Asian Uncle
Welcome to Asian Uncle.
This is not a podcast about pretty postcards or polished travel stories. It is about the parts of Asia most people only encounter indirectly, if at all.
Each episode explores places, systems, and stories that exist just outside the official narrative. Nightlife economies. Unconventional social structures. Customs that do not translate well once you leave. Real experiences are shaped by being present and paying attention rather than repeating what has already been written.
Some episodes are rooted in history. Some come from travel. Others come from observation and lived experience.
What connects them is curiosity about how people actually live, adapt, and survive in environments that are often misunderstood or ignored.
If you are interested in Asia beyond the surface version, you are in the right place.
Welcome to Asian Uncle.
Please feel free to reach out to me at theunclewong@gmail.com
Asian Uncle
Latest Episodes
S3 Special: When Child Protective Services Comes Knocking
The fastest way to rethink “freedom” is to watch the system step into your home. We open on a personal note about parenting and letting go as a son heads to college, then we turn hard into the messy reality many families never expect: Child Pro...
S3 Finale: Father & Son - Impressions of Japan (sad ending, beautiful beginnings)
Japan looks like a dream on your feed. Then you land and realize the dream has rules, pressure, and a whole lot of unspoken social cues holding it together. We share what Japan felt like across multiple trips, from Hokkaido winters and private ...
S3 Special - Impressions of Japan Interview w/RJ
The story starts with a detour: RJ went to Japan to teach English and chase new experiences, not a contract. One late-night connection led to a Jordan-sponsored tournament, and suddenly the path shifted—black suit mornings in Akihabara, 8:30 p....
S3E12: Yakuza - Hidden Truths About Japanese Organized Crime
The Yakuza are famous for a reason that still feels unreal: they didn’t always hide. Some groups operated out of known offices, members could be recognized, and the “underworld” sat uncomfortably close to everyday life. We dig into how that wor...
S3E11: Taiwan's Bamboo Union
The Bamboo Union isn’t scary because it’s loud. It’s scary because it learns, adapts, and blends in. We start with a song in Hakian that carries a gritty kind of regret, then follow that feeling straight into Taiwan’s history, where the roots o...
Fan Mail
Hello Uncle Wong 😁, Imagine my surprise when I was listening to your podcast this morning and you mentioned my feedback from Australia. Of course, I then felt guilty for leaving such a short message, so owe you a few more words. I imagine that creating and continuing with a podcast can be quite challenging given that the conversation goes only one way. So I hope that I was just the first of many people to respond. While I have travelled to a number of countries in south-east Asia and beyond, and also enjoy deviating from the typical tourist paths, I have not experienced any of what you describe. Then again, I am not sure that I really want to! That is why I continue to listen and enjoy your stories. I have no idea how I stumbled across your podcast, but it makes a welcome change to the other podcasts I follow. Thank you once again and keep up the story-telling! John from Sydney.
Australia