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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VietFive w/Tuan Huynh

The Bánh Mì ChroniclesApr 22, 2023

00:00

01:03:42

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

(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

(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:

Apr 09, 202347:42

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

(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:

Mar 26, 202358:09

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.

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

(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:

Mar 12, 202301:00:58

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.

Foreign Bodies: https://foreignbodies.substack.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/fizapirani TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fizapirani Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f1za/

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:

Mar 05, 202301:00:54

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:

Feb 26, 202301:02:23

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:

Feb 18, 202352:50

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:

Feb 11, 202347:19

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:

Jan 29, 202359:22

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:

Jan 22, 202345:25

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:

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:

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'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

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

Jul 24, 202246:25

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

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:

Jun 26, 202201:01:24

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).

Jun 12, 202201:07:07

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:

May 29, 202201:06:35

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:

May 15, 202255:18

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!

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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:

May 01, 202201:12:13

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.

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:

Apr 24, 202256:34

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)

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)

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.

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 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)

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!!!!

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.

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!

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

(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!

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.

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

(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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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

Sep 26, 202101:28:30

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.

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.

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.

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

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

(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.

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.

Sep 12, 202101:03:11

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!

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.

Sep 05, 202149:06

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.

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.

Aug 29, 202143:26

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

Journey to Come Clean w/ Joshua Nguyen

Bio:

Aug 15, 202101:13:12

To Create The Love We Deserve w/ Steven Wakabayashi

(S5, EP 11) Steven Wakabayashi (he / him) joined me as my guest for Season 5's "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience". He is the host and creator of the podcast, "Yellow Glitter" and has been proactive on social media sharing his takes on LGBTQ Asian American issues, social justice, and healing. This recording was done on May 19th. In this episode, we talk about Asian male allyship during the time of Anti-Asian Hate that disproportionately affects Asian women, and how Asian men can serve to be better comrades in the movement. We discuss Steve's challenges in his relationship with his mom following his own coming out. We address issues concerning PED and other drug use among queer Asian men and why this continues to be a kept secret. Please check out this episode and follow Steve on IG @StevenWakabayashi .

Bio:

Steven Wakabayashi is a second-generation Japanese-Taiwanese-American, leading design teams and creating equitable spaces in New York City. When he's not working, he is recording podcasts for his show, Yellow Glitter – mindfulness through queer Asian stories, hosting support groups, writing in his weekly newsletter Mindful Moments, and hosting evening sessions for QTPOC Design – an organization empowering LGBTQ+ designers of color with education, mentorship, and networking opportunities. You can find him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Aug 08, 202101:05:52

Remembering Anthony Veasna So w/ Alex Torres

(S5, EP 10) In honoring queer Cambodian-American writer Anthony Veasna So who suddenly passed away in December 2020 and to celebrate his posthumous short-stories fiction book, "Afterparties", I invited Anthony's long-time partner Alex Torres to be a guest on my show. In this episode, Alex shared many fond memories of Anthony during their travels together. He recalled many conversations that they had as writers, and reflected on what Anthony wanted to convey through his writing. Alex is currently working with Anthony's close friends and colleagues to honor Anthony's legacy as a writer. Don't forget to check out his "Afterparties" book wherever it's available!

Bio:

Anthony Veasna So (1992-2020) was a queer Cambodian-American writer, born to parents who survived the Khmer Rouge genocide. He grew up in Stockton, CA. He graduated with a Bachelor's in Art and English from Stanford University, and an MFA in Syracuse University. He was a Kundiman Fellow and Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow. He taught at Colgate University, Syracuse University, and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants in Oakland, CA. Anthony was featured in the New Yorker for his short story "Three Women of Chuck's Donuts" in Feb 2020. His writings and comics have also appeared in publications such as n+1, Hobart, Ninth Letter. Before his death, Anthony signed a two-book deal with Ecco Books. His debut fiction short stories book, "Afterparties" is set for release this August 2021.

Aug 03, 202101:16:24

Channeling Our Intergenerational Resilience w/ Danielle Tanimura

(S5, EP 9) Danielle Tanimura (She / Hers) joined me for this episode as part of the Season 5 theme, "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience." This episode was recorded in mid-April. In this episode, Danielle talked about her family's past leading up to the Japanese American incarceration camps during WWII and the trauma that would affect her family for decades long after that period. She talked about her own interest in digging through her family's history as well as the history of the Japanese community in Chicago. As an open trans woman and mother, Danielle reflected back on the beginning of her journey, and how her experiences as a former judo competitor have made her a vocal supporter for trans athletes in a time where anti-trans laws are targeting the trans community. Check out this episode to learn more about Danielle's journey!

Bio:

Danielle Tanimura is a queer trans mom, artist, and judo sensei of Japanese American and Bohemian Jewish ancestry. Born and raised in Chicago in an intergenerational and multicultural household, she learned the values of a strong family, preserving history, following her passions, and creating space for intersectional and inclusive communities.After graduating from Earlham College, Danielle worked at the Japanese American Service Committee’s Legacy Center Archive while teaching children and adults of all abilities at the Menomonee Judo Club. Her digital artwork has been featured at galleries all over the city. Danielle’s preschool age kiddo keeps her pretty busy these days.

Jul 25, 202101:27:17

Social Justice through the Digital Space(s) w/ Deepankar Tripurana

(S5, EP 8) As part of Season 5's "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience", Deepankar Tripurana (all pronouns) joined me for this week's episode. This episode was recorded on 4/7/21 as Deep shared their experiences navigating queer and trans identity in their South Asian family and community, and being raised in the Midwest. They talk about what got them inspired into activism and what it means for them. They talk about their involvement in digital movement spaces, and advice on how to process being an administrator in these spaces. Please check out this episode for more!

Bio:

Deep Tripurana (any pronoun with respect) is a Queer Trans-Hijra South Asian American born in Southern India and mostly raised in northern, Illinois. They attended Lawrence University for a B.A. in Biomedical Ethics, looking at holistic analysis of decisions within healthcare fields through the lens of all stakeholders, historical context, and culturally transformative policies. Currently, they work as an academic tutor and workshop facilitator, entering clinical research to look at intersections of public health disparities with historically marginalized communities. They also provide support organizations like Black and Asian Solidarity Series, COUNT US IN, Subtle Asian Activists, and Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union. In their free time, Deep enjoys playing piano/guitar, cooking with close friends, practicing Hatha Yoga, and working on art projects.

Jul 18, 202101:31:22

Telling Our Stories Our Own Way w / Vichet Chum

(S5, EP 7) Trigger Warning: Episode will contain topics on personal Anti-Asian violence. Queer Khmer American playwright Vichet Chum joins me as part of Season 5's "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience" for this week's episode. This episode was recorded back in April 15th during Khmer New Year's. We talk about the ongoing anti-Asian violence and his family's own experience with anti-Asian racism as a child. We discussed the controversy with VICE News and the Tuol Sleng Prison photo controversy, and how cultural appropriation and colonizing harms our Khmer community to learn history and begin the healing process. Vichet shares his excitement over his upcoming plays that he's working on, and the goals that he seeks to amplify the Cambodian-American experience. Check out this episode and follow Vichet on IG @vichetchum .

