
Coffee with BAO
By Bao Vo Creative, Inc.

Coffee with BAONov 26, 2023

Season 2, Ep 1: Bao & Kei co-host the return of Coffee with BAO
Let's kick off Coffee with BAO Season 2 with a fun conversation with my 16 year old niece Kei! We get to know each other better at the park in the suburbs of Orange County, CA while our conversation centers around art, life, and learning. Submit questions for Bao or Kei and we'll be happy to answer them! Coffee with BAO is available as a podcast and a Youtube video series.

Coffee with BAO Season 2 is Coming Soon!
Coffee with BAO, Season 2 is in the works. I love this show but it was so much work to put together! So Season 2 will be much shorter episodes, much more informal, and way less structured. To check out the podcast, visit coffeewithbao.com or watch the video versions on my YouTube channel.

Ep 27: Tonie – Music Artist and Educator
This week I'm joined by music artist and educator Tonie, aka Tony Nguyen, to share their new song "Daydreaming," which we wrote together a few months ago. We'll also talk about Tonie's path to becoming their current self, a non-binary Vietnamese American music artist, producer, and educator. We touch on how our life decisions impact and are impacted by others, taking risks and freeing yourself from perfection, and what's been top of mind for us lately.
Find Tonie at itstonie.com or @tonie.wav on social media. Listen to Tonie's new single "Daydreaming" on your streaming platform of choice.
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and video podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 26: Katie Hargrove – Artist and Songwriter
I'm trying out a more informal and shorter format, please let me know if it's better, worse, or if you have other ideas! Also, podcasts now include video too, if your Podcast player supports it. This week Katie Hargrove joins me before our co-writing session to talk about the breadth of her work as a songwriter, her journey in the music industry, and how her normal life as a human influences her work. We talk about her path from playing music in Knoxville TN at age 13 to moving to Los Angeles a few years ago to pursue songwriting. We also touch on having a real life outside of music, being a gay woman in the music industry, and what's been on our minds lately.
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 25: Dr. Cate Le – Infectious diseases physician and author of "Coronavirus is Boo Boo"
Dr. Cate Le, an infectious disease specialist and author chats with BAO about her debut children's book "Coronavirus is Boo Boo," and a few other timely topics. We learn about her upbringing as a Vietnamese American refugee, her life and career straddling medicine and the arts, and her passion for social and racial equality in healthcare. Dr. Le is currently treating COVID-19 patients and promoting her book to help younger kids learn about the virus and the life changes it has brought about.
Find more on Dr. Cate Le at catelemd.com and order her book at coronavirusisbooboo.com.
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 24: Ashley Nguyen DeWitt – Animation casting and voice director
Animation casting and voice director, actor, and singer Ashley Nguyen DeWitt chats with BAO about her biracial Vietnamese and African American upbringing and career in the entertainment industry. Ashley's work includes a variety of animation projects, including the upcoming Netflix series "Ada Twist, Scientist" which was co-produced by Laughing Wild and Higher Ground, the production company of former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama . We also discuss the immense value of mentors and advocates, especially for underrepresented groups.
Find Ashley at ashleynguyendewitt.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at coffeewithbao.com

