The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen
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.
Episodes
What leads a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant to reject cultural expectations and become a professional Dominatrix in Prague?
In this episode, Ken sits down with Thea, a professional Dominatrix based in Prague, Czech Republic. Thea opens up about her journey, from her family's immigration during the Communist Czechoslovakia era to leaving corporate PR after burning out, and ultimately stepping into the world of female dominatio...
Can we break through the noise of identity politics, red-baiting, and online division to find real common ground in Little Saigon?
In this episode, Ken sits down with attorney and activist Brian Nguyen for a deep, pragmatic conversation about political polarization, tax policy, class consciousness, and bridging the divide within the Vietnamese diaspora. Brian breaks down why labeling Democratic policies as "Communist" is both semant...
How do we navigate the deeply divided politics of Little Saigon without erasing our history or attacking each other?
In this episode, Ken sits down with attorney Tracy Nguyen for a candid, high-energy discussion on heritage, political polarization, red-baiting, and free speech in the Vietnamese diaspora. Despite identifying with progressive values, Tracy shares her deep sadness over the potential erasure of South Vietnamese history ...
Does the rise of AI-generated content destroy commercial art—or does it actually skyrocket the value of real human creativity?
In this returning episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down in person with artist and recurring guest Brian Huang, visiting from Canada for the Viet Film Festival. After a night of raising thousands of dollars for the festival through donated original art, Brian and Kenneth dive ...
What does it mean to experience love across 20 years of incarceration, social change, and personal evolution?
In this returning episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Dr. Thao Ha to discuss the release of her debut memoir, Love Letters to the Dirty South. Thao shares the real-life story behind her first love, Vu, a charismatic young man from Houston's 1990s street scene who was sentenced to 60 years in...
How did Vietnam's theatrical film market grow from an era of 100% pirated DVDs to over $200 million in box office revenue?
In this episode, Ken sits down with studio veteran Derek Powell, former executive at Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. Derek provides a rare insider look at how major Hollywood studios analyzed, entered, and structured distribution deals in emerging Asian markets like China, Thailand, and Vietnam during the ea...
What does it take to govern a diverse school district like Garden Grove Unified when you come from the very neighborhood you now represent?
In this episode, Ken sits down with Walter Muneton, long-serving trustee for the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education. Raised in Garden Grove’s Buena Clinton neighborhood by Mexican immigrant parents, Walter shares his journey from an introverted student to a community o...
How does an event producer behind multi-million dollar experiences for Google and Jack Morton transition into building an AI-driven platform for the event industry?
In this episode, Ken sits down with Julia Vu, founder and CEO of the event community. Julia shares her 11-year journey in experiential marketing—from organizing campus events at UC Riverside to producing high-budget corporate experiences—and explains why she ...
What is it like growing up literally above a jazz club in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, and taking those roots to Idlewild Arts and Berklee College of Music?
In this episode, Ken sits down with saxophonist, producer, and film composer Antran (@antransax). Daughter of legendary Vietnamese saxophonist Trần Mạnh Tuấn, Antran shares her unique musical trajectory, from absorbing jazz standards by osmosis as a child living above Saigon's ...
What keeps a veteran actor and director driven after 40 years navigating the highs and lows of Hollywood and the Vietnamese film industry?
In this third-round sit-down at the Viet Film Festival inside the Bowers Museum, host Kenneth Nguyen reunites with actor, director, and industry icon Dustin Nguyen (21 Jump Street, Warrior, Dope Thief, Superfakes). Recorded as Dustin received the festival's Inspiration Award, the two dive into a ...
What pushes an ordinary resident and 35-year community member to step into the tumultuous arena of Westminster city politics?
In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Loan Nguyen, candidate for Westminster City Council (District 4). Loan shares the pivotal moment that triggered her campaign: witnessing the city council's controversial decision to add a "Charlie Kirk Way" sign alongside All Americ...
How can local politics in Little Saigon move past old red-baiting tactics to focus on infrastructure, human rights, and community safety?
In this episode, Ken sits down with Hieu Nguyen—a social worker with over 20 years of mental health experience, co-founder of Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), and candidate for Garden Grove City Council (District 4).
Hieu discusses his journey from immigrating to the US in 1993 to becomi...
What drives a martial artist trained at Montreal’s legendary TriStar Gym to step onto a comedy stage and bare her soul?
In this episode, Ken sits down with Tina Pham—a former MMA fighter, personal trainer, and actor turned stand-up comedian based in Vancouver, Canada. Tina opens up about the deep childhood dynamics, family trauma, and personal turning points that shaped her drive for raw honesty and performance under pre...
