What does it take to become a politician in Thailand? What’s your life like if you grow up with a dad in the diplomatic corps? Suranand “Poom” Vejjajiva, former cabinet minister and former Secretary General of the Prime Minister spills the beans: From knocked out teeth to Che Guevara posters he shares anecdotes from his childhood, … Read more
Back before the TripAdvisor was around, people experienced Thailand in different ways. Jake Needham got his first idea of the country while a CIA agent drove him around the poppy fields surrounding Chiang Mai in the early 1970s. It was a trip that was quickly followed by his first job offer to work as a lawyer in … Read more
Benno von Bormann is a scientific advisor at Thailand’s government-owned and -operated Siriraj Hospital. While there are a number of foreigners working for government departments in Thailand and there certainly isn’t a shortage of foreigners working at private enterprises, meeting a German doctor working for a Thai hospital was definitely a first for me. Having been … Read more
When Darren White dropped out of school at age 15 and started working in a local supermarket, he probably didn’t expect to one day be CEO of one of Thailand’s biggest coffee shop chains. Yet here I am sitting with him, listening to a remarkable story of self-discovery that shows a very different path taken … Read more
Jon Bonomo wrote a tremendously useful guide for soccer fans in Thailand and it inspired me to interview him for the Brewed in Bangkok podcast. It has been a tumultuous year for soccer in Thailand. From the cancelation of the local league to the ups and downs in the qualification for the World Cup it … Read more
In today’s episode I talk about what makes the Airbnb market in Bangkok special and how these factors will shape the market in the future. From the specifics of empty, furnished condominiums in the heart of Bangkok, to its status as the most visited city in the world and the availability of infrastructure and personal … Read more
When Neal Stephenson wrote Cryptonomicon in 1999, few people realized how accurate his description of the future was and how soon it would come to pass. I feel, at any given point, there are moments in our today that give glimpses into our future. One such glimpse is Chris Reynolds’s Entrepreneur House. It’s a mix … Read more
Today is a very short episode showcasing the impact of recent events on my life in Bangkok. Websites and People Mentioned Want More? Check out the complete collection of Brewed in Bangkok episodes.
Music is the life for a great many people, but it’s only for a select few that it actually provides a livelihood. Napak Boonruang, better known as Dom, is one of the people who can count themselves among the lucky talented few. Running three different bands, she has taken music from just a fun passion to … Read more
What’s the hardest business you could possibly start in Thailand? In a nation where fair skin is a national obsession and the sun shines nearly 365 days a year (the exception being the ones when it shines 366 days…), Jeff Amato came up with a one of a kind business idea: a tanning studio. In this episode, … Read more