Episodes
May 16, 2017
Why Bangkok Is A Medical Tourism Hotspot (2.32)
This week we talk to an expert on medical tourism for the inside scoop on what makes Bangkok a key medical tourism destination. And we share an anecdote that proves even the 2nd largest city in SE Asia is really just a small…
May 11, 2017
Is Birth Control Evil In Buddhist Bangkok? (2.31)
This week we talk with Bangkok-based Buddhist monk Phra Pandit about abortions, birth control, and how Buddhism defines evil. Also, Evo flirts with Thailand's terrible traffic stats.
May 3, 2017
Bangkok Tourist Scams Are Still Alive In 2017 (2.30)
On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we talk about one of the negative aspects of Bangkok, the immortal, ever-present tourist scam. But before we get there, we'll have a brief discussion of feet. Yeah... feet.
April 25, 2017
Exploring Thailand’s Crazy Gun Culture (2.29)
From hitmen to red tape and homemade guns to the black market, we bring in a local expert to help us navigate the murky waters of the past and present realities of gun ownership in Thailand.
April 18, 2017
Time for Change: Should Begging Foreign Backpackers Take a Hike? (2.28)
You may have seen foreign backpackers on the streets of Bangkok, playing instruments, selling trinkets, or simply asking for change. Should these begging vagabonds take a hike, or do they deserve some leeway to, er, find the…
April 11, 2017
Blood on the Highway: Thailand's Seven Deadly Days of Songkran (2.27)
On this episode we talk about traffic in Bangkok - specifically the “Seven Deadly Days” of Songkran - and Thailand's awful road safety statistics. We also talk about what men do with their wives are away... or won't go away.…
April 3, 2017
Talking Languages With Educator Frank Smith: Thai, Lao & Khmer (2.26)
On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we talk languages with Frank Smith. He speaks Thai, Khmer, and Lao, and teaches Khmer at UC Berkeley in California. Add to that a quick conversation on the pros and cons of raising a ki…
March 27, 2017
The Little Things We Miss About Home...And Will Miss About Thailand (2.25)
On this episode, we discuss the little things we love about Bangkok, as well as the little things we miss about where we're from.
March 20, 2017
Teaching In Thailand: A Professional Western Teacher’s Perspective (2.24)
Greg has a chat with Sheila Dee a Western-trained, professional educator working in Thailand. There are lots of Westerners acting as English teachers in Thailand. Greg used to be one of them. But Sheila’s a bit different, ho…
March 15, 2017
Magic Ink: Evo Visits the Mystical Sak Yant Tattoo Festival (2.23)
You may or may not have heard about the Sak Yant tattoo festival before, but after hearing this episode of the Bangkok Podcast, you sure as darn heck won't be able to forget about it.
March 8, 2017
Talking with Paul Mueller: How Much Time Does Bangkok's Green Lung Have Left? (2.22)
When you look at Bangkok on a map, you see this enigmatic little patch of green just off center. It’s not a trick. It really exists. Historically, few people fought the traffic to get here. But that’s changing, and modern en…
Feb. 27, 2017
"I Want to Get Back to Nature in Bangkok." Is That Even Possible? (2.21)
While Thailand is a great place to experience the natural beauties of the tropics, Bangkok is a giant metro area and not all that appealing to nature lovers with a short time to visit. Or is it? That’s the topic of this epis…
Feb. 21, 2017
Crafty Bangkok Beer: Talking with Brian Bartusch from Beervana (2.20)
Like everywhere, craft beer is exploding in Bangkok. But there are some subtle nuances that cause beer lovers to scratch their heads. Why is it so expensive? What’s up with “illegal” beer? And where can I get more? We’ll ans…
Feb. 13, 2017
Is Learning Thai Really Necessary? (2.19)
To learn to speak Thai or not learn to speak Thai. That is the question. No, literally. It’s the question we’re asking each other on behalf of all people who come to live in Thailand. Not surprising, we have a difference of …
Feb. 6, 2017
Being Disabled in Bangkok: A Conversation with Sawang Srisom (2.18)
No one is going to say that Bangkok is an easy city to navigate. Near-constant congestion, poorly paved sidewalks, non-existent pedestrian crossing areas… that’s just a start. Now imagine that from the point of view of someo…
Jan. 30, 2017
Red Cliff Coffee: Talking With Derek Kirk About Chiang Rai's Most Delicious Export (2.17)
So 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!
Jan. 23, 2017
Talking with Phra Pandit: Is Having Everything the Same as Desiring Nothing? (2.16)
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 th…
Jan. 16, 2017
Expat Realities: Reverse Culture Shock (2.15)
If you've lived any amount of time overseas and returned to your home country, you're likely familiar with reverse culture shock, the feeling that you just...somehow...don't quite fit in to your old life anymore. It's a diso…
Jan. 10, 2017
Four Things We Tell Everyone to Avoid in Bangkok (2.14)
Everyone 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 friends, family, and new ex…
Jan. 2, 2017
Thailand Memories: Living Through a Coup (2.13)
Did you know that Thailand, one of the world's busiest tourist destinations, has been under military control since the most recent coup of 2014? We thought we'd discuss what living through a coup is actually like.
Dec. 26, 2016
Is Dhammakaya a Cult, a Sect, or Just Another Temple? (2.12)
On this show we (well, Greg, as Evo is traveling) will talk with Pandit about what happens when a particular Buddhist temple becomes really important. So important, in fact, that the government wants to shut it down.
Dec. 18, 2016
Merry Christmas From Bangkok! (2.11)
It's that time of year again in Thailand - the holidays season! Did you notice the extra 's' there? It was intentional, because December is one of the most holiday-heavy months in the whole year. Not only do you have Father'…
Dec. 12, 2016
Magic, Mysticism & Mana: Superstition in Thailand (2.10)
Buddhism isn’t the official religion of Thailand. But the overwhelming majority of people are Buddhist. Still, what you think of as Buddhism may not match up to the reality of the world. This is Theravada Buddhism that draws…
Dec. 4, 2016
Foreign Fool: A Conversation with Author Alan Platt
When it comes to unique characters, Bangkok has them in droves - people who have been places, eaten things, talked to people, and lived adventures that would make your mother put her hand to her mouth and proclaim,