Ep 23: Kyle Dombroski – Drummer and music educator
Professional percussionist, audio engineer, and music educator Kyle Dombroski joins BAO to chat about his experience as a Korean American adoptee growing up in Central Illinois, his career in various facets of music, and his goals for his band Hello Noon. Kyle also plays drums with BAO's beautiful boy band and can be heard on BAO's track "Beautiful Things" from the album Perpetual Heartbreak.
Learn more about Kyle at kyledombroski.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 22: JohnnyD Nguyen – Founder of Viet Q Media
In this special #AAPIheritagemonth episode, Vietnamese American entrepreneur and entertainment industry veteran JohnnyD Nguyen chats with BAO about topics that are top-of-mind for the Vietnamese diaspora all around the world. We discuss his upbringing in between cultures, his unexpected entry into the entertainment industry via a supporting role in The Fast And The Furious franchise, and his career as a producer in various parts of the entertainment industry. JohnnyD's latest business Viet Q Media curates and promotes talent from the Vietnamese diaspora all around the world.
Learn more about Viet Q Media at http://vietqmedia.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 21: Denise Santos – Film and TV Composer
Film and television composer Denise Santos chats with BAO about her musical upbringing in Manilla, her unplanned decision to stay in the US, and her career as a touring musician and composer. We discuss her work on Ella Jay Basco's music video "Gold" featuring Ruby Ibarra and its topic of skin lighteners, beauty standards, and self-acceptance. We also explore the sluggish acceptance of women of color in the entertainment industry and how her experience as a woman channels in the music she has composed for productions such as "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein."
Learn more about Denise Santos at https://www.bleedingfingersmusic.com/denise-santos/reel/
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 20: Jeremy Nguyen – Illustrator and New Yorker Cartoonist
Illustrator and New Yorker cartoonist Jeremy Nguyen chats with BAO about his Vietnamese American upbringing and complicated relationship with being Asian. We take a look at some of his artwork and cartoons for The New Yorker and discuss his latest endeavors into sharing his knowledge with others. Jeremy is giving a free public lecture with Creatively on May 20, 2021.
Find Jeremy at http://jeremywinslife.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 19: Alan Z – Hip Hop and R&B Artist
Alan Z, a Chinese American Hip Hop, R&B artist from Atlanta joins Bao Vo for Coffee with BAO. We talk about his international upbringing, early infatuation with rap music, and his new album Face Value, a collaboration with Jason Chu dropping May 14, 2021. The album was partially sponsored by The Slants Foundation. We also get some advice from Alan Z about preserving personal spaces as an entertainer and harnessing the power of your own unique voice.
Find info on Alan Z and Jason Chu's album Face Value at http://alanzmusic.com or on social media @alanzmusic
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 18: Pierre T. Lambert – Photographer and Youtuber
Adventure photographer and Youtuber Pierre T. Lambert chats with BAO about his French American identity and making his escape from a career in engineering for the fossil fuels industry to starting his successful photography Youtube channel and online photography course "30 Days to Great Photos." Pierre also shares his thoughts on entrepreneurship, creative inspiration, and learning to be more present.
Find Pierre T. Lambert at http://pierretlambert.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 17: Johnny Cubert White – Artist, filmmaker, and photographer
Artist, filmmaker, and photographer Johnny Cubert White joins BAO for a conversation about his career as a television art director, his art, and his life from the Midwest to Downtown Los Angeles. Johnny shares his Greek, Indigenous, and Appalachian family history, his 30-plus year process of embracing his queer identity, and how all of that is encapsulated in his vibrant art and personality. Johnny White's ongoing decade-long photography series #myBROKENcamera is a powerful reflection of all of that.
Find Johnny Cubert White and his photography at http://lensculture.com/johnny-white
And thanks to The Soul Thief Vision for the great headshot.
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 16: Bennie Mitchell III – Artist, filmmaker, and director of "It Is Well"
Artist, musician, and filmmaker Bennie Mitchell III has an intimate conversation with BAO about his complicated African American history in Savannah, Georgia, his professional and creative journey in music and filmmaking, and the creation of his debut feature-length documentary "It Is Well." The film documents the life and legacy of Bennie's father Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell Jr., a respected educator, preacher, and activist. He also shares his thoughts on the ongoing process of defining one's personal identity, engaging his community, and nurturing his own mental health.
Find Bennie and the BRM Jr Institute at https://brmjrinstitute.org and watch his film "It Is Well" on Amazon Prime Video at https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08JZ7M62X
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and music producer Bao Vo. The show explores the cultural identity, creative process, and personal growth of diverse guests from the creative and business world. Coffee with BAO is available as a Youtube video series and audio podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 15: Sahra Nguyen – Founder of Nguyen Coffee Supply
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at coffeewithbao.com

