Counting Countries

Key Links Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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 Simen Flotvik Mathisen, 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 Patreon.com/CountingCountries. 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, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia 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: @TriniTashTraveler Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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 Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com. Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, 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, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. More About Graham Hughes: Born in: UK Passports: UK The Odyssey Expedition Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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 Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com. Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia 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: Map Their Blog: Very Hungry Nomads Instagram: IG FB: FB Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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 Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far, and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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 www.untamedborders.com or drop them a message at [email protected]. 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. And watch my full length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com More About Joss: Born in: United Kingdom Passports: UK Instagram: Joss Stone YouTube: Joss Stone Website: Joss Stone Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1281 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Group Trip To Madagascar Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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 www.untamedborders.com or drop them a message at [email protected]. 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. And watch my full length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com More About Francis: Born in: USA Passports: Chile, France, and USA Instagram: FTapon Podcast: Wander Learn Podcast Website: Francis Tapon Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1281 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Group Trip To Madagascar Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase some today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com More About Melissa: Born in: USA Passports: USA Instagram: Mapped By Melissa How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1281 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Group Trip To Madagascar Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. And watch my full length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com 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: Lorenzo Riccardi Facebook: Lorenzo Riccardi Website: 200 Economies Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1281 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Group Trip To Madagascar Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel 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. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase some today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon. And watch my full length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com More About Slawek: Passports: Poland and Kenya Instagram: Slawek Muturi Facebook: Slawek Muturi Youtube: Slawek Muturi How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1281 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

Key Links Untamed Borders Group Trip To Madagascar Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel ----- Produced by Simpler Media