Ho Ho Hong Kong

Ho Ho Hong Kong

By: Mohammed Magdi and Vivek Mahbubani

Language: en

Categories: Comedy, Stand-up

Everything you need to know about Hong Kong. Each Monday local comedian Vivek Mahbubani and Egyptian comic Mohammed Magdi dive into something great about the city.

Episodes

#243 - Don't Waste Your Time on Influencers!
Dec 14, 2025

We kick things off with a recap of our Ready, Set… Fail! comedy quiz show, before turning our sights on Hong Kong’s own Sam’s Tailor and his never‑ending “schtick.” Mohammed shares his gripe with streamer iShowSpeed, sparking a bigger conversation about how today’s social media influencers rely on over‑the‑top reactions to grab attention.

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:52:07
#242 - Metal Drums, Spotify Ages & 7‑11 Crashes
Dec 07, 2025

Vivek reminisces about his metal band drumming days while Mohammed announces his 2026 Asia tour. We dive into our Spotify Wrapped (and reveal our “listening age”), shout out local businesses who backed our Tai Po fire relief fundraiser show, and chat about the film Dead Pigs. Plus, the week’s wildest headline: a truck crashing into a 7‑11 in Central.

🎧 Comedy, culture, and chaos — Hong Kong style

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funn

Duration: 00:51:58
#241 - Vivek Has a New Bestie, and His Name Is Jimmy O. Yang!
Dec 02, 2025

Vivek returns from performing shows in Malaysia and Singapore, and he’s buzzing. Not only did he get to open for Jimmy O. Yang again in front of thousands, but he also spent extended time with him, hanging out like old buddies. The highlight? They even got stuck together on a Ferris wheel!

Get tickets for Dec 6 Stand-up comedy Tai Po fire relief fundraiser: https://shorturl.at/rXG0N

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instag

Duration: 00:51:00
#240 - Hong Kong Love, Cairo Wedding, Russian Twist
Nov 24, 2025

Host Mohammed Magdi flies to Egypt to emcee his friends' wedding; before he flew, he had another emceeing gig at the new Shangri-La hotel in Shenzhen, ending less than 2 hours before his flight to Cairo via Dubai. He's set to land in Cairo about 3 hours before the wedding starts. Sounds like a lot? These are just the highlights.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:59:55
#239 - Adventure time: HK-Seoul-Toronto-Vancouver-London!
Nov 18, 2025

Our two hosts are finally back in the studio together at the same time; we haven't been able to record any episodes due to travel schedules and not being in Hong Kong at all. Vivek comes back from a crazy trip that started out with a curveball before he even left HK airport, and we get the full scoop on his trip to the Western Hemisphere.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠htt

Duration: 00:53:02
#238 - Shenzhen's Fancy Resort and Vietnam's Road Trip
Oct 13, 2025

Vivek goes to Shenzhen for the first time since 2017, and Mohammed goes on holiday to Vietnam. They come back loaded with tales of bad crossings, motorbike adventures, and renewed love for Banh Mi.

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:57:37
#237 - The Comedians Are Dumb, The Event Is Bright, and The Audience Is Dark
Oct 06, 2025

We have a classic Ho Ho Hong Kong episode this week, with both hosts doing what they do best—tangents and show stories. Mohammed Magdi tells the full story of producing Ben Quinlan's Theatre Special at The Box Theatre, and Vivek Mahbubani injects his signature commentary on the story.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:53:45
#236 - How To Break Both Ankles in One Easy Step
Sep 29, 2025

Vivek Mahbubani is finally back to the podcast with an epic play-by-play tale of how he managed to break both his ankles in a completely avoidable freak accident.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Elena Gabrielle on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elenagabrielle/

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:57:41
#235 - Why Less Developed Countries Have Better Comedy Audiences w/Elena Gabrielle
Sep 21, 2025

Australian comedian Elena Gabrielle toured 67 countries with the popular storytelling show, Story Party. Now touring the world with her own solo shows, Elena has collected so many stories from all over the world. Host Mohammed Magdi chats with Elena about performing raunchy stories in Egypt, starting in show business as a Disney princess, and meeting new people "organically."


Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Elena Gabrielle on Instagram https...

Duration: 00:52:25
#234 - Comedian Kavin Jay Lost 45 KGs in One Year Without Ozempic or Surgery!
Sep 14, 2025

This week's guest is Malaysian comedian Kavin Jay. Last time Kavin was on this podcast, he was a much heavier man. After going through an incredible transformation, he lost 45 kilograms in one year, with no medical intervention and no Ozempic. On this episode, Kavin shares his weight loss journey and his reasons behind not using Ozempic.

Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://backstagecomedy.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kavin Jay on https://www.instagram.com/kavinjay

Follow Mohammed on...

Duration: 00:55:11
#233 - The Story of Chez Trente and Its Music Festival w/ Joe Lung
Sep 08, 2025

If you are not familiar with Chez Trente and its legendary status among the live music scene in Hong Kong, you are missing out.

Chez Trente is a quaint, cool live music venue located in the middle of Peel Street, HK's premier bar street over the last few years, but there are no signs to guide you to Chez Trente, and if you don't know where it is, it's really hard to find. We chat with Chez Trente's founder, Joe Lung, on the origins of Chez Trente, how he came to rent an entire Star Ferry to...

Duration: 00:44:11
#232 - Party More, Not Less, As You Get Older w/ Maitreyi Karanth
Aug 31, 2025

Comedian and philanthropist Maityreyi Karanth is this week's guest. Maitreyi started things late in life, and with time passing, she is doing more things, not less. She is partying harder, traveling more, and saying yes to everything coming her way.


Maitreyi headlines her own theatre show on Tuesday, Sep 23, in her biggest show to date. Get tickets here: https://www.ticketflap.com/maitreyi-theatre-25

Maitreyi Karanth Sydney shows: https://sydneyfringe.com/events/annie-louey-and-maitreyi-karanth/

Check out the SCMP's piece on Maitreyi's weight loss journey: https://shorturl.at/i7EKm

Get...

Duration: 00:52:41
#231 - Modern Travel Tips with HK's Most Chaotic Couple: Cassi Thomas and Garron Chiu
Aug 25, 2025

This week host Mohammed Magdi speaks with two of HK's most well-traveled couples. Cassi Thomas, founder of Chaotic HK Expats, and comedian Garron Chiu.

