Shows
The Bangkok PodcastWhat Changes Would Greg Make if He Was in Charge of Bangkok?On this show, Greg and Ed discuss what Greg would do if he was the boss man in charge of Thailand, echoing a similar show with Ed's plans earlier in the year. (Check out Season 7, Episode 54 if you are curious.) Greg begins with an interesting but ambitious plan to establish bike lanes underneath the elevated portion of the BTS and MRT. Ed immediately welcomes the idea, but both recognize what a massive undertaking it would be. Currently there are long walkways under certain portions of the BTS, but there are miles upon miles of essentially unused 'space' underneath other...
2025-12-0934 min
The Bangkok PodcastSumming Up: Giving Bangkok's Ubiquitous Malls Some SlogansThis week Greg and Ed have a bit of fun revisiting an old blog post from Greg about what would be the best slogans for various malls around Bangkok. As most listeners know, Bangkok may very well be the capital city of malls and mall culture, and each mall seems to have its own identity. The guys walk through Greg's somewhat salty slogans from ten years ago to see if they are still valid. Here are some representative examples: MBK - "Not even we know what stores lurk in our dark corners and forgotten depths." Ed chuckles a...
2025-10-2142 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg & Ed Opine on BBC's 'Documentary' and Media Misconceptions of Thailand [S8.E13)Greg and Ed discuss the recent BBC 'documentary' called 'The Dark Side of Paradise' and what it says about media representation of Thailand. Ed explains that the recently aired 3-episode series has been getting a LOT of blowback on expat social media. The series depicts Zara, a young British woman, on her first trip to Thailand, ostensibly to report on the popularity of the Land of Smiles with British influencers. However, the show quickly devolves into an exploration of all the negative stereotypes about Bangkok, from partying to drugs and prostitution. Greg admits to finding the first e...
2025-09-2341 min
The Bangkok PodcastSecond Opinions and Jedi Lies: Stories from Bangkok's Hospitals (Classic ReCast)Sooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailand's strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless. But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pretty good medical care, and it is standard advice for travelers in neighboring countries to get over the border into Thailand if they have any medical problems. But, as E...
2025-07-2946 min
The Bangkok PodcastWhen Jaded Expats Wrongly Predict Thai FailuresGreg and Ed discuss something that is more common than many people think: being wrong about expecting some Thai government project or initiative to fail. It's pretty easy, as expats often fall into the rut of cynicism about the Thai government sticking to a plan and actually getting stuff done, but the truth is, Thailand sometimes gets stuff right! Greg begins by bringing up Benjakitti Forest Park. It replaced the Thai Tobacco Monopoly, which occupied prime real estate between Sukhumvit and Rama IV for many years. When Greg heard it was going to be made into a g...
2025-07-2232 min
The Bangkok PodcastCRINGE: Tales of Trying to Fit in to Thai Culture & Failing Badly [S8.E3]Greg and Ed discuss a few of the many 'cringe' moments they have experienced over the years in failing to fit into Thai culture or 'do the right thing' according to Thai society. Ed begins with the 'classics,' mistakes that probably most expats make, such as wai-ing a person younger than you are, accidentally pointing the bottom of your feet towards a statue of the Buddha, and improperly touching a Thai person's head. Greg follows with a more specific (and hilarious) story of buying a large cereal bowl only to have his Thai girlfriend reveal it to be a b...
2025-07-1530 min
The Bangkok PodcastLooking Back, Looking Forward: What's Next for S8 [S8.E1]Greg and Ed introduce Season 8 of the podcast first by looking back and all that has been achieved. Greg runs through some crazy stats, just a few of which are that there have been a total of 885 shows and more than 1.6 million (!) total streams or downloads. Insane! Next, the guys check in with Season 1 co-host Tony Joh and frequent podcast guest Phra Phandit. Tony relates his journey first to Japan and then back to Canada, and his business of vlogging his solo motorcycle adventures. Luckily he's doing great, and Greg and he shared some early podcast stories. Ph...
2025-07-011h 03
The Bangkok PodcastWestern Weddings vs Thai Weddings: Which is More Fun?Greg and Ed discuss a fascinating question: Are Thai weddings or American weddings more fun? The question was raised after Greg attended the wedding of friend of the podcast Daniel Fraser. As everyone knows, Dan is a legit expert on travel in Thailand, in addition to being a bit of a celebrity in the country due to his appearances in various TV shows and movies. Greg noted that the experience reminded him how much more fun Thai weddings are than Western weddings, leading Ed to raise his eyebrows a bit and raise a few objections. Ed admits...
2025-06-1727 min
The Bangkok PodcastStolen English: A Few Words That Thai Has Fully Thai-ifiedGreg and Ed tackle a frustrating aspect of learning Thai - borrowed English words that are pronounced according to the rules normally applied to native Thai words. Ed makes clear they are not just talking about accent or 'prosody' - the cadence of pronunciation - but actually specific changes to pronunciation that are part of the rules of the Thai language. Examples are the best teacher so the guys jump right in. Ed begins with the all-time classic of 'check bin,' based on the two English words 'check' and 'bill.' The only problem is that...
2025-06-0345 min
The Bangkok PodcastInteresting Friends And Strange Characters: Expat Connections [S7.E66]Greg and Ed discuss some interesting expats they have met over the years - both good and bad - and what lessons they have managed to glean from them. Thailand is a bit of a strange stew of expats; with many different types of people coming together in a foreign land, you are apt to meet and/or befriend people in Thailand that you never would back home. The results can be positive or negative, but either way, there can be lessons to be learned. Greg begins with an anecdote he's mentioned on the show before, about...
2025-04-1542 min
The Bangkok PodcastMyanmar Quakes & Bangkok Shakes: Thoughts on the March 28 EarthquakeGreg and Ed address the unavoidable topic du jour: the earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 that was felt all the way to Bangkok. Greg begins by pointing out that even though much ink and many words have already been spilled on the topic, listeners may be concerned about traveling to Bangkok now or the safety of Bangkok's buildings in general. They guys decide to do their civic duty and chime in. First, they relate their personal stories - Ed was at home first thought he was getting dizzy (and old) but after realizing it was an...
2025-04-0835 min
The Bangkok PodcastSopping, Soggy, Sodden, Soaking Songkran: The Thai New Year is Here!With the big holiday nearly here, Greg and Ed reminisce about their various Songkran experiences over the years. Ed notes that last year was a breakthrough year: he actually went out and 'threw water' for the first time in many years and had a blast. Greg points out that it's pretty common for expats to love Songkran at first, but then quickly switch to avoiding the raucous celebrations for many years. Greg has found special Songkran celebrations specifically designed to be kid-friendly, which has allowed him to keep in touch with the experience without a lot of the craziness.
2025-04-0139 min
The Bangkok PodcastSecond Opinions & Jedi Lies: Stories From Bangkok's Hospitals (Classic Recast)A fabulous re-cast episode from season 3! Sooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailand's strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless. But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pretty good medical care, and it is standard advice for travelers in neighboring countries to get over the border into Thailand if...
