to Cullaville" by Boris Kester; "Chasing 193: a quest to visit every country in the world". I also love books based on real stories or taking place in countries like Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen e.g. The Kite Runner, Thousand Splendid suns, Desert Flower.. Favourite travel films: I love Bollywood movies and especially these movies about travelling: "Zindagi na milegi dobaara" and "Yeh Jawaani hai Diwaani" About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.

Hayley has traveled to every country in the world   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  I started to follow Hayley in the last year or two on Instagram.  And over the last several months we started sharing some messages.  She has just completed her journey to every country in the world and I wanted to learn about her adventures as well as her two physical disabilities and how she overcame these challenges.     The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  At the festival, we will have over 20 amazing speakers.  Sort of like the TEDx of travel.  Think Thor Pedersen, Francis Tapon, the Sultan Randy Williams, and so many more.  You can buy your ticket now and use the code BANGKOK to save big at the .  If you have questions, just let me know.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Steph Rowe, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Hayley that you will not hear.  After the main interview with Hayley, I have a new series, called Meet The Patrons.  And I speak with Bisa Myles, my first supporter.  I have known Bisa personally since I get to see her occasionally on my visits to Chicago, but through our conversation, I got to learn a lot more about her and some of the challenges she has overcome.    I was in Bangkok for this recording while Hayley was in England. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.          And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Hayley Kennedy Counting Countries 

To hear the entire podcast join us on patreon.com or Apple Podcast subscription.   Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024.  Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $120.  . Want to go to Bhutan?    Or you can join us on a tour to. For those in the know when it comes to Thailand, you must know the name Joe Cummings.  Joe has been living in Thailand since the late 1970s and has a resume that will rival the most interesting person in the room.  He wrote the first Lonely Planet Thailand guide in the early 1980s, plays in a rock band around Bangkok, is a film and TV actor, his written over 30 books, speaks Thai fluently, and is an expert in Sak Yant Tattoos.  His wealth of knowledge and years in Thailand gives him an unique perspective on the country and region.  I am very excited to have him as a speaker at the ETF.  You can follow him on . Also joining us on the podcast after Joe is Jordan Campbell, one of the attendees who you will meet at the ETF.  She is a content creator at and of course an avid traveler. And after Jordan, I speak with Jane Eagleson who is a veteran traveler, whose travel career spans several decades providing a longer perspective on the changes in travel.  These are some of the great people you will meet at the ETF.

This is the second publication of this interview.  The first podcast had a corrupted file.  All audio from the first interview had been deleted after 1 hr and 31 minutes.  This publication is the full file.   Raiiq has traveled to 118 countries Hey now and Happy New Year to all!  I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I knew Raiiq from EPS and had the pleasure of meeting him at the ETF in Armenia.  I was spurred to learn more about him after a recent post in EPS detailing his challenges with carrying a Bangladeshi passport.  We all know Chasing 193 is no easy feat, and Raiiq shares with us an additional set of impediments he faces to complete his goal.  The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok.  I am also excited to announce optional trips, one for UNESCO Thailand and 3 different agendas to Bhutan before and after the festival.  Check out the website or send me a message.  You can buy your ticket now and use the code BANGKOK to save big at the .  If you have questions, just let me know. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Steph Rowe, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Raiiq that you will not hear. After the main interview with Raiiq, there is an additional sidecar interview with Michael Zervos of the .  Michael will be departing from his home in mid-January to attempting to break the GWR record for quickest time to travel to every country in the world. Good luck Michael!     And in 193 news, more congratulations to go around with the following people completing their last country.  (Data from NomadMania.)  * Ryan Smith : Reached his final country in St Vincent and the Grenadines. * Enric Moreno and Mayte Galindo : First Spanish couple to achieve this, ending in Palau. * Ernestine Chan () : completed her global tour in Libya. * Julie Ann Small : The third British woman recently to finish, in the Maldives. I was in Chicago for this recording while Raiiq was in England. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my  …. Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.  Raiiq Ridwan Counting Countries      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries:  and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has  and keep up with his journey at  How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania  The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500. SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Raiiq Ridwan Counting Countries

Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024.  Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $120.  . Want to go to Bhutan?    Or you can join us on a tour to . I am happy to introduce a new speaker at the ETF, .  I consider David a Papua New Guinea product expert.  He has spent a cumulative one year over the last five year in PNG as the founder of .  David will be sharing his tips for traveling independently in PNG.  He is a professional photographer, and you will be impressed with his skills. We also have two special guests joining us on the episode after my conversation with David.  Both of these guests attended the first event in Armenia and they will be joining us in Bangkok.  I wanted to use this opportunity to learn more about them. John McKenzie is a travel content creator documenting his travels from around the globe.  Check out his . Anders Larsson is the current Chairman of in Sweden and has a rich travel history and of living around the globe. We look forward to welcoming you to Bangkok, let us know if we have any questions.

Thor Pedersen has traveled to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Checking in with multi-repeat guest and travel legend, Thor Pedersen of Once Upon A Saga.  For those of us in the know, Thor recently finished a nearly 10 year journey to every country in the world without flying in an unbroken journey with a minimum of 24 hours in each country.  These additional rules that Thor instituted increased the complexity and length of this journey in addition to the global Covid lockdown. Thor demonstrated an immense amount of grit and determination to overcome so many challenges.  It is a singular and unique accomplishment.  The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok, plenty of time to save the date.  I am also excited to announce optional trips, one for UNESCO Thailand and 3 different agendas to Bhutan before and after the festival.  Check out the website or send me a message. Thor joined ETF virtually in Armenia but will be in person as the closing keynote in Bangkok.  Want to hear and meet him?  Don’t miss out and join us today.  You can buy your ticket now and use the code BANGKOK to save big at the . I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Steph Rowe, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Thor that you will not hear. Thor is appearing in your feed for the third time.  In addition, I have documented Thor an additional 7 times for my patrons, every 6 months, document his trials and tribulations.  You can access these additional episodes by being a patron or subscribing to them on Apple Podcasts.  I have interviewed Thor a total of 10 times for Counting Countries since 2016.        I want to let you know that is a great resource for those of us who are Chasing 193.  Patron and traveler Justine Kirby is the founder of the group.  For those who are in EPS, this is another great platform to trade travel information to achieve your travel goals.  Join today with the link in the Show Notes.    For the third episode in a row I am highlighting another author from the travel community.  Previously I highlighted Harry Mitsidis’s , Flavio Ferrari Zumbini’s , and this month I am speaking with author Michael Richards who just published .  Listen to my conversation with Michael after my conversation with Thor.  And after my conversation with Michael, stick around for some more info about the Extraordinary Travel Festival.       More congratulations are in order to new 193ers Hayley Kennedy who finished in Libya.   And Mike Downes who finished in Antigua.  Well done to both!  According to NomadMania 27 new people have completed 193 in 2023 so far. I was in Chicago for this recording while Thor was in Copenhagen. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.          And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About Thor Pedersen Counting Countries Born in: The Kingdom of Denmark, in the high north of Europe Passports from: Denmark Favorite travel book: GRUK – about travel, by Piet Hein Favorite travel film: Favorite travel site: Must carry: Pen, scarf, passport, smartphone, credit card Favorite food: A good pasta dish or: fresh fish and manioc near the sea in Central Africa (eaten with my hands and not with cutlery) Favorite drink: Milk (from Denmark) Favorite Airline: Haven’t flown for years. Figure they are all the same more or less? Favorite Hotel: I’ve been thinking hard. I’m not sure I have one? But Best Western Plus: Lusaka Grand Hotel in Zambia if you push me. I had free accommodation and the staff was great! 🙂 I like a few lodges and hostels…hotels haven’t been a big part of this journey. Website: Facebook: Instagram:     About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.   

Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024.  Please use code - BANGKOK - to save $120.  . Want to go to Bhutan?  I am pleased to announce a new speaker, who will be speaking about her experience on a multi-week homestay in Mogadishu. The next guest is Palle Bo, .  Palle attended the first ETF and is coming back for the second one. And our last guest is a first-time attendee to ETF Bangkok, Mike Fiorellino at YouTube creator at . Have you bought a ticket to ETF or are confident you will be attending?  We want to hear from you to make this event even better, please take several minutes and .  Thanks!

Michael Noel has traveled to 192 countries Please fill out this survey and provide feedback - https://forms.gle/1RmLQh7hLuw2Xnc6A Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Checking in with our new guest, Michael Noel and I crossed paths in the Douala airport en route to Bangui.  We ended up sharing a dinner and a trip to a waterfall.  Always great to run into fellow travelers in the least traveled places, and he shared a number of stories which I thought would make a fascinating conversation. As some of you might have heard the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok, plenty of time to save the date. You can buy your ticket now and use the code BANGKOK to save big at the .  I am also excited to announce our first trip, and that is 3 different agendas to Bhutan after the festival.  Check out the website or send me a message. We have some great speakers who have already been announced for the event with more to come.  One of the speakers is Pablo Nemo, who has been walking from south to north for almost two years in Africa.  You can vote for him in the Nomad Mania Awards as the Most Intrepid Traveler.  There are a lot of other amazing travelers, so take a moment to recognize them.  Vote today! After the interview with Michael, I will be checking in with Harry Mitisdis, who has recently published Welcome To The Hotel NomadMania.  This is a classic whodunit with many fictionalized character from the Extreme Travel Community.     I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Steph Rowe, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Michael that you will not hear. And we have a new patron, Phil Marcus.  You might have heard me refer to Phil on the podcast several times.  Phil have teamed up over the last couple of years on some very memorable Africa and Middle East travels.  If you follow Phil on IG or FB, you might recognize him for his BFF better known as Beaker, a famous muppet, who he travels with all of the time and appears in many photos and video.  And speaking of video, make sure you follow him on YouTube at , which has a ton of great videos.   I was in Chicago for this recording while Michael was in Cali. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.          And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About Michael Noel Counting Countries ·       Where were you born o   Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA ·       What passport (s) do you hold o   USA ·       Favorite travel book o   Currently published: “The Long Road to Cullaville.” Though of course I think my upcoming book “Breaking the Tourist Barrier” will be a favorite soon as well. ;) ·       Favorite travel film o   Not really into travel films, maybe some documentaries but nothing stands out. ·       Favorite travel app or website o   Been a big fan of the ‘Fog of World’ app recently, though make heavy use of ‘Flighty,’ ‘Mark O’Travel,’ and ‘Polarsteps.’ ·       Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.) o   Only real need is smartphone and passport. Everything else is optional. I travel exceedingly light, nothing more than a small backpack and/or small satchel. ·       Favorite food o   Sooo many choices and it really depends. Honestly, my favorite depends on region, I do try to eat as local as possible. If you press me to come up with something I’ll say Durian. ·       Favorite drink o   Same as above, depends. I don’t really like anything sweet though. Again, if you press probably espresso, but depends on where I am in the world. ·       Favorite airline o   Tough one, as I have status on United Airlines so that’s where I’m most likely to get upgraded, treated well, etc., but let’s be honest, it’s not the BEST worldwide. Probably Emirates if I’m being honest. ·       Favorite hotel o   Actually not really a hotel guy…I like what’s closest to the action and what doesn’t wall me off from the locals. Often times that means staying in someone’s house or an Airbnb. But if you press me for an answer I’ll probably say the Hotel Sapphire in Istanbul, mainly because of location and it’s a great deal.     How to stay in touch o   Travel blog (unfortunately woefully out of date but still useful info there: . ) o   X/Instagram/Threads: @sharingtheglobe About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .   

Orest Zub has traveled to 132 countries   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Checking in with our new guest, Orest Zub, a name many of you might be familiar with.  Orest and I have never met in person, but he falls into that category of someone who I feel like we have met in person, but we never have.  We have shared video calls, messages and share many friends in common.               This is a busy conversation where we speak about Orest’s travels around the globe which have brought him to 132 countries.  We speak about updates in the NomadMania community, where he has a new position at the organization.  Don’t forget to vote for your favorite travelers for the NomadMania Awards and also remember there is a live show in Lviv in October.  Of course, Orest and I speak about the situation in Ukraine, how is life has changed, as well as his role during the war.       The cat is out of the bag.  The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024, plenty of time to save the date and get ready to eat mango and sticky rice.  The event will be in Bangkok.  Expect amazing speakers, cool pre and post trips, as well as super fun networking with old and new friends.  You can buy your ticket now.  Please use the code BANGKOK to save big when you buy your ticket on .     I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear extra content with Orest that you will not hear.   I would like to introduce two new patrons, one of the names, Jorge Serpa, might be familiar.  He was a guest on an episode in 2022.  I encourage you to listen to this episode since Jorge is a very interesting character.  And if you swing by Kinshasa make sure you say hi to him since he is living there.    And also please say hi to Per Flisberg who is Chasing 193 and is currently at 61 countries and is currently planning trips to South America as well as a Gulf State trip.  If you have any recommendations for him, check him out at on IG.     This summer, I also got to connect in person with other patrons Ted Nims and Bisa Myles in Chicago.  Great to see them as always.     Counting Countries is ranked in the top 2.5% of all published podcasts, this is according to , which tracks over 3 million podcasts.  So again, thanks to everyone who listens, writes a review or shares with a friend.     I was in Chicago for this recording while Orest was in Ukraine. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.          And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About Orest Zub Counting Countries   Where were you born Lviv What passport (s) do you hold Ukrainian Favorite travel book Vagabonding by Rolf Potts  Favorite travel film The Art of Travel, 2008 Favorite travel app or website NomadMania Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.) Tripod selfie stick Favorite food Grilled meat Favorite drink Ouso, Anise Raki, Mastika (all the same) Favorite airline WizzAir Favorite hotel Trunk of my car Travel map   Website   Social Media          About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.  Orest Zub Counting Countries 

We are pleased to announce that the Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held in Bangkok on November 15, 2024. .  Use code - BANGKOK - to save $120.  If you are an alumni of ETF Yerevan or a Patron of Counting Countries, please contact us for your special code. Please listen to this podcast for an overview of the event with a special guest. BANGKOK Thank you for your patience and we are excited to announce that the ETF II will be in the City of Angels, also known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, and of course best known as Bangkok. We don't need to sell Bangkok, it was the most visited city in the world in 2019.  You will have the opportunity to explore Bangkok, far flung regions of Thailand, nearby neighbors in South East Asia, or access countries like Bhutan or Bangladesh with direct flights.  There are countless opportunities to travel in this robust region. WHEN The festival will be from November 15 - 17, 2024.  This is a great time to visit the region since you may expect cooler temperatures due to the winter season. BUY YOUR TICKET We look forward to welcoming you to the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok and wish to share with you this discount code. a discount of $120 Please use code - BANGKOK -    

Check out the Ed Hotchkiss has traveled to 128 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Checking in with our new guest, Ed Hotchkiss.  As I note in my conversation, Ed and I have shared a lot of face time in less than a year, whether it was in the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Armenia or on trips with ITC Sudan to Sudan and a visit to Djibouti.  Ed is also one of those people you hear mentioned every episode since he is a patron.           As I traveled with Ed for a couple of weeks, I always had a keen ear for his travels.  One of the interesting attributes he brings is a window of travel over several decades.  I won’t spoil the plot, but Ed has been traveling for years whether it is hitchhiking across America, for work, with his great buddy Phil, and his lovely wife Khadija.  He is a passionate photographer and has published a massive passion project, a photo book of the people of the NYC subway.  OK, if you have been online, you might have noted that things are heating up for the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  This is a reminder, save the date!  November 15, 2024, so plenty of time to start planning for the second ETF.  What about the location?  Great question.  Tune in to Every Passport Stamp for the live announcement at 9am EST or GMT -5, and you will learn where this amazing event will take place.  I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast.  And new patron, Per Flisberg.  Welcome aboard!  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons hear extra content with Ed that you will not hear.  I was in Boston for this recording while Ed was in NYC.  Go Red Sox.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Per, Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.       And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! More About Ed Hotchkiss Counting Countries       Where were you born?                            Denver, Colorado.       What passport (s) do you hold                            USA       Favorite travel book                           Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage (1959) by Alfred Lansing                  Special Mention:                          Into the Wild (1996) by Jon Krakauer                          On the Grand Trunk Road: A Journey Into South Asia (1993) by                          On The Road (1957) by Jack Kerouac.                          The Motorcycle Diaries (written 1952, published posthumously) by Che Guevara.                          The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968) by Tom Wolfe about Ken Kesey and the “Merry Band of Pranksters" cross-country,                                    psychedelic bus trip.                          Stanley: An adventurer explored (1975) by Richard Hall       Favorite travel film                           Seven Years in Tibet (1997) starring Brad Pitt based on 1952 memoir Austrian Heinrich Harrer.                Special Mention:                           The Man Who Would Be King (1975) with Sean Connery and Michael Caine.                           The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) with Ben Stiller.                           Sullivan's Travels (1941) by Preston Sturges.                           Zentropa (1991) An American takes a railway job in Germany just after WWII.                           Open Water (2003) fiction, based on real story1991) of an American couple who go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef and                             were accidentally left behind.                           Night on Earth (1991) 5 different cab drivers adventures in one in 5 American and European cities, directed by .       Favorite travel app or website                           NomadMania.com                 Special Mention:                         TheCrazyTourist.com                          AtlasObscura.com                        Every Passport Stamp on Facebook                       All the individual travel blogs        Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.)                           Nikon Camera        Favorite food                          Fresh fruits and nuts       Favorite drink                         Smoothies, lassis and Ayran Turkish yogurt drink.        Favorite airline                        Fiji Airways, staff is always polite and considerate, planes are relatively new and 24-hour telephone service where you can                                   speak to an actual person.  However, they impose a 7kg weigh limit on carry-ons.       Favorite hotel                         Baber Mahal in Kathmandu, a heritage hotel in Nepal. I like this type of sprawling hotel which have various types of                                               architectural styles and are an integral part of a region’s or country’s history.       Do you have a travel map you would like to share?                       About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.  Ed Hotchkiss Counting Countries

