This ‘Cold Ones With Conor’ episode of ComebaCK was featured at Union Jacks in Thao Dien, where we shared our thoughts on Vietnam expat life, the community music scene, navigating life here in comparison with the UK/US, and features two recurring ‘Cold Ones’ and ComebaCK guests; Holland Chadwick and Jeremy along from Coastal Connection.

Topics include

⁃ The curious cases of the Vietnamese law enforcement

⁃ The band’s summer gigging and the subsequent trials and tribulations

⁃ What advice we would give to new expats based on our collective 12 years experience living in Saigon, Vietnam

⁃ Our thoughts on Union Jacks food and beer choices on this particular day.

👇 ORDER AT 👇

Www.Unionjacks.co

https://www.facebook.com/UnionJackshcmc/

• This episode of ComebaCK is sponsored by The Shamrock Hoi An and Da Nang, a set of Irish bars expanding to Hanoi and Saigon, brought to you by a Vietnamese woman with a strong passion for Irish culture. It’s currently the only Irish branch in Vietnam that serves Guinness on draught.

• Their Hoi An branch is currently seeking an Irish manager!

• Find out more via;

https://www.facebook.com/ShamrockIrishPubHoiAn

https://www.facebook.com/theshamrockirishpubdanang/

• https://theshamrock.com.vn

Quynh Anh Nghiem is the current president of (HCM) Hot Cool Milk Toastmasters, a public speaker and leader based in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam, dealing with both Vietnamese locals and expats alike.

Topics include

⁃ How to be both a motivating figure and keep a team on board

⁃ Her journey from guest speaker to leader at Toastmasters HCM

⁃ Facilitating learning and development through an empathetic style of leadership

⁃ The need for introversion and authenticity in her practice

⁃ How you can improve confidence, communication and connection through the Toastmasters community

⁃ Non negotiable behaviors and core values within the community, of respect care and fun

⁃ The core strategies of a speech worth sharing

If you enjoyed this conversation, you can find out more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.

• This episode of ComebaCK is sponsored by The Shamrock Hoi An and Da Nang, a set of Irish bars expanding to Hanoi and Saigon, brought to you by a Vietnamese woman with a strong passion for Irish culture. It’s currently the only Irish branch in Vietnam that serves Guinness on draught.

• Their Hoi An branch is currently seeking an Irish manager!

• Find out more via;

https://www.facebook.com/ShamrockIrishPubHoiAn

https://www.facebook.com/theshamrockirishpubdanang/

• https://theshamrock.com.vn

Nicole Doan is from ‘Finest Fresh Pasta’ in Vietnam and Australia, and joins me to discuss her background in business, dealing with teams, her career development in F&B, and more.

Topics include

⁃ Hard work is good but smart work is better

⁃ Gaining a skill stack and lessons from moving into business at 22

⁃ Key traits required for her industry, including definitive planning and vision

⁃ Embracing the competition

⁃ Navigating through real estate investments

⁃ Staying motivated and focused

If you want to find out more about Nicole and her business, please visit https://finestfresh.vn and more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.

In the rare case of a solo episode, I talk about a set of topics that have arisen in my personal life, triggers, episodes, mistakes, the topics I’ve been looking into, the lessons I’ve learned and done that I haven’t enough. I can imagine this will be a recurring theme as I look to take responsibility, build towards my own “comeback” and enjoy the process.

Topics include

⁃ My errors and triggers and why extreme ownership/personal responsibility is the only solution

⁃ The concept of forgiveness, as shared upon this podcast beforehand

⁃ Having depression and anxiety as your “identity” and whether it’s possible to detach

⁃ Effective emotional regulation

⁃ The subconscious influences stored over time and the importance of managing our feelings

⁃ Why magic and madness are often intertwined

If you enjoyed this episode, you can find out more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.

Disclaimer: The topic discussed during this podcast, some listeners might find upsetting.

Chris Lee is a businessman and organizer of “Saigon’s Pool League”, and has been living in Asia for 16 years, and joins the podcast to discuss the loss of his daughter Tara, aged 5, to childhood cancer, in 2002.

Topics include

⁃ Discovering Tara’s condition and how he processed the news

⁃ Raising awareness for childhood cancer and discussing the impact that it had on the whole family

⁃ The aftermath of Tara’s passing and her legacy today.