Ep 14: Goh Nakamura – Singer-songwriter, film composer, and actor
Singer-songwriter, film composer, and actor Goh Nakamura talks with BAO about his Japanese American family history, the unexpected twists and turns of his career as a musician and film composer, and how he's coping with loss during the pandemic. Find Goh at http://gohnakamura.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 13: Tessa Young – DJ and founder of Prism DJs
Tessa Young AKA DJ Tessa, the founder of Prism DJs, chats with BAO about her mixed-race background, the twists and turns of her career, and the struggles and failures that have helped her level up. She explains how her all-female DJ agency, Prism DJs, has teamed up with Sansar to pivot to VR and streaming DJ events during the pandemic. Find Tessa at http://prismdjs.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 12: Jason Chu – Rapper, poet, and activist
Rapper, poet, and activist Jason Chu joins BAO for the inaugural "beer with BAO" as they discuss his Chinese family's history in Southeast Asia, his journey building a decade-long career in hip hop, and his latest album "living.room," released with support from The Slants Foundation. Find Jason Chu at http://jasonchumusic.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 11: Amarantha Da Cruz – Founder of OyeDrum Magazine
Writer, editor-in-chief, and founder of "OyeDrum Magazine" Amarantha Da Cruz chats with BAO about her cross-cultural upbringing in Brazil and the United States, the channeling of her passion for language and music into various careers, her continued growth as a person and a leader, and her women-centered online publication OyeDrum Magazine. OyeDrum's latest release is Volume 3: The Sex Issue and it features creative works in a variety of mediums around the topic of sex. Learn more about Amarantha and OyeDrum at: OyeDrum.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Why I started Coffee with BAO
Happy holidays! I'm grateful to have had such thoughtful conversations with all of my guests on Coffee with BAO in the last couple of months. And also for the the chance to share their stories and to get constructive feedback from many of you. Thank you so much.
There's no new episode of Coffee with BAO this week. But I wanted to tell you about why I started the show and where I'd like to see it go.
A lot of interview shows are what I consider "Success Porn," glorifying people who've done great things by detailing how hard they worked or how innovative their solutions were. That's cool, but that's not what I wanted to do with Coffee with BAO. On my show, I want to emphasize that it's OK to be a work in progress. I want to highlight stories of people who made a few wrong turns and reiterate that wherever someone is in their path, it's an ongoing process and that we call can keep learning from each other.
I wanna link to three podcasts that influenced the approach I took on Coffee with BAO.
"How I Built This" with Guy Raz for giving Insight into the struggles, failures, and pivots of people who have accomplished notable things. https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this
"Open Belly" with Danielle Lehman for Seeking out stories of immigrants, industry outsiders, and oftentimes, showing how people reinvent themselves to pursue their culinary dreams. Open Belly is exceptionally well-produced by my good friend Danielle Lehman and her team. https://www.openbellypodcast.com
"And the Writer Is..." with Ross Golan. I love the format of the casual conversation because such interesting stories are told that way. Ross draws a connection between a songwriter's life story and their work and their process. Overall, a great variety of music industry stories. https://www.andthewriteris.com
What's next for Coffee with BAO?
I'm looking forward to making Coffee with BAO even better in 2021 with better production value and more awesome guests. One thing I've been struggling with is getting more people to discover my show. So I'm asking you to help share your favorite episode with two people who you think would appreciate the show. I'm also using your comments and testimonials to apply for grants for the show. And when I get enough of a budget, I'll run some ads to grow my audience, so if you're feeling generous, please head over to coffeewithBAO.com to hit the blue "support" button and pitch in whatever you think this content is worth. It's a weird time, so no pressure.
Coffee with BAO will be back in January with a few improvements and a slew of fascinating guests!

