Sabaidee and Hello! Welcome to another episode of our podcast, Legacies . I’m Dr. Palina Louangketh, Board member emeritus with Legacies of War and I have the honor today of welcoming to the podcast our friend, Saengthong Douangdara!

Saeng is a personal chef who specializes in Lao cuisine turned content creator. After earning his undergraduate degree in social welfare with certificates in Asian American Studies and Southeast Asian Studies, he pursued a Master's degree in counseling psychology. While working as a counselor at the University of California, He also taught as a chef instructor in the evenings at the School of Gourmandise.

A month-long trip back to Laos inspired Saeng to start his personal chef business, Saeng's Kitchen LLC, and cook for Hollywood clientele.

Saeng’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as Delish, Buzzfeed, the New York Times, and LA Times. He even won an episode of the new TBS cooking competition show, Rat In The Kitchen. Saeng is one of many chefs who are part of the Lao Food Movement, a grassroots effort to center and empower Lao cuisine. His goal is to continue advocating for Lao cuisine and inspire others to explore the delicious flavors of our culture.

Thank you, Saeng, for our conversation today. Thank you dear listeners,  for tuning into Legacies brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors AKIN GUMP and ARTICLE22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laos.

The Lao Kitchen: https://www.saengskitchen.com/cookbook

Legacies of War: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Xin chào and Hello! Welcome to another episode of LEGACIES. My name is Sophia Tran-Vu, Board Member at Legacies of War. Today we have the sincere pleasure of welcoming our friend, Richard A. Berliner, a journalist, author and community activist.

Author of A Different Journey: Vietnam 1965-1973, Richard shares with us the story of his young adult life -- his journey to Vietnam to find adventure in a place as unlike home as he could imagine. What he discovered during his time in Vietnam was a country, a people, a culture not defined by war. Countless visits to remote villages, walking for miles to return someone home safely, and staying to discover and uncover more stories when others were returning home.

Richard ends this interview with a quote from Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". Indeed, his life and dedication to the service of his community demonstrate exactly that.

Learn more about Richard A. Berliner: https://richardaberliner.com/

Donate $50 to Legacies of War and select A Different Journey: Vietnam 1965-1973 as your gift! https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Thank you, Richard, for our conversation today and for supporting Legacies’ mission. Thank you dear listeners,  for tuning into LEGACIES brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors AKIN GUMP and ARTICLE22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laos

Cover photo: Richard A. Berliner, Berliner on a ferry in Cam Ranh Bay returning from a refugee camp in 1967.

Sabaidee and welcome back to another episode of LEGACIES! I am your host, Danae Hendrickson, Chief of Mission Advancement and Communications for Legacies of War. Today, we are joined by our friend Murray Hiebert, Former Country Director for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and now a top Asia expert and skilled researcher with three decades of experience living and working in Asia.

In this conversation, we hear Murray's journey from frightfully cold Canada to the humid heat of Vietnam and Laos in the the last years of U.S. wars. Murray's reflection and life as a pacifist show us that when all you can do is witness and take small steps toward reconciliation and healing, you are actually building the foundation of something much greater -- in this case, the beginning of formal humanitarian demining in Laos.

LEGACIES is brought to you FREE thanks to the generous support from our sponsors Akin Gump and ARTICLE22. Learn more and join the movement: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Sabaidee and welcome back to another episode of Thip Khao Talk! I am your host, Angela Nachampassak, an Advocacy Ambassador for Legacies of War. Today, we are joined by our friend Louis Wolf, Former International Voluntary Services (IVS) volunteer, Co-Founder of CovertAction Magazine, Author, and journalist.

This conversation is unlike any we've released on this podcast. Louis reflects on the years he spent in Laos during The American Secret War in Laos, what he witnessed watching CIA activity, and details of what civilians in Laos were experiencing as they risked their lives trying to survive. Louis has dedicated his entire career to continuing to call for peace, justice, and accountability for those that have caused harm. The stories that he shares with us highlight his genuine care for humanity -- no matter where or who.

Learn more about CovertAction Magazine here: https://covertactionmagazine.com/

Our Thip Khao Podcast is brought to you FREE thanks to the generous support from our sponsors Akin Gump and ARTICLE22. Special thank you to our Advocacy Ambassador, Angela Nachampassak, for hosting this special episode.https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Xin chào, Sabaidee, and hello everyone! Welcome back to another episode of the Thip Khao Podcast. I’m Jewelry Pouna Keodara, an Advocacy Ambassador from IL, and Peachey Peace Fellow with Legacies of War.

Today, I’m truly honored to welcome Terry Vo, Metro Council Member for District 17 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Terry is not only an incredible leader but also someone whose story carries so much heart. As the proud daughter of Vietnamese refugees, her journey speaks to resilience, compassion, and the power of community.

Terry Vo is the District 17 Metro Council member and Partnerships Director for API Middle TN. The first Vietnamese American elected to Metro Council, Terry champions inclusive, integrity-driven solutions for Nashville. A dedicated advocate for social change, she is the founding Immigrant Caucus Chair and serves on the Friends of Fort Negley Board of Directors and GUIDER Advisory Board for the Nashville Predators. Raised by Vietnamese immigrants in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Terry holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Arkansas and a master’s in governance and public policy from the University of Queensland. In her global career, she has worked across nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors, building bilateral relations between U.S. and Japan and connecting Tennesseans to affordable internet. She is a US Japan Foundation Program Fellow and proud alumna of Leadership Middle Tennessee, Leadership Tennessee, and the US Global Leaders Coalition’s Next Gen Global Leaders Network Class of 2024. She was recently named the Nashville Emerging Leaders Award Government and Public Affairs recipient! In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and the Beautiful Bookworms Book Club.

