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

Bangkok’s a big city that’s got her own rules. You can try to fight them, but in the end, in certain situations, no matter how much you beg and plead, Bangkok wins, and you lose. Greg and Ed discuss ten ways Bangkok can own you: frustrating ‘gotchas’ that are devilishly difficult to avoid. Even veterans of the city with tons of experience still sometimes forget the nuance or fail to think about the what-ifs and end up standing there like a fool, muttering under their breath. This still definitely happens with Greg and Ed, so if you don’t want to get burned on your next visit to Thailand, keep these in mind - learned from cold, hard experience. From sidewalk squirts and freezing aircon to improper documentation and lack of change in a taxi, Greg and Ed recount multiple ways you can get ‘got’ in the Land of Smiles. Sometimes you beat Bangkok, but sometimes the city owns YOU.  Don’t forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we’ll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and

Ed interviews Emily from Calgary, Canada, a unique ‘expat’ in Thailand if there ever was one. Emily was born 19 years ago in Nong Khai, Thailand, to a Canadian father and Thai mother, and spent the first years of her life as a look-kreung kid in Issaan. But her parents relocated to Calgary where she quickly assimilated and became a full-on Canadian. She went to grade school and high school there, only to have her parents retire back to Nong Khai earlier this year, with Emily in tow. Ed asks Emily about her Thai language abilities, and Emily explains that it’s technically her first language and that her mother has spoken to her in Thai her whole life. However, after about 4 years in Canada, Emily somehow lost her ability to speak Thai, and today feels little better than a beginner. The two discuss how weird it is for Emily to see her Thai family but to be unable to speak to them, forcing her to communicate largely in sign language. But never fear - she’s hopeful that she’ll get it back soon. Emily also talks a

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 about key milestones in Thai history, some quite significant, with others just quirky or interesting. Starting with shopping malls and bridges and moving on to airports and politics, Greg and Ed go back and forth asking each other about some of the more notable events in the history of the city. Who had the first embassy? Where was the first movie theater or McDonalds? Do you know what year Thailand first won Miss Universe or its first Olympic medal? We challenge you to see if you can come up with the right answers before we do. That is…when we do manage to come up with the right answers…which isn’t all the time. If you want to see if you’re right, you’re gonna have to listen to the show! :) Don’t forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we’l

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, Turkey and finally Bangkok, where he is the chief diplomat for several Southeast Asian nations. Jean-Paul talks about the difficulty of juggling differences of developed countries such as Singapore and Thailand with struggling countries such as Laos and Myanmar but admits that being based in Bangkok, with its friendly people and comfortable climate is a sweet gig.  Next, the two talk about the history of relations between Thailand and Luxembourg. Because of Luxembourg’s diminutive size, there have been no problems in the past between the two countries, but in modern times, the country’s position in the center of Europe and as part of the European Union make it an ideal trading partner for Thailand. The Ambassador notes that Luxembourg actually runs the largest cargo shipping company in the w

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 Expert, Kitty Chopaka, who is both a ‘ganjapreneur’ and social activist. Kitty explains that the current situation is somewhat of a ‘technical foul,’ as the cannabis plant itself was delisted as a narcotic with the intent for it to be regulated by a new law, but that new law is still being debated in parliament. Hence, for the time being, all parts of the cannabis plant itself, including high THC flowers, is untouched by the law, sparking cannabis shops to pop up around town and online.  Kitty talks about where she thinks (and hopes) the law will end up and warns about the dangers of misuse during this interim period that could cause the conservative authorities to panic and re-tighten things up. In the meantime, if you have the desire, you can check out Kitty’s shop Chopaka near the corner of

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 than the next. First, Greg asks Chris about how translations of his books are undertaken, and Chris tells a fascinating story of how the length of the translations of his novels in China are arbitrarily set by the Communist Central Committee. You’d think they’d have better things to do. :) Next, Chris relates his origin story and how he saved his first apartment from becoming a toothbrush factory. (No, this is not made up.) Through various serendipitous occurrences, Chris managed to stay in the apartment for more than twenty years with a very low rent, allowing him to build his career as a novelist. This segues into a discussion of the evolution of fitness and gym culture over the last thirty years, with both guys giving theories to explain Thais’ adoption of the western phenomenon. The conv

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 his recent short film project, a Bangkok noir featuring his most famous character, Vincent Calvino and what it takes to bring a fictional character to life in Bangkok, a city that’s a character all of its own. Greg and Chris discuss his writing career and 17 (!) Vincent Calvino novels, the last of which came out in 2020 and addresses how climate change might affect Bangkok in the near future. This leads to a discussion of another of Chris’s passion projects, the CCCL Film Festival dedicated to young Thai filmmakers who want to tell stories about how climate change impacts their communities.  The boys then get nostalgic and trade stories of how much Bangkok has changed over the years, especially when compared to the 90s when no one had cell phones and the MRT was but a dream? Greg tries to

