Death in Cambodia, Life in America

ตอน

• S4 E5: Vanny Vong - Cambodian Chinese-American Ceramist 14.06.2026 44นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Vanndearlyn Bermudez Vong, a Cambodian Chinese-American ceramist based in Long Beach, California, whose work is rooted in cultural revival and resistance. A daughter of genocide survivors, Vanndearlyn shares what it was like growing up in Long Beach—home to one of the largest Cambodian diasporic communities—while still feeling “othered” in predominantly white academic spaces. She reflects on navigating her Khmer identity, ...
• S4E4: Charles Calvino - Culinary Artist 24.05.2026 53นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Cambodian American culinary creator and MasterChef USA Season 13 contestant, Charles Calvino, to talk about identity, authenticity, and the responsibility of representing Khmer cuisine on a global stage. Born in Long Beach and now based in the Midwest, Charles shares how growing up in a large Khmer family shaped his earliest memories of food, culture, and community. From watching his mother cook in the kitchen as a child t...
• S4 Episode 3: Alissa Iris - Model, Actress, and Cultural Writer 26.04.2026 51นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Alissa Iris, a Los Angeles–based model, actress, and cultural writer whose work explores beauty, media, and modern womanhood through a Southeast Asian lens. Alissa shares what it was like growing up Khmer American in California’s Central Valley, struggling to see herself reflected in the world around her, and slowly learning to embrace her identity. From directing backyard self-portraits at 12 years old to modeling for bra...
• S4 Episode 2: Both Bou - Award Winning Designer 08.03.2026 1ชม. 6นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Sambath Both Bou Chum, better known as Both Bou — award-winning designer, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Anagata Design, and one of Prestige’s 40 Under 40 honorees. Self-taught and relentlessly curious, Both has become one of the leading forces shaping Cambodia’s modern design landscape. From reimagining the identity of Baramey Production to elevating Khmer typography and visual storytelling on a global stage, his w...
• S4 Episode 1: Priscilla Kim Ong ("Sela") - Content Creator & Founder of Selarati 25.01.2026 1ชม. 7นาที

  In the Season 4 premiere of the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, we're kicking things off with a new focus: amplifying the voices of young, bold Cambodian changemakers. First up is content creator and community builder Priscilla Kim Ong, also known as Sela — a Khmer-Krom American who moved to Cambodia to reconnect with her roots and reclaim her identity. Sela shares how growing up in a predominantly white town shaped her early disconnect from Khmer identity, and how learning about ...
• S3 Episode 24: Mama Teav’s Hot Garlic Sauce 11.01.2026 1ชม. 2นาที

  In the final episode of this season of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with siblings Christina and Anthony Teav, co-founders of Mama Teav’s Hot Garlic Sauce, for a conversation about food, family, and what it means to build something rooted in legacy. We talk about growing up Cambodian American in Stockton, navigating identity in the shadow of war, and how their family’s story inspired them to launch a business that celebrates Cambodian flavor. Christina and Anthony open up abo...
• S3 Episode 23: Chef Nite - Chef & Restaurateur 28.09.2025 1ชม. 4นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Chef Nite Yun, the visionary behind the beloved Oakland restaurant Nyum Bai, author of the new cookbook My Cambodia, and one of the stars of Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Noodles. Her episode introduced millions to the richness of Khmer cuisine, but behind the camera, Chef Nite’s story is one of identity, intergenerational trauma, and healing through food. Born to Cambodian refugee parents and raised in Stockton, California, Che...
• S3 Episode 22: Li-Da Kruger - Cofounder of Reconnecting Cambodia 31.08.2025 54นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I speak with Li-Da Kruger, a Cambodian-born British filmmaker and adoptee, whose search for identity has shaped the course of her life. Adopted as a baby just before the Khmer Rouge came to power, Li-Da was raised in the UK with little connection to her roots. For decades, she carried the weight of survival, guilt, and longing for a culture that felt both hers and not hers. We talk about the emotional complexities of growing up as an adop...
• S3 Episode 21: James Taing - Author & Director 19.08.2025 50นาที

  This week on the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I sit down with James Taing, founder of the Preah Vihear Foundation, author of Under the Naga Tail, and director of the short documentary Ghost Mountain. James shares the deeply personal story of his father, who survived the Khmer Rouge only to face a second, lesser-known atrocity: being forced back across the Thai-Cambodian border into a minefield enduring a trauma shared by more than 45,000 refugees seeking safety in 1979. We disc...
• S3 Episode 20: Chef Nak - Celebrity Chef & Culinary Author 27.07.2025 1ชม. 18นาที

