Podcasts about Bangkok

In this episode Derek Champagne talks with NY Times best selling author Liane Davey. Liane has spent more than 25 years researching and advising teams on how to perform at their best. Known as the “teamwork doctor,” she works with teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, across industries and around the world, from Boston to Bangkok. Through her work with hundreds of teams, including 26 Global Fortune 500 companies (and counting), she has developed a practical, research-backed approach to solving the challenges that prevent teams from working effectively together.Liane is a New York Times bestselling author of You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done and The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track. She is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and a sought-after expert for media outlets including CNN, NPR, USA Today, The Globe & Mail, and Forbes. Her work focuses on increasing productivity, strengtheningengagement, developing leaders, and helping teams navigate conflict in healthier, more effective ways.Liane's clients have included Amazon, Walmart, TD Bank, RBC, AMD, MD Anderson, Google, Bayer, KPMG, Aviva, UNICEF, and SONY Interactive Entertainment. While she works across a wide range of industries, she customizes every conversation to reflect the realities of each audience.In Thoughtload, Liane tackles today's most pressing management challenges: over-burdened systems, burned-out teams, and plateauing results. However, contrary to conventional wisdom, Davey argues that the problem is not with out-sized workloads. The root cause of the madness sapping productivity in today's offices is our excessive thoughtload.Thoughtload is the cumulative and often overwhelming burden of increasing cognitive and emotional demands, worsened by decreasing physical and mental energy. In this brilliant, highly prescriptive guide, Davey lays out the steps for reducing thoughtload, so that managers and their teams feel more focused―and get more done.For free resources and to order a copy of Thoughtload visit: Thoughtload.comBusiness Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576

APN had the pleasure of interviewing Cupnoodle - a Thai German independent singer-songwriter based in Bangkok, Thailand. She has been releasing the most delicious soul and jazz infused pop music since 2020 - writing from an in-between space fusing Asian and Western music styles, singing in English and Thai, and she is unafraid to be playful in her lyrics and music. Her latest single "A.I. CAN'T DO" is a track that celebrates how music is so human - something that cannot be replicated by AI, and will be alongside other singles such "Best Shot" in her upcoming album titled FARANG, which we learn all about in this interview. (2:28) Cupnoodle on her new single A.I CAN'T DO (6:39) The meaning behind the food themes across her music discography (8:01) Singing (and laughing!) in Thai and paying homage to "the land of smiles" :)

John Boseak explains why the cops are looking for him...⁣ ⁣ John's Links ⁣ https://boseak.myshopify.com⁣ https://www.patreon.com/Johnboseak?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink⁣ https://www.youtube.com/@UCn3VS6xIYN1_sn3ZBh0SHMw ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Do you want to be a guest? Fill out the form https://forms.gle/5H7FnhvMHKtUnq7k7⁣ ⁣ Send me an email here: insidetruecrime@gmail.com⁣ ⁣ Do you extra clips and behind the scenes content?⁣ Subscribe to my Patreon: https://patreon.com/InsideTrueCrime ⁣ ⁣ ⁣

Brendan Chareoncharutkun is the founder of Uncle's Thai Food, a freeze-dried curry brick brand based in New York. He got his start in food by working on farms around the world, learned to cook by working in restaurants in Bangkok, then came to New York to work in marketing, all while doing food pop-ups on the side. That experience and wisdom is combined in Uncle's, and today on the show, we go deep on everything it took to bring this brand to life—plus Brendan's new products in the works.  Also on the show, Matt has a great conversation with Chef Nelson German, author of the terrific new book Caribbean Cocktails. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was recorded Tuesday, June 9th, before the current 'deal' was floated. Given world events, we decided to post this episode immediately as a special release, and deal or not, this conversation is an excellent overview of the issues and stakes of this evolving situation. In a media environment constantly contradicting itself, with every side proclaiming the advantage for themselves, the reality of what's happening in the Middle East gets lost amidst the day-to-day headlines. But for analysts who have been monitoring the underlying trends of the geopolitical gameboard for years, the direction is clear: the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz will likely not fully resolve within the next few months. If we truly accept the consequences of this, how will our global economy – built on interconnected supply chains and cheap energy – adapt to a geopolitical order fracturing before our eyes?  In this episode, Nate is joined by Michael Every, Global Strategist at Rabobank, for an unflinching analysis of the Hormuz crisis and the fundamental principles pointing toward the Strait's closure for several more months. Michael walks through multiple scenarios – a TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out), NATO military action, Chinese intervention behind the scenes – and explains why none of them offer an easy exit. The conversation expands to explore what this crisis means for the future of global energy trade, the emergence of rival production blocs, the collapse of demand-side macroeconomics, and the surprising potential for a more equitable world to emerge from the chaos. If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed or mostly closed into September, which countries hit their breaking point first, and will the order in which they break fundamentally change the balance of geopolitical power? How does everyday life change when price signals stop working and access is defined by availability rather than cost? And if this crisis truly accelerates the fracturing of our hyper-connected, globalized world into polarized blocs of energy and production, how might the disruption, for better or worse, shake up nearly a century of the macroeconomic theory that has shaped every part of our lives?  (Conversation recorded on June 9th, 2026)   About Michael Every: Michael Every is a Global Strategist at Rabobank with over two decades of experience. He analyzes major financial developments and contributes to the bank's various economic research publications. Before Rabobank, he was a Director at Silk Road Associates in Bangkok, Senior Economist and Fixed Income Strategist at the Royal Bank of Canada in both London and Sydney, and an Economist for Dun & Bradstreet in London.   Show Notes and More   Watch this video episode on YouTube   Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie.   ---   Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future   Join our Substack newsletter   Join our Hylo channel and connect with other listeners  

