Ho Ho Hong Kong

Vivek returns from performing shows in Malaysia and Singapore, and he’s buzzing. Not only did he get to open for Jimmy O. Yang again in front of thousands, but he also spent extended time with him, hanging out like old buddies. The highlight? They even got stuck together on a Ferris wheel! Get tickets for Dec 6 Stand-up comedy Tai Po fire relief fundraiser: https://shorturl.at/rXG0N Get tickets fo...

Host Mohammed Magdi flies to Egypt to emcee his friends' wedding; before he flew, he had another emceeing gig at the new Shangri-La hotel in Shenzhen, ending less than 2 hours before his flight to Cairo via Dubai. He's set to land in Cairo about 3 hours before the wedding starts. Sounds like a lot? These are just the highlights. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagec...

Our two hosts are finally back in the studio together at the same time; we haven't been able to record any episodes due to travel schedules and not being in Hong Kong at all. Vivek comes back from a crazy trip that started out with a curveball before he even left HK airport, and we get the full scoop on his trip to the Western Hemisphere. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Vivek goes to Shenzhen for the first time since 2017, and Mohammed goes on holiday to Vietnam. They come back loaded with tales of bad crossings, motorbike adventures, and renewed love for Banh Mi. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ww...

We have a classic Ho Ho Hong Kong episode this week, with both hosts doing what they do best—tangents and show stories. Mohammed Magdi tells the full story of producing Ben Quinlan's Theatre Special at The Box Theatre, and Vivek Mahbubani injects his signature commentary on the story. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Vivek Mahbubani is finally back to the podcast with an epic play-by-play tale of how he managed to break both his ankles in a completely avoidable freak accident. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Elena Gabrielle on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elenagabrielle/ Fol...

Australian comedian Elena Gabrielle toured 67 countries with the popular storytelling show, Story Party. Now touring the world with her own solo shows, Elena has collected so many stories from all over the world. Host Mohammed Magdi chats with Elena about performing raunchy stories in Egypt, starting in show business as a Disney princess, and meeting new people "organically." Get tickets...

This week's guest is Malaysian comedian Kavin Jay. Last time Kavin was on this podcast, he was a much heavier man. After going through an incredible transformation, he lost 45 kilograms in one year, with no medical intervention and no Ozempic. On this episode, Kavin shares his weight loss journey and his reasons behind not using Ozempic. Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows: http://co...

If you are not familiar with Chez Trente and its legendary status among the live music scene in Hong Kong, you are missing out. Chez Trente is a quaint, cool live music venue located in the middle of Peel Street, HK's premier bar street over the last few years, but there are no signs to guide you to Chez Trente, and if you don't know where it is, it's really hard to find. We chat with Chez Trente'...

Comedian and philanthropist Maityreyi Karanth is this week's guest. Maitreyi started things late in life, and with time passing, she is doing more things, not less. She is partying harder, traveling more, and saying yes to everything coming her way. Maitreyi headlines her own theatre show on Tuesday, Sep 23, in her biggest show to date. Get tickets here: https://www.ticketflap.com/maitreyi-the...

This week host Mohammed Magdi speaks with two of HK's most well-traveled couples. Cassi Thomas, founder of Chaotic HK Expats , and comedian Garron Chiu. Garron and Cassi have been a couple for 11 years, and their traveling style has changed over time. They share some of their best tips, why "fighting before the trip" works better, and they share an extremely spicy story of some actio...

Vivek Mahbubani is out of commission for a few weeks as a result of an accident (he will be fine and will make a full recovery), so Mohammed Magdi takes the liberty of picking co-hosts. This week we have strategy consultant, comedian, and one of HK's best success stories, Ben Quinlan. Mohammed and Ben chat about mega events in Hong Kong, their love for the city they both call home, and Ben's upcom...

Hong Kong got hit with the highest daily August rainfall since 1884! Mohammed's building gets a fancy "indoor waterfalls" feature, and he gets hired to be a tour guide for a few hours by comedy show audience members! Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows: http://comedyseason.hk/ Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our...