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 in the country comes from Thais being so nice, and that everything bad in the country ALSO comes from Thais being so nice. The guys discuss how true this is, before Greg drops his own grand theory that nothing gets improved in Thailand until it becomes embarrassing for Thailand internationally. The boys realize that if a charity or NGO was REALLY smart, they would spend their money on some ultra-famous influencer like Kim Kardashian to harp about some social ill in Thailand. The government would get right on it! Ed follows with his idea that you can say anything you want to a Thai person, as long as you are smiling while you are doing it. Greg then brings up some VERY practical advice for safety on the streets of Bangkok, and Ed finishes with the irony of how rules work in Thailand, usuall

Ed interviews Paul Spurrier, 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 him that he decided to become an actor (at age 8!). After a prolific career as a child on stage and screen, including films with stars such as Richard Harris, Richard Burton and Roger Moore, he decided he didn’t want to re-invent himself as an adult actor and instead went to film school. His film education luckily included virtually all aspects of filmmaking from writing to lighting to directing to editing. This eventually led Paul to start his own production company in London where he worked on a variety of commercial products. Eventually on a whim he took a short-term job in Thailand, but fell so in love with the place that he closed up his company and made the full move to the Land of Smiles to continue his career as a filmmaker here. Ed and Paul discuss what it's like to b

Ed leads a discussion and semi-rant about a persistent myth regarding the history of prostitution in Thailand that was recently perpetuated by a YouTube video by Thaiger. The myth goes like this: prostitution wasn’t much of a thing in Thailand until the Vietnam War era, when the demand created by American GIs on rest and relaxation resulted in a booming sex industry.  Ugh. Where to start? Well, first of all, prostitution is called the oldest profession in the world for a reason, and there’s clear evidence of the industry existing in Thailand many hundreds of years before the Vietnam War. Second, many studies have revealed the well-known fact that the bulk of prostitution in Thailand has Thai men as the clientele, not foreigners. And last but not least, what about the Thai women (and men) who populate the sex industry, the bar owners, and the landowners? Are they not Thai?  The guys discuss the Thaiger video and praise it for what it gets right, namely the Thai government’s promotion of condom use in the 1980

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 just a tourist. I mean, try to come to Thailand as a tourist and not eat bugs, that’s easy-peasy! We’re talking about real skills or achievements that show you’ve not only been here for a while, but have actually gone out of your comfort zone to learn and get your hands dirty. So to speak. The guys go back and forth, discussing ten new ways to ‘level up’ your expat street cred. Examples include dressing down for formal events, Thai style, understanding the Thai system of measurements, as in ‘rai’ and ‘wa,’ knowing Thai years, especially for your date of birth, being able to recognize or speak a little bit of a Thai dialect, and knowing the formally proper way to give alms to a monk. Greg and Ed talk about their own ability at each one, and then go through even more experiences that prove yo

Greg and Ed interview expat legend Chris Baker, co-author (along with his wife Pasuk Phongpaichit) of A History of Thailand, in addition to several other well-known books on Thailand. Greg and Ed gush over the fact they have both read Chris’s most famous work, something that every serious expat needs to do at some point.  Chris begins by relating the lovely story of meeting his wife in England and subsequently relocating to Thailand where he worked a variety of jobs before settling down and co-writing a book with her on the economy and politics of Thailand in the 1990s. He explains his fascinating relationship with his wife, which involves extensive arguing over the subject matter of their books, while somehow preserving their personal relationship. The guys joke that this is perhaps Chris’s greatest accomplishment.  Chris continues with the story of his most famous book, A History of Thailand, how it came about and he and his wife’s shock and amazement at its best-seller status. Chris explains that a new, u

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 family in Ohio, while Greg’s family are no longer there. Plus, Ed’s habits tend towards the international, such as Starbucks and Subway, so he can feel at home around the world.  For Greg though, Calgary is really another place entirely, especially in the winter, and he reacted similarly to Ed in Ohio: Why do human beings even live in this environment? Apparently, twenty years in the tropics changes a man. The boys then discuss some of the big differences noted on Greg's trip, from dull malls and rough-looking locals (something Ed noticed on his trip too) to the abundance of weed dispensaries and the sheer joy of bantering with waitstaff in your own language.   Listen in for some deep thoughts on being a stranger in a strange land that used to be home.  Don’t forget that Patrons get the ad-free

