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

Dengue infections are off the chart this year, and it pays to know the dangers. Do you? ARE YOU SURE? Greg interviews Dr. Vorapot, an expert in travel medicine and in particular tropical diseases such as dengue fever. Greg and Dr. V review the scary data on the increases in dengue cases in Thailand, noting that different types of mosquitoes breed in different environments. Luckily, the type that carries malaria tends to breed in clean water in the jungle, but other types can breed in cities such as Bangkok, especially during the rainy season.  Dr. V goes through the stages of dengue fever infection. Surprisingly, about 90% of dengue infections result in little or no symptoms, but about 10% of people suffer serious effects. A further complication is that sometimes later exposure to dengue can result in more serious consequences, and the dengue vaccine itself must be carefully administered to not put patients in a more vulnerable state. Dr. V also reviews the symptoms of dengue fever, which unfortunately can mi

A bit of self-promotion first - we’re happy to see that the Bangkok Podcast was chosen as one of 2019’s top 25 expat podcasts over at Feedspot. A great honor! Now to the show... Greg and Ed are psyched to sit down with Pailin Wedel, a Thai-American journalist and filmmaker based in Bangkok, about her new film “Hope Frozen.” Pailin talks a bit about her background as a journalist making short documentary pieces for Al Jazeera and other news outlets. Her new film, however, sprang from a chance meeting with a Thai family suffering an extraordinary tragedy. In brief, the young daughter of a very scientifically-minded Thai family was suffering from terminal cancer, and the family made the decision to ‘cryo-preserve’ their daughter in the hopes that she could possibly be revived in the future with superior technology.  Pailin saw the opportunity to tell a unique story, and luckily the family agreed to be filmed. What ensued was a more than two year process of following the family through the twists and turns of thi

Continuing our series on interesting events in Thai history, Greg introduces the Thai-Cambodian ‘crisis’ of 2003. It started when rumors began spreading that a Thai soap opera actress, Suvanant Kongying, had said Cambodia had ‘stolen’ Angkor Wat from Thailand. After the Cambodian Prime Minister repeated the allegations and banned Thai radio programs and TV shows, anti-Thai mobs began to form in Phnom Penh and soon became violent, leading to looting, evacuations, threats of military action, and even a border closure!  The sad kicker is that there was actually no direct evidence that the original comments had even been made, with the best theory being that a character played by the actress may have been the original source of the rumors! Listen in for Greg and Ed’s theories of why the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia is so fragile and for more incredible details from this bizarre saga.  As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us.

Part 2 of 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 what it’s like for expat women. It stands to reason that one woman can’t speak for all women, so we upped the game a bit. We discuss 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 dating horror stories, advice for new joiners, adjusting standards and expectations, and expat women-only social media groups to vet potential mates, advice for newbies. Also discussed - after a move to Thailand does a male 5 become a 7, and does a female 7 become a 5? Why are Thai men shy about approaching expat women, and why are so many expat men bitter against expat women? What is a “gik”- and does Greg have one? (spoiler - hells to the no). As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get s

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