In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, Kenneth sits down with Quentin J Nguyen-duy, a rising star in Hollywood known for NBC’s Hunting Party and his viral, socially conscious comedy skits.

Quentin opens up about the "war of attrition" that is the acting world—revealing how he survived over 11,000 rejections across a decade by mastering a mental "Fruit Ninja" technique to slice through insecurity. We dive deep into his unique experience as a white-passing individual navigating the Vietnamese diaspora, moving from a childhood where he felt he had to "hide" his heritage to now lead the charge in celebrating it through Viet Salon and learning the language.

Key highlights from this conversation:

The Mixed Experience: Navigating identity when you look like an "outsider" but your DNA is 50% Vietnamese.

10 Years of "No": How to stay "undamageable" when the industry rejection rate is 98%.

The Saigon Cinema Boom: Why Quentin believes Vietnamese cinema will be as big as Korean cinema in the next 10 years.

Vertical vs. Horizontal: The evolution of media and whether "micro-dramas" on our phones will eventually replace the silver screen.

Whether you're a creative looking for the grit to survive the "tundra" of your career or someone reconnecting with your roots, Quentin’s story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to step into your truth. Subscribe to join the conversation.

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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 https://www.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

From the "hoods" of Columbus, Ohio, to designing the hat LeBron James wore for his 40th birthday, Khanh Ngô has never played by the rules. In this episode, Kenneth Nguyen sits down with the founder of NGO (Nothing Goes Overnight) to discuss the grit required to make it in the cutthroat world of LA fashion.

Khanh opens up about his journey through corporate giants like Levi’s and Urban Outfitters, and why he famously demanded HBO recut his segment on the reality series The Hype to stop pushing "weak" Asian stereotypes.

In this episode, we dive into:

The "Midwest Pedigree": Growing up Vietnamese in predominantly Black urban neighborhoods and how it shaped his design aesthetic.

Systemic Bias: Why global brands spotlight Japanese and Korean creators while overlooking Southeast Asian talent.

The HBO Scandal: Khanh’s firsthand account of Hollywood's "identity angst" and why he refused to play the victim on camera.

Vietnam 2026: Why the Motherland is poised to become the next "Tokyo" for global fashion and culture.

Whether you’re a creative looking to break into the industry or interested in the complex identity of the Vietnamese diaspora, this conversation is a masterclass in standing your ground and betting on yourself.

Follow the Guest:

Instagram: @madebyngo

Follow The Vietnamese Podcast:

Instagram/TikTok/Facebook: @thevietnamesepodcast

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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 https://www.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

In this episode, Kenneth Nguyen sits down with actor and activist Ryan Alexander Holmes. As we navigate February 2026, Ryan shares his perspective as a "Blasian" American—the son of a Black father from the South and a Chinese immigrant mother from Taiwan.

The conversation moves beyond the surface of "identity politics" to explore how race, class, and the American educational system shape our reality. Ryan argues that the "predator class" (the ultra-wealthy) benefits from social divisions that keep working-class communities of color from organizing for their collective interests.

Key Discussion Points

The Spectrum of Privilege: Ryan discusses growing up in the "cusp" of privilege, where every extra dollar was funneled into education rather than luxury.

The American "Science Fair" Experiment: Why the US education system often misses the mark on minority history by miles, leaving communities to educate themselves.

Radical Empathy as Revolution: How to handle the "Let Them" theory when facing criticism from within our own communities.

The Billionaire "Predator Class": A deep dive into why 0.1% of the population controls astronomical wealth while 90% faces stagnant wages and rising costs.

Black-Asian Solidarity: Ryan introduces Bloom, his cross-cultural organization designed to move past "tragedy-based" solidarity and toward shared joy and community.

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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 https://www.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

In this episode, we sit down with Ethan Kelly, widely known to millions of fans as "Uc Viet". In 2026, the landscape of content creation in Vietnam is shifting, and Ethan is at the forefront of it—but his journey didn't start with likes and follows. It started with a real-life business failure in Australia and a "fate-driven" trip to a remote village in Lam Dong that turned his life around.

Ethan starts out addressing the "elephant in the room"—the battle of the flags—with the unique, non-biased perspective of an outsider who has lived the history from both sides of the ocean. From diving into putrid, biologically hostile rivers to clean up trash, to spitting bars with Vietnamese rappers, Ethan’s story is a masterclass in radical empathy and cultural immersion.

