Season 5

July 26, 2022

A Virologist Talks Vaccine Research & Thailand's Scientific Street Cr…

In the last episode of Season 5, Greg interviews Samaporn Teeravechyan, also known as Dr. Joy. Dr. Joy works at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, essentially the arm of the Thai government that focuses on scientific...

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July 19, 2022

Gotcha! Ten Situations When the Score is Bangkok 1, You 0 [S5.E70]

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 …

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July 12, 2022

The Million Baht Kid: Returning to Thailand After Growing Up Abroad […

Ed interviews Emily from Calgary, Canada, a unique ‘expat’ in Thailand if there ever was one. Emily was born 19 years ago in Nong Khai, Thailand, to a Canadian father and Thai mother, and spent the first years of her …

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July 5, 2022

Fun AND Educational? Some Notable Bangkok Firsts [S5.E68]

In a new concept, Greg and Ed discuss various Bangkok ‘Firsts’ in an effort to improve their knowledge of the city’s history and development. Loosely based on a trivia format the guys go back and forth asking each other about …

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June 28, 2022

Luxembourg Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger Talks Diplomacy & Cultural …

Greg interviews the Luxembourgian Ambassador to Thailand, Jean-Paul Senninger. As a diplomat with a long list of postings around the world, from his home base at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Washington, D.C., Spain, Turkey and finally Bangkok,...

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June 21, 2022

Pot Luck Surprise! The Highs and Lows of Weed in Thailand [S5.E66]

Greg and Ed discuss the recent decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand, the recent changes around town it’s caused, and whether or not they think it will last. First, Ed does a quick interview with our resident Weed Expert, Kitty Chopaka,...

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June 14, 2022

From Toothbrushes to Curses: Storytime With Christopher G. Moore [S5.…

This is Part Two of Greg’s recent interview with uber-expat Christopher G. Moore, author, raconteur, and general man-about-town. In true Renaissance guy fashion, the two men jump from topic to topic, each more interesting than the next. First, Greg...

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June 7, 2022

From Page to Screen: Christopher G. Moore on Hard-Boiled Bangkok [S5.…

Greg interviews Christopher G. Moore, long-time friend of the podcast and senior Bangkok expat, known for his extensive fiction and non-fiction writing as well as his legendary conversational skills. Chris begins by relating his recent short film...

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May 31, 2022

Understanding Thailand: Some Rules of Thumb That Explain a Lot [S5.E6…

Greg and Ed pull together all their accumulated wisdom about Thai culture and society into six pithy theories to aid expats and tourists alike. Ed begins with his classic ‘Universal Theory of Thailand,” that everything good in the country comes...

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May 24, 2022

Seeing Thailand Through Film: Director Paul Spurrier [S5.E62]

Ed interviews , a British expat in Thailand who has been in the film industry his entire life. Paul begins at the beginning, how his first movie ever in a movie theater was “The Sound of Music,” and it had …

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May 17, 2022

Busting Some Myths About Prostitution in Thailand [S5.E61]

Ed leads a discussion and semi-rant about a persistent myth regarding the history of prostitution in Thailand that was recently perpetuated by a . The myth goes like this: prostitution wasn’t much of a thing in Thailand until the Vietnam …

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May 10, 2022

Achievement Unlocked! Even More Expat Merit Badges [S5.E60]

Because the first show was so fun to do - and full of great listener-generated ideas! - Greg and Ed revisit the idea of expat ‘merit badges,’ a recognition of classic experiences in Thailand that indicate you are more than …

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May 3, 2022

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S5.E59]

Greg and Ed interview expat legend Chris Baker, co-author (along with his wife Pasuk Phongpaichit) of , 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 …

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April 26, 2022

Greg’s Canada Trip: Thoughts on Reverse Culture Shock [S5.E58]

It’s Greg’s turn for some reverse culture shock as he relates his return to Thailand from the Great White North of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ed first notes the differences between his situation and Greg’s: he still has family in Ohio, …

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April 19, 2022

The Psychology of Tourist Scams with Tourism Expert Ding Xu [S5.E57]

Anyone who has been to Thailand knows the old “Ohhh, the temple is closed today, why don’t you come with me to this gem store?” Despite warnings in literally every bit of content about traveling to Thailand, thousands still fall …

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April 12, 2022

Thai Games: From Playgrounds to Cards to Beetle Fighting [S5.E.56]

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,’ …

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April 5, 2022

Rules & Etiquette: Public Speaking as a Buddhist Monk [S5.E55]

