2 Khmerican Sisters

It is bittersweet to announce that we are officially ending our podcast. We are grateful for the opportunity to spread our voices and messages on this platform and create a community on our podcast and Instagram where we could connect with other amazing Khmer/Khmer American individuals and teach non-Khmer people about our stories, cultures, families, and struggles. We want to thank anyone who has ever listened to our podcast, shared an episode, interacted with us on social media, guest appeared with us, and supported us along our journey these past two years. It's truly special that we'll have these recordings to live on forever for new listeners and future generations within and outside of our family! Let us know what your favorite episode(s) were and please leave us a review on Apple Podcast. This has been the 2 Khmerican Sisters Podcast. We encourage you to use your voice to tell your stories and ask questions with loved ones and strangers to engage in deeper conversations.

This episode reflects about the legacies we want to leave behind. We both have different answers for this question. As humans, our needs and wants change constantly but one thing remains true: how we want to be remembered.

More teachers of color are needed in America. In this episode, we recount our experiences as students growing up through the school system where we did not have many or any teachers who looked like us and came from similar backgrounds. With schools becoming more diverse and teaching staff remaining predominantly white women, we discuss the benefits of schools having more teachers of color and how to best retain them in this crucial profession. We also discuss the challenges of becoming an educator and the qualities all educators should have nowadays to be anti-racist and advocates for social justice & racial equity. Thank you to our friend, Laura Houcque Prabhakar, who is a teacher of 10 years and shares some insights around being an educator of color and the importance of teaching about AAPI communities for our younger generations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Ba, our dear father, takes us back to the late 1960s-1970s to share what it was like growing up in the rice fields to hiding in his classroom from bombs and missile attacks during the Vietnam War at only 5 years old, and witnessing the horrific events that took place when the Khmer Rouge Communist Party took over Cambodia. He had lost many family members, including his own father in the killing fields. It was also not an easy process for him to talk about his mother, who had to care for 5 kids as a widow. Ba has had a very hard life, and this was the first time for him to share his story with us and with the world. Thank you for listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Putsata Reang, seasoned journalist and author, is releasing an honest and beautifully written memoir “Ma & Me” on May 17th, 2022 that explores her family's journey of escaping Cambodia by boat from the Khmer Rouge Genocide in the 1970's to adjusting to their new lives in the U.S. Putsata grapples with her identities and relationships growing up as Khmer American, gay, a woman and a child of refugees. In our conversation, Putsata touches upon topics such as what she uncovered about herself and her family, advice for those who are caught in-between who they are and what others want them to be, and her thoughts around how we can maintain our culture and language away from our family's country of origin. We felt a deep connection with her experiences, as our Khmer family also faced unimaginable trauma, loss, and financial troubles which permeated into intergenerational trauma, shaping the way we were raised and how we view the world. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

What's the emotional toll of frequent moves during childhood & teenhood? For us, moving to a different school meant that we needed to embrace the unknown and adapt to our new situation fairly quickly. In leaving our established lives behind, we sometimes lost connections with our old friends whom we had seen regularly before. In order to survive as a new kid in town, we had to figure out how to fit in, make new friends, and integrate into the new school culture and system. It wasn't easy to embrace change, but it gave us the ability to have a growth mindset and to persevere through tough and uncomfortable situations. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Who rescued who? This episode is dedicated to Amumu, Mellissa's 6-year old rescue dog from the Seattle Humane Society. We talk about the importance of rescuing animals who need their furever homes rather than supporting breeders. Rescues have gone through trauma so they just require a little more love, time, and patience. In the end, it's ALL worth it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

As Millennials, we grew up during the explosion of the internet aka the DotCom Bubble and, in a way, we were able to experience the best of both worlds. We recalled our childhood memories of playing outside and coming up with creative games to experimenting with xanga and myspace during our teen years. Our lives have changed drastically as technology continues to advance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Life is unpredictable and fleeting. Losing someone you love and care about is a difficult and major life transition. At some point in our lives, loss is something we will all have to face. In this episode, we will talk about our experiences dealing with loss, how it has influenced our perspectives on life, and how we have been able to move forward with peace and acceptance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