NYU IHIF 2026 was full of insights and thought leadership from some of the best and brightest hospitality professionals in the industry.  In this episode of the Suite Spot, you will get to hear from some of the most influential and biggest names in hospitality in the exclusive interviews we were able to cover at the event.  NYU IHIF is the epicentre of hospitality brands, capital, and fast-paced dealmaking – opportunity moves fast, and so should you. This is where the rebound takes shape, where leaders uncover what's next, and where relationships turn into real transactions. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree and VP of Marketing here at Travel Media Group. Cassady Quintana: And I’m Cassady Quintana, Brand Ambassador here at TMG. Ryan Embree: And today we are fresh back from NYU IHIF 2026. My second time in attending this incredible event. Cassady, your first, what were your thoughts? Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I thought overall was a great event. A lot of optimism, especially as we’re heading into the summer season. So I thought, you know, the conversations that we heard on the panels and the ones that we were having with people were awesome, and a lot of you know, good things coming out of that. I feel like the biggest topics that I heard, there were three major takeaways I took from a lot of the panels and people we were talking to, but one being that K-shape economy that we’ve heard a lot about, right? We know that luxury is still outperforming while economy segments are feeling a little bit more of that pressure especially as we head into this summer season and looking at some of those trends. And then I think one of the biggest topics we have been talking about since the beginning of this year is the World Cup and how international travel we thought was gonna be booming. We were expecting a lot of busy hotels, but it’s kind of been on the softer side, and we’ve actually seen international travel dip a bit. So I think right now we’re kind of in that wait and see period of maybe you know people are waiting to see if their teams make it out of the group stages and then they’ll plan on booking a hotel. So keeping an eye on kind of that last minute travel. But the biggest topic that we were talking about a little bit last year, but the biggest one this year is AI and how hotels are using that within their systems. You know, there’s a lot of trends around using that for more personalization and being able to use it to look at your, you know, revenue optimization and how you’re performing online. So finding ways that we can use AI that doesn’t take the hospitality out of hospitality and doesn’t replace that human element. But that kind of went with that overarching theme of the entire event, which was sharpening the edge. So the thing I took from that is that the hotels that are really gonna win are the ones that are understanding their guests and using AI to further that, to further get to know their guests, to make that experience a little bit better. Ryan Embree: You know, and we had some incredible conversations and interviews with some professionals that we’re gonna share here in a second. But just to kind of jump on what Cassidy’s saying, we’re at a really cool inflection point in our industry right now as we go gear towards the busy travel season. So it’ll be interesting to see, you know, we had the opportunity to meet with development person from Minor hotels who’s looking to bring their brand into US and Canada, which will be very interesting. We know how they have a huge global footprint, a lot of interest early on in getting into the Americas. Uh, we then visited with AHLA and Kevin Carey and his team doing such wonderful work over there advocacy for our industry and some really cool initiatives that we were able to sit down with Kevin for a few minutes and chat about, uh, Jan Freitag from STR our hotel Data North Star and compass. They just released a revised forecast for the hospitality industry. So we went over some major points of that revised forecast and finally we got the opportunity to sit down with president and CEO Best Western Larry Cuculic. What a wonderful conversation about the best Western brand and how they are implementing, um, some of that AI and technology into their brand, and capitalizing on not only the World Cup, but also America 250. So wonderful insights that you’re only gonna find here on the sweet spot. Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy these exclusive interviews from NYU IHIF 2026. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Sweet Spot. We are live on location at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Genna, the VP of US and Canada Development for Minor Hotels. Genna, thank you so much for taking the time to stop and the busy big apple and talk with us today. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Excited about, this show. A lot of energy, a lot of buzz. You know, when you come to an NYU talking to ownerships, a lot of capital here, what are the conversation kind of stem around, and what does a successful NYU show look like as you head back to your home base? Sure. Genna Panagopoulos: Successful NYU would really be finding some deals, perpetuating some deals. So hopefully advancing some opportunities and it’s really all about for right now because we’re relatively new into the region. Educating our owners and the, the broader development community. So, you know, some of, some of the players do already know us, but in the luxury space, but there’s a lot of people we gotta get out in front of and introduce Minor hotels to. Ryan Embree: And this is a great place and, obviously a great city to do that in. What has been kind of the feedback? I mean, you’ve been tasked with this enormous job. We have such a great brand, worldwide, you’re bringing it here to us, Canada, and North America. What have been some of those initial conversations and hearing that and initial interest and feedback from owners? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah, we’ve had a lot of feedback and interest on Anantara. So some of our, you know, established luxury brands that are pretty well known when you know the luxury hotel space in a global environment. Sure. So those owners have actually come to us saying, we’re really excited about the opportunities here. So that’s one piece. Of course we have NH Hotels, NH collection, and NH, which are very well known brands, especially in Mediterranean, Europe. Yeah. And, Central and South America. So there’s excitement around that too. Ryan Embree: Does it help, I mean, having such an international brand, we got the World Cup here, right? In a couple months. You kind of using that as maybe some momentum as you kind of come into, and introduce this brand into the Americas. Genna Panagopoulos: Absolutely. There’s a lot of, you know, I’m also educating Minor of the markets we wanna be in and so that’s definitely helping as well and putting some places on the map. Ryan Embree: And let’s talk about that because there’s been some announced projects already right here actually in New York. Talk about that project a little bit. Genna Panagopoulos: Yes. Thanks for asking too. We have a Worsely Hotel that’s opening, here next year. It’s gonna be super exciting because Worsely is a restaurant brand that we are taking into the hotel space. So it’s the first of its kind and nowhere better than to start in New York comes from London. So there’s a lot of correlation between the two markets. Ryan Embree: One of a kind hospitality venue and a one of a kind city, so. Exactly. But another project we’re really excited about just ’cause we’re home based, obviously in Orlando right down the road, a bright line away in Miami. Talk to us a little bit about that project and how that’s different. Yeah, Genna Panagopoulos: It’s a high rise building built in Miami. Hasn’t started construction yet, but it’ll open in 2030. It’ll be an Anantara hotel with branded residences, both private branded residences and, um, ones that will be able to be rented to hotel guests as well. Super wellness oriented. There’s gonna be a really extensive spa. Right. Very experiential. Wonderful for the residents that are gonna be buying, the residence. Ryan Embree: It’s incredible. It sounds like you guys are really taking care of all of the kind of popular travel trends right now. Right. FMB has really had this resurgence in hospitality with the project here. Wellness, obviously a huge piece of what hospitality is leaning into and what travelers are looking forward to. So having that flexibility between the brands too, I’m sure is a definitely a fun place to be when having these conversations with owners. But you talked about another project in Turks and Caicos. Genna Panagopoulos: Turks and Caicos. So we have an Anantara in Turks and Caicos that I believe will open in 2029. So in order we’ll have one in New York next year, and then 29 on Ontario trips and Caicos 2030, Miami. Ryan Embree: So no shortage of news on the Minor Hotel side. Congratulations to you and your team. Thank you. As you wrap up, I mean, what’s your vision? What’s your goal? As you bring Minor Hotels into the North American region? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah. Well, if I think about next year at NYU, I hope people, more people are coming towards us. Excited about us being a different brand a different mindset. So we offer, we think of ourselves a little bit differently from the parent brands that are already established here because we have, you know, ownership still of most of our portfolio or we lease most of our portfolio. Um, so I hope there’s more inbound traffic coming towards my way. I hope people generally just walking down the street know us a little bit more. Certainly. You know, white Lotus helped us with Anantara, so there’s a lot of people who Oh, yes, are are diehard Anantara fans because of that. But that’s what I’m hoping for. And eventually we’d love to have an office here. So as long as we do our, our, our work, right, we, we get a strong pipeline, we’ll be able to have an office, a regional office in, in North America. Ryan Embree: Incredible. Well, super exciting. Can’t wait to catch up on all the exciting projects that you have at Minor Hotels. This is the first of a couple collaborations we’ll be doing with Minor hotels, so make sure you stay tuned. Congratulations again, Genna. And thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. We are live on location, New York City at NYU IHIF. I’m here with Kevin Carey, President and CEO of the AHLA Foundation and COO of AHLA. Kevin, not your first time on the Suite Spot. Appreciate you taking some time and joining me here today. Kevin Carey: It’s lways a pleasure to spend time with you. Ryan Embree: Yeah, it’s fun.Incredible event so far. NYU obviously AHLA, AHLA Foundation Forward has a huge presence here. What does, you know, when you come to the event like this, we always talk in hospitality, these events are always going to exist no matter what. Technology comes down the pike because hospitality, we’re people, right. We like connecting. What is a successful NYU IHIF look like for you and your team? Kevin Carey: Well, It’s always an important period of time in the year at, as we approach midyear to check in with our members, to have that conversation about the advocacy issues we’re leading on behalf of the industry to hear how the business performance is tracking as well. And just to build enthusiasm and engagement for the events and the initiatives that we’re leading, not only in the association, but with the foundation as well. Ryan Embree: And none more important than the No Room for Trafficking initiative that you and your team have done some fabulous work on. I mean, we have all sorts of brands up on stage, sometimes with differing opinions here and there, but one cause that everyone in our industry has really gotten behind, and it’s the work of you and your team, is this No Room for Rrafficking? We always like to spread awareness of this. Talk to us a little about, about on that front and the progress you’re seeing and making. Kevin Carey: Well, this is a longstanding commitment that the industry has to human trafficking prevention and awareness. It started in 2019 with the development of the No Room For Trafficking Initiative and its focus on training and expanded in 2022 to include the Survivor Fund. So this is an area where AHLA and the foundation specifically serves as a convening entity to bring the industry together to rally around this important issue to work, to build awareness that’ll drive prevention of human trafficking, and also to gather funds to help support survivors. So this is a commitment not only on a longstanding basis, but also on a going forward basis as well. Ryan Embree: And such inspiring stories that you’ve told over the years. And people, you know, hoteliers and other people listening to this can really get behind and encourage people to kinda look at that initiative. Another kind of initiative that you’ve done in these events that, when we’re talking about these events is forward. We had a record breaking attendance a couple months ago in the spring. Talk to us about how that is. And you actually have some of those the forward initiatives here at NYU. Kevin Carey: We do within the foundation, our mission is to advance the workforce of the industry. And we do that through a focus not only on the current workforce, those over 2 million associates and colleagues who deliver hospitality day to day, but also how do we attract the future workforce to the industry. I talked about being a convening entity. The foundation brings together the industry across all segments. And there’s two areas where we believe we can make a difference. One is around human trafficking that we just spoke about, but also around the forward initiative which is geared towards, and its purposes to advance women in the hospitality industry and in leadership roles in the hospitality industry. So we were delighted to host our most recent forward conference in Atlanta, back in April. And the results were outstanding but really the momentum and the impact that that forward is having is really, which has us so enthusiastic and committed to this initiative moving forward. Ryan Embree: Yeah, that’s gotta be so cool to see industry leaders in hospitality raise their hands and want to be a part of this movement and really see the results from that. Kevin Carey: Well, it’s grown from just being a conference, that started in 2018 and had about 150 people at the first event to now over 1100 attendees. But as it as it has expanded from a conference to a leadership development curriculum. And you mentioned the forward exchange, which took place, here in New York earlier today, where it brought together over a hundred early and mid stage career and professionals of women and some men who are participating along with their peers to focus on networking and building those relationships so they can be well suited and take on roles, over time in the industry. Ryan Embree: Really cool to see. And again, probably some incredible stories coming from that over the years as the as the initiative matures. One thing that, that hospitality in general, really looking forward to, we got big summer, right? We’re usually really excited about summer is just ’cause of the travel season, kids being outta school. But this summer in particular, we’ve been looking forward to for a couple years. We got World Cup on the horizon, finally. We played just a couple miles from here and in America 250. What are you kind of hearing from hoteliers and how are AHLA really, gearing up for these big events, showcasing our industry? Kevin Carey: Well, these are really defining opportunities, for the industry to support those guests to welcome that demand, to drive the hospitality infrastructure over time. So there’s a lot of enthusiasm around the potential that that represents and as we’ve seen on stage already today the results in the first part of the year for the industry have been positive. a number of the outlooks are increasing the Revpar and ADR and other industry metrics, here with the these large events we are still waiting to see some of the demand materialize and we’re in a critical period of time right now, about 10 days out before the games to see that hopefully what’ll be a late surge in bookings, then translate into further business success for the industry. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Hopefully, and hopefully see that international travel continue to come back to North America, you know, a lot of hoteliers, hoping for that. Zooming in a little bit on a AHLA summertime, also time for interns, right. Come in and we’ve talked about this before. I mean, internships, mentorship in hospitality. So critical. I mean, throughout the years we’ve had these staffing shortages and we’ve talked about getting creative, our industry, getting creative on ways to fill those roles, internships being one of them. Talk about a little bit about the AHLA internship program and what these interns are are ready for this summer. Kevin Carey: Well, it’s not new. We’ve had a well established program from a number of years now. And, and we’re excited annually to bring a number of interns into our team across each function. we’ll have an interns in the government affairs team, in marketing, in the foundation. it’s so refreshing to engage them in our work to see their enthusiasm about their future to see them pick up valuable skills and experience of being in an office environment, learning more. And you know what? They, they have a real impact. They have some fun along the way as well and we have a wonderful session at the end where they get to present the results of some of the work in the initiatives that they’ve been working on. So it’s an annual opportunity that we look very forward to. And they’ll be starting just in about a week’s time. so it’ll be a great another repeatevent for us. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Love to see it. You know, again, any way that we can have more exposure to all sides of hospitality. Beause as we know, it’s not just, you know, the front desk. There’s so many elements to it and there’s none more demonstrated by how big our hospitality industry is than by the hospitality show that you put on. And this year is gonna be right in our backyard. In Miami, Florida. Get us a little bit excited about what we can expect at this year’s fourth annual. This is our fourth Hospitality Show, correct? Kevin Carey: So we started in Vegas, went to San Antonio, we’re in Denver last year. A lot of enthusiasm coming out of Denver for the content. And then what’s unique about the hospitality show is it’s really the only conference in the industry with a focus on operations and how operations is driving profitability. So there’s a terrific enthusiasm and people are looking forward to being in Miami, coming together in Q4, all segments of the industry represented. So we’ll have the brands we’ll have management companies, owners, service providers, suppliers, independent hotels also play an important role in the industry. So we’re about to open registration and that’ll really kickstart, the focus on November 2-4 in Miami. Ryan Embree: Well we’re looking forward to it. We’re hoping to go 4/4 on covering the hospitality show. Especially with it being right there in our backyard. Kevin, we know you’re busy. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today on some of these important initiatives. And hopefully we’ll see you in Miami in just a few months. Kevin Carey: Hopefully I have something else on. Ryan Embree: Alright. Appreciate it. Thanks. Kevin Carey: Thank you so much. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Ryan Embree. here live at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Jan the National Director of Hospitality Analytics at CoStar. Jan, you were just on a panel. Thanks for taking the time to jump off and speak with us. Jan Freitag: Absolutely. Ryan Embree: State of the state, love the name obviously you’re the north star of hospitality data out there. Jan, revised forecasts just came out. Talk to us a little bit about those points that you were sharing with the audience today. Jan Freitag: So we’re suggesting that RevPAR this year is gonna grow 2.8%, which is very different from the way we looked at the world at the ALIS Hotel Investment Conference. First quarter performance was much more stronger than we had expected than the public traded companies had expected the brands or the …. And a lot of them have revised their year end forecast up. So, you know, we followed suit. Now they, most of them just revised their forecast by the outperformance of Q1. But we’re suggesting No, no, there’s momentum. So we actually took our forecast up by a lot more to 2.8%, 2% driven by ADR and 0.8 by occupancy, which is really good to see. ’cause it implies that demand is outpacing supply. You know, so we get occupancy gains and then some pricing power. Ryan Embree: Love to see that. I mean we were here a year ago with Amanda who is talking about trying to decipher through the noise, a lot of noise right now. But great to see the momentum with those revisions and so important to have those revisions because the landscape can change ever so rapidly as you know. But talking about the supply, talk to us a little bit, go into a little bit more in depth and then obviously every market is different. What markets right now are running a little bit hot on supply? Jan Freitag: Yeah, so fational forecast for Supply goes to 0.4%, not a whole lot. Right. The long run average is 1.6, so we’re well below that. The number of rooms in construction used to be between, we know, 150,000 – 160,000. It’s now 140,000. So it’s sort of staying there. It’s just so expensive to get anything done. And interest rates are still high and could go higher. Who knows, we’re not making interest rate forecast. But you know, there’s definitely no longer this idea of how we should cut, you know, interest rates twice this year or so. I think those days are gone, you know, and so now the question is, okay, so where are people getting things done? And you can look at it by markets. So a couple of them are usual suspects. So Nashville, very strong, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Phoenix. So those are markets sort of in the smile states, sort of in the Sunbelt that still get a lot of people moving there. And you know, migration determines the economic performance. And so we’re seeing a lot more room supply growth there, but there’re just a lot of markets where it’s very, very hard to get anything done because of that higher cost of construction and of the higher interest rate. So I would single out those markets, but overall the picture is rather muted. On the supply side. So what that means then, for existing owners is the time to renovate is right now percent. Because you want to be the new kid on the block with the new hotel, there’s not a lot of new competition coming. This is time to renovate and really put your best foot forward. Ryan Embree: A hundred percent. And you know, one of the other topics we talked about, or you talked about rather on stage was segments right now luxury, doing very, very well leading the way. Obviously a lot of bifurcation, that K-shaped economy. What are you seeing across the segments right now? Jan Freitag: Yeah, I mean there are no wrong answers in luxury, right? I mean, luxury last year was the winner. This year is the winner. We’re projecting, very healthy RevPAR growth double of what we’re saying for the nation. We think the luxury class can materialize. And then what’s really nice to see is that for upscale upper midscale midscale, there’s also RevPAR growth there, which we hadn’t seen last year. And to me that speaks to the strength really of the American economy. But it sort of permeates toward all income classes. Now the exception is was and unfortunately will be likely the economy sector now even there we’re suggesting RevPAR’s growing, but it’s just, you know, 0.8% call that flat for all intent and purposes. Ryan Embree: International travel too, obviously World Cup on the heels of this. What are you see any interesting data points there you wanna share just right ahead of the America 250 and World Cup? Jan Freitag: There are two very different vibes coming from the panel that I was on. Adam Sacks prior to US presenting was talking about, oh wow, international inbound is really still quite a bit lower than it was in 2019. But the gentleman from the NTTO, the National Travel Tourism Organization was like, no, we’re projecting rock and roll, really strong growth of international inbound. The truth is probably gonna somewhere in the tween this year. World Cup is gonna drive a lot of international travelers. What I’m wondering about though is are some of those travelers basically stealing from 2025 and from 2027 and now they’re saying, oh, let’s not go in 25, let’s go in 26. And then when next year comes around, they’re like, we just went to the us you know, and not go in 27 either. So I just hope that the more positive spin from the government comes true and this and, and not that we’re just sort of packing everything into this year and then international inbound is gonna deteriorate. Ryan Embree: So many interesting data points. Anyone in particular you have your eyes on where, you know, obviously we love a nice rosy outlook and try to look for opportunities through all of the data that’s out there, but anyone’s that are like unexpected data points or something that you’re at least keeping an eye on right now? Jan Freitag: Yeah, so there are a couple, but the one that I’m really focused on is consumer price index. Everything is getting more expensive and so that means that hotels will see their cost increase. And the big question then is how much of that cost increase can they pass on to the customer? And I just told you that our ADR forecast for this year is 2% and inflation is gonna be what, 3.5 or something? I mean, it’s gonna be much more than that outpacing that. So that’s really the crux and I think that’s what we here at NYU, to talk to owners and investors and management companies have figure out, okay, so how can we keep our margins expanding even maybe how do you do that in this environment where top line growth may be not keeping pace with with inflation. So the CPI number is really something I’m keeping an eye on. Ryan Embree: Yeah, pretty challenging time right now. when it comes to margins and hospitality that we, again, trying to suss out and figure out here, what are those maybe opportunistic data points that you’re seeing that you’re saying this, this is really good, maybe unexpected on the other end of the spectrum? Jan Freitag: Yeah, I think the Americans are wealthier than they ever have been. And Adam Sachs has this fascinating data point where he shows at the emerge that the middle class in America is shrinking, but part of it is because a lot more people are rich. So people are moving up the income chain and that allows ’em then to spend more money on experiences, very clear that people favor experiences over goods. And we are right in that Suite Spot. Ryan Embree: That continues to be the experience over stuff. We love to see that. And then you’re kind of here celebrating an anniversary/birthday of your podcast, is it? You know you’re, you’re usually, typically used to be in the host, not so much the guests, so thank you. Tell us a little bit more and maybe where our hotel audience can find the insights that you provide. Jan Freitag: Yeah, and thank you for having me. So we have our own podcast. My colleague Isaac Collazo from STR and myself get together once a month. It’s called Tell Me More, A Hospitality Data podcast. And three years ago at juniors across the street over cheesecake, we sort of hatched the idea. And so now we’re, I don’t know, like, you know, almost 30 episodes into it. And we get together once a month and we just sort of riff on the data and hopefully you can join us. Ryan Embree: I love it. That’s awesome. Well, Jan, thank you so much. Very busy time. Appreciate you stopping by and talking to us. Jan Freitag: My pleasure. Thank you so much. Ryan Embree: Alright. Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot. We are live at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Larry Cuculic, President and CEO of BWH Hotels. Larry, thank you so much for taking time outta your busy schedule to join us here on the Suite Spot. Larry Cuculic: It’s my absolute pleasure. Thank you for the invitation and for allowing me to share some thoughts with regard to the success and BWH hotels. Ryan Embree: Yeah. We’ve got a lot to cover cause you’ve got a lot going on right now. But let’s start with this event, right? NYU IHIF, lot of major brands here what does a successful NYU look like for you and your team? Larry Cuculic: To us, a successful NYU is interacting with developers and investors such that they’re aware of what BWH has become. We’re now 18 brands, over 4,000 hotels in over a hundred countries and territories from premium economy up to luxury hotels. We acquired world hotels about six years ago. And so it really is continuing to educate about the possibilities of their associating with BWH hotels because we would be singularly focused on their success if they partner with us. And you’re also in a powerhouse panel tomorrow, the Executive Exchange Hospitality Performance Strategies for Success give our audience a little bit a sneak peek of what you’re gonna be talking about on stage. Larry Cuculic: Well, we’re gonna be talking about of course, the economy near term as well as long term projections for what that looks like. we’ll be talking about the importance of loyalty programs. We’ll be talking about the impact of really the economy and things like labor insurance and how we as brands need to focus on the success of our hotels by offering them programs to really offset that impact on net RevPAR. Ryan Embree: And I’m sure one of the subjects and topics that we brought up on your panel, certainly something we talk about these hospitality events is, AI and technology. And we had the privilege of having SVP and your CTO Bill Ryan on at the Hospitality Show a couple months in October, gave us a little bit of lay of the land when it came to AI and technology. How do you feel personally that this technology is really changing the way that travelers choose hotels, but also how they have their hotel experience, their guest experience? Larry Cuculic: Sure. So the first thing we’re doing is we’re reinvesting in our .com as well as our app. And we want them to be easy to use intuitive, but we also wanna make sure they have content that convinces guests when they’re shopping that our hotels will provide them kind of that customization and personalization. ’cause it’s not about a commodity, a hotel room, it’s about all those things that we can offer. By way of example we’re partnering with an AI agency to kind of harvest content with regard to where our hotels are located in those communities. At the same time, we’ll take that harvested content and we’ll filter it through our hoteliers who live in those communities and create the content that will be the AI answer when somebody’s looking for a place to stay. And they’ll know that we want them to have the best possible time while we’re in that community, not just staying with us as a hotel, that we recognize that people don’t want just to stay, they want really a journey. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Something that we aspire in hospitality to provide that not just a hotel stay, but an experience. And we talked to Joelle Park about the power of storytelling and how that can play a component in one of the best stories, obviously that you just had a really exciting announcement with is America 250 and the story of this great nation. So talk to us a little bit about that partnership and what BWH Hotels is doing with America 250. Larry Cuculic: Well, we are a sponsor of America 250, and we’re encouraging our hoteliers to embrace the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. And part of that is not just USA 250, we also have the 100th anniversary of Route 66. We have hotels that have been with us, believe it or not, we have a hotel that’s been with us 75 years. And it speaks to the heritage of our brand. So we’ll be leaning into the history of this great country. At the same time we’ll be leaning into the history of our great brand and encouraging people to travel and see the United States and all that it has to offer no matter where you go. And the beauty of our hotels we have 2200 of them in North America and wherever they’re going to go, we want them to know that we have a hotel that will meet their travel leads such that they can experience really the 250th anniversary of USA. Ryan Embree: Yeah. It’s a really exciting partnership right in at an inflection point with the World Cup as well. So introducing maybe some international travel also to the brand and the nation. You know, you’re a great following on LinkedIn. I encourage our audience, if you haven’t, make sure you follow Larry, but one of the things you’re reflecting on your North American regional conferences that you’ve done up to this point in 2026 and you quoted to say that you want BWH hotels to become the most welcoming brand in the world. What does that mean to you and how is your team working to achieve that? Larry Cuculic: Well, welcoming means that we’re gracious hosts, but it also means that we’re, I’ll call it easy to do business with understanding, being flexible and recognizing that we are somebody you’d want to be partners with. Whenever anyone walks into a hotel we should tell them, you know, welcome, we’re glad you’re here by way of example. But I used to think of it that way in terms of being gracious host and everything that happens at the hotel, but when I think of welcoming, I also want to think about our new.com and app. Again, it’s that ease of use and personalization so that when you go there, we know it’s you and we want to help you make good decisions with regard to travel. So welcoming is about ease of.com, the app we’re redoing our loyalty program. I think Joel probably talked to you about that. And we want the loyalty program to be welcoming as well. Well, what does that mean? Well, that means that when you interact with us, you’ll know how many points you have. You’ll know they never expire. You’ll know that you can use them to buy down the price of a room at any point. That you don’t have to, to have as many points for a full stay to leverage those points. It’s a value of the program. And of course welcoming. I always lean into the importance of being not just a gracious host, but somebody that appreciates our guests. To me, that’s welcoming because you have to recognize that people, they’re traveling with their families, it’s something that you wanna leave a terrific impression on them and their family. And you also want them to know that we appreciate that they’ve spent their hard-earned money staying with us. To me, that’s being appreciative gracious hosts. And that’s part of the welcoming. It’s not, the welcoming doesn’t just happen when they enter. Welcoming has to be entire stay. Ryan Embree: So key. And the brands that kind of make that connection with their travelers, especially in a time where, I mean, we just talked about in this interview AI technology, there’s way more places become disconnected, to find that connection, that human to human connection. Very important right now. So as we wrap up the interview, obviously at these events we’re always, whether it’s the hospitality data we’re looking into, whether it’s a conversation, we’re always trying to take a glimpse into the future, trying to predict that future. Larry what do you see, what’s your vision for the future of BWH Hotels. Larry Cuculic: People will always wanna travel. And for us, if we can become that welcoming brand that appreciates our guests, we will build that loyalty. When we build that loyalty, that program will grow. Our revenue delivery brand direct will grow which is the lowest cost for us in terms of that reservation for our hoteliers but what I think I would also offer to you is we’re also very focused on thoughtful growth. And what that means is if you grow your loyalty program, you also wanna make sure you have hotels that are in locations where guests want to go. Be it London, be it Rome, be it Frankfurt, be it Bangkok, no matter where it is around the world. And so, you know, we have a, a focus goal of 5,000 hotels, which means we will grow thoughtfully, but with our guests in mind. And because when we have a hotel join us, our sole focus is the success of that hotel as well as having a quality hotel where guests want to go. Ryan Embree: That’s awesome. Well, we wish you nothing but success. Hopefully maybe can join the Suite Spot when that 5,000 hotel opens and we can celebrate that together. But in the meantime, thank you, Larry, for taking the time out of your day to join us here on the Suite spot. Larry Cuculic: Well, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. Very much appreciate it. Speaker 2: To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five star reading on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.