How does a former boat refugee who lived in a jungle refugee camp for three years end up redefining premium Vietnamese dining in San Francisco?
In this episode, Ken sits down in San Francisco with Viet (Mr. Gao), owner of Mr. Gao and Venticello/Ventre. Known across social media for his bold personality, luxury dishes, and $41 bowl of Phở, Viet opens up about the deeply personal backstory he rarely shares publicly.
Viet breaks down hi...
How do we honor our parents' refugee history while fighting for local policy, rent control, and political representation?
In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Tracy La, founder and Executive Director of VietRise and candidate for the Garden Grove School Board. Years after first meeting at an Oregon symposium on the 50th anniversary of the war, Kenneth and Tracy reunite for a candid, wide-rang...
How does a camera assistant with 20 years in the film business transition into co-writing a feature film released by Sony Pictures Classics?
In this episode, Ken sits down with Philadelphia-based writer, camera assistant, and filmmaker Nick Huynh. Nick shares his journey growing up in Northern Virginia, getting his start in theater at George Mason University, grinding through camera department roles for two decades on East Coast set...
How did family remittances, refugee history, and Little Saigon business shape the long road toward reconciliation?
In this episode, Ken sits down with long-time friend Phu Nguyen—Coast Community College District Trustee, community advocate, and member of the historic Hoa Phat family. Phu shares his family’s harrowing journey leaving Vietnam by boat in 1981, being rescued by the Chinese military at sea, and arriving in So...
How does inherited trauma drive our deep obsession with history, identity, and cultural preservation?
In Part 2 of this conversation, Ken sits down with Columbia University archaeologist Prof. Nam C. Kim to explore the deep psychological and cultural connection between trauma, passion, and heritage.
Kenneth and Nam discuss how family displacement during the Cold War and the 1975 refugee exodus shaped their lifelong obsession with arc...
Why did ancient Vietnamese communities dye their teeth black—and what did it mean about their identity, beauty, and survival?
In this episode, Ken reunites with Columbia University archaeologist Prof. Nam C. Kim to explore the history, science, and cultural evolution of tooth blackening (nhuộm răng đen) in ancient and modern Vietnam.
Joined by special guest artist and tattoo historian Andy Hori Tran, Kenneth and Nam examine rec...
How does a young producer from Toronto go from making beats in high school to producing for Drake, Big Sean, Eminem, Zayn, and Nicki Minaj?
In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with acclaimed music producer FrancisGotHeat (Francis Nguyen-Tran). Francis shares his journey of growing up in Toronto as the youngest of six children in a musical refugee family, turning down early bad record deals at 17,...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
DISGRACELAND is an award-winning music and true crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. Jerry Lee Lewis's 5th wife? Dead. Sid and Nancy? Both dead. Why? Because musicians are insane, and insane things happen to them. Why did we lose Amy Winehouse at 27? Was Debbie Harry really abducted by Ted Bundy as she claims? Is Patti Smith not just the "Godmother of Punk", but also the "Original True Crime Girl"? What really happened the night of the Jay Z nightclub stabbing? What do the Diddy indictments truly reveal? All these stories and more, on artists from every genre and their true crimes, in our massive 260-plus story archive. The Dead, the Stones, Johnny, Willie, Frank, Kurt, Courtney, Gaga, Lana, Taylor, and too many to name. DISGRACELAND is music history come to life through audio storytelling as you've never heard it before, with revealing facts: yes, assassins are the real reason the Beatles quit touring—reclaimed myths: no, Mama Cass didn't die from choking on a ham sandwich––and constant reckoning between art and artist––all told through the lens of true crime. This is the podcast for the self-proclaimed "Disgos", the musically obsessed and the true crime heads; the outsiders, the independent thinkers who know that the best history is the history that gets buried. DISGRACELAND is where host Jake Brennan tells the stories they didn't want told. The kind you'll end up telling someone else. Get ready to uncover hidden truths and buckle up for truly edge-of-your-seat storytelling. New, fully scripted, sound-designed episodes are released every Tuesday. Bonus chat-style episodes where Jake responds to voicemails, texts, and emails from Disgos hit on Thursdays, and "Rewind" episodes from our archive drop on Sundays. DISGRACELAND is not a journalistic podcast. It's an entertainment podcast inspired by true events. Certain dialogue and scenes are dramatized, as is common in scripted entertainment based on real stories. Sources and credits for each episode are available at www.disgracelandpod.com. To unlock ad-free listening, exclusive content, and connect with your fellow Disgos, go to www.disgracelandpod.com to become an All Access member. Rocka Rolla.