As 2nd generation Khmer-Americans, we deal with intense pressures and expectations to do well academically and professionally to honor our family's sacrifices and make them proud. We were taught to put others before ourselves, follow the status quo, work hard to survive, and internalize our behaviors and emotions. Tough love, tiger parenting, whatever you may call it… has impacted us in a number of different ways. In this episode, we share more about our learnings and how we would approach parenting if we were to start a family one day. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Traveling internationally has a multitude of benefits like improving your mental health, communication and social skills and deepening your knowledge and understanding about the world around you. We will share our personal experiences on what it was like to study abroad during our college years at the University of Washington of Seattle. For Jasmine, she'll share about studying Communications in Italy for 3 months, while Mellissa will share about her social work experience in Cambodia for 1 month. Once it's safe to travel more, we hope this episode encourages you, including our youth, to plan your next adventure in a country where you might not have set foot before. Take a risk and travel on the unbeaten path! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Going through a breakup is one of the most difficult transitions to navigate in life. Today, we will share lessons from our past relationships, signs we believe that are associated with unhealthy relationships, values that we want or desire in a long-term partner, and tips and advice on how to move forward from a breakup to begin healing your heart. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

How have our views on life changed over time? How do we now define success and happiness? Join us on this discussion as we ring in 2022 with a new outlook on life! Happy New Year to our Global Listenership. And yes, we are officially back from our podcast hiatus. Get ready for an exciting season :) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Season 2 is a wrap! Before saying our goodbyes this year, we wanted to reflect on our podcast / community project and how it has impacted us personally and professionally, as well as our sisterly bond. Jasmine is currently preparing for another COVID-19 impacted school year and Mellissa is on a spiritual journey to finding herself again. Thanks to all of our listeners and special guest speakers for being on this 1+ year journey with us! A brand new season will kick off in January of 2022. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Behind every delicious food recipe is a talented home cook & recipe developer! Get to know Charles Calvino, a 2nd Generation Cambodian / Khmer American, who became interested in the artsy field when he was 19. Charles loves having fun while being creative and making people feel good about themselves through his quality content. His love is around food & food is life! Learn more about Charles by reading his full feature story: https://www.2khmericansisters.com/asian-pacific-islander-api/charles-calvino-hang Follow his instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/charlescalvino/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Rose Khun has experienced the unimaginable. When she was 7 years old, she experienced the death of her father, John Chan Khun, who was robbed and killed at his video store. This heartbreaking circumstance had forced Rose to grieve alone & to grow up very quickly. For a majority of her life, Rose had been unaware of the trauma that she's carried. Since uncovering this deep trauma, Rose has forgiven her father's murderer and begin her healing journey. She now embraces her inner child and continues to work on strengthening herself from deep within. We want to thank Rose for having the courage to be vulnerable and sharing her powerful story with all of us in hopes that it will help others in similar situations & to also honor her father, John Chan, and his legacy. He was a positive role model in her life, family, neighborhood, and community. Learn more about Rose by following her Holistic Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching content at @the_rosie_rose_! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

In a heart-to-heart discussion with PichMony "Mony" Thay, we discuss the value of prioritizing Self-Love & Self-Care. When Mony was in high school, he got severely bullied and did not have anyone to talk to regarding his sexuality. This led him to depression and having suicidal thoughts. Today, he is deeply motivated to help those who are struggling with their own sexuality and mental health. Mony is now proudly out of the closet, has a supportive family who understands him and his passions. He gives back to his communities through podcasting and social media, focusing on topics related to mental health which are often shunned by our Khmer/Asian culture. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

As we approach mid-2021, we'd like to take a moment to check in and share what's been going on with all of our listeners. It's been a wild 6 months. For Mellissa, she's unexpectedly dealing with major life changes. For Jasmine, she's faced the toughest school year as a teacher. Now that we are vaccinated, we are hopeful things will start returning to our new normal soon which means we will finally get to spend time with our loved ones without having to wear our mask and be afraid any longer. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Reaching adulthood status is a huge milestone! It can feel both exciting and daunting as you transition into the real world and begin enjoying newfound freedom and a world of possibilities to live the life you've always dreamt of. As children of immigrants, we often find ourselves lost and alone on this journey with little to no support. As your 2 Khmerican Sisters, it is our mission to help offer some guidance and personal insights on adulthood that have helped us succeed throughout our 20's. It's a journey that is equally challenging as it is rewarding, and we are constantly learning every day. We've also invited one of our loyal listeners, Tanaka Nhong, as our podcast guest to help kick off this important dialogue and give him a chance to ask us a few burning questions that many young people may also be curious about, like our experiences of transitioning from high school to college, college into the workforce, being a first time homebuyer, basic financial tips & other life lessons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Maryann is a trauma writer, mental health advocate, podcast host of Mental Breakthrough, and Founder of Sincerely Miss Mary. We invite you to listen in and learn about Maryann's upbringing of being born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago as a 2nd generation Cambodian-American, her pivotal career transition from the high fashion industry to writing, and her tips on how to live life more unapologetically. Maryann speaks to the value of therapy and sharing our stories, and the process of battling with and through trauma. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Get to know 2 international students from Cambodia, Chandoung & Hao, who are currently studying or have studied in the U.S. In this episode, they share their experiences of making new friends, adjusting to a new climate, and dealing with racism. We also talked about the appreciation we have for our families, feeling grateful for being raised with the values of respect, empathy and compassion, and our thoughts on how Khmers and the Khmer Diaspora can reach out and connect with one another. Chandoung & Hao reflects on their fondest memories of growing up and being born in Cambodia (and discovering that they are both from the same area!) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