Bio: Vichet Chum is a Cambodian-American playwright and theater maker, originally from Dallas, Texas and now living in New York City. His plays have been workshopped at Steppenwolf Theatre, the Magic Theater, the Alley Theatre, the UCROSS Foundation, Fault Line Theatre, Crowded Outlet, Second Generation Productions, Weston Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theatre, All For One Theater, Amios, Florida State University, Merrimack Repertory Theatre and the New Harmony Project. He received the 2018-19 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting with New Dramatists and is a current board member for the New Harmony Project. Vichet was a part of the 2019-20 Resident Working Farm Group at Space on Ryder Farm, the 2020 Interstate 73 Writer's Group at Page 73 and the 2020 Ars Nova Play Group. In the 2022/23 season, his plays High School Play: A Nostalgia Fest will have its world premiere at the Alley Theatre and Bald Sisters will have its world premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He is a proud graduate of the University of Evansville (BFA) and Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company (MFA). He’s represented by Beth Blickers at APA. vichetchum.com

Jul 11, 202101:20:18

Unapologetically Liberating w/ Ishani Chokshi

(S5, EP 6) Ishani Chokshi (She / They) joins me for this episode as she speaks on the recent challenges she experienced as a South Asian trans woman studying in law school, and names the barriers that current policy and law makers have enforced that harms queer and transgender communities. We talk about her own becoming as a trans woman of color, and her close bond with her communities to celebrate her community family. Check out for more on this episode and follow the work of Trikone on IG @TrikoneChicago.

Bio:

Ishani (she/they) is an androgynous trans woman and an art-turned-law student obsessed with using art to bring out the truths of queer and transgender youth of color. She is also on the board of Trikone Chicago, Chicagoland's largest South Asian LGBTQ+ organization. She believes that our truths will free and heal not only us, but everyone!

Jul 04, 202158:50

Honoring My Blasian Identity and Going Further w/ Rohan Zhou Lee

(S5, EP 5) In honoring Pride Month, Rohan Zhou Lee (They/Siya/祂 (Tā)), artist, activist, and founder of the Blasian March, joined me for this episode as part of the 5th season theme "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience). They took the time out of their busy schedule to chat with me about the creation of the Blasian March, and how critical it was to have a movement that included Blasian community members, and to build Black and Asian solidarity in a time where Anti-Black and Anti-Asian violence has been escalating in recent times. Rohan shared their experiences growing up as both queer non-binary and Black and Asian, and how this would inform their work in the movement. We talk more about self-care and sustainment in the movement and what work lies ahead in the fight against white supremacy. Check out this episode and follow them @BlasianMarch on IG

Bio:

Rohan Zhou-Lee They/Siya/祂 (Tā) is dancer, writer, and organizer. Previous credits include a soloist role in the Off-Broadway revival of Over Here! The Musical, West Side Story [New Bedford Festival Theatre,] and The Bluebird from Sleeping Beauty [Victoria Ballet Theatre.] They also trained at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Ruth Page Center For the Arts. Their short act play, The Soldier’s Home, was produced in 2015 by Circa Pintig, Chicago’s premiere Filipino theatre company. Zhou-Lee is the founder of the Blasian March, a solidarity movement for Black, Asian and Blasian [mixed] communities through education on parallel struggles with racial injustice and mutual celebration. Independent of the Blasian March, they organised a rally for Asian American communities on February 20th with a team of women of color. They hold a BA in Ethnomusicology from Northwestern University.

Jun 27, 202101:06:21

To Give and Receive Care w/ Hunny Hach

(S5, EP 4) In celebrating Pride Month, Khmer-American DJ and community leader, Hunny Hach (she / her) joined me for this episode. Currently based in Long Beach, Hunny Hach is also the co-founder of Qhmer, an LGBTQ Khmer / Khmer American organization. In this episode, we talked about her recent struggles as a caregiver to her mother who is battling dementia, and making the difficult decision to begin her mom's transition to a nursing home. We talked about Hunny's own challenges of her queer identity in her Cambodian community, and when she was preparing her Cambodian-style wedding with her partner. Through these experiences, it would lead her to create Qhmer which focuses on empowering the Khmer LGBTQ experiences and identity that she goes further on in this episode. Hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to share your review on Apple Podcast. For more on Qhmer, please visit their IG @Qhmer_Org, their website at www.qhmer.org or follow Hunny on IG @badxhunny.

Bio:

Hunny is a second-generation Cambodian-American who was born in San Diego, California and raised in Long Beach. Known to many by her stage name, Dj Hunny, she is a local artist who is also an active member of the Cambodian community. Hunny has dj’d at many venues from Hollywood, LA, Orange County, and Cambodia. Through her civic engagement she has worked with many grassroots organizations both locally and internationally to bridge the generation gap and to preserve Cambodian arts, culture, and history.

Hunny got involved in community work in her early 20s when she participated in an all-Asian girl group named, Vice Versa & Dj Hunny. As she traveled to perform at various shows she met and worked alongside fellow artists who eventually became community leaders and introduced her to many local organizations. Throughout the years, she has been involved in Project Angkor, Cambodia Town Film Festival, Cambodian Youth Institute, Hearts Without Boundaries, Cambodian Music Festival, Khmer Alumni Association, and United Cambodian Community.

Hunny created Qhmer as a platform to promote positive representation of LGBTQ+ Khmers in both the Cambodian and queer community. She is a strong believer in drawing from her experiences and applying all her knowledge and skills towards effecting positive social change and building her community.

Jun 20, 202101:51:48

Making Movements to Honor Us w/ Helen Zia

(S5, EP3) Helen Zia (She / Hers) joined me for this episode of the 5th season theme, "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience." Helen is a longtime queer Asian-American journalist, author and activist. During the time of Vincent Chin's murder in a racial violent attack in 1982 in Detroit, she and many APIA community members and leaders ignited movements nationally to call for justice and address the anti-Asian American violence. Helen shares in this episode about the parallels between Vincent's murder and the Anti-Asian violence since Covid-19, the current #StopAAPIHate movement, the issue of policing in the API communities, and the recent passing of iconic Chinese American photographer Corky Lee and the legacy he left behind. Find out more on this episode. To follow Helen Zia, please check her out on IG, Twitter & FB @helenziareal or her website at www.helenzia.com

Bio:

Helen Zia is The daughter of immigrants from China, Helen has been outspoken on issues ranging from human rights to women’s rights, and countering hate violence and homophobia. She was featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary, Who Killed Vincent Chin? and was profiled in Bill Moyers’ PBS series, Becoming American: The Chinese Experience.

Helen received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of San Francisco and an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the City University of New York Law School for bringing important matters of law and civil rights into public view. She is a Fulbright Scholar and a graduate of Princeton University’s first coeducational class. She attended medical school but quit after two years, then went to work as a construction laborer, an autoworker, and a community organizer, after which she discovered her life’s work as a writer. :She would publish her debut book Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People in 2000, and in 2018, She released her book Last Boat out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao’s Revolution which recounts the survivor stories of the Nanjing Massacre.

