The 9pm 57 Varieties of Thai with Erin Cook

A white woman with her long brown hair tied back wears a yellow and black top, sunglasses, and a smile like the Mona Lisa. Behind her stretches out a view of a tropical landscape and, eventually, the ocean. It?s Erin Cook!
Erin Cook stands tall over South-East Asia. (Photo: Supplied).

With Thailand’s general election just over a week away, I figured it’s time once more to chat with journalist Erin Cook, who specialises in South-East Asia. But as always we talk about much more than just Thailand.

Erin produces the excellent newsletter Dari Mulut ke Mulut, an English-language summary of what’s happening in the region, and an occasional newsletter specifically on the Australia-Indonesia relationship, Flat White, Kopi Susu.

In this episode we discuss what to look out for in Thai politics over the coming weeks. We also talk about the elections in Myanmar, the latest deadly landslide in Indonesia, a couple of events in the Philippines, the Cowra prisoner of war camp, making excuses, the Crying Horse, and Donald Trump’s body odour.

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For this episode it’s thanks to Liam O’Boyle and Peter Evans.

And it’s thanks again to everyone who supported The 9pm Summer Series 2025 crowdfunding campaign.

CONVERSATION TOPICS: None this time.

THREE TRIGGER WORDS: Bernard Walsh, Garth Kidd, Paul Williams, Peter Lieverdink, Peter Wickins, and one person who chooses to remain anonymous.

WE WILL, WE WILL JUDGE YOU, part of Another Untitled Music Podcast: Joanna Forbes, Martin English, and one person who chooses to remain anonymous.

ONE TRIGGER WORD: Andrew Best, Drew Mayo, Errol Cavit, Frank Filippone, Jim Campbell, Jordan Wightman, Karl Sinclair, Kym Yeap, Mark Newton, Michael, Michael again, Miriam Faye, Nicole Coombe, Oliver Townshend, Peter Blakeley, Ric Hayman, Stephen Collins, Steve Sainsbury, and two people who choose to remain anonymous.

RECOMMEND A SONG TO US, another part of Another Untitled Music Podcast: Briala Bowmer, Kimberley Heitman, Mindy Johnson, and Rhydwyn.

PERSONALISED VIDEO MESSAGE: None of these this time either.

PERSONALISED AUDIO MESSAGE: Matthew Taylor, and one person who chooses to remain anonymous.

FOOT SOLDIERS FOR MEDIA FREEDOM who gave a SLIGHTLY LESS BASIC TIP: Chris Scobell, Craig Askings, deejbah, Hammy Goonan, James Henstridge, Leigh Costin, Lindsay, Opheli8, and one person who chooses to remain anonymous.

MEDIA FREEDOM CITIZENS who contributed a BASIC TIP: None of these either, which is curious.

And another ten people who chose to have no reward at all, even though some of them were the most generous of all. Thank you all so much. You know who you are.

Series Credits