The Bangkok Podcast | Conversations on Life in Thailand's Buzzing Capital

We chat with Michael Messner, the man behind the Pat Pong museum. That’s right - a museum dedicated to the story of our favorite infamous soi. No matter how you feel about the soi itself, there’s a LOT more to its history than red lights and fake Reeboks.

Two years after we first looked at Thonburi, we return! ‘Bangkok’s Brooklyn’ has changed a lot - towers, hotels, and trains, oh my! Greg and Ed discuss the changing vibes, demographics, and land value.

Statistically, intercultural relationships in Thailand are usually between a Thai woman and a foreign man, but things are changing! Greg interviews Sam Ormond, an Australian and long-term Bangkokian who has been married to a Thai man for 20 years.

Have you ever wanted a new you? As an expat in a new country, you have an opportunity to do more of this thing, less of that thing, and to try stuff you’ve never done. But it’s a fine line between ‘trying new things’ and ‘lying your ass off’.

A super-sized episode with Bangkok Podcast co-creator and season 1 co-host Tony Joh, visiting from Canada! After years as an expat, Tony discusses his challenges fitting in, finding what makes you happy, and maybe even coming back to Asia!

Did you know Ed wrote a really insightful piece on Thai culture for the ‘Resources’ page on our website? He did, and we discuss it - and add to it - on this episode. Our top 5 things that make Thai culture Thai!

Our most returningest guest ever, Phra Pandit, sits down for a discussion on the surprisingly intricate history and rules that dictate a monk’s daily alms rounds, including, as Greg puts it, “the most metal story about Buddhism ever.”

In our annual cost of living show, we discuss what’s gotten more expensive (lots!), what’s remained cheap (very little!), and our impressions on why Bangkok jumped 43 spots (!) in a ranking of the world’s most expensive cities for expats. Ka-ching!

In our annual cost of living show, we discuss what’s gotten more expensive (lots!), what’s remained cheap (very little!), and our impressions on why Bangkok jumped 43 spots (!) in a ranking of the world’s most expensive cities for expats. Ka-ching!

In our ongoing series about living with disabilities in Bangkok, we talk to Sai Techawongtham, who is blind. Sai and her guide dog Luther are working to educate people on service animals, which are rare in Thailand, and making Bangkok accessible to all.

Thailand’s less-than-awesome safety standards usually just mean we have to be a little bit extra vigilant. But sometimes - as in the case of the Samut Prakan Radiation Incident (!) - we see where a loose adherence to regulations can become very, very dangerous.

Agoda is one of the fastest growing online travel agencies in the world. We sit with CEO John Brown to discuss how Bangkok affects the culture in their Thailand office, and if it’s difficult to change the sometimes less-than-savoury reputation the capital has with potential staff thinking of relocating here.

Life in Bangkok is always interesting, frequently crazy, and never boring. Listen to Greg and Ed each recount a few stories that had them standing outside at the end thinking to themselves “Did that just happen?”

Director Tom Waller talks about his experience writing and directing The Cave, about the 12 boys stranded in a flooded cavern, getting non-actors to act, and making films that do Thailand proud on the world stage. With special guests, diver/actor Jim Warny, who helped rescue the boys and stars as himself in the film, and composer Olivier Lliboutry!

If you’re an expat, do you have an obligation to represent expat-dom in a positive light? Or should you just not be a dick and go about your business? Greg and Ed debate where an expat’s responsibilities to the wider community begin and end.