The Bangkok Podcast
Since 2010, Greg Jorgensen and Ed Knuth have been exploring Bangkok, sharing their experiences of the city's culture, food, and people. Each week they discuss topics relevant to expats, visitors, and anyone curious about life in Thailand's capital. The podcast offers insights into the city's hidden corners and fascinating characters.
Episodes
Conflict & Legacy: Journalist Denis Gray Discusses His New Memoir [S8.E47]
In this episode, Greg interviews legendary foreign correspondent Denis Gray about his memoir, Lost Horizons. Denis details his fascinating life story, beginning with his family's escape from communist Czechoslovakia and his father's subsequent intelligence work for the CIA. After graduating from Yale, Gray served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, an intense experience that inspired his tra
Thai Style vs Western Style: The Diverse Art of Storytelling [S8.E46]
With Ed unavailable this week, Greg welcomes his friend John as co-host to talk about storytelling. Specifically, the difference between how westerners tell stories, and how Thais tell stories. This is especially apropos to John, as he is the creator of Bangkok Stories, an event that, unsurprisingly, showcases the talents of locals who tell tales for an audience. The discussion is at turns funny,
Foreign Fool: A Conversation with Author Alan Platt [S8.E45] (Classic ReCast)
When it comes to 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, "Oh my" with a frightened little squeak. On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we're happy to have one of these epic characters on the show with us - Mr Alan Platt, who, as it happens, has ju
When Owners Don't Own: Thailand's Thorny Nominee Issue [S8.E44]
The issue of Thai nominees has heated up in the past little while, with daily news stories about crackdowns, changing laws, and foreigners running scared (or just running). The discussion begins with Ed outlining the basic framework of the Thai Foreign Business Act, explaining how it restricts foreigners from owning more than forty-nine percent of companies in certain restricted sectors. He detai
An Expert Spills the Beans on Thailand's Coffee Industry [S8.E43]
Greg begins his interview with coffee fan, aficionado and expert Noon by exploring her background as the former president of the Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand and her current role managing Lamarzocco, the high-end coffee machine retailer. Noon explains her deep dive into coffee quality and traces the rapid evolution of the Thai coffee industry over the past fifteen years. She points ou
Lumpini Park Turns 100! Celebrating Bangkok's First (Best?) Park [S8.E42]
Greg and Ed discuss the 100th 'birthday' of Lumpini Park. The guys begin by highlighting the improvements in the park over the last several years. More and cleaner bathrooms, landscaping, and an adjacent 'hawker center' are some of the highlights. Greg then reviews the different facilities that populate the 142 acre park, such as a fitness center, swimming pool, and even a lesser known library, on
Why do Bangkok Condo Prices Seem to Defy Gravity? [S8.E41]
Greg begins by introducing the perplexing nature of the Bangkok condo market, noting how prices continually seem to defy gravity despite a massive oversupply. He points out that the market acts as a strange black hole of information where no one can predict trends with any certainty. Ed then jumps in, explaining that after researching the topic extensively, he has concluded the real estate environ
From the Road: Three PodFriends Reminisce About Bangkok [S8.E40]
In a special episode recorded during Greg's travels in Canada, he interviews three good friends of the podcast about their particular speciality, and what their thoughts are on Bangkok despite being so far away from the city they love. First we talk to Pailin Chongchitnant of Pailin's Kitchen about her efforts to stay on top of the latest trends in Thai cuisine, what the landscape looks like in C
Phra Pandit Discusses What Buddhism Says About Sex [S8.E39]
Greg meets with mega, super, return guest Phra Pandit to discuss Buddhist teachings regarding sex, a conversation prompted by recent scandals involving women extorting monks. Phra Pandit explains that while sexual scandals within the clergy are actually quite rare, they occasionally happen, sometimes because young men are dumped into the monastery by their families rather than choosing the life th