Ross OJ Jennings has traveled to 106 countries.  Ross OC Jennings Counting Countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian.  Did you note that the intro has been updated?  Thanks to Evo the longtime voice of Counting Countries.  Ross OC Jennings might not be well known in the 193 community but he is cutting a unique path.  I had read about Ross a couple of years ago, and as I shared with him, I was a bit skeptical about his quest.  His goal was to the first bagpiper to travel to every country in the world.  Well, I can imagine he will be the first since this is not a highly sought after category.  Anyone can create a category and be the first by making the stipulations arcane and non-desirable.  But I recently heard Ross on a 10 minute podcast and was immediately won over.  I wanted to learn more about his journey and I think you will appreciate it as well.         I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons hear an extra 40 minutes with Ross that you will not hear.  And some introductions to our new patrons … it has been a busy month, don’t miss out on the extra content!  Lori Pastorelli learned about Counting Countries from recent guest Barry Hoffner.  She is a fan of Europe and even has a Dutch husband.  She is passionate about dance and fitness.   Sonia Zimmerman is a true global citizen, born in Switzerland, lived in France, Germany, Paraguay, and now living in Australia.  She is a mother who speaks 5 languages and has just finished a trip in Africa on her goal to 100.   Marc Jorgenson had the recent experience of traveling with me for two weeks and survived to tell about it.  Marc who speaks Portuguese was a great companion to have when we traveled to Maputo.  He is based in Seattle and is nearing 100 countries.   Long time member of the 193 community, Justine Kirby is a Kiwi now based in NYC working as a lawyer.  She is at 160 UN countries and 48 US states. And might now be 49 as she was planning a trip to Alaska.    Many of you might know I have been tracking Thor from Once Upon A Saga progress as he travels to every country in the world.  I have just recorded the 7th episode of the Thor Chronicles.  Every six months I check in with Thor.  You will hear a snippet of this conversation after my conversation with Ross.  But my patrons will hear the entire 90 minute conversation.   As an additional aside, at times there is an irritating echo on my audio track, I apologize to you the listener and to Ross.   I was in Bangkok for this recording while Ross was in Scotland complete with sheep. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmermann, Lori Pastorelli, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.       And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About Ross OC Jennings Counting Countries About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.  

David Yang has traveled to every country in the world.  David Yang Counting Countries I feel like I have known David for as long as I have been in the community with our mutual 218 FB friends.  David is an outgoing, gregarious and omnipresent traveler in our group.  Whether he is sharing his travel photos on FB sometimes multiple times a day or jumping from one corner of the globe to the other to meetup with travel friends.  I have met David twice in real life which we touch on.  And David is a prolific counter and tracker of all sorts of things.     I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Carole Southam, Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons hear extra content with David that you will not hear.  And a quick hello and thank you to new patron Lori Pastorelli, welcome aboard! You can also support Counting Countries by writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  I was in Bangkok for this recording while David was in South Carolina.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian, Lori Pastorelli & Dale Wursten.       And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About David Yang Counting Countries About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.  David Yang Counting Countries

Barry Hoffner has traveled to 155 countries  Barry should be much better known in the travel community than he is today.  He showed up on my radar screen when we connected on Instagram.  I follow many who are Chasing 193.  Barry later became a generous supporter of Counting Countries via Patreon, and we connected on the phone where I began to learn more about his amazing and at times tragic life journey.   Barry has already lived several lifetimes of amazing experiences with many to go.  From exploring Europe as a 18 year old, to living as an expat in Paris for an investment firm in his mid-20s, to living in a dormitory learning Mandarin in the mid-1990s with his wife in Kunming, to living and working in Moscow with his family.  Barry is the founder of which has built 17 schools in the Timbuktu region and much more.  And of course, much more.  This is a reminder that I am partnering with SafetyWing, a travel insurance company.  I have been using them personally for over 2 years.  And yes, there are a couple of reasons why … let me highlight a couple of the features.  First, you can purchase insurance while you are already on the go.  Some insurance products force you to sign up before you leave on your trip.  Second, you only have to share your initial country on your trip.  Many of my trips are open-ended when it comes to the agenda.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting to update SafetyWing.  They’ve got me covered.  Third, most countries are covered.  Exceptions are Cuba, Iran, DPRK, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Everywhere from Mogadishu to Tripoli is covered.  And fourth, you do not have to declare a dollar value for the trip.  Many providers force you specify the cost of your trip.  Most times I have no idea how much my trip will cost.  To me, this insurance is fire and forgot.  It will renew every month or you can set an end date.  But compared to many of the other products out there, this one to me is the most flexible.  So, take a moment, check out , and click on the link to sign up for your next trip.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons hear extra content with Barry that you will not hear.  We have another patron to welcome, Carole Southam.  I have known Carole for several years as she attended travel meetups that I organized in Bangkok.  And even better, she joined many of us from the community in Yerevan for the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  Carole is a prolific traveler in her own right, working and traveling around the world.  We just met for dinner in Bangkok as her and her husband came through Bangkok.  You can also support Counting Countries by writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  I was in Bangkok for this recording while Barry was in the Sausalito.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.   And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About Barry Hoffner Counting Countries About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.  Barry Hoffner Counting Countries

Riza Rasco has traveled to 192 countries Riza Rasco is a well-known person in the extreme travel community.  And I have crossed paths with her twice, once for breakfast in the North End of Boston and for the multi-day Extraordinary Travel Festival in Armenia. She is a prolific and immersive traveler who is only one country away from completing her quest.    Riza shares so many experiences yet this podcast could have been double the time since there was so much to discuss.  Riza shares some very personal moments from her life and how travel began to dominate.  She shares her philosophy of travel, which should be more than taking selfies and checking boxes, but how you can give back to the community.   This is a reminder that I am partnering with SafetyWing, a travel insurance company.  I have been using them personally for over 2 years.  And yes, there are a couple of reasons why … let me highlight a couple of the features.  First, you can purchase insurance while you are already on the go.  Some insurance products force you to sign up before you leave on your trip.  Second, you only have to share your initial country on your trip.  Many of my trips are open-ended when it comes to the agenda.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting to update SafetyWing.  They’ve got me covered.  Third, most countries are covered.  Exceptions are Cuba, Iran, DPRK, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Everywhere from Mogadishu to Tripoli is covered.  And fourth, you do not have to declare a dollar value for the trip.  Many providers force you specify the cost of your trip.  Most times I have no idea how much my trip will cost.  To me, this insurance is fire and forgot.  It will renew every month or you can set an end date.  But compared to many of the other products out there, this one to me is the most flexible.  So, take a moment, check out SafetyWing, and click on the link to sign up for your next trip.       I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons hear extra content with Riza that you will not hear.    It is also time to recognize three more patrons.  Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute (so sorry for butchering your name), and Philippe Izedian.  Our Chasing 193 community is fascinating how it is changed and grown over the years.  Sunir and I have been corresponding for three years talking about travel.  Sunir has changed his entire life in regard to work to pursue his dream of Chasing 193.  Philippe is a fascinating guy, still at university but so well traveled.  For those who read my blog, GlobalGaz, you might know I enjoy writing an end of the year review.  I encourage you to check out Philippe’s .  Impressive!  You can also support Counting Countries by writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover. These reviews were written a while ago but I just noted them. Thanks guys for the review. Excellent Podcast I love your interviews of very interesting travel stories that make me to want to travel more around the world. Thank you - DallasTX7   Great podcast Inspiring travel stories. Look forward to each episode. - divebookreader   And there is a lot of updates for this podcast. This is a special announcement before we return to my conversation with Riza..  I am excited to announce a special conversation with two of the best known and best traveled individuals, Harry Mitsidis and Charles Veley, both former guests.  Harry is known as the founder of NomadMania and Charles is the founder of Most Travel People.  I will be hosting a conversation with these two travel legends on March 25 at 1700 GMT.  Want to stay in the loop, click on the link in the podcast notes and share your email so we can follow up with viewing instructions.       I was in Boston for this recording while Riza was in the Philippines.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.      

Special Links Katelyn Jarvis … Giving Back In West Point  Katelyn Jarvis has traveled to 150 countries Katelyn is one of many who has been on my radar screen for some time as we passed each other like two ships during the night on FB.  I finally got to meet Katelyn in person at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Yerevan and then learned more about her when she was nominated for the Nomad Mania Awards.  So I thought now would be a great time to set up an interview and learn more about her travels.        I was curious to learn more about Katelyn’s philanthropy and how she combined that with her travels.  During our conversation, I was impressed to learn more about her efforts with her organization, Peace Stamps.  I believe anyone Chasing 193 is an impressive person, when you are able to marry that with something even more meaningful, even better.        This is a reminder that I am partnering with SafetyWing, a travel insurance company.  I have been using them personally for over 2 years.  And yes, there are a couple of reasons why … let me highlight a couple of the features.  First, you can purchase insurance while you are already on the go.  Some insurance products force you to sign up only when you are in your home country.  Second, you only have to share your initial country on your trip.  Many times on some of my open ended trips, I end up adding in additional countries.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting to update SafetyWing.  They have me covered.  Third, most countries are covered.  Exceptions are Cuba, Iran, DPRK, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Everywhere else is covered from Mogadishu to Tripoli.  And fourth, you do not have to declare a dollar value for the trip.  Some other providers force you to list the dollar value of your trip.  I really can’t think of ay trips I have taken where I am able to calculate the trips costs for one or two months.  To me, this insurance is fire and forgot.  It will renew every month or you can set an end date.  But compared to many of the other products out there, this one to me is the most flexible.  So, take a moment, check out SafetyWing, and click on the link to sign up for your next trip.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons hear extra content, like an extra 30 minutes with Katelyn.     I was in Chicago for this recording while Katelyn was in Ohio.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.

Ildikó Szabó has traveled to every country in the world.  Ildiko Szabo Counting Countries I knew of Ildy for several years and had noted her social media presence, but it wasn’t until October of this year when I met her in person at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Yerevan.  I shared several conversations with her and recognized she would be a great guest for the podcast.  And, voila, a month after the festival we were recording this podcast. I would like to thank Ildy, since this podcast was a challenging endeavor.  To create 2 hours of recordings took us nearly 6 hours.  And then in post-production another 6 hours.  To say we had some technical difficulties would be an understatement.  Ildy was very, very gracious with her time.  And that is how the cookie crumbles, some episodes are straight forward and easy to publish, and well others suck up a ton of time.  And just a warning, at times it might seem like the podcast is missing audio from our conversation since at times it appears we are skipping around.  And it is true, we lost a fair amount of audio recordings, besides re-recording and my best attempts of editing, the podcast might be wanting for a better flow.  Nonetheless, Ildy provides a ton of great stories from her travels.       I found Ildy to be an accomplished traveler as well as very adventurous.  One thing I personally enjoy about interviewing all of these great travelers is how so many of them are interconnected.  I learned of a connection between Ildy and Johnny Ward.  I was impressed years ago to hear of Johnny’s adventure on a cement ship from Oman to Socotra.  Well, in this conversation I was to learn Ildy took the same trip on her own to Socotra.  Really impressive.   I have a new partnership to announce.  I am promoting SafetyWing, a travel insurance company, and yes, I am an affiliate.  I have been using them personally for over 2 years.  And yes, there are a couple of reasons why … let me highlight a couple of the features.  First, you can purchase insurance while you are already on the go.  Some insurance products force you to sign up only when you are in your home country.  Second, you only have to share your initial country on your trip.  Many times, on my open-ended trips, I end up adding in additional countries.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting to update SafetyWing.  They have me covered.  Third, most countries are covered.  Exceptions are Cuba, Iran, DPRK, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Everywhere else is covered from Mogadishu to Tripoli.  To me, this insurance is fire and forgot.  It will renew every month, or you can set an end date.  But compared to many of the other products out there, this one to me is the most flexible.  So, take a moment, check out , and click on the link to sign up for your next trip.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  I would also like to thank and highlight two new patrons of the podcast, Ed Hotchkiss and Barry Hoffner.  I also met Ed in Yerevan for the festival as well.  Ed is Chasing 193 and is also an accomplished photographer.  I just purchased his book, , a labor of love with black and white photos highlighting the people of the NYC subway.  Please take a moment to check out his book.  Barry is also Chasing 193 and has been to over 150 countries.  Say hi to him on his IG account, .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons hear extra content, like an additional hour of my conversation with Ildy.     And at the end of Ildy’s conversation, you will hear a ten-minute conversation with Thor Pedersen of Once Upon A Saga.  As you might know, I have been documenting his journey every 6 months for the last 3 years.  My patrons will hear nearly 90 minutes of Thor recounting his last 6 months and his predictions for the end of the saga.     I was in Bangkok for this recording while Ildy was in Budapest.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my  …. Barry Hoffner, Edward Hotchkiss, Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  

Dr Song Nopparat Rattanawaraha Counting Countries Breaking News I speak with a 193 Insider who was working intimately to free Dr. Song from his kidnappers.  Dr. Song is Chasing 193 and I was kidnapped by bandits as crossed by land from Burkina Faso to Mali.  Dr. Song was held in captivity for 3 weeks until a $150,000 ransom was delivered.  This Insider provides the behind-the-scenes details.

On this episode, I will be providing an update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  I am happy to share with you the schedule for the event and all of the great speakers. Check out the . Check out our with Soviet Tours, ITC Sudan, Large Minority, and WSE Travel. And you can still here to join us in Yerevan.  And also remember to check out the , read my review here.   

Paul Barbato has traveled to over 70 countries Paul AKA Barbs and I met through Gus Rosted.  Gus is one of the attendees at the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  Gus recommended Barbs as speaker at the festival. I knew Barbs and his YouTube channel, Geography Now! and thought he would be a great addition in Armenia.  Barbs agreed to participate in the festival and also to join me on Counting Countries.   Barbs has had tremendous success with his YouTube channel with over 3 million subscribers.  Barbs’s success was not overnight but nearly a 10 year grind of perfecting his craft and attracting new followers.  Barbs is also on a quest to travel to every country in the world, but at his own pace.  Unsurprisingly, he also enjoys the oddities of geography during his travels, including salients.  As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world’s largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022.  We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences. You will see and meet former guests from this show like Francis Tapon, Debjeet Sen, Per Besson, and Audrey Walsworth in Armenia.   Please go to to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting.  Check back often since there are frequent updates.  If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50.  Hope to see you in Yerevan.      I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons hear extra content, like an additional 35 minutes of my last conversation with Lucy Shoe and with this conversation with Barbs, only for you.    You will also hear from Thor at the end of the Barbs interview.  For the last 2 years plus, I have been interviewing Thor to track his progress in traveling to every country in the world without flying.  My patrons hear this fascinating interviews at the time of the recording.  You will hear only a snippet at this time.   And as a side note, Barb’s mom makes a brief appearance while I attempt to say hello in Korean and not impress his mother.   I was in Chicago for this recording while Barbs was in LA.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Lucy Shoe, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if from some of these links like if you order from Amazon/Agoda/etc. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!  

