Podcast
The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen
Hosted by thevietnamesepodcast · EN
Being a part of the Vietnamese culture of over 100 million people comes with plenty of history, privilege, honor, and not to mention painful challenges. Join Kenneth Nguyen as he spotlights Vietnamese experience from around the world! Each podcast episode explores the creative process of individuals shaping the diversity of what it means to be Vietnamese--as a local, born and raised, or as a third culture kid. Gain insight on the divisions that separate us politically and culturally. This podcast can take multiple directions, but what it will aim to do is show Vietnamese from a transpacific lens, in all its facets and complexities. When you strip away the diaspora, we are #VietnameseFirst.
66episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
522 - Did Traditional Asian Parenting Accidentally Ruin Our Ability To Date As Adults? - Olapolala
5d ago00:54:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with returning guest Ola for a discussion on modern romance, dating app fatigue, and whether economic and cultural shifts have fundamentally changed what we seek in a partner.Together, Ken and Ola unpack why many 30-somethings in the diaspora feel stuck or disillusioned by modern dating. Ola breaks down her systematic, marketing-inspired approach to dating profiles—including A/B testing photos to filter for emotional intelligence over superficial metrics. They also examine how traditional Vietnamese parenting, which often strictly discourages adolescent dating in favor of academics, can inadvertently leave young adults without the communication skills needed to navigate adult relationships.Inside the Episode"Do Women Need Men Anymore?": How women’s financial independence and shifting social norms have transformed marriage from an economic requirement into an intentional choice.The "Choice Paralysis" of Dating Apps: Why infinite swiping creates lower commitment, social anxiety, and an artificial "top 5%" standard for both men and women.A/B Testing Your Dating Profile: Ola explains her systematic method for weeding out superficial suitors by using authentic, unpolished photos and value-driven bio descriptions.The Cultural Dating Deficit: How traditional Asian parenting practices—prohibiting teenage relationships—atrophy the emotional and communication "muscles" needed for adult intimacy.Core Values vs. External Metrics: Why shifting focus away from surface-level status symbols (height, Ivy League degrees, job titles) toward shared values like diligence and humor yields better long-term compatibility.The Offline Resurgence: How running clubs, dinner pop-ups, and real-life speed dating are offering an antidote to digital burnout for the next generation.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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521 - How Did A Former Army Officer Become The Bridge Between U.S. And Vietnamese Defense? - Tuan Le
1w ago01:02:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with Tom Le—a West Point graduate, former U.S. Army officer, and current civilian research analyst for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).Tom shares his journey from failing out of college as a first-generation student to enlisting in the Army National Guard and ultimately earning an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He opens up about his recent 18-month assignment at the DPAA detachment in Hanoi, leading joint field activities alongside Vietnamese military counterparts to locate, excavate, and repatriate the remains of missing American service members from the Vietnam War.Kenneth and Tom also unpack the historical and current defense cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam, including the little-known exchange programs that place active Vietnamese national officers into prestigious U.S. Service Academies. They discuss navigating media representation, distinguishing personal political commentary from institutional achievements, and using storytelling to inspire the next generation of Asian American leaders.Inside the EpisodeThe Academic Rebound: How enlisting as a combat medic transformed Tom’s trajectory after failing out of his first university, eventually leading to West Point.The Cornerstone of U.S.–Vietnam Diplomacy: The story of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which established a presence in Hanoi in 1991—four years prior to formal diplomatic normalization.On-the-Ground Excavations: The physical and technical challenges of recovering 1,500+ missing U.S. personnel across Vietnam's changing landscapes, aging witness populations, and acidic soil conditions.Vietnamese Nationals at U.S. Military Academies: Exploring military exchange programs where active-duty Vietnamese officers attend institutions like West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy.Navigating Representation & Public Figures: A candid breakdown on how to highlight Vietnamese-American excellence while maintaining critical boundaries on individual political statements.Connecting Diaspora Identity: Moving from a Midwest upbringing with minimal Vietnamese language exposure to achieving business-level fluency for international defense logistics.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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520 - What Does It Take To Win An Emmy? - Doan Hoang Curtis
