Hello from Bhutan!
Hello from Bhutan!
Zam
The first podcast to come out of Bhutan ft. everything you should know and did not know you should know from the land of Gross National Happiness. The show is hosted by Bhutanese journalist, Namgay Zam.
Hello from Bhutan ft. Geophysicist Yeshey Seldon – the first Bhutanese in Antarctica
Geophysicist Yeshey Seldon, is the first Bhutanese to set foot in Antarctica. She was in Antarctica as part of a research team called TIME (Thwaites Interdisciplinary Margin Evolution) who were there to study the Thwaites Glacier. Find out about her research and experience in Antarctica on this podcast. Yeshey is on Instagram: @yesheybokuuu. 00:00-Intro  1:45-Initial Antarctica experience  2:23-“Hurdy Gurdy” and local lingo  4:06-Expectation vs. Reality  5:52-McMurdo station (US Research Facility)  7:31-Wais Divide field camp  8:32-Thwaites Glacier  8:50-Reason for studying glacier in Antarctica  11:59-Being a geophysicist and climate change  14:32-Challenges 19:47-Memorable experiences  22:06-Animals --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Mar 29, 2024
25 min
Bhutan's football superstar Chencho Gyeltshen shares his success, struggles, and passion
In this candid interview, Chencho Gyeltshen, talks about playing internationally – the struggles and the highlights. He shares tips on finding work outside Bhutan and little known details about his life before professional football. Language: English and Dzongkha --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Mar 12, 2024
24 min
Independent filmmaker Arun Bhattarai on his films at the Oscars, Sundance & more
In this podcast, Arun Bhattarai, talks about the "Mountain Man," the first Bhutanese documentary to qualify for the Oscars (2025). The film features Bhutan's first qualified glaciologist Phuntsho Tshering. He also talks about his latest film "Agent of Happiness" that is the first Bhutanese documentary to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Arun shares what it takes to make documentaries, the process, his journey, and more. 00:00-Intro 1:15-On qualifying for the Oscars 2025 3:12-Filming the Oscars entry Mountain Man 6:42-Climate Change in Mountain Man 11:15-Journey of filming documentaries  11:42-The film Agent of Happiness at Sundance 13:45-Looking for love 17:35-Studying filmmaking in Europe  19:14-Funding for independent filmmakers  20:18-On the film The Next Guardian 25:06-Where to watch the films  28:31-Queer characters in the films --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Feb 18, 2024
32 min
The Sacred Chronotope, GeSAR & the Bhutanese Identity with award-winning communications scholar, Dorji Wangchuk.
In this episode, communications scholar, Dorji Wangchuk, talks about his award-winning research: “On Identity, Spirituality, Community and the Sacred Chronotope in Bhutan", the biggest announcement from Bhutan – GeSAR (Gelephu Mindfulness City) - a city like no other, and the unique Bhutanese identity. 00:00-Introduction 01:18-Background to Research 03:03-Types of Bhutanese Communities 04:08-The Bhutanese Identity 05:35-Meaning of Chronotope 07:26-The Sacred Chronotope 10:12-National Day 2023 as a Sacred Chronotope 11:56-What Unites us as Bhutanese 15:39-GeSAR or Gelephu Mindfulness City 23:42-Bhutan as a Collectivist Society 27:25-What should be the Bhutanese story? 29:34-Various interpretations of Dec 17 2023 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Jan 8, 2024
34 min
Academy Award Nominee Pawo Choyning Dorji, Talks About His Latest Film and more
This conversation takes us through Pawo's journey from being a photographer and writer to a film-maker. Pawo was nominated for an Academy Award for his very first film – Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom. Pawo's second film: The Monk and The Gun, is Bhutan's submission to the 2023 Academy Awards. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Oct 25, 2023
33 min
The Joy of the Jalebi Shop (IMTRAT)
Episode 2 of Hello from Bhutan, Season 3, brings you an inside look at IMTRAT's famous Jalebi shop in Thimphu. If anyone should take credit for cultivating a sweet tooth among Bhutanese in the capital, it's the Jalebi shop! Did you know that they never reuse their oil and give the utmost importance to hygiene? All this and more on this podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Oct 6, 2023
14 min
History of Project DANTAK in Bhutan - Infrastructure, people, and food!
The first podcast of Hello from Bhutan's third season features Project DANTAK. Here, I find out the incredible history and wonderful connection formed over six decades between Bhutan and India through people, infrastructure, and food! It all began with the inspiring leadership and friendship between His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Sep 22, 2023
35 min
Why Bhutan? A conversation with Fmr. US Ambassador Curtis S. Chin
Fmr. US Ambassador Curtis S. Chin, talks about his two decades long relationship with Bhutan and why the country "defies stereotypes.' This is a candid insight into Bhutan from someone who is in a unique position to talk about the country as both an outsider and insider. This podcast highlights fashion and food as well! Curtis is also the chair of Milken Institute Asia, and on the advisory council of the Bhutan Foundation.  This episode is brought to you by the Department of Tourism (https://bhutan.travel).  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Dec 27, 2022
21 min
The world's highest ultramarathon: The Snowman Race
This episode features running legend and race director of the Snowman Race, Luis Escobar, and the Snowman Secretariat's Damcho Rinzin. The first Snowman Race took place in October, this year. 29 international and Bhutanese ultra athletes took part. All participants underwent a selection process. The world's highest race has been conceptualised to raise awareness on Bhutan's melting glaciers and the impact of climate change. The Snowman Race had about a 100 people involved in its execution. Luis says the race is "a gift to international athletes."   This episode of the podcast is brought to you by the Department of Tourism. Find more information on: https://bhutan.travel/. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Nov 2, 2022
35 min
On Buddhism, gender equality, and the International Buddhist Confederation with Ven. Dr. Dhammapiya
Venerable Dr. Dhammapiya, the Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), was in Bhutan for the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies' 4th International Conference on Vajrayana Buddhism. IBC and Bhutan's central monastic body were the Centre's partners for the conference. Dr. Dhammapiya talks about the values of Buddhism, gender equality, conflict avoidance, and the role of the IBC in Buddhism today.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message
Oct 16, 2022
17 min
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