Counting Countries

With a membership of only around 100, it’s 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.

Counting Countries - Special Announcement 10/13/2021

Ted Nims … Hanging With Alferd Packer 08/12/2021

Ted Nims … Hanging With Alferd Packer 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 /episode/index/show/countingcountries/id/20116409

Ben Dowson … Nicking Sheeps 06/10/2021

Ben Dowson … Nicking Sheeps 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 /episode/index/show/countingcountries/id/19411130

Nick Butter … Don’t Wait For A Diagnosis 04/08/2021

Nick Butter … Don’t Wait For A Diagnosis 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 /episode/index/show/countingcountries/id/18643766