In this episode, we sit down with two leaders driving change and justice for Southeast Asian communities in the South.

Our first guest, Cat Bao Le has been organizing in North Carolina and the South for over 14 years. From her early work with the Asian Law Caucus in civil rights and supporting Southeast Asian farmworkers with the United Farm Workers, to her fellowship in Viet Nam studying labor laws and policies, Cat’s journey has been rooted in advocacy and justice. As the founder of SEAC Village, an abolitionist Southeast Asian and Black organization in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cat has championed immigrant and refugee rights, mutual aid, and community empowerment. Now consulting and providing training for organizations, Cat also co-directs a project supporting individuals deported to Vietnam. Born in London to Vietnamese refugee parents, Cat’s story is as inspiring as her unwavering commitment to uplifting marginalized communities.

Our second guest, Tin Thanh Nguyen, is a renowned immigration attorney and activist who has spent over 18 years practicing immigration law, focusing on removal defense and challenging prolonged detention of Southeast Asian refugees. As the founder of the Law Office of Tin Thanh Nguyen, PLLC, Tin’s work spans immigration courts, federal courts, and advocacy for criminal justice reform. A founding board member of SEAC Village, Tin provides pro bono representation for immigrant families impacted by police violence, ICE detention, and deportation. Raised in a Vietnamese refugee family in Charlotte, Tin’s activism is deeply personal, blending legal expertise with a passion for empowering communities caught in the intersections of immigration and criminal justice systems.

Join us as Cat and Tin share their powerful stories, the challenges of organizing and advocating in the South, and their vision for a more just and equitable future.

Here's the fundraiser link:

https://gofund.me/bb31f963

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Linda Nguyen 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮. She has elevated impactful projects, honoring the heritage, stories, and ideas of communities through brands, organizations, and initiatives.

As a 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙨, Linda 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩, 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚-𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨. From the right intention emerges influential action, and it is with this authentic and curious vision that she continues to support diverse communities that bring the umami of our heritage to the forefront of our world.

Starting with a $1 donation, you help ensure that the voices and stories of the 2.3 million Vietnamese Americans in the U.S. are heard and our community’s legacy is celebrated.

https://givebutter.com/journeyofdreams

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.

In this episode of Viet History Makers, we delve into one of the most polarizing figures in Vietnam’s modern history: Ngô Đình Diệm, the first president of the Republic of Vietnam. Often portrayed as either a staunch nationalist who sought to forge a stable, independent South Vietnam or as an authoritarian leader whose policies deepened divisions within the country, Diệm’s legacy is anything but straightforward.

Join us as we unravel the life and death of Ngô Đình Diệm, exploring the forces that shaped him, his rise to power, and the controversies that defined his presidency. From his early days as a devout Catholic in a predominantly Buddhist country to his role in the escalating tensions of the Cold War, we reflect on how his vision for Vietnam collided with both internal dissent and external pressures.

Whether you see President Ngô Đình Diệm as a tragic figure, a flawed leader, or a symbol of a divided movement, this episode invites you to understand the man behind the myth, in the broader context of Vietnam’s struggle for identity and sovereignty.

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Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts. 

He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024). 

Kevindoanpham.com

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Chris Tran is a teacher and content creator, born in Los Angeles, California, and now based in Vietnam. As a second-generation Vietnamese-American, he blends his heritage and personal experiences to create content about language, culture, and travel.

With a background in education and a passion for storytelling, Chris strives to bridge the world and Vietnam through his educational work, YouTube content, and social media platforms.

In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges of being Vietnamese-American: trying to fit into two worlds that don’t always agree on what “fitting in” looks like, and building a relationship with Vietnam that’s equal parts love and discovery. Chris shares his personal journey of living in Vietnam, embracing his heritage, and learning to extend compassion to the differences that shape us all.

It’s a conversation about empathy. Kenneth and Chris explore the nuances of culture, identity, and what it means to truly belong, all while keeping things real and relatable.

