Best Cambodia Khmer Podcasts (2024)

1
Dr. Patrick Heuveline - A Sociologist and Khmer Rouge Expert 1:06:08

19d ago1:06:08

1:06:08

Welcome back to Season 3 of Death in Cambodia, Life in America! We're starting season 3 off strong with a special guest: Dr. Patrick Heuveline. Dr. Heuveline is a sociologist and expert on the long-term consequences of the Khmer Rouge regime, discusses the effects of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. He explores topics such as the baby boom that occurre…

1
Dr. Sophal Ear - Esteemed Academic and Writer 1:19:55

5d ago1:19:55

1:19:55

Dr. Sophal Ear, a Cambodian refugee, shares his journey from escaping the Khmer Rouge to becoming a successful academic and writer. He discusses his multifaceted work, including teaching, research, and consulting, and his passion for paying it forward and giving back. Dr. Ear reflects on the importance of educating the next generation about the Khm…

1
Samson Phommabout: MMA Fighter & Entrepreneur 44:45

18d ago44:45

44:45

Samson, a man so powerful they say he could slay a lion with his bare hands. Much like his biblical namesake, Samson Phommabout’s life story is one of incredible strength and resilience. Raised in the shadows of Salt Lake City, Samson's early years were marred by the allure of gang life. It would take a brush with law enforcement and the tragic los…

1
S2 Ep27: Bonus Episode: "Prisoners of Class" with Matt Madden 1:18:17

1M ago1:18:17

1:18:17

Lachlan sits down with Matt Madden, translator of Chan Samoeun’s Prisoners of Class. The book, having been recently released in English for the first time, is an amazing example of a Khmer Rouge survivor memoir. They discuss Matt’s journey in finding the original book, meeting the author and translating it over many years. The book itself, includin…

1
Kyto Khoungrasvongsa: Football Player, Coach and Team Owner 44:21

1M ago44:21

44:21

The first generation walked, so that the second could run, and the third…could fly… Lost somewhere between Buddhist ancestors and Mormon neighbors, between his Lao heritage and the American dream Kyto Khouangrasvongsa would find his way home on the football field. Kyto began playing in high school before transitioning into the semi pros. When the t…

1
Jason Somchay: Muay Thai and MMA Fighter 50:20

2M ago50:20

50:20

They say that a smooth sea has never made a skilled sailor. The odds were stacked against Jason Somachay in life. Growing up without a father, being raised by his immigrant grandparents and finding his way into the juvenile justice system. It was through the tumultuous seas of his youth that he discovered his anchor: martial arts. After being intro…

1
S2 Ep26: Tet 1:32:00

3M ago1:32:00

1:32:00

What did the Tet offensive achieve? How was the Battle of Hue waged? Why were almost 3000 people murdered by the Viet Cong? Time Period Covered 1968 This episode covers the Tet Offensive of early 1968. Lachlan links the media coverage of the event, with the extreme scenes in Saigon, to the reality of the offensive and what the communists hoped to a…

1
Rose Khun: Forgiveness & Healing through Somatic Breathwork 53:25

3M ago53:25

53:25

Rose Khun is the daughter of Cambodian refugees that resettled in the United States after fleeing the Khmer Rouge. Her parents operated a small video store in California where her father was killed in a robbery. The tragedy would impact Rose for years to come. Through somatic breathwork Rose was able to start her healing journey and ultimately forg…

1
Jose Nouchanthavong: Lao-American Professional Basketball Player 38:47

3M ago38:47

38:47

From a small town in Maine to the lights of Bangkok, it’s the love of the game that has taken Jose Nouchathavong on a journey around the world. Jose began playing basketball as a child and would work his way onto the roster of a local community college before going on to play for University of Southern Maine. At a crossroads, contemplating a transi…

1
50th Episode Special: Reflections on the past 2 years 36:43

5M ago36:43

36:43

When the Lao American Sports Hall of Fame was founded over a cup of coffee in South Elgin, Illinois, we could have only imagined what it would become. About two years into our journey, we’ve inducted 25 athletes, featured countless rising stars, built bridges between athletes in Laos and the USA and made a few new friends along the way. The SEA Fou…

