In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I speak with Li-Da Kruger, a Cambodian-born British filmmaker and adoptee, whose search for identity has shaped the course of her life. Adopted as a baby just before the Khmer Rouge came to power, Li-Da was raised in the UK with little connection to her roots. For decades, she carried the weight of survival, guilt, and longing for a culture that felt both hers and not hers.

We talk about the emotional complexities of growing up as an adoptee, the guilt that comes with being spared, and the moment she finally felt permission to claim her Cambodian identity. Through her documentaries Belonging and Prue Leith: Journey with My Daughter, and her charity Reconnecting Cambodia, Li-Da has transformed her personal story into a mission to help others find their missing family and sense of self.

This episode is for anyone asking where they come from, and what it means to belong.

Supporting Li-Da’s Work:

DONATE | Facebook |  LinknedIn
Insta | Youtube | Tiktok

www.reconnectingcambodia.org
[email protected]

This week on the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I sit down with James Taing, founder of the Preah Vihear Foundation, author of Under the Naga Tail, and director of the short documentary Ghost Mountain. James shares the deeply personal story of his father, who survived the Khmer Rouge only to face a second, lesser-known atrocity: being forced back across the Thai-Cambodian border into a minefield enduring a trauma shared by more than 45,000 refugees seeking safety in 1979.

We discuss Taings’s years of research, the emotional weight of telling this story, and how Ghost Mountain is helping shine a light on a history so few have heard. We also talk about the rising tensions between Cambodia and Thailand today, and how this conflict is not new, but rooted in generations of political trauma and displacement. Tiang’s dedication to preserving memory, honoring victims, and educating future generations is a powerful reminder of why these stories must be told.

Supporting James Taing’s Work:

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Naga-Tail-Survival-Cambodian/dp/B0BDY14NM9

https://www.amazon.com/Destroy-You-No-Loss-Cambodian-ebook/dp/B089YYJP41/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0557554764

https://mjqeducation.edu.kh/articles/dangrek-mountains----unforgettable

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Landmine-Blooms-Aditi-Kahn/dp/B0DR2ZSJJL/

https://www.pvfund.org/ghostmountain

Facebook | Instagram | IMDB

Episode Description

In the latest episode of the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Chef Ros Rotanak (better known as Chef Nak) Cambodia’s leading culinary ambassador and the author of the award-winning cookbook SAOI. From her earliest memories of cooking out of necessity to her rise as a global advocate for Khmer food, Chef Nak’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and passion.

In this interview, she opens up about the emotional weight of her achievements, the delicate balance between honoring tradition and modernizing presentation, and how cooking became a way to reclaim and share Cambodian identity after the Khmer Rouge. This episode is a reminder that food can be about more than just nourishment. It can open the door to unlocking cultural memories, resistance, and pride.

Supporting Chef Nak’s Work:

https://www.chefnak.com/

SAOY - Royal Cambodian Home Cuisine

NHUM - Recipes from a Cambodian Home Kitchen

www.instagram.com/chefnak/

In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Amara Goel, a Cambodian American performing artist, and policy analyst whose journey spans refugee camps, international stages, and global policy work.

Amara shares her experiences growing up as a 1.5 generation immigrant and how her identity has been shaped by a life lived across countries and cultures. We explore her deep connection to Cambodian history and how the lack of education around the Khmer Rouge in the U.S. fuels her passion for storytelling and advocacy.

From her roles in Where Elephants Weep, Sun and Sea, and Winds of Angkor to her work with World Vision and the United Nations International Labour Organization, Amara seamlessly bridges the worlds of art and activism. She opens up about how creativity and policy work are intertwined in her mission to drive social change, particularly in eradicating child labor and addressing the global hunger crisis.

Amara also shares her future aspirations, including developing her voice as a poet and deepening her impact across both the arts and humanitarian fields.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing, identity, and activism can take many forms and that storytelling is at the heart of lasting change.

Support Amara Goels Work:

• Unprecedented hunger, mental health tragedy, and gender-based violence: The crisis for children and families in Sudan - Sudan | ReliefWeb
• Food prices continue to rise in the world’s poorest countries - World | ReliefWeb 
• Collaboration and Commemoration: Acknowledging the Khmer Rouge Genocide Through Art

** In this episode, Amara Goel refers to earning a master’s degree and joining Sun & Sea in 2003. She has since clarified that she earned a bachelor’s degree in classical voice and joined the cast in 2023.**

In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Caylee So, a Cambodian-American filmmaker, veteran, and co-founder of the Cambodian Town Film Festival. Born in a refugee camp after her parents fled the Khmer Rouge, Caylee shares her incredible journey from growing up in Virginia to serving in the Army National Guard and ultimately finding her voice through filmmaking.

We talk about the life-altering impact of her mother’s death, her deployment to Iraq, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of identity, heritage, and storytelling. Caylee opens up about her path from business student to creative writer to director, and why she feels it’s more important than ever to bring Cambodian narratives to the screen.

From directing morale plays during her time in the military to creating films like In the Life of Music, Caylee’s story is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the power of diverse voices in cinema.

This episode is a tribute to the importance of telling the stories that matter—and to building spaces where new ones can thrive.

