Rus Margolin … from communist to capitalist

Rus Margolin … from communist to capitalist

Author: Ric Gazarian November 29, 2018 Duration: 1:20:11
Website: www.travel2unlimited.com Instagram: Travel 2 Unlimited On today's episode, I welcome Rus Margolin to Counting Countries. I learned about Rus and his prolific travel from seeing his photos on Facebook in Every Passport Stamp, and fellow EPS Moderator Petro suggested that I interview him for the podcast. Russ grew up in the Soviet Union in Minsk, Belarus. Rus's parents believed in travel and took him on frequent trips within the Soviet Union, including frequent trips to the Baltics. In fact, growing up Rus was the president of the Young Communist League. The Soviet Union collapsed in his youth, Rus won a country-wide English contect, and won a scholarship to Florida to attend university. After overcoming some culture shock, he excelled at school, and made his way to Wall Street. As a kid, Rus dreamed of exploring the world, cutting our pictures out from nature magazines, staring at photos of wildlife and nature. After his arrival to the US, he was able to pursue his dreams of exploration, and make his dreams a reality. He quit his job in 2013 so he could focus more on travel. Rus shares with us amazing experiences of the crab migration on Christmas Island, witnessing a billion butterflies in Mexico, and viewing the penguins in Antarctica. Russ also overeviews his recent trip to Syria, commenting on the normalcy of his visit while debating the sane-ness of his visit, while he rates the pistachio ice cream in the Damascus Souk. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, or Spotify. Remember go to Amazon to pick up your Counting Countries T-shirt. But for now, here's my conversation with Rus, who was in the Big Apple between trips while I was in the Windy City Counting Countries Studio. Please listen in and enjoy. More about Rus Margolin: Born in: Minsk Favorite travel book: Lonely Planet: Year of Watching Wildlife Favorite travel film: National Geographic Migrations Must carry: Camera Favorite food: Anything authentic and local Favorite drink: Anything authentic and local Favorite Airline: The cheapest

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: 166

Counting Countries
Podcast Episodes
Extraordinary Travel Festival Update #5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
To learn more about the Extraordinary Travel Festival in October 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia, please take a look at our website. www.Extraordinarytravelfestival.com To buy a ticket, use code ETF to save $50. https://extraor…
Jorge Serpa … Worst Day On The Road [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:40
Jorge caught my attention when I came across his blog. He is a true global citizen with an early move with his his family to Mozambique from Portugal followed by Venezuela and then attaining his higher education in the U…
The Cassie De Pecol Lawsuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:17
I am your host Ric Gazarian. This is another special episode from counting countries. Expect to hear a traditional deep dive episode next week. But this episode is timely. It coincides with the publication of a Washingto…
Drew Binsky … We Are All The Same [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:42
Drew made his first appearance on Counting Countries in 2017 when we both were Wanderers for G Adventures, the global travel company. We also crossed paths in Bangkok when Thor Pedersen passed through Thailand. Drew and…
Extraordinary Travel Festival Update #4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:39
On this episode I am speaking with Harry Mitsidis, the founder of NomadMania. We spoke with Harry Mitsidis on the last episode when he shared that the 2nd Annual NomadMania Travel Awards. Harry will also be hosting a tri…
Extraordinary Travel Festival Update #3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:29
A Conversation With Harry Mitsidis And Julian Carnall Of Large Minority On this episode I am speaking with Harry Mitsidis, the founder of NomadMania and Julian Carnall, the founder of Large Minority. Harry has big news t…
Extraordinary Travel Festival Update #2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:00
This is the Counting Countries Extraordinary Travel Festival Update #2 On this episode I am speaking with Charles Veley, the founder of the Most Traveled People, and Gianluca Pardelli, the founder of Soviet Tours. Charle…
Mette Ehlers Mikkelsen … Four Generations Of Female Travelers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:33
Extraordinary Travel Festival How Many Countries Are There In The World video Support Counting Countries at Patreon The new Counting Countries Merch Store Mette and I had been connected on Facebook via Every Passport Sta…
Tommy Shuai Shao … Chasing 244 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:20:50
Key Links How Many Countries Are There In The World video Support Counting Countries at Patreon The new Counting Countries Merch Store Thank you to my Patrons…Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Thor Pedersen, Steph R…
Counting Countries - Special Announcement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:39
Join us in Yerevan, Armenia from October 14 -16, 2022 at the Armenia Hotel Yerevan for the Extraordinary Travel Festival This will be a multi-day event with great and inspiring speakers And at night we will be hosting pa…