Please check out the To buy ticket, use code ETF to save $50 This is a special episode of Counting Countries.  Like many in the community I have a keen interest of de facto states and micronations.  I love the idiosyncrasies of crossing the border into an Abkhazia or Transnistria.  As I have shared with listeners before I was fortunate to visit the Principality of Sealand with the Extreme Traveler International Congress.  I have been following the new micronation of the Republic of Slowjamastan on social media, founded by the Sultan Randy Williams better known to listeners as Ramblin’ Randy, a former guest of Counting Countries.  He was first interviewed in Episode 36 in July of 2017.  He was just at 86 countries at that time.  Besides traveling up a storm, Randy has created a micronation in California.  As you know, micronations range from high comedy to the deadly serious.  The Sultan has poured in a ton of effort and money into creating this desert kingdom.  This is a really fun project.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons hear extra content, like an additional 40 minutes of my last conversation with Jorge Serpa and Lucy Hsu.As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world’s largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022.  We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences. Please go to ExtraordinaryTravelFestival.com to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting.  Check back often since there are frequent updates.  If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50.  Hope to see you in Yerevan.      I was in Bangkok for this recording while the Sultan was in San Diego.   Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Lucy Shoe, and Garying Chan. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! About Sultan Of Slowjamastan Counting Countries Check out the Sultan’s first . And check out the .  About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way.

Lucy Hsu … It’s A Compromise Lucy Hsu has traveled to 187 countries Lucy and I met briefly at an impromptu meetup in Jeddah.  I knew she was an accomplished traveler who was nearing completion of every country in the world, but did not realize the scope of her travel CV.  This conversation was a great opportunity to learn more about her travel history.  I always say there are so many fantastically interesting people to talk to in the Chasing 193 community, but simply not enough time to speak to them all.     Lucy has managed some deeper travel experiences while balancing a family and teaching full time.  I always marvel at the bandwidth of some in the travel community who are able to pursue different passions and manage so many different moving parts of their lives.     I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons hear extra content, like an additional 40 minutes of my last conversation with Jorge Serpa and exclusive content from Lucy.   As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world’s largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022.  We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences.  Please go to ExtraordinaryTravelFestival.com to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting.  Check back often since there are frequent updates.  If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50.  Hope to see you in Yerevan.        I was in Bangkok for this recording while Lucy was in California.   Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.         And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!     And write a review! About Lucy Hsu Counting Countries Born: San Jose, CA Passport: USA  Favorite website: Tripadvisor Must carry: iPhone Favorite food: sushi Favorite drink: tea Favorite airline: Emirates About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if from some of these links like if you order from Amazon/Agoda/etc. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!   

  To learn more about the Extraordinary Travel Festival in October 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia, please take a look at our website.  To buy a ticket, use code ETF to save $50.  And please take a look at our friends and sponsor in Sudan, ITC Sudan.  https://extraordinarytravelfestival.com/tickets/

Jorge caught my attention when I came across his blog.  He is a true global citizen with an early move with his his family to Mozambique from Portugal followed by Venezuela and then attaining his higher education in the US.  Between his career and his marriage to a US diplomat, Jorge has lived all around the world.  Jorge has a passion for the road and the sea.  He loves a great road trip whether it is overland on a big bike or a 4x4 or on his sailboat while on the open seas.  We discuss balancing travel, family, and work.  And of course, we touch on future goals.           I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons were able to watch the entire video interview with Drew Binsky and exclusive content with Jorge.      As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world’s largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022.  We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences.  Please go to ExtraordinaryTravelFestival.com to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting.  Check back often since there are frequent updates.  If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50.  Hope to see you in Yerevan.      I was in Bangkok for this recording while Jorge was in Khartoum.   Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.   And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if from some of these links like if you order from Amazon/Agoda/etc. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!  Jorge Serpa Counting Countries  

I am your host Ric Gazarian.  This is another special episode from counting countries.  Expect to hear a traditional deep dive episode next week. But this episode is timely.  It coincides with the publication of a Washington post article on April 15 in regard to Cassie De Pecol.  She is well known in the extreme travel community for claiming to be the first woman to travel to every country in the world.  Unfortunately, that claim is untrue, and now Cassie De Pecol is being sued by Travelers United, an advocacy group that works on behalf of consumers.  The 100 plus page document lays out in great detail the numerous times De Pecol makes these false claims amongst many other questionable actions. I speak with Lauren Wolfe, an attorney at Travelers United, who is an avid traveler herself.  We overview the legal complaint made against De Pecol in detail. I was in Bangkok for the recording, Doha airport to edit, and Lauren joined me from Washington DC.  Please listen in and enjoy. 

Drew made his first appearance on Counting Countries in 2017 when we both were Wanderers for G Adventures, the global travel company.  We also crossed paths in Bangkok when Thor Pedersen passed through Thailand.  Drew and I continued a correspondence over the years with some recent communications when Drew was visiting Saudi Arabia, his last country, while I was also in the KSA.  This episode is Counting Countries’s 100th episode, and several months ago I pondered who would be a good choice for this milestone.  I decided Drew was a great fit for this episode, timing with his completion of every country in the world.  And also, Drew is arguably one of the most successful travel content creators, especially in the Chasing 193 universe.       I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  My patrons will hear exclusive audio content from Drew as well as the full video of our interview.    A lot has changed since Drew’s first appearance (and I would encourage you to listen to that episode from the summer of 2017), and that is a tremendous understatement.  The numbers speak volumes in regard to his success, nearing 10 million followers and 5 billion views across his social media channels.  As I mentioned earlier, Drew completed his quest of visiting every country in the world in November of 2021.  We discuss a lot during this candid conversation from what counts as visiting a country to his responsibility in creating videos with such a large platform.  And of course, we have a lot of name checking … Dan Herszberg, Alvaro Rojas, former guests, Lee Abbamonte and Lexie Alford, Yes Theory, Nomadmania and Most Traveled People, Baderkhan, and Marlon Reed. As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world’s largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022.  We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences.  Please go to ExtraordinaryTravelFestival.com to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting.  Check back often since there are frequent updates.  If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50.  Hope to see you in Yerevan.      A giant thank you for those of you who have been listening to this podcast, all 100 episodes since June of 2016.  Here is to the next 100.   I was in Chicago for this recording while Drew was in Arizona.   Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! More About Drew Binsky Counting Countries: Born: US Passports: US Blog: IG: YT: About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if from some of these links like if you order from Amazon/Agoda/etc. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!  Drew Binsky  Counting Countries 

On this episode I am speaking with Harry Mitsidis, the founder of NomadMania. We spoke with Harry Mitsidis on the last episode when he shared that the 2nd Annual NomadMania Travel Awards. Harry will also be hosting a trip to Armenia before the festival.  So this is a great opportunity to travel w a legend and visit all 3 nomad mania regions of this historic country. You can check out the Extraordinary Travel Festival website to . Please listen in and enjoy.

A Conversation With Harry Mitsidis And Julian Carnall Of Large Minority On this episode I am speaking with Harry Mitsidis, the founder of NomadMania and Julian Carnall, the founder of Large Minority. Harry has big news to share ... The Second Annual NomadMania Travel Awards will take place in person at the Extraordinary Travel Festival on October 16, 2022 in Yerevan Armenia. Large Minority is one of our   The Extraordinary Travel Festival will be creating a Curated Trips of 2023.  Large Minority will be contributing a trip to this list, which we will discuss during our conversation.  This will be an awesome adventure, a tuktuk rally up the KKR in Pakistan.   Join us in Yerevan, Armenia from October 14 -16, 2022 At the Armenia Hotel Yerevan For the: Extraordinary Travel Festival This will be a multi-day event with great and inspiring speakers And at night we will be hosting parties and dinners to have fun and unwind This is a great opportunity to meet avid & accomplished travelers from all over the world Our goal is to bring people together from around the world, who are: Traveling to every country in the world Passionate to explore extreme and challenging destinations And love to have fun and network with likeminded people To learn more about this event, please go to:  Use code EPS to save $50 off your ticket

This is the Counting Countries Extraordinary Travel Festival Update #2 On this episode I am speaking with Charles Veley, the founder of the Most Traveled People, and Gianluca Pardelli, the founder of Soviet Tours. Charles will play two roles at the festival.  He will be a speaker, sharing stories of some of his travel adventures.  And Charles will be hosting an optional trip to Georgia and Armenia that takes place before the festival.  You can view the . Soviet Tours is one of our .  The Extraordinary Travel Festival will be creating a Curated Trips of 2023.  Soviet Tours will be contributing a trip to this list, which we will discuss during our conversation.  This will be an amazing trip to the North Caucasus.   Join us in Yerevan, Armenia from October 14 -16, 2022 At the Armenia Hotel Yerevan For the: Extraordinary Travel Festival This will be a multi-day event with great and inspiring speakers And at night we will be hosting parties and dinners to have fun and unwind This is a great opportunity to meet avid & accomplished travelers from all over the world Our goal is to bring people together from around the world, who are: Traveling to every country in the world Passionate to explore extreme and challenging destinations And love to have fun and network with likeminded people To learn more about this event, please go to:  Use code EPS to save $50 off your ticket

video Mette and I had been connected on Facebook via Every Passport Stamp, but we recently crossed paths in Jeddah for an evening of dinner and shisha with a group of extreme travelers.    We were connected by former guest Henrik Jeppesen who was aware that both of us were traveling in KSA.  While I was aware that Mette was a seasoned traveler, over dinner I heard more of her stories and thought she would be a great fit for Counting Countries.   After my conversation with Mette, I will be checking in with Thor Pedersen again, of Once Upon A Saga.  I have been documenting Thor’s journey to every country in the world and all of the challenges he has been facing with this pandemic.  You will hear a snippet of this conversation but my patrons will hear the entire conversation.   The next episode will be the 100th episode.  Our first episode was in 2016.  I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons:  Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  You can also support Counting Countries be writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  I have already interviewed three Danes, Henrik Jeppesen, Jakob Oster, and Thor Pedersen, yet I thought Mette’s lived travel experiences provided a unique voice.  Mette shared a very candid explanation of the changes she made in her life to Chase 193.  Mette also travels constantly with her children, who have racked up impressive numbers.  We have a wide ranging conversation, everything from the Danish Travel Club to Nomad Mania to Every Passport Stamp, while name checking extreme travelers like Ramblin Randy, David Yang, and Lucy Shoe.     As many of you have heard, Stefan Kraswoski and I have teamed up to host the Extraordinary Travel Festival, the world’s largest gathering of accomplished travelers. This will take place in Yerevan, 2022.  We are excited to produce this event to help grow our community while organizing great events, and hosting some amazing experiences.  Please go to ExtraordinaryTravelFestival.com to see our speakers, our sponsors, and some of the trips we are hosting.  Check back often since there are frequent updates.  If buying a ticket, please use code ETF to save $50.  Hope to see you in Yerevan.      I was in Chicago for this recording while Mette was in Copenhagen.   Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims. More About Mette Ehlers Mikkelsen Counting Countries:   Born: Denmark Passports: Hold Danish passports  Book: Kronisk Rejsefeber volume 1-2-3 - Cronical TravelAddiction - a Danish series of books with the selected best travel stories written and published by member of the Danish Travelers Club during the 25 years, the Club has existed. I have an article in each volume on Faroe Islands, Libya and Sudan  Film: David Attenborough - everything. For cozy weekend: Eat, pray, love. TV: Danish television on Danish Diplomats from 2021  App: BEEN, Polarsteps, Danish MFA. Sustainable: TripDoodler  Must carry: The purse to organize all passports and vaccine documents for me and my children by Swedish Ordning and Reda  Food: Try all local as principle - spiders in Cambodia, bat in Palau before covid  Drink - Ecuador whisky in Scotland as it was Al Capone’s favorite - admire they got permission to export it to the USA during the period where this was forbidden  Hotel: Guldsmeden. Dragon Fly  Airline: SAS Blog: IG: https://www.instagram.com/expandingourhorizon/   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if from some of these links like if you order from Amazon/Agoda/etc. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!   

Key Links video Thank you to my Patrons…Phillip Jones, , Thor Pedersen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.   I am friends with Tommy on Facebook and also met him on the somewhat famous Adam Hickman Covid Zoom travel trivia game, but he was many of my social media friends who I really did not know.  On Tommy’s FB page I noted some interesting posts with a lot of flight maps.  It definitely caught my attention and thought I would love to learn more about Chasing 244.    After my conversation with Tommy, I will be checking in with Thor Pedersen again of Once Upon A Saga.  I have been documenting Thor’s journey to every country in the world and all of the challenges he has been facing with this pandemic.  You will hear a snippet of this conversation but my patrons will hear the entire conversation.  Thanks to Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  I endeavor to interview a diverse set of voices within our community.  I want to hear different perspectives and experiences and I believe you appreciate that as well.  It has been my shortcoming that I have not had a guest from China, the world’s most populous country.  Well, that has been rectified with this conversation with Tommy as we learn about his journey to every country in the world and his recent project of Chasing 244. I was in Yerevan, Armenia for this recording while Tommy was in Shanghai.   Please listen in and enjoy.   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .  Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at . Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are. The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are. The Most Traveled Person states that there are. The Nomad Mania SISO says there are. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks! ----- Produced by  

Join us in Yerevan, Armenia from October 14 -16, 2022 at the Armenia Hotel Yerevan for the Extraordinary Travel Festival This will be a multi-day event with great and inspiring speakers And at night we will be hosting parties and dinners to have fun and unwind This is a great opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world   Our goal is to bring people together from around the world, who are: Traveling to every country in the world Passionate to explore extreme and challenging destinations And love to have fun and network with likeminded people   Learn more and buy your ticket at Do you want to save $50 off your ticket?  Use code - eps.    

Key Links video Thank you to my Patrons…Phillip Jones, , Thor Pedersen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.   I met Ted at a small travel meetup in Boston a couple of years ago, but knew him prior to that as one of my patrons for Counting Countries.  We both have homes in Chicago and we also connected a couple times in the Windy City.  We met up in late June for lunch and then retired to the Counting Countries Studio to record this podcast.  After I speak with Ted we will hear from Nick Butter once again at the end of the podcast, a guest from earlier this year.  Nick founded the .  This is a charity inspired by his trip around the world.  I will let Nick explain how this all works during our conversation.  But I will add that I have become a supporter of the foundation.  And I am now one of 500 plus people who have joined together in this project.  I imagine everyone of us is inundated with multiple offers to donate or support one cause or another.  It can become overwhelming but nonetheless I would suggest to take a moment and to check out his website to learn more.  My patrons will hear more of the interview with both Ted and Nick than you will.  AKA as exclusive content.  Thanks to Phillip Jones, , Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .    Ted shares how his collection of stamps propelled him around the globe.  Like many other 193ers, he likes to collect and create lists.  Country Counting can be another outlet for this passion.  Ted shares many of his experiences including cutting his trip short in Socotra during the beginnings of Covid.  And also a big thanks to Tony Wheeler for doing the guest introduction. Ted and I met up for incredible hamburgers at Lux Bar and then recorded this episode in the City of Big Shoulders.  Please listen in and enjoy. About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .  Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at . Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are. The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are. The Most Traveled Person states that there are. The Nomad Mania SISO says there are. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!   ----- Produced by

Key Links video Thank you to my Patrons…Phillip Jones, , Thor Pedersen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.   Ben made a brief appearance as the guest announcer for the January episode of Gina Morello.  After a bit of research, I pieced together who Ben was, pulling on a long thread and realizing that he was connected to many previous guests on this podcast.  Ben has a very, very deep travel resume.         Do not be thrown off by the length of this podcast, it is really a twofer.  You will hear from Ben first and you will hear from Dave Seminara during the second half of the podcast.  Dave is an avid traveler himself and also the author of Mad Travelers: A Tale Of Wanderlust, Greed, And The Quest To Reach The Ends Of The Earth.  You can buy this on Amazon and wherever else you buy books these days.  I read the book and do recommend it. The main focal point of this book is William Baekeland, a former guest of the podcast, who is alleged to have conned fellow extreme travelers of nearly a million dollars.  If you don’t know the back story listen to William’s podcast as well as the William Baekeland Controversy episode.      My patrons who support the show, will hear more content from Ben, over 33 minutes, which only they will hear. Thanks to Phillip Jones, , Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .    Ben is an “old school” traveler.  Ben forges his own path, and constantly bears left when all of his friends turn right.  This is a very candid conversation sharing the magic of travel and also some of the challenges that those of us who are obsessed with extreme travel confront.  I feel like I only scratched the surface of Ben’s 30 year plus travel career as he chased 193 and so much more.  Ben was in Jakarta while I was recording in the home of the New England Patriots.  Please listen in and enjoy.   More About Ben: Where were you born: Born in Newark, UK. Grew up in a small village south of Nottingham What passport do you hold: British Favorite Travel Book: No idea. Maybe Michael Runkel's "Meine Reisen an der Enden der Welt" as he is mate of mine! I remember enjoying Heinrich Harrer's "Seven Years in Tibet". Bill Bryson can be quite funny. My folks want me to write a book. If I do, I'm sure it will be my favourite. Favorite travel app or website: Kayak and NomadMania Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.): Olight flashlight. Bivvy bag. Hydrapak collapsible water bottle. Used to carry mini ipad, but no need now, as iphone pretty much does everything. Same goes for camera. Favorite drink: Ice-cold beer. Pocari Sweat. Red Bull. Fresh mango juice. Banana milk shake. Water. Coffee. Each has its specific time and place. Favorite airline: Emirates for comfort, SQ, for style, Turkish or Ethiopian for network About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .  Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at . Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are. The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are. The Most Traveled Person states that there are. The Nomad Mania SISO says there are. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!   ----- Produced by

