Podcasts about saigon

The first ever live show of Seven Million Bikes; A Saigon Podcast, recorded live at Soma Art Lounge in D2, HCMC.I am so sorry, the recording cut out with about 10-15 mins left of the show! I have no idea why. If you are in HCMC look out for the next live show to avoid disappointment.The panel discussed comedy in the current PC era and post #metoo era. Is comedy being stifled or do comedians need to adapt to stay funny without offending? Or are audiences too sensitive?The panel consisted of Angee the Diva, Uy Nguyễn and Jesús López II.Panel ProfileAngee the DivaAngee is an American comedian based in Saigon, Vietnam. She was a 2019 finalist in the Vietnam Comedy Competition and has been headlining gigs around Vietnam and South East Asia since 2017, as a solo comedian and as half of the comedy duo, “Stand Up for the Queens”. She has headlined solo in Canada and USA, as well. She is a mother of two, writer, event planner, and has a Degree in Education, previously teaching kids in her home of Hawaii.Uy NguyễnA Vietnamese comedian who gives a fresh perspective on dating, dealing with tourists, and other thoughts that will have you splitting a side.He has performed in Saigon for 3 years and opened for Gina Yashere, Grem Wooding and Ro Campbell since 2017.Uy represents the new generation of young English-speaking Vietnamese comics coming into the scene with hilarious success.Jesús López IIJesús is a journalist regularly featured in Saigon's Oi magazine and works a professional copywriter. As a general assignment reporter, Jesús has covered a wide spectrum of topics, including Ho Chi Minh City's comedians and (just a bit of) political coverage.Supporting Materials10 famous comedians on how political correctness is killing comedy: "We are addicted to the rush of being offended"How Political Correctness is Killing ComedyIs the snowflake generation really about to kill off comedy?Is standup comedy doomed? The future of funny post-Kevin Hart, Louis CK and Nanette“Un-PC” Comedy Lovers: George Carlin And Eddie Murphy Aren't On Your TeamThe New Culture of CensorshipSarah Silverman - Rape JokesGeorge Carlin About RapeLouis C.K. and Aziz"Send me a message!"Support the show