Music is part of the backdrop to millions of meals every day. But what if it is doing more than simply creating atmosphere?In this episode of The Food Chain, Rumella Dasgupta explores the growing evidence that sound can shape the way we experience food and drink. From scientists studying how the brain combines hearing and taste, to chefs designing dishes around playlists, we ask whether music has become an ingredient in its own right.Chef Gaggan Anand explains why music sits at the centre of his restaurant in Bangkok, where sound, lighting and food are carefully choreographed into a single experience. Cognitive neuroscientist Ophelia Deroy shares research showing how music can influence our perception of sweetness, bitterness and texture, and explains why flavour is far more than what happens on the tongue.We also hear from Ola Sars, founder of the business music platform Soundtrack, whose company helps restaurants, cafés and hotels tailor the music they play. He shares research suggesting that the right soundtrack can influence customer behaviour and even affect sales.But not everyone is convinced. Dan Keeling, co-owner of London's Noble Rot restaurants and a former music industry executive who signed artists including Coldplay and Lily Allen, explains why he has chosen not to play music in his dining rooms at all.From silent restaurants to carefully curated playlists, from neuroscience labs to commercial dining rooms, we explore the increasingly important role sound plays in the way we eat.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

The connection between Danno Hanks and John Mark Karr stems from an episode of the true-crime podcast The Opperman Report, titled "Danno Hanks returns - John Mark Karr," which aired on May 31, 2026. [1, 2]Key Contextual BreakdownDanno Hanks: A prominent, former celebrity private investigator and regular guest on independent investigative podcasts. He frequently provides insight into high-profile criminal cases, dark underworld networks, and intelligence leaks.John Mark Karr: An American former schoolteacher who gained global infamy in August 2006. He was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, after falsely confessing to the 1996 murder of six-year-old child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey. [1, 2]The Podcast Topic: In this specific broadcast, Hanks joins host Ed Opperman to dissect the background, psychology, and lingering anomalies surrounding Karr's infamous false confession. [1, 2]Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

 What was it like to grow up American in 1968 Bangkok, living in the shadow of the Vietnam War? In this episode, I sit down with author Daria Sommers to discuss her debut historical fiction novel, Sawadika American Girl — a coming-of-age story set against one of history's most turbulent eras. Daria shares the little known story of the vast American expat community in Thailand during the Vietnam War, the experience of being a "third culture kid," and how storytelling and art can heal even the deepest historical wounds. A must-listen for fans of historical fiction, Vietnam War history, and the power of narrative to reclaim hidden stories.[3:44] Introduction to Sawadika American Girl — historical fiction set in 1968 Bangkok[4:36] The American expat community in Thailand during the Vietnam War[5:48] Piper's backstory — loss, family tension, and dislocation[8:59] The role of friendship and freedom in a coming-of-age story[14:56] Music, healing, and the Thai prince who anchored it all[17:45] First love during wartime — Jack's story and what they were up against[21:34] Daria's own background as a third culture kid in Bangkok[23:02] The burden of a childhood you couldn't talk about[32:16] Returning home — finding your people after a third culture childhood[39:06] From documentary filmmaker to veteran's advocate — the making of Lioness[44:36] Speaking at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — when hidden stories finally matter[50:17] Where to find Sawadika American Girl and follow Daria's workDaria's websiteSupport the show

Today we'll be talking a verdict being passed after 11 years in the long delayed Erawan shrine bombing, then in crime news we have a Pattaya restaurant dispute as well as a dispute on the hockey rink, also an alleged Nigerian drug kingpin has been arrested in a Bangkok raid, in Udon Thani a batch of noodle soup sends 13 people to the hospital, and a little later in some feel good news Chinese tourists are flocking to a canal-side community thanks to the popularity of a Chinese TV show.

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Today we'll be talking about a nightmare come to life as a Lao man perishes after a lift falls at an abandoned Pattaya Hotel, then the hunt is on for a mission 6 million baht lottery ticket, after that we head to Phuket where rambunctious behavior includes massive property damage and public indecency, speaking of indecency, a Bangkok man has been arrested for repeatedly making sexual advances against... his mother? And after that we'll need a palate cleanser with some feel good news in the form of new landmarks to explore.

Dans ce nouvel épisode du podcast Le Son du Voyage, nous partons à la découverte de Bangkok, sa région et le nord de la Thaïlande.

In this episode, Greg interviews legendary foreign correspondent Denis Gray about his memoir, Lost Horizons. Denis details his fascinating life story, beginning with his family's escape from communist Czechoslovakia and his father's subsequent intelligence work for the CIA. After graduating from Yale, Gray served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, an intense experience that inspired his transition into journalism with the Associated Press. The next few decades saw Denis covering critical global conflicts, focusing heavily on the Indochina wars. He highlights the extreme challenges of reporting on the Khmer Rouge genocide from the Thai-Cambodian border, noting how a lack of visual media at the time left these historical atrocities largely forgotten by the wider world. Greg and Ed then discuss the immense psychological weight of Gray's memories. Ed expresses a mix of awe and relief, admitting he is glad he never had to face such immense dangers himself. Ultimately, both hosts agree that Gray's career represents a rare, vanishing breed of war correspondence, emphasizing the vital importance of preserving these profound, first-hand historical accounts. For a more visual discussion, see a video of Dennis' book launch and Q&A at the Foreign Correspondent's Club here in Bangkok.  

Avec Karim, Antho et Teddy !Cette semaine dans Culture et Postillons, on découvre qu'un championnat du monde de Scrabble peut réunir des centaines de participants pendant plusieurs jours, qu'un policier américain peut s'obstiner malgré une preuve pourtant évidente... et que certains humoristes sont en train de devenir incontournables.Au programme : les roasts qui débarquent sur Netflix, Paul de Saint-Sernin, Kev Adams à America's Got Talent, une incroyable histoire de contrôle routier aux États-Unis, un concours aussi sérieux qu'improbable à Bangkok et une plongée dans l'ultracrépidarianisme, ce mot compliqué qui décrit un comportement que vous avez probablement déjà croisé.Si vous aimez apprendre des choses inutiles mais indispensables, tester votre culture et assister à des débats parfaitement inutiles entre gens de mauvaise foi, vous êtes au bon endroit.Enjoy^^Marcus

Brad Thor has sold over 25 million thriller books. Tim Shipman welcomes Brad Thor on Spybrary to discuss Choke Point, the 25th Scot Harvath thriller, and the evolution of Scott Harvath from post-9/11 counterterrorism operator. Thor explains how the new novel uses Thailand, China's ambitions, the Strait of Malacca, sabotage, bomb-making, and geopolitical manipulation as the backdrop for a fast-moving thriller. The conversation also digs into Thor's writing process, his research network of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and diplomatic sources, and how he builds authentic detail even when he has not personally visited a location. Thor reflects on his early career as a travel show host, the honeymoon conversation that pushed him to write his first novel, his friendship with Vince Flynn, the collaborative thriller Cold Zero with Ward Larsen, and the Netflix film adaptation currently in development. Key Topics and Themes Brad Thor's 25th Scot Harvath thriller, Choke Point China's Belt and Road Initiative and global infrastructure influence Thailand, the Strait of Malacca, and the strategic value of a Thai canal The evolution of Scot Harvath Post-9/11 thriller fiction and the rise of the American action-spy hero Real-world tradecraft, bomb-making research, and responsible thriller detail Writing geopolitical thrillers that teach readers something without slowing the pace Bangkok as an underused spy-fiction setting Collaboration with Ward Larsen on Cold Zero The Netflix adaptation of Cold Zero British spy-fiction influences: Fleming, le Carré, Forsyth, MacLean, Deighton Brad Thor Official Website Follow Tim Shipman Buy Choke Point The Top 125 Spy Authors Ranked and Rated by Tim Shipman Join the Spybrary Community

Russ is Professor Emeritus of Theatre at the University of Louisville where he was Founding Director of its Peace, Justice & Conflict Transformation program. Before joining UofL he led Chicago's Northlight Theatre as Artistic Director for over a decade. Dr. Vandenbroucke was also on the artistic staffs of the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Plays he has directed, written, or produced have been seen around the country and broadcast on radio or television. Many reflect his long commitment to peace and justice. So do courses he taught at UofL. He was a Rotary Foundation Peace Fellow in Bangkok and a conscientious objector during Vietnam war. Russ Vandenbroucke current writes opinion pieces syndicated by PeaceVoice, a program of the Oregon Peace Institute.

