Afleveringen
-
Mai Whelan is a Vietnamese American woman who became the Season 1 winner of Squid Game: The Challenge. Mai shares her life story, beginning as a young refugee who fled Vietnam at eight years old after the fall of Saigon, to becoming a U.S. Navy service member at just eighteen. She went on to serve two decades in the Navy before continuing her public service career as a visa interview adjudicator for the U.S. government.
Her journey is defined by resilience, sacrifice, and a determination to rebuild life from the ground up — the same strength she later carried into the intense world of Squid Game: The Challenge.
Competing against 456 contestants, Mai relied on her discipline, clarity, emotional intelligence, and unwavering composure to make it to the finale and ultimately win the $4.56 million prize. What set her apart was not just strategy, but her ability to stay true to her values under pressure.
In this podcast, Mai opens up about the experiences that shaped her — from military life to motherhood, from navigating the immigration system to surviving fierce competition on a global stage.
She also reflects on what kept her going every. Mai is a testament that no matter your background or hardships, you can rise, rebuild, and redefine your future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Director Bao Nguyen sits with Kenneth to discuss his latest documentary, The Stringer, which premiered on Netflix on November 28, 2025. The film undertakes a meticulous investigation into the true authorship of the iconic “Napalm Girl” photograph, long attributed to Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Nick Ut. Through exhaustive research, rare archival materials, and gripping interviews, The Stringer reopens a decades-old question that challenges our understanding of historical truth.
Beyond its central mystery, the documentary offers viewers a deeper look into journalistic ethics, the politics of wartime reporting, and the fragile nature of historical memory. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in Vietnam War history, photography, investigative storytelling, or the complexities behind how iconic images shape global narratives. Their discussion highlights not only the film’s meticulous craftsmanship but also its emotional and cultural significance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Dr. Jay Veith, a longtime researcher of the Vietnam War and POW/MIA history take a deep look at the more than $85 million the U.S. government has spent over the past decade to work with the Vietnamese government in searching for remaining American POW/MIA personnel.
We explore a central question: Is the return on investment (ROI) worth it? Does continued U.S. spending on this effort truly deliver value—whether humanitarian, diplomatic, or strategic—or is it primarily a way to keep relations with the Vietnamese government running smoothly after all these years?
Dr. Veith offers candid insights, historical context, and analysis of the political and diplomatic considerations behind this long-standing cooperation. This conversation sheds light on the ongoing commitment to bring closure to the families of missing service members, while also examining the complex balance between humanitarian priorities and national-level strategy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode, we sit down once again with branding expert Chris Do for a powerful and honest conversation about creativity, culture, and the future of Vietnam. We explore why Vietnam has yet to produce globally recognized brands, exploring the structural, cultural, and economic challenges that hold creators back—along with the incredible potential waiting to be unlocked.
Chris reflects on the unwavering dedication of Japanese craftsmen, whose mastery comes from generations of focus, discipline, and intention. Together, we examine what Vietnam can learn from this mindset, and how intentional craft could reshape the country’s creative identity.
We also talk about the importance of focus, purpose, and long-term thinking for anyone hoping to build meaningful work—whether in design, entrepreneurship, or personal development. Chris shares insights from his second trip back to Vietnam, offering a candid look at the nation’s current trajectory and what he hopes to see in its creative future.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
As we honor Veterans Day in the United States today, join Kenneth for a conversation with Tino Dinh and Thomas Nguyen — two Vietnamese American veterans who have proudly served on the board of the Vietnamese American Uniformed Services Association (VAUSA).
The Vietnamese American Uniformed Services Association is a truly unique organization, distinguished by its rich heritage and vibrant culture. United by a shared commitment to public service, Vietnamese American military members work together to uphold the legacy of their ancestors’ courage and devotion. Through their service in uniform, they continue to exemplify compassion, respect, and a deep sense of purpose — the very values that form the foundation of VAUSA.