2025-03-2545 min
The Bangkok PodcastHow Thick is Your Bubble? Piercing the Thai/Expat BarrierFollowing a great suggestion from listener Kelly, Greg and Ed discuss the 'expat bubble,' the tendency for expats (and tourists) to primarily spend time with foreigners, rather than experience the same Bangkok that the majority of Thais are experiencing. Kelly noted that on her recent solo travels in Bangkok, she often found truly Thai markets that were very cheap with delicious food but also that she was the only Westerner there. Certain other cheap food courts, such as those in Big C, would have a more mixed customer base. What gives? Greg and Ed do their...
2025-03-0431 min
The Bangkok PodcastHmmm…A Few Things About Bangkok That Are Over & UnderratedGreg and Ed discuss various aspects of Bangkok that they believe are either overrated or underrated. The guys start with things that they believe get too many props. Greg mentions the Grand Palace and the Damnoen Saduak floating market that tend to be too touristy and overcrowded, but that there are unsung superior alternatives where tourists could better spend their time. Ed counters with Thai customer service, which he credits for being genuinely warm but which he believes is often unprofessional, at least outside of five-star hotels. Greg then brazenly brings up Pad Thai, which has never f...
2025-02-1138 min
The Bangkok PodcastLooking Back, Looking Forward: What's Next for BP in 2025In a year-end wrap up, Greg and Ed discuss their favorite shows of the year and some plans for the podcast in 2025. Ed begins by waxing rhapsodic over his early year interview with David Cluck, Hollywood assistant director who has been based in Bangkok for the last 10 years or so (S7, Ep. 6-7). The flow of the interview was aided by the fact that David and Ed are friends, but Ed points out that it's rare to sit down with a friend and discuss their career in depth. As a film nerd, Ed (and Greg) enjoyed David's experience and...
2024-12-3136 min
The Bangkok PodcastBehind the Scenes: Making an Episode of the Bangkok PodcastIn a first, the Bangkok Podcast turns its focus on itself as Greg and Ed explain the process by which they create two shows almost every week of the year. The boys begin discussing their approach to brainstorming topics for new shows. Given that the podcast has been around for more than 10 years and there are more than 700 back episodes in total, coming up with fresh ideas is not easy. So the guys tend to mine their personal experiences, the lives of their friends, evergreen news stories that highlight perennial issues with Thai society, and of course, suggestions from...
2024-12-0446 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Dangers of Letting Bangkok's Delivery Apps Take Over [S7.E37]Greg and Ed discuss the 'delivery lifestyle,' the habit of staying at home and relying on delivery services to bring food and products straight to your doorstep. Both guys admit to slipping into this habit, but Greg enjoys getting out more and tooling around town in his fancy automobile, so it's Ed that has really embraced this habit. The question is this: Is it good or bad? Ed begins with some obvious pros: it's super convenient and allows you to avoid the stress of traffic and crowds, something Bangkok is infamous for. The options for delivery a...
2024-09-1741 min
The Bangkok PodcastWhat Comes Next: Greg & Ed Try to Predict Bangkok's FuturePutting on their best tarot reading hat…or numerology hat…or tea leaf hat…whatever…Greg and Ed make their best prognostications about the future of Bangkok, relying only on their accumulated wisdom and experience. Greg begins by asking Ed whether Bangkok will ever solve its 'sinking' problem, and Ed responds pessimistically. Although the science is clear that the sea is rising and Bangkok is sinking, the government does not seem to be taking any drastic action to address the impending calamity, a la the film "Don't Look Up." Certainly, SOMETHING will have to be done, but Ed expects it to be...
2024-09-0338 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok Devaluation: A Few Things That Used to Matter…But Don't AnymoreIn a possible new series, Greg and Ed discuss things that have become less important or meaningful since they began living in Thailand. In short, stuff that we used to value a lot that just seems not to matter as much anymore. Ed begins with the somewhat obvious: clothes in general just matter a lot less. Never a fashion guy, Bangkok's 'uni-season' is perfect for him since he can basically wear the same thing all year round. Greg - famous for his consistent shorts/t-shirt/vans outfit, concurs that it's just much easier here to get dressed...
2024-06-0431 min
The Bangkok PodcastRegional Podcast Pals: Mike Tatarski on Producing the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh CityGreg interviews Mike Tatarski of the Vietnam Weekly podcast. Mike begins by explaining the podcast originated out of his Substack newsletter of the same name. After taking a course in 'entrepreneurial journalism,' he got motivated to fire up the podcast, and the rest is history. He manages to produce a show per week as a one man band operation but has reached a substantial audience. Greg and Mike then go on to talk about similarities and differences between his show and the Bangkok Podcast. On the one hand, both are in English and therefore have a l...
2024-05-2846 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok Superlatives: Stories From Decades in a Crazy CityGreg and Ed try a new type of show in which they troll their memories for extreme experiences, something that expats in Thailand seem to have a lot of. Greg begins with his scariest experience in Thailand. As a relative noobie, he engaged the services of a shady visa firm and was later called out on it by the Canadian Embassy. At the time, he didn't know if a heavy fine, deportation, or even jail was in order, but luckily he got away with a much smaller punishment. Ed follows with a different type of scare, when his then...
2024-05-0746 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok for Nerds! Understanding the Chaos With Some Sweet MathIf math can be used to solve everything from the orbits of galaxies to the swirl in a snail's shell, then surely it can be applied to Bangkok to shed some light on the chaos? In a fun show, Greg presents certain semi-mathematical 'equations' to help us all understand Bangkok a bit better. While not scientific in the strictest, these rules of thumb may help you navigate the chaos of the Big Mango with a little more confidence. First, the guys discuss all the variables that affect traffic travel times in Bangkok. The season, school s...
2024-04-2331 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok History Highlight: 20 Years Later - Looking Back at the 2004 Boxing Day TsunamiIn a twist on our history episodes, Greg and Ed revisit the devastating tsunami of 2004. Greg begins with a thorough summary of the event, which begins with an absolutely massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra that caused a rift and shift on the ocean, creating immense waves that would affect multiple continents. Reverberations were felt as far away as the state of Oklahoma. The devastating results eventually took the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia. Greg and Ed recount their memories. In Greg's case, he had just flown out of Thailand to A...
2024-04-0246 min
The Bangkok PodcastForeigners Acting Badly: What Does it Take to Push Thais Over the Edge?Greg and Ed discuss the Thai temperament and what exactly causes Thais to occasionally blow their collective lids. Greg uses the recent example of a Swiss expat who kicked a Thai woman in the back, allegedly because she was inappropriately sitting on the steps of his condo and blocking his path. Somewhat surprisingly, the incident went viral, much to the Swiss man's detriment. The guys speculate as to what it was about THIS incident that caused it to blow up. Was it the fact that he used his foot to assault the Thai woman? Was it because she was...
