Gatty Rewind Podcast

Welcome to Spicy SEAP! This special edition of the podcast recreates the popular TV show Hot Ones—but with a twist! Instead of chicken wings, our guests take on a lineup of spicy Southeast Asian dishes, from snacks to main courses and mysterious desserts.

Host Francine Barchett is joined by Lijun Zhang, a PhD candidate in History and co-chair of the Cornell Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) Gatty Lecture Series. Lijun's research explores female migration from southeastern China to British Malaya and Singapore, focusing on grassroots intimacy, women's mobility, and the agency that shaped legal travel within the colonial judiciary. Her academic journey began in a Singaporean high school and evolved through her undergraduate studies at Colgate. Lijun's favorite Indonesian word is duduk-duduk—any guesses on what it means? Tune in now!

Appetizers:

Carada Rice Ball Cuttlefish – 5:45

Hanami Chili Prawn Crackers – 7:15

Musang King Durian Cake – 11:15

Hapi Sriracha Peas – 15:40

Taokaenoi Mala Crispy Seaweed – 19:25

Grilled Spicy Seaweed Roll – 25:00

2xspicy Buldak Ramen – 33:40

Pandan Euro Cake – 40:07

Lijun Zhang's top recommendations:

• The White Lotus Season 3 by Mike White

• The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew

Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu

In this episode, Francine Barchett sits down to interview Dr. Benjamin Tausig, an Associate Professor of Critical Music Studies at SUNY Stony Brook University. Dr. Tausig shares his work on the transnational dialectic of queerness and race in Cold War-era Thailand. He describes the complex intersections of American military influence, local nightlife, and the socio-economic transformations that shaped Thai culture. Later, he also reflects on the murder of Darrel Berrigan, asking: how do non-heteronormative relationships play a role within this unique cultural moment? Through it all, he invites us to rethink how sound and silence can reveal hidden layers of history and politics around race and sexuality. And for graduate students juggling research and teaching? He has some reassuring words for you, too!

Lightning round: 4:06

Research and Lecture Summary: 14:16

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 44:50

Dr. Tausig 's top recommendations:

• Bangkok Wakes to Rain - Pitchaya Sudbanthad

• ตะลุยบางกอก - เพลิน พรหมแดน

• เพชรพิณทอง The Petch Phin Thong Band

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here.

In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Dr. Ivan V. Small, a Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Small talks about his research on Vietnamese refugee minorities in the U.S. following the Vietnam War and the Ford administration's resettlement policies. He shares how these communities resisted assimilation, often through second or third migrations. And he highlights the crucial role of automobiles in shaping immigrant experiences, enabling movement to new "ethno-burb" nodes that connected Asian communities. Dr. Small also talks about his university's podcast, Crossroads of the World, a sister podcast to the Gatty Rewind!

Lightning round: 3:59 Research and Lecture Summary: 13:53 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 34:16 Dr. Small's top recommendations:

• The Sympathizer

• Southeast Asia Crossroads Podcast - CSEAS @ NIU

• Suburban Refugees: Class and Resistance in Little Saigon by Jennifer Huynh

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here.

Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu

In this episode, host Francine Barchett pairs up with Shreya Chitnavis, a 2024 Cornell MPH graduate, to interview Dr. Joshua Babcock, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and affiliate faculty in Linguistics and Science & Technology Studies at Brown University. Dr. Babcock talks about the limitations of Singapore's racial and linguistic classifications. Reflecting on his findings, he presents a fiction of multi-racial multilingualism as Singapore's national identity. In Dr. Babcock's words, "racial community gets performed, policed, and blocked through everyday activity." And dare we say – Dr. Babcock is a researcher with many surprises! He shares how his work in Singapore involves another Singapore…one that is NOT in Asia!

Lightning round: 3:24

Research and Lecture Summary: 9:58

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 47:24

Dr. Babcock 's top recommendations:

• Ministry of Moral Panic - Amanda Lee Koe

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here.

Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu

In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Emi Donald, a PhD candidate in the Department of History at Cornell University. Emi shares insights from their 18-month fieldwork in Bangkok, where they explored the roles of tomboys (thom in Thai) and trans men. They highlight ways the transgender experience, including clinic access, social acceptance of the trans community, and their legal protections, have evolved in Thailand in recent history. Then they take a bittersweet victory lap on their PhD experience, with some tips for aspiring PhD students: learn a language, develop time management skills, and find your people to get you through the inevitable dissertation downs!