Garron and Cassi have been a couple for 11 years, and their traveling style has changed over time. They share some of their best tips, why "fighting before the trip" works better, and they share an extremely spicy story of some action they witnessed on the rooftop of an LA hotel.


Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for...

Duration: 00:56:04
#230 - Juggling Big Businesses and Managing Burnout ft. Ben Quinlan
Aug 19, 2025

Vivek Mahbubani is out of commission for a few weeks as a result of an accident (he will be fine and will make a full recovery), so Mohammed Magdi takes the liberty of picking co-hosts. This week we have strategy consultant, comedian, and one of HK's best success stories, Ben Quinlan.

Mohammed and Ben chat about mega events in Hong Kong, their love for the city they both call home, and Ben's upcoming theater show on Sep 21.

Get tickets for Ben Quinlan's Theatre Show on Sep 21: https://www.ticketflap.com/benquinlanhk

Get tickets...

Duration: 00:55:16
#229 - Black Rain, Hong Kong Observatory, and Casual Tour Guiding
Aug 10, 2025

Hong Kong got hit with the highest daily August rainfall since 1884! Mohammed's building gets a fancy "indoor waterfalls" feature, and he gets hired to be a tour guide for a few hours by comedy show audience members!


Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:46:16
#228 - Hong Kong Comedy Season - Go Big or Go Home!
Aug 04, 2025

We are back in the studio, and we catch up on Vivek's recent tour of Malaysia and Singapore and Mohammed accidentally turning to a toothbrush head dealer for a day, and then we get into Hong Kong Comedy Season chat. What exactly is Hong Kong Comedy Season? Why start it, and why now? And what you, the audience, should expect.


Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠...

Duration: 00:55:27
#227 - Vivek Opens for Jimmy O. Yang in Macau, Then Goes On A Holiday
Jul 20, 2025

Vivek took his long-awaited holiday in a fancy villa in Bali with 10 of his closest people (Mohammed Magdi didn't make the cut), but he did the holiday in the most Vivek way possible.

We also catch up on the shows Vivek did in Macau with Jimmy O. Yang. How different were they from the Hong Kong shows? And he reveals the crazy souvenir he had to take back from his dressing room.

Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe...

Duration: 00:51:04
#226 - World-touring Comedian Victor Pãtrãşcan Doesn't Believe in Borders
Jul 15, 2025

Romanian comedian Victor Pãtrãşcan has been on the road for 5 years non-stop. He stops by Hong Kong for his first time to headline, and we catch up with him before the show. We chat about the reason he self-produces his shows, racketeering, and Europe's lack of borders.


Get tickets for Hong Kong Comedy Season shows:

http://comedyseason.hk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Victor Pãtrãşcan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorpatrascan/

Check out Victor's website:

...

Duration: 00:56:28
#225 - Vivek Mahbubani on Opening for Jimmy O. Yang in Hong Kong
Jul 02, 2025

Host Vivek Mahbubani had the honor of opening for Jimmy O. Yang on all 5 shows in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Coliseum, in front of 7000 people each show. Vivek shares the full story of the surreal experience.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:50:06
#224 - Comedy and Sermon Are Not That Different w/Pastor Drew Fralick
Jun 23, 2025

Comedian Drew Fralick is a rare breed. He is a comedian, but he is also a full-time pastor and a licensed mental health counselor. He performs stand-up comedy in English and Mandarin. Host Mohammed Magdi catches up with Drew over a shisha session, and they cover everything, from the tales of living in downtown Detroit to creating what's possibly the only comedy club that's part of a church in America.

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out Drew Fralick's Blog...

Duration: 00:56:29
#223 - The Secrets to a Successful Marriage Proposal at Hong Kong Disneyland! w/ Jacky Ng
Jun 15, 2025

Singaporean comedian Jacky Ng just proposed to his girlfriend at Hong Kong Disneyland! Host Vivek Mahbubani chats with Jacky about all the creative and clever ways people rent out their public housing units, the Singapore comedy scene, the "shock" of performing in more politically correct markets, and all the secrets to a perfect marriage proposal at Hong Kong Disneyland.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out Jacky Ng's website: https://www.jacky.sg/

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Duration: 00:48:27
#222 - Breaking Down Hate Comments with Daniel Fernandes
Jun 08, 2025

Indian comedian Daniel Fernandes' profile is on the rise, as well as the threats of violence, arrest, and nasty comments on his online videos. We catch up with Daniel Fernandes while he's in Hong Kong to chat about his recent video about Kashmir, the importance of "do nothing days," and why he is not concerned at all about negative backlash.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Daniel Fernandes on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/absolutelydanny...

Duration: 00:51:34
#221 - Hong Kong's Pastry Chef Queen Who Is Also a Yoga Instructor
Jun 01, 2025

Karys Plaxe is a long time HK resident, and recently wrapped up her time as Black Sheep Restaurant Group's head pastry chef. Karys’ career before HK ranged from working in MICHELIN-starred pastry programs to overseeing top-level international bakeries where she honed her creative finesse. Apart from being the driving force behind Hong Kong's most famous cake shop, Butter, Karys has also spent the last few years cultivating her passion for yoga. She now hosts all-levels yoga classes, and is taking some time to decelerate and prepare for her next career steps.

We chat with Karys about our ma...

Duration: 00:55:00
#220 - Heard the One About the British Comedian Making Fun of the French? w/Paul Taylor
May 25, 2025

Paul Taylor is an English comedian. He moved to Paris in 2009 and started doing stand-up comedy in 2013. Taylor is known in France for his TV series on Canal+, What the F*ck France, What's Up France?, and Stereotrip, but he got his onstage debut with his show #Franglais. Host Mohammed Magdi and Paul met in Shanghai in 2017 when Paul toured his show #franglais across Asia. In 2025, Paul is touring the world with his new show, "100% in English." We catch up with Paul ahead of his Hong Kong show, and we chat about going viral in France, his time working...

Duration: 00:56:03
#219 - Hans Zimmer Concert in Hong Kong - A Review
May 18, 2025

On our episode #199, dated 11 December 2024, we chatted about our wish wishlist for live shows to see in Hong Kong. Cut to May 2025, and we are sitting together watching one of the shows that was on top of that list, and it did not disappoint.


Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠

Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek

Duration: 00:50:33
#218 - Vivek Took His Cantonese-only Show on Tour Around Australia & New Zealand, Again
May 11, 2025

We are back in the studio after more than a month being apart! Vivek Mahbubani is back from his Australia and New Zealand Tour, loaded with stories, rants and coffee!

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/hohopod⁠⁠⁠

Leave us a review: (please!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod⁠⁠⁠

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed⁠⁠

Follow Vivek on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek⁠

Duration: 00:52:38
#217 - Dead Poets and The Art of Quiz Mastery with Eshan Arif
Apr 22, 2025

Eshan Arif is a legend in Hong Kong’s bar scene. After a decade in the beer business, he now runs one of Soho’s coolest spots—Dead Poets. He’s also the city’s unofficial quiz king, known for hosting some of the silliest and sneakiest pub quizzes around. We sit down with Eshan to talk bar culture, what makes Dead Poets tick, and why being a quizmaster should never be taken too seriously.


Check out Dead Poets on Insagram: https://www.instagram.com/deadpoetshk/

Check Out Craftissimo's 12th year Anniversary on Sat Apr...

Duration: 00:58:25
#216 - Coldplay Concerts & Rugby 7s at The New Kai Tai Stadium - Full Review
Apr 15, 2025

With four massive sold-out Coldplay concerts, and the Rugby 7s weekend, the new Hong Kong Kai Tai Stadium has finally opened its doors! And there is no one better at giving a full review of the events, the stadium and all the fun trivia, than our guest, comedian Garron Chiu. Garron worked on multiple ad campaigns for those events as part of his job, and he saw 2 Coldplay concerts in the same week!

Jiaoying Summers write-up on SCMP: https://shorturl.at/hFEdc

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to...

Duration: 00:55:23
#215 - Diversity Hub, Hong Kong's First Ethnic Minorities Museum, Is Now Open
Apr 06, 2025

We are back after a quick one-week break as Vivek heads to Australia and NZ for a tour, but we catch up right before he leaves. Big news: Vivek is technically single, and he is taking the opportunity to do the most useless "optimization" tasks. Bakehouse long lines are kind of disappearing? And Christian Action opens Hong Kong's first ethnic minorities museum, Diversity Hub.

 

Check out Diversity Hub: https://www.instagram.com/diversityhubhk/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hoh...

Duration: 00:48:27
#214 - Dumb Sex Cult Stunt Went Wrong and Comedian Got Arrested
Mar 23, 2025

Malaysian comedian Rizal Van Geyzel's show "Arrested" tells an incredible story of what happens when a perfect mix of self-absorbed "influencer" foolishness, government inefficiency, and social media frenzy ultimately leads to his arrest and him losing his comedy club. Rizal tells us the full story.

 

Catch Rizal's show "Arrested" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival:

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/rizal-van-geyzel-2/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www...

Duration: 00:48:51
#213 - Firsthand Witness Account of a Tragedy on Cat Street
Mar 20, 2025

Apologies for the late upload! You might understand why when you listen to this episode.

Host Mohammed Magdi witnesses a horrific incident in his neighborhood. He shares the details of his experience as we try to process it. 

Warning: This episode has many references to self-harm and some graphic details.

Dim Sum Daily coverage: https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/26-year-old-woman-found-dead-after-fall-in-sheung-wan/

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hoho...

Duration: 00:56:20
#212 - "Little Red Book" Tourists Are Getting Out of Control
Mar 09, 2025

It's not a new phenomenon for local residents of a place with high tourist traffic to be annoyed by the inconvenience tourists cause sometimes; it's normal. What is new is tourists in Hong Kong not really caring much for Hong Kong's world-famous skyline or its beautiful nature and instead going to some random coffee shops and posing for photos for long photo sessions, all doing the same poses, just because it was mentioned on an app. 

 

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com...

Duration: 00:47:11
#211 - Ramadan in Hong Kong
Mar 03, 2025

Ramadan is here, and we chat all about Ramadan in Hong Kong. Host Mohammed Magdi explains why he believes observing Ramadan is a good practice, while the other host, Vivek Mahbubani, tries really hard to find "cheat codes."

 

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek/

Duration: 00:47:21
#210 - All About Chinese Fake Markets
Feb 23, 2025

It's not uncommon for Hong Kongers to cross the border to the mainland to buy some "high copy" luxury items. While fake markets have been around China for a long time, host Mohammed Magdi remembers a time where a huge fake market was located in the middle of Shanghai, selling everything from questionable Beats by Dr. Dre to a flashlight that's also a taser.

 

Check out "Broken" on Netflix

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Duration: 00:52:36
#209 - The Art of The Power Spew Ft. Annie Louey
Feb 17, 2025

This episode is not for the faint-hearted! Mohammed Magdi heads to the Philippines for a quick "holiday and a show" with Annie Louey, and boy, oh boy, do they have a rough time. Annie recounts the benefits of a power spew and how Dr. Showbiz always comes to the rescue. And of course, Vivek Mahbubani smugly reminds us all why he doesn't like to leave his house, ever. 

Check out the "Cross Border Comedy" documentary from February 20 on YouTube, ABC International, Now TV (Hong Kong), and ABC iView (Australia).

 

Get tickets for Backstage Co...

Duration: 00:54:22
#208 - We Did Standup Comedy for an Opera Show!
Feb 09, 2025

Another week, another adventure, and another tale from some of the unusual gigs that we do. This week, host Mohammed Magdi shares the details of a gig he did recently, doing standup for an opera show produced by the Hong Kong Grand Opera, and if that sounds random, that's because it is, but "Standup Opera" is a thing, and you can go see the next one on March 6!

 

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Duration: 00:49:32
#207 - How Does The Hong Kong Jockey Club Mark Six Lottery Work?
Feb 05, 2025

On our first episode of the Year of The Snake, Vivek gambles with his luck and cleans his house on CNY, and on the topic of gambling, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mark Six lottery winner gets over 193 million HKD. How does this thing even work?

This episode is not sponsored by Dyson or the Hong Kong Jockey Club!

