Episodes

June 23, 2020

Jobs, Wages and Napoleon Dynamite: The Hard Data on Thailand’s Econom…

It’s an extra-long show this week as Greg interviews Jessica Vechbanyongratana, a professor at the faculty of Economics at Chulalongkorn University, about the numbers that make up Thailand’s economy. Beginning with Thailand’s notable jump...

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June 16, 2020

How Thailand Changed Our Views on Fake Stuff [Season 4, Episode 35]

Inspired by a , the topic is counterfeit goods. Most people are aware that all types of counterfeit goods are available for sale in Thailand, whether it is watches, handbags, DVDs, or software. Greg and Ed trade stories about how …

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June 9, 2020

The Thai Foreign Ministry & Public Communication During COVID-19 [Sea…

Greg interviews Khun Natapanu Nopakun, the Deputy Spokesperson for the . You’ve probably seen him on TV - he’s the guy who gives English language updates of what’s going on with the Thai government, and especially the coronavirus...

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June 2, 2020

Lockdown: A Few Small Upsides to a BIG Downside [Season 4, Episode 33]

When you are a kid, you are taught to look on the bright side of everything. In that spirit, Greg and Ed search for any possible positives in their lives as a result of the lockdown (which, generally speaking, SUCKS). …

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May 26, 2020

Up Close & Personal With Thai Culture: The National Museum Volunteers…

You know how foreigners aren’t allowed to be tour guides in Thailand? Well guess what - there’s an interesting little loophole to that, and it’s a great opportunity to get to know Thai culture in a very real way. Greg …

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May 19, 2020

Big Brother Says Hi: Do You Have More or Less Privacy in Thailand Tha…

Greg and Ed tackle the complex question of privacy in Thailand, especially as it compares to privacy back home. But there are lots of types of privacy, so what do we mean? Firstly, as an expat, you live in a …

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May 12, 2020

Pain, Disease & Illness: The (Thai) Language of Medicine with Stu Jay…

The topic is a bit morbid but these are strange times - Greg interviews polyglot and podcast favorite on the roots of the Thai language as they pertain to pain and medicine. They begin trading stories over the fiendishly tricky …

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May 5, 2020

Thailand’s Booze Ban: Good Strategy or Pointless Folly? [Season 4, Ep…

Greg and Ed recorded a show that goes in-depth on Thailand’s alcohol ban and whether or not it makes sense as a way to combat the coronavirus. What they did NOT count on was the ban being lifted 3 days …

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April 28, 2020

Author Phil Jablon on the Disappearing Legacy of Thai Cinemas [Season…

Greg interviews Phil Jablon, a true connoisseur of Southeast Asia’s old movie theaters and author of the fantastic book . As noted on the show, you can order from the Amazon link above, but if you would like a free …

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April 21, 2020

We Discuss: Myths and Misconceptions About Bangkok [Season 4, Episode…

This week is a dose of keeping it real: What are some common beliefs about Thailand that Greg and Ed just don’t buy? Ed starts off with a fairly nuanced point: many people think of Thailand as a very religious …

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April 14, 2020

Pious Isolation? The Day-to-Day Life of a Thai Monk [Season 4, Episod…

First of all, a public service announcement: Our friend Adam is coordinating a project to get soap, disinfectant, and food to some of Bangkok’s poorest communities. Just 300 THB provides supplies for a family of 4. We donated 2,000THB - …

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April 8, 2020

Lockdown! How Does This One Compare to Others? [Season 4, Episode 25]

In their continuing effort to find something to talk about besides coronavirus, Greg and Ed decide to compare the current crisis to the past crises that they have lived through in their combined 38 years in Thailand. This is their …

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March 31, 2020

WHO’s Dr. Daniel Kertesz Talks COVID-19, Pandemics & Silver Linings […

Greg interviews Dr. Daniel Kertesz of the World Health Organization, to confirm, deny, or simply explain in better detail some of the information that’s going around about the COVID-19 pandemic. It certainly is a strange time we’re living in....

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March 24, 2020

Mixed-Culture Relationship Advice from Dr. Greg [Season 4, Episode 23]

Taking a personal turn thanks to an idea from Wes, one of our patrons, Greg discusses his dating experiences in Thailand and what it’s like to be married to a Thai woman. From early dating stories as a clueless n00b …

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March 17, 2020

How Tim Hortons Came to Thailand [Season 4, Episode 22]

Thailand’s food tastes have changed a lot since Greg and Ed first got here two decades ago, and in that time, things have gone international, yo! With this in mind, Greg interviews Nick Wattanavekin, who opened the first Tim Hortons, …

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March 10, 2020

Mixed Messages: Thailand's Confusing PR Machine [Season 4, Episode 21]

The big news of the day is of course the coronavirus, something Greg and Ed have talked about frequently on the bonus show, which goes to our patrons. But on this show, though, the guys dive right in and address …

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March 3, 2020

Media, Politics, Tech & Censorship with Cod Satrusayang [Season 4, Ep…

Greg interviews Cod Satrusayang, editor-in-chief of ThaiEnquirer.com, one of Thailand’s newest news sites. Cod explains that after a decade of experience in the foreign press in Thailand and abroad, he felt that Thailand’s English-language press...

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Feb. 25, 2020

We Ask An Economist: Is Thailand a Poor Country? [Season 4, Episode 1…

People are often quick to call Thailand ‘developing’ or even ‘third world’ - but what do those terms even mean? We decided to find out. Ed interviews Dan Honig, a professor of international development at Johns Hopkins University. After...

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Feb. 18, 2020

The Big Bangkok Statistics Episode [Season 4, Episode 18]

You might be surprised to learn that two fellows as cool as Greg and Ed can be a bit nerdy, but it’s true! So, in keeping with that theme, this week your hosts jump into a potpourri of Bangkok statistics. …

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Feb. 11, 2020

Bangkok History Highlight: The Surprising History of Patpong [Season …

Greg and Ed interview Michael Messner, long time expat, Patpong bar entrepreneur, and the founder and curator of the Patpong Museum. Opened this year, the Patpong Museum is meant to educate the public on the entire history of the Patpong …

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Feb. 4, 2020

Neighborhood (Re)Focus: Thonburi, Bangkok’s Brooklyn [Season 4, Episo…

In another Neighborhood Focus, the guys revisit an area discussed in Season 2: Thonburi, roughly defined as the ‘other side’ of the river from downtown Bangkok. ‘Revisit’ on the show that is, cause both Greg and Ed have lived in …

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Jan. 28, 2020

Discussing Thai-Farang Relationships - With an Uncommon Twist [Season…

Everybody knows that intercultural relationships in Thailand are most likely a Thai woman with a foreign man, but things are changing! It’s not as common, but there are plenty of farang women in relationships with Thai men - partnerships that …

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Jan. 21, 2020

Who Are You? Remaking Yourself as an Expat [Season 4, Episode 14]

Your hosts get a little deep with the topic this time by kicking off a discussion on expat identity. Can expats reinvent themselves and become someone new in their new country? Should they? Ed chimes in with some immediate support …

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Jan. 14, 2020

Expat Insights: Tony Joh Talks Travel, Fitting In…and Moving Back to …

Greg interviews Tony Joh, an old friend and co-host of Season 1 of the Bangkok Podcast to reminisce about their true noob status as pioneer podcasters and re-living their early successes (and screw-ups). Tony then explains his move to Japan …

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