Bangkok Podcast

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Bangkok Podcast Join Greg & Ed for stories, rants, and conversations on life in Asia's craziest city.
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17/07/2024

Divorce is never a light topic, but much like death, taxes, and the sidewalk cop who charges you 2,000 baht for dropping a tiny piece of paper on the sidewalk, it’s something many of us have to deal with. But getting divorced in Thailand carries many unique challenges and pitfalls, so our senior legal correspondent Dave Lawrence from Pegleg Legal joins us to go over all the dos and don’ts.

10/07/2024

Yeah, yeah, AI is all the rage, but what happens if we quiz it with a few questions about Bangkok to see how smart it REALLY is? We put ChatGPT and Gemini through the paces with queries about Bangkok, from driving to history to movies. Spoiler alert - AI won’t be leading tours around the city anytime soon.

03/07/2024

Part 2 of 2! Greg and Ed interview returning guests Paul and Yuangrat Wedel about their two novels, “Beads On A String” and “Dark Karma,” historical fictions based in Southern Thailand during the turn of the 20th century. Fascinating stories set in a tumultuous time for Thailand that required deep cultural knowledge and a whole ton o’ research.

26/06/2024

Greg and Ed interview returning guests Paul and Yuangrat Wedel about their two novels, “Beads On A String” and “Dark Karma,” historical fictions based in Southern Thailand during the turn of the 20th century. Fascinating stories set in a tumultuous time for Thailand that required deep cultural knowledge and a whole ton o’ research. Part 1 of 2!

Very cool to check out the model of Bangkok at BKKExpo. It’s a shame this thing is only open for a few days, they should...
22/06/2024

Very cool to check out the model of Bangkok at BKKExpo. It’s a shame this thing is only open for a few days, they should make it a permanent exhibition and charge people to see it. It’s a beautiful piece of art and people can understand Bangkok in a whole way. https://instagr.am/p/C8g4xi_RbUH/

19/06/2024

Continuing our regional focus of late, Greg and Ed discuss Ed’s recent trip to Hong Kong and how it compares to big, bad Bangkok. The food, the sights, the subtle social cues that give a city its mojo…find out what Ed thought. Spoiler: thank God for Thai food.

12/06/2024

Wrapping up our short series on our regional podcast peers, Greg interviews Joah McGee from the Insight Myanmar Podcast, which covers all the goings-on in Thailand’s neighbor, from the tragic state of the government to the indomitable spirit of the locals as they strive for a better life.

Fantastic day trip out with the Siam Society visiting some lesser-known temples and getting some great historical and ar...
09/06/2024

Fantastic day trip out with the Siam Society visiting some lesser-known temples and getting some great historical and architectural insights. Saved the best for last, my favorite temple in , Wat Ratchabophit (last 3 pics). https://instagr.am/p/C7_3qm6vWzV/

05/06/2024

If you spend years in Bangkok it’s fair to say that life must be treating you well enough that you don’t leave. But there are definitely a few things that lose their sheen over time. Greg and Ed go over a few things that life in Bangkok has made them appreciate less and less as time goes on.

29/05/2024

We take a look beyond Thailand’s borders for a short series on our podcast pals in the region to talk with Mike Tatarski, who produces the Vietnam Weekly podcast from his base in HCMC. From finding guests to engaging the podcast community to finding the balance between saying what you want to and going to jail, we discuss some of the similarities and differences between doing a show here and there.

22/05/2024

Hey look, Thaksin Shinawatra’s in the newspapers, which are talking about his insider influence and political dynasty. Wait, what year is it?? Greg and Ed discuss the events leading up to the 2006 coup (which removed Thaksin as PM) and why it was such a major event in modern Thai history - so much so that we’re still feeling its effects today.

15/05/2024

We check back in with the ever-evolving craft beer scene in Bangkok, this time with Clif from BangkokBeerGuide.com, a website dedicated to keeping up with all the goings on in Bangkok’s brew scene. From what makes beer awesome to favorite drinking spots to discussions of camaraderie and community, it’s a great discussion on what makes sitting around a table with buddies and beer such an enjoyable and, dare we say it, important pastime.

08/05/2024

This past month may just have been the hottest we’ve ever experienced here, which got us thinking - what other extreme experiences or insane memories do we have of our time in Bangkok? From visa violations and weird billiard halls to motorbike accidents and getting chased by island thugs, we look back on some of our most, er, memorable experiences.