Thank you all, dear friends,  for tuning into Thip Khao Talk brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors Akin Gump and Article 22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laos. Learn more about Legacies of War: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Welcome to another episode of Thip Khao Podcast. I’m Murphy Nosanchuk, a founding member of our Advocacy Ambassador program for Legacies of War and I have the honor today of welcoming to the podcast our friend Shari Bryan.

Shari directs all aspects of operations for MAG US, working out of the United States headquarters in Washington DC. As Executive Vice President at the National Democratic Institute, she led a global non-profit organization with 1,300 employees in 65 countries, working directly with foreign political leaders and civic partners on issues related to democracy, governance, electoral integrity and conflict recovery. Shari has decades of experience managing relationships with donor aid agencies, including the US State Department, USAID, European governments and multilateral organizations.

To learn more about Mines Advisory Group US: https://www.mag-us.org/

Thank you all, dear friends,  for tuning into Thip Khao Talk brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors Akin Gump and Article 22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laos.Learn more about Legacies of War: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Sabaidee, and Hello! Welcome to another episode of Thip Khao Talk Podcast. I’m Murphy Nosanchuk, Founding Member of our Legacies Advocacy Ambassador Program (LAAP) here  at  Legacies of War and I have the honor today of welcoming to the podcast our friends, Dick and Dabney Schmitt.

Together they’ve supported numerous projects in Vietnam in particular and the world in general, through founding The Landon Carter Schmitt Memorial Fund, working with Children of Vietnam, and continuing their tireless work to support those in need. I also want to note that they’ve been close personal friends to my own family, and they have been critical in getting people like myself involved in good works in Southeast Asia. As Friends of Legacies, it was in fact Dick and Dabney who introduced me to the mission and the rest is history!Thank you, Dick and Dabney, for spending time with us today.

Thank you all, dear friends,  for tuning into Thip Khao Talk brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors Akin Gump and Article 22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laos.

Sabaidee, Hola, and Hello! Welcome to another episode of Thip Khao Podcast. I’m Allie Soisouvanh Price, an Advocacy Ambassador for Legacies of War and I have the honor today of welcoming to the podcast our dear friend, Susan Hammond. Susan is the Executive Director and Founder of the War Legacies Project. Today’s episode will be in recognition of the International Day of Remembrance of All Victims of Chemical Weapons.

Susan Hammond is the daughter of a U.S. Vietnam War veteran. Susan became interested in post-war Southeast Asia after her visits to Cambodia and Vietnam in 1991. Susan graduated from New York University with her Master’s of Arts in International Education in 1996. Susan was the Deputy Director of Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD) from 1996 to 2007. During that time as the Deputy Director, Susan lived in New York, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia and coordinated programs for them. In 2007, Susan founded the War Legacies Project in her home state of Vermont. In 2019, she received the Vietnam Order of Friendship medal for her remarkable work in Vietnam. 

https://www.warlegacies.org/

Thank you for tuning into Thip Khao Talk brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors Akin Gump and Article 22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laoshttps://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Sabaidee, Konichiwa, and Hello! Welcome to another episode of Thip Khao Talk Podcast. I’m Arianna Sinlapasai-Okamura, an advocacy ambassador for Legacies of War and I have the honor today of welcoming to the podcast our friends, Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly, producers and story tellers of their documentary, Atomic Echoes. Today’s episode will be in recognition of the International Day for the total elimination of Nuclear Weapons. To introduce our distinguished guests:

Karin Tanabe is the author of seven novels. She is a former Politico reporter and a frequent contributor to The Washington Post Book World. Her writing has also appeared in the Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, and Newsday. She has been featured as an entertainment, style, and politics expert on Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and the CBS Early Show. Karin is a graduate of Vassar College and lives in Washington, D.C.

Victoria Kelly is also an accomplished author of four books of fiction and poetry. Her works have been selected for Best American Poetry series and her writing has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Baltimore Sun amongst others.  She is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Maryland.

Thank you for tuning into Thip Khao Talk brought to you by our Innovators Sponsors Akin Gump and Article 22. Please continue to listen and follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The theme music used in this podcast are by the Lao Jazzanova Band from Vientiane, Laos

https://atomicechoesfilm.com/

https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Xin chào and hello! Welcome to Season 3 of Thip Khao Talk Podcast. Legacies of War Advocacy Ambassador, Jenny Nguyen, sits down with author Patricia "Kit" D. Norland!

The Saigon Sisters offers the narratives of a group of privileged women who were immersed in a French lycée and later rebelled and fought for independence, starting with France's occupation of Vietnam and continuing through US involvement and life after war ends in 1975.

Tracing the lives of nine women, The Saigon Sisters reveals these women's stories as they forsook safety and comfort to struggle for independence, and describes how they adapted to life in the jungle, whether facing bombing raids, malaria, deadly snakes, or other trials. How did they juggle double lives working for the resistance in Saigon? How could they endure having to rely on family members to raise their own children? Why, after being sent to study abroad by anxious parents, did several women choose to return to serve their country? How could they bear open-ended separation from their husbands? How did they cope with sending their children to villages to escape the bombings of Hanoi? In spite of the maelstrom of war, how did they forge careers? And how, in spite of dislocation and distrust following the end of the war in 1975, did these women find each other and rekindle their friendships? Patricia D. Norland answers these questions and more in this powerful and personal approach to history.

Purchase the book: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501749735/the-saigon-sisters/

Learn more about Legacies of War: www.legaciesofwar.orgTheme song by Lao Jazzanova Band

Thank you to our sponsors Akin Gump and ARTICLE22 and Legacies of War's Lam Vong Circle Members for investing in the preservation of this history.