The Bangkok Podcast | Expat Life In Thailand Via Expats From Canada & America

It’s a very unique episode of the Bangkok Podcast! Greg and Ed do a first for the the show, with a panel discussion with four guests! Why four? Well, everyone knows that cliche about Bangkok being a heaven for expat men, but we didn’t know much about expat women. It stands to reason that one woman can’t speak for all women, so we upped the game a bit. After some introductions, we get into the meat of the show, with a myriad of stories that show how complex, nuanced, and (depending on the person) important the issue is to a life well lived in the capital. Among many other things, the ladies discuss the differences between the attention they get back home and what they get in Bangkok, what it’s like to date Thai men (and women), the quality of farang men in Thailand, and a host of other issues. There are also some hilarious(ly awful) Tinder stories, anecdotes about being approached on the street, issues that single moms have to deal with, discussion about western women who leave Thailand bitter and angry, and h

When you’ve been an expat for a long time and don’t visit home regularly, what’s it like going back?  Is reverse culture shock even real? Greg and Ed discuss Ed’s first trip back to the States in 4 years to see how ed digested it all. Usually one to enjoy his trips back, Ed notes two major things that struck him: first, without the language and cultural barriers, things unexpectedly just work, and the feeling of standing there not knowing what to do when things go well is a little weird. Second, in the American suburbs, you can travel pretty far very quickly, while in Bangkok, all travel seems to take a long time. So while back in the States, all time estimates have to be re-calibrated. Greg then asks a few interesting questions: Did Ed find his hometown boring compared to Bangkok, as Greg did with his own? Did Ed get distracted by all the conversations around him that he can now understand? What type of questions did he get about Thailand? And how were Ed’s friendships affected by staying away for so long? A

With Ed still on vacation, Greg is joined by special co-host Scott Coates to discuss a question of the ages - when driving in Bangkok, what’s the best way to do it - car, or motorbike? Despite neither of the guys having their own transportation for their first 15 or so years in town, both now drive regularly - Greg in a car, and Scott on a motorbike. So which one is best? They discuss the ups and downs of each type of ride, special gear bike riders need, the limitations that car drivers face, and pet peeves they have about trying to find a parking spot in places where you’d think it would be easy. Plus, a bike-related Love, Loathe or Live With - as a bike rider himself, what does Scott think about motorbikes using the sidewalks to bypass traffic - including (probably) Greg sitting in his car at a red light? Listen to find out. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we’ll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so yo

It’s been a while, but one of our favorite semi-regular guests is back! Bangkok Podcast’s official Buddhist correspondent, Phra Pandit, welcomed Greg at his temple to talk about amulets, talismans, and Buddhist relics - and what ties them all together. The burning question Greg had was - if seemingly every third temple claims to have a piece of Buddha’s body - what exactly happened to the poor guy when he died? Phra Pandit explains the history behind the idea of Buddhist relics and what Buddha said about them, as well as their link to Sri Lanka and how a wooden mannequin brought to life kicked the whole thing off. Greg and Phra Pandit also dive into the topic of amulets and talismans, including the famous Jatukham craze of 2006, and discuss what - if anything - makes one amulet worth more than another one. Does it make them more effective? Do people act differently if they think they’re more effective? They finish with a fascinating discussion about how stories and tokens can be a powerful tool in helping us

Bangkok’s live performance scene is evolving in some interesting ways, and nowhere is that more clear than at Bombyx, the city’s most popular live storytelling event. We chat with organizer John Englander about the history of the event and what makes it special, including how speakers are chosen (and rejected), and what ingredients it takes from Bangkok’s eclecting local and expat communities. John also tells us about his own first experience as a Bombyx speaker, and how terror quickly turned into pure adrenaline when he learned how to properly shape a story for his audience, how to prepare to entertain a bunch of strangers, and how he finally cracked the sad:funny ratio when telling a touching story. Ed - as a Bombyx presenter multiple times himself - also tells the stories behind his own stories, and Greg reveals that he will give his first Bombyx presentation at the event that happens on 24 May - two days after this episode drops! We hope to see you there. And yes, we do ask John why it’s called Bombyx and