1w ago00:53:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with News & Documentary Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and researcher Doan Huang Curtis.Doan reflects on her recent Emmy win for her work on Netflix’s docuseries Turning Point: The Vietnam War. She breaks down the historical research process—from analyzing secret presidential tape recordings to reviewing government propaganda reels from both North and South Vietnam.Doan opens up about navigating her family's complex war legacy as a "daughter of the South" whose father was a neutralist, one uncle fought for the North at Điện Biên Phủ, and another provided covert humanitarian aid to the National Liberation Front. She shares behind-the-scenes stories of interviewing former Viet Cong fighters, the emotional experience of accepting her Emmy in a custom Áo Dài funded by Fall of Saigon U.S. Marines, and her upcoming documentary America 1975, which explores implicit memory, lingering PTSD, and healing 50 years after the war.Inside the EpisodeUncovering Secret Tapes in Turning Point: Examining newly released presidential audio recordings (Kennedy, Nixon, Kissinger) that exposed hidden political calculations and government misdirection.A Family Divided by Ideology: How growing up with family members on opposing sides of the war informed Doan’s balanced, empathetic approach to documentary research.Humanizing All Sides of Conflict: Confronting personal fear while interviewing former North Vietnamese generals and teenage NLF fighters to record their lived experiences.The Emmy Win & The U.S. Marines: The story of how a group of Fall of Saigon U.S. Marines crowdfunded Doan’s travel and Áo Dài for the Emmy ceremony in New York.Implicit vs. Explicit Refugee Memory: Analyzing how childhood evacuees process trauma—contrasting direct memories (explicit) with subconscious emotional imprints (implicit).America 1975 & The Search for Closure: Previewing Doan’s third Fall of Saigon film, focusing on the lasting psychological impact on both U.S. Marines and Vietnamese refugees 50 years later.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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519 - How Did A Math Teacher Build Vietnam’s Most Iconic Indie Music Venue? - Duc-Anh Vo (Chú Đa)
2w ago00:59:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with Duc Anh Vo (Chú Đa / DA), co-founder of the legendary Hanoi Rock City (HRC).DA reflects on his unique journey from studying financial mathematics in the UK to returning home in 2010 and founding a grassroots venue that transformed Vietnam’s independent music scene. He breaks down the stark cultural contrast between Hanoi’s introspective, music-first audience and Saigon’s vibrant nightlife, explains why original Vietnamese indie artists struggled to find a stage 15 years ago, and details how HRC trained a new generation of concertgoers to pay for local art.DA also shares behind-the-scenes stories from landmark performances—including Quái Vật Tí Hon (Hải Bột) and early breakthrough gigs for artists like Ngọt, Vũ, and JG Kid—before discussing HRC’s 15-year milestone, surviving COVID-19 through global community crowdfunding, and passing the torch to the next generation of music promoters.Inside the EpisodeFrom Financial Math to Mosh Pits: Balancing 13 years as a full-time high school math teacher while personally funding and running Hanoi’s premier underground music venue at night.Hanoi vs. Saigon Audience Dynamics: Why cold winters, critical listening, and an introspective mindset make Hanoi a fertile breeding ground for experimental indie music compared to Saigon’s party-driven, cover-heavy nightlife.Cultivating a Paid Live Music Habit: How HRC shifted the local mindset from expecting free cover music in coffee shops to buying tickets to support original Vietnamese songwriters.Milestone Performances: The legendary 2012 packed show by Quái Vật Tí Hon (Hải Bột), the early experimentation of Vietnamese reggae with JG Kid, and the historic 2017 sell-out nights featuring Vũ and Ngọt.Global Community Support: Raising over $12,000 via international crowdfunding to keep HRC alive through two years of COVID-19 shutdowns.Knowing When to Exit: Why closing HRC after a 15-year contract run feels like a celebration rather than a loss, leaving behind a self-sustaining ecosystem operated by former venue staff.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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518 - What Happens When A 1975 Refugee Returns To Saigon 50 Years Later? - Phuc Tran
2w ago01:02:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with Phuc Tran—author of the acclaimed memoir Sigh, Gone—for a deeply reflective conversation about returning to Vietnam for the first time since fleeing as a two-year-old refugee in 1975.Fifty years after escaping Saigon, Phuc shares the complex emotional landscape of taking his American-born children back to his birthplace. Together, Kenneth and Phuc explore the psychological rift between first-generation refugee parents who refuse to return out of anti-communist loyalty or painful war memories, and second-generation Viet Kiều who crave cultural connection. The discussion plunges into dark, forgotten family histories—including how both of their great-grandfathers were executed by the Việt Minh during WWII—and unpacks the uncomfortable political taboos surrounding South Vietnamese identity, Western alliances, and the ongoing cultural evolution of modern Vietnam.Inside the EpisodeThe 50-Year Heritage Return: Experiencing the intense contrast between the modern, hyper-capitalist Vietnam of today and the frozen memories held by 1975 refugees.The Refusal to Go Back: Why many first-generation Vietnamese-American parents hold out against visiting their homeland, treating "Old Saigon" as a lost civilization.Uncovering Shared War Traumas: Phuc and Kenneth discover that both of their great-grandfathers were executed in the 1940s for refusing to play politics during French and Japanese occupations.The "Wrong Side of History" Taboo: A candid, unfiltered debate on the stigma attached to South Vietnamese military service, Western alliances, and why bringing up Ho Chi Minh still causes outrage in Little Saigon.Cultural Preservations vs. Progress: How rapid Westernization is transforming major cities like Saigon and Đà Nẵng, and whether authentic Vietnamese character is being lost in the race for economic growth.The Bến Thành Market Myth: Unpacking class dynamics, tourist expectations, and why haggling with market stall owners means negotiating with generational wealth.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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517 - Can A Latino Leader Win The Race For Mayor In Little Saigon? - Carlos Manzo
