On this episode - a classic ReCast from season 3! - Greg interviews Khun Saba, a disabled rights activist in Bangkok. It's a topic near and dear to the Bangkok Podcast, because we want everyone to enjoy Bangkok, which is very hard to do if you don't have full mobility.

Khun Saba explains that he became aware of the difficulty of moving around Thai cities, especially Bangkok, after he became disabled, and notes that while physical and structural issues are important, the key issue is really awareness. Simply put, if people blindly accept all the problems with transportation in Bangkok, then of course they will never be solved.

Greg asks Khun Saba about a notorious incident in which he broke a pane of glass when he couldn't use the elevator at Asoke BTS Station. The circumstances were unusual and need to be fully listened to to be understood, but the incident highlights the daily frustration of disabled people in Bangkok.

Khun Saba also makes clear that his organization fights for the rights of all Bangkokians to safe and convenient access to transportation in the city and not just the rights of people who are actually physically disabled. He describes his dream of making Bangkok a city of truly international standards where all citizens are equal in terms of their access to the city. We urge you to like the page of Accessibility is Freedom - you'll get some great insight into Bangkok from a whole different point of view.

As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

First off - if you're in town, join our meetup: Saturday, December 6 at The Warehouse on Charoen Krung Road. Check our Facebook page first before you come just to make sure there have been no last minute changes.

In Part 2 of Greg and Ed's interview with John Schachnovsky, the former head of the FBI in Thailand, the men continue discussing John's varied responsibilities in the Land of Smiles, this time focusing on specific cases. John brings up the he played in the Asian Tsunami of 2004 and how the FBI used its technology to help identify myriad victims. John mentions that due to the close working relationship between the U.S. and Thai governments, the FBI would lend a helping hand (often one with advanced technology) anytime it could.

Greg then brings up a very current issue - the horrible crimes being committed by cross border scam centers. John mentions that the issue was already hot for the FBI several years ago during his tenure. He emphasizes the unique complexity of such crimes - they involve multiple nations, honchos who themselves often come from other countries such as China, and lower level perpetrators who are themselves often victims of trafficking.

To wrap up, the guys get personal and discuss John's love of Thailand and his project getting his wife to agree to stay in the country permanently. Greg and Ed wouldn't know anything about that!

Get John's book here!

In part 1 of a two-part episode, Greg and Ed interview John Schachnovsky about his upcoming book "Beyond the Badge," which recounts his experience as the head of the FBI in Thailand. John starts out explaining his early career with the FBI and his subsequent move to Bangkok. Greg and Ed ask about the exact role of the FBI oversees and John explains in detail. First, as a branch of the U.S. government, the FBI has no legal jurisdiction in Thailand and must work directly with the Thai government for everything they do. Second, the FBI's role is entirely distinct from the CIA. The FBI does law enforcement, the CIA does intelligence gathering with a focus on American national security. That being said, the two agencies did and do share information when it supports their respective missions.

Next, the men focus on the reputation of the Royal Thai Police, which, to put it bluntly, is not good. John stresses that he found the RTP to be hardworking and professional overall, but admits that in some cases, the RTP had different ideas about what counts as 'corruption' and what does not. He emphasizes that, at least in his experience, the reputation is undeserved and he hopes to correct it in his book, which you can get here, or at Asia Books in Thailand.

Tune in next week for Part 2 and a discussion of some of John's more famous cases.