01/05/2024

With AI seemingly taking over the world, we have to wonder how these programs will judge what’s ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. Will it be based on western ideals of what ‘ethical’ means, or something more nuanced? We’re joined by Dr. Soraj Hongladarom, a professor at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, to discuss what Buddhism can lend to the ongoing conversation and how our eventual AI overlords are going to decide what’s ethical and what’s not.

This post-production session brought to you by Ko Samet.
27/04/2024

This post-production session brought to you by Ko Samet.

24/04/2024

If math can be used to solve everything from the orbits of galaxies to the swirl in a snail’s shell, then surely it can be applied to Bangkok to shed some light on the chaos? We’ve devised a few semi-mathematical equations that might just help us bring order to the fair city we call home, everything from traffic math to gatorade availability. This is for you, fellow nerds!

I’d be really curious to know if Thai people ever actually eat scorpions, or if it’s purely a market driven by ‘daredevi...
21/04/2024

I’d be really curious to know if Thai people ever actually eat scorpions, or if it’s purely a market driven by ‘daredevil’ tourists. https://instagr.am/p/C6B_4hTpYCN/

17/04/2024

In part 2 of 2 we continue chatting with Stuart from Travelfish on the elephant in the room - overtourism. We discussed how Thailand can get wins by directing travelers to secondary destinations, as well as the opportunity that “low quality” tourists like backpackers can bring to Thailand. We also discuss some ideas on how to really supercharge recovery - w**d visas!

10/04/2024

Greg and Ed welcome their old pal, OG independent traveler Stuart from Travelfish.org back to the show for a discussion on how tourism is recovering. As a major part of Asia’s GDP, the show digs into what some places are doing right and what some places are doing wrong in their struggle to get back to pre-pandemic numbers. Spoiler alert - the ‘growth at all costs’ mentality that Thailand and other places seem to have is good right now…but probably won’t serve your grandkids too well. Part 1 of 2!

Lovely few days in Singapore visiting an old buddy and walking around town. Bangkok humidity ain’t got nuthin’ on the hu...
08/04/2024

Lovely few days in Singapore visiting an old buddy and walking around town. Bangkok humidity ain’t got nuthin’ on the humidity here. Damn. https://instagr.am/p/C5fyUnFxCvr/

03/04/2024

It’s been 20 years since the Boxing Day tsunami - enough that a whole generation of Thailand expats were in diapers when it happened! Greg and Ed go back to the devastating, seminal event and recount their experiences when it happened, plus a short interview with Hugh Van Es, author of Hell in Paradise, which recounts his own tragic search for a friend lost in the disaster.

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Videos

Lawyer Dave Lawrence Gives a Legal Perspective on Divorce in Thailand [S7.E28]
Lawyer Dave Lawrence Gives a Legal Perspective on Divorce in Thailand [S7.E28]

Divorce is never a light topic, but much like death, taxes, and the sidewalk cop who charges you 2,000 baht for dropping a tiny piece of paper on the sidewalk, it’s something many of us have to deal with. But getting divorced in Thailand carries many unique challenges and pitfalls, so our senior legal correspondent Dave Lawrence from Pegleg Legal joins us to go over all the dos and don’ts.

AI vs The Big Mango: What ChatGPT 4o and Gemini Know (and don’t know) about Bangkok [S7.E27]
AI vs The Big Mango: What ChatGPT 4o and Gemini Know (and don’t know) about Bangkok [S7.E27]

Yeah, yeah, AI is all the rage, but what happens if we quiz it with a few questions about Bangkok to see how smart it REALLY is? We put ChatGPT and Gemini through the paces with queries about Bangkok, from driving to history to movies. Spoiler alert - AI won’t be leading tours around the city anytime soon.

Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam Part 2 [S7.E26]
Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam Part 2 [S7.E26]

Part 2 of 2! Greg and Ed interview returning guests Paul and Yuangrat Wedel about their two novels, “Beads On A String” and “Dark Karma,” historical fictions based in Southern Thailand during the turn of the 20th century. Fascinating stories set in a tumultuous time for Thailand that required deep cultural knowledge and a whole ton o’ research.

Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam [S7.E25]
Blending Fact & Fiction: Paul & Yuangrat Wedel Return to Discuss Their Novels Set in 1900s Siam [S7.E25]

Greg and Ed interview returning guests Paul and Yuangrat Wedel about their two novels, “Beads On A String” and “Dark Karma,” historical fictions based in Southern Thailand during the turn of the 20th century. Fascinating stories set in a tumultuous time for Thailand that required deep cultural knowledge and a whole ton o’ research. Part 1 of 2!

Ed’s City Review: Bangkok vs Hong Kong - Which One Comes Out on Top? [S7.E24]
Ed’s City Review: Bangkok vs Hong Kong - Which One Comes Out on Top? [S7.E24]

Continuing our regional focus of late, Greg and Ed discuss Ed’s recent trip to Hong Kong and how it compares to big, bad Bangkok. The food, the sights, the subtle social cues that give a city its mojo…find out what Ed thought. Spoiler: thank God for Thai food.

Regional Podcast Pals: Joah McGee on Covering Tragedy & Hope on Insight Myanmar [S7.E23]
Regional Podcast Pals: Joah McGee on Covering Tragedy & Hope on Insight Myanmar [S7.E23]

Wrapping up our short series on our regional podcast peers, Greg interviews Joah McGee from the Insight Myanmar Podcast, which covers all the goings-on in Thailand’s neighbor, from the tragic state of the government to the indomitable spirit of the locals as they strive for a better life.

Bangkok Devaluation: A Few Things That Used to Matter…But Don’t Anymore [S7.E22]
Bangkok Devaluation: A Few Things That Used to Matter…But Don’t Anymore [S7.E22]

If you spend years in Bangkok it’s fair to say that life must be treating you well enough that you don’t leave. But there are definitely a few things that lose their sheen over time. Greg and Ed go over a few things that life in Bangkok has made them appreciate less and less as time goes on.

Regional Podcast Pals: Mike Tatarski on Producing the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh City [S7.E21]
Regional Podcast Pals: Mike Tatarski on Producing the Vietnam Weekly from Ho Chi Minh City [S7.E21]

We take a look beyond Thailand’s borders for a short series on our podcast pals in the region to talk with Mike Tatarski, who produces the Vietnam Weekly podcast from his base in HCMC. From finding guests to engaging the podcast community to finding the balance between saying what you want to and going to jail, we discuss some of the similarities and differences between doing a show here and there.

Looking Back on the 2006 Coup and Why We’re Still Feeling it Today [S7.E20]
Looking Back on the 2006 Coup and Why We’re Still Feeling it Today [S7.E20]

Hey look, Thaksin Shinawatra’s in the newspapers, which are talking about his insider influence and political dynasty. Wait, what year is it?? Greg and Ed discuss the events leading up to the 2006 coup (which removed Thaksin as PM) and why it was such a major event in modern Thai history - so much so that we’re still feeling its effects today.

Checking in on Bangkok’s Craft Beer Scene with BangkokBeerGuide.com [S7.E19]
Checking in on Bangkok’s Craft Beer Scene with BangkokBeerGuide.com [S7.E19]

We check back in with the ever-evolving craft beer scene in Bangkok, this time with Clif from BangkokBeerGuide.com, a website dedicated to keeping up with all the goings on in Bangkok’s brew scene. From what makes beer awesome to favorite drinking spots to discussions of camaraderie and community, it’s a great discussion on what makes sitting around a table with buddies and beer such an enjoyable and, dare we say it, important pastime.

Bangkok Superlatives: Stories From Decades in a Crazy City [S7.E18]
Bangkok Superlatives: Stories From Decades in a Crazy City [S7.E18]

This past month may just have been the hottest we’ve ever experienced here, which got us thinking - what other extreme experiences or insane memories do we have of our time in Bangkok? From visa violations and weird billiard halls to motorbike accidents and getting chased by island thugs, we look back on some of our most, er, memorable experiences.

Philosopher Dr. Soraj Hongladarom on Buddhism, Ethics and AI [S7.E17]
Philosopher Dr. Soraj Hongladarom on Buddhism, Ethics and AI [S7.E17]

With AI seemingly taking over the world, we have to wonder how these programs will judge what’s ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. Will it be based on western ideals of what ‘ethical’ means, or something more nuanced? We’re joined by Dr. Soraj Hongladarom, a professor at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, to discuss what Buddhism can lend to the ongoing conversation and how our eventual AI overlords are going to decide what’s ethical and what’s not.

