The Radio Vagabond

What does it take to visit every country in the world? In this episode, I'm joined once again by Ric Gazarian – aka Global Gaz – host of the Counting Countries podcast and founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok. We talk about the tiny global community of extreme travellers – people chasing all 193 UN countries… and beyond. How many people have actually done it? What kind of personalities dedicate years – sometimes decades – to this quest? And what happens when visiting every country once isn't enough? We also dive into the Extraordinary Travel Festival – a unique gathering of travellers, adventurers, nomads, content creators, and curious wanderers from around the world. You'll hear about: The surprisingly tight-knit "tribe" of extreme travellers Why Ric created Extraordinary Travel Festival The people who've visited every country in the world… twice… or even three times Why you don't need 150+ countries to feel welcome at ETF Travel content creation, documentaries, books, and storytelling Why travel community matters more than country counting Whether you're an armchair traveller, a digital nomad, a casual explorer, or someone secretly plotting your own 193-country mission – this one is for you. Relevant Links: Extraordinary Travel Festival: https://www.extraordinarytravelfest.com GlobalGaz: https://globalgaz.com/ Counting Countries Podcast: https://globalgaz.com/counting-countries/  Nomad Mania: https://nomadmania.com/ Every Passport Stamp (Facebook Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/everypassportstamp Extraordinary Travel Festival 3 Bangkok, Thailand 22–25 October 2026 Get $100 off your ETF ticket with promo code: VAGABOND (Discount decreases as the event gets closer.)

What does it really take to build a life around travel? In this episode of The Radio Vagabond, I sit down in Bangkok with two travel content creators who've each taken very different paths – Matt Bowles and Phil Marcus. Matt is the host of The Maverick Show – a long-form podcast diving deep into identity, culture, and life as a digital nomad. Phil is the creator behind "Phil's Guide to the World," documenting his travels to some of the most misunderstood places on the planet. We talk about how a failed business turned into a journey through 170 countries… how getting fired can push you into a completely new life… and why travel often restores your faith in humanity. This is a conversation about more than just destinations. It's about what happens when you choose freedom – and what that actually looks like behind the scenes. Key Takeaways How failure, setbacks, and unexpected moments can completely change your life trajectory The difference between fast travel and slow travel – and why it matters more than you think How creating content opens doors and creates deeper human connections Why countries like Iran and Pakistan are often misunderstood – and what they're really like The balance between experiencing the moment and documenting it How travel can reshape your worldview and restore your faith in humanity Why freedom of mobility is one of the greatest privileges we have Relevant Links Phils Guide to the World! (Phil's YouTube channel): https://youtube.com/@phils_guide Watch the video with the lost drone in Pakistan here: https://youtu.be/MGQsH9TEZsQ?si=BCC8aImtAHUF1VnG&t=5919 Phil Marcus on Instagram: @philsguide – https://www.instagram.com/philsguide/ The Maverick Show (Matt's podcast): https://www.themaverickshow.com The interview with Palle Bo on The Maverick Show: https://www.themaverickshow.com/podcast/387-nomading-in-your-60s-palle-bo-on-127-countries-travel-podcasting-life-as-the-radio-vagabond/ Matt on Instagram: @maverickshowpod – https://www.instagram.com/maverickshowpod/   If you enjoy this episode, make sure to follow or subscribe to The Radio Vagabond in your podcast app – and feel free to share it with someone who loves travel stories as much as you do.

In this episode of The Radio Vagabond, I sit down with Jeri Lynn Johnson Russell – a former Pan Am stewardess whose life took a dramatic turn from the skies to the villages of Africa. Over dinner in Cape Town, Jeri shares how her early travels sparked a lifelong love for adventure, how homeopathy became her calling, and how she built deep connections in the rural communities of Botswana, Eswatini, and Ghana. We talk about the lessons she learned in Africa – about generosity, humility, and the power of community. And we reflect on how, no matter where we come from, we're all guests on this planet – and we're better together. Key Takeaways How Jeri's early travels shaped her fearless curiosity about the world Why homeopathy – an alternative healing system based on "like treats like" – became a cornerstone of her work in Africa The unforgettable story of Olo and the word 'LOVE' written on a friend's belly How local healers and communities in Africa taught her the real meaning of generosity and resilience Why Jeri believes we're better with all ages, cultures, and ways of living – and how that mindset can change everything Relevant Links Jeri's book "A Bluebird in a Baobab" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQ61PMRG?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_3RK2Z318GBCCASDYFJH7 National Center for Homeopathy: https://www.homeopathycenter.org/ Blog post with more details and photos: https://theradiovagabond.com/365-jeri-russell Danish version of the blog post: https://radiovagabond.dk/416-jeri-russell The Open Nesters Podcast: https://theopennesters.com Check out the brand new Nomad Summit Podcast on https://nomadsummit.com/podcast You can follow The Radio Vagabond on: https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioVagabond  https://www.youtube.com/theradiovagabond  https://twitter.com/radiovagabond https://www.tiktok.com/@radiovagabond

In this explosive episode of The Radio Vagabond, I share the jaw-dropping story of how my Instagram account was hacked and how Meta's broken support system turned a bad situation into a digital nightmare.  From being locked out of my own account to being sent in endless loops of canned replies and case closures, this is the frustrating tale of trying to get real help from a platform that promises support to its verified users – but delivers anything but. Spoiler: it includes 20+ agents, false promises of phone calls, and a hacked account that vanished into thin air. It's funny, it's maddening, and it's a cautionary tale for anyone who relies on Meta's platforms. You don't want to miss this one.   You can follow The Radio Vagabond on https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioVagabond https://www.youtube.com/theradiovagabond https://twitter.com/radiovagabond https://www.tiktok.com/@radiovagabond Read the full story in the blog post here: https://theradiovagabond.com/366-meta

In this final episode from my time in Accra, Ghana, we dive even deeper into everyday life in this vibrant city. I meet a local through Couchsurfing for an authentic conversation about life in Accra, explore the growing middle class, talk about Ghana's huge number of government ministers, and discover some hidden gems. Plus, on The Vagabond Hotline, listeners share the weirdest things they've eaten while traveling – from fermented horse milk to almost trying balut myself. It's a jam-packed final chapter before Cynthia and I leave Accra and head north for more adventures across Ghana. Key Takeaways: The surprising number of government ministers in Ghana Understanding the income gap and cost of living in Accra Hidden gems like Legon Botanical Gardens Hilarious and bizarre travel food stories on The Vagabond Hotline Preparing to leave the city for rural adventures in Ghana Relevant Links: Follow The Radio Vagabond on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiovagabond/ Like The Radio Vagabond on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioVagabond Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theradiovagabond Follow on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/radiovagabond Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@radiovagabond Read the full blog post for this episode: https://theradiovagabond.com/365-ghana