Episodes

Another fascinating history episode, this time looking into a little-known event in World War 1 that saw Thailand - er, Siam - occupying a small part of Germany! Greg sets the stage by reviewing the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the chain reaction of alliances that triggered the global conflict. Next, Ed brings up how this localized event snowballed into a world war and explains that Siam - typically pragmatic - initially remained neutral because it had close trade ties with Ger...

Greg begins by explaining that a trip to the Chonburi Buffalo Festival got him thinking about the strange and special place animals hold in Thai culture, what with an entire festival built around an animal whose name is often used as an insult. The hosts agree to skip obvious examples like elephants and monkeys and dive right in with the water buffalo, once the engine of the rice economy. Ed points out an urban and rural divide, since the buffalo is revered in the countryside while Bangkokians u...

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 modelled itself after the French Academy, which, among other things, develops French words for English...

Bangkok has produced roughly nine billion stories about food. Street food. Michelin food. Hidden food. Grandma's-secret-recipe food. Food you absolutely must eat before you die, leave town, or apparently lose all credibility as a human being. But what if you live here and you just don't feel like Thai food tonight? Greg and Ed wander off the usual culinary path to talk about what long-term expats actually eat after twenty-five years in Bangkok, once the honeymoon period with pad kra pao has se...

After visiting a rooftop bar with one of the most spectacular views in Bangkok, the boys discuss what the evolution and growth of the sky-high drinking/photo establishments says about the evolution and growth of Bangkok itself. Greg begins by framing rooftop bars as a barometer of Bangkok's health, since they require investment, density, tourism, and confidence, and he notes that today's bars compete over who can claim the most dramatic view. Ed clarifies that the two hosts are jeans and t-shir...

Hey, remember when the visa rules changed, making us all learn entirely new procedures and protocols? No, the other time. No, the other…no, not that one, the other time. Greg begins by discussing the latest tightening of Thailand’s entry rules, especially the reduction of visa-exempt stays from sixty days back to thirty. He and Ed use the change to illustrate a broader problem for foreigners: Thai immigration rules are constantly evolving, and advice that was accurate only a few months ago may ...

Utilizing a topic suggested by listener Wes, Greg and Ed discuss the unwritten ‘rules’ of Thai culture - the ones that everyone knows but aren’t written down anywhere, despite Ed wishing they were because he really has no idea what he’s doing right and wrong! As Greg notes, we all have to fake it until we make it. Greg then begins a series of specific puzzles that farangs have to navigate, including the proper use of the expletive ‘arai wa,’ knowing when or how much to lower your head when pass...

“Wellness” is a huge industry, and especially in Thailand, so the boys decide this week to discuss the options that are available. Ed begins the main segment by noting that while he expected it to be straightforward, he discovered an overwhelming variety of retreats and treatments. Greg chimes in to express his general distaste for the wellness trend, explaining that he associates it with bougie treatments that sell real results wrapped in woo-woo hype, and that a relaxing holiday sitting by a ...

Greg begins by discussing the late Bangkok street artist Khun Pichai, whose intricate and cryptic sidewalk scribbles across the capital attained a devoted cult following over the years, with sightings of his mysterious, sprawling artworks treated like discovered treasures. If you don’t know who Khun Pichai was, watch this excellent short documentary to get an idea. Many people dismissed Khun Pichai’s art as “crazy” or “nonsense” but we think there was something else there. So, we harnessed th...

Moving to Thailand can be a disorienting, discombobulating experience, even if you’re on your own. Now imagine doing it with 9 hours to prepare. That’s what Vic Levitin and his family did, but the unknown and unplanned turned into something great - though not without its speed bumps. Greg begins the interview by asking Vic about his sudden relocation to Koh Samui, where he lives full time. Vic explains that although he previously pitched moving to Asia, his wife opposed it until a war broke out...

Greg begins by discussing a suggestion from their friend Scott to explore the origins of well-known street names in Bangkok. After briefly touching on familiar spots like Khaosan Road and Lumpini Park, Greg dives into the history of Sukhumvit Road. He notes it was originally a dirt track before being formally constructed and named after the fifth chief of the Department of Highways, who was notably the first Thai person to graduate from the storied MIT. They then confront a bit of trivia - is Su...

Greg interviews , 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....

In another example of a thriving subculture in Bangkok you wouldn’t expect to see, Greg and Ed interview Sunny Sachdev, a Thai Indian banjo player who is part of the informal network of musicians that drive Bangkok’s local bluegrass music scene. Check out their page here. Sunny explains that he discovered the genre through a video recommendation online and immediately felt drawn to the banjo, despite having no prior musical background. Sunny details how he connected with the local community by...

Inspired by recent discussion among friends, and Greg’s switch to a new provider, the boys tackle the enduring issue of health insurance as an expat. There are many companies, many plans, and many pitfalls. Which one do you choose? Ed begins by outlining the main geographic areas of coverage an expatriate must consider, which include coverage in Thailand, in their home country, and during international travel. He notes that many young people mistakenly skip buying health insurance, and while Th...

Greg interviews , the creator of the . Jared explains that his day job is a contortionist, but his lifelong vegetarianism sparked a deep fascination with rare fruits. He shares how this hobby evolved into a channel where he travels the globe to taste...

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...

After a recent wave of news headlines highlighting government crackdowns on things as varied as fake paternity scams and cheating civil servants, Greg and Ed begin by asking whether Thailand is finally enforcing the rule of law in any meaningful way. Greg points to changes in visa policy, noting that authorities reduced visa-free stays after discovering widespread abuse from visitors working illegally. Next, Ed brings up the crackdown on illegal nominee company ownership, pointing to cases wher...

Ed interviews K. Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a constitutional lawyer and professor from Chulalongkorn University whose work bridges law and Buddhism. After Ed shares his own background as an American lawyer, the two men begin by discussing the modern relevance of Buddhist teachings. K. Khemthong explains that Buddhist mindfulness practices are more important than ever for combating the overwhelming distractions of smartphones and social media. They touch upon how both traditional and secular me...

Greg and Ed explore the small, unexpected joys of being an expat living in Thailand. Ed begins the main discussion by sharing his amusement over miscommunications regarding his job. Despite teaching university-level political science, Thai people frequently assume he is a basic English teacher, an error he enjoys correcting. Next, Greg discusses how he enjoys getting opted out of annoying situations due to his nationality. He notes that being a foreigner often grants him a free pass from sittin...

On the heels of a recent episode where Greg and Ed opined on the nuances of the tricky Bangkok property market, this time they have a real, er… real estate pro on to get into things from her POV - Tracy Leelalamlert from Aspire Real Estate. Greg begins by discussing with Tracy whether buying a condo in the city is a good investment. Tracy explains that it depends on the buyer's purpose, noting that rental properties typically yield around four percent annually. Next, Ed brings up the issue of t...

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 f...

Inspired by an unusually long commute, the boys decide to discuss a list of things - very specific things - that bother Greg while he drives his trusty silver Honda around Bangkok. Greg begins by sharing his first major annoyance with Bangkok drivers, which is their complete disregard for pedestrian crosswalks, forcing people to sprint across the road. Next, he brings up the severe impatience at intersections, where drivers wedge themselves into perpendicular traffic even when there is no room,...

In this episode, Greg interviews legendary foreign correspondent Denis Gray about his memoir, . Denis details his fascinating life story, beginning with his family's escape from communist Czechoslovakia and his father’s subsequent intelligence work...

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, insightful and sometimes dark, as Greg and John analyze storytelling styles to see what they tell u...