Are you a gadget geek? Greg and Ed sure are, and they discuss some of the key places in Bangkok for people to get their gadget geek jollies. But it ain’t all e-wine and circuit board roses in Bangkok; Ed notes that the best places in the world to buy technology are still in the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong. That being said, Thai prices might be better than certain places such as Australia and Europe. The boys next discuss the main places to go if you’re on the hunt for gear - Pantip Plaza, MBK, and Fortune Town, as well as the legendary (though slightly less well known among foreigners) Baan Mo market. Each has its own pluses and minuses, and all have changed a lot in the past 5 or 6 years, which Greg and Ed discuss. But will the old-school brick and mortar shops be around much longer? The boys consider online options and both admit they are becoming much more viable. Recommendations include Lazada, InvadeIT, Shop4Thai, Shopee, and Ali Express. All are worth checking out but be wary of cheap project

Most of us have used one type of expat group or another, so you know that they’re often a chaotic mix of helpful advice, strange questions, and angry debates. Helpful? Sometimes. Boring? Never. On this episode, Greg interviews Blake Sibbitt, the creator of a relatively new Facebook group called Bangkok Informed, who talks about what goes on behind the scenes. Blake explains the basic goal behind his forum: to split the difference between highly curated forums where participants must follow a strict set of rules and wild west style forums that quickly devolve into vulgar nastiness. According to Blake, most people want something in the middle, and that’s the service he is trying to provide. Greg and Blake discuss some of the common problems - trolls, how to define ‘offensive’, and members who are determined to be offended no matter what they read. Blakes overall advice is simple - members should focus on just posting content they would like to see, causing the forum to naturally head in the direction they would

Bangkok is a great city to be an expat in, but it’s not without its challenges. On this show, Greg and Ed compare Bangkok to other expat destinations around the world based on a number of issues from an article Greg read about expat life. From missing your support network, to worry about finances, to worries over romance and dating, the issues are very real, but also very different, depending on which city you’re in. For instance, both feel that Bangkok is a very easy city to find a new support network, but disagree on how many opportunities Bangkok offers for financial or business success - listen to hear each opposing side. The boys continue to debate and discuss how Bangkok shapes one’s approach to other common problems from the article - business networking! New friends! Language barriers! Long-term planning! All the greatest hits are here. Ultimately, the expat life is not for everyone, but discussing the pros and cons of each issue, and understanding how your chosen city - in this case, Bangkok, duh - c

Greg interviews Dwight Turner, the founder of Courageous Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that centers on food and nutrition education for at-risk youth and families in Bangkok. Dwight recounts the start of the organization and how it sprang from a simple desire to find something more meaningful in his life after the traveling and partying were done. Over time, the organization evolved into a program that teaches young people how and what to cook. Seems easy, but for those at risk - such as Bangkok’s refugeee communities - mastering kitchen skills open up all kinds of doors in empowerment and confidence building. To make practical use of potentially dangerous things such as knives and gas stoves and to plan and prepare a meal with a team of peers instills a sense of responsibility and leadership in the children who have gone through the program. When all is said and done, cooking is harder and scarier for kids than you might realize at first. Along the way, Courageous Kitchen passes on nutrition information

On this episode, Greg and Ed discuss the concept of a “Go Bag” - that is, a bag that always stays packed in case you need to get outta Dodge. Both hosts know people who have them, but it’s a concept that’s different for everyone. It might seem alarmist, but here in Bangkok, things can sometimes go bad in a hurry. But how do you define a Go Bag? As Greg explains, it could be something as simple as making sure you have the supplies to work from home for a few days in case of something bad happening, like the fire at Central World mall last week. Or as Ed discusses, you could be one of those folks who has made a full-on evacuation plan, with alternate routes to the airport, and a plan to pick up family members on the way. And of course, not everyone will react to the same emergency in the same manner - many long-term expats are used to the occasional social hiccup that requires some flexible planning, but others might have a lower tolerance for interruptions, and will feel the need to leave Thailand in the rearv

