My Conversation with Sam Goodwin : From Surviving Syria to Completing 193 Countries

My Conversation With Ildiko Szabo : The First Hungarian & One Of The Youngest Women To Visit 193

In this episode, I’m joined by Ildi, the first Hungarian woman to visit all 193 UN-recognized countries, a pilot, author, and one of the youngest people to complete this extraordinary journey. In this episode, we talk about: * How growing up in a small Hungarian village, she never imagined travel would define her life * The graduation trip to Rome that sparked a lifelong obsession with exploring the world * Funding global travel through multiple jobs and building a career that enabled exploration * How a sleepless night and a simple question—“How many countries are there?”—changed everything * The realities of visiting difficult destinations, navigating visas, fixers, and political barriers * Solo travel, self-trust, and learning to rely on instinct in unfamiliar environments * Powerful stories from countries like Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s Socotra Island, Ethiopia, and Pakistan * Why misunderstood countries often offer the deepest kindness and human connection * The emotional reality of completing all 193 countries—and what comes after achieving the impossible * How travel reshaped her understanding of happiness, purpose, and human connection At its core, this episode is about curiosity, courage, and transformation—how one decision at 18 evolved into a journey across every nation on Earth, and how travel became a tool for self-discovery, humility, and growth. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the world, stepping beyond your comfort zone, or redefining what’s possible for yourself, this conversation will leave you inspired to begin—one step at a time. 🎧 Listen to 193 Perspective on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 🌍 Connect with Ildi: https://www.instagram.com/endlesstravelcoma/ [https://www.instagram.com/endlesstravelcoma/] 📖 Her book: The World Is Your Playground : https://www.amazon.in/World-Your-Playground-Journey-Country-ebook/dp/B0FSDWK9HH [https://www.amazon.in/World-Your-Playground-Journey-Country-ebook/dp/B0FSDWK9HH] My Travel Link : www.travel-footprints.com #193Countries #TravelPodcast #SoloTravel #GlobalJourney #HumanConnection #OneWorldOneLife

My Conversation With Taylor Demonbreun : One of the Youngest & Fastest Woman to Have Visited All Countries

In this episode, I’m joined by Taylor Demonbreun, the youngest woman to visit all 193 UN-recognized countries and the Guinness World Record holder for doing it in the fastest time: 1 year and 189 days. In this episode, we talk about: * How a study-abroad experience opened the floodgates to a life of travel * Walking away from a traditional investment-banking path to chase an unconventional dream * What it actually takes to break a Guinness World Record (visas, witnesses, logistics, proof) * Traveling solo across the world as a young woman—and why it became her greatest growth tool * Rushing through countries vs. slow travel, and learning to make peace with both * Visiting some of the world’s most misunderstood regions and finding extraordinary kindness * Why countries like Iran and Libya left a lasting personal impact * Lessons travel teaches that no classroom, degree, or job ever could At its core, this episode is about courage—saying yes to uncertainty, trusting yourself, and discovering that people everywhere are far more similar than different. If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling, questioned the “safe” path, or wanted to see the world with clearer eyes, this conversation will stay with you. 🎧 Listen to 193 Perspective on Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA [https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA] Apple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638 [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638] or wherever you listen to podcasts See My travel Blog here : travel-footprints.com 💬 CONNECT WITH TAYLOR: https://www.trekwithtaylor.com/ [https://www.trekwithtaylor.com/] 💬 CONNECT WITH ME : https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/ [https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/] #193Countries #DeepTravel #GlobalPerspectives

My Conversation With Harry Mitsidis : The Most Travelled Man In The World & The Founder of NomadMania

In this episode of The 193 Perspective, I sit down with Harry Mitsidis — founder of Nomad Mania, linguist, author, and one of the very few people on Earth to have visited all 193 UN-recognized countries not once, but twice. Born in London to a Greek father and South African mother, Harry’s life has been shaped by cultural duality, curiosity, and an early obsession with maps, aviation, and movement. What began as a gradual love for travel eventually evolved into a lifelong pursuit of understanding the world — not by ticking boxes, but by going deeper into places, people, and perspectives. In this conversation, we explore: * How Harry’s multicultural upbringing and academic background shaped the way he sees the world * The moment Afghanistan transformed travel from curiosity into a conscious goal * The loneliness, doubt, and near-quitting moments that rarely get discussed in long-term travel * Why completing all 193 countries felt like an anticlimax, and the existential question that followed * The philosophy behind Nomad Mania — regions over capitals, depth over numbers * Why Harry prefers “deep travel” over the label of “extreme travel” * Solo travel, patience, and how years on the road reshaped his personality * Social media’s impact on travel — inspiration, distortion, and responsibility * The idea of slow travel, authenticity, and learning to sit with a place rather than rush through it * Underrated countries and regions that deserve far more attention than they receive * Why, in the end, people — not places — create the strongest travel memories This episode isn’t just about finishing a list. It’s about what happens after you’ve seen the world — and still keep questioning it. 🎧 Listen to 193 Perspective on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA [https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638 [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638] Or anywhere you listen to podcasts 🎙️ 💬 CONNECT WITH ME (193 Perspective): Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/ [https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/] Read my blog: https://travel-footprints.com [https://travel-footprints.com]

