Welcome to Thip Khao Talk's Secret Stories: Survivors of The American Wars in Southeast Asia, made possible with funding from The Henry Luce Foundation.

VILLAGE GHOST: Celebrating the traditions and values of those that came before us

From the desk of: Khamphone Jot Voraphaychith, Founder and winemaker of Village Ghost

Transcript: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/post/village-ghost-celebrating-the-traditions-and-values-of-those-that-came-before-us

Visit our website: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

Sabaidee and hello! Welcome to another episode of Thip Khao Talk Podcast. Heather Atherton, Legacies of War Board Member Emeritus and Legacies Library committee member, sits down with Director McKeague of the

Prior to his appointment, Mr. McKeague owned and operated a consulting business in Alexandria, Virginia, providing strategic and operational consulting to small-capital corporations seeking to expand business lines and services.

In December 2015, Mr. McKeague culminated a 34-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring at the rank of major general. In his last two assignments, he served as the first Deputy Director of the newly established DPAA, and before that as Commander, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Theme song by ⁠Lao Jazzanova⁠

Learn more about DPAA

Learn more about Legacies of War

Sabaidee and hello! Welcome to another episode of Thip Khao Talk Podcast. Alex Hiniker, Legacies of War Board Chair Emeritus, sits down with our good friend, Dr. Erin Lin, to discuss her upcoming book 'When The Bombs Stopped'.

Dr. Lin specializes in the study of war’s long-term effects on human and economic development, both in Cambodia and more globally. One of the things that she seeks to do in her research and writing is to recover a more dynamic appreciation of the historical processes that shape development, by integrating personal interviews and on-the-ground fieldwork with archival data. She’s also interested in exploring multidisciplinary approaches to answer key questions in political science. 

Her major research topics include aerial bombings, unexploded ordnance, and rural poverty. Within these themes, she investigates farmer behavior, gender norms, and policy effectiveness. Beyond these social-science themes, she has a deep interest in heavy metal contamination in soil systems and image processing. 

Her work incorporates techniques from computer science, machine learning, soil science, economics, and anthropology, and has been cited by The Economist, Gizmodo, Fox News, and The Cambodia Daily, among other media outlets. She’s served on the Mines Advisory Group board of directors since 2021, and in 2022 was named a Young Investigator by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research,

Theme song by ⁠Lao Jazzanova⁠

Learn more about Dr. Erin Lin: https://www.erin-lin.com/

Learn more about Legacies of War: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

As a licensed psychotherapist, wellness coach, consultant, educator, and speaker, Rita Phetmixay's work is deeply rooted in transformative justice, liberation, and anti-oppressive practices. It is their goal to collaborate with individuals and communities to co-create safe spaces where folx can flourish in their authenticity. Rita has facilitated a number of holistic mental health and wellness workshops and trainings for student groups at higher educational institutions and community-based organizations across the nation. Their own experiences of forced resilience and coming to their own terms of healing intergenerational trauma bring greater understanding of how to connect to each of these identity groups, as well as the great honor on how to support them achieve joy and ultimate liberation.

In this episode, Aleena Inthaly (former Legacies of War Chief of Staff and creator of Thip Khao Talk Podcast) and Kadiatou Toure (2023 University of Dayton Human Rights Fellow with Legacies of War) sit down with Rita to discuss how their journey led them to where they are today, understanding intergenerational trauma, and how to heal from the wounds of war.

Theme song by ⁠Lao Jazzanova⁠

Learn more about Healing Out Lao'd: https://healingoutlaod.org/

Learn more about Legacies of War: https://www.legaciesofwar.org/

George Black is a writer, journalist, and editorial consultant living in New York City.

His latest book, The Long Reckoning: A Story of War, Peace, and Redemption in Vietnam, was published by Knopf on March 28, 2023, and coincided with the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of the last American combat troops from Vietnam.

He is the author of seven previous books on subjects ranging from the Chinese democracy movement to the River Ganges, from conflict in Central America to the 19th century exploration of the American West, as well as many long-form magazine articles on international politics, culture, and the environment. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and dozens of other publications. Both his books and his magazine work have won numerous awards and honors.

In addition to an abiding passion for rivers, mountains, and faraway places, he has been struggling for the past decade with a serious case of addiction to Southeast Asia. Despite traveling to more than 50 countries and spending most of his adult life in the United States, part of his heart remains in his native Scotland. He is married to the writer Anne Nelson. They have two children, David and Julia.

View 'The Long Reckoning' on Legacies Library!

Theme song by Lao Jazzanova

Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan is a thematic research coordinator for the Cluster Munition Monitor. In this episode, CEO of Legacies of War, Sera Koulabdara, sits down with Yeshua to discuss the return of cluster munitions to Southeast Asia, the impact that the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) has had around the world, and advice for advocates of all ages.

Learn more on our website

Also see Cluster Munition Monitor: Briefing Paper on Cluster Munition Production and Use in Myanmar/Burma, August 2023

Welcome to a special episode of Thip Khao Talk where your extraordinary guest narrators, Gracy, Janny, and Kadiatou, invite you to join them on an exclusive journey behind the scenes. In this episode, we embark on a captivating exploration of the distinctive world experienced by remote summer interns at Legacies of War.

Discover the challenges and triumphs of working from home while contributing to a mission of peace and healing. Gain insights into the dynamic virtual workspace that brings together a diverse team from across the United States, spanning the vast expanse from the West to the East coast.

Get ready to uncover the untold stories, personal experiences, and valuable lessons learned by these interns as they navigate the meaningful work of Legacies of War. Join us for an enlightening and inspiring glimpse into the life of a summer intern at the heart of a mission-driven organization.

Get to know our interns:

Gracy is currently a junior at Princeton University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and certificates in Statistics and Machine Learning and Technology and Society. She has a strong background in policy research and community involvement, with a deep commitment to human rights. She hopes to use her science and technology background to help aid social issues and target current political challenges. With her strong work ethic and empathy for affected communities, Gracy is determined to contribute to the inspiring mission of Legacies of War and raise awareness of the devastating consequences of war.

Janny is a junior at Princeton University, studying Public and International Affairs. She was born and raised in Kodiak, Alaska! In her free time, she likes to watch k-dramas, play tennis, and listen to Stray Kids. She was excited to be working with Legacies of War this summer and learn more about the history of Laos and work on educating and raising awareness of the Secret War in Laos!

Kadiatou was born in America but grew up in West Africa Guinea. She is a rising senior, attending the University of Dayton, who is currently studying English and minoring in Anthropology. Kadiatou wants to make an impact on the world. With her deep love for writing and comprehension, she wants to spread her experiences and heal those that are forced to abide by rules. Kadiatou wants people to know with her words and experiences that she sees them as she maneuvers through and conquers those rules. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her friends and family. She enjoys a space with community but also likes to have time for herself to read or listen to music.

Born in a Thai refugee camp in Ubon, Alex's family hails from Laos, and their journey to the United States after the Vietnam War deeply influenced his perspective on heritage and the power of sharing it through food. Growing up in Burlington, Wisconsin, Alex witnessed firsthand how food can bridge cultural gaps and create lasting connections. This profound realization motivated him to embark on a mission to bring his family's heritage to the forefront and share it with the Mount Pleasant community and world.

At SapSap Eats, Alex aims to emulate the spirit of togetherness that the Lao people have embraced for generations. It's not just about the food on the plate; it's about the communal experience of sharing a meal. By breaking away from the individualized approach often seen in Western dining culture, SapSap fosters an atmosphere where friends, families, and strangers alike come together to savor the vibrant flavors of Lao-inspired cuisine.

From the moment you step through the doors of SapSap Eats, you're transported into a world where aromas dance in harmony and colorful dishes invite you to embark on a culinary adventure. The menu is a testament to Alex's dedication to preserving his family's traditions and many others in his community.

In this podcast, we celebrate Alex's unwavering commitment to preserving his family's cherished traditions. With every bite, he pays homage to the rich culinary heritage that has been passed down through generations and makes sure our stories are not forgotten.

Also check out Alex's feature by the Greater Racine County Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxls2ApfgyU

This episode was narrated by Gabriel Bradley

Let’s rewind to 50 years ago when we didn’t know about the history of the American Secret War, and the plight of refugees that fled the small land-linked country bordering Vietnam and Cambodia.

What should we remember from this history?

How should we remember the lives lost and the stories that remain?

And why is this issue so important to research, document, and record?

There's still an abundance of documents, books, articles, photos and videos as well as recent footage that we were able to capture not too long ago that has us all thinking… 

Let’s not forget about Laos.

Take a deep dive with us as we listen to a CBS Broadcast from 1970 about the U.S. involvement in the Secret War in Laos as well as revisit Fred Branfman's Voices from the Plain of Jars, a collection of drawings and first-hand accounts of what refugees experienced during the American bombing campaign that lasted 9 years. We also get to listen to an interview featuring Fred Branfman conducted by Yosh Yamanaka, Producer of documentary film Waiting to Explode. 

2023 marks a critical year for Legacies of War’s mission as it is the 50th year since the last American bombs were dropped on Laos (August 14th, 1973) as well as the 50th year since the signing of the Paris Peace Accords (January 27th, 1973).

This year our podcast is focused on remembrance.

This is an homage to all the lives that were lost during war, the current victims of UXO/landmine accidents, and future victims of UXO accidents if we do not find and remove indiscriminate weapons that still impact people today first. This is our way of showing the promise that we will never forget them and continue our fight for funding and education of the history and resolve the current problems.

We think the Forget-Me-Not flower is fitting as it symbolizes love, respect and the promise that the recipient of the flower will always be remembered.