Greg interviews our old friend and recurring guest Phra Pandit, about public speaking as a Buddhist monk. Beginning with some public speaking basics, such as the three things that really matter when you give a speech: what you have to …

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March 29, 2022

The World Happiness Index: How Does Thailand Measure Up? [S5.E54]

In the wake of the - which saw Thailand drop by quite a few spots - Greg and Ed jump into the fascinating topic of the happiness of Thailand compared to other countries. How can you possibly measure something like …

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March 22, 2022

Photographer Dax Ward on Capturing Bangkok's Abandoned Beauty [S5.E53]

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. …

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March 15, 2022

Saying Too Much: Dealing With Self-Censorship in Thailand [S5.E52]

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 …

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March 8, 2022

The Middle Path: Is Thailand an In-Between Country? [S5.E51]

Greg and Ed consider the tricky question of Thailand’s role in the global order. Sparked by a question from one of his students about what Thailand’s response to the war in Ukraine should be, Ed realized that he’s never really …

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March 1, 2022

History on Video: Bangkok Pat Talks Exploring & Storytelling [S5.E50]

Greg interviews ‘Bangkok Pat,’ whose uncover the hidden layers of this fascinating city. Pat begins with a bit of personal background, growing up in the UK with a Thai mother, and eventually losing touch with that part of his history....

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Feb. 22, 2022

Would a Bangkok by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet? [S5.E49]

Greg and Ed discuss the significance of the recent decision by the Thai parliament to accept a change to the official English name of Bangkok that was proposed by the Royal Society of Thailand. Initially, it was announced as a …

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Feb. 15, 2022

History and Insight: Exploring Thailand’s Indian Community [S5.E48]

One of the great things about Thai culture is the many facets that make up the whole. One of them is the Indian community, and Greg is happy to welcome Ram Sachdev, a first generation Thai-Indian and founder of , …

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Feb. 8, 2022

Great Thailand Advice We Ignored…But Shouldn’t Have [S5.E47]

When you first get to Thailand you meet a lot of people who give you a lot of advice. Most of it is forgettable, some is great, and all of it easy to ignore. Greg and Ed look back on …

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Feb. 1, 2022

George Dupont: The Only Thai to Fight in the US Civil War [S5.E46]

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 …

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Jan. 25, 2022

Is Thailand Really LGBTQ Friendly? It’s Complicated [S5.E45]

Greg interviews Benjamin Lord, an American who moved to Asia straight out of college at NYU. He is on the show to discuss life as a gay man in Thailand. After spending several years in Vietnam, where the pressure to …

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Jan. 18, 2022

Ed's Big List: 10 Differences Between the US and Thailand [S5.E44]

With Ed being stuck in the US, he relates ten experiences he has had during his stay in Ohio that he doesn’t think he would ever have in Thailand, introducing them with his characteristic wit and charm. (Ed wrote this). …

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Jan. 11, 2022

Anger, Anxiety & Death: How Buddhism Deals with the Big Issues [S5.E4…

Greg interviews Phra Pandit, the resident Bangkok Podcast expert on all things Buddhism, about negative emotions such as anxiety and anger and how Buddhism deals with them. Displaying his deep knowledge of Western psychology, Phra Pandit begins first...

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Jan. 4, 2022

The Bangkok Podcast Covid Christmas Clusterf#@k Extravaganza [S5.E42]

It’s a COVID Christmas Craptacular! The guys discuss all the ways that COVID has made the holiday season difficult for expats and travelers to Thailand. To start things off, Greg plays a quick conversation with podcast supporter Ash, who is …

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Dec. 21, 2021

Riding the Rails: Catching up with Bangkok’s New Train Lines [S5.E41]

When Greg and guest-host Scott moved here at the turn of the century, Bangkok had about 22km of train lines (not counting the SRT diesel trains). Now there are 210km in operation with a further 250km under construction. That’s huge! …

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Dec. 14, 2021

The Times They Are a-Changing: Thailand’s Demographic Shift [S5.E40]

The show welcomes back Dr. Jessica Vechbanyongratana, an economist at Chulalongkorn University, to discuss the cold, hard data on Thailand’s demographics. It sounds vague and geeky at first, but the more you look into it, the more you realize...

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Dec. 7, 2021

Bangkok's Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony [S5.E39]

Greg and Ed finish up the Seven Deadly Sins series with a discussion of ‘gluttony’ in the context of Bangkok - in this case, wanting to eat the largest quantity of food for the least amount of money. While we …

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Nov. 30, 2021

Tech, Trade & Bridges with Belgian Ambassador Sibille de Cartier [S5.…

Greg interviews Belgian Ambassador to Thailand, Madam Sybille de Cartier, formerly Ambassador to Egypt and Sudan, with plenty of diplomatic experience in other posts around the world. She discusses the long history that Belgium and Thailand...

