Death in Cambodia, Life in America

Monica Sok - Author & Poet

Monica Sok, author of A Nail the Evening Hangs On, discusses her upbringing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and her connection to her Cambodian heritage. She shares how her parents' silence about their refugee experiences and her own curiosity led her to explore her history and pursue poetry. Sok talks about her time studying abroad in Vietnam and Cambodia, which inspired her to commit to writing poetry. She discusses her writing process and the emotional journey of creating her book. Sok discus...

Chris Parkhurst, Producer and Director of Elvis of Cambodia

Director and producer Chris Parkhurst discusses his documentary film 'Elvis of Cambodia' and his journey of exploring the music and legacy of Cambodian artist Sinn Sisamouth. The film beautifully blends the history of the Khmer Rouge with the healing power of Cambodian music. Chris shares how he fell in love with documentary filmmaking and Cambodia during his first visit in 2004. He talks about the challenges of making the film over a span of 10 years and the importance of honoring the famil...

Anne Elizabeth Moore - Author, Journalist, and Cultural Critic

Anne Elizabeth Moore, author of Cambodian Grrrl, shares her experiences in Cambodia, teaching young women about self-publishing and cultural differences. She discusses the impact of the Khmer Rouge and the Chbab Srey on women's rights and freedom of speech. The conversation covers Moore’s experience teaching self-publishing to young women in Cambodia, the impact of the experience on her, the creation of her books, and the evolution of women's rights in Cambodia. It also delves into the compl...

Soreath Hok - A Multi-Media Journalist

Soreath Hok, a multimedia journalist, shares her journey in the media industry and her focus on reporting on Cambodian-American mental health issues. She discusses her upbringing as a 1.5 generation immigrant and her love for media from a young age. Soreath talks about her experience in college radio and how it led her to pursue a career in journalism. She highlights the importance of representation in the media and the support she has received for her reporting on Cambodian Americans. Sorea...

Dr. Sophal Ear - Esteemed Academic and Writer

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 Khmer Rouge and Cambodian history. He also shares his experiences growing up in France, the challenges of moving to America, and the impact of his mo...

Dr. Patrick Heuveline - A Sociologist and Khmer Rouge Expert

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 occurred after the Khmer Rouge, the mental health effects on survivors and their children, and the transformation of family structures in post-Khmer Roug...

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

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 photography from ancient times, up until modern day Cambodia. His experience in museum curation allows this book to feel like you are walking through a "...

Catherine Filloux - Award Winning Playwright of the Only Cambodian-U.S. Rock Opera

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 Elephants Weep” the only Cambodian-U.S. rock opera will air on Broadway on Demand from April 14 to 23, 2023, in time for the Cambodian New Year, wit...

Myra Torcheux - A Cambodian Orphan in France

 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 great amount of orphans that came out of the Khmer Rouge. We brought Myra onto the podcast for her to share her experiences, her struggles with ...

Sochanvimean Vannavuth Ph.D - How has the Khmer Rouge Effected this Generation?

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 in Cambodia, and how his passion for offering more mental health services lead him to getting the education he has today.  We talk about the fol...

A Final Message, From Me to You.

Season Finale - Farewell to Robert

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 and so much more.  You can hear me tear up and cry towards the end and I realized this season was coming to a end. What a journey this has been....

Special Guest - Angela Wu aka The Sassy Asian Therapist

Today we bring on Angela Wu LMFT aka the Sassy Asian Therapist to bring on a professional light on what generational trauma is, and how we can cope with it as second generation asian Americans. We discuss this idea of trying to "fix" our parents as children of refugees, tactics to handle generational trauma, how we can start the conversation of healing with our parents and many more!  Do not miss this episode. This is such a wonderful conversation for second generation Cambodian Americans. ...

Special Guest - Angela Wu aka The Sassy Asian Therapist

Today we bring on Angela Wu LMFT aka the Sassy Asian Therapist to bring on a professional light on what generational trauma is, and how we can cope with it as second generation asian Americans. We discuss this idea of trying to "fix" our parents as children of refugees, tactics to handle generational trauma, how we can start the conversation of healing with our parents and many more!  Do not miss this episode. This is such a wonderful conversation for second generation Cambodian Americans. ...

Special Guest - David Edsall Law

David and Robert met when they were both young and starting their their careers. While Robert was building his long train of shops up along highway 99, he met a nice lawyer from Camarillo, CA who was willing to help Robert on reading documents and any legal situations he was in. To this day, David is just a phone call away for any of Robert's legal issues. David has helped him navigate everything from signing on a new store, to maneuvering through the painful lawsuits that Robert has encount...

