Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update VIII – Neville Mehra – Genki & Charles Veley – MTP

Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update VIII – Neville Mehra – Genki & Charles Veley – MTP

Author: Ric Gazarian September 16, 2026 Duration: 1:09:04
✈️ ETF III Update VIII: 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 200 people have committed to joining ETF III. Use code BANGKOK to join and save $100. Remember there is a price INCREASE on September 22. 🎉 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: Neville Mehra & Charles Veley On today's episode, I am joined by two great ETF partners: Neville Mehra from Genki and Charles Veley from MTP. I am excited to share that MTP is returning for the third time and Genki is joining the ETF as our official Health Partner. Check out Genki for your health solutions, click here (affiliate). Thank you guys! Neville is one of the founders of Genki is a true turnkey health solution for travelers, especially those in the extreme travel community. First, Genki covers you in every country, no restrictions. Second, you do not need to share your travel plans, just your start date. Third, it covers you for every doctor and hospital. Fourth, it has excellent coverage - everything from skydiving to riding a scooter. Of course, please read all of the small print. Get your quote today and click here (affiliate). Charles Veley, the founder of MTP, returns to both Counting Countries as well as the ETF where he will take to the stage to provide some updates on the MTP community and some fascinating trips coming up in the future. MTP is a partner of the ETF and will also be exhibiting at the event. This is your opportunity to learn more about MTP features and benefits. I was in Bangkok for both conversations, while Neville was in Spain and Charles was in Germany. 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
Shagg Makino … Trading Train Tickets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:21
Shagg Makino Counting Countries has been to 169 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Shagg Makino. Shagg is a part-time resident of Bangkok, and we have me…
Avi Ivan … His Superpower [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:27
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 de…
Dr Tim Astandu … Berhasil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:16
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 t…
Jason Mayfield … Can't Is Not An Option [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:30
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…
Mihai Dascalu … Plan B & C [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:05
Mihai Dascalu has been to 99 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mihai Dascalu. I met him at the ETF in Bangkok in 2024, and I am excited he is coming bac…
Sherri Donovan … Hugs From Old Mommas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:01
Sherri Donovan has been to 187 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sherri Donovan, a well-known member of the community. I was taken aback when Sherri sha…