Jun 13, 202157:32

Trans Divinity w/ Alex Jenny

(S5, EP2): Alex Jenny (She / They) joined me for this episode as part of the 5th season theme, "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience". Alex is a Chinese-Vietnamese American trans woman, licensed psychotherapist, social worker, drag artist, host of "The Moment" produced by A Queer Pride and is known as "The Drag Therapist" through her social media platform. In our conversation, we talk about the response to the anti-Asian violence, the barriers that transgender / trans folks of color often face in accessing affirmative mental health care in her work in therapy, and the cis-hetero & white structures that gatekeeps the social work and mental health profession. Alex shares her experiences in her journey as a trans woman and her relationship with her mom and family's community, along with her relationship in the Chicago drag community. Be sure to follow Alex on IG @alexjenny_.

Bio:

Alex Jenny was born in Grand Rapids, MI to Chinese Vietnamese parents, both refugees who escaped from Vietnam After establishing her professional career as a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker in LGBTQ, affirmative practice and trauma recovery, Alex also became a local Chicago drag performer and that’s how Alex Jenny was reborn. She was nominated for 2020 Best Drag Queen of the Year by Chicago Reader. She then integrated her therapy work with her drag and became known as The Drag Therapist. She hosts a talk show called The Moment, produced by A Queer Pride, that highlights trans artists and celebrates queer and trans joy, healing, and authenticity. She also teaches a class at the University of Chicago on Intergroup Dialogue, anti-oppression education, and group facilitation.

She has been featured by them., Refinery29, Greatist, PinkNews, GoPride, Made of Millions, Windy City Times, and Ask Dr. Nandi. She has worked with the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, Rutgers University, Grand Valley State University, Tennessee Tech University, University of Tennessee, Macalester University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Amazon, The Hideout, The Voice Lab, Plume, Dame, Unbound Babes, Chicago Black Drag Council, The Gala Pride and Diversity Center, and Instagram.

Jun 06, 202152:14

Don't Just Stand There! w/ Kevin Stea

(S5, EP 1) As we wrap up #AAPIMonth and begin #PrideMonth Longtime dancer, artist and model Kevin Stea kicks things off as my 1st guest for this Season 5's "Our Becoming: An Asian LGBTQ experience" on The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast. This interview was recorded in mid March right after the Atlanta shooting. Kevin is of biracial, mixed Chinese American descent who danced for Madonna's worldwide hit tour, "The Blond Ambition" in 1990. He would go on to perform as an actor, model, and choreographed for many other icons, and still dancing today. We talked about the disconnect he felt in not being able to connect to his Chinese heritage, and his father, also of Chinese descent, who was largely absent during his childhood. We discussed about what it meant being queer during the volatile AIDS / HIV crisis during the 80s and early 90s which wreaked havoc on the LGBTQ commmunity. I got Kevin to talk about his experience working with some of the biggest icons as a dancer / choreographer, and being in a white-led entertainment industry that was not very welcoming to Asian Americans. Check out Kevin on his IG @kevinstea or his FB at Kevin Stea

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Bio: After only 18 months of training, Kevin was hired as associate choreographer to legendary choreographer Vincent Paterson for Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour. He quickly became dance captain and dancer for the World Tour, for which both the movie “Madonna: Truth or Dare” and the video for “Vogue” were made, and performed in Madonna’s iconic performance on the 1990 MTV Music Video Awards. Soon after, he was working with Gloria Estefan, Prince, and Michael Jackson, among others, as associate choreographer/dancer, and won the Grand Prize on the television show “Star Search.” He modeled for major designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Tommy Hilfiger, Romeo Gigli and Exté, and worked with celebrity photographers David Lachapelle, Matthew Rolston, Peggy Sirota, Herb Ritts and Santo D’Orazio, at a time when Asians were not accepted in the industry. He has choreographed for other artists such as Britney Spears, Cher, David Bowie, Rihanna, Beyonce, Ricky Martin, among others. Kevin performed in movies such as Sister Act 2, as Daryl in Showgirls, as Swifty the Rake in Newsies and as Goldman Girl Yum Mee in The Birdcage, for which he won a SAG award. In 2016, he reunited with his fellow dancers from Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour for the critically-acclaimed documentary, "Strike A Pose."

May 30, 202101:25:10

Season 5 Trailer: "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience Edition"

Welcome back for a new 5th season coming your way! In this preview, I talk about what this 5th season will dive into, as well as honoring the LGBTQ identities and experiences in our AAPI communities. I interview a number of amazing guests from our LGBTQ Asian community folks who will take us on their journey. Each episode of this season will be released weekly to kick off Pride Month and throughout this summer. Be sure to stay tuned and check out each of these episodes. Instagram: @BanhMi_Chronicles // Facebook page: www.facebook.com/banhmichronicles // Twitter: @Mi_Chronicles

May 23, 202107:17

Revisiting "Sigh, Gone" w/ Phuc Tran

Trigger Warning: Discussions of child abuse

Bio:

Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit them at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook.

Mar 21, 202101:14:35

Life and Transition of Community Organizing w/ Steve Moon

(S4, EP 11) Longtime Korean-American community organizer & activist Steve Moon joined me for this week's episode. For years, Steve has been cultivating Asian / Black and Brown community solidarity on issues with immigration, police brutality, gentrification, among others in Chicago. He speaks about his experiences in community organizing and youth development, and how he has since transitioned since being a father. He also spoke about his experience mentoring the late Asian-American hip hop artist John Vietnam Nguyen who died in a drowning accident in 2012 at the age of 19, and what his legacy has meant to the Vietnamese / Asian American community in Chicago since then. Check out more on this episode!

Bio:

For the past twenty years, Steve Hosik Moon has been committed to youth development, community organizing, advocacy, and cultural work, mostly in Chicago with immigrant and refugee communities. He has recently entered philanthropy and is currently the Director of Elgin Programs at the Grand Victoria Foundation. Steve is also a Board Member of Kuumba Lynx.

Mar 14, 202101:29:24

Setting the Stage for Equity & Inclusion w/ Emjoy Gavino

(S4, EP 10) Filipino-American casting director / actor / theatre veteran Emjoy Gavino joined me as a guest for this week's episode. Emjoy is also the founder of The Chicago Inclusion Project, a start-up organization seeking to facilitate inclusive experiences and hiring practices throughout Chicago theatre. We spoke on racial, gender, and other forms of discrimination in the theatre scene, and how this affects many Asian American actors. We talk about why #representationmatters doesn't go far enough, and how BIPOC communities can continue to dismantle white supremacy and patriarchal toxicity in the theatre spaces. For more on The Chicago Inclusion Project, visit them at www.thechicagoinclusionproject.org.

