In this powerful episode, Chad sits down with Audrey Chea, a former refugee from Cambodia whose life story embodies resilience, determination, and service to others. Audrey recounts her harrowing experiences of surviving the Khmer Rouge regime and the difficult transition to life in the United States as an immigrant. She reflects on how these early challenges shaped her identity, giving her both the strength and the empathy to dedicate her life to community building.

Audrey shares her journey of stepping into leadership roles at a young age, beginning with her involvement as a youth leader and later evolving into a career in social services. Her work has focused on supporting underserved families, advocating for access to resources, and guiding the Cambodian American community toward greater civic engagement. She highlights her efforts in promoting civic education, encouraging young people to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the power of their voices in shaping society.

Throughout the conversation, Audrey emphasizes the central role of education, resilience, and cultural pride in overcoming adversity. She speaks passionately about the need for Cambodian Americans to stay connected to their heritage while also actively participating in the broader American civic landscape. Her story stands as an inspiring reminder that healing and growth come not only from personal perseverance but also from lifting up the community around us.

https://www.chinaryung.com/index.html

In this episode, host Chad has the honor of interviewing Chinary Ung, the legendary Cambodian composer whose extraordinary journey bridges two worlds: the traditional sounds of Cambodia and the evolving landscape of contemporary music in the United States. From his childhood in Cambodia to his rise as a prominent figure in the international music scene, Chinary reflects on a life shaped by resilience, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to cultural preservation.

The conversation explores themes of identity, survival, and renewal, as Chinary recounts his formative years, his musical studies, and his arrival in New York during the 1960s—a time of artistic experimentation and cultural upheaval. He shares how these experiences influenced his compositions, blending Western modernism with the spiritual depth and melodic essence of Khmer traditions. Through his music, Chinary sought not only to innovate but also to ensure that Cambodian identity remained alive in the face of displacement and historical trauma.

Chinary also speaks candidly about the challenges Cambodian artists face in diaspora, where sustaining heritage can often feel like an uphill battle. Yet, his story is one of resilience and vision: he emphasizes the importance of embracing both tradition and innovation, showing how the two can coexist to create new artistic possibilities.

Looking ahead, Chinary offers a powerful message to the younger generation of Cambodian Americans and artists worldwide. He encourages them to embrace their heritage with pride, to express their creativity without fear, and to see art as a vital force for healing, connection, and cultural survival.

This episode is both a celebration of Chinary Ung’s life and work, and a call to action for future generations to carry forward the spirit of Khmer culture through creativity, resilience, and innovation.

In this episode, host Chad sits down with Neak Kru Charya, a master teacher and choreographer of Cambodian classical dance, at the Cambodian Heritage Museum in Chicago. Neak Kru shares her inspiring journey from Cambodia to the United States, reflecting on how her life experiences shaped her devotion to keeping Khmer traditions alive and accessible to new generations.

The conversation explores her lifelong commitment to Cambodian classical dance, an art form that embodies centuries of history, spirituality, and cultural storytelling. Neak Kru discusses how she uses dance as both an educational tool and a cultural bridge—helping Cambodian American youth reconnect with their heritage while also sharing the beauty of Khmer arts with wider audiences.

She highlights her current projects focused on teaching, mentorship, and community engagement, emphasizing the importance of passing down discipline, knowledge, and pride to ensure that the art form endures. Beyond technique and performance, she underscores how dance fosters healing, resilience, and cultural pride, particularly within communities still carrying the weight of displacement and historical trauma.

Looking to the future, Neak Kru Charya shares her vision for Cambodian arts in the diaspora—calling for stronger institutional support, intergenerational teaching, and opportunities for Khmer traditions to flourish in evolving cultural landscapes.

This conversation illuminates Neak Kru Charya’s artistry, leadership, and unwavering belief that dance is far more than performance—it is a living cultural legacy, a form of resistance against forgetting, and a powerful expression of identity and resilience.

In this conversation, host Chad speaks with Kevin Keo, a Khmer American artist and scholar whose work explores the intersections of culture, identity, and creativity. Growing up in Long Beach, California, home to one of the largest Cambodian American communities in the country, Kevin reflects on how his upbringing shaped his sense of belonging and inspired his path as both an artist and cultural advocate.