What We Explore in This Episode

The Flag Conversation: How Ethan processes "bullets" of political hostility and navigates the sensitive history of the Vietnamese diaspora.

The 1-Year Fluency: How Ethan mastered a "sharp" Hanoi accent and advanced literacy without ever stepping foot in a formal classroom.

Dirty Jobs, Big Impact: The reality of cleaning Vietnam’s polluted waterways and how one viral video can mobilize hundreds of volunteers.

Fate & Faith: The "ego-shattering" experience of losing a $6M company and finding a new life in a trade-based mountain community.

The "Weapon" in the House: Ethan’s heartfelt tribute to his Vietnamese wife and why he believes the traditional family unit is the "rock" of society.

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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 https://www.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

The gloves are off in this conversation between Kenneth and Dr. Thao Ha. It’s 2026, and the political climate in the United States has reached a boiling point. While many are "flooded" by the chaos of the news cycle, Dr. Ha is in the trenches, navigating the complex and often heartbreaking reality of mass deportations affecting the Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian communities.

In this episode, we move past the "professional hats" to discuss the raw reality of identity, integrity, and the "Let Them" approach to life. Dr. Ha reveals the inner workings of her nonprofit, Collective Freedom, and why she believes the "American Dream" is currently disintegrating for thousands of refugees who have lived here for decades.

What We Explore

The Integrity Practice: Why Dr. Ha stopped shopping on Amazon and other major corporations as a form of "soul conditioning."

The "Let Them" Theory: How to maintain your peace (and your relationships) when the people you love support policies that you strongly disagree with.

The Hidden Crisis: The technical reality of Southeast Asian deportations. Many don't realize that old criminal convictions—some from the 1990s—are now being used to tear families apart in 2026.

Dignity On Sale: How Dr. Ha provides legal clarity to families who are being told they need to pay $30,000 in legal fees for cases that have no relief.

Love Letters to the Dirty South: An exclusive teaser of Dr. Ha’s upcoming memoir (September 2026), detailing her journey from Houston gang life to academic life.

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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 https://www.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

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Lynda Trang Dai, for a conversation that is as vulnerable as it is refreshing. For decades, Lynda has been a household name, synonymous with provocative stage presence and the "New Wave" sound that defined a generation. But behind the racy costumes and the rockstar persona lies a grounded woman whose life is based on a surprising level of traditionalism and deep-rooted faith.

Lynda sets the record straight on the headline-grabbing Gucci store incident in Orlando, Florida. She walks us through the petty misunderstanding involving a $330 AirPods case, the rush of a performance schedule, and the reality of facing a legal firestorm in the public eye.

 

In This Episode, We Explore:

Lynda gives a step-by-step account of exactly what happened that day in Florida, from the perfume purchase to the accidental concealment, and how much positivity came from the online community.

Arriving in the 70s from San Diego to Orange County, Lynda reflects on her upbringing after arriving in the U.S. at age 10 and how that displacement fueled her drive to create something entirely new.

What it was like to be the first Vietnamese American artist to break the mold, singing in English, and building a bridge for the younger generation when there were no idols to turn to.

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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 https://www.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

We’re back with Whitney Da’Gail for part two of a conversation that we realized was far from over. After Kenneth and Whitney met in person in Saigon, the weight of the questions felt unanswered: What are the deep, structural similarities between Black American culture and Vietnamese culture? And why does a Black woman feel a sense of peace in a "homogenous" Asian society that she can't find in her own backyard?

In this episode, we dive into the "American Science Fair Project"—the ongoing experiment of identity, language, and power. Whitney shares her raw reflections on the Bad Bunny Super Bowl controversy, the theatrical survival roots of the Black Church, and the uncomfortable parallels of colorism that haunt both our communities.

What we explore in this session:

The Bad Bunny Trigger: Why a Spanish-language halftime show exposed the "gatekeeping" of American identity.

The North vs. South Divide: Comparing the 120-day "background check" of Hanoi to the social conditioning of the American South.

Colorism & Class: From the "house vs. field" slave dynamics to the multi-billion dollar skin-whitening industry in Asia—why are we so "basic"?

The "Cici's Pizza" Incident: Whitney recounts a harrowing personal story of how four police officers were called to escort a Black female engineer out of a restaurant over a salad—a stark reminder that "status" doesn't provide armor in America.