A security guard in Bangkok was busted after breaking into a Buddhist temple's donation boxes. His method of concealment included a cloth over his head and ... chanting a concealment spell he believed would prevent others from noticing him. Spell didn't take, the guard was arrested.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La quarantaine seule à Bangkok. Dormir dehors à Barcelone pour une collab. Un semi-marathon de nuit dans la chaleur et l'humidité — seule, sans personne pour applaudir. 3 expériences qui m'ont appris une seule chose : je peux tout faire.

Nous voici dans le Pacifique, en Nouvelle-Calédonie, les élections provinciales se dérouleront à la fin du mois de juin. Un épisode de plus dans le parcours chaotique et violent de l'île. Il y a 2 ans, la Nouvelle Calédonie basculait dans le chaos sur fond de réformes électorales contestées. Bilan : 14 morts. Les Calédoniens sont aujourd'hui profondément divisés mais ils rêvent d'un destin commun. En 2è partie, Valentin Cebron nous rend compte de l'engouement pour la course à pied en Thaïlande. Nouvelle-Calédonie : l'archipel des colères  Il y a deux ans, la Nouvelle-Calédonie basculait dans la violence sur fond de réforme électorale contestée. Dans cet archipel français du Pacifique Sud, inscrit sur la liste des pays non autonomes de l'ONU. Les violences feront alors 14 morts et au moins 2 milliards d'euros de dégâts ; elles rouvriront aussi les blessures des année 80, lorsque la Nouvelle-Calédonie avait plongé dans une quasi guerre civile. Fin juin 2026, les Calédoniens sont appelés aux urnes pour élire les dirigeants qui devront discuter du futur de l'archipel alors que toutes les discussions entre indépendantistes et non-indépendantistes ont jusqu'ici échoué. Des Calédoniens aujourd'hui profondément divisés, mais qui rêvent tout de même de reconstruire un destin commun. Un Grand reportage de Charlotte Mannevy qui s'entretient avec Jacques Allix. Course à pied et run clubs ont la cote chez les Thaïlandais  Je cours, tu cours, nous courons : la fièvre de la course à pied est devenue un phénomène mondial. Occasionnels, réguliers, compétiteurs ; ils et elles seraient entre 200 et 600 millions à mouiller le maillot. La Thaïlande est un bon exemple de cet engouement. Dans les parcs de Bangkok, sur les sentiers de montagne ou les pistes d'athlétisme, les coureurs sont partout : seuls ou, de plus en plus souvent, en groupes. Car la course à pied – le running - est aussi devenu un moyen de tisser des liens. D'où l'explosion des clubs spécialisés : on y vient pour courir, se faire des amis, parfois tomber amoureux. Les marques, -sportives ou non,- elles aussi, courent… après le client. Un Grand reportage de Valentin Cebron qui s'entretient avec Jacques Allix.

“Objects in museums have to come from somewhere. The stories of how they came to be in those collections often involve laws being broken, unethical behaviour, and extreme violence.” — Matthew Campbell Imagine a gay Jeffrey Epstein who set up shop in Thailand. Only rather than peddling young girls, he traded in bodybuilders and priceless antiquities. That's the story of the British émigré Douglas Latchford, the subject of Matthew Campbell's new book The Man Who Stole the Gods. It's the true story of a man who was born in the last days of the British Raj, made his fortune in Bangkok, became the world's leading dealer of Khmer antiquities, and was indicted for criminal conspiracy in 2019. Campbell's tale is simultaneously a crime story, a history of Cambodia, and a parable about the relationship between Western wealth and the world's cultural heritage. The Khmer Empire, which dominated Southeast Asia from the ninth to the fifteenth centuries, produced one of the finest civilisations of the medieval world. Angkor in the twelfth century had 750,000 people — making it ten times the size of London. After the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, every Khmer site in Cambodia was systematically looted. The pieces went to the Metropolitan Museum, to Christie's, to private American collectors. Latchford was the central conduit. The Jeffrey Epstein enabler. Like Epstein, Latchford got away with it for years. Unlike Epstein, he died a free man, even chalking up a 2020 New York Times obituary as a Khmer antiquities expert. Five Takeaways •       Douglas Latchford: The British Jeffrey Epstein of Asian Art: Born in the last days of the British Raj, educated in the UK, Latchford made his fortune in Bangkok and became the world's leading dealer of Southeast Asian antiquities — selling pieces for millions of dollars to the Metropolitan Museum, Christie's, and wealthy American collectors. He presented himself as an expert and connoisseur. He gave to universities and lent to exhibitions. He received a glowing obituary in the New York Times in August 2020. The dark side: he was, Campbell shows, the central organiser of a decades-long criminal conspiracy to loot Cambodia's cultural heritage. He was indicted in 2019 but died before he could be extradited. •       The Khmer Empire: 750,000 People When London Had 40,000: The Khmer Empire dominated Southeast Asia from the ninth to the fifteenth centuries, ruling directly or indirectly over what is now Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and parts of Malaysia. Its capital, Angkor, had 750,000 people in the twelfth century — when London had 40,000 at the absolute outside. The Khmer built extraordinary temple cities — Angkor Wat is only the most famous — and produced remarkable stone and bronze sculpture. Every single Khmer site in Cambodia was systematically looted. The pieces all went somewhere. A great many came to the West. •       The Vietnam War, Nixon, Kissinger, and the Conditions for Genocide: The Vietnam War is central to Campbell's story. The Ho Chi Minh Trail ran partly through Cambodia, making Cambodia of great interest to Nixon and Kissinger. Beginning in 1968, large-scale American bombing of Cambodia — ostensibly aimed at destroying a supposed communist headquarters that, Campbell notes, never actually existed — helped destabilise the country and created the conditions in which the Khmer Rouge could emerge. The Khmer Rouge ideology: Pol Pot believed civilisation needed not to be reformed but erased. A blank slate. Rebuild from zero. •       The Museum World's Complicity: The Sackler Parallel: The Metropolitan Museum of Art features prominently in Campbell's account. Objects in museums have to come from somewhere — the works in the Met did not originate in New York. How they came to be in those collections often involved laws being broken, unethical behaviour, and extreme violence. Campbell draws a parallel with Patrick Radden Keefe's account of the Sacklers: the more investigative journalists look at the wealthy donors and private collectors associated with major cultural institutions, the more troubling the stories that emerge. The museum world has a serious provenance problem. •       The Happy Ending: Repatriation and the National Museum in Phnom Penh: Latchford was indicted in 2019 for criminal conspiracy. He died in 2020, in a monastery in Northern Thailand, before he could be extradited. He never went to trial. But the recovery effort — a remarkable collaboration between Cambodia and the US Department of Justice — tracked down hundreds of stolen objects through meticulous detective work. The pieces have been returned to Cambodia. The National Museum in Phnom Penh now has so many repatriated objects that it is running out of room and may need to build a new wing. As Campbell says: that's a good problem to have. About the Guest Matthew Campbell is an award-winning investigative journalist at Bloomberg Businessweek. He is the author of The Man Who Stole the Gods: A True Story of War, Obsession, and a Global Art Conspiracy (Portfolio/Penguin Random House, June 2, 2026) and co-author, with Kit Chellel, of Dead in the Water (a Book of the Year in The Economist, Financial Times, and The Times; called a ‘masterpiece' by the New York Times). A 2025 Jonathan Logan Family Foundation Fellow at New America, Campbell has reported from more than 25 countries. He lives in Singapore. References: •       The Man Who Stole the Gods: A True Story of War, Obsession, and a Global Art Conspiracy by Matthew Campbell (Portfolio/Penguin Random House, June 2, 2026). •       Dead in the Water by Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel (2022) — the preceding book, referenced at the opening. •       Patrick Radden Keefe, Empire of Pain — referenced as a parallel account of museum world complicity. •       The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York — a central institution in the Latchford network. •       Cambodia's National Museum, Phnom Penh — the destination of the repatriated objects. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,900 episodes since the...

 Click the post for details on this episode! Welcome back to Open House! Randy Seidman here with another two hours of the grooviest beats. Been a busy one in the studio this past month, brewing up some new jams. Coming up, I’m kicking off a big summer stretch – starting with Jungle Experience in Koh Phangan at the end of June, then Baccarat in Bangkok, followed by shows in Yeosu and Seoul in July, and wrapping things up with my return to Red Ruby in Bali on August 1st. Today’s episode is a special one with some of my favorite tunes in the first hour, followed by an exclusive session with the Seoul-based selector, Ruta. For now, turn it up! Randy Seidman’s WebsiteRandy Seidman’s SoundCloudRandy Seidman’s BeatportRandy Seidman’s SpotifyRandy Seidman’s FacebookRandy Seidman’s Twitter Randy Seidman’s Track List:01. Vintage Culture – Strange Feelings (Extended) [Vintage Culture]02. Silver Ivanov, DJ Burlak, MAGGY – Be The Change (Silver Ivanov Remix) [World Up Records]03. Andrea Lane – If You Really Love Me (Original Mix) [Finally Records]04. Beki M – In The Morning (Extended Mix) [There Was Jack]05. Bonka – I Like It (Qubiko Extended Remix) [Central Station Records]06. DONT BLINK – DONT GIVE A (Extended Mix) [Sink or Swim]07. David Novacek, HO LE – Musica (Extended Mix) [Mukoko Groove]08. Dilby, Trice Be – Feel It (Extended Mix) [Glasgow Underground]09. Elliot Starr – Eternity (DANROS Extended Remix) [PHONO SOUNDS UK]10. Nelly Furtado – Say It Right (ID Remix) [White Label]11. Techcrasher, No Hopes, Capital Boy – Breathe You In (No Hopes Remix) [Capitalism Music]12. Croatia Squad – Into the Night (Extended Mix) [Sirup Music]13. Darin Epsilon, Marc DePulse – Aerodyne (KIKO Remix) [Perspectives Digital]14. Watzgood – BOUNCE (Extended) [Parade Records] I hope you enjoyed the first hour with some of my top recent tunes. Up next is a special exclusive session with the talented Seoul-based artist, Ruta. Drawing on a musical foundation rooted in guitar, Ruta crafts a sound that weaves together Indie Dance, Progressive House, Tech House, and Melodic Techno into something deeply emotional and club-ready at the same time. Ruta is a fixture at Korea’s biggest festivals such as World DJ Festival, Waterbomb, and Supernova. He is now stepping out as a solo artist after years of work under the Stefano x Ruta banner. But today, he is here just for you. Ruta’s Instagram InstagramRuta’s Instagram SpotifyRuta’s Instagram SoundCloud Ruta’s Track List:01. Ruta – ID [Unreleased]02. Pavel Petrov, Christian Nielsen – Blame (Original Mix) [Diynamic]03. DEPARTAMENTO – CRAZY (EXTENDED MIX) [TROUBLE DANCING]04. HIGHLITE, Peredel – She’s A Freak (I Ain’t Crazy) (Extended Mix) [Get Physical Music]05. Marina Maximilian, Adam Ten, Mita Gami – Million Pieces (Kino Todo Remix) [Maccabi House]06. Moontalk – Two Step (Original Mix) [MAHOOL]07. Gabss – Vibrate (Extended Mix) [Club Sweat]08. Blank Sense, Tobias Gerard – Go (Extended Mix) [Black Book Records]09. Ruta, Better – ID [Unreleased]10. Gorgon City – Are You Feeling It Too? (Extended Mix) [REALM Records]11. Tiga – Mind Dimension (Ben Sterling Remix) [Different]12. Ryan Lucian, Jas. – Heart Starts Beating (Extended Mix) [Enhanced Recordings]13. Marsh – Warrior (Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep]14. Moonman, Ferry Corsten, Joris Voorn – Don’t Be Afraid (Original Mix) [Spectrum (NL)]

Je cours, tu cours, nous courons : la fièvre de la course à pied est devenue un phénomène mondial. Occasionnels, réguliers, compétiteurs ; ils et elles seraient entre 200 et 600 millions à mouiller le maillot. La Thaïlande est un bon exemple de cet engouement. Dans les parcs de Bangkok, sur les sentiers de montagne ou les pistes d'athlétisme, les coureurs sont partout : seuls ou, de plus en plus souvent, en groupes. Car la course à pied – le running - est aussi devenu un moyen de tisser des liens. D'où l'explosion des clubs spécialisés : on y vient pour courir, se faire des amis, parfois tomber amoureux. Les marques, -sportives ou non,- elles aussi, courent… après le client. « Course à pied et run clubs ont la cote chez les Thaïlandais », un Grand reportage de Valentin Cebron. Réalisation : Jérémie Boucher.

Sebastian Jara is not new to this [fragrance content]; he's true this. Since 2012, he's been creating videos, and today his YT channel boasts over 335K subscribers. Now he's onto the next venture. After years of attending perfume trade shows all over the world, Sebastian has created his own and it's called ScentFEST. And the inaugural show is happening in just 3 weeks in SF! (June 26-28, 2026)We chat all about what can you expect at the show, highlights from his 6000-bottle personal collection, the evolution of fragrance content over the last decade, and all the roads that led him here!FOLLOW: @theperfumeguy (on all channels)~PERFUME ROOM WEST COAST TOUR OF LOVE!~linktr.ee/emmavernStop 1 ~ LA: Smells Like Love (June 20) NOW CASTING!Stop 2 ~ Monterey: WPC (June 22-25)Stop 3 ~ SF: ScentFEST (June 26-28)****SOTD: Parfums MDCI Un Coeur en Mai (get 10% off code: perfumeroom)FRAGS MENTIONED:Angelos Créations Olfactives Soma Panorama, EM Molecule 01, Alrehab Choco Musk, YSL Rive Gauche, Madame Rochas, YSL Opium, Polo Green, Caron Pour Un Homme, Pierre Cardin, Guy Laroche Drakkar Noir, Chrome Azzaro, JPG Le Male, D&G Pour Homme, Jo Malone: Orange Blossom, Vetyver, Black Vetyver Cafe, Blue Agave & Cacao, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir, Wild Fig & Cassis; Mugler A*Men, Cologne; Penhaligon's, Annick Goutal, Mugler Angel, Sarah Baker Jungle Jezebel, Massimo Dutti White Evening, Jusbox Fifty Four, BLNDGRPHY Vanilla Mudslide, Trudon 45°, Sarah Baker VaVa Vanilla, Dusita Light of Bangkok, Pesad Orris Cocoon, Dior Homme (orig.), Hugo Boss Bottled Absolu, Le Male Elixir, Loumari Radanfor, JPG Le Male, Guerlain Guerlinade, Jean-Louis Scherrer, Lancome Magie Noire, Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte, Eau de Gucci, Carine Roitfeld Carine, Houbigant Fougère Royale (1884), Coty Ambre Antique (1904), Chanel No. 5 (1921), Guerlain Mitsouko (1919), Caron Tabac Blond (1919), Molinard Habinita (1924), kyphi from ancient Egypt 

Jason Mayfield has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Mayfield. Jason was propelled into his travel life as a high school student on a 5 week school trip to Siberia and he never looked back. Jason finished 193 in 2016 but has been travelling continually since then. Jason will be attending the ETF and you will be able to meet him in Bangkok. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons. You know them, you love them! Bisa "fully nomadic" Myles, Ted Nims, Adam "one-away" Hickman, Steph "Phuket" Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Philippe "BC" Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Peter Fenger, Mihai Dascalu, Ryan Knott, Zipping Around The World Podcast, Shawn McDonough, and McCade Siegal for supporting this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com/CountingCountries. My patrons will hear the entire conversation with Jason. Please remember the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be on October 22-25 in 2026. You can join the event and use the code BANGKOK. Excited to announce a new speaker to the ETF, Michelle Cabrera. Want to know her story? Check out this IG reel to hear her madcap adventure. Consider joining our Instagram and Facebook groups and signing up for the ETF newsletter. Any questions, please let me know. I was in Bangkok while Jason was in Washington DC for this recording. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons - you rock!! … Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Adam Hickman, Steph Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Philippe Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Peter Fenger, Mihai Dascalu, Ryan Knott, Zipping Around The World Podcast, Shawn McDonough and McCade Siegal. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! More about Jason Mayfield Counting Countries: 196 Stories Blog Books And check out Thor Pedersen: The Impossible Journey (Amazon US Kindle (affiliate)): https://amzn.to/46pRuDi Other book options: Thor Pedersen | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree And Barry Hoffner: Belonging To The World (affiliate) About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who've spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter's Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com How Many Countries Are There? Well… that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 330 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1381 regions. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 1500 unique parts of the world. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. And the video that explains it all! Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: There are affiliates in this post. Jason Mayfield Counting Countries

What does it take to visit every country in the world? In this episode, I'm joined once again by Ric Gazarian – aka Global Gaz – host of the Counting Countries podcast and founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok. We talk about the tiny global community of extreme travellers – people chasing all 193 UN countries… and beyond. How many people have actually done it? What kind of personalities dedicate years – sometimes decades – to this quest? And what happens when visiting every country once isn't enough? We also dive into the Extraordinary Travel Festival – a unique gathering of travellers, adventurers, nomads, content creators, and curious wanderers from around the world. You'll hear about: The surprisingly tight-knit "tribe" of extreme travellers Why Ric created Extraordinary Travel Festival The people who've visited every country in the world… twice… or even three times Why you don't need 150+ countries to feel welcome at ETF Travel content creation, documentaries, books, and storytelling Why travel community matters more than country counting Whether you're an armchair traveller, a digital nomad, a casual explorer, or someone secretly plotting your own 193-country mission – this one is for you. Relevant Links: Extraordinary Travel Festival: https://www.extraordinarytravelfest.com GlobalGaz: https://globalgaz.com/ Counting Countries Podcast: https://globalgaz.com/counting-countries/  Nomad Mania: https://nomadmania.com/ Every Passport Stamp (Facebook Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/everypassportstamp Extraordinary Travel Festival 3 Bangkok, Thailand 22–25 October 2026 Get $100 off your ETF ticket with promo code: VAGABOND (Discount decreases as the event gets closer.)

What if your money could fund the future you actually want to live in? That is the question Alix Lebec has spent her career trying to answer. On Getting Rich Together, host Syama Bunten sits down with Alix, founder of Lebec, a firm built to mainstream innovative finance and put more capital to work on some of the world's biggest problems. Alix grew up between France, South Korea, and China before finishing high school in Dallas, Texas. That global upbringing shaped everything about how she sees money, risk, and opportunity. She built her career inside global development, philanthropy, and asset management before launching Lebec during the height of the pandemic to bridge the gap between traditional finance and meaningful change. The conversation gets into the real mechanics of innovative finance strategies, including how blended finance can turn $1 million in philanthropy into $50 million in private investment capital that would otherwise sit on the sidelines. Alix breaks down why women in impact investing are not choosing between returns and values, and why that false choice has kept too many people out of the room for too long. Lebec operates across three pillars. The first is strategic advisory. The second is a boutique investment manager that builds diversified portfolios of private market funds across sectors like water, oceans, and deforestation. The third is narrative change through commercial film and storytelling, where innovative finance structures put capital directly in the hands of social entrepreneurs. Alix is also raising a $1 million seed round to scale the vision. This episode is for any woman who has ever wondered whether her money can do more. Impact investing for women is no longer a niche conversation. It is becoming one of the most important conversations in finance. And if you are ready to take it further, join Syama and the Wealth Catalyst community at the Freedom Tour salons happening in cities across the country, or at the Wealth Catalyst Summit on October 16 in San Francisco. Find your seat at wealthcatalyst.com.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Welcome to Getting Rich Together 02:48 Growing Up Across Three Continents 20:01 From Documentary Filmmaking to the World Bank 26:15 Money, Salary Negotiations, and Early Financial Lessons 30:36 Fieldwork in Bangkok and the Shift Toward Social Entrepreneurship 40:25 Joining the Clinton Global Initiative and Discovering Impact Investing for Women 43:42 The "Bleeding Heart" Mindset and the Real Cost of Mission-Driven Work 45:40 Why the Scarcity Mindset in Impact Work Has to Go 50:29 Building Lebec and the Case for Innovative Finance 59:23 How Alix Spends Her Money and What She Is Building Next   Connect with Alix Lebec: Visit the Lebec website   Find more from Syama Bunten: Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/ Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/ Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits Speaking: https://syamabunten.com Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Hvad skal der egentlig til for at besøge alle verdens lande? I denne episode får jeg igen besøg af Ric Gazarian – også kendt som Global Gaz – vært på podcasten Counting Countriesog manden bag Extraordinary Travel Festival i Bangkok. Vi dykker ned i den lille, globale verden af ekstreme rejsende – mennesker, der jagter alle 193 FN-lande … og nogle gange endnu mere end det. Hvor mange har faktisk gjort det? Hvilke typer mennesker bruger år – nogle gange årtier – på den mission? Og hvad sker der, når det ikke længere er nok at besøge alle lande én gang? Vi taler også om Extraordinary Travel Festival – et anderledes samlingspunkt for rejsende, eventyrere, digitale nomader, content creators og nysgerrige globetrottere fra hele verden. Du kommer blandt andet til at høre om: Det overraskende tætte fællesskab blandt ekstreme rejsende Hvorfor Ric skabte Extraordinary Travel Festival Folk, der har besøgt alle verdens lande … to gange … eller endda tre Hvorfor du ikke behøver at have været i 150+ lande for at føle dig hjemme på ETF Rejseindhold, dokumentarer, bøger og storytelling Hvorfor fællesskab betyder mere end landelister Uanset om du er sofarejsende, digital nomade, weekendeventyrer – eller i hemmelighed går med planer om din egen 193-lande-mission – så er denne episode noget for dig.  Relevante links: Extraordinary Travel Festival: https://www.extraordinarytravelfest.com GlobalGaz: https://globalgaz.com/ Counting Countries Podcast: https://globalgaz.com/counting-countries/ Nomad Mania: https://nomadmania.com/ Every Passport Stamp (Facebook-gruppe): https://www.facebook.com/groups/everypassportstamp Extraordinary Travel Festival 3 Bangkok, Thailand 22.–25. oktober 2026 Få $100 rabat på din ETF-billet med rabatkoden: VAGABOND (Rabatten bliver mindre jo tættere vi kommer på eventet.)  

Chamán estaba en Bangkok, en moto, recargando el backstage de las agencias de stock. Un segundo de distracción. Un coche delante. Dos huesos rotos. Pero lo primero que hizo desde el hospital, la noche antes de la operación, fue comprar una silla de ruedas en Amazon y planear la siguiente sesión. En este episodio hablamos de cómo convertir una situación inesperada en contenido de stock con demanda real: contratar a un camarógrafo con contrato de cesión de derechos, dirigir la sesión como modelo, configurar los metadatos de tu cámara para proteger la autoría y sacar partido del contenido point of view con móvil. También repasamos el viaje de Chamán a China en agosto y el salto de portfolio que está dando mientras se recupera subiendo entre 3.000 y 5.000 archivos al mes. Pack Audiovisual 2026 — 26 creadores, 89€, acceso de por vida. Solo disponible 7 días → https://go.hotmart.com/K105730657K/ Directos gratuitos en YouTube este martes, jueves y viernes Directo del 02.06 a las 20:00 → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yR307DV11Q/

Lucien (recording from Riyadh, mid-apartment move) and Hanna (in London, riding out an unlikely heat wave) open Episode 70 (!) catching up with each other. Between Arsenal's recent win of the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, and the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, it is the year of Championship Hanaa. She lives within earshot of the Emirates Stadium in Islington, her son knows every chant and every stat, and the neighborhood has been in full kit ever since. Hanna is also headed to Miami this summer for a World Cup match, though she'd have preferred the Egypt v. Iran fixture in Seattle — her kids are still in school. And the wins keep on coming: On June 3rd, she'll be co-hosting the 7th edition of the Middle East Sports Investment Forum in London. Before the main segment, the hosts share a piece of listener feedback that landed: a message on LinkedIn, from a listener who said The Twenty30 "was one of the most valuable sources of information they had when deciding whether to accept a job offer in Riyadh." That's the whole point of the show, and the hosts don't take it lightly.  Then, Lucien does a deep dive on Riyadh Air. Lucien frames it personally first: he's taken six flights in the last six weeks, lives an hour and a half from Dulles in D.C., and values a direct flight more than almost anything else in travel. Saudia currently holds the only nonstop service from Washington and New York into Riyadh, which should make it the obvious choice — except that Saudia's in-flight internet on long-haul routes is essentially non-functional. He's been routing through Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai instead, noting that all three of those hubs have been noticeably quiet during the conflict. Every time he boards, the thought is the same: where is Riyadh Air? The answer is: closer than it looks. Riyadh Air received its GACA operating approval in February 2025 and operated its first flight — an invite-only Riyadh to London Heathrow service using a wet-leased Oman Air 787-9 — in April 2025. The commercial launch has been held up not by Riyadh Air but by Boeing. Seven fully built Riyadh Air 787-9s are currently sitting at Boeing's Charleston, South Carolina factory awaiting certification, with an eighth still on the final assembly line. The first A321neo delivery is expected in Q4 2026, with the 787 Dreamliners to follow. In January 2026, Riyadh Air locked in Neo Space Group as its WiFi provider for the A321neo fleet — Skywaves connectivity, up to 300 Mbps, free for Sphere loyalty members — layered on top of an existing Viasat contract for the 787 fleet that was signed in April 2025. The internet situation, in other words, is going to be the opposite of Saudia's. Qatar Airways already has Starlink and Lucien describes it as faster than his home connection. That's the bar -- let all airlines seek to best it! The initial network was leaked via Airport Coordination Limited and shows 15 destinations: Amman, Bangkok, Cairo, Dubai, Islamabad, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, London Heathrow, Madrid, Manchester, Manila, Mumbai, and Paris. Washington, DC is not on the list :( Three of those routes — Madrid, Manchester, and Jakarta — would be nonstop firsts from Riyadh. Jeddah, Madrid, and Manchester were officially confirmed via Riyadh Air's social media on April 20th. In early May, the airline formally applied to the US Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit with a request for expedited clearance — so DC may not be far behind. On May 19th, public ticket sales opened for the daily Riyadh to London Heathrow service launching July 1st. The aircraft will have four classes: Business Elite (four first-class suites on the first aircraft), Business (24 seats), Premium Economy (39 seats), and Economy. Hanaa flags premium economy as the sleeper feature. Qatar Airways doesn't offer it. British Airways isn't flying to Saudi at the moment. For families, or for anyone who can't justify business class on a personal trip, it fills a genuine gap. Lucien agrees — he's a last-minute booker and business class prices close to departure get punishing.  On the competitive landscape: Singapore Airlines announced four-times-weekly nonstop service from Singapore to Riyadh on the A350-900, scheduled to start June 2nd before being delayed by the conflict. That announcement read like a signal — Singapore Airlines effectively saying it wasn't going to let Riyadh Air own the premium international corridor into Saudi unchallenged. European carriers largely exited during the hostilities; Lufthansa pulled Lucien off a connecting flight in late January, rerouting him through London and adding a full day to his journey. British Airways still isn't flying to Saudi. The supply contraction has pushed prices up significantly on what routes remain. Riyadh Air stepping into this environment — with new aircraft, working internet, and routes that don't yet exist nonstop from Riyadh — is well-positioned (if it can seize the timing of this moment).  The workforce story is its own headline. Riyadh Air has received two million (two million!) applications across its hiring portals.  The hosts close the segment by zooming out. Airlines are structurally brutal businesses. What gives Riyadh Air a real edge, at least at launch, is route exclusivity and limited competition into Riyadh. As long as pricing is in range, travelers choose the direct. That simple fact, combined with Vision 2030's tourism and modernity goals, makes Riyadh Air something bigger than just an airline. King Khalid International Airport remained one of the most operationally open airports in the region during the conflict. The infrastructure is there. The aircraft are nearly there. Riyadh Air is coming. The episode wraps with a brief detour into domestic flying in Saudi — the Riyadh to Jeddah corridor, the high proportion of passengers in Ihram performing Umrah year-round, and genuine praise for Saudia's cabin crew and their quietly impressive ability to reshuffle seating at boarding so that women aren't seated next to unrelated men. Seamless, fast, and genuinely underappreciated. The one criticism of Saudia that neither host will let go: the internet!

