Ho Ho Hong Kong

On this episode, Eshan and Mohammed dive into their relationship with Dubai. Eshan’s mom and Mohammed’s brother both live there, making them frequent visitors with plenty of strong opinions. What’s to love? What’s to hate? And how does it stack up against Hong Kong? Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.pa...

"Got Balls?" has become one of Hong Kong's most anticipated live events. It’s a full-blown spectacle packed with performances, music, and games—turning into a fast-selling event every time. We chat with Got Balls? co-founder George Fleming about all things Got Balls? : where the idea came from, how to execute free-flow alcohol events successfully, and what makes Got Balls? different...

In this special handover episode, Vivek Mahbubani and Mohammed Magdi welcome the new co‑host who will be taking over from Vivek. Together, we chat with him, ease him into the role, and set clear expectations for what’s to come. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Mohammed on In...

After an impressive run of 263 episodes—plus hundreds of hours on Patreon—Vivek Mahbubani is retiring from the Ho Ho Hong Kong Podcast and making other major life decisions. In his final one‑on‑one episode with Mohammed Magdi, Vivek opens up about how he came to this decision, how he envisions his future, and his recommendations for what the new Ho Ho Hong Kong Podcast co‑host should be like. Get...

How do you even pronounce a word like “Sa77a”? In this episode, we dive into the world of conscious purchasing, upcycling, and sustainable fashion with SA77A founders Cyrine and Weronika. Why sneakers? Why sustainability? And why choose to build something that’s more than just a product? This is the genuinely inspiring story of two young women who followed their dream, stayed true to their values,...

This week’s guest is one of the fastest-rising stars on Hong Kong’s Cantonese comedy scene—he goes by Four . Recently, Four outshone more than a thousand contestants to earn a spot on 農夫FAMA’s show at the historic Hong Kong Coliseum, performing in front of 8,000 fans. To get there, he had to survive three grueling rounds, including two in front of live audiences of over 1,000 people. Four breeze...

Vivek lets the antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics battle it out—while obsessively documenting his bathroom adventures with way too many photos. Meanwhile, Mohammed gets front-row seats to a classic Hong Kong elevator showdown that turns a ride to a 16th‑floor yoga studio into a tense standoff. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our P...

⚠️ Warning: This episode contains graphic details about a medical condition. Please proceed with caution. Vivek spent two harrowing weeks at his favorite hospital, Queen Mary, in what became his closest brush with death. Now back among the living, he shares the tale in his own words. Long live the funniest man ever to grace Hong Kong! Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://back...

Hong Kong's coolest neighbourhood Tai Ping Shan is mentioned on this podcast quite a lot, not only because one of our hosts lives there but mainly because it's entirely comprised of local businesses, and there is no Tai Ping Shan without Craftissimo. We catch up with Craftissimo's shop manager Akhil Sindher ahead of the shop's 13th anniversary. We chat Tai Ping Shan history, we try...

Our guest this week is truly at the top of his field. Stephen “Hong Kong Visa Geeza” Barnes is a legend. He’s been practicing and innovating in Hong Kong immigration since 1993, and was among the very first batch of people to gain HK permanent residence after the 1997 handover. We chat with Stephen about all things Hong Kong immigration, Mohammed’s ongoing visa adventures, and his bold new venture...

The guys catch Louis CK live in Hong Kong and swap notes. Meanwhile, Mohammed is trapped in friends' wedding hell—until the city reminds him just how cool it can be. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed...

Comedian Norah Yang is not just a superstar on the Chinese comedy scene—she’s also an entrepreneur, a celebrity emcee, and the founder of Spicy Comedy, China’s biggest comedy club. Norah began her career in Shanghai at Kung Fu Komedy, where Mohammed Magdi was working at the time. In this episode, Norah and Mohammed catch up in Hong Kong to chat about her rise to stardom, the success story of Spicy...

