The Bangkok Breakdown's podcast

Season 4, Episode 14 – “Day with your Daddy.” In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) sounds hungover, but Shaikh has been hanging on to his balance by a thread. Shaikh has invested Sunday in watching Paternity Court, while Emin is invested in images of Instanbul. They converse on books and make the most of the day by doing nothing at all which is too much for Shaikh because it's no human day.

Season 4, Episode 13. "So-far or Sofa" In this episode, Emin's (@mrhajiyev) travel plans were canceled so he took a note from Shaikh's favorite pastime - sofa and Netflix. While they spent the weekend vertically challenged, the conversation had no direction whatsoever. Emin starts drinking and continues like a frat boy while Shaikh slightly sips to end the night like he's five again.

Season 4, Episode 12: "Boosters & Banter." In this episode, Shaikh and Emin (@mrhajiyev) are back to the weekly podcast regimen. While the conversation starts on a painful note, Emin finds angst in listening to Shaikh refer to himself in the third person. Shaikh relives the after-effects of Moderna and the healing power of Madea. Emin continues with watching relevant and quality content on Netflix.

Season 4, Episode 11 - "2022:even better U." In this Episode, Shaikh and Emin (@mrhajiyev) catch up for the first time this new year. While Emin is joining the mile-high club, Shaikh had been grounded after running too many miles in a BDSM style fat-burning craze. They both discuss the art of wearing a mask to cover your mouth and a Joe Rogan, who most believe should shut his mouth. Stay tuned for a somewhat regular routine of episodes.

Season 4, Episode 10: "Tis the Season." In this episode, Shaikh is finding any excuse included Xmas to lose part of this liver while vacationing in Chiangmai. Emin (@mrhajiyev) is on a more sober note planning to finally start his holiday. It leads to a discussion about tradition and not-so-tasteful drinking.

Season 4, Episode 09: “Drinking at a Distance” In this episode, Shaikh ventures out into Khao San, breaking COVID-19 rules like he's in Florida. Emin's (@mrhajiyev) commemorates his birthday with a lot less drinking than Shaikh. They discuss drunk memories and making the most of your adopted home.

Season 4, Episode 08: "Bringing Sex-Pat Back." In this episode, Shaikh recalls his experience at one of Emin's (@mrhajiyev) favorite bars and how your glass is the only thing that needs to be full in bars these days. They move on to building parks and bridging relationships as Emin reminisces about three weeks of living with his mom.

Season 4, Episode 07: "Under the Laser." In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) and Shaikh meet up after two weeks. While Shaikh went for optional skin beautification, Emin's kind of necessary surgery was postponed. Health might not be consistent, but moms definitely are. With Emin's mom over for three weeks, they discuss how it's impossible and not possible living without these saintly 'you will always be a child' guardians.

Season 4, Episode 6: "Flying vs. Frayed." In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) is reenergized from spending quality time with friends and family. While Shaikh is also attempting to be more social, the new park that is constructed on his road is leaving him sleep-deprived. Emin feels like he's going to lose sleep soon as his mom visits for three weeks for his post-surgery recovery, and Shaikh is spending the next three months thinking of ways to have a sound night's sleep.

Season 4, Episode 05: "Pole In One" In this episode, Shaikh is motivated to work out after investing in specific apparel that costs way too much. He takes a pole-dancing tutorial because shaming is the foundation for motivation is in his warped mind. While Shaikh is in class, Emin (@mrhajiyev) has been on his ass, vacationing in Georgia. He talks about the scenic views, dining and wine-ing with a vino that's mostly likely aged as long as he has. The talk continues with places they want to visit and how Shaikh is investing in becoming more active which is easy as he has set the bar below the drain in the showers of the paid gyms he'll never enter.

Season 4. Episode 4: "Dine Away From Me." Shaikh decided to try a go out to dinner with more guests and realized the Rona still affects his ability to breathe easily at these events. Emin (@mrhajiyev) is still painting the town red and made a valiant effort to get Shaikh to joke around about it. The absolute joke happened to be Shaikh's impromptu social media stories, which resulted from alcohol bringing out his inner ratchet. Although these videos have disappeared from Shaikh's post, Emin managed to bring out his inner creep and record them while they still lasted.