@chris.tran.travels

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Viet Story Bank

What’s your family’s story worth to you?

Not the shiny ones everyone knows. I mean the buried ones—the secrets, the heartbreaks, the ones that only slipped out after too much Hennessy.

That’s what Vietnam Story Bank is for. No polish. No rewrites. Just raw, beautiful beating history—the kind that makes you sit up and hold your breath. Your dad’s memories of his mother’s wildest dreams. Your grandparents’ laughter that echoes in your bones. 

We dig it all up, record it, and hand it back to you—safe, untouchable, and unforgettable.

Because when our stories disappear, they’re gone forever.

Go to vietnamstorybank.com. Make sure your family’s stories never burn out. 

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Southeast Asian Dreams, we tackle one of the region’s most pressing modern debates: is cryptocurrency a game-changer or a ticking time bomb for Southeast Asia's future? With its potential to revolutionize finance, empower the unbanked, and attract tech investment, crypto holds immense promise. But risks like volatility, scams, and regulatory challenges loom large.

Join hosts Kenneth Nguyen, An Vo and Phil Van as they explore how cryptocurrency is reshaping Southeast Asia's economic landscape, weighing both the hype and the hard realities.

From financial inclusion in remote areas to concerns about digital security and environmental costs, we dissect the key metrics driving the crypto conversation in the region. Will digital currencies unlock new opportunities or create deeper inequalities?

Welcome to SEA Dreams! Explore Southeast Asia’s dynamic past, present, and future landscape through the lens of culture, food, business, history, and politics. Each episode deep dives into expert analysis on key events shaping Southeast Asia. Whether you're a professional, student, or curious listener, this podcast will provide fresh perspectives and thought-provoking conversations on the forces driving change in this influential region.

An Vo is an Australian-Vietnamese living in America with a background in law, politics, economics, and multi-cultural affairs. He has advised both state and federal government bodies on multi-cultural affairs. Having emigrated to Australia at age 5 An has spent two decades each in both Australia and the US but still retains his Aussie accent.

Phillip Van is a commercial director and screenwriter whose work has earned recognition from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Filmmaker Magazine, and awards at festivals such as Sundance and Berlin. Half-Vietnamese and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he draws on his unique cultural background to inform his creative perspective. His projects are currently in development with major studios, including Netflix and Fifth Season.

Kenneth Nguyen is a Los Angeles based podcaster and film producer with over two decades in the Vietnamese media space. Kenneth hosts and produces The Vietnamese podcast with over 400 episodes recorded. Kenneth Nguyen is a founding partner of EAST Films.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kevin and Kelly Luu are a writer-director duo raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts and based in Los Angeles. Inspired by their parents' harrowing journey to America, as well as their upbringing in an underserved, predominantly non-Asian community, the brothers are drawn to telling stories about identity and overcoming trauma in extraordinary ways.

They graduated from USC’s MFA film program where they wrote and directed several award-winning short films, including REAL BOY, which won best Sci-Fi film at USC’s First Look Festival, and THE MATTRESS, which received the SCA Edward Small Directing Award and was invited to premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

The brothers were both mentees of Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative and have developed projects with notables such as Cj Entertainment, CBS Studios, 20k Productions, and 1community.

The two also wrote an original multicultural, supernatural narrative podcast series for Gunpowder & Sky. More recently, Kevin and Kelly were selected to take part in Soo Hugh’s and Universal Content Productions’ (UCP) highly competitive inaugural writing program, The Thousand Miles Project.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.

In this episode of Viet History Makers, we ask, "How Does Someone Become A Revolutionary?" We turn our focus to Nguyễn Thị Định, a significant figure in Vietnam’s history, whose journey from a rural village to becoming a top military leader for the Viet Cong—and later a vice president of unified Vietnam—remains a subject of both admiration, debate and deep pain for others.

