The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen

Join Kenneth and political theorist Kevin as they unpack Kevin's research on "Buddhist Political Theory." Was Thich Tri Quang a peace-loving monk, a communist agent, or, as Time Magazine once called him, a "Vietnamese Machiavelli"?We explore the uncomfortable contradictions of history: Why would a Buddhist monk advocate for a high-intensity American bombing campaign? How did his belief in spiritual "flourishing" drive him to participate in the downfall of the Ngo Dinh Diem government? And why did the American media find him so elusive?In this episode, we discuss:Beyond the Orange Robe: The difference between "socially engaged Buddhism" and the anti-political traditions of the past.The "Machiavellian" Monk: Applying the philosophy of The Prince to the strategy of the 1960s Buddhist uprising.Catholic vs. Buddhist Tension: Kenneth and Kevin reflect on their own Catholic upbringings and the "tribalism" that defined their parents' views on Buddhism.Spiritual Politics: The fascinating argument that Buddhism is "anti-political" yet uses politics as a necessary tool to create conditions for enlightenment.Whether you are a student of history or simply curious about the intersection of faith and power, this episode offers a new lens through which to view the struggle for the soul of South Vietnam.https://kyotoreview.org/issue-35/thich-tri-quang-the-machiavellianism-of-buddhist-political-theory/--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In April 1975, the world watched as South Vietnam collapsed. But for those on the deck of the USNS Kimbro, it was a desperate, chaotic, and human struggle for survival.In this episode, we bring together two sides of history that were separated for half a century. Kenneth and co-host Nam C. Kim are joined by John Irwin and Robbie Parsley, two U.S. Marines who served as security forces during Operation New Life.This conversation explores:The myth of the “bloodbath” after 1975What it meant to stay, not be “left behind”Life in Saigon during the first months after the warReeducation camps, U.S. embargoes, and historical omissionsHow propaganda shapes memory in the Vietnamese diasporaThese veterans share the memories of what it was like to be 18-year-old soldiers tasked with managing a humanitarian crisis they weren't trained for. They recount the sight of overloaded barges, the tragic burial of a woman who couldn't bear to leave her homeland, and the miracle of a baby born on a crowded freighter, a child named "Kimbro" in honor of the ship that carried him to freedom.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What really happened after April 30, 1975?In this reflective episode, Kenneth sits down with Claudia Krich, author of Those Who Stayed: A Vietnam Diary, one of the very few Americans, and perhaps the only white woman, who chose to remain in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon.Through firsthand diary accounts and lived experience, Claudia challenges one of the most enduring narratives of the Vietnam War: the myth of an immediate bloodbath. She recounts the days, weeks, and months after the war ended—when tanks rolled in, soldiers walked the streets unarmed, families reunited after decades, and daily life quietly resumed while the world believed Vietnam had gone silent.This conversation moves beyond politics into memory, propaganda, reconciliation, and the emotional weight carried by the Vietnamese diaspora. If you ever questioned what you were taught about the war, this conversation may challenge, unsettle, and expand how you see the past.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kevin Pham, a professor of Vietnamese history, provides concise analysis of Trần Lệ Xuân, the outspoken and controversial de facto First Lady of South Vietnam. The conversation spotlights her polarizing public persona, her role in Ngô Đình Diệm’s regime, gendered and misogynistic reactions to her, and how her legacy complicates ideas about power, feminism, and political memory.