That Thing All Thais Do? Yeah, No They Don't
Greg and Ed explore common Thai stereotypes and symbols that are heavily associated with Thailand internationally, yet play a surprisingly small role in the daily lives of average Thai citizens. They note that due to Thailand's massive tourism success and unique geography, the country has successfully capitalized on and promoted these cultural icons, even if locals do not actively participate in t
Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)
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
New Frontiers: A (Literal) Conversation With Ed's AI Assistant About Podcasting [S8.E36]
In a special main show, Greg and Ed interview Hal, Ed's OpenClaw bot about his knowledge of the Bangkok Podcast. The guys begin the show discussing their mutual obsession with AI but also explain how it could be especially relevant to those living in Bangkok, as Thailand adopts AI in a big way. Ed then tells of his struggles and travails getting the bot to work and to help him create an archive of
Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)
In a ReCast episode from season 7, Greg interviews well known Bangkok-based photographer Tim Russell about his book 'Bangkok Station,' which focuses (literally) on the iconic and now mostly defunct Hualamphong Train Station. Greg has had a special connection to the place over the past few months because he just finished organizing an event there for 300 guests last Friday, which is why we've been
Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)
Greg interviews old friend of the podcast Rikker Dockum, Thai language expert extraordinaire about the Thai Royal Society, an organization dedicated to overseeing, promoting and regulating the Thai language. Rikker begins by explaining that he actually wrote his undergraduate thesis on the Society more than 20 years ago, so he's a longstanding follower of their work. He notes that it originally mo
Election Analysis: Young Thais, Old Parties...New Tricks? [S8E32]
Tech Fail Alert! The last 5 minutes of our discussion was cut off by dastardly internet Gremlins, but we said most of what we wanted to say anyway. In a follow-up to the recent Thai election, Greg and Ed do their best to make sense of the unexpected outcome. Greg defers to Ed's poli sci knowledge, and Ed struggles through it despite his expertise being American politics. Before the election, poll
Greg & Ed Discuss Ed's Big Thailand Quiz [S8.E31]
In a followup to a recent episode, Greg and Ed walk through the entire 'Facts About Thailand' quiz that Ed gave his Thai Society students. It's a broad test of Thailand - geography, history, politics, government, demographics, and more, that's slightly harder than the average quiz you'd find online. If you are an intrepid soul, you can take the quiz yourself before you listen in for the answers.
Dreamster's Mario Butler on Thai Music and New Creative Frontiers [S8.E30]
Greg interviews Mario Butler of Dreamster.io, a platform that allows musicians to connect directly with their audience, and fans to own the music they buy, not just rent. Greg begins by asking about Mario's background and the core mission of Dreamster.io, prompting Mario to explain how the music industry has shifted from tangible ownership to a "rental" model through streaming. Mario responds by i
Bangkok History Highlight: The Blue Diamond Affair [S8.E29] (Classic ReCast)
Another classic recast! One of the craziest stories from recent Thai history. Continuing our series on interesting episodes in Thai history, this episode focuses on the infamous Blue Diamond Affair, It all started when a Thai gardener named Kriangkrai Techamon, who was working in Saudi Arabia, decided to make off with $20 million worth of gems and jewelry belonging to a Saudi royal. Although the t
From NGOs to Employment Coaching: Helping Thais Find Their Purpose [S8.E28]
Ed interviews Thanita 'Ninar' Wongprasert, an old student of his and former guest on the show in 2018. On the earlier show she came on to talk about gay rights and same sex marriage in Thailand, and the two begin the interview with a high five to celebrate the eventual passage of gay marriage laws in Thailand. Ninar then discusses her work with various international NGOs and agencies of the UN. Sh
Ed Ponders a New Class: Teaching Contemporary Thailand to Thais [S8.E27]