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Duration: 00:54:57
#206 - Year of the Snake: Great, Good, or "Unstable & Fluctuating?"
Jan 29, 2025

Happy Year of the Snake, everyone! As things slow down in Hong Kong and people take the time to spend quality time with their families and loved ones, we chat about a range of topics, including our recent gig hosting The Aftermath's 6th birthday party, Mohammed's dog's recent "panic disorder" diagnosis, and we do a full predictions chart of what kind of Chinese New Year we are going to have.

 

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Duration: 00:49:56
#205 - Vission Bakery's $50 "Egg Tart in a Cookie": A Review
Jan 21, 2025

Some people just don't learn from their mistakes/are hopelessly optimistic that maybe some things may change. Maybe it's being given false hope after a fluke; maybe it's our strong desire to see someone succeed? Either way, we tried Vission Bakery's $50 egg tart in a cookie, and we have notes. 

 

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Duration: 00:48:42
#204 - Is Hong Kong Winter a Joke?
Jan 15, 2025

On this episode we try to find fun things to do in HK when it's "cold", the pros and cons of hiking up to the Peak. Mohammed reviews Tai Ping Shan's newest "Kool" hangout spot review, and we welcome our new patrons!

 

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Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fu...

Duration: 00:52:38
#203 - Hong Kong Does New Year's Fireworks Right
Jan 06, 2025

2025 is here, and with it come new adventures, stories, and reviews from our hosts. Mohammed Magdi sees Hong Kong's New Year's Fireworks show "properly" for the first time, and Vivek Mahbubani hosts a fancy gig at the Four Seasons.  Also on this episode, a non-spoiler review of Netflix's new documentary "Don't Die" and Backstage Comedy's "New Material" comedy show.

 

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Duration: 00:49:33
#202 - Our Most Memorable Moments of 2024
Dec 30, 2024

We made it to the end of 2024! We have so much to be grateful for. On this episode, we share our most memorable moments of the year, but before that,  Vivek shares his experience getting a haircut at Image Hair Salon. We chat about the new "DCC fees" applied on HK credit cardscards andVivek is not ok but, he's fine.

 

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Duration: 00:51:54
#201 - The Best Place to Get a Haircut in Hong Kong
Dec 23, 2024

This episode is the first episode to be recorded in our new video studio. The full video podcast will be available soon on Youtube.

There is no doubt that a lot of goods and services can be very expensive in Hong Kong, especially on HK Island. This week, Mohammed Magdi shares one of his most kept secrets, the best place to get a haircut (for men) in Hong Kong without breaking the bank. Vivek Mahbubani one-ups him by admitting that his mom has been cutting his hair for years!

 

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Duration: 00:53:49
#200 - Live at The Aftermath
Dec 16, 2024

We celebrate our 200th episode with a live podcast in front of a live audience at one of our favorite venues, The Aftermath. We have a lot of fun answering questions, playing games, riffing, and feeding off the energy of the room. Thank you to everyone who got us this far. We are very grateful. 

Special thanks to our Patreon subscribers. We wouldn't be here without your support and encouragement. 

 

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Duration: 01:05:51
#199 - Hong Kong Live Shows Wishlist
Dec 11, 2024

As the brand new Kai Tak Stadium is about to open, we share our wishlist for live shows to see in 2025 in Hong Kong, as well as our favorite live shows we have seen over the years, and the guys realize it took Mohammed Magdi a whole year to process the trauma of his 2024 New Year's Eve gig.

 

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Duration: 00:52:58
#198 - You Are Not Getting a Christmas Gift Because Sustainability
Dec 02, 2024

We are already in December and Hong Kong is starting to feel like Christmas already (since early November). We chat about Landmark's confusing "Christmas Ribbons" decorations and the Netflix documentary "Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy." This Christmas, buy experiences, not things! Is the HK single-use plastic ban actually enforced? We're all about the environment, baby!

 

Get tickets to our 200th Ep. Live Episode on Dec 5: https://t.ly/dvmNR 

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Duration: 00:52:39
#197 - Make Non-Drinkers Cool Again with Saicho Tea!
Nov 25, 2024

Saicho is a cold sparkling tea that offers a perfect alternative for non-drinkers to enjoy with a nice meal or a special occasion. A unique product started by two PhD food scientists, it's now available at many of the 5-star hotel High Tea settings in Hong Kong, as well as the UK, Japan, and Singapore, and the list is growing. We chat with Saicho's Head of Asia Distribution about the story of Saicho, his beginning in corporate banking recruitment, and a 50K dare that turned him into an ultramarathon runner.

 

Check out Saicho's website: https://w...

Duration: 00:56:05
#196 - Toxic Positivity, "Know Thyself," and Attention Economy
Nov 18, 2024

This week on Ho Ho Hong Kong, we got so much to unpack: from Mike Tyson's lesson in humility to what makes a joke go viral. We delve into many topics, including attention economy, wild things that happen at VIP parties, and regrets we are trying to avoid later in life.

 

Get tickets to our 200th Ep. Live Episode on Dec 5: https://t.ly/dvmNR 

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Duration: 00:54:45
#195 - Our Spotify "More Like This" Section Couldn't Be More Wrong
Nov 14, 2024

As we are gear up for our 200th episode, which will be recorded live at The Aftermath in Hong Kong on December 5, 2024. We take a journey down memory lane and we go through some of our favorite podcast cover photos, how our process changed over the years, and we browse the "More like this" section of our podcast on Spotify, and the results were pretty unexpected.

 

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Duration: 00:52:48
#194 - Hong Kong Stories with Rachel Smith
Nov 03, 2024

Hong Kong Stories is a group dedicated to the art of storytelling in Hong Kong. They focus on telling true, first-person stories live, on stage, without notes, and in front of an audience. They run regular workshops and produce over 12 live shows per year (when pandemics do not interfere). They are holding a big show on November 14 at Basehall 2, in collaboration with Backstage Comedy. We chat with Hong Kong Stories organizer Rachel Smith about the power of telling stories, some of her personal favorite Hong Kong stories, and how to get your story "stage ready."

 

B...

