Wherever This Is — Episode 1 (Mike) 🎧🌏

Quick gist

• Mike launches a new casual podcast-style series called "Wherever This Is" — a space for him to talk about travel, life, relationships, and practice speaking.
• Tone: unfiltered, informal, stream-of-consciousness; aimed at keeping connection with viewers/listeners even if only a small audience.

Why the podcast? 🗣️

• Wants a less polished outlet than YouTube to speak weekly and stay connected.
• Uses it as practice to articulate thoughts better and as a cheaper alternative to therapy (one-sided therapy for him).
• Doesn’t care about large reach — if a handful of people listen and enjoy it, that's fine.
• Jokes about monetization / brand deals but claims he likely won’t monetize.

Current setting / context 📍🇻🇳

• Recording from Vietnam (Hanoi / various locations). Mentions being with his girlfriend (South African, living in Hanoi) and doing long-distance.
• Describes atmosphere: hot (30°C), scenic, sometimes noisy (motorbikes, people nearby).

Main stories & memories shared ✈️🔥

1. Early 20s background

   • Lived in London, worked in a bar (The Blues Kitchen, Brixton).
   • Did festival work across Europe; social, party-heavy lifestyle; wanted more from life.

2. Southeast Asia trip at 22

   • Flew into Bangkok with ~£2,000, planned 90 days.
   • Initially avoided the South Islands to save money, but joined friends and partied (spent half the funds quickly).
   • Anecdote: spontaneous Muay Thai-style bar fight for a free bucket of alcohol → threw up after.

3. Falling in love & running out of money

   • Met a Dutch girl (Bea) in Laos; they traveled together to Hanoi.
   • Ran out of cash (about £300 left); considered going home early.
   • Met an American who suggested teaching English in Vietnam — offered a kindergarten job; paid ~$1,000 in VND cash after a month of teaching.

4. Teaching English & early struggles

   • Took kindergarten job in Hanoi, lived cheaply in a crowded building (~$100/month).
   • Describes loneliness, culture shock, and learning-by-doing teaching kindergarten songs/colors/alphabet.
   • That decision led to living in Vietnam ~3 years — “the best three years” of his life; made close friends and found community.

5. Travel anecdotes after that

   • Philippines trip where currency exchange losses forced the Dutch partner to pay; they split but later separated — she’s now married with kids.
   • Returned to Vietnam intermittently over subsequent years.

6. Language learning / criticism

   • Responds to comments about not speaking Vietnamese after years there:
     • He never intended to stay long-term initially, so didn’t study conversational Vietnamese deeply.
     • Vietnamese is tonal and difficult; he’s studied Russian more recently.
     • Explains practical constraints on learning when frequent short stays are planned.

7. Recent shoot — fishing huts / Banchoi trip

   • Found a YouTube video about sea huts (Banchoi) near the Vietnam–Cambodia coastal border and arranged to join fishermen.
   • Logistics issues: permits required for foreigners; initial plan delayed; eventually went via Vũng Tàu.
   • Describes rough sea, small old fishing boats, stormy weather, climbing between boats, and the decision-making about risk.
   • Emphasizes value of leaving the camera off at times to build rapport; gave money/support off-camera to locals.

Reflections on travel risks ⚠️

• Outlines three travel dangers:
  1. Political danger (most frightening) — e.g., hostile governments, arrests.
  2. Criminal danger — robbery/violence (says he’s been lucky).
  3. Natural danger — avalanches, flash floods (least controllable).
• Relates his Banchoi trip as bordering on natural/sea-risk territory.

Format & future plan 🔁

• Podcast name explained: “Wherever This Is” — recorded wherever he is.
• Goal: release weekly, get better over time, be more candid than YouTube.
• Promises improvement; warns this first episode is rough — “worst it’ll ever be.”

Notable quotes / soundbites

• “It’s a space for me to talk to you.”
• “If five people watch this each week and they watch the whole thing and they actually enjoy it, job done.”
• “This was one of the hardest, loneliest months of my life.”
• “Go to the South Islands of Thailand. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Actions / takeaways ✅

• Podcast is informal — expect travel stories, candid life updates, practice in speaking.
• If you want to follow: look for weekly episodes; check related YouTube content (Banchoi / fishing huts video referenced).
• For aspiring travelers: be open to unexpected jobs/opportunities (e.g., teaching English) — they can change your path.

Emojis summary

• Travel adventures: ✈️🏝️🛶
• Personal growth / speaking: 🗣️🧠
• Risk & caution: ⚠️🌊
• Nostalgia & connection: ❤️👥

Love you millions — Mike’s sign-off; promises to improve next episode.