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Season 7's "reClaim" is over and I'm here to share my closing remarks about the season.  Many thanks to the following guests of Season 7: Michelle Li, Ju Hong, Noor Hindi, Sotheara Lim, Soultree Camba, Marpheen Chann, Consuela Hendricks, Angela Lin, and Nidhi Shastri.   Season 7 is sponsored by the following: Nguyen Coffee Supply, America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean. Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit www.nguyencoffeesupply.com. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount! ----------------------------------------------------------------. Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Visit them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com .--------------------------------------------------------------- Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

As Season 7 is about to soon wrap up, Nidhi Shastri rounds up this Season 7 guest lineup.  Nidhi is the founder and producer of her podcast, "Model Minority: Uniquely American".  She is a South Asian American based in Chicago. We talked about the process of starting her podcast which explores stories and issues of the Asian, African, and Middle Eastern American / diaspora, her upbringing in the Chicagoland suburbs, the impact that her father's death had, and how this informed her own experiences, her relationship with her family, and political beliefs.  Don't miss out on this episode as you get to hear more about her beautiful journey! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio: Nidhi Shastri is an independent podcast writer, host and producer from Chicago, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2019, she worked as a campaign organizer for healthcare justice and Medicare for All during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her podcast, Model Minority: Uniquely American (released in 2020) stems from her own experiences of growing up as a South Asian woman in the States. Her work strives to pass the mic to other Asian, African and Middle Eastern Americans to share their stories, and to also use the podcasting platform as a medium for educating and inspiring social change. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season 7 sponsors: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on Facebook [tag].  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website. Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, or hat and learn more about them by visiting them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

(S7, EP 6): For this episode, I invited both Consuela Hendricks and Angela Lin, co-presidents of People Matter, a community-based organization whose mission is to uplift, unearth, and untether people in different communities in the Chicago area, particularly in Chinatown, McKinley Park, , Bridgeport, Bronzeville and more.  We talk about People Matter's work in improving race relations among Black/Latinx/Asian communities, and what the work of undoing anti-Black and anti-Asian racism can look like.  Both Consuela and Angela share their experiences on what got them into doing Black and Asian solidarity work and what the barriers are in dissolving tensions between communities.  Check their website at https://www.peoplematter.one and on IG @peopledomatter  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Consuela Hendricks is the co-president and Director of Programs and Planning at People Matter. A 4th generation Chicagoan, she has over a decade’s experience in improving race relations between Black/Latinx/Asian communities. Her background is in technology, urban planning, and youth mentorship. She has experience with government and policy at Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office, anti-displacement in Chicago’s gentrifying neighborhoods, and direct service with homeless folks across Chicago. In her free time she enjoys making art. Angela Lin is the co-president and Director of Outreach and Development at People Matter. She is passionate about tackling anti-blackness in Asian American communities on a grassroots level, both locally and globally. Her background is in community organizing and leadership development for parents, youth and seniors in Chinatown. In her free time, she enjoys reading webcomics.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode and Season 7 is sponsored by the following: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on FB and IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply.  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website.  Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merch line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian identity and experience.  Check out their merch line and get yourself a gift.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG @red_scarf_revolution to learn more.  Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

