A Peek Into Bangkok's Thriving Bluegrass Music Scene [S8.E57]

In another example of a thriving subculture in Bangkok you wouldn’t expect to see, Greg and Ed interview Sunny Sachdev, a Thai Indian banjo player who is part of the informal network of musicians that drive Bangkok’s local bluegrass music scene. Check out their page here. Sunny explains that he discovered the genre through a video recommendation online and immediately felt drawn to the banjo, despite having no prior musical background. Sunny details how he connected with the local community by

Inspired by recent discussion among friends, and Greg’s switch to a new provider, the boys tackle the enduring issue of health insurance as an expat. There are many companies, many plans, and many pitfalls. Which one do you choose? Ed begins by outlining the main geographic areas of coverage an expatriate must consider, which include coverage in Thailand, in their home country, and during international travel. He notes that many young people mistakenly skip buying health insurance, and while Th

Greg interviews , the creator of the . Jared explains that his day job is a contortionist, but his lifelong vegetarianism sparked a deep fascination with rare fruits. He shares how this hobby evolved into a channel where he travels the globe to taste...

Greg and Ed tackle the uncomfortable topic of self-censorship in Thailand, especially as it pertains to the podcast itself, and the churning, roiling issue of what you can say, when, and how, which seem to be in the news every day. Although it is unfortunate, the reality of working and living in Thailand is that the laws and culture are not the same as back home in the U.S. and Canada. Obviously, this means no discussion of the monarchy, and Ed explains how he always advises visiting friends to

After a recent wave of news headlines highlighting government crackdowns on things as varied as fake paternity scams and cheating civil servants, Greg and Ed begin by asking whether Thailand is finally enforcing the rule of law in any meaningful way. Greg points to changes in visa policy, noting that authorities reduced visa-free stays after discovering widespread abuse from visitors working illegally. Next, Ed brings up the crackdown on illegal nominee company ownership, pointing to cases wher

Ed interviews K. Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a constitutional lawyer and professor from Chulalongkorn University whose work bridges law and Buddhism. After Ed shares his own background as an American lawyer, the two men begin by discussing the modern relevance of Buddhist teachings. K. Khemthong explains that Buddhist mindfulness practices are more important than ever for combating the overwhelming distractions of smartphones and social media. They touch upon how both traditional and secular me

Greg and Ed explore the small, unexpected joys of being an expat living in Thailand. Ed begins the main discussion by sharing his amusement over miscommunications regarding his job. Despite teaching university-level political science, Thai people frequently assume he is a basic English teacher, an error he enjoys correcting. Next, Greg discusses how he enjoys getting opted out of annoying situations due to his nationality. He notes that being a foreigner often grants him a free pass from sittin

On the heels of a recent episode where Greg and Ed opined on the nuances of the tricky Bangkok property market, this time they have a real, er… real estate pro on to get into things from her POV - Tracy Leelalamlert from Aspire Real Estate. Greg begins by discussing with Tracy whether buying a condo in the city is a good investment. Tracy explains that it depends on the buyer's purpose, noting that rental properties typically yield around four percent annually. Next, Ed brings up the issue of t

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 f

Inspired by an unusually long commute, the boys decide to discuss a list of things - very specific things - that bother Greg while he drives his trusty silver Honda around Bangkok. Greg begins by sharing his first major annoyance with Bangkok drivers, which is their complete disregard for pedestrian crosswalks, forcing people to sprint across the road. Next, he brings up the severe impatience at intersections, where drivers wedge themselves into perpendicular traffic even when there is no room,