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The Bánh Mì Chronicles

The Bánh Mì Chronicles

By Randy Kim

The word “ Bánh Mì “ means “bread” in Vietnamese. Bánh Mì sandwiches are a long-time Vietnamese staple that’s been influenced since the French colonization. It was the first Vietnamese food I grew to like as a Southeast Asian kid growing up in a White middle class neighborhood outside of Chicago.

Through "The Bánh Mì Chronicles," I am looking to "break bánh mì" with AAPI folks in Chicago and beyond, to understand the work they are doing for themselves, their community, and their family. This journey will ensure that our interactions with each other become a part of our history.
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Sometimes It Snows... w/ Amy M. Le

The Bánh Mì ChroniclesFeb 28, 2021

00:00
01:28:39
Closing Time w/Kenneth Nguyen

Closing Time w/Kenneth Nguyen

Well, this is the last episode of The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast. I am joined by my friend and podcast host of The Vietnamese, Kenneth Nguyen who interviewed me about the process of the podcast and what to look forward to next. Many thanks to my guests, past sponsors, and listeners for making the last 4 years a wonderful ride. Special thanks to Huythang Tran for designing the logo and season themes.


Bio: Kenneth Nguyen served honorably as a former U.S. Marine (1993-97) and holds a B.A degree from USC in Visual Anthropology (2000) with an emphasis in Cinema Studies. He is a Los Angeles based podcaster with over two decades of in the Vietnamese film media space. Kenneth Nguyen was a founding partner of Wave Releasing, the first U.S. based Vietnamese language film distribution company. He managed marketing, theatrical and ancillary distribution on films such as OWL AND THE SPARROW, DE MAI TINH and SIX INCH HEELS. He currently is a founding partner at EAST Films. Kenneth hosts and produces a popular podcast called The Vietnamese with over 300 episodes recorded.

Oct 22, 202301:04:10
Archiving Our Stories w/Tola Livesey

Archiving Our Stories w/Tola Livesey

My good friend and fellow Cambodian American Tola Livesey joins us for this episode as we talk about the effects of assimilation and her understanding and curiosity of her Cambodian identity and heritage. She also talks about her passion for archiving stories, and its importance to the Cambodian community and more!


Bio:

Tola is a 1.5 generation Cambodian American who currently lives in in the Los Angeles by way of Chicago. She completed her undergrad in anthropology at the University of Illinois Chicago and her master’s in library and information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She currently works as a librarian and archivist concentrating on preserving and archiving Cambodian American histories and stories.

Tola has been a former board member and community organizer at the National Cambodian Museum and Killing Fields Memorial in Chicago and was the lead project coordinator for several community programming. Her passion for cultural preservation is the driving force for one day creating a Cambodian American digital archive that will provide a platform for Cambodians to preserve and share their stories.


Oct 15, 202301:07:12
Art as a Disrupter w/Anida Yoeu Ali

Art as a Disrupter w/Anida Yoeu Ali

(S9, EP 8) Joined by my good friend and internationally acclaimed artist Anida Yoeu Ali, we talked about Anida's journey as a Muslim Khmer American, her years-long work as an artist, and the challenges she's experienced along the way including the forced disappearance of her Red Chador. Anida shared the process in developing her critically acclaimed Buddhist Bug that has been seen in exhibits across the globe, and her upcoming exhibition in Seattle in 2024. You won't want to miss this episode!


Bio:

Anida Yoeu Ali (b.1974, Battambang) is an artist whose works span performance, installation, video, images, public encounters, and political agitation. She is a first generation Muslim Khmer woman born in Cambodia and raised in Chicago. After residing for over three decades outside of Cambodia, Ali returned to work in Phnom Penh as part of her 2011 U.S. Fulbright Fellowship. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to artmaking, her installation and performance works investigate the artistic, spiritual and political collisions of a hybrid transnational identity.

Oct 08, 202301:27:38
A Man of Two Faces w/Viet Thanh Nguyen

A Man of Two Faces w/Viet Thanh Nguyen

S9, EP 7. Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen is back on my podcast again, this time to talk about his latest book, A Man of Two Faces, the political and socio issues among Vietnamese Americans, and so much more!


Bio:

Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel The Sympathizer won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and numerous other awards. His most recent publication is his memoir, A Man of Two Faces. His other books are the The Sympathizer, The Committed; The Refugees, a short story collection; Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War (which was a finalist for the National Book Award in nonfiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award in General Nonfiction); and Race and Resistance: Literature and Politics in Asian America. He has also published Chicken of the Sea, a children’s book written in collaboration with his son, Ellison. He is a University Professor, the Aerol Arnold Chair of English, and a Professor of English, American Studies and Ethnicity, and Comparative Literature at the University of Southern California. Viet is a recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim and MacArthur Foundations, he is also the editor of The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives.

Oct 03, 202359:10
What the Possibilities Can Bring w/Alec Phan

What the Possibilities Can Bring w/Alec Phan

Catching up with my friend Alec Phan about his experience as a Chicago stage actor in a queer/trans-centered production, and his mom's experience as a Vietnamese singer and how it influenced Alec's work as an artist, and more!


Bio:

Alec Phan (he/they) is a queer, trans, Viet-American theatre artist based in Chicago. He was last seen as Jon in an all-trans and gender non-conforming production of TICK, TICK...BOOM!, an autobiographical musical created posthumously from the solo works of RENT-creator Jonathan Larson. An actor, deviser, and musician himself, Alec believes in the power of collaborative storytelling to heal hearts and shift paradigms.


Sep 24, 202336:44
Music as a Journey - Dolly Ave

Music as a Journey - Dolly Ave

Dolly Ave joined us for this episode as she talks about her recently released debut album, the impact of her mom's passing, and her life and vision as an artist.

Bio:

Dolly Ave has received radio airplay on powerhouse 103.5 KISS FM Chicago, influential KEXP and tastemaker station 88Rising Radio on SIRIUS XM. She has appeared at two major music festivals, and received press in Forbes, The NY Times, Paper and was named Live Nation One’s To Watch “Artist of the Week”. Dolly Ave has been placed on multiple editorial playlists on Spotify, YouTube, Vevo and Amazon Music. The artist’s 11-song full length debut is arriving this Summer via Sony Music’s The Orchard distribution. The album chronicles Dolly Ave’s journey growing up in Missouri and finding her voice after the death of her mother. The record is a coming of age story touching on personal growth topics including finding hope in even the darkest of times.


Sep 17, 202338:08
Queerness and Ma w/Putsata Reang

Queerness and Ma w/Putsata Reang

In this week's episode, I chatted with journalist and author of her memoir, "Ma and Me", Putsata Reang. We talked about the process in writing her memoir, her queerness and Khmer identity and how that affected her relationship with her mother and more!


Bio:


Putsata Reang is an author and journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Politico, The Guardian, The San Jose Mercury News, and the Seattle Times among other publications.  Born in Cambodia and rural Oregon, Reang has lived and worked in more than a dozen countries, including Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Thailand.  She is an alumna of residencies at Hedgebrook, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and Mineral School, and she has received fellowships from the Alicia Patterson Foundation and Jack Straw Cultural Center.  She is also the author of her current memoir, “Ma and Me”


Sep 03, 202301:05:40
The Layers of DEI w/Rahimeh Ramezany

The Layers of DEI w/Rahimeh Ramezany

(S9, EP 3)

Rahimeh Ramezany discusses the lack of Muslim and religious groups in DEI work, and her advocacy in raising that awareness through her work. We talk about the current state of DEI, and Rahimeh shares important practices with listeners on how to be proactive as advocates and be an agency for change.

Bio:

Rahimeh Ramezany (she/her) is a multiethnic, neurodiverse, Muslim American woman, and a diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural practitioner. She founded her DEI business in 2021 in order to train organizations on how to include Muslims and religious identity in their existing DEI efforts, while developing nuanced understandings and practical DEI skills that can be applied across identity groups.


Rahimeh leverages her lived experiences at the intersections of multiple marginalized and privileged identities, a master’s degree in intercultural communication, and years of professional DEI experience to address the often deeply uncomfortable but nonetheless essential work of making our spaces inclusive and equitable for all.