“Những nhà lãnh đạo ảnh hưởng nhất trong lịch sử hiện đại Việt Nam đều được nhớ đến vì đã dẫn dắt những chuyển đổi mang tính cấu trúc” (1). Chỉ riêng năm 2025, Việt Nam triển khai hơn 550 dự án cơ sở hạ tầng trị giá khoảng 200 tỉ đô la. Hàng trăm dự án khác (điện hạt nhân, đường sắt cao tốc…) chuẩn bị được thực hiện. Mục tiêu cuối cùng là đạt tăng trưởng GDP ít nhất 10% trong nhiệm kỳ 2026-2030 và đưa Việt Nam thành nước có thu nhập trung bình cao. Theo báo Vietnamnet ngày 15/04/2026, “thay vì dàn trải, nhiệm kỳ mới đang hướng tới ít dự án hơn nhưng mỗi dự án phải đủ lớn để kéo tăng trưởng, tạo việc làm và mở rộng không gian phát triển”. Liệu các đại dự án có đủ để kéo tăng trưởng lên không ? Làm thế nào để tăng trưởng đó được bền vững ? Những biến động địa-chính trị thế giới, đặc biệt là khủng hoảng dầu lửa ở Trung Đông, tác động như thế nào đến mục tiêu tăng trưởng của Việt Nam ? RFI Tiếng Việt phỏng vấn ông Éric Mottet, chuyên gia địa-chính trị Đông Nam Á và khu vực Ấn Độ-Thái Bình Dương, giám đốc nghiên cứu tại Trung Tâm Nghiên cứu về Ấn Độ - Thái Bình Dương (CREIP), Đại học Laval, Québec, Canada. RFI : Trước tiên, xin ông giải thích những yếu tố nào góp phần vào sự tăng trưởng của một quốc gia ? Éric Mottet : Theo ước tính có khoảng bảy yếu tố then chốt tác động đến tăng trưởng kinh tế, có thể hoạt động đồng thời hoặc riêng lẻ. Trước hết là lao động, bao gồm quy mô dân số trong độ tuổi lao động, tỷ lệ việc làm, trình độ học vấn, kỹ năng và chất lượng đào tạo của người lao động. Một lực lượng lao động năng động, được đào tạo tốt sẽ tạo ra của cải hiệu quả hơn. Tiếp theo là vốn vật chất và vốn con người, tức là chất lượng máy móc được sử dụng, cơ sở hạ tầng, công nghệ, kỹ năng và bí quyết. Một quốc gia càng đầu tư nhiều vào nhà máy, đường xá và máy móc, thì càng giúp tăng năng suất và sản lượng quốc gia. Yếu tố thứ ba là tiến bộ công nghệ. Quốc gia đó có đầu tư vào đổi mới, công nghệ mới, nghiên cứu và phát triển không ? Bởi vì đây là một động lực rất cần thiết cho tăng trưởng, ít nhất là trong dài hạn. Ví dụ trí tuệ nhân tạo (AI), hiện tại đã rất quan trọng và sẽ còn quan trọng hơn nữa trong tương lai. Đọc thêmDự án nhà máy hạt nhân: Nhật Bản rút đi, Việt Nam sẽ khó đạt mục tiêu về điện nguyên tử Tiếp theo, cần phải nói đến thể chế và khuôn khổ chính trị, tức là sự ổn định chính trị, tôn trọng pháp luật và quyền sở hữu nói riêng, cũng như hiệu quả quản lý nhà nước. Nói cách khác, một môi trường ổn định khuyến khích đầu tư, nhất là đầu tư nước ngoài, và tạo dựng niềm tin là điều vô cùng cần thiết để tạo ra của cải và phát triển kinh tế. Sự mở cửa kinh tế nằm trong số những tiêu chí khác cũng rất quan trọng. Thương mại quốc tế giúp tiếp cận thị trường mới, công nghệ mới và tài nguyên thiên nhiên như dầu khí, khoáng sản, đất nông nghiệp, từ đó tăng trưởng kinh tế. Tất cả những yếu tố này có thể thúc đẩy tăng trưởng, nhưng không phải là thiết yếu. Ví dụ, ở châu Á, Nhật Bản và Hàn Quốc phát triển mạnh dù nguồn tài nguyên hạn chế. Cuối cùng là nhu cầu nội địa. Mức tiêu dùng hộ gia đình, đầu tư kinh doanh, chi tiêu công của chính phủ Việt Nam như thế nào ? Nhu cầu mạnh mẽ sẽ kích thích sản xuất và thúc đẩy tăng trưởng kinh tế của một quốc gia. RFI : Các dự án lớn đóng vai trò như thế nào trong tăng trưởng của một quốc gia ? Chúng có góp phần duy trì tốc độ tăng trưởng không ? Éric Mottet : Có, các dự án lớn - tức là các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng, công nghiệp, năng lượng và công nghệ - đóng vai trò quan trọng trong sự tăng trưởng kinh tế của một quốc gia. Việc này diễn ra ở nhiều cấp độ. Thứ nhất, các công trình hạ tầng kích thích nền kinh tế ngắn hạn bằng cách tạo ra việc làm, tăng nhu cầu đối với vật liệu, dịch vụ và thiết bị xây dựng. Chẳng hạn, việc xây dựng đập hoặc đường cao tốc sẽ tạo ra doanh thu và hoạt động kinh tế ngay lập tức. Sau đó, năng suất được cải thiện trong dài hạn, ví dụ các cơ sở hạ tầng giao thông giúp giảm chi phí vận chuyển và thời gian di chuyển, tạo thuận lợi cho nền kinh tế phát triển. Điều này đặc biệt quan trọng ở một quốc gia như Việt Nam, vì giúp di chuyển hàng hóa và con người thuận lợi hơn, nâng cao hiệu quả hoạt động của doanh nghiệp và tăng khả năng cạnh tranh cả trong nước cũng như với các công ty nước ngoài. Cơ sở hạ tầng tốt cũng thu hút đầu tư nước ngoài, ví dụ việc xây dựng cảng mới, khu công nghiệp hay đặc khu kinh tế sẽ thu hút các công ty nước ngoài còn do dự. Hơn nữa, cơ sở hạ tầng chất lượng cao còn thúc đẩy tiến bộ công nghệ ; các dự án năng lượng tái tạo và thành phố thông minh kích thích đổi mới sáng tạo trên toàn quốc. Đọc thêmViệt Nam muốn thành “cứ điểm” sản xuất thế giới nhưng thiếu cơ sở hạ tầng Một yếu tố quan trọng khác là giảm bất bình đẳng lãnh thổ. Việc xây dựng cơ sở hạ tầng chất lượng trên toàn quốc có thể giúp kết nối các vùng xa xôi, nâng cao khả năng tiếp cận dịch vụ giáo dục, y tế và việc làm. Một tuyến đường bộ hay đường sắt có thể thay đổi đáng kể một khu vực nông thôn hoặc vùng sâu, vùng xa. Tuy nhiên, các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng quy mô lớn cũng có những hạn chế. Nhìn chung chúng có chi phí rất cao, có thể dẫn đến rủi ro nợ nần đáng kể cho một nước và cũng có thể gây ra nhiều vấn đề nếu bị quản lý kém hoặc có tham nhũng. Các dự án này cũng có thể gây tác động xấu đến môi trường. Theo tôi, tất cả các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng lớn đều không bảo đảm tăng trưởng nếu bị quy hoạch kém. Do đó, chúng phải được quy hoạch tốt, có hệ thống quản lý hiệu quả và thiết kế bền vững ngay từ đầu. RFI : Trong nhiệm kỳ 5 năm (2026-2030), Việt Nam sẽ triển khai nhiều dự án cơ sở hạ tầng quy mô lớn (đường sắt cao tốc, nhà máy điện hạt nhân, sân bay Long Thành, mạng lưới đường sắt đô thị tại Hà Nội và TP. Hồ Chí Minh). Những dự án này có ý nghĩa và vai trò như thế nào  trong việc đạt được mục tiêu tăng trưởng ít nhất 10% do đảng và Quốc Hội Việt Nam đề ra cho nhiệm kỳ này ? Éric Mottet : Đúng là các dự án hạ tầng lớn trong kế hoạch 5 năm đến năm 2030 là trụ cột chiến lược và trọng tâm phát triển. Chúng là đòn bẩy quan trọng giúp nền kinh tế hướng tới mục tiêu tăng trưởng bình quân 10%, tương tự những gì Trung Quốc đã trải qua trong những năm 1990-2000, thậm chí là cả thập niên 2010. Các dự án này là động lực mạnh mẽ cho tăng trưởng ngắn hạn, như đã nói ở trên, vì sẽ huy động đầu tư công và tư nhân, tạo việc làm, thúc đẩy các ngành liên quan như xi măng, thép và logistics. Nhờ đó, chúng trở thành chất xúc tác mạnh, thúc đẩy kinh tế tức thời, và theo tôi, sẽ làm góp phần tăng GDP ngay khi được triển khai. Hơn nữa, các dự án hạ tầng lớn còn cho phép cải thiện cấu trúc năng suất của một quốc gia như Việt Nam. Khi hệ thống hạ tầng được nâng cấp, chi phí logistics giảm, thời gian vận chuyển được rút ngắn và độ tin cậy tăng lên, từ đó tạo điều kiện thuận lợi cho lưu thông hàng hóa và kết nối thương mại giữa các vùng. Chẳng hạn, tuyến đường sắt cao tốc Hà Nội - TP. HCM sẽ rút ngắn khoảng cách địa lý, tăng cường liên kết kinh tế Bắc - Nam, đồng thời góp phần củng cố sự gắn kết quốc gia. Và như vậy sẽ nâng cao sức thu hút của Việt Nam. Đọc thêmChuyển toàn bộ chuyến bay quốc tế về Long Thành: Giới chuyên gia Việt Nam quan ngại Bên cạnh đó, các dự án như sân bay Long Thành hay việc phát triển các đô thị hiện đại sẽ nâng cao vị thế của Việt Nam trong mạng lưới giao thông và thương mại quốc tế, cả về du lịch lẫn kinh tế. Những công trình này còn cho phép một thành phố lớn như TP. HCM cạnh tranh với những trung tâm logistics hàng đầu khu vực như Bangkok, Singapore hay Hồng Kông. Nhờ vậy, mô hình tăng trưởng cũng có cơ hội chuyển dịch. Ngoài ra, các dự án năng lượng như nhà máy điện hạt nhân, nếu được triển khai hiệu quả, sẽ bảo đảm nguồn cung điện ổn định và sẽ giúp nền kinh tế phát triển theo hướng cao cấp hơn. Tôi cho rằng tất cả những lý do này sẽ giúp củng cố tăng trưởng kinh tế. Và cần nhắc lại, nếu được triển khai một cách thông minh, bền vững và quản lý hiệu quả, những công trình cơ sở hạ tầng này sẽ giúp Việt Nam đạt được mục tiêu tăng trưởng kinh tế hàng năm và đưa Việt Nam trở thành một nền kinh tế quan trọng tại châu Á. RFI : Liệu sự tăng trưởng này (một phần nhờ các dự án lớn) có bền vững không ? Éric Mottet : Các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng có thể bền vững, nhưng không phải tự nhiên mà có mà phụ thuộc vào cách chúng được thiết kế, tài trợ và tích hợp vào nền kinh tế. Để đạt hiệu quả, cần xem xét nhiều yếu tố quan trọng. Trước hết, hạ tầng phải thực sự thiết thực. Thực tế cho thấy ở nhiều nước như Trung Quốc, kể cả Việt Nam, vẫn tồn tại các công trình được đầu tư lớn nhưng hiệu quả sử dụng thấp. Vì vậy, tính hữu ích và đáp ứng nhu cầu kinh tế thực sự là tiêu chí hàng đầu. Khi được quản lý tốt, cơ sở hạ tầng sẽ hỗ trợ tăng trưởng dài hạn. Thứ hai, các dự án hạ tầng cần đóng vai trò thúc đẩy chuyển đổi sang nền kinh tế có năng suất cao hơn, thay vì chỉ tạo ra tác động ngắn hạn. Điều này đòi hỏi hạ tầng phải được quy hoạch với tầm nhìn dài hạn, từ 10 đến 30 năm, thậm chí là 40 năm. Một công trình chỉ mang lại hiệu ứng tạm thời trong giai đoạn xây dựng sẽ không có nhiều ý nghĩa. Vì vậy, tính bền vững cần được đặt trong tầm nhìn nhiều thập niên. Đọc thêmViệt Nam : Giấc mơ đường sắt cao tốc và bài toán 70 tỉ USD Bên cạnh đó, các dự án hạ tầng cũng cần được quản lý tài chính hiệu quả. Nợ công phải được kiểm soát ở mức an toàn và các dự án cần tạo ra hiệu quả kinh tế rõ rệt trong vòng 10-20 năm. Do đó, sự tăng trưởng được tài trợ này không nên phụ thuộc quá nhiều vào vay nợ mà cần hướng đến khả năng tự tạo nguồn thu và sinh lời trong thời gian hợp lý. Ngoài ra, để các công trình hạ tầng bền vững, chúng cần được triển khai theo hướng thân thiện với môi trường, tránh gây tác động tiêu cực lâu dài. Đồng thời, cần có cơ chế quản lý minh bạch, quy hoạch hiệu quả, có tính đến những tác động xã hội và môi trường mà mọi dự án hạ tầng lớn có thể gây ra khi được triển khai tại một khu vực nhất định. RFI : Chúng ta thấy một yếu tố mới xuất hiện : cuộc khủng hoảng năng lượng và dầu mỏ do chiến tranh ở Trung Đông. Yếu tố này sẽ tác động như thế nào đến các dự án lớn của Việt Nam và, quan trọng hơn, đến sự tăng trưởng của đất nước ? Éric Mottet : Căng thẳng và khủng hoảng tại Trung Đông tạo ra một “cú sốc bên ngoài” đối với Việt Nam và có thể ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến các dự án hạ tầng lớn và triển vọng tăng trưởng. Tôi cho rằng tác động tiêu cực trong ngắn hạn được thể hiện rõ qua việc giá nguyên vật liệu tăng mạnh, đặc biệt là dầu khí. Điều này làm leo thang chi phí xây dựng, bởi vì thép, xi măng và nhựa đường đều tăng giá đáng kể ; riêng nhựa đường tại nhiều nước đã tăng từ 30-50%. Chi phí năng lượng tăng cao làm đội chi phí tổng thể của các dự án, đồng thời gia tăng nguy cơ chậm tiến độ hoặc vượt ngân sách. Những yếu tố này có thể ảnh hưởng đến hiệu quả tài chính và khả năng sinh lời của các công trình hạ tầng quy mô lớn. Đặc biệt, các dự án có vốn đầu tư lớn như đường sắt cao tốc, sân bay hay nhà máy điện hạt nhân có thể trở nên đắt đỏ hơn nhiều so với dự kiến ban đầu do khủng hoảng Trung Đông, nhất là nếu còn kéo dài trong nhiều tháng. Đọc thêmChiến tranh Trung Đông tác động đến hấp lực xuất khẩu và tăng trưởng của Việt Nam Khủng hoảng tại Trung Đông là trở ngại đáng kể đối với tăng trưởng kinh tế Việt Nam. Giá năng lượng tăng gây ra lạm phát nhập khẩu, làm suy giảm sức mua của hộ gia đình và thu hẹp biên lợi nhuận của doanh nghiệp. Khi chi phí năng lượng tăng, doanh nghiệp phải gánh chi phí cao hơn, từ đó hạn chế khả năng đầu tư và mở rộng sản xuất. Vì vậy, mục tiêu đạt mức tăng trưởng 10% mỗi năm của Việt Nam có nguy cơ trở nên khó khăn hơn trong giai đoạn 2026-2027, thậm chí là 2028 nếu khủng hoảng Trung Đông còn kéo dài. Tuy nhiên, không phải mọi tác động đều tiêu cực. Trong trường hợp của Việt Nam, khủng hoảng còn có thể trở thành động lực thúc đẩy quá trình chuyển đổi năng lượng. Chúng ta có thể thấy rõ rằng Việt Nam hiện rất nhạy cảm với những cú sốc năng lượng từ bên ngoài. Điều này có thể thúc đẩy chính phủ đẩy nhanh chiến lược đa dạng hóa nguồn cung, bao gồm phát triển điện hạt nhân và mở rộng năng lượng tái tạo. Về dài hạn, những bước đi này sẽ giúp Việt Nam giảm phụ thuộc vào dầu khí, đặc biệt là nhập khẩu dầu mỏ. Khủng hoảng Trung Đông không hoàn toàn tiêu cực, tôi cho rằng Việt Nam hiểu rõ điều này. Tuy vậy, biến động năng lượng vẫn có thể cản trở mục tiêu tăng trưởng bình quân 10% được đề ra trong giai đoạn 2026-2030. RFI Tiếng Việt xin chân thành cảm ơn giám đốc nghiên cứu Éric Mottet, Trung Tâm Nghiên cứu về Ấn Độ - Thái Bình Dương (CREIP), Đại học Laval, Québec, Canada. (1) Dan Martin, Văn phòng tư vấn Dezan Shira & Associates, được AFP trích dẫn ngày 08/04/2026

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we're taking you on a journey through Thailand during the Buddha festival celebrations, exploring how things are celebrated in Bangkok, Pattaya, and up in Chiang Rai. We'll be looking at the traditions, the atmosphere, and how each place brings its own unique style to this important time. So sit back, relax, and join us for another adventure through Thailand with us.Link to subscribe to the All About Thailand special edition podcast below https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lonely-traveler-productio/subscribe

Today we'll be talking about a new digital immigration app rolling out aiming to shorten arrival lines, then, we'll do a deep dive on Thailand's alleged 'Taxi Mafia' as the killing of a driver on Koh Samui exposes deeper problems in the tourist transport industry, also, an Australian influencer was removed from a flight following concerns regarding his recent cosmetic surgery, a little later we'll give you the lowdown on the upcoming Pride Parade hitting the streets of Bangkok this weekend, and finally there's a new bid to create legal protections for sex workers, but will it find success in parliament?

Welcome back to Travel Stories with Moush! Today I am joined by Bob van den Oord, CEO of Langham Hospitality - a name synonymous with timeless, storied luxury. With over 160 years of Langham history behind him and properties spanning the globe, Bob doesn't just witness the world of luxury travel, he shapes it. In this episode, we travel through history, culture and extraordinary hidden gems, and Bob shares what luxury truly means in today's ever-evolving world of travel. Episode Highlights & Destination Gems: 1. Marrakech - Where Culture Collides. Bob's recent visit left a lasting mark - the hospitality, the people and the food are second to none Moroccan culture beautifully intertwined with French influences creates something entirely unique The legendary Royal Mansour comes highly recommended. It's one of the most extraordinary luxury experiences in the world. https://www.royalmansour.com/en/marrakech/ 2. Istanbul - Where Europe Meets Asia. A city where two continents, two cultures and centuries of history converge in the most spectacular way. Rich in people, food and soul It's a destination that every traveller to experience 3. Venice - The One Destination Everyone Must Visit The ultimate once-in-a-lifetime destination Gateway to the Oriental Silk Road, a mecca of art, food, fashion and culture Home to the Biennale, world-class cuisine and architecture unlike anywhere else on earth 4. Langham London - Where It All Began Built in 1865, it was the first hotel in Europe with elevators, running hot and cold water and afternoon tea service The Wigmore - Langham's iconic "posh pub", is now one of London's most beloved destination bars Langham concierges offer their own exclusive tour of their London, a truly personal way to experience the city 5. Saudi Arabia - A Story Being Written Right Now Langham is opening a property at the UNESCO-protected Diriyah Gate, adjacent to the new Opera House in Riyadh Bob believes deeply in being part of Saudi Arabia's extraordinary evolution and cultural renaissance 6. Jerez, Southern Spain - The Ultimate Off-the-Grid Escape The sherry region of Spain where you can experience sherry tastings every evening, horse riding on the beach and dinners in the vineyard Slow, spacious, deeply personal travel that city breaks simply cannot offer 7. Korea - Destination of the Year for 2026 Bob predicts Korea will be the hottest destination of 2026 as travellers look beyond a crowded Japan. K-pop, Korean dramas, incredible food and a culture-rich travel scene that is truly having its moment 8. China - The Most Underrated Destination in the World Bob's advice: take a full month and travel through it properly - you will not regret it. Vast, diverse and deeply misunderstood as a travel destination From north to south, the cultures, food, history and experiences are unlike anywhere else on earth 9. Bangkok - The World's Greatest Culinary City Michelin-starred dining sits side by side with the world's best street food Southeast Asian, Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern and Western cuisines all coexist in one extraordinary city 10. Tuscany - Bob's Hidden Gem A magical stay at the Ferragamo property Castiglion Del Bosco. https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/castiglion-del-bosco Truffle hunting with a local farmer, followed by a home-cooked meal  Olive oil tastings, cheesemaking and the kind of deeply immersive, bespoke travel that stays with you forever Coming Up in the World of Langham: Venice, 2027 - Murano Island, overlooking the lagoon Bangkok, 2026 - On the Chao Phraya River in the historic Custom House Riyadh - At the UNESCO-protected Diriyah Gate, adjacent to the new Opera House Dubai – Coming Soon Connect with Langham Hospitality: https://www.langhamhotels.com/en/ Thank you for tuning in to Travel Stories with Moush! If you loved this episode, please hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a rating or review - it truly helps us reach more travelers like you.   Drop a comment and tell us which destination from today's episode is going straight to your bucket list? Stay connected with me on https://www.instagram.com/moushtravels/ to find out who's joining me next week.   Explore all past episodes and destinations here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/travel-stories-with-moush/id1691525895 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pAUXiXuRLv1E9WFznWm7T?si=qA_E3Cf8RqKT97pUJcINxQ https://www.youtube.com/@travelstorieswithmoush Until next time…safe travels and keep adventuring. "Want a spotlight on our show? Visit https://admanager.fm/client/podcasts/moushtravels and align your brand with our audience."Connect with me on the following:Instagram @moushtravelsFacebook @travelstorieswithmoushLinkedIn @Moushumi BhuyanYou Tube @travelstorieswithmoush Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

82MAJOR announce solo concert in Bangkok following sold out Hong Kong shows

VOV1 - Chiều nay (27/05) theo giờ địa phương, Chuyên cơ chở Tổng Bí thư, Chủ tịch nước Tô Lâm cùng Phu nhân và Đoàn đại biểu cấp cao nước ta đã hạ cánh xuống Sân bay Quốc tế Don Mueng, tiếp tục các hoạt động trong chương trình thăm chính thức Thái Lan.Chuyến thăm chính thức của Tổng Bí thư, Chủ tịch nước Tô Lâm tới Thái Lan lần này là một trong những điểm nhấn quan trọng của lễ kỷ niệm 50 năm thiết lập quan hệ giữa hai nước, là cơ hội để tái khẳng định mối tin cậy chính trị giữa hai chính phủ và mở ra một chương mới trong quan hệ Thái Lan - Việt Nam. Tổng Bí thư, Chủ tịch nước Tô Lâm tới Bangkok tiếp tục chương trình thăm chính thức Thái Lan

When it comes to characters, Bangkok has them in droves - people who have been places, eaten things, talked to people, and lived adventures that would make your mother put her hand to her mouth and proclaim, "Oh my" with a frightened little squeak. On this episode of the Bangkok Podcast we're happy to have one of these epic characters on the show with us - Mr Alan Platt, who, as it happens, has just released a book about his adventures entitled Foreign Fool. Now I know what you're thinking, and it's the same thing we think when we hear self-published book by a farang in Bangkok, and that is, "Oh, yes, another one for the dusty back section of Asia Books, along with all the stories about hard-boiled detectives, heart-of-gold prostitutes, and love gone bad." But no - that's not what this book is about at all. In fact, take it from me (Greg), who has read the book - this is one hell of a fun read, and is actually - get this - really well written. From Saigon to Bangkok to Panama to London to Honolulu, Foreign Fool tells of, as Alan puts it, the bumbling misadventures of a doofus. I'll just let the first two paragraphs of the first chapter say it themselves: In Saigon, many years after the war was over, long after the city was declared safe for tourists and when even the hookers were becoming almost discreet, I was kidnapped. That does sound a bit dramatic, I admit. Technically, it was more an abduction. But however one puts it, any mention of that sort of thing floods the mind with images of some poor guy being jumped by thugs, bundled into the trunk of a car and splattered across the tabloids with a screech of tires and the burning of rubber. None of that happened to me. I was kidnapped on a bicycle. Alan discusses how he went from sunning his broke ass on a Los Angeles beach to the top of the New York ad world, how the book took shape, and a few of the stories - both in the book and not - that keep him looking ahead to the next trip. Buy Foreign Fool on Amazon.

Today we'll be talking about a British driver who's been arrested after a serious hit and run incident on Koh Pha Ngan, then, former formula 1 driver Mika Salo was injured in a suspected bangkok knife attack, plus, a tourist couple flees from a Jomtien convenience store after an alleged energy drink theft turns physical, in ASEAN news Cambodia is activating mandatory military service amidst border tensions with Thailand, in wildlife news a Malaysian passenger was caught attempting to smuggle 251 live animals and also Phuket tourists are facing scrutiny after controversial pictures with a sea turtle, and is it acceptable to skip out on part of a bill if your order doesn't meet your standards? One woman in Phuket seems to think so.

"You stay invisible too long, the human race starts to look like another species. So you venture out. You observe. And then you return to your invisible world. Like a ghost."Bangkok Dangerous (2008)"A hitman who's in Bangkok to pull off a series of jobs violates his personal code when he falls for a local woman and bonds with his errand boy."

