Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby – Episode Featuring Vicki Nguyen on "Boat Baby: A Memoir"

In this compelling episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, host Zibby Owens engages in a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Vicki Nguyen, an esteemed NBC News Senior Consumer Investigative Correspondent and author of the memoir Boat Baby. Released on April 10, 2025, this episode delves deep into Vicki's personal journey, exploring themes of resilience, family, career challenges, and cultural identity.

Introduction to Vicki Nguyen and Her Memoir

The episode begins with Zibby Owens warmly welcoming Vicki Nguyen and congratulating her on her memoir, Boat Baby. Zibby praises Vicki's approachable writing style, highlighting how it feels like a friendly conversation:

Zibby Owens [02:50]: "Your voice is approachable and easy, like you just want to be your friend reading this book and it's like you're sitting down and telling us the story."

Vicki expresses her gratitude for Zibby's kind words and emphasizes her intent to create relatable connections through her storytelling:

Vicki Nguyen [03:09]: "I hope that you could relate to some of the things that I experienced. ... that's what I'm looking for in this book. And I think that's what we look for when we read memoirs is some sort of connection, a reminder of our shared humanity."

Family Tragedy and Resilience

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around a profound and tragic event detailed in Vicki's memoir—the murder of her uncle. Vicki recounts how her father's quick thinking led to the capture of her uncle's murderer, underscoring the family's resilience and belief in controlling what they can amidst uncontrollable circumstances.

Vicki Nguyen [04:59]: "One of the themes in the book is a way that my parents have showed me to live life, not so much the words, but through their actions, which is you control the things that you can control ... Focus on what you can control."

She narrates the harrowing experience of spotting the fugitive in a restaurant and her father's decisive action to capture him:

Vicki Nguyen [04:59]: "My dad leaves the restaurant to call 911 ... And it turned out it was him. ... that's what I'm looking for in this book."

Zibby responds with awe, highlighting the emotional weight of the story:

Zibby Owens [08:33]: "Oh, my gosh, that story gave me goosebumps. Unbelievable."

Escaping Vietnam and Survival

Vicki delves into her family's escape from Vietnam during the 1980s, detailing their journey through Oregon and the challenges they faced. She touches upon the uncertainty and fear they endured when their smuggler abandoned them in the jungle, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and adaptability.

Vicki Nguyen [09:25]: "They couldn’t find their way. ... someone was able to shimmy up a tree, get a bigger view, and they could find their way. ... with distance, a new perspective, you can conquer sort of everything."

This narrative underscores a central theme of her memoir: navigating through seemingly insurmountable obstacles by focusing on manageable steps and maintaining hope.

Balancing Career and Personal Life

Transitioning to her professional life, Vicki discusses the complexities of building a career in journalism while managing family responsibilities. She reflects on the doubts and uncertainties she faced during her early career stages, emphasizing the value of persistence and the importance of not overextending oneself.

Vicki Nguyen [11:07]: "I think just getting through the hard things and doing your best and showing up, that eventually clears the path for where you're supposed to go."

She shares her philosophy of focusing on immediate tasks rather than long-term uncertainties, a mindset instilled by her parents' experiences as refugees.

Addressing Workplace Harassment

A poignant moment in the interview addresses Vicki's experiences with workplace harassment and her proactive approach to resolving it. She recounts a specific incident where a coworker violated her personal boundaries and her subsequent actions to address the issue with HR.

Vicki Nguyen [13:38]: "I just exploded. And I just was like, please don't ever touch me again."

Despite facing initial resistance from HR, her candidness and established reputation facilitated a resolution that prevented further harassment:

Vicki Nguyen [20:37]: "I went into HR and said, hey, listen, this is what happened. ... And then that was that. And then they put out the schedules and they never scheduled me with him again."

Zibby commends Vicki's bravery in setting boundaries:

Zibby Owens [20:37]: "You just made a line in the sand and you're just like, this is it, this is. No, I'm not willing to do this."

Vicki attributes her successful navigation of the situation to her hard work and the respect she earned within her company:

Vicki Nguyen [20:53]: "I think I had earned some of that street cred with my company at that point."

Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic

The conversation shifts to Vicki's move from California to New York City coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes the surreal and challenging environment of New York during the pandemic, balancing her role as a journalist covering the crisis and managing the safety and well-being of her family.

Vicki Nguyen [22:10]: "It was a very surreal time to be a New Yorker or living here. ... Central Park was empty. Times Square was empty."

Vicki highlights her dedication to providing informative reporting during a tumultuous period:

Vicki Nguyen [22:10]: "As a consumer investigative reporter, I was able to talk to doctors and epidemiologists and public health experts to try to answer the questions that America had."

Her husband's role as an anesthesiologist further exemplifies the family's commitment to serving their community during the pandemic:

Vicki Nguyen [22:10]: "My husband was working at Lenox Hill ... what my husband was doing was very much of service as an essential worker in the medical field."

Family Dynamics and Cultural Identity

Towards the end of the interview, Vicki explores the nuanced relationships within her family and the balancing act between her Vietnamese heritage and American upbringing. She candidly discusses the complexities of familial bonds, the importance of acceptance, and the strength derived from shared struggles.

Vicki Nguyen [25:39]: "Family and blood is thicker than water. And you're going to get through what you need to get through."

Vicki emphasizes the necessity of compartmentalizing past hurts to foster personal growth and maintain healthy relationships:

Vicki Nguyen [25:39]: "I accept our relationship for what it is. ... We are doing the best that we can for our kids."

Conclusion and Reflections

Zibby Owens wraps up the interview by expressing her deep appreciation for Vicki's openness and the inspirational nature of her memoir. Vicki reciprocates the gratitude, highlighting the significance of sharing personal stories to foster connection and understanding.

Zibby Owens [28:10]: "This has been so inspiring, similar to your book. Thank you so much."

Vicki Nguyen [28:19]: "This conversation has meant so much to me. ... I'm so grateful to you."

The episode concludes with Zibby encouraging listeners to engage with the show and support Vicki's work, reinforcing the theme of shared humanity and the power of storytelling.

Key Takeaways

• Resilience in Adversity: Vicki's life story exemplifies overcoming significant challenges through resilience and focusing on controllable factors.

• Importance of Boundaries: Her experience with workplace harassment underscores the necessity of setting clear boundaries and advocating for oneself.

• Balancing Cultural Identity: Navigating between Vietnamese heritage and American culture highlights the complexities of maintaining cultural identity while embracing new beginnings.

• Role of Shared Humanity: Both Vicki and Zibby emphasize the importance of finding common ground and connections through personal stories and shared experiences.

This episode of Totally Booked with Zibby offers listeners a profound glimpse into Vicki Nguyen's life, her memoir, and the universal themes of struggle, perseverance, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Through candid conversation and poignant storytelling, the interview serves as an inspiring testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and thrive amidst adversity.