For more: visit her at www.rahimehramezany.com

Aug 27, 202301:10:49
Drag is Beautiful w/ Kahmora Hall

Drag is Beautiful w/ Kahmora Hall

(S9, EP 2)

Kahmora Hall chats about her upbringing as a queer Viet American, and the challenging conversations she had with her parents about getting into drag performance. She spoke about her experience being on RuPaul's Drag Race, the current drag ban and anti-LGBTQ legislation happening in recent times, and so much more!


Bio: Kahmora Hall is a Chicago-native and Drag Artist of over 10 years. Known for her fashion, beauty and glamour; she competed on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13, and was featured in Disney's Hocus Pocus 2. Since then, Kahmora has been an advocate for many social issues, a model, and brand influencer.

Aug 20, 202352:51
An Introspective Take w/ Linda Yu

An Introspective Take w/ Linda Yu

Retired Chicago veteran news anchor Linda Yu kicks off my season 9 opener as we talk about her decades-long career in Chicago news television, what it was like to navigate the news media industry as an Asian American woman, and more.


Bio:

Linda Yu has been called a trailblazer, mentor and award- journalist. She recently stepped back from daily broadcasting after more than forty years in television news.

Yu began her career in 1974 as a writer for the Los Angeles ABC station KABC-TV and then went on to become a writer/producer at KTLA-TV. In 1975 she stepped in front of the camera as a reporter for the ABC affiliate station in Portland, Oregon KATU-TV. Within months, she received an offer from ABC owned station KGO-TV in San Francisco as reporter and anchor, where Yu worked from to 1979.

In late 1979, she was spotted by the NBC owned station in Chicago, WMAQ-TV, and moved to the Windy City as weekend anchor and reporter. Part of Yu’s motivation for accepting the position was that she would be the first Asian American to appear on a Chicago network station. Five years later, ABC won her back and she moved to Chicago’s ABC7, WLS-TV, to anchor the station’s newly created 4 p.m. news hour. Later, an 11 a.m. news hour was added to her anchor duties. Both news programs maintained their number one rating throughout her 33 year career at ABC7.

Among the honors and recognition for Yu are six local Emmy awards, as well as induction into the prestigious “Silver Circle” of legendary Chicago broadcasters. She has been named one of Today’s Chicago Women magazine’s “100 Women to Watch” and has been awarded a National Gold Medal by the National Conference of Community and Justice.

In her community service, Yu spent more than 30 years as the Advisory Board Chairperson for the Chinese American Service League. She is also a co-founder of the Chicago chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association. She has been an active supporter and volunteer for Common Threads, the Juvenile Protective Association and the March of Dimes.

Yu is the author of “Living and Working in America”, a book published in Chinese and sold in China.

Aug 13, 202355:15
VietFive w/Tuan Huynh

VietFive w/Tuan Huynh

(S8 Finale) Check out my interview with Tuan Huynh, founder of VietFive Coffee which is the featured sponsor of the 8th season of the podcast.

Bio:

Tuan Huynh, founder of VietFive Coffee, is also an award-winning Creative Director, business man, and community organizer. He fled to the U.S. as a toddler and refugee from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. Growing up in the Midwest, he has developed a uniquely diverse sense of creativity. This experience has afforded him recognition from global fortune 500 brands, receiving the Mosaic Champion by the American Advertising Federation and named one of 2019’s Most Inspiring Chicagoans by Streetwise Magazine.

 

Aside from his sharp design talent, Tuan’s work in the arena of diversity and inclusion is tireless and expansive – both within the ad industry and beyond. He is responsible for instituting a youth program at Leo Burnett that invites Chicago youth to learn first-hand about careers in advertising. Over 800 students have been provided the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exploration of new professional avenues. Tuan also partnered with local organizations to develop a creative lab in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the Southside. Tuan also spearheaded The Pencil Project which is a collegiate scholarship program where students submit their creative portfolios defining why they are “the difference that makes a difference.” Additionally, Tuan became founding member of Chicago PEACE, a nonprofit that seeks to create positive generational impact with the focus on families.

 

Today, he is able to combine both his experiences in advertising and philanthropic work to elevate his family’s coffee story through his company VietFive Coffee. VietFive Coffee is serving up authentic Vietnamese coffee, grown and harvested in the place of his birth, roasted in Chicago and served at their west loop location (1116 W. Madison).

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee. Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul. Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa Pintig: Circa-Pintig stands for The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts and Pintig meaning “Pulse” in the Filipinx language.- CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 organization that engages communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. Circa Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org


Apr 22, 202301:03:42
Art to Serve Justice w/Ginger Leopoldo

Art to Serve Justice w/Ginger Leopoldo

(S8, EP 12)

Meet Ginger Leopoldo, Executive Director of Circa Pintig, sponsor of the 8th season of The Banh Mi Chronicles, and learn about Circa Pintig's work in Chicago.


Bio:

Ginger Leopoldo is an educator, actor, director, producer, and community organizer. She is the founding Artistic Director of the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA), and Executive Director of CIRCA Pintig. Her work includes performing, directing, producing, and facilitating theatre productions and workshops for all ages. Ginger has over 20 years of experience as a teaching artist and literacy coach for public school teachers. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in organizational leadership focusing on the pedagogy of the Theatre of the Oppressed, popular education, and diaspora. She is a TEAACH Act PD facilitator with Asian American Advancing Justice Chicago and serves as an advisor for several community boards including the Chicago History Museum, UIC's Global Asian Studies (GLAS) Community and Advisory Board, and Digital Tapestries. Ginger is a proud 1.75-generation Filipino American and lives in Chicago with her husband and three children.

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to ⁠www.vietfive.com⁠ and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit ⁠www.circapintig.org

Apr 16, 202351:37
Poetic Takes on Heroes and Villains w/guest host Dr. Joshua Nguyen and guest Susan Nguyen

Poetic Takes on Heroes and Villains w/guest host Dr. Joshua Nguyen and guest Susan Nguyen

(S8, EP 11): On this week's episode, I invited past guest and poet Dr. Joshua Nguyen to be a special guest host. He interviewed Susan Nguyen, author of her poetry collection, "Dear Diaspora" about heroes and villains during this conversation.

Bio:

Susan Nguyen's debut poetry collection, Dear Diaspora (University of Nebraska Press, 2021) won the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry, a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award, and was a finalist for the Julie Suk Award. Her poems have been nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize and have appeared or are forthcoming in The Academy of American Poets’ Poem-A-Day series, The American Poetry Review, The Rumpus, Tin House, Diagram, and elsewhere. The recipient of fellowships from the AZ Commission on the Arts, the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, and the 2022 Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize from the American Poetry Review, she currently serves as the senior editor of Hayden’s Ferry Review.

Joshua Nguyen is the author of Come Clean (University of Wisconsin Press, 2021), winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry, the Writers' League of Texas Discovery Award, and the  Mississippi Institute of Arts & Letters Poetry Award. He is also the author of the chapbook, American Lục Bát for My Mother (Bull City Press, 2021), and the craft-chapbook, Hidden Labor & The Naked Body (Sundress Publications, 2023). He is a Vietnamese-American writer, a collegiate national poetry slam champion (CUPSI), and a native Houstonian. He has received fellowships from Kundiman, Tin House, Sundress Academy For The Arts, and the Vermont Studio Center. He is the Wit Tea co-editor for The Offing Mag, the Kundiman South co-chair, a bubble tea connoisseur, and loves a good pun. He received his MFA/PhD from The University of Mississippi and currently teaches creative writing at Tufts University.

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org


Apr 09, 202347:42
Diving In w/ host Tony Ho Tran and guest Lan Samantha Chang

Diving In w/ host Tony Ho Tran and guest Lan Samantha Chang

(S8, EP 10): For this week's episode, former guest Tony Ho Tran takes my place as a special guest host, and interviews Lan Samantha Chang, author of her latest novel, "The Family Chao".


Bio: Lan Samantha Chang’s new novel, The Family Chao, was published by W. W. Norton in February 2022. She is the author of two previous novels, All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost and Inheritance, and a story collection, Hunger. Her short stories have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Ploughshares, and The Best American Short Stories. She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Academy in Berlin. Chang is the director of the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives with her husband and daughter in Iowa City, Iowa.

Tony Ho Tran is the deputy editor of innovation and technology at The Daily Beast and freelance writer. His work has been seen in diaCRITICS, Futurism, Playboy, The Chicago Defender, Narratively, and wherever else fine writing is published. Though he lives on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois, his heart and home are in the cornfields of Iowa.

Sponsored by: VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase. Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org


Apr 02, 202355:38
Recovery in Progress w/Ko Chandetka

Recovery in Progress w/Ko Chandetka

(S8, EP 9) For this week, I invited Ko Chandetka, an award-winning body builder to the show.  We talked about his family’s resettlement in Elgin, IL after the Lao Civil War, his development as a body builder, and his recovery from addiction and more.  You won’t want to miss this episode! Thank you and enjoy the listen!

Bio:

Born in Mukdahan, Thailand, Ko Chandetka spent his early years living in Savannakhet, Laos. His father was a member of the royal Lao army and his family fled Laos after the Lao Civil War. They settled in the United States as refugees in 1975 and Ko grew up in Elgin, IL.. Ko began working out in his parents’ basement after being bullied and inspired by super heroes as a child. He became a competitive bodybuilder in 1991 winning his first NPC title through 2003.  Ko would compete in numerous competitions before an injury sent him down a path of drug addiction, depression and alcoholism. After seeking help, Ko was able to return to the sport, earn an IFBB Pro card and place at the 2016 Mr. Olympia contest. He co-founded the Lao American Sports Hall of Fame (www.laoamericansports.com) in 2022 and is the host of the SEA4 Podcast: Southeast Asian Athlete Achievement &; Adversity. Ko currently resides in South Elgin, IL and is a Bodybuilding consultant (www.gkomotivation.com).

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Mar 26, 202358:09
Dust Child w/Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Dust Child w/Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

(S8, EP 8) For this week's episode, I am honored to bring in critically-acclaimed and best-selling author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai as a guest.  We discussed her latest book, "Dust Child", and the issues surrounding AmerAsians who were left behind during the Vietnam War, the discrimination that ethnic minorities face in Vietnam, and the stigmas that is covered in her book. Don't miss out on this episode, and order your copy of "Dust Child". 

Bio:

Born and raised in Việt Nam, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is the author of the international bestseller The Mountains Sing, runner-up for the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, winner of the 2020 BookBrowse Best Debut Award, the 2021 International Book Awards, the 2021 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award, and the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship for Fiction. She has published twelve books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in Vietnamese and English and has received some of the top literary prizes in Việt Nam. Her writing has been translated into twenty languages and has appeared in major publications, including the New York Times. She has a PhD in creative writing from Lancaster University. She is an advocate for the rights of disadvantaged groups in Việt Nam and has founded several scholarship programs, and she was named by Forbes Vietnam as one of twenty inspiring women of 2021. Dust Child is her second novel. For more information, visit: www.nguyenphanquemai.com.

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

CIRCA-Pintig: Circa-Pintig stands for The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts and Pintig meaning “Pulse” in the Filipinx language.- CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 organization that engages communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. Circa Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Mar 19, 202301:08:20
The Veil Between Two Worlds w/ host Amy M Le & guest Christina Vo

The Veil Between Two Worlds w/ host Amy M Le & guest Christina Vo

(S8, EP 7)

For this week's episode, my good friend Amy M. Le who has appeared in two of my episodes is back again on the podcast, this time as a guest host as she interviews our friend and writer, Christina Vo.  Amy chats up with Christina about the loss of her mom when she was a teenager, her writing journey, and her debut memoir, “The Veil Between Two Worlds” set to come out in April.

Bio:

Guest: Christina Vo is a writer who previously worked for international organizations in Vietnam and Switzerland, including UNICEF and the World Economic Forum. She also ran a floral design business in San Francisco, as well as worked as a donor relations writer for the University of California, San Francisco. Christina is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently rides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Veil Between Two Worlds , which will be published in April 2023, is her first book.

Guest Host: 

Amy M. Le was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States at the age of five with her mother and cousin.  She is a Vietnam War survivor and Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) warrior. Amy lived in the Pacific Northwest most of her life and currently calls Oklahoma her home. Before becoming an author, publisher, and speaker, Amy found success at tech companies working with the C-suite and board of directors. Today she is the founder of Quill Hawk Publishing, an Asian American, woman-owned indie-publishing company dedicated to amplifying diverse voices. Amy co-founded The Heart Community Collection, a resource for the CHD community, sits on the board of the Vietnamese Boat People organization, and serves as an officer for several writing organizations.

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Mar 12, 202301:00:58
Foreign Bodies w/guest Fiza Pirani & host Nisha Mody

Foreign Bodies w/guest Fiza Pirani & host Nisha Mody

(S8, EP 6)  For this week's episode, Nisha Mody steps in as guest host, and chats with Fiza Pirani, the founder of Foreign Bodies, an award-winning newsletter on immigrant mental health. Hear them discuss the meaning of immigrant mental health, and what it means for our Asian communities.  Tune in to hear this amazing discussion!

Bio:

Fiza Pirani is an Atlanta-based freelance writer and editor, and the founder of Foreign Bodies, an award-winning newsletter on immigrant mental health. She is also currently an MFA student in the University of Georgia's Narrative Nonfiction program and is sloooowly working on what is shaping up to be a book project. In her free time, Fiza loves to dabble in painting, read memoirs and novels, and write alongside her always-sleepy rescue mutt and kitty.

Nisha Mody (she/her) is a Feminist Healing Coach, Writer, and Library Advocate. Her work explores the intersection of anti-oppression, intergenerational healing, and relating. She is passionate about making spaces relational, meaningful, and delightful. If you hear Nisha speak or coach with her, she will support you with being with your feelings, claiming your agency, and relating to the world with care. You can find Nisha on Instagram @healinghypegirl, on her website at www.nishaland.com, and you can get the latest updates from her by signing up for her newsletter at https://bit.ly/notesfromnishaland.

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Mar 05, 202301:00:54
Punk and Recovery w/ Darro

Punk and Recovery w/ Darro

Trigger Warning:  Medical Scare

(S8, EP 5)

Meet Darro Chea, a Khmer American emo pop-punk artist originally from Brooklyn, NY.  Hear his story about what got him into music, and his survival from a threatening brain tumor a few years back.  Learn and follow his work now!

Bio:

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Asian-American artist Darro is fusing together the strongest and catchiest elements of emo and pop-punk to form his own hybrid subgenre of alternative anthems.

After releasing his debut EP ‘Nostalgia’ in 2017, the then 24-year-old musician was diagnosed with a brain tumor that resulted in surgery and rehabilitation that saw him re-learning to speak and sing.

Despite his hardships, Darro persevered and utilized his recovery as a means of inspiration to release his debut full-length album Songs of Recovery in November 2020. Though met with life’s unexpected difficulties, Darro’s debut garnered critical acclaim on various charts and became emblematic of his journey as a musician.

Darro has gotten airplay by idobi Radio, charted internationally and been praised by the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone India, and Alternative Press, as well as editorial features on Spotify, Apple Music and VEVO.

With his second album Accidents produced by Kris Crummett, Darro is bound to be a repeat in your library.

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Feb 26, 202301:02:23
Dear White Women w/Misasha Suzuki Graham & Sara Blanchard

Dear White Women w/Misasha Suzuki Graham & Sara Blanchard

S8, EP 4:  Sara Blanchard and Misasha Suzuki Graham, co-hosts of the Dear White Women Podcast join me for this week's episode as we talk about the genesis of putting together their podcast, what unlearning white supremacy and recognizing privilege means, and offering anti-racism tools. 

Bio:

Misasha Suzuki Graham: A graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School, Misasha Suzuki Graham has been a practicing litigator for over 15 years, and is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession as well as in her communities. She is a facilitator, writer, and speaker regarding issues of racial justice, especially with regard to children, the co-author of Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism, and the co-host of Dear White Women, an award-winning social justice podcast. Misasha, who is biracial (Japanese and White), is married to a Black man, and is the proud mom of two very active multiracial young boys. They live in the Bay Area of California with their largely indifferent cat.

