Episodes - Page 6 | The Bangkok Podcast

Feb. 28, 2023

Richard Barrow on Twitter Trolls, Upset Officials & Train Guides [S6.E29]

This is Part 2 of our epic interview with Richard Barrow, giant among expats in Thailand. In the second half of the discussion, Richard continues with explaining his slow rise as a ‘citizen journalist,’ first simply documenting his travels around...

Feb. 21, 2023

Richard Barrow on Life in Samut Prakan and Finding a Niche Online [S6.E28]

Greg and Ed meet the icon Richard Barrow in Samut Prakan and interview him about his unusual life in Thailand. Richard begins by explaining his life roaming Asia as a young man on his way to Australia. By chance he made some connections in Thailand at...

Feb. 14, 2023

What Does ChatGPT's Artificial Intelligence Make of Bangkok? [S6.E27]

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT, a brand new AI writing tool that produces some shockingly advanced stuff. It’s only a few months old but it’s already threatening to upend a number of industries...

Feb. 7, 2023

Talking Acting & American Grub with Actor "Poo" Boonthanakit [S6.E26]

Ed interviews Sahajak “Poo” Boonthakit, Thai actor and entertainer. K. Poo begins by explaining his unusual childhood: his father was a Thai diplomat and when Poo was a young boy his family moved to Nairobi, Kenya, where Poo would spend the next...

Jan. 31, 2023

Is Thailand Really the "Land of the Free"? [S6.E25]

Greg and Ed get all deep by asking the question “Is Thailand really the Land of the Free?” And what does “freedom” even mean? Many people know that the word ‘Thailand’ is supposed to translate as the ‘Land of the Free.’ The guys first...

Jan. 24, 2023

Bangkok’s Dark Side: Justin Dunne on His Creepy “Bangkok Haunt” Tours [S6.E24]

Greg interviews Justin Dunne of ,’ a tour company in Bangkok that focuses on Thai ghost stories and their relevant locations. Justin is an old friend of Greg’s and after trading a few stories of the old days, the guys get into their mutual love of...

Jan. 17, 2023

What Do You Miss Most About Thailand? Overseas Listeners Let Us Know [S6.E23]

In a special listener voicemail show, Greg and Ed discuss what listeners miss most about Thailand. The guys go through a bunch of different messages, each expressing a unique characteristic of the Land of Smiles that keeps them pining for more....

Jan. 3, 2023

The Extraordinary Life of the Siamese Twins: Chang and Eng Bunker [S6.E22]

We dive back into history with the remarkable story of Chang and Eng Bunker, more famously known as the Siamese Twins. Born and raised in Samut Songkhram province just south of Bangkok, they had a fateful encounter with a Scottish trader by the name...

Dec. 27, 2022

Ed Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai Conversation Part 2 [S6.E21]

In Part Two of Ed’s Thai lesson with guru Stu Jay Raj, the two push through Ed’s sample Thai conversation. Stu continues to emphasize the importance of proper pronunciation of vowels, even going so far as to say it is more important than tones...

Dec. 20, 2022

Ed Gets Schooled: Linguist Stu Jay Raj Critiques a Thai Conversation [S6.E20]

Ed goes back to school and gets a Thai lesson from the master himself, Stu Jay Raj. Ed recounts a common backstory, wherein he made serious effort to learn Thai during his first two years in Thailand - and even ended up marrying his Thai language...

Dec. 13, 2022

A Lawyer’s Take on Thailand’s Controversial Foreign Land Ownership Law [S6.E19]

Greg interviews Bangkok-based lawyer Dave Lawrence about the ins and outs of foreigners owning land in Thailand. Dave begins with his backstory: he went to law school in Ohio where he met his future wife while she was getting a master's degree (also...

Dec. 6, 2022

Un-Jaded: Seeing Bangkok’s Best Through New Eyes [S6.E18]

In a show fueled by a visit by Greg’s mother, the guys discuss first impressions of Bangkok, and whether or not they have become jaded as long term expats. Greg includes a short interview with his mom, but bases the show on all of her insights over...