Greg and Ed discuss Ed's new class at his Thai university: "Contemporary Thai Society in the Modern World." The guys have a laugh at the thought of a white guy from Ohio teaching young Thais about their own country, but Ed notes that he has been living in Thailand as an adult for 25 years, whereas his students are only 18-20 years old. One point for Ed! Further, there's considerable value to getti
Beer & Politics: Catching Up With MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn [S8.E26]
Greg and Ed interview Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a Thai Member of Parliament known for his advocacy in liberalizing Thailand's craft beer industry. The conversation takes place shortly after the dissolution of the Thai government, a transition that finds Taopiphop technically unemployed but focused on the future of his party. A central theme of the interview is Taopiphop's unconventional decision no
Frenemies: The Long History Between Thailand & Cambodia [S8.E25]
Greg and Ed discuss the long, strange and complex history between Thailand and Cambodia in an attempt to shed some light on the tragic current conflict. Greg begins with some early history. The majority of Southeast Asia was once part of the Khmer Empire based in Angkor. Eventually Thai kingdoms in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya achieved independence, but tension between the two powers was constant. In a
What Changes Would Greg Make if He Was in Charge of Bangkok? [S8.E24]
On this show, Greg and Ed discuss what Greg would do if he was the boss man in charge of Thailand, echoing a similar show with Ed's plans earlier in the year. (Check out Season 7, Episode 54 if you are curious.) Greg begins with an interesting but ambitious plan to establish bike lanes underneath the elevated portion of the BTS and MRT. Ed immediately welcomes the idea, but both recognize what a m
Don't forget the meetup!
Saturday, Dec 6, 2025 at The Warehouse on Charoen Krung Road. Chec our FB page for more details.
Making Bangkok Accessible for All: Khun Saba Keeps Fighting (Classic ReCast) [S8.E23]
On this episode - a classic ReCast from season 3! - Greg interviews Khun Saba, a disabled rights activist in Bangkok. It's a topic near and dear to the Bangkok Podcast, because we want everyone to enjoy Bangkok, which is very hard to do if you don't have full mobility. Khun Saba explains that he became aware of the difficulty of moving around Thai cities, especially Bangkok, after he became disabl
Former FBI Agent John Schachnovsky Talks Crime & Punishment in Thailand Part 2 [S8.E22]
First off - if you're in town, join our meetup: Saturday, December 6 at The Warehouse on Charoen Krung Road. Check our Facebook page first before you come just to make sure there have been no last minute changes. In Part 2 of Greg and Ed's interview with John Schachnovsky, the former head of the FBI in Thailand, the men continue discussing John's varied responsibilities in the Land of Smiles, this
Former FBI Agent John Schachnovsky Talks Crime & Punishment in Thailand [S8.E21]
In part 1 of a two-part episode, Greg and Ed interview John Schachnovsky about his upcoming book "Beyond the Badge," which recounts his experience as the head of the FBI in Thailand. John starts out explaining his early career with the FBI and his subsequent move to Bangkok. Greg and Ed ask about the exact role of the FBI oversees and John explains in detail. First, as a branch of the U.S. governm
Road Blocks: The Big Issues That Thailand Needs to Solve [S8.E20]
Greg and Ed discuss an article on Ajarn.com by Dr. Jesse Sessions called "What Does the Future Hold" which discusses some of the bigger problems currently facing Thailand and how they might impact the country's prosperity, competitiveness and social longevity. The guys walk through the issues one by one and give their take on its significance, The first issue is border security. Ed points out that
Heritage & Culture: How Siri Sala Private Thai Villa Preserves the Past for the Future [S8.E19]
There's a lot of great buildings and great history that has been bulldozed over in Bangkok, so it's nice when we see someone going the extra mile to actually preserve both an historic physical space as well as the stories and history behind it. On this show Greg interviews Art and Irma, owners of Siri Sala Private Thai Villa, located off of Charan Sanitwong Road, not far from where Ed lives. The c
Great Thailand Advice We Ignored…But Shouldn't Have [S8.E18] (ReCast)
As Thailand starts got back to bid-ness after COVID, there were a whole lot of n00bs coming in to tour, work and live. Most who have been here for a while already remember what an overwhelming experience Bangkok was in the early days, and how helpful it was to make a network of friends that you could turn to for advice. Of course, not all advice is great, especially when you're talking with random
Summing Up: Giving Bangkok's Ubiquitous Malls Some Slogans [S8.E17]
This week Greg and Ed have a bit of fun revisiting an old blog post from Greg about what would be the best slogans for various malls around Bangkok. As most listeners know, Bangkok may very well be the capital city of malls and mall culture, and each mall seems to have its own identity. The guys walk through Greg's somewhat salty slogans from ten years ago to see if they are still valid. Here ar
Avoiding the Newbie Drama: Are Long-Term Expats Just Lucky? [S8.E16]
We've all seen the incredible amount of drama that can go down if you don't run a tight ship in Thailand - everything from visa worries and bank problems to relationship blow-ups and trouble with the law. But it seems that a huge proportion of this drama is reserved for people relatively new to Thailand. Greg and Ed discuss why, as long-term expats, they seem to miss a lot of this drama. Is it som
Murder in Thailand: Kevin Maes Talks About His Book "Kingdom of Trials" [S8.E15]
In a special episode, Greg and Ed interview Kevin Maes in Kevin's own podcast studio on Rama IV. Kevin is a long-time expat in Thailand hailing from Belgium who became entangled in a very unfortunate crime drama and subsequently wrote a book about it called 'Kingdom of Trials,' which is now available on Amazon. Kevin begins with his Thai 'origin story,' how he ended up in the Land of Smiles, and m
Talking with Phra Pandit: Amulets, Talismans, Relics & Faith [S8.E14] (Classic ReCast)
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
Greg & Ed Opine on BBC's 'Documentary' and Media Misconceptions of Thailand [S8.E13)
Greg and Ed discuss the recent BBC 'documentary' called 'The Dark Side of Paradise' and what it says about media representation of Thailand. Ed explains that the recently aired 3-episode series has been getting a LOT of blowback on expat social media. The series depicts Zara, a young British woman, on her first trip to Thailand, ostensibly to report on the popularity of the Land of Smiles with Bri
Chatwan Mongkok Digs Into Bangkok with His 'Soiciety' Newsletter [S8.E12]
Greg and Ed interview Chatwan Mongkol about his relatively new website called 'Soiciety.' Chatwan begins by explaining that he was born and raised in Thailand but then went to the U.S. for a year of high school and stayed on for university. He majored in journalism and (shock!) subsequently worked for several news outlets in the Northeast. During his time there he saw a type of news that Thailand
Grave Topic: Discussing Bangkok's Protestant & Chinese Cemeteries [S8.E11]
Diving into the differences between East & West, Greg and Ed discuss two famous cemeteries in Bangkok. Ed takes the Teochiew Chinese Cemetery off of Sathorn Road, and Greg talks about the Protestant Cemetery in the Baan Mai neighborhood not too far from Asiatique on Charoen Krung Road. Ed begins by explaining that Thai Buddhists in general practice cremation, and since most Thais are Buddhists, 'c
Can Bangkok Be Enjoyed Without Booze? [S8.E10]
Greg and Ed discuss a much neglected topic in Bangkok expat life: how to survive as someone who doesn't drink alcohol. Everyone knows that Bangkok has an epic nightlife, but much of that experience revolves around alcohol consumption. The guys discuss the option of going to the usual places and merely opting out of drink, but they also admit that for some people that is socially awkward and can pu
Don't Do These Things: How to Earn an Expat Demerit Badge [S8.E9] (Classic ReCast)
In a follow-up to previous episodes on expat 'Merit Badges,' Greg and Ed discuss 'DEmerit Badges,' mistakes that long term expats make that they should NOT make. In other words, if you've lived in Thailand for a while, and you act like a n00b, you deserve a demerit. Greg begins with the classic fashion faux-pas of all foreigners in Thailand for more than a few months: wearing elephant pants. As th
Bangkok Smackdown: Lumphini Park vs Benjakitti Park [S8.E8]
Greg and Ed discuss the pros and cons of Lumphini and Benjakitti parks in central Bangkok, and best of all - you get to vote for your favorite by clicking here! The boys begin almost with a disclaimer: both parks are genuinely awesome, and there's no way to definitely declare one park obviously superior to another. Nevertheless, each has its strengths and weaknesses. Lumphini is the classic 'C
Tourism Challenge: Comparing Thailand to Europe as a Traveler [S8.E7]
While Greg is travelling in Canada, Ed interviews old friend of the podcast Jonathan about his recent trip to Europe. Jon and his Thai wife Poom spent a couple weeks on vacation, first in Paris and then in Poland. Jon begins talking about the multicultural nature of Paris, something he's familiar with as a native New Yorker. He and his wife revelled in Paris's famous street culture: streets are
The Gun Show: How a Few Thai Cannons Helped Shape History [S8.E6] (Classic ReCast)
We return to our Thai history series with a fascinating look at the role that several Thai cannons played in some important historical events. First, with the help of a cool blog on Thai history from our friend Ken Lohatepanont, Greg tells the story of some silver cannons gifted by King Narai of Siam to Louis XIV of France. It turns out that during the world-changing storming of the Bastille in 1
Second Opinions and Jedi Lies: Stories from Bangkok's Hospitals [S8.E5] (Classic ReCast)
Sooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailand's strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless. But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pretty good medical care, and it is standar
When Jaded Expats Wrongly Predict Thai Failures [S8.E4]
Greg and Ed discuss something that is more common than many people think: being wrong about expecting some Thai government project or initiative to fail. It's pretty easy, as expats often fall into the rut of cynicism about the Thai government sticking to a plan and actually getting stuff done, but the truth is, Thailand sometimes gets stuff right! Greg begins by bringing up Benjakitti Forest Par
CRINGE: Tales of Trying to Fit in to Thai Culture & Failing Badly [S8.E3]
Greg and Ed discuss a few of the many 'cringe' moments they have experienced over the years in failing to fit into Thai culture or 'do the right thing' according to Thai society. Ed begins with the 'classics,' mistakes that probably most expats make, such as wai-ing a person younger than you are, accidentally pointing the bottom of your feet towards a statue of the Buddha, and improperly touchin
Justin Dunne on Bangkok's Red-Hot Culinary Scene [S8.E2]
Greg interviews repeat guest Justin Dunne, who previously appeared on Season 6, Episode 24, discussing his cool side project 'Bangkok Haunts.' Justin's main gig is to be a legend of the Food & Beverage scene in Bangkok, having been the GM of the epic Bed Supperclub back in the day, and many more bars and restaurants between then and now. Oh yeah, he's also the head of F&B consultancy Evolution48.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: What's Next for S8 [S8.E1]
Greg and Ed introduce Season 8 of the podcast first by looking back and all that has been achieved. Greg runs through some crazy stats, just a few of which are that there have been a total of 885 shows and more than 1.6 million (!) total streams or downloads. Insane! Next, the guys check in with Season 1 co-host Tony Joh and frequent podcast guest Phra Phandit. Tony relates his journey first to J
Dating in Bangkok: Expat Women Share Their Stories - Part 1 [S7.E76] (Classic ReCast)
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 ho
Western Weddings vs Thai Weddings: Which is More Fun? [S7.E75]
Greg and Ed discuss a fascinating question: Are Thai weddings or American weddings more fun? The question was raised after Greg attended the wedding of friend of the podcast Daniel Fraser. As everyone knows, Dan is a legit expert on travel in Thailand, in addition to being a bit of a celebrity in the country due to his appearances in various TV shows and movies. Greg noted that the experience remi
Thai Tourism: Is the Downward Trend Here to Stay? [S7.E74]
Greg and Ed discuss the recent troubling decrease in overall Thai tourism numbers. In general, since COVID, the Thai tourism industry has bounced back quite well, and projections were that 2025 numbers would exceed the pre-COVID peak of 39 million visitors. However, starting at the end of last year, numbers didn't meet expectations, and since then the dip has become more severe. So what happened?