Bio:

Emjoy Gavino has been a casting director for American Theatre Company, the Hypocrites, Theatre on the Lake, Victory Gardens Theatre and The Gift Theatre where she is also an associate artistic director. Chicago Acting Credits include Animal Farm, You Got Older, The Drunken City (Steppenwolf Theatre) Do You Feel Anger (A Red Orchid); Kentucky (The Gift); Vietgone (Writers); Bull in a China Shop (AboutFace); You on the Moors Now (The Hypocrites); Realish Housewives (Second City); Failure: A Love Story (Victory Gardens); Electra (Court); Working (Broadway Playhouse); Act(s) of God (Lookingglass); …Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol (The Neo-Futurists). Regional acting Credits: Repertory Actors Theatre, ACT, Village Theatre, Studio Theatre. Television: The Exorcist, Mob Doctor, Chicago Fire/Med. Emjoy is a 3Arts Make a Wave grantee, a 2020 3Arts awardee, and the founder of The Chicago Inclusion Project

Mar 07, 202101:36:45

Sometimes It Snows... w/ Amy M. Le

(S4, EP 9) Viet-American self-published author Amy M. Le joined me for this week's episode. She is the author of three recently published novels partly based on her mom's escape from Vietnam and Amy's upbringing in America, "Snow In Vietnam", "Snow in Seattle", and "Snow's Kitchen: A Novella and Cookbook". We talk about the process of writing her novels and her decision to self-publish. She spoke about the impact of her mother who had passed away, the mending between her and her estranged father, and how her writing has aided in her healing. Her books are available on Amazon, online independent bookstores and Barnes and Noble. Check out this episode to hear more from Amy and follow her on IG @amy_m_le or on FB at www.facebook.com/authoramymle .

Bio:

Amy M. Le was born in Vietnam in July 1974, nine months before the fall of Saigon. In 1979, Amy's mother escaped Vietnam. She took Amy, who was five years old, and Amy's cousin, Tri, with her. They ended up at the Galang Refugee Camp in Indonesia before getting sponsored to Seattle, Washington in 1980. After college, Amy worked for big tech companies like Microsoft and T-Mobile but in 2017, Amy's life changed when her mother passed away from lung cancer. Amy took three years off from work to write her mother's story as a way to cope with the loss and to honor her mother's memory. Amy is the award-winning author of "Snow in Vietnam" and "Snow in Seattle," which are historical women's fiction novels that give readers an inside view into the trauma of the boat people of Vietnam and the refugee experience of adapting to a new way of life. Amy's final book in the "Snow" trilogy is "Snow's Kitchen: A Novella and Cookbook," published recently on December 31. written from Amy's voice as a teenager struggling to dovetail two cultures together, it is a coming-of-age story with a collection of family recipes from her mother's kitchen. Today, Amy lives in the Oklahoma City area with her family and pets. Amy is a volunteer at "The Care Center," a child advocacy center in Oklahoma County working with children from abusive environments. She also serves the Oklahoma City Writers Inc. as their President. With three years of writing and three books under her belt, Amy has permanently transitioned from corporate America to novelist.

Feb 28, 202101:28:39

Uncovering to Recovering w/ Rebecca and Phillip Ozaki

(S4, EP 8) Rebecca and Phillip Ozaki joined me for this week's episode. They are two of 4 children born and raised in Chicago, and of Japanese and Filipino descent. Both Rebecca and Phillip talked about their grandfather's trauma from living in the Japanese-American prison camps during WWII. Both their grandfather and father became long-time activists in the Chicago Japanese community for years fighting for reparation and redressing for Japanese survivors who experienced the racism and displacement of their homes during the imprisonment era. Rebecca and Phillip take us on their journey in uncovering their family's past, their father's recent passing, and how all of this has motivated them to fight against inequities and injustices that BIPOC communities continue to face in the US through their own work. You wont want to miss this episode!

Bio:

Rebecca Ozaki was raised in a family of artists and activists and in intergenerational community spaces that have shaped her vision of the world. Her grandparent's story of survival in Japanese American concentration camps during WWII has led her to work and volunteer in local and national Asian American organizations and ultimately, to become a social worker in order to understand what healing and liberation looks like for communities that have experienced generations of trauma. Rebecca is a Healthcare Community Organizer at Jane Addams Senior Caucus working with elders to fight for racial/housing/healthcare justice. Specifically, Rebecca leads the Care Collective campaigns for nursing home abolition and Universal Long-term care, runs mutual aid initiatives, and community healing circles.

Phillip Ozaki is an activist for the civil rights of LGBTQ and AAPI people and their intersections. After completing his sociology degree in his hometown, Chicago, he fundraised for the Japanese American Citizens League and Lambda Legal, the nation's oldest and largest Asian American and LGBTQ legal rights organizations, respectively. He is also a founding board member of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. Phillip has lived all over the USA and the world including Spain where he studied at the prestigious ESADE MBA.

Feb 21, 202101:17:50

Unapologetically Lao'd w/ Catzie Villayphonh

(S4, EP 7) Award winning Lao-American artist and poet Catzie Villayphonh joined me as a guest for this week's episode. Catzie spoke about her work with fellow Lao artists on amplifying the voices and history of the Lao American experience through her organization, Laos in the House. Catzie shared about the challenges that Laos in the House, and other nonprofits in refugee / immigrant communities have faced since the pandemic. To learn more about Laos In The House, visit www.laosinthehouse.com and to check out Catzie's work on her IG @catzuella .

Bio:

Catzie Vilayphonh is a multimedia artist with a background in writing, spoken word poetry, photography and filmmaking. She runs Laos in the House, a project that promotes storytelling in the Lao American refugee community, and is a founding member of the group Yellow Rage who were featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. Through her work, Catzie provides an awareness not often heard, drawing from personal narrative. She has worked on various artistic projects with partners such as Mural Arts Philadelphia, Asian Arts Initiative, Smithsonian APIA Center, The Moth, Philadelphia Assembled and Legacies of War.

Throughout her artistic career, Catzie has been a recipient of awards from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts as well as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She has been a 2012 Creative Capital finalist, a four-time Leeway Foundation honoree, and was named a 2016 Woman Non-Profit Leader by Philadelphia City Council. She is a co-founding chair of the national Lao American Writers Summit, and was recently appointed to the Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs.

Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the communist Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit their website at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook.

Feb 14, 202101:21:52

A Community to Heal With w/ Sovanna Devin Pouv

(S4, EP 6)

Trigger Warning for this episode will contain topics of PTSD trauma, suicide, and other related trauma. For this Season 4 theme, “Process”, I interviewed Khmer-American community leader Sovanna Devin Pouv back in November. Sovanna was born in the refugee camps after the Khmer Rouge, and lived his early childhood years in Chicago before moving to Lowell, Massachusetts where he has been living there with his family since then. Sovanna has been involved in nonprofit specifically with the Cambodian community in Lowell for years now, and is currently serving as the Executive Director with CMAA Lowell otherwise known as the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Lowell. We spent time talking about his upbringing including his early traumas of his family’s struggle during the refugee resettlement in both Chicago and in Lowell. Sovanna talked about being raised by a single mother and the traumas that she has experienced, and how this informed him to take better care of his mental health. We talk about what the Khmer-American community is like in Lowell which is the 2nd largest Khmer community after Long Beach, and his current leadership role with CMAA Lowell.

