The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

How can a regional museum bridge global heritage with local diaspora communities?In this episode, Ken visits the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, to sit down with President and CEO Dr. Sean O'Harrow. Born in France, raised in Hawaii, and educated at Harvard, Sean is the son of a prominent American professor of Vietnamese language and a French-Vietnamese mother.Sean shares his personal journey navigating biracial identity—what he playfully calls being a "bánh bao" or "chặp phở" (a unique mix)—and explains how growing up as an out...

What does it mean to bridge two distinct cultures forged during a time of war?In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Derek Powell, an Air Force Academy graduate, former corporate executive, and board member of the Amerasian Coalition. Born in Cần Thơ, Vietnam in 1971 to a Vietnamese mother and a Black American Air Force serviceman, Derek shares his journey of growing up in Riverside, California, navigating dual heritages, and returning to Vietnam as an adult to reconnect with his family.Derek ope...

How did two 1st-century leaders become the ultimate symbol of Vietnamese anti-colonial resistance—and how has their story changed over 2,000 years?In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen reunites with Columbia University professor John D. Phan to launch a new sub-series exploring the origins, myths, and evolution of iconic Vietnamese heroes (anh hùng).Focusing on Hai Bà Trưng (the Trưng Sisters, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị), John breaks down the three primary textual layers that form their legend: from 1st-century Han Dynasty...

What does it mean to be a modern Vietnamese musician in the world of jazz?In this episode, Ken sits down with jazz guitarist and composer Pham Quang Tri (Trí Phạm). Trained at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music and currently studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Trí shares his journey from listening to Japanese fusion and rock to discovering the deep lineage of Bebop, Hard Bop, and improvisation.Trí and Kenneth explore the concept of honesty in music, the contrast between rehearsed performance and s...

How do you honor a legendary family business after it goes bankrupt—and rebuild it for a new generation?In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen reunites with Sophie Baojiang, co-founder of Mommy & Me Vietnamese and daughter of the creators behind the iconic 1990s Vietnamese children's media company Thế Hệ Trẻ.Sophie opens up about growing up inside the family's flagship Asian Garden Mall store, watching her parents navigate the digital shift and ultimate bankruptcy in the mid-2000s, and why they initially urged her not to enter...

What happens when an academic insider steps away from the institution?In this episode, Ken visits Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen at his home. Following his recent retirement from the University of Southern California (USC) after 28 years, Viet opens up about the realities of higher education, the corporate mechanics of major universities, and the psychological freedom of stepping away from academia.Viet and Kenneth dive into the state of modern America, examining political division, the price of free speech, self-censorship, the impact of AI on writing, and the...

How do you build a massive online brand without losing your authentic creative voice?In this episode, Ken sits down with writer, director, actor, and content creator Milky Tran. Milky opens up about her creative journey—from serving as president of a high school "destructive decisions" club in Pittsburgh to directing for Jubilee, moving to Los Angeles, and building her own viral series like Three Adult Things and Next Session.Milky and Kenneth dive into the realities of modern content creation: balancing high-production storytelling with social-first algorithms, maintaining creative co...

In this episode, host Ken catches up with creator and fan-favorite guest Phúc Mập to break down his recent road trip to Marian Days (Đại Hội Thánh Mẫu) in Carthage, Missouri.Phúc Mập shares his firsthand experience as one of the few non-Vietnamese attendees at the massive annual pilgrimage, exploring the sprawling campgrounds, massive pop-up dining halls, and the vibrant family-reunion atmosphere that fills the town. They also dive into his life as a creator, the realities of maintaining his Vietnamese fluency, his new credit card rewards project (The C...

What if the "American Dream" isn't a 3,000-square-foot house and a corporate job?In this episode, Ken sits down with Vu and Jenny from the popular channel Cuộc Sống Di Động (The Mobile Life). From meeting at a New Jersey car dealership to climbing the corporate ladder in Texas, Vu and Jenny had everything traditionally defined as success—a dream home, high incomes, and premium cars. But five years ago, they made a radical choice: sell everything, give away their belongings on Facebook Marketplace, and take to the open road full-time with their thr...

Does the food we eat define our national identity—or does history make it far more complicated?In this episode, Ken catches up with creator and researcher Chris Tran (Chris Tran Travels) to unpack the deep, unexpected rabbit holes of Vietnamese history, food evolution, and diaspora identity.Chris shares insights from co-hosting a Brown University study abroad course across Vietnam, examining how geography, harsh climates, and Champa/Khmer cultural exchanges shaped the pungent, fermented flavors (mắm) of Central and Southern cuisine. Kenneth and Chris also dive into the visi...

Is the next generation of Asian-American pop-rock already here?In this episode, Ken sits down with 16-year-old high school junior, singer-songwriter, and rising rock artist Ella Quinn (Ella Quỳnh). Ella reflects on her journey from dealing with extreme stage anxiety and panic attacks to writing original music and releasing her debut single, Iconic.Ella opens up about the rare and unwavering support of her "dadager" and family in a culture that traditionally pushes medical or legal careers, navigating perfectionism, and keeping her music career a complete secret from he...

In this episode, Ken sits down for a second interview with legendary actor, director, and producer Dustin Nguyen.Dustin reflects on the turbulent chapters of his career—from early stardom on 21 Jump Street, SeaQuest DSV, and VIP with Pamela Anderson, to the tragic car accident that left his former wife quadriplegic and wiped out his personal finances. He shares untold stories from his decade away from Hollywood, including running a boutique custom leather and silver jewelry shop on Melrose catering to rock legends like Steven Tyler, Billy Idol, James Hetfield, and Jackie Chan....

In 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 le...

In 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...

In 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...

In 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 ar...

In 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, forgot...

In 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 dem...

In 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 fr...

In 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 a...