In this episode, Singaporean comedian Jinx Yeo unpacks his country’s obsession with rules—no matter how unreasonable they may seem. The conversation then escalates into a classic Hong Kong vs. Singapore showdown. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Jinx Yeo on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Vivek breaks down his different school talk models, exploring why kids often outshine adults in creativity—and how he adapts the same material for both audiences. He also rekindles his long-lost passion for photography. Meanwhile, Mohammed takes the stage in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, before facing a frightening bout of double vision in Cambodia and rushing straight from Hong Kong Airpor...

Vivek reconnects with his new bestie, Jimmy O. Yang, in Macau and vents about the city being overrun with tourists during Chinese New Year. Meanwhile, Mohammed dives into his Tokyo adventures, revealing his shopping hacks for scoring ridiculously cheap deals thanks to the weak yen and Japan’s updated tax rebate system. He even shares a secret tip on the best way to experience Tokyo like a pro. Get...

We welcome the Year of the Horse. Vivek is gearing up to open for Jimmy O. Yang in Macau, while Mohammed is preparing to head to Tokyo for his own shows. But before either of those take place, we circle back to finish the story of the first Asia run. Mohammed, hopelessly addicted to Krispy Kreme, decides to follow ChatGPT’s advice and secure a box from Changi Airport before flying back to Hong Kon...

Mohammed begins to share a story about meeting Simon Squibb, better known as the “What’s Your Dream?” guy. In true Vivek fashion, he casually drops in that he once worked for Simon back in the old days. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https...

Mohammed wraps up the first leg of his Asia tour: his friend flies in from Shanghai, longtime fans from there turn up in Manila, he squeezes in a dive, then continues on to Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. We get the full account. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Mohammed on Instag...

Mohammed vows to upgrade his seat if his tour delivers, argues for smoking on planes, and gets lost in a hospital. Vivek insists sitting is the new smoking, the duo laugh at Hong Kong’s quirky warning signs, and debate how the new bus seat‑belt law will play out in real life. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http...

This week on Ho Ho Hong Kong , we’re talking brainrot, the jobs AI can’t steal, and Mohammed’s golden trick for using ChatGPT in Hong Kong without a VPN. We argue whether it’s better to blast the heater or dress like a dumpling, and Mohammed explains why he’s stuck sleeping on his own couch while juggling fresh visa drama courtesy of his “strong” Egyptian passport. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy...

Ho Ho Hong Kong kicks off 2026 with a frosty blast of laughs! Vivek rants about his eternal hatred of hiking, fresh off his New Year’s Eve gig at the Grand Hyatt Ballroom. Mohammed, meanwhile, dives into tales of partying with Russians and why every countdown somehow ends up hilariously out of sync. We wrap it all up with a brutally honest look at our resolutions—what’s already failed, what’s gone...

We made it to the last episode of 2025! Vivek makes a plea to not be forgotten and we share our new year resolutions and the things we hope to avoid. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Vive...

Vivek kicks things off with his very first “dumb purchase” of the holiday season — and yes, it’s as entertaining as it sounds. From there, we dive headfirst into our 2025 year‑in‑review, unpacking the highs that made us cheer and the lows that tested us. It’s been a big year for both of your hosts, filled with standout moments, unexpected twists, and a few literal stumbles along the way. Join us a...

We kick things off with a recap of our Ready, Set… Fail! comedy quiz show, before turning our sights on Hong Kong’s own Sam’s Tailor and his never‑ending “schtick.” Mohammed shares his gripe with streamer iShowSpeed, sparking a bigger conversation about how today’s social media influencers rely on over‑the‑top reactions to grab attention. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Vivek reminisces about his metal band drumming days while Mohammed announces his 2026 Asia tour. We dive into our Spotify Wrapped (and reveal our “listening age”), shout out local businesses who backed our Tai Po fire relief fundraiser show, and chat about the film Dead Pigs . Plus, the week’s wildest headline: a truck crashing into a 7‑11 in Central. 🎧 Comedy, culture, and chaos — Hong Kong styl...