Bio:

Sovanna is currently the Executive Director of the CMAA (Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell). Born in the Sra Kao and then later relocated to Khao-I-Dang refugee camp in Thailand after the Khmer Rouge genocide, Sovanna and his family moved to Chicago in 1981 as refugees. After settling in Chicago for 7 years, his mother discovered that her sister, the only surviving member of her family from the genocide was living in Lowell, MA. They eventually moved and resettled in Lowell to reunite w/ other family members.

Sovanna served with United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) in 2001-13. With his passion and determination, Sovanna's goal is to give back to his community that raised him. Sovanna currently serves on the board of directors for many organizations including the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, the Lowell Development and Financial Corporation and more. He is also recognized by Eastern Bank as Advocate of the Year in 2017, Young Professional of the Year in 2019, and one of Lowell’s 100 most influential people in 2019 by the International Institute of New England.

Today, Sovanna lives in Lowell with his wife Lianna Kushi and their 3 daughters. Through his Khmer-American experience, he hopes to bring people together from all backgrounds to learn about the rich Cambodian culture while running an organization whose vision is to provide opportunities for individuals to become economically self-sufficient and to be active and engaged leaders in their communities.

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Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the communist Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit their website at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook.

Feb 07, 202101:33:43

Chicago's White Supremacy w/ Odette Yousef

(S4, EP 5) Chicago WBEZ reporter Odette Yousef joined me as a guest for this episode. Odette recently hosted Season 3 of Motive Podcast (available on all streaming services) which takes a look at the history of the underground white supremacist movement in Chicago during the 1980s. Odette reflected on her experiences interviewing a former white supremacist, and what she learned about the movement and how this is parallel to the current white supremacy movements of the past decade. Odette talked about her experiences covering news on the Asian-American communities in Chicago as a reporter, and how critical journalism is to building trust with communities in a time when journalists are under attack during the Trump administration.

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Bio:

Odette Yousef is a WBEZ reporter on the Race, Class and Communities team. Since joining the station in 2010, Odette has covered a range of stories including the disparate impact of Illinois’s tax collection policies on low-income communities, what the loss of manufacturing jobs has done to West Side communities, homelessness, local and state efforts around immigration policy, and DREAMers. She has also worked on Season 3 of WBEZ’s Motive podcast series. Odette has won local, state and national journalism awards. Her coverage includes enterprise and data reporting, and she can also sometimes be heard filling in as local anchor for Morning Edition, All Things Considered and weekend shows. Prior to joining WBEZ, Odette was a reporter at WABE FM in Atlanta. Odette received a B.A. in Economics and East Asian Studies from Harvard University. For more information, please visit www.wbez.org

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Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the communist Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit their website at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook.

Jan 31, 202152:55

Fighting Anti-Asian and Water Injustice w/ Josina Morita

(S4, EP 4) Josina Morita is my special guest for this week's episode. Josina is currently serving her elected role as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Chicago and all of Cook County which in 2016, she became the first Asian-American to do so countywide. She is also the founding chair of Asian American Leaders Caucus (AALC) in Illinois. She discussed the water injustice and inequity issues that have harmed Chicago's marginalized communities and how places like Flint to Standing Rock are examples of the growing concerns of water safety in these communities nationwide. She shared tips on how we can use best daily practices to combat environmental violence. Josina reflected on the recent progress that Asian Americans in Illinois are making in politics, and what needs to be done to dismantle current barriers for Asians in politics and civic engagement. For more on her work, please visit her FB page at www.facebook.com/josinamorita or at www.friendsofjosina.com

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Josina Wing Morita is a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Elected in 2016, she is the first Asian American elected to a countywide board in Cook County—the second largest county in the country which also covers all of Chicago. As an urban planner and policy advocate, Josina brings expertise in equity policy, land use, stormwater and regional planning. She is the founding chair of the Asian American Leaders Caucus. She sits on the National Blue Ribbon Commission for On-Site Non-Potable Water Systems and the bi-national Great Lakes Commission. Josina’s human rights, racial justice and water justice work has been recognized locally and nationally. In 2007, she was named one of the top 35 leaders under 35 fighting racism and poverty in Chicago by the Community Renewal Society. In 2013, she received the Emerging Leader Award from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and the Breaking Barriers Award from the Chicago Foundation for Women. In 2016 she was named one of 50 Young Asian American Stars in Politics by Asian Fortune Magazine. In 2017 she received the Spirit of the River Award and in 2019 she was named #22 of the 40 People Who Made a Difference in the Last 40 Years by Friends of the Chicago River. And in 2018 she was recognized as a National Water Hero by WaterNow. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and International Race Relations from Pitzer College and a Masters in Urban Planning and Public Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Season 4 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR aims to bring awareness to the tragedies, atrocities and cultural destruction that the Cambodian people endured from 1975 to 1979 under the communist Khmer Rouge regime and how that period impacts us today. With that awareness, Red Scarf Revolution advocates the silenced art, music, culture, and language, with designs that incite the resiliency of the Cambodian people. Visit their website at www.redscarfrevolution.com to check out their merch line and to learn more about their work, or follow their Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on their Facebook.

Jan 24, 202156:14

Across the Front Lines w/ Kalaya'an Mendoza

(S4, EP 3) Kalaya'an Mendoza (He / Him / SIya) shares his community organizing experience over the years, and more recently, during the 2020 racial civil unreast. Kalaya'an discusses his work in helping to promote nonviolent civil resistance, and also through his co-founding work Across Frontlines, an organization that works alongside frontline human rights defenders to protest against state-sanctioned violence. We talk about the Asians for Black Lives solidarity work, the mental, spiritual, and physical challenges of movement work, and what the challenges from the President Biden administration would look like for this current movement. For more on Kalay'aan's work, follow him on Instagram at @Kalamendoza and @acrossfrontlines

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Bio:

Kalaya'an Mendoza [He/Him/Siya] resides on occupied Lenape territory (New York City). He is a Queer, Hard of Hearing Filipino American organizer and human rights activist who has been engaged in nonviolent civil resistance for the past two decades with frontline communities from Turtle Island to Myanmar to Aotearoa. His work in the last year has focused on voter protection, community defense and tactical safety and security training for human rights defenders during the uprisings for Black lives of this summer and the 2020 elections. He is the co-founder of Across Frontlines, an organization that works alongside frontline human rights defenders to keep their communities safe from state and non state actor violence.

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Jan 17, 202101:19:60

To Forgive Myself w/ Loung Ung

(S4, EP 2). Khmer-American author Loung Ung joined me for this episode. She is best known for her international best-seller First, They Killed My Father. She recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut book which chronicled her survival as a young child during the Khmer Rouge genocide from 1975-1979. This book would later be turned into a Netflix film in 2017 that Angelina Jolie would direct. In this interview, she shared her reflections writing this book, and how this has aided in her healing from her childhood trauma from the genocide, and her relationship with Cambodia in her visits since the book. She reminisced on her time working with Angelina and her son Maddox on the film, and their friendship together. You can follow Loung's work at https://www.loungung.com and her Twitter @UngLoung.