APEX Express is a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community.   This Pride Month—queer and trans AAPI community strength. On this episode, host Miata Tan is joined by guests from three organizations building queer AAPI community on their own terms. They explore what it's like to find joy, organize together, and show up for each other in this moment.   QTViệt Cafe Collective Learn more about QTViệt Cafe Collective and their new documentary Đồng Quê: Of the Same Womb Website | Instagram | Join the Collective Catch the film at an upcoming screening:  June 14 — World Premiere | 22nd Annual Queer Women of Color Film Festival | Presidio Theater, San Francisco  June 20 — Screening + Q&A with filmmaker Sage Tran | Hosted by the Q Corner | San Jose    Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride (QHIP) Learn more about QHIP and their upcoming workshops, events, and campaigns Instagram | Website | 5th Annual Elk Grove Pride   Lavender Phoenix (LavNix) Learn more about Lavender Phoenix and their Leadership Exchange program Website | Instagram | Leadership Exchange Program   Previous Episodes A Conversation with Lavender Phoenix: The Next Chapter — March 26, 2026 Trans & Queer Hmong Rise: Organizing in Central California — October 24, 2024 8 Years of QTViệt Cafe! — August 22, 2024   Transcript ​[00:00:00]  Miata Tan : Hello and welcome. You're tuning in to APEX Express, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. I'm your host, Miata Tan. We're nearly halfway through June, and Pride Month is in full swing. Pride is a time to celebrate, honor, and dig into the deep political history of queer and trans communities. And tonight, [00:01:00] we're zooming into a few distinct queer Asian American communities right here in Northern California. First, we'll hear from a collective of queer and trans Vietnamese artists, activists, and organizers based in the Bay Area, who have a brand-new documentary out this weekend. Then we'll dive into the political organizing of queer and trans Hmong communities in Fresno and Sacramento. And we'll close out the show with a queer Asian American community leader and some different ways that you can get involved this summer. Okay, let's get into it. First up, my conversation with QTViet Cafe Collective. And before you ask, no, QTViet Cafe is not a brick-and-mortar cafe that serves coffee. They are a Bay Area-based creative cultural hub for queer and trans Vietnamese liberation through gatherings, art showcases, cultural programming, and more. QTViet Cafe is a part of Asian Refugees United, [00:02:00] and tonight we'll be discussing their new documentary, Dong Hoi: Of the Same Womb. It is premiering this Sunday, June 14, as part of the 22nd Annual International Queer Women of Color Film Festival in San Francisco. Dong Hoi asks viewers what it means to return to a homeland, to a community, to yourself. Here's my conversation with the QTViet Cafe Collective. Miata Tan: Thank you all so much for joining me today on APEX Express. Sage, perhaps you can start us off. would you be able to introduce yourself and share a little bit about what the QTViet Cafe Collective is?  Sage Tran: My name is Sage. I use they/them pronouns. One of filmmakers/digital archivists for QTViet Cafe Collective. we are a cultural hub where we focus on, diasporic themes around intergenerational Vietnamese and identity and queerness. We do a lot our [00:03:00] events and workshops and gatherings around food, remembrance, and, our gay and they selves.  Miata Tan: Lovely. Jessie, who are you and what brought you to QTViet?  Jessie Nguyen: Sure, my name is Jessie, and my pronouns are they or Jessie, and I've been part of the collective since, 2018. I think I found the collective in a place in my life when I was really searching for ways to, bring an intersection to all parts of my identities, QTViet Cafe Just like Sage said, it's a creative hub, it's a cultural hub that is really dedicated to uplifting queer and trans Viet liberation through ancestral practices , different, forms of art and intergenerational connection. yeah, I just really appreciate the ways that QTViet Cafe has just been so dedicated to our, art and then also uplifting our art to really, bring forth community, organizing work, solidarity [00:04:00] work and our own, like, queer and trans Viet excellence  Miata Tan: Love that. Jean, could you share a little bit about yourself as well?  Jean Pham: Thanks for having us here. my name is Jean Pham. I use they/them pronouns. i've also been a part of QTViet Cafe since 2018 when I had first moved here to the Bay Area. Like Sage and Jessie had shared, QTViet Cafe is, it's a really special space. I think as d- diasporic Vietnamese, speaking broadly, like culturally we experience being displaced on many different levels. Um, when people say that it's a cultural hub, really tangible in a, in a lot of the activities and things that we do. we've hosted like art residencies. We cultural dinners. We have language groups. QTViet Cafe, it really exists to fill a need. and I think part of that need brought us, to the culmination of this specific project, to bring us back into Vietnam  Miata Tan: Yeah, lovely. And we can pick up from there your trip to Vietnam. this, was captured by Sage recently in a documentary. Sage, could you speak more about what, this new doco is about? where did this project come [00:05:00] from? Sage Tran: this project emerged from a collective hunger for wanting to return back to the motherland. for years of doing a lot of gathering here, specifically in the Bay Area, we've been able to stay rooted in the territories here. And, we all came to a consensus like , what would it be like to gather a bunch of us and connect with our siblings, brother, sisters, family, chosen fam out in the motherland? that became a seed that we cultivated, planted, tend to, and we fundraised with a lot of community support to get about 13 of us out uh, Vietnam. maybe Jessie can talk a little bit more about this, but Hai and Ma are the, folks who founded QTViet Cafe Collective [00:06:00] Jessie, Ma, and Hai. They all three went to Vietnam in 2022 and built a lot of beautiful connections of like local drag artists, queer trans collectives out there. That's kind of what birthed Dong Khoi.  Miata Tan: so  I've been lucky enough to, watch the film already. Donghui is the name of the documentary, but it's also the name of the performance that came together Jesse, perhaps you can speak to this this journey more and I know QTViet C- Cafe's been around since 2016,  this project goes back, a few years as well Jessie Nguyen: Yeah, sure. I can speak a little bit about that and just chiming into, like, what Sage already shared. there was a small group of collective members that that came up with the idea of, like, what would it be like for us as, queer and trans Viet diasporic folks to go to the homeland. the original intent was for that trip to happen in 2020. And it [00:07:00] actually, because of the pandemic, I think obviously things were, logistically it just didn't work, but that, dream, like, surfaced again, so the question came up about, like, what would it be like for us to travel together to the homeland as a collective and also share our art, to , connect with other Viets in Saigon. You know, when we're in the Bay, so much of our work is really centered around gathering communities around our food, our art, and our stories. And so it really made sense for us to think about what would that look like in Vietnam. And so in 2022, as Sage was mentioning, me, Hai, and Ma,, went to Saigon and just kind of explored, like, what is the creative scene like and were able to connect queer and trans Viet artists who are doing insanely inspiring creative work. we connected with folks from the Baxiu Collective, and they're a group of, queer and trans Viet artists who are doing drag in different, performance spaces in queer bars in Saigon. And then I think in that moment we're like, “Wait, we would love to [00:08:00] collaborate with you.” from that unfolded, a, a year-long , like, planning of, what would it look like for us to do a shared showcase together. And so we identified built relationships with a queer bar in Saigon. and then so leading up to the homeland trip, we planned this showcase where it would be a mix artists from our collective and artists from their collective, and then a whole, a whole performance that unfolded. And I think in the year of 2023, that year I think we ended up fundraising, about 50K in order to really subsidize and support the whole journey of getting us to Vietnam. Like, stipending artists and creatives that we were collaborating with. it was, one of the biggest projects I think that QTViet has ever been a part of and really undertaken, and I think it definitely is, like, a huge highlight for, like, my time with QTViet. Miata Tan: Lovely, and it's so beautiful to see it all come together in the documentary. Jean, could you speak to your experience? I understand this was [00:09:00] your first time ever visiting Vietnam  Jean Pham: Yes, it was my first time visiting Vietnam. so I had a well of emotions in terms of the lead-up to it. Like Jesse was sharing, you know, originally the plan was we were gonna go in 2020. That had to shift, you know, shelter in place and everything. A lot of the work that we do is reconnection, right? as diasporic Vietnamese being displaced from our ancestral land, as queer and trans people, um, a big rallying point for many of us is feeling displaced from our own families. And so part of, like, returning back together is fighting against it. It's like, what if we reconnect ? You know, what if we re- reunite? You know, w- if we're traveling together as queer community, we can really see and understand what it's like to be uh, Vietnam for ourselves. And so it was really, like h- it had this like gravity around it, and I think it made me really nervous but also excited. that being said, you know, a lot of other folks who are part of our cohort, even though they had gone to Vietnam before, a lot of them had also shared this is their [00:10:00] first time going without family, And we're going specifically towards, queer and trans community in Vietnam, which is also a departure from their other experiences too. Jessie Nguyen: Can I just add something? Because I just really loved what Gene shared. I just think that, yeah, I think that you really spoke to something there about how we can spend our whole lives, like, having this understanding of homeland that is actually quite disconnected from our queerness and our transness. And similar to, like, many other folks in the collective, like, I have been to Vietnam, multiple times before, but never in the context of centering my queerness and transness because I just wasn't sure, like, what felt safe. You know, without having, like, fluency in the language or even knowing, like, how to express my queerness in Vietnam. Oftentimes it just felt… I felt pretty invisibilized there, you know, because, like, being there with family, I just show up as, like, a, a family member, There's so much that is a part of me that is expressed through my queerness and my transness that [00:11:00] is that isn't as visible. And so I think that being in a space as a collective gave us permission to do and to feel deeply woven into our cultural experience was, like, in- in- incredibly liberating.  Miata Tan: Yeah. That's really beautiful, Jessie. I also noticed in the film your aunt was also, part of it as well, so you were able to hold that familial side of yourself as well as the queer side. Could you speak more to that?  Jessie Nguyen: Yeah. I was just watching the documentary yesterday too, and I was like, oh my gosh, I– it was so sweet that my aunt had a moment in that documentary. the thing that I was really interested in was trying to weave my connection with my family to, like, my connection with, like, my chosen queer family, And I think that became very possible when, we did the homeland trip. I'm, I'm not fluent in Vietnamese, and I'm especially not fluent in trying to articulate what it means to be queer and [00:12:00] Vietnamese. And so the idea of inviting QTViets to my aunt's home was, like, a way to be like, “Hey, this is who I and here are my– here's my community.” And maybe if I can't actually, like, articulate that, like, I I want my aunt to, like, feel that sense of, like, care and connection of my community. And then to me that felt like a way of inviting my Vietnamese family to this part of my life. I think that it's, it's oftentimes hard to even do that here in the Bay. You know? Like, the connection that I have to my blood family and then my connection to my chosen family here in the Bay, like, can feel quite separate. keeps me coming back to QTViet is that we always make space for that intergenerational connection that doesn't invisibilize our queerness and our gender identity . Miata Tan: Sage, could you speak more to this theme of family? It seemed to be really core to the documentary tell us about how that felt as the director, like being behind the [00:13:00] camera but also part of the QTViet team on this trip?  Sage Tran: directing and being behind the camera had a lot of challenges. I think there's something where I'm not sure if y- like folks can relate to this, but when you are filming something with your iPhone or on your camera, there's a connection and a disconnection that happens at the same time. You're not able to fully present, but you are. I was straddling the line of like is this shot looking beautiful and also crying I think there was a moment where we were in a taxi or Grab car, and it was Hai, Jesse, and Jesse's aunt, she was dropping some heavy moments, and I just remember we're all crying in the car while the Grab driver is like blasting music, and it's like a super bumpy road. People are honking at us, and it was just like such a funny and rocky, symbolic, memory I just was like, “Wow, I can't [00:14:00] believe I'm getting to document this” like historical moment, not only for Jesse, but just like for the collective and what does it mean for folks who are queer and trans that can't have moments like this. It's just like kind of a reminder to slow down and being like, ” Okay,” am I getting to embody this moment while holding the stabilization of the camera?” And I think still I find that to be a challenge, but a, a really fun dance of filmmaking, directing and being there. Miata Tan: Yeah, definitely. I can't imagine trying to keep the camera still while you're bawling your eyes out.  Sage Tran: Yes.  Miata Tan: Jean, we've talked a now about this connection of blood family and found family as well. could you speak a bit to the QTViet Cafe family that sort of came together on the trip, but also this wider, Vietnamese, queer community you were able to find over there in Saigon? Jean Pham: Every step of the way it felt really [00:15:00] good because when, like, you know, we were traveling together as this, this giant mass of just gay people. and so I always felt like, oh, I could kinda be off guard, I understand that, like, for a lot of Korean trans people, w- when traveling we're on high alert, there's just a lot of unpredictability. There is safety in numbers. There's safety in communities. I felt like, you know, the QTViets have my back. There was a bigger group that came together in SFO, and we just t- all booked the same flights. And then there were some people who were coming, like, a little bit later. I had been with QTViets at that point for about six or seven years, and so there was a lot of trust already built. With the Saigonese Viets, it, it was like a, just a natural kinship. You know? It was like, it was also as if like we were just friends off the bat or there was just this shared understanding. We had a gathering, and I think this is featured in the documentary. after gathering, people were just kind of, getting to know each other in in their flat, and they were teaching us how to walk in heels, and it was so lovely. And I remember thinking like, “Oh gosh, what music do I play here? How do I set the mood?” But the, th- I think the reality is, [00:16:00] you know, Rihanna is like a common language, like among gay people. Everyone under like … It was, it was funny 'cause like, you know, I would, you know, I would play music that I would just listen to. Like, they're just, pop girlies that would play in the States. And, yeah, gay people, like, they, they just love a diva no matter where you are. And so that that was really nice. But r- truly, like, the DIY drag scene in Saigon is huge, and it c- it's, like, so varied. And, I do wanna shout out, like, all the queens and the Baxio Collective and all the trans artists who really helped, make our show and, like, really helped hone in our craft. And they were pr- they were strict, you know? They were like, “You have to come here early, and you have to come in, like, days before. And we're gonna have to practice over and over again.” And they had, like, really specific notes on how to make the show better. And so it was interesting as a culture exchange they were learning, how we were operating in terms of how we organize and a- I think a lot of the spoken word, slam poetry style that, like, some of our members were bringing. And from them, we were [00:17:00] learning a lot of the theatrics on really how to, like, have a show and really think, holistically about all the different components. Miata Tan: Jessie, could you speak more to the show? Uh, what did it look like? How did it feel? Jessie Nguyen: So back in 2022 was when we discovered that there is actually one queer bar in Saigon, and it's in District 4. this bar called Bar Zinga. And it's, like, in this alleyway. It's pretty divey. And so when we were there in 2022, we actually spent uh, New Year's there, and we got to know the owner, and we got to know, like, what they envisioned for the space, which is they've been using it as a space for, drag, drag performances, music sets, and things like that. And we're like, “Oh, wait. Maybe this could be a good spot for us to do something for QTViet.” And So essentially the vision for the show was for us to collaborate with, Babel and Yat, who are the co-founders of Bạc Xỉu Collective, they are incredible, like, production artists and drag artists.  we [00:18:00] invited folks from the collective, if they wanted to share some of their art as well. And so we had… Let's see. I remember Irene, who is one of the poets and also, like, OG QTViets, shared, some poetry, and then we had also Hai sharing some erotica. Me, Hai, and Lan did a ao dai fashion runway show.  and then there was, Oh, Judy and Hiroshi who did, like, a whole, like, lô tô, so that was, like, based off of, like, like a Vietnamese game, and they did a whole performance on that. yeah. So it was kind of, like, cool to be in this space and inviting folks from the community to come in, and it was a full house. people were feeling so nervous, but the, also the energy of, like, I can't believe this is happening. You know? that the art that we've created in the Bay, that we get to share it in Saigon. Miata Tan: So beautiful. yeah, it's really nice to see this, cross-cultural, international, connection that you've built with, the folks in Vietnam. Sage, could you speak more to, the [00:19:00] documentary itself, what you hope viewers will take away from the film, and especially seeing depiction of, of queer joy in the performance? Sage Tran: I think what I hope viewers take is like the power of remembering and the power of remembering with community. Cause I think like also editing this film, I'm like, I remember exactly what y'all said word for word. It's like ingrained in my head.  I think there was something that, Jean, you said in… You said something where like it doesn't matter if you're Vietnamese, it doesn't matter where you were born. It matters and it doesn't, but also like there's so many cross-cultural connections and parallels that, tie us all together. And I think, on the theme of remembering and leaning into our joy and our creativity, there's so much that can unlock with, just living our truths. I think, yeah, I think that's what I hope viewers take away with  Miata Tan: Beautiful. and the documentary will be premiering, this [00:20:00] June, as part of QSMAP here in the city in San Francisco. We have A little bit of time here, so I'd love to talk about, uh, what else QTViet has on the horizon, campaigns, workshops, other performances. Jean, Jessie, would either one of you be able to speak to this?  Jessie Nguyen: The only thing that is really on my mind around QTViet is that we are celebrating our 10-year anniversary in September. And I don't know what that's gonna look like, but I think that it definitely is gonna be a invite and just a opportunity for us to reflect on everything that we've been able to cultivate as a collective, and also just to notice, like, how much we've evolved. I think that when so many of us joined in 2016 to 2018, we were, younger queers who were really looking for community and maybe felt pretty isolated. And I know that, like, where I am today, my connection to my Vietness and my queerness, like, feels so deeply ingrained. And a [00:21:00] huge part of that is because of having a container like QTViet. I was also gonna talk about Ordinary People, because it's actually a show that we're doing a audio visual storytelling performance that is led by one of the QTViet members, Jop, uh, Nguyen. And it's gonna include, several other QTViet members that are gonna be, contributing as, like, a band. there have been music and songs and videos and animations and, yeah, lots of different elements to really bring to life, like, what it feels like for our parents to, experience their homeland, their escape, their journey here, and then also how we really, how we connect to that story. Miata Tan: Thank you for sharing, Jessie. Sadly, this interview is airing after the Ordinary People performance, but I'll play a little snippet in a bit. Jean, final question. with this 10-year anniversary of QTViet Cafe, how do you see your recent [00:22:00] adventures informing your work? How you organize, how you gather Jean Pham: I think after the trip, there was, like, a re-invigoration of, purpose honestly, like, a new wave of renewed energy and also new people who were joining the space. we started practicing a lot more solidarity work. I think almo- almost immediately after returning, there were a few events that was in solidarity with, Palestine. And as we were returning from the trip, last year was also the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam ending, and so we used that as an opportunity to draw connections between how, the conditions of the Vietnam War was truly, like, politically activating for a lot of young people in the '60s, similarly to um, the genocide uh, Palestine was politically activating for people now, uh, and how, like, have a shared struggle. with 10 years of QTViet Cafe, I think it's more evident that QTViet is an, like, entity, a group that needs to exist. and we always invite people to join us. if anyone's listening who is diaspora queer and trans Vietnamese, is looking [00:23:00] for community, you know, looking for language classes or, like, just, uh, ways to build, you know, we're always more than happy to join people. You know, last year, Jessie and a a couple other friends organized this amazing trip to New York. there was really this big energy around uniting all the different scattered parts of QTViets all over and coming together and understanding that, you know, we, we all, um, um, have a lot in common. and so I, I do think that was really uplifted and highlighted in our trip, this feeling of, like, you know, we're not- we're actually not so alone, and there's so many of us, and we're, like, we're all so powerful. Miata Tan: Beautiful. I think that's a perfect place to end. Thank you all so much for joining me today Jessie Nguyen: Yay. Thank you so much  Sage Tran: Thank you so much. Thank you.  Jean Pham: I know, this is so lovely. Thank you. Miata Tan : That was Sage Tran, Jean Pham, and Jessie Nguyen with the QTViet Cafe Collective. Their new documentary, Dong Hue: Of the Same Womb, premieres this Sunday, June 14th at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco. That's part of the 22nd Annual International Queer Women of Color [00:24:00] Film Festival, this year featuring 47 films, 10 world premieres, all totally free and open to the public. so if you're in the Bay, this is well worth your time. You can also catch QTViet Cafe's new documentary in San Jose on Saturday, June 20th at a screening hosted by the Q Corner, followed by a Q&A with Sage Tran, the filmmaker that you just heard from. For links to these events and more about QTViet Cafe and how you can get involved in the collective, check out the show notes for this episode. That's on our website at kpfa.org/program/APEXexpress Coming up next, queer and trans Hmong communities in California's Central Valley. But first, here's a taste of Ordinary People, a recent live performance by QTViet Cafe recorded in Oakland last month. ​ Miata Tan : [00:25:00] [00:26:00] [00:27:00] That was a live recording from Ordinary People by the QTViet Cafe Collective,  in Oakland last month. This is APEX Express, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Tonight, in honor of Pride Month, we're turning our attention to queer Asian American communities right here in Northern California: who they are, how they organize, and the future they are fighting for. Miata Tan: My next guests are Shai Chang and Christine Thao from Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, also known as QHIP. QHIP grows out of Hmong Innovating Politics, a grassroots advocacy group based [00:28:00] in Fresno and Sacramento, and focuses on building community and political power for queer and trans Hmong communities in California's Central Valley. Here's my conversation with Shai and Christine. Miata Tan : You both so much for joining me today on APEX Express. Could you share a little bit about yourself? Who are you, and what is your work with Hmong Innovating Politics? Shai Chang: Hi, my name is Shai, pronouns are they and them. I'm trans, non-binary, also Hmong, located in Yokuts Valley, Fresno, California. the work that I do in Hmong Innovating Politics is that I am a community organizer. I'm the Fresno Trans and Queer Community Organizer, I work specifically in the program called Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, or QHIP, Q-H-I-P. And we do a lot of really great work with our trans and queer, in particular, like, intersectional folks, people of color within our, our communities and our members and our base to organize to fight, fascism, racism, also, like, transphobia and forms [00:29:00] of hate, moving us towards social justice and liberation. Miata Tan : It's really important work, and I'm excited to get into more of what, Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride looks like, Christine, could you share a little bit about yourself? who are you, and how long have you been with, HIP and QHIP?  Christine Thao : Thank you so much for inviting my name is Christine Thao. I use she/they pronouns, and I am currently here on Nisenan, occupied Nisenan land here in the South Sacramento area. my role is the Sacramento, Trans Queer Community Organizer. And so I came into HIP, back in 2020, so during the COVID pandemic, and, um, I came on board as the administrative assistant. um, in 2024, I transitioned into the community organizer role.  