Key Links video IG: Donate!: Website:   Thank you to my Patrons…Phillip Jones, , Thor Pedersen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.   Nick appeared on my radar screen when I read a post on FB about his quest to run a marathon in every country in the world.  My first thoughts were a mixture of disbelief and skepticism.  I started communicating with Nick at the end of 2019, yet it took to March of 2021 to sync our calendars. Patience is a virtue.   A special thank you to Twitter and Nabil Kazi, a traveler and athlete in his own right, who was a catalyst in setting up the interview.    After I speak with Nick, you will hear a snippet with Thor Pedersen.  You remember Thor, he has been on Counting Countries twice before.  Thor is on a quest to travel to every country in the world without flying.  Thor has made a lot of sacrifices, including not seeing his fiancee for over a year and a half.  After my conversation with Nick Butter, I will share with you part of my conversation on how Thor hacked his way to reunite with his fiancee, whom had had not seen in a year and a half. My patrons who support the show, will hear the entire hour conversation with Thor. Thanks to Phillip Jones, , Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  And remember to follow Thor across social media at Once Upon A Saga. Stating the obvious, Counting Countries loves the long format interview.  This interview neared two hours yet I had an arsenal of unasked questions.  Nick’s career of travel and athletic feats could not be unpacked in two hours.  We overview his journey which was an incredible balance of logistics and physical sacrifice all while promoting awareness of prostate cancer.  You can donate .   A quick notes from our friends at Untamed Borders … This year, with travel back on the horizon, Untamed Borders have some seriously off the beaten track trips planned. Join them in Afghanistan for one of the world’s most remote treks to the Wakhan Corridor, or a cultural tour visiting the country's highlights, led by Afghanistan's only female tour guide - she was recently featured in CNN. Other upcoming Untamed Borders trips include Pakistan and Iraq, where it is now possible to obtain visas on arrival in Baghdad for many nationalities.  I've been to Kurdistan, but am really excited to visit Baghdad while jumping through less hoops.  Nick was in England while I was recording in Beantown.  Please listen in and enjoy.   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .  Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are. The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are. The Most Traveled Person states that there are. The Nomad Mania SISO says there are. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!   More details at: ----- Produced by

Key Links video   Thank you to my Patrons…Phillip Jones, William Schelling, , Thor Pedersen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.     And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.   Gina and I met at the Principality of Sealand in the summer of 2019 during the Extreme Travelers International Congress.  And I have been following her travels since that time on social media.  She is one of the few women who have completed the quest of chasing 193 and she is accomplished this feat during the Covid pandemic.            Before we speak with Gina, we have an extra special with Babis Bizas who appeared originally on Episode 49.  Babis has been traveling since 1976 and is the first person to travel every country in the world twice.  Babis has named the 2020 Traveler Of The Year and he shares with us who that is.  Thanks to my patrons Phillip Jones, Thor - Once Upon A Saga - Pedersen, , William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .   My patrons recently heard a special interview for over 30 minutes with Babis Bizas on why he is supporter of William Baekeland.  Fascinating conversation.  My patrons will hear the final part of my conversation with Gina.    As a reminder, Counting Countries, will be published every other month.  As always I remind you to subscribe wherever you listen and write a review. Check out the new .  Rick Shaver former guest in Canada is sporting his new Counting Countries shirt.         As a reminder, I want to share a video I just published on Youtube, I am hoping to get feedback from the extreme traveler community.  The video titled, , is a deep dive into an eternal debate within the community.  Take a look, and tell me if you think I am right or wrong.      Gina’s travel style over the years transformed over time from a two trip to Europe as a grad school student to traversing the Road of Bones in Siberia in the dead of winter.  Gina was planning on completing her quest in 2020 until Covid initially interrupted her goals.  She completes her goal by visiting her last country with a moving visit to , a foundation empowering girls and women.    Gina was in Nairobi while I was recording in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.     About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .  Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at .   Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are. The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are. The Most Traveled Person states that there are. The Nomad Mania SISO says there are. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks ---- More details at: ----- Produced by

Key Links video   Thank you to my Patrons…William Schelling, , Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More About Indy: Born in: USA Passports: USA   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at .   Well…that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Natasha was born in the Caribbean and was able to explore the region growing up.  But Natasha’s serious travels began when she relocated to the Pacific Islands.  She shares with us how she balances her travel when her spouse can not always join her and talks about relying on her 193 travel crew.   I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and even better if you write a review. Natasha was in Dublin while I was recording in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.      Thank you to my Patrons…William Schelling, , Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More About Jack: Born in: Bogota Passports: Columbia, Hungary, USA Favorite Book: World’s Most Dangerous Places Favorite Film:  The Weeping Camel Favorite Travel App: NomadMania Favorite Food:  Indian  Favorite Airline: Turkish Airlines Favorite Hotel:  My hotel: , Bogota Map: https://nomadmania.com/profile/6461 Blog: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.goldstein18   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at .   Well…that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links   Natasha and I follow each other on Instagram.  And two things stood out on her profile bio.  First, she travels on a Trinidad and Tobago passport, not one of the most powerful passports in the world.  The second is she has lived in ten different countries.  That piqued my interest to invite her on the podcast.   Thanks to my patrons , William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons will hear the final part of my conversation with Natasha.   Natasha was born in the Carribean and was able to explore the region growing up.  But Natasha’s serious travels began when she relocated to the Pacific Islands.  She shares with us how she balances her travel when her spouse can not always join her and talks about relying on her 193 travel crew.     I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and even better if you write a review. Natasha was in Dublin while I was recording in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.      Thank you to my Patrons….William Schelling, , Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More About Natasha: Born in: Trinidad and Tobago Passports: Trinidad and Tobago Favorite Book: Anything having to do with National Geographic Favorite Film:  Talented Mr. Ripley and English Patient Favorite Travel App:  Field Trip, it lets you know about architectural sights, museums, etc.    Favorite Food:  I love Asian cuisine, Japanese, Thai, Chinese Favorite Airline: Qatar Airlines Favorite Hotel:  Stamba in Tbilisi, Regis Bora Bora, The Plaza NYC Instagram:       About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at .   Well…that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links     A fleeting tweet recently connected me to Graham Hughes and paved the way for this podcast.  I had reached out to him years ago, but my email ended up in a spam folder.  So for those who say nothing good comes from Twitter, you now stand corrected.   Thanks to my patrons William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. And a warm welcome to our new patron, , from Norway.  They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com.  My patrons will hear 30 more minutes of my conversation with Graham.    Untamed Borders is the sponsor of this podcast, and we will be hearing a few words from James Willcox, the co-founder, on how to manage safety and security when traveling.  Graham is no stranger to the extreme traveler community.  He completed his quest to travel to every country in the world in 2013.  He claimed the Guinness World Record as the fastest time to visit all countries by public surface transport.  Graham shares a lifetime of stories from his travels from watching the sunrise from the top of the Pyramids of Giza to spending time in jail in Cape Verde.  You can imagine which one was a more pleasant experience.  And don’t worry, we speak about Thor Pedersen and his quest and claim to be the first to travel to every country in the world with only surface transportation.          I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify, and even better if you write a review. Graham was in the UK while I was recording in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.   Thank you to my Patrons….William Schelling, , Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now, you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More About Graham Hughes: Born in: UK Passports: UK     About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at .   Well…that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links     I had the opportunity to speak with world travelers Martina Sebova and Rachel Davey, who comprise the Very Hungry Nomads.  This was my first outing of attempting to interview two people at the same time.  Marty and Rach did an excellent job of moderating the answers.         It has been a frustrating time for most extreme travelers as we shelter in place around the globe.  There does not seem to be an end in sight when travel will go back to normal.  I hope everyone is well and keeping in safely.    Thanks to my patrons William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. And William, if you are listening, please reach out to me.  They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com.  My patrons will hear an extra interview with Marty and Rach which is exclusive to them.  Untamed Borders is our sponsor and they want to remind you that Covid-19 travel restrictions are slowly being lifted in certain parts of the world. If you are looking for inspiration for your first post Covid trip then check out some of their trips for the 2020-21 winter period in the middle east.It's been a crazy year for travel. None more so than for Untamed Borders, Counting Countries’s sponsor.  They have been grounded since March but as travel restrictions ease they are arranging some private itineraries to countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, where entry is permitted without quarantine if you have a negative Covid PCR test result. Contact Untamed Borders for a list of the more interesting places on the planet with this entry system. Please note, you may need to quarantine when returning to your home country. One trip they have in September where many countries do allow free travel is to Turkey. UB they will be diving into the far south east of the country populated by the Kurdish community. Visiting Diyarbakir, Mardin, and the very rarely visited province of Hakkari, which is high in the mountains on the border where Iraq, Iran, and Turkey meet. If that is perhaps too soon then maybe check out some of their desert offerings in early 2021. First up is their trip to what they call the Heart of the Sahara. To the Tadrat Rouge mountains of Southern Algeria. Right on the border with Niger and Libya, this really is an Untamed part of the world and for lovers of desert scenery, their photos of the orange sand and black rocks are spellbinding. You could also try their new Saudi Arabia itinerary. As well as visiting Jeddah, Riyadh and the UNESCO Maidan Saleh.  They have also added a night camping by the volcanos north of Medina. Who knew that Saudi Arabia contains almost 2000 extinct volcanos. A real trip off the beaten path of a country that is off the beaten path. Marty and Rach grew up on two independent tracks but with an equal passion for travel.  Their paths crossed in Europe while both worked for the same tour provider.  Taking advantage of the off-season, they teamed up to start exploring other parts of the world.  And of course, this transitioned at one point in traveling to every country in the world.  They share their journey.  I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and even better if you write a review. Listen to the end of the podcast to hear the latest review from Glimpses of Everywhere in Sweden … “Exactly what I needed!!! Instead of traveling this whole spring and summer (as was my initial plan) I got stuck at home and lost my job. Luckily I found a corona-job, making body bags. What helped me through this tough time was definitely Ric’s podcast. He is such an amazing interviewer, so respectful and nuanced, and a great listener. I love listening to the podcast and with every episode, my bucket list gets longer and longer…” Also, a quick note to some of my listeners and supporters.  A former guest on Counting Countries who is a bit disgruntled has been harassing some of my listeners.  I apologize for this person’s actions and hope you have not been overly inconvenienced.   Very Hungry Nomads were in their Covid home base of Australia while I was recording in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. William Schelling, Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, and Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More About Very Hungry Nomads: Born in: Slovakia (Marty) Born in: Australia (Rach)Passports: Slovakian (Marty) Passports: Australian (Rach) Favorite Book: The Alchemist (Marty) and Tales of a Female Nomad (Rach) Favorite Travel Film: The Motorcycle Diaries and The Beach Favorite App:  Google Translate Favorite Food: Thai food Favorite Drink: Red Wine and coffee Their Map: Their Blog: Instagram: FB:   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has , and keep up with his journey at   Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links   It was back in February and I was preparing for several months of non-stop travel.  That meant I had to record and prepare five podcasts prior to my trip so I could publish them once my travels began.  And randomly I got an email from Chris Sutherland sharing that he was swinging through Bangkok for a couple of days.  I know Chris from FB and being fellow moderators in Every Passport Stamp.  This was a great opportunity to sit down with him and hear his story in person.  In a perfect world, I would like to do all of my interviews in person.  Technically it is much better and it is also easier to get to know my guest.        It has been a frustrating time for most extreme travelers as we shelter in place around the globe.  There does not seem to be an end in sight when travel will go back to normal. I hope everyone is well and keeping safe.    Thanks to my patrons, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. I would also like to welcome our new patron, William Schelling.  Welcome aboard! They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com.  My patrons will hear more from Chris in an extra interview, only for them.   Untamed Borders is our sponsor and they want to remind you that Covid-19 travel restrictions are slowly being lifted in certain parts of the world. If you are looking for inspiration for your first post Covid trip then check out some of their trips for the 2020-21 winter period in the middle east. They still have a few places on their annual Saudi Arabia cultural tour. Exploring the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah as well as Maidan Salah - the Saudi Petra - in the far north of the country.  This is real high on my bucket list.  I tried to go here the other year but had visa issues. They have two fixed date trips to southern Iraq. Their Cradle of Civilization tours take in Baghdad, Babylon, Samarra, and Basra; and includes Mesopotamian archaeological sites and boat rides in the southern marshes. They also are arranging their first group trip to Algeria. Diving into the heart of the Sahara in the Tadrat Rouge mountain range where Algeria borders Libya and Niger. A real Untamed Border of this world. I spent a couple of weeks here. I love this country. For more information visit their website at or drop them a message at info@untamedborders.com. Chris struck out on his own as a teenager, spreading his travel wings more and more as he got older.  As he grew more confident, his curiosity grew, leading him to more and more challenging locations until he decided to chase 193.  Chris also shares some stories from his Tinder experiences; some great and others to be avoided.  A number of former guests have also mentioned during our conversation, including a very small world story.          I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and even better if you write a review.    As I mentioned Chris and I met at  the Bangkok studio of Counting Countries, followed by dinner and drinks on Soi 11. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. William Schelling, Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, and Ted Nims.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at   Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links     I have spoken to so many travel legends on Counting Countries, but this interview marks my first time speaking with a person, who gained their fame outside of the travel world.  Joss Stone is a multi-platinum artist who has won a Grammy.  But of course on this podcast, we focussed on her travel accomplishments.  Joss created the audacious project, Total World Tour, which entailed Joss performing in every country around the world.     I only learned about Joss at the beginning of 2019 when Thor Pedersen, former guest, shared with me that he saw Joss perform in North Korea.  With help from Thor and Simon Cockerell from Koryo Tours, I got Joss’s email.  What proceeded next was a 13 month email drip campaign.  Joss was interested in being on Counting Countries but it was difficult to schedule.  I increased my efforts with self-sheltering during Covid assuming Joss might have more free time.  And my efforts were rewarded with an interview in early May.   I was quite hesitant to share with Joss that many of my interviews lasted over two hours.  Prior to the interview, Joss agreed to 45 minutes.  Thankfully, she extended this time several times during our conversation.  While our talk neared two hours, I still had dozens of questions left.  I will keep my fingers crossed for a future interview someday.   I would like to remind you that Counting Countries is supported by Untamed Borders.  Untamed Borders specializes in challenging locations like Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen.  Please consider Untamed Borders when the safety of travel improves.  James, a co-founder, speaks to me about my travels to Afghanistan with Untamed Borders.    Also, I would like to introduce Counting Countries Mini.  I am hosting live interviews with  Country Counters on my Instagram account, GlobalGaz.     Support your content creators during this time of self-sheltering. Support Counting Countries on patreon.com.  And thanks to my other patrons, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman.  Patrons get to hear additional content, only available to them.   I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and write a review, even better when it is 5 stars.     Joss and I met up online, with Joss in New Jersey while I was in the Bangkok studio of Counting Countries. Please listen in and enjoy.      Thank you to my Patrons …. Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.    You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at More About Joss: Born in: United Kingdom Passports: UK Instagram: YouTube: Website:   Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links       Francis popped up on my radar about a year ago, when former guest Fabio Cao brought him to my attention.  I hit google up and quickly realized Francis was an accomplished traveler, including a five year continuous journey across every country in Africa.  He seemed like a great fit for Counting Countries, but I neglected to reach out.  Then a recent email from listener, Francois Xavier, suggested that I have Francis on the podcast.  This email served as a catalyst for me to finally reach out to Francis and we promptly agreed upon a time to speak.  And I was really happy I did.       We recorded this episode back in February and obviously so much has changed since then.  I have been self-sheltering in Bangkok since my trip to West Africa was prematurely canceled on March 17.  I am recording this opening bumper on May 3 and things in Bangkok will be slowly opening up this week.  I hope everyone who is listening is safe and sound.     Also, I would like to introduce Counting Countries Mini.  I am hosting live interviews with  Country Counters on my Instagram account, GlobalGaz.   Support your content creators during this time of self-sheltering. Support Counting Countries on patreon.com.  And thanks to my other patrons, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman. My conversation with Francis is a long and rich one, but you will not be able to listen to the entire talk.  My patrons will hear 30 more additional minutes of our conversation. Untamed Borders our sponsor, regularly guides systematic travelers who are completing lists whether it is chasing 193, TCC, MTP or Nomad Mania.  So when travel situation improves please consider this great company.   The TCC has recently expanded their list to include South Ossetia where Untamed Borders has been guiding fans of unrecognized countries since 2014. Nomad Mania recently added the state of Jubbaland, an autonomous region in Somalia as a new region. Untamed Borders can take you to Kismayo, the capital of Jubbaland. This is in addition to their trips to Somaliland, Puntland and Mogadishu. And don’t forget for runners, Untamed Borders is also partnered with the Mogadishu and Somaliland Marathons. Finally, recent security improvements mean Untamed Borders can now guide you to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in Pakistan, Kandahar in Afghanistan and the Hadramout region of Yemen. These are all regions on the Nomad Mania and MTP lists that have been tricky for travellers to reach in the past. For more information visit their website at or drop them a message at info@untamedborders.com. Francis veered left at the fork on the road.  Going left was a life of freedom, independence, and passion.  Going right, meant continuing down the path of the startup Silicon Valley rat race with his Harvard MBA.  Francis has trekked the Appalachian trail, the Continental Divide, and the El Camino.  He spent months exploring Eastern Europe.  And really spread his wings as he drove overland in Africa for five years.  Besides chasing 193, he is even chasing a more exclusive lis, which you will hear about.          I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and write a review, even better when it is 5 stars.     Francis and I met up online, with Francis in San Francisco while I was in the Bangkok studio of Counting Countries. Please listen in and enjoy.      Thank you to my Patrons …. Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.    You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at More About Francis: Born in: USA Passports: Chile, France, and USA Instagram: Podcast: Website:     Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS  Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links       I reached out to Melissa shortly after she announced her accomplishment of traveling to every country in the world.  Social media and traditional media began reporting that she was the first woman of South Asian heritage to complete this quest.  On Counting Countries, I am always looking for diverse voices, whether it is nationality, ethnicity, religion, or any other differentiators.  It is great to get other perspectives.     Lemurs, Baobab trees. Come join Counting Countries on its first group tour to Madagascar in August of 2020.  Please reach out to me with any questions on this trip I am reminding you that Counting Countries is partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  And thanks to my other patrons, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman. They get to listen to extra content, like the extra interview I did with Melissa only for them.   Untamed Borders, the sponsor of Counting Countries, focuses on challenging locations for those chasing 193.  I finally visited Afghanistan In November as an invited guest of Untamed Borders. Co-founder, James Wilcox, spends a couple of minutes asking me about my experiences of exploring this amazing country.       Melissa continually resisted a life of conformity.  Her family, her culture insisted she chart a path of other people’s expectations.  But, the siren call of travel was overpowering. Her eyes were opened to travel with a semester abroad in Argentina when she was 18.  The fire had been lit with the journey ending in her father’s homeland with an emotional visit with her mother. Of course no episode of Counting Countries is without a bit of controversy.  Melissa touches on her visit to Syria, and you will be able to debate at home on the validity of her visit.        I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and write a review, even better when it is 5 stars.     Melissa was at her mother’s home in Michigan, while I was in the Counting Countries studio in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase some today on Amazon.      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full-length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at More About Melissa: Born in: USA Passports: USA  Instagram:   How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS Thanks!    ----- Produced by