2024-03-1231 min
The Bangkok PodcastAhh, Memories... Greg and Ed Discuss Those Vivid Early Bangkok Days [S7.E8]Getting a bit nostalgic after listening to Tay-Tay's latest album, Greg and Ed reminisce about their respective first year's in Bangkok by recounting their most vivid early memories, something that's unique for everyone but plays a big role in setting the tone for your time here. Ed explains that he came here a little bit older than many expats, and relatively speaking, had his 'shit together' so to speak. No visa runs, no desperation at the end of the month to pay bills. But what he wasn't ready for was the excitement, 'newness,' and general party a...
2024-02-2735 min
The Bangkok PodcastDr. Natthawat Hongkarnjanakul on Thailand's Space Ambitions [S7.E4]Ahh, Thailand. Beaches, sunsets, late-night parties, serene temples, and…space technology design and future satellite launch site? Greg interviews Dr. Natthawat Hongkarnjanakul of the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, essentially Thailand's version of NASA. Dr. Natthawat begins with his background studying aerospace engineering in Thailand and later in France on a scholarship. Next, he talks about GISTDA, and the Thai government's interest in space research. Greg notes that people do not normally think of Thailand when they think of space, but Dr. Natthawat states that Thailand uses satellites for data gathering for mapmaking, air quality mon...
2024-01-3045 min
The Bangkok PodcastExpat Wins! Six Situations That Level Up Your Bangkok Life [S7.E3]Greg and Ed discuss situations - whether they come from luck or strategy - that can seriously improve your quality of life in Bangkok. The guys try to avoid the super obvious things - getting a better job, meeting the person of your dreams - to focus on factors that are more advantageous than one might expect in Thailand. Ed begins by emphasizing the importance of living close to where you work and having a short commute. While some might put this in the obvious category, the boys both agree that in Bangkok, this simple thing can m...
2024-01-2331 min
The Bangkok PodcastNew Year Resolutions: How to be a Better Expat in ThailandIn a spirit of optimism and renewal, Greg and Ed discuss their New Year's resolutions as expats. What are their goals for 2024 to grow as expats in Thailand? Greg begins by committing to read The Falcon of Siam, a famous novel set in 18th century Thailand, and to watch The Overture, a film about a famous classical musician in the Royal Palace. Ed wants to focus on improving his Thai, and he developed a plan to learn to read a collection of 9,000 Useful Thai Expressions, a popular PDF among serious Thai learners. Greg then mentions his desire t...
2024-01-0932 min
The Bangkok PodcastOur Bangkok Survival Kit: Tips and Tricks if You're Exploring Bangkok on FootJust before the boys take off for the holiday, and hordes of new visitors arrive, Greg and Ed give advice on how to survive a long day exploring Bangkok, be you a tourist or just an expat trying to check off some boxes. The guys run through numerous items, some of which might seem obvious but which still can be easy to forget. Others have only been realized from some hard-earned wisdom as long-time expats in the City of Angels. For example, Greg extolls the virtues of noise-cancelling headphones which can make even a stroll in some...
2023-12-1937 min
The Bangkok PodcastChildline Thailand: Tackling Abuse & Neglect, Offering Hope & Safety - Part 1Greg interviews Ilya Smirnoff, the director of Childline Thailand, an NGO dedicated to the rights of children in Thailand. Ilya begins by explaining his early life as a monk, and how he eventually left the monkhood and began doing charity work. The basic genesis of Childline Thailand was to provide a single phone number for children to call to gain access to information about all the government services that are designed to help children in trouble. The organization was able to get the simple phone number '1387,' which is still their number today. Ilya notes that there are...
2023-12-0536 min
The Bangkok PodcastNeo-Buddhism: How Thailand's Largest Religion Reacts to ChangeGreg interviews our old friend Phra Phandit, resident podcast expert on all things Buddhism and religion. This time the topic is 'Neo-Buddhism' or the way Buddhism has changed and adapted over time, in particular the way it has been appropriated in the modern era by Western culture and pop culture in general. Greg sets the stage with a quote about 'modern' Buddhism that has eliminated supernatural beliefs, ritual, and the monkhood, and instead focused on interior exploration and happiness in this life. Phra Pandit argues that there are certainly a number of people today who practice mindfulness meditation and...
2023-11-2143 min
The Bangkok PodcastSuperstition, Religion and...Architecture? Thai Spiritual Permanence with Dr. Andrew Johnson Part 2This is Part 2 of Greg's interview with Andrew Johnson, cultural anthropologist extraordinaire and investigator of the extremely niche topic of the relationship between Thai supernatural beliefs and local architecture. Greg and Andrew begin where they left off last week, discussing what it's like as 'rationalists' to interact with relatively superstitious Thai people. Andrew relates a classic story of a Thai woman who encounters a ghost in a nearby field and who simply calls the police who end up shoo-ing the ghost away, an outcome completely unexpected in a western framework. He insists that the Thai word for g...
2023-11-0742 min
The Bangkok PodcastCan You Find Food That's Delicious AND Healthy at the Vegetarian Festival?Greg and Ed venture out into the real world to record the show on location to answer an age-old conundrum: Is it possible to find healthy, non-fried starch food at the famous vegetarian 'Jay' Festival in Thailand? The guys, being veteran expats, have experienced the vegetarian festival many times in the past, and both feel that while it has its benefits, the food itself is neither particularly tasty nor super healthy. But have they misjudged it? Only some new research can answer the question. The boys head out into Talad Noi, perhaps their favorite neighborhood in all...
2023-10-2427 min
The Bangkok PodcastThai Tourism: On Its Way to a Full Recovery - But Is That a Good Thing?Please help us by taking our first Bangkok Podcast listener survey! Click here to get started, it only takes a few minutes. Everyone who fills it out will get 50,000 baht!* Greg and Ed discuss the current state of Thai tourism and whether the recovery is behind or ahead of predictions. Ed begins by citing a chart for the last full pre-COVID year of 2019, when Thailand came very close to having 40 million foreign tourists. Shockingly, that number went to nearly zero in 2020 and 2021, and the recovery began slowly in 2022. So where are we now? Well, in short, the...
2023-10-1737 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai Conversation Part 2Please help us by taking our first Bangkok Podcast listener survey! Click here to get started, it only takes a few minutes. Everyone who fills it out will get 50,000 baht!* This is the second part of Greg's interview with resident Thai language expert Stu Jay Raj, in which Stu critiques a conversation that Greg had in Thai with a co-worker. The two begin by discussing the unusual role that linguists have in digging deep into exactly why language works the way it does, something the average person never thinks about. He even contends most linguists could be...
2023-10-1036 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai ConversationThis week it's Greg's turn to feel the wrath/wisdom of our in-house Thai language guru, Stu Jay Raj. After Ed did it a few months ago, our listeners have been waiting for Greg to take the hot seat, so here it is. Greg recorded a short conversation with his friend Tong, and the show starts with a replay of that conversation. Greg begins by self-flagellating, but Stu tries to buck him up and reassure him that there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Stu begins by pointing out Greg's choppy way of speaking, something that Greg himself h...
