Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular Culture

For my 30th episode, I'm taking my interview to an unknown location somewhere deep in the galaxy to hang out with one of the biggest mysteries in the Vietnamese community... the man behind the ultra popular social account, Phở Da Culture and founder of the Vietnamese spirit brand Mot-Hai-Ba-YO! We crack open some drinks, get a little loopy, and somehow still manage to have one of my fav conver...

For episode 29, I chill with Coach Rob Newson . Rob has coached basketball all over the world, but somehow ended up in Vietnam teaching hoops, learning Vietnamese, and helping young players believe in themselves. In this episode, we talk basketball, taking chances, and what happens when you leave your comfort zone and say "why not?" Rob shares his journey to Vietnam, his philosophy on coaching, ho...

Me and Dr. Dat Nguyen went off the rails in this episode. One minute we’re talking about his journey from Vietnam to America and becoming a successful dentist… next thing you know we’re deep in the subconscious mind wondering WTF tonsil stones are. Dr. Dat is one of those people who can casually drop life-changing wisdom while making you laugh five seconds later. We get into his story coming to th...

This week, I sit down with Portland-based Vietnamese-American artist Lillyanne Pham for one of the funniest, most unexpected, and genuinely heartfelt conversations we’ve had on the podcast so far. We bounce all over the place in the best way possible — from growing up in Indiana, to religion, the Bible, conspiracy theories, Hostess snacks, and what it really means to survive as an artist today. Li...

For my 25th episode, I sit down with Dr. Thuyday Nguyen, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Ph. D. in Clinical Sexology , and a chick brave enough to enter my podcast willingly—which already makes her clinically impressive. We talk about everything from serious therapy topics to absolutely unhinged Vietnamese-American life moments. One minute we’re discussing shame,...

In episode 24, I sit down with Matthew Gallagher , better known as Mr. Banh Bao ( https://www.instagram.com/mr_banhbao_/ ), a Liverpool-born chef who traded the UK for Melbourne, Australia. Inspired by his Vietnamese girlfriend, Matthew recently launched a Vietnamese humor social media account that blends cultural curiosity with lighthearted comedy—and plenty of charm. We dive into his journey fro...

For episode 23, I randomly found Albert Nguyen ( albertknguyen.com ) on Reddit—you know, the place where normal humans go to lose their minds—and I asked him if he wanted to be on my podcast. Spoiler: he said yes. Albert’s an aspiring animator from Toronto working on a Vietnamese-based series called Mani-Petty. Albert tackles depression, loneliness, and even suicide in his work…which, yeah, is not...

This week’s episode is a special one. I head up to Northwest Arkansas — Tontitown to be exact — to reconnect with someone I haven’t talked to in 30 years : my old childhood friend, Joseph Nguyen , also known as the Hangry Pedaler. Joseph has lived a few lives since we were kids. These days he’s a manicurist, cyclist, husband, father, and the food-obsessed creator behind Hangry Pedaler, documenting...

This week, I sit down with Vivian Doan — Vietnamese Integrative Health Practitioner, London-based by way of LA — and we get into everything. London vs. LA vibes. Li Xi traditions. Family. Career pivots. And then boom — we’re deep in holistic health and the mind-body connection like, “Wait… are my shoulder knots actually emotional baggage?” Vivian breaks down the correlation between emotional pain...

This episode feels like jolting through a neon-lit alley at midnight — hyper speed, curious, slightly cosmic — with Johnny Nghiem as your guide. Johnny is a Vietnamese street photographer, art director, writer, and all-around creative force living in Berlin by way of Toronto. He’s a world wanderer, a big-time foodie, and the kind of artist whose brain seems to run on five dimensions at once. We fl...

This week, I’m talking with Nghia Mai ( NO RELATION) , a Vietnamese comedian, historian, and international human bridge between Saigon, Vietnam and Dublin, Ireland. We go deep behind the meaning of our Vietnamese names, then drift into Vietnamese vs. Irish habits, Guinness vs. Heineken debates, and the reasoning to the Irish goodbye. Nghia’s huge rugby obsession shows up, along with some surprise...

This week, we’re heading up to NorCal—Alameda, CA —to sit down with Vietnamese-American psychic Annie Tran , who just so happens to also be a comedian, artist, and mom. Because why only be one thing? What starts with cats, Santa Cruz vibes, and NorCal roots quickly turns into something much deeper. Annie opens up about her kid, hitting rock bottom, learning how to be grateful when life doesn’t loo...

