Donate to Ukraine!

I met Anastasia Sokyrka in Government Quarantine in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. You can listen to my episode with her and my wife, Adrie, about our experiences while we were living them.

Since then we have become close friends, a silver lining of a tough experience (17 days with no mattress, no air con and no booze!)

Finally, after two years of the pandemic Anastasia was able to return to her home of Ukraine and reunite with her family. Despite the fact that Russia was escalating it's forces on the Ukrainian border and the threat of was was real, Anastasia needed to see her family and take that risk.

Unfortunately, 5 days after she arrived she awoke at 5am to the sound of the first rocket attack and her life changed in an instant.

In this episode Anastasia shares in detail;
* why she made the decision to return home
* what it felt like to be under attack and sheltering in her basement
* how her family escaped from Kharkiv and eventually made it to the Polish border
* the reality of being a refugee and having to leave behind your home and family members
* how she was able to return to Vietnam with her mother

And how YOU can help support Ukraine.

Click here for a list of trusted websites to donate to.

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Buy us a coffee.
-------------------
Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.
Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay.
Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with permission.
Audio Engineer Luke Digweed.

These are the programs we use to create A Vietnam Podcast.

These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes too.

Editing - Descript

Host - Buzzsprout

Design - Canva

Support

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

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If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

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Join The Community with Zion!

Zion Johnson is a former Transactivist, a writer and Seven Million Bikes superfan. He is the only person in the world to have a Seven Million Bikes tattoo!

In this episode we talk about;
- Zion's gender journey
- his trans-activism in the US
- transitioning from a black female to a black man
- woke culture
- why he decided to leave the U.S and settle in Vietnam
- life as a trans person in Vietnam

On The Road To Zion
Zion's Blog.

As mentioned by Zion.

Follow Seven Million Bikes on Facebook or Instagram.

Buy us a coffee.
-------------------
Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.
Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay.
Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with permission.
Audio Engineer Luke Digweed.

These are the programs we use to create A Vietnam Podcast.

These are affiliate links so they will give us a small commission, only if you sign up , and at no extra cost to you! You'll be directly supporting Seven Million Bikes too.

Editing - Descript

Host - Buzzsprout

Design - Canva

Support - Fiverr

Website - 10 Web

Support the show

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

The opening guest of Season 7 is Brian Letwin, a New Yorker in Saigon since 2010. Brian is the co-founder and CEO of the Urbanist Network which includes Saigoneer, Urbanist Vietnam and Urbanist Hanoi.

Using his 15 years experience working in digital media both on the agency and publisher side Saigoneer has now been running since 2013.

Recorded in late August when Saigon was still under strict lockdown we try to keep covid and lockdown chat to a minimum. Fortunately being a digital product Saigoneer and the Urbanist Network is still operating without any loss of staff and is still keeping Bryan busy. Like many people, he is enjoying spending time at home with his young daughter, and feels fortunate to have a full fridge.

Season 7 is sponsored by Blue Dragon's Children's Foundation.
and Saigon Children's Foundation.

Please donate if you are in a position to.

-------------------
Theme music composed by Lewis Wright.
Main Cover Art designed by Niall Mackay and Le Nguyen.
Episode art designed by Niall Mackay, with pictures supplied by guests and used with
permission.

Read the Blog Post

Season 6 is sponsored by Eddie's New York Deli & Diner.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Buy us a coffee or beer!

Support the show

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

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“The reason I’m putting on a podcast is because I want to listen. I don’t want to read about the hosts - I want you to tell me about you.” — Adrie Mackay

 Today I'm doing something a little bit different. You're about to hear an episode from my other show, Smarter Podcasting, where my wife Adrie joins me to talk about what she looks for in a podcast

So if you ever thought. I could do that, but I don't know how, then this episode's for you.

If you do wanna start your own podcast, then go and subscribe to Smarter Podcasting as well. In this show I share all my tips and tricks and failures along the way to help you make the best podcast possible.

This episode is easily one of my favorites - not because of the guest (though she is my wife), but because I finally got to hear the raw, honest perspective of a real podcast listener. Adrie isn’t in the industry; she doesn’t care about gear or metrics. She just loves great stories, good sound, and shows that respect her time.

Listening to her describe how she chooses podcasts, where she listens, and what makes her switch off reminded me that every podcaster needs to think more like a listener. This conversation changed the way I look at intros, ads, and even how people interact with Spotify. If you want to know how your audience really experiences your show — this is the episode to listen to.

5 Key Talking Points

1. Listeners crave connection. They tune in to people, not just topics.
2. Bad audio kills interest instantly — even more than weak content.
3. The first two minutes decide everything. Get to the point fast.
4. Titles and artwork matter more than show notes. Most people never read them.
5. Podcast habits are personal. Where, when, and how people listen shapes what they love — and what they skip.

Chapters and Timestamps

• 00:00 — Why People Listen
• 03:00 — From Talk Radio to True Crime
• 09:00 — What Makes Listeners Switch Off
• 17:00 — Should You Repeat Your Intro Every Episode?
• 25:00 — How Listeners Discover New Podcasts
• 35:00 — Lessons for Podcasters

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

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Phuong Nguyen is a Vietnamese expat currently located in Paphos, Cyprus.

She has hosted a Vietnamese podcast since 2016. Occasionally she interviewed Expats living in Vietnam and has some episodes covering expat lives such as being a vegan in Hanoi, Vietnam under the eyes of an artist and expat's life during Tet - Vietnam's traditional New year holiday.

At the age of 30, she decided to shift her career into Fitness and now she is a Pilates instructor.

You can find her interview with Niall and more on her website:

https://theblueexpat.com/

or on wherever you listen to podcasts.

Connect with Phuong on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblueexpat/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblueexpat/

-------------------
Theme music composed by Lewis Wright
Logo designed by Niall Mackay and Le Nguyen with support from Devin Gray
Episode Art designed by Niall Mackay

Buy Seven Million Bikes a beer if you enjoy this content.

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

Vote here.

I bring you a quick update as we take a short break.

The podcast has evolved into a thriving business since its inception in 2019, leading to the establishment of the Saigon Podcast Studio.

This year has been challenging due to my health issues, but the business is growing with new clients. We've rebranded to focus on relevant topics and I'm eager for your feedback.

We've been reliving our journey by airing older episodes and have been nominated for the Best Podcast in Vietnam at the People's Picks Awards.

Your support and votes are greatly appreciated. New episodes and exciting guests are on the way!

00:00 Introduction and Apology for the Break

00:15 Building a Podcast Business

00:45 Health Challenges and Business Growth

01:15 Podcast Seasons and Rebranding

02:17 Listener Engagement and Feedback

02:52 Revisiting Old Episodes

04:10 Award Nominations and Voting

04:59 Gratitude and Reflection

05:56 Conclusion and Future Episodes

"Send me a message!"

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

The most difficult man to nail down for an interview is finally on Seven Million Bikes! Chef and Restaurateur Calvin Bui of El Camino and Dos Amigos Taqueria.

A California native born of parents who escaped the fall out of the Vietnam war, Calvin has lived in Saigon for 10 years now and gone from a Wall Street Banker to owning and running successful restaurants in Saigon. Most notable for his fusion of Korean and Mexican food.

Calvin and I talk about his love of feeding people, Trip Advisor Reviews and the state of the food and beverage market in Saigon at the moment and why customers need to support local businesses if they want to see them thrive and stay in Saigon.

• Owner and Founder at El Camino
• Owner and Founder at Easy Tiger
• Gin Bar, chef / owner at Dos Amigos Taqueria :: Tacos • Burritos • Craft Beer
• Owner and Founder at 20twenty Kick-Ass Bia Hoi

Instagram; fkndeliciousness

How not to treat your customers;

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!

Levi Oi moved from Berlin to Saigon at the end of 2018 - to discover her Vietnamese roots and to become a DJ.

Her style is characterized by deep infectious melodic tunes, strong baselines paired with a cheeky sprinkle of techno.

Within 5 months of her DJ career, she played her first Boiler Room set in Ho Chi Minh City.
Next to organizing electronic music events, she was also the tour manager of Red Axes and local guide for their EP “Trips in Vietnam”.

Now she is living between Saigon & Berlin.

"Send me a message!"

Vote now for Discover Vietnam!

The full list of winners is here.

Support the show

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!