2023-10-0346 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg vs Ed vs You: The Great Bangkok Podcast Trivia EpisodeThis week Greg and Ed take a page from a regular segment on the bonus show and challenge each other with some trivia questions, spanning Thai history, geography, religion, pop culture, and language. The guys begin by trading questions about Thailand's provinces, Ed with a question about provinces bordering Cambodia, and Greg with a question about provinces bordering Bangkok. Next is language, with Ed bringing up the source of Thai script and Greg coincidentally asking about the discovery of the stone upon which the script was found. When it comes to history, Ed turns to t...
2023-09-1241 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg & Ed Return to Thailand With a Few Thoughts on TravelThe guys trade stories about their recent trips, Greg to Canada and Ed to Singapore. Ed begins with a few observations about the island nation. First, Singapore lived up to its reputation of being clean and orderly. Everything from the airport to the streets operated smoothly, and the population seemed to obey all the traffic laws all the time. This was a clear contrast with Bangkok, where traffic laws are contextual options. Second, the technology was more advanced than Thailand and probably even the United States. Ed relates a story of a restaurant with no cashier at a...
2023-08-1543 min
The Bangkok PodcastWhat Age is the Best Age to Relocate to Thailand?Greg and Ed debate the pros and cons of coming to Thailand at different ages, with the obvious caveat that there's no right answer that applies to every person and that no matter when you come to the Land of Smiles, you can always (usually) make it work. Ed begins with the observation that early 20s might be the worst time, especially if you lack maturity and self-control - Thailand just has too many dangerous distractions. Greg notes that he managed to come in his mid-twenties and make it work but despite his friendly disposition, Greg is...
2023-07-1829 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Where, Why & How Much of Choosing the Right HospitalGreg and Ed discuss an important conundrum facing expats and tourists in Thailand: When sick or injured, should you go to a private Thai hospital or a public one? The difference in cost is substantial, typically somewhere between a factor of three and ten. For major procedures you probably want to spring for private care, if you can, but for 'standard' things like stitches and sprains, is a public hospital okay? Greg begins with the very recent story of his son needing stitches for a split lip. Greg and his wife got treatment for his son at...
2023-07-0445 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Roaming Cook On Thonburi's Endless Old-School Food OptionsGreg interviews Gary Butler or 'The Roaming Cook' about his YouTube channel and the wonders of food in Thonburi, the cool side of the Chao Praya River. Gary begins with some background information: he's a native Londoner who had a career as a house painter (!) but who started a Thai food blog back in 2015. He eventually moved to Thailand and began a YouTube channel focusing on street food throughout the city. However the guys quickly focus on the Thonburi side of Bangkok, which Greg points out doesn't get much love from restaurant guides about the city, citing...
2023-05-3043 min
The Bangkok PodcastIs Bangkok a Livable City? We Compare it to 6 Urban Planning BenchmarksIn a unique episode, the guys take six characteristics of a 'livable city' (established by renowned urban planner Alex Garvin) and give their own opinions on how Bangkok fares. Neither guy knows what the other is gonna say, so part of the fun is seeing where they agree and disagree. The first characteristic is that a city must be open to people with different backgrounds and goals. The guys roughly agree on this issue, with Greg giving Bangkok a score of 7 and Ed a score of 6. The second characteristic is having something for everyone, especially people of...
2023-04-2538 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok vs the World: Reading the Data to See How We Stack Up [S6.E30]Greg and Ed look at a few recent world rankings to see where Thailand fits into a world with nearly two hundred different countries. First, Greg brings up the 'Global Power City Index,' a comprehensive ranking of 48 large cities around the world that focuses on a city's 'magnetism' or ability to attract visitors and expats. Greg outlines some of the factors measured, including livability, environment, economy and cultural interaction. Ed guesses that Bangkok will probably rank fairly low based on these criteria due to the bad traffic, air pollution, and relative lack of cultural resources. Greg reveals that...
2023-03-0736 min
The Bangkok PodcastWhat Does ChatGPT's Artificial Intelligence Make of Bangkok?Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you've probably heard of ChatGPT, a brand new AI writing tool that produces some shockingly advanced stuff. It's only a few months old but it's already threatening to upend a number of industries in a big way. So, in a slightly odd show that shows how technologically hip the Bangkok Podcast is, Greg and Ed discuss ChatGPTs take on Bangkok and Thailand, Greg queries the new search engine with a host of questions about the Land of Smiles to see how much it really knows. The AI manages to...
2023-02-1436 min
The Bangkok PodcastIs Thailand Really the "Land of the Free"?Greg and Ed get all deep by asking the question "Is Thailand really the Land of the Free?" And what does "freedom" even mean? Many people know that the word 'Thailand' is supposed to translate as the 'Land of the Free.' The guys first discuss the etymology of the word, with both Google and linguist friends revealing the actual provenance of that translation is unknown, and it's possible that it is more of a folk belief than something linguistically legitimate. So how about in real life? Walking down the streets of Bangkok, do Greg and Ed f...
2023-01-3138 min
The Bangkok PodcastUn-Jaded: Seeing Bangkok's Best Through New EyesIn a show fueled by a visit by Greg's mother, the guys discuss first impressions of Bangkok, and whether or not they have become jaded as long term expats. Greg includes a short interview with his mom, but bases the show on all of her insights over the last few weeks as a relative newbie in Bangkok. First, Greg mentions that his mom finds Thailand very colorful, whether it's clothes, art, taxis, or restaurants. At first the guys are a bit skeptical, but as they run through the examples they realize that Ma's got a point.
2022-12-0636 min
The Bangkok PodcastExpat Confessions: Things We Should Have Done by Now, But Haven't [S6.E14]Greg and Ed bare their souls with 'expat confessions': things in Thailand they are embarrassed to say they have never seen or done, but that they should have, given their years in the Kingdom. Ed begins by admitting he's never travelled to Laos, Burma or Malaysia, despite them being right next door and highly recommended. Greg talks about some of his trips and agrees, it's a pretty startling omission, especially Laos, which almost everyone agrees is worth a visit. Ed vows to make it right. Greg confesses he's never been to legendary late night establishment W...
2022-11-0838 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Best Apps for Making Life in Thailand Fun and (Dare We Say It) EasyGreg and Ed dive into the crowded App and Play stores to discuss the various phone apps that make living in Bangkok easier. Greg begins by giving props to our excellent listeners who submitted a whole bunch of recommendations - so much, in fact, that we simply weren't able to cover them all! Ed confesses that he relies primarily on Google Maps and Google Translate for countless day-to-day functions, but he mentions that he recently stumbled upon an app called BMA Traffic that has live feeds from traffic cameras around the city. Worth checking into as an addition to...
2022-09-2735 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Million Baht Kid: Returning to Thailand After Growing Up AbroadEd interviews Emily from Calgary, Canada, a unique 'expat' in Thailand if there ever was one. Emily was born 19 years ago in Nong Khai, Thailand, to a Canadian father and Thai mother, and spent the first years of her life as a look-kreung kid in Issaan. But her parents relocated to Calgary where she quickly assimilated and became a full-on Canadian. She went to grade school and high school there, only to have her parents retire back to Nong Khai earlier this year, with Emily in tow. Ed asks Emily about her Thai language abilities, and Emily...