Key Links     I had the great opportunity to sit down with Lorenzo during his visit to Bangkok.  We had known of each other through the EPS community on FB as well as through some mutual friends.  After the interview, Lorenzo joined me at a travel networking event I host in Bangkok where he was the featured speaker.  It is always great to do the interviews in person.      Counting Countries is offering its first group tour to Madagascar in August of 2020.  Please reach out to me with any questions on this trip. In addition, if you are planning trips to places like Antarctica, Svalbard, Galapagos, please consider my partner G Adventures and use my link.   I am reminding you that Counting Countries is partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  And thanks to my other patrons, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman. They get to listen to extra content, like the extra interview I did with Lorenzo, only for them.   Untamed Borders, the sponsor of Counting Countries, focuses on challenging locations for those chasing 193.  This year, Untamed Borders have some seriously off the beaten track trekking trips planned.  Join them on one of the world’s most remote treks to the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan. Discover the land of one of the world’s last and least visited nomadic cultures, the Kyrgyz people of the Hindu Kush. Travel along the famous Pamir highway, one of the world’s highest roads and explore deep into territory where few outsiders have ever been. Or join them on a 16-day Trekking trip in Tajikistan, traversing through the heart of the epic Pamir mountain range, which boasts the world’s largest glacier outside the Polar regions and three mountains taller than 7000m. This trip also supports the training of Tajikistan’s first female mountain guides.   And neighbouring Kyrgyzstan is an offbeat destination renowned for its trekking and horse riding. There are plenty of rarely-visited locales to explore throughout this centuries-old nation. On Untamed Borders 13 day adventure, you’ll traverse your way across the less trekked southern corner of the country, through remote valleys, sleeping in yurts and kayaking across blue alpine lakes.  Check out their website, UntamedBorders.com.  Lorenzo was an avid traveler while he was living in Italy.  But he raised the bar, when he moved to China when he began his second chapter of his life.  He built a successful business in Shanghai when he decided to chase 193. He shares his amazing journey.          I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and write a review, even better when it is 5 stars.     Lorezno and I recorded the episode in the person in the city of angels, Krung Thep.  Please listen in and enjoy.      Thank you to my Patrons …. Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase them today on Amazon.      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at More About Lorenzo: Born in: Italy Passports: Italy and San Marino Favorite Book: The Shadow of the Sun Favorite Travel Film: In This World   Favorite Travel Site: Wikitravel.com Must carry item: Passport, credit cards USD and EUR cash, laptop Favorite Food: Italian Favorite Drink: Local beers Favorite Airline: Ethiopian Favorite Hotel: Peace Hotel    Linkedin: Facebook: Website:   Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS Thanks!      ----- Produced by

Key Links       Today, I speak with Slawek Muturi, a truly fascinating and impressive traveler.  The more I researched Slawek, the more I was looking forward to our conversation.  He is a successful individual, whether it is business or travel.   Counting Countries is offering its first group tour to Madagascar in August of 2020.  Please reach out to me with any questions on this trip. In addition, if you are planning trips to places like Antarctica, Svalbard, Galapagos, please consider my partner G Adventures and use my link.   I am reminding you that Counting Countries is partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  And thanks to my other patrons, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman. They get to listen to extra content, only for them.   Untamed Borders, the sponsor of Counting Countries, focuses on challenging locations for those chasing 193.  Check out their trips to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and much more.   Of course, many of those listening to this podcast are interested in chasing 193.  As I think we all would agree, this is an impressive feat. With Slawek, I have just interviewed my third guest, who has been to every country in the world twice.  With some hasty research, it appears that Babis Bizas was the first in December of 2018, followed by Gunnar Garfors by only a couple of days later, and Slawek finished in September of 2019 in Japan.  Slawek also plans a journey to visit all of the countries for a third time. We touch on this and so much more.           I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and write a review, even better when it is 5 stars.  Since we all love stats, Counting Countries has now been downloaded in 199 countries. So I would like to give a shout out to fans in PNG, Guinea, and Turkmenistan.  And, no, I am not sure how they define a country.    Slawek was in Poland and I was in Boston for the interview.  Also, I want to thank Slawek for his patience in regard to multiple technical issues during the recording.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase some today on Amazon.      And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at More About Slawek: Passports: Poland and Kenya Instagram:    Facebook:   Youtube: How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures.  PS Thanks!    ----- Produced by

Key Links       ----- Produced by

Key Links     -----I am announcing that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.   This is an opportunity for you to support Counting Countries.  I have created several tiers of support, each one offering something in return.  I will highlight the Senior Executive Producer tier which will give you access to extended interviews with guests of Counting Countries.  To check out how you can support Counting Countries, go to patreon.com or .  On another note, dueto time constraints, Counting Countries will be publishing one episode a month starting in 2019.    More about Debjeet Sen:   Born in: Austin, Minnesota Passport from: USA   Favorite travel book: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage Favorite travel film: The opening scene of Up.  While not a travel film per se, the introduction of the film beautifully summarize the wonder of travel and discovery that is inherent in all children and how said wonder transfers to adults and remains a constant fixture in their lives even when “reality” gets in the way. “Adventure is out there.” Truer words have never been said! Favorite app:   One of my biggest travel-related fears is getting lost or not knowing how to find my way in a new country or city. I religiously use Google Maps on my phone, but also make sure to download the relevant maps on maps.me prior to arriving in a new country/city, so that I have some reference even if I am unable to purchase a local SIM card. I used to be a bit of an anti-tech sort of person back in the day (I am still a technology-phobe in many ways). Let’s just say that I learned my lessons after relying on my father to navigate using a paper map, which led us up an unpaved mountain track in Turkey on a dark moonless night; or when I followed the flight paths of airliners to trace my way from Fontainebleau to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport through morning rush-hour traffic. Must carry: Funnily enough, a wad of toilet tissue tucked into a side-pocket in my backpack and sanitizer. Without going into specifics, let’s just say that I’ve needed these two essential items in places as varied as in the middle of the steppes of Kazakhstan, or in the middle of the vast desert of northern Kenya. Favorite food:  Oh man, it’s like asking me to choose a favorite child. I am a total foodie and will eat anything and everything. It’s hard to select one specific food, but I’ll list a few dishes that I love eating and cooking: deliriously spicy and flavorsome Thai drunken noodles, a simple bowl of rice with either Indian dal or chicken curry, fish wet fry with a side of local greens from western Kenya, meze from Lebanon, a steaming bowl of Japanese ramen… okay, I will stop here. Favorite drink:   A glass of refreshing water straight from the tap. Nothing beats the thrill of opening a tap and pouring a glass of water that needs no further filtration or treatment. Favorite Airline:  I am one of those weird travelers with little/no loyalty to any airline or alliance. I am mostly driven in my choice of airline based on my country/city of residence. I have been mostly living in Kenya and South Africa for the past 6.5 years, which implies a heavy reliance on Kenya Airways, South African Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines. I also use Emirates quite often. However, I definitely have a soft spot for certain airlines that I have taken during the course of my travels. I love Emirates for their in-flight service and entertainment options; Swiss for their complimentary chocolates (I’m one of those gluttons that will pick up a fistful of said delicious treats J); Kulula for their irreverent humor; Cathay Pacific for their fabulous premium class that is great value for money; IndiGo for showing that low-cost does not necessarily mean terrible service and seats that don’t recline—to name a few. I even grudgingly admit respect for Ethiopian. Flight schedules are perennially wacky, connection in Addis can be tight, crossing security in Addis tests the patience of the calmest of travelers, and luggage has a tendency of taking a route distinct from your own itinerary. Nevertheless, their Africa network (and increasingly connections to other continents) is unbeatable and they will get you from point A to point B, even if it means wheezing and puffing as you sprint between gates in Addis’ rarified air to make your connection when your flight arrives late (the norm, rather than the exception). Favorite Hotel: I am a big fan of patronizing locally-owned hotels and guest houses. Most times, I will book a relatively cheap place through booking.com or AirBnB, as opposed to an international chain hotel. Don’t get me wrong; there are times when I will happily fall into the embrace of a Sheraton or Hilton, knowing that I won’t need to worry about the shower pressure or not having a kettle in the room. But to me, these international hotels are often sterile. I mean, you could be in Dushanbe or Nairobi or Milan and not really perceive a difference in the way such international chain hotels are designed and laid out. On the other hand, no two locally-owned places are the same and plus, the money you pay goes more directly to support the local economy. Be it the amazing bed and breakfast in northern Greece that took us on an impromptu stroll through their orchards at dawn to pick fruits for breakfast; the cute hotel in Swakopmund, Namibia that left a bottle of wine and a huge box of chocolates on my bed to “warm” me up when the hot water wasn’t working; or the AirBnB in Nairobi that filled our fridge to the rafters with home-cooked food (“you kids will be out partying and there has to be healthy food in the fridge when you return”)—nothing beats a locally-owned property. Instagram:         Debjeet has traveled to 119 countries On today’s episode I will be speaking with world traveler Debjeet Seb.  Debjeet was brought to my attention by Ryan Gazder, a fellow moderator of Every Passport Stamp.  Ryan spoke very highly about Debjeet and I believe you will be charmed with my conversation with Debjeet. Before I introduce Debjeet, I am announcing that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me. I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.   This is an opportunity for you to support Counting Countries.  I have created several tiers of support, each one offering something in return.  I will highlight the Senior Executive Producer tier which will give you access to extended interviews with guests of Counting Countries.  To check out how you can support Counting Countries, go to patreon.com or .  On another note, dueto time constraints, Counting Countries will be publishing one episode a month starting in 2019.    Debjeet had a unique upbringing splitting time between the US and India.  And Debjeet’s parents were a strong booster of family travel road trips, which planted a travel seed that stayed with him as he got older.  In fact, even today, some of his favorite travel companions are his family. Sadly, Debjeet’s father passed away unexpectedly, but Debjeet and his mother celebrated his memory with a meaningful trip on the Pamir Highway.       Debjeet shares with us the humanity and fight for normalcy he experienced in Erbil.  Debjeet tells us of the magic of Machu Picchu at first light and why he loves New Zealand.  He scares us with a life threatening story in Maputo. And he shares with us what is is like working for an NGO in Africa and living and traveling in multiple places on the continent.       I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify. Remember it is Christmas time...go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt. But for now, here’s my conversation with Debjeet, who was in the Johannesburg between trips while I was in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.   ----- Produced by

Key Links       ----- And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! More About Kach: Where were you born: Philippines What passport (s) do you hold: Philippines Website: and   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Take a ride with www.HitTheRoadMovie.com. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliates, so order away so I can pay my bills! Thanks.  ----- Produced by

Key Links       ----- And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliates, so order away so I can pay my bills! Thanks.  ----- Produced by

Key Links       -----I had the great opportunity to sit down with Per Besson.  We met in person at the Extreme Travel International Congress, where Per did a lot of great organizing for the event at the Principality of Sealand.  The following week we met for some great Georgian food and sat down to do an interview in person in London. My apologies, this episode was recorded in the hotel lobby with some background noise.      I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  And thanks to my other patrons, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Adam Hickman. As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews like the extra interview I did with Per, only available to them.       Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th. Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.  And I am reminding you of a trip to in August of 2020 with G Adventures.   Per has led a fascinating life including visiting every country in the world.  According to Nomad Mania he is a top 100 traveler. After college, Per embarked on a nomadic life, living for multiple years, in Europe, China, and Brazil.  Per has an insatiable thirst for learning multiple languages and this is an integral part of this travels.       I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, even better if it is 5 stars.  Why? Because that is what keeps this podcast going.       But for now, here’s my conversation with Per from the Big Smoke better known as London.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase today on Amazon. More About Per: ·       Where were you born: Frankfurt, Germany ·       What passport (s) do you hold: US ·       Favorite travel book: A Fortune-Teller Told Me ·       Favorite travel film: Central Station ·       Favorite travel app or website: Rome2Rio.com ·       Must carry item when traveling (like flashlight, Kindle, deck of cards etc.): Smartphone ·       Favorite food: Kung Pao Chicken ·       Favorite drink: Caipirinha ·       Favorite airline: Whichever leaves on time, but not before I arrive ·       Favorite hotel: The one with the friendly, efficient receptionists And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliates, so order away so I can pay my bills! Thanks.  ----- Produced by

Key Links       Blog:   Instagram: TedEx: -----Lexie Alford … Collecting 10,000 Documents  Lexie is the youngest person to travel to every country in the world   This is my second conversation with Lexie.  As I have mentioned before, I constantly debate whether to invite guests back for a second conversation, especially since I only publish podcasts on a monthly basis at this time.  But I considered Lexie’s accomplishment worth a second conversation as I had become vested in her journey as I tracked her travels on social media and we would occasionally converse.  And I also admire Lexie. As a 21, she carries herself with a lot of grace and maturity.          I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  And thanks to my other patrons, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Adam Hickman. As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews.  Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th. Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.  And I am reminding you of a trip to in August of 2020 with G Adventures. On this episode, I also have a brief discussion with Chris Duncan, he is a a product manager for Africa. Check out the link to see .   Lexie became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world completing the goal as a 21 year old.  She will soon be applying to earn the Guiness World Record for youngest as she gathers 10,000 plus documents. Lexie shares some of the highlights of her journey to Pakistan and Venezuela.  And shares some frustration during her technical visits to Syria and North Korea.        I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, even better if it is 5 stars.  Why? Because that is what keeps this podcast going.       But for now, here’s my conversation with Lexie who was in the City of Angels and I was in the Windy City.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder. Links: Support Counting Countries:   Blog:   Instagram: TedEx: And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. ----- Produced by