Nov. 29, 2022

Promoting Plant-Based Sustainable Living in Bangkok [S6.E17]

Ed interviews Max and Jo Hellier of Root the Future, a small social enterprise based in Bangkok that promotes sustainable living and plant-based diets. Max and Jo begin with their origin story: Jo, a vegan and former model, and Max, a ‘video...

Nov. 22, 2022

Bangkok Taxis: New Solutions for Old Problems [S6.E16]

Greg and Ed discuss a topic first brought up in a bonus show back in season 2: what to do about taxi drivers who won’t take you where you want to go? Although there are no doubt many larger problems in Thailand, on a day to day basis, perhaps...

Nov. 15, 2022

MuvMi’s Electric Tuk-Tuks Want to Change How Bangkokians Get from A to B [S6.E15]

Greg interviews Tim Koncewicz from electric tuk-tuk company to chat about their mission to provide a safe and environmentally clean alternative to gas-powered tuk-tuks. Unlike normal taxis and old-school automobiles (pfft), MuvMi focuses on...

Nov. 8, 2022

Expat Confessions: Things We Should Have Done by Now, But Haven't [S6.E14]

Greg and Ed bare their souls with ‘expat confessions’: things in Thailand they are embarrassed to say they have never seen or done, but that they should have, given their years in the Kingdom. Ed begins by admitting he’s never travelled to...

Nov. 1, 2022

Buddhist Scholar Justin McDaniel Discusses the History & Meaning of Thai Amulets [S6.E13]

Greg interviews Buddhist scholar Justin McDaniel on the topic of Buddhism amulets. Justin is a true scholar of religion, especially Asian religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, but he developed a strong interest in Buddhist amulets after he visited...

Oct. 25, 2022

Bangkok in Memoriam: A Look Back at a Few Places We Miss the Most [S6.E12]

Every Bangkok newbie has places that are near and dear to them, and which play a role in their early days of getting settled and finding your groove in Bangkok. Greg and Ed discuss some of these Bangkok institutions that meant a lot to them in their...

Oct. 18, 2022

Cause & Effect: The Thailand Clean Air Network Talks Health and Poison Air [S6.E11]

Greg interviews Khun Weena from the Thailand Clean Air Network, a guest who previously appeared on Episode 66 of Season 4, when Thailand was in the middle of a crazy air pollution crisis. Since then K. Weena and her organization have been hard at work preparing reports for the...

Oct. 11, 2022

Is Thailand a Woke-Free Zone? [S6.E10]

Greg and Ed open up a can of snakes (this is Thailand after all) and discuss whether Thailand is a ‘woke-free’ zone. The guys begin by realizing that the word ‘woke’ itself does not have a very clear meaning. Depending on who you are,...

Oct. 4, 2022

Amy Lefevre Joins to Talk Careers, Cliques and Finding Your Level in Bangkok [S6.E9]

With interest in Thailand returning to pre-pandemic levels and the podcast getting an increasing number of emails asking for advice on living and working here, Greg interviews old acquaintance Amy Lefevre, a half-Thai British woman, on her unique...

Sept. 27, 2022

The Best Apps for Making Life in Thailand Fun and (Dare We Say It) Easy [S6.E8]

Greg and Ed dive into the crowded App and Play stores to discuss the various phone apps that make living in Bangkok easier. Greg begins by giving props to our excellent listeners who submitted a whole bunch of recommendations - so much, in fact, that...

Sept. 20, 2022

Environmental Journalist James Fahn Updates His Outlook on Thailand’s Eco-Efforts [S6.E7]

Greg interviews James Fahn, the Executive Director of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network. Greg begins by opening a discussion about James’ book “,” which was published in 2003, after James worked as the environmental editor at The Nation...

Sept. 13, 2022

22 Years Later: Ed Boils Bangkok Down to 5 Reasons He Stays [S6.E6]

Ed reminisces on 22 years in Thailand and tries to summarize exactly why he has decided to stay for so long. It’s hard to sum up, of course, but Ed manages to come up with five positives and three negatives, and Greg helps to clarify things as he...