  In the latest episode of the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Chef Ros Rotanak (better known as Chef Nak) Cambodia’s leading culinary ambassador and the author of the award-winning cookbook SAOI. From her earliest memories of cooking out of necessity to her rise as a global advocate for Khmer food, Chef Nak’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and passion. In this interview, she opens up about the emotional weight of her achievements, the de...
• S3 Episode 19: Amara Goel - Performer and Policy Analyst 22.06.2025 54นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Amara Goel, a Cambodian American performing artist, and policy analyst whose journey spans refugee camps, international stages, and global policy work. Amara shares her experiences growing up as a 1.5 generation immigrant and how her identity has been shaped by a life lived across countries and cultures. We explore her deep connection to Cambodian history and how the lack of education around the Khmer Rouge in the U.S. fue...
• S3 Episode 18: Caylee So - Filmmaker 25.05.2025 1ชม. 4นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Caylee So, a Cambodian-American filmmaker, veteran, and co-founder of the Cambodian Town Film Festival. Born in a refugee camp after her parents fled the Khmer Rouge, Caylee shares her incredible journey from growing up in Virginia to serving in the Army National Guard and ultimately finding her voice through filmmaking. We talk about the life-altering impact of her mother’s death, her deployment to Iraq, and how these exp...
• S3 Episode 17: Loung Ung - Author of "First They Killed My Father" 13.04.2025 42นาที

  With the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge upon us, I’m honored to share a conversation that holds so much weight, truth, and heart. In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Loung Ung, Cambodian-American author, activist, and survivor. You probably know Loung from her memoir First They Killed My Father, which tells the story of her survival during the Khmer Rouge regime. It was later adapted into a Netflix film, co-written with and directed by Angelina Jolie. B...
• S3 Episode 16: Jean-Baptiste Phou - Author of “Coming Out of My Skin” 30.03.2025 1ชม. 5นาที

  French-Cambodian artist Jean-Baptiste Phou joins Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast for a powerful conversation about identity, creative expression, and the journey of reconnection. Born in Paris and now based in Phnom Penh, Jean-Baptiste reflects on growing up as a Cambodian immigrant in France, grappling with cultural disconnection, and ultimately leaving a career in finance to pursue a life in the arts. Phou shares insights into his collaborations with renowned filmmaker Rithy Panh...
• S3 Episode 15: Patricia McCormick - Author of Never Fall Down 09.02.2025 51นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, we sit down with Patricia McCormick, a two-time National Book Award finalist and the acclaimed author of Never Fall Down, a powerful novel based on the true story of Arne Chorn-Pond, a boy who survived the Khmer Rouge by playing music. With a background in journalism and a passion for storytelling, McCormick has spent her career shedding light on issues of trauma, healing, and resilience, tackling difficult subjects such as child soldiers...
• S3 Episode 14: Sin Setsochhata - Singer/Songwriter 19.01.2025 1ชม.

  We’re back with Season 3 of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, and we’re still going strong with incredible interviews! This week, we’re joined by Sin Setsochhata, a rising singer-songwriter from Phnom Penh and the granddaughter of the legendary Sinn Sisamouth—Cambodia’s “Elvis” and a trailblazer of Khmer rock. Setsochhata opens up about growing up in a musical family, the challenges of living up to her grandfather’s iconic legacy, and her determination to preserve her family’s musical roots...
• S3 Episode 13: Dr. Judy Lederwood - Researcher 08.12.2024 59นาที

  In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, we sit down with anthropologist Dr. Judy Ledgerwood, an expert on generational trauma and Southeast Asian studies. Drawing from decades of research in Cambodia and with Cambodian refugees in the United States, Dr. Ledgerwood unpacks the profound aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime. Together, they explore the regime’s devastating impact on mortality, family structures, and gender roles, and how survivors rebuilt their lives amid lingering ...
• S3 Episode 12: Dr. Alex Hinton - Anthropologist 17.11.2024 1ชม. 21นาที

  In this powerful episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, we sit down with renowned anthropologist Dr. Alexander Hinton, an expert on genocide, mass violence, and human rights, to dig into the dark history of the Cambodian genocide and the lessons it holds for the world. Dr. Hinton shares how his journey began with a visit to Cambodia in 1992, where he was profoundly moved by the stories of Khmer Rouge survivors. Together, we explore the foundations of genocide—how ideology, intent, and...
• S3 Episode 11: Chantha Nguon - Author of "Slow Noodles" 21.10.2024 53นาที

  In this week’s episode, we sit down with Chantha Nguon, author of Slow Noodles, Fast City and a refugee of the Khmer Rouge. Nguon shares her powerful journey of survival, starting with her childhood in Cambodia, which abruptly changed when the Khmer Rouge took over. She recounts the hardships her family faced while fleeing to Vietnam, losing loved ones along the way, and eventually finding herself in refugee camps. Cooking became her lifeline, and it’s through her love for food and her mother...
• S3 Episode 10: Eric Tang - Author of Unsettled 06.10.2024 44นาที

  In this week’s episode, we sit down with Eric Tang, author of Unsettled: Cambodian Refugees in the New York City Hyperghetto. As an associate professor and former community organizer, Tang shares his deeply personal research on Cambodian refugees in the U.S., shedding light on the often overlooked struggles they face. From his time working with Cambodian and Vietnamese communities in the Bronx, Tang discusses the concept of "hyper ghettos," the economically devastated neighborhoods where many...