Stolen English: A Few Words That Thai Has Fully Thai-ified [S7.E73]
Greg and Ed tackle a frustrating aspect of learning Thai - borrowed English words that are pronounced according to the rules normally applied to native Thai words. Ed makes clear they are not just talking about accent or 'prosody' - the cadence of pronunciation - but actually specific changes to pronunciation that are part of the rules of the Thai language. Examples are the best teacher so the guy
Making Thai Subtitles: Culture, Slang & Curse Words [S7.E72] (Classic ReCast)
In this month's Classic Recast, Greg interviews Palm, a professional translator of English to Thai, but in a very specific context: subtitles for film and television. Palm begins by explaining that she literally learned English by being a couch potato and watching a lot of Western TV shows and movies, surviving by figuring out the subtitles word by word. This led naturally to an interest in doing
Are Int'l School Fees a Scam? Stu Jay Raj Crunches the Numbers [S7.E71]
After his latest video dropped and generated a lot of buzz, Greg and Ed interview Stu Jay Raj, the podcast's Thai language expert, but this time Stu explains his new video and website discussing the cost of international school in Thailand. As most people are aware, the Thai public school system is not particularly strong, especially for students looking for a solid education in English. Hence, th
A Few Western Staples Thai Cuisine Refuses to Embrace [S7.E70]
Thai cuisine is remarkably good at adopting flavors and ingredients into its fold, but there are some that just have not made the cut. In a city where you can find almost any type of food from around the world, certain Western foods seem to get embraced by Thais, while others don't. For example, while not SUPER popular, both pizza and hamburgers are eaten regularly by the locals. But what things h
Phra Pandit Joins to Discuss the Mixing of Monks and Politics [S7.E69]
Greg interviews Phra Pandit about Buddhist monks and politics. Greg begins by framing the issue around the recent tumultuous nature of politics around the world. Could Buddhist calmness provide an answer? Well, Phra Pandit begins by making clear that under the rules of the Sangha as interpreted in Thailand, monks are definitely not permitted to become politicians or really work for the governmen
Gotcha! Ten Situations When the Score is Bangkok 1, You 0 [S7.E68] (Classic Recast)
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 th
Action Figure Overload: How Accurate Are the Thai Versions of the Viral AI Trend? [S7.E67]
Greg and Ed jump on the bandwagon and discuss the recent trend of images of 'action figures' generated by AI. ChatGPT especially seems quite good at creating semblances of plastic blister packs filled with dolls and accessories that might go along with them. Hence, the guys take a look at 9 different images based on Thai stereotypes before offering images of their own action figures, which AI help
Interesting Friends And Strange Characters: Expat Connections [S7.E66]
Greg and Ed discuss some interesting expats they have met over the years - both good and bad - and what lessons they have managed to glean from them. Thailand is a bit of a strange stew of expats; with many different types of people coming together in a foreign land, you are apt to meet and/or befriend people in Thailand that you never would back home. The results can be positive or negative, but
Myanmar Quakes & Bangkok Shakes: Thoughts on the March 28 Earthquake [S7.E65]
Greg and Ed address the unavoidable topic du jour: the earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 that was felt all the way to Bangkok. Greg begins by pointing out that even though much ink and many words have already been spilled on the topic, listeners may be concerned about traveling to Bangkok now or the safety of Bangkok's buildings in general. They guys decide to do their civic duty and chim
Sopping, Soggy, Sodden, Soaking Songkran: The Thai New Year is Here! [S7.E64]
With the big holiday nearly here, Greg and Ed reminisce about their various Songkran experiences over the years. Ed notes that last year was a breakthrough year: he actually went out and 'threw water' for the first time in many years and had a blast. Greg points out that it's pretty common for expats to love Songkran at first, but then quickly switch to avoiding the raucous celebrations for many y
Second Opinions & Jedi Lies: Stories From Bangkok's Hospitals [S7.E63] (Classic Recast)