We are back in the studio, and we catch up on Vivek's recent tour of Malaysia and Singapore and Mohammed accidentally turning to a toothbrush head dealer for a day, and then we get into Hong Kong Comedy Season chat. What exactly is Hong Kong Comedy Season? Why start it, and why now? And what you, the audience, should expect. Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows: http://comedyseason.hk/ Ge...

Vivek took his long-awaited holiday in a fancy villa in Bali with 10 of his closest people (Mohammed Magdi didn't make the cut), but he did the holiday in the most Vivek way possible. We also catch up on the shows Vivek did in Macau with Jimmy O. Yang. How different were they from the Hong Kong shows? And he reveals the crazy souvenir he had to take back from his dressing room. Get tickets for...

Romanian comedian Victor Pãtrãşcan has been on the road for 5 years non-stop. He stops by Hong Kong for his first time to headline, and we catch up with him before the show. We chat about the reason he self-produces his shows, racketeering, and Europe's lack of borders. Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows: http://comedyseason.hk/ Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/...

Host Vivek Mahbubani had the honor of opening for Jimmy O. Yang on all 5 shows in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Coliseum, in front of 7000 people each show. Vivek shares the full story of the surreal experience. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠ Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Comedian Drew Fralick is a rare breed. He is a comedian, but he is also a full-time pastor and a licensed mental health counselor. He performs stand-up comedy in English and Mandarin. Host Mohammed Magdi catches up with Drew over a shisha session, and they cover everything, from the tales of living in downtown Detroit to creating what's possibly the only comedy club that's part of a church in Amer...

Singaporean comedian Jacky Ng just proposed to his girlfriend at Hong Kong Disneyland! Host Vivek Mahbubani chats with Jacky about all the creative and clever ways people rent out their public housing units, the Singapore comedy scene, the "shock" of performing in more politically correct markets, and all the secrets to a perfect marriage proposal at Hong Kong Disneyland. Get tickets for Backstage...

Indian comedian Daniel Fernandes' profile is on the rise, as well as the threats of violence, arrest, and nasty comments on his online videos. We catch up with Daniel Fernandes while he's in Hong Kong to chat about his recent video about Kashmir, the importance of "do nothing days," and why he is not concerned at all about negative backlash. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠htt...

Karys Plaxe is a long time HK resident, and recently wrapped up her time as Black Sheep Restaurant Group's head pastry chef. Karys’ career before HK ranged from working in MICHELIN-starred pastry programs to overseeing top-level international bakeries where she honed her creative finesse. Apart from being the driving force behind Hong Kong's most famous cake shop, Butter, Karys has also spent the...

Paul Taylor is an English comedian. He moved to Paris in 2009 and started doing stand-up comedy in 2013. Taylor is known in France for his TV series on Canal+, What the F*ck France, What's Up France?, and Stereotrip, but he got his onstage debut with his show #Franglais. Host Mohammed Magdi and Paul met in Shanghai in 2017 when Paul toured his show #franglais across Asia. In 2025, Paul is touring...

On our episode #199 , dated 11 December 2024, we chatted about our wish wishlist for live shows to see in Hong Kong. Cut to May 2025, and we are sitting together watching one of the shows that was on top of that list, and it did not disappoint. Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/ Subscribe to our Patreon:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a r...

We are back in the studio after more than a month being apart! Vivek Mahbubani is back from his Australia and New Zealand Tour, loaded with stories, rants and coffee! Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/ Subscribe to our Patreon:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a review: (please!)  ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠ Follow Mo...

Eshan Arif is a legend in Hong Kong’s bar scene. After a decade in the beer business, he now runs one of Soho’s coolest spots—Dead Poets. He’s also the city’s unofficial quiz king, known for hosting some of the silliest and sneakiest pub quizzes around. We sit down with Eshan to talk bar culture, what makes Dead Poets tick, and why being a quizmaster should never be taken too seriously. Check out...