Sara Blanchard helps build community and connection through conscious conversations, which she does as a facilitator, TEDx speaker, writer, and consultant. After graduating from Harvard and working at Goldman Sachs, Sara pursued the science and techniques of well-being and is a certified life coach, author of two books, and also the co-host of Dear White Women. Sara is biracial (Japanese and White), married to a White Canadian man, and is raising their two White-presenting girls to be compassionate, thoughtful advocates. They live in Denver, CO with their incredibly lovable dog.

Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Feb 18, 202352:50
Somewhere Sisters by Erika Hayasaki

Somewhere Sisters by Erika Hayasaki

(S8, EP3) Check out this episode w/author, journalist, and educator Erika Hayasaki who recently released her book, "Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity, and the Meaning of Family".  We talked about the release of her book, as well as the themes (e.g. adoption, adoptee trauma, diaspora) in "Somewhere Sisters."

Bio:

Erika Hayasaki teaches in the Literary Journalism Program at the University of California, Irvine. She is a journalist interested in the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. Her stories appear in The New York Times Magazine, Wired, The Atlantic, Marie Claire, and many more. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, where she spent nine years covering breaking news and writing feature stories.

Erika is the author of Somewhere Sisters: A Story of Adoption, Identity and the Meaning of Family, (Algonquin Books, October 2022), and The Death Class: A True Story About Life (Simon & Schuster 2014).


Sponsored by: 

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Feb 11, 202347:19
Reclaiming Your Courage w/Leslie Lew

Reclaiming Your Courage w/Leslie Lew

TW/CW:  Mentions of Anti-Asian hate, sexual violence, and gaslighting

(S8, EP 2) Leslie Lew joins me for this week's episode as she talks about her work as a trauma-informed self-defense coach and what it means to break down the patriarchy and ableism in self-defense work.  We discussed the ongoing Stop Asian Hate movement, and what it means to reclaim one's courage. 


Bio:

Leslie is the Founder of Reclaiming Your Courage, a Trauma-Informed Self-Defense Coach, International best-selling author and speaker. She values love, courage, and community. Her mission is to save the lives of women globally. Leslie is a second-generation Korean and Chinese American, San Francisco native, mother of two, and wife. She is a two-time black belt and has been a martial artist for over 20 years.

Leslie empowers purpose-driven women to ignite their strength through their mind, body, and voice. At the start of the pandemic, Leslie was deeply impacted by the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. She has dedicated her life to #stopasianhate and strengthening her community by helping Asian women find their voice and not fall victim to being perceived as easy prey.

She is an ally to the BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent, and Differently Abled communities.


Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Jan 29, 202359:22
Dating, Nonprofits, and Oxford Commas w/Vu Le

Dating, Nonprofits, and Oxford Commas w/Vu Le

On Season 8's first episode, I interviewed leading nonprofit commentator, Vu Le about the issues concerning philanthropy, and why it's deeply flawed and rooted in white supremacy.  We chatted about what it's like to date a nonprofit professional, and why he believes in the full good of the Oxford comma.  

Bio:

Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the former Executive Director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle.

Vu’s passion to make the world better, combined with a low score on the Law School Admission Test, drove him into the field of nonprofit work, where he learned that we should take the work seriously, but not ourselves. There’s tons of humor in the nonprofit world, and someone needs to document it. He is going to do that, with the hope that one day, a TV producer will see how cool and interesting our field is and make a show about nonprofit work, featuring attractive actors attending strategic planning meetings and filing 990 tax forms.

Known for his no-BS approach, irreverent sense of humor, and love of unicorns, Vu has been featured in dozens, if not hundreds, of his own blog posts at NonprofitAF.com.


Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee:  Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Jan 22, 202345:25
Season 8 Premiere

Season 8 Premiere

Thank you for your patience as I am finally back from my months-long hiatus.  Learn what's in store for Season 8.  Enjoy the ride with new episodes each week!


Sponsored by:

VietFive Coffee: Start your day right with VietFive Coffee.  Freshly grown coffee harvested straight from Vietnam and roasted in Chicago, VietFive offers rich quality tasting Vietnamese coffee straight to your soul.  Visit VietFive Coffee in Chicago to grab a fresh cup and a Banh Mi to go along with it, or go to www.vietfive.com and use the code in all Caps: VMNCHIV5 to get 15% off your purchase.

Circa-Pintig: The Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - CIRCA Pintig is a 501c3 engaging communities through the power of the arts to challenge injustice and transcend social change. CIRCA Pintig produces timely works to provide education, activation, and advocacy. For information about upcoming events and to learn about how to get involved, visit www.circapintig.org

Jan 15, 202303:32
Bonus Episode: Podcast Roundtable w/ Kenneth Nguyen from The Vietnamese Podcast & Tracey Nguyen Mang w/Vietnamese Boat People Podcast

Bonus Episode: Podcast Roundtable w/ Kenneth Nguyen from The Vietnamese Podcast & Tracey Nguyen Mang w/Vietnamese Boat People Podcast

BONUS EPISODE:

So I'm back for a moment with a new shared episode w/ Kenneth Nguyen from The Vietnamese Podcast and Tracey Nguyen Mang from The Vietnamese Boat People Podcast.  We discussed our experiences as podcasters from a Vietnamese lens, and the current landscape of Vietnamese podcasting today.  Check out our discussion and don't forget to follow each of our works! 

Oct 29, 202254:24
Season 7 Closing Remarks

Season 7 Closing Remarks

Season 7's "reClaim" is over and I'm here to share my closing remarks about the season.  Many thanks to the following guests of Season 7: Michelle Li, Ju Hong, Noor Hindi, Sotheara Lim, Soultree Camba, Marpheen Chann, Consuela Hendricks, Angela Lin, and Nidhi Shastri.  

Season 7 is sponsored by the following:

Nguyen Coffee Supply, America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean. Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit www.nguyencoffeesupply.com. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount!

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Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Visit them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com

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Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com

Jul 30, 202205:41
Uniquely American w/ Nidhi Shastri

Uniquely American w/ Nidhi Shastri

As Season 7 is about to soon wrap up, Nidhi Shastri rounds up this Season 7 guest lineup.  Nidhi is the founder and producer of her podcast, "Model Minority: Uniquely American".  She is a South Asian American based in Chicago. We talked about the process of starting her podcast which explores stories and issues of the Asian, African, and Middle Eastern American / diaspora, her upbringing in the Chicagoland suburbs, the impact that her father's death had, and how this informed her own experiences, her relationship with her family, and political beliefs.  Don't miss out on this episode as you get to hear more about her beautiful journey!

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Bio:

Nidhi Shastri is an independent podcast writer, host and producer from Chicago, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2019, she worked as a campaign organizer for healthcare justice and Medicare for All during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her podcast, Model Minority: Uniquely American (released in 2020) stems from her own experiences of growing up as a South Asian woman in the States. Her work strives to pass the mic to other Asian, African and Middle Eastern Americans to share their stories, and to also use the podcasting platform as a medium for educating and inspiring social change.

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Season 7 sponsors:

Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on Facebook [tag].  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website.

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, or hat and learn more about them by visiting them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation.


Jul 24, 202246:25
Making People Matter: A Talk on Black and Asian Solidarity

Making People Matter: A Talk on Black and Asian Solidarity

(S7, EP 6): For this episode, I invited both Consuela Hendricks and Angela Lin, co-presidents of People Matter, a community-based organization whose mission is to uplift, unearth, and untether people in different communities in the Chicago area, particularly in Chinatown, McKinley Park, , Bridgeport, Bronzeville and more.  We talk about People Matter's work in improving race relations among Black/Latinx/Asian communities, and what the work of undoing anti-Black and anti-Asian racism can look like.  Both Consuela and Angela share their experiences on what got them into doing Black and Asian solidarity work and what the barriers are in dissolving tensions between communities.  Check their website at https://www.peoplematter.one and on IG @peopledomatter

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Consuela Hendricks is the co-president and Director of Programs and Planning at People Matter. A 4th generation Chicagoan, she has over a decade’s experience in improving race relations between Black/Latinx/Asian communities. Her background is in technology, urban planning, and youth mentorship. She has experience with government and policy at Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office, anti-displacement in Chicago’s gentrifying neighborhoods, and direct service with homeless folks across Chicago. In her free time she enjoys making art. Angela Lin is the co-president and Director of Outreach and Development at People Matter. She is passionate about tackling anti-blackness in Asian American communities on a grassroots level, both locally and globally. Her background is in community organizing and leadership development for parents, youth and seniors in Chinatown. In her free time, she enjoys reading webcomics. 