Greg interviews Aim Chareonphan, the CEO of Hubba Thailand, a coworking pioneer in Thailand. From humble beginnings borne out of a frustration with coworking spaces that weren’t...quite...there yet, Aim and his partner conceived of a place that was more than just a workspace; somewhere that provided a community that supports entrepreneurs and startups, a resource itself rather than just a place to get work done. Aim details the many obstacles his company has faced, not the least of which was educating the Thai market about the nature of startups and the role that a supportive workspace could play in their success. Another main factor is the rapid change happening in the workforce in Thailand and around the world. In short, the traditional ‘office’ is slowly but surely becoming less popular. According to Khun Aim, right now only 1% of office space in Asia is coworking, but by 2030 that number is expected to be 10-15%! Aim gets into some stats and figures that portend a drastic change in how people - and compan

First of all - we’re on YouTube! Well, just the audio of each show, but still...makes it easier to listen. Head on over to our channel and subscribe! On to the show… In a continuation of the series on Thai history, Greg and Ed discuss the fascinating career and tragic death of Mitr Chaibancha, perhaps Thailand’s greatest movie star. From his early days growing poverty to a promising career as a lightweight Muay Thai fighter, to an Air Force flight at Don Meuang Royal Thai Air Force base, Khun Mitr’s life was interesting from the start. After a chance meeting, Khun Mitr met a film producer and was cast in his first small movie role. From there, his career took off, and he would eventually star in an insane 266 films over a 14 year career (averaging one every three weeks!). Specializing in both romance and action, most of his films were made on a small budget but were a hit across the country as his legend grew. Unfortunately, Khun Mitr’s last film, The Golden Eagle (don’t miss the awesome plot summary by Greg

Greg and Ed reminisce about Ed’s first year as co-host of the Bangkok Podcast. Ed begins with a big ‘thank you’ to Greg for giving him the opportunity, and Greg gives a brief history of the BP over the years, from Season 1 with Tony Joh, which lasted for about a year and a half, to Season 2 with Evo Terra, which lasted about the same amount of time, and then to the last year with Ed. Ed talks about what he has liked and disliked about being the co-host, such as the weekly deadlines that are a bit stressful, and what it does to your brain to dive deep into Bangkok on a weekly basis. The best part for Ed? He particularly enjoys the less serious nature of the podcast, a break from the heaviness of being a professor all day- it’s just been a surprisingly fun side gig! Greg also discusses the effect of having to work with different co-hosts, and admits that each one has added a unique flavor to the show (with Ed bringing in new philosophical takes on on Thailand), but that in general, his vision has been the same

Bangkok is a giant, chaotic, constantly evolving megalopolis. But guess what? If you live here long enough, you’ll get bored. Happens to everybody. You’ll lose your groove and get stuck in a rut. So what to do? Greg and Ed give their best advice as long term expats, focusing mainly on relocating to a lesser known, more Thai parts of the city. With a quick introduction interview by Greg’s buddy Dom, who recently had his attitude changed by moving across town, the boys recount moving to new neighborhoods themselves - Ed to Rachada and later Thonburi, and Greg to Chinatown - and reinvigorating their Bangkok experience.   Greg then goes into detail about three unheralded parts of the city - the area along Chan Road, Bang Ko Laem on the far end of Rama III Road, and the Dusit/Nakhon Chai Si area on the Northern end of Samsen Road (see a map here). Each of these has easy access into Bangkok, but retain a unique Thainess that would present a great adventure for any farang. Ed puts in a vote for Bang Kachao, the gre

Greg interviews writer, commentator, and Muay Thai fighter Matt Lucas about the life of a foreigner in Bangkok practicing the Thai national sport. Matt begins with his background story - living in San Francisco and choosing between working in a bar and being becoming a drunk or practicing Muay Thai and only drinking on weekends. :) Muay Thai won out, and he Matt became serious about the sport, travelled to Thailand, and eventually relocated here. Matt is not only a fighter, he’s also a chronicler of the sport, a proper ‘Muay Thai journalist.’ Matt talks about how Muay Thai has changed over time, moving out of the pure gambling context into the world of being a popular sport, and a form of entertainment. Greg and Matt talk about the difficulties he’s faced as a foreigner practicing the national sport of another culture, the natural barriers expats encounter, such as use of Thai language, and the way the Muay Thai is ingrained in the culture of the rural countryside, which also makes it hard for foreigners to p

The guys discuss something of great interest to many of our listeners - where to take the best photos in Bangkok. Ed begins by discussing main tourist attractions such as temples; they have been photographed millions of times, but if you aren’t looking for something unique, Bangkok’s disparate temples are a great place to practice. For something a little out of the way, Ed also recommends a trip to Ayutthaya for a ‘mini-Angkor’ experience, which, while also over-photographed, is something special for the noobie. Greg chimes in with a vote for Talad Noi, his old stomping ground, which is filled with odd architecture, abandoned vehicles, industrial equipment, and a vibe right out of Blade Runner (especially when it rains). Ed next points out that Bangkok’s skies can provide dramatic photographs, both at sunup and sundown, and during storms, (partially due to the air pollution), but who are we to question where beauty comes from? Greg puts a vote in for Phahurat (aka Little India), and most especially the gnarle

Has it already been a whole year? Greg interviews former co-host Evo Terra, who has been back in the United States for one year since leaving Thailand. What does he miss? What doesn’t he miss? And more importantly - can Evo get his precious fish sauce in Phoenix? But before that, we gotta mention our giveaway of sweet, sweet jerky by Siam BBQ Company - listen to learn how you can win a box of free meat! (That sounds dodgy, but trust us, it’s delicious). Evo begins - naturally - with Thai food, saying that it’s everywhere but none tastes exactly like the food in Thailand. Nevertheless, he praises the cuisine of ‘Glai Ban,’ a local restaurant that is about as close as he can get to the real thing. Further, Evo has to run outside of Phoenix to a genuine Asian market for his Ma Ma noodle and (ack, ugh) fish sauce fix. Other comparisons are made too - healthcare, weather, and funerals. That’s right - Evo sighs when he remembers that his day was never ruined by funeral processions in Bangkok,  leading to a discussi

“The Land of Smiles” has been one of the most successful marketing campaigns in history. So much so, that many people come to Thailand thinking that every single person in the country is a smiling angel, and are shocked when someone is mean or tries to scam them. This is Greg’s theory anyway, and it’s one of many that he and Ed discuss as they ponder if Thailand really is deserving of its title as one of the friendliest countries in the world. Spoiler - both Greg and Ed think it probably is, but there are a few caveats. How does social structure dictate outward friendliness? Is there a difference between being friendly and being nice? And how much of this reputation comes from dumbass foreigners like us misinterpreting subtle social cues that are embedded deep in Thai culture? Much like one’s opinion of Thailand will be colored by their individual experience, so are Thais colored by their individual personalities, and a sweeping generalization - even a positive one - doesn’t do any country justice. As Greg su

Searching for some insight into how technology is shaping the next generation of Thais, Greg interviews Sueching Chin, a TV host, writer, editor, emcee, and media personality who focuses on technology in Thailand. Greg and Sueching begin with the unique way that Thais use social media such as LINE or Instagram to set up, manage, and advertise a small business, which is something not often seen outside of Thailand. This leads into a discussion about the limitations on social media in a country ruled by the military, and some clever ways Thais have found to work with them while still retaining a sense of independence. Sueching then shares a few Thai analogies for living in an online ‘bubble,’ and expresses her concerns about how young Thais will handle the world when they don’t regularly encounter enough new or challenging ideas. Along the way they discuss YouTube as an education medium (possibly one that’s replacing the traditional role of fathers), the Thai education system’s lack of preparedness for a digita

In a return to ‘Neighborhood Focus,’ Greg and Ed dive into the jam-packed area surrounding Sukhumvit Soi 55, aka Thong Lor, describing a recent night out they planned in order to give them a refresher on the quickly-evolving area. At the beginning of the soi near Thonglor BTS, Ed sings the praises of Hummus Boutique while Greg emphasizes the excellent street food and, on the other end of the cost spectrum, the rooftop bar Octave at the Marriott on Soi 57. Wotta view! Before entering the soi proper, the guys prepare themselves for ‘Little Japan’ (as Greg calls it) due to the shocking number of Japanese restaurants in the area, that their friend Paul (longtime resident of Thong Lor) said numbers over one hundred! The boys next discuss the plethora of expensive condos throughout the Thong Lor area and where to find some deals, as well as the multitude of mini-malls, like Eight Thonglor or hipster hangouts Seenspace and the Commons. Speaking of hipsters, Greg points out a bunch of premium cocktail bars including