The Bangkok Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bangkok Podcast
After 15 years living full-time in Bangkok, Greg is as close to a local as a farang can get. Evo only has a year under his belt, and is still figuring out the elusive "Thainess" that makes his new hometown... great? Join them for weekly chats about the finer points of living in the second biggest city in SouthEast Asia. Because fuck Jakarta. Who wants to live there?
We talk to Mark Siegel from golf tour operator Golfasian about why Thailand is such a popular destination for golf tourists, how you can start if you’re a n00b, the economic benefits of a golf course, and if drinking beer while playing is okay (spoiler: it is).
Bangkok’s a crazy enough city to live in as an adult, but when you throw kids into the mix...hoo boy. Greg (a parent) schools Ed (not a parent) on a few behind-the-scenes tips and trivia about raising a kid in Bangkok that non-parents probably don’t know.
We chat with Kru Nan from the You Too Can Learn Thai podcast about using humor to connect with students, how understanding a language is key to understanding a culture, and the differences between how child and adult brains parse languages.
Becoming an expat gives you an opportunity to reinvent yourself, but if you’re not careful it’s easy to slip into a funk and become - gasp! - a cliche. Greg and Ed discuss some common stereotypes that you should try to avoid.
Thailand’s role in WW2 was complicated, and the city was heavily bombed by allied forces. We chat with historian Panarat Anamwathana about the leading names of the time, how the city’s residents reacted, and why WW2 has been watered down in Thai culture.
On a listener suggestion we discuss some great books and movies that both give n00bs a good intro Thailand, and act as a nice refresher for those who have been locked out for too long and want to bone up.
We’re joined by the fine folks from Bangkok Community Help, a charity dedicated to helping the Khlong Toey community during this rough time, about Khlong Toey’s history, its future, and their role in providing much needed help in the form of meals, medical supplies, and community improvement infrastructure.
Ed takes his first vacation in a long time to see how the Phuket sandbox is working out. What did he find? Spoiler alert: tons of rain, and the phrase ‘Phuket is Open’ is a bit subjective.
We chat with Chris Larkin from ThaiCitizenship.com, a great resource for those looking to turn their visas into Thai ID cards. We discuss myths, misconceptions, processes and strategies you can use so you never have to pay double prices again and finally say that you’re คนไทย.
A listener suggestion leads Greg and Ed down memory lane, reminiscing about some of the strange, interesting, and just plain odd characters they’ve met here - and why Bangkok is such a great place to meet them.
We’re joined by Kitty Chopaka, ganjapreneur and expert on Thailand’s cannabis industry, who explains what its rapid change means for farmers, investors, those with chronic medical problems, and of course, your average toker who just wants to relax, man.
Legendary food documentarian Mark Wiens joins us to chat about how he ended up in Thailand, what goes into making his videos, and why he never seems to gain weight despite eating for a living.
Working our way through Bangkok’s Seven Deadly Sins, we land on GREED. Every culture has it, but every culture deals with it differently, and Greg and Ed discuss how it manifests itself in Thailand.
Bangkok’s disgusting winter air is no laughing matter: its long-term health effects can make you seriously sick, or even kill you. We welcome Khun Weena from the Thai Clean Air Network to discuss why it’s here, who’s to blame, and what can be done.