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Bio:

LOUNG UNG is a bestselling author, activist, and co-screenplay writer of First They Killed My Father, a critically acclaimed 2017 Netflix Original Movie directed by Angelina Jolie based on her memoir. Born in 1970 into a large, middle-class family in Phnom Penh, Loung was five years old when the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia. Four years later, in one of the bloodiest genocides of the 20th century, an estimated 2 million died under the regime. Among the victims were Loung’s parents, two sisters, and 20 other relatives. In 1980, Loung, her older brother Meng and his wife, Eang, relocated as refugees to America.

In her first memoir, the national best-seller First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, Loung tells the story of her survival in Cambodia's Killing Fields. Her second book, Lucky Child, details her life as a refugee in Vermont and her sister Chou’s as a displaced person in Cambodia. In her third book, Lulu in the Sky, Loung chronicles her 1995 return to Cambodia as an activist to ban landmines, and her reunion with the family she left behind. Since then, she has made over forty trips back to Cambodia.

Today, she has shared her messages of resilience, healing, civic service, activism, and leadership across the world. She has spoken at schools, universities, and organizations. Loung is a contributing writer for the groundbreaking film Girl Rising, which profiles nine girls from nine countries, including Cambodia, who are struggling against odds to achieve an education. She has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, among others. When not writing or traveling, Loung can be found at Market Garden Brewery, one of three microbreweries she co-owns in Ohio City, Ohio.

Jan 10, 202101:02:59

Cool Woman w/ TRACE

Jan 03, 202158:00

Season 4 Trailer

I am excited to ring in the 2021 year with a new 4th season with a fresh lineup of incredible guests for this show. I decided to name this season’s theme, “Process” after reflecting on what has been a turbulent 2020 year marred with civil unrest, the global pandemic and the recent US election. in the aftermath of these events, I think of how the Asian American communities in particular are processing the challenges and losses from this past year, and how we as a community can learn from these experiences as we move onwards into 21. This theme also explores the events in our journey that changed the course of our own living history, and how we work to find space for our own lifelong healing and reconciliation from our past.

I’m also happy to announce that Red Scarf Revolution will be my new sponsor for Season 4. Red Scarf Revolution is founded and run by Silong Chhun who is a dear friend of mine and past guest on this podcast. Silong is a 1.5 generation Khmer-American artist and community advocate from Tacoma, Washington. The Red Scarf Revolution is a Khmer-owned merchandise line, and as part of the collective work that he is doing to bring attention to the history of Khmer Americans through the Khmer Rouge, the US refugee resettlement period, and the recent deportation issues affecting many Khmer-Americans. Be sure to check out his merchandise line and his work. You can follow Red Scarf Revolution on Instagram at red_scarf_revolution or on Facebook, or on his website at www.redscarfrevolution.com

Thank you to my season 4 guests for taking the time to be on this show, and for sharing your stories and your work. It is an absolute honor and privilege to be talking with you for this important theme.

I want to thank all my listeners who have been following me on my podcast journey for the past year, and I am looking forward to bringing you a new collection of stories from my guests. I hope you enjoy this season, and until then, please be safe, exercise vigilance, compassion, and love for one another. Thank you.

Dec 27, 202002:33

Season 3 "Where Do We Stand" Closing Remarks

Closing remarks to end Season 3, "Where Do We Stand?" theme. Be on the lookout for Season 4, "Process" coming in early 2021 !!

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This Season 3 episode is sponsored by Lawrence and Argyle, a Viet-American owned merchandise line centering on immigrant empowerment. Unfortunately, Lawrence and Argyle will discontinue at the end of this year so be sure to get their remaining merchandise before they are gone for good. I want to thank them for being my first sponsor, and for the wonderful work that they do to highlight our immigrant and refugee communities. Please visit them at www.lawrenceandargyle.com and get the last remaining merchandise before they are gone for good.

Oct 25, 202003:20

If I Am to Rule, Then May I Submit to Love w/ MILCK

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Special thanks to my sponsor, Lawrence and Argyle, a Viet-American owned merchandise line representing immigrant empowerment. Get yourself a pin, hoodie or t-shirt and show off your immigrant pride. Visit them at www.lawrenceandargyle.com or on Instagram @lawrenceandargyle or on their Facebook page

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Bio:

MILCK (Connie Lim) is a soul-cial change recording artist who gained international recognition when her song "Quiet" went viral and became coined as the unofficial anthem of The Women's March. "Quiet" is translated into multiple languages by all over the world and has been featured as part of NPR's American Anthem series. In 2017, Billboard called “Quiet” the No. 1 protest song of the year. “Quiet” is also the ending theme song to Broadway play Gloria, honoring Gloria Steinem. MILCK has performed this anthem as survivors of Larry Nassar walked the stage during the 2018 ESPYS.

MILCK has been honored to share her songs and thoughts on the same stages as Michelle Obama, Oprah, Cheryl Strayed, Glennon Doyle, Jason Mraz, Yoko Ono, and Ani DiFranco. MILCK partnered with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Malay (Frank Ocean, Alicia Keys) to create her EP entitled Into Gold, as shared by Reese Witherspoon and TIME magazine.

MILCK founded the #ICANTKEEPQUIET fund to support nonprofits that invest in underserved communities. Visit icantkeepquiet.org for more info

Oct 18, 202001:12:55

Destination: Queer Asian w/ Maya Reddy

(S3, EP 10) Maya Reddy, founder of Queer Asian Social Club (QASC), joins me for this episode as part of the Season 3 theme, "Where Do We Stand?" Maya. a queer South Asian professional golfer, founded QASC to promote intersectional LGBTQ+ Asian identities and experiences. It is a social media space, podcast, and merchandise line celebrating Asian queer / trans identities. She shares her experience creating QASC with her team, and more recently, using their platform to call attention to anti-Asian racism in the wake of Covid-19, and building solidarity to fight against colorism and anti-Black racism. She is currently in law school, and been focusing her attention on LGBTQ issues in athletics. Check this episode out for more!

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Bio:

Maya Reddy is a queer South Asian former professional golfer, LGBTQ+ athlete activist, Athlete Ally ambassador, founder of the Queer Asian Social Club, and a Toll Public Interest Scholar in the University of Pennsylvania Law School class of 2022. She was a three-time NCAA All-American and gained status on the Symetra Tour before having to take a step back from the sport due to its exclusive culture and the many harmful experiences she endured, as a result of that culture. Maya focused her pain in fighting for and becoming an advocate for LGBTQ-inclusive policies in sports and decided to pursue a law degree to strengthen her work in inclusive policy formation, advocacy, and litigation defending trans and queer athletes.

Oct 11, 202001:40:39

Organizing with the Fam w / Kristina Tendilla

(S3, EP 9) Kristina Tendilla joins me as my guest for this Season 3's theme "Where Do We Stand?" Kristina is a queer Filipinx-American community organizer in Chicago and current Executive Director of AFIRE (Alliance of Filipino Immigrant Rights and Empowerment). She discusses what prompted her to be involved in community organizing, and her role with AFIRE, particularly with elders and careworkers affected by Covid-19. She talks about the challenges in having difficult conversations with the Filipinx / API community on anti-Black racism and colorism, and the critical need to involve her community on key issues for this upcoming election. Check out this episode to learn more about Kristina's work! Recorded on July 9th.

