The X Perspective Podcast

From Heroin Addiction to Business Owner in Bangkok Imagine not sleeping for four straight months. Nearly two decades ago, that was the reality Samir Obaid faced as he fought to recover from heroin addiction. What does it take to overcome heroin addiction? And what goes on inside the mind of a teenager gripped by it? In this powerful episode, Bangladeshi expat Samir Obaid shares his journey from ad...

How This Bangkok Singer Overcame Perfectionism and Found Her Authentic Voice Are you a perfectionist? Do you set exceptionally high standards for yourself and struggle with self-criticism? Or are you simply curious about the mindset of a perfectionist? In this episode, we explore perfectionism through the lens of Bangkok-based singer Athalie de Koning. For years, she had no idea she was a perfecti...

He Spent His Life Believing He Was Weak Until Strength Became His Identity 42-year-old Swiss expat Jamal Younis grew up with chronic wrist pain, weak joints, and poor posture. Over time, he began to believe he was simply a “weak” person. In his mid-twenties, Jamal felt a strong desire to learn self-defense. He stepped into a Muay Thai class and never looked back. Through years of hard work, discip...

Forgiving a Cheating Husband: How She Found Peace After Infidelity In this episode of The X Perspective Podcast, we sit down with 42-year-old Flora Aye, a Burmese expat living in Bangkok, Thailand. Her story is about forgiveness and healing after infidelity. At 19, Flora left Myanmar for Bangkok, where she began a new chapter in her life. There, she met the man she would later marry and build a fa...

Quitting a Job Abroad Felt Impossible – A British Expat Story in Thailand Ben Reeves, a British expat living in Bangkok, spent over 10 years in a job that was slowly affecting his health, and he knew it.  But he still couldn’t leave, until something forced him to confront a fear bigger than quitting. In this episode of The X Perspective Podcast, we explore why it is so hard to quit a job, even whe...

Letting Go of the Parent You Love | 12 Years of Caregiving in Thailand Letting go of the parent you once knew—and learning to accept that your loved one will never be the same person again—can be heartbreaking. On top of that, coping with caring for a declining parent for years while trying to take care of yourself is a whole other challenge. In her early thirties, Joanne Narksompong, an American-...

We live in a world shaped by expectations—both internal and external. Often unnoticed, these expectations influence how we think, behave, and live. In this Season 2 wrap-up episode, host Raj reflects on the stories shared by her guests throughout the season, highlighting how expectations play a significant role in shaping our lives and psychological well-being. In this episode, Raj also shares her...

Imagine being in so much pain that you feel as though you don’t have the space or the option to process the loss of a loved one. On top of that, you’re faced with the expectations of others who believe you should grieve and mourn in a certain way. When cultural and societal expectations clash with your own choices about how to grieve, what should you do? In this thought-provoking episode, American...

The best decision Tommy Walker ever made was taking a 3-month backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. That single journey changed the trajectory of his entire life. He is now in his fourteenth year of living and travelling abroad—and has no plans of ever living in his homeland of England again. Today, Tommy Walker works as a foreign correspondent in Bangkok, covering stories from across Southeast Asia...

Have you ever taken the time to really think about retirement? How will you fill your time? What will be needed beyond financial security? How important is it to be physically and psychologically healthy for this chapter of your life? Whether you are decades away from retirement, just around the corner, or somewhere in between— this is an episode you won’t want to miss. In this insightful episode,...

What should someone do when their desire to express their individuality conflicts with societal expectations? In this episode, artist Galina Nistor shares how and why she was born into a world of expectations. She was born and raised in Moldova during the regime of the former USSR. From a young age, Galina questioned the restrictions placed upon her by family and society. She would wonder why she...

Do you set high expectations for yourself? Does it feel like you are chasing standards you simply cannot grasp, no matter how hard you try? In this thought-provoking episode, mixed martial artist Bashir Ahmad shares how reaching his own expectations has been a lifelong ordeal. Whether as a student or now as a business owner, Bashir admits that he has always struggled to reach his full potential. I...

For over three decades, American veteran Harry Fish dreamed of rekindling his lost love. His heart ached to find the touch and scent of the woman whom he fell in love with at the age of 16.  In this episode, Harry shares his personal journey of how he eventually reunited with the woman he never stopped loving—his “angel.”  She showed up in his life during one of the most difficult chapters of his...

Have you ever thought about who would show up for you if you were facing a really tough time in your life? Who would have your back and take care of you, no matter what? In this episode, Dr. Anshul Singhal provides a detailed account of the physical and psychological challenges she endured after delivering her children. However, this story is not just about Anshul’s health challenges; it is much m...

Have you ever considered how your culture shapes your ideas of female beauty? What if the cultural beauty standards are so high that chasing them leaves you exhausted? In this episode, 42-year-old Wahn Punnapha, a native of Thailand, opens up for the first time about her insecurities around meeting cultural beauty standards. After experiencing a major turning point in her life, she began to questi...

In this episode, Raj wraps up this season by reflecting on how her nine guests have provided her with a better understanding of the human condition through their stories of courage. She also shares her personal story of courage. Have you ever been in a situation where you don't want to disappoint your family, yet you know it will be inevitable to avoid their disapproval? Well, tune in to find...

What does it feel like to live life after a traumatic brain injury? American Expat Christopher Dittrich has adopted the attitude that it is important to “keep moving forward.”   At the age of 18, Chris suffered a serious brain injury from a car accident in 2008. Since then, he has graduated from university, travelled the world, and worked in Hong Kong.  Today, he happily works and resides in Thail...

What does it feel like to hide a significant part of your identity from others due to shame and fear of judgment?  What does it take to embrace a new identity? Does one need the support of others to cultivate an identity, or is it just an internal realization? Or, perhaps both? In this inspiring episode, Canadian Performer Betsy Cyberpixie opens up about her struggles with alopecia and how taking...

To risk or not to risk? Is it worth taking a risk to follow your dream and possibly fail, or is it better to play it safe, but deal with regret? French Canadian Business Coach Martin Du’Breuil says he would rather take a risk than live with regret. In fact, his life story is a testament to his belief.  At 36, Martin had a stable and well-paying job in Montreal, Canada. He was married and raising t...

Imagine your life took a 180-degree turn because of one decision. Would you be willing to take accountability for that decision?  Kittivit Kanokwanvimol, also known as Nop, was born in Thailand.  As a young adult, he fell in love with rugby. Eventually, as a university student, he was offered a scholarship to play rugby in Australia.  However, on January 1, 2007, an inauspicious event left Nop cha...

Have you ever dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but don’t have the courage to do so? In this episode, French expat Nenad Popadic, a scuba diver instructor turned businessman, reflects on his journey of becoming an entrepreneur. In his early twenties, unhappy with his life, Nenad left France in search of a better life. Despite all his fears and anxieties, he eventually found the courage to overcome...

It took Tara Savage, an American long-distance runner, almost three decades to accept her chronic immune disease. For years she convinced herself she was misdiagnosed, and kept it a secret from others.   Around 2016, after a difficult period in her life, she joined the Bangkok Runners and eventually began to run seriously.  It was through running and her supportive running community, Tara would le...

What is it like to step outside your comfort zone at a later age in life? How difficult is it to leave one’s family and friends to relocate to a different continent in your late fifties or sixties?  At 56, Ruth Biddell found herself divorced, broke, and unhappy. Instead of being miserable in Canada, she decided to start a new life by relocating to Belgium. This however would mean leaving her 3 kid...

The X Perspective Podcast sits down with Shelka Sharma, an Indian expat living in Bangkok, Thailand. During her 38th week of pregnancy, Shelka discovers her baby has no heartbeat. She opens up about her experience with stillbirth and takes the listeners through a very depressive period in her life.  Tune in to listen to how and why Shelka ultimately awakens her inner “tigress” and pulls herself ou...

The X Perspective Podcast sits down with Jason Bishop, a Canadian expat living in Bangkok, Thailand. Jason shares his personal story of how he left his homeland of Canada to live abroad and eventually found the courage to embark on a life-changing journey. A trip of a lifetime that ultimately led him to carve a new path in life. To listen to more episodes of “The X Perspective Podcast,” please fol...