Who we are
OTR launched in August, 2022, for two primary reasons. First, and most importantly, is storytelling. We are big believers in longform journalism, the stuff that shines a light on fascinating subjects and has us making mental notes about things we never knew before.
That's our mission with the channel- to tell stories, cover compelling topics, and maybe even make a small contribution to the historical record by uncovering details that deserve to be preserved.
And second, we simply needed something to do. Stuck in Thailand, far from our restaurant business in China, we didn't know where we'd be living in a year, and found it hard to crack into a job market decimated by COVID. So we made the best of our situation by exploring, helped by a network of chefs and food industry friends we met through our contacts and old colleagues.
And the more we explored Southeast Asia, the more we fell in love with the place, and the more stories we found that simply begged to be told. So we built a team, signed a long-term lease, and officially decided what we'd probably known since we arrived- Bangkok would be our new home.
The Team
Adam Gottschalk
host, researcher and writer
New York-born, Virginia-raised, journalist-turned-chef-turned-journalist, and one of China's most successful restaurant developers. Adam opened more than a dozen successful restaurants in ten years in China, winning awards for casual-modern venues including Starling, Keg Room, Ron Mexico, and Cabana. Adam has consulted with major hotel groups and also led projects in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Away from the restaurant business, Adam still wakes up before sunrise to watch the Washington Capitals and the Buffalo Bills, plays a very mediocre guitar and drums, and moonlights as the play-by-play announcer for TV broadcasts of Thailand's hockey league. He lives in Bangkok with Daria and their two rescue dogs, Blanca and Vango.
Dennis Natrayon
director
Originally from Arlington, Texas, and born to Thai parents, Dennis moved to Thailand in 2012 where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts at Stamford University where he graduated with top honors. With over 15 years of visual media experience his long-time interest in street and nature photography ultimately led him to pursue documentary filmmaking where he has produced numerous films for channels such as VICE, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, Thomson Reuters, Fair Trade USA and the United Nations. His forte is a mixture of hard hitting topics on human rights, world conflicts, and environmental issues involving seafood sustainability and fisheries. While covering the war on the front lines of Myanmar, a life altering situation involving an air strike from a fighter jet consequently pivoted his filming interests to other subjects such as animals and more recently, food.
When not working on any projects or filming for OTR, Dennis is usually out surfing his local break or at home taking care of his pets and cooking for his wife and OTR’s chief editor, Carol.
Dennis and Carol currently reside 2 hours outside of Bangkok with their dog, cat, tortoise, iguana, and two monitor lizards.
Carol Arao
Chief Editor
Born in Manila, Carol moved to Thailand in 2009. Her work in documentary filmmaking has produced noteworthy films for media outlets such as VICE, Deutsche Welle (DW), and Al Jazeera. She then documented elite Muay Thai athletes in world championship rings across Southeast Asia and the UAE. Carol brings OTR’s documentaries to life as the editor. She can also be spotted from time to time in our episodes, always with a camera. If she’s not on the editing desk or at a shoot with the team, she is probably outside with her tortoise, hiking, cycling, or exploring on her motorbike (may or may not be in search of a big animal).
Daria Burdinskaia
social media
Raised in the Russia's Far East, Daria came to China for college and never left Asia. Daria entered the alcohol industry in 2015, first serving as events and marketing manager for a wine company, then rising within the craft beer business to the position of national director with multiple domestic brands. Daria has also used her new and digital media expertise to consult with numerous F&B groups, and currently spends her days (when not running OTRs Instagram) heading the marketing team of a leading THC vape company. Outside of work, Daria can usually be found on a patio somewhere with a bottle of wine, or training for competitive distance races and sports competitions.
"YouTube’s top-tier history hub"
— TimeOut
"A sharp, visceral journey through history that redefines how digital narratives are told."
— The Daily Archive
"Masterfully investigative with a rhythmic flow. Truly sets the bar for documentary art."
— The Past Reviewer
"Brilliantly informative, captivating, and aesthetically rich. Pure genius for fans."
— Culture Week