Key Links     -----A bit similar to our last episode, Live From Sealand, this episode, Live From Dubai, features four extreme travelers: Ryan Gazder, Zulekha Huseni, Zsuzsanna Berencsi, and Adam Hickman.  I had an extended layover in Dubai en route to Armenia and I reached to some fellow travelers. We met for some Lebanese and then retired to a conference room in the Burj Khalifa to record this episode.    I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  And thanks to my other patrons, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Adam Hickman. As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews, only available to them.     Also, Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th. Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.  And I am announcing a new trip to in August of 2020 with G Adventures. I also have a brief discussion with Chris Duncan, he is a a product manager for Africa. Check out the link to see . Let’s listen in.    I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, even better if it is 5 stars.  Why? Because that is what keeps this podcast going.       But for now, here’s my conversation with four rocking travelers the City of Gold.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.      About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by .   About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at   How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. ----- Produced by

Key Links        -----On today’s episode, I speak with eight extreme travelers at Sealand.  Well, let me explain that, the interviews did not take place at Sealand, but at the nearby port of Harwich in England.  And yes, these interviews are recorded, so it is really not live. But, I loved the title … Live From Sealand.   I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries. Thanks to new patron, Adam Hickman, who is also a former guest. Make sure you check out his interview and his blog, .  And thanks to my other patrons, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Ted Nims.  As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews, only available to them.     And a reminder, Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th.  This is a great agenda which I consulted on and helped create.  I have been to Bhutan three times and looking forward to returning for a fourth time. Besides seeing amazing things like Tiger’s Nest and the Punakha Dzong, I have scheduled this trip to coincide with two festivals. I have also negotiated a daily $25 discount from the mandated government minimums.  Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.  And I am announcing a new trip to in August of 2020 with G Adventures.     As some of you might know, the met in June at the , considered by some to be the smallest country in the world.  Sealand is a former military fortification built in the North Sea.  ETIC is organized by Kolja Spori and has had previous meetings in places like Grozny, Mogadishu, and Baghdad.  Twenty-five extreme travelers gathered at this congress; including the founders of Nomad Mania (Harry Mitsidis) and MTP (Charles Veley) as well as the president of TCC (JoAnn Schwartz).  I was able to sit down with eight travelers for brief interviews during my visit. Some are familiar faces, and others are brand new to Counting Countries. I also want to thank ETIC for recognizing Counting Countries with their Community Award.     The guests for this episode are - Kolji Spori Joao Paulo Peixoto Michael Runkel Jeroen Agneessens Gustav Adolf Junge Per Besson Mike Kendall David Yang   And after the interview with the extreme travelers I am very excited to share that I will be speaking with Prince Michael of Sealand.  Prince Micheal is a direct descendant of the Sealand’s founder, Prince Roy. Prince Michael shares with us the amazing history of Sealand.    I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, even better if it is 5 stars.     But for now, here’s my conversation with eight awesome travelers and an extended interview with Prince Michael.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. , Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.    You can purchase today on Amazon.    And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. ----- Produced by

Key Links -----On today’s episode, I welcome Palle Bo to Counting Countries.  Palle and I have met twice over the last couple of years, once in Manila and once in Chicago, but today is the day where we made it official with an interview.    Before I introduce Palle, I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and be able to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.  So for example, some benefits are extended interviews. Some Patrons are able to listen to an exclusive additional 20 minute interview with last month’s guest, Petro. Or a five minute update from Fabio Cao, from former guest, who has finished every country in the world.       And a reminder, Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th.  This is a great agenda which I consulted on and helped create.  I have been to Bhutan three times and looking forward to returning for a fourth time. Besides seeing amazing things like Tiger’s Nest and the Punakha Dzong, I have scheduled this trip to coincide with two festivals. I have also negotiated a daily $25 discount from the mandated government minimums.  Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.   Palle made a drastic change when he became 50.  He sold everything and left everything that he had known for the past 50 years … his family, his friends, and his career.  He was officially on the quest to travel to every country in the world. He left Denmark nearly three years ago with no plans to return back.  We discuss his journey and how we got there. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, even better if it is 5 stars.     But for now, here’s my conversation with Palle, who was in Denmark while I was in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy.   Thank you to my Patrons …. Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More about Palle Bo:   Born in: Denmark   Passports from: Denmark Favorite travel film: Don’t really have one. More TV travel shows like Michael Palin’s travel shows, the Charley Boorman series “By Any Means” – and of course Anthony Bourdain. Favorite travel book: Vagabonding Favorite travel site: TrackMyTour to say something other than Airbnb, Couchsurfing or TripAdvisor Must carry: My scuba diving goggles with prescription glass Favorite food: Don’t really have any. I like to sample the local food – without being a foodie. Favorite drink: Same answer here Map: Instagram: @RadioVagabond Twitter: @RadioVagabond Website: Facebook: Youtube: YouTube.com/TheRadioVagabond About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Key Links -----Hey now… Thank you for joining me on Counting Countries.  I’m your host, Ric Gazarian, . On today’s episode, I welcome Adam Hickman to Counting Countries. Adam is on a mission to visit every country before he turns 40 and moving to the UAE opened up many travel opportunities.   Before I introduce Adam, a quick reminder that Counting Countries is now partnered with .  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and be able to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.  So for example, some benefits are extended interviews. Some Patrons are able to listen to an exclusive Counting Countries Extra with former guests Sal Lavallo or Lexie Alford. And a reminder, Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th.  This is a great agenda which I consulted on and helped create.  I have been to Bhutan three times and looking forward to returning for a fourth time. Besides seeing amazing things like Tiger’s Nest and the Punakha Dzong, I have scheduled this trip to coincide with two festivals. I have also negotiated a daily $25 discount from the mandated government minimums.  Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.   Adam had thoughts of travel as a kid as he studied maps and spun globes.  His dream of traveling to every country became more concrete, when he left the UK to work in Dubai.  Using Dubai as a hub he supercharged his travels racking up countries. Adam shares with us recent visits to Syria and Yemen.  And shares an amusing anecdote traveling with fellow 193ers and the police in Sao Tome and Principe. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, hopefully a positive one.     But for now, here’s my conversation with Adam while I was recording in Bangkok and Adam was in UAE.  A special thanks to Adam for his patience as we encountered too many technical difficulties. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.    You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More about Adam Hickman:   Born in: Northamptonshire, UK   Passports from: UK Favorite travel film: The Way or The Motorcycle Diaries (only subtitled film I’ve ever watched) Favorite travel site: Must carry: Camera & Lenses - Sony A630 Favorite drink: Water (non alcoholic) Gin & Tonic (alcoholic) Website: Hick Hiker Instagram: About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Key Links -----On today’s episode, I welcome Felix Mechnig-Giordano to Counting Countries.   Before I introduce Felix, I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and be able to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.  So for example, some benefits are extended interviews. Some Patrons are able to listen to exclusive additional interviews from former guest like Fabio Cao. And a shoutout to Ted Nims, my newest patron, and a fellow Chicagoan.  Welcome and thank you for your support. And a reminder, Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th.  This is a great agenda which I consulted on and helped create.  I have been to Bhutan three times and looking forward to returning for a fourth time. Besides seeing amazing things like Tiger’s Nest and the Punakha Dzong, I have scheduled this trip to coincide with two festivals. I have also negotiated a daily $25 discount from the mandated government minimums.  Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.   Felix as an audacious explorer, who recently shared his story of being detained by the Syrian police for several days.  We take a deeper dive into his chilling detention and what transpired. Spoiler alert, he was eventually released. Felix talks about the perfect beach in Kiribati and why he finds Niger fascinating.      I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, hopefully a positive one.     But for now, here’s my conversation with Felix, who was in Australia while I was in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, & Ryan Gazder. You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to ! And Alexa! And write a review!   Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.      More about Felix Mechnig-Giordano:   Born in: Duesseldorf, Germany   Passports from: Germany and the United States Favorite travel book: Der Weltensammler by Ilja Trojanow Favorite travel site: Maps.me is probably the only app I use for practical travel purposes, but I also love using Instagram to connect with travellers and use the been app to keep track of my travel map Must carry: Camera and flashlight Favorite food: Fruit. Although I love all fruit the one that stands out most is Grenadilla, not just for the flavour but for all the unexpected places you can find it. Favorite drink: Nothing too exciting, beyond juice I really enjoy Coke, but my favourite alcoholic drink is a simple gin and tonic.   Favorite Airline: Turkish airlines, for consistency of service on short flights and for a route selection I love. Also the Turkish lounge in Istanbul  is always a highlight Favorite Hotel: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Rwanda   Map: Instagram:   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way.   Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Key Links -----On today’s episode, I welcome back Thor Pedersen to Counting Countries.  Thor is on a mission to see every country in the world with several caveats; no airplane flights, at least 24 hours in every country, and will not return home until the mission is finished.   Before I introduce Thor, I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and be able to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.  So for example, some benefits are extended interviews. Some Patrons are able to listen to an exclusive additional 20 minute interview with last month’s guest, Petro. Or a five minute update from Fabio Cao, from former guest, who has finished every country in the world.       And a reminder, Counting Countries is offering its first on November 7th.  This is a great agenda which I consulted on and helped create.  I have been to Bhutan three times and looking forward to returning for a fourth time. Besides seeing amazing things like Tiger’s Nest and the Punakha Dzong, I have scheduled this trip to coincide with two festivals. I have also negotiated a daily $25 discount from the mandated government minimums.  Please go to to see more information as well as disclosures.   Thor appeared on Counting Countries when he was in country 115 in the Seychelles in the summer of 2016.  His visit to Thailand, country 173, coincided with me being in Bangkok, and I took the opportunity to sit down with him to get updated on his saga.  During this conversation, Thor shares the trials and tribulations of being on the road for nearly six years. He shares the challenges of attaining visas on the road, the generosity of strangers, and why he sometimes appears in photos without his bushy beard.   I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify and write a review, hopefully a positive one. But for now, here’s my conversation with Thor, as we sat together in the Counting Countries studio in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my Patrons …. Bisa Myles and Ryan Gazder.  You can purchase today on Amazon.    And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! Check out our friend: .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More about Thor Pedersen:   Born in: The Kingdom of Denmark, in the high north of Europe   Passports from: Denmark Favorite travel book: GRUK - about travel, by Piet Hein   Favorite travel film:   Favorite travel site: Must carry: Pen, scarf, passport, smartphone, credit card Favorite food: A good pasta dish or: fresh fish and manioc near the sea in Central Africa (eaten with my hands and not with cutlery) Favorite drink: Milk (from Denmark)   Favorite Airline: Haven't flown for years. Figure they are all the same more or less? Favorite Hotel: I've been thinking hard. I'm not sure I have one? But Best Western Plus: Lusaka Grand Hotel in Zambia if you push me. I had free accommodation and the staff was great! :) I like a few lodges and hostels...hotels haven't been a big part of this journey.   Website: Facebook: Instagram: About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:       Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Key Links -----On today’s episode, I welcome Sascha Grabow to Counting Countries.  I noted Sascha’s name on the top of the Nomad Mania’s best traveled for quite some time.  We spent numerous months scheduling this conversation taking into account our travels as well as some time that Sascha spent in prison in the Solomon Islands.    Before I introduce Sascha, I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon.  Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and be able to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.  So for example, some benefits are extended interviews. Some Patrons are able to listen to an exclusive additional 20 minute interview with last month’s guest, Petro. Or a five minute update from Lexie Alford who has traveled to 185 countries. She is just 20 years old.       And in other big news, Counting Countries is offering its first group tour to Bhutan on November 7th.  This is a great agenda which I consulted on and helped create. I have been to Bhutan three times and looking forward to returning once again. Besides seeing amazing things like Tiger’s Nest and the Punakha Dzong, I have scheduled this trip to coincide with two festivals that are taking place. I have also negotiated a daily $25 discount from the mandated government minimums.  Please go to GlobalGaz.com to see more information as well as disclosures. After Sascha’s interview, I have a brief conversation with Deepak the founder of Raven Tours and Treks, who is rated #1 on TripAdvisor. Sascha has packed in an incredible amount of travel over his life, currently ranked number three on Nomad Mania.  Sascha goes beyond traditional travel into the exploration category with feats like traversing the Darien Gap, between Panama and Columbia. Sascha shares with us how he overstayed his Angola transit visa by over 50 days but was saved by a well-connected aunt. He also tells us about being imprisoned on a remote island in the Solomons for over sixty days. That does not sounds like a pleasant travel experience to me. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify.  Adam Hickman, who himself is a prolific traveler with over 125 countries under his belt wrote: “A must listen for every country counter globally.  Ric is doing a top job with every episode having a great structure, which offers easy listening. I’m well travelled, but the show is still very inspirational!” But for now, here’s my conversation with Sascha, who was in Germany for the Christmas holidays while I was in Boston, home of the New England Patriots.  Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons …. Bisa Myles. You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to  and Alexa! Check out our friend: . They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.  And watch my full length when I traveled with Large Minority.    More about Sascha Grabow:   Born in: Germany   Passport from: Favorite travel book: In 80 Days, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Karl May Favorite travel film: Into The Wild Favorite app:   Skyscanner Must carry: At least one book Instagram: Map: Youtube: Flickr: Facebook: Website: About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania SISO says there are .   Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our friend and his new book:     William is a former guest of Counting Countries.  Harry Mitsidis, the author and extreme traveler, traces William’s arrival and unraveling in the travel community.  It is a story worthy of a film … and this book.

Key Links -----I am announcing that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me. I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.   This is an opportunity for you to support Counting Countries. I have created several tiers of support, each one offering something in return. I will highlight the Senior Executive Producer tier which will give you access to extended interviews with guests of Counting Countries. To check out how you can support Counting Countries, go to patreon.com or . On another note, due to time constraints, Counting Countries will be publishing one episode a month starting in 2019.    More about Petro Marais: Born in: Pretoria, South Africa Passport from: Australia Favorite travel book: Vagabonding Favorite travel film: Wild Favorite app:   booking.com and Momondo Must carry: Phone and wallet Favorite food:  Mexican Favorite drink: Late Machiotto Favorite Airline: Etihad  Favorite Hotel: Ngoma Safari Lodge Instagram: Blog: On today’s episode, I welcome Petro Marais to Counting Countries. Petro and I have been internet friends for over a year, as we are both fellow moderators in the Facebook group of Every Passport Stamp. We communicate on a frequent basis, but this was the first opportunity I had to really learn more about her life. Petro is a child of both South Africa and Australia where she spent her formative years, partaking in road trips in both countries with her family. After high school she entered the Australian Navy, spending eight years in the service. After leaving the Navy, her life of travel began in earnest. Petro shares with us her adventures in Somalia and Afghanistan, and the risks she took. She tells us why she loves Bhutan and considers it a special place. Petro talks about her frustration with Djibouti.   I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify. Travel Buff wrote “Really love the concept of this podcast. Interesting to hear the stories of people who’ve explored so much and hear their thoughts on places I’ve never even heard of before. Do have to admit it gets a little “one note” after a while with people saying the same things to the same questions all the time. Would be good to see some of the show feature more people with unique angles like Danay Bustamante’s dancing goal.  LGBT travelers? Someone from a country with a weak passport? So many stories and angels to hear. Or even better to hear interviews of travelers that are chasing the goal of every country but have 50-100 visits and have them interviews from the middle of the struggle. Would be great to hear from people striving for it in addition to those that have done it or are pretty much done. Still, great podcast.” See, I don’t only read perfect reviews. Travel Buff, thanks for the feedback. To point out, I have interviewed many people in the 50-100 countries category, when you have a chance check out, George Kashouh, Randy Williams, Rick Shaver, and Mario Hardy and Petro today. In terms of unique goals or unique challenges, check out David Langan, who is mailing a postcard from every country, Thor, who is traveling to every country without flying, or Anthony William, who is traveling to them all in a wheelchair. I have also interviewed a couple of people from the LGBT community, but their sexual orientation was not a major part of their travel. And of course I added in a couple of travelers with weaker passports like Pong from Thailand, Anna and Artemy from Russia, and Danay began with a Cuban passport. There are 69 podcasts, so a lot of amazing travelers to check in with. I will see if I can mix up the questions a bit more to get some more variety. Remember to start of your New Year with an official Counting Countries t-shirt...head to Amazon to pick one up.   And, as I mentioned before in the previous podcast, Counting Countries is part of Patreon.com. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me. I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast. This is an opportunity for you to support Counting Countries. I have created several tiers of support, each one offering something in return. I will highlight the Senior Executive Producer tier which will give you access to extended interviews with guests of Counting Countries. To check out how you can support Counting Countries, go to patreon.com or And a shoutout to Bisa Myles, Counting Country’s first patron. You can check out Bisa on her blog, Myles To Travel. You can read about her goal of visiting 50 countries and experiences in five years. I wouldn't be surprised if that 50 grows to 100 and then some. But for now, here’s my conversation with Petro, who was in Frankfurt while I was in Chicago. Please listen in and enjoy.

