Counting Countries

Barry Hoffner has traveled to 155 countries  Barry should be much better known in the travel community than he is today.  He showed up on my radar screen when we connected on Instagram.  I follow many who are Chasing 193.  Barry later became a generous supporter of Counting Countries via Patreon, and we connected on the phone where I began to learn more about his amazing and at times tragic life journey.   Barry has already lived several lifetimes of amazing experiences with many to go.  From exploring Europe as a 18 year old, to living as an expat in Paris for an investment firm in his mid-20s, to living in a dormitory learning Mandarin in the mid-1990s with his wife in Kunming, to living and working in Moscow with his family.  Barry is the founder of which has built 17 schools in the Timbuktu region and much more.  And of course, much more.  This is a reminder that I am partnering with SafetyWing, a travel insurance company.  I have been using them personally for over 2 years.  And yes, there are a couple of reasons why … let me highlight a couple of the features.  First, you can purchase insurance while you are already on the go.  Some insurance products force you to sign up before you leave on your trip.  Second, you only have to share your initial country on your trip.  Many of my trips are open-ended when it comes to the agenda.  I don’t have to worry about forgetting to update SafetyWing.  They’ve got me covered.  Third, most countries are covered.  Exceptions are Cuba, Iran, DPRK, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Everywhere from Mogadishu to Tripoli is covered.  And fourth, you do not have to declare a dollar value for the trip.  Many providers force you specify the cost of your trip.  Most times I have no idea how much my trip will cost.  To me, this insurance is fire and forgot.  It will renew every month or you can set an end date.  But compared to many of the other products out there, this one to me is the most flexible.  So, take a moment, check out , and click on the link to sign up for your next trip.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Sunir Joshi, Philippe Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Phillip Jones, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Thor Pedersen, Adam Hickman, Katelyn Jarvis, Ed Hotchkiss, and Barry Hoffner for supporting this podcast. They help pay for the production of this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to .  My patrons hear extra content with Barry that you will not hear.  We have another patron to welcome, Carole Southam.  I have known Carole for several years as she attended travel meetups that I organized in Bangkok.  And even better, she joined many of us from the community in Yerevan for the Extraordinary Travel Festival.  Carole is a prolific traveler in her own right, working and traveling around the world.  We just met for dinner in Bangkok as her and her husband came through Bangkok.  You can also support Counting Countries by writing a review or sharing this podcast with a travel lover.  I was in Bangkok for this recording while Barry was in the Sausalito.  Please listen in and enjoy.    Thank you to my …. Barry Hoffner, Ed Hotchkiss, Katelyn Jarvis, Carole Southam, Phillip Jones, Thor Pedersen, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Sunir Joshi, Gintaute Liutkeviciute, Philippe Izedian & Dale Wursten.   And now you can listen to ! And Alexa!   And write a review! More About Barry Hoffner Counting Countries 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. Less 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 .  About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: , , and .  He is the producer of two travel documentaries: and .   Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has and keep up with his journey at How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask!  The United Nations states that there are . The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are . The Traveler’s Century Club states that there are . The Nomad Mania The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 . SISO says there are .     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. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post.  Barry Hoffner Counting Countries