Now pursuing graduate studies in Museum and Exhibition Studies in Chicago, Kevin shares how his academic pursuits connect with his passion for art as a tool of preservation and expression. Specializing in ceramics, he views clay not only as a medium of artistic creation but also as a vessel for memory, resilience, and storytelling. For Kevin, working with clay embodies the endurance of Khmer culture and serves as an act of resistance against erasure.

Kevin also discusses his involvement in a community arts program that brings together participants from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing the role of art in fostering dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding. Through this work, he demonstrates how creative spaces can empower communities, bridge cultural divides, and sustain traditions while encouraging innovation.

Looking ahead, Kevin envisions a future where Cambodian artists thrive on a global stage and where museums dedicated to Khmer heritage become vibrant spaces for education, creativity, and pride. He stresses that art has the power to both safeguard cultural identity and inspire new generations to adapt and innovate.

This conversation highlights Kevin’s journey as an artist and scholar, while underscoring the transformative role of art as preservation, resistance, and community-building. His story is a reminder of the importance of cultural memory and the potential of creativity to shape a more connected and inspired future.

In this episode, host Chad interviews Fedrick Ngo, a Cambodian American professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), who shares his family’s journey of resilience, migration, and cultural rediscovery. Fedrick reflects on his family’s move from Cambodia to the United States, and how growing up in Syracuse, New York, and later Long Beach, California, shaped his identity and connection to both his Cambodian roots and his American upbringing.

He discusses the challenges of navigating life as a Cambodian American, from the struggles of assimilation to the search for belonging, and how these experiences ultimately inspired his passion for education. Fedrick describes how his academic path led him into research on community college outcomes, with a particular focus on the barriers faced by Cambodian American and other underrepresented students. Through his work as a professor, he emphasizes the importance of access, equity, and culturally responsive teaching as key to empowering the next generation of students.

Beyond his academic career, Fedrick shares his personal commitment to reconnecting with and preserving Cambodian culture, both for himself and for the broader Cambodian American community. He reflects on the significance of passing on Khmer traditions, language, and history to future generations, ensuring that cultural identity remains strong even in diaspora communities.

This conversation highlights the powerful intersections of community, education, and cultural identity, showing how Fedrick’s personal history and professional mission come together in service of both scholarship and cultural preservation. His story is a testament to the role of education as a tool not just for personal advancement, but also for collective empowerment and the safeguarding of cultural heritage.

In this episode, host Chad welcomes Punisa Pov, a Cambodian traditional musician whose journey reflects resilience, cultural pride, and the healing power of music. Punisa takes listeners back to her early life in Phnom Penh, where her love for traditional Khmer music first took root amid the everyday challenges her family faced. She speaks openly about the struggles of growing up, including her mother’s illness, and how those hardships strengthened her determination to pursue music not only as an art form but also as a source of comfort and strength.

Punisa describes her path through education and her transformative work with Cambodian Living Arts, an organization dedicated to revitalizing Cambodia’s artistic traditions after decades of upheaval. Her experiences there deepened her understanding of the importance of preserving cultural identity while also inspiring her to share her knowledge with younger generations.

Now based in the United States, Punisa plays a central role at the Cambodian Association of Illinois, where she teaches music, mentors youth, and helps foster a strong sense of community. Through her teaching and performances, she works to ensure that Cambodian music continues to flourish in the diaspora, serving as a living connection between Cambodia’s rich past and the evolving identity of Cambodian Americans today.

Throughout the conversation, Chad and Punisa touch on broader themes of cultural preservation, the importance of mental health, and how music can be a powerful tool for healing and unity. Punisa’s story is not just about her personal journey—it’s about the enduring strength of art to uplift, inspire, and carry forward the spirit of a people.

In this episode of Khmer Tree, host Chad engages in a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation with Neak Kru Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, a renowned Cambodian classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher, along with her husband, Pu John Shapiro, an artist and cultural advocate. Together, they share their life journeys, beginning with their formative years in Cambodia and the harrowing impact of living through the Khmer Rouge regime. They reflect on how those traumatic years shaped their outlook on resilience, survival, and the responsibility of carrying cultural identity forward.