Miata Tan : Lovely. Yeah. Can't wait to get into the work that you do and the campaigns. to ground us in the history of, Hmong communities in America, Shai, could you speak to, who [00:30:00] the Hmong Americans are? I know that Fresno and Sacramento is home to some of the largest populations of Hmong people in the States. Shai Chang: Yeah, definitely. so the Hmong communities are from Southeast Asia, very much like indigenous folks that live within the mountain ranges and the hills. and the reason why we came to America was because of the Secret War the war that happened in Southeast Asia. one of our community members General Vang Pao was involved within this war and then pulled in the rest of the Hmong community to be part of this it is to say that, like many of our young men during that time was pulled into the war, and they were 13, maybe even 14, 15, and younger who were, pulled into the war to fight for America, um, with the promise of that America was going to give them a place that they could call home it was in 1975 where the war ended and, that's when the military went ahead and was able to, because of Ronald Reagan signed, um, a letter for immigration for, [00:31:00] these Hmong folks and refugees to come into the United States. Miata Tan : Yeah, perhaps you can take us back to then, 2018 when, QHIP sort of came to life. what was the need that you were seeing for, queer and trans Hmong people in, in specifically Fresno and, and Sacramento where you all are based?  Shai Chang: the way Hmong communities have always existed was very much to be lay low, you know, not be sticking your head out. And so to be very clear, it's that we are still struggling, economically. we are still very much struggling racially. The ICE attacks definitely impacted our communities we are still very much immigrants and still very much not necessarily having a place of home. But internally is that the Hmong community still very much holds on to, like, the, the traditions. And so they're very patriarchal, um, very strict gender roles, and because of these things have then developed into, gender-based violence [00:32:00] as, like, trans and queer folks, it's that we definitely do experience another deeper layer of the oppressions, especially also in our community because there isn't actually any language in Hmong to talk about what trans or queerness is, where there's no exact word to describe, like, gay or lesbian and things like that. So there is definitely, like, an erasure that also has happened, and in the Hmong community is actually very conservative. Uh, But HIP was already a very progressive organization. And so it was in 2018 because of Hmong innovating politics coming to Fresno. it was at the Hmong New Years, I saw them. I was like, “Oh my gosh, I know who you are. I love you. Like, if there's anything I can do, please let me know,” ‘ Mai Thao was able to pull me in. It was like, “Hey, I want you to do something with us.” and with- was then funded three thousand dollars through HIP, to be able to go ahead and organize for whatever it means for me to trans queer Hmong work. during that time, it grew from, like, me, three people to having, like, fifteen people, [00:33:00] meet, once a week for three hours, and then another three hours we would go out and hang out. and so it really became this place for a social space for particularly, and, and I will name it, it's that majority of the folks in that space was gay cis Hmong men. And it wasn't until a year later from that first time that we first met in 2018 to we had a really hard conversation about our future, about the political work that that we should be doing. and so I've been with HIP for four years, and we've officialized during that time QTPIP to be a program, within HIP, and yeah, it's been really good. I don't have to worry about funding and things and organizing around that front end, and HIP has been able to be s- very supportive in being able to see that, and we can really work on the ends of what does it mean for us to organize around liberation and being on the ground with our community  Miata Tan : Yeah, definitely. It's interesting to hear about the progression from [00:34:00] perhaps a group that was maybe more apolitical moving into that political space.  Shai Chang: we've also been, struggling still even now to land on what it means for us to fight more intersectionally. that's where, like, QHIP and Queer Hmong and intersectional pride comes from, right? Is this word intersectional, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, is that We do have these cross identities that exist within ourselves. And so would love to have Christine talk more about what actually this issue is within not just Hmong communities, Hmong and trans queer communities. Christine Thao : Thank you, Shy. so Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, we officially launched the program back in 2024. our QHIP program, It is open to young people between ages, 18 to 25. uh, young trans queer folks. Some go to college. Some, currently looking to be employed. Young people who are impacted, [00:35:00] young people who want to get involved, right, who, who do care about, this work, and who care about social justice, it's a eight-month program And our gatherings are, we call them our huddles, our QHIP huddles. And they're, we do them about biweekly, I can speak a little bit for Sacramento.  we've been meeting up at a cafe. We also use our office space. And, this is just a really a moment in time for our members to, bring up and have critical conversations about things that are happening in their lives or things that they're seeing in their community. Miata Tan : Perhaps you could speak more to the organizing piece. What does this look like? Um, what sort of work are y'all up to? Shai Chang: Some of the ways in which we have organized, in our community is through the framework of BBB. It's our belong, believe, become, and it sounds really cheesy, but this is really how we mobilize our people, we know as trans and queer people, especially as a person of color, we don't know and have enough spaces of [00:36:00] belonging. we actually have a, such a hard time believing in ourselves, and because of that, we have such a hard time in becoming. And this sounds like the story of literally just transitioning. when you Transition is that you really need to have a space of, believing in yourself. You need to have a space in which you can belong, where you are safe, and then through that you can actually become and this person that you have always wanted to be. This is how we mobilize and organize our members and our community because once they start practicing this ability to be able to believe in themselves, have the spaces for them to organize and organize with other people. and to figure out, like, , what is our campaign strategy? What is the ways in which we wanna win in our community, right? And Uh, in gender-affirming care in Fresno and the Central Valley was very, very hard. many of the times folks will have to go to, like, the bigger cities like LA SF to get their care that they needed. We need actual, like, [00:37:00] materialistic wins for our communities so that way they can get to where they need to be. when I'm talking about Materialistic things, it's that, we need them to be housed. We need them to have the affordable, uh, care. We need them to have, the affirming care that they are needing, we know how hard it is for, in particular, trans and queer people to be able to afford literally anything. and it's so much more harder for them to find a career or a job, in a place where they actually also can live and exist through their identities. we've seen the, impacts of, ICE and immigration on our own communities these were, like, the works that were coming out constantly for our communities to fight for, these kind of justice issues, through these ways, we've been able mobilize and move our people to what does it mean for us to actually start thinking about a campaign strategy for us to win some kind of materialistic need and, of course, we work with youths a lot, right? So where is our youth justice at? And this is literally our youth justice, right? We're having our young people share their voices. We [00:38:00] have our young adults organizing in the community, um, doing protestings, and fighting against the system. in particular, more recently, this, board of supervisor in Fresno County banned and denied, LBGTQ books in the Fresno County libraries. and we've organized to get people to show up to write letters and to really be there, and hundreds of people shown up and yet they still continue to, not hear their own constituency and their own community They continuously vote against us. that's why HIP is political, right? Is that we have our civic engagement side, is that, okay, well, it sounds like we need to vote them out, right? And that's what is it mean, and that's what it's about now.  Miata Tan : Yeah, I hear you. It sounds like you're really helping to build political power within Hmong communities in, in Fresno and Sacramento. I'm curious, what has wins look like, uh, for your groups there? how have, you perhaps helped to show those material, changes [00:39:00] for your young people? Shai Chang: Uh, to be honest, it's not much, We're still very new into formed more as a social group in 2018, and just finally became, you know what? Let's be political as f***.  Let's be authentic as f***, you know? y'all really wanna make trans and queer identities political, Then let's be political. and we've just started mobilizing, moving around those kind of things and identities only just more recently, right? As Christine mentioned, in  But the wins that we can really claim a name is that we have a 100% retention rate for our members. yeah. Um, we have tripled the amount of members that we had since then. and we are so excited for us to be able to, like, move and mobilize with our people intentionally and not just like, “Oh, we just need to be here for critical mass,” it is a two-part, right? It's that, one, we need critical mass. We And the other part of this is that we [00:40:00] people to come in intentionally to be a part of this movement work. I actually went to present about QHIP more recently, and they asked, “Oh my gosh, is there any, like, open meetings that you have flyers about? Like, when do y'all meet? And then, like, do you have a flyer for that? And I can share it with, my members.” And I was like, “Actually, we do meet, and it– we do meet biweekly on Fridays. The members themselves are holding the space for the meeting. and so I can ask them about that, but I also wanna let you know that it's not necessarily an open invitation for folks to just come in whenever they want.” We want people to come in intentional, and we want people to engage intentionally. And this is how we want us to move away from this autopilot into being able actively making changes and fights for our communities that will win us materialistic wins. Obviously in this administration, in the Trump administration, um, it has not been easy. just two years ago, they actually closed, the only LGBTQ [00:41:00] homeless shelter in Fresno, and a lot of folks now have, like, a hard time understanding where to go and what and how to navigate it. the Fresno, like, LGBTQ center also closed their doors for, like, the first time in, like, a long And so there is a lot of different impacts as impacting our community, from, like, LGBTQ centers closing, LGBTQ-serving organizations slowing down, And the way that our members and our community and our base have been organizing is As a community resource with one another is that like, ” Hey, I have an extra bed. Y'all can come sleep and crash ” there.” you hungry?” Let's go get food.” Right? Really checking with each other and also being able to ask our community for funding as So HIP, we were able to organize and did a fundraiser back in March 50K. That's huge we also know there are impacts that also is beyond us, too. it was with this past, like, Hmong New Year [00:42:00] that we did, that we wanted to do a Hmong New Year action, an action to really fundraise for our families who were detained by ICE. And so we did a mutual aid fundraiser, asking our community members to donate money, and we were able to raise… we only did it for, like, three hours, and we were able to raise $700. So we're like, ” What if we kept going?” Right? And that's where our fundraiser for 50K came from. so there is, like, ways in which we are trying to organize and mobilize our communities. And, to be very honest is that HIP and, QVIP is not necessarily a direct service organization and not necessarily in that way. I think many of the times people see HIP as like, “Oh, you're here to save us,” we're not that, right? We're really here to mobilize with our community, uh, we have our youth organization over in Edison High School, they were pushed into a small classroom, storage room, actually, for band and also, sports as well. And so it, it was being disruptive a lot. one of our [00:43:00] previous, like, young adult members recognized that, and they were like, ” Sh-uh, Shy and HIP, Please, can y'all do something about this issue?” And we're like, “No.” But we'll do it with you, right? and so we came in, we taught them about organizing, and literally those youths were able to organize themselves to have a classroom now, they remember that. They hold onto that, right? Regardless if we were here or not, they will still be able to know that and hold onto And so it's very much like that as well with our members, is that we want them to be able to organize within among themselves without having the need of, of HIP and entities being able to, have the, have the solution for them Miata Tan : mm, that makes a lot of sense. Really being able to work with community and give them tools so then they can continue to build is something really powerful that, you do at both HIP and QHIP. I'm curious, with this very challenging political moment that we're living through, not only for queer and trans folks, but immigrant communities as [00:44:00] well, how are you holding this, this pain alongside, trying to also celebrate and honor your communities, um, and especially your queer and trans community members? Shai or Christine,  Christine Thao : At HIP we have what is called third spaces, and third spaces are heart spaces. these are, spaces where our young people, they continue to, build their organizing. They get to organize with one another and with HIP, to hold space to build community, to build belongingness, To show up, be present, make connections. is also a space where our young people, they get to decompress as well,  in a world where it feels so chaotic, we do a lot of, the hard stuff with organizing, but then organizing can be so fun. and our young people, they get to see both sides, right, get to experience that. What I'm holding onto is being [00:45:00] engaged and getting involved, it is, Um, How can we connect our young people, to our community partners, right? To make those connections, to build deeper, this year it looks like us, being more intentional about our capacity and who we are, building out with, um… I'm on, I'm currently on the planning community for Elk Grove Pride, and so, uh, our young people are also a part of that, where they get to lead a role, and create, spaces of celebration, right? there's A lot of different opportunities our young people are also involved in, and, it, it is that wanting our young people to, feel empowered to get involved in these spaces as well.  Miata Tan : Yeah. Lovely. Thank you so much, Christine. It sounds like you're really able to create, a beautiful space and community for your young people. Shy, uh, to close out, I'd love to know what's on the horizon for QHIP. It's Pride Month. unfortunately this episode is airing after Fresno Pride, but, perhaps you could [00:46:00] speak a little bit to that and what else is on the horizon. Shai Chang: Sure thing. the first thing I need to say is Happy Pride Month. so Happy Pride Month, everyone. Fresno always hosts their Pride parade, always the first Saturday of, of the Pride month it is On Saturday, June 6. Pride parade over at Tower District in Fresno. it's gonna be very fun. It's super exciting. We will be marching in there all together, and the theme for this year is, Pride Without Border. we're gonna be Extra powerful in calling out all of the different, struggles that our intersectional folks are all facing and being able to march together in liberation. what's also coming up next is, I- I'm foreseeing it to happen probably next month or in August, is that we will have a third space event to really celebrate Pride. we spend all our energy to be part of the Pride parade preparing our members and supporting them, but we haven't necessarily celebrated QHIP's [00:47:00] own Pride, you know, we work very politically in election works, and so we always have a bunch of these like, door hangers, Vote yes on Prop 3,” things like that, right? And so we have so much of those paper, and so what we usually do during this, like, Pride event that we do in QHIP is that we- we use these as an opportunity for us to do trash drag. it's an opportunity for us to get glammed out everyone gets to participate creating this, like, image through the trash drag. And so we're excited to be able to do that, so please keep on the lookout. Miata Tan : Sorry, why is it called trash drag? I'd love to know.  Shai Chang: It's because, like, we had s- you know, this much f- okay, we, we have a lot of flyers from the our elections, And especially this year. You know how in, in the mail you'll get so much, like, ” Vote for this person, vote for this person.” all of this is all paper that is then thrown away without any second thought. and we will make them, and we'll make, like, thousands of copies , right? But we never are able to pass it all out. what we do is that we will go ahead and reuse them one last time for [00:48:00] them to have an opportunity for them to shine, We'll have them split up into teams, and then use all the different trash that they can gather and use, and glue them, tape them , staple them to make a dress, to make an outfit for this one person that they're gonna designate to be the drag mother for their team. Miata Tan : I love that. That sounds like so much fun.  Shai Chang: Yeah. We're gonna be doing it in Fresno and also in Sacramento, so we'll figure out a ways for everyone to be involved.  Miata Tan : Oh, how wonderful. Christine, could you speak to what events are coming up in Sacramento for us?  Christine Thao : We are also having, um, Elk Grove Pride on June 20th. It's from 5:00 to 9:00. it's gonna be at the Elk Grove Laguna Town Hall. And so community is very welcome to attend. It is a free event. Think of it like, kind of like a resource gathering with, um, some really amazing performances we have, a lot of like, BIPOC TQ, artistes, and then also vendors [00:49:00] as well. So please show up and, would love to, to meet folks and connect with folks in these spaces.  Miata Tan : Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing, Christine, and we'll be sharing all the details of how you can get involved and learn more about QHIP and HIP at the end of this episode as well. Thank you both so much for joining me today.  Shai Chang: Thank you so much for having me. Miata Tan: That was my conversation with Shai Chang and Christine Thao at Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, also known as QHIP Miata Tan : this is APEX Express on 94.1 KPFA, a weekly radio show uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. To close out tonight's show, I have one final guest. Cynthia Fong is the lead organizer at Lavender Phoenix, also known as LavNix, A Bay Area organization building power for queer and trans Asian and Pacific Islander communities. You may have heard of them. Their new executive director joined us on [00:50:00] air just a few months ago. Here's a short conversation with Cynthia Fong on Queer Joy, community power, and what LavNix has coming up this summer Cynthia Fong: Thank you so much for having us. My name is Cynthia. I use they/them pronouns, and I'm here with Lavender Phoenix. Lavender Phoenix, we build trans, non-binary, queer API power through organizing in the Bay Area. We work with our members to demand true solutions to care and safety, and we're excited to be here with you all. Miata Tan : I'm so excited to close out the episode with you. And as we're in Pride Month, I hoped you might be able to share a little bit about queer joy and how Lavender Phoenix is celebrating that at the moment, honoring each other.  Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. Especially in times like this, times of escalated violence against our communities, we know that queer joy, queer resistance, and queer power are truly antidotes to the systems that are making us sick. For us, that means in our work, we fight for care not cops, [00:51:00] we fight for budgets that truly reflect the needs of our people, we fight for a free Palestine, and we fight to abolish ICE. If you agree with all of the things that I just said we also do a lot of leadership exchange programs, and that is where we really cultivate that belonging and community in our trans and queer API community. Miata Tan : Oh, I love that. Could you share a little bit more about the leadership exchange with our listeners?  Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. This is one of our time-honored traditions. It's called the Queer Leadership Exchange, it's also known as LEX. And this program will run for two weekends in July. we aim to provide training on fundamental organizing skills, trans and queer history in the Bay Area, and really to provide an opportunity for trans and queer Asian and Pacific Islanders to connect with, with each other in a space that's made by and for us. We invite you to apply if you are trans or queer [00:52:00] and if you identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. Our deadline is July 1st. And in these two weekends, we usually gather with about 20 to 30 folks, and it's really interactive. We have a mix of activities that we invite people to, to skill up on and, and really to become the leaders that our movements need. Miata Tan : Love that. Could you share a little bit about some leaders you've seen come out of these programs? Like, what does that look like? How are they, helping to, to organize community?  Cynthia Fong: the folks who graduate from our LEX program, it, it's really a wide range of people, whether it's trans and queer APIs at work in other nonprofit sectors. It's also our folks who may be supporting our community in other ways, like as artists, as students, educators, as therapists. We see a lot of people take these skills and translate them into a variety of different sectors that we know trans and queer API people… we're everywhere, more and more so now. And we would [00:53:00] love every single one of us to be grounded in our histories when we do that work. And not only our histories, but also in a firm sense of belonging with one another, to know that we're not alone, to know that there are other trans and queer Asians and Pacific Islanders here in the Bay Area, all of whom share these values of wanting to build working class power. Miata Tan : that's so nice, a more multi-generational, multi-sector,  ​ Cynthia Fong: And, you know, we take it as an opportunity, too, for us to build with other organizations and people who, who are like-minded. We don't take it for granted. We know the Bay Area is a place where it's very diverse, where We are actively fighting for what values we believe in and whose agenda we are willing to put in power. And so we really welcome a wide range of people. No matter where you are, the real important thing is you, you share our values. you believe in true solutions to care and safety that are not rooted in systems of policing or incarceration  Miata Tan : [00:54:00] That's really powerful. to close this out , Could you share a little bit more about what's on the horizon for Lavender Phoenix later in the year? You mentioned a few of the campaigns, Care Not Cops. perhaps if you wanna dive into some of those.  Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. Um, we are joining a really big coalition of people from Alameda to Sacramento to San Francisco, all of whom are paying a lot of attention to our budgets, when you say Care Not Cops, we see our budgets to really be that moral document that show us where our priorities are. For us, June is Pride Month, but it's also budget season, Um, it gives us a really big opportunity to be as loud as we can about what we believe. and in San Francisco with $16 billion, it's quite shameful that we have our community partners like the San Francisco Community Health Center, Lyric, our youth programs being defunded, all the while new jails are being opened, all the while the police are getting new toys, they're [00:55:00] showing us that the money exists but it's not for us. And so we join the voices that are demanding for a people's budget, and we know that that's gonna be an ongoing fight. We've been in it for a few years now, and we plan to continue. In terms of our organization, we're actually super excited to say we have 100% of our membership really diving into what the next five years looks like for us. Folks may remember we came onto APAICS to announce a name change a few years ago. We were formerly known as API Equality Northern California. We came on APAICS a few years ago to share that we've changed to Lavender Phoenix, and we anticipate some new changes on the horizon being announced at the end of the year as well, hopefully with deeper clarity about what the next five years will look like for us. Miata Tan : Ooh. Interesting. It's not a new name change, is it?  Cynthia Fong: No, no. We, we're gonna stay… We're keeping the t- we're keeping our name. We love our name. We love the history in our name. But it's really just the theory of [00:56:00] change, you know? I think our moment today is very unique, very different, very politically tumultuous, and we wanna be sharp. We wanna know what we're organizing for, what we're organizing against, and, and what it means for us to build power.  Our last theory of change process is what resulted in us focusing on leadership programs, leadership development. It is also where we decided that healing is really important for our people. It's also where we decided that safety is really important for our people. And so I anticipate that it's gonna be a deepening not, not a change, but a deepening of how we orient to this bigger picture of our movement for liberation and justice. Miata Tan : So beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing, Cynthia. Um, it was really lovely to speak with you.  Cynthia Fong: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much. I, hope to come Back soon. Miata Tan : That was Cynthia Fong with Lavender Phoenix. If you want to learn more about LavNix, we sat down with their team earlier in the year. Find that episode and their leadership exchange program in the show notes. Tonight, we also heard [00:57:00] from the QTViet Cafe Collective and Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride. Links to all of these organizations and their upcoming work are at kpfa.org/program/APEXexpress. This is APEX Express KPFA, airing every Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. Thank you for tuning in tonight APEX Express is a proud member of the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality, a network focused on long-term movement building, capacity infrastructure, and leadership support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders committed to social justice. Learn more at aacre.org. This program produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me, Miata Tan. Get some rest y'all.   The post APEX Express – 6.11.26 – Pride, Power, and Queer AAPI Voices appeared first on KPFA.

One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. Saigon is an epic saga of love, blood and revolution starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. An eight-part audio drama for iHeart adapted from the best-selling novel by Anthony Grey, it is a story of political intrigue and romance in a time of war, across four tumultuous decades of Vietnamese history.Narrated by Trinh, the granddaughter of two central characters, the series begins in 1936 French-colonial Saigon, where an American journalist, Joseph, reunites with his childhood friend Paul, now a French policeman, and encounters Lan, the woman who will shape his destiny. Against a backdrop of tennis courts, luxury hotels, and colonial privilege, simmering tensions erupt as Lan's brother Tran rejects his wealthy family's collaboration with the French to join Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary cause, setting off an assassination that changes everything. As love, betrayal, and shifting allegiances entangle Joseph, Lan, Paul, and Tran, the drama follows them through World War II, Japanese occupation, the rise of Vietnamese nationalism, and America's war in Vietnam, tracing how personal passions and family loyalties are swept into the tides of history.Episodes available here:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-saigon-330079751/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

The first ever live show of Seven Million Bikes; A Saigon Podcast, recorded live at Soma Art Lounge in D2, HCMC.I am so sorry, the recording cut out with about 10-15 mins left of the show! I have no idea why. If you are in HCMC look out for the next live show to avoid disappointment.The panel discussed comedy in the current PC era and post #metoo era. Is comedy being stifled or do comedians need to adapt to stay funny without offending? Or are audiences too sensitive?The panel consisted of Angee the Diva, Uy Nguyễn and Jesús López II.Panel ProfileAngee the DivaAngee is an American comedian based in Saigon, Vietnam. She was a 2019 finalist in the Vietnam Comedy Competition and has been headlining gigs around Vietnam and South East Asia since 2017, as a solo comedian and as half of the comedy duo, “Stand Up for the Queens”. She has headlined solo in Canada and USA, as well. She is a mother of two, writer, event planner, and has a Degree in Education, previously teaching kids in her home of Hawaii.Uy NguyễnA Vietnamese comedian who gives a fresh perspective on dating, dealing with tourists, and other thoughts that will have you splitting a side.He has performed in Saigon for 3 years and opened for Gina Yashere, Grem Wooding and Ro Campbell since 2017.Uy represents the new generation of young English-speaking Vietnamese comics coming into the scene with hilarious success.Jesús López IIJesús is a journalist regularly featured in Saigon's Oi magazine and works a professional copywriter. As a general assignment reporter, Jesús has covered a wide spectrum of topics, including Ho Chi Minh City's comedians and (just a bit of) political coverage.Supporting Materials10 famous comedians on how political correctness is killing comedy: "We are addicted to the rush of being offended"How Political Correctness is Killing ComedyIs the snowflake generation really about to kill off comedy?Is standup comedy doomed? The future of funny post-Kevin Hart, Louis CK and Nanette“Un-PC” Comedy Lovers: George Carlin And Eddie Murphy Aren't On Your TeamThe New Culture of CensorshipSarah Silverman - Rape JokesGeorge Carlin About RapeLouis C.K. and Aziz"Send me a message!"Support the show

Some memoirs tell the story of a life. Others tell the story of survival, identity, and the invisible emotional currents that shape generations. In this episode, I'm joined by physician, healthcare leader, and author Mai Pham to discuss her debut memoir Bridge from Saigon. As a child refugee fleeing Saigon, Mai's journey carried her from war and displacement to institutions like Harvard and Johns Hopkins, eventually leading to influential work shaping Medicare and Medicaid policy. But beneath those achievements lies a deeply personal story about family history, psychological struggle, healing, and the search for belonging. This conversation explores immigration, trauma, medicine, resilience, identity, and what it means to build a bridge between past and present.

Rooted in a foundational background as a keyboardist and heavily shaped by classic Black music traditions, Swiss-born producer and selector MAQman has spent nearly three decades refining a highly instrumental approach to electronic music. Since launching his DJ career in 1998, he has prioritized an organic aesthetic that seamlessly integrates jazz, funk, and disco sensibilities into a sophisticated club framework, avoiding transient trends in favor of timeless arrangement structures. A pivotal 2019 tour of South Africa marked a profound shift in his artistic trajectory, embedding the rich, emotive dynamics of the region's electronic movement into his creative core. Now operating out of Saigon, Vietnam, he remains dedicated to preserving the acoustic authenticity of his sound through active collaboration with live session musicians. This deep commitment to musicianship extends directly to his global roles as a resident for the celebrated GOGO Music radio show, a contributor to Soul Jazz Funksters, and a core co-curator of Saigon's premier after-party series, The Breakfast Club. For his exclusive MUSICUNEED debut, MAQman translates this expansive timeline of international experience into a meticulously paced performance. This session serves as a definitive, high-fidelity exploration centered strictly on the Deep House genre, seamlessly blending selections from benchmark imprints such as Selville Records, GOGO Music, Salted Music, and Deep House South Africa Records. It is a mix defined by complex musical choices, warm instrumentation, and a steady, elegant groove built for seasoned listeners of the global underground. Follow & Support: Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/maqman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MAQman_Music Hearthis.at: https://hearthis.at/maqman Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/MAQman

Saigon, Day Three... and it's all coming together. This episode of Over Seasoned comes to you straight from the incredible Saigon Podcast Studio, where Xavier and Tony unpack their first real deep dive into Vietnam's food culture — from tiny plastic stools and alleyway pho shops to an ambitious Michelin-star tasting menu that somehow bleeds into a full-blown waxing poetic about herbs.There's more pho chronicling, tendon talk, tight-chair survival tactics, and ample Vietnamese coffee praise.The guys also break down their dinner at Anan Saigon — a modern Vietnamese tasting menu experience blending French influence with local flavors — and compare it to some of the unforgettable tasting menus they've had across Thailand and Bogotá. Along the way: foie gras spring rolls, turmeric black cod, pigeon with sticky rice, and an ongoing jealousy toward the French table next to them.Even though it's the final day... this somehow feels like just the beginning of the Vietnam food tour. 

Esta Ricardo is a Drag Queen and GenderFunk performer and Founder/Mother of GenderFunk. He loves exploring Gender through workshops, performance and lots of talking!Born in Birmingham he then lived in Manchester and London before studying Journalism in London. He then worked for the British Red Cross for 2 years and started performing in the radical arts festival scene in Europe. He has now lived in Saigon for 3 years.In part 2 we talk about inclusiveness, not knowing if you're being discriminated in Vietnamese, orgies and changing perceptions of what's right or wrong.Esta Ricardo is a funny, entertaining and fabulous guest!"Send me a message!"Support the show

22 TUỔI, LÀM TRÁI NGÀNH, ĐÙNG MỘT CÁI SẾP BẢO: "LÊN LÀM MANAGER ĐI EM!"Phản ứng đầu tiên của bạn sẽ là gì?"Mình có đủ năng lực không? Lỡ làm bể việc thì sao? Đang yên đang lành, ôm cái ghế này có khi Bão Tố (BT) tới...Đó y chang là những gì thằng đệ tui trải qua khi tui kêu bạn lên làm Lead team Vận hành của Sài Gòn Tếu (và giờ bạn đã là Manager cứng của một phòng ban lớn nhất nhì team).1. Vùng xám của thế hệ trẻ: Muốn nhưng không dámCó một điều tui thấy hơi ngược đời. Người ta hay gắn mác thế hệ trẻ bây giờ làm hai thái cực: Một là tham vọng ngút ngàn, mới 2x tuổi đã muốn làm sếp nọ sếp kia. Hai là chê các bạn lười, chỉ thích sống chill, sống nhàn, không muốn gánh thêm trách nhiệm.Nhưng chẳng ai nói về một vùng xám ở giữa: Rất nhiều bạn MỤỐN lắm nhưng KHÔNG DÁM. Vì tự thấy mình không xứng đáng với những gì được trao.Sau buổi trò chuyện với người em mà tui luôn tự hào - Anh Khôi, tui mới rút ra một điều: Nhiều bạn sợ vì nghĩ rằng, khoác cái áo "Leader" hay "Manager" vào là tự nhiên mình phải biến thành siêu nhân. Phải quyết đoán, phải gánh vác thế giới và tuyệt đối... không được làm sai.Đáng buồn là cái suy nghĩ đó vô tình tước mất cơ hội để các bạn được bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn, được lớn lên. Để rồi 3 năm, 5 năm sau nhìn lại, tặc lưỡi tiếc nuối: "Nếu lúc đó mình dám thử một lần thì sao...?"Đúng vậy, tui nói với Khôi: "Thử đi em, sai thì làm lại, không được thì xuống thôi. Có sao đâu!" Ai dè bạn thử một phát... 2 năm. Giờ muốn xuống cũng hổng biết xuống đâu nữa. Đùa một chút, nhưng thiệt sự muốn chia sẻ với các bạn một góc nhìn để các bạn tự tin hơn khi cơ hội tới. Như Khôi nói với tui trong tập podcast này: Việc thăng chức nhiều khi giống như chơi một tựa game, chúc mừng bạn đã qua một màn mới. Độ khó nhích lên một chút, hôm sau nhích thêm một chút. Vậy thôi! Không có gì đáng sợ cả, mình không phải gánh cả sinh mệnh thế giới, đối đầu với con boss cuối ngay lập tức. Sợ hãi thường là do cái đầu mình chưa quen với viễn cảnh mới thay đổi nên tự hù dọa bản thân quá mức mà thôi.Sếp chọn bạn, tui chọn bạn, cũng là có lí do. Tui là sếp của bạn, nhưng cũng là một người làm kinh doanh, giao một vị trí sinh tử của Sài Gòn Tếu cho một nhân sự 22 tuổi không bao giờ là câu chuyện cảm tính.- Yếu tố nào giúp tui quyết định trao cho một người trẻ vị trí quán lí team?- Làm sao một Manager 24 tuổi có thể điều phối mượt mà 50 con người có full time, parttime, freelance, và thậm chí phải liên tục làm việc với nhiều anh chị lớn tuổi và dày dặn kinh nghiệm hơn mình?- Cái giá thực sự của việc làm sếp ở tuổi "đầu 2" là gì?Tất cả những điều chân thật nhất sẽ được chia sẻ trong tập Cà phê Khởi nghiệp cùng Tùng BT tuần này, với format hoàn toàn mới! Mong sẽ mang lại thật nhiều giá trị cho các bạn trẻ đang trên hành trình phấn đấu phát triển sự nghiệp của bản thân. Đón xem bên dưới nhé!---P/s: Nếu mọi người hứng thú và ủng hộ chủ đề này, tui sẽ triển khai luôn một series mang tên "Lãnh đạo tuổi 20s" với sự góp mặt của nhiều bạn trẻ giỏi giang, thực chiến, nhưng cũng đầy trăn trở. Cho tui biết ý kiến của mọi người nha! 