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This episode and Season 7 is sponsored by the following: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on FB and IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply.  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website. 

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merch line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian identity and experience.  Check out their merch line and get yourself a gift.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG @red_scarf_revolution to learn more. 

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. 

Jul 10, 202252:57
Creating My Abundance w/ Marpheen Chann

Creating My Abundance w/ Marpheen Chann

TW: Discussions of intergenerational & adoptee trauma

(S7, EP 5) Marpheen Chann joined me for this week's episode. He's a queer Khmer American community advocate and now an author of his new memoir. We spent time talking about his memoir, going through his family's struggle with the US refugee resettlement after the Khmer Rouge genocide, and going through his experiences being adopted. We shared about what healing means in breaking the intergenerational trauma and honoring his wellness.  Don't miss out on this episode and don't forget to order your copy of his memoir at https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Full-Modern-Coming-Age/dp/1952143357!

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Bio:

Marpheen Chann is the author of a memoir titled “Moon in Full” coming out June 2022 from Islandport Press.  He is a thinker, writer, advocate, and speaker on social justice, equity, and inclusion. As a gay, first-generation Asian American born in California to a Cambodian refugee family and later adopted by an evangelical, white working-class family in Maine, Marpheen uses a mix of humor and storytelling to help people view topics such as racism, xenophobia, and homophobia through an intersectional lens.

Marpheen Chann has a strong commitment to public service and serves as:

  • At-Large Charter Commissioner, City of Portland, Maine (Elected)
  • President, Khmer Maine
  • Member, Maine Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
  • Member, Planning Board for the City of Portland, Maine
  • Board Member, Equality Community Center in Portland, Maine

Marpheen lives in Portland, Maine. He works in the nonprofit and advocacy sector and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Maine and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.

Season 7 sponsors:

Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on Facebook [tag].  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website.

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, or hat and learn more about them by visiting them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com

Jun 26, 202201:01:24
Replenishing Ourselves w/ Soultree

Replenishing Ourselves w/ Soultree

(S7, EP 4)

Soultree Camba (they/them), Filipinx Marshallese American artist, creator, and longtime friend joined me for this week's episode. They shared their experience transition from immigrant organizing to healing and artistry work. Soultree talked about the importance of honoring independent artists for their time and labor, as well as their upcoming projects.  Soultree gives a special performance of their new song, "Can't Wait" here and ends the show with a breathing exercise session.  You won't want to miss this special episode!

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Bio:

Soultree is a cultural creator with two music projects Soultree EP and Malaginto and one practice called SHHAA (Sustainable Holistic Healing Arts & Activations) out in the world to serve and center their immigrant, queer, Asian, Pacific Islander communities and those in alignment and connection with these experiences and cultures.

With a background in Family Studies, Labor Studies, Legal assistance, and various forms of social justice organizing and civic engagement work, they’ve always had music as a focal point for their healing, sense of sanctuary, safety, and freedom, and bringing together communities.

Through their music and SHHAA, they use words, sounds, movement, divination (tarot), energy rebalancing (reiki), and bodywork (massage) to bridge the gap between surviving and thriving for themselves and their communities.

Sponsors:

Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount!

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com

Jun 12, 202201:07:07
Making Way for the Khmer Renaissance w/ Sotheara Lim

Making Way for the Khmer Renaissance w/ Sotheara Lim

(S7, EP 3) Sotheara Lim, founder of Khmer Renaissance which is a community-driven Instagram platform that celebrates the Khmer identity and experience, talked about what led him to create his digital platform.  We discussed how the deficit-level approach when there are only stories told about the Khmer culture and people through trauma, specifically with the Khmer Rouge genocide can often be harmful to the Khmer community.  Sotheara offers ways in which we can share the stories that revolve around joy and ambition through our own different platforms, and how this could drive more opportunities for fellow Khmer folks to thrive. You won't want to miss this interview!

Bio: 

Sotheara Lim is a second generation Khmer American of Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese descent. He currently resides in Long Beach, CA close to Cambodia Town and works in tech as a Project Manager, specifically in marketing. He founded Khmer Renaissance during the pandemic in May 2021 after the horrific massage parlor shootings in Atlanta. At its core, Khmer Renaissance is a community-driven Instagram platform looking to provide curated reflections and visibility on the Khmer identity and experience through various mediums. IG @KhmerRenaissance

Sponsors:

Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount!

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com

May 29, 202201:06:35
ReClaiming my Narrative w/ Noor Hindi

ReClaiming my Narrative w/ Noor Hindi

TW: Mentions of Palestinian & state-sanctioned violence / Covid Trauma regarding evictions

 --

 (S7, E2) Noor Hindi (she/her/hers) stopped by for this week's episode back in April as she is preparing for the release of her debut poetry collection book, DEAR GOD, DEAR BONES, DEAR YELLOW coming out this May.  We talked about her journey in poetry including her critically acclaimed 2020 poem, "Fuck Your Lecture on Craft, My People Are Dying" which focuses on the continual violence against the Palestinian people.  We discussed the diaspora, colonization, her work as a journalist uncovering the eviction crisis during Covid-19 in Akron, OH, and the self-care she does for herself.   --- Bio: Noor Hindi is a Palestinian-American poet and reporter. She is a 2021 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellow. Hindi earned her BA and MFA in poetry from the University of Akron. She released her poem, “Fuck Your Lecture on Craft, My People Are Dying” to critical acclaim in December  2020.  Noor will soon be releasing her poetry book DEAR GOD. DEAR BONES. DEAR YELLOW.   Due to come out on May 31st which you can order your copy now.  You can follow Noor on Twitter @MyNrhindi. 

--

Season 7 sponsors:

 Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on Facebook [tag].  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website. 

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, or hat and learn more about them by visiting them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com

May 15, 202255:18
Whatever It Takes w/ Ju Hong

Whatever It Takes w/ Ju Hong

TW / CW: Discussions of Undocumented Immigrant Trauma

(S7, EP 1) To kick things off, Ju Hong joined me for this season 7 official 1st episode as he shared his experiences in immigration activism as an undocumented Asian immigrant. He talked about the moment when he interrupted President Obama's speech in 2013 when he called him out on the administration's inaction on immigration and its record deportations under his watch. Ju brought up his recent experience when his DACA renewal was delayed, causing him to lose his job and healthcare protection, and how the renewal delays have affected other DACA recipients.  Please listen to learn more on Ju's story and his work on immigration activism! 

-------------

Bio:

Ju Hong was the former Program Financial Analyst at the Alameda Cty Social Services Agency.  Previously, Ju was a Governmental Program Analyst at the Immigration and Refugee Branch of the CA Dept of Social Services which funds over 100 community-based orgs to provide legal services to immigrant communities throughout California.

Ju came to the US from South Korea at the age of 11 and grew up in the Bay Area. He graduated from Laney College in Oakland and transferred to UC, Berkeley, where he became the first undocumented student government senator in UC Berkeley’s history and graduated with a BA in Political Science.

Ju has contributed and published immigration articles on Politico, Huffington Post, and The Korea Times. Ju also has a personal documentary called Halmoni.

Ju currently serves as a board chair of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), and a member of the Leadership Council of Immigrants Rising. Ju received his Master’s in Public Administration at San Francisco State University. Ju is also a certified coach through the Leadership that Works credential through the International Coach Federation, and obtains a Government Alliance on Race and Equity certification. He is currently working on his passion project – ImmigrAsians Podcast where he captures the unique stories of Asian undocumented individuals living in the US. You can follow his passion project on Instagram @ImmgrAsians

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Sponsors:

Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount!

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com

May 01, 202201:12:13
Season 7 Opener: Unapologetically #VeryAsian w/ Michelle Li

Season 7 Opener: Unapologetically #VeryAsian w/ Michelle Li

(Season 7 Opener):

After being (mostly) away for 6 months since my last season, I am back and set to kick off Season 7 with a new lineup, new stories, and a new theme called, "reClaim."  reClaim. is about documenting our own lived experiences as part of our history and future-making, how reclaiming our stories through our agency sets us up to reimagine a world that we want to live in, and to position our younger generations to become stewards of our community's legacy. 