2022-07-1241 min
The Bangkok PodcastPot Luck Surprise! The Highs and Lows of Weed in ThailandGreg and Ed discuss the recent decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand, the recent changes around town it's caused, and whether or not they think it will last. First, Ed does a quick interview with our resident Weed Expert, Kitty Chopaka, who is both a 'ganjapreneur' and social activist. Kitty explains that the current situation is somewhat of a 'technical foul,' as the cannabis plant itself was delisted as a narcotic with the intent for it to be regulated by a new law, but that new law is still being debated in parliament. Hence, for the time b...
2022-06-2144 min
The Bangkok PodcastFrom Page to Screen: Christopher G. Moore on Hard-Boiled Bangkok [S5.E64]Greg interviews Christopher G. Moore, long-time friend of the podcast and senior Bangkok expat, known for his extensive fiction and non-fiction writing as well as his legendary conversational skills. Chris begins by relating his recent short film project, a Bangkok noir featuring his most famous character, Vincent Calvino and what it takes to bring a fictional character to life in Bangkok, a city that's a character all of its own. Greg and Chris discuss his writing career and 17 (!) Vincent Calvino novels, the last of which came out in 2020 and addresses how climate change might affect Bangkok in...
2022-06-0743 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg's Canada Trip: Thoughts on Reverse Culture Shock [S5.E58]It's Greg's turn for some reverse culture shock as he relates his return to Thailand from the Great White North of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ed first notes the differences between his situation and Greg's: he still has family in Ohio, while Greg's family are no longer there. Plus, Ed's habits tend towards the international, such as Starbucks and Subway, so he can feel at home around the world. For Greg though, Calgary is really another place entirely, especially in the winter, and he reacted similarly to Ed in Ohio: Why do human beings even live in this e...
2022-04-2638 min
The Bangkok PodcastThai Games: From Playgrounds to Cards to Beetle Fighting [S5.E.56]Thanks to a suggestion from a listener Greg and Ed discuss the fascinating topic of games that are common - if not unique - to Thailand. Both guys have some familiarity with some games played in public such as 'takraw,' but many of the others are part of this strange world called 'Thai culture' that the guys apparently don't actually know that well. Greg begins with a children's game in which one child sings a song while counting by syllable on another child's hand. When the singer stops on a finger, that finger is taken out o...
2022-04-1240 min
The Bangkok PodcastFrom Coffee to Conflict: Kenyan Ambassador Lindsay KiptinessGreg interviews Lindsay Kiptiness, the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand. Ambassador Kiptiness begins by introducing himself and explains his responsibilities as ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. He explains his unfortunate arrival during COVID times, and his desire to really explore Thailand when it fully re-opens. The Kenyan healthcare system is behind Thailand's, but he notes that Nairobi did serve as the center of COVID treatment for UN officials. Greg asks the Ambassador about Kenyan products, and the Ambassador regales Greg with pitches for Kenyan coffee and Kenyan purple tea. No, that's not a typo, and t...
2021-10-1944 min
The Bangkok PodcastDungeons & Dragons & Bangkok: An Alignment Chart for the CityGreg and Ed confess to their past as Dungeons and Dragons-loving young geeks. Who would have thought? The boys take inspiration from an old blog post of Greg's where he applied D&D's famous moral alignment chart to Bangkok. Moving through the list, Ed provides his feedback as each example is presented. Greg begins by explaining the system (for those of you who were less geeky or simply missed D&D generationally). Then Greg gets into his examples. Who best represents 'Lawful Good' in Thai society? Well, most monks seem to be the obvious answer, and both g...
2021-10-1235 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok's Seven Deadly Sins: Envy [S5.E26]Continuing the series on the 7 Deadly Sins, Greg and Ed address the envious Envy. Of course, we love Bangkok, but no place is perfect - so, what are some things in other countries that we are envious of from our perch here? Greg begins by looking over the fence at coffee culture in Vietnam. Presumably due to French influence, Vietnam has an insane number of local cafes that take coffee (and ice cream, as Ed points out) deadly seriously. The strict government helps to keep Western chains to a minimum, and the result is a coffee lovers paradise. Ed...
2021-09-0734 min
The Bangkok PodcastGolfasian's Mark Siegel Talks Fees, Tees & Thai Golf HolidaysGreg interviews Mark Siegel, the director of Golfasian, one of Asia's largest golf tour operators. Greg opens with the caveat that neither he nor Ed are golfers and leaves it up to Mark to do his best to sell us on a golf holiday in the Land of Smiles. Greg begins by noting that his first thought of a relaxing holiday would not be to spend 4 hours walking around in the scorching sun, but Mark (in the first of his many insights) responds that if you're back in the freezing winter of Canada you might! Mark then p...
2021-08-3138 min
The Bangkok PodcastA Few Surprising Details About Raising a Kid in BangkokIn this episode, Greg fills us in on all the special concerns of being a parent in Bangkok. As if being a parent on its own didn't have enough surprises, it turns out there are several things to keep in mind if you are expecting or even just bringing a child to the Big Mango. Pre-eminent is of course the issue of proper schooling, be it Thai or international or some combination of both. Greg explains the 3 C's - cost, commute, and curriculum - that all new parents must build their life around. As Ed sits by...
2021-08-2436 min
The Bangkok PodcastCultural Refresher: Books & Movies to Rouse Your Thailand MojoOn a suggestion from listener Emily, Greg and Ed go back to basics with book and movie recommendations for people new to Thailand and Southeast Asia, or old-timers looking to refresh their knowledge after being disconnected during all this covid hullabaloo. Ed begins with three foundational books: the all-time classic 'Lonely Planet Thailand,' written by friend of the podcast Joe Cummings, the insightful (if a bit outdated) 'Culture Shock: Thailand,' and the super creative 'Very Thai,' by Phillip Cornwall-Smith (not to mention his followup 'Very Bangkok'). Greg follows with his own key recommendations, including 'The Thai...
2021-07-2741 min
The Bangkok PodcastSome Good (and Bad) Ways That Being an Expat Has Changed UsGreg and Ed bare their souls and discuss how living in Thailand has changed them for the better - and for the worse. Greg begins by noting that since being in Thailand he has a much greater appreciation for the life struggles of the average person, in Thailand as well as the rest of the world. Raised middle class in the West, it is easy to see yourself as 'normal,' when in reality you are quite lucky compared to many people around the world. Ed then observes that living overseas has helped him to realize what is...
2021-07-0640 min
The Bangkok PodcastBetween Two Worlds: Raising a Western Kid in an Eastern CultureDiving into one of their more complex topics, Greg and Ed explore some of the questions that arise when raising a child with an appreciation for skepticism and science in the middle of a culture known for its superstitious beliefs. With Ed teaching a critical thinking class to Thai college students and Greg's son asking questions about ghosts and praying, the boys have some interesting insights. Greg stresses the delicacy of parents in his situation: were he to directly state his opinion that ghosts are not real and praying for something has no effect on the outcome...
