This week on The Banh Mi Chronicles, I did a total kiki with the multi-talented writer, dancer, and creative benedict nguyễn (she/her).

Benedict joined me as we dived deep into the genesis of her debut novel, Hot Girls With Balls (Catapult 2025). We explore the nuances of writing trans stories that center joy and athleticism, the reality of navigating social media as a public-facing creative, and why finding the right publisher and community spaces are essential for queer and trans writers of color.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Genesis of the Novel: How Hot Girls With Balls went from an idea to a USA Today National Bestseller.

Trans Athletes & Representation: Crafting a story that honors the reality of trans athletes beyond the headlines.

The Dancer Life: Benedict’s background as a dancer and how movement informs her writing.

Social Media & Community: Navigating the digital landscape and finding genuine connection through promoting her book.

The Publishing Industry: The importance of working with publishers who advocate and support QTPOC voices.

About benedict:

benedict nguyễn (she/her) is a #freelanceflailing dancer, writer, and creative producer. A Publishers Weekly 2025 “Writer to Watch,” Benedict is the author of the debut novel Hot Girls With Balls, an ABA Indie Next Pick and USA Today National Bestseller.

She has danced in projects by Sally Silvers, Kris Seto, and Monstah Black, and appeared in the short film Don’t Fck with Bà* (2024). As a producer, she has supported projects at the New York Botanical Garden, Danspace Project, and the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance! Her writing on labor and culture has appeared in The Baffler, Vanity Fair, and BOMB Magazine.

Connect with Benedict

Buy "Hot Girls With Balls" Here

Website:

https://benedict-nguyen.com/

Instagram: xbennyboo

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(Trigger Warning: Mentions of S*xual Violence during this recording)

This episode is the last of 2025! It brings me great joy to invite former pin-up model and lead singer of Nylon Pink, who recently released her memoir, “Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,” to wrap up the final podcast episode of 2025.

Kaila recounts her experience as a former pin-up model in the early 2000s, within the import car world that was closely associated with the Asian American “AZN” culture. Think of Fast and the Furious, the souped-up 1998 Honda Civic.

Bio:

Kaila is an author based in Los Angeles. Her debut memoir, ‘Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty,’ was published this past August with Penguin Random House’s Crown Publishing.

She is also a luxury travel, food, and culture writer and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles, who has written for The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, and more. She’s a certified PADI scuba diver, freediver, and mermaid.

Her former band, Nylon Pink, has toured in Australia: Melbourne and Sydney, played in Shanghai at the launch party for Havaianas in China, Costa Rica, played at the Hard Rock in Tokyo, Japan, Macau, China, and Penang, Malaysia.

Follow:

Instagram: kailayu

TikTok: kaila.yu

Website: www.kailayu.com

In this deep-dive episode, I chat with 2x Emmy-award winning producer and director, Jon Hill, Director of Creative Video at Fox Sports Digital.

We kick off with some spirited discussion on Chicago and Philly sports, before switching gears for a profound conversation about Jon’s award-winning feature film, Above the Clouds.

Jon shares the introspective journey of making his debut film, explaining how the filmmaking process became a source of healing after the loss of his father. He discusses how the project helped him solidify his Thai American identity and provided a powerful avenue for navigating grief over the years.

Bio:

Jon Hill is a 2x Emmy-award-winning producer and director living in Los Angeles. You can find him working at Fox Sports Digital as their Director of Creative Video.

His award-winning feature film, Above the Clouds, can be seen on Tubi, YouTube, Amazon, among others.

IG: jhill_aka_da_streaming_king

This week, I caught up with longtime Chicago Uptown community leaders and co-owners of the new Haibayô Cafe, Hac Tran and Jennifer “Nuky” Pham.

Join us as Hac and Nuky take us into an intimate look at the history of the Asia on Argyle neighborhood—a historic cultural center for Chicago’s Chinese and Southeast Asian communities for the past 50 years.

• The Mission of Haibayô: Their work in co-founding the nonprofit dedicated to cultural preservation and community-building in the Argyle area.

