In this episode of SEA Dreams, we delve into the rise of digital nomadism and its unique relationship with Southeast Asia. What began as a niche lifestyle for remote workers has now evolved into a global movement—but how has Southeast Asia become a hub for these modern wanderers?

From the co-working cafés of Bali to the bustling nomad communities in Ho Chi Minh City and Chiang Mai, we explore the factors that make this region so attractive. Low costs of living, vibrant cultures, and welcoming communities are just the beginning—yet questions remain about the long-term impact on local economies, cultures, and communities.

Join us as we examine the opportunities and challenges of digital nomadism in Southeast Asia, the ethical dilemmas it presents, and the delicate balance between embracing global connectivity and preserving local identity. This episode offers a thought-provoking look at how the digital nomad movement is reshaping both lives and landscapes across the region.

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

Join Dr. Thao Ha—a sociology professor with a backstory of survival and resilience. In this episode of The Vietnamese podcast, Kenneth Nguyen hosts Dr. Thao Ha as they discuss the outcomes of the 2024 presidential election, exploring why “the Dems didn't see the other side coming so strong” and how we can bridge divides in the aftermath.

Dr. Ha’s story offers her perspective on social issues and the urgent need for understanding each other. It’s not everyday a sociology teacher can talk about street gangs from first-hand experience. When she talks about the social consequences of gangs, she can point to the scar on her arm. She was shot in a gang-related drive-by shooting as she was coming out of a billiards hall near where she lived in Houston.

Today, she is professor of sociology at MiraCosta College with a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. She’s a writer, filmmaker, media consultant, and philanthropic leader who leads the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and the Doan Foundation for the arts.

She is the founder of Collective Freedom, a North San Diego County nonprofit serving the formerly incarcerated population. Her forthcoming book, Love Letters to the Dirty South, will be released in 2026. It’s a memoir following her journey from being in a Houston Vietnamese gang in the 1990s to reconnecting with her incarcerated first love, Vu, in 2020, and explores the broader social structures of the refugee experience, mass incarceration, and prison injustice.

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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

In this episode of SEA Dreams, we explore the Michelin star rating system’s journey from its beginnings as a French tire company’s travel guide to its status as a global authority on fine dining. But can one rating system really capture the full spectrum of culinary excellence worldwide?

As Michelin expands into Southeast Asia—covering everything from Singapore’s fine dining to Bangkok’s vibrant street food—questions arise about the balance between global standards and local flavors.

Join us as we examine Michelin’s criteria for awarding stars, its impact on Southeast Asia’s diverse culinary culture, and the dynamic relationship between tradition and modernity in the region’s food scene. This episode offers insights into how global dining trends intersect with Southeast Asia’s unique flavors and traditions, sparking fresh debates about authenticity, cultural preservation, and what “quality” really means.

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

Sean Porter is a Vietnamese comedian born and raised in LA, and has been featured on season 2 of HBO’s Sweet Life: Los Angeles, Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio on Sirius XM, Pop TV's Hollywood Darlings, as well as other shows buried deep into the basic cable abyss.

When he's not working for scale, he can be seen performing stand-up regularly at The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, Flappers Comedy Club, The Ice House, The Hollywood Improv, and Supernova Comedy.

He also produces his monthly show - “Sean Porter & Friends” - at the Ice House Comedy Club. He has opened for comedians such as Paul Rodriguez, Zainab Johnson, Hal Sparks, and Wendy Liebman and performed alongside comics like Damon Wayans, Kevin Nealon, Alonzo Bodden, Sarah Tiana, Ian Edwards, Maz Jabroni, Adam Carolla, Laurie Kilmartin, Dean Del Rey and others.

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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 us as we look into the histories behind civil law and common law, examining how these legal frameworks influence governance, judiciary processes, and even day-to-day life in Southeast Asian countries.

Have you ever wondered why some countries have a more codified, statute-driven approach to law while others rely heavily on judicial rulings and precedents?

With insights into colonial legacies, religious influences, and local customs, this episode will explore the unique blend of legal traditions that define Southeast Asia. Whether you're curious about how laws are made or how they affect everything from economic policy to personal freedoms, this episode offers a glimpse into the legal identities shaping the region.

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.

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 Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), the first book to bring Vietnamese political thought into the academic field of political theory.

He co-hosts a podcast called Nam Phong Dialogues: Casual Chats on Vietnamese History.

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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

Louie Nguyen is a seasoned global investor, with a particular focus on disruptive endeavors and mobilizing capital and human resources to solve community pain points. Prior to joining Mission Driven Finance, Louie founded Soledad Investment Management, where he made global investments including impact-oriented investments in Vietnam.

Earlier in his career, he worked directly with company founder Charles Brandes as an institutional portfolio manager for high-profile North American and Asian institutional clients at Brandes Investment Partners. In 2021, Mayor of San Diego Todd Gloria appointed Louie to the approximately $10 billion San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System, sitting on both the board and the investment committee.

He is also a board member of the Jacobs Center of Neighborhood Innovation, advising the Jacobs family on its mission of innovative community empowerment. Louie is a member of the investment committee for the Mingei International Museum and an advisory investment committee member for the Alliance Healthcare Foundation.

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

Khue Pham was born in Berlin in 1982 to a Vietnamese family and her love for storytelling began with childhood trips to the library. From writing poems as a teen to becoming an award-winning journalist and author, her journey reflects both her passion and dedication to exploring complex themes of home and identity.

After studying Communications at Goldsmiths College and Sociology at the London School of Economics, Khue pursued her love for writing, working nights at The Guardian while honing her craft. In 2009, she joined ZEIT in Hamburg, where she reported on major events like Brexit and the rise of the Pirate Party, shaping her unique perspective on global politics.

Now based in Berlin and writing for ZEITmagazin, Khue’s work has earned her prestigious awards such as the Reporter Prize and the Helmut Schmidt Prize. Her impactful stories, including an exclusive interview with Kevin Spacey before his trial and a powerful dossier on Vietnamese twin sisters involved in the Essex truck tragedy, have gained widespread recognition.

In her books, Khue delves into personal themes that resonate with her own experiences, including We New Germans and her debut novel Wherever You Are, which explores family, identity, and belonging.

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

Joseph Nguyễn received his M.A. focusing on Vietnamese and Vietnamese Diaspora Studies at Columbia University.

In 2022, he also received a Fulbright Fellowship to Vietnam. Currently, Joseph teaches Vietnamese American Experiences at CSU Long Beach and is a Vietnamese dual language immersion (VDLI) teacher at Westminster School District, the first K-12 VDLI program in the United States.

He is also helped contribute researching for and writing the recently-released Vietnamese American Experiences Model Curriculum, funded by the California Department of Education and led by the Orange County Department of Education.

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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

Singapore is a city-state with few natural resources and a colonial past. How was it able to grow into an economic powerhouse and what lessons can be learned and are these lessons applicable to the rest of South East Asia?

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.

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