Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update VII - Fadi Assi - Golden Team & Baba Ahmed - T'ore Mauritania

Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update VII - Fadi Assi - Golden Team & Baba Ahmed - T'ore Mauritania

Author: Ric Gazarian August 14, 2026 Duration: 1:01:48
✈️ 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 when it comes to Syria. Syria is open, but it can be a bit tricky. It is best to partner with a local expert like Fadi. Three things I want to share. First, Golden Team offers fixed date, guaranteed group trips. He is offering ETF alumni a 20% discount on these trips. Second, in February, he is offering 50% off this trip for ETF alumni. And third, at the ETF, we will raffle off a 50% off seat on fixed date trip in 2027 to one winner! Baba from T'ore Mauritania is another amazing person and tour provider and another winner of the NM Fixer of the Year. Baba is offering a 5% discount on all fixed date departure trips in Mauritania for ETF alumni. And at ETF, he will be raffling off a free trip for a fixed departure trip in 2027! Both Fadi and Baba will be hosting mini-presentations on their home countries and of course will be around to answer all of your questions. It is an honor to be hosting both of them again. I was in Boston for both conversations, while Fadi was in Damascus and Baba was in Mauritania. Please listen in and enjoy. And check out the previous update here.

The journey to visit every country on the map is a pursuit that defines a life, blending obsession, logistics, and profound personal discovery. Counting Countries, hosted by Ric Gazarian, explores this rarefied world through conversations with the travelers who are doing it. This isn't a typical travel podcast about tips or destinations; it's about the human stories behind the stamps. Each episode delves into the motivations, the decades-long itineraries, the close calls, and the unexpected moments of connection that happen along the way. Listeners hear firsthand accounts of what it truly costs-financially, emotionally, physically-to chase this singular goal. The podcast naturally examines the shifting definitions of travel and countryhood, the ethical considerations of crossing borders for a list, and the quiet reflections that come from a lifetime of movement. Gazarian guides these discussions with the insight of someone who understands the quest, creating a space for honest talk about an endeavor fewer people have completed than have gone to space. It’s about the texture of the world, one border at a time, and the unique perspective gained from seeing all of it. Tune in for intimate narratives that go far beyond passport counts, revealing the deeper meaning of a global life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Counting Countries
Podcast Episodes
Barry Hoffner … Belonging To The World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Brian Johnson … Slightly Bigger Office [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update III – Matt Gray Of Pangea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Yaël Pericard … A Pair Of Jeans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:00
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Thomas Preinl … Inspired By His Grandfathers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Orla Phillips … A Travel Brochure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:50
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Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update I - Destination Reveal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
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 c…