Episodes

Oct. 22, 2023

Closing Time w/Kenneth Nguyen

Well, this is the last episode of The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast. I am joined by my friend and podcast host of The Vietnamese, Kenneth Nguyen who interviewed me about the process of the podcast and what to look forward …

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Oct. 15, 2023

Archiving Our Stories w/Tola Livesey

My good friend and fellow Cambodian American Tola Livesey joins us for this episode as we talk about the effects of assimilation and her understanding and curiosity of her Cambodian identity and heritage. She also talks about...

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Oct. 8, 2023

Art as a Disrupter w/Anida Yoeu Ali

(S9, EP 8) Joined by my good friend and internationally acclaimed artist Anida Yoeu Ali, we talked about Anida's journey as a Muslim Khmer American, her years-long work as an artist, and the challenges she's experienced along...

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Oct. 3, 2023

A Man of Two Faces w/Viet Thanh Nguyen

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

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Sept. 24, 2023

What the Possibilities Can Bring w/Alec Phan

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

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Sept. 17, 2023

Music as a Journey - Dolly Ave

Dolly Ave joined us for this episode as she talks about her recently released debut album, the impact of her mom's passing, and her life and vision as an artist. Bio: Dolly Ave has received radio airplay on powerhouse 103.5 …

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Sept. 3, 2023

Queerness and Ma w/Putsata Reang

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

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Aug. 27, 2023

The Layers of DEI w/Rahimeh Ramezany

(S9, EP 3) Rahimeh Ramezany discusses the lack of Muslim and religious groups in DEI work, and her advocacy in raising that awareness through her work. We talk about the current state of DEI, and Rahimeh shares important prac...

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Aug. 20, 2023

Drag is Beautiful w/ Kahmora Hall

(S9, EP 2) Kahmora Hall chats about her upbringing as a queer Viet American, and the challenging conversations she had with her parents about getting into drag performance. She spoke about her experience being on RuPaul's Dra...

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Aug. 13, 2023

An Introspective Take w/ Linda Yu

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

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April 22, 2023

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 Dir...

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April 16, 2023

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, ...

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April 9, 2023

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

(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 t...

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April 2, 2023

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, Th...

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March 26, 2023

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...

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March 19, 2023

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 ...

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March 12, 2023

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, …

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March 5, 2023

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 immig...

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Feb. 26, 2023

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 f...

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Feb. 18, 2023

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...

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Feb. 11, 2023

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...

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Jan. 29, 2023

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 ...

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Jan. 22, 2023

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 no...

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Jan. 15, 2023

Season 8 Premiere

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

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