We hosted a LIVE podcast mini-interview series with 12 diverse community leaders from various ages and backgrounds, including university students, working professionals, and activists during White Center Seattle’s May Sunday Swap Meet at ForeverForeigner. We had our guests answer a range of fun and deep questions from what brings them joy to what the mark that they want to leave in the world. Take a listen to our Khmer American community coming together to connect through conversation and offer words of wisdom. We were truly inspired by each person and know you will be too. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Melissa Khoeum Barnett is a Cambodian-American Product Manager by day & blogger by night. Melissa is passionate about self-care, beauty, and lifestyle. This episode serves as an inspiration for those who need to incorporate some creativity and fun into their day-to-day routine. We love and admire Melissa’s ways of finding the calm and joy through these rough times, such as creating a vision board to allow her to reflect and find purpose. Life is too short to not show up as our full selves. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Happy Khmer New Year / បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មី! As we have gotten older, we have become more interested in our family’s culture. You will hear about times when our mom’s side of the family celebrated Khmer New Year at the Khao I Dang refugee camp. There are many laughs and memories as our Yey and Ma reflect together, even learning things that they hadn’t discussed before. Yey and Ma also share their favorite dishes and traditions to partake in while living in the States. They share their well wishes for the younger generation in our family to have bright futures and to continue taking interest in our Khmer roots. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Improving your mental health requires prioritizing yourself first before taking care of others. Hear from 4 Cambodian-American women on how they are learning to give more love and attention to their physical and psychological growth, creating a work-life balance, managing toxic relationships, and cultivating positive habits to improve their overall health, happiness and well-being. While we all have busy lives, this episode serves as an important reminder to consider what you are doing to help yourself be the best version that you can be. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

NOT a Virus. NOT Your Model Minority. NOT Silent. As Southeast Asian American women, we feel highly concerned for the safety of ourselves, our families and neighbors. We share our personal stories of when we have experienced racism and harassment, and what we did or did not do to address the harm done. We reflect on how people develop hatred when they “other” people around them. Our AAPI / PoC families have sacrificed their whole lives to help our generations survive and succeed in America. We hope our words inspire you to speak up whenever you experience and witness harm from racism and hate, and to check in with those that you love. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

At an awesome height of 4’8”, Sam Javier empowers other short people through her work as a Public Speaker, Brand Ambassador and Model. Being born and raised in Kapolei, Hawaii on the island of Oahu to first generation Filipino-American parents, Sam was instilled to work extremely hard in life, to be ambitious and to LOVE FOOD. Her background includes completing a politics and speech program at Stanford University at age 13, being valedictorian of her graduating class, and achieving her Bachelor’s Degree in International Business, Cum Laude, while studying abroad in Japan and China for her double minors. In this episode, we discuss the topics of tough love and discipline, the value of family and conversation, colorism, the societal narrative around being short, food as a privilege, and paying it forward. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Racism towards our AAPI community is not new; but, case after case, we need to speak up. Process with us and listen in on our feelings and thoughts towards the growing racial violence and hate happening in our communities. The reality is that these verbal and physical attacks can happen to us, our family members, friends and community members at any time. We also suggest ways on how we can each do our part in addressing racism in our everyday spaces, and how we can unite as AAPI individuals and allies to continue the fight against racial injustices. We hope our words can be of comfort and inspiration to those out there who are feeling lost, vulnerable, overwhelmed, and enraged like we are. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Kandy Robertson is a 1st Gen. Khmer-American who owns several businesses and shares what it’s like to be a women of color female-preneur! Kandy is the Founder of a luxury haircare line called, Emprəs™, that is inspired by Cambodian royalty. She’s also the CEO of Conquer Marketing, which is an agency that specializes in social media marketing, branding and advertising. Kandy talks about the intergenerational / transgenerational trauma that has impacted her life as a daughter of refugees and how she has become a stronger woman from this challenging journey. She also discusses the importance of balancing family life while learning new skills and immersing in different career paths. Reflecting on her past experiences, both personal and professional, Kandy offers many words of wisdom to those who want to feel stronger, more empowered and confident, despite any obstacles that may come our way. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Piny Ly is a Khmer Australian (Khmaussie), born & raised in Sydney, Australia, who was a former Corporate Lawyer for 6 years in Hong Kong. In the midst of her law firm closing down, Piny pursued a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to volunteer with the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) and uproot her life in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She discusses about reconnecting to her Khmer roots through learning the Cambodian culture and language and the current issues facing our Khmer community in the homeland. Piny now serves on the CCF Hong Kong Board as its first Cambodian, and she is the President of The Cambodian Society. She also opens up about her challenging and unique upbringing and discusses how she is adjusting to her new life in Cambodia. Piny is a shining example of a fearless and compassionate leader! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Michael Huang is a 1st generation Taiwanese American, Seattle native, advertising veteran, and nearly retired breakdancer. In this episode, we learned about his early beginnings in discovering his purpose and passions, his commitment towards racial equity and social justice, and how his identities have molded him into the leader he is today. During college, Michael founded the University of Washington (UW) Hip Hop Student Association and organized international dance competitions throughout the region. He has worked in advertising for global brands like United Air, Nike, Microsoft and more. 6 years ago, he founded Milli, a modern creative agency focused on content, strategy, and social impact. Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