TW: Discussions of intergenerational & adoptee trauma (S7, EP 5) Marpheen Chann joined me for this week's episode. He's a queer Khmer American community advocate and now an author of his new memoir. We spent time talking about his memoir, going through his family's struggle with the US refugee resettlement after the Khmer Rouge genocide, and going through his experiences being adopted. We shared about what healing means in breaking the intergenerational trauma and honoring his wellness.  Don't miss out on this episode and don't forget to order your copy of his memoir at https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Full-Modern-Coming-Age/dp/1952143357! ----- Bio: Marpheen Chann is the author of a memoir titled “Moon in Full” coming out June 2022 from Islandport Press.  He is a thinker, writer, advocate, and speaker on social justice, equity, and inclusion. As a gay, first-generation Asian American born in California to a Cambodian refugee family and later adopted by an evangelical, white working-class family in Maine, Marpheen uses a mix of humor and storytelling to help people view topics such as racism, xenophobia, and homophobia through an intersectional lens. Marpheen Chann has a strong commitment to public service and serves as: At-Large Charter Commissioner, City of Portland, Maine (Elected) President, Khmer Maine Member, Maine Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Member, Planning Board for the City of Portland, Maine Board Member, Equality Community Center in Portland, Maine Marpheen lives in Portland, Maine. He works in the nonprofit and advocacy sector and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Maine and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. Season 7 sponsors: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on Facebook [tag].  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website. Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, or hat and learn more about them by visiting them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

(S7, EP 4) Soultree Camba (they/them), Filipinx Marshallese American artist, creator, and longtime friend joined me for this week's episode. They shared their experience transition from immigrant organizing to healing and artistry work. Soultree talked about the importance of honoring independent artists for their time and labor, as well as their upcoming projects.  Soultree gives a special performance of their new song, "Can't Wait" here and ends the show with a breathing exercise session.  You won't want to miss this special episode! ---------- Bio: Soultree is a cultural creator with two music projects Soultree EP and Malaginto and one practice called SHHAA (Sustainable Holistic Healing Arts & Activations) out in the world to serve and center their immigrant, queer, Asian, Pacific Islander communities and those in alignment and connection with these experiences and cultures. With a background in Family Studies, Labor Studies, Legal assistance, and various forms of social justice organizing and civic engagement work, they’ve always had music as a focal point for their healing, sense of sanctuary, safety, and freedom, and bringing together communities. Through their music and SHHAA, they use words, sounds, movement, divination (tarot), energy rebalancing (reiki), and bodywork (massage) to bridge the gap between surviving and thriving for themselves and their communities. Sponsors: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount! Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

(S7, EP 3) Sotheara Lim, founder of Khmer Renaissance which is a community-driven Instagram platform that celebrates the Khmer identity and experience, talked about what led him to create his digital platform.  We discussed how the deficit-level approach when there are only stories told about the Khmer culture and people through trauma, specifically with the Khmer Rouge genocide can often be harmful to the Khmer community.  Sotheara offers ways in which we can share the stories that revolve around joy and ambition through our own different platforms, and how this could drive more opportunities for fellow Khmer folks to thrive. You won't want to miss this interview! Bio:  “Sotheara Lim is a second generation Khmer American of Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese descent. He currently resides in Long Beach, CA close to Cambodia Town and works in tech as a Project Manager, specifically in marketing. He founded Khmer Renaissance during the pandemic in May 2021 after the horrific massage parlor shootings in Atlanta. At its core, Khmer Renaissance is a community-driven Instagram platform looking to provide curated reflections and visibility on the Khmer identity and experience through various mediums. IG @KhmerRenaissance Sponsors: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount! Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