In this Season 7 opener, I brought special guest Michelle Li to kick things off.  Michelle is a news anchor based in St. Louis. On New Year's, she experienced a racist voicemail from a caller about her news segment in which she accused Michelle of being "Very Asian." We talked about how that moment would galvanize the AAPI community in a time where Anti-Asian violence has continued to escalate. We discussed her Asian adoptee upbringing and the challenges that Asian & BIPOC journalists face in less diverse newsrooms and communities. We shared so much in this episode so check it out!  

This Season 7 is dedicated to Wayne Cheong, friend & supporter of my show who passed away unexpectedly. He was a fellow podcaster and full of infectious optimism and enthusiasm for the podcasting platform. He is missed by many.  

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Bio:

Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist who co-launched The Very Asian Foundation in January 2022 alongside friend and fellow journalist Gia Vang. Her response to a racist voicemail became a global movement of unity and caught the attention of The Ellen Show. Ellen’s monetary gift of $15,000 helped start the seed money to create a nonprofit focused on shining a light on all walks of Asian life. Michelle spent many years supporting adoptees through heritage camps and volunteer tours to Korea. She also launched a program to support Missouri children in foster care. All of this led to a congressional award in 2010. Michelle’s journalistic work has been honored with a national Peabody Award, several national Murrows, and multiple regional Emmys–often dealing with race or gender inequities. Michelle has appeared on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and The Washington Post. Michelle currently resides in St. Louis with her family. She is @michellelitv on most platforms Her IG and Twitter are @MichelleLiTV

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Thank you to the following sponsors:

Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount!

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Apr 24, 202256:34
The Remembrance & Advocacy for Christian Hall

The Remembrance & Advocacy for Christian Hall

TW / CW:  Police Violence, Mental Health, Adoptee Trauma  

I sat down with Fe and Gareth Hall who are the parents of Christian Hall and joined with Nicole Henriquez, .  Christian was a 19 yr old Chinese American adoptee who was murdered by police in a mental health crisis in NE Pennsylvania on 12/30/2020 for an upcoming emergency episode of my podcast.  Currently, no one has been charged with his murder nor has there been any action from the PA state's attorney's office.  With the help of Black, Asian, and other community activists, the advocacy movement for Christian is very much alive.  What I wanted to do was focus on who Christian was as a son, and who he was a young 19 year old.  What is often missing especially among BIPOC folks who have been killed during mental health emergencies are the stories of who they were as human beings, when much of the narrative focuses on the final seconds of their life.  It is also important to read the stories of BIPOC adoptees and the intergenerational traumas connecting to adoptees. There were so many beautiful stories that his parents Fe and Gareth were able to lift up while also sharing the struggles of mental health support and the call-to-action to pressure the DA office to look into Christian's case.  In the meantime, I just wanted to acknowledge how grateful and honored I am for their trust in me to facilitate this very difficult conversation, and many thanks to Nicole Henriquez, Christian's aunt and family advocate for bringing this interview together.  Please be on the lookout as I'll share an update when the episode is released.    Below are links to the case and updates on Christian Hall, and also on the stories of adoptees.

Social Media: 

IG: @Justice_for_christianhall & @christianjhallfoundation

FB: facebook.com/justiceforchristianhall

Links:

https://act.bencrump.com/a/christian-hall  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/christian-hall-police-shooting-anniversary-rcna7254 

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/27/981269559/am-i-asian-enough-adoptees-struggle-to-make-sense-of-spike-in-anti-asian-violenc 

https://www.msmayhem.com/living-between-worlds-asian-adoptees-with-white-families-experience-racism-in-isolation/ 

https://www.justiceforchristianhall.com/

Feb 07, 202201:36:40
Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ TRACE (January 2021)

Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ TRACE (January 2021)

Re-live my interview with Vietnamese-American singer TRACE from (S4, EP 1) who joined me on Season 4 when this episode was aired back in January 2021.  This is an exclusive video interview re-release through Spotify. TRACE, at the time, was just fresh off her latest single and video release, "Cool Women". TRACE shared her experiences becoming a singer-songwriter in the American indie music scene, and her relationship with her mother Carol Kim, a Vietnam-War survivor and also a well-known Vietnamese singer in the Paris by Night series.  She went into the struggles of mental health and reconciling her relationship with her father through her music, and the challenges of creating art during the time of the pandemic. Also, TRACE is expected to release a new song this month (January) so be on the lookout for her music which is available on all streaming services.  Her IG is @TRACE and you can visit her at www.listentotrace.com.  (Recorded November 2020)

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Bio: 

TRACE is a Vietnamese-American singer born and raised in Fountain Valley, California. In 2016, TRACE brought her first EP,  Low -  to life through a Kickstarter campaign. The 4-track piece earned her comparisons to the “west-coast cool of Lana Del Rey" and the “R&B-kissed ruminations of James Blake,” as well as over 30M streams and her first record deal. In early 2018, TRACE made her Ultra Records debut with her single “Blood and Bones,” followed by two more singles: "Side Eye” (which was featured on The Fader's fall list of "Best New Pop Songs") and "Anxiety." For the latter, TRACE partnered with the non-profit organization (NAMI) National Alliance on Mental Health to raise awareness on anxiety in the entertainment industry.  

Jan 17, 202254:35
Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ Phuc Tran (December 2020)

Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ Phuc Tran (December 2020)

Trigger Warning:  Discussions of child abuse

Relive my interview with Phuc Tran, author of his 2020 critically-acclaimed childhood memoir, "Sigh, Gone" . This interview was recorded back in December 2020 after spending the Covid lockdown year promoting his memoir virtually.  This video version can be seen exclusively through Spotify. Look below for more information on this episode.

Original show note:

(S4, EP 12) Viet-American best-selling and critically acclaimed author Phuc Tran joined me for the Season 4 finale for this episode. Last Spring, he released his award-winning memoir, "Sigh, Gone" which traced back to his upbringing in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in the 80s and early 90s after his family fled from Vietnam after the war. I spoke with Phuc back in late December to discuss his struggles with assimilation in a rural white community, his father's abuse. He explaied how seeking therapy played a role in being able to write his story while healing the wounds from his turbulent past with his parents.  Check out more on this episode and follow Phuc Tran on IG @Phucskywalker.

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Bio:

Phuc Tran has been a high school Latin teacher for more than twenty years while also simultaneously establishing himself as a highly sought-after tattooer in the Northeast. Tran graduated Bard College in 1995 with a BA in Classics and received the Callanan Classics Prize. He taught Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit in New York at the Collegiate School and was an instructor at Brooklyn College’s Summer Latin Institute. Most recently, he taught Latin, Greek, and German at the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. His 2012 TEDx talk “Grammar, Identity, and the Dark Side of the Subjunctive” was featured on NPR’s Ted Radio Hour. His acclaimed memoir, SIGH, GONE: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and The Fight To Fit In, received the 2020 New England Book Award for Nonfiction.  He tattoos in Portland ME where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Dec 27, 202101:11:50
Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ Joshua Nguyen (July 2021)

Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ Joshua Nguyen (July 2021)

Exclusive re-release of my previous interview w/ Joshua Nguyen, poet and author of his recently released poetry book, "Come Clean".  Check out the video on Spotify.  PS. Joshua and I did not, at the time, intend to release this as a video episode. He would have showed off of his Houston Rockets jerseys including one from the departed James Harden, and I for one am glad that I did not have to be subjected to it. :-). 