While climate change is irreversible, we still have the responsibility to take care of our planet so that we and future generations can live healthier, safer, and happier. What are some simple steps we can take to live a “greener” life? From sharing stories of experiencing culture shocks in Costa Rica to the odd but resourceful things our refugee parents made us do as kids, this informational bonus episode will encourage you to re-evaluate your lifestyle routines and habits to reduce your ecological footprint. Huge thanks to Juni Essentials for sponsoring this episode. Get your eco-friendly, bamboo brush today at: https://juniessentials.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

In celebration of Black History Month, Darrell Nelson II, a Data Scientist from L.A., who identifies as African American & ADOS, shares his story and upbringing. Darrell talks about his personal experiences of facing racial discrimination and stereotypes and its impacts on him and his Black peers. He also gives helpful career tips on how to negotiate for the salary you deserve and get promotions. Darrell's grateful for his mom for instilling positive values and all of her sacrifices to provide him with a good education that have helped him achieve a strong sense of identity throughout his life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Mandy Kwan is a proud 1st generation college graduate, who enjoys languages, travel and learning about other cultures. Mandy has always been a huge advocate for multiculturalism and empowering the BIPoC youth and community as a whole. We chat with her about living in a diverse neighborhood, experiencing the workforce as a professional of color, racism while traveling, and finding ways to plant our seeds to make this world a better place. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

The 2 brothers, David and Shawn, who are from Arizona, have had a very close relationship growing up. It was deeply painful for them and their family when Shawn had learned of his deportation order to Cambodia. Shawn is the oldest brother and has spent a majority of his life growing up the states. He is one of the thousands of other similar stories on how the U.S. deportation policies have stripped the lives of so many families. Shawn explains the culture shocks of living in Cambodia as an American, the realities of what Cambodians deportees face, and how he is staying connected with his family although they are countries apart. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Mellissa shares 6 biggest life lessons from podcasting: 1) Taking Risks & Having Courage, 2) Leveraging Creativity, 3) Letting Go of Perfection, 4) Listening & Empathizing, 5) Speaking Consciously, 6) Giving Back. As a podcaster, she has become a better and more well-rounded leader. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Code switching is an essential skill, especially as a PoC. As 2 females who come from a multicultural background, we talk, act and carry ourselves differently when we speak with our family vs. friends vs. colleagues. Our conversation touches on what it's like to alternate between our codes to become more adaptable, approachable, and accepted in various social settings, including the workforce. There are many strengths and challenges that come with code switching, and we discuss how we can balance being ourselves in these different spaces that we are in. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Peter and Tony started their Southeast Queer Owned start-up business, Happy Balloon Decorations, to bring joy through custom balloon arrangements for any special events across the Greater Puget Sound area. In this episode, we got the chance to get to know the Khmer American & Vietnamese Queer Co-Owners, who are business and life partners. We discussed what inspired them to start their small PoC business, some of the challenges they’ve experienced as new business owners while juggling full-time jobs and graduate school, the importance of having a supportive family and being a positive role model to the younger generation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Jasmine Kong is a Student Athlete at Westcliff University, who values family, giving back and staying humble. As a child, Jasmine turned to sports to get away from the bad environment at home. She was practically raised by her late grandma (Ma Yey) who helped her stay connected to her Cambodian roots. Jasmine, one of the few Khmer American Student Athletes, talks about the importance of representation as well as recognizing her family, mentors, and coaches who have all played an integral role in her life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Neng Om is a 1st Generation Khmer American who immigrated from Cambodia to the U.S. at 11 years old. Neng is deeply passionate about advocating for human rights and upholding the traditional Cambodian culture as well as remembering the history of the Golden age of Cambodia, the Angkor period. She is a single mother with two young kids, who has had to overcome many struggles, including bullying and adjusting to a new life as an outsider. Neng is truly an inspiration and has many deep insights to share such as finding meaning in life and the importance of giving back. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Our Ma recounts her experiences of coming to the USA for the first time after fleeing the Khmer Rouge Regime and leaving the Thai refugee camp, Khao I Dang. She shares what it was like starting high school immediately, meeting our Ba at one of the blueberry fields in Oregon, and learning to survive and navigate a new life in a new country that she barely knew with limited resources and support. This is one of the many revealing stories that highlight the challenges and realities of an immigrant's life. Many immigrants do not have a chance to rest and heal from their trauma and are typically placed in poor urban communities with inadequate financial and mental-health support. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