The discussion explores not only their personal histories but also their deep connection to Cambodian classical dance. Neak Kru Sophiline recounts her path as one of the first students at the School of Fine Arts in post-war Cambodia, while John offers insights into the challenges and beauty of bridging cultures through the arts. The couple recalls how they met, their experiences during dance tours in the United States, and the difficult realities Cambodian artists faced — including the risks of defection and the struggles of preserving traditions far from home.

Central to the conversation is the founding of the Khmer Arts Academy, where they have dedicated their lives to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring younger generations of Cambodian Americans. They highlight how dance and education serve not only as artistic expression but also as powerful tools for healing and rebuilding a sense of identity after displacement and trauma.

Looking toward the future, Pu John and Neak Kru share their vision for the evolution of Cambodian arts and culture. They stress the importance of nurturing creativity, fostering innovation while respecting tradition, and ensuring that Khmer cultural values remain vibrant in an ever-changing world. Their story stands as a testament to perseverance, love, and the transformative power of art to connect communities across generations and continents.

In this episode, Chad engages in a thoughtful conversation with a Cambodian artist whose passion for pottery and ceramics serves as both a personal journey and a cultural statement. The artist shares how their path into the world of ceramics was not only about discovering a creative outlet but also about reconnecting with Khmer traditions and finding ways to preserve heritage through art.

Throughout the discussion, they reflect on the role of cultural representation in the arts—how creating pottery that honors Khmer history and aesthetics can foster pride and visibility within the community. The artist also emphasizes the importance of community building, noting how pottery has become a medium for connection, storytelling, and healing across generations.

Beyond the artistic process, the conversation explores the artist’s aspirations for the future, including expanding access to art education, creating collaborative spaces for Southeast Asian artists, and ensuring that Khmer heritage remains alive and relevant for younger generations. They highlight the value of cross-cultural collaboration, envisioning a world where diverse traditions and creative practices come together to strengthen community ties and promote deeper understanding.

This dialogue ultimately underscores the power of art—not only as a form of self-expression but also as a bridge between cultures, a preservation of history, and a catalyst for unity within and beyond the Khmer community.

In this episode, host Chad sits down with Brandy Myers, who shares her inspiring journey from Columbus, Ohio, to Long Beach, California, and the unique perspective she brings as a mixed-race individual within the Khmer community. Brandy reflects on the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities, the importance of finding belonging, and the ways community support has shaped her sense of self.

She opens up about the challenges of growing up in a multicultural household, balancing different traditions and expectations, and how these experiences fueled her passion for cultural preservation and advocacy. Brandy introduces her initiative, Khmer Kids, a project dedicated to creating accessible educational resources in the Khmer language for younger generations. She also highlights her involvement in the Beautiful Brown Bodians movement, which seeks to confront and heal the impact of colorism in the Khmer community by celebrating diversity in all shades and identities.

Looking toward the future, Brandy shares her vision of a thriving Khmer community—one that embraces collaboration, uplifts representation, and strengthens its connection to cultural roots. Her story is both a personal reflection and a call to action, encouraging listeners to celebrate heritage while building a more inclusive and united future.

In this episode, Chad interviews Samantha (Sam) Chanwantha Limon, a prominent Cambodian American leader whose inspiring journey reflects resilience, service, and dedication to community. Born in Cambodia during a time of great turmoil, Sam and her family were forced to flee the Khmer Rouge regime, ultimately finding refuge and building a new life in the United States. She shares the struggles of adjusting to a new culture while carrying the weight of her refugee experience, and how those challenges fueled her determination to succeed.

Through perseverance and an unwavering belief in education, Sam rose to become the Chief of Human Resources for Los Angeles County’s Department of Social Services, one of the largest public service institutions in the nation. In this leadership role, she not only oversees critical operations but also champions fairness, equity, and opportunities for underrepresented communities. Her lived experience as a refugee informs her empathy-driven leadership style and her commitment to creating pathways for others.

Sam also reflects on her passion for community service and representation, emphasizing how important it is for Cambodian Americans and immigrant communities to see themselves in positions of influence. She discusses her vision for a united future where cultural identity is celebrated as a strength, not a dividing line, and where the Cambodian American community can thrive through solidarity and collaboration.

Her story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring. By embodying the values of hard work, education, and giving back, Sam encourages others—especially younger generations—to embrace their identities with pride and to contribute positively to the world around them. Her journey from refugee to respected leader serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, possibility, and the impact one person can make.