Teak & Tales

Returning to the Irrawaddy with Paul Strachan

Welcome to Teak & Tales, your podcast for river cruising in Southeast Asia. From local culture to life onboard, we explore the people, places, and stories that define the region. Pandaw Founder & CEO Paul Strachan rejoins the podcast following his recent return to Myanmar, a country that has long shaped both his personal story and the origins of Pandaw Cruises. Traveling from Rangoon to Mandalay, Pagan, and the Irrawaddy Delta, Paul reflects on what it was like returning to the country after the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake and shares his impressions of daily life on the ground one year later. Along the way, Paul reconnects with Pandaw crew members, visits the company’s ships still operating in the region, and discusses the decision behind launching members-only sailings in the Irrawaddy Delta. This podcast is hosted by Cassidy Newman and the Pandaw marketing team. If you're interested in being featured on the podcast, please reach out to marketing@pandaw.com.

Big Tops, Bigger Impact: The Story of Phare Circus with Vichea Tes

Welcome to Teak & Tales, your podcast for river cruising in Southeast Asia. From local culture to life onboard, we explore the people, places, and stories that define the region. Vichea Tes, Deputy Director of Sales and Marketing at Phare Ponleu Selpak's Circus in Cambodia. What began as an arts school founded by refugees returning to Battambang after the Khmer Rouge era has grown into a creative institution that uses visual and performing arts to support Cambodian youth. Today, Phare provides education, training, and career pathways for hundreds of young people while sharing powerful Cambodian stories through circus, theater, music, and visual arts. Vichea joins the podcast to talk about how the circus became one of Cambodia’s most unique cultural attractions, and the impact the school continues to have on students and the wider community. This podcast is hosted by Cassidy Newman and the Pandaw marketing team. If you're interested in being featured on the podcast, please reach out to ⁠⁠⁠⁠marketing@pandaw.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [marketing@pandaw.com].

From Idea to Itinerary: Kerala Backwaters with Arun Srinivas, Purser on RV Kochi Pandaw

Welcome to Teak & Tales, your podcast for river cruising in Southeast Asia. From local culture to life onboard, we explore the people, places, and stories that define the region. In this episode, we sit down with Arun Srinivas, Purser onboard the RV Kochi Pandaw, and one of the key people behind our Kerala Backwaters route. From scouting jetties and mapping narrow canals to building relationships with village communities, Arun shares what it really took to shape an expedition through 900 kilometres of interconnected waterways. Stuart Hickman, India Country Manager, also lends some of his insights. This podcast is hosted by Cassidy Newman and the Pandaw marketing team. If you're interested in being featured on the podcast, please reach out to ⁠⁠⁠⁠marketing@pandaw.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [marketing@pandaw.com].

Stories from the first Mekong Sailing with Barry Broman

Welcome to Teak & Tales, your podcast for river cruising in Southeast Asia. From local culture to life onboard, we explore the people, places, and stories that define the region. In our latest episode, Barry Broman, a long-time American embassy officer to the Asia region, recounts Pandaw’s inaugural voyage on the Mekong back in 2002. As one of the first to sail from Vietnam into Cambodia, Barry shares what it was like to open up this legendary river route for the very first time. This podcast is hosted by Cassidy Newman and the Pandaw marketing team. If you're interested in being featured on the podcast, please reach out to ⁠⁠⁠marketing@pandaw.com⁠⁠⁠ [marketing@pandaw.com].

A Peek Behind Running a Cruise Ship: Si Thu, Pursurer on RV Bassac Pandaw

Welcome to Teak & Tales, your podcast for river cruising in Southeast Asia. From local culture to life onboard, we explore the people, places, and stories that define the region. In today’s episode, we sit down with Si Thu, Pursuer onboard the RV Bassac Pandaw. As the person who keeps both guests and the ship running smoothly, Si Thu manages everything from guest care to ensuring the vessel arrives on time at each port. He shares the top skills every pursuer needs and what he loves most about the role. This podcast is hosted by Cassidy Newman and the Pandaw marketing team. If you're interested in being featured on the podcast, please reach out to ⁠⁠⁠marketing@pandaw.com⁠⁠⁠ [marketing@pandaw.com].