Bangkok for Nerds! Understanding the Chaos With Some Sweet Math [S7.E16]
Bangkok for Nerds! Understanding the Chaos With Some Sweet Math [S7.E16]

If math can be used to solve everything from the orbits of galaxies to the swirl in a snail’s shell, then surely it can be applied to Bangkok to shed some light on the chaos? We’ve devised a few semi-mathematical equations that might just help us bring order to the fair city we call home, everything from traffic math to gatorade availability. This is for you, fellow nerds!

Stuart McDonald from Travelfish on Tourism Recovery in Thailand Through Visas, Backpackers...and Weed? [S7.E15]
Stuart McDonald from Travelfish on Tourism Recovery in Thailand Through Visas, Backpackers...and Weed? [S7.E15]

In part 2 of 2 we continue chatting with Stuart from Travelfish on the elephant in the room - overtourism. We discussed how Thailand can get wins by directing travelers to secondary destinations, as well as the opportunity that “low quality” tourists like backpackers can bring to Thailand. We also discuss some ideas on how to really supercharge recovery - weed visas!

Stuart from Travelfish Talks How (and how not) to Help Tourism Recover Sustainably [S7.E14]
Stuart from Travelfish Talks How (and how not) to Help Tourism Recover Sustainably [S7.E14]

Greg and Ed welcome their old pal, OG independent traveler Stuart from Travelfish.org back to the show for a discussion on how tourism is recovering. As a major part of Asia’s GDP, the show digs into what some places are doing right and what some places are doing wrong in their struggle to get back to pre-pandemic numbers. Spoiler alert - the ‘growth at all costs’ mentality that Thailand and other places seem to have is good right now…but probably won’t serve your grandkids too well. Part 1 of 2!

Bangkok History Highlight: 20 Years Later - Looking Back at the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami [S7.E13]
Bangkok History Highlight: 20 Years Later - Looking Back at the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami [S7.E13]

It’s been 20 years since the Boxing Day tsunami - enough that a whole generation of Thailand expats were in diapers when it happened! Greg and Ed go back to the devastating, seminal event and recount their experiences when it happened, plus a short interview with Hugh Van Es, author of Hell in Paradise, which recounts his own tragic search for a friend lost in the disaster.

AmericanThaiGuy Ron Weaver on the Complicated Issue of Racism in Thailand [S7.E12]
AmericanThaiGuy Ron Weaver on the Complicated Issue of Racism in Thailand [S7.E12]

We continue our chat with AmericanThaiGuy Ron Weaver and get into racism in Thailand, which every expat knows is an issue that’s difficult to pin down. Ron’s take on how it’s wrapped up in capitalism, Buddhism and cultural nuance is one that reflects his own experiences as an African-American, but also as someone with a Thai wife and who also speaks Thai better than most. A fascinating discussion!

AmericanThaiGuy Ron Weaver on Mastering Thai…and Social Media [S7.E11]
AmericanThaiGuy Ron Weaver on Mastering Thai…and Social Media [S7.E11]

You might know this week’s guest by his more famous name “American Thai Guy” but we just call him Ron Weaver. Ron’s excellent Thai has earned him a large online following who watch his videos as he breaks down simple phrases or words and explains what they mean and why they’re important. From a n00b tourist unable to get back to his hotel to teaching others how to speak Thai? Not bad, American Thai Guy, not bad. Part 1 of 2.

Foreigners Acting Badly: What Does it Take to Push Thais Over the Edge? [S7.E10]
Foreigners Acting Badly: What Does it Take to Push Thais Over the Edge? [S7.E10]

The Foreigners have had a bad run lately, making the news for all the wrong reasons. Although there are always clowns acting up somewhere, there are some stories that seem to catch the zeitgeist in such a way that they become Very Important News and blow up to a front-page story. Greg and Ed discuss what it takes to reach that tipping point with the usually-very-tolerant Thais, and if they maybe have just had enough of disrespectful foreigners.

Our Friend Mookie Could Raise Her Kids Anywhere. So Why Thailand? [S7.E9]
Our Friend Mookie Could Raise Her Kids Anywhere. So Why Thailand? [S7.E9]

It’s easy to assume that any Thai who is able to live overseas has hit the lottery, but it’s not always so. Ed interviews his former student Mookie, who met her husband in the UK and had a family there. But, after thinking long and hard about the ol’ East-vs-West question, decided that Thailand would be a better place overall to raise her children. Listen in to hear why.

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