The Golden age, silver-screen legend who lived to tell a tale that could have only unfolded in Hollywood , Mamie Van Doren joins Media Path for a candid conversation about a life shaped by resilience, reinvention, and remarkable twists of fate!The woman who helped define an extraordinary era of entertainment and cultural change has chronicled both her escapades and her conquered adversities in a page-turning new memoir called 'You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex and Champagne.'Mamie traces her grit back to a hard scrabble, Depression era, South Dakota childhood where poverty and hunger were a daily reality. Determined to escape that world, she set her sights on Hollywood, with a little help from lore, intentionally placing herself at a pharmacy soda counter in the in hopes of being “discovered,” just as Lana Turner had been. She was stunning and it worked. She was also 14!What followed was a series of cinematic turning points. Including a TV role, broadcast from The famed Florentine Gardens and a close friendship with cocktail server Elizabeth Short, who horrifically became known as The Black Dahlia. Her brutal loss has affected Mamie profoundly and permanently.Mamie recounts her rapid rise through the studio system after being spotted by a Universal executive, leading to a seven-year contract and her breakout role opposite Tony Curtis (and some handsome USC football stars) in 'All American'. She shares the origin of her now-iconic name, coined by an AP reporter and inspired by First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower. Its coining helped a farm girl named Joanie Olander fully embody her new Hollywood persona.After marrying bandleader Ray Anthony and starting a family, Universal dropped her contract, only to see her quickly courted by other studios. She reflects on love, longevity, and her current 50+ year marriage to Thomas Dixon, as well as the complicated realities of navigating Hollywood at a time when powerful men often operated without accountability. In a deeply personal revelation, Mamie speaks about a terrifyingly dark encounter with Jack Webb that she kept silent for years. He was selling “law and order” when he drugged, tied up and violated Mamie. She reflects now about how much (and how little) has changed.Stories where Hollywood and history intersect are a common thread in Mamie's adventures, such as a romantic interlude with Che Guevara while filming in Buenos Aires, and a dangerous, self-funded three-month tour to the furthest outposts of the Vietnam War to entertain troops. The gravest danger she faced was an on-stage attack at an officers' club in Saigon. But her time with the troops remains an experience that shaped her perspective on freedom and sacrifice.And IMDB Roulette this week is raucous, racy and romantic, with a trip to the cutting edge of rock 'n roll! Is Mamie the girl who invented it!?In current recommendations --Lisa: Documentary (directed by our very own Weezy!) Family Band: The Cowsills Story, streaming on PrimeWeezy: TV Land original series Younger, streaming on NetflixPath Points of Interest:You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, and Champagne by Mamie Van DorenMamie Van Doren on IMDBMamie Van Doren on WikipediaMamie Van Doren on InstagramMamie Van Doren on FacebookMamie Van Doren Facebook GroupFamily Band: The Cowsills StoryYounger

Được biết đến rộng rãi với vai trò nghệ sĩ hài độc thoại, nhưng phía sau sân khấu, Phương Nam còn là một trong những co-founder đầu tiên của Saigon Tếu và hiện là Brand Ambassador của VPW (Vietnam Pro Wrestling) – công ty đấu vật biểu diễn đầu tiên tại Việt Nam.Trò chuyện cùng host Từ Ân trong tập 115 của Vietnam Innovators (tiếng Việt), Phương Nam mang đến góc nhìn thực tế về bài toán kinh doanh trong ngành biểu diễn: làm sao để tạo ra những trải nghiệm đủ khác biệt khiến khán giả sẵn sàng trả tiền, trong bối cảnh thói quen tiêu thụ nội dung miễn phí trên mạng xã hội ngày càng phổ biến tại Việt Nam.—Đừng quên có thể xem bản video của podcast này tại: YouTubeVà đọc những bài viết thú vị tại: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovatorNếu có bất cứ góp ý, phản hồi hay mong muốn hợp tác, bạn có thể gửi email về địa chỉ hello@vni-digest.com

Zwischen Straßenchaos, Sprachbarrieren und Boomtown-Energie wächst MyStorage mitten in Saigon – ein Selfstorage-Startup, das auf Container setzt und ausgerechnet in den Zwischenräumen einer vibrierenden Megacity seinen Markt findet. Gründer Aric Austin erzählt von Aufbruch, Unsicherheit und der Kraft lokaler Netzwerke, die mehr bedeuten als jeder Businessplan. Wachstum heißt hier, Wandel zuzulassen – mitten durch Zweifel und Aufbruchslust. Du erfährst... ...wie Aric Austin in Vietnam ein innovatives Self-Storage-Business aufbaut. ...welche Rolle Timing und Netzwerke für den Erfolg in neuen Märkten spielen. ...wie MyStorage durch kreative Lösungen und lokale Anpassungen wächst. __________________________ ||||| PERSONEN |||||

Ecca Vandal nos ha despeinado con el enfoque musical que ha plasmado en su nuevo álbum, 'Looking For People To Unfollow', donde encontramos una interesante y potente combinación de sonidos que beben del punk, el jazz, el hip-hop y la música electrónica. De hecho, en palabras de la artista australiana: "Para mí, Ian MacKaye es tan expresivo como Billie Holiday", una frase que resume perfectamente su enfoque musical. Criada en el seno de una familia de Sri Lanka, Ecca Vandal se ha nutrido tanto de la música del sur de la India que absorbió en su casa, como del jazz de sus años de formación en el Victorian College of the Arts, pasando por toda la música que le descubrieron sus compañeros de clase: Fugazi, Pixies, Björk o Radiohead.En esta sesión de lunes también te traemos las últimas novedades de Olivia Rodrigo, Charli xcx, Nothing But Thieves, Amaral, The Warning o Blondshell, entre otras, y seleccionamos 'Everyone For Ten Minutes' de Bleachers como nuestro Disco Gourmet de la semana.Playlist:FONTAINES D.C. - Boys in the BetterlandWUNDERHORSE - RainALCALÁ NORTE - Los llamados pitagóricos- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[Diez canciones nuevas que tienes que escuchar esta semana]OLIVIA RODRIGO - the cureCHARLI XCX - SS26THE LAZY EYES - How Does It FeelTo Be In Love?LEVITANTS - SeñalesAMARAL - No quiero más canciones tristesNOTHING BUT THIEVES - EvolutionMUSE - HexagonsTHE WARNING - EgoECCA VANDAL - BleachBLONDSHELL - Heart Has To Work So Hard- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -TWIN PEAKS - Back DoorTWIN PEAKS - Making BreakfastFINN WOLFHARD - I'll Let You FinishBLEACHERS - Take You Out TonightBRIAN FALLON - Not Bad for New JerseyBRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - We Take Care of Our OwnELASTICA - ConnectionSUEDE - TrashPULP - Common PeopleRAYE - Where Is My Husband!SABRINA CARPENTER - Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix)MARK RONSON - Ooh Wee (feat. Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife & Saigon)ANGÈLE - What You Want (feat. Justice) [Fcukers Remix]TAME IMPALA - Drácula (JENNIE Remix) [Boys Noize Disko Version]Escuchar audio

Esta Ricardo is a Drag Queen and GenderFunk performer and Founder/Mother of GenderFunk. He loves exploring Gender through workshops, performance and lots of talking!Born in Birmingham he then lived in Manchester and London before studying Journalism in London. He then worked for the British Red Cross for 2 years and started performing in the radical arts festival scene in Europe. He has now lived in Saigon for 3 years.We talk about the art of Drag, the Drag scenes in Saigon and Hanoi, sexuality, gender, inclusiveness, white, male privilege and a whole lot more!Esta Ricardo is a funny, entertaining and fabulous guest!"Send me a message!"Support the show

A championship tennis match becomes a flashpoint between French colonial power and Vietnamese resistance. Newly returned American Joseph Sherman is drawn into a world of old friendships, dangerous loyalties and sudden desire — and by nightfall, one family is shattered. * One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart… Saigon is an epic saga of love, blood and revolution starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Listen to all episodes of Saigon on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A secret night on the Mekong offers Joseph and Lan a glimpse of the life they want — just as Saigon is shaken by assassination and political terror. As alliances harden and the city tightens around them, survival begins to take precedence over love. * One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart… Saigon is an epic saga of love, blood and revolution starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Listen to all episodes of Saigon on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A championship tennis match becomes a flashpoint between French colonial power and Vietnamese resistance. Newly returned American Joseph Sherman is drawn into a world of old friendships, dangerous loyalties and sudden desire — and by nightfall, one family is shattered. * One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart… Saigon is an epic saga of love, blood and revolution starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Listen to all episodes of Saigon on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're tuning in from Saigon after two bowls of pho, one too many iced coffees, and a full-on battle with Vietnam heat and humidity. What starts as a conversation about linen shirts and hotel laundry somehow turns into an unexpectedly deep dive into sardine fasts, shrimp tail psychology, proper s'mores etiquette, and the strange comfort of eating the same thing every day.Along the way you'll learn about:-> the best canned sardines they've found-> laundry culture differences between Colombia, the Philippines, and the U.S.-> growing up between Puerto Rican family parties and academic Spanish dinner tables-> the science of a proper s'more-> wine bottle protocol and the pitfalls of potluck dining-> why enjoying pho on a tiny plastic stool somehow feels like a perfect dining experienceKeep up with our part food podcast, part travel diary (plus a lot of other stuff that will surely keep you entertained). New episodes of OverSeasoned drop weekly. Subscribe so you're always in the know!

On May 22-24, solo artist Alex Xander Luu will be performing his critically-acclaimed autobiographical solo performance Three Lives @SierraMadrePlayhouse in Southern California. Written, directed, and performed by Luu, Three Lives is a raw, funny, and deeply moving one-man show that blends spoken word, physicality, and sharp observation to explore the immigrant experience. First performed in 1989 and refined over more than two decades, it has toured nationally. It traces his family's escape from war-torn Saigon in 1975 and their search for identity in America, told through the intersecting perspectives of father, son, and grandson.

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this empowering episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Dr. Katrina Nguyen, a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist and two-time bestselling author. Dr. Nguyen shares her extraordinary journey from escaping Vietnam as a toddler after the fall of Saigon to becoming a passionate advocate against childhood obesity through her nonprofit, Faithful to Fitness.Join us as Dr. Nguyen discusses her unique perspective on resilience, purpose, and faith in action. She reflects on her early life experiences that shaped her vocation as a physician and her commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and families. Dr. Nguyen dives deep into the challenges of childhood obesity, emphasizing the need for community support, education, and access to healthy resources.Throughout the episode, listeners will learn about Faithful 2 Fitness, its innovative programs, and the impact it has made in combating childhood obesity. Dr. Nguyen shares inspiring success stories from her initiatives and highlights the importance of integrating faith into her medical practice without compromising care.Tune in for a heartfelt conversation filled with insights on health, wellness, and the power of giving back to the community. Dr. Nguyen's dedication to her patients and her mission will inspire anyone looking to align their work with their purpose.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- Dr. Nguyen's incredible journey from Vietnam to becoming a pediatric doctor- The significance of community involvement in tackling childhood obesity- Insights into the programs offered by Faithful 2 Fitness- The role of faith in Dr. Nguyen's medical practice- How to create a supportive environment for families facing health challengesFor more information on Dr. Katrina Nguyen and her work, visit mdkatrina.com and learn how you can get involved with Faithful 2 Fitness at faithful2fitness.orgSupport the show

The most difficult man to nail down for an interview is finally on Seven Million Bikes! Chef and Restaurateur Calvin Bui of El Camino and Dos Amigos Taqueria.A California native born of parents who escaped the fall out of the Vietnam war, Calvin has lived in Saigon for 10 years now and gone from a Wall Street Banker to owning and running successful restaurants in Saigon. Most notable for his fusion of Korean and Mexican food.Calvin and I talk about his love of feeding people, Trip Advisor Reviews and the state of the food and beverage market in Saigon at the moment and why customers need to support local businesses if they want to see them thrive and stay in Saigon. Owner and Founder at El CaminoOwner and Founder at Easy TigerGin Bar, chef / owner at Dos Amigos Taqueria :: Tacos • Burritos • Craft Beer Owner and Founder at 20twenty Kick-Ass Bia HoiInstagram; fkndeliciousnessHow not to treat your customers;https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/food-news/68165320/wellingtons-ekim-burger-fires-off-expletive-filled-facebook-rant-at-customersCalvin's respo"Send me a message!"Support the show