Duration: 00:58:44
#193 - Dry Bar Comedy and Cruiseship Shows w/Dwayne Perkins
Oct 27, 2024

It's a comedy-heavy episode with our guest, touring comedian Dwayne Perkins. We chat with Dwayne about the Hong Kong vs. Singapore audience, what Dry Bar Comedy is, cruiseship shows, Netflix licensing deals, and Dwayne shares some amazing stories about working with the legendary Patrice O'Neal. 

 

Check out Dwayne Perkins wbsite: https://dwayneperkins.com/

Follow Dwayne Perkins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwayneperkins 

Get tickets to our 200th Ep. Live Episode on Dec 5: https://t.ly/dvmNR 

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Duration: 01:05:24
#192 - The Unncessary Luxury of Flying on Emirates Business Class
Oct 23, 2024

The hosts once again jet off to different distinations for different reasons, then come back to the studio to recount their experiences, which couldn't be more different. Vivek Mahbubani flies to London on Emirates business class; Mohammed Magdi flies to Melbourne on Scoot Air economy class.

 

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Duration: 01:01:02
#191 - Flat Iron Steak Boss Johnny Glover Dispels The Rumors
Oct 15, 2024

On episode #189, we might have gotten carried away with our conspiracy theories, and we talked some smack about one of Hong Kong's newest restaurants, the Flat Iron Group. Well, the founder of Flat Iron restaurants did listen to the episode, and he had some comments for us. This episode, we chat with Flat Iron and Steak King Founder Johnny Glover about his booming business, his origin story, and the real conspiracy happening on Elgin Road.

 

Cheak out Flat Iron Hong Kong: https://www.flatironhk.com/

Check out Steak King website: https://steak-king.com/ Duration: 00:53:33

#190 - Is Gold The Best "Safe" Investment Out There?
Oct 08, 2024

On this week's episode, we chat about how Hong Kong is one of the most advanced cities in the world, yet somehow, people writing "cheques" to each other seems like a perfectly acceptable thing to do. Then host Mohammed Magdi accidently goes shopping for gold (!) and discovers it's the best investment ever?

 

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Duration: 00:53:53
#189 - The Great Flat Iron Steak Conspiracy
Sep 29, 2024

Did a Flat Iron Steak/Burger joint take over your favorite neighbourhood joint? Are you wondering where they all came from? How they popped up in Soho out of nowhere? You're not alone! It a typcial Ho Ho Hong Kong fashion, we chose to do zero research, and instead, we dove into the deep end of the conspiracy pool! We're joined this week by a a special guest, the hilarious and gorgeous comedian, Annie Louey!

 

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Duration: 00:54:15
#188 - How to Get an Empty Row on the Plane?
Sep 24, 2024

It's a meaty (and late) episode this week. Vivek reviews "Vission Nine,"  Vission Bakery's new cake shop. We got through the history of the Laugh Festival all the way up to the huge gala attended by an audience of over 1000 people this year, and Mohammed flies to Egypt last minute, and he may have accidentally started a riot on the plane on the way back to Hong Kong.

 

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Duration: 00:59:21
#187 - Getting Smuggled Into Bosnia for Comedy w/Matt Davis
Sep 15, 2024

We catch up with comedian Matt Davis during his recent visit to Hong Kong. Comedian Matt has toured the world with his comedy more than the vast majority of most comedians, dead or alive. At 70 countries and more than 300 cities, Matt is adamant to take his comedy to places most people didn't even know existed. 

 

Check out Matt Davis' website: https://badfamiliar.com/

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Duration: 00:52:01
#186 - The Legend of Mamahuhu w/Alessio Avezzano
Sep 08, 2024

For many years, Mamahuhu was the go-to channel for cross-cultural video content made in China. Founded by filmmaker and director Alessio Avezzano, Mamahuhu produced numerous viral videos, racked in millions of views, and created a cult-like following amongst a lot of expats in China. Our host Mohammed Magdi catches up with Alessio during the latter's visit to Hong Kong, and they reminisce about the origin of Mamahuhu, some of their favorite moments making the videos, and Alessio's plans for the future. 

Check out Mythic Picnic on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@studiomythic

Get tickets for B...

Duration: 00:58:08
#185 - One-Year Relationship vs. Eight-Year Relationship
Sep 02, 2024

Couple petpeeves? We got plenty. Couples in-jokes. What could be more fun? Mohammed has been with Annie for a year, while Vivek has been with his girlfriend Gloria for 8 years. We compare notes! 

 

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Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek/

Duration: 00:51:50
#184 - On Parenting, Ideal Comedy Audience, and Scary AI Thoughts
Aug 25, 2024

The live standup shows are popping, and this past weekend we had one of our best shows for a while, all thanks to the audience. We chat about what makes a particular audience better than others, and we try to answer some important questions: How open-minded do we want to be as parents? Were we unlucky to not have an accessible ADHD diagnosis when we were kids? Why is smoking so goddamn cool? 

 

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Le...

Duration: 00:51:00
#183 - This Week on HK News: Newborn Pandas, Tourism is Back & YUU Sucks!
Aug 19, 2024

Ho Ho Hong Kong, your reliable Hong Kong news source, is back with this week's news scoop: We got newborn panda twin cubs! Two non-Americans "weigh in" on who they would vote for at the American elections, why YUU Points is the worst loyalty program in the world, and, everyone is welcome to Hong Kong if they can afford it.

 

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Foll...

Duration: 00:53:31
#182 - Is Lan Kwai Fong Only Good for Young Partygoers?
Aug 11, 2024

Lan Kwai Fong is Hong Kong's most famous street and the city's main party hub. It's ever-changing, yet always the same. We chat about the iconic street, its snacks, its famous 7-11s, and, most importantly, its crowds. Have the international school kids taken over? Are we too old and jaded? We walked through "Lan Kwai" the other night, and we have thoughts!

 

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Duration: 00:52:31
#181- Hong Kong Productivity vs. Malaysian "Chilling" w/Kuah Jenhan
Aug 04, 2024

We sit down with Malaysian comedian Kuah Jenhan, who was performing his show "Noted With Thanks" in Hong Kong over the weekend with Backstage Comedy. We cover a wide range of topics, from Feng Shui, why the Malaysian ringgit seems to be always crashing, to why Malaysians like haggling so much and does Vivek always "get it"?

