Podcasts about Vietnamese

We start with the plane hijacking that was thwarted on it's way to Tel Aviv, and break down the information that we currently have available, which leads to a biblical history lesson, then we shift over to the UK where an alleged terrorist plot to bomb a RAF base was thwarted...only for the suspects to be bonded out of prison. We stay in the UK and discuss the Chinese espionage plot that was just uncovered and the scottish Police that just lead a massive bust of Vietnamese gang members!To join in on the conversation every Wednesday night at 9pm cst, come to patreon.com/CajunKnightBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cult-of-conspiracy--5700337/support.

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Police bust 14 Vietnamese-run cannabis grow houses, and it has now been a year since Tokoroa teacher Jayleb-Che Dean went missing and police say they don't believe it is a case of foul play, but the case remains open. Kelly also discusses Rotorua man Justin Jeffries pleading guilty to a triple murder, and a recent political debate in the city. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post

Family and rights advocates say an Australian activist was abducted, as Vietnam accuses him of terrorism.An Australian activist is among three people arrested by Vietnamese authorities on terrorism-related allegations. His family, human rights advocates and supporters dispute the claims, alleging he was abducted in Cambodia. As investigations continue, questions remain about what happened and what comes next.In this episode:Why Hiep Tran's wife believes he disappeared during a trip between Cambodia and Thailand.The terrorism and document-forgery allegations made by Vietnam's Security Investigation Agency.How Viet Tan and human rights advocates are challenging the official account.Claims that the case reflects a broader pattern of transnational repression in Southeast Asia.What support Australian officials say they are providing, and why the family wants more answers.

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Mobidictum Conference in Istanbul, October 7–8: fifth year, 80% of the top Turkish studios in the room, 20 Vietnamese and 30 Chinese companies, 60% international attendance for the first time, and all three of us on stage. Batuhan has free tickets for the 2.5 Gamers audience, so reach out.Turkey went from zero gaming news for five years to producing the most consistent hit-making machine in mobile, and in this episode we sit down with Batuhan Avucan, founder of Mobidictum, to find out how that actually happened and what's coming next. The short version: investors gave Turkish founders one mandate, puzzle, and Turkish founders executed. The Sort category alone went from basically nothing in 2023 to roughly $80M a month in IAP, and once you add ad revenue on top it's easily $120M a month, spearheaded by Pixel Flow, Magic Sort, Hexa Sort and friends. Block is dominated by Color Block Jam and Block Out from Grand Games, Match Blast and Match Factory are Peak's home turf, and match-3 is still a heavyweight fight between Dream and Playrix. But the interesting part is the machine underneath it: studios that grew up working with publishers like Rollic and Lion, learned the craft, then went solo and shipped Loom and RotateLab-sized results. Batuhan puts it better than we can: "We don't train talent anymore, we train founders."

OpenAI holds back its newest model over safety concerns. Kiteworks lifts its precautionary shutdown. Apple patches an exploited zero-day. Japanese rail operators disclose cyberattacks. An Anthropic authentication flaw opens the door to account takeover. Thousands of Supabase databases leak data. NeedyMantis targets telecoms and governments. A Vietnamese national faces charges in a multimillion-dollar crypto laundering scheme. James Winebrenner, CEO of Elisity, is sharing barriers to compliance and challenges for manufacturers as the EU Cyber Resilience Act is implemented. If you're hoping for credit, be careful what you share. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest James Winebrenner, CEO of Elisity, is sharing barriers to compliance and challenges for manufacturers as the EU Cyber Resilience Act (EU CRA) is implemented. Selected Reading OpenAI Says It Will Not Release Newest Astra A.I. Model Over Safety Concerns (The New York Times) Florida asks for order to halt ChatGPT development (Axios) Kiteworks Urges Customers to Restart Systems After Shutdown Notice (Infosecurity Magazine) Apple patches CoreGraphics zero-day flaw exploited in attacks (Bleeping Computer) Japanese Railway Operators Hit with Weekend Cyber Attacks (Infosecurity Magazine) Cycode Uncovers Account Takeover in Anthropic's MCP Python SDK (Cycode) Everything Everywhere: Systemic Data Exposure in Supabase Apps (UpGuard) Daemon Tools Hackers' NeedyMantis Malware Dissected by Microsoft (SecurityWeek) Vietnamese man charged in $16 million 'pig butchering' crypto scam (Bleeping Computer) Did Anthropic's A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own? (The New York Times) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to today's top stories, including Vietnamese police have arrested three people, including an Australian, on terror charges, and the Knight's Phoenix Crossland cops a four-game penalty for Cleary tackle. - एक अस्ट्रेलियन सहित तीन जनालाई आतङ्कवाद आरोपमा भियतनाममा पक्राउ, क्लेरी माथिको ट्याकलका कारण नाइट्सका फिनिक्स क्रसल्यान्डलाई चार खेलको प्रतिबन्ध लगाइएको लगायत आजका प्रमुख समाचार सुन्नुहोस्।Subscribe to the SBS Nepali podcast here.You can listen to SBS Nepali's live broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pm via SBS South Asian on digital radio, on television channel 305, through the SBS Audio app, on SBS On Demand, or via our website. You can also follow SBS Nepali on social media: Facebook, Instagram and X (@SBS Nepali). - हाम्रा थप अडियो प्रस्तुतिहरू पोडकास्टका रूपमा उपलब्ध छन्। यो नि:शुल्क सेवा प्रयोग गर्न तपाईंले आफ्नो नाम दर्ता गर्नु पर्दैन। पोडकास्टमा सामाग्री उपलब्ध हुनासाथ सुन्न यहाँ थिच्नुहोस्।एसबीएस नेपालीको प्रत्यक्ष प्रसारण हरेक मङ्गलवार र बिहीवार दिउँसो २ बजे SBS South Asian मा डिजिटल रेडियोमार्फत, आफ्नो टेलिभिजनको च्यानल ३०५ मा, SBS Audio एपमार्फत, SBS On Demand मा वा हाम्रो वेबसाइटबाट सुन्न सक्नुहुन्छ। साथै हामी सोसल मिडिया प्लेटफर्महरू फेसबुक, इन्स्टाग्राम र एक्स मा पनि रहेका छौं SBS Nepali का नाममा।#sbsaudiopodcast

Kim Huynh on his family's remarkable journey from Vietnam to Australia. And taking on the role of carer for his fiercely strong-willed father, Thiet.Kim grew up in Canberra, arriving in Australia with his family as refugees from Vietnam.Like many migrant children, Kim is a very driven person and has taken on a lot of responsibilities in life.He is an academic, an ABC broadcaster, an author and a father.And when his 80-year-old father had a serious stroke, Kim also took on the role of carer.He had to find a way to help look after his dad, with whom he was living, continue working, bringing in an income, and help raise his own son.As he continued to care for his father, Kim had to come to terms with the conflict between his dad's increasingly frail body and his still-fierce willpower; the same willpower that got his family to safety some 45 years earlier.As a carer and a father, Kim has also had to navigate the complexities of giving his whole self to the people he loves, while still feeling like he wasn't doing enough for anyone.My Old Man and Me is published by HarperCollins.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores family history, family origin stories, carers, stroke, Vietnamese refugees, Vietnamese in Australia, Vietnamese boat people, refugee crisis, migration, political asylum, fall of Saigon, Vietnam War, re-education camps, Indochina refugee crisis, Hoa people, fatherhood, intergenerational trauma, the body keeps the score, epigenetics, books, writing, memoir, taking care of your parents, fathers and sons.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Around the world, mycelium – the root part of fungi – is being used practically as a biological material due to its distinctive properties. Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two women hoping to reduce the environmental impact of plastic packaging and the meat industry by creating mushroom-based alternatives.Julia Bialetska is the co-founder and CEO of S.Lab, a company creating protective packaging for consumer products using mycelium to bind hemp. The idea was sparked when Jullia and her husband Eugene Tomilin were taking surfing lessons in Indonesia and witnessed mounds of plastic washed up on a beautiful beach in Bali. On returning home to Ukraine, the couple set out to find a biodegradable alternative to polystyrene. Their business was interrupted when the couple and their two children had to flee Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and they had to start again in Spain.Kimberlie Le is the co-founder and CEO of Prime Roots, a company making meat alternatives out of mycelium. At University of California Berkeley, Kimberlie took part in research at the Alternative Meat Lab, which kick-started the fungi-based product. Kimberlie spent her childhood in Canada around food, as her mother is a Vietnamese chef who used koji, a type of mycelium, when Kimberlie was growing up.Produced by Elena Angelides(Image: (L) Kimberlie Le, credit Prime Roots. (R) Julia Bialetska, credit Lens of Kate.)

Lisa Dent, checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories, including an announcement of the 2028 release of Gremlins 3, Mary’s chandelier and bird dropping tales from her trip in Belgium, and Yes’ Rick Wakeman plays the keys for a bunch of Vietnamese moon bears.

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"'All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.' This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, this means: All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free." Ho Chi Minh, 2 September 1945 Today we explore the influence of the American Declaration of Independence on Vietnamese Independence, as seen in Ho's explicit references to the American Declaration in his own Declaration. Topics include the following: -a brief history of Vietnamese and Confucian history, politics, and culture -the slow introduction of Western ideas into Vietnam, first via Catholic missionaries in the 1640s -French imperialism in Vietnam during the 19th and 20th centuries -contradictions between French political ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity and their imperial subjugation of the Vietnamese people -the simultaneous emergence of both communist and non-communist independence movements in Vietnam -the early life of Ho Chi Minh, his travels, and his presence at the founding of the French Communist Party in 1919 -Ho's training in Moscow as a Comintern agent and the founding of the Vietnamese Communist Party in Hong Kong in 1930, with Ho as its leader -an exploration of the different competing visions of a post-imperial and independent Vietnam -World War II and the Japanese occupation of Vietnam -Ho's long absence from Vietnam--from 1911 to 1941--and his return during the Japanese occupation and his founding of the Viet Minh movement for independence -the entry of the OSS into Vietnam with the goal of allying with anti-Japanese forces, including the Viet Minh -OSS accounts of Ho's interest in the language and ideas expressed in the US Declaration of Independence -the events leading to Ho Chi Minh's Vietnamese Declaration of Independence Speech on 2 September 1945 Prof. Zinoman's books can be found here: [The Colonial Bastille, A History of Imprisonment in Vietnam, 1862-1940](https://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-colonial-bastille/hardcover) [Vietnamese Colonial Republican, The Political Vision of Vu Trong Phung](https://www.ucpress.edu/books/vietnamese-colonial-republican/hardcover) [Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Vietnamese Independence](https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/ho-chi-minh/works/1945/declaration-independence.htm) The cover image features a 1945 photo of Ho Chi Minh with members of the OSS, the precursor to the CIA.

In the autumn of 1963, as students were adjusting to a new school year, a song that hit the charts sparked the imagination of all the aspiring folksingers in our area.Radio stations throughout the Huntington-Ashland-Ironton area 63 years ago this fall seemed to hourly played Bobby Bare's new song. “500 Miles Away From Home” had a special local interest, because Bobby is famously one of us.We all knew the young singer/songwriter had been born in 1935 in Ironton, Ohio, where he led a hard-scrabble life. His mother died when Bobby was just five years old, and his father, unable to feed and care for the children himself, was forced to split up the family. By the time he was 15, Bobby was working to help make ends meet, first on a farm and later in nearby factories. At the same time, Bare discovered his love of music and built his own guitar out of a coffee can and a stick. “I got some strings off of a screen door and wired it up,” he once told filmmaker Ken Burns. “I'd sit around and flog on that, you know?”In 1953, an 18-year-old Bobby Bare left Ohio, catching a ride to California and playing music all along the way, earning tips to help pay for the gas. Those days of struggle were much on his mind a decade later when he began crafting his version of “500 Miles.” Bare, as we reported here in an earlier article, recalled years later how the song came to him while returning from a gig.“I was driving back from San Diego one night,” Bare told interviewer Gary James. “I was surfin' the radio and I heard Peter, Paul And Mary singing the old campfire version of ‘500 Miles' and I thought, ‘Boy, that's great!'”As soon as he got home to his North Hollywood apartment — down the street from his sometimes drinking buddy, Glen Campbell — “I got Glen's album and it was an instrumental. There were no lyrics.”Now the story turns to Bare's friend Charlie Williams, whom Bobby called up. “I said, ‘Hey Charlie, come over and let's write some lyrics to this.'”“500 Miles” put Bobby Bare firmly on the musical map. His version, recorded for RCA, became a Top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, as well as a Top 5 hit on both the country and adult contemporary charts. (Incidentally, on that same album, Bobby's take on “Abilene” would influence The Flood's take on that tune as well.)About the Song As Autumn 1963 rolled on, “500 Miles Away from Home” had an impact on all those fledgling guitarists who were starting to answer the call to come to folk music. On park benches and in living rooms, at parties and in bars, on school buses and in nascent coffee houses, earnest young singers were sharing those poignant lyrics: Teardrops fell on mama's note when I read the way she wrote. She said, “We miss you, son. We love you. Come on home.” I didn't have to pack. I had it all right on my back. Now I'm five hundred miles away from home.Detective WorkThe more scholarly among those early song-slingers/-hunters wanted to trace the roots of Bare's source song. Sure, Bobby told that interviewer he had been inspired by a radio broadcast of an “old campfire” song by Peter, Paul and Mary, but where did they get it?As reported here earlier, the composition of “500 Miles” is generally credited to one of Flood co-founder Dave Peyton's favorite folksinger, Hedy West. (As noted, Peyton even brought another of Hedy's tunes — “Gambling Man” — into the early Flood repertoire.)”500 Miles” went on to be covered by everyone from The Kingston Trio and The Country Gentlemen to Sonny & Cher, from The Brothers Four and Elvis to Reba McEntire, Jackie DeShannon and Johnny Rivers. Internationally, it has been recorded in Albanian, Assamese, Bengali, Chinese, Czech, Finnish, French, Germany, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Slovenian, Spanish and Vietnamese.More Flood Folkishness?Meanwhile, if all this folk talk has you wanting more of The Flood's roots repertoire, drop by our free Radio Floodango music streaming feature and click on the Folk Channel. There you can hear a randomized playlist of more than a hundred tracks recorded by the band over the years.We've now got ways to mobilize the ol' Floodanago. Click here to find out how to put the Flood radio on your computer desktop and on an iPhone so your Flood fix is always just a click away. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 1937flood.substack.com

Vietnam is a vibrant country of over 100 million people, but the church is relatively small, particularly among the ethnic Vietnamese and in the cities. Among the 53 ethnic minority groups there are a few where the number of Christians is much higher, but their strength tends to be in rural areas – a challenge in a country that is urbanising.In Anne-Marie's article, we hear of the opportunities there are to reach the Vietnamese people with the gospel.

2026.09.25 OA Life in Fukuoka "Vietnamese" #339 LOVE FM 76.1MHz http://lovefm.co.jp/

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Send us Fan MailWe learn about the tragic romance of one the Chinese's greatest heroes and how the Vietnamese put their own spin on the festival that celebrates the coming of Mid-Autumn.

This week: Andrew Coburn, chair and founder at climate experts Risilience, talks with Innovation Forum's Ian Welsh about the coming super El Niño and its threat to global food supply chains. They discuss new research putting crop losses at up to $375bn, with rice, wheat, coffee and palm oil among the commodities exposed, and why agri-sector companies need to be acting now. And, fossil fuel emissions set to fall in 2026 amid Hormuz crisis; PaperFlex consortium launched for paper-based packaging; Avantium and Klöckner Pentaplast partner on plant-based polymer; and, plastic pollution costs Vietnamese fishers a fifth of revenue, in the news digest. Host: Ian Welsh Join Risilience, Innovation Forum and industry peers in London on 20 October to explore how market leaders are leveraging advanced analytics to translate complex climate and nature risks into the metrics that matter most: ROI, capital allocation, and value protection. Register your interest here.

Venerable Hue Can is the Abbess of Sunyata Meditation Centre in Vic Park and has the very clear goal to teach others how to realize their full potential through Zen Buddhism. Venerable Hue Can had an interesting and diverse career as a teacher, Children's Librarian and co-ordinator of the Ethnic Child Care Resource Unit. As an advocate for access and equity she have worked in the area of social welfare, particularly in the Vietnamese community in Western Australia. When the Most Venerable Master Thich Thanh Tu came to Perth in 1996 she was fortunate to attend his lecture “Why am I a Buddhist”. She found out that Buddhism could give her five things that she had always been searching for – wisdom, altruism, freedom, equality and emancipation. She wanted to become his disciple and follow the path that he had illuminated. Her first ordination occurred in 1998. Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it's a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk. Unshakeable Peace 2026 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2026) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions. Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube

Cold Sauces That Make the Dish // The Flavor of Fermentation with Julie O’Brien, Founder of Firefly Kitchens // Savory Vietnamese Crepes with Chef Annie Elmore // Back to School with Chef Kim Smith, Culinary Instructor at Seattle Public Schools // Quick and Easy Desserts // Kevin Morton and David Wildman, Co-owners of Flight Wine + Chocolate, on theArt of Pairing // And we’ll wrap up today’s show with Food for Thought: Tasty Trivia!

Khanh Nguyen is the chef behind Ashe, a Southeast Asian grill in Sydney's CBD, where he mixes flavours and techniques from across Vietnamese, Malay and Thai cooking. Nguyen also oversees the menu at sibling venue King Clarence, named Best New Restaurant in 2024. Before returning to Sydney, he co-founded restaurants Aru and Sunda in Melbourne, where he worked for five years. In his podcast, we will hear Khanh Nguyen tell about his Vietnamese-Australian heritage, his connection to Australian ingredients, and the creative process behind the fire-driven Southeast Asian menu at Ashe. He will also reveal some of his favourite places in Sydney, Melbourne and the rest of the world - and reveal the secrets of a perfect Pho soup and Bánh mì sandwich. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: https://www.worldofmouth.app/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sahra Nguyen is the founder and CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply, the specialty Vietnamese coffee company she started in 2018. On this episode of ITS, Sahra talks about building a market for Vietnamese coffee and robusta in the U.S., working directly with farmers in Vietnam, shifting from DTC beans to retail cans, and how introducing a new product to consumers requires time and intention.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During the interwar years, Vietnamese society witnessed a rapid change in the way women looked. Rejecting the model of a sequestered maiden with blackened teeth and long hair, they embraced a vivid palette of colors—and a colorful lifestyle to match. Before the war, Vietnam would have seemed like an unlikely place for a beauty industry to thrive. Virtuous young women were expected to hide their natural beauty, not manipulate it with makeup or flaunt it at a beauty contest. Yet ordinary women began seeking out the latest fashions—to great public consternation.In Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia UP, 2025), Christina E. Firpo explores the development of beauty culture in this period, showing how women's faces and bodies became contested sites for envisioning what it meant to be Vietnamese in the modern world. She considers dress patterns, lip-lining tutorials, hairstyles, physiques, and beauty pageants alongside new technologies of media, transportation, and leisure and the anxieties they provoked. The everyday decisions women made about their appearance, Firpo argues, were ways to stake a claim to the roles they wanted to play in the new society taking shape around them. Drawing on a vast array of sources, Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia University Press, 2026) offers fresh insight into the tumultuous political, economic, social, and cultural changes that swept across Vietnam during this crucial period.Christina E. Firpo is professor of history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is the author of Black Market Business: Selling Sex in Northern Vietnam, 1920–1945 (Cornell University Press, 2020) and The Uprooted: Race, Children, and Imperialism in French Indochina, 1890–1980 (University of Hawai'i Press, 2016).Camellia (Linh) Pham is a PhD student in Comparative Literature at Harvard University. Her research focuses on 20th-century Vietnamese literature, socialist realism, and literary translation in Vietnam across French, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. She can be reached at cpham@g.harvard.edu. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Explore APSC's My Family Audio Series A story-driven 3-part audio project about Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian families doing everything possible to breathe with ease and live freely besides the people we love.  Created by the Asian Prisoner Support Committee and APEX Express, and hosted by writer and activist Michelle MiJung Kim, My Family seeks to answer many of the questions countless families in our communities are grappling with today. Mass deportation and family separation are fueled by isolation and silence. With My Family, we aim to dismantle both with stories full of heart, compassion, and an honest look at the tangled paths many of us take to reckon with the past, rebuild our lives, and make a new place home.  Our deep gratitude extends to all the community members who shared their stories with us, even while painful to recount. Their commitment to creating stronger, more informed communities is unparalleled.    My Family Ep. 2: What happens in ICE detention? In our second episode, we take a closer look at what happens when people are forced into ICE detention, including after completing their sentence in state prison and transforming their lives. You'll hear from NC, Pam, and Tony, who endured ICE detention in California and other states, as well as Elijah Chhum, executive director of New Light Wellness.  Music from episode 2, as well as related resources, can be found below in the show notes. If you are an impacted community member in California or have a family member who is directly impacted by detention and deportation, we encourage you to contact APSC at info@asianprisonersupport.org or our partners at New Light Wellness and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants.  Music: Original composition by Joe Sin and the Angkor Wat Band. Joe is a Khmer elder and community leader in Oakland Temple by Thao Resources: My Family Episode 2 discussion guide APSC Data Report on Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Asians and Pacific Islanders Asian Law Caucus legal resources and video explainers for Southeast Asians facing deportation threats USC Equity Research Institute analysis on ICE arrests of Asian and Pacific Islander Californians We Are California: Hmong History and Cultural Studies A special thanks to Hmong Innovating Politics for their guidance on Hmong communities' history and refugee experiences.   Transcript Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:00:00] Hello. Welcome to “My Family,” a project by the Asian Prisoner Support Committee and APEX Express. I'm your host, Michelle Mijung Kim. If you haven't yet, I invite you to check out our first episode. We'll include a tag in the show notes, which you can find at kpfa.org/program/apex-express/. As as [00:01:00] listeners may know, many Southeast Asians are in the United States after their families found refuge here in the '70s and '80s, fleeing genocide and violence in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.   Most have loved ones who didn't survive. The ones who did make it out, around one point one million, are the largest refugee community ever resettled in the US. Today, after decades of building a home in the US, these families are targeted by mass detention and deportation. According to the latest data, forty-two percent of all Southeast Asian deportations to date happened between 2025 and 2026. There's been a twentyfold increase in the deportations of Southeast Asian elders. Amid the pain and fear, families are seeking answers. How did we get here? What can we do to keep our family safe and together?   That's why I'm partnering with the Asian [00:02:00] Prisoner Support Committee and APEX Express, to bring our communities and families honest recounts of what is happening so that we can be there for each other. In today's episode, we'll focus on what happens in ICE detention.   Welcome to “My Family.”    A content warning for our listeners that in today's episode, we'll be discussing incarceration, depression, and family separation.   We first met NC in our last episode. NC and his family are Hmong. Like many other ethnic groups in Laos, including Lahu and Mien, Hmong people's stories are unfa– Hmong people's stories are unfamiliar to many.   These ethnic groups and others have shared ancient roots in the central and southern– in the central and southern regions of China. About 300 years ago, they were forced to flee the Chinese government's oppression and persecution. Many sought safety in the highlands [00:03:00] of Southeast Asia. NC's family settled in N- N- NC's family settled in Laos.   During the Vietnam War, the CIA recruited tens of thousands of Hmong boys and men, including members of NC's family, to fight in a covert campaign in Laos known as the Secret War, which you can learn more about in the resources we'll share in the show notes. Hmong fighters served behind enemy lines, rescued US planes, and risked their lives for Americans.   The Hmong soldiers were told that they were– The Hmong soldiers were told they and their families would be protected, but when the war ended, the Americans left, and thousands of Hmong were left behind. Facing persecution for their work with the United States, the Hmong were once again forced to flee. One– Facing p- facing persecution for their work with the United States, the Hmong were once again forced to flee to survive, rendering them stateless.   Thousands of Hmong families and other ethnic minority groups hid in the jungles or escaped on foot. Many died on the journey from starvation, drowning, and disease. NC's parents, [00:04:00] his mom pregnant with him, finally crossed the Mekong River into Thailand. NC was born into a refugee camp there, and after some time, his family was brought to the US, first in Long Beach and later in Stockton, where his dad opened an auto body shop   As a young person, NC was convicted of a crime, which led him to being incarcerated for 24 years. On the day he was supposed to be released from prison last year, instead of finally, instead of finally being able to return home, he was picked up by ICE. He had planned to finish his college education and become a social worker, helping young people struggling with trauma and loss like he did.   ICE took him to Mesa Verde, a detention facility in Bakersfield, California. For years, people detained in Mesa Verde and other ICE facilities in California, and other facilities, and other f- and other ICE facilities in California have led hun– Oh my gosh. For years, people detained in Mesa Verde and other ICE facilities in California have led hunger and labor strikes to protest medical neglect, gruesome conditions, including a perpetual lack of food and clean water.   California Attorney [00:05:00] General Rob Bonta says the conditions are worse now, calling ICE's facilities in the state, quote, ” cruel, inhumane, and unacceptable.” As of this recording, at least 24 people have died in ICE custody nationwide this year. We'll hear from NC what happened after ICE agents brought him to the Mesa Verde ICE facility.   Here's NC   NC (pseudonym): Yeah, it's kinda… It's hard because when you hit detention, it's like you paroled, you're happy that you paroled because you've been incarcerated, 'cause I've been incarcerated for like like 24 years, and like, you know, it's the next step.   So it's the next step to freedom. And while I went to a detention facility, you know, you know, it's like the main thing is just try to get out, not, not to get into trouble, you know. um, so during that time, it was like you don't have like, like… If you don't have, like, money to hire an attorney, then basically it's kinda like you trying to ask for a pro bono attorney, somebody that's willing to help you and represent you, but they have a lot of people in the [00:06:00] detention facility as well.   So when they come, it's like they're just overwhelmed with a whole bunch of people, and you hardly even get to, to really sit down and talk with them. So if you see them, they come visit like, I think, once a month, and then they'll just take your A number down, and then they'll just talk to you, and then they'll just, you know…   If they come back to you, I guess they come back to you. But I haven't really seen any, anybody, you know, um, they ever got back to that I know of, so. so.    Niketa Kumar: Mm-hmm.   NC (pseudonym): all the people, all the de- detainees that was there, um, those that were fighting their case, you know, Either they have a private, uh, immigration attorney, um, fighting for them, uh, uh, or they're just doing paperwork themself.   one of the thing I wanna point out is while you're in detention, you don't have access to anything, you know. They give you like a tablet, and they give you like some cases on it, but you really don't have access to look up anything or research anything. You only have, you know, the access to whatever that they [00:07:00] gave you um, According to their tablet. And, And, and it's just like the tablet, they only have like… Like, for example, when I was there, um- We only had to, we had to share, like, four tablets, and there was a lot of us. And people sh- use it to, like, order canteen. Somebody would, like, use it to watch movie, listen to the radio.   Some people would use it to, um, talk with their family, Mm-hmm … like um, But, um, um, we don't have enough tablets and, um, we don't have enough, um, um, batteries on the tablet. And um, just getting a hold of the tablet is, is, um, is pretty hard to get. And, And, like, um…   They give you, like, a little pin for the, the computer, but it's hard to, um, access it because they don't really… There's, like, no… They don't really teach you how to access anything anyway. So you're just, like, going from one place to another, and if you have something, you don't know how to save it. So you would have to ask other people that's been there for a while, and then you would have to go to, like… like…   You know, all this is, all this is just, like, um, like, um, I learned after, you know? It's not like, like, like when I was [00:08:00] there-   NC (pseudonym): somebody was, was, you know, you know, showing me. So you have to sign up. You have to go to the library, and when they schedule… ‘Cause there's, like, it's overcrowded and there's so many people. And, and they schedule the library.   There's, like, one librarian and, and,  you know, you know, we have to share the library. And then if you go there, then you have to try to get it printed or, you know, stuff like that. And then, and then when you do that stuff, you have to be able to sign up. You gotta have it, and if the librarian's not there, then you just have to wait until another time.   So everything is just, um, hard. It's not like, um, like if you remember something, then you can do something. And it's, like, uh, even pencils and paper, if you don't have, like, money to buy it on your canteen, then you would just have to ask somebody for it because everything… ‘ Cause once you get there, they don't give you any property, you know?   So sometimes, um, if you talk to the, the, uh, detaining officers, if they let you take some of your, um, like hygiene items. Like if you come from prison, you take some of your hygiene items, they'll allow you to bring it with you. [00:09:00] But other than that, it's like you really don't have access to anything. ‘ Cause once you get there, you have to slip out of your clothes, and you gotta wear, you know, prison clothes and can't have any, um, any personal belongings on you.   So you're just, like, going from one… It's like one, one prison to another prison.   You just, you know, try to just be calm and, um, you know, try to just, you know, stay, don't get into trouble, uh, you know, await for your, um, immigration hearing. um, And the first time I was there, um, I waited for my immigration hearing and, um, um, they didn't even, um, um, get my paperwork because something happened, and I had to call, call, and had to write a bunch of letters and paper and that's how… That's why I didn't, like, go to, um, um, my immigration hearing, like, like, within, like, a couple of weeks when I got there.   I had to wait, like, a whole month, you know, before I got scheduled for one. So, 'cause they, they lost my paperwork. I don't know if they, they d- lost it or sent it because I was writing to the, the, ICE agent that, um, um, is in charge of my case, and they said they [00:10:00] don't have any paperwork on me, so they can't…   You know, You know, I was writing to the courts and I was, you know, dialing the phone number to the courts to see if they, um, um, uh, scheduled me for m- an immigration hearing. So it was, it it was, part of the process of sending the paperwork from the ICE place to the, uh, courts so they can schedule it, and they didn't, they didn't, they didn't do it.   So I had to wait. I had to stay, like, an extended like, period of time, much longer than I should have um, I was able to finish… I mean, they were able to schedule me and then, um, during that time, you know, I saw attorneys and they were just telling me, ” Oh, nothing's gonna happen to you. Um, the country's not gonna accept you.   Um, just go and, you know, you can fight it if you want, but you're probably gonna lose. So you're gonna be here, like, two, three, four, five years fighting it in, in detention. And then if you just, you know, s- agree to it, like, yes, yes, yes, and then, then, after you sign all the paperwork, you just, you know, you'll wait about, like, a month, and, and then you'll just be out of here.”   So that was just the, like, like, you know, Basically, like a protocol.   Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:11:00] NC was eventually put on an Omni Air International plane. Many first learned about Omni's large contract with ICE in 2018 when it helped execute the then largest deportation flight of Southeast Asian refugees in the United States history.   Since 2025, Omni's work for ICE has quadrupled. As journalist Gillian Brockell has ex– as journalist Gillian Brockell explained, Omni has been the only large jet airline flying shackled passengers on long-haul ICE flights to Africa and Asia.   A former ICE official told NBC last year that each ICE flight costs taxpayers about $25,000 per hour. NC was deported last November.   NC (pseudonym): Well, like like when I came to Laos, I didn't have anybody. Um, I didn't know nobody, not a single relative or friend over here. But, um, um, uh, when I went to the detention [00:12:00] facility, I met a guy and we became friends, and he kinda like, like, he had relatives here in Laos.   So he told me that, um, um, you know, “Hey, if, um, um, if you don't have anybody, you know, you know, I'll tell my, um, my family to, to come and, um, um, sponsor you.” You know, like his, his, distant part of the family. And I say, sh- you know, “Thank you.” You know? um, when I got here, um, it was hard, too, because he had to try to like really, really try to convince them as well.   Um, it wasn't like something that they would want to, you know, just do, you know? you know? So, um, it was very, very hard to get them to trust me. So, So, uh, uh, when they came and see me and they talk with me, and then they say okay, they'll, they, they'll decided to sponsor me. So with that, uh, I had a, you know, a little bit of relief because um, when you get here, it's kinda like like if you don't have a sponsor, uh, you don't know how you gonna manage. You don't know how you gonna… You don't even, they won't even let you out of the camp. So it's like you're just going from one detention facility to another detention [00:13:00] facility, but the only difference is at the campground here is much better because you're not…   You know, You know, you wear your, your clothes and you're fr- you, you roam free, and then, um, you sleep in a place where, um, you know, you have mattresses. You sleep in a place and, um, they do, they give you like, uh, uh, three meals a day, too. So, but then the thing is that you're s- you're stuck in the camp if nobody comes to get you, and I don't know, I don't know about the people that's been there.   They can be there, They'll stay there for, like, like, two, three months, and if they don't have no sponsor, I don't know what happens after that, 'cause I didn't stay that long to, to see what happened to the people that, that don't have a sponsor to come get them. You know? So it's kinda scary, too, if you don't have a sponsor to come get you, ‘ cause you don't know where you're gonna end up    Niketa Kumar: Hmm.   NC (pseudonym): But once I got a sponsor and, and,  you know, you know, I came out, the thing is that the, it's hard because once they, they get you out, it's like, you know, you start to realize that, you know, they're not your family, and then they want you to, you know, keep paying them and all this other stuff. And then, and then you have to like, you know, you don't wanna like get into anything that's not good [00:14:00] with them, you know?    you know?   you know. Mm-hmm. So then you try to go and find a place. So you kinda like just move out, you know, because you only there, you only allow, you know, they, you know, like, um, what's the correct way? It's like you can stay with them, like, like, but you only stay with them like temporary. Yeah.   So then you gotta go find your own place. but the, but the messed up thing is that if you don't pay them, they don't really help you to go find a place of your own. So that's when, um, um, I was talking to some of my friends in America, and I was asking like, “Man, it's kinda messed up 'cause we don't have any programs here.   Like this country doesn't have any programs that will, will, will help you transition, you know, into –    Niketa Kumar: Hmm …   NC (pseudonym): you know, the way of life in, in Laos.” And basically, I, I, I had to just try to learn everything the best way I can, talk to people, be as cordial as I can, and, uh, uh, and respectful as I can, and, uh, talk and ask.   And, but I don't know Laos, so I don't talk to any of the Laos people. But fortunately there are some Hmong people here, so then I talk to some other Hmong people here, and   I was fortunate to meet some people who was, who was willing to help me.   Um, so I made some [00:15:00] friends. And although I don't know the Laos language, you know, sometimes I ask them to go help me translate, then they would, um, if they, you know, have time. But it's, it's, it's hard, like for a time, for a time in the beginning I was just like just staying out. Sometimes I stayed out all night.   Sometimes if I find a place to sleep, I would, you know, s- you know, sleep at a guest house. Um, but then like it would drain my funds really, really fast because I had to, you know, pay like per night. And then some nights I'd just stay up all night. like, um, you know, like, it's sad because for the first time like, um, felt, I felt, felt homeless, you know? you know?   That's, that's the, that's the correct term, I guess. I was just homeless, you know, just roaming the streets. And then I was thinking to myself like, “What?” I don't know how to go rent an apartment or a place here because, um, I don't have the connections. So you don't know how to talk to people, and you don't know who to talk to and ask.   And, and a lot of times they won't rent it to you unless they know that you can, you know, pay them. So, So, you know, you know, you have to, um, have [00:16:00] somebody talk to them. So when I have my friend and she went to talk to them and, um, find out that, um, um, the room was open, and I was able to, you know, rent it. then, then I started, um, um, talking to my grandma back in, um, the US, and then my grandma then found a, a distant cousin of ours.   um, kind of I kind of reached out to them, they don't live where I live. They live like really, really far up north. So I really talked to them, and then they started pointing directions like, “Oh yeah, you know, you know, we do have some distant cousins here in this, in this village. If you have time, you go visit them.”   So that's what I do. I, I would, you know, if I could and I have the funds, I would go visit them because they're not gonna come visit me. You know what I mean?    Niketa Kumar: Mm-hmm   NC (pseudonym): so yeah, I have to go visit them and show them that, “Hey, you know, this is me. Um, I'm here,” and, you know, um- basically like that, but, um, still like like transitioning is still hard because, you know, have to learn the language, you know, practice it, um, every single day and then learn the customs and, and learn how not to get in trouble and stay out of trouble.   Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:17:00] It's time to come back to Pam, who you heard from in the first episode of My Family. Pam also grew up in California and was incarcerated for 16 years. When Pam first learned that she could be deported after serving her time, she said her parents were shocked. They told her, “There's nobody over there who can support you, take care of you.   You've been here in America all your life. Why does ICE want to send you over there since you already did your time?” She spent a lot of time in the prison law library trying to understand her options to come back home to her parents and her children. Once she paroled, like NC, like NC, ICE came and took her directly to a detention center.   Here's Pam. Here's Pam   Pam (pseudonym): It's pretty much worse than, um, in prison, because if in prison you could walk, you could program, you could [00:18:00] do other stuff.   But in the ICE ICE detainer, you get a yard, hour a day. It's like you, you're locked up in prison for, you know, when you get… Getting locked up again. You go, you go into that, the hole. You know, where us prison, we call it the hole, or jail is another way of, you you know, know, expressing it. in 24 hours, you only get a hour of yard time, and it was hard to be being in a dorm with all these people, over 100 people in the dorm.   It was hard. It was hard. But it's like you're against the world, and I never felt like that before.   I never felt like I'm against the world before. I have to fight for my life. So that was the first time. Even though I did my prison time, I didn't feel like I have to fight my life, because I know what I did wrong. But that's the first time I ever feel like I have to fight for my life just to be alive and [00:19:00] free, either with my family or without my family. So I'm going to another country that I, I never known since I was two years old. I left Cambodia when I was two, and now I'm almost 50. that's a big old gap, what I'm going to a whole new world. When I first, from ICE detainer, I was nervous, and then I thought they're gonna take me.   I thought they gonna not deport me at all. I thought they gonna move me to another ICE detainer. And I heard about another ICE detainer is worse, like Texas is worse. But also, even the officer in the detainer won't even treat you, they don't treat you like human. your personal property, your family send pictures, they copy your photo and they throw your original one away.   They say, “Oh, you got the copy.” What you mean? it's not like [00:20:00] person you can have your copy, but they would throw your original. They won't even save it for you. And then when you're about to get deported, you have to make sure, you have to, like, be on them about, “Hey, I don't have no clothes.   Can my family send money? I mean, send boxes for me so I can take my clothes?” Because I have my rights that I can ask for 40-pound box, before I leave. And it took them a long time to process your paper to get, to let your family send stuff like that. And about time you, that you got it, they're going through every little detail, and then, like, some of your stuff is missing or damaged.   Like, hey, why my, my, stuff is damaged? My son send me a watch, it almost got damaged. Good thing that he, he wrap it with a bunch of clothes, they don't care about your property. They don't. They really don't. So you have to ask them, what can you ha- can, what can your family send you? And sometimes they tell you, “Hey, I can't get you a box,” they [00:21:00] tell you you're about to leave, you And sometimes it's not even true. You end up leaving the next day. So- It's a lot of, it's a lot of stuff I was s- I was s- going through it. I never go through… I had never felt like I'm going through a war zone with them. They just not specific with everything. They, they really treat you like you're not… You never been in United States.   They really treat you like a great straight out prisoner. Even the prison don't treat you like that. So it's, it's hard. It's hard, tough, and, uh, hopefully, you know, the only thing that keep me going is strong bond with your family. Family, friend, loved ones, like, Any group that help with the deportation, what you have to go through, you know? So that's the only way that you feel like you don't have to battle with nothing. You ha- I nev- I never felt like I'm- Dead to the world. it was hard. It was hard. For a whole year sitting in detainer, it was hard.   Medical [00:22:00] was bad.   my brother and sister never seen me cry before on the phone and they're like, ” If they not gonna accept you, if they said, ‘ Okay, do you wanna appeal?'   we want you to be happy. We want you to be happy. We want you to… The sound, we hear you, you sound like tired, you're drained, and I think you're really going through it right now. You're really going through it, and we just want you to be happy. If you get deported, well, well, now we still love you. We still love you no matter what.”   I was like, “I know,” but I was expect to go home. My son bought a car for me. He bought a car. He bought a car. He's like, “Mama, you're not, you're not getting deported. I got you a Honda Civic already. I got you a car. I got a place for you.” You know how, how, that affect me when your family member bought you stuff, be thinking that you coming home?   It was, it was sad. it hit me hard towards the point that I'm never gonna go home ever again. I'm never gonna step in America [00:23:00] again. That was my part of my experience going through ICE detainer. But when my… when about time when I'm about to leave, I was a little bit excited, a little bit scared because I don't know what  going- gonna happen to me. I don't know how they're gonna escort me. Uh, you know, I heard so many bad things how they escort people and how the ICE officer don't care about you.   A lot of bad things. But I come to find out I was really lucky. I was really lucky. I got three wonderful ICE officer. They helped me. They said, ” Hey, ma'am,” because I got my 40-pound box of clothes. They say, “Ma'am, I need you to tell me what's really important for you to carry on a plane, and what's not that important, it's okay if you lose it because you can go…   We end up, uh, riding two flight. We're gonna make a stop, so we don't want nothing to be missing that is very important [00:24:00] to you.” So I got my paperwork in my backpack, and something that's, you know, so dear to me is my kids' pictures and letters, and other things. I, my clothes, for real, for real, I only have… I make sure I have one extra pair of clothes in my backpack, too.   And the rest of the stuff I was like, “Okay, as long as I got one pair of clothes, I'm fine.” So- The rest, and you know, you know, they was taking time. They were waiting for our pack or I pack my luggage how, the way I want it. they say, “Go ahead, finish packing your luggage. Put your watch on. Put, this, that on because, you know, as long as…   Then you know, you go through a me- metal detector, I need you to take it off. They say, “We're not gonna cuff you because you're gonna fly with us. You're the only one to fly with us, so make sure you have your socks on, your tennis shoes on. Go ahead, put your shoelace.”   They was like, “Whatever make you comfortable, go ahead. But we're gonna tell you this, if you cause a scene at the airport, we're [00:25:00] gonna show you. That's it. That's all we're asking. If you give us a smooth ride, we give you a smooth ride. If you get hungry, you get thirsty, let us know. That's all we can afford for you.   And if you get sick, we could get you meds. We could take you and get meds, but besides that, like anything you wanna buy or you wanna get, you have… It come out your pocket.” they pretty much make it clear for me, if you try to run, you know we're gonna catch and slam you down.   So I look at it as where, where, where I'm gonna go? Where am I gonna go? I'm on a whole different flight. Haven't seen the world for 16 years- So I was like, “Oh, whatever.” I was excited, when I first stepped outside, ICE came to pick me up. I'm not gonna lie, ICE came pick me up a day before I parole. a day before I parole. And then when I got shipped and deported, I was from Washington, Seattle, [00:26:00] and I fly a good… I don't know how long I fly. I sleep throughout the whole flight. Uh, they only wake me up for my meals. I ate my meal. I get three serving on a plane. Every, you know, it's not just peanut butter sandwich, I, I get to eat what the commercial people eat.   Uh, Uh, they always ask me what I want, roast chicken or something, rice and chicken. I can't remember, but the food was good. The food was good. The food was better than prison. And it's way better than, way better than, ICE detainer. I only woke, I only wake up to eat and use the bathroom, and I barely use the bathroom.   Michelle MiJung Kim: That was three years ago during the Biden administration. Since then, Congress and the Trump administration have supercharged ICE with a two hundred billion dollar budget. Pam reminded us many times [00:27:00] that her story is just one experience, that she's one of the lucky ones. She knows people who have been shackled the entire flight, blocked from using the bathroom.   News reports have shared how people have been forced to soil their seats because they can't get up. Others have been held in straitjacket-like devices or endured verbal and physical abuse from agents, from agents. Flights can last multiple days, stopping in four, five, or even seven countries.   When Pam was deported, the only thing she knew about Southeast Asia was a f– was a fruit shr– When Pam was deported, the only thing she knew about Southeast Asia was a fruit shr– was a fruit she remember– Uh. When Pam was deported, the only thing she knew about Southeast Asia was a fruit she remembered liking as a small child.   Since then, Pam has slowly rebuilt her life. She… Since then, sh… Since being deported, Pam has slowly rebuilt her life. She has a job and an apartment. We asked Pam about her home in Cambodia now and how she keeps in touch with her big family back in California.   Pam (pseudonym): Like, a little studio with a little sink, but you have to buy your own furniture. And it just a room. It's just, like, like, almost like a cell, [00:28:00] but you got windows you can open anytime.   You got doors you could go in and out, and it only cost me $50 a month. So that helps. And my food, oh, you know, you know, in a street vendor, if you go buy a street vendor, a bowl of rice, 1,000 riel. 1,000 riel 25 cent, you get a bowl of rice. the vegetable, I only spend, like, I, I mean, I, I mean, I fill up my whole refrigerator with vegetables and it cost me $20, but it last me for two weeks.   You know? not expensive, but if you don't have no income from your family, it is expensive. But if you have income from your family, support from the state, all the stuff like that, it's not that expensive. Because American money and the prices here, my paycheck, I only get 500 a month.   But my 500, I get to save 100 a month because I don't really [00:29:00] need nothing. All I need is food, some clothes, and pay my bills. That's it. Pay my phone bills, pay my electricity bill, my water bill, and my rent. So… I, And I, I get to save $100 a month. So for that, I say I see is the state, I work for 16 hours and I can't even save money.   Mm-hmm. But here, I work for from what? 7 to 5, 10 hours. About 10 hours. But I can save my money. So, and it, I'm not gonna lie, when I was over there at the state, I didn't get no sleep. I didn't really get no sleep. I usually get two hours sleep. So I came to Cambodia and I sleep, I never sleep this much in my life.   So I feel like, yeah, I gained some weight. I'm not gonna lie. I'm gonna g- I gain, I gained a few weights. But, but I'm okay. I'm okay. Because why? I got a good family, helps me. Mm-hmm. And my mom, she going through [00:30:00] her own little struggle, but she said… This is the thing about my mom. She would never come to step foot in Cambodia again because she lost, she still trigger from, she lost three daughters in Cambodia during that war.   So she said she love me, she care about me, she wish I was in United States, but as much as she love me, she would never willing to step back into Cambodia. So that hurts in a way, but I also I have to understand what she go through as a mother losing her own child, three of her child before I was b- even born.   I have to understand how she go, what she go through.   The only thing that's different is the time. I told my family, call me at 3:00 o'clock in the morning because I'll be up getting ready for work, this and that.   I can still put you… You know, I can still talk to you while I'm doing stuff [00:31:00] So that's what me, my family have a deal. from between 3:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the morning that I could talk to them before my class start, before I start working or whatever. And sometime, you know, when I first got here, I got my phone you know, uh, from Washington because they the one that has people fly over here, people from the group, they fly over here because my son send a phone with them to give it to me.   I still don't know how the mailing process. I still working on that, how people send stuff from United States to Cambodia. I still don't know that. I finally know how my family send money to me once in a while. Before, they didn't have Western Union, they only have MoneyGram. So now they finally have Western Union for us.   two months ago they just finally opened a Western Union, and I don't know how that works. I don't know if it works really good or not. I was scared to [00:32:00] try My family try and make everything a negative turn into a positive. You know, try to keep me company and keep me, like, we just wanna s- we just wanna see you free, you happy. they hook me up with, on the Facebook.   They said, ” You know, whenever you got time, wherever you go to do new places, I want you to take video. We wanna see where you at.”   Michelle MiJung Kim: Pam told us that she's learned to stay busy to take care of her mental health. When she first arrived in Cambodia, she thought to herself, “I need to start crocheting and get some yarn.” Crocheting helps her mental health and to stay strong. Before we continue, I invite you to take a deep breath with me Today, more and more people are sharing their outrage at the inhumane, at the inhumane and cruel conditions of ICE detention.   But this brutality didn't just start this year. But [00:33:00] this brutality didn't just start this year. People have been, people have been enduring and pushing for change in the community for a long time. People have been enduring and pushing for change in the community for a long… People have been enduring and pushing for change in the community for a long time.   To help share how, we spoke with Tony, who was first detained by ICE nearly 27 years ago in Los Angeles. He's still fight, he's still fighting to keep his family to– He's still fighting to keep his family together   Tony (pseudonym): Um, my first time I, you know, went to a immigration detention center was back in October of 1999. Went there, you know, you know, for doing a county lid in Los Angeles, California. You know, we call it a county lid because it's, you know, we took a plea bargain for one year of county time. And I did, like, eight month and 20 day.   From there like, before I got released, ICE came and interviewed me, told me that I got immigration hold, and they will, uh, you know, come and pick me up or detain me and, you know, take me to the processing and all kind, you know. Because, um, I got order to removal. So when I got to ICE in October of '99, two weeks later I went to court you know, we just [00:34:00] got a court hearing.   There's no lawyer, no nothing to represent you at all. You just in there solo bolo with the judge, and they ask you, you know, you know, um, how you plea or do you wanna fight your case, or you know, to sign the paperwork for final removal to get, you know, deported back to whatever country we from.   you know, that time it was my first experience going to ICE detention center, so first thing in my head is, like, “No, I'm not going back to my country without a fight.” So, you know, I called my family. They got me a lawyer, and I fought it for a good six month. That's when, you know, the court make the final decision that I still getting deported.   And it was tough, you know, for my family to come up with the lawyer fee money and stuff, because during that time when I was, uh, incarcerated at, um, at the ICE detention center, there's no pro bono lawyer, no orientation, any, i- any uh, uh, support group to help us at all. We just in there like a sitting duck, and everybody was going [00:35:00] through h- like, you know.   The feeling of that is more harder than, you know, being locked up in a, in a jail cell or, uh, or doing, you know, doing life, because there's no release date, and they just like, they drain you all of all your hope and everything. And then, you know. And throughout the whole time, you know, people At the detention center, they went from a normal person to, you know, people go there. At the detention center, they went from a normal to, need mental health issue.   That's how stressful it is. you know, from there, you know, I stayed there for a good 11 month until people start, like, you know, filing habeas corpus, and they slowly granted us, each one of us, a habeas corpus to go home   So, you know, you know, those are the worst experience I have ever had, and my family was like, you know, keep on asking me, you know, you know, “What's the next step? What's the w- what should they do?” I tell them, you know, you know, “Just save your money.” You know, since we lost the case already, “Save your money, you know, just in case I get deported, uh, you know, I have something to start a new life with back in Vietnam even though I don't have no family and I don't even have no family over [00:36:00] there, and I don't even know nothing about Vietnam because I left the country when I was 10 years old.”   it was just like, you know Hard for me to, you know, you know, be far away from my my f- my brother, my sister, and my dad, 'cause, you know, I grew up with a single parent. My mom passed away when I was five years old. My dad raised all four of them, my si- you know, you know, me and my sibling all by himself. So it just emotion and everything washed in, it's just like, you know, heartbreaking.   So every time, you know, when my dad come to visit me, he always break down and cry because he just like, you know, like, you know, feel sad that his oldest son is gonna get shipped back to his country. that's my experience from being in an ICE detention center   After I got out, it's like, you know, they make… They put me on ICE supervision. I started out with, you know, go and check, go check in once a month, from once a month to every three month.   But the feeling of going there to check in is like, you sitting there, each time you go check in, you sitting there, it's like, you know, you got like a weird [00:37:00] feeling, like a butterfly in your stomach, makes you stress, oh, it's like, “Oh, are they gonna detain me and ship me back?” And all kind of stuff washing in.   It's like, it's just like the mind game they're playing with you when you're on supervision. Even though, you know, back in the day, you know, my country, they still don't accept people to go back or, you know, or anything. But it's just a feeling that's like, hey, you know, the law could change. Anything could happen, and it just like, like, you know, slowly break you down inside and outside.   ‘   Tony (pseudonym): once you're in ICE detention center, they don't care you have any health issue at all.   Whatever medication they give you is not even, you know, What we call it is like, you know, genetic like, you know, medication, the dose or whatever treatment is not even there. uh, , you have to sign up on um, like a doctor waiting list for you to go see a doctor or s- to go get a checkup.   Because the only way that you g- you get any, um, you know, medical attention is when you drop, when you drop right there on the spot in front of them. [00:38:00] That's the fastest way for them to, you know, show you me- medical attention. Other than that, we just like, you know, animal locked in a cage, you know. That's why a lot of people, like, you know, you know, they go on there, they have health issues and stuff, and some, you know, end up, you know, being sick and, you know, die or,  you know, or their, you know, health condition get worse because we don't have the fair treatment  like, you know, to help us at all.   I have to fight for my, you know, my life every single day because, you know, you know, I got diagnostic with a heart failure back in June of 2018, a day after my son was born. And I went to the emergency room three, uh, three different time. The first time they didn't detect that I have a health issue or anything at all.   They just, you know, prescribed me some medication. ‘Cause I went there, I told them I have, uh, I got food poison. And, uh, you know, all they concentrates on are the food poison. But I told them I have this you know, like shortness of breath, my legs all, you know, swollen [00:39:00] up. I could not walk more than, you know, 20 step and stuff without, you know, have to take a break.   But I guess the, whatever, you know, the nurse and the doctor, they didn't d- you know, catch that symptom at all, so… so… they just send me home, prescribed me some medication. And then the second time I went back, same thing. Just give me more medication. Until the third time I went in, I I got, I didn't even get admitted.   I was still in the gurney waiting for them to do all the testing. Less than 30 minutes later, they came back and told me that I was diagnosed sick with a heart failure, and they have to drain out all the liquor from my body because my body was puffed up like a puffer fish. I was, uh, hospital life for two months fighting for my life because my, um, my heartbeat function, faction, function or faction went down to 12%.   So I have to, you know, breathe, you know, inhale, exhale, do a breathing machine like, you know, for at least a [00:40:00] month for me to get, you know, my strength back and everything.   After I got discharged from the hospital, they don't wanna be uh, like, liability for me to drive like an hour like and 20 minutes just to go check in. So they want me to do like, like, you know, call them every six months to check in, I've been doing that for the past three years already.   But each time I call them to check in, my heart, you know, it just like stop beeping. Like, you know, my heartbeat just stop just to wait for them to say, “Okay, call me back this, this and that date.” You know, and then ever since, you know, Trump became the president, he make everything more worse. And each time, you know, you know, I call just like, like, you know, I get more worry and scared and paranoid   Because it will be hard and everything 'cause you don't even know, we don't even know nothing about that country anymore because we get so adapted to the, you know, the environment over here in the United State.   And some of us, you know, you know, might get like, you know, emotional [00:41:00] breakdown and everything when, when, when that day come and, you know, 'cause there's so many uh, thing going through our head. all we have to do is just, you know, be, be sharp, strong-minded, and and, you know, just have faith And to our family, you know, we just have to pray for the best, and hopefully, you know, you know, the, you know, hopefully down the, down the road, you know, new law change and, you know, the bars that, you know, they deport us back, we could come back, you know, in future, maybe 5 or 10 years down.   You never know. you know, we just have to pray for the best and stick together. Don't- Don't give up all hopes and, you know, fight for your freedom   I think what have changed is that, you know, right now you know, people are fighting back and s- you know, 'cause they lost a lot. You know, we lost like, you know, loved one, family members, you know. Um, you know. Um, some lost their parents due to, you know, you know, ICE. And I'm happy, you know, all this you know, all the support group are, you [00:42:00] know, you know, coming out to support the, you know, their own people.   Even though, you know, is they're not a- you know, you know, like from Southeast Asia, but, you know, we all human being. We have to, you know, stick together and treat each other equally and fairly. Because, you know, when you in ICE detention center, they treat you like animal. They don't care, you know? Sometime when we got feed, you know, you know, in the middle…   Like outside section was fully cooked, but the middle section was still raw, and then we complained. It's “Hey, you know, that's all you have. You eat, either you eat it or you starve.” That's it. And I'm happy, you know, you know, a lot of have changed, and for us you know, to g- see the better future we all, every, each one of us and our community have to stick together and help each other, you know, as one and be u- you know, united and fight against, you know, whatever is wrong.   Michelle MiJung Kim: According to the latest analysis by the University of Southern California Equity Research Institute, ICE arrests of Asian [00:43:00] and Pacific Islander Californians increased by over 1,000% between 2024 and 2025. A link to this data is included in our show notes. When we talked to Tony, he emphasized the need for solidarity within and across communities as we grapple with immeasurable toll on families, neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and on every thread in the fabric of what makes our lives.   Before we end this episode, I wanna bring in Elijah Chhum, who leads New Light Wellness, one of the community groups Tony mentioned. Who leads New Light Wellness, one of the community groups Tony mentioned. New Light Wellness works closely with the Asian Prisoner Support Committee and other California groups to serve Southeast Asian communities impacted by deportation.   Here's Elijah.   Elijah Chhum: in 2019, that is when Trump 1.0, um, the administration was really targeting our Cambodian families, um, and targeting them for detention and detainment and deportation, and that is when I joined the [00:44:00] movement.   And I really have to thank the leaders of Asian Prisoner Support Committee, the lawyers of Asian Law Caucus, the faith healers and interfaith healers of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, and of course, the wives and mothers and children of the directly impacted folks, um, that came to CERI. And we all coalesced in this moment, um, in February and March, and particularly on March 6th of 2019 when we all came to CERI, which was this old Victorian house in East Oakland, um, by Clinton Park, and we all met in the living room 'cause it was, it was a, uh, community center that was basically in a three-bedroom apartment, um, on the second floor of a Victorian house in East Oakland.   And so 60 of us gathered together all in a circle, um, on the living room floor of CERI, and we were [00:45:00] doing political education. We were listening to elders talk about genocide and talk about resettlement, and then now fearing the worst, that, that this government, you know, this… in America, that they could also endure family separation.   Um, and so that was the moment that changed our lives and changed my life, and that began the seed of New Light Wellness, but at that moment, we were just, you know, um, healers and, and mental health practitioners, um, that tried to provide wraparound care and mutual aid, um, for families also impacted by deportation, um, and that felt isolated at that time.   New Light Wellness emerged as our own organization in the summer of July 2024. We were first a project that was, um, part of a seed grant from New Breath Foundation around the year 2020. And at that moment, um, after… And this was during the pandemic. A little bit before that, you know, in 2019 as I [00:46:00] mentioned, we were first just starting to give wraparound care for impacted families.   Um, during that time, while we were holding the, uh, four impacted individuals and their families in the Pardon Refugee campaign, um, in those three to four months of actions, our- those four community members were detained, um, and most likely were going to be deported. Um, through our advocacy with all the different organizations, as I mentioned, um, which was, you know, bilingual sessions in political education, art builds, uh, getting resolutions passed at city, city council meetings and board of supervisor meetings, um, signing petitions, creating support letter templates, uh, going to the capital and advocating at- with electeds, um,   um, so all of that built our confidence that we can continue to do this and be intentional about this, and focus on anti-deportation and give wraparound care. And so in some ways we felt like we were filling a gap, um, and a need in the movement. And so our work of New [00:47:00] Light Wellness, um, now going to 2020, this was during the pandemic.   We were all trying to scramble how to still give care to… and a community in, you know, in East and West Oakland, um, that so desperately needed us. Um, so we couldn't stop work. Um, we had to pivot and find ways to, to, um, actually adopt Zoom and give telehealth and connect folks and get our elders to, um- Learn how to use the app and y- learn how to unmute and mute and all the things that, uh, we're doing now.   Um, and during this moment, um, as we were learning and honing our skills in, you know, virtual telehealth, you know, spaces, um, we received this seed grant from New Breath Foundation just to start something, some virtual program to, um, to focus on folks that do end up getting deported and living in Cambodia.   And around 2020, um, you know, there's 18 years has passed since, uh, there was a s- uh, since the [00:48:00] Repatriation Act between Cambodia and the US was signed. So for 18 years, our community members have been deported and lived in Cambodia. Um, of course, there has been organizations, uh, on the ground that support folks, um, living in Cambodia, and there are, there have been movements that have come and gone to try to bring people back, um, and fighting their case or reopening their cases.   Um, and at the same time, um- There was a delegation called kites to Southeast Asia, um, composed of different Southeast Asian orgs based in the US that went and did a listening tour. And when they came back, um, their report back was really that they needed or they saw that mental health and wellness was something that was missing, um, as a resource in Cambodia.   And so with New Breath Foundation, the seed grant was please start some type of mental health or wellness support, uh, for folks in Cambodia. And, you know, mental [00:49:00] health is, is a word and, um, a service that is, is often used by licensed clinicians. Um, and, you know, traditional therapy can only be done, um, within the licensure of that licensed clinician within, you know, the state.   And, and so it was really hard for us to then see who, who could offer, offer this wellness support or healing support, and how do we not use mental health or the term mental health, and how do we… And if, if we're not using licensed or getting the support of licensed clinicians to hold wellness space, then, then what are we doing?   And, and so we really adopted a peer specialist model, a community health outreach worker model, and now it's evolving to a wellness coaching model. And, and so what are the kinds of things we can do and offer across the seas that is still accountable and responsible to the folks we're serving,   though we're not crossing the lines of what is traditional therapy?   Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:50:00] New Light Wellness has grown so much since 2020. We'll hear even more about their work after a short break.   We'll hear even more about their work after a short break. You've been listening to music by Joe Sin and the Angkor Wat Band. Joe is an elder in Oakland and a leader in the Khmer community. Let's hear some more [00:51:00] Welcome back.   That was Joe Sin and the Angkor Wat Band.   In our next episode, Elijah will share more about New Light Wellness's work in California. For now, I asked him to tell us more about the organization's new community center in designed specifically for people who have been deported from the US   Elijah Chhum: when we hold spaces with our New Light Wellness support groups, and we hold spaces in person at events and in villas and, and, you know, and, you know, we close the door or shut the gate and, you know, our folks are safe inside, they feel at ease.   They feel like they can show off their tattoos or, you know, eat their burgers and fries or have their kids run around and speak English openly and without judgment. Um, so those, just for those few hours that they're accepted as who they are. Um, and so I know that in Cambodia there needs to be some kind of narrative change and narrative shift so that the local community can understand what [00:52:00] our impacted community went through, what our 1.5 generation went through.   Because in the eyes of the local community in Cambodia, they believe the US is so just and so fair. And so to be deported, they believe and judge our community members for doing something so egregious, um, that they deserved to be deported. And so it's, it's a hard conversation, and it's a hard conversation that our local community has to either be prepared to have or to avoid or, um…   And then sometimes, um- You know, it could be very risky, um, and it could be very negative to have these conversations, especially at, at a place like a workplace. And we've heard s- situations where students Google the, um, you know, a lot of our folks get teaching jobs, and, um, the students are very curious about the teacher, of course, 'cause that's how youth are.   Um, and now we live in an internet age, and, you know, deportation isn't this, um, you know, marginalized story any longer. It's very much in the [00:53:00] open, especially in Trump 2.0. So the youth in Cambodia are, are savvy enough to Google folks' names or, you know, look people up by their images, and they may even out our, our community members, even in the classroom in front of their, in front of the other students.   So, you know, there's, there's a lot of different experiences when it, when it comes to our folks facing society in Cambodia. And, you know, some folks may say just to assimilate, that is the best way. You know, be as Cambodian as possible. Cover up your tattoos. Speak Khmer. Marry a Khmer partner. Have Khmer children.   You know, try to let go of all your tastes. Um, and that can help, and that can and has worked for some, but not for everyone. And the road to acceptance of, you know, their fate or the road to acceptance that they are there, the road to healing and even being held a space for grief, the grief of their identity, a grief of loss of, you know, family [00:54:00] relationships, um, is also part of this.   Um, so it's not a one-size-fits-all, um, for any community member. I think it's just offering space for folks to hear many stories, actually, um, and different experiences, and it may not be your experience that you have when you arrive in Cambodia. Um, but to honor that, you know, previously, since 2002, some p- some people did not have any resources, so it's really honoring those that have really survived and lived in Cambodia, some of them for over 20 years now.   And so in some ways, folks that have been deported more recently, um, gets the benefit from, um, the lived experiences and the traumas of those that, that came before them. And so I think it's learning and relearning together, um, from all the different experiences and honoring those stories of survival, um, and honoring the leadership of those that came before us.   Michelle MiJung Kim: [00:55:00] [00:56:00] Thank you for joining us for this episode of “My Family,” a project by APEX Express and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee. I invite you to move into the rest of your day by taking a moment to honor the stories of survival and the resilience of those fighting the oppressive systems today. The music in today's program is by Joe Sin, a Khmer elder in California, and the Angkor Wat Band, and the Angkor Wat Band, and one of our favorite songs by Thao.   We'll include links to these songs and additional resources at kpfa.org/program/APEX-express and asianprisonersupport.com. We hope you'll join us for the final episode of “My Family” where we'll deep dive into what happens when people are [00:57:00] forced to move to a country they've never known.   Thank you for listening, and we'll see you next time on “My Family.” I'm your host, Michelle MiJung Kim, and this podcast is brought to you by APEX Express and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee. APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam.   Have a great night, and see you next time         The post APEX Express – 9.17.26- My Family Ep 2: What happens in ICE detention? appeared first on KPFA.

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During the interwar years, Vietnamese society witnessed a rapid change in the way women looked. Rejecting the model of a sequestered maiden with blackened teeth and long hair, they embraced a vivid palette of colors—and a colorful lifestyle to match. Before the war, Vietnam would have seemed like an unlikely place for a beauty industry to thrive. Virtuous young women were expected to hide their natural beauty, not manipulate it with makeup or flaunt it at a beauty contest. Yet ordinary women began seeking out the latest fashions—to great public consternation.In Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia UP, 2025), Christina E. Firpo explores the development of beauty culture in this period, showing how women's faces and bodies became contested sites for envisioning what it meant to be Vietnamese in the modern world. She considers dress patterns, lip-lining tutorials, hairstyles, physiques, and beauty pageants alongside new technologies of media, transportation, and leisure and the anxieties they provoked. The everyday decisions women made about their appearance, Firpo argues, were ways to stake a claim to the roles they wanted to play in the new society taking shape around them. Drawing on a vast array of sources, Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia University Press, 2026) offers fresh insight into the tumultuous political, economic, social, and cultural changes that swept across Vietnam during this crucial period.Christina E. Firpo is professor of history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is the author of Black Market Business: Selling Sex in Northern Vietnam, 1920–1945 (Cornell University Press, 2020) and The Uprooted: Race, Children, and Imperialism in French Indochina, 1890–1980 (University of Hawai'i Press, 2016).Camellia (Linh) Pham is a PhD student in Comparative Literature at Harvard University. Her research focuses on 20th-century Vietnamese literature, socialist realism, and literary translation in Vietnam across French, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. She can be reached at cpham@g.harvard.edu. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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During the interwar years, Vietnamese society witnessed a rapid change in the way women looked. Rejecting the model of a sequestered maiden with blackened teeth and long hair, they embraced a vivid palette of colors—and a colorful lifestyle to match. Before the war, Vietnam would have seemed like an unlikely place for a beauty industry to thrive. Virtuous young women were expected to hide their natural beauty, not manipulate it with makeup or flaunt it at a beauty contest. Yet ordinary women began seeking out the latest fashions—to great public consternation.In Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia UP, 2025), Christina E. Firpo explores the development of beauty culture in this period, showing how women's faces and bodies became contested sites for envisioning what it meant to be Vietnamese in the modern world. She considers dress patterns, lip-lining tutorials, hairstyles, physiques, and beauty pageants alongside new technologies of media, transportation, and leisure and the anxieties they provoked. The everyday decisions women made about their appearance, Firpo argues, were ways to stake a claim to the roles they wanted to play in the new society taking shape around them. Drawing on a vast array of sources, Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia University Press, 2026) offers fresh insight into the tumultuous political, economic, social, and cultural changes that swept across Vietnam during this crucial period.Christina E. Firpo is professor of history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is the author of Black Market Business: Selling Sex in Northern Vietnam, 1920–1945 (Cornell University Press, 2020) and The Uprooted: Race, Children, and Imperialism in French Indochina, 1890–1980 (University of Hawai'i Press, 2016).Camellia (Linh) Pham is a PhD student in Comparative Literature at Harvard University. Her research focuses on 20th-century Vietnamese literature, socialist realism, and literary translation in Vietnam across French, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. She can be reached at cpham@g.harvard.edu. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the interwar years, Vietnamese society witnessed a rapid change in the way women looked. Rejecting the model of a sequestered maiden with blackened teeth and long hair, they embraced a vivid palette of colors—and a colorful lifestyle to match. Before the war, Vietnam would have seemed like an unlikely place for a beauty industry to thrive. Virtuous young women were expected to hide their natural beauty, not manipulate it with makeup or flaunt it at a beauty contest. Yet ordinary women began seeking out the latest fashions—to great public consternation.In Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia UP, 2025), Christina E. Firpo explores the development of beauty culture in this period, showing how women's faces and bodies became contested sites for envisioning what it meant to be Vietnamese in the modern world. She considers dress patterns, lip-lining tutorials, hairstyles, physiques, and beauty pageants alongside new technologies of media, transportation, and leisure and the anxieties they provoked. The everyday decisions women made about their appearance, Firpo argues, were ways to stake a claim to the roles they wanted to play in the new society taking shape around them. Drawing on a vast array of sources, Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia University Press, 2026) offers fresh insight into the tumultuous political, economic, social, and cultural changes that swept across Vietnam during this crucial period.Christina E. Firpo is professor of history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is the author of Black Market Business: Selling Sex in Northern Vietnam, 1920–1945 (Cornell University Press, 2020) and The Uprooted: Race, Children, and Imperialism in French Indochina, 1890–1980 (University of Hawai'i Press, 2016).Camellia (Linh) Pham is a PhD student in Comparative Literature at Harvard University. Her research focuses on 20th-century Vietnamese literature, socialist realism, and literary translation in Vietnam across French, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. She can be reached at cpham@g.harvard.edu. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the interwar years, Vietnamese society witnessed a rapid change in the way women looked. Rejecting the model of a sequestered maiden with blackened teeth and long hair, they embraced a vivid palette of colors—and a colorful lifestyle to match. Before the war, Vietnam would have seemed like an unlikely place for a beauty industry to thrive. Virtuous young women were expected to hide their natural beauty, not manipulate it with makeup or flaunt it at a beauty contest. Yet ordinary women began seeking out the latest fashions—to great public consternation.In Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia UP, 2025), Christina E. Firpo explores the development of beauty culture in this period, showing how women's faces and bodies became contested sites for envisioning what it meant to be Vietnamese in the modern world. She considers dress patterns, lip-lining tutorials, hairstyles, physiques, and beauty pageants alongside new technologies of media, transportation, and leisure and the anxieties they provoked. The everyday decisions women made about their appearance, Firpo argues, were ways to stake a claim to the roles they wanted to play in the new society taking shape around them. Drawing on a vast array of sources, Beauty and the Nation: Women, Culture, and the National Image in Interwar Vietnam (Columbia University Press, 2026) offers fresh insight into the tumultuous political, economic, social, and cultural changes that swept across Vietnam during this crucial period.Christina E. Firpo is professor of history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is the author of Black Market Business: Selling Sex in Northern Vietnam, 1920–1945 (Cornell University Press, 2020) and The Uprooted: Race, Children, and Imperialism in French Indochina, 1890–1980 (University of Hawai'i Press, 2016).Camellia (Linh) Pham is a PhD student in Comparative Literature at Harvard University. Her research focuses on 20th-century Vietnamese literature, socialist realism, and literary translation in Vietnam across French, Vietnamese, Chinese, and English. She can be reached at cpham@g.harvard.edu. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You probably know Ke Huy Quan as the Academy Award-winning actor who played Waymond Wang in the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when he was just 12 years old. But for a long stretch of his career, Ke wasn't acting at all. In this episode, Adam sits down with Ke to reflect on the winding story arc of his life, from his early childhood as a Vietnamese refugee to being thrust into Hollywood, only to be forced into a new career path before finding his way back to acting in his 50s. Ke shares the lessons he learned about persistence and resilience as he rethought his identity as an actor and built a career behind the camera. Adam also explains why refusing to ask for help is a disservice to those around you, and Ke explains how he maintains kindness and humility in a cutthroat industry.Featured guestFollow Ke Huy Quan on InstagramBuy Ke's book, Never Say DieConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam's Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDPodsFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[English below]Nền kinh tế sáng tạo (Creator Economy) tại Việt Nam đang nhận được sự ủng hộ và công nhận chính thức từ các cơ quan quản lý nhà nước cũng như các tổ chức lớn. Các nhà sáng tạo Việt Nam đồng thời cũng đang thể hiện sự chuyên nghiệp, tỉ mỉ và từng bước khẳng định vị thế trên bản đồ nội dung quốc tế.Vậy điều gì có thể biến niềm yêu thích sáng tạo trở thành một sự nghiệp lâu dài? Và hành trình ấy có thể tạo ra giá trị gì cho cả người sáng tạo lẫn thương hiệu?Hãy cùng Vietnam Innovators tìm câu trả lời qua câu chuyện của Khánh Vy - một trong những nhà sáng tạo nội dung trẻ nổi bật hiện nay.Bắt đầu từ sự tò mò và niềm yêu thích làm video, cô từng bước xây dựng cộng đồng khán giả của riêng mình và xây dựng sự nghiệp làm sáng tạo nội dung. Từ cách lắng nghe khán giả, xây dựng niềm tin đến những trải nghiệm khi hợp tác cùng các nhãn hàng, hành trình của Khánh Vy cho thấy không có một công thức chung cho sáng tạo. Khi người sáng tạo xuất phát từ điều mình tin tưởng và hiểu rõ cộng đồng mình đang kết nối, nội dung có thể tạo ra giá trị bền vững cho người sáng tạo, khán giả và thương hiệu.Xem toàn bộ video để lắng nghe trọn vẹn câu chuyện và những góc nhìn của Khánh Vy.-Vietnam's Creator Economy is gaining growing support and official recognition from government authorities and major organizations. At the same time, Vietnamese creators are demonstrating increasing professionalism and attention to quality, gradually establishing their presence on the global content landscape.What turns a passion for creativity into a lasting career? And what value can that journey create for both creators and brands?Vietnam Innovators explores these questions through the journey of Khánh Vy, one of Vietnam's prominent young content creators. What began with a curiosity and passion for making Youtube videos gradually grew into a community of her own and, eventually, a long-term career in content creation.From understanding her audience and building trust to navigating collaborations with brands, Khánh Vy's experience shows that there is no single formula for creativity. When creators stay true to what they believe in while understanding the communities they connect with, content can create lasting value for creators, audiences, and brands alike.#YouTubeFestivalVN #YouTubeAds-Listen to this episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠team@vietcetera.com

September 11, 2001, changed Bob Ellis's life, just as it changed mine. Bob was working at the Pentagon that morning and had walked out of the building only minutes before Flight 77 struck the area where his meeting had taken place. You will hear how he immediately became part of the response, helping organize emergency supplies and support for those working at the Pentagon. We also compare our experiences from two different locations that day, Bob at the Pentagon and me at the World Trade Center with my guide dog Roselle. Twenty-five years later, our conversation is about more than remembering 9/11. It is about leadership, teamwork, service, controlling fear, and deciding what we do with the life we have been given. I believe Bob's story offers lessons we can all use when the unexpected happens. Highlights: 05:29-Bob shares how his early life and military support career shaped his path. 23:53-He recalls realizing the first World Trade Center strike was not an accident. 32:59-Bob describes being just 300 yards away when the Pentagon was hit. 37:00-He explains how he helped organize emergency relief supplies within hours. 1:03:54-Michael reflects on survival, fear, and the responsibility to move forward. 1:06:55-Bob shares the lasting life lessons he took from September 11. About the Guest: Bob Ellis is the Vice President, American Logistics Association responsible for Exchange, MWR, Food Service Operations. The native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida began his career with AAFES in 1972. From 1972 through 1984, he held retail management positions as a Branch Manager, and Operations Manager Main Store. In 1985, Ellis began a string of assignments as an Exchange General Manager trainee at Fort Belvoir, VA, and Exchange General Manager, Fort Hamilton, NY and Carlisle Barrack PA, (Army War College). Assignments as Area Retail Manager and General Manager at the former Japan Area Exchange ran from 1989-1992. In 1992, Ellis was transferred to Travis AFB in California as Retail Manager, Main Store. In 1994, Ellis was selected for the General Manager's position at Travis and spent three years assisting in the design and new construction effort of the largest retail Main Store ever constructed by AAFES. From 1997 to 2002, Ellis held the position of Director of AAFES' Washington Office, serving as the principal representative of the Commander, AAFES to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Departments of the Army and the Air Force, Congressional offices and industry representatives. Notable among his accomplishments, Ellis was instrumental in spearheading AAFES support to the Pentagon after the attacks of September 11th. Within 48 hours of the event, AAFES established a mobile exchange in the shadow of the impact site to support rescue workers and investigators with critical need and personal comfort items. After Washington, Ellis moved to AAFES Headquarters' in Dallas to assume the Vice President Specialty and Consumables position. In this role, Ellis was responsible for the SD-C Category Team Managers/Buyers. In August 2003, Ellis took his a position as Vice President of Corporate Planning and Communications where he managed the development of AAFES long range and contingency planning programs, oversight of corporate public affairs and ensured compliance with Department of Defense policy guidance with the goal of preserving and protecting the exchange benefit for soldiers and airmen and their families around the globe. Bob joined the ALA on 31 July 2006 where he continues to serve a role in military resale supporting Exchange, MWR, and Food Service, operations still serving military resale over 51 years continuous service. Ways to connect with Bob**:** You can find more benefits how Branded Riches can help you build your Brand, Product, Business, and Yourself at https://www.BrandedRiches.com   Connect:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/neryk-davydov Branded Riches Audiobook by Neryk Davydov https://www.audible.com/pd/Branded-Riches-Audiobook/B0GCP9MMRB Branded Riches Book https://www.amazon.com/Branded-Riches-Increase-Income-Irresistible/dp/1987753836 $5 Free Gift for Creating A New Ovato Wallet    www.ovatoCoin.com  About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Everyone, I am Michael Hingson, the host of Unstoppable Mindset. You've heard my voice for the last 471 episodes, but I'm calling you all out today and asking you to listen to this because we're going to make a special announcement now regarding the next four episodes, starting with 472. We're going to help commemorate the historic events of September 11, 2001. Yes, they're definitely historic, although not necessarily the most positive things that have ever happened. But as many of you may know, I was in the World Trade Center working on September 11, 2001, on the 78th floor of Tower One, and escaped with my guide dog. I've delivered a speech about that, which we put in the first episode of this podcast series back in August of 2021. But this Friday, episode 472 is going to have an updated speech that I delivered just a few years ago at the Marshfield, Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival. That festival is a yearly event celebrating different kinds of things that have happened in American history, and I was invited to come and speak, which I did. I'm going to put that speech up for you as episode 472. I think you'll find it enlightening. It'll teach you something about blindness and blind people. It'll tell you my story, and it'll give you some inspiration that I hope you will find helpful. Next Tuesday, september 8, Michelle Abraham is going to interview me. Michelle is with Amplify You, the company that does all of our back office stuff and helps me with the editing and other things regarding the podcast. Michelle owns her own podcast, and she is going to interview me about September 11th and other kinds of things relating to what I've learned and things that have happened over the past 25 years. She's also going to be putting this up on her podcast Amplify You, so you can find us in a lot of different places. On September 11th, I'm going to chat with Bob Ellis. Bob was in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and had literally just walked out the door of the Pentagon when the plane crashed into the Pentagon and did the things and the damage that it did, and of course generated all the things that occurred at the Pentagon. On the 15th of September, I'm going to come back and have a conversation with all of you about lessons that I've learned over the past 25 years, and just reminisce a little bit about all of that. While the podcast is occurring on September 11th, I will be actually in Kilgore, Texas, doing a speech about September 11th. So lots of things going on, I hope you listen to these episodes. I hope that you'll tell everyone that you can about them. I really enjoy all of the support that you've given us over the years, and we're going to continue to do things with Unstoppable Mindset. And of course, as always, if you'd like to come on or know anyone who would, please let us know. We're always looking for guests. Thanks very much. We'll see you on Friday with the first of these four episodes. What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of Unstoppable Mindset. You are listening to us today, or at least I'm assuming you're listening just when this came out. But whenever you're listening, it is today, September 11th, 2026, which is needless to say, a special day. If you have kept up with my podcast from the beginning, you know that I worked in the World Trade Center on September 11th, and ever since then I've been a public speaker, traveling the world, talking about trust, teamwork, leadership, the human-animal bond, and a variety of things. But recently, I met Bob Ellis. Michael Hingson  04:40 Now, Bob, as it turns out, on September 11th worked at the Pentagon, and I have not ever really had the opportunity to talk with someone who was at the Pentagon, especially on September 11th. But we get to chat about that today, and Bob knows our rules, which are basically. He sent me a series of questions that he wants to cover, but we are doing this as a conversation, so we'll probably talk about a lot of the things that he specifically sent. But we can go any old way that Bob wants to go, so that's what we'll we'll make this really fun. And I'm really looking forward to having the opportunity to talk with Bob. So again, welcome to September 11th, and Bob, I want to welcome you to Unstoppable Mindset. We're really glad you're here, Bob Ellis  05:28 Michael. Thank you for inviting me. I know you you've inquired several times, and I've debated it, and and I was just holding it for the right time, and this is the right time-the 25th anniversary of the event. Michael Hingson  05:40 Yeah, it is, and and and as as we've said, if you find anybody who needs a a speaker to come in and speak, let me know. But but for now, we get to chat about you and and hear your story, which I think is the important thing. I think we'll probably talk about both of our stories in the course of the day, no doubt about it. But I really am glad that you are here and that you are able to to talk with us today and and and talk about things. So let's start the way I love to start with people. Let's start at the beginning. Tell me kind of about the early Bob growing up and so on. Let's start with that. Bob Ellis  06:17 Well, I I grew up in let's say grew up until I was four years old. I lived. I was born in Pensacola, Florida. Lived in the Panhandle. Mother and father got divorced, and we moved to Norfolk, Virginia. And it was just my my mother and I until I was 14 years old. And I found out about my dad and found some letters from him and insisted to go see him. And so, between 14 and 15, I made a couple of unauthorized attempts to to make my way to Florida. On the third attempt, I made it, and it was quite a surprise for my father. Ended up living with him and being my closest friend up until I had he had grandkids, we had kids, and so I lived and grew up in the Destin, Fort Worth, Fort Walton area. Went to work, and this is where the story begins. I went to work at Eglin Air Force Base as a as a janitor in a gas station for the Army Air Force Exchange Service, so that I could continue to play high school football and practice, was a great job. It was an opportunity to work with the military, be around the military, and I took great pride in that feeling that that that that while I I wanted to go into the air force and I wanted to fly jets, that opportunity just never presented itself because the Vietnam War was going on and they were banking pilots instead of taking pilots. Anyway, I I ended up staying with the Army Air Force Exchange Service for 34 years. I moved all over the world. I've seen the every AOR and every combat scenario since the Vietnam War. Not in the Vietnam War, but I was in the refugee program, helping with the resettlement back in 1972, 1973. Spent the rest of my career going wherever they sent me, and and and that was from Tokyo, Japan, to to Tuli, Greenland, to California, and ultimately to to Texas. Michael Hingson  08:30 I remember during the Vietnam War, someone called me one day. I was a student at UC Irvine, and there was a refugee camp fairly close to the university, and someone said, and someone said, "There's a blind young man at the sent at the refugee center, and we should go see him. And so we we bought a transistor radio for him and went out to visit with him and spent some time with him, and I never got to see him after that. But I hope I hope he did well. He he seemed like he was doing okay, but he was a little bit lost, needless to say, because it's a whole bunch of people. There are no a lot of people who knew much about blindness and blind people, but I would presume he did reasonably okay. I hope so, but that was the only time I specifically had an involvement with him or anyone at the refugee camps. Later, when I met my wife Karen, she lived, I think, a door down, and she and her parents lived a door down from a Vietnamese couple, and he was a tailor and actually made her wedding dress, which was kind of cool, and so we got to spend a fair amount of time with the Voo's, which was was good, but what's. Interesting for me now, with with now being well so many years later. In November, I will be going to do a speech in Hanoi, so I'm really looking forward to to going over there and and experiencing it. At least it'll be a little bit cooler then than it probably is now. So we'll see, but it'll be it'll be pretty enjoyable to go and again see a different a different part of the world, and I I think we'll be fine. At least that's that's that's the plan. Bob Ellis  10:34 That that that that tour that I had at Eglin Air Force Base with the refugees, will come back to to to 911 2001 and the experiences that I had at that refugee camp replicated in the Pentagon park and lot there in 911. So we'll get to that. I'll explain it further. Michael Hingson  10:56 Yeah, I'm sure it was a a great a great lesson. Where did you do college, or did you Bob Ellis  11:03 went to went to Duke University and the University and the University of Maryland? Michael Hingson  11:10 Okay. Well, at Bob Ellis  11:12 least much of it was correspondence as well, only because I was deployed for for so many years back to back, 17 moves in 34 years. Michael Hingson  11:22 Wow, Duke University. At least you didn't go to one of those other schools in North Carolina. Boy, talk about talk about rivalries and basketball. What a what a group down there. Bob Ellis  11:35 Oh, I know, I know. Michael Hingson  11:38 I once spoke in Kentucky, and the Wildcats were in the NCAA championship that year, and I was asked to speak at an event on the night of the championship. But I was told I had to end by 630. I could not go one second past 630 because the gym I was speaking in was going to clear out. Well, I ended in time so that at 630, what they said was absolutely true. That gym cleared out. Everybody went home to watch the game. Bob Ellis  12:09 That's that's sports. Michael Hingson  12:11 Not sports. It is, but it's okay. I I learned a lot down there and got to meet a number of people, and so it was it was a lot of fun to to do it, and then years later I was in North Carolina when NC State and UNC were playing to see who was going to go into the championship. So again, pretty interesting world, and and sports ruled everything then, so it's okay. It Bob Ellis  12:43 hasn't it hasn't changed at all because my my my daughter I got her graduate studies done at NC State, and it hasn't changed a bit. It's just I'll bet it's just crazy as it's when was 20 3040 years ago, Michael Hingson  12:58 and it shall ever be, won't it? Bob Ellis  13:01 Yeah, yeah. Her undergraduate degree was at University of Texas. This was my son's, and she went on to NC State, and and he went on to medical school in in Houston. Michael Hingson  13:16 Okay. Well, UC Irvine, when I was there, had the championship water polo team, but that's what we had. But they started basketball while I was there, although it wasn't anything huge. But a couple of years ago, they made it to the Sweet 16, and that was kind of fun for UC Irvine. One of these days, it'll go all the way. Bob Ellis  13:40 Yep. Michael Hingson  13:41 Well, anyway, so you you went to college, and and what did you major in? Bob Ellis  13:45 Political science. Michael Hingson  13:47 Okay, political science Bob Ellis  13:48 and business management. With a with my two aspirations, I wanted to. I really wanted to major in in aviation science, but that that wasn't offered. So that's political science and business science, business law. Michael Hingson  14:06 But you were working for the Army Air Force Exchange Service. What is that exactly? Bob Ellis  14:11 Yeah, it's a it's it's it's a non-appropriated funded Service provided all goods. I think of it as the the Walmart or the Target of of the civilian sector, except the Army Air Force Exchange Service has stored everything from stores, every business that you can think of therein, from stores to convenience stores to gas stations to beauty shops and barber shops to dining facilities, franchise Burger Kings, anything that a soldier and his family needs at the base or overseas or in the combat arena, where we were there with it, providing it. It's been a great career. Michael Hingson  14:59 Did you? Do you have any involvement with, especially here in the U.S. the the Randolph Sheppard programs, the blind vending stand operations at any of the facilities? Bob Ellis  15:09 Yep, sure did many many times. We're still working with it. There's there's some issues present right now under the Randolph Shepherd that they're looking at. I don't know what what's going to change, but yes, sir, we were very, very close to that. Michael Hingson  15:24 Yeah, I know there. The current government's looking at it; they want to scale a lot of it back, which would, I think, not be a good thing. I think there's a lot of reasons to keep it, but we'll see. We'll see. We'll see how it goes. But I, the closest I ever came to dealing with anything from AAES was I was invited to speak once at an organizational meeting of the National Property Managers Association in the military. Are you familiar with that? Bob Ellis  15:56 I am. Yes. Michael Hingson  15:57 And when I was asked to come, the Speakers Bureau didn't do a good research job because they told me, "Oh, it's the people who rent apartments and all that. When I got down to the to the event, I will say that the National Property Managers Association certainly serves a nice breakfast. But anyway, the conversation just didn't seem like what I what I was expecting. So I asked somebody, and they told me that the organization was the organization that had complete jurisdiction over anything physical that the government owned, and Bob Ellis  16:30 absolutely Michael Hingson  16:31 that that changed my grass. Sorry, Bob Ellis  16:34 right down to the grass, right down to the grass and the concrete. Michael Hingson  16:37 There you go. Well, it also changed my speech in 10 minutes, but it was fun. They invited me back the next year, so that was good. But it's it's fun when you're you're planning to do a particular speech, and suddenly it turns out it's got to change. It's good to have the flexibility to do that. But I'm I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it, and hopefully we'll have opportunities to do it again, but you have served a lot of different kinds of of services within AAES, and and I assume that's all worked out pretty well. Bob Ellis  17:14 That that worked out very well. Yep, I had I started at the bottom and and climbed as close to the top as I possibly could, but Michael Hingson  17:23 you eventually got the the highest medal that was available for civilians when you retired or after you retired. Bob Ellis  17:31 No, the highest award that I ever received was from my man over the Pentagon 911 support program, which was a nice medoris civilian award. Michael Hingson  17:46 Okay, where is your favorite place to live in the world? Or is that really easy to say? I mean, you've been all over the place and seen a lot of different kinds of places. Don't know how much you got to two of them, but anyway, Bob Ellis  18:00 it wasn't the two places that I that I went overseas, which was Japan and Greenland. Those were the longest tours of my life. Beautiful country in Japan, and and great facilities and support in tuning Greenland. But I would I would guess throughout the United States, I had a great assignment at the Army War College, and I had a great assignment at Travis Air Force Base here in Michael Hingson  18:26 California. Yeah, Bob Ellis  18:28 yeah. Michael Hingson  18:30 I've spoken. Bob Ellis  18:30 My son was born in Japan. He's dual citizen as a result on the Air Force Base, and my daughter was born in California. So it was a great time, mainly because the kids were younger and and and and we were in great climate areas. Michael Hingson  18:48 When people ask me what my favorite place in the United States is, I say everywhere. I I just enjoy meeting people wherever I go in the U.S. It's so many different cultures and customs and ways of doing things. It is so fun to to see all the different places and see how they are. People ask what I like, where I like outside the U.S. And so far, it's been New Zealand. I would say is probably the best, but Japan has to be up there too. I've really enjoyed being in Japan. I've been there a couple times, and I thoroughly enjoyed Bob Ellis  19:23 it. I, I had, I think the most the the greatest thing about the assignments was some of the people I I got to to meet in in my in my tours. One of them would be the Crown Prince of of Thailand, who who is now the king of Thailand, King Rama, got to meet him when he was a pilot, and supported him when when I was at Yokota Air Base, and multiple other celebrities. I I had the opportunity as a kid to attend the funeral. For Douglas MacArthur, and and his his memorial was right across the street in North Virginia from where my mother worked. And 20 years later, I had the opportunity to to meet mrs. Mcarthur, Jean MacArthur, at Gracie Mansion in New York, and I I I wrote protocol. I when it came time for her to to meet me and meet meet her, I got down on one knee and I held her hand and I said, "I want to tell you a little story, ma'am. And she said, "Well, certainly, absolutely. And I told her the story how when the general had died in in 1964, I was required by my my mother to go to the funeral, and the most fascinating person I'd ever seen in my life was herself, and she just got she just turned red. Well, long story short, I was at an army command at Fort Hamilton. The next day, the the group the the installation commander called me over to his office, very angry, but he wanted me to know that I was going to be the first civilian aide for the old lady, which was mrs. Mcarthur, and he had to take one of his lieutenants off. And I got to know the family and and the Mcarthurs as a result of that. So lots of opportunities, just absolutely amazing. 911, and we'll get to it. I got to meet President Bush momentarily, but I I got to meet him and have a short conversation. Michael Hingson  21:32 I got to meet him in 2005. We went to the Oval Office, and we were supposed to have a two minute photo op, but he kept wanting to interact. We ended up talking for about 15 minutes. He kept the Italian ambassador or prime minister waiting, but it was a was a great conversation. I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with him. Bob Ellis  21:53 Yeah, he was remarkable. Michael Hingson  21:54 Yeah, in in so many ways. If Speaker 1  22:00 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson  22:33 So that's that's pretty cool. So as you were going around to all these different places, what would you say you were learning. Bob Ellis  22:41 I was learning business. I was learning relationships. I was learning marketing. Pretty much anything that you wanted to do as a general manager or a vice president, the exchanges let you do it. You know, until you got too far gone, and they they reel you back in. But I love being able to run multiple businesses on the installation, and and be accountable for them, and run them at a profit, and and at the end of the day, do great things for military families. Michael Hingson  23:16 Wow! So you um, you you've you've had a lot of challenges and and had to learn a lot of different things. Needless to say, but I would would think that you've you've been able to to keep a lot of that and use it. And you know we've referred to September 11 th, and so let's let's get to around that time. The first thing I would ask, and people have asked me, but you're in a better position in theory than I. Did you have any inkling that something like September 11th was going to happen? Bob Ellis  23:53 Well, actually, September 11th was was happening. I left for work about 4:30 in the morning. I lived out in the suburbs in Centerville, Virginia, and it was one of those days that you just wished you didn't have to go to work. It was the as the sun was coming up, it had a little cold breeze to it. The skies were blue. It was just one of those days that you just wanted to sit out in the yard and and relax or go bicycling, whatever. But I did my duty and I drove in to the Washington D.C. area and reported to my office on time, which was right around 5o'clock. My staff showed up around six and some at seven, and my secretary came in, and I don't know exactly what time it was, but it was shortly after, right around 9o'clock in Eastern Time, when the first airplane had hit the the trade center. Michael Hingson  24:49 Yeah, Bob Ellis  24:49 846-940-6846, Yes, right, 846. Yeah, and and so I I went in to look at the. The the television monitor standing there it was just her and I at the time and and and I said that's not an accident and she says how do you know that I said look at the skies that was an airliner they were talking about it was a little small private aviation well I'm a pilot I've been a pilot for 40 years 41 years I knew exactly, you know, that that where it was, what it was doing, and that wasn't a it wasn't an accident. And and my inkling was is that I was in a in rented space in Arlington, Virginia, because we had been moved out because the wedge that got attacked was the one that was still under construction. My office had not been completed there, and and I had a meeting in that wedge at 9o'clock that morning. And my secretary said to me, "You know, Bob, the Pentagon is next. And I paused for a minute and I looked at her and I said, "How in the world could you even imagine that, you know that that that's a fortress? Who would be crazy enough to attack the Pentagon? And she says, I I just I don't want you to go over, you know, just just just do it by phone, which I I probably could have done. And I said, No, I'm I'm going to go over there. If they're going if they're going to attack the Pentagon, I'm going to go down with it, and that was kind of my philosophy. So, in the back of my mind, seeing that airplane hit the Trade Center and her telling me that certainly made me wonder if it wasn't a possibility. Michael Hingson  26:33 So, you didn't. You don't think that anyone, and I've never heard of any such, but that anyone had any advance notice? There wasn't chatter. There wasn't anything that made people suspect what might be getting ready to happen. Bob Ellis  26:47 No, I I I think that is the the worst our country has ever been off guard. It reminds me of you know the the attack on Hawaii and that you know in in Pearl Harbor. We were completely unprepared, and I thought we were completely unprepared on 911. And in fact, after the attack, I knew we were unprepared when I saw the two jets fly over with no armament on the wings. So no, I don't think anybody had any idea. Michael Hingson  27:18 Well, the other side of it, and I've talked about this in in some talks I've given. I talk a lot about trust and teamwork, and like it or not, one of the things that I observe is you had 19 terrorists who functioned well enough as a team that they didn't talk about it. They didn't let anything come out. So no matter how much armament or whatever we might have had, I'm not sure whether we could have predicted that on September 11th, what occurred was going to happen. Bob Ellis  27:49 You know, all the indicators were there. You know, those those 19 trained at private airports, and they and during their training, it was it was reported multiple times that all they were interested in was taking off, not landing. I mean, first clue, you know. Okay. Why would you just be interested? He's taking off an airplane, and and I always found that very curious, and I'd heard it several times. That should have set alarm bells off. Should have. It didn't. Apparently, it did. Michael Hingson  28:20 Good point, and you know the the thing is though that, as as you pointed out, who would have thought that anybody would attack the Pentagon, the fortress that it was? Who Bob Ellis  28:33 yeah, Michael Hingson  28:33 who would have thought? So again, you can only go by what you got, and so nobody, I think, would have ever imagined that. Well, of course, the first plane hit the World Trade Center, and at first, people didn't really know what happened because there were really not very many people who who saw it. In fact, we only have the few photos that were taken by the French photographers who were there for something else, but then a little after nine, the second plane hit, and that changed the dynamic and changed the perspective a lot. Although a bunch of people who started seeing it on TV thought it was just a movie, and it wasn't true, but the second plane hitting changed the attitudes. I think for most people, and that's when people knew something was going on. Bob Ellis  29:24 Yeah, I didn't know anything about the second trade center. I had left my office in Crystal City, and I had headed to the Pentagon. And the meeting, the meeting that I had was with the Army Personnel Chief and several other folks. And as it turned out, that is exactly the window that the airplane flew into. That was ground zero for the for the for the target for the airplane going in just above the first floor for the Pentagon. So I didn't know anything. I was I was trapped at that point. I was trapped. Couldn't go um. Wouldn't go um. Didn't want to go um. And I had lived in New York City for five years, and I was my biggest. I was always impressed by the New York City Fire Department. I mean, they're they're just walking heroes if you've ever seen them. I mean, they were like they were like giants when you got next to them, and that they would they were just superhumans. And I always wondered upon the top floors how in the world you would get a fire put out at the top of the World Trade Center, and and I did not know until two days later when I made it home. That was my first question to my family: How did they get the the fire out at the top of the World Trade Center? And I and and it was repeated to me centers, and I said, What are you talking about? Centers in my family, and they said, "Bob, the World Trade Centers are gone. I said, "I don't understand. How could they be gone? And that was that. That was you know two days later that I found out about that. It was quite a shock to me to learn what it actually while I was on on the Pentagon mission. Michael Hingson  30:58 Well, when the first plane hit. Well, in the second plane, the firefighters were going up the stairs carrying all their equipment, and I had had had known about that and asked people, "Well, why are you or would you be carrying equipment? Because I met I I didn't meet the FDNY people ahead of the World Trade Center attacks, but I did meet with other people to learn about emergency preparedness and so on because I felt as the leader of an office, it was my job to know because I wasn't going to be able to read signs, and I love information, so I was trying to learn all I could, and they told me that where would if you if you had equipment stored in the in the towers, then people would go to it. Firefighters would go to it and get the the equipment. What floor do you put it on? Because no matter what floor you put it on, what if the fire broke out one floor below? You know, you can't get to the equipment. So the only way they could get up the stairs to fight the fires was to carry all of the equipment with them, yep, yep. Not enough is said about those guys in history. No, and I met a number of them coming up the stairs as we were going down, and they wanted to escort me down, and I didn't want them to do that because I knew they were a team, and I I pushed back pretty hard and said, no, you guys go up and we'll go down unless we can help you fight the fires, and they said no. The reason they eventually let me go down without any assistance was I had a friend with me who could see, and I said, "Look, David can see. Don't worry about us. And David and they turned to David and they said, "You're with him. And David said, "Yeah, leave him alone. He's fine. So we went on down, and they went up. I don't know whether the people we interacted with made it down or perished up above. It was about 10 after 10 after nine or so when we got to the 30th floor where we met them. So it was another hour and almost 20 minutes before the tower collapsed, but I don't know where the firefighters were, or how many people from the groups that we interacted with perished, or if they all made it out. I don't know, but Bob Ellis  33:12 yep, I I memorized all those numbers. You know, 189 between the airplane and the Pentagon, 200 injured, but 189. 189 total were 64 on the airplane, 125 in the Pentagon, and I'll never forget those numbers. Yeah, I'll never forget the time. I looked at my watch at 9:17, and and I have to tell you that on 9/11, I always sit very quietly until I get past 917, not 937. I'm sorry, 937. Michael Hingson  33:48 So Bob Ellis  33:48 in the morning. Michael Hingson  33:49 So, how close were you to where the plane came into the Pentagon? Bob Ellis  33:56 About 300 yards. When when it was clear that the meeting wasn't going to happen because the air traffic control system had been shut down. They released us to go back to our our offices, and I was going out the front door. I left about 930. It was supposed to start at nine 930. The generals said we'll just reconvene, and and I agreed. And from his office on on the south portico, I was walking out the front door. Literally, I heard the engines spool up. I had been in the AOR in rail combat munitions, and and I've heard cruise missiles, and and I could hear this one spinning up, and I thought it was a cruise missile, and so when it hit when it hit the building, it was just it was just a horrendous sound. But my first impression was to run to it to see what happened, what what what caused that, and there was nothing there. It was just four or five cars burning and smoke billowing out of the building. And and the the rest turned into a you know a rescue and a a recovery. Michael Hingson  35:08 AOR is what Bob Ellis  35:10 the area of responsibility. Michael Hingson  35:13 Okay, area of responsibility. Okay, Bob Ellis  35:16 yeah, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, wherever we are, it's it's N A O R, and that's your A O R. That's state. That's where you are. So that that's where I encountered first first and only live person coming out of the building, and which was a which was a really big surprise. But I knew that there was something that I I had to do, and and one of the things was to, if he needed assistance, getting him assistance. And there were several people. He was he was he was burned third degree burns over his whole body. He lived. I said one prayer was for him. And as it turned out, he became a a great ambassador. Turned out to be a great friend, and is actually back in the Pentagon to this day, just steps away from his old office as a civilian, went went back on a presidential appointment. Michael Hingson  36:09 So, you mentioned the general a while ago. Was did he survive? Bob Ellis  36:15 No, he was the he was the highest ranking person that we lost in in the entire encounter, and it was the entire office was just instantly vaporized. So he did not survive. Michael Hingson  36:33 Well, so you heard the engines revving up, and you went after you heard the explosion and so on. You went over to see what was going on, and then what did you do? Because it certainly had to be a major surprise and a shock by any standard. Bob Ellis  36:49 Yeah, I went that side of the building, saw the hole in the building, kind of convinced myself it was a cruise missile, but I never heard such a loud engine noise. As it turned out, it was it was two big engines off of a 757 200, and so I immediately tried to figure out you know what can I do? What should I do? Should I even be here? And that's when I saw the colonel coming out of the building, and I was able to walk with him and four others over to the the road, the Washington Boulevard that goes around the Pentagon, and and I sat down on the telephone pole, a light pole that the airplane hit going in. Now I'm a pilot, and and I have to tell you to take an airplane going at Mach point eight seven, and hit a target, hit the building, and not hitting the ground was just absolutely amazing to me. So as they got the colonel into an SUV and and and got him out of the the scene, I sat there. Just it was almost like a movie I was watching. The triage was being set up. The Pentagon was burning. The emergency services units were starting to show up, and we had very intermittent phone capability. And I had I had a a friend, my my the commander that I worked for in Dallas at the time. This secretary's husband was a bodyguard for Secretary Rumsfeld, and and Secretary Rumsfeld was actually carrying litter patients, carrying people out of the debris area and out of the offices. He was actually helping people, and he he realized that something needed to be done. So he gave Jerry a note, a piece of paper. We called them snowflakes, but it was a tablet, and he had listed what needed to be done and what needed to be done now. And Jerry found me sitting over there and gave me that that piece of paper, and it had everything listed on it. He wanted a a tactical field operation in place. He wanted it now, not yesterday. He wanted something in the interim, and it was to provide emergency relief supplies. So I I sat down on that telephone pole and I called our our local dist not local our largest distribution center in the world was down in Newport News, and I got the director on the phone and I said, I have an official order from you coming from the Secretary of Defense, and and don't override, don't just just follow my instructions until we can get to the commander at AFIS headquarters, and so I gave him the list. I just gave him the full list of things that we needed to get rolling, and I called another gentleman that was just across the river, the American Logistics Association, which owned all of the brokers and manufacturers, and I gave him a list of stuff that we needed now, like Gatorade boots. the The surface was over 2000 degrees, and the emergency service boots were melting almost upon contact. So I had I had 1000s, hundreds of 1000s of dollars of equipment. And supplies coming in, and we set up the USO tent, put everything in the USO tent. We raided all the stores in the in the Washington D.C. area. I was able to contact the region manager, and I told him, you know, what we needed to take it off the shelf, put it in the back seat of the cars, don't account for it, and get it to me. And that's what we did the entire first night was setting up the USO trailer, and the next morning I had two tactical field tractor trailers coming up the ramp just as the sun was coming up, and they were loaded with supplies, and that's what stayed in place for the next two months. Over $2 million worth of merchandise, emergency recovery type merchandise, everything from linens to the towels to eye wash, and and and we had to actually have some special boots made out of leather for the dogs because the dogs' feet were so it was it was quite an operation. We ended up well running within within 24 hours of the attack, Michael Hingson  41:04 why is it that you are able to stay pretty focused through all of this? Bob Ellis  41:08 I you know I you know I I've often asked that question. I wanted to go home. Alls I could think of is my kids, my wife. What what are they doing? What are they thinking? They're watching this on the news, and I had I had drifted over to which my car was very close, and it was taped off. The parking lot was taped off. It was a crime scene. There was no going anywhere. There was no transportation. If I wanted to walk 40 miles, I guess I could have, but because I couldn't go anywhere, I had to do something there on the scene, so that's that's that's what I did, and and it wasn't until the next day when the phone started working again, our two star in Dallas was able to get through to me on on my BlackBerry, and he wanted to know what the situation was, and and and I told him, and and he said, what what are we going to do? And I explained to him what we had done already, and he says, "How did you do all of that? I said, "I picked up the phone and I told him I was working for Secretary Rumsfeld, and this is the order. And and he says, "How are we going to pay for all of this? I said, "Sir, this is our finest hour. We're not. We're going to donate. These are all donating goods, and and it really was an interesting. I I just I just don't know. I was compelled. He he he ordered me on that second day to go home, and and I said I had no way to go home. And he said go to the motor pool. I'm going to call the motor pool. He had been the commander of the Air Force One Squadron, so he had a lot of connections in Washington, and he he got me a car, and I went home long enough to change clothes and and and to come back out. So it was it was just out of adrenaline, I think. Somebody had to do something, and and everything that I've told you here today is not written anywhere in history. I own every bit of what happened in in in that story, other than some of the people that were working there. Michael Hingson  43:07 What phone did you use that first day? You said you're you're it was the second day or the next day that you're phoned. So how were you able to communicate? Bob Ellis  43:17 We had Blackberries, and and until the networks got completely overrun, we were able to use it. And and so by the second third day, we we had pretty consistent communication, because the the the commander called me back that same morning, and and he said, you know, he said, how come you haven't been home? And I explained to him, and he says, "Will you do me one favor? And I said, "I would. He said, "Will you go back into the building? Said, "Sir, the building's on fire. He says, "Well, well, you get in the front, and I'm looking at it. He was looking at it on television, and the military clothing store was in the very front, within 100 feet, probably of that door that I went out of. And he says, "Would you see if our people survive, and if the store itself survived? It was sitting near the the area. I went in the store. I went into the building, into the burning building, and was able to look in the door, and I could see that the the room was full of smoke, and the door was locked. So I told him I would assume that our people made it out, alive and okay. And they say that was a, and they did, and they absolutely did. And in fact, everybody that that that that had any kind of supervisory capability around the Beltway, they volunteered to come over and work for me and and operating that facility for 2024 hours a day, seven days a week. Wow! So and not and not to shorten the the question, I wasn't there, but because of what I was doing in the in the Pentagon, my old homestead was at Fort Hamilton. Fort Hamilton picked up the same thing and went over to the Trade Center area, and they gave them a place to put a mobile. Food truck, and they brought supplies in and pretty much supported the firefighters and the and the and the police there. So so we had quite an operation going for a long time. Michael Hingson  45:11 Yeah, and and needed to, but it was interesting and commendable that in both places people were able to focus, and were able to carry out missions. I know at the World Trade Center when the two towers collapsed. Of course, it was it was unexpected, but we know now, of course, why they collapsed. It wasn't that the planes hit; it's that they were they were full of what 36,000 pounds of jet fuel each, and that exploding jet fuel is what damaged the infrastructure of the buildings to cause them to be able to collapse. But as well as at the Pentagon, but very quickly people were able to start to move and deal with issues and put procedures in place that were able to, I'm sure, keep more people from perishing and keep kept more people being able to focus throughout the whole the whole sequence of events. It it certainly was very scary, but it is something that that people like you were able to do. I know for me, the reason I was able to focus was because I had learned what to do in an emergency at the World Trade Center. I spent time with people and I learned how the whole building was structured, so I knew when the building tipped, why it tipped, and and things like that. You Bob Ellis  46:40 felt it. You you felt it. Michael Hingson  46:43 Oh yeah. Oh my god. We moved probably at least 20 feet, and then it came back, and oh my Speaker 2  46:48 god, it Michael Hingson  46:48 got vertical again. It got vertical again, and then a few seconds later, it dropped about six feet because the expansion joints went back to their normal configuration. But Bob Ellis  46:59 we uh we we knew from 937 till about 5o'clock that evening there would be no more survivors. It was over, and and and the dogs were getting depressed because they were they were they were not cadaver dogs. They were recovery dogs, and they were used to fight. And we we actually had ceremonies for the dogs every day, where we sewed flags onto their collars, and they had special water and special food. So they played a big, big role in morale, mine especially. Michael Hingson  47:33 And at the same time, I know people had to do drills to keep the dogs focused because they weren't able to find people, as you said, so they had to do things to give them something to find to keep them happy, which was was so important. Bob Ellis  47:50 Yeah, that we had two two tractor trailers lined up. It was just just two 300 feet from where you went into the damaged area of the Pentagon, and those dogs and their handlers would get up underneath those trailers and sleep, and they would play with the dogs. We actually had some carpets brought out, tarps brought out, and that's kind of where that was kind of their headquarters during 911. We had to make it up as we went along, and and the other interesting part of this story is in 1972 at the at the refugee camp, I was sleeping in the back of a van because there was just no way to go home. It was too it was too far to drive home to turn around and come back at 8o'clock the next morning, and I heard somebody knocking at the door, and and and I and I opened up the door, and it was a military colonel in uniform, and there was a civilian standing there with him. And he says, "Are you part of this operation? And I said, "Yes, sir, I am. He said, "Who are you with? And I said, "The Army Air Force Exchange Service. And and he says, "You're not provided any other facilities. This, I said, that was my choice. And as it turned out, I was speaking to Secretary Rumsfeld during his first administration as Secretary of Defense, and it was interesting that when he found out that what I did in in that program, I won the Indo Indo China Award for service, and then of course you you move ahead to to 2001, and we we knew each other. I had briefed him several times, and we we knew each other in the Pentagon. And that day, he knew that I would know what to do for the support role, and that's why he sent the letter up. And as it turned out, when he retired and and left the Pentagon, he was on a book tour, and and the the general secretary and myself got an invite to come to the book tour with him and and have lunch with him. And he handed me a book and he said, "I want you to have this, but I don't want you to open it up until you, Bob. I don't want you to open it up till you get home. I don't want you to give it to your wife. And and it was like this. Sure, I'm not not a problem, and so I got I got home. You know, this is this is 10 years later, and handed the book to her, and I said, "Open it up. I'm not wasn't allowed, and there's a nice thank you page on the front from Secretary Rums for allowing him to use me on 9/11, and you just you just that's the best reward that I could have ever ever expected. A guy that I just idolized to do that. Michael Hingson  50:26 When you got home, so you weren't able to talk to your wife before you got home, or did you ever get communication so you could call her? Bob Ellis  50:33 No, I didn't. I when I finally got the phone back up and running and got in the car. I had lost the battery, so I said, "I'm gonna be home in in an hour. I'll just be there. But General Wax called up, and she answered the phone. She went. She went sometime during that day and pulled the kids out of the private school, brought them home. She could see my car. It was a yellow SUV, and she could see it in the South parking lot in the news choppers going around. She said that was my car where my spot was, and General Wax got her on the phone and she and and she answered the phone and he said this is C J Wax and she thought that was the call. She thought that was it, and she alls I could do was drop to my knees and and and C J said and it's it's okay. I've ordered him to come home. He's all right. He's running. He's running a a program for us for for recovery. And if he's not there, he should be there shortly. And then by the time I got there, I got to the front step. I'm asking the question about the World Trade Center, how they got the fire out, and I was ordered that I could not go in the house because I smelled like smoke. So, so two minutes before that, I was the most important person in the world, and and then all of a sudden, I was I was back to Bob, and I wasn't going to wear that that suit in the house to to smoke it. So anyway, that's that's how she found out. He he called her up. I asked him. I think I asked him if he would get in touch with her at our last conversation, and he did. Michael Hingson  52:06 Soon after both towers collapsed, like a minute or so later, I called and got through to my wife Karen. I had talked with her before we left our office, and then when we got downstairs, I couldn't get through to her because the circuits were busy, and it was obvious that everyone we learned later was saying goodbye to loved ones, and so the circuits were busy. So after both towers collapsed, I was able to get through to her, and as I tell people, there were tears on both sides of the phone at the when that conversation started, but she was the first one who told us how two aircraft had been crashed into the World Trade Center towers, one to the Pentagon, and at that time, the fourth one was apparently still missing over Pennsylvania, and of course, then it crashed at Shanksville. Bob Ellis  52:52 I love it. Michael Hingson  52:54 Yeah, but we, you know, we talked, so she knew I was okay. Then a friend of ours, Tom Painter, who had been a friend of Karen's at high school out in California, but Tom, over the years, had ended up moving to New Jersey. He came down to stay with her, not knowing until he arrived whether I was in the office that day or out with a customer or what was going on. And of course, then she told him, and so he drove her to the train station to pick me up. When, when I got back out to Westfield, we went home. And you talk about with with dogs. We got in the house, and I took Roselle's harness off because I was going to take her out, and she would have none of it. She ran off, grabbed her favorite tug bone and started playing tug of war with my retired guide dog Linny, and I talked to the veterinarians at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael the next day, and they said, "Did anything threaten her? And I said, "No, not directly. And they said, "That's why she ran off because it was over. Nothing threatened her. Bob Ellis  53:58 Comfortable. Michael Hingson  53:59 She, they don't. Dogs don't do what if like we do, and so she was comfortable. She was happy. She wanted to play, and then then she did go out. But by the same token, the the whole point was that she was able to deal with with all of it and was able to to focus. Then we got her outside and and came back in, and she ate and and all that. But the the the thing is that she focused all day, and and she did a a wonderful job. And the reason that she focused and did so well was mainly because I worked at keeping her focus by telling her every chance I got. You're a good girl. What a good dog! Good dog. You're doing a great job. Keep going. I did that all the way down the stairs in the World Trade Center, and I was very deliberate about that because I knew she had to sense the fear and what was going on, and I wanted her to know that I was okay and I was going to be there for. Her, which is of course what teamwork and support is all about. You understand that very well. You you proved it in so many ways. I kept working with Roselle and kept her focused, and you know it all it all really went well. I still think one of the most relevant things for me in the World Trade Center. I went down the stairs with a guy named David Frank. David was from our corporate office in California, and David and I were going to be conducting sales seminars that day, teaching some resellers how to sell our products. And we got down to about the 50th floor, so David was there to talk about the the pricing and so on. I was going to do the majority of the presentation because I was going to be their technical contact, anyway, and we got to about the 50th floor, going down, and suddenly David said, "Mike, we're going to die. We're not going to make it out of here. And as I tell people, since I got a teaching credential, I had learned all about the secrets of how to yell at students. So I just said, "Stop it, David. If Roselle and I can go down these stairs, so can you. And he then immediately said that I brought him out of his spunk, and he told me that later as well. But what he told me was that he wanted to walk a floor below me on the stairs and shout up to me everything that he was seeing. He had to take his mind off of what was going on, and so he asked if I cared, and I said, "No, go ahead. That's what you need to do. That's fine. So I got like down to the 48th floor, and he yelled, "47th floor, Mike. All's clear here. Going on down. So we went down several floors that way. Eventually, I got to 45, and he was 44th floor. This is where the Port Authority cafeteria is not stopping. And the reason I mention it is because I think what David did is one of the unsung things that is so important from September 11th. He kept shouting up to me everything that he saw, but the reality is, anyone in the sound of his voice heard that there was someone who was okay going down the stairs, and he had to keep panic out of people's senses for so many individuals, because they just heard him, Mike, 43rd floor, all's good here. Going on down the stairs, all the way down the stairs. He had to have been able to keep so many people focused because he was able to keep his mind off of what was going on by shouting to me, and I think that that's so important, and so I'm. I always tell that story. I've been telling it for many years now because I want people to know what he did to keep so many people focused going down the stairs, and he had to have done that. Bob Ellis  57:31 Well, you know, I have. That's that's the first I've heard that, and and and and I read everything that I followed your story very closely, as well as the colonel who I was so close to, but there there are a couple of stories that are just never mentioned, not talked about, and one of them where we had to do every day. There was an update that the military gave the families an update as to what is happening, what was found, what was recovered, what to expect, and they would bring the kids in to listen to these brutal military briefings. I mean, just you know, these were these were soldiers, these were these were combat folks, and this is the way they briefed. And the therapy dogs were brought in, and there wasn't but about a dozen of them, and I will never forget not only the kids on the floor with the arms around those dogs, but some of the adults were as well. And I thought, what what a moment! That was the most touching moment of my entire life witnessing that. I mean, I could have done without it, but it was it was a very special moment. And then the the other thing that the world doesn't know about is on the second day, I got a I got a phone call from Secretary Rumsfeld's office that the VA was completely out of coffin flags. We had nothing in inventory to to cover the remains or the caskets for burial, and what could I do? And and right right from the Pentagon parking lot, I I called one of the buyers that bought American flags in Dallas, and then I asked her who do you get flags from, and she says it's American Flag Company. I'll give them credit for that, and and I said you need you need to get their entire inventory. We need to get it flown in, whatever expenses cover it, and get them here. The Pentagon doesn't have them, and New York doesn't have them. And those flags came in. They were they were there about that midnight that that that night. Now boxed up, thrown in the bag box, whatever tape they were bound, but everybody that came out later, you know, the recoveries as we got deeper into the debris, that had a had a flag that that came that came from us in the as well as at the Pentagon, and they put two very big special flags in there. I mean, like you see flying over a car dealer. And they hung that on the side of the Pentagon. And if you look at any of the any of the news willers of that time, it was on day two that flag was hanging that that came in with the rest of the other flags. So it was it was quite impressive. You never know what the next moment was going to bring you on you know from my side and and and can I meet the challenge? That was what I constantly worry about. How could I let any of this down? And I've got to do something. And and we were making it up as we went along. Michael Hingson  1:00:33 Yeah, that's all you could do. And so when I go back to Bob Ellis  1:00:37 to to this to this day, you know, we go back. They've got 184 markers. I don't know how many people attend it, but it's it's right in that zone, right outside the building, in that grassy area where they they they've made that memorial. And 184 people, to include I think two infants, are are memorialized there forever, which is very touching. It was a that was a hard place to go back to. Still was New York City when I went to it because I'd never I had never been 20 years 20 years yet 18 years before I ever went to to New York City to see the recovery there. I've never I've not been to the to the to the Pennsylvania field. I plan to go. I want to go. Just hadn't been convenient to get there, but but if I do that, I will have seen all all the sites. Michael Hingson  1:01:26 Yeah, I haven't been to Pennsylvania either. In 2017, I did make it to the World Trade Center Museum. In well, so we moved out of Westfield, and I moved back to California in late January, beginning of February of 2002, to work for Guide Dogs for the Blind and and speak from there. And traveled around and speak. Karen was there for a couple more months selling our home, and then she came out. But in May of 2002, Roselle was going to be honored by Hart's Mountain, the pet food and pet supply company. So, so we went back to New York, and while we were there, I met one of the police officers with with one of the service with one of the rescue dogs that that had been around the World Trade Center, and he arranged for us to get in a vehicle and drive down into the pit that was where the World Trade Center was, and they had built an artificial, well, a temporary road, and they were bringing things up, but we got to go down to what would have been the seventh sublevel, the bottom of the tower, and it was just a for me just imagining it standing in that dirt area in a hole seven stories deep and remembering what what it was like, and then in 2017 I went to the World Trade Center Museum and got to spend a little bit of time there, and of course everything had been rebuilt. The reflecting pool was there, and so on. But it was nothing like what I remembered from having been in the World Trade Center, and I walked around with someone who was able to be aware and describe what was where we were and what was above us, or what part of the building we were in as we walked through the complex. But of course, it was totally different. So it was it was such a strange feeling to experience all of that. But we did it, you know. And so now I've been to the museum, and actually there is a there's an animal exhibit in the basement, and Roselle's collar is is part of that exhibit. We donated that to oh Bob Ellis  1:03:50 really, oh really, oh God, I I was I was thinking that when I asked you that question earlier today, and I was thinking about that that has got to be remarkable, you know that that that's what touched me so much at the period. That the fact that the two of you were such a team, and I read everything that newspapers printed and watched. I guess there was some there was some CBS specials and so forth too, where you were interviewed, and it was it was just it was just absolutely amazing. Michael Hingson  1:04:21 Well, it is. you know, it is a an awe-inspiring sort of thing. And you know, people always say, you know, don't you feel guilty about surviving when so many people didn't? And and I said, no, I I didn't have any control over that. But what I do have control over is having been a survivor. What am I going to do about it? It's my responsibility to decide how I'm going to deal with moving forward after something like that. And of course, the opportunity opened to travel and speak, and so I've been doing it ever since. And I believe my job is. Is to educate people about what happened on September 11th, and let them know t

“We have been locked away from our history all these years.” Olayami Dabls' journey into Detroit history begins long before the African Bead Museum became a landmark at Grand River and West Grand Boulevard. Arriving in Detroit in the 1960s, Dabls settled on 12th Street, worked at Grace Hospital, witnessed the 1967 Rebellion, and was arrested while simply trying to understand what was happening around him. Then came Vietnam, where a young Vietnamese boy challenged him: “This is not your war. You got a war back home.” That encounter helped turn Dabls toward books, African history, education at Northern High School and Highland Park Community College, and eventually 15 years of work with Detroit's African American Museum. His search for knowledge became a search for cultural memory. In 1994, two strands of African beads opened another door, teaching him that beads carried histories, identities, protection, energy, and meanings far beyond decoration. That understanding grew into Dabls African Bead Museum and the monumental Iron Teaching Rocks How to Rust installation. “The best way you can control a person is to keep them ignorant,” Dabls says, making this conversation more than one man's biography. It is a lesson about who defines knowledge, what Black Detroit chooses to preserve, and why Dabls believes “value is determined by what do you have that your ancestors used.” Listen to hear how one Detroiter turned displacement, war, study, art, and African consciousness into a living institution asking future generations to remember who they were before somebody else told them. Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different. Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher. Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing info@detroitisdifferent.com Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co

“I love this country. I was about to head back to the mall. I'd given up hope, but I knew this country always pulls through at the very last second.”This Lunch Walk takes me out of Saigon and onto the streets of Da Nang, where I'm hunting down one of Central Vietnam's most famous dishes: Mì Quảng.At least, that was the plan.I set off looking for a highly rated local spot, only for Google Maps to send me to what appears to be a car lot. Add in Da Nang heat that feels close to 40°C, a complete lack of suitable clothing after coming straight from winter in Australia, and a growing temptation to give up and hide in an air-conditioned mall, and this quickly becomes more of an actual walk than expected.But just as I'm about to admit defeat, Vietnam delivers.I finally find a local Mì Quảng place and get to compare the dish in Da Nang with the versions I regularly eat back in Saigon. We talk about its lighter broth, peanuts, noodles, the differences between food in Central and Southern Vietnam, and why Mì Quảng deserves far more attention outside the country.And, as often happens on these Lunch Walks, the food is only part of the story. A random conversation with another customer turns into a chat about Saigon, Ha Long City and his former life working as a bartender on a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay.Key TakeawaysMì Quảng is one of Central Vietnam's most famous regional dishes.Unlike many Vietnamese noodle dishes, it usually comes with only a small amount of broth rather than a full bowl of soup.The Mì Quảng I've eaten in Saigon tends to have more broth and feel heavier and oilier than the version I try here in Da Nang.Vietnamese food changes significantly by region, with Central Vietnamese cuisine often associated with stronger and spicier flavours.Da Nang continues to modernise rapidly, with new malls, roads and developments sitting alongside traditional streets and local food stalls.Sometimes the best moments while exploring Vietnam come from completely unplanned conversations with strangers.Phở and bánh mì might dominate the international conversation about Vietnamese food, but there are countless regional dishes like Mì Quảng that deserve much more attention.Timestamps01:00 Searching for Mì Quảng and my confidence in Vietnamese food after 10 years05:00 Giving up on the original Mì Quảng restaurant07:00 Almost settling for cơm tấm08:00 The Da Nang heat starts winning09:00 Giving up and heading for air conditioning10:00 Finally finding Mì Quảng and getting rescued by a fan12:00 Trying authentic Da Nang Mì Quảng14:00 Meeting a local customer and attempting some Vietnamese16:00 My verdict on the Mì Quảng18:00 Why Vietnam has so much great food people rarely talk about"Send me a message!"Support the show

Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself!French Antiques Experience - Chateau de Brives: wendy-harrop.com/experiences-cart/p/antique-experience-franceCognac Jewellery School Foundations 2027: wendy-harrop.com/experiences-cart/p/cjs-foundation-2027Cognac Jewellery School Collections Week 2027: wendy-harrop.com/experiences-cart/p/cognac-jewellery-school-collections-2027In this episode, Wendy sits down with author and educator Thymai Dong-Sheehan to talk about identity, belonging, and the courage to tell your own story. Born in Vietnam and raised in the United States, Thymai grew up navigating two cultures while never feeling fully claimed by either. Years later, stepping away from her career to care for family left her grieving the loss of her worker identity, but it also gave her the space to pursue two dreams she had been saving for retirement: publishing The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life and starting her own business. What emerged was an honest examination of the stories told about her, the parts of herself she had learned to minimize, and what it meant to finally decide that her experiences were valid and worth sharing.They explore: How Thymai moved from feeling caught between Vietnamese and American identities to embracing the full complexity of who she is  Why releasing the need to prove she belonged required vulnerability, spirituality, community, and self-forgiveness  How losing confidence after leaving her career led Thymai back to the inner work behind her larger vision for educational change This is a conversation about claiming the right to tell your own story, allowing every part of your identity to belong, and trusting what can emerge when an unexpected pause creates room for something new.Connect with Thymai:ThymaiDongSheehan.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tmaidongGet her book, The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life: Vulnerability, Equity, Spirituality: amazon.com/Beauties-So-Called-Asian-Life-Vulnerability/dp/B0F7GSKHVN?tag=syty-20Referenced in this Episode:A Course in Miracles Links: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020https://www.amazon.com/Course-Miracles-Combined-Quality/dp/1883360242?tag=syty-20marianne.com/acim/Creative in Residence at the Phineas Wright House: app.flodesk.com/form/6995f2e1ae676cb64b2c5b37________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with Wendy:LinkedinInstagram: @wendy.harropFacebook: Phineas Wright HouseWebsite: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm StaysPWH Curated Experience and TravelInterested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.comPodcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat!If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

Francis is a Vietnamese-American Catholic experiencing same-sex attraction and an extremely thoughtful friend! He joined us to share about his experiences with: family conversations and coming out, discerning the priesthood, pursuing celibacy, finding support through Eden Invitation, and the creative possibilities of celibacy and rootedness. We appreciated this conversation and hope it speaks to you as well!Note: This episode uses the terms “Side A” and “Side B” (and X, Y) as shorthand quite a bit. If you're new to the conversation, you might find it helpful to check out episode #3, where we talk through the four “sides”: ⁠#3 - A-B-Y-X | 4 Sides on SSA/Gay Sexuality⁠—★ Timestamps(00:00) #87 - Discerning the Priesthood as a Vietnamese Catholic: Francis's Story(00:16) The son of two Catholic, Vietnamese immigrants(03:37) Same-sex attraction and words in Vietnamese Catholic communities(16:34) Coming out to parents to be a “safe space” in college(23:28) My mom wanted to support me despite her theological beliefs(33:44) Processing celibacy, stability, and intimacy in relationship(40:55) Discerning seminary and a call to priesthood: Was sexuality a factor?(58:21) The gifts of same-sex attraction—★ Send us feedback, questions, comments, support || Email: communionandshalom@gmail.com | Instagram: @newkinship | Substack: @newkinship—★ Credits || Creators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza, Tyler Parker | Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson | Podcast Manager: Elena F. ★ Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

Low Value Mail is a live call-in show discussing current events, politics, conspiracies and much more.Every Monday night at 7pm ETSupport The Show:

Best friends Ginny Giang and Imelda Manalo founded Halo Halo Café in Parramatta, Sydney, blending Filipino, Vietnamese, Spanish and Australian influences into fusion dishes that celebrate the area's multicultural community. - Itinayo nina Ginny Giang at Imelda Manalo, na matalik na magkaibigan, ang Halo Halo Café sa Parramatta, Sydney, kung saan pinagsasama nila ang mga impluwensiyang Filipino, Vietnamese, Spanish at Australian sa mga fusion dish na sumasalamin sa multikultural na komunidad ng lugar.

Joining Clancy and Wendell in the studio today is an icon of Sydney, and a driving force behind the revitalisation of the city's nighttime economy. Nahji Chu, better known as Lady Chu, has been at the forefront of hospitality for more than a decade, with her Kings Cross Restaurant one of the most popular on the strip. From humble beginnings as a Vietnamese immigrant to opening the iconic MissChu takeaway that revolutionised food delivery, Nahji has been doing things her own way even when it rubs up against the archaic laws of councils and governments. She talks us through her journey, the obstacles she bashes through, plus the friends and enemies she's made along the way. We also dive into some of her greatest Google reviews, which rival some of the best comedy writers in the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to Lunch Walk #5! Starting from Saigon Podcast Studio on Pasteur Street in the Nguyen Thai Binh neighborhood (District 1), we go down a history rabbit hole — a vanished canal, a 150-year-old bridge tied to Gustave Eiffel's company, and the wild engineering behind the Thủ Thiêm Tunnel — before finishing up with a bowl of bún bò at a historic building on Ton That Dam Street.Key Takeaways:The lost canal: Pasteur Street (formerly Pellerin) once ran along a canal through the heart of Saigon, filled in decades ago. A look at the shophouses and Cantonese and Tamil immigrant communities that once lined the route.Cầu Mống ("Rainbow Bridge"): Built around 1880, ~150 years old, and engineered by a company linked to Gustave Eiffel. Originally a road bridge connecting District 1 and District 4, later dismantled and rebuilt during tunnel construction.The Thủ Thiêm Tunnel: Finished in 2011 (years behind schedule thanks to unexpectedly soft riverbed soil), built using the "tube tunnel" method: four ~26,000-ton tubes dredged into a trench under the Saigon River and connected with millimeter-level precision.A functional building with character: The unassuming structure managing the tunnel's ventilation, drainage, and lighting — designed to actually fit the neighborhood.Lunch stop: Bún bò at a historic building on Ton That Dam Street, now home to cafes, vintage shops, and cocktail bars tucked above a street of Vietnamese-only menus.Timestamps00:00 — Intro from Saigon Podcast Studio03:07 — Cầu Mống, the Rainbow Bridge & its Eiffel connection09:16 — How the Thủ Thiêm "tube tunnel" was built13:56 — Arriving at the lunch spot on Ton That Dam Street18:33 — Plans for a "Discover Vietnam" series & walking tours20:33 — Bún bò arrives"Send me a message!"Book your free tour of Saigon Podcast Studio!Support the show

September 2, 1945. Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnamese independence, setting the country on a collision course with America, the very country that inspired his speech. This episode originally aired in 2025. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.

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How do you keep going when life gives you every reason to stop? In From Broken to Brave, author and publisher Amy M. Le shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped her life, from escaping the Vietnam War as a five-year-old child to undergoing life-saving open-heart surgery shortly after arriving in America. Amy joins the Books That Make You Show to discuss why, after years of writing fiction and helping other authors tell their stories, she knew it was finally time to tell her own. Her memoir explores survival, identity, family, discrimination, homelessness, trauma, and the complicated experience of growing up between Vietnamese and American cultures. Amy also shares how reconnecting with a college friend helped her recover a missing piece of her past and gave her what she needed to finally complete the book. But From Broken to Brave is about more than what Amy survived. It is also about what came afterward. Amy discusses finding her voice, becoming an author, writing with her son, and building Quill Hawk Publishing, a hybrid publishing company focused on amplifying diverse voices. She also explains why community has been so important throughout her writing career and offers a simple piece of advice to aspiring authors: find your tribe and don't try to do it alone. Amy's journey shows how storytelling can connect generations, preserve history, create community, and help us make meaning from experiences we once struggled to understand.

Phoebe Tran is one of Vietnam's most recognised faces in education media. As Country Manager of Crimson Education Vietnam — a role she has held for over nine years — she leads a team dedicated to transforming the education landscape and creating opportunities for thousands of students and families across the country. Beyond Crimson, Phoebe is a television host, reporter, and editor at Vietnam Television, covering culture, education, and sustainability, and is best known as the host of IELTS Face-Off on VTV7. She is also the founder of The 3's, a voice services and coaching business offering narration, hosting, and public speaking solutions in English — and is fluent in four languages: English, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Mandarin. Her driving mission is simple: empower young people to use their potential fully and equalise opportunities through education. Connect with Phoebe Instagram: @tmphoebe LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mai-phuong-phoebe-tran Subscribe at hernanchousa.com

This week: Charlotte Bande, managing director and global food and beverage sector lead at Quantis, talks with Ian Welsh about the mounting pressure on food supply chains from compounding climate shocks. They discuss why low-volume commodities like vanilla can carry outsized business risk, and why procurement teams still resist change when full traceability isn't in place. And, new study finds little measurable forest benefit from corporate zero-deforestation pledges; a Vietnamese cocoa processor turns waste pods into biochar and clean energy, halving drying time; and, Egypt develops a $278 million project to turn sugarcane waste into bioethanol, in the news digest with Babette Pagès. Host: Diana Kim Click here for more information on the Climate Resilience Innovation Forum (2-3 December 2026, New York City).

The road to My Lai enters its final stretch as the Tet Offensive leaves the American military desperate for a win and willing to count any Vietnamese body as Viet Cong. Along the way, the boys get into Project 100,000, Task Force Barker, “Mad Dog” Medina, and the dangerously incompetent Lieutenant William Calley before Charlie Company prepares to march into My Lai. For Live Shows, Merch, and More Visit: www.LastPodcastOnTheLeft.comKevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Last Podcast on the Left ad-free, plus get Friday episodes a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rizz officially turned 48, which means it's time to celebrate the only way responsible middle-aged adults know how: announce that birthdays are stupid, eat olives, drink approximately nine birthday beers, stay out until 1:45 in the morning and immediately begin discussing whether birthdays should be banned altogether next year.Lern returns from Nashville after one of her favorite trips with Tim, complete with cowboy boots, Broadway people-watching and a Foo Fighters show at Nissan Stadium that was approximately three degrees cooler than walking directly into a pizza oven. She missed Queens of the Stone Age thanks to dinner running late and a forgotten phone, but made it for Foo Fighters, Shane West randomly appearing during the band's trip through its members' musical histories, and a romantic finish listening from the pedestrian bridge while fireworks went off. Cute. Disgusting. We're happy for them.Guns N' Roses had their own weather problems when storms forced the band to shorten the Busch Stadium show. Naturally, this leads to the important journalistic question: if you're Guns N' Roses and rain is coming, HOW DO YOU NOT IMMEDIATELY PLAY “NOVEMBER RAIN”? We don't make the rules. Actually, apparently neither do they.Pin-Up Bowl goes from Rizz worrying nobody will show up to being absolutely packed. The special Dangler beer flows freely. Rizz receives spaghetti-and-meatball dangler earrings, another signed Don Mattingly baseball and a massive strawberry birthday cake featuring a photo of Rizz with a truly breathtaking hair situation. There's bowling, questionable decisions and eventually a migration to Delmar Hall — except for Scott, whom everyone insists they didn't abandon collectively. They merely abandoned him individually.At Delmar Hall, the Blink-182 tribute brings the hits, Bangs Against the Machine brings the Rage, Rizz keeps getting handed beverages, and eventually Mrs. Rizzuto performs the evening's most important public service by shutting down the birthday shots before somebody had to replace another shower curtain.Then comes the Quincy lottery story.Rizz brings up a movie theory that sounds just believable enough to ruin your productivity for the next hour: could The Goonies and Back to the Future take place on the exact same day?Back to the Future establishes October 26, 1985. Meanwhile, clues in The Goonies appear to place its adventure right around that same Saturday. Coincidence? Intentional cinematic universe? Evidence that Chunk was one DeLorean ride away from completely destroying the space-time continuum? We investigate with exactly the level of academic rigor you'd expect from this program.Then Brian arrives with enough food to turn the studio into a French bakery: croissants, bread, ham and Swiss, smoked deviled eggs and more. This comes after the gigantic birthday cake he'd already made for Rizz, because apparently we're now trying to see whether a radio host can be defeated entirely by carbohydrates.Nate Bargatze also sets a massive comedy ticket-sales record, sending Rafe and the crew into a genuinely interesting conversation about club comedy versus arena comedy. Rafe explains why smaller rooms create that perfect pressure cooker of laughs while superstar comics eventually reach a level where playing a 200-seat club makes about as much financial sense as opening a lemonade stand inside Costco.The entertainment conversation keeps rolling into movies, celebrity stories and eventually Brad Pitt declaring that bad acting is so distracting he can't watch porn. This results in Rafe questioning Brad Pitt's acting credentials and nearly getting thrown off the show by everyone else. The crew debates whether Pitt is actually an elite actor, just exceptionally talented at playing Brad Pitt, or both.The crew surprises him with cards carefully selected to remind him that he's old, grouchy and one year closer to death. Lern gives him a Tommy Wiseau pasta spoon. Then Rafe produces Italian rainbow cookies from Sweet Seven Layers, delivered by a New York/Jersey baker who listens to the show and apparently understands exactly how to win over a “greasy meatball” birthday boy.Sweet Seven Layers has everybody losing their minds over traditional Italian rainbow cookies, pistachio and blackberry creations, cherry amaretto and enough sugar to make Moon openly admit he's buzzing. Throw in the pastries from Le Bon Boucher and we're basically broadcasting from inside a carbohydrate emergency.Sexy Time Fun Facts arrives with a legitimately groundbreaking medical story: surgeons in Vietnam successfully performed the country's first penile transplant from a brain-dead donor.What starts as an unbelievable medical headline turns into a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about organ donation, brain death and transplant ethics. Rafe brings some firsthand perspective from witnessing organ harvesting during his previous surgical work, while Moon reflects on his own recent experience being with his father at the end of his life.A ranking of all 50 states examines factors including clubs, online communities, hotels and other indicators of an active swinging lifestyle. Florida takes the top spot because Florida apparently looked at its existing reputation and decided to lean in. Missouri lands at number 20 overall, while ranking eighth for its number of physical swinger clubs.Science apparently has an answer for how much you should reveal in your dating profile. Say too little and people assume you're sketchy. Overshare every trauma you've experienced since kindergarten and romantic interest drops. The sweet spot is the “Goldilocks bio”: enough personality and detail to seem interesting without making somebody feel like they've accidentally opened your therapist's case notes.Rafe isn't particularly interested. He'd rather meet somebody naturally and “let the universe do it,” which is adorable and therefore completely unacceptable to his coworkers. Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Raya all enter the discussion, along with stories of celebrities appearing in people's inboxes and the realization that getting Rafe approved for Raya may require more references than getting a mortgage.Follow The Rizzuto Show → linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → 1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.Vietnamese doctors perform nation's first successful penis transplantThe best states for swingers revealed — with a few surprising Southern states taking the top 3 spotsNew Jumbotron at Illinois High School Falls, Damages Gym During Installation on VideoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Devil's Ledger — Week of August 17, 2026 The universe put on one hell of a show this week. We begin with Spain's spectacular August 12 solar eclipse and humanity's long, occasionally unhinged relationship with watching the sun disappear. For The Creepiest Thing I Heard This Week, we travel from ancient Greece—where an eclipse could signal that the gods had essentially abandoned humanity—to Choctaw stories of a giant black squirrel attempting to devour the sun and Vietnamese legends of a celestial frog swallowing it whole. And apparently scientific literacy hasn't completely saved us. Modern eclipse superstitions warn of poisoned food, birthday curses and even the possibility that washing your hair during an eclipse could somehow affect your sanity. Three thousand years ago we feared an angry god had extinguished the sun. Today we're worried about the potato salad. Progress remains uneven. Then, across the Evio Universe this week: On The Devil Within, The New Monsters continues with The Backrooms, the internet-born nightmare built around the idea that reality itself has seams. Slip through the wrong one and you could find yourself trapped inside an apparently endless maze of yellow wallpaper, stained carpeting, fluorescent lights and empty rooms. What began as an unsettling image evolved into an enormous collaborative mythology of levels, entities, rules and stories—and ultimately escaped the internet into games, movies and mainstream popular culture. On Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio breaks down the extraordinary new developments surrounding Luigi Mangione. Following his federal guilty plea in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, attention now turns toward New York's pending murder case and an increasingly important question: double jeopardy. Federal and state governments are generally treated as separate sovereigns under federal constitutional law, while New York provides additional statutory protections against successive prosecutions. Carolyn examines what Mangione's plea means, what it doesn't mean, and why the next major battle may happen before another jury ever hears the case. On The Slippery, we meet Olga Rutterschmidt and Helen Golay, the elderly Los Angeles women whose apparent efforts to help unhoused men concealed an astonishing insurance scheme. Prosecutors established that the pair befriended vulnerable men, obtained numerous life-insurance policies on them and eventually murdered Paul Vados and Kenneth McDavid in staged hit-and-run incidents before collecting millions in insurance proceeds. The scheme began unraveling when one detective overheard another discussing a suspicious death and remembered an eerily similar case. The same two women appeared in both files. From there came insurance investigators, undercover operations and the slow dismantling of an extraordinary criminal enterprise. And This Week in Horror, we're talking Ice Cream Man, Eli Roth's gleefully deranged throwback to the excesses of 1980s horror: an idyllic summer town, a mysterious ice cream man and frozen treats capable of turning children into homicidal killers. It's bloody, ridiculous and precisely the sort of movie that understands sometimes the best horror premise begins by taking something completely innocent and ruining it forever. So keep looking toward the stars, enjoy these final weeks of summer, and we'll see you somewhere this week across the Evio Universe.