On this episode of Yellow Glitter, I’m joined by Randy Kim, a queer, second-generation Viet-Khmer American from Chicagoland and podcast host of The Banh Mi Chronicles, highlighting uplifting important Asian voices. We chat about the Asian diaspora, how to heal the trauma of our parents, coming out, the importance of storytelling history of Asian culture, creating inclusive spaces, and why the slogan “representation matters” needs updating.
Randy Kim is a queer 2nd generation Viet-Khmer American from the Chicagoland area. Randy currently serves as a board member with the National Cambodian Heritage Museum. He is the co-producer with founder Ada Cheng for TALK Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show in Chicago. He is the producer and host of “The Banh Mi Chronicles” podcast which can be on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast. Randy is currently working on his Master’s in Non Profit Management at DePaul University.
In this episode we talk about:
- How he started his podcast, The Banh Mi Chronicles
- His relationship with Ada Cheng and creating space for Asian diaspora
- The creative process of focusing on need over entertainment
- Importance of inclusive and diverse spaces in storytelling
- The issue with “representation matters”
- Randy’s story of his heritage, coming out, and finding a community
- How to help our parents heal and process their trauma
- Why Asian history is paramount to our growth and activism
Show notes:
- Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In by Phuc Tran
- Ada Cheng
- National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial
- Banh Mi Chronicles – MILCK
- Banh Mi Chronicles – D&I with Michelle Kim
- Banh Mi Chronicles – Kathy Park Hong
You can find Randy Kim at:
Facebook: @banhmichronicles
Instagram: @banhmi_chronicles
You can follow me at:
Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com