Khmer Voices - Cambodian Diaspora Stories of Careers and Impact
Growing up in Canada, there was a lack of representation of stories that truly resonated with my experiences when it came to professionals. In this podcast, I aim to close this gap. We're celebrating and amplifying Khmer voices through conversations with the Cambodian diaspora from all over the world. We discuss their journey, successes, failures and their upbringing.
Episodes
28 episodes
Saran Uthayakumar Interviews Vanny Whitchelo for Dissertation
This is a first! This interview with me was part of a study that Saran Uthayakumar is conducting for his PhD dissertation that examines the diasporic experiences of Cambodians and Tamils. The dissertation asks: How do memories of vi...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:08:46
Khmer Voices Turns 1!
Khmer Voices is 26 episodes in and I've been podcasting consistently for one year! To celebrate, I'm highlighting 12 takeaways from guests. This is part 1 of 2. Please share Khmer Voices podcast with someone you think might enjoy ou...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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18:08
What's Hindering Cambodia's Progress with Community Leader, Scholar, and Former Monk Sophoan Seng
Sophoan Seng is a first generation Khmer Canadian, a husband, a father and he was a Buddhist monk for 14 years!In this episode, Sophoan shares his memories of growing up during the Vietnamese invasion in Cambodia. We cover his journey f...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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1:22:03
When Art is Your Calling with Cheerted Keo
Cheerted Keo immigrated to the Netherlands with his family in 1988 when he was two years old. Today this Khmer-Dutch mural artist lives in Phnom Penh and his work has been commissioned by the likes of Air Asia, Marriott Hotels, and OCIC, to nam...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:24:48
Growing Up Khmer Krom in Fresno, California with Cali Poeu Huynh
Cali Poeu Huynh is a second generation Khmer Krom and Sino-Vietnamese American of Teochew descent. He was born and raised in Fresno California to refugee parents and 1.5 generation refugee siblings. In this episode, Cali discusses t...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:02:15
Decolonizing Therapy with Mao Beckett LCSW, LICSW
Mao Beckett (she/they) LCSW, LICSW is a liberation-centered, EMDR-certified practitioner, somatic-spiritual therapist and guide. She supports individuals in healing relational wounds, overcoming internalized oppression, and improving interperso...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:19:43
Why Celebrating Our Khmer Roots is More Important than Ever with Cambodian Cultural Centre President Sopheaktra (Peter) Heang
Sopheaktra (Peter) Heang and I discuss the establishment of the Cambodian Cultural Centre in British Columbia, Canada which aims to reconnect and unite the Cambodian diaspora with our heritage through arts, community building, and cultural even...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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32:07
Cambodian Legacy Project with Nonprofit's Founder Ah Ny (Kaovny) Jonas
AhNy (Kaovny) Jonas is a Cambodian-American advocate, nonprofit leader, and cultural educator based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Cambodian Legacy Project, a nonprofit organization dedica...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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59:18
Quiet Cambodian Girl Who Found her Voice with Nan (Samantha) Le
Samantha Le—Nan at home, Sam at work—is the Vice President of Operations at Sagewind Capital, a New York–based private equity firm she’s called home since 2018. There, she leads firmwide operations across HR, IT, and everything in between. Befo...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:13:54
How Khmer Voices Has Impacted Me with Host Vanny Whitchelo
I, Khmer Voices host, Vanny Whitchelo share my story in this solo episode. I talk about how my family moved around a lot in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada -- four times by the time I was in grade 8, my struggle to feel a sense of belongi...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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34:12
We Come From Greatness with Khmer Tree Podcaster Chad Sammeth
Chad Sammeth is a Khmer American who has been involved in the Cambodian community over the last two decades - primarily in Long Beach, California's Cambodia Town. This started in his early twenties whilst seeking to discover and reconnect with ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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56:07
Seeing the Power of Privilege at Play with Savan Kong
When Savanrith (Savan) Kong attended Lakeside School, a prestigious private school with famous alumni such as Bill Gates and Paul Allen, he entered a world he only saw on television. In this episode, while exploring the theme of pri...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:03:19
Investment Banker Turned Startup Founder with Hervé Ky
Hervé Ky is a second generation French Cambodian born and raised in a suburb of Paris, France. He is the Co-Founder of Keybento, a home exchange platform that caters to families, providing them with affordable family-friendly accommodations.&nb...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:00:46
All Things Cambodian with @allthingscambodian Creator Ryan Samn
Ryan Samn is an Asian American writer, educator, and cultural practitioner. Ryan also runs the Instagram account @allthingscambodian where he shares impactful and insightful posts on C...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:21:39
It's Never Too Late with Sopheaktra (Peter) Heang
Sopheaktra Heang (aka Peter) is a Khmer Canadian who was born in a Thai refugee camp. He moved around a lot in his childhood and didn’t establish roots until he was an adult. Like many of us koun Khmer, his parents are survivors of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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59:24
Representation in Children's Books with Chanda Ouk Wolf
Author of A Dozen...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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51:06
Changing Careers at 37 with Cheata Nao from Cheata Cooks Cambodian
Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Cheata Nao is a second generation Khmer Canadian who is pursuing a new career showcasing Cambodian cuisine. She has always been a good cook and loved hosting dinner parties since she was a teena...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:01:22
Transforming Emotional Pain into Purpose with Heng Vay
Heng Vay is a second generation Khmer American who was born in Los Angeles, Calfornia, spent his early teenage years in Minnesota, and then moved to Texas where he currently resides with his wife and two children. At the age of 14, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:03:52
The "Lucky Princess" with Rothany Sar
Rothany Sar is a first generation Khmer American who arrived in the United States via an arranged marriage. The Cambodian community here often said to her she was “so lucky” and her life was like that of a princess. But she didn’t identify with...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:11:23
Finding Community After Loneliness & Making an Impact with Mitchell Keo
Mitchell Keo is a second generation Khmer American born and raised in Houston, Texas. He grew up in a Mexican neighbourhood, and never felt a connection to a community growing up. He started exploring his Asian American identity while s...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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57:33
The Cambodian Can Collector with Keo Sar
Keo Sar is one of 6 children in his family. At a young age, his father who was the breadwinner got injured at work which resulted in him going on disability. To bridge the gap between disability cheques, he, his older brother, and their father ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:10:20
Taking the Path Not Taught in School with Channy Salazar
Channy Salazar is a strong, resilient, and tenacious lady from Texas, USA. She was born in Cambodia in 1973 and remembers bits and pieces of her time before arriving and settling in the US. Her recollections (at the 4 minute mark and lasting ab...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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56:56
The Only Asian in The Class with Sokha Mov
Sokha Mov shares her journey from being born in a refugee camp in Thailand to growing up in France where she was the only Asian in her class, navigating cultural identity, and pursuing a career in law and public service. She discusses her trans...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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58:03
From Stay-at-Home Mom to Technical Lead Delivering IT Projects
Dimary (aka Mary) Leak didn't know how to speak English when she started kindergarten. A non-satisfactory test score in grade 1 ignited her desire to perform well academically, which she did all through primary and secondary school. When it cam...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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29:45
What next? Rediscovering yourself with Soeun Outh
Growing up, even though Soeun knew what she wanted to do, she let the words of others cloud her judgment at times. We discuss this and her journey in rediscovering herself and her heritage in her 40s. She’s gotten to a point in her career where...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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29:49