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...
Nov 01, 2018•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 65
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 mi...
Oct 04, 2018•1 hr 40 min•Season 2Ep. 63
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 an...
Sep 20, 2018•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 62
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 ...
Sep 06, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 61
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 list...
Aug 23, 2018•2 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 60
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 abo...
Aug 09, 2018•54 min•Season 2Ep. 59
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. W...
Jul 26, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 58
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 ...
Jul 12, 2018•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 57
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 ...
Jun 28, 2018•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 56
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 Countr...
Jun 14, 2018•2 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 55
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 vis...
May 31, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 54
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 F...
May 17, 2018•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 53
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.
Mar 22, 2018•1 hr 50 min•Season 1Ep. 52
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 join...
Mar 08, 2018•2 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 51
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 f...
Feb 15, 2018•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 50
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. Bab...
Feb 01, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 49
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...
Jan 18, 2018•1 hr 37 min•Season 1Ep. 48
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 ...
Jan 04, 2018•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 47
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 t...
Dec 21, 2017•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 46
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...
Dec 07, 2017•2 hr 36 min
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 tell...
Nov 23, 2017•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 45
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,...
Nov 09, 2017•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Arvi is nearly finished in completing his quest to travel to all 193 countries, and has had some amazing experiences on the way. Arvi only has 15 countries left and is hoping to finish this quest in the next year. During his travels, he has visited both Antarctica and the North Pole. He sailed around Antarctica from New Zealand to Chile, stopping and visiting McMurdo Station via helicopter during his 30 day cruise. He joined a Russian nuclear ice-breaker as it journeyed to the North Pole. Arvi s...
Oct 26, 2017•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Listen to Nina’s inspiring story to learn how an offhand comment by a friend set her on the path of becoming one of the approximately 10 women who have visited every country in the world. Nina grew up in Frankfurt in a single parent home. As a child she dipped her toe in the water and traveled within Europe, visiting England on a language exchange program. She began to travel and explore more after university visiting a couple dozen countries. At the age of 36, she quit her job in the corporate ...
Oct 12, 2017•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Ella made a drastic decision after graduating university and starting her first corporate job. She quit on her 89th day. Despite having a great opportunity in the corporate world, she realized quickly that she craved a life of independence and freedom. She ended up living in Rwanda working for a NGO for 6 months. And this started a transition to becoming a digital nomad and beginning a career as an elite success coach. This new role allowed her the flexibility to live where she wanted to live as...
Sep 28, 2017•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 41
A family that travels together stays together. Jakob travels frequently with his girlfriend and two young children. Jakob travels often with his girlfriend and two young children. Family vacations include overland West African road trips, visits to Somaliland, and family excursions to Afghanistan. His children aged 10 and 8 respectively have traveled to 72 and 55 countries respectively. Jakob also hits the road solo as well. He recounts witnessing a secretive Satanic ritual in West Africa. He ov...
Sep 14, 2017•1 hr 35 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Maurizio was a travel outlier at a young age. Riding the rails in Europe independently as a 13 year old. At 17, he left Italy to travel the Trans-Siberian to visit his penpal in Mongolia. After university in the UK, be began an international career as a journalist and NGO worker. This allowed ample opportunity to travel and lives overseas. Maurizio has spent time living in Haiti, Brazil, Mali, Sudan, Afghanistan, Central African Republic amongst others. Maurizio shares with us why he loves Gabon...
Aug 31, 2017•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Fabio is closing in on his goal of 193 countries as he narrows down the list! Fabio was born in Milan and spread his wings as a model as he travelled to Miami and then moved to East and Southeast Asia before he was even 20 years old. Before he knew it, he had visited dozens of countries and he was on his quest. Fabio shares with us why Kabul and Caracas are the most dangerous cities in the world. Fabio recently visited Libya, and explains how he wrangled a visa and what his experience was like v...
Aug 17, 2017•1 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Drew is 26 and has already been to 110 countries and holds two Guinness World Records. As a ten year old, Drew spun a globe in his room and memorized the countries of the world. As a college student, he did a semester abroad in Prague and visited 20 European countries. After college, he moved to a small town in South Korea to teach English and started his travel blog. Drew now travels full time professionally and works with brands and tourism boards who support his travels. He details during the...
Aug 03, 2017•58 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Randy is a well-known radio personality who happens to be on a quest to travel to every country in the world. Randy became intrigued with travel while listening to his Spanish teacher’s travel stories. At the age of 26, he ventured abroad for the first time, and immediately became smitten with Brazil. He traveled there over 30 times, and lived there for two years. While discovering Brazil he decided to visit every country in the Americas before the age of 40. That goal transitioned to visiting a...
Jul 20, 2017•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 36