A fabulous re-cast episode from season 3! Sooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailand's strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless. But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pre
The Russians are Coming! What the Influx Means for Phuket [S7.E62]
Greg and Ed discuss the massive influx of Russians (and some Ukrainians) into Thailand, particularly the island of Phuket. Numerous stories have been written in the last year about the unusually high number of long-stay tourists and expats who appear to be escaping the conflict in Europe, some even calling the trend an 'invasion'. No doubt the sunny climes, pleasant smiles, and great food of Tha
Bangkok Pains: Distilling Bangkok Into a Board Game [S7.E61]
Greg interviews Tim Swainson and his team at creative agency Invisible Ink about their Thai-centric board game, 'Bangkok Pains.' The show begins with introductions from the creative team at Invisible Ink, and Tim then gets into explaining the game. The first rule of Bangkok Pains is that all players start in debt, mirroring the plight of many Bangkokians, both natives and foreigners. There are the
How Thick is Your Bubble? Piercing the Thai/Expat Barrier [S7.E60]
Following a great suggestion from listener Kelly, Greg and Ed discuss the 'expat bubble,' the tendency for expats (and tourists) to primarily spend time with foreigners, rather than experience the same Bangkok that the majority of Thais are experiencing. Kelly noted that on her recent solo travels in Bangkok, she often found truly Thai markets that were very cheap with delicious food but also that
George Dupont: The Only Thai to Fight in the US Civil War [S7.E59] (Classic Recast)
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 United States. We know that in 1862 he volunteered for a New Jersey regiment to fight for the North in the American Civil War. Shockingly, he fought in and survived the battles o
Ajarn Ed: Explaining America to Thai University Students [S7.E58]
Greg questions Ed about his main job - teaching 'American Studies' to Thai college students. Effectively, Ed's job and his side gig (the podcast) are opposites of each other, given that he is attempting to explain Thai society and culture to foreigners on the podcast. Ed begins with America 101 - basic lessons about the U.S. that every Thai person should know, especially before traveling there. F
Hmmm…A Few Things About Bangkok That Are Over & Underrated [S7.E57]
Greg and Ed discuss various aspects of Bangkok that they believe are either overrated or underrated. The guys start with things that they believe get too many props. Greg mentions the Grand Palace and the Damnoen Saduak floating market that tend to be too touristy and overcrowded, but that there are unsung superior alternatives where tourists could better spend their time. Ed counters with Thai cu
Redefining What A Modern Family Means in Thailand [S7.E56]
Continuing the exploration of some of the unexpectedly progressive moves that Thailand makes from time to time, Greg interviews his friend Jacob, an American, and his husband Geng, a Thai, about their marriage in Thailand as two men and their efforts to build a family through surrogacy. The couple begins by relating how they met and began dating, and Jacob adds that even at that stage he was looki
Bangkok's Craft Brew Godfather: A Chat with Khun Chit [S7.E55] (Classic Recast)
Greg interviews the fascinating Wichit Saiklao, godfather of craft beer in Thailand and founder of Chit Beer, with podcast friend Scott Coates sitting in for fun. Khun Chit relates how he first learned about homebrewing while living in the States, and after returning to Thailand and buying a small house on the river island of Ko Kret, he decided to give it a try with a kit he bought on Amazon. Jus
What Changes Would Ed Make if He Was in Charge of Thailand? [S7.E54]
Greg and Ed engage in a bit of fantasy as Ed imagines what he would do if he were the Prime Minister (or maybe more accurately, dictator) of Thailand. Ed begins with the caveat that he can only see the world through his own eyes, so his dream policies probably will not align with the average Thai person or maybe even most foreigners. Ed presents a total of ten changes he would make to the country
What's It Like Being An Exchange Student in Thailand? [S7.E53]