Uncentering America: Why Whitney believes stepping away from the "foundation of hate" in the US was the only way to restore her hope in humanity.

This is a deep dive into the nuances we often ignore. It’s about communication, the language of ancestors, and the courage it takes to unsubscribe from a narrative that no longer serves you.

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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 https://www.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

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Kathy Uyen Nguyen, film industry veteran, acting directing, producing and and now the founder of Vietnam’s acting academy.

Kathy breaks down the psychological breakdown of charisma, explaining why "The It Factor" isn't a genetic lottery but a state of being that anyone can develop, if they can navigate the cultural "rào cản" (obstacles) that hold them back. They dive deep into the differences between the Western "equality-based" mindset and the Vietnamese hierarchy of respect, and how these dynamics shape the way we express our true selves.

What We Explore in This Episode

The Recipe for Confidence: Why Kathy views confidence as a "soup" made of thoughts, emotions, and physical freedom.

Cultural Suppression: How the Vietnamese honorific system (Anh, Chị, Em) can sometimes create subconscious boundaries that inhibit artistic expression.

The 2026 Cinema Boom: A look at the unprecedented growth of the Vietnamese film industry, with a record-breaking 70-80 productions hitting screens this year.

The AI vs. Analog Debate: Can a robot replicate the "core wounds" and imperfections that make a human performance resonant? Kenneth shares a chilling story of being "tricked" by AI-generated soul music for six months.

Acting for Life: Why 50% of Kathy's students aren't actors at all, but dentists, coders, and parents looking to "unlock" their emotional intelligence.

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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 https://www.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

In this episode, Kenneth sits down with Dr. Lu Le, a Navy veteran and psychiatrist who bridges a massive gap in the Vietnamese community. From serving in the military to embarking on medical missions in Vietnam, Dr. Lu offers a unique, bilingual perspective on why we struggle to talk about our feelings and how we can finally start healing.

Whether you are curious about the mechanics of psychiatric medication or wondering why your kids can't put down their phones, this conversation explores the "hardware" and "software" of the human mind.

In This Episode, We Explore:

The Modern Vietnam Shift: Why watching 20,000 people at a Mỹ Tâm or Hà Anh Tuấn concert signifies a "hard reset" for Vietnamese identity globally.

Psychiatry vs. Psychology: A clear breakdown of who prescribes the meds, who does the talking, and why the "starter package" for PTSD requires both.

The "Honorific" Barrier: How our beautiful culture of deference (dạ, thưa, bác, chú) can sometimes become an impediment to emotional intimacy and honesty.

Big Pharma & Addiction: Dr. Lu addresses the stigma around "pills" and explains the scientific difference between life-saving medication and dependency.

The Dopamine Trap: A powerful segment in Vietnamese about how AI, TikTok, and "doom scrolling" are hijacking the reward centers of our brains—and what parents can do about it.

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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 https://www.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

Have you ever wondered why Vietnamese is written with a Romanized alphabet while its neighbors, China, Japan, and Korea, historically used character-based systems?

In this episode, Kenneth and Professor John Phan discuss the "startup age" of the Vietnamese script. We journey back to the 17th century to discover that Chữ Quốc ngữ wasn't just a colonial imposition, but a complex collaboration involving Portuguese pioneers, Italian linguists, and forgotten local consultants.

What We Explore:

The "Hip-Hop" Age of Nôm: How the 17th-century explosion of vernacular literature set the stage for a new way of writing.

The 3 G’s (God, Gold, and Glory): Why missionaries like Francisco de Pina and Alexander de Rhodes were the first "field linguists" in Vietnam.

The Great Identity Crisis: Why 20th-century Confucian elites feared that abandoning Chinese characters would mean the "extinction" of the Vietnamese soul.

From Niche to National: How cheap literary magazines like Nam Phong and the abolition of the civil service exams in 1919 turned a missionary tool into a weapon of anti-colonial empowerment.

The "Pure" Vietnamese Fallacy: A deep dive into why there is no "essential" Vietnamese identity—only a beautiful, ever-changing aggregation of influences.

"There is no quintessential essence to being Vietnamese. It’s an aggregation of different things that changes over time. You have to be a little Buddhist about it." — John Phan

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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 https://www.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