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
482 - When Will We Have A Vietnamese F1 Driver? - Owen Tangavelou Nguyen
Mar 2300:57:40Tap to summarizeWelcome to The Vietnamese Podcast, hosted by Kenneth Nguyen. In this episode, we sit down with Nguyễn Owen Tangavelou, a French-Vietnamese Formula 3 (F3) driver who is on a singular mission: to become the first person of Vietnamese descent to reach the pinnacle of motorsport—Formula 1.Owen’s journey is far from typical. Unlike most F1 stars who begin karting at age 4, Owen didn't step into a cockpit until he was 14. From playing F1 video games to pulling $4G$ in a real race car, Owen discusses the grit, the late-start disadvantage, and the staggering financial reality of the "pay-to-play" world of professional racing.In this episode, we explore:The Racing Ladder: Breaking down the progression from F4 to the $1.5$ million Euro seasons of F3 and the "feeder" system for F1.The Physics of Speed: What it feels like to endure $5G$ to $7G$ of force—gravity levels usually reserved for fighter pilots.The Money Game: The brutal truth about racing—why talent isn't always enough and why Owen is seeking Vietnamese investors to help bridge the funding gap.National Pride: Why bringing a Vietnamese name to the F1 grid represents more than just a career—it’s a demonstration of national power and the "indomitable spirit" of the people.Owen is currently balancing business school in France while training for his next shot at the track. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to drive at 300+ km/h or how the business of racing actually works, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to join Owen’s journey to the grid.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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481 - Why Was The Tonkin School Dangerous? - Viet History Makers
Mar 2100:54:05Tap to summarizeWelcome back to The Vietnamese Podcast. In this episode, Kenneth sit down with scholar Kevin Phan to dissect one of the most radical experiments in Vietnamese history: the Tonkin Free School (Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục).Opened in Hanoi in 1907, this school lasted only 10 months before the French colonial government shut it down—but those 300 days changed the trajectory of the nation forever. We explore how a tiny group of intellectuals, inspired by Japan's Meiji Restoration, attempted to "enlighten the Vietnamese mind" by abandoning ancient Confucian rote-learning in favor of science, hygiene, and a brand-new Romanized script.In this episode, we tackle:The Death of Tradition: Why cutting your hair and learning math was seen as a radical act of patriotism.The "Dictator's Dilemma": The tension between needing a smart, educated workforce and the fear that those same people will think for themselves.Humboldt vs. Napoleon: Understanding the two models of education—building an "economic powerhouse" versus cultivating a "free citizen."2026 Realities: From mandatory Marxism-Leninism courses in Saigon to book banning in Florida, we look at the global state of academic freedom today.Key Historical Insights:Japanese Influence: How Japan's 1905 victory over Russia proved to the Vietnamese that "white people" could be defeated through modernization.The Power of the Map: Why showing villagers an S-shaped map of Vietnam for the first time was a revolutionary act.Social Darwinism: The uncomfortable 1900s ideology that framed colonialism as a "survival of the fittest" race.Whether you're interested in the roots of Vietnamese nationalism or the modern battle over what we are allowed to teach in 2026, this conversation is essential. Subscribe to join the intellectual front line.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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480 - Can You Scale Culture Without Losing Authenticity? - Viet Nguyen
Mar 1800:36:28Tap to summarizeBuilding a $100 million hospitality empire isn't just about good food; it’s about a relentless pursuit of "what’s next."In this episode, we sit down with Viet Nguyen, the visionary founder of KEI Concepts and a recent James Beard Award semi-finalist. From a single storefront to a portfolio of iconic brands that have redefined the Southern California dining scene, Viet has cracked the code on scaling culture without losing soul.We’re recording on-site at his most ambitious project yet: Qua. Located in the heart of Orange County’s Little Saigon, Qua isn't just a restaurant—it’s a "Chinese culinary experiment" that challenges traditional boundaries.In this conversation, we dive into:The Blueprint for Scale: How Viet transitioned from a solo founder to managing a multi-million dollar hospitality group.The "Qua" Experiment: The deep-rooted inspiration behind his newest venture and why he chose to innovate within the legendary landscape of Little Saigon.Cultural Fusion vs. Confusion: How to respect culinary heritage while pushing the envelope for a modern audience.The James Beard Journey: What it means to receive national acclaim and how it changes (or doesn’t change) the daily grind of the industry.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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479 - Can We Break Free From Refugee Trauma? - Peter Broke The Habit