Season 4, Episode 03-"Can Put My Finger On It" In this episode, Shaikh believes in educating viewers. He teaches them about 'mangiamaccheroni' - a practice of eating pasta with your hands. Shaikh expresses his passion for eating anything from some creamy mash to pasta. Emin (@mrhajiyev) is also extending his limbs to the nearby gym, walking around his neighborhood in what can only be explained as Richard Simmon's circa 1980's exercise wear. Now that Shaikh is vaccinated, he has become more open to cautious socializing and breaking out of his COVID-19 hermit crab state. Emin is also making social rounds in his new home and meeting with old friends during the Simmon's exercise craze era.

Season 4. Episode 2: "Franklin and Moving Forward." In this episode, for the next stage of his life journey, Emin (@mrhajiyev) has landed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. While he's making a move, Shaikh's fridge is here to stay! Excited that Franklin the fridge is still in life, Shaikh inquires about Emin's new house and whether or not the furniture has been given a name. It leads Emin to talk about how he loves city life because the food tastes like home cooking for him, which prompts endless stomach conversations. Shaikh points out that Emin never really liked Thai food, which is obvious because he hasn't experienced scrumptious street food in the land of smiles. Emin has been enjoying going to restaurants while Shaikh continues to living the lockdown life.

Ashfaque starts the new season on a somber yet endearing note as he may have to bid farewell to his lockdown BFF, his fridge. While Emin is selfish enough to think this is about him, he soon realizes that distance is not the same as a farewell. They start discussing how Emin is catching up with old friends and living out a late youth. At the same time, Ashfaque goes into full grandpa mode and realizes he needs to snap out of this isolation mode. Ashfaque has INVESTED his mental stability in watching Thai dramas and request Emin to be dramatic at the DMV. Tune in next week to see how the institute has responded to Emin's claims!

Season 3, Episode 21: "The Next Step" In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) and Shaikh conclude season three on a bitter-sweet note as Emin is about to post this episode before his next adventure. They speak about their time in Thailand and what makes things a home. While Emin is bound for the sky, Shaikh feels bound for doom because he can't buy any more containers. They reminisce about starting the podcast and how it has grown and will continue to grow as it takes on an international twist. Stay tuned to see where Emin lands from inside his shipping container and if Shaikh is able to buy some more for god knows what!

Season 3, Episode 21: "You Can Contain'er." In this episode, Shaikh and Emin (@mrhajiyev) have gone on 'spiritual journies' to find themselves. While Shaikh's expedition, took him to Muji sale and container organizations all over his house, Emin did some actual traveling around Thailand. Emin reflects on the weight of the bucket list when you're venturing to the next step of your life. It inspired Shaikh to compartmentalize life much like he's done with his fridge, kitchen, pantry, and bathroom. With Bangkok's experience of cool and cloudy days, they conclude with some cocoa from Tim Horton's and whatever leftover whip cream the confectionary had left.

Season 3, Episode 20: In this episode, Shaikh has taken note from Emin (@mrhajiyev) and cited the wise words of Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi in their book 'The Courage to be Disliked.' While Shaikh is feeling as zen as the infinity pool upstairs, Emin goes on a conspiracy theory that leads Shaikh to understand why these episodes are being recorded in his crib. Emin and Shaikh have a war of words as they look at both sides of being an 'expat' in Thailand. While Emin isn't so sold on smiles, Shaikh believes that perspective is as broad as the chapters that have newly enlightened him.

Season 3, Episode 18: In this episode, Shaikh is having a grand old time in apartment lockdown solitude until Emin (@mrhajiyev) mentioned a dessert that includes bananas. This prompts Shaikh to go on a rant about the beloved fruit because he'd rather slip on a peel and fall on his ass. Emin recalls missing the gym where he can lecture people about running while Shaikh's new workout is walking on the roof and eventually sitting in a concert to read.

Season 3, Episode 18: Emin (@mrhajiyev) starts the episode on a real creep-like note, recording without telling Shaikh that he's started. During this, Shaikh goes on a rant about making fun of matters and how anything can be made funny based on the intention of its delivery. Emin decides he wants to go back in time to when we went to high school on a horse-drawn carriage and how he still stays connected with his friends. Shaikh believes that the longevity of a relationship happens should be as organic as the avo on his millennial toast. They finally relate to having different phases of their lives in different parts of the world and how that's shaped them.

Season 3, Episode 17: In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) records for a second time at Shaikh's new digs because of an ironic dystopian series of events, Shaikh is the one with the hangover. They discuss Shaikh's housewarming party and how the warmest feeling is having an apartment to yourself. While Shaikh's ready for a no-human Sunday after braving it to an open market before the show, Emin trekking island tracks outside the city to close off the weekend. Stay tuned for new episodes and collabs with Josh De La Rosa from Scale Of It All.

Season 3, Episode 16: "You Gotta be 'Kid-din' Me." In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) wants to celebrate international children's day by hopefully asking his kids for a liver after booze-induced lockdown coping. This leaves Shaikh wanting to know why individuals like himself aren't celebrated for not wanting kids after baby boomers have screwed us over. The gang is a little tipsier in celebration of shooting, dining, and divulging at Shaikh new crib. While Emin plugs content of the yesteryear, Shaikh's determined that everyone watch Mare of Eastown!

Season 3, Episode 15: "The Cooler, the Better." In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) is in a reflective, wanting to vent kind of mood after things are frosty at work which prompts Shaikh to gush about his cooler update . . . he's committed to his new fridge. Shaikh blabs on about his newfound grocery love and best mate like a John Green novel. While Emin tried to deviate into other topics like updates about Thailand and his week, Shaikh pretty stuck on his soon-to-be potential home economics empire.

Season 3, Episode 14: “The Lockdown Lowdown.” In this episode, Shaikh takes a queue from Emin's (@mrhajiyev) to find a space with his kids to retell an anecdote about a ‘pick me, choose me, love me' realtor during his apartment hunt. Emin is clearly not faithful to any media project as he's signed on to talk about sex in Anastasia (@asiamint) and Eve Parker's (@evgenia.parker) new and yet-to-be-released YouTube project. While Emin spreads his leg and his talk time, Shaikh focuses on spreading the words . . . of literature as he embarks on a one-book one-week self-challenge during the lockdown.

Season 3, Episode 13: "The Lockdown Livin" In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) has taken the high roads of Thailand to ride full-speed ahead to the immigration office while Shaikh lockdown trek is from bed to work station on weekdays. They both go into tangent with Shaikh's renewed energy post-fasting and Emin's lack of energy post-starving. While Emin is figuring out immigration and exploring the south of Thailand, Shaikh has Bangkok realtors trying to reel his moving dreams in.

Season 3, Episode 12: “Here Comes the Wave.” In this episode, Shaikh wears pants after three weeks and finds that he's having sweatpants and pajama withdrawal. This reminds Emin (@mrhajiyev) of how we got overdressed just for the sake of it. They continue to discuss how isolation has changed their everyday habits. While Emin depends on food apps for meals, Shaikh is defending the satisfaction of solitude.

Season 3. Episode 11.: In this episode, Shaikh administers, so COVID instilled perspective to a polygamy website that helps you find your next sister-wife. Emin's (@mrhajiyev) views are a little hazy after a hard week of partying as he lives in Florida. Shaikh and Emin discuss how they spent their Songkran holidays as the former lived in up, the latter lived within his blanket. They conclude with some viewing suggestions for listeners who prefer the blanket life.

Season 3, Episode 10: "This Is Where I Grieve You." In this episode, Shaikh explains that he mourns by binge eating, snacking, and bedding. He recommends ‘The Girlfriend Experience,' which he's finished during his 65-hour solitude run. Emin (@mrhajiyev) sounds like the walking dead as he's groggy and feels like the topic is a little too close to the no longer beating hearts.

Season 3, Episode 9: "Under One Roof." In this episode, Shaikh kicks off this week's conversation with how his OCD tendencies apply to houseguest even when he's plastered. The talk continues with Emin (@mrhajiyev) bringing in a positive note of how we appreciate home once someone has invaded it for a prolonged time. Shaikh welcomes Michelle Obama to stay with him while Emin, with great persona, comes great responsibility, so he's never going to share housing with anyone famous.

Maybe a Day for Men??? Emin believes that international days like the recently celebrated International Women's Day have become commercialized, but he wouldn't mind a men's day. Shaikh gives the development bubble answer of not having a women's day at all. They continue the conversation about the woman on everyone's feed, Megan Markle, with the conclusion that Buckingham Palace is a hella big space with small-minded people."