 

Follow Kuah Jenhan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kuahjenhan

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Duration: 00:53:31
#180 - Team Hong Kong Is Having A Great Start at The Paris Olympics!
Jul 28, 2024

The Olympics kicked off in Paris, and with them, we got to learn about games we never knew existed. We are Team Hong Kong all the way. Vivian Kong already scored Hong Kong's first gold medal at fencing, or "épée"? Let's be honest, we are all just waiting for Siobhan Haughey to win big.

 

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Duration: 00:53:14
#179 - Let's Stop Paying Dumb Prices in Hong Kong!
Jul 23, 2024

We are back with a classic episode. Just the two hosts and a whole lot of venting. What the hell is going on with the prices in Hong Kong? While it's not a new issue, it really has gone out of control lately.

 

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Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instag...

Duration: 00:52:23
#178 - The Rise and Fall of The Beijing Comedy Scene w/Tony Chou
Jul 15, 2024

Chinese comedian Tony Chou is one of the OGs of the Beijing comedy scene. When he started doing comedy in 2013, he worked with Beijing legends like Joe Wong, DaShan, and Des Bishop. Tony was also a correspondent for CCTV for numerous years. We catch up with Tony about his journey, what it was like working for CCTV, and where the China comedy scene is today.

 

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Follow Tony Chou on Instagram: https://www.in...

Duration: 00:59:19
#177 - Is Your Pilot Too Sleepy to Fly? W/Nina McGrath
Jul 08, 2024

A few weeks ago, in response to one of our episodes, we received a lengthy letter from comedian, friend, and podcast listener Nina McGrath. Nina works for Cathay Pacific as Group Safety Manager, Fatigue Risk Management Systems and Human Factors. We chat with Nina about everything air travel related. Where is the cabin crew's secret sleep compartment? Do pilots actually do anything? And Nina shares an incredible story of an intoxicated passenger challenging other passengers to a fight while holding a giant Toblerone bar.

 

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Fo...

Duration: 00:58:31
#176 - We Got Robbed at the Prestigious Westin Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
Jul 01, 2024

Mohammed goes on a work trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and comes back with a classic tale of robbery, cover-ups, and Malaysian officials corruption (allegedly!) #justiceformo

 

Check out the Westin KL on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewestinkl/

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Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyv...

Duration: 01:00:17
#175 - Do You Sleep With Your AC On or Off?
Jun 23, 2024

Vivek is feeling under the weather. To cheer him up, we reminisce about some of our favorite childhood memories of watching WWE. Then we get into why he probably got sick and how he can avoid getting sick again, and we narrowed it down to every Hong Konger's favorite appliance, the air conditioner! Then we get into a debate about whether it's better to live in extreme cold weather or extreme hot weather.

 

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows here: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

...

Duration: 00:53:33
#174 - The State of Old Folks' Homes in Hong Kong
Jun 18, 2024

What is retirement in Hong Kong like? More specifically, what are the options for old folks homes in the city? And how does it all work? We do a deep dive. 

 

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows here: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

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Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek/

Duration: 00:51:56
#173 - When You Find Yourself in the Same Room as the Hong Kong Chief Executive!
Jun 10, 2024

Happy Dragon Boating long weekend! We have no idea what a weekend is, what a what a long holiday is, or what day of the week it is most of the time. Vivek had one hell of a gig opening for Jason Leong in front of an audience of over a thousand people in Hong Kong, meanwhile, Mohammed somehow ended up in the same room as the Hong Kong Chief Executive, and the very next day had another rollercoaster of a day emceeing the 50th anniversary of a private member's club!

 

Get tickets for Backstage C...

Duration: 00:54:55
#172 - Hong Kong Slang with Author Lindsay Varty
Jun 03, 2024

Ever feel like a chicken talking to a duck? Ever ask a girl out only to be forced to eat lemons? Maybe you've been told that you're a peanut guy? Or perhaps someone has warned you that you're wearing a green hat? 

 

No need to be confused, "Hong Kong Slang" is a little dictionary of Cantonese slang that will supply you with the appropriate knowledge to get by in Hong Kong and make you cool at office parties. We chat with author Linsday Varty about her new book, her fascination with the Cantonese language and so...

Duration: 00:57:17
#171 - We shot an Ad for Samsung in Hong Kong!
May 26, 2024

Another busy week for us in Hong Kong. Both the hosts were together on an ad for Samsung Hong Kong, our first major ad! Also on this episode, comedian Annie Louey joins us to chat about credit card fraud and how she has been trying to live like a Hong Kong local after spending two weeks in the city. We also save a seat for Jesus.

 

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Annie Louey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annielouey/

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www...

Duration: 00:53:59
#170 - "Bubble Gun" Drinks, HK Exam Season and Single-use Plastics Ban Review
May 20, 2024

(This episode was recorded on the weekend when the sun was shining and the weather was nice!)

Hong Kong students are gearing up for exam season. Vivek reflects on his own experience, having gone to a local HK school and now being a regular speaker at both local and international schools. We wrap up the first week of the residency at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Back in April, Hong Kong rolled out the ban on single-use plastics. How is that going?

 

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Find ou...

Duration: 00:54:49
#169 - We Are Starting a Residency at Grand Hyatt HK and Everyone Is Invited!
May 13, 2024

After almost two months, both our hosts are back in the studio in Hong Kong recording the podcast together in human person, and we have a lot of updates to share. Our video studio is almost finished, and the podcast will be on video very soon. And we are starting a Vegas-style residency at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong five nights a week! 

 

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Find out about our shows at Lips, Grand Hyatt: https://lips.hk/

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com...

Duration: 00:47:58
#168 - A tale of Two Comedy OGs
May 07, 2024

Vivek Mahbubani and Chris Musni started off in the world of stand up comedy in Hong Kong at around the same time, but different personalities, obstacles and joke-writing styles have lead them to different paths in the world of comedy. In this episode they go deep into how their comedy fates have differed over the years with Vivek having just returned from his Australia and New Zealand tour and Chris gearing up to take his comedy to another level here in Hong Kong. Mohammed is missing from this episode because he's busy in Australia with Annie Louey performing comedy...