• A Personal Legacy: Jennifer “Nuky” Pham shares the legacy history of her father, one of Argyle’s first Vietnamese business owners, and her deep roots in the community.

• Community Advocacy: How they curate festivals and events to support immigrant entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians, their fight against displacement, and provide

• Future Connections: Their determination to build deeper community connections and maintain the neighborhood’s cultural and historical identity.

Bio:

Hac Tran, Co-Founder, Cultural Planning Manager:

Hac Tran is an urban planner and community development professional dedicated to preserving the Asia on Argyle community in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Born and raised in Chicago, Hac has deep ties to the Argyle area. In 2019, Hac co-founded HAIBAYÔ, a nonprofit focused on cultural preservation. Hac’s experience ranges from non-governmental work in Vietnam with Save the Children and Global Village Foundation to community-based casework with various Uptown-based nonprofits to cultural specialist business technical assistance on Argyle through the Uptown Chamber of Commerce. Hac is a Field Foundation 2025 Leaders for a New Chicago Recipient.

Jennifer “Nuky” Pham, Co-Founder, Cultural Events Manager:

Jennifer Pham is a Vietnamese American entrepreneur, cultural organizer, and community advocate born and raised in Argyle, Uptown Chicago. As the daughter of Argyle’s first Vietnamese business owners, she is dedicated to preserving the neighborhood’s identity and resisting displacement. As co-founder of Haibayô, she curates festivals and events that support immigrant entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians. She also serves as a board member of the Uptown Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of Mini Tx Pharmacy, strengthening her advocacy for local businesses and community sustainability.

Contact:

nuky@haibayo.org

hac@haibayo.org

Instagram: hai_bayo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haibayochicago

Website: https://haibayo.com/

This week, I’m joined by my friend and fellow podcaster, Kenneth Nguyen, the host and creator of the acclaimed The Vietnamese Podcast. He was my guest host on my then-farewell episode in 2023 when I was sunsetting the podcast, and he’s back on my show, to remind me that he was right that I would come back to the podcasting sphere, and here I am now! With hundreds of episodes recorded, Kenneth has built a platform highlighting Vietnamese creatives, educators, historians, entrepreneurs, and many others across the global diaspora and homeland.

In this fun and insightful conversation, we dive into:

• The Current Podcasting Landscape: Our thoughts on the industry since I returned to podcasting, and what podcasting means now these days.

• Kenneth’s Journey into Podcasting: The story of how The Vietnamese Podcast began and the lessons he’s learned about the Vietnamese community both in the US and in Vietnam.

• Navigating Political Nuances: Discussing the delicate and complex political divisions within the community, and how both Vietnamese Americans and Vietnam view the history of the war fifty years later.

• Shaping Future Narratives: How we can actively work to influence and shape the evolving story of the Vietnamese American community moving forward.

Kenneth brings a wealth of experience from over two decades in the Vietnamese media space, including his work as a film producer and co-founder of EAST Films. His podcast aims to show the Vietnamese experience “from a transpacific lens, in all its facets and complexities.”

Bio:

Kenneth Nguyen is a Los Angeles-based podcaster and film producer with over two decades in the Vietnamese media space. Kenneth hosts and produces The Vietnamese podcast with over 400 episodes recorded. Kenneth is a founding partner at EAST Films with several film projects in development and production.

Check out The Vietnamese Podcast on Instagram: TheVietnamesePodcast

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheVietnamesewithKennethNguyen

This week, I brought the multi-talented French-Canadian comedian and personality Tranna Wintour to the podcast. We dived into the current political noise in her own backyard (Canada), but also what she has observed in the States. A major focus of the conversation was Madonna’s legacy. We dissected how difficult the last 20 years of her career and persona have been for some to stand by, and how this is another example of figuring out how to deal with our problematic favs. Finally, we ask a big question: Have we reached the end of celebrity stan culture in the wake of the current political and social climate we’re in?

Bio:

Tranna Wintour is a highly-acclaimed bilingual comedian, singer, writer, hostess, and producer.