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Nov. 23, 2021

Alcohol: Thailand’s Favorite Boogeyman [S5.E37]

In a very topical show Greg and Ed discuss the role that alcohol plays in Thai culture. For a country that seems to love restricting alcohol consumption, be it for religious holidays or even election days, Thails love to drink …

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Nov. 9, 2021

Hassles and Hope: Thailand’s Big Reopening [S5.E35]

The boys address the big story of the day: Thailand’s long-delayed reopening to tourists, at least from certain low-risk countries. Ed begins by recounting the current (at the time of the show) rules for tourists: COVID medical insurance, a negative...

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Nov. 2, 2021

What’s the Deal with Solar Power in Thailand? [S5.E34]

Greg interviews Tristan Knowles, an Australian expat in Thailand working for the Asian Development Bank, specializing in infrastructure finance in the Mekong region, including alternative energy such as solar power. Greg begins by asking the...

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Oct. 26, 2021

Thailand in Movies & TV vs. Thailand in Real Life [S5.E33]

On today’s show Greg and Ed address a pretty simple question: When you see Bangkok in movies and in series, are you actually seeing an accurate portrayal of the way Bangkok REALLY is? The guys decide that the short answer …

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Oct. 19, 2021

From Coffee to Conflict: Kenyan Ambassador Lindsay Kiptiness [S5.E32]

Greg interviews Lindsay Kiptiness, the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand. Ambassador Kiptiness begins by introducing himself and explains his responsibilities as ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. He explains his unfortunate...

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Oct. 12, 2021

Dungeons & Dragons & Bangkok: An Alignment Chart for the City [S5.E31]

Greg and Ed confess to their past as Dungeons and Dragons-loving young geeks. Who would have thought? The boys take inspiration from Greg’s where he applied D&D’s famous moral alignment chart to Bangkok. Moving through the list, Ed provides...

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Oct. 5, 2021

Building a Thai YouTube Channel for Kids Into a Family Business [S5.E…

On this episode Greg chats with his buddy Jesse Davis. You might not know Jesse’s name, but if you have kids, chances are they know his daughter. About four years ago Jesse and his daughter started , a YouTube channel …

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Sept. 21, 2021

Accents, Dialects and Stereotypes with Stu Jay Raj [S5.E28]

Greg interviews returning guest Stu Jay Raj - polyglot, expert language teacher and man about town. Greg begins by asking Stu about his recent series of videos analyzing the second language capabilities of various celebrities, including Jon Cena and...

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Sept. 14, 2021

This is Thailand With Scott & Trevor from Talk Travel Asia [S5.E27]

Greg and Ed sit down with old friends and travel experts Trevor Ranges and Scott Coates of the podcast. The guys run through a whole range of questions: How do you first come to Thailand? How did you meet each …

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Sept. 7, 2021

Bangkok's Seven Deadly Sins: Envy [S5.E26]

Continuing the series on the 7 Deadly Sins, Greg and Ed address the envious Envy. Of course, we love Bangkok, but no place is perfect - so, what are some things in other countries that we are envious of from …

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Aug. 31, 2021

Golfasian’s Mark Siegel Talks Fees, Tees & Thai Golf Holidays [S5.E25]

Greg interviews Mark Siegel, the director of , one of Asia’s largest golf tour operators. Greg opens with the caveat that neither he nor Ed are golfers and leaves it up to Mark to do his best to sell us …

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Aug. 24, 2021

A Few Surprising Details About Raising a Kid in Bangkok [S5.E24]

In this episode, Greg fills us in on all the special concerns of being a parent in Bangkok. As if being a parent on its own didn’t have enough surprises, it turns out there are several things to keep in …

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Aug. 17, 2021

From Dreams to Comedy: Teaching Thai With a Twist [S5.E23]

Greg interviews Kru Nan from the “You Too Can Learn Thai” podcast. Greg begins with the theory of the ‘critical period,’ that the human brain is primed to learn languages early in life but not later. Kru Nan notes that …

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Aug. 10, 2021

Don’t be That Guy: Expat Stereotypes to Avoid [S5.E22]

Greg and Ed discuss some negative expat stereotypes - roughly the person you (probably) don’t want to become while living in Thailand...at least forever. We all fall prey to stereotypes sometimes - they have to come from somewhere - but …

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