1
S2 Ep25: The Cambodian Civil War Begins - Part Two: A Revolution Waged With Empty Hands 1:51:45

5M ago1:51:45

1:51:45

How did the CPK develop their plan to genuinely start a war in Cambodia? Why did Sihanouk seek rapprochment with the United States? How did the bombing of Cambodia begin? Time Period Covered 1967-1968 January 1968 will prove to be a pivotal month for the Vietnamese, Cambodian and American interests in the war. This episode details how the Cambodian…

1
Lao Rugby Federation: Megan Knight, Viengsamai Souksavanh & Ana Lavongtheung 42:59

6M ago42:59

42:59

While we love the competition, the glory and the roar of the crowd there is so much more to sports and nowhere is this more evident than on the Rugby pitches of Laos. From the capital city to the rural villages rugby is making a positive impact across the country. Through the Lao Rugby Federation’s developmental programs and the transnational Wered…

1
Terry Rajsombath: Army National Guard Purple Heart Recipient 57:33

7M ago57:33

57:33

Victor Hugo said, “What causes night in our souls, may have stars”. The 9/11 attacks drove Terry Rajsombath to enlist in the military and it wouldn’t be long before he was deployed to the front lines in Afghanistan. After surviving a near fatal gunshot wound in a harrowing fire fight, Terry would face the ultimate battle of his life while trying to…

1
S2 Ep24: Mao's Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution 1:11:03

7M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

What led to Mao's launching of a 'cultural revolution' in the People's Republic? What were the aims of this movement? Why did perhaps a million people die at the hands of their countrymen in less than four years? Time Period Covered 1964 - 1969 In what could be considered a belated "Part Two" to the episode introducing Maoism and the Great Leap For…

1
Brandon Thammavong: Lifestyle and Confidence Coach 39:44

8M ago39:44

39:44

The toughest moments in our lives can either break us, or make us. Brandon Thammavong was headed down a path of self-destruction, when in a defining moment he decided to make a change. Pouring everything into his mental and physical self, while harnessing his entrepreneurial spirt, Brandon, would conquer his past and forge a path into the future. H…

1
Rasi Chau: Football Coach 50:50

8M ago50:50

50:50

In life we make choices. Shortly after Rasi Chau landed in America, he strapped on a football helmet and put the war and devastation that had defined his early childhood behind him. Rasi would go on to play in high school, college and the ranks of the semi-pros before taking to the field as a coach and official. From Pewee to the Pros, Rasi has bee…

1
Sovannahry Em: One Championship MMA Fighter 36:36

8M ago36:36

36:36

How does a shy child from Long Beach end up fighting on Asian’s biggest MMA stage? After high school, Sovannarhry Em began training in boxing and martial arts. Initially focused on fun and fitness she quickly caught the eye of professional promoters. After winning her first few pro fights in dramatic fashion, Sovannahry boarded a plane for Malaysia…

1
S2: Bonus Episode: "Son Ngoc Thanh, a Khmer Nationalist" with Matthew Jagel 51:15

9M ago51:15

51:15

Special guest Matthew Jagel joins Lachlan to talk about his new book: Khmer Nationalist. The book is an exploration of Cambodian history using Son Ngoc Thanh as the central focus, and they join up to talk about Cambodian nationalism, the influence of Imperial Japan, Sihanouk's antagonism, the Khmer Serei and the CIA. Visit https://www.cornellpress.…

1
Amatha Ratsombath: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Laos 1:22:25

10M ago1:22:25

1:22:25

Amatha Ratsombath was lost in life, floundering somewhere between the French ideals of Liberty, equality and fraternity and the urban ghettos of Paris filled with disenfranchised immigrant youth. He would find a path in life through martial arts and after relocating to his ancestral homeland of Laos discover his inner self. Amatha recentlyled the L…

1
S2 Ep23: The Cambodian Civil War Begins - Part One: The Samlaut Rebellion and the Three Ghosts 1:34:23

10M ago1:34:23

1:34:23

What was the Samlaut Rebellion, and how did it start? Who was responsible for this outbreak of violence? What leads to Khieu Samphan disappearing over night? Time Period Covered 1967 In the first part of an explanation of how the Cambodian Civil War begins, Lachlan looks into the circumstances which lead to an outbreak of violence in the province o…

