Episodes - Page 10 | The Bangkok Podcast

Jan. 5, 2021

Kicking 2020 to the Curb: New Year’s Eve Stories from Better Times [S4.E64]

In order to wash the bad taste of New Year’s Eve 2021 out of our mouths, Greg and Ed discuss what New Year’s Eve means in Bangkok. Normally it’s one of the biggest nights of the year, but due the resurgence of COVID, this year was fairly tame....

Dec. 29, 2020

Confronting Thailand's Problem With Violence Against Women Part 2 [S4.E63]

The issue of violence against women in Thai culture is not often discussed. Awareness is low and even when the topic is brought up, the default reaction is to shussssshhhhh, forget about it, don’t make waves. Obviously this is not a tenable...

Dec. 22, 2020

Confronting Thailand’s Problem With Violence Against Women Part 1 [S4.E62]

The issue of violence against women in Thai culture is not often discussed. Awareness is low and even when the topic is brought up, the default reaction is to shussssshhhhh, forget about it, don’t make waves. Obviously this is not a tenable...

Dec. 15, 2020

The Annual Bangkok Podcast Listener Q&A Spectacular [S4.E61]

It’s been a while, but the guys jump into a Q&A show, where they answer questions from listeners. The topics are incredibly wide-ranging - everything from our first Thailand memory to the equipment we use to record to our rules for ‘wai-ing’...

Dec. 8, 2020

Artist Alex Face on his Iconic Work, Inspiration, and Space Art [S4.E60]

Greg interviews celebrated Thai artist Alex Face (), known mostly for his large building-sized murals, which appear not only in Bangkok but also in other cities around the world. Alex begins by recounting his interest in art as a child, which slowly...

Dec. 1, 2020

How Would You Rate Your Thai Cultural Assimilation? [S4, E59]

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...

Nov. 24, 2020

Bangkok’s Craft Brew Godfather: A Chat With Khun Chit [S4.E58]

Greg interviews the fascinating Wichit Saiklao, godfather of craft beer in Thailand and founder of , with podcast friend Scott Coates sitting in for fun. Khun Chit relates how he first learned about homebrewing while living in the States, and after...

Nov. 17, 2020

Thailand’s Freedom-of-Expression Minefield [S4.E57]

Greg and Ed consider the issue of freedom of expression in Thailand and the extent to which it is or is not compatible with Thai culture. The topic is sparked by THAT case...the one about a TripAdvisor reviewer who harshly criticized a Thai resort,...

Nov. 10, 2020

Linguist Rikker Dockum on Raising Multilingual Kids (S4.E56)

Greg interviews repeat guest Rikker Dockum about the ups and downs of raising bilingual children, beginning with an update on (now Dr) Rikker’s life back in the US - including his own two kids, both products of two cultures. Next, Rikker...

Nov. 3, 2020

Bangkok's Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath [S4, E55]

The boys reenter the world of the Seven Deadly Sins with a discussion of ‘Wrath’ in Thai culture. What’s the angle? Well, here is Ed’s theory: every society has roughly the same amount of total anger, but in the West negative feelings are...

Oct. 27, 2020

Phra Pandit on the Buddhist Concepts of Birth, Death & Rebirth [Season 4, Episode 54]

In this episode of Bangkok Podcast Metaphysics, Greg interviews our favorite guest, Phra Pandit, about notions of heaven and hell in Thai Buddhism. Phra Pandit begins by explaining the difference between reincarnation and rebirth. In Theravada...

Oct. 20, 2020

Greg (Con) and Ed (Pro) Debate the Merits of Thai Massage [Season 4, Episode 53]

In 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...

Oct. 13, 2020

Bangkok’s Evolving Health & Fitness Mindset [Season 4, Episode 52]

If you’ve been in Bangkok for any length of time you’ve seen the ‘healthy lifestyle’...uh...lifestyle...change a great deal. But why, how, and to what end? Greg interviews Jack Thomas, founder and CEO of BASE Fitness to chat about the...

Oct. 8, 2020

David Robinson Talks Heritage and Creativity on the Chao Phraya River [Season 4, Episode 50]

Greg interviews David Robinson, co-founder of the Creative District Foundation, which promotes the mighty Chao Phraya River community for tourism and cultural purposes through the excellent website , which provides resources, history, and insight into...

Oct. 6, 2020

Neighborhood Focus: Chinatown & Talad Noi [Season 4, Episode 51]

Greg 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...

Sept. 22, 2020

The Unique Role That Teachers Play in Thai Culture [Season 4, Episode 49]

Ooooh, topical! This week, Greg and Ed discuss the unique role of teachers in Thai society, where educators occupy a uniquely reverential role, often in stark contrast to western countries, where it is ‘just another job.’ Ed notes that the issue...

Sept. 15, 2020

An Economist Speaks: The Numbers on Thailand's COVID Economy [Season 4, Episode 48]

First, we want voicemails from our listeners! Become a friend on LINE (scan the QR Code below) and send us your thoughts, greetings, or an awesome joke. In a great show for economics nerds and anyone just interested in how the Thai economy is...

Sept. 8, 2020

Ten Laws Expats Should Understand in Thailand [Season 4, Episode 47]

After a brief intro explaining the podcast’s decision to accept advertising (within strict guidelines), Greg and Ed jump into a topic important to anyone travelling to Thailand: What are the most important Thai laws to know? Ed gives a quick...

Sept. 1, 2020

Jarrett Wrisley & Chalee Kader Discuss Bangkok's Restaurant Biz in the Time of Covid [Season 4, Episode 46]

Greg interviews Jarrett Wrisley and Chalee Kader, well-known and successful restaurateurs in Bangkok. After quick bios, they begin by dispelling some myths about the restaurant business and explaining some of the harsh realities of competing in a big...

Aug. 25, 2020

Bangkok’s Seven Deadly Sins: Lust [Season 4, Episode 45]

Greg and Ed continue their ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ series with LUST - yep, we go there. Well, figuratively, anyway. On the record, the guys don’t actually recommend that you visit any of the red light districts in Bangkok - there are so many more...

Aug. 18, 2020

Crossing Cultures: From Small-Town Thailand to the USA & Back Again [Season 4, Episode 44]

Ed interviews Putsawan ‘Poy’ Tipsakorn, a friend and former student of his who did an exchange year in the U.S. while in high school. Ed and Poy begin with her background in a small town in Nakhorn Ratchasima province and her conservative...

Aug. 11, 2020

Holding a Mirror Up to Thailand: Thisrupt's Voranai Vanijaka [Season 4, Episode 43]

This week Greg interviews Khun Voranai Vanijaka, a well-known Thai journalist, social commentator, and founder and editor-in-chief of , an English language website and social media enterprise that focuses on social and political issues in Thailand....

Aug. 4, 2020

A Quarantine Interview & Media Recommendations [Season 4, Episode 42]

After a very strange intro in which Greg extols the virtues of a , we get into the main episode, which comes in two parts. First, Greg interviews his friend Yining, who is just finishing a two week quarantine after returning to Thailand from...

July 28, 2020

Building a House in Thailand [Season 4, Episode 41]

Greg 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...