Satellitbilder över Myanmar och förgiftade floder i Thailand visar en brutal verklighet bakom Kinas dominans inom kritiska råvaror. Utvinningen ger Kina makt och strategiska fördelar. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Satellitbilder som Ekot granskat visar hur områden i Myanmar förändrats i snabb takt och från norra Thailand kommer rapporter om förgiftade floder. Det är gifter som gör både människor och djur sjuka och som blir förödande för områden där många livnär sig på floden och fisket. Axel Kronholm har rest i drabbade områden i norra Thailand och träffat människor som berörs. Föroreningarna kan spåras till utvinning av kritiska råvaror i Myanmar. Kina importerar och förädlar de utvunna råvarorna, som i nästa led blir komponenter och teknik som hela världen efterfrågar.EU vill bryta Kina-beroendetDen smutsiga sanningen bakom utvinningen ger samtidigt en bild av varför Europa och EU har så svårt att bryta sig loss från Kinas grepp. Merparten av kritiska råvaror som importeras av EU kommer från Kina och när det gäller sällsynta magneter som används i grön teknologi handlar det om över 90 procent.Medverkande: Hanna Sahlberg, Ekots Kinareporter och Axel Kronholm, korrespondent i Bangkok.Programledare: Björn DjurbergProducent: Therese RosenvingeKällor ljudklipp: EUdebates, Al Jazeera och australiska SBS.

What happens when your theology collides with reality on the mission field? In this powerful episode of Very Bold Radio and Podcast, host Steve Teel sits down with San Antonio native Steven Navarro, who has spent the last 11 years serving across the globe with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Fresh off the plane from Amsterdam, Steven shares incredible, firsthand accounts of the supernatural—from a shriveled ear opening in a Bangkok street-food market to supernatural food multiplication at an orphanage, and the unexplainable appearance of gold dust and thick oil. But this isn't just a collection of wild miracle stories. Steven opens up about the deep "spiritual dissonance" that occurs when you witness God move in power overseas while your own family members are facing severe illnesses back home. Diving into Matthew 11, Steven unpacks the profound question John the Baptist asked Jesus from a prison cell, uncovering a vital truth for every Christian navigating the tension between hard realities and supernatural faith. Key Takeaways & Highlights The Bangkok Street-Food Miracle: Steven recounts the nerve-wracking moment he felt a prompt from the Holy Spirit to pray for a Thai street-food vendor with a completely shriveled, deaf ear—and what happened when he stepped past the cultural barriers to touch it. God's Power: Unpacking the phenomena of gold dust on Bibles and thick oil pooling in empty palms, Steven shares how his early skepticism gave way to viewing these unexplainable signs as gentle, encouraging "winks" of God's presence. Why Miracles "Split the Room": A fascinating look into why supernatural breakthroughs often stir up complex emotions, sometimes leading to half the room rejoicing while the other half struggles with frustration or offense. Navigating the Dissonance of Faith: How to handle the painful tension of seeing a stranger healed on the mission field while your own loved ones are still waiting for a miracle. The Blessing of Not Being Offended: A beautiful, slide-by-slide deep dive into Christ’s response to John the Baptist in Matthew 11: "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me." Learn how to choose trust and protect your heart from spiritual resentment when God's timing doesn't match your expectations. Connect with the Show: Missed an episode or want to share your thoughts? Head over to verybold.com to stream full episodes, catch up on updates, or email Steve directly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 241 of the Pu'u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu is joined by Josh Soliva, reporting live from Cebu, Philippines after being on the ground in Bangkok, Thailand for ONE Friday Fights 154 and “The Inner Circle” this last weekend.This episode dives deep into the behind-the-scenes reality of ONE Championship, including firsthand insight into the now-talked-about Anatoly Malykhin vs Reug Reug situation, where tensions escalated into a backstage altercation following the fight.Josh shares what actually happened beyond the headlines — including what led up to the conflict, what fighters and teams were dealing with during fight week, and how things unfolded behind closed doors.In this episode, they discuss: Behind-the-scenes access at ONE Friday Fights 154 The real story behind the Anatoly vs Reug Reug brawl Fighter hotel interactions and unexpected run-ins with elite athletes  The reality of weight cuts, hydration testing, and catchweight negotiations What fans don't see during fight week in Bangkok  The physical and mental toll of Thai trainers and pad holders  The evolving relationship between Muay Thai and MMA striking Gambling culture and how it shaped traditional Muay Thai  Why traveling to Thailand without guidance can go very wrong Josh also shares wild, unfiltered stories from inside the fighter hotel, recovery sessions, and fight preparation with Felipe Lobo — giving listeners a rare look into the real Muay Thai world beyond social media and highlight reels.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in: ONE Championship and international Muay Thai  Training or fighting in Thailand  Behind-the-scenes fight culture  The realities of the global Muay Thai scene Follow Josh Soliva: https://www.instagram.com/joshsoliva95Support the showLeave a message or text us 24/7/365!+1-805-456-3316

The issue of Thai nominees has heated up in the past little while, with daily news stories about crackdowns, changing laws, and foreigners running scared (or just running).  The discussion begins with Ed outlining the basic framework of the Thai Foreign Business Act, explaining how it restricts foreigners from owning more than forty-nine percent of companies in certain restricted sectors. He details how this legal hurdle gave rise to the widespread use of Thai nominees, where Thai citizens are paid to hold fifty-one percent of the shares on paper, allowing the foreigner to maintain operational control. Next, Ed brings up the legal gray area surrounding this practice. He clarifies that while having genuine Thai business partners is perfectly fine, using fake nominee shareholders who possess no actual financial stake or voting power is strictly illegal under Thai law. Greg then steers the conversation toward recent government crackdowns on this practice. He discusses how authorities have been aggressively targeting blatant abuses of the nominee system, specifically focusing on certain foreign-owned businesses in tourist hotspots like Phuket and parts of Bangkok. Ed subsequently highlights the massive risks that foreigners take when utilizing these shady corporate structures. He points out that because the Thai nominee legally owns the majority of the company, the foreign investor has almost zero legal recourse if the nominee suddenly decides to seize control of the assets or the business bank accounts. Finally, Greg wraps up the topic by suggesting legitimate alternatives to the nominee route. He points out that foreign entrepreneurs should instead look into the Board of Investment promotion or the US-Thai Treaty of Amity, both of which offer legal pathways to complete foreign ownership without the associated risks.

What is God leading you to uniquely do in the discipleship of Him? In this episode, Jeff and Steve discuss:  Developing leaders and allowing God to sow the seeds for what will happen later.  Creating IBAM and the Tiger Medical Institute. Keeping the gospel as the core, no matter the tool of your business.  Realigning with the Kingdom Path.    Key Takeaways:  The outside of something can look fantastic, but the inside may be crumbling. Don't just take what you see at face value.  Discipling is a commitment to walk with Jesus, not just speaking the right words. He calls for us to abide with Him.  Abiding with Jesus does not require a grandiose plan. It requires walking with Him in His way.  There is nothing secular in your life. Every decision and every action you take is sacred.    "If you want to disciple others, you've got to be a disciple yourself." —  Steve Adams   Episode References:  Practicing The Way by John Mark Comer With by Skye Jethani At Work As In Heaven by Scott Ryser Jordan Raynor Books: https://www.jordanraynor.com/books Get Free Access to Third Fish Academy: https://www.thirdfish.org/   About Steve Adams: Steve Adams is the Founder and CEO of IBAM (International Business As Mission), a global movement equipping Christian entrepreneurs to launch redemptive businesses that fuel church planting, disciple-making, and sustainable poverty alleviation. After leaving a successful corporate banking career at God's urging, Steve built a company to $100M in revenue — then redirected that operating discipline toward Kingdom impact. A 2004 mission trip to Bangkok ignited a calling that would reshape his life. Over the next decade, Steve helped plant 30 churches and witnessed 1,500 new believers come to Christ. But something was missing. As a businessman, he couldn't see himself working as a traditional missionary in a way that used his particular strengths. A business-driven mission trip to Russia in 2007 changed everything — training local believers to start sustainable businesses as platforms for discipleship showed him the power of entrepreneurship as a mission. In 2014, Steve launched IBAM and built the Three Fish Model: Give a Fish (startup loans), Teach to Fish (biblical entrepreneur training), and Equip for Discipleship. Today, IBAM operates across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, and Central Asia, with indigenous master trainers replicating the model locally. Biblical business training has raised loan repayment rates from roughly 40% to over 90%, proving that every dollar creates a flywheel — not a one-time handout. Steve also hosts the IBAM Biblical Entrepreneurship Show, a weekly podcast inspiring faith-driven entrepreneurs worldwide. His long-term vision: a business-as-mission practitioner in every village and one million entrepreneurs discipling nations through business. Learn more at www.ibam.org   Connect with Steve Adams: Website: http://www.ibam.org/  Website: https://www.tigermi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iBAM-org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-l-adams/ Twitter: https://x.com/ibamtoday Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/internationalbusinessasmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibamtoday/     Connect with Jeff Thomas:  Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/ Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/ Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Kristine Mizzone is an education consultant, speaker, and author who supports schools in the areas of social and emotional learning (SEL) and organizational and middle-level leadership. She is the author of The Leap Year: Practical Advice and Insights for Those Navigating Career Transitions. Additionally, Kristine works with aspiring school leaders as an adjunct professor for The College of New Jersey, and with the International School Counselor Association (ISCA), overseeing the organization's learning and development initiatives. Kristine has served as both a teacher and school leader for nearly two decades in US public schools and private international schools. Most recently, Kristine served as the Director of Learning at Benjamin Franklin International School in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to that, Kristine was a Curriculum and Professional Learning Coordinator at the International School of Beijing, China. She is currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. ______________________________________________________________________ The Edupreneur: Your Blueprint To Jumpstart And Scale Your Education BusinessYou've spent years in the classroom, leading PD, designing curriculum, and transforming how students learn. Now, it's time to leverage that experience and build something for yourself. The Edupreneur isn't just another book; it's the playbook for educators who want to take their knowledge beyond the school walls and into a thriving business.I wrote this book because I've been where you are. I know what it's like to have the skills, the passion, and the drive but not know where to start. I break it all down: the mindset shifts, the business models, the pricing strategies, and the branding moves that will help you position yourself as a leader in this space.Inside, you'll learn how to:✅ Turn your expertise into income streams, without feeling like a sellout✅ Build a personal brand that commands respect (and top dollar)✅ Market your work in a way that feels natural and impactful✅ Navigate the business side of edupreneurship, from pricing to partnershipsWhether you want to consult, create courses, write books, or launch a podcast, this book will help you get there. Stop waiting for permission. Start building your own table.Grab your copy today and take control of your future.Buy it from EduMatch Publishing https://edumatch-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-edupreneur-by-dr-will

Electric vehicle sales are soaring in Thailand and Vietnam. What's behind the boom? And will it help the climate? Thais and Vietnamese are switching to electric cars in huge numbers – attracted by government subsidies and a more exciting range of EVs. Jobs in the car industry are also up in both countries as a new generation of manufacturers compete for domination of the emerging electric market. But can the pace of growth last? Will the boom in electric cars reduce the chronic air pollution in cities like Bangkok? And will it help Thailand and Vietnam reduce their carbon emissions? In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Jordan Dunbar chats to Ember's Asian Energy Analyst, Lam Pham and Bloomberg's Thailand Reporter, Patpicha Tanakasempipat. Got a question or comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com Production team: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown. Sound Mix: Jack Graysmark and Tom Brignell. Editor: Simon Watts.

Donald Trump calls Iran's counter offer to end the war "totally unacceptable". Iran defends its proposals, saying they are "generous". Tehran wants the release of its frozen foreign assets, an immediate end to the war on all fronts and a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Also: the final passengers from the cruise ship with hantavirus are repatriated. The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, speaks of his hopes for a new deal with the EU, as he tries to shore up support after last week's dismal election results. The former Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is met by cheering crowds in Bangkok after being released from prison. And the holiday hotels looking to ensure that all their guests get a sun lounger.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

After 5 years, we now have new merch! You can get it right here: pkmncast.shopA new Pokémon Center will be opening in Bangkok later this year. Pokémon Worlds tickets keep on rolling out and it seems that maybe the stadium is full already. Pokémon Pokopia sells 4 million copies in 4 weeks and FireRed/LeafGreen sells 4 million copies in 5 weeks. Season 2 of Pokémon Champions stats later this week. A man sells his Audi for a Pokémon card collection. BOSS Coffee gets another Pokémon collaboration in Japan. TIMESTAMPS00:00:00-Introduction00:04:20-New Pokémon Center Opening00:06:30-Pokémon Worlds Talk00:17:30-Pokopia Sells 4 Million00:33:30-Season 2 of Champions00:57:20-Sells Car for Pokémon Cards01:14:45-BOSS Coffee Collab01:25:30-CreditsLINKS

This week, Big Dipper and Meatball welcome Interior Motives host Ben Mora, who drops in and immediately declares war on LA nightlife and unpacks his proudly sex-negative stance. Meanwhile, Meatball gets fully duped by AI videos, shares the art of throwing a drink in someone's face, and the gang swaps chaotic hookup stories, including a trailer park rendezvous, and Ben spills on exploring Bangkok's gay red light district. Plus: a heated discussion on the different types of gay men who only have female friends.Listen to Sloppy Seconds Ad-Free AND One Day Early on MOM Plus⁠Call us with your sex stories at 213-536-9180!Or e-mail us at ⁠sloppysecondspod@gmail.com⁠⁠FOLLOW SLOPPY SECONDS⁠⁠FOLLOW BIG DIPPER⁠⁠FOLLOW MEATBALL⁠⁠SLOPPY SECONDS IS A FOREVER DOG AND MOGULS OF MEDIA (M.O.M.) PODCASTSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.