Key Links -----I am announcing that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me.  I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.   This is an opportunity for you to support Counting Countries.  I have created several tiers of support, each one offering something in return.  I will highlight the Senior Executive Producer tier which will give you access to extended interviews with guests of Counting Countries.  To check out how you can support Counting Countries, go to patreon.com or .  On another note, due to time constraints, Counting Countries will be publishing one episode a month starting in 2019.    More about Debjeet Sen: Born in: Austin, Minnesota Passport from: USA Favorite travel book: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage Favorite travel film: The opening scene of Up.  While not a travel film per se, the introduction of the film beautifully summarize the wonder of travel and discovery that is inherent in all children and how said wonder transfers to adults and remains a constant fixture in their lives even when “reality” gets in the way. “Adventure is out there.” Truer words have never been said! Favorite app:   One of my biggest travel-related fears is getting lost or not knowing how to find my way in a new country or city. I religiously use Google Maps on my phone, but also make sure to download the relevant maps on maps.me prior to arriving in a new country/city, so that I have some reference even if I am unable to purchase a local SIM card. I used to be a bit of an anti-tech sort of person back in the day (I am still a technology-phobe in many ways). Let’s just say that I learned my lessons after relying on my father to navigate using a paper map, which led us up an unpaved mountain track in Turkey on a dark moonless night; or when I followed the flight paths of airliners to trace my way from Fontainebleau to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport through morning rush-hour traffic. Must carry: Funnily enough, a wad of toilet tissue tucked into a side-pocket in my backpack and sanitizer. Without going into specifics, let’s just say that I’ve needed these two essential items in places as varied as in the middle of the steppes of Kazakhstan, or in the middle of the vast desert of northern Kenya. Favorite food:  Oh man, it’s like asking me to choose a favorite child. I am a total foodie and will eat anything and everything. It’s hard to select one specific food, but I’ll list a few dishes that I love eating and cooking: deliriously spicy and flavorsome Thai drunken noodles, a simple bowl of rice with either Indian dal or chicken curry, fish wet fry with a side of local greens from western Kenya, meze from Lebanon, a steaming bowl of Japanese ramen… okay, I will stop here. Favorite drink:   A glass of refreshing water straight from the tap. Nothing beats the thrill of opening a tap and pouring a glass of water that needs no further filtration or treatment. Favorite Airline:  I am one of those weird travelers with little/no loyalty to any airline or alliance. I am mostly driven in my choice of airline based on my country/city of residence. I have been mostly living in Kenya and South Africa for the past 6.5 years, which implies a heavy reliance on Kenya Airways, South African Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines. I also use Emirates quite often. However, I definitely have a soft spot for certain airlines that I have taken during the course of my travels. I love Emirates for their in-flight service and entertainment options; Swiss for their complimentary chocolates (I’m one of those gluttons that will pick up a fistful of said delicious treats J); Kulula for their irreverent humor; Cathay Pacific for their fabulous premium class that is great value for money; IndiGo for showing that low-cost does not necessarily mean terrible service and seats that don’t recline—to name a few. I even grudgingly admit respect for Ethiopian. Flight schedules are perennially wacky, connection in Addis can be tight, crossing security in Addis tests the patience of the calmest of travelers, and luggage has a tendency of taking a route distinct from your own itinerary. Nevertheless, their Africa network (and increasingly connections to other continents) is unbeatable and they will get you from point A to point B, even if it means wheezing and puffing as you sprint between gates in Addis’ rarified air to make your connection when your flight arrives late (the norm, rather than the exception). Favorite Hotel: I am a big fan of patronizing locally-owned hotels and guest houses. Most times, I will book a relatively cheap place through booking.com or AirBnB, as opposed to an international chain hotel. Don’t get me wrong; there are times when I will happily fall into the embrace of a Sheraton or Hilton, knowing that I won’t need to worry about the shower pressure or not having a kettle in the room. But to me, these international hotels are often sterile. I mean, you could be in Dushanbe or Nairobi or Milan and not really perceive a difference in the way such international chain hotels are designed and laid out. On the other hand, no two locally-owned places are the same and plus, the money you pay goes more directly to support the local economy. Be it the amazing bed and breakfast in northern Greece that took us on an impromptu stroll through their orchards at dawn to pick fruits for breakfast; the cute hotel in Swakopmund, Namibia that left a bottle of wine and a huge box of chocolates on my bed to “warm” me up when the hot water wasn’t working; or the AirBnB in Nairobi that filled our fridge to the rafters with home-cooked food (“you kids will be out partying and there has to be healthy food in the fridge when you return”)—nothing beats a locally-owned property. Instagram: Debjeet has traveled to 119 countries On today’s episode I will be speaking with world traveler Debjeet Seb.  Debjeet was brought to my attention by Ryan Gazder, a fellow moderator of Every Passport Stamp.  Ryan spoke very highly about Debjeet and I believe you will be charmed with my conversation with Debjeet. Before I introduce Debjeet, I am announcing that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me. I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast.   This is an opportunity for you to support Counting Countries.  I have created several tiers of support, each one offering something in return.  I will highlight the Senior Executive Producer tier which will give you access to extended interviews with guests of Counting Countries.  To check out how you can support Counting Countries, go to patreon.com or On another note, dueto time constraints, Counting Countries will be publishing one episode a month starting in 2019.    Debjeet had a unique upbringing splitting time between the US and India. And Debjeet’s parents were a strong booster of family travel road trips, which planted a travel seed that stayed with him as he got older.  In fact, even today, some of his favorite travel companions are his family. Sadly, Debjeet’s father passed away unexpectedly, but Debjeet and his mother celebrated his memory with a meaningful trip on the Pamir Highway.       Debjeet shares with us the humanity and fight for normalcy he experienced in Erbil. Debjeet tells us of the magic of Machu Picchu at first light and why he loves New Zealand.  He scares us with a life threatening story in Maputo. And he shares with us what is is like working for a NGO in Africa and living and traveling in multiple places on the continent.       I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify. Remember it is Christmas time...go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt. But for now, here’s my conversation with Debjeet, who was in the Johannesburg between trips while I was in Bangkok.  Please listen in and enjoy.

Website: Instagram: On today’s episode, I welcome Rus Margolin to Counting Countries.  I learned about Rus and his prolific travel from seeing his photos on Facebook in Every Passport Stamp, and fellow EPS Moderator Petro suggested that I interview him for the podcast.   Russ grew up in the Soviet Union in Minsk, Belarus. Rus’s parents believed in travel and took him on frequent trips within the Soviet Union, including frequent trips to the Baltics.  In fact, growing up Rus was the president of the Young Communist League. The Soviet Union collapsed in his youth, Rus won a country-wide English contect, and won a scholarship to Florida to attend university.  After overcoming some culture shock, he excelled at school, and made his way to Wall Street. As a kid, Rus dreamed of exploring the world, cutting our pictures out from nature magazines, staring at photos of wildlife and nature.  After his arrival to the US, he was able to pursue his dreams of exploration, and make his dreams a reality. He quit his job in 2013 so he could focus more on travel.  Rus shares with us amazing experiences of the crab migration on Christmas Island, witnessing a billion butterflies in Mexico, and viewing the penguins in Antarctica. Russ also overeviews his recent trip to Syria, commenting on the normalcy of his visit while debating the sane-ness of his visit, while he rates the pistachio ice cream in the Damascus Souk.      I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify.  Remember go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt. But for now, here’s my conversation with Rus, who was in the Big Apple between trips while I was in the Windy City Counting Countries Studio. Please listen in and enjoy. More about Rus Margolin: Born in: Minsk Favorite travel book: Lonely Planet: Year of Watching Wildlife Favorite travel film: National Geographic Migrations Must carry: Camera Favorite food:  Anything authentic and local Favorite drink: Anything authentic and local Favorite Airline: The cheapest

On today’s episode, I welcome Danay Bustamante to Counting Countries.  I learned about Jenna from previous guest, Henrik Jeppesen, who introduced us via email.  It took Danay and I several months to connect due to conflicting schedules. Danay was born in Cuba, was separated for years from her father who moved to Mexico, and she eventually reunited with her father via a trip to the UK.  Growing up she developed her twin passions of travel and dance. Her love of salsa has opened many doors around the world, creating new friendships and providing new travel opportunities.  She has danced in some of the unlikeliest countries. Danay talks about how she was propelled into the world of counting countries during a visit to Africa for an extended time.  She talks about challenging experiences in Haiti, why Botswana is not on the top of her list, and why she loves El Salvador. And Danay shares with us a story about Burkina Faso and the magic of travel.    And during this episode, we speak about former guest Tony Giles, and we are reminded that we live in a very small world.   I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify.  And what's this? A new review from REBethesda from USA.  “Ric is great storyteller whose humor and warmth shines through. He masterfully interviews his fellow adventurers and draws out great insights and yarns from those who are resolved to touch down in every country on the planet. Funny, thrilling and inspiring.”  Thanks REBethesda. Leave a review, well at least a good one, and you might be mentioned. Remember go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt. But for now, here’s my conversation with Danay, who was in California while I was in the Chicago Counting Countries Studio.  Please listen in and enjoy. More about Danay Bustamante:   Born in: Guantanamo, Cuba Passports from: 1 Cuban passport and 2 valid German passports Favorite travel book: Lonely Planet Favorite travel film: 7 Years in Tibet Favorite travel app: Instagram Must carry: My salsa dance shoes and the favorite scarf from my best friend Favorite food:  Caribbean food like rice and beans with fried plantains (I'm Cuban, lol) Favorite drink: Fresh fruit juices like mango (Indian and African mangos are the best) and mamey milkshake (this fruit is difficult to find) Favorite Airline: Emirates Airlines Favorite Hotel: I mostly stay with friends or locals

Key Links --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I welcome jenna klotz to Counting Countries.  I learned about Jenna from two previous guests; Randy williams traveled with her in Armenia and Artsakh, and Lexie Alford randomly met her in the Pacific. Jenna is also living in Chicago and our interview coincided with my summer visit to my home in Chicago.  So taking advantage, Jenna and I set up a time to meet.   Instead of playing with dolls as a kid in Michigan, Jenna pretended to be a travel agent, planning trips for her family.  At college, she didn't do one semester abroad, she did three semesters abroad! Travel was in her blood. After college, she ended up teaching in a small town in Hungary.     This stay in Hungary in conjunction with European discount airlines, propelled her into the world of counting  countries. During our conversation, jenna, talks about a 55 foot rogue wave that disabled the ship she was on, money mishaps in Mauritania, the beauty of the Bolivian salt flats, and being detained by the police in Mali.  Jenna shares with us a touching moment of meeting a woman in Mogadishu, who saw the ocean for the first time.   I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and of course if you like the program, feel free write a review. Remember go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt, just like Linda Smith Tabb recently did. But for now, here’s my conversation with Jenna in the Chicago Counting Countries Studio.  Please listen in and enjoy.   More about Jenna Klotz:   Born in: Grand Rapids, MI   Passports from: 2 US Passports Favorite travel book: Chasing 193 Favorite travel film: Lost in Translation Favorite travel app: maps.me Must carry: hand sanitizer and tissues Favorite food:  It’s not necessarily my favorite back home, but without fail, when I travel I miss tacos Favorite drink: Coke Zero   Favorite Airline: Whichever has the most miles at the time (usually United)   Favorite Hotel: Whichever has the best deal

Key Links Listen with --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I spoke with Bob Bonifas.  I have seen Bob’s name on the top of the Most Traveled People’s list.  MTP divides the world into 874 places and Bob is currently ranked #2 on the list.  I had the opportunity to visit Bob in his office in Aurora, a suburb of Chicago. His spacious office was filled with a ton of  travel mementos. Bob did not take his first flight until the age of 30, but since then he has racked up several million plus miles and then some.  Bob founded Alarm Detection Systems and became involved with the industry associations. With his involvement in the association he began to travel more and more, expanding his horizons.        Bob learned about Travelers’ Century Club and MTP and being a Type A personality he quickly became hooked on travel.  He rapidly picked up new countries and territories, moving up on the list. He is now in a friendly competition with his IL neighbor, Don Parrish, who is ranked #1. Bob touches on the great difficulty of finishing of the MTP list as you near the end.  Many of his final territories are remote or require permission to visit. These trips tend to be expensive.  And very frustratingly, the visit is not guaranteed. Many of these territory visits are accomplished by ship, and sometimes the oceans are so rough, it is not possible to land.           I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and of course if you like the program, feel free write a review like Swissdogg from the US did.  “As an avid traveler myself...Rick and his guests are an inspiration. So far I have been to 63 countries...looks like I have some work ahead of me!”  Swissdogg good luck on your next 63 countries and thanks for the compliments, I can feel my head getting bigger.  I also want to say a quick hello to our fans around the world … from Paraguay to Afghanistan, from Angola to Haiti and over 100 different countries.   But for now, here’s my conversation with Bob. We are both in the Aurora, IL known as the Land of Lincoln.  Please listen in and enjoy.  You can purchase today on Amazon. More about Robert A. (Bob) Bonifas:   Born in: Aurora, IL Passports from: US Must carry: Satellite phone and a Garmin InReach Favorite drink: Diet Cherry Coke Favorite Airline: UAL  

Key Links Listen with --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I welcome Mar Pages to Counting Countries.  I first learned about Mar when researching a trip to Djibouti several years ago and came across her blog.  I emailed her a question or two and she responded back with some advice. Two years later, I shared dinner with her when a group of mutual friends met up in Bangkok at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Charlie Browns. We are regional neighbors as she lives in Singapore and I am in Bangkok.      Since university Mar has led a truly global life, living in multiple countries and traveling extensively for work throughout the world. This is quite a big change copated to her fist travel forays which were limited to road trips to nearby Andora to stock up on Nutella with her family.   Mar has lived in London, Dubai, and Singapore. She has also practically lived in multiple other cities on long consulting gigs like Nairobi and Manila. This year, Mar made a major change in her life as she officially left corporate life so she can focus exclusively on her online businesses and her travel.         Mar touches on the magic of Bhutan and her frustrations with Nigeria, a place she has traveled to often for work.  She shares with us how she felt unsafe in Somaliland and her interactions with the locals. She speaks about the isolation she felt in Sudan and the pyramids of Meroe.  And talks about a solo, multi-week to the Pacific which made her reevaluate her travel goals. Mar speaks about her travel inspiration Anthony Bourdain and one of her favorite travel blogs, Roads & Kingdoms.  Mar is the Chapter Leader of in Singapore.  Travel Massive is the largest travel network in the world with over 40,000 people.  It is sort of like LinkedIn for people who work in the travel industry, with both online and real world networking.  Check it out if you have a travel job. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and of course if you like the program, feel free write a review like Steve_M_300 from USA did.    Ric is an excellent interviewer. He is able to keep things on track and will be sure to follow up where needed to bring to life some very unique travel stories. This podcast will give you wanderlust. This show has introduced me to many things the best of which was nomad mania. I was very surprised to see how my ranking ended up being on that site. Thank you Ric for putting this podcast together. Currently at 82 countries and hoping one day to be well traveled and interesting enough to appear on the program. I love to listen to your show while I am traveling as I find it motivates me to keep exploring. Thanks for everything you do. Please keep up the great work.”  Thanks for sharing these kind words and I hope you hit the century mark soon. I also want to say a quick hello to our fans around the world … from Paraguay to Afghanistan, from Angola to Haiti and over 100 different countries.   But for now, here’s my conversation with Mar who was in Singapore, the Garden City, while I was in Boston known to some as Beantown. Please listen in and enjoy.

