Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast

For ten years I have been living in Asia, writing books and working on American TV shows, but my directors always tell me to tone down the accent, and my publishers tell me I can’t state my real opinions, because someone might get offended and sue us.

Now I got a podcast! My own podcast. And no one can tell me what to say. And I’m calling them like I see them.

And it’s not just the perspective of an over-forty, over-educated, under cultured guy from Brooklyn in Asia, oh no, I also look at America from the outside, and talk about our absurdities too.

Last refreshed: August 23rd, 2025 at 2:50 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 17 Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast, episode 17, Are You Calling Me a Mook? Part 2

Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast, episode 17, Are You Calling Me a Mook? Part 2 A lifetime of poverty makes you good at being poor. Although Antonio Graceffo desperately needs a job, he almost storms out of his orientation, when the manager tells him: A lifetime of poverty makes you good at being poor. Although Antonio Graceffo desperately needs a job, he almost storms out of his orientation, when the manager tells him: “We encourage the teachers to use pair work, but what will do if you have an od...

Oct 19, 2010•18 min

Episode 16: Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast 16: Are You Calling me a Mook? Part 1

Being broke and unemployed has the advantages of giving Antonio more time for reading, writing, and working out. But when the pressure of lack of money finally gets to him, he has to go find a job. Sitting through the orientation is one of the most demeaning experiences of his life. The manager tells Antonio, “Many of our teachers are intelligent. But some do not know how to operate a CD player. Please demonstrate that you can insert a CD in the CD player and press play.” ‘Insert this’ thinks An...

Oct 14, 2010•19 min

Episode 15: Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast, Episode 15: An Anti-Travel Story (Part 2)

The worst part about travel is leaving home. At the airport in Hanoi, Antonio Graceffo is faced with a choice of paying for his overweight baggage or leave his possessions behind. He chooses instead to scream, holler, and case a scene, until he hears the sirens and the running feet. Brooklyn Monk, Antonio Graceffo is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He is the author of the books, “Warrior Odyssey’ and “The Monk from Brooklyn.” He is also the host of the web TV show, “Martial A...

Oct 12, 2010•16 min

Episode 14: Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast, Episode 14: An Anti-Travel Story (Part 1)

Antonio Graceffo’s biggest obstacle in getting his books and articles published is that the editors want to force him into a genre of travel, but he hates traveling. So, he is creating his own genre, called anti-travel. And, he is the number one author in his genre. Now, he just needs to find a publisher who is forward thinking enough to publish his new manuscript, the book version of Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast. After listening to Antonio’s anti-travel podcast, you will wonder why he ever lef...

Oct 07, 2010•19 min

Episode 13 Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast 13: The Best Interview for the Worst Job Ever

Some people say giving your two weeks notice is the most liberating feeling in the world. You could bring a portable TV and a box of popcorn to work, kick back in your office and challenge the company to fire you. But there is something even better, interviewing for a job you don't want. It is one of the only times you are free to speak your mind. And, you can let out the stress from every time you ever laughed at the boss's jokes that weren't funny,or every time someone in the corporate world f...

Oct 05, 2010•19 min

Episode 12 Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast 12: Working on Big American TV part 2

The night before filming the Big TV show, Antonio Graceffo receives a call from Johnny Civello. “Tony, Bubbee, Bubeleh, I am calling to talk to you about your dress for tomorrow.” He said. “We can’t have you going in there wearing some facacta outfit you found in a trash dumpster.” Working on Big TV id a lot different from working on the small films and videos Antonio has worked on, except, he's still not getting paid. Antonio Graceffo is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He is...

Sep 30, 2010•25 min

Episode 11: Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast 11: Working on Big American TV Part 1

Doing movies and TV is such a quick way to fame and fortune that the producers hold all of the cards. As a struggling up-and-comer Antonio is no position to say NO, or even to negotiate most of the time. When C3PO played hologram chess with Chewbaka he learned that fair or not fair, if he won, the Wookie would just rip his arms out of their sockets. So, he let Chewbaka win the game. Trying to get on TV is a similar experience. TV is a Wookie and I am C3PO. Brooklyn Monk, Antonio Graceffo is a ma...

Sep 28, 2010•19 min

Episode 10 Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast 10: Anthony Bourdain, Please

In Taipei, Taiwan, Brooklyn Monk, Antonio Graceffo’s attempts to meet his hero, Anthony Bourdain, are thwarted, as his phone call is lost in translation. Brooklyn Monk, Antonio Graceffo is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He is the author of the books, “Warrior Odyssey’ and “The Monk from Brooklyn.” He is also the host of the web TV show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” which traces his ongoing journey through Asia, learning martial arts in various countries. Brooklyn Monk in Asia Pod...

Sep 23, 2010•11 min

Episode 9 BMA Podcast 9: Life with Mashooq (Part 2)

Antonio Graceffo continues to be amazed by his roommate, Mashooq. Back in his village, Mashooq probably equated being in possession of many goats to being popular with the ladies. If he was flying to America and customs officials seized his goats he would be thinking, “Oh, great! Now, how can I get married?” he will strike out with countless women at discos in Manhattan thinking, “If I only had my goats.” Brooklyn Monk, Antonio Graceffo is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He i...

Sep 21, 2010•17 min

Episode 8: Brooklyn Monk in Asia Pocasset 8: Life with Mashooq (Part 1)

In Malaysia, Antonio Graceffo winds up sharing an apartment with a group of foreign students, most notable Mashooq, a goat farmer, who plans to learn English, travel to America, and trade his goats for a wife. Brooklyn Monk, Antonio Graceffo is a martial arts and adventure author living in Asia. He is the author of the books, “Warrior Odyssey’ and “The Monk from Brooklyn.” He is also the host of the web TV show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” which traces his ongoing journey through Asia, learning mart...

Sep 16, 2010•13 min

Episode 7Brooklyn Monk in Asia Podcast, Episode 7, Chuck Norris Doesn’t Know (excerpts)

When he was 21 years old, Antonio Graceffo got a part in the Chuck Norris movie, Delta Force 2. At the time, he believed it was his huge break, which would lead to super stardom. Instead, it would be more than a decade until he had a part in a movie again. Based on that movie, no one ever asked him to sign an autograph, and Kenner never made an Antonio Graceffo Delta Force action figure. Working on the Chuck Norris film was an impact-full and hilarious experience which, like so many of Antonio’s...

Sep 14, 2010•19 min

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