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

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

The Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies has been organizing the international conference on Vajrayana Buddhism in Bhutan since 2016. Bhutan is the only Vajrayana nation in the world. The 4th conference which takes place from 1-4 October 2022,  is seeing unprecedented participation. There are speakers from 41 countries presenting original papers on everything from ritualistic traditions to Artificial Intelligence. Find the fascinating agenda and list of speakers on www.bhutanstudies.org.bt. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

The tourism sector has undergone massive changes (also called "transformation" by the government) over the last couple of months in preparation for Bhutan officially welcoming tourists for the first time since the pandemic. In a major update, potential tourists may directly pay USD 200 as the revised sustainable development fee (SDF) along with a one time visa fee of USD 40 and enter the country without a tour operator being involved. The itinerary may be planned after arrival. Guides continue to be mandatory. Damcho Rinzin, from the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) talks about these changes and more in this podcast.  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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

The Trans Bhutan Trail is an ancient trail used by Bhutanese in the past to get from one end of the country to another. It was the only route in existence then. The trail that will officially open this September, is now listed by Time as one of the "World's Greatest Places" to visit in 2022. The newly renovated trail has not been covered in its entirety by anyone yet. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested to be the the first one to traverse the full length of one of the world's most difficult trails! There's more fascinating information from Tsering Dolkar ( Trans Bhutan Trail Social Enterprise) on this podcast. Give it a listen. 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 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

Karma Dupchen gives great advice on navigating queer relationships in this podcast.  Also hear a transboy in high school talk about understanding and expressing his identity, and hear him sing beautifully.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

Hello from Bhutan is highlighting queer stories from Bhutan this new season. This episode was originally filmed for Queer Talks Bhutan. It features Pema Dorji, founder of Queer Voices of Bhutan. Queer Voices of Bhutan are the producers of Queer Talks Bhutan.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

Hello from Bhutan is highlighting queer stories from Bhutan this new season. This episode was originally filmed for Queer Voices Bhutan. It features Aum Penjore, Bhutan's oldest known transwoman. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

Hello from Bhutan is highlighting queer stories from Bhutan this new season. This episode was originally filmed for Queer Voices Bhutan. It features Tenzin Yoezer, a young gay college student.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support

Bhutan is not as homophobic or transphobic as the laws of the land make the country out to be. In fact, the transwoman Ugyen in this conversation, talks about how painless it was for her to get her gender changed on her identity card despite no law existing to provide such an option. She is among the 5 transwomen in Bhutan to have legally changed their gender.  The gay couple Pema and Tashi talk about their involvement in making the LGBTIQ community visible in Bhutan, their advocacy work, milestones, and their dream of marriage equality.  May Pride Month remind us to be better at  understanding and embracing our friends and family who identify as LGBTIQ!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/namgay-zam/support