Duration: 00:56:44
#167 - Reviewing Our Reviewers: We Give Zero Stars
Apr 22, 2024

We wrap up our run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024 and we sit down to debrief and reflect on the past couple of weeks. Annie and Mohammed's show "Too Haram To Handle" received 3 reviews and they are all wildly different from each other. We go through them one by one, including a review we never read before the episode recording. 

 

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Follow Annie Louey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annielouey/

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Fol...

Duration: 01:03:05
#166 - "The Best in Your Race" Featuring Some of Asia's Top Comics
Apr 16, 2024

As we enter the last week of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, We seize the opportunity of having so many of Asia's top comics in one room, and we record what will most definitely go down in history as our biggest episode ever, featuring five guests! Daniel Fernades (IND), Dr. Jason Leong (MAL), Annie Louey (AUS), Qam Haziq (SIN), and Jacky Ng (SIN)

 

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Follow Daniel Fernandes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/absolutelydanny/

Follow Dr. Jason Leong on Instagram: https://www.instagram.co...

Duration: 01:03:42
#165 - How Comedians Get Ready for Major Festival Shows
Apr 08, 2024

Recorded in Melborune, Australia, comedians Vivek Mahbubani, Annie Louey, and Mohammed Magdi are all gearing up for their shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. They catch up on the podcast on how they have been preparing, their different ways of promoting the show, and why the "festival club" is a pit of diseases.

 

Catch Vivek's Cantonese shows in Australia and New Zealand: https://aunz.funnyvivek.com/

See Mohammed and Annie's show in Melbourne: https://t.ly/5bw6x

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us...

Duration: 00:58:34
#164 - The Risky Business of the Hanging Bamboo Scaffolding
Apr 01, 2024

On this week's episode, Vivek is dealing with handymen invading his house and installing a hanging bamboo scaffolding platform through his living room's window on the xxth floor! The hanging bamboo scaffolding is a pretty common practice in Hong Kong, but there is something particularly dangerous about those hanging ones, not erected from the street level up.

 

Check out the SCMP infographic on bamboo scaffolding in HK: https://t.ly/MOtJO

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Fo...

Duration: 00:48:17
#163 - Visiting the Dentist in Hong Kong
Mar 24, 2024

This week, we have a classic Ho Ho Hong Kong episode. We discuss new ways emabssies use to rip you off. Both our hosts visit their respective dentists, and we chat about all things dentists in Hong Kong. Vivek has had some banking drama, and Mohammed had to call the SPCA to try to save a bird! 

 

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https...

Duration: 00:50:50
#162 - No Shame In The O Game w/Sex Coach Sara Tang
Mar 17, 2024

Sara Tang is a certified sexologist and coach based in Hong Kong. She believes that sex is a skill and everyone can learn how to get better in bed. She is most passionate about helping people who had a limited sex education or culturally conservative upbringing feel more connected and confident with their sexuality. 

Sara has a new course, called: "Own Your O" Masterclass: The Shame Free Guide to Self-Pleasure. We chat with Sara about her new course, the stigma surrounding the female orgasm and the truth behind common pleasure myths.

 

Check out "Ow...

Duration: 00:56:48
#161 - The Canto Aussie connection and the original Pale White Ghost w/Jarrod Watt
Mar 11, 2024

Jarrod Watt is the former deputy online editor for the SCMP and a man with stories. We chat to Jarrod about the infamous "Delay No More" SCMP headline, the bizarre facts behind the Lippo Center building, and the Taylor Swift/Wuhan connection! 

 

Follow Jarrod on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Jay_Watt

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows here: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.in...

Duration: 00:59:54
#160 - Navigating Hong Kong's Public Hospital System by Way of Colonoscopy!
Mar 04, 2024

Hong Kong has the second-highest life expectancy rate in the world. The city's public health care system is one of the direct reasons for that, even though it is becoming increasingly unmanageable. On this episode, we navigate the public hospital system through Vivek's colonoscopy! Although informative and funny, this episode involves a lot of details related to colonscopy procedures! 

 

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows here: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follo...

Duration: 00:50:08
#159 - Say Mo To Racism in Hong Kong!
Feb 25, 2024

As Mohammed gears up for his show in Hong Kong "Say Mo To Racism" on Friday, March 1, we take on the topic of racism in Hong Kong. The different forms of racism and discrimination people face in Hong Kong, what are the "origin stories" of some of the racial words used to refer to minorities? and learning to let go of the prejudice of those different from us. 

 

Get tickets to Mohammed's show on Mar 1 in Hong Kong: https://t.ly/b_onh

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows here: https://linktr.ee/bac...

Duration: 00:59:02
#158 - Happy Valley: A melting pot of cemeteries
Feb 18, 2024

This week on Ho Ho Hong Kong podcast:

Hong Kong had its first Lunar New Year fireworks display since 2020!

Can we convince Taylor Swift to buy Lamma Island?

Being poor is not that bad.

Jeffery Epstein cosnpircacies.

The Happy Valley cycle of life: gamble, heart attack, fancy hospital, CYOC (choose your own cemetry)

 

Get tickets to Mohammed's show on Mar 1 in Hong Kong: https://t.ly/b_onh

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows here: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Subscribe to ou...

Duration: 00:51:02
#157- Messi drama and refunds, new Lai See rules and Rod Stewart HK show cancelled!
Feb 12, 2024

For the first episode of the Year of the Dragon, we have a stacked one with a lot of Hong Kong classics. We try to answer many questions: What are the latest rules for Lai See? What is ok to clean and not to clean over the CNY holiday? Why shouldn't you visit your family on the third day of the CNY? Who is the guy standing with a stack of iPhones outside the Central MTR exit?

Mainland tourists took over Hong Kong, Messi came and pissed off the whole city, and the Rod Stewart HK show...

Duration: 00:51:43
#156 - Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year?
Feb 05, 2024

Happy New Year, again! This time it's the one we care about more because we get lai see, unlike Christmas, when we usually receive yet another pair of socks from that one colleague with bad breath. We are back in our studio as we try to answer the burning question: Is saying "Chinese New Year" now a cancellable offense?

 

Get tickets for Backstage Comedy CNY gala here: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy

Get tickets to Hall of Laughs Cantonese CNY show here: https://t.ly/-v_Vh

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://ww...