I link up with San Diego native, Linda 'Kimchi' Nguyen, a former architect, current mom, full-time creative, and living proof that you can escape the corporate hamster wheel. We immediately bond over our unconditional love for San Diego, mourn the loss of Soup Plantation, and somehow connect kim chi to just about everything. Things get delightfully unhinged as we bounce through the Nerdy-verse. Fr...

This episode of The Walmak Podcast is a laid-back conversation with Phoenix-based Vietnamese creative entrepreneur Jason (Phuc Huu) Nguyen —a guy whose story, style, and self-awareness make this episode fly by. Jason talks about growing up in Phoenix, AZ , the Vietnamese community there, and immigrating to the U.S. with his family, a background that plays a huge role in how he builds his streetwea...

This week, I’m joined by Peter Kahl , a content creator known for helping people navigate the tricky, hilarious, and sometimes messy realities of dating someone from a Vietnamese background. What starts with light talk about Christmas, snow, New York in the ’80s, Portland, Maine, oysters, and beers quickly turns into a wide-ranging, no-filter conversation. We get into the new hit show, Heated Riva...

Season 1 goes out with a fresh fade and a full laugh tank . 💈 For the final episode of the year, I sit down with Rowlett, TX–based Vietnamese-American barber and hairstylist Jimmy Tran for a wide-ranging, no-filter conversation that feels like hanging out in the shop after hours. We get into Jimmy’s genuine love and passion for cutting hair, the grind and chaos of barber life, and how social medi...

In this action-packed conversation, Dallas-based financial advisor Tina Hoang opens up about what it was like growing up Vietnamese in Texas. Tina shares how her mom, a powerhouse of resilience and resourcefulness, inspired her toward a career in finance, sparking her passion for financial literacy and helping families build stability. Tina walks through her own soul-searching journey—figuring out...

In this lively, laugh-filled conversation, Texas artist Loc Huynh dives into the wild, wonderful path that led him from his Lone Star roots to the buzzing streets of Brooklyn, New York. Loc shares what it was like growing up in Texas—where pride runs deep, the skies are wide, and he learned early on how to find humor in almost anything. With plenty of playful banter, he talks about the big move no...

This week, we’re hopping on a flight from Baton Rouge, Louisiana straight to the “motherland” of motorbikes and iced coffee: Hanoi, Vietnam. Our tour guide? The one and only Whitney Dagail — culture creator and social media sweetheart! In this episode, Whitney breaks down why she traded Southern humidity for Vietnamese humidity (spoiler: the mosquitos are in a league of their own), what it’s reall...

This week, I level up with Hieu Van Le — Las Vegas native, esports advocate, and professional bringer-together of all things gaming. Hieu’s on a mission to unite the community through our shared love of pixels, passion, and the occasional rage quit. We talk about his deep (and I mean DEEP ) love for video games, the wild world of esports, and why nothing beats a good gaming chair when you’re locke...

This week, we’re heading to the land down under, Sydney, Australia to chat it up with Theresa “Tez” Bui — an optometrist by day and podcast host of her own show, 'Tea Talks with Tez' by night. We dive headfirst into everything from the serious to the silly: Vietnamese-Americans vs. Vietnamese-Australians, divorce, self-love, the wrath of Asian judgment, Outback Steakhouse and much more! Between la...

In this hilarious and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Orion Grove , a Vietnamese social influencer and real estate investor based in Houston, Texas. From the jump, our conversation takes off with plenty of laughs as we dive into Orion’s Vietnamese roots, the chaos and charm of bus transportation, and his wild journey of self-discovery. We don’t shy away from the unexpected — gambling stories,...

In this episode of Walmak , Ha Mai sits down with the multi-talented Thu Anh Nguyen — a Vietnamese-American writer, poet, painter, and educator based in Washington, D.C. Thu Anh opens up about her coming-of-age journey and what it really means to step out of comfort to chase passion and purpose. From brushstrokes to verses, she shares how art, poetry, and teaching all intertwine in her creative pr...

In this lively and laughter-filled episode, I sit down with Dallas gardening master Khang Starr , a man whose love for soil, spice, and good vibes has cultivated more than just a beautiful backyard—it’s built a thriving online community. We dig into his passion for gardening and lawn care, the satisfaction of growing your own food, and his fiery obsession with peppers that could make even the bold...

In this episode, I sit down with Christine Pham, R.D. , a Vietnamese-American registered dietitian who keeps it real about body image, culture, and self-worth. Christine opens up about growing up Vietnamese, being body-shamed by friends and family, and how those early experiences inspired her to rebuild her confidence through healthy eating and exercise. What started as a personal journey turned i...