Special Guest - David Edsall Law

David and Robert met when they were both young and starting their their careers. While Robert was building his long train of shops up along highway 99, he met a nice lawyer from Camarillo, CA who was willing to help Robert on reading documents and any legal situations he was in. To this day, David is just a phone call away for any of Robert's legal issues. David has helped him navigate everything from signing on a new store, to maneuvering through the painful lawsuits that Robert has encount...

S2 Epsiode 16: The Fall of Golden Bake

Robert discusses the lowest point in his life in America - when a family member and business partner who he trained from the ground up, stabbed him in the back and pushed him out of his own company. He talks about being depressed, angry, and turning to alcohol to release himself from the pain. Robert felt he spent his whole life working and sacrificing for this company, and only to have it be taken away by greed and jealousy was the twist he never ever expected.  I hope that highlighting th...

S2 Epsiode 16: The Fall of Golden Bake

Robert discusses the lowest point in his life in America - when a family member and business partner who he trained from the ground up, stabbed him in the back and pushed him out of his own company. He talks about being depressed, angry, and turning to alcohol to release himself from the pain. Robert felt he spent his whole life working and sacrificing for this company, and only to have it be taken away by greed and jealousy was the twist he never ever expected.  I hope that highlighting th...

S2 Episode 15: The Growth of Golden Bake

Robert reflects on his past and the different obstacles he faced as he ran 4 different companies at once. We dive into topics like how people viewed him, jealousy, family perceptions and more. He recalls an instance where we attends a wedding where nobody actually  knew who he was and he witnessed (and even joined in!) on the gossip about this mysterious man who ran Golden Bake. He remembers the great times, watching this company become the pride and joy of the Cambodian community. Robert th...

S2 Episode 15: The Growth of Golden Bake

Robert reflects on his past and the different obstacles he faced as he ran 4 different companies at once. We dive into topics like how people viewed him, jealousy, family perceptions and more. He recalls an instance where we attends a wedding where nobody actually  knew who he was and he witnessed (and even joined in!) on the gossip about this mysterious man who ran Golden Bake. He remembers the great times, watching this company become the pride and joy of the Cambodian community. Robert th...

S2 Episode 14: The Rise of Golden Bake

Robert continues to grow B&H in Northern California and ended up doing so well that he surpassed his Southern California counterpart. They had an agreement when they first decided to join together that Robert's territory was Northern California and his friend was Southern. However, the counterpart started getting jealous and crossing into Northern California territory. Robert let it drag on for 9 years until he eventually had to file a lawsuit. It was a sad time to feel like he has to be pus...

S2 Episode 14: The Rise of Golden Bake

Robert continues to grow B&H in Northern California and ended up doing so well that he surpassed his Southern California counterpart. They had an agreement when they first decided to join together that Robert's territory was Northern California and his friend was Southern. However, the counterpart started getting jealous and crossing into Northern California territory. Robert let it drag on for 9 years until he eventually had to file a lawsuit. It was a sad time to feel like he has to be pus...

S2 Episode 13: Crabs in a Bucket Mentality

Robert discusses the cultural downfalls of the Cambodian culture that he first realizes when he tries to grow his business. He notices that there is a lack of community and help when he comes to supporting their own Cambodian people, which we call "crabs in a bucket" mentality. Robert does his best to create this community and despite the pushback, continues to move forward and grow the business.  Music By Acerelio Chen

S2 Episode 12: Crabs in a Bucket Mentality

Robert discusses the cultural downfalls of the Cambodian culture that he first realizes when he tries to grow his business. He notices that there is a lack of community and help when he comes to supporting their own Cambodian people, which we call "crabs in a bucket" mentality. Robert does his best to create this community and despite the pushback, continues to move forward and grow the business.  Music By Acerelio Chen

S2 Epsiode 12: The Beginning of B&H Bakery Distributors

Robert and I take it back to discuss how he went from a silent investor to running the Northern California division of B&H Bakery Distributors. Robert believes it was a great idea from the very beginning to supply his own community with the ingredients they needed to run their donut shops. After building the donut shops up along California, Robert already had the donut network he needed to kickstart the supply company. B&H Bakery Distributors being in Northern California while his family sti...

S2 Epsiode 12: The Beginning of B&H Bakery Distributors

Robert and I take it back to discuss how he went from a silent investor to running the Northern California division of B&H Bakery Distributors. Robert believes it was a great idea from the very beginning to supply his own community with the ingredients they needed to run their donut shops. After building the donut shops up along California, Robert already had the donut network he needed to kickstart the supply company. B&H Bakery Distributors being in Northern California while his family sti...

S2 Episode 11: Church's Fried Chicken and Yum Yum Donuts

Robert continued on with his growth mindset and built donut shops until he hit South Lake Tahoe where he lost money due to renting the shops to owners with gambling problems. He then decided that he was going to tackle Church's Fried Chicken when he found out of an opportunity to take over their locations with the idea of potentially turning them into donut shops. Robert goes national with his dreams and even tries to strike a deal. We truly learn that Robert at this point in his life is wil...

S2 Episode 11: Church's Fried Chicken and Winchell's Donuts

Robert continued on with his growth mindset and built donut shops until he hit South Lake Tahoe where he lost money due to renting the shops to owners with gambling problems. He then decided that he was going to tackle Church's Fried Chicken when he found out of an opportunity to take over their locations with the idea of potentially turning them into donut shops. Robert goes national with his dreams and even tries to strike a deal. We truly learn that Robert at this point in his life is wil...

S2 Episode 11: Church's Fried Chicken and Winchell's Donuts

Robert continued on with his growth mindset and built donut shops until he hit South Lake Tahoe where he lost money due to renting the shops to owners with gambling problems. He then decided that he was going to tackle Church's Fried Chicken when he found out of an opportunity to take over their locations with the idea of potentially turning them into donut shops. Robert goes national with his dreams and even tries to strike a deal. We truly learn that Robert at this point in his life is wil...

S2 Episode 10: "If I have money, I have everything"

Robert scales up the state of California taking 6-8 months at a time building donut shops all along highway 99. Robert backpacks his way just building one shop after the next with no intention of stopping. He has become borderline obsessed with his process of building donut shops. Robert talks about never taking a day off and how the culture he was raised in believed that if he had money, he had everything. Robert reflects on his life and realized how crazy he was to work and think like that...

Dear Fellow Survivors - A Khmer Message From Robert

Today, I released the video called Dear Fellow Survivors. This video feels like the accumulation of what the podcast represents so far: healing. My goal is and always has been to heal as many remaining survivors as possible, and this video is the kickstart. Todays release is a audio version of Robert's speech, however if you don't understand Khmer, I would recommend to check out the YouTube video that includes english subtitles.  Link to Video: https://youtu.be/cDWius2qyFM

S2 Episode 9: The Gift of the American Dream

Robert continues to build donut shops throughout California. In this epsiode we talk about Robert's chase towards the American Dream and why he fought so relentlessly towards it. I ask Robert how he has the willpower to keep going, and what his mindset was like as a new refugee in America. This episode was a huge eye opener for me on how refugees look at their life in America as a second chance to life. And how being in a country that allows you to dream, made him feel he had no other option...

2 Week Intermission - Back on June 19th!

I will be taking a 2 week intermission from launching episodes to refresh, plan, and manifest the future of this podcast. If you haven't seen, we were on CBS National TV a few weeks ago, and I feel nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to represent the Cambodian American community through this podcast. (still pinching myself!)  Thank you to all the listeners who have followed along since the very start. This is only the beginning for us!  Content will resume June 19, Fathers Day.  Her...

2 Week Intermission - Back on June 19th!

I will be taking a 2 week intermission from launching episodes to refresh, plan, and manifest the future of this podcast. If you haven't seen, we were on CBS National TV a few weeks ago, and I feel nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to represent the Cambodian American community through this podcast. (still pinching myself!)  Thank you to all the listeners who have followed along since the very start. This is only the beginning for us!  Content will resume June 19, Fathers Day.  Her...

S2 Episode 8: Climbing the Donut Ladder

Robert gets back on his feet and builds his first donut shop's sales in just 6 months. Sleeping and breathing the donut shop day in and day out allowed him to pay back all his investors within the first year. Robert LOVES his newfound way to build a good life in America. He brings mama and the whole family from Portland to also work these donut shops. He relentlessly pushes himself to the limit and enjoys the process of building more and more shops for refugees flooding into the country.  M...

S2 Episode 8: Climbing the Donut Ladder

Robert gets back on his feet and builds his first donut shop's sales in just 6 months. Sleeping and breathing the donut shop day in and day out allowed him to pay back all his investors within the first year. Robert LOVES his newfound way to build a good life in America. He brings mama and the whole family from Portland to also work these donut shops. He relentlessly pushes himself to the limit and enjoys the process of building more and more shops for refugees flooding into the country.  M...

Special Guest - "On the Corners of Argyle and Glenwood'

About 20 years ago, Stuart Isett lived on the corners of Argyle and Glenwood and noticed that many of his fellow neighbors were Cambodian Refugees from the Khmer Rouge. Years later, he put together a photo book called "On the Corners of Argyle and Glenwood' that showcases the Cambodian Refugee experience here in America. He captures the Cambodian youth of the 80's, grandmothers grieving, and families that are simply trying to create a new life from scratch in this new country.  Today we are...

Special Guest - Bob Burton

Bob Burton was the real estate commercial agent who helped Robert find his first donut shop ever. Today we with with Bob and recall when he first met Robert and why he felt compelled to help this refugee from Cambodia.  Music Written By: Acerylio Chen

Special Guest - Bob Burton

Bob Burton was the real estate commercial agent who helped Robert find his first donut shop ever. Today we with with Bob and recall when he first met Robert and why he felt compelled to help this refugee from Cambodia.  Music Written By: Acerylio Chen

S2 Episode 7: The Robbery

Robert scrambles to find a way to get 30k through his family and friends to buy his first donut shop. After getting the money... in cash, he marches over to the real estate office and drops off a trash bag of money to purchase the store. Stunning the entire office, Bob Burton asks him if he has a check, while Robert responds he doesn't even have a bank account! Within the first week, Robert also encounters his first instance of being robbed. Tired from the long hours, and sleeping in the bac...

S2 Episode 6: Robert's First Donut Shop

Robert immediately decided that it was time to change his lifestyle and dive headfirst into donut shops. He left his company and volunteered to watch over his uncles financials. After working there for about 6 months, he decides he wants to have his own. Robert gets really close with a regular customer named Bob Burton, who happens to be a commercial real esate broker. Together they find Robert's first donut shop. It was the most exciting time of Robert's life so far.  Music By Acerelio Chen

S2 Episode 5: "Don't EVER Run Donut Shops"

In this epsiode, Robert found work in LA and starts to make some friends in this new city. He would be out drinking, and living for the weekends as most 20's somethings do. One day he decides to visit his auntie about 30 minutes away from town. Since arriving to their front doorstep, he was treated with disrespect and looked down upon. Without even being offered dinner in their howe, he felt unwelcome and left early. He left that home with a new found passion to improve his life. He brushed ...

S2 Episode 4: Im Moving to California

In this epsiode we follow Robert and his push to master the English language. He noticed immediately that without the language, you would not be able to get a good job other than a farmer or a janitor. He also started to make American friends who showed him the culture in America. Robert enjoyed the independent way of life because he truly felt it was similar to his natural independent nature. After earning his AA degree, and not getting any job prospects that he wanted, he decided to make a...

S2 Episode 4: Im Moving to California

In this epsiode we follow Robert and his push to master the English language. He noticed immediately that without the language, you would not be able to get a good job other than a farmer or a janitor. He also started to make American friends who showed him the culture in America. Robert enjoyed the independent way of life because he truly felt it was similar to his natural independent nature. After earning his AA degree, and not getting any job prospects that he wanted, he decided to make a...

S2 Episode 3: Robert's First Crush

Robert has now started to learn more about how different life is like in America. I starts to learn that here in this country, people who work hard regardless of social status and birthright, can be successful. The family also decides that is probably best to move somewhere closer to a stronger Cambodian community, so they move to Portland Oregon. There, Robert was able to make friends and start going to community college to study english. For the first time, Robert is able to plan out his f...

S2 Episode 2: The Bike from the Trash

Robert starts to assimilate into America and gets his first job picking berries in the fields. Later, he gets a job as a janitor in JefCo. Since there was no transportation to and from work, he got to work by walking miles. One day, Robert found a broken bike behind a trashcan. Excited, he takes it home, asks Bill Hoffman his sponsor to get him new wheels.. and BOOM, his first mode of transportation.  In the meantime, Robert's family makes ends meet by saving money and eating chicken butt fr...

Welcome to Season 2

Welcome to Season 2! Here are my goals for this new chapter of the podcast. We will be discussing the following topics:  What was the refugee experience like?  The process of how Robert obsessed over his American Dream Why was Robert so successful? What did he fail at?  The rise and fall of Golden Bake Food Products  What is generational trauma? How has the khmer rouge effected second and third generations beyond?  What do we need to do to improve and heal our community? 

S2 Episode 1: Bill Hoffman

Robert arrives and lands in Portland Oregon in the middle of the night. He has absolutely no idea what his sponsor looks like, and gets lost in the airport. He ends up sleeping next to his gate until a janitor wakes him up. Bill Hoffman finally picks him up, and he drives him to his house. Robert spends his first night in America and experiences an American breakfast for the first time.  Music Written By: Acerylio Chen

Welcome to Season 2

Welcome to Season 2! Here are my goals for this new chapter of the podcast. We will be discussing the following topics:  What was the refugee experience like?  The process of how Robert obsessed over his American Dream Why was Robert so successful? What did he fail at?  The rise and fall of Golden Bake Food Products  What is generational trauma? How has the khmer rouge effected second and third generations beyond?  What do we need to do to improve and heal our community? 

Special Guest - Ken Swann

Ken Swann was a Field Representative for the IRC, was on the field working directly with the refugees in the main refugee camps. His job consisted of helping transport doctors and nurses to the correct camps, run errands for medical staff, and towards the end helped compiled the "Unaccompanied Minor Handbook" which helped reconnect kids with their parents in the camps. His work was incredibly valuable in saving the lives of refugees, and in this episode he shares what he witnessed during tho...