(S5, EP 12) Joshua Nguyen (He / Him) joined me as the final guest of Season 5's theme, "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience".  He is fresh off from his mini chapbook debut release, "An American Lục Bát For My Mother" this past Spring, and is now set to release his full length poetry debut book, "Come Clean" this October which explores issues of sexual trauma, personal identity among others.  I talk to Joshua about his poetry, and his anticipation of releasing his debut poetry collection.  We talked about his own recent journey exploring his sexual identity and what that means. Meanwhile, I spent some time poking fun at the Houston Rockets (mostly ex-Rocket James Harden), a team that he lives and bleeds for.  Hope you enjoy the season 5 finale!  Visit Joshua on IG and Twitter @JoshuaNguyen03 and don't forget to pre-order your copy of "Come Clean"

Bio:

Joshua Nguyen is a queer Vietnamese-American writer, a collegiate national poetry slam champion (CUPSI), and a native Houstonian. He is the author of the chapbook, "American Lục Bát for My Mother" (Bull City Press, 2021) and has received fellowships from Kundiman, Tin House, Sundress Academy For The Arts, and the Vermont Studio Center. He has been published in The Offing, Wildness, American Poetry Review, The Texas Review, Auburn Avenue, Crab Orchard Review, and Gulf Coast Mag. He has also been featured on both the "VS" podcast and Tracy K. Smith's, "The Slowdown". He is a bubble tea connoisseur and works in a kitchen. His debut poetry collection, "Come Clean" (Oct 5th 2021, University of Wisconsin Press), Come Clean was the winner of the 2021 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry. Joshua is a PhD student at The University of Mississippi, where he also received his MFA.

Dec 13, 202101:11:17
Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ MILCK (August 2020)

Exclusive Re-Release: Video Interview w/ MILCK (August 2020)

Re-release of my previous interview w/ MILCK from Season 3, Episode 11

(S3, EP 11) We reached our final guest to close out Season 3 continuing the theme, "Where Do We Stand?".  MILCK (Connie Lim) is an Asian-American recording artist who first received international attention for her song "Quiet" which became viral during the Women's March in DC in 2017.  It would be named by Billboard Music as "The Protest Song of the Year" in 2017.  We discuss the impact that the song has had on her work as an artist and activist. She talks about her struggles breaking through as an Asian-American artist, and her hopes to use her music to help build solidarity with other marginalized communities.  MILCK talks about her recently released EP, "Into Gold" which is available on all streaming services.  MILCK also surprised me by performing her new single, "Somebody's Beloved".  Check this episode out for more!

Nov 23, 202101:10:35
Season 6 Finale & Going On Extended Hiatus!!!

Season 6 Finale & Going On Extended Hiatus!!!

Season 6 Finale!!!!

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We reached the conclusion of Season 6, "Unfinished Business", and with that said, I am taking a hiatus from recording new episodes until next summer.  After 80+ episodes in two years, it will be great to finally take a step back and give myself some time to pause and reflect on my work.  What an amazing run it has been for me thus far, and I couldn't be more grateful for that.  For Season 6,  I am honored to hear so many incredible stories from my guests, and so thankful to all of them who were a part of this run.  The following thank-you's to my guests on Season 6 are: Andy Marra, Eric Nguyen, Akemi Kochiyama, Stacy Yung, Virginia Nguyen, Rose Khun, Ly Tran, Dany Pen, Vi Son Trinh, and Nisha Mody.  

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In this Season 6 finale, I brought back former guest Amy M. Le on my show as she interviewed me about my podcast journey, personal things about me outside of the podcast, and shared our favorite episodes. Hope you enjoy this fun conversation and many thank you's to everyone for supporting my podcast for the past two years.  I look forward to being back once I'm ready!  

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Many thanks to Red Scarf Revolution for sponsoring this Season 6.  Please be sure to check them out at www.redscarfrevolution.com or on IG @Red_Scarf_Revolution

Oct 31, 202101:36:06
Decapitalizing Wellness w/ Nisha Mody

Decapitalizing Wellness w/ Nisha Mody

(S6, EP 9) Nisha Mody is my final guest for this Season 6 series.  Nisha is a healing & wellness coach, content creator behind @HealingHypeGirl on Instagram, and her podcast MigrAsians, and a former long-time librarian. We talked back in mid-summer when she transitioned from her work as a librarian to being an independent healing coach.  In this episode, we discuss how wellness and healing work must prioritize intersectionality and practice a decapitalism approach.  Nisha shares her own journey that led her to her work, and how liberation and social justice is tied into our long-term wellness and opportunities to do our own healing.  Listen for more on this episode!

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Bio:

Nisha Mody, MLIS, MA CCC-SLP (she/her) is a Feminist Healing Coach, Writer, and Librarian. Nisha values connection, compassion, curiosity, storytelling, and justice, all of which led her to becoming a healing coach with a trauma-informed lens. Nisha coaches people individually, in groups, and provides workshops about healing and trauma-informed care. You can find out more about her at www.nishaland.com and on Instagram @healinghypegirl.

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This episode and Season 6 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  For more on RSR, please visit www.redscarfrevolution.com, or visit them on IG @red_scarf_revolution

Oct 24, 202101:22:17
Nursing Myself to Strength w/ Vi Son Trinh

Nursing Myself to Strength w/ Vi Son Trinh

(S6, EP 8) Vĩ Sơn Trinh joins me for this week's episode as part of Season 6's "Unfinished Business".  Vĩ Sơn is a 1.5 generation Vietnamese-American photographer, storyteller, and nurse.  We spoke back in June about his experience being a nurse during Covid and the daily realities that he and his colleagues faced during the pandemic.  We talked about what led him into nursing after his partner passed away.  He shared with us his own upbringing and his connection to his Vietnamese culture through his work.  Check out for more on this episode! 

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Bio: Vĩ Sơn Trinh is a Vietnamese-American visual storyteller. Born in a refugee camp in Galang, Indonesia, and now based in the Bay Area of California, Vĩ Sơn explores personal narratives of fellow refugee and immigrant community members. Vĩ Sơn has worked on two projects, “Stories We Carry” a photo installation that empowers individuals from immigrant and refugee experiences, and “Silk Rise” a photo series that explores the intersectionality of Vietnamese tradition and contemporary through ao dai. He has photographed for publications and organizations such as Banana Magazine, SF Chronicle, Hyphen Magazine, Asian American Donor Program, and VSCO. While not out in the field capturing stories, he currently works as a registered nurse in Bay Area, CA. His IG bio is @visontrinh.

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This episode & Season 6 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Oct 17, 202101:03:42
Disrupting The Trauma Cycle w/ Dany Pen

Disrupting The Trauma Cycle w/ Dany Pen

Trigger & Content Warning: Topics will include mentions of genocidal / sexual violence and child abuse

(S6, EP 7) Cambodian human rights advocate leader Dany Pen joined me for this week's episode as we talk about her work to support survivors of violence. Her dad's side of the family were executed at the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison Center during the Khmer Rouge and after learning of her family's tragic fate there, Dany was compelled to go into human rights advocacy work and support survivors from Cambodia, to America, to Canada and currently in Bermuda where she resides. We spent time talking about how the petition that we were working on with members of the Cambodian and Cambodian diaspora brought a collective response and call-to-action on VICE News' controversial piece featuring a white photographer / artist who digitized the photos of civilian prisoners at Tuol Sleng without consent. Listen for more on this episode!

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Bio:

Dany Pen is a Human Rights/Court Advocate, the Executive Director of Raleigh International Bermuda; and Founder of Women's A.C.T, an international advocacy group pushing for equality, justice, empowerment and support for survivors of sexual assault, violence and domestic abuse.

She was also formerly the Commissioner of Human Rights in Bermuda and the Education & Communication Officer at the Bermuda Fine Art Trust. This made her the first Khmer/Cambodian Woman to serve on the Human Rights Commission in the country of Bermuda.

In 2016 in Canada, she was honoured with the "World Builder" award by OCAD University, which is the highest honours bestowed upon individuals who have made substantive humanitarian contributions to their community and culture; and individuals who are active in supporting global causes. She is also the first Khmer/Cambodian woman to be honoured with this prestigious award in Canada.