Supporting Caylee So’s Work:

https://www.demoreel.com/cayleeso

https://www.instagram.com/caylee_so/

With the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge upon us, I’m honored to share a conversation that holds so much weight, truth, and heart. In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Loung Ung, Cambodian-American author, activist, and survivor.

You probably know Loung from her memoir First They Killed My Father, which tells the story of her survival during the Khmer Rouge regime. It was later adapted into a Netflix film, co-written with and directed by Angelina Jolie. But in this conversation, Loung goes even deeper—sharing the emotional toll of writing her story, the healing that came through Buddhism, and the journey of reconnecting with her sister and her homeland.

We talk about the complexities of privilege, family, and cultural identity—and what it means to live a purposeful life after trauma. Loung's honesty, strength, and compassion left a lasting impression on me, and I think it will for you, too.

This episode is for anyone who believes in the power of storytelling, the resilience of the human heart, and the importance of remembering where we come from.

Supporting Loung Ung’s Work:

https://www.loungung.com/

“First They Killed My Father”: https://www.amazon.com/First-They-Killed-Father-Remembers/dp/0060856262/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457124158&sr=8-1&keywords=first+they+killed+my+father

French-Cambodian artist Jean-Baptiste Phou joins Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast for a powerful conversation about identity, creative expression, and the journey of reconnection. Born in Paris and now based in Phnom Penh, Jean-Baptiste reflects on growing up as a Cambodian immigrant in France, grappling with cultural disconnection, and ultimately leaving a career in finance to pursue a life in the arts.

Phou shares insights into his collaborations with renowned filmmaker Rithy Panh, the inspiration behind his film My Mother’s Tongue, and the emotional depth of his latest book Coming Out of My Skin—a bold and vulnerable exploration of racism, sexuality, and belonging within the gay community in France.

Through writing, film, and performance, Phou creates space for conversations about heritage, healing, and the nuances of living between worlds. This episode is an intimate look at what it means to reclaim your narrative, challenge silence, and make art that moves culture forward.

Supporting Jean-Baptiste Phou’s Work:

jeanbaptistephou.com

In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, we sit down with Patricia McCormick, a two-time National Book Award finalist and the acclaimed author of Never Fall Down, a powerful novel based on the true story of Arne Chorn-Pond, a boy who survived the Khmer Rouge by playing music. With a background in journalism and a passion for storytelling, McCormick has spent her career shedding light on issues of trauma, healing, and resilience, tackling difficult subjects such as child soldiers, human trafficking, and genocide in her critically acclaimed books.

We talk about the challenges of writing about real-life atrocities, the emotional toll of interviewing survivors, and the importance of preserving history through literature. McCormick shares her experiences working closely with Arne, how music became a lifeline for him in the killing fields, and why storytelling is a vital tool for both healing and historical awareness.

This conversation is a deep dive into the responsibility of writers in shaping how future generations understand genocide, war, and survival. It also highlights why survivors’ voices matter and how books like Never Fall Down serve as crucial records of Cambodia’s painful history.

Supporting Patricia McCormicks Work:

https://www.patriciamccormick.com

Never Fall Down (Amazon)

We’re back with Season 3 of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, and we’re still going strong with incredible interviews! This week, we’re joined by Sin Setsochhata, a rising singer-songwriter from Phnom Penh and the granddaughter of the legendary Sinn Sisamouth—Cambodia’s “Elvis” and a trailblazer of Khmer rock.

Setsochhata opens up about growing up in a musical family, the challenges of living up to her grandfather’s iconic legacy, and her determination to preserve her family’s musical roots while carving out her own identity. She shares her reflections on the evolution of Cambodia’s music industry, the importance of community among artists, and the healing power of music in addressing generational trauma.

This conversation also highlights Setsochhata’s dedication to mental health awareness and her aspirations for the future, including her recent remake of her grandfather’s classic song, Tumpapa Dumbong.

Join us for this inspiring episode as we continue to explore the resilience, creativity, and strength of Cambodia’s next generation of artists.

Supporting Sin Setsochhata’s Work:

In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, we sit down with anthropologist Dr. Judy Ledgerwood, an expert on generational trauma and Southeast Asian studies. Drawing from decades of research in Cambodia and with Cambodian refugees in the United States, Dr. Ledgerwood unpacks the profound aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Together, they explore the regime’s devastating impact on mortality, family structures, and gender roles, and how survivors rebuilt their lives amid lingering fear and uncertainty. The revival of Buddhism plays a central role in this healing process, offering solace and a sense of community to those grappling with trauma.

Dr. Ledgerwood also emphasizes the importance of storytelling and education in understanding the Khmer Rouge’s legacy and ensuring history does not repeat itself. Amidst the challenges, she offers a message of hope for Cambodia’s future, highlighting progress in economic development and education.

This conversation is a powerful exploration of resilience, healing, and the enduring strength of the Cambodian people.

Supporting Dr. Judy Ledgerwood’s Work:

At the Edge of the Forest: Essays on Cambodia, History, and Narrative in Honor of David Chandler

Cambodia Emerges from the Past: Eight Essays