Very Hungry Nomads…On Their Reverse Retirement

Very Hungry Nomads…On Their Reverse Retirement

Author: Ric Gazarian August 13, 2020 Duration: 1:20:17
Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel I had the opportunity to speak with world travelers Martina Sebova and Rachel Davey, who comprise the Very Hungry Nomads. This was my first outing of attempting to interview two people at the same time. Marty and Rach did an excellent job of moderating the answers. It has been a frustrating time for most extreme travelers as we shelter in place around the globe. There does not seem to be an end in sight when travel will go back to normal. I hope everyone is well and keeping in safely. Thanks to my patrons William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. And William, if you are listening, please reach out to me. They help pay for the production of this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com. My patrons will hear an extra interview with Marty and Rach which is exclusive to them. Untamed Borders is our sponsor and they want to remind you that Covid-19 travel restrictions are slowly being lifted in certain parts of the world. If you are looking for inspiration for your first post Covid trip then check out some of their trips for the 2020-21 winter period in the middle east.It's been a crazy year for travel. None more so than for Untamed Borders, Counting Countries's sponsor. They have been grounded since March but as travel restrictions ease they are arranging some private itineraries to countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, where entry is permitted without quarantine if you have a negative Covid PCR test result. Contact Untamed Borders for a list of the more interesting places on the planet with this entry system. Please note, you may need to quarantine when returning to your home country. One trip they have in September where many countries do allow free travel is to Turkey. UB they will be diving into the far south east of the country populated by the Kurdish community. Visiting Diyarbakir, Mardin, and the very rarely visited province of Hakkari, which is high in the mountains on the border where Iraq, Iran, and Turkey meet. If that is perhaps too soon then maybe check out some of their desert offerings in early 2021. First up is their trip to what they call the Heart of the Sahara. To the Tadrat Rouge mountains of Southern Algeria. Right on the border with Niger and Libya, this really is an Untamed part of the world and for lovers of desert scenery, their photos of the orange sand and black rocks are spellbinding. You could also try their new Saudi Arabia itinerary. As well as visiting Jeddah, Riyadh and the UNESCO Maidan Saleh. They have also added a night camping by the volcanos north of Medina. Who knew that Saudi Arabia contains almost 2000 extinct volcanos. A real trip off the beaten path of a country that is off the beaten path. Marty and Rach grew up on two independent tracks but with an equal passion for travel. Their paths crossed in Europe while both worked for the same tour provider. Taking advantage of the off-season, they teamed up to start exploring other parts of the world. And of course, this transitioned at one point in traveling to every country in the world. They share their journey. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and even better if you write a review. Listen to the end of the podcast to hear the latest review from Glimpses of Everywhere in Sweden … "Exactly what I needed!!! Instead of traveling this whole spring and summer (as was my initial plan) I got stuck at home and lost my job. Luckily I found a corona-job, making body bags. What helped me through this tough time was definitely Ric's podcast. He is such an amazing interviewer, so respectful and nuanced, and a great listener. I love listening to the podcast and with every episode, my bucket list gets longer and longer…" Also, a quick note to some of my listeners and supporters. A former guest on Counting Countries who is a bit disgruntled has been harassing some of my listeners. I apologize for this person's actions and hope you have not been overly inconvenienced. Very Hungry Nomads were in their Covid home base of Australia while I was recording in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons …. William Schelling, Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, and Ted Nims. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. More About Very Hungry Nomads: Born in: Slovakia (Marty) Born in: Australia (Rach)Passports: Slovakian (Marty) Passports: Australian (Rach) Favorite Book: The Alchemist (Marty) and Tales of a Female Nomad (Rach) Favorite Travel Film: The Motorcycle Diaries and The Beach Favorite App: Google Translate Favorite Food: Thai food Favorite Drink: Red Wine and coffee Their Map: Map Their Blog: Very Hungry Nomads Instagram: IG FB: FB Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! 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 Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far, and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. 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. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

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 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…
Peter Fenger … The Milk Run [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:43
Peter Fenger has been to 102 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Peter Fenger, who just celebrated his 50th anniversary of global traveler. I always love to…
Thor Pedersen  … Impossible Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:39
Thor Pedersen has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Thor returns for the 4th time to Counting Countries in addition to 7 other episodes for patrons. During this conversation, we sp…
Zsuzsanna Berencsi  … Thanks Tammy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:54
Zsuzsanna Berencsi has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Zsu Berencsi shares with us her awesome travel adventures to every country in the world with a big celebration this past De…
Michael Angelo Zervos … A Happy Moment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:03
Michael Zervos has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. This is a bonus episode with Michael Zervos. I interviewed Michael back in December of 2023, before he had started his quest. H…
Jenna Pava … #FOMO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:00
Jenna Pava has been to 181 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I had the pleasure of meeting Jenna Pava at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, only to discover that we were also (distant) neighbors…
We Married Adventure … All Shawarma Visits Count [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:32
We Married Adventure have been to 149 & 148 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I met Angela and Michael Ballard, the couple behind We Married Adventure, who I met at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Ban…
Sam Goodwin … Ice Rink Up The Escalator [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:09
Sam Goodwin has traveled to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. This conversation was a long time in the making. In fact, this interview was originally scheduled in 2020. But as we say, bett…
Vance ... My Latin Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:37
Hey now, this is your host, Ric Gazarian. And today, we have a special episode. The mission of this podcast is to speak to travelers who have been to every country in the world or who are in the process of completing tha…
Sandy Cohen … A Different World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:41
Sandy Cohen has traveled to 102 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. We are back with a new guest, Sandy Cohen. I have known Sandy for years on social media, and I was fortunate to meet her at both Extraordin…