Mar 1600:47:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we welcome back Peter from the popular channel Broke the Habit.Since we last spoke in 2024, Peter’s journey has been a whirlwind of high-stakes media jobs, intense burnout, and a profound psychological reset. Now, in 2026, he is "locking in" to content creation full-time, navigating the streets of Nha Trang and the complex emotional landscape of the Viet Kieu (Overseas Vietnamese) experience.In this episode, we dive into:The Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset: How intergenerational trauma from the refugee experience creates a "survival mode" that follows us even when we find financial success.The "Hoa Le" of Saigon: Exploring the stark contrast between the extreme wealth of international districts and the gritty reality of local life in District 8.Breaking the Parental Guilt: The heavy burden of the "eldest son" and the drive to become a millionaire to "repay" the sacrifices of our parents.Vietnam as a Passage of Rites: Why every member of the diaspora should return to the motherland for 2–3 months to truly understand their own identity.Whether you are in Vancouver, Little Saigon, or Hanoi, this conversation is about more than just travel—it's about breaking habits and finding the courage to say "I love you" to a culture that shaped you.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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478 - Who Are the Vietnamese European Creators? Brittany Tran, HIEN, Duzan Duong
Mar 1201:01:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we explore the "Stories We Carry" with a powerhouse panel of creators:Brittany Tran: Founder of Real Citrus, a film distribution company bringing diaspora stories to the big screen.Duzan Duong: Czech-Vietnamese director of Summer School 2001, sharing the unique perspective of Northern Vietnamese migration to Eastern Europe.Hien: A Hungarian-born singer-songwriter blending traditional roots with modern sounds.What we dive into:The North-South Divide: How the history of migration to Europe differs from the American experience.Reclaiming Identity: The role of film and music in navigating "displacement trauma" and representing our community.The Future of the Diaspora: Why 2026 is the year of global creative collaboration and "co-authoring" our narrative with the world.Whether you're a first-generation immigrant or a third-generation creative, this is where we celebrate our shared heritage and the abundance of our future. Subscribe to join the journey.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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477 - How do we reclaim our hidden Vietnamese roots? - Quentin Nguyễn-Duy
Mar 900:58:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, Kenneth sits down with Quentin J Nguyen-duy, a rising star in Hollywood known for NBC’s Hunting Party and his viral, socially conscious comedy skits.Quentin opens up about the "war of attrition" that is the acting world—revealing how he survived over 11,000 rejections across a decade by mastering a mental "Fruit Ninja" technique to slice through insecurity. We dive deep into his unique experience as a white-passing individual navigating the Vietnamese diaspora, moving from a childhood where he felt he had to "hide" his heritage to now lead the charge in celebrating it through Viet Salon and learning the language.Key highlights from this conversation:The Mixed Experience: Navigating identity when you look like an "outsider" but your DNA is 50% Vietnamese.10 Years of "No": How to stay "undamageable" when the industry rejection rate is 98%.The Saigon Cinema Boom: Why Quentin believes Vietnamese cinema will be as big as Korean cinema in the next 10 years.Vertical vs. Horizontal: The evolution of media and whether "micro-dramas" on our phones will eventually replace the silver screen.Whether you're a creative looking for the grit to survive the "tundra" of your career or someone reconnecting with your roots, Quentin’s story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to step into your truth. Subscribe to join the conversation.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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476 - Can We Move Beyond “Made in Vietnam” labels? - Khanh Ngo
Mar 200:55:26Tap to summarizeFrom the "hoods" of Columbus, Ohio, to designing the hat LeBron James wore for his 40th birthday, Khanh Ngô has never played by the rules. In this episode, Kenneth Nguyen sits down with the founder of NGO (Nothing Goes Overnight) to discuss the grit required to make it in the cutthroat world of LA fashion.Khanh opens up about his journey through corporate giants like Levi’s and Urban Outfitters, and why he famously demanded HBO recut his segment on the reality series The Hype to stop pushing "weak" Asian stereotypes.In this episode, we dive into:The "Midwest Pedigree": Growing up Vietnamese in predominantly Black urban neighborhoods and how it shaped his design aesthetic.Systemic Bias: Why global brands spotlight Japanese and Korean creators while overlooking Southeast Asian talent.The HBO Scandal: Khanh’s firsthand account of Hollywood's "identity angst" and why he refused to play the victim on camera.Vietnam 2026: Why the Motherland is poised to become the next "Tokyo" for global fashion and culture.Whether you’re a creative looking to break into the industry or interested in the complex identity of the Vietnamese diaspora, this conversation is a masterclass in standing your ground and betting on yourself.Follow the Guest:Instagram: @madebyngoFollow The Vietnamese Podcast:Instagram/TikTok/Facebook: @thevietnamesepodcast--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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475 - What Can Vietnamese Learn From Black America? - Ryan Lex