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Season 6 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience. Feel free to check out their merch, and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts. Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or on their IG @red_scarf_revolution

Oct 10, 202101:21:54
House of Sticks w/ Ly Ky Tran

House of Sticks w/ Ly Ky Tran

Trigger Warning: Content will include topics on PTSD / intergenerational trauma

(S6, EP 6) Ly Ky Tran, Viet-American millennial based out of NYC, and author of her recently released memoir, "House of Sticks" joined me for this week's episode.  We talked back in late June as she was promoting her debut memoir.  We discussed about her parents' trauma from the Vietnam War and how it affected her relationship with them and her siblings growing up.  In the wake of the Atlanta shooting, Ly shared her own experiences with racism and misogyny violence working at her mom's nail salon.  Through her experience, she learned to deepen her connection and compassion with her family, and with herself.  Don't forget to grab a copy of "House of Sticks" available everywhere (check your local bookstore) after listening to this episode! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio:  LY TRAN graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Creative Writing and Linguistics in 2014. She has received fellowships from MacDowell, Art Omi, and Yaddo. House of Sticks is her first book that was recently published late Spring 2021.  IG: @endingforadverbs

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This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Oct 03, 202150:26
Forgiving Is The First Step - Rose Khun

Forgiving Is The First Step - Rose Khun

Trigger Warning: Discussions of parental death and PTSD trauma

(S6, EP 5) Rose Khun is a guest for this week's episode as part of the 6th season theme, "Unfinished Business". Rose is a Cambodian-American Holistic Nutritionist and Lifestyle Coach based out in Northern California. In this episode, we talk about her upbringing during her family's resettlement in the US after the Khmer Rouge genocide.  At 7 years old, she experienced the murder of her father during a robbery at their family's store.  She talked about the effect that her father's death had on her in the years following. As part of her healing, she connected with the man who murdered her father, and worked to secure his release most recently.  Listen for more on this incredibly powerful episode!  

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Bio: 

Rose is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Lifestyle coach who helps to empower women to improve their health, lifestyle, so they can live and feel happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life. Rose is a 1st generation Cambodian American. Her journey to forgive the man that killed her father, had a transformation on her life and brought her the gift of freedom. She’s on the journey to help others, take their life to the next level.

Instagram: The_Rosie_Rose_

For 1:1 Coaching https://www.1stphorm.app/RosieRose

Website: https://pacificrosewellness.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ssbk7NHbPCjhsLZmTvjCQ

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This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Sep 26, 202101:28:30
It Starts In The Classroom - Virginia Nguyen & Stacy Yung

It Starts In The Classroom - Virginia Nguyen & Stacy Yung

(S6, EP 4) Virginia Nguyen and Stacy Yung, two longtime secondary Ed history teachers from Southern California joined me for this episode as we talk about Asian Americans educators in K-12 and pushing for racially equitable and inclusive curriculums, including Asian and Pacific Islander history. Learn more about the work that they are doing in this episode. 

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Bio: Stacy Yung and Virginia Nguyen are history teachers with over 30 years of combined teaching experience. They are leaders in diversity, equity, inclusion, and allyship in Southern California and have trained 1000s of educators. In response to the March 2021 murder of six Asian women, and the increased awareness of anti-Asian hate, they created Educate to Empower. Together they are creating and curating resources and hosting workshops for educators on topics of DEI and AAPI. They believe that educators committed to antiracism can and change the world. 

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Virginia is a passionate high school history teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience, National Writing Project Fellow, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Allyship trainer. She is a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, which has shaped her passion for AAPI advocacy, commitment to social justice, equity, and leadership in DEI. She has national experience holding workshops, leading presentations, educator training, and curriculum development. 

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Stacy is an instructional designer and former middle school history teacher who specializes in culturally responsive teaching and integrating educational technology. She is passionate about centering student experiences and student voice in the classroom and empowering students to be active citizens in their communities. As an advocate for social justice and equity, she develops and leads workshops on topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and how to build an antiracist classroom community for school site teams, districts, and at conferences contactedutoempower@gmail.com 

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This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). Please check out their work at www.redscarfrevolution.com and on IG @red_scarf_revolution

Sep 19, 202101:13:22
What Yuri Taught Me w/ Akemi Kochiyama

What Yuri Taught Me w/ Akemi Kochiyama

(S6, EP 3) Akemi Kochiyama joined in for this week's episode.  Akemi is the granddaughter of late Japanese-American activist icon Yuri Kochiyama. In this interview, we talk about Yuri's activism that began when she and her family were forcibly sent to the Japanese incarceration camps during WWII. In her activism work, Yuri connected with Malcolm X, Assata Shakur, and other Black activists to support the Black liberation movement while also speaking out against the Vietnam War, the US military industrial complex, and western imperialism. Akemi speaks about her grandma's legacy along with her family's long rich history with Black and Asian movements, her current movement work, and what this all means in today's current civil rights movements.  Please check out this episode to learn more about Akemi's work. 

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Bio

Akemi Kochiyama is a scholar-activist, community builder who currently serves as the Director of Advancement at Manhattan Country School. She is also Co-Director of the Yuri Kochiyama Archives Project and co-editor of Passing It On: A Memoir by Yuri Kochiyama.  As a graduate of Spelman College, Akemi is also a doctoral candidate in the Ph.D. Program in Cultural Anthropology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and serves on the Board of The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.

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This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Sep 12, 202101:03:11
Things We Lost To The Water -- Eric Nguyen

Things We Lost To The Water -- Eric Nguyen

(S6, EP 2)  Eric Nguyen (He / Him) is a queer Viet-American author based in DC.  He recently released his debut fiction novel, Things We Lost To The Water which is a story about a Vietnamese single mother raising her two teenage sons in Louisiana in the late 80s - early 90s.  His book was named by former President Obama as his top 2021 summer reading list.  We talk about the genesis in creating his novel, and his own vision in writing stories about the Vietnamese diaspora.  Please check out this episode and get your copy of his book in stores now!

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Bio:

Eric Nguyen earned an MFA in creative writing from McNeese State University in Louisiana. He has been awarded fellowships from Lambda Literary, Voices of Our Nation Arts (VONA), and the Tin House Writers Workshop. He is currently the editor-in-chief of diaCRITICS. he currently lives in Washington, DC. His debut fiction book, Things We Lost To The Water was recently released this past Spring.  This past summer, former President Obama named his book as part of his Top 2021 Summer Reading List. 

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This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Sep 05, 202149:06
In The Face of Resistance w/ Andy Marra

In The Face of Resistance w/ Andy Marra

(S6, EP 1) To kick off Season 6, Andy Marra (she / her / hers) joined me for this episode.  Andy is currently the Executive Director with Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF).  She has been a visible force in the Asian & trans community. We sat down and talked about the current anti-trans legislation that's been introduced in several states across the US, and what TLDEF and trans activists are doing to resist against this wave.  After listening to this episode, check out www.transgenderlegal.org, and follow Andy on IG @andy_marra. 

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Andrea "Andy" Hong Marra is the Executive Director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF). Prior to TLDEF, she spent five years leading external communications at the Arcus Foundation; managed public relations at GLSEN, a national organization focused on LGBTQ issues in K-12 education; was co-director at Nodutdol for Korean Community Development; and served as a senior media strategist at GLAAD. Andy currently serves as Board Chair of the Freedom for All Americans Education Fund. She has previously served on the boards and advisory councils of Chinese for Affirmative Action, the Funding Exchange, Human Rights Campaign, Just Detention International, and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Andy has been honored by the White House and the City of New York for her contributions to the LGBTQ community, profiled in The Advocate’s “Forty Under 40,” and listed as one of The Huffington Post’s “Most Compelling LGBT People.” She is also a past recipient of the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, the National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change Award, NQAPIA Community Catalyst Award, and the Colin Higgins Foundation Courage Award.

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This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s).

Aug 29, 202143:26
Season 5 Closeout / Season 6 Preview "Unfinished Business"

Season 5 Closeout / Season 6 Preview "Unfinished Business"

We have reached the conclusion of Season 5 "Our Becoming: An Asian LGBTQ Experience" and Season 6 is about to get started!

Thank you to the following Season 5 guests: Kevin Stea, Alex Jenny, Helen Zia, Hunny Hach, Rohan Zhou Lee, Ishani Chokshi, Vichet Chum, Alex Torres, Deepankar Tripurana, Danielle Tanimura, Steven Wakabayashi, and Joshua Nguyen

The theme for Season 6 will be "Unfinished Business"--Listen in as I explain what this theme means. More new episodes for this season coming each week this Fall!

I am excited to announce that Red Scarf Revolution will return back as a sponsor for this season.  Red Scarf Revolution aims to preserve and educate folks about the Khmer Rouge genocide and the refugee resettlement.  It also celebrates and honors the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Check out their merchandise line at www.redscarfrevolution.com or on IG @red_scarf_revolution 

Aug 22, 202104:10