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Bio: Kristina Tendilla (she/they) has been a life long Filipinx organizer and community worker. Most recently, Kristina was a national organizer with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum working with chapters across the country to fight for reproductive justice. Before that, they were a community organizer with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago for several years working on the city and state level. Kristina joined i2i to build solidarity with the queer and trans AAPI community. For 10 years, Kristina organized alongside families and people in the immigrant and refugee community to engage in the fight around worker rights, healthcare access, Illinois TRUST Act, rejecting anti-Muslim and xenophobic executive orders, & other immigrant/racial justice issues. Kristina was recognized as a National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum Everyday SHEroe and a Chicago Women and Femme to Celebrate. Through their work and other LGBTQIA+ AAPIs, i2i received the National Queer Asian American Pacific Islander Alliance Advocacy Award in 2016. Kristina is currently the Executive Director with AFIRE (Alliance of Filipino Immigrant Rights and Empowerment) since 2019.

Oct 04, 202001:18:35

Serving the Mission w/ Rep. Chris Chyung

(S3, EP 8) In continuation of the Season 3 theme, "Where Do We Stand?", Indiana State Representative Chris Chyung joined me as my guest for this episode. In 2018, he became the youngest (at 25 years old) & first Korean-American elected into office in Indiana's history by beating the district's long-time incumbent by only 82 votes in one of the state's traditionally GOP districts. This year, he is running for a very tight reelection race. Rep. Chyung talks about the challenges of running in 2018 as someone new to politics and as an Asian-American running in a district that is 90% white and GOP-leaning. He discusses what he's learned since taking office and working in a state where the GOP holds the majority control as a Democrat. We talk about the issues affecting his constituents in the wake of Covid-19, his own approach to navigating his district's politics and with the Democrat party, and his upcoming reelection campaign. Please check out for more on this episode.

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Bio:

Indiana State Representative Chris Chyung of Dyer represents Indiana House District 15. Chyung is the ranking minority member of the Local Government Committee. He is also a member of the following Indiana House committees: Financial Institutions, Roads and Transportation, and Veterans Affairs and Public Safety. Chyung was born in Merrillville and graduated from Munster High School. After working as a financial analyst for Pangea Real Estate in Chicago, Chyung started his own real estate company, Koh Holdings LLC, in Hammond. Chyung's volunteer work has included service with Habitat for Humanity Restore as well as the Welcome Network. You can check out his website at www.votechyung.com

Sep 27, 202058:45

It's Our Time Now w/ Suely Saro Ed.D

(S3, EP 7) Suely Saro Ed.D. joins me as a guest for the Season 3 edition of "Where Do We Stand?" Suely is currently running for Long Beach City Council. Earlier this year, she beat her opponent who has been a long-time incumbent. If elected, she'll be the first Khmer-American elected into Long Beach City Council, home to the largest Khmer-American population in the US. In our conversation, she shares her experience in what led her to run for office for the first time, and what it's like to campaign during the pandemic. She goes into issues that have affected her district in the wake of Covid-19 and the civil unrest since George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's murders. Suely talks about what she hopes to do for the city of Long Beach, CA and her hopes of encouraging fellow Khmer-Americans to be civically engaged in their community. Please check out this episode for more on my interiew w / Suely.

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Bio:

Suely Saro is running for Long Beach City Council District 6 in the 2020 election. As a field representative for the Office of former State Senator Ricardo Lara, Suely had the opportunity to work closely with residents in District 6 and throughout Long Beach.

Suely was the first in her family to graduate from college, holds a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne, is an adjunct faculty member at the School of Social Work at California State University-LA, and serves as a Consultant to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC).

Suely understands the immigrant experience first hand. Born in a Thai refugee camp to parents who survived the Cambodian Genocide, Suely and her family settled in LA before they moved to Long Beach. Throughout her life, Suely has been dedicated to fighting for equity for working families, youth, immigrants, and women. She began her career as a labor organizer working alongside janitors at SEIU Local 6 and healthcare workers at SEIU 1199NW in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions. She went on to become the first Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action. She then joined the Health Access Project at Asian Americans Advancing Justice to provide education, build coalitions, and conduct advocacy on the Affordable Care Act. You can visit her at www.suelysaro.com

Sep 20, 202056:52

Organizing Through Teaching w/ Jianan Shi

(S3, EP 6) Jianan Shi joined in as a guest for this week's episode which was recorded on July 24th. Jianan is the Executive Director with Illinois Raise Your Hand, a parent advocacy organization that organizes parents around systemic issues in education. Prior to that, he was a science teacher at Solorio Academy High School in Chicago, and has been involved in community activism which includes volunteering with Asian American Advancing Justice (AAAJC-Chicago), and actively working with Black and Brown communities on youth empowerment, education access, anti-police brutality among others. Jianan speaks about his leadership role with IL Raise Your Hand and their response during Covid-19, and the challenges that public schools, in both Chicago and across IL, have faced since the pandemic. We also spoke about his upbringing and how this would influence him to be involved in education and community organizing. Hope you enjoy my conversation with Jianan, and that you can find ways to get involved!

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Bio:

Jianan Shi is the Executive Director of Raise Your Hand, a parent advocacy organization that organizes parents around systemic issues in education. Before joining Raise Your Hand a year ago, Jianan was a science educator at a Solorio Academy, a neighborhood CPS HS and has taught for 6 years. Jianan has been in Chicago for almost 4 years now - prior to Chicago, he has spent most of his life in the Boston area. When he is not working, he is spending too much money on his dog Roxie and eating his way through Chicago. For more on IL Raise Your Hand, please visit: https://www.ilraiseyourhand.org/ or go to their Instagram at @ilraiseyourhand or on their FB https://www.facebook.com/ilraiseyourhand/

Sep 13, 202001:10:59

Documenting My Dream w/ Dr. Tereza Lee

(S3, EP 5) In this week's episode, I spoke with my old friend Tereza Lee back in July. Tereza is a mother of 3, professional pianist, and a long-time immigration rights activist. Tereza was one of the pioneers of the DREAM movement in the early 2000's when her then-undocumented status inspired US-IL Senator Dick Durbin to sponsor the first DREAM Act proposal in 2001. In this interview, Tereza shared her experiences growing up undocumented, and how her music teacher inspired her to share her story to Senator Durbin. She reminisces back on the struggles of the undocumented movement, but also hopes for this current generation of DACA / undocumented activists. She recently received her doctorate, and talked about her research of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák and his mentorship of Harry Burleigh, one of the earliest African American composers as well as his work with Black and Indigenous music students. We talked about her experiences living in NYC during this Covid-19 era. Hope you get to listen in, and hear her powerful journey!

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Bio

Tereza Lee is a pianist “whose touch is exceptionally clear” (—Chicago Sun-Times), who is also a prominent advocate for immigrant rights. She began her performing career at the age of 11, as the pianist at her family’s church. At 16, she became the first student from an inner-city school to win first prize in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition, and performed with the C.S.O. She has gone on to perform as a soloist at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Barge Music, Lincoln Center and the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. She has premiered works by Aaron Jay Kernis, Augusta Read Thomas, Ned Rorem, Josephine Lee, and Kenneth Frazelle. Tereza’s role in helping to inspire Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois to introduce the DREAM Act has been documented in The New York Times, PBS, NPR, USA Today, The Economist, NY1, and WNYC. She has been engaged in activism especially on immigration issues, supporting the New York State Liberty Act, the New York State DREAM Act, Greenlight NY and Driver’s License For All Campaigns. Tereza recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

Sep 06, 202001:24:59

Re-Imagining Equity in the Workplace w/ Michelle Kim

(S3, EP 4) Michelle Kim joined in for this week's episode as part of Season 3's theme, "Where Do We Stand?". Michelle is a queer social justice activist, and is currently the CEO of Awaken, which provides interactive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) workshops for a number of leading tech companies across the US. She talked about the barriers that BIPOC employees are still facing with their employers, and what companies are failing to do in addressing the systemic racism and micro-aggressions in their work culture. She spent time breaking down where DEI initiatives fall short, and how companies must use best practices to dismantle white supremacy in their environment. Please check out this episode for more on my discussion with Michelle. Recorded: July 10th

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Bio:

Michelle Kim is an entrepreneur and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) thought leader who believes in creating compassionate space for uncomfortable conversations that go beyond just “checking the box.” She is the CEO of Awaken, a leading provider of interactive DEI workshops, where she has consulted hundreds of organizations and top executives from Fortune 500 to tech giants to spark meaningful change. Michelle has been a lifelong social justice activist and has served on a variety of organizations such as the San Francisco LGBTQ Speakers Bureau, SF Human Rights Commission's Advisory Committee, and LYRIC nonprofit’s Board of Directors. Her work has appeared on world renowned platforms such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, The New York Times, and NPR, and she has been named Medium’s Top Writer in Diversity 3 years in a row. Visit Awaken at www.visionawaken.com.

Follow Michelle on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Aug 30, 202053:23

Uncovering Minor Feelings w/ Cathy Park Hong

(S3, EP 3) Cathy Park Hong joined me for this week's episode of the podcast. Cathy is a Korean-American poet, writer, and professor at Rutgers-Newark University. Cathy recently released her critically acclaimed essay book, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning this past Spring. In discussing her latest book, Cathy shared her process in writing Minor Feelings, and on the complicated layers of the Asian-American identity in her essays. Her book segued into the current anti-Asian racism during Covid-19 which she also wrote an op-ed for the NY-Times called "The Slur I Never Expected To Hear in 2020". She talked about the challenging issues confronting anti-Black racism in the API community in the wake of George Floyd's murder, and reflected on the differences between her experience with the LA Riot and the current protest movements. There is so much more in our discussion that you won't want to miss!

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Bio:

Cathy Park Hong is a Korean-American poet, journalist the author of Translating Mo'um, (Hanging Loose Press, 2002); Dance Dance Revolution (W.W. Norton, 2007), winner of the Barnard New Women Poets Prize; and Engine Empire (W.W. Norton, 2012). In Spring 2020, Cathy recently released her critically acclaimed essay book, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. She is the recipient of fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, the NEA, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Her writing on politics and her reviews have appeared in the Village Voice, the Guardian, Salon, Christian Science Monitor, and New York Times Magazine. She is a professor at Rutgers-Newark University and Poetry Editor for The New Republic.

Aug 23, 202001:03:00

The Work to Liberate w/ Anoop Prasad

(S3, EP 2) Anoop Prasad, Immigration Attorney w/ Asian Law Caucus, joins in for this episode continuing on the Season 3 theme "Where Do We Stand?" as he talks about the current situation that has affected Southeast Asian and other API immigrants who are currently detained by ICE and facing deportation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Anoop shares about the history of the deportation of visa and green-card holding Southeast Asian immigrants, and how it has continued to accelerate under the Trump administration. Anoop offers important advice to those seeking to become better allies in the fight against ICE and advocate for the release of those facing deportation.

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Special thanks to my sponsor Lawrence & Argyle. a Viet-American owned merchandise line representing immigrant empowerment. Get yourself a pin, hoodie or t-shirt, and show off your immigrant pride. Visit them at www.lawrenceandargyle.com, or on their Facebook or Instagram @LawrenceandArgyle.

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Bio:

Anoop Prasad is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco and also a part of Survived and Punished and Asian Prisoner Support Committee. Anoop works with Southeast Asian refugees in prison and immigration detention facing deportation due to criminal convictions. Their work has included organizing campaigns to stop deportations, policy campaigns to expand the use of clemency by Governors, and representing people facing deportation.

Aug 16, 202051:06

Surviving to Educate w/ Annie Tan

(S3, EP 1) Annie Tan, special education teacher, activist, writer and storyteller, kicks things off as my first guest of the 3rd season of the podcast. In this discussion, Annie talked about the challenges she has faced as a teacher in NYC during Covid-19, and the impact that it has on her students, school colleagues, and parents. She shared her reflection on learning about being related to Vincent Chin, who back in 1982, was murdered by a group of white men in Detroit in a hate-crime attack. She talked about the Asian-American movement that followed soon after his death. Annie shared her thoughts about the current national civil unrest in the awake of George Floyd's death, and what it means to talk about anti-Blackness in the API community and with her family. Check out this episode

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Bio:

Annie Tan is a special education teacher, activist, writer and storyteller based in Chinatown, New York City. Annie fights for her students, public education, teachers unions, tenants rights, Asian American issues and racial justice. Annie's work has been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post, New Republic, PBS' documentary series "Asian Americans," and two of her stories have been featured on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR. Annie is currently working on a book about her family and Asian American history. You can follow Annie's work at annietan.com and Twitter/Instagram at @annietangent.

Aug 05, 202001:30:49

Season 3 Theme "Where Do We Stand?"

I am excited to be back and share with you a new 3rd season of "The Banh Mi Chronicles" Podcast. For this 3rd season, the podcast will be exploring the theme, "Where Do We Stand?" as I sit down and talk with fellow APIA guests as they share their experiences living through the Covid-19 pandemic, their current work on anti-racism including issues on anti-Blackness and colorism in our communities, and reflections on this upcoming 2020 election. Listen to this preview to learn more about this season.

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To kick things off, I share my storytelling piece I wrote called "The Family Dinner Table" which was written right after the Charlottesville protest in 2017, as I shared about the struggles of dealing with my family's racism.

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Aug 02, 202014:31

Season 2 "1975" Finale

Welcome to the Season 2 Recap of The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast!

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Final closing remarks about this past season 2 reflecting on the year "1975"

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Following thanks to my following guests, Thanhha Lai, Van Huynh, Phanit Duong, Tung Nguyen, SIlong Chhun, Khemarey Khoeun, Tony Ho Tran, Punisa Pov, Kevin Yang, Saymoukda Vongsay, Simone Cottrell, Sambath Meas, Sina Sam, and Viet Thanh Nguyen for joining me on for this season and sharing your incredible journey and work with us.

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I would like to send my special thanks to my sponsor, Lawrence and Argyle for sponsoring this 2nd season. If you have the time, please ch