Legendary comedienne Sandra Bernhard described her as “a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night.” A Just For Laughs New Face Canada (2019), Tranna was named one of the queens of Canadian comedy by Fashion magazine.

Performing in both English and French, she appeared in a Juste Pour Rire gala in 2021 before starring in Québec’s hit series, Big Brother Célébrités. Her run to the top 4 was hailed as the show’s breakthrough moment and “the best moment on Québec TV in years” by the Journal Métro.

Tranna co-hosted the successful CBC Podcast Chosen Family for three seasons, which was named one of Apple’s Best Podcasts for two consecutive years. Her debut album, Safe From Your Affection, is available on all streaming platforms, and she is currently developing an original comedy series with a major Canadian broadcaster.

Instagram: TrannaWintour

Website: https://www.trannawintour.com

Tranna Wintour

In continuation of the current Chicago ICE Raids, and recent SNAP benefits crisis affecting Chicago's Chinatown community, I invited two dedicated community leaders in the Chinatown community: Grace Chan McKibben and Andrew Frangos, to discuss the rapid response efforts in Chinatown and surrounding neighborhoods.

In a time when federal actions are creating widespread fear and instability, we dived into how local leaders, residents, and businesses are working in solidarity to protect one another.

• Immediate ICE Response: Grace and Andrew detail the community's swift reaction to the recent, highly visible ICE raids in the Chicagoland area, including reports of violent and false detentions. We discuss what practices communities are using to monitor activity, provide alerts, and empower residents to Know Their Rights.

• Protecting Neighbors and Businesses: We look at the practical ways the community—from small businesses to residents—are creating a protective net to ensure the safety and legal rights of immigrant families, seniors, and workers.

• The SNAP Benefit Crisis: We explore the devastating and immediate impact of the recent SNAP benefit reductions and policy changes that are disproportionately affecting low-income seniors and vulnerable families in the area.

• Mobilizing Resources: Both outline the community work that is being done to fill the resource gap, including emergency food distribution, legal aid services, and language support to help residents navigate the ongoing, shifting landscape.

• A Call to Action: How listeners—both in and outside of Chicago—can support the community's defense funds, rapid response teams, and local organizations working on the front lines of this crisis.

Resources:

Contact ICIRR for ICE sightings in Illinois

From Andrew:Pilsen PUÑO, an organization that coordinates a Migra Watch team and provides regular trainings:

https://www.instagram.com/pilsenpuno/. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ4bsY4jUcP/.

Sanctuary For All UIC (https://www.instagram.com/sanctuaryforalluic/) maintains this linktree with a link to a massive list of trainings offered beyond the Chicago area, as well as other resources: https://linktr.ee/sanctuaryforalluic.

In a profoundly moving conversation, host Randy Kim welcomes Dorothy Chow, the Chinese-Cambodian American host of the father-daughter podcast, "Death In Cambodia."

Dorothy shares the deeply personal and powerful genesis of her show: creating a space for her father to share his survivor experience from the Cambodian genocide. This podcast wasn't just a historical documentation; it became a transformative healing journey for Dorothy.

• The Genesis of "Death In Cambodia": Dorothy opens up about the courage it took for her and her father to start the podcast, not just as a historical record, but as a pivotal moment for intergenerational healing.

• A Personal Discovery: We discuss how the process of interviewing her own father and connecting with other survivors and diaspora folks shaped Dorothy’s understanding of her own Cambodian identity—an identity she had long sought to define.

• The Second Genocide: Dorothy sheds light on a lesser-known, yet critical, chapter of the Khmer Rouge regime: the Dangrek Genocide. This 2nd genocide, often overshadowed, reveals the complex and continuous trauma faced by the Cambodian people.

• Returning to the Motherland: Looking ahead, Dorothy shares her hopes and intentions for her next trip to Cambodia, reflecting on what she now seeks to experience and connect with as part of both her podcasting and personal journey.

  
  

• Listen to the Podcast: Find "Death In Cambodia" on all major podcast platforms.

• Follow Dorothy: @ deathincambodia

Thank you for tuning into The Banh Mi Chronicles Podcast!