2w ago00:49:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with Carlos Manzo - Westminster City Council Member (District 2) and candidate for Mayor of Westminster. Recorded live at Little Saigon Official inside the historic Phước Lộc Thọ (Asian Garden Mall), this episode offers a candid, insider-outsider perspective on local governance in the heart of Little Saigon.Carlos shares his background growing up in Orange County in a working-class Mexican-American immigrant family, his 30-plus-year career as an electrical supervisor, and his shift into neighborhood advocacy. As the sole non-Vietnamese member on a five-person city council, Carlos addresses the demographic shifts in Westminster over the decades, the frustrations of residents who feel left out by local politics, and the systemic gridlock preventing major civic developments—including the long-debated Little Saigon Welcome Archway. He speaks out against symbolic street renamings, political divisiveness, and predatory practices like ballot harvesting that target senior citizens.Inside the EpisodeGrowing Up in Orange County: Learning the value of hard work from immigrant parents, working from age 16, and transitioning from neighborhood watch organizer to planning commissioner and city council member.The "Insider-Outsider" Dynamic: Navigating a city council with four Vietnamese colleagues, advocating for all constituents (Latino, Caucasian, and Vietnamese), and fostering inclusive community governance.Why Little Saigon's Progress Has Stalled: A candid breakdown of how personal political rivalries, stepping-stone ambitions, and factional fighting have delayed commercial beautification and economic growth in Westminster.The Little Saigon Archway Debate: Pushing for a community-driven design process for the Little Saigon archway rather than allowing political infighting to stall the project.Civic Integrity & Elderly Protection: Calling out ballot harvesting, unauthorized campaign sign placement, and political fearmongering that takes advantage of immigrant seniors.Empowering the Next Generation: Encouraging younger, community-focused leaders to step up and reshape the future of Westminster and Little Saigon.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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516 - Why a Tech VP Used A Spreadsheet To Find Love? - Olapolala
2w ago00:56:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Ola (Ola Polala)—a former AR/VR tech director, multi-hyphenate content creator, and master systemizer.Ola shares her transition from the high-stress corporate world of immersive technology to becoming a prominent content creator in both English and Vietnamese. She opens up about the weight of immigrant family expectations, achieving rapid career success before turning 30, and the life-changing question from her now-husband that forced her to confront burnout and redefine true happiness.Ola breaks down the viral framework behind her 46-date spreadsheet—a systematic, 146-question approach to dating that mapped out non-negotiable core values, eliminated games, and used board games like Settlers of Catan to test generosity under pressure. She also reveals how she systematically relearned "adult Vietnamese" to connect deeper with her parents and audience, embraced the mantra of "reps over research" to beat perfectionism, and found cross-cultural alignment across the Vietnamese and Sicilian diasporas.Inside the EpisodeEscaping the Shinkansen: Finishing school early, grinding for 15 years in tech, and walking away from a VP promotion to prioritize mental health and creative freedom.The 146-Question Dating Algorithm: How quantifying core values (weighing diligence over raw ambition) and controlling date variables brought total authenticity to modern dating.The Board Game Stress-Test: Why playing games like Settlers of Catan with friends and family reveals a partner's true character and generosity faster than a standard dinner date.Reclaiming "Adult Vietnamese": Hiring specialized tutors to discuss trauma, law, and psychology, transforming childhood fluency into mature cultural expression.Reps Over Research: Overcoming ADHD-driven over-research and perfectionism by committing to real-world execution.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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515 - Why Are There So Few Vietnamese Performers on Broadway? - Evelyn Mê-Linh