VAUSA info: https://www.wearevausa.org/
Tino Dinh is a management and technology consultant and tech entrepreneur. He is a former board member of VAUSA and is active in the Vietnamese-American and AAPI community and in various Veteran organizations. Tino served for 8 years as a USAF intelligence officer and Asia regional specialist. He deployed as an military advisor to Iraq in 2004. He is a 1999 graduate of the US Air Force Academy and received his MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. A native of Houston, Tino currently resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and two sons.
Thomas Nguyen retired as a colonel after serving 30 years in the U.S. Army. He was born in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam; and at the age of 3, immigrated to the U.S. with his family in April 1975 under Operation Frequent Wind, which was the final evacuation of American civilians and Vietnamese from South Vietnam. The son of a South Vietnamese Air Force “Bird Dog” forward air controller pilot, Major Dzy Nguyen; and South Vietnamese staff member for the U.S. Defense Attache Office, Bang Nguyen; Tom grew up in Orange County, California, and went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy in 1995. He was commissioned as a military intelligence officer, and later served as an acquisition officer. Tom has served at all echelons from tactical to strategic levels, to include deployments to Kuwait, Iraq & Afghanistan; and has traveled extensively to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of the Vietnamese, Kenneth welcomes Tony Lam (Lâm Quang Thống) a trailblazer, community leader, and the first Vietnamese American ever elected to public office in the United States.
Tony recounts his journey from his early life in Vietnam, through the turbulence of war, to the heartbreaking days following the fall of Saigon in 1975. Like thousands of others, he fled as a refugee and began again in Orange County, California, helping resettle the newly arrived Vietnamese community and laying the foundation for what would become Little Saigon.
In 1992, Tony made history by winning a seat on the Westminster City Council, marking a turning point for Vietnamese Americans in politics. His election symbolized not just personal achievement, but the collective progress of an entire generation of refugees determined to find belonging and representation in their new home.
Beyond politics, Tony Lam’s story represents the resilience and unity of the Vietnamese diaspora, a people rebuilding identity, culture, and hope far from home. His leadership opened doors for future Vietnamese American public servants and helped transform Little Saigon into a vibrant hub of culture, commerce, and civic pride.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode, archaeologist Nam C. Kim and language historian John D. Phan join host Kenneth Nguyen for an exploration of how Vietnam’s ancient past continues to shape its modern identity. The conversation takes us into the space where myth, politics, linguistics and archaeology meet.
Together, they unravel how iconic women, The Trung Sisters, once dismissed as rebels and “savages” in early Han and medieval Vietnamese records were later reborn as symbols of courage, independence, and identity. Kim and Phan reveal how these shifting portrayals weren’t accidental but reflected the evolving needs of different eras and rulers. From state ideology to local worship, the guests uncover how generations of Vietnamese have told, retold, and reshaped these stories to define who they are.
The discussion also takes listeners on a journey through the archaeological and linguistic evidence of the time, showing how the vibrant Đông Sơn culture blended with Han influences after the conquest to form something uniquely Vietnamese.
Kim draws a striking parallel to Boudicca’s rebellion in Roman Britain—another female-led uprising against empire—raising a fascinating question: could future excavations uncover the physical traces of the Trưng Sisters’ revolt? Beyond the history, this episode celebrates the idea that our understanding of the past is never fixed. It evolves through collaboration, dialogue, and discovery. Together, Kim and Phan remind us that Vietnam’s history is not just something to study—it’s a living story that continues to define the nation’s identity today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Dam Van Huynh graduated from the renown Boston Conservatory at Berklee (USA) and has worked as a performer with various internationally recognized premiere dance companies and choreographers including The Nevada Ballet (USA), Merce Cunningham (USA), Portugal’s Companhia de Dança Contemporânea – CeDeCe (Portugal), Richard Alston (UK) and Phoenix Dance Theatre (UK). He regularly creates works for other companies and delivers workshops on his methodology around the world. He has been noted as one of the most cutting-edge international artists currently working in the field of Contemporary Dance. He is in high demand for his creative contribution to the dance industry and this can be noted as he has been invited to the highly selective and elite Rauschenberg Residency (USA) in 2025.