1
Athlete Mental Health: Stories from Lao American Athletes 1:06:33

10M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

Behind the triumphs and glory that grace the sporting arenas, there lies a lesser-known battle fought within the hearts and minds of these extraordinary individuals. Athlete Mental health, a topic often shrouded in silence but that holds immense importance. Behind every gold medal lies, trauma, self-doubt, fear and pain. From the darkest lows to ou…

1
AJ Vongphachanh: Utah State and BYU Football Star 32:00

11M ago32:00

32:00

To most people the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl was just another football game but to the Lao American community in was a moment of great pride as two Lao last names battled it out. AJ Vongphachanh rose from the youth football fields of western Washington to playing in a sold-out SoFi stadium on national television. Behind his rise, a strong work et…

1
Leth Oun: Cambodian American Secrete Service Agent 42:49

11M ago42:49

42:49

Neil Diamond said, have you ever heard a story about a frog who dreamed of becoming a king, and then became one? Well except for the names and a few other changes if you’re talking about Leth Oun the story is the same one. Leth was a virtual slave under the Khmer Rouge but now protects the leader of the free world. After escaping the killing fields…

1
Boomer Savanh: Laos Born U.S. Navy Veteran, Mountain Climber and Runner 1:10:24

12M ago1:10:24

1:10:24

How does a child go from a poor farming village in Laos to the top of a mountain? Opportunity, its what the American dream is ultimately all about. After transiting through a refugee camp, Boomer Savanh, came to America as a child and went on to have a successful 27-year career in the U.S. Navy and is raising a family. As an athlete, he’s climbed t…

1
Nick Coffill - Author of the book "Photography in Cambodia: 1866 to Present" 1:14:14

12M ago1:14:14

1:14:14

Nicholas Coffill's huge passion for live theatre, performances, and sharing a cultures history through photography and music - lead him to create one of the first ever fully developed photography books about Cambodia today. His book "Photography in Cambodia: 1866 to the Present" is one of the most beautiful coffee table books enriched with photogra…

1
Kenya Prach: Kun Khmer / Bokator fighter, Cambodian Genocide survivor, author of Black stone Hands 59:59

1y ago59:59

59:59

Kenya Prach is a survivor of the Cambodian genocide, known as the killing fields. Destitute and clinging to life, Kenya entered a refugee in Thailand. At night he would sneak out of the camp and fight for money in order to support his family. In America, with limited language and job skills Kenya would rely on his fighting skills again and pass on …

1
Rugby Edition: Jerry Sysourath and Tino Paophavihanh 52:07

1y ago52:07

52:07

For many in the U.S. participation in competitive sports ends on the high school football field but for Jerry Sysourath and Tino Paophavihanh football was only the beginning. Rugby, a sport that has long been popular in the Asia Pacific Region is steadily gaining a following in America and became a completive poulet for Jerry and Tino. What started…

1
Catherine Filloux - Award Winning Playwright of the Only Cambodian-U.S. Rock Opera 59:26

1y ago59:26

59:26

For the past three decades, award-winning artist, playwright, and librettist Catherine Filloux has been traveling to conflict areas creating art that addresses human rights and U.S. complicity. Her plays and operas about Cambodia include: “Eyes of the Heart” and “Photographs from S-21” and she is the co-founder of Theatre Without Borders. “Where El…

1
John Nammychai: Lao-Khmu Army Airborne Soldier and Semi Pro Football Player 1:11:13

1y ago1:11:13

1:11:13

As Steve Hartman would say, “everybody has a story”. John Nammychai is no exception. The child of refugees he guided himself into the world, jumping from planes, fighting in war, and realizing his version of an NFL dream on the semipro football field. John did this all while trying to understand who he is and to connect with his ancient Khmu herita…

1
Myra Torcheux - A Cambodian Orphan in France 1:05:47

1y ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Myra Torcheux has her masters from The London School of Economics and aspires to change policies for children's rights. Much of her passion for this career is driven by her experience growing up in France as an adoptee. I mentioned via social media that I am passionate about highlighting stories that deserve more attention, one storyline being the …

1
Malay Bouaphakeo: Softball, Roller Derby and Life Coach 40:50

1y ago40:50

40:50

Passion, its what drove Malay Boauphakeo from her humble begging in Storm Lake Iowa, to the softball diamond at Drake University. After graduating and entering the workforce her passion for competitive sports would lead her to found and compete on a roller derby team, the Des Monies Dames. Malay’s greatest passion in life might just be instilling i…

1
Tron Siphaxay: Lao American Navy Seal 55:27

1y ago55:27

55:27

Why attempt something if most people fail? Why put yourself in danger when you can be at home safe? Soukhanthone Siphaxay, known to most as Tron, was in boot camp during the September 11th, 2001 attack on America and would soon find himself on the front lines of the war on terror as part of an elite force, the Navy Seals. Tron enlisted in the Navy …

1
S2 Ep22: Rolling Thunder in Vietnam, Clouds Over Cambodia 2:00:40

1y ago2:00:40

2:00:40

How does the "Vietnam War" begin? How did the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) get its name? Why did Sihanouk start making so many movies in the 1960's? Time Period Covered 1964 - 1967 In this episode, Lachlan revisits Vietnam as LBJ wages war upon the North and the Viet Cong. Pol Pot leaves the jungle to visit Hanoi, and Beijing, and changes the…

1
Lao American Pro Wrestling Round Table: Peter Chanthapone (Jordan Jaa), Sean Bouasenesouk (Sean Lao), Sengphet Sengphachanh (El Saiko Gato) 1:18:34

1y ago1:18:34

1:18:34

The glory, the agony, the sport and the acting, we dive deep into the world of pro wrestling. From the bright lights of the stage to the depths of defeat it may be just a show to many, but to the athletes, it’s a lifestyle filled with exhilaration, challenges, pain and purpose. Join us for a roundtable style discussion on what its like to be a pro …

1
Sochanvimean Vannavuth Ph.D - How has the Khmer Rouge Effected this Generation? 55:40

1y ago55:40

55:40

I am popping out of retirement to introduce you to someone that I absolutely HAD to interview. Sochanvimean or as I call him Vimean , is a Cambodian Ph.D Psychologist at UCSB who is passionate about how the mental health and generational trauma is cultivated through traumatic expereinces such as the Khmer Rouge. We dig into Vimean's past growing up…

1
James Vang: Hmong American Powerlifting Champion 59:18

1y ago59:18

59:18

The road to greatness can be a lonely one and no one knows this better than champion powerlifter, James Vang. It was during a tough time in life that James made a choice, ignore the naysayers, don’t let others define you and go all in. As a member of Team USA, a nine-time national champion, and Arnold Classic title holder, James Vang has powered hi…

1
Krysada Panusith Phounsiri: Part 2 Language & Art 32:28

1y ago32:28

32:28

This is part two of our interview with Lao-American dancer, poet, and scientist, Krysada Panusith Phounsiri. In the last episode, he took us on a journey, from break dancing on the streets of San Deigo to national tv and the Las Vegas stage. Krysada is also a poet and tells of his experiences and the stories of his community through writing. We sta…

1
Krysada Panusith Phounsiri: Lao-American Break-dancer, Poet and Physicist -Part 1 1:00:22

1+ y ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Part 1 of a two-part interview. What lies at the intersection of science, art, language, and athleticism? At the confluence of Lao and American culture? Krysada Panusith Phounsiri, or Binly, as he is known is an accomplished break dancer, award-winning poet, artist, and physicist. From his early days in Laos to the Las Vegas stage, Binly is writing…

1
Arick Souvanna: Precision Rifle Competitor 43:01

1+ y ago43:01

43:01

Sometimes, in life people shoot for their dreams, literally. Arick Souvanna grew up in Saginaw Texas, a town known for hosting one of the largest Lao New Year celebrations in America. Arick is putting this tight-knit community on the map again, this time for Precision Rifle Shooting. From building his own ammunition to traveling the country for com…