Join us as we carefully navigate Nguyễn Thị Định's life and legacy, and reflect the deep complexities of Vietnam’s war-torn past. While she is celebrated by many as a symbol of resistance and resilience, her story is also deeply intertwined with the profound loss of those who fought to protect a different vision for Vietnam. In this episode, we explore her path to communism and the forces that shaped her, acknowledging the diverse perspectives on her contributions to Vietnam’s history.

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Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts. 

He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024). 

Kevindoanpham.com

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeremy Grimaldi, Executive Producer of Netflix’s true-crime documentary What Jennifer Did, is an award-winning author, celebrated for A Daughter’s Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story. Based in Toronto, he is a seasoned crime reporter and co-founder of the production company Matchpoint Media.

Paul Nguyen is an award-winning activist and filmmaker from Toronto's Jane-Finch area. In 2004, he created Jane-Finch.com to change negative stereotypes about his community. Within a short period, his grassroots project became a national success story.

Paul's impact is recognized by political and community leaders across Canada. He is a public speaker and media commentator on race, crime and youth issues.

In 2006, Paul was the Associate Producer for CBC's The Fifth Estate following the lives of gang-involved youth in the Gemini Award-nominated Lost in the Struggle. He was the Associate Producer for Global's Revealed: Missing the Target (2010), CBC's Lost in the Struggle: The Next Chapter (2012) and CBC's Year of the Gun (2019).

In 2018, he was a recipient of Canada's Volunteer Award. In 2018 and 2019, he won back-to-back CEMA Awards for his stories in the ethnic press. In 2020, CBC Radio aired Rap Battle, an hour-long podcast about the journey of Jane-Finch.com. In 2021, Paul received the Star Metroland Media Urban Hero Award. In 2024, Paul co-produced the Netflix global hit What Jennifer Did.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them.

Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.

In this episode of Viet History Makers, we ask, "Would Democracy Be Good for Vietnam?" We turn our focus to Phan Chu Trinh, one of Vietnam's most influential thinkers and reformers, whose vision for democracy and national modernization continues to resonate. A tireless advocate for social change, Phan Chu Trinh sought to reinterpret Vietnam’s Confucian heritage in light of democratic ideals, offering a bold blueprint for political and cultural renewal in the early 20th century.

Join us as we trace his journey from a scholar steeped in traditional values to a revolutionary voice for progress. We'll explore how he challenged colonial oppression, critiqued monarchy, and envisioned a future where democracy and Confucian principles could coexist. If you’re curious about the philosophical underpinnings of Vietnam’s modern history, the intersections of tradition and reform, or the life of a leader who dared to dream beyond his time, this episode dives deep into the legacy of a man who reshaped the intellectual landscape of his nation.

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Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts. 

He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024). 

Kevindoanpham.com

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hoàng Nguyễn is the Director of External Affairs at AAPI Equity Alliance, a co-founding partner of the national organization Stop AAPI Hate. He currently leads the organization’s external and government relations along with policy advocacy to benefit the 1.7 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County. Previously, Hoàng served as a policy and political aide to Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who has governing jurisdiction over more than 2 million residents within 20 cities and 23 unincorporated communities in LA County and 25 neighborhoods in LA City.

While there, he oversaw a variety of policy and community issues, including immigration, AAPI affairs, older adults, redistricting, and board operations. Hoàng led the establishment of the countywide LA vs. Hate initiative, a multi-million dollar government program to provide services to survivors of hate during the surge of anti-Asian hate. He played a key role in the establishment of Represent LA, a multi-million dollar government program to provide legal services to undocumented people facing deportation. He was also the office’s representative and liaison for the areas of LA Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Historic Filipinotown, and Thaitown.

As an openly gay immigrant from Việt Nam, Hoàng is proud to be appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to serve on the Los Angeles City Civil and Human Rights Commission. He was also named one of the National Association of Asian Pacific in Politics and Public Affairs’ 40 Under 40. He serves on the executive boards of several community and political organizations, graduated cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles, and was the College’s Commencement Speaker.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vietnamese-with-kenneth-nguyen/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy