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Live From Sealand! … Extreme Travelers Gather & A Conversation With Prince Michael

Counting Countries

Release Date: 07/11/2019

Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update III – Matt Gray Of Pangea show art Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update III – Matt Gray Of Pangea

Counting Countries

Join the in Bangkok, October 22-25, 2026.  Use code BANGKOK to save on your ticket. One of the goals of the Extraordinary Travel Festival is to bring the leaders of the travel industry together.  Why?  We want to make your travels richer and more meaningful.  Hearing from these thought leaders keeps you abreast of changes and benefits that can help you.  We have founders and leaders like Ian Cumming of Travel Massive, Stefan Krasowski of Every Passport Stamp, and Orest Zub of NomadMania. I am excited to be speaking with Matt Gray on this episode who will also be...

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Yaël Pericard has been to 133 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I have the pleasure to speak with traveler Yael Pericard.  I met Yael briefly at the ETF in Bangkok and follow him on FB, but here is another case of a traveler who I really did not know well.  Of course that is no longer the case after our conversation.  Yael leads an adventurous life from summiting 7000 meters in Pakistan, to giving back in the Phillipines, to risking it all to explore a remote airstrip in Lesotho (this one is a pretty crazy story).  And, you will get to meet...

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Counting Countries

The ETF/ABS Magellan Travel Index was announced and premiered at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok in 2024 by founder, João Paulo Peixoto.  The professor has recently moved into the #1 position on both the NM and MTP lists.  The professor joins us on the ETF to provide an update on the MTI. You can learn more about the . Please remember the Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held in Bangkok from October 22-25 in 2026. You can join and use code BANGKOK to save. 

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Thomas Preinl has been to 190 countries   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Thomas Preinl who I met at the NomadMania meeting in Uzbekistan and spent time with him during a recent visit to Thailand. Thomas is one of those characters who has been Chasing 193 but only recently found the extreme travel community.  Thomas has benefited with flight benefits due to his employment with Lufthansa for years.  As Thomas will share, he is German by birth, but not by character, having a flexible and adaptable travel persona.  You...

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Hey now!  Welcome to the third season of ETF news and updates. The destination for ETF III will be back to Bangkok, Thailand! The dates will be October 22-25, 2026. Join today to lock in great prices with these discount codes. ETF3 - $140 DISCOUNT – EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 24 ALUMNI - if you are an alumni of ETF I or II please contact me for a bigger discount - expires September 24 as well Tickets are non-refundable, but you may sell your ticket.  It will be your responsibility to find the buyer. For more details.  www.extraordinarytravelfest.com

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Thor Pedersen has been to every country in the world   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Thor returns for the 4th time to Counting Countries in addition to 7 other episodes for patrons.  During this conversation, we speak about his newly published book, The Impossible Journey ().  Despite knowing his journey well, this book shares more stories and additional context to his quest.  We also overview what he has been doing over the last 2 years since his return from his nearly 10 year journey.     I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting...

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Zsuzsanna Berencsi has been to every country in the world   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Zsu Berencsi shares with us her awesome travel adventures to every country in the world with a big celebration this past December in her last country, Jamaica.  I have met Zsu twice before at both ETFs and she promises a third.  I got it on tape.  I also reconnected with Zsu at April Peregrino’s 193 party in Bratislava where Zsu arranged a special field trip.     I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my...

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Michael Zervos has been to every country in the world   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. This is a bonus episode with Michael Zervos.  I interviewed Michael back in December of 2023, before he had started his quest.  His quest?  To travel to every country in the world in the quickest possible time.  We have heard this before … someone who wants to break the GWR.  And many in the community would ask what is the point?  This is not a race.  What will the traveler gain from spending just a day or two in each country?   And once the record is...

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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, Hick Hiker.  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 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 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 GlobalGaz.com to see more information as well as disclosures.  And I am announcing a new trip to Madagascar in August of 2020 with G Adventures.    

As some of you might know, the Extreme Travel International Congress met in June at the Principality of Sealand, 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 …. Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims & Ryan Gazder.

 

Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel!  You can purchase 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.   

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

How Many Countries Are There?

Well… that depends on who you ask!

An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori.  

Check out our friend and his new book:    

The Curious Case of William Baekeland 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. 

 

Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.

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