The 193 Perspective

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 lifeThe 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 impossibleHow travel reshaped her understanding of happiness, purpose, and human connectionAt 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/📖 Her book: The World Is Your Playground : https://www.amazon.in/World-Your-Playground-Journey-Country-ebook/dp/B0FSDWK9HHMy Travel Link : www.travel-footprints.com#193Countries #TravelPodcast #SoloTravel #GlobalJourney #HumanConnection #OneWorldOneLife

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 travelWalking away from a traditional investment-banking path to chase an unconventional dreamWhat 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 toolRushing through countries vs. slow travel, and learning to make peace with bothVisiting some of the world’s most misunderstood regions and finding extraordinary kindnessWhy countries like Iran and Libya left a lasting personal impactLessons travel teaches that no classroom, degree, or job ever couldAt 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 onSpotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKAApple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638or wherever you listen to podcastsSee My travel Blog here : travel-footprints.com💬 CONNECT WITH TAYLOR: https://www.trekwithtaylor.com/💬 CONNECT WITH ME : https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/#193Countries #DeepTravel #GlobalPerspectives

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 worldThe moment Afghanistan transformed travel from curiosity into a conscious goalThe loneliness, doubt, and near-quitting moments that rarely get discussed in long-term travelWhy completing all 193 countries felt like an anticlimax, and the existential question that followedThe philosophy behind Nomad Mania — regions over capitals, depth over numbersWhy Harry prefers “deep travel” over the label of “extreme travel”Solo travel, patience, and how years on the road reshaped his personalitySocial media’s impact on travel — inspiration, distortion, and responsibilityThe idea of slow travel, authenticity, and learning to sit with a place rather than rush through itUnderrated countries and regions that deserve far more attention than they receiveWhy, in the end, people — not places — create the strongest travel memoriesThis 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 Apple Podcasts: 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/ Read my blog: https://travel-footprints.com

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 curiosityWhat visiting all 193 countries revealed about inequality and developmentMedia narratives versus on-ground realities in misunderstood regionsTraveling through conflict zones and least-visited countriesColonial legacies and their long-term economic impactWhy off-the-beaten-path travel offers deeper perspectiveWriting a book that combines economics with lived travel experienceHow travel shaped his worldview as an economist and city councillorWhy travel remains one of the most powerful forms of educationWhether 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_ChjMQMvRKAApple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638or wherever you listen to podcastsSee My travel Blog here : travel-footprints.com💬 CONNECT WITH JUHA SUONIEMI : https://www.instagram.com/juhasuoniemi/💬 CONNECT WITH ME : https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/#JuhaSuoniemi #193Countries #DeepTravel #GlobalPerspectives

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 lifeThe six years in Singapore that ignited his travel obsessionCoaching North Korea’s national hockey teamTravel philosophy: stereotypes vs reality, people, perspective & why “off-the-beaten-path” mattersWhy the Middle East gave him some of his most powerful travel memoriesHis arrest and detention in Syria: fear, faith, and survivalFrameworks for managing uncertaintyThe “193 goal” and what life feels like after achieving itAdvice for young travelers on risk, purpose, and explorationWhy travel remains the world’s greatest educationWhether 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 Apple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638Or anywhere you listen to podcasts on 💬 CONNECT WITH SAM GOODWIN: Website: samgoodwin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samrgoodwin/ 💬 CONNECT WITH ME (193 Perspective): Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/

Join me in this conversation with Fabio Cao — an Italian traveller who has visited every country in the world, and whose journey is shaped by curiosity, culture, and a lifelong desire to understand the world beyond borders. Follow Fabio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabiocaoscorpio/?hl=enThis episode of The 193 Perspective dives into the mindset of a person who grew up across continents, discovered travel long before the internet, and still chases places for their authenticity, not their popularity.In this episode, we talk about:How living in multiple countries before 23 shaped Fabio’s worldviewTravel in the pre-Google era and the magic of true discoveryWhy human connection is becoming rarer — and how to bring it backHis slow journey to 193 and how the goal found himThe hardest visas and the realities of travelling through remote regionsThe Pacific islands, the Middle East, Central Asia, and other underrated gemsWhy discomfort builds character — and why young travellers need more of itThe food cultures that have stayed with him around the worldFind me & the podcast:My Travel Blog: www.travel-footprints.comGet it touch via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mridulbihani/Listen to The 193 Perspective: Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3KE7f8AOpiQdCwQqqckfTG?si=4x89NKL8RQa_ChjMQMvRKA