2w ago00:38:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with classical soprano and musical theater performer Evelyn Mê-Linh. Evelyn shares her journey from a painfully shy child in Orange County to landing a role in the iconic national production of The Phantom of the Opera.Evelyn discusses growing up surrounded by her parents' Vietnamese singing parties and scouting camps, how her mother became her "momager" to help her overcome severe stage fright, and how watching the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie at age 12 changed her life trajectory forever. She breaks down her rigorous classical opera training at Chapman University, her leap of faith moving to New York City to attend NYU, and what it takes to find "the zone" as a vocal performer.Kenneth and Evelyn also take a candid look at the lack of Vietnamese representation on Broadway, the generational "survival mindset" that discourages refugee parents from supporting careers in the arts, the industry's frequent conflation of Asian ethnicities, and the complex controversy surrounding Miss Saigon.Inside the EpisodeThe Childhood Spark: How watching Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum in the 2004 Phantom of the Opera film inspired a 12-year-old shy kid to ask for voice lessons.The "Momager" & Scout Community: How Evelyn's mother helped her overcome childhood stage fright through Scout camps (Hướng Đạo) and local Vietnamese community concerts.Classical Opera to Broadway: Transitioning from strict language-based opera technique at Chapman University to NYU Musical Theater and a Phantom summer intensive in NYC.Representation & the Refugee Mindset: Unpacking why Vietnamese Americans remain underrepresented in commercial theater compared to other Asian groups, and how post-war parental trauma shapes career choices.Navigating Industry Bias: Candid stories of ethnic conflation in audition rooms and the ongoing debate over Miss Saigon.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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514 - Why Being "Mơ Hồ" (Ambiguous) Is an Artist's Greatest Superpower? - Minh H Phan
3w ago01:08:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken sits down with multidisciplinary conceptual artist Minh H Phan for an expansive, deeply soulful exploration of world-building, performance intervention, and generational memory.Moving beyond rigid social hierarchies and labels, Minh shares how she uses sculpture, material storytelling, performance, and ritual to illuminate the marginal, unseen stories of the Vietnamese diaspora. From navigating the heavy expectations of Confucian family dynamics to exhibiting installations at UC Davis’s Manetti Shrem Museum and the High Desert Test Sites, Min breaks down her core artistic philosophy: how subverting cultural constructs, embracing ambiguity (mơ hồ), and practicing anti-colonial compassion can help us build a more liberated future for the next generation.Inside this deep dive into conceptual art, material memory, and world-building:The Power of World-Building: Why understanding social norms as artificial "constructs" gives artists the freedom to design their own rules and spaces.Anticolonial Practice over Theory: A critical look at why true liberation requires compassionate, non-exploitative human action rather than placing the burden of "decolonization" back onto marginalized communities.Preserving Culture Through Gánh: How the traditional yoke (gánh) becomes a vessel for native seeds, traditional herbs, and unpunctuated proverbs to safeguard language across borders.Embracing Mơ Hồ (Ambiguity): Why staying in a state of uncertainty or being viewed as "different" grants radical creative immunity and expands possibilities for future thinkers.Epigenetic Memory & Resilience: How the instinct to adapt, preserve, and connect remains embedded across generations of migrants.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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513 - Why Can’t AI Replace Human Writers? - Ky Phong Paul Tran
3w ago00:41:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Ken catches up with 30-year longtime friend Kiphong Paul Tran, a decorated writer, educator, 2024 Teacher of the Year winner, and deeply rooted Vietnamese American culturalist.Kenneth and Paul trace a three-decade arc from their days in youth camps and UCLA's legendary LCC theater group (the birthplace of Asian American stars like Randall Park and Ali Wong) to the frontlines of modern storytelling. Paul breaks down why writing is refined thinking and why generative AI can never replace the human necessity for trial, error, and shared emotional truth. He pulls back the curtain on his viral LA Times and Zócalo Public Square essays detailing the 1990s Southern California import tuner culture—revealing how Asian American youth built the JDM street racing phenomenon long before Hollywood turned it into The Fast and the Furious. Finally, Paul shares an exclusive look at his upcoming speculative fiction novel about werewolves during the Vietnam War, developed through the prestigious Clarion West novel workshop.Inside this deep dive into memory, storytelling, and Southern California history:Writing as Refined Thinking: Why skipping the "struggle" of writing with AI robs creators of discovery and authentic human connection.The Real Origins of JDM Culture: How 90s Asian American kids in Little Saigon, Gardena, and Venice modified Hondas and Corollas, created flyer party crews, and lived double lives as straight-A students and late-night street racers.Serendipity in Little Saigon: The wild story behind Paul's LA Times essay, featuring an unexpected encounter with legendary street racer Viet in Garden Grove.Speculative History: Transitioning from traditional literary fiction to speculative diaspora stories, inspired by Ken Liu and Ted Chiang.The "Bedrooms with Coats" Memory: A heartfelt look at 90s Vietnamese family gatherings, Buddhist vs. Catholic household dynamics, and finding joy in the margins.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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