Feb 2701:01:25Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kenneth Nguyen sits down with actor and activist Ryan Alexander Holmes. As we navigate February 2026, Ryan shares his perspective as a "Blasian" American—the son of a Black father from the South and a Chinese immigrant mother from Taiwan.The conversation moves beyond the surface of "identity politics" to explore how race, class, and the American educational system shape our reality. Ryan argues that the "predator class" (the ultra-wealthy) benefits from social divisions that keep working-class communities of color from organizing for their collective interests.Key Discussion PointsThe Spectrum of Privilege: Ryan discusses growing up in the "cusp" of privilege, where every extra dollar was funneled into education rather than luxury.The American "Science Fair" Experiment: Why the US education system often misses the mark on minority history by miles, leaving communities to educate themselves.Radical Empathy as Revolution: How to handle the "Let Them" theory when facing criticism from within our own communities.The Billionaire "Predator Class": A deep dive into why 0.1% of the population controls astronomical wealth while 90% faces stagnant wages and rising costs.Black-Asian Solidarity: Ryan introduces Bloom, his cross-cultural organization designed to move past "tragedy-based" solidarity and toward shared joy and community.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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474 - How Did Vietnam save this broken Aussie’s life? - Ethan Kelly
Feb 2401:00:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Ethan Kelly, widely known to millions of fans as "Uc Viet". In 2026, the landscape of content creation in Vietnam is shifting, and Ethan is at the forefront of it—but his journey didn't start with likes and follows. It started with a real-life business failure in Australia and a "fate-driven" trip to a remote village in Lam Dong that turned his life around.Ethan starts out addressing the "elephant in the room"—the battle of the flags—with the unique, non-biased perspective of an outsider who has lived the history from both sides of the ocean. From diving into putrid, biologically hostile rivers to clean up trash, to spitting bars with Vietnamese rappers, Ethan’s story is a masterclass in radical empathy and cultural immersion.What We Explore in This EpisodeThe Flag Conversation: How Ethan processes "bullets" of political hostility and navigates the sensitive history of the Vietnamese diaspora.The 1-Year Fluency: How Ethan mastered a "sharp" Hanoi accent and advanced literacy without ever stepping foot in a formal classroom.Dirty Jobs, Big Impact: The reality of cleaning Vietnam’s polluted waterways and how one viral video can mobilize hundreds of volunteers.Fate & Faith: The "ego-shattering" experience of losing a $6M company and finding a new life in a trade-based mountain community.The "Weapon" in the House: Ethan’s heartfelt tribute to his Vietnamese wife and why he believes the traditional family unit is the "rock" of society.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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473 - Is Deportation With Dignity Possible? - Dr. Thao Ha
Feb 2300:56:40Tap to summarizeThe gloves are off in this conversation between Kenneth and Dr. Thao Ha. It’s 2026, and the political climate in the United States has reached a boiling point. While many are "flooded" by the chaos of the news cycle, Dr. Ha is in the trenches, navigating the complex and often heartbreaking reality of mass deportations affecting the Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian communities.In this episode, we move past the "professional hats" to discuss the raw reality of identity, integrity, and the "Let Them" approach to life. Dr. Ha reveals the inner workings of her nonprofit, Collective Freedom, and why she believes the "American Dream" is currently disintegrating for thousands of refugees who have lived here for decades.What We ExploreThe Integrity Practice: Why Dr. Ha stopped shopping on Amazon and other major corporations as a form of "soul conditioning."The "Let Them" Theory: How to maintain your peace (and your relationships) when the people you love support policies that you strongly disagree with.The Hidden Crisis: The technical reality of Southeast Asian deportations. Many don't realize that old criminal convictions—some from the 1990s—are now being used to tear families apart in 2026.Dignity On Sale: How Dr. Ha provides legal clarity to families who are being told they need to pay $30,000 in legal fees for cases that have no relief.Love Letters to the Dirty South: An exclusive teaser of Dr. Ha’s upcoming memoir (September 2026), detailing her journey from Houston gang life to academic life.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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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