Ep 10: Jamie Hosmer – Musician and singer-songwriter
Singer/songwriter Jamie Hosmer joins BAO for a casual conversation about his three-decade career as a touring musician, charting his own path from gigging as a teenager in Massachusetts to playing with some of the world's biggest stars in Las Vegas and around the world. Jamie's debut solo album "Comfortable Shoes" has strong influences from the pop and rock songs of the 70s and 80s. Find Jamie and get a copy of his new album at http://jamiehosmer.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 9: Kristina Wong – Performance artist, comedian, and actor
Performance artist, comedian, and actor Kristina Wong speaks with BAO about her upbringing as a third-generation Chinese American, her path to creating a whole new medium for her performance art, and how her art is intertwined with real-life events. She recently concluded a month-long run of her show "Kristina Wong for Public Office" presented by the Center Theater Group and is now embarking on a new show called "Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord." Learn more about Kristina at kristinawong.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 8: Dale Edward Chung – GRAMMY-winning musician and actor
Actor, musician, and GRAMMY Award-winning producer Dale Edward Chung chats with BAO about his Chinese American family's long history in Northern California, his quest to make music his living, his GRAMMY-winning work as a musician and producer with The Lucky Band, and his recent ventures into film production. Find Dale at http://DEdwardmusic.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep 7: Trung Le Nguyen – Illustrator and author of "The Magic Fish"
Comic book artist, illustrator, and debut graphic novelist Trung Le Nguyen talks with BAO about his family's experience as refugees from Vietnam, his hustle as a freelance illustrator, accidentally coming out as gay to his family, and his new YA graphic novel "The Magic Fish," published by Random House Graphic. Find Trung at http://trungles.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Introducing "BAO Breaks Down"
There’s no new episode of Coffee with BAO this week, but I wanted to take this time to introduce you to my new Youtube series called "BAO Breaks Down." This is where I take a song and show you how it evolved by playing old demo versions. I'll open up my Logic files to show you the songwriting and music production side of things.
You don't have to be a music maker to appreciate these. Music is conceptual art. But if you are a songwriter or music producer, you'll see behind the scenes of producing an album from the perspective of a visual artist... who makes music! I'm starting with Perpetual Heartbreak, but if you like these videos, I'll do more including songs by Ming & Ping and other artists that I've worked with. The first episode comes out tomorrow.
And if you can financially support me keep making this content, I'd really appreciate that. All this stuff costs time and money. There's a big blue "Support" button at coffeewithbao.com I'll see you next week for Coffee With BAO. Thanks a lot.

Ep 6: Sean Li – Serial entrepreneur and podcaster
Entrepreneur and podcaster Sean Li chats with BAO about his Asian American immigrant story, how the Haas School of Business has informed his recent business ventures like Alumni.FM and Voyce.FM, and practices he has found to help him be productive while staying human. Find Sean at http://seanli.me
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 5: Simon Tam – Musician, activist, and author
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 4: Jesse McInturff – Television composer and music educator
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a podcast. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 3: Jim Gladstone – Author and cultural journalist
Author and cultural journalist Jim Gladstone talks with BAO about his varied career documenting pop culture and his experience as a gay creative throughout the decades. Jim also shares his recent experience at an artist's residency at the Fish Factory in Iceland, where he focused on writing a new novel. Find Jim Gladstone at https://jimgladstone.com
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Your financial support is super appreciated. You can donate to help create this content at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 2: Elissa R. Sloan – Author of "The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes"
Japanese American author Elissa R. Sloan talks with BAO about her mixed-race upbringing in Houston, TX, her career and process as a professional wedding photographer, and goes into detail about the mental health challenges faced while writing her debut novel "The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes" published by William Morrow.
Find Elissa R. Sloan at http://elissarsloan.com or find her Instagram at http://instagram.com/elissareads/
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a Youtube video series. Support the show at http://coffeewithbao.com

Ep. 1: Hieu Gray – Director, producer, and storyteller
Vietnamese American director, producer, and actor Hieu Gray joins BAO for some Vietnamese coffee and food and a conversation about her immigrant story, her creative process as a visual storyteller, and the challenges and goals she has as a woman in entertainment. Hieu's food documentary "Quan 13" is screening at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival until October 31, 2020. It features a soundtrack by BAO. Get passes at https://festival.vcmedia.org
Find Hieu Gray at http://hieugray.com or find her Instagram at http://instagram.com/lapetitebelle_eats
Coffee with BAO is a series of casual conversations with Vietnamese American songwriter and producer Bao Vo exploring creative process, cultural identity, and personal growth. Coffee with BAO is also available as a podcast. Support the show at http://coffeewithbao.com

Coming Soon: Coffee With BAO
Hey, It's BAO! I'm a Vietnamese American songwriter, producer, and coffee lover in Los Angeles. Coffee With BAO is an audio podcast and Youtube video series where I have a chat over coffee with guests in music, entertainment, the arts, business, and more. I'll highlight people with interesting cultural stories and their interesting work. Along with the creative process, we'll talk about stuff including personal growth and cultural identity and the end of the world. Find more info about me and my projects at heyitsbao.com