As 2020 comes to an end, we take a moment to reflect on the past 6 months of the 2 Khmerican Sisters passion project, celebrate all of our achievements, and chat about our goals/lessons for 2021. We will also finally answer the question of what it means to be Khmerican "Khmer-American". --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Chanira Reang Sperry, a 1.5 Khmer American and daughter of Refugees, is an influential leader advocating for equitable opportunities in the field of education for over 20 years. As a Director of Student Services at UW School of Dentistry, she uses a race and equity lens to inform her work in mentoring students and teaching from a culturally responsive curriculum. In this episode, she shares her experiences of what it was like having to acculturate into American culture, raising her mixed-race children, and navigating an interracial marriage. Chanira also reveals her family’s heart-wrenching story of escaping by boat from Cambodia to the United States that moved us deeply. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Mark Juaton is a Pilipino educator with over 9 years of experience teaching primary grades in Seattle, Kent, Los Angeles, and San Diego. He was born in the Philippines, identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and can also speak Chavacano, Tagalog, and some Spanish. In this episode, Mark shares his advice on staying true to who you are and always presenting kindness, love, and understanding to others, regardless of who they are. He also talks about the important roles that the arts & social media play in our daily lives. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Michelle shares her unique upbringing as a Cambodian American living in the Bay Area, who started figure skating at a very young age. She talks about her family's resourcefulness in navigating around financial challenges in this highly exclusive, elite sport and opens up about the mental challenges of transitioning from competitive figure skating to college and coaching. Today, Michelle is Founder and CEO of Coach Michelle Hong and a Global Coach and Choreographer. She’s created the first-ever online platform for figure skating content dedicated to empowering all generations of athletes and making it accessible to everyone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

COVID-19 has been a roller coaster of emotions for many people, including Soup, who has had a lot of time to be idle in his thoughts. He opens up about depression and trauma as well as the ups and downs of the music and entertainment industry. Soup emphasizes the importance of loving yourself, having compassion for others, and learning to heal from a dark past. His passion and positivity is incredibly infectious. In this episode, Soup also challenges us to embrace in our Khmer roots by brushing up on our native language. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

As the year is coming to the end, we reflect on what we are most grateful for and get deep and intimate about the trials and tribulations of our life experiences. If you get easily stressed and overwhelmed like we do, tune in to hear how we’ve learned to read our body signals of when we need to take a step back and breathe. We also share our personal tips on how we are aiming to feel more relaxed and happy by practicing gratitude and living more mindfully. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

​Lives by the motto, “work hard, play hard”, Anchie has traveled to 31 countries & counting. Tune into this episode to learn about the life and travel journey of a Taiwanese American Engineer. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

One of the biggest strengths in our Khmer culture is our natural gravitation toward kinship, including the love for our family and community. We discuss the importance of mental health and healing within our Khmer community and hope that some of these stories and experiences resonate with you and help you feel that you are not alone in this journey toward healing and achieving inner peace. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Raised in a highly diverse neighborhood, Huy's parents worked extremely hard to run their family restaurant while he spent his childhood years helping them out and studying. He discovered his love and passion for helping, mentoring and teaching others during his Pharmaceutical career. He speaks of the importance of listening, respecting, and loving your family despite political differences. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support

Jasmine interviews 3 Khmericans of different generations: Mama Oui, Lisha & Mellissa, who have suffered from sleep paralysis and reveal that they had experienced paranormal activities In the Cambodian culture, this is called “khmaoch sângkât” which means a ghost sitting on top of your chest. Culturally, many Cambodians have strong beliefs that ghosts visit them or that they interact with loved ones or other people that they lost in the killing fields. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/2khmericansisters/support