Thank you enormously to Chris for coming on and sharing his story.

If you have been affected by childhood cancer, more resources for support or assistance are available here;

https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/children/childhood-cancer-resources

Garret Nelson is a businessman (Kebabs And Wraps, Dulce Saigon), and teacher based in Saigon who joins me to discuss his combination of fields, staying grounded and developing business in Vietnam.

Topics include

⁃ Developing the dessert business in Ho Chi Minh and positively networking with colleagues in F&B

⁃ Separating work/life balance and watching a hobby develop into a business

⁃ Time management and combining both a teaching career with running a business

⁃ Quality and customer service being at the heart of their mission

Garret’s work

https://www.facebook.com/dulcedesaigon/

https://www.facebook.com/kebabsandwraps/

And if you enjoyed, you can find out more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.

Disclaimer: If you listen to this episode, please consider donating to Ukraine. Links on how to do so are below.

It’s the 400th episode. I’m delighted to welcome Anastasia Sokyrka, a passionate photographer, who joins me to discuss her work in detail, and also her first hand account of having to flee her native Ukraine in March 2022.

Anastasia visited home for her annual visit in February. However after 5 days of being back in Ukraine, she woke up to an enormous sound and ultimately had to flee back to Vietnam with her mother. She recounts the story in powerful and authentic fashion throughout this conversation.

Topics include

⁃ Her photography, the mix of influences, her range of work, how she operates, biggest misconceptions and favorite aspects of photography

⁃ How photography and passion can be a valuable tool for networking

⁃ Being wrapped in the flow state and losing track of time

⁃ Becoming an independent and strong woman through her expat experiences in Vietnam

UKRAINE

⁃ Rushing to meet family members and loved ones throughout her five days at home

⁃ The experience of the explosion outside her home at 5AM and having to shelter in the basement for several days afterwards

⁃ The experience of having to evacuate the country via Poland

⁃ Her reflections on her experiences with the war now

⁃ Why we should donate to Ukraine

You can donate to Ukraine via here;

https://u24.gov.ua/

Supportukrainenow.org/donate

Mischa Smith is the sales director at Pasteur Street Brewing Company, a very popular company in the heart of Saigon, and joins me to discuss the highs and lows of being heavily immersed in F&B, his enthusiasm through his work, navigating setbacks, living abroad in Vietnam, and more.

Topics include

⁃ Moving from Canada, Korea and Vietnam and navigating himself throughout the F&B scene

⁃ Going from an unhappy place to one of contentment within the industry

⁃ Why he has the passion and enthusiasm for his role

⁃ The origins of ‘One Sip Beer Reviews’

⁃ The reason we fall in love with Saigon

⁃ The future and evolution of Pasteur Street Brewing

If you enjoyed, you can find out more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.

Tuovi Wallen is a recurring guest from Episode 72, and returns to discuss education in both Finland and Vietnam, where she works at the Finnish International School.

Topics include

⁃ Why the Finnish education model is so important and so popular

⁃ The concept of play based learning and how to tailor learning to students capabilities

⁃ The benefits of a conducive classroom culture and how to effectively cultivate it

⁃ The challenges of an international school role and how to navigate setbacks

⁃ How an “unorthodox” approach to education can be effective to specific students and their progress

⁃ Work/play, both balancing and mixing

⁃ How we’re all students forever

If you enjoyed, you can find out more about ComebaCK at @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.

On today’s ‘Cold Ones With Conor’ episode, I’m joined by two figures from the Saigon DJ community scene, Natalie Robson and Mike Juska. They join me to discuss party life in the city, the fun, excitement and energy being the practice of DJ’ing, and their collective journey. Saigon music scene is always evolving and improving and it was great to speak to two figures from the scene! Thank you Mike and Natalie!

Topics include

⁃ Getting a playlist sorted and reading the room

⁃ Getting behind the science of the practice

⁃ Developing gig to gig to gig

⁃ Being involved in an eclectic scene within the city of Saigon

⁃ The experiences between high points and “clanger” moments

⁃ Developing parallels between teaching and DJ’ing

⁃ Advice to aspiring DJs

⁃ Future aims

If you enjoyed, please visit www.HCWA.vn, a charity that both Mike and Natalie have been involved with.

If you enjoyed, follow @thecomebackwithck on Instagram.