Episodes - Page 6 | The Bangkok Podcast

July 5, 2022

Fun AND Educational? Some Notable Bangkok Firsts [S5.E68]

In a new concept, Greg and Ed discuss various Bangkok ‘Firsts’ in an effort to improve their knowledge of the city’s history and development. Loosely based on a trivia format the guys go back and forth asking each other abou…

June 28, 2022

Luxembourg Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger Talks Diplomacy & Cultural Identity [S5.E67]

Greg interviews the Luxembourgian Ambassador to Thailand, Jean-Paul Senninger. As a diplomat with a long list of postings around the world, from his home base at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Washington, D.C., Spain, Tu…

June 21, 2022

Pot Luck Surprise! The Highs and Lows of Weed in Thailand [S5.E66]

Greg 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 Exper…

June 14, 2022

From Toothbrushes to Curses: Storytime With Christopher G. Moore [S5.E65]

This is Part Two of Greg’s recent interview with uber-expat Christopher G. Moore, author, raconteur, and general man-about-town. In true Renaissance guy fashion, the two men jump from topic to topic, each more interesting th…

June 7, 2022

From 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…

May 31, 2022

Understanding Thailand: Some Rules of Thumb That Explain a Lot [S5.E63]

Greg and Ed pull together all their accumulated wisdom about Thai culture and society into six pithy theories to aid expats and tourists alike. Ed begins with his classic ‘Universal Theory of Thailand,” that everything good …

May 24, 2022

Seeing Thailand Through Film: Director Paul Spurrier [S5.E62]

Ed interviews , a British expat in Thailand who has been in the film industry his entire life. Paul begins at the beginning, how his first movie ever in a movie theater was “The Sound of Music,” and it had such an impact on …

May 17, 2022

Busting Some Myths About Prostitution in Thailand [S5.E61]

Ed leads a discussion and semi-rant about a persistent myth regarding the history of prostitution in Thailand that was recently perpetuated by a . The myth goes like this: prostitution wasn’t much of a thing in Thailand unti…

May 10, 2022

Achievement Unlocked! Even More Expat Merit Badges [S5.E60]

Because the first show was so fun to do - and full of great listener-generated ideas! - Greg and Ed revisit the idea of expat ‘merit badges,’ a recognition of classic experiences in Thailand that indicate you are more than j…

May 3, 2022

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S5.E59]

Greg and Ed interview expat legend Chris Baker, co-author (along with his wife Pasuk Phongpaichit) of , in addition to several other well-known books on Thailand. Greg and Ed gush over the fact they have both read Chris’s mo…

April 26, 2022

Greg’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 famil…

April 19, 2022

The Psychology of Tourist Scams with Tourism Expert Ding Xu [S5.E57]

Anyone who has been to Thailand knows the old “Ohhh, the temple is closed today, why don’t you come with me to this gem store?” Despite warnings in literally every bit of content about traveling to Thailand, thousands still …

April 12, 2022

Thai 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 …

April 5, 2022

Rules & Etiquette: Public Speaking as a Buddhist Monk [S5.E55]

Greg interviews our old friend and recurring guest Phra Pandit, about public speaking as a Buddhist monk. Beginning with some public speaking basics, such as the three things that really matter when you give a speech: what y…

March 29, 2022

The World Happiness Index: How Does Thailand Measure Up? [S5.E54]

In the wake of the - which saw Thailand drop by quite a few spots - Greg and Ed jump into the fascinating topic of the happiness of Thailand compared to other countries. How can you possibly measure something like the ‘happ…

March 22, 2022

Photographer Dax Ward on Capturing Bangkok's Abandoned Beauty [S5.E53]

Greg interviews , an adventurous photographer best known for his beautiful photos of dilapidated buildings and abandoned places. Dax begins by explaining that he was a very late starter to photography, getting a DSLR for the…

March 15, 2022

Saying Too Much: Dealing With Self-Censorship in Thailand [S5.E52]

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 eve…

March 8, 2022

The Middle Path: Is Thailand an In-Between Country? [S5.E51]

Greg and Ed consider the tricky question of Thailand’s role in the global order. Sparked by a question from one of his students about what Thailand’s response to the war in Ukraine should be, Ed realized that he’s never real…

March 1, 2022

History on Video: Bangkok Pat Talks Exploring & Storytelling [S5.E50]

Greg interviews ‘Bangkok Pat,’ whose uncover the hidden layers of this fascinating city. Pat begins with a bit of personal background, growing up in the UK with a Thai mother, and eventually losing touch with that part of h…

Feb. 22, 2022

Would a Bangkok by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet? [S5.E49]

Greg and Ed discuss the significance of the recent decision by the Thai parliament to accept a change to the official English name of Bangkok that was proposed by the Royal Society of Thailand. Initially, it was announced as…

Feb. 15, 2022

History and Insight: Exploring Thailand’s Indian Community [S5.E48]

One of the great things about Thai culture is the many facets that make up the whole. One of them is the Indian community, and Greg is happy to welcome Ram Sachdev, a first generation Thai-Indian and founder of , a leading v…

Feb. 8, 2022

Great Thailand Advice We Ignored…But Shouldn’t Have [S5.E47]

When you first get to Thailand you meet a lot of people who give you a lot of advice. Most of it is forgettable, some is great, and all of it easy to ignore. Greg and Ed look back on some tips they got that they regret not f…

Feb. 1, 2022

George Dupont: The Only Thai to Fight in the US Civil War [S5.E46]

We recount the fascinating story of George DuPont, the only Thai person who fought in the American Civil War. The first record of George in the U.S. is in 1859, but almost nothing is known of how or why he ended up in the Un…

Jan. 25, 2022

Is Thailand Really LGBTQ Friendly? It’s Complicated [S5.E45]

Greg interviews Benjamin Lord, an American who moved to Asia straight out of college at NYU. He is on the show to discuss life as a gay man in Thailand. After spending several years in Vietnam, where the pressure to hide his…