Season 3, Episode 7: "The Clubhouse." In this episode, let's go clubbing . . . virtual style: Emin (@mrhajiyev) is trying to stay relevant by joining this Apple-exclusive social app called "Clubhouse." After one listens, Shaikh believes this is moron Tik Tok meets aspiring podcasters. The conversation takes the same sad tangent as the ones on the meeting rooms for this newfound app. While Shaikh believes this emerged because people need to connect during Rona, Emin is convinced it has a purpose, and Dick Bicycle Club House chatroom will be coming to an ear's length near you. 

In this episode, Shaikh is stupid enough to tell his mom that he doesn't want kids because he's an environmentalist. Emin (@mrhajiyev) turns the concept of a permanent child into a rent-a-child business for which he on his own. The two get into why or why not they want to have kids, dynamics with their parents, and ultimately that children are the future of a well-decorated tombstone.

In this episode, Shaikh has had a really hectic work week, and he confesses that music with nonsense lyrics pushes the penmanship. It sparks a conversation about motivation, or Emin (@mrhajiyev) classifies a stimulant. Emin starts on a note of how nothing motivates these days while Shaikh convinces him not to jump off the bridge, and the conversation leaps to how they get through the grind when the going gets tough.

Season 3, Episode 4- “Feels for the Friday”:  In this episode, Shaikh has been partying it up with safety measures in mind for the past two weekends with his age and physical health catching up, he decides to have a conversation about what happens during an ideal weekend. Emin (@mrhajiyev) has been craving for a weekend of lasers and lunacy. Shaikh is going green this weekend with the smoothie life, the bed life, and the book life.

Season 3, Episode 3- “Dreams of my Future”:  In this episode, Shaikh and Emin (@mrhajiyev) take a journey to the past to the career that would have filled them with happiness while emptying their accounts. Emin has always wanted to play the saxophone, but that ended up being a bagpipe dream. Shaikh believes that money lets us have the liberty to pursue out of the box dreams with greater eagerness, and that's why he never put in the time to draw our artistic path.

Season 3, Episode 2-: In this episode, as the duo have been reunited, the only thing that's not coordinated this week is the conversation. Emin (@mrhajiyev) provides a context of what's going on in Thailand with the second wave, while Shaikh is having waves of anxiety from finally interacting with humans. Emin has found Shaikh's soulmate at some corner of Lumpini Park, who he can isolate for months. Shaikh feels like social media is the virus that eats his brain when his feed shows people having mass gatherings.

Season 3, Episode 1: In this episode, Shaikh has finally made his way to Bangkok, so he and Emin (@mrhajiyev) reflect on their perspectives of a new lockdown. Emin finally figures that Shaikh is an introvert as he happily embarked on a self-imposed silence retreat upon arriving to quarantine. While Emin speaks about lockdown effects, Shaikh believes that a little more perspective of how the Rona is making the world go round is just what the universe ordered. 

Season2. Episode 21 - In this episode, Shaikh continued the happy train of thought by explaining his joy from Jesus. He connects happiness with humility and having the perspective to look beyond yourself. Emin (@mrhajiyev) believes that these conversations with a high-being are a self-conscious monologue. They conclude this season's round-up with holiday wishes, and Shaikh also merriment in Christmas carols while Emin chooses to be a grinch. 

Season2.Episode 19 - In this episode, Shaikh takes a nod from the incomparable Michelle Obama for this week's definition of happiness with some anecdotal background. Emin (@mrhajiyev) is searching for the meaning of happiness, but it seems just as lost as his centuries-old birth certificate. While we discover that Emin is the real ‘Eat, Pray, Love' yogi, Shaikh undoubtedly believes there is bliss in your bank balance.

Episode 19- Are we Amigos? Part II: In this episode, Shaikh starts this week's conversation by applying some of his pharmaceutical background to friendship chemistry. He believes that friends somehow work because of chemistry. Emin (@mrhajiyev) and his Bumble buddy take the next step by meeting during the day time. They both discuss the test of friendship, and Shaikh figures out that Emin's amigo memories are like his ideal long drives across the midwest- vague AF. The session concludes with a game where you decide who the winner is.

Season 2. Episode 18: The revelation of the now philosophy major, Emin (@mrhajiyev), continues this week with perspectives on friendships. He explained how he downloaded Bumble to make a buddy but mostly found booty. Shaikh has a more minimalist approach to a friendship where less is more and compartmentalization is key. Shaikh also decided that a week of reflection as he turned 32 in isolation would be best for insight purposes. 

