Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update VII – Fadi Assi – Golden Team & Baba Ahmed – T’ore Mauritania
✈️ ETF III Update #7: Bangkok 2026 Hey now! I am your host Ric Gazarian, and I am here with the seventh update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival (ETF III), happening October 22-25, 2026, in Bangkok. We have 4 amazing days of community, content, and exploration of Bangkok and beyond. Over 190 people have committed to joining ETF III. Use code BANGKOK to join and save $100. 🎉 Community, Content & Exploration We will have amazing community and networking: lunches, coffees, a dinner, a party, a meetup, and the NomadMania Awards. We have amazing content, over 40 speakers will take the stage over 4 days! Some incredible, motivating and entertaining individuals! 🎙️ This Week’s Guests: Fadi Assi & Baba Ahmed On today’s episode, I am joined by two great ETF partners: Fadi Assi from Golden Team Syria and Baba Ahmed from T'ore Mauritania. I am proud to share both of the partners are returning for a 2nd time to the ETF. Thank you guys! Fadi from Golden Team is a former NM Fixer of the Year and the go-to-guy [...]
Avi Ivan … His Superpower
Avi Ivan Counting Countries has been to every 166 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Avi Ivan, who I just met at the TCC meeting in Hanoi. And when he decided to attend ETF I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring him on as a guest and get to learn his story. I was in Boston while Avi was in Miami for this recording. Please listen in and enjoy. 🙏 Patron Shoutout I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons. You know them, you love them! Bisa "fully nomadic" Myles, Ted Nims, Adam "one-away" Hickman, Steph "Phuket" Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Philippe "BC" Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Peter Fenger, Mihai Dascalu, Ryan Knott, Zipping Around The World Podcast, Shawn McDonough, McCade Siegal, Avi Ivan, and Stefan Krasowski for supporting this podcast. You can support this podcast [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update VI – Ian Ord – WSE & Justin Murphy – The Murph Foundation
✈️ ETF III Update #6: Bangkok 2026 Hey now! I am your host Ric Gazarian, and I am here with the sixth update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival (ETF III), happening October 22-25, 2026, in Bangkok. We have 4 amazing days of community, content, and exploration of Bangkok and beyond. Over 175 people have committed to joining ETF III — 25 additional people have joined since the last podcast just 4 weeks ago. Use code BANGKOK to join and save $100. 🎉 Community, Content & Exploration We will have amazing community and networking: lunches, coffees, a dinner, a party, a meetup, and the NomadMania Awards. We have amazing content, screening travel documentaries on Thursday with Thor Pedersen and Johnny Ward, and 30+ amazing speakers — from DPRK defector Eunhee Park, to motorcycle explorer Maral Yazarloo, to Michelle Cabrera, a 22-year-old adventurist. 🎙️ This Week's Guests: Ian Ord & Justin Murphy On today's episode, I am joined by two great ETF partners: Ian Ord of Where Sidewalks End and Justin Murphy of the Murph Foundation. Ian Ord and [...]
Dr Tim Astandu … Berhasil
Dr Tim Astandu has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Tim Astandu. Tim and I have been in the same room three times in less than 12 months … Addis Ababa, Hanoi, and Lisbon, but today was a great opportunity to learn about his life and travels and it didn't disappoint. A mother who wrote for NatGeo, extensive schooling in the UK, and then of course … Chasing 193. And do not forget a special serenade in DPRK. Tim will be attending the ETF and you will be able to meet him in Bangkok. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons. You know them, you love them! Bisa "fully nomadic" Myles, Ted Nims, Adam "one-away" Hickman, Steph "Phuket" Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Philippe "BC" Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Peter Fenger, Mihai [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update V– Keith Van – seats.aero & Ahmed Abdulrazzaq – Aknaf Al Sawary
✈️ ETF III Update #5: Bangkok 2026 Hey now! I am your host Ric Gazarian. And I am here with the fifth update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival for October 22-25, 2026 in Bangkok. We have 4 amazing days of community, content, and exploration of Bangkok and beyond. Over 150 people have committed to joining ETF III. 💰 Price Increase Coming July 1 On July 1, the price of tickets will be increasing. The code BANGKOK will still be valid with a $100 discount. So if you want to lock in the lower price, do so now, and check out the website! 🎉 Community, Content & Exploration We will have amazing community and networking — lunches, coffees, a dinner, a party, a meetup, and the NomadMania Awards. We have amazing content, screening travel documentaries on Thursday with Thor Pedersen and Johnny Ward, 30+ amazing speakers from DPRK defector Eunhee Park to motorcycle explorer Maral Yazarloo to Michelle Cabrera, a 22-year-old adventurist. And exploration — whether you join us on our four trips to Bhutan, our post trip [...]
Jason Mayfield … Can’t Is Not An Option
Jason Mayfield has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Mayfield. Jason was propelled into his travel life as a high school student on a 5-week school trip to Siberia and he never looked back. Jason finished 193 before Covid but has been travelling continually since then. Jason will be attending ETF and you will be able to meet him in Bangkok. 🎧 Listen to Counting Countries Spotify Apple Podcasts Alexa: "Play Counting Countries podcast" And many other podcast players 🙏 Thank You to Our Patrons I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons. You know them, you love them: Bisa "fully nomadic" Myles, Ted Nims, Adam "one-away" Hickman, Steph "Phuket" Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Philippe "BC" Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Peter Fenger, Mihai Dascalu, Ryan Knott, Zipping Around The World Podcast, Shawn [...]