1
Royal Tiger Academy: Kenji Saykosy and Diandra Sayasy 38:41

1+ y ago38:41

38:41

Sometimes we don’t find our calling in life, it finds us. As a refugee from Laos, Kenji Saykosy was bullied as a child and turned to martial arts for self-defense. 40 years later at Royal Tiger Academy in Damascus Maryland, Kenji and his partner Dee Dee, pass on their knowledge and passion to students of all ages. Helping young people build confide…

1
Jeremy Mirken: U.S.A. Sepak Takraw Head Coach 49:31

1+ y ago49:31

49:31

In 1960 a group of southeast Asian countries came together in Kuala Lumpur to standardize the rules and settle on a name for an ancient sport, Sepak Takraw. The sport began gaining popularity in the United States mainly within the Lao and Hmong diaspora communities in places like Northern California and Minnesota during the 1980s. Jeremy Mirken beg…

1
Phanath Nate Sengmany: Creator of the Hike and Hit Program 56:33

1+ y ago56:33

56:33

You may have heard the saying “find your why”. It’s the why that has driven Nate Sengmany from his namesake, a refugee camp in Thailand, to doing the Nate Pose on top of some of California’s most scenic bluffs. He came up during Sacramento’s turbulent 1990’s and after an encounter with the criminal justice system Nate made a choice in life by findi…

1
S2 Ep21: A Khmer Rouge Ideology and Sihanouk's Dark Side 1:36:55

1+ y ago1:36:55

1:36:55

Who was Nuon Chea? What does Buddhism have to do with Khmer Rouge ideology? Why did Sihanouk sever ties with the United States? Time Period Covered 1963 - 1965 In this episode we explore the impact of the fateful year of 1963 in Cambodia, as well as the circumstances that the new Cambodian communist leadership were dealing with in the Vietnamese ju…

1
Walter Sarnoi Oupathana: WBC Title Holder and Laos National Team Boxer 27:35

1+ y ago27:35

27:35

What would motivate someone who holds a master’s degree, is a licensed paramedic and speaks five languages to step into the ring with some of the best fighters in the world? A passion and a dream. A passion for competing and the dream of representing your ancestral homeland at the biggest athletic show on earth, the Olympics. Walter Sarnoi Oupathan…

1
The Lao Pickleball Guys: Noi Sourinthone & Matthew Nola 48:31

1+ y ago48:31

48:31

Drive by any park or visit an indoor rec center these days and you’re sure to see people, young and old, hitting a ball in what appears to be a life-size game of Ping-Pong. Pickleball has taken the US by storm and two Lao Americans are riding its wave. Noi Sourinthone, left his home in Tennessee to follow his dream to Wichita, Kansas, where he reco…

1
Jackie Sayasone: Lao American Cornhole Pro 37:06

1+ y ago37:06

37:06

When one door closes another one opens. As refugees from Laos, Sy and Nang Sayasone were resettled in the Midwest where they quickly went to work, toiling in meat packing plants in an effort to give their children a better life. Jackie would take advantage of that opportunity and go on to be a college athlete but just as Jackie’s college soccer car…

1
Ohn Phommavong Scoggins: Lao Disc Golf Pro 34:10

1+ y ago34:10

34:10

Sometimes, our life’s calling finds us in the most unexpected ways. Ohn Phommavong grew up in a rice farming village in rural Laos before heading to the city in search of work. Through a chance encounter, she would fall in love with a backpacker from America, Justin Scoggins. After traveling across Asia together they would settle down to a new life…

1
Ben Nguyen: Vietnamese American MMA Fighter 57:58

1+ y ago57:58

57:58

They may say that “nice guys finish last” but Ben Nguyen proves that sometimes it’s the good guy who comes out on top. After the war in Vietnam Ben’s family settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they rebuilt their lives from scratch as refugees. Ben was bullied as a child so his mother signed him up for taekwondo. From his early days practici…

1
A Final Message, From Me to You. 10:22

1+ y ago10:22

10:22

By Dorothy Chow

1
Season Finale - Farewell to Robert 53:22

1+ y ago53:22

53:22

Robert and I share our last recording together as we close this chapter. We finalize the season by discussing what Robert has learned over the years, how he would have done things differently, and what he hopes everyone will takeaway from this podcast. We discuss topics like revenge, forgiveness, the legacy he hopes to leave behind, lessons of life…

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