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

Apple Podcasts : https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-193-perspective/id1858063638

Or 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=en

This 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 worldview
• Travel in the pre-Google era and the magic of true discovery
• Why human connection is becoming rarer — and how to bring it back
• His slow journey to 193 and how the goal found him
• The hardest visas and the realities of travelling through remote regions
• The Pacific islands, the Middle East, Central Asia, and other underrated gems
• Why discomfort builds character — and why young travellers need more of it
• The food cultures that have stayed with him around the world

Find me & the podcast:

My Travel Blog: www.travel-footprints.com

Get 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 are
• Why talking to locals changes everything
• The dangers of copy-paste “influencer tourism”
• Why Gunnar revisited every country again
• The magic of offbeat destinations
• His favorite regions for culture, hospitality & adventure
• The truth behind his crazy world records
• How to approach a new country with no plan
• Advice 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 mission
• Being 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