The Bangkok Podcast

Tech Fail Alert! The last 5 minutes of our discussion was cut off by dastardly internet Gremlins, but we said most of what we wanted to say anyway. In a follow-up to the recent Thai election, Greg and Ed do their best to make sense of the unexpected outcome. Greg defers to Ed's poli sci knowledge, and Ed struggles through it despite his expertise being American politics. Before the election, polls indicate it was a three-horse race between the progressive faction, the Thaksin clan, and the conservative faction led by the current Prime Minister. Although the progressive faction was expected to grab a plurality, none of the three were expected to have the majority necessary to form a government - so the main question was going to be: Which two factions would team up? Alas, the conservative faction ended up with a decisive victory, upending many of the gains that the progressive faction made in the last election, especially in rural areas. The margin of victory was such that the issue of coalition-building was almost moot due to the plethora of small parties to build the majority. So what led to the conservative victory? Ed notes that the current Prime Minister capitalized on his incumbency to ride a nationalist wave driven by the recent conflict with Cambodia. This was somewhat expected, but not to the extent that came to pass. Other factors, such as the lack of a charismatic leader among the progressive faction could also have been a factor. Greg chalks it up to people just being tired of the constant back-and-forth where nothing ever really changes, so they just chose to stay home and not vote for anyone - basically, they prefer stability to fighting for change. Last, the guys discuss the myriad claims of mistakes in the vote count and hope the Election Commission orders some recounts in at least some districts.

In a followup to a recent episode, Greg and Ed walk through the entire 'Facts About Thailand' quiz that Ed gave his Thai Society students. It's a broad test of Thailand - geography, history, politics, government, demographics, and more, that's slightly harder than the average quiz you'd find online. If you are an intrepid soul, you can take the quiz yourself before you listen in for the answers. Use the link here. Another option is to use this sheet to take the quiz and then check the answers yourself. (If you do take it and then check the answers yourself, be sure to reset the form to not show the correct answers). Full disclosure - Greg got 36/50 - can you beat him??

Greg interviews Mario Butler of Dreamster.io, a platform that allows musicians to connect directly with their audience, and fans to own the music they buy, not just rent. Greg begins by asking about Mario's background and the core mission of Dreamster.io, prompting Mario to explain how the music industry has shifted from tangible ownership to a "rental" model through streaming. Mario responds by introducing Digital Music Assets (DMAs), which utilize blockchain to allow fans to truly own digital music again, much like they once owned vinyl or CDs. Next, Greg wonders whether this technology is actually beneficial for the average listener compared to the convenience of a cheap monthly subscription. Mario clarifies that DMAs function as financial assets; because they are built on a bonding curve, the price can increase like a stock, and the platform's smart contracts allow users to sell their music back for a profit. Furthermore, Mario explains that these assets are programmable, meaning an artist can embed real-world perks like merchandise discounts or backstage passes directly into the digital file. Greg then asks why Mario is specifically targeting the Thailand market. Mario notes that Thai artists and fans are exceptionally tech-savvy and passionate, making them early adopters of innovative platforms. He emphasizes that Dreamster removes the usual "crypto" hurdles by allowing users to sign up via email and pay with credit cards, hiding the complex backend technology to focus on the user experience. The interview finishes with a discussion of how the platform protects against AI-generated content and automates royalty splits, ensuring that human creators are fairly compensated for their work in real-time.

Another classic recast! One of the craziest stories from recent Thai history. Continuing our series on interesting episodes in Thai history, this episode focuses on the infamous Blue Diamond Affair, It all started when a Thai gardener named Kriangkrai Techamon, who was working in Saudi Arabia, decided to make off with $20 million worth of gems and jewelry belonging to a Saudi royal. Although the thief was caught shortly after his return to Thailand, he had already sold much of the loot, including the famed 50 karat 'Blue Diamond.' No problem - the gems were returned to Saudi Arabia and an apology issued. Case closed! BUT! Soon after the treasure was returned, Saudi authorities claimed that over half of the returned gems were fake, including the Blue Diamond. The Saudi authorities sent a special team of investigators to Bangkok to investigate...and what followed was a tale of murder, kidnapping, and black magic, with the ultimate result being a near-total diplomatic breakdown between the two countries that continues to this day (update - diplomatic relations were restored in 2022). It's a plot almost too twisty for Hollywood, but listen in for details on one of the strangest episodes in Thai history. As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.Bangkok History Highlight: The Blue Diamond Affair

Ed interviews Thanita 'Ninar' Wongprasert, an old student of his and former guest on the show in 2018. On the earlier show she came on to talk about gay rights and same sex marriage in Thailand, and the two begin the interview with a high five to celebrate the eventual passage of gay marriage laws in Thailand. Ninar then discusses her work with various international NGOs and agencies of the UN. She was able to work on multiple issues, from the ozone layer to cyber security among others, and focused mostly on public information campaigns. Ed asks her about the transition from their international program to a prestigious organization such as the UN, and Ninar notes that building out her resume was a big project, but once she did that, she sailed right in. Ed then asks about Ninar's new project, which is a type of consulting project that helps people find their purpose in life. To some extent, there is a focus on young people and helping them find a job that is truly meaningful to them, AND that will still be needed in the age of AI. But Ninar makes clear that they will advise clients of all ages, even if it's a retiree looking for a new hobby. This segues into a discussion of Gen Z and the Thai education system and how Ed does his best to teach Thai students to think for themselves. Ed ends by pointing out that of all of his students in 17 years, Ninar is the ONLY student ever to get a perfect 100 on an essay exam. Yay Ninar!