TW: Mentions of Palestinian & state-sanctioned violence / Covid Trauma regarding evictions  --  (S7, E2) Noor Hindi (she/her/hers) stopped by for this week's episode back in April as she is preparing for the release of her debut poetry collection book, DEAR GOD, DEAR BONES, DEAR YELLOW coming out this May.  We talked about her journey in poetry including her critically acclaimed 2020 poem, "Fuck Your Lecture on Craft, My People Are Dying" which focuses on the continual violence against the Palestinian people.  We discussed the diaspora, colonization, her work as a journalist uncovering the eviction crisis during Covid-19 in Akron, OH, and the self-care she does for herself.   --- Bio: Noor Hindi is a Palestinian-American poet and reporter. She is a 2021 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellow. Hindi earned her BA and MFA in poetry from the University of Akron. She released her poem, “Fuck Your Lecture on Craft, My People Are Dying” to critical acclaim in December  2020.  Noor will soon be releasing her poetry book DEAR GOD. DEAR BONES. DEAR YELLOW.   Due to come out on May 31st which you can order your copy now.  You can follow Noor on Twitter @MyNrhindi.  -- Season 7 sponsors:  Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a banh mi?  Freshly roasted Vietnamese coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply.   Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.The company imports through direct-trade relationships with Vietnamese farmers and roasts in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company is on a mission to change the future of coffee through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity.  Specifically, they diversify the industry through Vietnamese coffee, elevate resilient robusta as the key to our sustainable coffee future and transform the landscape through economic advancement for both arabica & robusta farmers, globally.  Check out their website at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com or follow them on Facebook [tag].  Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount when you make a purchase on their website.  Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that celebrates and uplifts the Khmer diaspora identity and experiences. Get yourself a t-shirt, hoodie, or hat and learn more about them by visiting them on IG @red_scarf_revolution or at https://redscarfrevolution.com Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

TW / CW: Discussions of Undocumented Immigrant Trauma (S7, EP 1) To kick things off, Ju Hong joined me for this season 7 official 1st episode as he shared his experiences in immigration activism as an undocumented Asian immigrant. He talked about the moment when he interrupted President Obama's speech in 2013 when he called him out on the administration's inaction on immigration and its record deportations under his watch. Ju brought up his recent experience when his DACA renewal was delayed, causing him to lose his job and healthcare protection, and how the renewal delays have affected other DACA recipients.  Please listen to learn more on Ju's story and his work on immigration activism!  ------------- Bio: Ju Hong was the former Program Financial Analyst at the Alameda Cty Social Services Agency.  Previously, Ju was a Governmental Program Analyst at the Immigration and Refugee Branch of the CA Dept of Social Services which funds over 100 community-based orgs to provide legal services to immigrant communities throughout California. Ju came to the US from South Korea at the age of 11 and grew up in the Bay Area. He graduated from Laney College in Oakland and transferred to UC, Berkeley, where he became the first undocumented student government senator in UC Berkeley’s history and graduated with a BA in Political Science. Ju has contributed and published immigration articles on Politico, Huffington Post, and The Korea Times. Ju also has a personal documentary called Halmoni. Ju currently serves as a board chair of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC), and a member of the Leadership Council of Immigrants Rising. Ju received his Master’s in Public Administration at San Francisco State University. Ju is also a certified coach through the Leadership that Works credential through the International Coach Federation, and obtains a Government Alliance on Race and Equity certification. He is currently working on his passion project – ImmigrAsians Podcast where he captures the unique stories of Asian undocumented individuals living in the US. You can follow his passion project on Instagram @ImmgrAsians ------------ Sponsors: Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount! Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. www.channsou.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

(Season 7 Opener): After being (mostly) away for 6 months since my last season, I am back and set to kick off Season 7 with a new lineup, new stories, and a new theme called, "reClaim."  reClaim. is about documenting our own lived experiences as part of our history and future-making, how reclaiming our stories through our agency sets us up to reimagine a world that we want to live in, and to position our younger generations to become stewards of our community's legacy.  In this Season 7 opener, I brought special guest Michelle Li to kick things off.  Michelle is a news anchor based in St. Louis. On New Year's, she experienced a racist voicemail from a caller about her news segment in which she accused Michelle of being "Very Asian." We talked about how that moment would galvanize the AAPI community in a time where Anti-Asian violence has continued to escalate. We discussed her Asian adoptee upbringing and the challenges that Asian & BIPOC journalists face in less diverse newsrooms and communities. We shared so much in this episode so check it out!   This Season 7 is dedicated to Wayne Cheong, friend & supporter of my show who passed away unexpectedly. He was a fellow podcaster and full of infectious optimism and enthusiasm for the podcasting platform. He is missed by many.   -- Bio: Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist who co-launched The Very Asian Foundation in January 2022 alongside friend and fellow journalist Gia Vang. Her response to a racist voicemail became a global movement of unity and caught the attention of The Ellen Show. Ellen’s monetary gift of $15,000 helped start the seed money to create a nonprofit focused on shining a light on all walks of Asian life. Michelle spent many years supporting adoptees through heritage camps and volunteer tours to Korea. She also launched a program to support Missouri children in foster care. All of this led to a congressional award in 2010. Michelle’s journalistic work has been honored with a national Peabody Award, several national Murrows, and multiple regional Emmys–often dealing with race or gender inequities. Michelle has appeared on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and The Washington Post. Michelle currently resides in St. Louis with her family. She is @michellelitv on most platforms Her IG and Twitter are @MichelleLiTV --- Thank you to the following sponsors: Red Scarf Revolution (RSR) is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). Nguyen Coffee Supply: You know what goes well with a Banh Mi? Freshly roasted coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Yes, that’s right! Nguyen Coffee Supply is America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company and proud champion of the resilient robusta bean.  Follow them on IG @NguyenCoffeeSupply or visit them at www.nguyencoffeesupply.com to order your coffee. Be sure to use the code: BANHMI10 to get your discount! Chann Sou Consulting specializes in customizing Salesforce for your organizational needs. They will provide hands-on training for your nonprofit. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to help raise money for your nonprofit so you can keep making a positive impact in your community! Check out www.channsou.com and get up to two hours of free consultation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

TW / CW:  Police Violence, Mental Health, Adoptee Trauma   I sat down with Fe and Gareth Hall who are the parents of Christian Hall and joined with Nicole Henriquez, .  Christian was a 19 yr old Chinese American adoptee who was murdered by police in a mental health crisis in NE Pennsylvania on 12/30/2020 for an upcoming emergency episode of my podcast.  Currently, no one has been charged with his murder nor has there been any action from the PA state's attorney's office.  With the help of Black, Asian, and other community activists, the advocacy movement for Christian is very much alive.  What I wanted to do was focus on who Christian was as a son, and who he was a young 19 year old.  What is often missing especially among BIPOC folks who have been killed during mental health emergencies are the stories of who they were as human beings, when much of the narrative focuses on the final seconds of their life.  It is also important to read the stories of BIPOC adoptees and the intergenerational traumas connecting to adoptees. There were so many beautiful stories that his parents Fe and Gareth were able to lift up while also sharing the struggles of mental health support and the call-to-action to pressure the DA office to look into Christian's case.  In the meantime, I just wanted to acknowledge how grateful and honored I am for their trust in me to facilitate this very difficult conversation, and many thanks to Nicole Henriquez, Christian's aunt and family advocate for bringing this interview together.  Please be on the lookout as I'll share an update when the episode is released.    Below are links to the case and updates on Christian Hall, and also on the stories of adoptees. Social Media:  IG: @Justice_for_christianhall & @christianjhallfoundation FB: facebook.com/justiceforchristianhall Links: https://act.bencrump.com/a/christian-hall   https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/christian-hall-police-shooting-anniversary-rcna7254  https://www.npr.org/2021/03/27/981269559/am-i-asian-enough-adoptees-struggle-to-make-sense-of-spike-in-anti-asian-violenc  https://www.msmayhem.com/living-between-worlds-asian-adoptees-with-white-families-experience-racism-in-isolation/  https://www.justiceforchristianhall.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Re-live my interview with Vietnamese-American singer TRACE from (S4, EP 1) who joined me on Season 4 when this episode was aired back in January 2021.  This is an exclusive video interview re-release through Spotify. TRACE, at the time, was just fresh off her latest single and video release, "Cool Women". TRACE shared her experiences becoming a singer-songwriter in the American indie music scene, and her relationship with her mother Carol Kim, a Vietnam-War survivor and also a well-known Vietnamese singer in the Paris by Night series.  She went into the struggles of mental health and reconciling her relationship with her father through her music, and the challenges of creating art during the time of the pandemic. Also, TRACE is expected to release a new song this month (January) so be on the lookout for her music which is available on all streaming services.  Her IG is @TRACE and you can visit her at www.listentotrace.com.  (Recorded November 2020) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Bio:  TRACE is a Vietnamese-American singer born and raised in Fountain Valley, California. In 2016, TRACE brought her first EP,  Low -  to life through a Kickstarter campaign. The 4-track piece earned her comparisons to the “west-coast cool of Lana Del Rey" and the “R&B-kissed ruminations of James Blake,” as well as over 30M streams and her first record deal. In early 2018, TRACE made her Ultra Records debut with her single “Blood and Bones,” followed by two more singles: "Side Eye” (which was featured on The Fader's fall list of "Best New Pop Songs") and "Anxiety." For the latter, TRACE partnered with the non-profit organization (NAMI) National Alliance on Mental Health to raise awareness on anxiety in the entertainment industry.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Trigger Warning:  Discussions of child abuse Relive my interview with Phuc Tran, author of his 2020 critically-acclaimed childhood memoir, "Sigh, Gone" . This interview was recorded back in December 2020 after spending the Covid lockdown year promoting his memoir virtually.  This video version can be seen exclusively through Spotify. Look below for more information on this episode. Original show note: (S4, EP 12) Viet-American best-selling and critically acclaimed author Phuc Tran joined me for the Season 4 finale for this episode. Last Spring, he released his award-winning memoir, "Sigh, Gone" which traced back to his upbringing in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in the 80s and early 90s after his family fled from Vietnam after the war. I spoke with Phuc back in late December to discuss his struggles with assimilation in a rural white community, his father's abuse. He explaied how seeking therapy played a role in being able to write his story while healing the wounds from his turbulent past with his parents.  Check out more on this episode and follow Phuc Tran on IG @Phucskywalker. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio: Phuc Tran has been a high school Latin teacher for more than twenty years while also simultaneously establishing himself as a highly sought-after tattooer in the Northeast. Tran graduated Bard College in 1995 with a BA in Classics and received the Callanan Classics Prize. He taught Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit in New York at the Collegiate School and was an instructor at Brooklyn College’s Summer Latin Institute. Most recently, he taught Latin, Greek, and German at the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine. His 2012 TEDx talk “Grammar, Identity, and the Dark Side of the Subjunctive” was featured on NPR’s Ted Radio Hour. His acclaimed memoir, SIGH, GONE: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and The Fight To Fit In, received the 2020 New England Book Award for Nonfiction.  He tattoos in Portland ME where he lives with his wife and two daughters. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Exclusive re-release of my previous interview w/ Joshua Nguyen, poet and author of his recently released poetry book, "Come Clean".  Check out the video on Spotify.  PS. Joshua and I did not, at the time, intend to release this as a video episode. He would have showed off of his Houston Rockets jerseys including one from the departed James Harden, and I for one am glad that I did not have to be subjected to it. :-).  (S5, EP 12) Joshua Nguyen (He / Him) joined me as the final guest of Season 5's theme, "Our Becoming: An LGBTQ Asian Experience".  He is fresh off from his mini chapbook debut release, "An American Lục Bát For My Mother" this past Spring, and is now set to release his full length poetry debut book, "Come Clean" this October which explores issues of sexual trauma, personal identity among others.  I talk to Joshua about his poetry, and his anticipation of releasing his debut poetry collection.  We talked about his own recent journey exploring his sexual identity and what that means. Meanwhile, I spent some time poking fun at the Houston Rockets (mostly ex-Rocket James Harden), a team that he lives and bleeds for.  Hope you enjoy the season 5 finale!  Visit Joshua on IG and Twitter @JoshuaNguyen03 and don't forget to pre-order your copy of "Come Clean" Bio: Joshua Nguyen is a queer Vietnamese-American writer, a collegiate national poetry slam champion (CUPSI), and a native Houstonian. He is the author of the chapbook, "American Lục Bát for My Mother" (Bull City Press, 2021) and has received fellowships from Kundiman, Tin House, Sundress Academy For The Arts, and the Vermont Studio Center. He has been published in The Offing, Wildness, American Poetry Review, The Texas Review, Auburn Avenue, Crab Orchard Review, and Gulf Coast Mag. He has also been featured on both the "VS" podcast and Tracy K. Smith's, "The Slowdown". He is a bubble tea connoisseur and works in a kitchen. His debut poetry collection, "Come Clean" (Oct 5th 2021, University of Wisconsin Press), Come Clean was the winner of the 2021 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry. Joshua is a PhD student at The University of Mississippi, where he also received his MFA. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Re-release of my previous interview w/ MILCK from Season 3, Episode 11 (S3, EP 11) We reached our final guest to close out Season 3 continuing the theme, "Where Do We Stand?".  MILCK (Connie Lim) is an Asian-American recording artist who first received international attention for her song "Quiet" which became viral during the Women's March in DC in 2017.  It would be named by Billboard Music as "The Protest Song of the Year" in 2017.  We discuss the impact that the song has had on her work as an artist and activist. She talks about her struggles breaking through as an Asian-American artist, and her hopes to use her music to help build solidarity with other marginalized communities.  MILCK talks about her recently released EP, "Into Gold" which is available on all streaming services.  MILCK also surprised me by performing her new single, "Somebody's Beloved".  Check this episode out for more! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Season 6 Finale!!!! .. We reached the conclusion of Season 6, "Unfinished Business", and with that said, I am taking a hiatus from recording new episodes until next summer.  After 80+ episodes in two years, it will be great to finally take a step back and give myself some time to pause and reflect on my work.  What an amazing run it has been for me thus far, and I couldn't be more grateful for that.  For Season 6,  I am honored to hear so many incredible stories from my guests, and so thankful to all of them who were a part of this run.  The following thank-you's to my guests on Season 6 are: Andy Marra, Eric Nguyen, Akemi Kochiyama, Stacy Yung, Virginia Nguyen, Rose Khun, Ly Tran, Dany Pen, Vi Son Trinh, and Nisha Mody.   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this Season 6 finale, I brought back former guest Amy M. Le on my show as she interviewed me about my podcast journey, personal things about me outside of the podcast, and shared our favorite episodes. Hope you enjoy this fun conversation and many thank you's to everyone for supporting my podcast for the past two years.  I look forward to being back once I'm ready!   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many thanks to Red Scarf Revolution for sponsoring this Season 6.  Please be sure to check them out at www.redscarfrevolution.com or on IG @Red_Scarf_Revolution --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

(S6, EP 9) Nisha Mody is my final guest for this Season 6 series.  Nisha is a healing & wellness coach, content creator behind @HealingHypeGirl on Instagram, and her podcast MigrAsians, and a former long-time librarian. We talked back in mid-summer when she transitioned from her work as a librarian to being an independent healing coach.  In this episode, we discuss how wellness and healing work must prioritize intersectionality and practice a decapitalism approach.  Nisha shares her own journey that led her to her work, and how liberation and social justice is tied into our long-term wellness and opportunities to do our own healing.  Listen for more on this episode! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio: Nisha Mody, MLIS, MA CCC-SLP (she/her) is a Feminist Healing Coach, Writer, and Librarian. Nisha values connection, compassion, curiosity, storytelling, and justice, all of which led her to becoming a healing coach with a trauma-informed lens. Nisha coaches people individually, in groups, and provides workshops about healing and trauma-informed care. You can find out more about her at www.nishaland.com and on Instagram @healinghypegirl. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode and Season 6 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  For more on RSR, please visit www.redscarfrevolution.com, or visit them on IG @red_scarf_revolution --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

(S6, EP 8) Vĩ Sơn Trinh joins me for this week's episode as part of Season 6's "Unfinished Business".  Vĩ Sơn is a 1.5 generation Vietnamese-American photographer, storyteller, and nurse.  We spoke back in June about his experience being a nurse during Covid and the daily realities that he and his colleagues faced during the pandemic.  We talked about what led him into nursing after his partner passed away.  He shared with us his own upbringing and his connection to his Vietnamese culture through his work.  Check out for more on this episode!  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Bio: Vĩ Sơn Trinh is a Vietnamese-American visual storyteller. Born in a refugee camp in Galang, Indonesia, and now based in the Bay Area of California, Vĩ Sơn explores personal narratives of fellow refugee and immigrant community members. Vĩ Sơn has worked on two projects, “Stories We Carry” a photo installation that empowers individuals from immigrant and refugee experiences, and “Silk Rise” a photo series that explores the intersectionality of Vietnamese tradition and contemporary through ao dai. He has photographed for publications and organizations such as Banana Magazine, SF Chronicle, Hyphen Magazine, Asian American Donor Program, and VSCO. While not out in the field capturing stories, he currently works as a registered nurse in Bay Area, CA. His IG bio is @visontrinh.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode & Season 6 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR). RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Trigger & Content Warning: Topics will include mentions of genocidal / sexual violence and child abuse (S6, EP 7) Cambodian human rights advocate leader Dany Pen joined me for this week's episode as we talk about her work to support survivors of violence. Her dad's side of the family were executed at the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison Center during the Khmer Rouge and after learning of her family's tragic fate there, Dany was compelled to go into human rights advocacy work and support survivors from Cambodia, to America, to Canada and currently in Bermuda where she resides. We spent time talking about how the petition that we were working on with members of the Cambodian and Cambodian diaspora brought a collective response and call-to-action on VICE News' controversial piece featuring a white photographer / artist who digitized the photos of civilian prisoners at Tuol Sleng without consent. Listen for more on this episode! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio: Dany Pen is a Human Rights/Court Advocate, the Executive Director of Raleigh International Bermuda; and Founder of Women's A.C.T, an international advocacy group pushing for equality, justice, empowerment and support for survivors of sexual assault, violence and domestic abuse. She was also formerly the Commissioner of Human Rights in Bermuda and the Education & Communication Officer at the Bermuda Fine Art Trust. This made her the first Khmer/Cambodian Woman to serve on the Human Rights Commission in the country of Bermuda. In 2016 in Canada, she was honoured with the "World Builder" award by OCAD University, which is the highest honours bestowed upon individuals who have made substantive humanitarian contributions to their community and culture; and individuals who are active in supporting global causes. She is also the first Khmer/Cambodian woman to be honoured with this prestigious award in Canada. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Season 6 is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience. Feel free to check out their merch, and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts. Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or on their IG @red_scarf_revolution --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Trigger Warning: Content will include topics on PTSD / intergenerational trauma (S6, EP 6) Ly Ky Tran, Viet-American millennial based out of NYC, and author of her recently released memoir, "House of Sticks" joined me for this week's episode.  We talked back in late June as she was promoting her debut memoir.  We discussed about her parents' trauma from the Vietnam War and how it affected her relationship with them and her siblings growing up.  In the wake of the Atlanta shooting, Ly shared her own experiences with racism and misogyny violence working at her mom's nail salon.  Through her experience, she learned to deepen her connection and compassion with her family, and with herself.  Don't forget to grab a copy of "House of Sticks" available everywhere (check your local bookstore) after listening to this episode!  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio:  LY TRAN graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Creative Writing and Linguistics in 2014. She has received fellowships from MacDowell, Art Omi, and Yaddo. House of Sticks is her first book that was recently published late Spring 2021.  IG: @endingforadverbs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support

Trigger Warning: Discussions of parental death and PTSD trauma (S6, EP 5) Rose Khun is a guest for this week's episode as part of the 6th season theme, "Unfinished Business". Rose is a Cambodian-American Holistic Nutritionist and Lifestyle Coach based out in Northern California. In this episode, we talk about her upbringing during her family's resettlement in the US after the Khmer Rouge genocide.  At 7 years old, she experienced the murder of her father during a robbery at their family's store.  She talked about the effect that her father's death had on her in the years following. As part of her healing, she connected with the man who murdered her father, and worked to secure his release most recently.  Listen for more on this incredibly powerful episode!   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bio:  Rose is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Lifestyle coach who helps to empower women to improve their health, lifestyle, so they can live and feel happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life. Rose is a 1st generation Cambodian American. Her journey to forgive the man that killed her father, had a transformation on her life and brought her the gift of freedom. She’s on the journey to help others, take their life to the next level. Instagram: The_Rosie_Rose_ For 1:1 Coaching https://www.1stphorm.app/RosieRose Website: https://pacificrosewellness.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ssbk7NHbPCjhsLZmTvjCQ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by Red Scarf Revolution (RSR).  RSR is a merchandise line that honors and celebrates the Cambodian diaspora identity and experience.  Feel free to check out their merchandise line and get yourself a t-shirt, hat, or other gifts.  Be sure to visit www.redscarfrevolution.com or their IG at red_scarf_revolution to learn more about their work(s). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/banhmichronicles/support