FOLLOW UP starts with merchandise promotion and YouTube begging reminiscent of 2007, before GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen gets thoroughly criticized by eBay after proposing a $56 billion takeover plan that eBay called “neither credible nor attractive,” which is corporate-speak for “please stop emailing us at 3 a.m.” Meanwhile, California residents might finally receive a small settlement check from Grubhub worth about half a burrito, just as Americans realize they dislike AI data centers even more than nuclear plants because nobody wants a warehouse full of GPUs boiling away the local water supply. Lake Tahoe residents are learning their electricity now goes to AI processing plants instead of people, xAI keeps adding methane turbines despite being sued over them, and SpaceXAI employees are fleeing Elon's “sleep under your desk forever” lifestyle as if it were the last helicopter out of Saigon.IN THE NEWS, we start gently with the revelation that everyone at the Musk v. Altman trial is sitting on luxury butt cushions because apparently the singularity requires lumbar support, before plunging straight into the abyss: fake AI crypto journalists haunting Forbes and HuffPost like SEO poltergeists, OpenAI launching “Daybreak” so the robots can now secure the software they helped break, Anthropic trying to stop AI from becoming evil by feeding it morality fan fiction, and Google catching AI-generated zero-day exploits in the wild because cyberpunk novels were apparently instructional manuals. Waymo robotaxis are experimenting with driving into floodwaters, a family is suing OpenAI after ChatGPT allegedly advised their son to mix drugs with fatal results, graduating students booed an executive for praising AI as if she were announcing the arrival of cholera, and Meta continues its speedrun toward becoming the world's largest scam mall while simultaneously demanding everyone trust its shiny new “encrypted AI chats.” Also: Meta is testing Grok-for-Threads, somebody created an AI poop-analysis startup that quietly sells your bowel movements to data brokers, GM got nailed for selling driver data, Lime still somehow exists and wants an IPO, and Japan's first 3D-printed house shows that the future will at least look cool even as society collapses.MEDIA CANDY features Spotify celebrating twenty years of collecting your listening habits into a psychological profile you absolutely didn't care about during the CD era, plus The Punisher: One Last Kill ironically looking like unfinished PlayStation cutscenes, Good Omens Season 3, Devil May Cry Season 2, NBC somehow turning Wordle into a TV show because every executive has fully given up, shorter waits for Severance Season 3, and Rings of Power returning in November to continue spending the GDP of a small nation on elf misery.APPS & DOODADS checks in with Apple as it prepares Siri app integrations that developers already suspect will become subscription-based hostage situations. TikTok is testing an ad-free tier in the UK because, somehow, ads weren't already enough punishment. Venmo is finally realizing that public payment feeds are insane. There's a Wikipedia clone made entirely of AI hallucinations, and an iPad arm mount sturdy enough to survive the upcoming climate wars.AT THE LIBRARY wraps up with Clowns (First Contact), Dungeon Crawler Carl, the demise of another Goodreads competitor, Kindle alternatives for those trying to escape Amazon's panopticon, and a reminder that Douglas Adams has now been gone for 25 years, which remains, in the immortal words of the man himself, widely regarded as a bad move.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use promo code GOG at checkout.Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/grumpyCleanMyMac - Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off at clnmy.com/OLDGEEKSPrivate Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/746Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ICjNBnP3sMkFOLLOW UPGrumpy Old Geeks Merch StoreGrumpy Old Geeks on YouTubeeBay Brutally Rejects GameStop's $56 Billion Proposal: ‘Neither Credible nor Attractive'Wang et al. v. Grubhub, Inc.Americans Oppose AI Data Centers in Their AreaEnergy supplier abandons Lake Tahoe residents to serve data centersxAI Got Sued Over Its Gas Turbines, so It Naturally Added More of ThemElon Musk's SpaceXAI has been bleeding staff since its mergerIN THE NEWSEveryone at the Musk v. Altman Trial Is Using Fancy Butt CushionsFour Financial Journalists Accused of Being Fake AI-Generated Puppets That Shill Crypto in Forbes, HuffPost, and MoreDaybreak is OpenAI's response to Anthropic's Claude MythosAnthropic blames dystopian sci-fi for training AI models to act “evil”Google announces its first-ever discovery of a zero-day exploit made with AIWaymo Admits Its Robotaxis Have a Small Issue With Driving Into FloodwatersFamily sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT advice led to accidental overdoseGraduation Speaker Says AI Is ‘The Next Industrial Revolution,' Immediately Drowned Out by Booing StudentsMeta is facing another lawsuit over scam ads on Facebook and InstagramAfter Killing Encrypted DMs, Mark Zuckerberg Wants You to Trust His New Encrypted AI ChatHey @meta.ai is that true? Threads is testing a Grok-like AI featureInternet of Shit: AI Poop Analysis App Offered to Sell Me Database of Its Users' PoopsGM agrees to pay $12.75 million to settle California lawsuit over misuse of customers' driving dataThe electric scooter rental company Lime has filed for IPOThis startup built Japan's first 3D-printed two-story home. It wants to solve the country's construction crisisAPPS & DOODADSApple wants apps to integrate with Siri in iOS 27, but one fear holds some back: reportTikTok is rolling out an ad-free option in the UKVenmo's redesigned app offers more discreet payments by defaultNew Wikipedia Clone Made Entirely of AI HallucinationsYICOSUN iPad Mount Tablet Holder, 3-Section Foldable Adjustable Aluminum Alloy Arm with Rotating Clamp Base, Heavy Duty Desk Bracket for iPad Tablet Phone Portable Monitor, Bed Office KitchenMEDIA CANDYSpotify is celebrating its 20th birthday with a Wrapped-like feature that covers your entire time on the appThe Punisher: One Last KillHere's the Real Deal With That Viral Shot From 'Punisher: One Last Kill'Good Omens Season 3 - The FinaleDevil May Cry Season 2NBC is turning Wordle into a TV showAdam Scott Promises the Wait for ‘Severance' Season 3 Won't Be Nearly as Long‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Is Returning in NovemberAT THE LIBRARYClowns (First Contact) by Peter CawdronDungeon Crawler Carl by Matt DinnimanTome, another Goodreads booktracker rival, shuts downBookshop.orgKoboSmashwordseBooks.comKobo E-readersONYX BOOXThe Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy OmnibusCLOSING SHOUT-OUTS'Revenge of the Nerds' Actor Donald Gibb Dead at 71See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This conversation will stay with you. When Glennon and her son Chase sit down with his hero, Ocean Vuong, something shifts: mothering reveals itself as more than a role—it's a force that finds our kids through books, voices, and people who see them when we can't. A raw, beautiful conversation about raising boys, surviving what shapes us, and the quiet truth every parent carries: we don't do this alone. - How art and connection can “mother” us - What boys are taught about survival—and how that's changing - The moment a child feels truly seen - How grief opens us to deeper human connection - Gratitude for the ones who help raise our kids About Ocean:  Ocean Vuong, author of the critically acclaimed poetry collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds, and the New York Times bestselling novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a recipient of the 2019 MacArthur "Genius Grant" and the winner of the Whiting Award and the T. S. Eliot Prize. In Time Is a Mother, Ocean's newest poetry collection available now, he reckons with his mother's death, embodying the paradox of sitting within grief while being determined to survive beyond it. His writings have been featured in The Atlantic, Harper's Magazine, The Nation, The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he currently lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.  Follow We Can Do Hard Things on:  Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wecandohardthings⁠

Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio, this OverSeasoned Podcast episode starts in Los Angeles and ends somewhere between jet lag, Vietnamese coffee, and figuring out how many bowls of pho is too many.It kicks off with a $500 dinner at Capo in Santa Monica (think: porterhouse, grilled calamari, Burgundy by the glass) and turns into a bigger conversation about what actually makes a restaurant worth it. Not just price, but vibe, service, ingredients, and whether a place makes you feel like you belong or just ran your card.There's also a detour into Carbone, the rise of the $30 Caesar salad, and why sometimes you'd rather spend more once than eat mediocre five times.Then... first impressions of Saigon, coffee culture (Nespresso debates included), what to eat, what to order, and how deep to go on pho without burning out on day two.This one's part restaurant philosophy, part travel log, part two guys trying to stay coherent on no sleep.Welcome to OverSeasoned, on the road.

Angee the Diva is an American comedian based in Saigon, Vietnam.She was a 2019 finalist in the Vietnam Comedy Competition and has been a headlining gigs around Vietnam and South East Asia since 2017, as a solo comedian and as half of the comedy duo, “Stand Up for the Queens”. She has headlined solo in Canada and USA, as well. This mother of two, writer, event planner, and boss as bitch will leave you in stitches with her raunchy yet relatable comedic stories!Videoshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w2XCmoLg1U&authuser=0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcnBuXe2Xis&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AcZ1U7m0TY&authuser=0"Send me a message!"Support the show

“My father taught me … keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” – Michael (Al Pacino) The Godfather Part II (1974) Could this explain our ‘dearest allies’, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and perhaps Great Britain? Today, we focus on the increasingly tenuous, unholy ‘alliance’ between America and Israel in particular. Is it me, or does Pike’s outline of WWIII (i.e., PZ vs. PI) in his Aug 15, 1871 letter to Italian Illuminatus, Giuseppi Mazzini seem like it’s coming more to fruition with each passing day…? Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. – Exodus 20:16 KJV Links Videos / Clips [x] = Played ‘War is Back on the Menu’ – RPI Lake Jackson Conference 2026. – YouTube playlist Daniel McAdams – “The War on War Reporting.” [x] Brian McGlinchey – “How the US-Israel Relationship Weakens America and Harms the World.” Robert Pape – “Iran and the Escalation Trap: Avoiding a Future of Forever Wars in the Middle East.” Marjorie Taylor Greene – “MAGA is Dead. Where Do We Go From Here?” Joe Kent – “A National Security Strategy For Our Republic, Not An Empire.” Ron Paul – Lake Jackson 2026 Headlines [x] = Mentioned / Discussed [x] The Labour Theory of Value [x] Israeli Paper Admits That The Mossad Astroturfed The January Riots In Iran. – IAK Daily Update [x] Israeli Paper Admits That The Mossad Contrived The Riots In Iran [x] Israeli Paper Admits That The Mossad Astroturfed The January Riots In Iran. [x] AI Is Already Going Rogue — Wreaking Havoc Because It Feels Like It [x] How'd Lutnick Do? Depends Who You Ask. “Very good talks” Links for 5-7-26 – by Jim Cardoza – LibertyPen Origins of Declaration of Independence | Video | C-SPAN.org Silicon Valley’s Cultural Cosplay at the Met Gala Is a Dangerous Smokescreen In OpenAI trial, former technology chief says Altman sowed ‘chaos,’ distrust among top executives The Rest [x] = Mentioned / Discussed Related to Brian McGlinchey’s RPI Talk [x] By Way of Deception – Wikipedia [x] Fox News Series on Israeli Spying on US Telecommunications [x] Israeli spying in the USA: Suppressed four-part Fox News series with Carl Cameron : Fox News : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive [x] How the US-Israel Relationship Weakens America and Harms the World – The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity [x] Join The US Military – Kill And Die For Israel [x] How the US-Israel Relationship Weakens America and Harms the World [x] Brian McGlinchey | Substack [x] Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey | Substack Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey | The Libertarian Institute Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey | Facebook [x] Rachel Corrie death: struggle for justice culminates in Israeli court | Rachel Corrie | The Guardian [x] Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands: Sakwa, Richard: 9781784535278: Amazon.com: Books > NATO exists to manage the threats created by its existence… [x] FrontPage Magazine – Our Culture, What's Left Of It > Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to. [x] Websters 1828 – Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – Probity > Primarily, tried virtue or integrity, or approved actions; but in general, strict honesty; sincerity; veracity; integrity in principle, or strict conformity of actions to the laws of justice. probity of mind or principle is best evinced by probity of conduct in social dealings, particularly in adhering to strict integrity in the observance and performance of rights called imperfect, which public laws to not reach and cannot enforce. ‘On This Day’ Related [x] WW3 – Albert Pike and the Three World Wars > The Third World War must be fomented by taking advantage of the differences caused by the ‘agentur’ of the ‘Illuminati’ between the political Zionists and the leaders of Islamic World. The war must be conducted in such a way that Islam (the Moslem Arabic World) and political Zionism (the State of Israel) mutually destroy each other. Meanwhile the other nations, once more divided on this issue will be constrained to fight to the point of complete physical, moral, spiritual and economical exhaustion. We shall unleash the Nihilists and the atheists, and we shall provoke a formidable social cataclysm which in all its horror will show clearly to the nations the effect of absolute atheism, origin of savagery and of the most bloody turmoil. Then everywhere, the citizens, obliged to defend themselves against the world minority of revolutionaries, will exterminate those destroyers of civilization, and the multitude, disillusioned with Christianity, whose deistic spirits will from that moment be without compass or direction, anxious for an ideal, but without knowing where to render its adoration, will receive the true light through the universal manifestation of the pure doctrine of Lucifer, brought finally out in the public view. This manifestation will result from the general reactionary movement which will follow the destruction of Christianity and atheism, both conquered and exterminated at the same time. [x] Orange Crush (song) – Wikipedia [x] We Didn’t Start the Fire – Wikipedia [x] Forest Fire as a Military Weapon – AD0509724.pdf [x] Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark – Road Warrior Radio – Facebook > The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance. [x] Naturalism (philosophy) – Wikipedia On This Day Events May 2026 Calendar of Public Holidays | Office Holidays Holidays and Observances in the United States in 2026 What day is it today? Important events every day ad-free | United States OTD Worldwide Public Holidays Thursday May 7th 2026 | Office Holidays On This Day – What Happened on May 7 Today in History: May 7, RMS Lusitania torpedoed, sunk by German submarine | AP News What Happened on May 7 – On This Day What Happened on May 7 | HISTORY May 7 – Wikipedia What Happened On May 7 In History? 07 | May | 2020 | Executed Today Holidays National Day of Prayer Historical Events 2004 – Marine biologist Richard Thompson coins the term “microplastics” 2000 – Vladimir Putin becomes President of Russia: The former KGB officer enjoys high approval ratings in his country as living standards in Russia have improved drastically under his rule. Internationally, he has been criticized for his authoritarian style of government. 1998 – Daimler-Benz (Mercedes-Benz) buys Chrysler for $40 billion and forms DaimlerChrysler in the largest industrial merger in history. 1984 – Monsanto and six other chemical companies agreed to pay a $180 million settlement to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. 1975 – President Gerald R. Ford formally declared an end to the “Vietnam era.” In Ho Chi Minh City — formerly Saigon — the Viet Cong celebrated its takeover. 1960 – Leonid Brezhnev becomes leader of the USSR 1954 – the 55-day Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam ended with Vietnamese insurgents overrunning French forces; it would be the last major battle of the First Indochina War. 1952 – The concept of the integrated circuit, the basis for all modern computers, is first published by Geoffrey Dummer 1946 – Sony is founded: The company started as Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering. It is now one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products. 1945 – Germany’s Nazi regime surrenders unconditionally: The capitulation ended World War II, one of the bloodiest conflicts of all time. According to estimates, between 40 and 71 million people died in the war and the Holocaust initiated by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime. 1915 – A German U-Boat sinks the RMS Lusitania: 1198 lives were lost in the attack, making it the deadliest shipwreck during World War I. The fact that some of the dead were U.S. citizens influenced the country’s decision to enter the war in 1917. 1912 – Columbia University approves plans to award the Pulitzer Prize in several categories, after establishment by Joseph Pulitzer 1895 – Alexander Popov demonstrates the world’s first radio receiver: The Russian physicist had initially built the device as a lightning detector. He achieved the first radio transmission between two buildings the following year. In some parts of the former Soviet Union the anniversary of this day is celebrated as Radio Day. 1867 – Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel patents dynamite in England, the first of three patents he receives for the explosive material 1843 – First Japanese immigrant arrives in the U.S. 1794 – French Revolution: Robespierre introduces the Cult of the Supreme Being in the National Convention as the new state religion of the French First Republic. 1718 – The city of New Orleans is founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. 1429 – English siege of Orleans broken by Joan of Arc and the French army 558 – In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses. Justinian I immediately orders that the dome be rebuilt. 351 – The Jewish revolt against Gallus breaks out. After his arrival at Antioch, the Jews begin a rebellion in Palestine. Births 1997 – Cameron Young, American golfer 1950 – Tim Russert, American television journalist and lawyer (died 2008) 1933 – Johnny Unitas, American football player and sportscaster (died 2002) 1919 – Eva Perón, Argentinian actress, 25th First Lady of Argentina (died 1952) 1901 – Gary Cooper, American actor (died 1961) 1892 – Archibald MacLeish, American poet, playwright, and lawyer (died 1982) 1885 – George “Gabby” Hayes, American actor (died 1969) 1840 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Russian composer and educator (died 1893) 1833 – Johannes Brahms, German pianist and composer (died 1897) 1812 – Robert Browning, English poet (died 1889) 1711 – David Hume, Scottish economist, historian, philosopher (died 1776) Deaths 2011 – Seve Ballesteros, Spanish golfer (born 1957) 2000 – Douglas Fairbanks Jr., American captain, actor, and producer, only son of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks (born 1909) 1998 – Eddie Rabbitt, American musician (born 1941) 1968 – Craig Wood, distinguished American golfer (born 1901) 1940 – George Lansbury, English journalist and politician (born 1859) 973 – Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Holy Roman Emperor, also known as Otto the Great (born 912)

2026 menandai 51 tahun sejak jatuhnya Saigon. Pada tahun-tahun berikutnya, ratusan ribu orang Vietnam meninggalkan negara itu melalui laut, yang dikenal sebagai “manusia perahu - boat people.” Di seluruh Asia Tenggara, kamp-kamp pengungsi telah menjadi tempat menunggu, ketidakpastian dan kelangsungan hidup.