2021-06-2235 min
The Bangkok PodcastJoe Cummings Talks Thai Ganja, Protests and CIA RecruitmentThis is the second episode of Greg and Ed's interview with Joe Cummings, expat extraordinaire. This episode begins with a bang as the guys discuss the future of cannabis in Thailand and then goes right into the kind of story that has to be heard to be believed, but basically it involves an attempted recruitment of Joe into the CIA while he was a graduate student at the University of California at Berkeley. Enough said. The guys follow with a discussion of Joe's take on the current round of protests and how they relate to all the...
2021-05-1139 min
The Bangkok PodcastA Few Unwritten Thai Cultural Rules You Gotta LearnUtilizing a topic suggested by listener Wes, Greg and Ed discuss the unwritten 'rules' of Thai culture - the ones that everyone knows but aren't written down anywhere, despite Ed wishing they were because he really has no idea what he's doing right and wrong! As Greg notes, we all have to fake it until we make it. Greg then begins a series of specific puzzles that farangs have to navigate, including the proper use of the expletive 'arai wa,' knowing when or how much to lower your head when passing in front of someone, trying...
2021-04-2738 min
The Bangkok PodcastBeing Funny in Bangkok: Three Local Comedians Weigh InGreg interviews three local comedians, Justin St-Denis, Chris Raufheisen, and Tana Sukke, about life as a stand-up in Bangkok. After a few quick bios Greg dives right in with his brief experience as a standup in Canada and then later in Bangkok, which kicks off a discussion about the recent history of western-style stand-up comedy in Bangkok. Tana discusses the difficulty of doing comedy in a foreign language, as well as the difference between English comedy and Thai comedy. Greg and the gang try to figure out the seeming Thai preference for silly gags and sound effects a...
2021-04-2056 min
The Bangkok PodcastHow Would You Rate Your Thai Cultural Assimilation?Greg and Ed dive into a great question for expats in Thailand: to what extent are you actually integrated into mainstream Thai culture? Greg posted a quick survey on our Facebook page and uses some responses as a jumping-off point for discussion. Ed begins by guessing he's probably a 5 on a scale of 1-10. He never socializes with only Thai people, but has good enough Thai language that he can handle himself on his own in the city. He does note though that Thailand may be different than some Western countries, in that there may be a l...
2020-12-0129 min
The Bangkok PodcastGreg and Ed Debate the Merits of Thai MassageIn this episode, the guys debate the pros and cons of one of Thailand's most famous cultural pastimes. Despite being friends for going on 20 years now and agreeing on a lot of things, Greg and Ed do NOT agree on Thai Traditional Massage (TTM). Ed loves it, Greg...does not. Ed argues that while TTM may not be for everyone, its unique mix of pain and pleasure are deeply relaxing and well worth it in the long run. Greg contends the pain ain't worth it, and there are countless better ways to spend your time (such as t...
2020-10-2037 min
The Bangkok PodcastNeighborhood Focus: Chinatown & Talad NoiGreg and Ed return to their 'Neighborhood Focus' series with a review of the Chinatown-Talad Noi area of Bangkok, a neighborhood is near and dear to the boys' hearts, as Greg used to live there, and back in the day he introduced Ed to the area's many charms. Greg begins with a mini-history of Chinatown and its many historic streets, most of which you can still walk on today. Ed summarizes Chinatown as 'chaos with street food.' Its popularity is extremely high with both Thais and foreigners but even during current COVID times with its dearth o...
2020-10-0634 min
The Bangkok PodcastBuilding a House in ThailandGreg and Ed interview Florian, an old friend of Greg's and coincidentally the occupant of Greg's old apartment in Chinatown with a beautiful view of the Chao Phraya River. Florian is a man of many talents, but this interview focuses on his multi-year project to build a modern house in the jungles of Mae Hong Son province, in northwestern Thailand. Many expats dream of building a house in Thailand, but Florian has actually done it, and not just any old house either. His house is essentially in the middle of the jungle, off of both the water and...
2020-07-2854 min
The Bangkok PodcastLockdown: A Few Small Upsides to a BIG DownsideWhen you are a kid, you are taught to look on the bright side of everything. In that spirit, Greg and Ed search for any possible positives in their lives as a result of the lockdown (which, generally speaking, SUCKS). Ed begins by noting that his relative lack of social life has given him more freedom to experiment with his diet, which consequently resulted in him losing 5 kilos. Greg notes that the increased time home has meant more bonding with his son and many priceless moments that otherwise might not have happened during more normal times. Next...
2020-06-0237 min
The Bangkok PodcastWe Discuss: Myths and Misconceptions About BangkokThis week is a dose of keeping it real: What are some common beliefs about Thailand that Greg and Ed just don't buy? Ed starts off with a fairly nuanced point: many people think of Thailand as a very religious country because of so many outward signs of Buddhist culture, whether it's temples, monks, or statues that Thais are very respectful of. However, Ed argues that in general Thais are not very pious: alcohol consumption, gambling, and infidelity are quite common throughout Thailand. Greg walks equally risky territory by claiming that although Thais definitely smile a lot...
2020-04-2134 min
The Bangkok PodcastLockdown! How Does This One Compare to Others?In their continuing effort to find something to talk about besides coronavirus, Greg and Ed decide to compare the current crisis to the past crises that they have lived through in their combined 38 years in Thailand. This is their first pandemic but they have survived coups, floods, assassinations, curfews, and violent protests that have shut down huge parts of the city. So how does today compare? Well, first Ed notes that the oddest thing about the 2006 coup - the first for both Greg and Ed - was how un-tense and untroubling it seemed throughout the city. Greg...
2020-04-0833 min
The Bangkok PodcastMixed-Culture Relationship Advice from Dr. GregTaking a personal turn thanks to an idea from Wes, one of our patrons, Greg discusses his dating experiences in Thailand and what it's like to be married to a Thai woman. From early dating stories as a clueless n00b to strange stories of getting used to Thai culture Greg (and Ed!) both start off with a few funny stories Next, Greg tells the story of meeting and eventually marrying his wife. Their story was a traditional one of a dinner with several groups of friends, a flirty Greg...and the rest is history as they...
2020-03-2436 min
The Bangkok PodcastDid That Just Happen? A Few Stories from BangkokIn a lighter episode after a few weeks of serious guests and topics, Greg and Ed trade 'hard to believe that happened' stories about living in Thailand. Ed begins with a call of nature nightmare that required an impromptu stop at Lumpini Police Station that ended with a terrified woman and a very relieved Ed in the female toilet. Greg follows with a cultural 'no-no' in one of the least expected places - a go-go bar - where he innocently used his foot to get the attention of one of the girls. After sitting in silence while...
2019-11-2634 min
The Bangkok PodcastSecond Opinions & Jedi Lies: Stories from Bangkok's HospitalsSooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailand's strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless. But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pretty good medical care, and it is standard advice for travelers in neighboring countries to get over the border into Thailand if they have any medical problems. But, as Ed n...
2019-08-2745 min
The Bangkok PodcastExpat Destinations: Bangkok vs. Phnom PenhFirst up - apologies for Greg's bad audio on this episode! Small technical problem, and it sounds like he's talking on a phone from Peru. Luckily, Ed does most of the talking! Speaking of Ed, he recently returned from 4 days in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, his first-ever visit. The city's going through somewhat of a renaissance of late, with plenty of discussion online about PP vs BKK. So what's Ed's verdict? As a matter of course, Greg introduces the subject by urging listeners to learn about Cambodia's tragic history and to take that into account when...
2019-08-1340 min
The Bangkok PodcastSeason 3 Retrospective: Looking Back on 1 YearGreg and Ed reminisce about Ed's first year as co-host of the Bangkok Podcast. Ed begins with a big 'thank you' to Greg for giving him the opportunity, and Greg gives a brief history of the BP over the years, from Season 1 with Tony Joh, which lasted for about a year and a half, to Season 2 with Evo Terra, which lasted about the same amount of time, and then to the last year with Ed. Ed talks about what he has liked and disliked about being the co-host, such as the weekly deadlines that are a bit stressful, and...
2019-03-2641 min
The Bangkok PodcastBored Expats: Getting Your Groove Back in BangkokBangkok is a giant, chaotic, constantly evolving megalopolis. But guess what? If you live here long enough, you'll get bored. Happens to everybody. You'll lose your groove and get stuck in a rut. So what to do? Greg and Ed give their best advice as long term expats, focusing mainly on relocating to a lesser known, more Thai parts of the city. With a quick introduction interview by Greg's buddy Dom, who recently had his attitude changed by moving across town, the boys recount moving to new neighborhoods themselves - Ed to Rachada and later Thonburi, and Greg to...
2019-03-1941 min
The Bangkok PodcastNeighborhood Focus: Thong LorIn a return to 'Neighborhood Focus,' Greg and Ed dive into the jam-packed area surrounding Sukhumvit Soi 55, aka Thong Lor, describing a recent night out they planned in order to give them a refresher on the quickly-evolving area. At the beginning of the soi near Thonglor BTS, Ed sings the praises of Hummus Boutique while Greg emphasizes the excellent street food and, on the other end of the cost spectrum, the rooftop bar Octave at the Marriott on Soi 57. Wotta view! Before entering the soi proper, the guys prepare themselves for 'Little Japan' (as...
2019-02-0542 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Risks and Rewards of Biking in BangkokOn this episode, Master Yoda Biker Greg counsels young padawan Ed in the ways of biking in Bangkok, focusing either on the casual rider looking for some exercise or adventure, the commuter looking for a way through Bangkok's notoriously bad traffic (and unreliable BTS!), or the adventurer looking to blaze new trails (for an example of this, see this week's episode artwork of Greg's good friend Paul exploring a new trail). Greg and Ed discuss all the important points of biking in Bangkok - safety, directions, equipment, and more, plus a discussion on how (most) Thai drivers...
2018-07-1730 min
The Bangkok PodcastHow Has Bangkok Changed Us? [Season 3, Episode 13]Something a little different this week - a host swap! Greg is joined by co-host Scott Coates, one of his oldest friends in Thailand. Scott co-hosts the Talk Travel Asia podcast with Trevor Ranges, and, if you head over there, you will be able to hear The Bangkok Podcast's other host, Ed "The Truth" Knuth, co-hosting a show with Trevor. Everything will be back to normal next week, but we thought a bit of crossover action would be fun. (And in case you're wondering, the artwork for this week's episode is Greg and Scott during a mountain...
2018-06-1931 min
The Bangkok PodcastFinding the Groove: Live Music in BangkokWe start off with some good news! Throwing back to episode 2.18 and guest Sawang Srisom, a disabled rights activist, Greg is happy to report that the city just gave a huge chunk of change to to the BTS so that they can finally add elevators to all stations! Really, it's about time - Bangkok's disabled facilities are embarrassingly unsuitable. Greg and Ed then get into the meat of the show - live music in Bangkok. After lamenting the scene compared to the U.S. and Canada, they chat about some of their favorite spots in Bangkok and...
2018-06-0529 min
The Bangkok PodcastReverse Culture Shock with Evo TerraGreg welcomes former co-host Evo Terra back to the podcast after his repatriation to the good old U.S.A. Evo describes his new life in Phoenix and his many adjustments, including trying to drive on the right (that is, not left) side of the road. He also recounts the difficulty of finding a furnished apartment at a reasonable price and laments the relatively decent cost of living in the City of Angels (Thai version). Shopping for food has also been a challenge, due to the fact that Evo actually knows what everything is, and hence, takes...
2018-05-2939 min
The Bangkok PodcastThe Good, the Bad, the Cuddly: Raising a Kid in Bangkok [Season 3, Episode 9]Episode links: My interview with the guys at This Strange Life podcast https://soundcloud.com/this_strange_life/tsl04-tsl04-from-surviving-to-thriving-in-bangkok-with-greg-from-the-bangkok-podcast Bangkok may be great for the childless among us, but what about those expats who want to raise a family here? As a married guy without kids, Ed questions Greg about the pros and cons of being a parent in Bangkok. The conversation starts with a peek into the insane cost and stress of deciding which school the little angels/devils will attend, where tuition can sometimes hit $20,000 per year for first grade (coughINSANEcough...
2018-05-2233 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok Life Advice We'd Give Our Younger SelvesGreg and Ed have each been in Thailand for more than 15 years, and along the way have done a lot of things right - but also a lot of things wrong. So in the spirit of the almighty do-over, they each thought of three pieces of advice they would give to their early Thailand selves. First of all, the boys skip the obvious piece of advice - learn Thai - which should be #1 on the list of everyone planning to spend more than 6 month here. From there they get into the nitty-gritty - from dating advice to...
2018-05-0829 min
The Bangkok PodcastPhra Pandit: Symbolism & Ceremony at Thai FuneralsYou may remember a month ago Greg and Ed invited our wonderful listeners to write in with details on how long they have been living in Thailand. Listen in to hear the boys discuss the results - or if you're more disposed to pretty colors, check out the neat-o pie chart on the website. Greg then begins a conversation about Thai funerals with frequent podcast guest Phra Pandit, a British-born Buddhist monk here in Thailand. Greg notes that Thai funerals seem to be less serious and emotional than funerals back home, and Phra Pandit points out that T...
2018-05-0134 min
The Bangkok PodcastGoing Vegan in Bangkok: Hopeless or Delicious?Going vegetarian in Bangkok has always struck Greg as somewhat of an inconvenience - I mean, how many vegetarian street food stalls do you know? But guess who's been on a full-on vegan diet for the past year? That's right, Ed. And guess who is going to give Greg some insight on actually how easy it is to be a vegetarian in Bangkok? Well...yes, of course, also Ed. You've been here before, I see. Ed - a noted vegan - dishes a bit on what he thinks of the politics and clique-iness of strict diets, as...
2018-04-0325 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok Then & Now...and in the FutureWelcome back! For the first show of season 3, Greg introduces you to the new co-host of the Bangkok Podcast, Ed "The Truth" Knuth. Together they have a combined 35 years in the Big Mango, so they reminisce a bit about what the city was like when they first got here, how it compares to now, and what they think the city will look like in 10 or 20 years. Purely based on conjecture, of course, they have no real experience with this, but since when has making uneducated predictions been a bad idea? One of the things Greg and Ed...
