Lao writers Krysada Phounsiri and Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay converse with hosts Viet Thanh Nguyen and Philip Nguyen.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

Krysada Phounsiri is a Lao American award winning poet, professional dancer, optical engineer, and photographer. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a Physics & Astrophysics double major. He minored in Creative Writing with a focus on poetry. His poetry has been featured in various publications like the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education, SEARAC 40 & Forward, and San Diego Poetry Together anthology. He has authored two poetry books: "Dance Among Elephants," 2015, which takes readers on a profound journey of identity, family, homeland, love, and dance, and "Every Passing Minute," 2020, continuing the exploration of themes from his first book."

Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay is a Lao American poet and playwright. CNN’s “United Shades of America” host W. Kamau Bell called her work “revolutionary.” She is the author of the children's book When Everything Was Everything (Full Circle Publishing 2018) and is best known for her Kung Fu Zombies play cycle. Her work has been presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, Theater Mu, Walking Shadow Theatre Company, and elsewhere. She's currently living large thanks to grants from the MN State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, as well as fellowships from the Bush Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and the Center for Cultural Power this year. She's a recent writer in residence at Hedgebrook and at Djerassi by invitation of the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network. www.refugenius.net  @refugenius