The ladies kick things off with $5,000 sterling silver mint juleps, a full jar of fucks, and a pet photo challenge featuring a baby bird whose mother is auditioning for grounded mom of the year. Ashe takes us through a weird week in history covering the Kontiki voyage, the liberation of Dachau, the fall of Saigon, George Washington begging not to be president, Thomas Jefferson rationalizing the Louisiana Purchase, CERN releasing the worldwide web (and the eternal reminder that if it's free, you're the product), the Empire State Building, Bush's mission accomplished disaster, the King James Bible, Gone With The Wind, Kent State, and the Haymarket Affair. Christy explains why a blue moon used to mean something absurd or impossible centuries before astronomers got involved, and somehow that means Ashe owes everyone dinner on May 31. Then Michelle takes the wheel for a whole segment on intentional dressing, why we hide behind clothes, finding your three power pieces, dressing for your body shape, and the radical idea that anxiety lives in the waiting and confidence shows up after you take the step. Plus: Brian rage quitting over the spelling of Grogu, and a wiener dog t-shirt origin story.

If we've learned one thing from our first day in Saigon… it's that you don't ease into Saigon. You land, you blink, and suddenly you're eating pho for breakfast, moving amongst the fluid dynamics of motorbikes, and watching someone casually break down a pig's snout in an alley like it's just another Tuesday.This is our first 24 hours in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), recorded straight out of Saigon Podcast Studio: jet lagged, not under-caffeinated (hard to be in this town), and fully thrown into the deep end of Vietnam's food culture.We get into:The moment pho finally clicks (and why breakfast might be the best time for it)Vietnam's wet markets: where you can buy herbs, headless frogs… or nail clippersWhy banh mi might be the most perfect sandwich on earthThe controlled chaos of Saigon's streets and why it somehow worksAnd a completely passionate detour into overcooked wild salmon and love for the broilerIt's messy and meandering… and it's exactly what day one in a new city should feel like. Equal parts discovery, confusion, and thrill. Welcome to Vietnam. We're figuring it out as we go.

Nil Köksal speaks with director Kim Nguyen about his new documentary "Saigon Story: Two Shootings in the Forest Kingdom." In it, he pulls back the curtain on one of the most famous images from the Vietnam War: Saigon Execution. The film explores how the act of violence captured in that picture, and its aftermath, have rippled through generations, and tells the stories of those who've had to live with its impact.

National Zipper day. National Make a Wish Day. Entertainment from 1978. Saigon evacuated as it fell, Rodney King LA riots started, Desmond Doss saved 75 injured soldiers, Dachau concentration camp liberated. Todays birhdays - Duke Ellington, Carl Gardner, Willie Nelson, Tommy James, Jerry Seinfeld, Daniel, Day-Lewis, Eve Plumb, Michelle Pfeiffer, Carnie Wilson, Uma Thurman. Alfred Hitchcock died.Intro - God did good - Dianna Corcoran     https://diannacorcoran.com/Zipper - Jason DeruloNight fever - The Bee GeesEverytime two fools collide - Kenny Rogers  Dottie WestWhite Chrstmas - Bing CrosbyBirthdays - In da club - 50 Cent       http://50cent.com/Take the A Train - Duke EllingtonYakety Yak - The CoastersOn the road again - Willie NelsonMony Mony - Tommy James & the ShondellsBrady Bunch TV themeCool Rider - Michelle PfeifferExit - This ain't a love song - Blacktop Rodeo    https://www.blacktoprodeo.com/  History & Factoids about today Playlist on SpotifyHistory & Factoids about today webpagecooolmedia.comcountryundergroundradio.com

Commemorating the anniversary of the capture of Saigon, with excerpts from Jeffrey Minch, Michael Miller, and Gary Lark. Support the show

Based on a decade of research and writing, enriched by eyewitness interviews and revealing documents obtained through dozens of freedom of information requests, Kennedy's Coup vividly recreates the Kennedy Administration's secret encouragement of the fatal 1963 military coup against South Vietnam's president Ngo Dinh Diem.The brutal assassination of Diem by his own generals—which capped weeks of bitter White House infighting—led to dreadful consequences for the United States, opening the door to nine years of costly and futile warfare in Vietnam. Jack Cheevers provides unforgettable portraits of the people behind this fascinating drama: the kindly, philosophy-loving American ambassador who tried to save Diem; the powerful Pentagon and State Department figures who battled for JFK's ear; the hard-driving young American journalists in Saigon who braved police beatings and death threats to dig out the story; the adder-tongued Madame Nhu, Diem's beautiful sister-in-law, who enraged critics with outrageous insults; the scheming South Vietnamese generals who slowly tightened a noose around their commander in chief; the hard-drinking CIA agent who carried secret US messages to the generals; and Diem and his Machiavellian brother Nhu, head of the feared secret police, who tried but failed to outwit both the Americans and their traitorous generals.While many Vietnam books mention Diem's murder in passing, this gripping account delves into the participants' personalities, motives, and actions in greater detail than ever before. The definitive history of one of the most catastrophic decisions ever made by a US president, shedding new light on events that altered the world, Kennedy's Coup will be a work of lasting importance. Luca Trenta is an Associate Professor in International Relations at Swansea University, in Wales (UK). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Based on a decade of research and writing, enriched by eyewitness interviews and revealing documents obtained through dozens of freedom of information requests, Kennedy's Coup vividly recreates the Kennedy Administration's secret encouragement of the fatal 1963 military coup against South Vietnam's president Ngo Dinh Diem.The brutal assassination of Diem by his own generals—which capped weeks of bitter White House infighting—led to dreadful consequences for the United States, opening the door to nine years of costly and futile warfare in Vietnam. Jack Cheevers provides unforgettable portraits of the people behind this fascinating drama: the kindly, philosophy-loving American ambassador who tried to save Diem; the powerful Pentagon and State Department figures who battled for JFK's ear; the hard-driving young American journalists in Saigon who braved police beatings and death threats to dig out the story; the adder-tongued Madame Nhu, Diem's beautiful sister-in-law, who enraged critics with outrageous insults; the scheming South Vietnamese generals who slowly tightened a noose around their commander in chief; the hard-drinking CIA agent who carried secret US messages to the generals; and Diem and his Machiavellian brother Nhu, head of the feared secret police, who tried but failed to outwit both the Americans and their traitorous generals.While many Vietnam books mention Diem's murder in passing, this gripping account delves into the participants' personalities, motives, and actions in greater detail than ever before. The definitive history of one of the most catastrophic decisions ever made by a US president, shedding new light on events that altered the world, Kennedy's Coup will be a work of lasting importance. Luca Trenta is an Associate Professor in International Relations at Swansea University, in Wales (UK). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Based on a decade of research and writing, enriched by eyewitness interviews and revealing documents obtained through dozens of freedom of information requests, Kennedy's Coup vividly recreates the Kennedy Administration's secret encouragement of the fatal 1963 military coup against South Vietnam's president Ngo Dinh Diem.The brutal assassination of Diem by his own generals—which capped weeks of bitter White House infighting—led to dreadful consequences for the United States, opening the door to nine years of costly and futile warfare in Vietnam. Jack Cheevers provides unforgettable portraits of the people behind this fascinating drama: the kindly, philosophy-loving American ambassador who tried to save Diem; the powerful Pentagon and State Department figures who battled for JFK's ear; the hard-driving young American journalists in Saigon who braved police beatings and death threats to dig out the story; the adder-tongued Madame Nhu, Diem's beautiful sister-in-law, who enraged critics with outrageous insults; the scheming South Vietnamese generals who slowly tightened a noose around their commander in chief; the hard-drinking CIA agent who carried secret US messages to the generals; and Diem and his Machiavellian brother Nhu, head of the feared secret police, who tried but failed to outwit both the Americans and their traitorous generals.While many Vietnam books mention Diem's murder in passing, this gripping account delves into the participants' personalities, motives, and actions in greater detail than ever before. The definitive history of one of the most catastrophic decisions ever made by a US president, shedding new light on events that altered the world, Kennedy's Coup will be a work of lasting importance. Luca Trenta is an Associate Professor in International Relations at Swansea University, in Wales (UK). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Based on a decade of research and writing, enriched by eyewitness interviews and revealing documents obtained through dozens of freedom of information requests, Kennedy's Coup vividly recreates the Kennedy Administration's secret encouragement of the fatal 1963 military coup against South Vietnam's president Ngo Dinh Diem.The brutal assassination of Diem by his own generals—which capped weeks of bitter White House infighting—led to dreadful consequences for the United States, opening the door to nine years of costly and futile warfare in Vietnam. Jack Cheevers provides unforgettable portraits of the people behind this fascinating drama: the kindly, philosophy-loving American ambassador who tried to save Diem; the powerful Pentagon and State Department figures who battled for JFK's ear; the hard-driving young American journalists in Saigon who braved police beatings and death threats to dig out the story; the adder-tongued Madame Nhu, Diem's beautiful sister-in-law, who enraged critics with outrageous insults; the scheming South Vietnamese generals who slowly tightened a noose around their commander in chief; the hard-drinking CIA agent who carried secret US messages to the generals; and Diem and his Machiavellian brother Nhu, head of the feared secret police, who tried but failed to outwit both the Americans and their traitorous generals.While many Vietnam books mention Diem's murder in passing, this gripping account delves into the participants' personalities, motives, and actions in greater detail than ever before. The definitive history of one of the most catastrophic decisions ever made by a US president, shedding new light on events that altered the world, Kennedy's Coup will be a work of lasting importance. Luca Trenta is an Associate Professor in International Relations at Swansea University, in Wales (UK). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/national-security

Angee the Diva is an American comedian based in Saigon, Vietnam.She was a 2019 finalist in the Vietnam Comedy Competition and has been a headlining gigs around Vietnam and South East Asia since 2017, as a solo comedian and as half of the comedy duo, “Stand Up for the Queens”. She has headlined solo in Canada and USA, as well. This mother of two, writer, event planner, and boss as bitch will leave you in stitches with her raunchy yet relatable comedic stories!Videoshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w2XCmoLg1U&authuser=0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcnBuXe2Xis&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AcZ1U7m0TY&authuser=0"Send me a message!"Support the show

Robin Williams was already a comedy and TV star based on his stand-up and starring role in Mork & Mindy. He'd also ventured into film with the films Popeye, The World According to Garp, and Moscow on the Hudson as modest successes. It wasn't until 1987 when he starred in a Vietnam War-era comedy that propelled him to mega-stardom. Based on the true-life experiences of Armed Forces Radio Service DJ Adrian Cronauer, Williams heavily improvised much of the on-and-off the air humor as he tries to cheer up the troops from his recording booth in Saigon. For the role, Williams won a Golden Globe and scored his first Oscar nomination, and the film's album won a Grammy for best Comedy Album. Now Legends Podcast waking up early - we're doing it for the troops! - to say: Good Morning, Vietnam!   ITHACON 49 is Saturday, April 25th, and Sunday, April 26th, at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY! Tickets available at ITHACON.org    For more geeky podcasts visit GonnaGeek.com    You can find us on iTunes under ''Legends Podcast''. Please subscribe and give us a positive review. You can also follow us on Twitter @LegendsPodcast or even better, send us an e-mail: LegendsPodcastS@gmail.com    You can write to Rum Daddy directly: rumdaddylegends@gmail.com    You can find all our contact information here on the Network page of GonnaGeek.com Our complete archive is always available at www.legendspodcast.com, www.legendspodcast.libsyn.com    Show Music:Danger Storm by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Why do documentary subjects freeze for a professional camera - but open up to an iPhone?Robin Canfield shares why he films with iPhones, how he teaches documentary in twenty countries, and the communication skill he says every documentary filmmaker overlooks.Robin joins us from Saigon, Vietnam, during a four-week documentary program with international students. He shares why he switched from Canon cameras to phones, how his crews rebuild story structure at 1 AM using sticky notes on a wall, what happened the day a government minder followed him into a Hoi An coffee shop, and why he thinks communication is the skill every documentary filmmaker overlooks.In this episode, you'll learn:— Why documentary subjects freeze in front of professional cameras but open up around Phones— How Robin and his students have produced more than 200 short documentaries in 20+ countries— The paper-cut editing method Robin uses when the timeline on the computer isn't telling the story— Why communication may matter more than any gear you buy— How to film ethically in countries where you're a guest, and what to do when the government is watching— Why Robin screens every film locally before leaving, so the people in the story can see it first— How Actuality Abroad started with a coffee cooperative story in Guatemala— How a journalism background becomes a foundation for documentary filmmaking— Why filmmakers can't wait for someone to fund their work anymore— What Robin means when he says "everyone is a storyteller, and everyone could be a better one"Timestamps:0:00 Introduction1:11 Robin in Saigon — the Documentary Outreach program2:52 Growing up with a camera — Dad's darkroom5:35 Journalism at Oregon State7:31 Founding Actuality Abroad — the Guatemala test run11:34 Writing Purpose Driven Documentaries15:49 Why Robin switched from Canon cameras to iPhones16:32 Why subjects freeze for cameras and relax around phones17:04 Filmmaking is a craft you learn by doing21:21 Everyone is a storyteller24:42 Documentary filmmaking is problem solving25:54 International production and visa logistics29:32 The government watcher in a Vietnam coffee shop34:50 The paper-cut editing method39:13 Rights, Creative Commons, and protecting films42:43 The Edinburgh tavern — being American abroad45:06 Learning to crowdfund and ask for what you need48:42 DocuView Deja Vu: The Pez OutlawDocuView Deja Vu Pick:Robin Canfield: The Pez Outlaw (Netflix, 2022)This episode is supported by Virgil Films Entertainment.About the Guest:Robin Canfield is the co-founder and Director of Global Operations at Actuality Abroad, a media-centered study abroad program that has produced more than 200 short documentaries in 20+ countries. He trains his crews on iPhones with Tilta rigs, not traditional cinema cameras. He is the author of Purpose Driven Documentaries: A Field Guide to Creating Impact (Focal Press), a textbook for students and storytellers making social impact documentaries. He grew up around his father's darkroom, studied journalism at Oregon State University, and has been a photographer and filmmaker most of his life. Based in Orlando, Florida.Some of Robin's Recent Works:“Los Maestros del Mañana” - Los Maestros del Mañana - July/August 2025, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - Documentary Outreach (4 week program)“Welcome to La Perseverancia” - Welcome to La Perseverancia - May 2025, Bogota, Colombia - Field Study (custom program with 10 adult former-foster-care-youth from Chicago)“What Feeds Us” - What Feeds Us - January/February 2025, Bangkok, Thailand - Documentary Outreach (4 week program)“Anything is Possible” - Anything is Possible - July/August 2024, Tangier, Morocco - Documentary Outreach (4 week program)“Seeds for the Future” - Seeds for the Future - July, 2024, Uaxactún, Guatemala - Storytelling Expedition (2 week program in the Maya jungle in Guatemala)About Actuality Abroad:Actuality Abroad is a media-centered study abroad program that pairs filmmaking students with NGOs and social enterprises around the world. Since its founding, the program has produced over 200 short documentaries in more than 20 countries, including Guatemala, Colombia, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Ecuador, and Vietnam. Students work in small crews, follow a full pre-production and editing curriculum, and screen their finished films locally before leaving each country.***Interested in going on a trip with Actuality Abroad to Guatamala this July? Visit the Actuality Abroad website and hit the "Apply Now" button.***Resources Mentioned:— Purpose Driven Documentaries: A Field Guide to Creating Impact by Robin Canfield (Focal Press)— The Pez Outlaw (Netflix, 2022)— The Cove (2009)— Poverty Inc. (2014)Listen & Follow:Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/DocFirstAppleSpotify: tinyurl.com/DocFirstSpotifyYouTube: tinyurl.com/DocFirstYouTubeAmazon Music: tinyurl.com/DocFirstAmazonSupport the show on Patreon: tinyurl.com/DocFirstPatreonConnect:Actuality Abroad: actualityabroad.comActuality Abroad on Vimeo and YouTube — search "Actuality Abroad"Connect with Christian Taylor on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meetchristiantaylorAll Documentary First platforms: linktr.ee/doc1st