Duration: 00:51:04
#155 - Heard about the American who sells Chinese tea to the world? W/Jesse Appell
Jan 28, 2024

Our guest on this episode has one hell of a story. Jesse Appell is an American who mastered Mandarin Chinese language fluency to perfection, started a standup comedy career in both English and Mandarin while living in Beijing, tours the world performing in both languages, and has a robust tea business that sells Chinese tea worldwide. 

This episode was recorded at Two Three Comedy Club in Taipei

 

Check out Jesse's Teahouse: https://jessesteahouse.com/

Check out Annie and Mohammed on "Teatime With Jesse": https://t.ly/k_9mr

Get tic...

Duration: 00:54:52
#154 - Why has celebrating a country's national day become controversial?
Jan 21, 2024

Controversies around national days and what they mean to different parts of society will always be a topic of discussion. In the lead-up to her headliner, which happens to fall on Australia Day, January 26, we chat to comedian Annie Louey on why this date has become a hot topic of debate in Australia, and we propose alternative dates and occasions that can replace January 26.

 

Get tickets to Annie's headliner show on Jan 26: https://t.ly/NCURF

Check out Annie and Mohammed on "Teatime With Jesse": https://t.ly/k_9mr

Get ti...

Duration: 00:55:33
#153 - An Arab takes a Chinese person to China. What happens next will shock you!
Jan 14, 2024

On this week's episode, Vivek is replaced by a better-looking and slower-talking host. Annie Louey is back on the pod. As she's doing a residency in Hong Kong through January, Annie and Mohammed chat about a range of topics, including but not limited to: their trip to Annie's family village in China, staying at a karaoke hotel, the failures of the Haidelao hot pot chain, and Annie prepares for teaching a women's comedy workshop in Hong Kong.


Reserve a slot for Annie's comedy workshop on Jan 21: https://t.ly/daMoy

Get tickets to Annie's...

Duration: 00:56:45
#152 - We dare you to have a worse New Year’s Eve story!
Jan 08, 2024

Holy moly this year is already statring off strong. Both our hosts were working on New Year's Eve, and they share the details of how their night went. While Vivek had the time of his life emceeing for The Hong Kong Golf Club New Year's Eve gala, Mohammed had the worst gig of his entire comedy career, performing for one of the richest people in the city. It's the ying and the yang of the comedy business—the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows! A tale of two gigs! 

 

Get tickets to Back...

Duration: 00:58:59
#151 - 2024 is going to be different!
Jan 01, 2024

Happy 2024!! This podcast is going into its 5th year and we are ringing in the new year with some classic Hong Kong predictions, goals and what we should do differently! 

 

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live shows here: http://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/

Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek/

Duration: 00:52:44
#150 - Merry Christmas from Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and beyond!
Dec 25, 2023

It's the most wonderful time of the year and we have a lot of stories for you. Vivek flew to Singapore to perform on Dr. Jason Leong's show, and little did he know a mega superstar would drop in and do a guest spot. Mohammed goes back to Shanghai for the first time since he left in 2019 but he loses his wallet right before flying out of HK. Grab your mulled wine and strap in for one heck of an episode! 

 

Get tickets to Dec 30 New Year's show in HK: https://t.ly/46l9N

...

Duration: 00:51:31
#149 - Falling in love in Hong Kong w/Annie Louey
Dec 18, 2023

Australian comedian and ABC's China Tonight host Annie Louey is back on the podcast this week, with both hosts back in the studio too. We cover everything, from thirdwheeling, the Aussie "Nut Bush" dance, Annie being a wedding celebrant and how Annie and Mohammed met.

 

Get tickets to Annie Louey's Jan 26 show in HK: https://t.ly/qVCw7 

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live shows here: http://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Fol...

Duration: 01:00:20
#148 - Buying an apartment in Hong Kong!
Dec 10, 2023

 Hong Kong has consistently been on the list of the world's most expensive real estate markets. Limited space among many other factors contribute to the housing prices being astronomical. So why would anyone buy an apartment here, and if you decide to buy one, what is the process? Luckily, one of our hosts (we all know which one) just bought his second apartment in Hong Kong, and he walks us through the whole thing.

 

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live shows here: http://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hoho...

Duration: 00:54:31
#147 - Hong Kong public transit system is the best in the world!
Dec 04, 2023

We are back with many tales after a short unintentional break. Vivek went to check out HK Towngas restaurant "CulinArt 1862" and Mohammed went to check out Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong Airport, both using free vouchers. Mohammed went to Melbourne and realized that HK has the best public transit system in the world!

 

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live shows here: http://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.i...

Duration: 00:55:25
#146 - ”Singles’ Day 11/11”, the world’s biggest shopping day!
Nov 20, 2023

China's 11/11 Singles' Day "Shopping Festival" is like Black Friday on steriods. It has consistently been the biggest shopping day in the world for the last few years, online and offline. Originally, the date was celebrated as a cynical response to traditional couple-centric festivals by a small group of college bachelors. However, in 2009 Alibaba's CEO began to use the day as a 24-hour shopping holiday festival that offered online shopping discounts and offline entertainment. The holiday has now become the largest physical retail and online shopping day in the world.

 

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live s...

Duration: 00:51:33
#145 - Do you like your comedy slow or fast? W/Daniel Fernandes
Nov 14, 2023

Daniel Fernandes is one of the top Indian standup comedians. He is known for his dark humor and for not shying away from tackling controversial topics. Danny stops by HK to perform a show with Backstage Comedy and we take the opportunity to talk all things comedy and his night out in HK on LKF!

 

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live shows here: http://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod

Follow Daniel Fernandes on Inst...

Duration: 00:55:09
#144 - On Diwali, wild Indian parties and bringing touring comedians into HK
Nov 06, 2023

It's Diwali week and we are in a festive mood. We chat about Diwali, call centers, the mysterious Indian man walking around Soho, Vivek auctioning himself off and the process of bringing touring comedians into HK.

 

One of Indians' top English comedian Daniel Fernandes is performing live in HK Friday Nov 10 for only one night, grab your tickets for this special night of comedy here:  https://t.ly/leZMt

Get tickets to Backstage Comedy live shows here: http://thebackstagehk.com/

Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod

Lea...

Duration: 00:56:03