Originally from Southern Vietnam, Dam Van Huynh is a UK based dancer/choreographer/director. As a child refugee, his family and he fled Vietnam after the war and settled in the USA where Dam was raised. He was Head of Contemporary Dance at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 2019 - 2023. Dam founded his own company in 2008, Van Huynh Company – a vibrant, cutting-edge contemporary dance company with a growing national and international reputation. He is the Director of Centre151 - a cultural, arts and community space based in London (Hackney). From the very beginning, his work was distinctive and reflected his deep interest in redefining the body and its movement capability.
His research is an ongoing attempt to synthesize the most dynamic and revolutionary aspects of the dual dynamic of his Vietnamese heritage and Western influences harmoniously informing a personal and creative expression. The dynamics of the moving body is central to his practice. His working methodology combines multitudes of performative practices, drawing inspiration from voice, sound art and performance art allowing him to ask pertinent questions on what it means to be human.
At the core of his practice, he reflects upon his lived experience from a child refugee of the Vietnam war to the artist he has become today. His work adopts a critical stand on current issues, examining the body through movement exploration and weaving the research tightly with an aural experience drawn from sound art. Themes that pertain to his work are based on his interest in human connections: intimacy, otherness, sense of self, interpersonal relationships. The research stands out for its physical rigour, socially engaged awareness and connection to visual arts whilst drawing the audience into an immersive experience.
Website: www.damvanhuynh.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Czech-Vietnamese filmmaker Duzan Duong to explore the creative and personal journey behind his debut feature film, Summer School 2001 — a project that took 8 years to make and 6 years to write.
We discuss what it takes to navigate European film financing structures, how he approached casting and directing actors, and where the emotional core of the film came from. Duzan opens up about the personal and cultural themes that shaped the story, and gives us a glimpse into what’s next on his creative horizon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Eric Nong, the Artistic Director of the Viet Film Fest, to explore this year’s film selections and the evolving landscape of Vietnamese cinema.
From the exciting rise of animated Vietnamese films to the behind-the-scenes process of how films are chosen, the conversation also touches on how AI might shape the future of curation and storytelling in film. Eric also discusses what kinds of films are selected this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of the Vietnamese podcast, we’re joined by Karen Tran Wood, a seasoned entertainment marketing and publicity executive with over a decade of experience leading award-winning campaigns across film, television, and lifestyle brands.
As Head of Entertainment Marketing & Publicity at IW Group, Karen oversees a division dedicated to crafting integrated, culturally resonant campaigns that connect with today’s diverse audiences. Her client portfolio includes major names like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Lionsgate, Universal Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. She has led standout campaigns for Barbie, Avatar: The Way of Water, Shōgun, The Cleaning Lady, Moana 2, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
In our conversation, Karen shares what it takes to build inclusive, high-impact marketing strategies in today’s Hollywood—and why multicultural audiences, especially Vietnamese Americans, deserve greater attention from studios and brands. We also dive into the global future of Vietnamese film and music, how it compares to industries like K-pop, and her thoughts on how AI is reshaping the entertainment landscape and the future of creativity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of Viet Origins, Kenneth Nguyen joins Professor John Phan of Columbia University to examine the creation and evolution of chữ Nôm, Vietnam’s early vernacular writing system. Born out of a need to express Vietnamese thought in written form, chữ Nôm emerged as a linguistic innovation that pushed against classical norms. Just as hip hop gave voice to the unheard, chữ Nôm became a medium for cultural expression outside the dominant literary establishment. Is it possible that chữ Nôm was Vietnam’s first form of lyrical resistance? Tune in as we draw connections between past and present, language and liberation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John D. Phan is an Associate Professor of Vietnamese Humanities at Columbia University, based in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute. He focuses on the linguistic history of Vietnam and its cultural context.