My Conversation with Juha Suoniemi : The Youngest Finn to visit every country, Economist and Politician

In this episode of 193 Perspective, I sit down with Juha Suoniemi — an economist, author, and politician from Finland, and the youngest Finn to have visited all 193 UN-recognized countries. Over more than a decade, Juha travelled through every corner of the world, from stable democracies to war-torn and least-visited nations, always observing the patterns that shape societies. Unlike many who chase numbers, Juha approached travel with a lens — using economics, history, and governance to make sense of the world. His experiences challenged media narratives, reshaped his understanding of development and inequality, and ultimately influenced his work as both an author and a policymaker. These insights culminated in his book, Traveling to Every Country in the World Through the Lens of Economics, offering readers a grounded, nuanced view of the world. In this episode, we discuss: * How early travel and interrail journeys sparked his global curiosity * What visiting all 193 countries revealed about inequality and development * Media narratives versus on-ground realities in misunderstood regions * Traveling through conflict zones and least-visited countries * Colonial legacies and their long-term economic impact * Why off-the-beaten-path travel offers deeper perspective * Writing a book that combines economics with lived travel experience * How travel shaped his worldview as an economist and city councillor * Why travel remains one of the most powerful forms of education Whether you’re interested in deep travel, global economics, geopolitics, or understanding the world beyond headlines, Juha’s insights offer clarity, nuance, and perspective that stay with you long after the episode ends. 🎧 Listen to 193 Perspective on Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA [https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA] Apple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638 [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638] or wherever you listen to podcasts See My travel Blog here : travel-footprints.com 💬 CONNECT WITH JUHA SUONIEMI : https://www.instagram.com/juhasuoniemi/ [https://www.instagram.com/juhasuoniemi/] 💬 CONNECT WITH ME : https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/ [https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/] #JuhaSuoniemi #193Countries #DeepTravel #GlobalPerspectives

My Conversation with Sam Goodwin : From Surviving Syria to Completing 193 Countries

In this episode of 193 Perspective, I sit down with Sam Goodwin — an American traveller, former hockey player, speaker, and one of the few people on Earth who has visited all 193 UN-recognized countries. Sam’s story is extraordinary. After a hockey career-ending injury closed one door, another opened — leading him to Singapore, the world of startups, and ultimately a decade-long journey across every sovereign nation. From coaching the North Korean hockey team to exploring some of the world’s most misunderstood regions, Sam’s travels have shaped a worldview rooted in curiosity, humility, and gratitude. But the defining moment of Sam’s journey came in May 2019, when he was detained in Syria and held in solitary confinement for a few weeks, accused of espionage — a life-or-death experience that taught him about resilience, faith, uncertainty, and the strength of human purpose. His story is captured in his new book. In this episode, we discuss: * How a hockey injury redirected Sam’s life * The six years in Singapore that ignited his travel obsession * Coaching North Korea’s national hockey team * Travel philosophy: stereotypes vs reality, people, perspective & why “off-the-beaten-path” matters * Why the Middle East gave him some of his most powerful travel memories * His arrest and detention in Syria: fear, faith, and survival * Frameworks for managing uncertainty * The “193 goal” and what life feels like after achieving it * Advice for young travelers on risk, purpose, and exploration * Why travel remains the world’s greatest education Whether you’re a traveler, a dreamer, or someone seeking stories of resilience and perspective — Sam’s insights will stay with you long after the episode ends. 📖 Please order Sam’s book — Saving Sam ( Im sure you'll love the book ) 🎧 Listen to 193 Perspective on: Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA [https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA] Apple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638 [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638] Or anywhere you listen to podcasts on 💬 CONNECT WITH SAM GOODWIN: Website: samgoodwin.com [http://samgoodwin.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samrgoodwin/ [https://www.instagram.com/samrgoodwin/] 💬 CONNECT WITH ME (193 Perspective): Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/ [https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/]