Join me in this conversation with Billy Offland — a 24-year-old explorer from Manchester who is the youngest Brit to visit every country. But Billy’s journey isn’t about counting countries. It’s about purpose-driven travel, environmental awareness, and using exploration as a tool to understand our planet more deeply. We dive into: • How unconventional childhood trips shaped his philosophy Why he believes travel must have a purpose or lens The environmental crisis he witnessed across 193 countries The people, places and projects that changed his life His upcoming documentary in Pakistani Kashmir What land travel taught him about patience, humility, and trust Why offbeat destinations matter now more than ever The moments on the road that reshaped his identity Billy’s insights are grounded, honest, and rooted in a deep respect for both nature and people. If you care about meaningful travel, conservation, or simply want to see the world with new eyes — this conversation will inspire you. For more travel writing, interviews, and reflections, visit: Travel-footprints.com #BillyOffland #193Countries #TravelInterview #Conservation #DeepTravel #WorldExplorers #MeaningfulTravel

Join me in this inspiring conversation with Boris Kester — one of the few people on Earth to visit all 193 countries. In this interview, we explore what travel really teaches you: curiosity, connection, courage, and how stepping into the unknown transforms the way you see the world. We talk about: How his childhood travels shaped a lifetime of exploration Why people fear “unknown” countries — and why they shouldn’t The beauty of off-the-beaten-path destinations Encounters with strangers that changed his worldview What did his final country mean to him The inspiration behind his books and philosophy Advice for young travellers seeking meaningful experiences Boris’s reflections are honest, warm, and filled with stories that reveal the human side of our planet. If you love deep travel, authentic conversations, and seeing the world with an open mind — this interview is for you. For more travel stories and reflections, visit my website: travel-footprints.com #BorisKester #EveryCountry #TravelInterview #DeepTravel #MeaningfulTravel #193Countries #MridulBihani

Join me in this inspiring conversation with Gunnar Garfors — the first person to visit every country in the world twice and the holder of several unbelievable world records. In this interview, we dive deep into the real meaning of travel: curiosity, culture, humility, people, and the art of seeing the world beyond Instagram checklists. We talk about: How travel reveals who you areWhy talking to locals changes everythingThe dangers of copy-paste “influencer tourism”Why Gunnar revisited every country againThe magic of offbeat destinationsHis favorite regions for culture, hospitality & adventureThe truth behind his crazy world recordsHow to approach a new country with no planAdvice for young travellers chasing meaningful experiences Gunnar’s perspectives are honest, grounded, and filled with stories from places most people will never think to visit. If you're someone who loves slow travel, deep travel, or simply wants to expand your worldview — this interview is for you. And for more travel stories, reflections, and guides, visit my travel blog: travel-footprints.com#GunnarGarfors #EveryCountryTwice #TravelInterview #DeepTravel #MeaningfulTravel #AroundTheWorld #TravelFootprints

In this episode, I sit down with Thor Pedersen, the first person in history to visit every country in the world without flying. His decade-long journey, Once Upon a Saga, is one of the most ambitious travel projects ever completed — filled with adventure, resilience, hope, and the power of human connection. We talk about: His missionBeing stuck in Hong Kong for 2 years during the pandemic“A stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet” The importance of slow travel in a fast-travel world The stories the media never tells about “dangerous” countries His $20/day budget and travel hacks His favourite regions around the world What he learned about humanity after visiting every country His life after returning home, becoming a father, and writing his book The Impossible Journey And if you want deeper travel stories, reflections, and insights, please visit my travel blog: travel-footprints.com This conversation is full of wisdom, warmth, and perspective — perfect for travellers, dreamers, and anyone curious about the world. #OnceUponASaga #ThorPedersen #TravelInterview #EveryCountry #WithoutFlying #TravelInspiration