We bring you some quick interviews with filmmakers at the historic Enzian Theater for the Florida Film Festival. We chat about their films and then ask them to choose: Cruise or Hanks?​David Anthony Ngo (Never Get Busted!): Fresh off a Sundance premiere, David discusses his "Tiger King in the war on drugs" documentary, executive produced by the team behind Searching for Sugar Man.​Matthew Serrano (Xolo): The LA-based filmmaker and Defunctland collaborator talks about the challenges of directing a senior rescue dog in a narrative involving the Aztec god of death.​Maggie Brill (All at Once): A deep dive into New York filmmaking, navigating surprise concerts in Central Park, and the importance of queer coming-of-age representation.​Khoa Ha & Victor Velle (Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon): The search for the lost legacy of the "Quincy Jones of Saigon" and the journey of rediscovering a family musical heritage across two continents.​We talk to Lena Greene (Tuna Tartare) about Broadway-singing trash, Sasha Shin (Juicy and Sweet) on being "haunted by apples," and Shengwei Zhou (Perfect City: The Mushroom) on using stop-motion to process grief. ​ Plus, Eddie Mauldin (Dreams) and Ryan McCown (Crab Diane) discuss everything from "nontraditional" mental health to cosmic crustacean colonies.​Kim Blanck (Gloria): The Tribeca alum shares the "pre-pro panic" of filming on her own block and working with Gilmore Girls' Emily Kuroda.​Jorma Taccone joins us to discuss his new film Over Your Dead Body (hitting theaters April 24th!).

April 30 of this year marks the 51st anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the Fall of Saigon. A new podcast shares the story of a Marine's experience in that conflict— and the family connection that helped tell the story.On Midday Edition Tuesday, we hear from the creator of the series on how she balanced her role as both journalist and granddaughter to share retired Marine James Steele's memories of war, survival, and loss."Reconnaissance Man" will be premiering on Combat Story beginning Sunday.Guest:Ashly McGlone, journalist/creator, "Reconnaissance Man"

In this episode, I spoke with author Joseph Hulihan about his book "Vietnam on the Big Screen: How the Vietnam War Changed Hollywood". America, it is said, deals with its trauma through the medium of Hollywood, and few experiences have been more traumatic than its involvement in the Vietnam War. As the last US helicopters fled the American Embassy compound during the fall of Saigon, they left behind a country devastated by twenty years of death and destruction.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, host Tom Betti is joined by three special guests - Pan Am flight attendant Karen Walker Ryan and adoptees Carol Mason and Dr. Matt Steiner - to mark the 51st anniversary of Operation Babylift, the frantic evacuation ordered by U.S. President Gerald R. Ford of Vietnamese war orphans in the final days of Saigon in 1975.But this episode is about more than history. It is about what happens to people after history moves through them. It is about memory, identity, and the bonds that form in the most unlikely of circumstances. It is about three people whose lives were bound together by a single flight fifty years ago - and who have never let go of each other since.Karen Walker Ryan served as a Pan Am flight attendant from 1969 to 1978. She volunteered to fly into Saigon in the final days of the war, and her photograph holding baby Carol Mason was later published on the cover of Reader's Digest. Karen has stayed in close contact with several of the children from that flight ever since. Her story, and her decades-long bond with Carol and Matt, was featured on ABC's Good Morning America and ABC's 20/20.Carol Mason was five months old when she was airlifted out of Vietnam on the second Operation Babylift flight. She grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and learned about her own story at age 25 when her mother spotted Karen's photograph in a magazine. Hers is a story about what it means to search for yourself - and what you find when you finally do.Dr. Matthew Steiner was born in Vientiane, Laos in 1966 and raised in a Saigon orphanage before being evacuated to the United States at age nine through Operation Babylift. He went on to become a high school valedictorian, and today serves as an emergency physician helping patients facing life-threatening conditions. The boy who once needed saving, now doing the saving. This episode also features an original song, "Waking Up American," performed by Jared Rehberg - himself a Babylift adoptee - at the Pan Am Museum's 50th Anniversary event in Garden City, New York. Jared composed the song years earlier as a meditation on growing up between two worlds, and it is the only way this episode could end.Please watch the 13-minute documentary Operation Babylift: A Celebration of the Human Spirit.Support the showVisit Us for more Pan Am History! Support the Podcast!Donate to the Museum!Visit The Hangar online store for Pan Am gear!Become a Member! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!A very special thanks to Mr. Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC and president of the Pan Am Historical Foundation and  Pan Am Brands for their continued and unwavering support! 

GiangSinh is named due to her birth date of December 24th, being Vietnamese for Christmas, which she still went by until recently.Her Vietnamese mother and father met in Indonesia where GiangSinh was born and lived there for the first 5 years of her life. After moving back to Saigon she has lived in Nha Trang, Singapore, LA and now back to Saigon again where she feels her heart belongs. She has worked in Hospitality and FMCG most of her adult life, starting out at the prestigious Six Senses resort.Currently, she is Head of Sales for Bira91; a beer imagined in India, brewed in Belgium, sold worldwide and currently making inroads into the crowded Vietnamese market.We talk about her parents tumultuous relationship, owing to their different backgrounds and family pressures, and how that affected her growing up; living in different places around the world and the experiences gleaned from that and of course... alcohol. From the mass consumption of beer in Vietnam to the plethora of new cocktail bars opening in Saigon and our favourite types of whisky. She also believes that dogs are better than humans! Biscuit agrees.Bira 91"Send me a message!"Support the show

33 Stunden Bahn-Abenteuer in Südostasien: Reisfelder ziehen vorbei, wartende Mofaschwärme, Küste, Berge und irgendwann die Tropen. Legendäre Orte wie die alte Kaiserstadt Hué und die Küstenperle Hoi An liegen auf unserem Weg, bevor wir Saigon erreichen - eine der spannendsten Städte Asiens. Saigon oder auch Ho Chi Minh City ist größer und heißer als das nördliche Hanoi. Der Independence Palace mit seinen Bunkern und seiner sozialistischen Pracht. Das so wichtige Kriegsreste-Museum. Das sehr schöne Museum of Fine Arts und natürlich das nahe Mekongdelta: Mit schmalen Booten schippert man über grünes Fluss-Wasser, durch Stille und tropische Pflanzenwälder, in denen das Sonnenlicht bricht. All das plus viele kleine Momente und viele Bahnreise-Tipps gibt es in dieser Folge von unserer Reisen-Reisen-Chefin und uns für euch!—

This is part two with Al Cisneros, and this time, it opens in a hurry. No notice. Grab the jet. Haul critical intel. Get it to Saigon—fast. Actually, what starts as a straightforward courier mission quickly takes on weight. The tasking is urgent, the stakes are real, and the realization hits that this flight matters far beyond just flying from point A to point B. Furthermore, that opening story sets the tone for the entire episode. From there, the conversation expands into a full career arc. Early uncertainty. Lessons learned the hard way. Moments of pressure that shape judgment and confidence. Consequently, the stories build into something bigger than individual flights. You hear how experience stacks over time. How decisions compound. And how leadership isn't assigned—it's earned. Anf of course, what a small world Aviation in general is, and Naval Aviation in particular. By the end, the through-line is clear. The guy flying that mission becomes the one others look to for direction. And yeah… the path between those two points is anything but predictable.

Episode two of One Million Neighbors brings us to the chaotic final days of Saigon in April 1975, as ten-year-old Simon Hoa-Phan watches his world unravel. From the terror of nighttime bombings to the desperate crush of families fleeing toward evacuation helicopters, Simon's story captures the fear, uncertainty, and life-altering decisions faced by thousands as South Vietnam fell. His family's escape—narrow, chaotic, and uncertain—becomes a window into a much larger phenomenon: the mass displacement of millions across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, where war, political upheaval, and U.S. intervention forced entire populations to flee under harrowing conditions. At the same time, across the world in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kathleen Vellenga witnesses these events from a hospital bed and feels a call to act. Her personal turning point reflects a broader movement among American faith communities, who would go on to play a central role in resettling more than a million Southeast Asian refugees. This episode traces the historical roots of that movement—from Cold War politics and moral responsibility to deeply held religious convictions—and introduces the ordinary people who made extraordinary choices to welcome strangers as neighbors. Dr. Melissa Borja is Associate Professor of American Culture and Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan. Trained at Harvard, the University of Chicago, and Columbia, she is a historian of migration, religion, race, and politics and author of Follow the New Way: American Refugee Resettlement Policy and Hmong Religious Change (Harvard University Press), which won the the Thomas Wilson Memorial Prize, the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize from the American Society of Church History, and the Outstanding Achievement Award in History from the Association for Asian American Studies. Dr. Borja has advised Princeton's Religion and Forced Migration Initiative as well as the Bridging Divides Initiative, which tracks and mitigates political violence in the United States. An expert on anti-Asian racism during the Covid-19 pandemic, she leads the Virulent Hate Project and has contributed research to Stop AAPI Hate. In honor of her research and advocacy about Asian Americans, USA Today honored her as one of its 2022 Women of the Year. This podcast is part of AAPI Stories of Faith & Life, an Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) project funded by Lilly Endowment Incorporated.  www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music, Composition, and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is it really like to cycle Vietnam? In this episode of the Active Travel Adventures Podcast, I'm joined by Jeff and Ed, two experienced cyclists who share their firsthand experience riding a 13-day Vietnam guided cycling tour from Saigon to Hue. This is not your typical bike trip. Their route took them far beyond the tourist trail — through the Central Highlands, rural farming communities, coastal fishing villages, and historic cities — all on a mix of gravel roads and quiet backcountry routes with their skilled guide and a support van. Along the way, they experienced: authentic interactions with local farmers and schoolchildren ever-changing scenery from mountains to coastline long, exhilarating descents from the highlands incredible Vietnamese food and beachfront accommodations They also share what surprised them most about cycling Vietnam, what made this trip different from Europe, and what you should know before choosing a cycling tour here. ⚠️ This particular route is moderate to challenging, but don't let that intimidate you. There are many Vietnam cycling tours available through my affiliate partner, Art of Bicycle Trips including (email me for the current discount Promo Code here): easier rides shorter distances cultural-focused itineraries e-bike friendly options (including this tour!) So whether you're an experienced cyclist or just getting started, there's likely a Vietnam bike tour that's right for you.

Derek Champagne interviews Quang X. Pham. Quang is a biotech executive, war veteran, author, speaker, and community leader with a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, service, and entrepreneurship. He made history as the first Vietnamese American to earn naval aviator wings in the Marine Corps and lead an initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq.His inspiring American underdog journey, told in first person, is unlike any other. Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quang and his family fled as refugees when he was 10, while his father, a Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilot,remained and was imprisoned for more than a decade. After earning a degree from UCLA, Quang served seven years on active duty, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Persian Gulf War, Somalia, and the Reserves. Following his military career, Quang transitioned into business, founding multiple pharmaceutical companies. In 2000, he launched MyDrugRep.com (which became LathianSystems), an innovative online platform for physician marketing engagements, which was later acquired. In 2015, he founded Espero Pharmaceuticals and Jacksonville Pharmaceuticals. His leadership and entrepreneurial success earned him the Florida EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018. Today Quang serves as Chairman and CEO, Cadrenal Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CVKD).Quang is also the author of the award-winning father-son memoir, A Sense of Duty: Our Journey from Vietnam (Penguin Random House), and his new book, Underdog Nation: Zero In on Effort and Results for Success (Forbes Books).Committed to giving back, Quang has served on the boards of private companies, veterancharities and educational organizations. He lives in Florida with his family, continuing tolead and inspire.Order Quang's new book here: https://quangxpham.com/books/Business Leadership Series Intro and Outro music provided by Just Off Turner: https://music.apple.com/za/album/the-long-walk-back/268386576