Lightning round: 3:34

Research and Lecture Summary: 9:41

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 28:49

Emi's top recommendations:

• A Good True Thai by Sunisa Manning
• How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
• Tiffany Tsao's English translations of Indonesian poetry

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here.

Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu

In this episode, Gatty Rewind founding host, Michael Kirkpatrick Miller, returns to interview Dr. Kathryn "Kitsie" Emerson, the Director of the EKALAYA Arts Centre in Java. Dr. Emerson talks about Semar Mbangun Kayangan, a wayang (Indonesian shadow puppet) piece. She explores the history, narratives, and motives behind its various versions, as each portrays a unique vision of utopia tailored to different demographics. She closes by sharing her journey of discovering the Javanese language and culture as a non-native speaker. Lightning round: 4:11 Research and Lecture Summary: 10:16 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 41:30 Dr. Emerson's top recommendations:

Tall Tree, Nest of the Wind by Bernard Arps

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here. Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.

In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Mr. Nielson Sophann Hul, a Khmer Lecturer at the University of Washington (at the time of the interview, he was defending his PhD in Linguistics at Cornell University). Mr. Hul's research explores how heritage Khmer speakers in the Northwestern US use implosives, or stop consonants, in their speech. He reveals that fluent Khmer speakers and speakers who have spent less time in the US generally use more implosives than others. Mr. Hul explains the importance of his findings: among immigrant communities, practicing one's native language strongly connects with their cultural and communal identities. Keeping listeners on their toes, Mr. Hul goes on to share his reflections as a veteran navigating graduate school, a bread baking addict, and a teacher returning to his roots.

Lightning round: 4:40

Research and Lecture Summary: 11:50

Recommendation and advice for researchers: 34:50

Mr.Hul's Top Recommendations:

• Still I Strive - Documentary by A. Todd Smith & Adam Pfleghaar

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here. Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.

In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Dr. Lawrence Chua, an associate professor at the School of Architecture at Syracuse University. Looking from the 1920s onward, he applies a historicist lens to study the histories of two museums: the Musée Albert Sarraut (Cambodge/modern day Cambodia) and the National Museum of Bangkok (Siam/modern day Thailand). Dr. Chua provides context from each to illustrate how fragments of the premodern past are recontextualized through both colonial and post-colonial regimes. Dr. Chua closes with insights about his homecoming to Cornell SEAP and advises all up-and-coming scholars on how to be competitive in an increasingly international academic job market. Lightning round: 4:18 Research and Lecture Summary: 24:22 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 1:02:20

Dr. Chua's top recommendations:

• Malila: The Farewell Flower by Anucha Boonyawatana
• Khwam rak khong Walaya by Seni Saowaphong เสนีย์ เสาวพงศ์
• Pisaj by Seni Saowaphong

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here.

Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.

In this episode, host Francine Barchett speaks with Dr. Dwi Noverini Djenar, an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Indonesian Studies Department at the University of Sydney. Her talk focuses on the linguistic features found in Indonesian broadcast news interviews. She shows that when sensitive topics are being discussed, the interview participants and audience may co-create "exonerative accounts," which free the speakers or audience of blame or guilt on that particular topic. She reveals examples of "exonerative accounts" through clips from a popular Indonesian political commentary podcast. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear Dr. Djenar's passion for the sounds and beauties of not only the Indonesian language but also other languages. Lightning Round: 3:26

Research and fieldwork summary: 11:29

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 40:09

Dr. Djenar's Top Recommendations:

• Other Indonesians: Nationalism in an Unnative Language by Joseph Errington
• Systemic Silencing: activism memory and sexual violence in indonesia by Katherine E. McGregor

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here. Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.

In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviewed Dr. Eric Thompson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore. He describes the development and recent publication of his book, "The Story of Southeast Asia." Cutting across anthropology, archeology, history, and other disciplines, Dr. Thompson recounts the many regional themes that had inspired this writing. He reconsiders colonialism's influence in Southeast Asia, highlights its unique interplay of religions and religious diversity, and revisits the long-standing debate: what actually is Southeast Asia? He also surprises Francine with some unexpected tidbits, including a fun fact involving none other than Taylor Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs. Lightning Round: 3:36 Research and fieldwork summary: 11:03 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 47:33

Eric Thompson's top recommendations:

• This Earth of Mankind - a film adaptation of Bumi Manusia by Pramoedya Ananta Toer

• Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan by Syamsul Yusof

• Sultan Agung Mataram 1628 and Kartini: Princess of Java by Hanung Bramantyo

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out here. Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.