Ric Gazarian

Counting Countries

Society EN ↓ 171 episodes

Chasing 193, one of the most exclusive clubs on Earth. In fact, more people have been to outer space than have earned their way into this, the ultimate travel club. According to the United Nations there are 193 sovereign nations in the world. Welcome to the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who've spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to them all. Welcome, to Counting Countries. With your host, Ric Gazarian.

Author

Ric Gazarian

Episodes

Felix Mechnig-Giordano … flirting with disaster in Syria 11.04.2019 2:06:18

Key Links https://www.patreon.com/CountingCountries Counting Countries Apparel Group Trip To Bhutan In November -----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 Countin...

Thor Pedersen … left home in October of 2013 to travel the world without taking any flights 07.03.2019 1:48:23

Key Links https://www.patreon.com/CountingCountries Counting Countries Apparel Group Trip To Bhutan In November -----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 Th...

Sascha Grabow … avoiding watermelons on the road 07.02.2019 2:14:27

Key Links https://www.patreon.com/CountingCountries Counting Countries Apparel Group Trip To Bhutan In November -----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...

Petro Marais … and the slow boat to Laos 10.01.2019 1:33:43

Key Links https://www.patreon.com/CountingCountries Counting Countries Apparel -----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 tr...

Debjeet Sen … and the seduction of travel 13.12.2018 1:28:18

Rus Margolin … from communist to capitalist 29.11.2018 1:20:11

Website: www.travel2unlimited.com Instagram: Travel 2 Unlimited 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 an...

Danay Bustamante … introduces us to the three wise men of Burkina Faso 15.11.2018 1:32:37

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...

Jenna Klotz … making friends in Mogadishu 01.11.2018 1:31:58

Key Links Counting Countries Apparel --------------------------------------- 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....

Robert A. (Bob) Bonifas … is ranked #2 on MTP 04.10.2018 1:39:53

Key Links Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa --------------------------------------- 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 sub...

Mar Pages … has completed her 100th country 20.09.2018 1:32:13

Key Links Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa --------------------------------------- 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 sh...

Stephen Hughes … is a threat to national security 06.09.2018 1:11:37

Key Links Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa --------------------------------------- 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...

Boris Kester … has completed the 193 23.08.2018 2:06:19

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa 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...

Maurice Brand … has completed 148 UN countries 09.08.2018 53:42

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa 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: Maurice Bra...

Michael Runkel … has completed 193 UN countries 26.07.2018 1:09:49

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa ---------- More about Michael Runkel: Born in: Bavaria, Germany Passports from: Germany Favorite travel book: Shantaram Favorite travel site: Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum Must carry: Camera Favorite food: German Roulade, a roulade is a dish of filled rolled meat or pastry. Fav...

Lexie Alford 12.07.2018 1:32:01

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa 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 (Gr...

Taylor Demonbreun … has completed 125 UN countries 28.06.2018 1:28:39

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa More about Trek With Taylor 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. Th...

Jorge Sanchez: Ranked first on Nomad Mania 14.06.2018 2:05:54

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe! 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: The Seven Voy...

Peleg Cohen … has completed 133 UN countries as he gives back to the local community 31.05.2018 1:19:58

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe! More about Peleg Cohen: Born in: Nahariya, Israel Passports from: Israel Favorite travel book: A Fine Balance Favorite travel film: Into The Wild Must carry: Camera!! Favorite...

Samer Kawar … has completed 145 UN countries, while marrying his passion for travel and architecture 17.05.2018 1:21:21

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe! 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 Fav...

Frank Grosse-Oetringhaus … has created a list of 5,000 places in the world to visit 22.03.2018 1:49:31

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa More about Frank Grosse-Oetringhaus: Born in: Germany Passports from: Germany Website: Frank Grosse Oetringhaus Map: Nomad Mania 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...

Jeff Shea summited the Seven Summits, traveled to all 193 countries, and much more! 08.03.2018 2:05:43

Key links & critical information: World Parks, Inc. SISO Club Counting Countries is now on Amazon Alexa Listen on Spotify Buy official Counting Countries apparel today 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 Fa...

George Kashouh has summited the highest mountain on six of the seven continents! 15.02.2018 1:34:10

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 ex...

Babis Bizas - 193 countries ... and travels 300 days a year for several decades 01.02.2018 1:12:18

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 h...

Artemy Lebedev - 193 countries ... and exploring over 1500 cities 18.01.2018 1:36:58

Download Episode! 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...

Jonny Blair - 113 countries ... a Northern Irishman in Poland 04.01.2018 1:19:05

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 c...