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 fall prey to this scam every year. But why?? To answer this we are joined by Ding Xu, a PhD candidate in tourism at Australia’s James Cook University. Ding’s research goes deep into understanding the culture, economy and psychology of the tourism industry as well as the tourists themselves. Putting hundreds of hours of study into the scams that are so prevalent around the world, Ding has a unique insight into not only how and why the scams are put together, but what causes a large number of tourists to part with money - sometimes a lot of money! - based on the advice of a random dude they met in a foreign country.  Ding explains the four features that his research identified in being central to any scam - deception types, interpersonal trust, victim culpability and prevalence - to dissect

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 many of the others are part of this strange world called ‘Thai culture’ that the guys apparently don’t actually know that well. Greg begins with a children’s game in which one child sings a song while counting by syllable on another child’s hand.  When the singer stops on a finger, that finger is taken out of the game.  The child with the last finger in is the winner.  Greg even plays a cute clip of a video of the game.   Next, Greg explains a Thai game very similar to the Western game of ‘jacks,’ which although relatively unplayed by children back home, still lives on in a Thai derivative.  The boys then go deep into the Thai version of chess, called makruk (หมากรุก), which utilizes the same board and pieces but with modifying moving rules for each piece. This game is a quite famous pasti

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 you have to say, who you are, and how you deliver, our venerable friend emphasizes that how you deliver a speech is what you have the most control over and is also completely separate from the content. Using Trump as an example, he explains that Trump’s public speaking technique was excellent, even though he was turned off by the message.  Next, Phra Pandit discusses the different types of speeches in Thai Buddhism, from the informal to the more formal. Interestingly, the more formal the speech, the more robotic the delivery is supposed to be, given that the content is supposed to be pure Buddhism as opposed to your own views or personality. But even in informal talks, humor and laughter is supposed to be avoided as can be seen in the recent hullabaloo over two Thai monks doing a stand up c

In the wake of the 2022 World Happiness Report - 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 ‘happiness’ of a country? Well, wannabe social scientist Ed claims it can be done, and Greg walks through the data from the report to discuss.  The boys go through factors such as GDP per capita, social support, and life expectancy, among others, that the researchers used to figure out how happy people were in various countries. So what of Thailand? Well, its ranking was 61 out of 146 countries which could be worse, but it turns out Thailand has slid 28 spots in the last few years! Ouch. The guys then discuss various possible reasons for the drop, with of course the military government being a prime candidate, given that Thailand’s long slide started in around 2015. Could Thailand possibly no longer be the Land of Smiles? Well, at the very least, the hosts of the Bang

Greg interviews Dax Ward, 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 first time in 2015. After a random trip to the airplane graveyard down Ramkhamhaeng Road, he developed an affinity for shooting forgotten and abandoned places.  As it turns out, Thailand (and Bangkok in particular) are perfect places for this style of photography due to the number of unfinished construction projects from the financial crisis of the late 1990s. Additionally, there seem to be a surprising number of new business ventures in the area that fail for whatever reason or another, so there seems to be an endless supply of possible sites for Dax’s style of photography.  The guys discuss how Dax discovers and gains access to his locations. It’s surprising what a couple hundred baht here and there will do to the attitude of many Thai security guards! Dax then details his resea

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 every day.  Although it is unfortunate, the reality of working and living in Thailand is that the laws and culture are not the same as back home in the U.S. and Canada. Obviously, this means no discussion of the monarchy, and Ed explains how he always advises visiting friends to simply avoid discussion of the monarchy and royal family in pretty much any context. This is good advice for all foreigners in Thailand actually. Second, the boys concur that although they do criticize the government broadly, they make sure not to name specific politicians or policymakers. Although technically no law forbids it, strong and pointed criticism of the Thai government has a way of ending up poorly for the critic, from sudden problems with your visa to (in extreme cases) outright disappearance. On a podcast

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 really thought about the world from the perspective of the Thai government or even a Thai person. The guys do their best as non-Thais but long term expats to imagine what the world looks like to most Thais. Ed discusses King Rama V’s clever diplomatic maneuverings between the French and the British in the 19th Century that kept Thailand from ever being colonized. Greg brings up the classic example of Prime Minister Phibul during WW2, who sided with Japan when it was winning the war, but also conducting negotiations with the West as the tide turned. As a developing country, it DOES seem that Thailand has spent a big part of its history stuck in between larger powers. The boys try to relate this to the current crisis in Ukraine, recognizing that as a country that depends on tourism, Thailand rig