Greg interviews our new friend Jannik Hiller about his experience as an exchange student in Thailand. Jannik explains that while a university student, he decided he wanted to do an exchange year in a country completely different from his native Germany, so he settled on Thailand, despite never having been here before. Greg wonders about the quality of education in Thailand versus Germany, and Ja
Keeping Resolutions in Bangkok: A Fool's Errand? [S7.E52]
Greg and Ed ring in 2025 with a difficult look back at their New Year's Resolutions from 2024. They recognize the obvious: if you don't keep your resolutions, you only have yourself to blame. But they try to answer the interesting question of whether Bangkok itself might make keeping certain resolutions more difficult. Ed begins with a confession that he mostly failed in his efforts to improve
Looking Back, Looking Forward: What's Next for BP in 2025 [S7.E51]
In a year-end wrap up, Greg and Ed discuss their favorite shows of the year and some plans for the podcast in 2025. Ed begins by waxing rhapsodic over his early year interview with David Cluck, Hollywood assistant director who has been based in Bangkok for the last 10 years or so (S7, Ep. 6-7). The flow of the interview was aided by the fact that David and Ed are friends, but Ed points out that it
Setting Down Roots in Bangkok: Should You Rent or Buy? [S7.E50]
Greg and Ed tackle the age-old question for expats living in Thailand: Should I buy or rent a condo or house? The boys begin by making clear there is not one simple answer to this question, and it depends a LOT on a person's particular circumstances, such as budget, length of stay, and investment expectations. Nevertheless, there are general questions that everyone should consider when making this
Filmmaker James Newman on his Documentary Bangkok: City of Angels [S7.E49]
Greg interviews writer and filmmaker James Newman, a long-time expat in Thailand who recently made a documentary film about our beloved city of Bangkok. James starts out explaining his background in London as an insurance executive, his subsequent departure to Thailand, and his career as a writer during the e-book boom of the naughts. Around 2017 he transitioned to filmmaking and made a successful
Behind the Scenes: Making an Episode of the Bangkok Podcast [S7, E48]
In a first, the Bangkok Podcast turns its focus on itself as Greg and Ed explain the process by which they create two shows almost every week of the year. The boys begin discussing their approach to brainstorming topics for new shows. Given that the podcast has been around for more than 10 years and there are more than 700 back episodes in total, coming up with fresh ideas is not easy. So the guys
From the Vault: Five Observations on What Makes Thai Culture Thai [S7.E47]
In a first for the podcast, the boys decide to review a part of the Bangkok Podcast website - the relatively new for Season 4 'Resources' section. A few weeks back we posted a page called 'Some Thoughts on Thai Culture,' and it elicited some responses from friends of the podcast, so we decided to dig into it. We don't want to rehash what's already there, so if you haven't read it yet, mosey on ove
Marriage Equality in Thailand: More Complex Than it Seems [S7.E46]
Greg interviews our senior legal correspondent Dave Lawrence on the status of marriage equality in Thailand. Listeners may remember that the Thai parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill last year, and it has jumped through a few more hoops and is ALMOST in effect. Dave explains that on January 22, 2025, should be the magic date when marriage between two adults of either gender should be 100% le
Yet Still Even More Expat Merit Badges! Do You Have Any? [S7.E45]
Greg and Ed revisit a favorite show theme: Thailand merit badges, achievements by expats which solidify your status as someone truly making a life in Thailand rather than just passing through as a tourist. For earlier merit badges, check out Season 5, Episodes 29 and 60. Ed begins by bringing up a true sign that you are no longer a noob: learning some of the Northeastern dialect, or 'pasaa Isaan.'
Phil in Udon Thani Talks About Leaving Bangkok for Something New [S7.E44]
Ed interviews our buddy Phil Allen about his adventures visiting, and eventually living in, the Isaan region of Thailand. Phil begins by explaining his arrival in Bangkok about five years ago as a roving economist working primarily in financial technology. Unfortunately, the pandemic struck and Phil found himself in a very strange situation in a brand new country. He decided to take the aggressive