If you joined us last time for the episode "What Is Chữ Nôm? Premodern Vietnamese Hip Hop? " we are here to answer your questions on this AMA based on the questions we got from the last podcast with Professor John Phan from Columbia University.We’ve gathered some of the most thoughtful questions from our last episode from the listeners, and I’m excited to dive deeper into the topics we touched on in the last episode, clarify some points, and explore a few new ideas that came up. -------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, we sit down with Quang X. Pham — a Vietnamese American leader whose life story reveals stories of resilience, service, and reinvention. Born in Saigon and arriving in the United States as a refugee at just ten years old, Quang’s early years were shaped by language barriers, new cultures, and the emotional burden of a father left behind in post-war Vietnam.From there, he charted an extraordinary path: earning an economics degree from UCLA, answering the call to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, and becoming the first Vietnamese American Marine Corps aviator, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Gulf War and Somalia.After military service, Quang didn’t slow down, he entered into the business world, becoming a pharmaceutical sales leader before founding multiple companies. As an entrepreneur he raised millions, launched and sold successful ventures, and eventually founded Cadrenal Therapeutics, a Nasdaq-listed biotech company developing life-changing therapies. Along the way he became the first American of Vietnamese heritage to lead a biotech IPO on Nasdaq and earned prestigious recognition such as the BioFlorida Executive of the Year Award.His philosophy on duty, effort, and resilience, themes he explores deeply in his books, including his memoir A Sense of Duty and his latest leadership guide Underdog Nation.This episode is a textured look at how one man’s journey bridges cultures, battles, boardrooms, and breakthroughs. Whether you’re chasing dreams or redefining them, this is a story that will stay with you.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, we sit down with Cathy Linh Che—a poet and filmmaker who grew up in Los Angeles, and the producer of the short documentary We Were The Scenery. Through an intimate conversation, Cathy shares her upbringing and how growing up between cultures shaped the way she sees the world. We dive into the making of We Were The Scenery, unpacking its emotional core and why telling stories like this matters—especially in a time when representation, memory, and identity continue to be overlooked.You can find out more information and watch the documentary here: https://www.wewerethesceneryfilm.com/--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mai Whelan is a Vietnamese American woman who became the Season 1 winner of Squid Game: The Challenge. Mai shares her life story, beginning as a young refugee who fled Vietnam at eight years old after the fall of Saigon, to becoming a U.S. Navy service member at just eighteen. She went on to serve two decades in the Navy before continuing her public service career as a visa interview adjudicator for the U.S. government.Her journey is defined by resilience, sacrifice, and a determination to rebuild life from the ground up — the same strength she later carried into the intense world of Squid Game: The Challenge.Competing against 456 contestants, Mai relied on her discipline, clarity, emotional intelligence, and unwavering composure to make it to the finale and ultimately win the $4.56 million prize. What set her apart was not just strategy, but her ability to stay true to her values under pressure.In this podcast, Mai opens up about the experiences that shaped her — from military life to motherhood, from navigating the immigration system to surviving fierce competition on a global stage.She also reflects on what kept her going every. Mai is a testament that no matter your background or hardships, you can rise, rebuild, and redefine your future.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Director Bao Nguyen sits with Kenneth to discuss his latest documentary, The Stringer, which premiered on Netflix on November 28, 2025. The film undertakes a meticulous investigation into the true authorship of the iconic “Napalm Girl” photograph, long attributed to Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Nick Ut. Through exhaustive research, rare archival materials, and gripping interviews, The Stringer reopens a decades-old question that challenges our understanding of historical truth.Beyond its central mystery, the documentary offers viewers a deeper look into journalistic ethics, the politics of wartime reporting, and the fragile nature of historical memory. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in Vietnam War history, photography, investigative storytelling, or the complexities behind how iconic images shape global narratives. Their discussion highlights not only the film’s meticulous craftsmanship but also its emotional and cultural significance.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Jay Veith, a longtime researcher of the Vietnam War and POW/MIA history take a deep look at the more than $85 million the U.S. government has spent over the past decade to work with the Vietnamese government in searching for remaining American POW/MIA personnel.We explore a central question: Is the return on investment (ROI) worth it? Does continued U.S. spending on this effort truly deliver value—whether humanitarian, diplomatic, or strategic—or is it primarily a way to keep relations with the Vietnamese government running smoothly after all these years?Dr. Veith offers candid insights, historical context, and analysis of the political and diplomatic considerations behind this long-standing cooperation. This conversation sheds light on the ongoing commitment to bring closure to the families of missing service members, while also examining the complex balance between humanitarian priorities and national-level strategy.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth NguyenVisit vietnamstorybank.com today for more information!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy