The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

We sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen for a raw conversation that bridges literature, politics, and global affairs. Viet brings clarity and depth to some of the most urgent issues facing the world today such as his searing critiques of war, displacement, and identity. We begin by discussing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza — a conflict that continues to raise diff...

Hung La is a Vietnamese-American fashion designer based in London, known for his innovative menswear and exploration of Asian identity in fashion. Growing up in a Vietnamese community outside Washington, D.C., he was influenced by both American pop culture and traditional Vietnamese values, which shaped his design ethos. After studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Hung worked at f...

In this first episode of The Viet Cinema Canon, host Anderson Le is joined by Vietnamese director Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh. Together, they discuss Minh’s journey into film directing, touching on his early influences and his critically acclaimed works. They also explore his latest production, Picturehouse, a take on Vietnamese storytelling in the cinematic world. Throughout their conversation, Anderso...

Born to Vietnamese refugee parents and raised in Melbourne, Diana Nguyen’s work blends her Vietnamese heritage with her personal experiences, offering audiences a universally relatable perspective. From her critically acclaimed stand-up comedy to her role as a trailblazer in the Australian entertainment scene, Diana’s journey is one of resilience, humor, and passion. In this episode, Diana takes u...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers , host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham take a deep dive into the life and legacy of Nguyễn Thị B...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham take a deep dive into the life and legacy of Nguyễn Văn Th...

Dustin Nguyen has left a mark on global audiences since the 1980s, first appearing alongside Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I. and later making waves in Hollywood with Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street . But his journey didn’t stop there. Fueled by a deep passion for filmmaking, Dustin has pushed his limits, taking on roles as an actor, director, and producer in the critical early years of Vietnam's film...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham explore the life and legacy of Nguyễn Mạnh Tường (1909–199...

This is a special segment for a friend of the podcast, Alex Duong, who is in need of our community's support. Alex recently was diagnosed with a rare cancer and has left blinded in one eye. In this segment, Alex shares with us his incredibly difficult health journey in the last month. Before tragedy struck, Alex was invited to open for Ronny Chieng and join Donnie Wahlberg in a spinoff of The...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this second part episode of  Viet History Makers , host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham examine the life and legacy of Hồ Chí Minh (...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity , in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers , host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham examine the life and legacy of Hồ Chí Minh (1890-1969), the revolutionary leader who played a central role in shaping modern V...

In this episode of SEA Dreams , we dive into the world of soccer in Southeast Asia—its growth, challenges, and the elusive dream of making it to the FIFA World Cup. Recently, Vietnam’s victory over Thailand made headlines, marking a significant moment for the region’s soccer scene. But despite moments of brilliance, no Southeast Asian team (other than Indonesia when it was called The Dutch East In...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity, in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham explore the life and legacy of Phạm Quỳnh (1892-1945), a prominent intellectual, writer, and statesman in modern Vietnamese hist...

In this episode, we sit down with Theresa Costanzo Bui, a survivor of the devastating Altadena Fire of 2025. As the inferno swept through her community, Theresa faced the unimaginable moment of evacuating her home, leaving behind everything she had built over the years. Theresa shares her experiences of loss, resilience, and the hope that keeps her moving forward. We also discuss Theresa’s GoFundM...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The  Architects of Dignity , in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers , host Kenneth Nguyen and Professor Kevin Pham explore the life and legacy of Nguyễn An Ninh (1900-1943) , one of the most compelling and intellectual rebels in Vietnam’s...

In this episode, we sit down with two leaders driving change and justice for Southeast Asian communities in the South. Our first guest, Cat Bao Le has been organizing in North Carolina and the South for over 14 years. From her early work with the Asian Law Caucus in civil rights and supporting Southeast Asian farmworkers with the United Farm Workers, to her fellowship in Viet Nam studying labor la...

Linda Nguyen 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮. She has elevated impactful projects, honoring the heritage, stories, and ideas of communities through brands, organizations, and initiatives. As a 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙨, Linda 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The  Architects of Dignity , in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers , we delve into one of the most polarizing figures in Vietnam’s modern history: Ngô Đình Diệm, the first president of the Republic of Vietnam. Often portrayed as either a...

Chris Tran is a teacher and content creator, born in Los Angeles, California, and now based in Vietnam. As a second-generation Vietnamese-American, he blends his heritage and personal experiences to create content about language, culture, and travel. With a background in education and a passion for storytelling, Chris strives to bridge the world and Vietnam through his educational work, YouTube co...

In this episode of Southeast Asian Dreams , we tackle one of the region’s most pressing modern debates: is cryptocurrency a game-changer or a ticking time bomb for Southeast Asia's future? With its potential to revolutionize finance, empower the unbanked, and attract tech investment, crypto holds immense promise. But risks like volatility, scams, and regulatory challenges loom large. Join host...

Kevin and Kelly Luu are a writer-director duo raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts and based in Los Angeles. Inspired by their parents' harrowing journey to America, as well as their upbringing in an underserved, predominantly non-Asian community, the brothers are drawn to telling stories about identity and overcoming trauma in extraordinary ways. They graduated from USC’s MFA film program whe...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The  Architects of Dignity , in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers , we ask, "How Does Someone Become A Revolutionary?" We turn our focus to Nguyễn Thị Định, a significant figure in Vietnam’s history, whose journey from a rural v...

Jeremy Grimaldi, Executive Producer of Netflix’s true-crime documentary What Jennifer Did, is an award-winning author, celebrated for A Daughter’s Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story. Based in Toronto, he is a seasoned crime reporter and co-founder of the production company Matchpoint Media. Paul Nguyen is an award-winning activist and filmmaker from Toronto's Jane-Finch area. In 2004, he...

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity , in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history. In this episode of Viet History Makers, we ask, "Would Democracy Be Good for Vietnam?" W e turn our focus to Phan Chu Trinh, one of Vietnam's most influential thinkers and reformers, whose vision fo...

Hoàng Nguyễn is the Director of External Affairs at AAPI Equity Alliance, a co-founding partner of the national organization Stop AAPI Hate. He currently leads the organization’s external and government relations along with policy advocacy to benefit the 1.7 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County. Previously, Hoàng served as a policy and political aide to Los Angeles C...