Key Links Listen with --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I welcome Stephen Hughes to Counting Countries.  Steve and I met on the road during a visit to Iran, where we are both not allowed independent travel.  I enjoyed our time together since Steve is not shy about sharing his opinions, and I knew he would be a good fit for the podcast.   And this episode was a long time in the coming.  We met in 2016 and recorded an episode in 2017. Unfortunately, the file was corrupted and never published.  It took many months to reschedule and was finally recorded for a second time in the summer of 2018. This recording was of really, really poor quality.  I was going to have to schedule a third interview. But Counting Countries is not a one-man operation. My producer/editor is Evo Terra, the author of , was called in for emergency help.  While this podcast is not the best in audio quality, Evo was able to resurrect this interview from the grave and make it listenable. For those who have any questions on podcasting, feel free to reach out to Evo and his company Simpler Media on or the .         Back to Steve, who became interested in travel with his interest in maps, flags, and the game of Risk as a kid.  He lived an unconventional life, quitting school at 16 and working at a bank. He hit the road with a friend for three years in a camper called the HammerMobile as they toured Europe at just 18.   Steve shares with us falling off a three story building in Mexico, being bit by a scorpion, and almost being lost at sea.  And he tells us why he was refused entry at the Canada/US border. He is considered a threat to national security.             I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and of course if you like the program, feel free write a review like hoosiergrad02 did.  “One of the best travel podcasts out there.  Motivates me to travel more and to places I would have never discovered before”.  Thanks Hoosier grad! Thanks for sharing this great feedback. Remember go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt, just like Guiness World Record holder, Maurizio Giuliano recently did. Besides hosting this podcast, I also wear a couple of other hats in the world of travel.  I have produced and been featured in two full-length, adventure travel films; Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia.  In both films, I am piloting a rickshaw for days on end in both India and Cambodia. It is amazing and authentic way to see the country and meet a lot of people.  So, I made films documenting the adventure which are available on iTunes and Amazon or simply go to theroadmovie.com.  And before our conversation with Steve, I will be speaking with Julian Carnal the founder of Large Minority who organizes the rally in Cambodia.      For this episode, you might want to have the kids in another room due to some salty language.  But for now, here’s my conversation with Stephen who was in the UK while I was in Boston, home of the New England Patriots. Please listen in and enjoy.    More about Stephen Hughes:   Born in: Chatham UK Passports from: 2 British passports for convenience Favorite travel book: Flashman paper series; an historical travel about and lothario and a cad!! Favorite travel film: Favourite travel film; Road trips across USA stand out. Duel - Steven Spielberg’s first film I think and also My Little Sunshine as they travel to the beauty pageant! Favorite travel app: Don’t really use apps or travel websites but it’s now our Facebook page and before it was Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Must carry:  5 books as I read voraciously when traveling Favorite food: I normally search out the spicy food but also the local traditional food wherever I am       Favorite drink:  Water of course but only until 4pm when it turns to booze of any type.   Favorite Airline: I always use the local airlines of flying internally and don’t really have a favourite long haul but if had to choose one; would probably be one of the Arab ones!

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Boris Kester: Born in: The Hague, Netherlands Passports from: Netherlands Favorite travel book: Homer’s Odyssey Favorite travel film: Touching The Void Favorite travel app: maps.me Must carry: Camera Favorite food: Italian Favorite drink: Freshly squeezed fruit juice Favorite Airline: KLM Favorite Hotel: Mattress in the desert Websites: & Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Boris’s Map:   Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Maurice Brand: Born in: Kerkrade, Netherlands Passports from: Dutch Favorite travel film: Given Favorite travel app: Skyscanner Must carry: Camera and several lenses Favorite food:  Hummus Favorite drink: Water Favorite Airline: Ethiopian Airlines Facebook: Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with ---------- More about Michael Runkel: Born in: Bavaria, Germany Passports from: Germany Favorite travel book: Favorite travel site: Must carry: Camera Favorite food:  German , a roulade is a dish of filled rolled meat or pastry. Favorite drink: Favorite Airline: Emirates Airlines Favorite Hotel: Banyan Tree Hotel, Tanna, Vanuatu Website: Facebook:    Instagram: Travel Map: Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Lexie Alford: Born in: Nevada City, California Passports from: US Passport Favorite travel book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac Favorite travel film:  Samsara Favorite app: Passporter app (coming soon) Favorite food:  Moroccan Couscous Favorite drink: Freddo Cappuccino (Greece) Favorite airline: Delta Favorite hotel: Berggasthaus Äscher (Cliff Hanging Hostel in the Swiss Alps) Website: Facebook: Instagram: Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Born in: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Passports from: 2 US Passports Favorite travel book: Eat Pray Love, I guess? I don’t tend to read a ton of travel books. Favorite travel film:  Honestly? The Lizzie McGuire Movie or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Those both probably sound so trivial or childish but from a young age they really inspired me to want to get to Europe and see the places in those movies. And, I am happy to say, I have now been to Rome (multiple times) and finally made it to Greece! I think it was so influential at a young age to be able to see to see other young women traveling around the world. Must carry: My retainer and a small stuffed animal (named Bun Bun). Also, definitely need my phone. Favorite app: Google flights for planning. Google sheets for organization. Favorite food:  Pizza. Or anything involving cheese really. Favorite drink: Sprite, but I try to drink as much water as possible while traveling. Favorite airline: Norwegian! I love their cheap flights linking the US and Europe. Definitely my favorite low cost carrier. As far as the big name airlines go I would say American Airlines because two of my grandparents worked for and retired from American. Favorite hotel: East Winds in Saint Lucia! It was one of the first stops on my trip and it will be very hard to ever beat. It was so beautiful and I have never been so pampered in my life. Website: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter: Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Jorge Sanchez Born in: I was born in 1954 in Barcelona, Spain Passports from: I have Spanish passport Favorite travel book: My favorite travel book is: Favorite travel film: Must carry: A notebook Favorite food:  Any Indian dish with curry Favorite drink: Coffee Favorite airline: The cheapest   Favorite hotel: Youth hostel Website: Nomad Mania Map:   Jorge’s books: and Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Peleg Cohen: Born in: Nahariya, Israel Passports from: Israel Favorite travel book: Favorite travel film: Must carry: Camera!!   Favorite food:  My mom’s cooking, then Indian food Favorite drink: Mezcal Website: Facebook: Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Samer Kawar:   Born in: San Francisco Bay Area Passports from: USA, Jordan Favorite travel book: Any Lonely Planet Guide Favorite travel film: Seven Years in Tibet Favorite travel app or website: Nomad Mania, Atlas Obscura, Tripadvisor Must carry: My sketchbook, Polaroid Zip photo printer Favorite food:  Khao soi, torta ahogada, coconut curry Favorite drink: the local beer in each country Favorite airline: Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines Favorite hotel: Airways Hotel, PNG Website: Instagram: Twitter: Map:       Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on , , and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit . ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by . Our theme music is by .

Key links & critical information: Listen with More about Frank Grosse-Oetringhaus: Born in: Germany Passports from: Germany Website: Map: A final note, with this episode, it will mark the end of Season 1.  A great thank you to all the listeners as well as all of the great travelers I have spoken with.  I look forward to speaking with all of you when Season 2 kicks off in early summer.

Key links & critical information: More about Jeff Shea: Born in San Francisco, CA Passports from USA Favorite travel book: Bill Dalton’s Indonesia Handbook 1983 Must carry: Headlamps, Neosporin, satellite phone if on an expedition Favorite food: My wife’s cooking Favorite drink: Soursop juice Favorite airline: Garuda and Turkish Airlines Instagram:    Website: SISO: Map: And for some trivia, Counting Countries has fans in 114 different countries, including Somalia, Togo, and Paraguay. Jeff joined me from California while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode.

George has set two ambitious goals.  First, he wants to summit the tallest mountain on each continent.  Second, he intends to travel to every country in the world.  He has made great progress so far, summiting six of the seven summits and has traveled to 78 UN countries. George has climbed the highest mountain on each continent, except for Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica, which is quite remote and expensive to climb.  George has showed true grit.  His first attempt at summiting Mt. Everest ended in failure, with the peak only being a couple hundred feet away.  He was not deterred and the following year he successfully submitted Mt. Everest.  This feat was accomplished at great monetary and time expense.  George talks about his summit of Mt. Elbrus, which nearly ended in true disaster.            George has an unusual list of countries he has traveled to.  He has not been to Ireland or Denmark, but he has traveled to Afghanistan, Sudan, Pakistan, and Somalia.  Heshares with us why he is not fond of Burundi, and why he believes Torres de Plaines in Chile is a special place.         George’s episode marks a milestone for Counting Countries.  This is the 50th episode.  I want to thank everyone who has participated in previous interviews, and of course I want to thank the listeners for tuning in.  And please, if you like the podcast, subscribe and write a review.     Also, Counting Countries is now available on Spotify.  And check out the Counting Countries store on Amazon.       I want to thank Pong who was on Episode 44 who introduced me to George.  If there is someone you want to hear on Counting Countries, please reach out to me.  George joined me from Virginia while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode.    You can purchase today on Amazon.        And now you can listen to !   And write a review! Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about George Kashouh:   Born in: Alexandria, VA   Passports from: US Favorite travel book: Lost World of Z Favorite websites: Google Flights Must carry: My camera Favorite food:  Thai food Favorite drink: Andes Cerveza   Favorite airline: Emirates   Favorite hotel: Hotel with the best price   Instagram:      Website: JR’s Eco Lodge in Easter Island:   About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Babis completed his quest for 193 in 2004, but has not slowed down at all.   In the late 1970s, Babis backpacked the Hippy Trail which included Pakistan and Afghanistan.  He eventually found his way to Sri Lanka and joined the crew of a Greek ship and travelled even further.   Babis is one of the few who has traveled to both the North and South Pole.  He shares with us an amazing tale of 19 hours in a helicopter traveling to the North Pole.  And no travel career is complete without an arrest story.  Babis found himself in a jail in Benghazi.          Babis spoke about his favorite traveler, Frank Grosse Oetringhaus, who is a fellow 193er.  He also shares an interesting perspective of why he is fond of William Baekeland, who he met and traveled with.      Babis joined me from Greece while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode.  You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to ! And write a review! Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about Babis Bizas:   Born in: Town of Arta in Northwest Greece Passports from: Greece Favorite travel book: Favorite travel film: Favorite websites: Must carry: My camera Favorite food:  Uzbek Plov Favorite drink: Airan Favorite airline: Turkish Airlines Favorite hotel: Best Western Facebook: Website:       About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Being a lazy workaholic propelled Artemy to become one of the world’s most traveled people Artemy had exploration in his DNA.  As a kid he traveled the metro in Moscow visiting scores of different theaters, satisfying his passion of cinema as well as exploring the nooks and crannies of his city.  As an adult, he made a pact with himself ensuring that at least once a month he would partake on a trip, whether the neighboring town or across the world.  This led him to be ranked 25th on the Nomad Mania list.   Artemy is a very popular and successful blogger in Russia. Artemy organizes incredible contests and trips on behalf of his fans.  He has brought his fans on explorations of the Pacific via a yacht.  Another adventure had Artemy driving in the dead of winter to Norilsk.  Norilsk is a city located north of the Arctic Circle and is in essence an island. It is typically reached via airplane or ship.  Artemy and his crew traveled overland for two weeks covering 1000 km on non-existent roads partaking on an epic roadtrip.         Artemy was also a member of the now infamous expedition to Bouvet Island which included William Baekeland. Artemy touches on his experiences with William during and after the trip.     Artemy joined me from Moscow while I was in Boston, please join in and listen to today’s episode.    And now you can listen to ! And write a review! Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about Artemy Lebedev : Born in: Moscow, Russia Passports from: Russia Favorite travel book: Robinson Crusoe Favorite travel film: The Secret LIfe of Walter Mitty Favorite websites: Wikitravel Must carry: plug adaptor for the US Favorite food:  Steak Favorite drink: Dry red wine Favorite airline: Turkish Airlines Favorite hotel: Hotel De La Paix, Siem Reap, before the renovation. Facebook: Website: Map: About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Jonny loves travel and he has a special interest in micronations. Jonny has met Jonathan I, Emperor of Austenasia and was the first backpacker to visit the nation.  He also visited the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a unique political and geographical entity. Jonny shares stories of traveling to New Zealand and partaking in adventure sports and meeting tons of other travelers.  He explains the challenges of traveling in China and the rewards that are earned by visiting this amazing nation.  He shares with us the beauty of Afghanistan and his discomfort when visiting Venezuela.       Jonny joined me from Poland while I was in Boston, please join in and listen to today’s episode. Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about Jonny Blair:   Born in: Newtownards, Northern Ireland Passports from: Irish and British Favorite travel book: Favorite websites: My own website, Wikipedia, and Wandering Earl Must carry: Northern Ireland Flag Favorite food:  Ulster Fry and Pierogi Favorite drink: Guiness and Earl Grey Tea Favorite airline: Ryan Air and Wizz Air Favorite hotel: Sarovar Portico, Port Blair India or Xanadu in Belize Twitter: Facebook: Website: and Instagram:

Tony has a sense of adventure not rivaled by many. Tony heard tales of travel from his Dad, a merchant marine.  He also had two opportunities to study in the USA as a student.  Yet, the gift of a kidney which prevented a life of dialysis supercharged his travel life, reminding him that his life is short.         And did I mention that Tony is also blind and mostly deaf.  Tony shows an incredible amount of poise, courage and optimism.  Tony typically travels solo and revels in the magic of travel, enjoying the interactions with locals and other travelers.      Tony shares why he loves New Zealand and Iceland.  He tells us why he found the Italians less than helpful.  Tony shares with us how he we was kicked out of North Dakota on his first visit and about Greyhound’s habit to lose his luggage.  Tony has a penchant for adventure, whether it is hang gliding, bungee jumping, zip line or skydiving.  He has a zest for life and exploration. Tony joined me from the UK while I was in Chicago, please join in and listen to today’s episode.    And write a review! Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about Tony Giles: Born in: Weston-super-Mare, southwest England, UK Passports from: UK Favorite travel book: My own?! Not sure if I have any! Favorite websites: Must carry: Spare cane and hearing aids Favorite food:  Beef/pork sausages, preferably British Favorite drink: Red Bush Tea Favorite airline: None! Favorite hotel: My own home! His book: Facebook: Website: BBC Video: All photos of James provided by James Asquith Travel About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

A number of allegations have been made against William Baekeland by other members of the travel community. These allegations have not been proven in a court of law. Please listen in on this special episode. Photos provided with permission by Harry Mitsidis and Dominique Laurent.  And write a review! Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. More about the guests: About Harry Mitsidis About Mike Kendall About David Langan About Dominique Laurent About William Baekeland About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and . Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well … that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

James is the current world record holder as the youngest person to travel to every country in the world according to the Guinness World Records James has travel DNA.  His grandfather regaled him with tales of spending time in Yemen.  His mother lived in Hong Kong.  His father was an airline captain who flew to international locales like Senegal and Ethiopia, James sometimes accompanying.   James shares with us why people make such a big difference when visiting every country in the world.  And he tells us what country has the friendliest people. James  tells us where the most magical sunrise is in the world.  James recounts visiting Ivory Coast during a civil war and traveling to Libya after the killing of Gaddafi.   And what counts as visiting a country?  James and I discuss the “broken finger rule”.   James also has a lot of current travel initiatives currently.  He recently published a book called Breaking Borders.  He is also rolling out a new travel app named Holiday Swap that helps people travel the world and build new friendships.   James joined me from London while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode. And write a review! Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about James Asquith: Born in: Cuckfield, UK Passports from: UK Favorite travel book: Favorite travel film:  , not travel specifically but more on relationships and interconnectivity   Favorite websites: , obviously ;) Must carry: Passport and money. Nothing else is necessary. I travel really light and there is nothing I need except the essentials to get me places. Everything else I’ll figure out along the way (I hope!) Favorite food:  Anything that are Italian staples, meats and cheeses with some wine and I’m all set!   Favorite drink: If I’m being boring a gin and tonic is the go to, but anything out of a pineapple or coconut always gets my attention! Favorite airline: Cathay Pacific. Good product and quality service Favorite hotel: No comment, conflict of interest :) Instagram: His book: His travel app: Guinness World Record: All photos of James provided by James Asquith Travel About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

Pong has travel in his blood.  He started traveling to nearby Asian countries and Europe with his parents as a kid.  Pong spent a year as a thirteen year old in Bangalore, India learning English at a strict boarding school.  He continued his schooling in Canada as he went to high school and university. Instead of heading back to Thailand on summer break he ended up visiting his classmate in the middle of Russia in the Urals for two months, living like a local. During university, he took a year off, and began a backpacking trip to the Middle East which included Syria. Owning his own business has allowed Pong a lot of flexibility in his travels.  Pong shares with us why he loves South Africa and why he is not fond of the Gulf States.  He takes us to current conflict zones likes Afghanistan and Venezuela.  He tells us why he loves the natural beauty of DRC and the hospitality he received in Iran.  And Pong shares with us the magic of travel, when he met a random South African family who drove him around showing Pong the real South Africa before dropping him off at the stadium for a World Cup match. New Partnership!! Counting Countries and Every Passport Stamp are excited to announce our partnership with Young Pioneer Tours.  YPT has been in business for 10 years and specializes in leading tours to places country counters love to visit. We are announcing our first tour with YPT - .  This is a private charter that will depart from Oman and arrive to Socotra the following day,  YPT has met with the Yemeni Ambassador to approve this trip YPT is offering Counting Countries and Every Passport Stamp listeners and members a special 5% discount.  To get the discount, you must email ric@gazarian initially.   .   Check out our friends: and .  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. More about Pongtharin Tanthasindhu: Born in: Thailand Passports from: Thailand Passport ranking: Favorite travel film:   and Favorite websites: Uber, Google Maps, Google Translate, TripAdvisor Must carry: Laptop and headlamp Favorite food:  Thai, Indian and Japanese Favorite drink: Beer and Pina Colada Favorite Airline: Turkish Airlines Map: Facebook: About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by . About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and . Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Century Club states that there are . The Most Traveled Person states that there are . The Nomad Mania states that there are . Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. Check out our partner and sponsor: Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.