Michael Angelo Zervos … A Happy Moment

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. His quest? To travel to every country in the world in the quickest possible time. We have heard this before … someone who wants to break the GWR. And many in the community would ask what is the point? This is not a race. What will the traveler gain from spending just a day or two in each country? And once the record is broken, it will be broken again. First it was Cassie de Pecol, and then Taylor Demonbreun, who currently holds the GWR for quickest at 554 days to every country in the world. The current male GWR holder is Robson Jesus at 772 days. On a random note, I met Robson in Phuket, his second country on his quest. Former guest, Indy Nelson claimed 539 days to every country. Anderson Dias traveled 543 days to every country in the world, also claiming a record, both unverified by GWR. Michael just completed his journey in 499 days to every country in the world … overcoming potential challenges such as DPRK and Sudan. But Michael put his own spin on his journey. He wanted to create a library of the world's "what is the happiest moment of your life?" As he traveled to every country in the world, he would meet locals and pose this question to them, and create videos. On another random note, I organized a meetup in Bangkok when he visited, introducing him to two local Thai friends who were interviewed at the event. Remember to keep up to date with the Extraordinary Travel Festival by joining our Instagram and Facebook groups and signing up for the ETF newsletter on our. ETF will be sometime, somewhere in 2026 around October/November, destination unknown. Some other notes in the travel community. I joined the NM travel conference to Fergana Valley where I met 100 other travelers, including many from the ETF community. One of the highlights was a visit to a unique and amazing enclave. Hats off to the NM team which organized this great event. I just got my copy of the Impossible Journey. This is Thor Pedersen's mission to visit every country in the world without flying. Make sure you pick up your copy, and take a look at this link here to see your options. I also attended April Peregrino's last country party celebration in Bratislava. Congrats to April who was interviewed on one of the early Counting Countries episodes when she was just at 84 countries. She did an amazing job organizing this multi-day event for 50 people. And one more piece of news, extreme traveler Krazy Koala just visited her last country. And she celebrated in a unique manner by writing a song in honor of her completion. Check out her song Solo 193. Also, she has noted that she is the first double Ivy League graduate and the first "Independent" Solo Female to visit 193 countries (95% no guide). Please note this conversation took place before Michael's quest began. I was in Chicago and Micheal was in Michigan for this recording. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons - you rock!! … Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Adam Hickman, Steph Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Dana Mahoutchian, and Mihai Dascalu. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa!

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Michael Angelo Zervos … A Happy Moment is an episode from Counting Countries by Ric Gazarian.

This episode is 01:01:03 long.

This episode was published on Jun 15, 2025.

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