2018-03-2531 min
The Bangkok PodcastA Few Strange (and Possibly False) Laws You Might Experience in ThailandOn this episode we get into a few vague, strange - and possibly even non-existent - rules that you may or may not bump up against in Thailand. From buying chainsaws to changing your name to flying helicopters to losing your &$%@#! "book bank" (known throughout the rest of the world as bank books), these are things that govern the nuances of every day life. Greg reads 'em off, Evo plays Devil's Advocate to try and discount them, and we land somewhere around the middle. Love, Loathe, or Leave Have you ever seen someone - usually...
2017-12-0537 min
The Bangkok PodcastDoes Living in Bangkok Change Who You Are?RSVP to the big I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup #2 on Nov 29th! We're working hard on the special gifts that supporters at the Gift Box level are going to receive… and they are hand-made pieces of awesome. Yeah, we're teasing a bit, but these are going to be quite cool mementos and tokens of our appreciation. (If you want one, get signed up!) This topic stems from a discussion the two of us were having while we were stuck in the back of an Uber on the way to find ou...
2017-11-2139 min
The Bangkok PodcastHow to Shop (and Not Shop) Like a Thai in BangkokRSVP to the big I Love Podcasting In Bangkok meetup #2 on Nov 29th! How will you celebrate the season this year? No, we're not talking about Christmas. We're talking about the Thai government's annual shopping stimulus program, this time called "Shop For The Nation" for 2017. It started on Saturday, November the 11th, and it runs through December the 3rd. We'll cover this program in detail (and maybe poke just a wee bit of fun at it) as we give you all the details so you can get up to ฿15,000 off your taxable income next year. Yes, Bangkok expats pay ta...
2017-11-1431 min
The Bangkok PodcastActing Like an Actor in ThailandSo Evo was recently the star of a Pakistani commercial shot in Thailand, and by "star" we mean he was on-screen for about four seconds. That got Greg thinking wistfully of his own time as a thespian here in the Land of Smiles, so we thought we'd talk a bit about what it's like being an actor in Thailand. While Evo is the most recent "actor" in this two-way conversation, Greg has by far the longer filmography. And he went to film school! Here are some choice bits from the episode, including some links if you want to watch:
2017-10-1735 min
The Bangkok PodcastGetting Married In Thailand from the Western PerspectiveToday Greg looks back to his Thai wedding to help us discuss just how much you can expect to spend on your own happy day in Thailand. That's after a brief talk about avoiding floods and transit-hacking in Bangkok, obviously. Good news: we're not flooded out, though plenty of the world is right now. Perhaps influenced by the terrible news from Bangladesh, Houston, and much of the Caribbean, the government issued warnings about flooding on the Chao Phraya River, which both of us see every day. But what we didn't see was any part of the river exceeding its...
2017-09-1237 min
The Bangkok PodcastNews Flash: It's Hard To Get The News In Thailand In EnglishA discussion about the challenges and barriers to getting quality English-language news on Thailand from Thailand. And Evo's learning to write like a 3-year-old. After that, the magic of pork floss. Because Bangkok Podcast. Evo's decided that maybe he does need to learn Thai. So he picked up a new book, Fun Training From Chicken to Owl. Well, that's the English translation. Why has he flip-flopped on his opinion on learning Thai? Because Stu Jay Raj said so. Fine. But that's not what we're talking about today. Thailand isn't quite as dedicated to the concept of a "free press"...
2017-08-0133 min
The Bangkok PodcastTalking with Ron Morris, author of The Thai Book: A Field Guide to Thai Political MotivationsOn this episode of the Bangkok Podcast, we interview Ron Morris, the author of The Thai Book: A Field Guide to Thai Political Motivations. But before we get into that discussion, Greg goes into (thankfully minor) detail about his second experience with food poisoning after 16 years of eating street food. Given the size of Greg, it's safe to say he's an expert on street food. But despite eating his way through, under, around, and on top of Bangkok for his entire time here, he has only been sick from eating street food once. Until last week. There was no...
2017-07-1152 min
The Bangkok PodcastTime for Change: Should Begging Foreign Backpackers Take a Hike?You may have seen them on the streets of Bangkok, Singapore, or Hanoi. Many play instruments, juggle, or sell postcards. Some simply stand there with a hat and a sign asking for pity. We're talking, of course, about the round-the-world adventurer looking for a handout. Should these begging vagabonds take a hike, or do they deserve some leeway to, er, find their way? We also talk about staying dry (or attempting to) during Songkran, and Greg's foot fetish (in that he'd really like to be able to find shoes to fit his giant feet). The story has b...
2017-04-1827 min
The Bangkok PodcastRed Cliff Coffee: Talking With Derek Kirk About Chiang Rai's Most Delicious ExportSo a guy from Alaska who owns a coffee plantation in Hawaii hires a guy from Indiana who's living in Thailand to help him grow coffee. There's no punchline. Just a great episode of the Bangkok Podcast! (Direct download .mp3) (Direct download .mp3) After Evo explains why he was in Finland and gives us a crash course on world travel expos (like Matka 2017) and blogger conferences (like NBE Finland), and Greg runs down his recent motorbiking misadventures in Chiang Rai, we get down to business. What business? Serious business. Coffee. Greg had a conversation with D...
2017-01-3025 min
The Bangkok PodcastTalking with Phra Pandit: Is Having Everything the Same as Desiring Nothing?Continuing with our Buddhism series, we welcome Phra Pandit, a Brit who has been a monk in Thailand for the past 20 years and is a noted lecturer on Buddhism, dhamma, and psychology. Desire - or the lack of it - is one of the key themes that the Buddha taught his followers. But as we find out in this very interesting discussion with Phra Pandit, it's not as easy as saying "I can do without those cool new pair of shoes." (Direct download .mp3) (Direct download .mp3) Since Evo is off galavanting around Europe, Greg...
2017-01-2332 min
The Bangkok PodcastFour Things We Tell Everyone to Avoid in BangkokEveryone loves Bangkok and it is indeed a great city. However, that's not to say everything is worth seeing or doing. For this show we each come up with two items, places, or pastimes that we tell visiting friends and family or even expats new to the city of Angels that they can go ahead and avoid without losing out on everything that Bangkok has to offer. (Direct download .mp3) (Direct download .mp3) Evo's finally back from his three week trip to America and mostly over his jet lag. At least to record another episode...
2017-01-1028 min
The Bangkok PodcastBangkok Podcast 72: Greg & Aom's WeddingOn this special INTER-CONTINENTAL episode of Bangkok Podcast, Greg and Tony connect via Skype to talk about Greg's recent wedding.
Getting married in Thailand is a very ceremonial process that involves two ceremonies, 9 monks, and hundreds/thousands/millions of baht in dowry (prices vary greatly). Greg talks about what he went through with his wedding, from his first day of planning as an ultra-naive n00b to a happily married man. There's lots to consider - should you get a wedding planner or not? How many people will you invite? Will it be the oh-so-romantic beach wedding o...
2012-03-1652 min