In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) elaborates upon his two-day ayahuasca excursion. He describes the visions of the past and prospective future that he had experienced and provides insight for those considering ayahuasca. Shaikh wants to know his overall takeaway from experience, only to be equally disappointed again by Emin's ‘Eat, Pray, Love' explanation of the ordeal. Shaikh figures that his hopes of ayahuasca have been pooped on.

Season 2, Episode 16: In this episode, Shaikh and the rest of the world can sleep happy now that Emin (@mrhajiyev) did not join a cult. He went to the middle of the jungle for some ayahuasca reflection. Shaikh interviews Emin about this experience and how he prepared for and decided to take this trip. The ultimate disappointment was delivered because Emin and his jungle company did not defecate in their pants. 

Season 2. Episode 15- Dream Job: In this episode, Shaikh's passion for publishing was something he'd fallen into and a blessed coincidence. He speaks about how journalism allowed him to meet new people and promoted emotional growth. In the meantime, Emin (@mrhajiyev) regrets not taking that one chance to be a pilot. His many career paths have led him to a retreat, which Shaikh believes is a secret cult and all of our fingers crossed that Emin makes it out with his brain intact next week.

Season 2. Episode 14. In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) is all work and no play this week, so it inspires a conversation about jobs. Emin and Shaikh both started working as teenagers. Emin has done every job under the sun while Shaikh started the work-life by explaining that rainbow and chocolate sprinkles are ONLY different in color. They begin to get into how work was more about independence and a means of paying for school.

Season 2. Episode 13: In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) considers if crystals, chakras, and meditation might be the way as healing techniques have spread with an almost parallel zeal to the pandemic. Shaikh believes that this is because technology provides us with quick and vast numbers of solutions, so we grasp new methods before the old one can be rejected. Nonetheless, Shaikh believes in materialistic therapy and makes no qualms about Yeezys over yoga.

Season 2.Episode 12: In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) reflects on the recent tragedies in Azerbaijan and how it reignited that sense of national pride in him. He recalls looking for a home when he moved half a world away from it. Shaikh expresses his understanding of always being the ‘other' and how it's shaped his identity after being ostracized for a long time. Their conversation continues with how they have somewhat different ways of dealing with the immigrant experience.

Season 2. Episode 11. In this episode, Emin (@mrhajiyev) feels enlightened and decides to talk about superstition and how it has impacted mankind's every day across the globe. He explains the power of these beliefs are deep-rooted in societies leaving Shaikh in mental isolation. Shaikh's concept of human energy is broken down into protons, electrons, and neutrons. Surprisingly, Emin's observations lead Shaikh to a self-realization epiphany. 

Season 2. Episode 10: In this Episode with the looming possibility of quarantining in a hotel, Shaikh confronts his fear of hotels which is his underlying issue with traveling. Emin (@mrhajiyev) plays a counselor this week and tries to diagnose Shaikh's obsession with cleaners. It only motivates the cleaning addict to further plan and talk about Clorox wipes like they are semi-precious stones. They come to the conclusion that accepting your OCD is just easier and lazier than trying to find a solution.

Season 2. Episode 9. In this episode, Shaikh expresses his love for cleaning products on sale, buying them in bulk, and using them to reduce stress- basically trying to package his OCD. Emin (@mrhajiyev) asks if he has other forms of OCD like avoiding stepping on the cracks of sidewalk tiles, and brings Google search ‘OCD jokes' wisdom to the table. Emin analyzes relationship OCD, which Shaikh diagnoses as a psychological explanation for daddy issues.

Season 2. Episode 8. Security Blanket: Where Emin (@mrhajiyev) points out that Shaikh speaks about his blanket like he's having a private pillow talk session. The conversation about household staples continues with everything else the boys would need in their houses. Shaikh tried to convince Emin that an air fryer is not the way to settle. He discovers that Emin is a house nomad who thinks of house hopping like bar hopping- never get too cozy!

Season 2. Episode 7. Pots and PanShaikh's is touched by a customer service worker who went the extra mile to show him there was a pot on discount. Emin (@mrhajiyev) is surprised by Shaikh's love of being a hermit crab as Shaikh declares his favorite four B's- book, binge, blanket, and Bailey's. The discussion of dwellings continues with their home staples. Shaikh and Emin recall the childhood house rules and customs that have followed them into adulthood and some of the weird rituals and relics (pots) their moms refuse to let go of.