Poet in Bangkok Poet in Bangkok

In Episode 16, Colin Cheney is missing. He was last seen venturing to Puerto Rico in search of a major discovery at the Arecibo Observatory. Meanwhile, fearing his reoccurring Martian Aphasia might lead to his arrest, Donald Quist flees the United States and returns to Bangkok. From Thailand, Donald reflects on America's declaration of war with Mars and the executive order to detain any perceived followers of former Mars colonist, Captain Raymond Shepard. Donald discusses the growing sense of anxiety across the globe as uncertainty about alien invaders continues to aid the rise of demagogues. Sorting through abandoned audio from his last visit with Colin, Donald shares a recording of the pair riding through Boston, Massachusetts, on their way to meet a new sponsor for the podcast. Reminiscing on their work together, Donald ponders Colin's vanishing and if the podcast might be of greater significance than either of them could have imagined.

This episode is sponsored by Curio Spice Company, a woman-owned business offering unique, organic spices sourced directly from farmers, for the curious cook. (http://www.curiospice.com/)

Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/) and the mysterious machine (https://www.spire.live/).

Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.

Thanks also to Claire, Mark, Amanda, Ian, Kepler, Hazelnut, and Campari.

In Episode 15, Colin and Donald speak to arts journalist Kaewta “Ann” Ketbungkan recorded at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Center a few weeks after the passing of His Majesty--the much beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej. During our talk with Ann, she walks us through an art exhibit honoring the late monarch. She explains how art can allow a society to grapple with crisis while depicting how she inherited her passion for the humanities. She discusses her role at Khaosod English as a lifestyle reporter and her desire to make the "hard stuff" easier to understand. She talks about using discussions about existing art, culture and film, to more safely explore the politics of Thailand and gives an example of how an interview helped her process the 2016 Thai Referendum using The Lord of the Rings and The Shawshank Redemption. She touches on the hierarchies of Thai art circles and delves into the risks of making art when laws limiting freedom of speech carry grave consequences. And Ann gives America advice on how to deal with tumultuous political change in the shadow of alien invasions.

The hosts discuss the surreality of life following their return to the USA, touching on the rise of the Shepards, a roaming cult with allegiance to Mars astronaut Raymond Shepard. Colin shares his progress on the translation of alien signals, and Donald speaks about a mysterious cure provided to him by an unidentified government agent.

Written and Produced by Donald and Colin.
Mixed and Edited by Colin.
Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/).

Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.

Many thanks to freesound.org creators klankbeeld, cydon, and ryansnook for the sound effects in this episode.

In Episode 14, Colin interviews two young Ethiopian-Somali American poets, Rakiya and Ahmed Mohamed. The interview was recorded at Forage Market in Lewiston, Maine, shortly after President Trump’s Executive Order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries including Somalia. The siblings—one in high school, the other in college—recount their experiences emigrating from Ethiopia and building a life in America. They reflect on how the poetic, playful nature of the Somali language and their discovery of Def Jam Poetry and Spoken Word inspired them each to write. Ahmed recounts the experience of performing at Spoken Word competitions in New York City, and Rakiya reflects on reconciling the many facets of her identity. And they reflect on how they understand the intersecting facets of their Black, Muslim, Immigrant and American selves under a Trump presidency.

The hosts discuss comparisons between Thailand and the USA, and the anxiety of repatriation. Colin describes chatting with his daughter about love and hate, and Donald struggles against strange rhetoric as his Martian Aphasia returns.

Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/).

Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.

In Episode 13, Colin and Donald chat with American expressionist painter Chris Coles at BrainWake Café in Bangkok. Chris talks about his choice to reject realism in order to better capture the ugly, primal, truth of the Bangkok nightlife—and the human condition. He shares his thoughts on the role of fine arts in Thailand, how it is intrinsically different than in the West and why his work disrupts some of the narratives propagated by the nation’s upper-class. Chris discusses the origins of “Bangkok Noir,” an expatriate art movement popular around the globe. And, while reflecting on the darker aspects of life in Southeast Asia, he recalls the violence during Bangkok’s political unrest in 2010. Chris also takes time to describe how the sobering, green marshes of Maine resemble the discombobulating, neon-lit, bars of Bangkok’s sex tourism industry.

The hosts discuss recent developments to the crew of the Harbinger 2 mission on Mars and report of a hacking at the embassy where ISECG whistle-blower Dr. Pim Weeresethakul has sought asylum. Donald describes reactions to the bukruk invasion in Bangkok, and Colin shares details about his return to life in the USA.

Written and produced by Donald and Colin.
Edited and Mixed by Colin.
Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/).

Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.

Episode 12 is different. Recorded during two meetings at Benchasiri Park in Bangkok--shortly after the passing of Thailand's beloved patriarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and then again a few weeks later, following the results of the U.S. presidential elections--Colin and Donald attempt to parse their world in the wake of recent happenings that stand to reshape the national and cultural identities of two countries they call home. In these park sessions, Colin and Donald describe some of the responses they've witnessed. They share their perspectives and explain the difficulty each have faced finding what to say during a period of mourning and transition in both Thailand and the United States.

The hosts discuss effects to the production of the podcast, and reveal personal developments that stand to change the dynamic of the show. Donald discusses the growing Martian plant invasion throughout Bangkok, and Colin makes plans for the alien bukrak flower he's been nursing on his balcony.

Written and produced by Donald and Colin.
Mixed and edited by Colin.

Music by Reports (reports.bandcamp.com/).
Thanks to Izotope (www.izotope.com) for the phenomenal sound editing software.

In episode 11, Colin heads to Hanoi, Vietnam, and chats with Burmese poet & visual artist Maung Day. Maung talks about how his early exposure to traditional Burmese songs and poems in school sparked a passion for writing, how--despite extreme military censorship--he sought out American and British literature that excited him, and how he found his own creative voice. He recalls the violent political clashes he saw while residing in Bangkok in the earlier half of the decade, and how he felt a haunting sense of familiarity having witnessed brutal suppressions of uprisings growing up in a Yangon suburb. Maung reflects on the difficulty many immigrants face in Thailand and personal instances of discrimination. He shares his optimism and comments on the exciting, socially engaging, art currently coming out of Myanmar. And Maung explains how the strange alien vines growing across the Earth inspire poetic imagery.

The hosts discuss the detention of Hong Kong activist, Joshua Wong, and reflect on the 40th anniversary of one of Thailand's darkest moments. Donald talks about a mysterious new friend with connections to ISECG and the Harbinger missions to Mars, and Colin comes into possession of lyrical translations of alien transmissions.

Written and produced by Donald and Colin.
Mixed and edited by Colin.

Music by Reports, with thanks to Martin Pavlinic (https://reports.bandcamp.com).

Special thanks to Izotope for the fabulous sound editing software.

Questions or comments? poetinbangkok@gmail.com