His first book, The Lost Tongues of the Red River: Annamese Middle Chinese & the Origins of the Vietnamese Language, published in April 2025 by Harvard University Press, posits the existence of a regional dialect of Middle Chinese once spoken in northern Vietnam (the Red River Delta) and explores how this dialect influenced the emergence of Vietnamese
Phan completed his M.A. at Columbia University (on Ming‑Qing vernacular fiction, 2005) and earned his Ph.D. from Cornell (on Sino‑Vietnamese language contact, 2012). His scholarship examines the evolution of writing systems, vernacular literary forms (like chữ Nôm), and the social-political implications of multilingualism in East Asia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
If you joined us last time for the episode "Did Chinese Writing "Civilize" Vietnam?" we are here to answer your questions on this AMA based on the questions we got from the podcast sub series so far. We had quite a conversation with Professor John Phan from Columbia University about the evolution of the Vietnamese language. We dove deep into its fascinating history, from its roots and the long influence of Chinese culture, to the creation of the modern writing system and its unique place in Southeast Asian linguistic history.
We're doing another follow up round of Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode! we’ve gathered some of the most thoughtful questions from our last episode from the listeners, and I’m excited to dive deeper into the topics we touched on in the last episode, clarify some points, and explore a few new ideas that came up after the show.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John D. Phan is an Associate Professor of Vietnamese Humanities at Columbia University, based in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute. He focuses on the linguistic history of Vietnam and its cultural context.
His first book, The Lost Tongues of the Red River: Annamese Middle Chinese & the Origins of the Vietnamese Language, published in April 2025 by Harvard University Press, posits the existence of a regional dialect of Middle Chinese once spoken in northern Vietnam (the Red River Delta) and explores how this dialect influenced the emergence of Vietnamese
Phan completed his M.A. at Columbia University (on Ming‑Qing vernacular fiction, 2005) and earned his Ph.D. from Cornell (on Sino‑Vietnamese language contact, 2012). His scholarship examines the evolution of writing systems, vernacular literary forms (like chữ Nôm), and the social-political implications of multilingualism in East Asia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of Viet History Makers, we sit with Professor Kevin Pham to explore the remarkable life and legacy of Trần Đức Thảo, who we can describe as Vietnam’s earliest intellectual export. A philosopher trained in France, Thảo studied alongside some of the 20th century’s most influential European thinkers, including Jean-Paul Sartre and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Yet his journey was not one of mere academic exchange—he carried philosophy across continents, weaving together European phenomenology with Marxist theory, and later returning to Vietnam to shape debates on culture, ideology, and national identity.
We discuss his rise from colonial Vietnam to the Parisian intellectual scene, his groundbreaking work in philosophy of consciousness and language, and the difficult political turns his career took as he navigated the complexities of intellectual life under colonial rule, revolution, and socialism. Along the way, we ask: what does it mean for Vietnam to have produced a global thinker in the midst of colonial struggle? And how should we understand the contributions and contradictions of a man who bridged East and West, philosophy and politics?
This episode sheds light on a figure too often overlooked, placing Trần Đức Thảo back into the story of global intellectual history.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts.
He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024).
Kevindoanpham.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
We sit down with siblings Han and Holden Nguyen, finalists from The Amazing Race Season 37. They open up about their journey to the show, including the audition process that first brought them into the spotlight.
We dive into their unique sibling dynamic—how competing side by side strengthened their relationship, but also tested it under the pressures of racing around the world. Han and Holden also reflect on just how close they came to winning it all, sharing the emotional highs and near-misses along the way.
Finally, they reveal the deeper reasons behind why they decided to join The Amazing Race, offering insights into what motivated them and what the experience ultimately meant for their family and their future.
Instagram:
@teamasianswag
@hanbnguyen
@hole.den
- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -
Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve just begun to sit 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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Hanh Nguyen, Executive Editor of Salon.com, to talk about Vietnam’s cultural rivalry with Korea, the power of K-pop and Korean dramas, and what defines meaningful culture. They also get into F1 the Movie, Brad Pitt as the ultimate leading man, and why Vietnam still lacks a star of that stature.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode of The Origins of Vietnam, Kenneth sits down with Professor John Phan of Columbia University to explore the complex story of how the Vietnamese language took shape. While Vietnamese did not emerge genealogically from Chinese, its history is deeply entangled with centuries of Chinese influence. So where did it truly come from? Together, we trace the twists, turns, and unexpected developments in the evolution of the Vietnamese writing system—and consider what this history reveals about Vietnam’s cultural identity and place in the world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John D. Phan is an Associate Professor of Vietnamese Humanities at Columbia University, based in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute. He focuses on the linguistic history of Vietnam and its cultural context.
.His first book, The Lost Tongues of the Red River: Annamese Middle Chinese & the Origins of the Vietnamese Language, published in April 2025 by Harvard University Press, posits the existence of a regional dialect of Middle Chinese once spoken in northern Vietnam (the Red River Delta) and explores how this dialect influenced the emergence of Vietnamese
Phan completed his M.A. at Columbia University (on Ming‑Qing vernacular fiction, 2005) and earned his Ph.D. from Cornell (on Sino‑Vietnamese language contact, 2012). His scholarship examines the evolution of writing systems, vernacular literary forms (like chữ Nôm), and the social-political implications of multilingualism in East Asia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this episode, Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Chris Tran from Little Saigon Official to unpack a challenging but necessary topic: toxic masculinity in the Vietnamese community and culture.
Together, they explore how toxic masculinity shows up, how it shows up in our family lives, and the ways it impacts not only men but also families and the broader community. This is a conversation meant to spark reflection and invite dialogue—how do we recognize it, and what can we do about it?
This episode is just the beginning. In future conversations, we’ll bring in mental health professionals, women with personal insights, and strong young voices navigating these dynamics at home. Our goal is to open space for honest discussion, healing, and collective growth.
Join us, share your thoughts, and let’s continue this conversation as a community.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
Kaila Yu is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,’ will be published on August 19th, 2025, with Penguin Random House’s Crown Publishing.
She is also a luxury travel, food, and culture writer and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles, who has written for The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, and more. She’s a certified PADI scuba diver, freediver, and mermaid.
Her former band, Nylon Pink, has toured in Australia: Melbourne and Sydney, played in Shanghai at the launch party for Havaianas in China, Costa Rica, played at the Hard Rock in Tokyo, Japan, Macau, China, and Penang, Malaysia.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy -
In this second episode of Ancient Vietnam, we return to the world of early Vietnamese history—this time loosely based on an AMA (Ask Me Anything) version shaped by the voices and comments of our audience. Building on the foundational themes of the first episode of the series Ancient Vietnam, co-host John Phan joins us to dive deeper into the linguistic and cultural mysteries that sparked so much joy, conversation and curiosity.
Early in this episode, John introduces the concept of language shift through a comparison to Norman England, showing how language imposition can reshape native speech without erasing cultural identity. This idea threads through the episode as we explore how Vietnamese developed under centuries of outside influence and internal change.
John and Kenneth also respond to listener questions about tonality: when tonal features emerged in Vietnamese, how they function, and why similar developments appeared in Chinese. Along the way, they dismantle common assumptions about ethnicity and language, emphasizing that racial or genetic identity doesn’t necessarily equate to linguistic heritage.
Finally, the episode turns to the historical formation of the name Vietnam itself—tracing its evolution through dynasties, borders, and political imagination. What did "Viet" and "Nam" originally mean? And how did their pairing come to represent an enduring national identity?
This follow-up episode is both a reflection and a deepening of the conversation—expanding on the hidden dynamics of language, power, and identity in Vietnam’s distant past. Join us as we continue to unearth the stories embedded in scripts, sounds, and names.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John D. Phan is an Associate Professor of Vietnamese Humanities at Columbia University, based in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute. He focuses on the linguistic history of Vietnam and its cultural context.
.His first book, The Lost Tongues of the Red River: Annamese Middle Chinese & the Origins of the Vietnamese Language, published in April 2025 by Harvard University Press, posits the existence of a regional dialect of Middle Chinese once spoken in northern Vietnam (the Red River Delta) and explores how this dialect influenced the emergence of Vietnamese
Phan completed his M.A. at Columbia University (on Ming‑Qing vernacular fiction, 2005) and earned his Ph.D. from Cornell (on Sino‑Vietnamese language contact, 2012). His scholarship examines the evolution of writing systems, vernacular literary forms (like chữ Nôm), and the social-political implications of multilingualism in East Asia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nguyen
Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy - Laat meer zien
