Shows
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureS2, EP 4: Annie Tran - The NorCal Psychic on Cats, Spirit Guides, Rock Bottom, and a Personal ReadingThis week on Season 2, Episode 4, we’re heading up to NorCal—Alameda, CA—to sit down with Vietnamese-American psychic Annie Tran, who just so happens to also be a comedian, artist, and mom. Because why only be one thing?What starts with cats, Santa Cruz vibes, and NorCal roots quickly turns into something much deeper. Annie opens up about her kid, hitting rock bottom, learning how to be grateful when life doesn’t look how you planned it, and the exact moment she realized her psychic abilities weren’t just intuition—they were real. We talk spirit guides, trus...
2026-01-2652 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureS2, EP 3: Kimchi Nguyen - The San Diego Creative on Taking a Chance on her Passion, Hamburgers, and the NerdyverseFor Episode 3, Season 2, I link up with San Diego native, Linda 'Kimchi' Nguyen, a former architect, current mom, full-time creative, and living proof that you can escape the corporate hamster wheel.We immediately bond over our unconditional love for San Diego, mourn the loss of Soup Plantation, and somehow connect kim chi to just about everything.Things get delightfully unhinged as we bounce through the Nerdy-verse. From Mortal Kombat to The Nightmare Before Christmas, Lord of the Rings to The Marvel Universe, musicals (yes, really), Danny DeVito, hamburgers, Robocop, and the sacred...
2026-01-191h 09
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureS2, EP 2: Jason Nguyen- The Phoenix, AZ Creative on Fashion, Style, Community, and his Streetwear BrandSeason 2, Episode 2 of The Walmak Podcast is a laid-back conversation with Phoenix-based Vietnamese creative entrepreneur Jason (Phuc Huu) Nguyen—a guy whose story, style, and self-awareness make this episode fly by. Jason talks about growing up in Phoenix, AZ, the Vietnamese community there, and immigrating to the U.S. with his family, a background that plays a huge role in how he builds his streetwear brand, Nguyen Dynasty Co. Culture, community, and representation aren’t just buzzwords here—they’re woven directly into his brand identity.We dig into his creative path, what he actually does for a living...
2026-01-1256 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureS2, EP 1: Peter Kahl - The Portland, Maine Content Creator on Asian Masculinity, Vietnamese Culture, and Gay CultureWelcome to the first episode of 2026 and the kickoff of Season 2!This week, I’m joined by Peter Kahl, a content creator known for helping people navigate the tricky, hilarious, and sometimes messy realities of dating someone from a Vietnamese background. What starts with light talk about Christmas, snow, New York in the ’80s, Portland, Maine, oysters, and beers quickly turns into a wide-ranging, no-filter conversation. We get into the new hit show, Heated Rivalries, liver transplants, and how Peter met his Vietnamese husband on the Grindr app, along with bigger topics like interracial dating, Asian masculinity, "Rice...
2026-01-051h 05
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 14: Jimmy Tran - Owner of the Sway Barber Lounge in Rowlett, TX on Barber Life, Style, and Social MediaSeason 1 goes out with a fresh fade and a full laugh tank. 💈For the final episode of the year, I sit down with Rowlett, TX–based Vietnamese-American barber and hairstylist Jimmy Tran for a wide-ranging, no-filter conversation that feels like hanging out in the shop after hours. We get into Jimmy’s genuine love and passion for cutting hair, the grind and chaos of barber life, and how social media has changed the game—clients, clout, and all.Somehow, we also zigzag into everything else: dad shoes, JNCOs, questionable fashion eras, and why hair splinters are the t...
2025-12-2249 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 13: Tina Hoang - The Dallas Financial Advisor on Money, Money Management, Money Habits, and ChèIn this action-packed conversation, Dallas-based financial advisor Tina Hoang opens up about what it was like growing up Vietnamese in Texas. Tina shares how her mom, a powerhouse of resilience and resourcefulness, inspired her toward a career in finance, sparking her passion for financial literacy and helping families build stability.Tina walks through her own soul-searching journey—figuring out her strengths, discovering her purpose, and realizing that money isn’t just numbers; it’s emotional, cultural, and deeply personal. She breaks down credit scores, budgeting basics, and why couples absolutely need to be on the same financial page u...
2025-12-1557 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 12: Loc Huynh - The Texas Artist Living in Brooklyn on His Paintings, Being a Drawing Teacher, and Being Texan.In this lively, laugh-filled conversation, Texas artist Loc Huynh dives into the wild, wonderful path that led him from his Lone Star roots to the buzzing streets of Brooklyn, New York. Loc shares what it was like growing up in Texas—where pride runs deep, the skies are wide, and he learned early on how to find humor in almost anything. With plenty of playful banter, he talks about the big move north, the culture shock of Brooklyn sidewalks, and how he and his beloved black cat have finally adjusted to apartment living that’s definitely not Texas-sized.Lo...
2025-12-0854 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 11: Whitney Dagail - The Baton Rouge Native on the Black American Woman Living in Vietnam ExperienceThis week, we’re hopping on a flight from Baton Rouge, Louisiana straight to the “motherland” of motorbikes and iced coffee: Hanoi, Vietnam. Our tour guide? The one and only Whitney Dagail — culture creator and social media sweetheart!In this episode, Whitney breaks down why she traded Southern humidity for Vietnamese humidity (spoiler: the mosquitos are in a league of their own), what it’s really like being a Black American woman navigating life in Vietnam, and how salsa dancing somehow follows her across continents. We get into the essentials: Cash Money vs. No Limit (there is a right an...
2025-11-1855 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 10: Hieu Van Le - The Las Vegas Esports Advocate on Video Games, Anime, Comics, Pokemon, and Raging OutThis week, I level up with Hieu Van Le — Las Vegas native, esports advocate, and professional bringer-together of all things gaming. Hieu’s on a mission to unite the community through our shared love of pixels, passion, and the occasional rage quit. We talk about his deep (and I mean DEEP) love for video games, the wild world of esports, and why nothing beats a good gaming chair when you’re locked into a 12-hour Halo session.But this episode isn’t just about controllers and consoles — we nerd out hard on vintage anime, TurboGrafx-16 classics, hologram arcades, c...
2025-11-1257 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 9: Theresa 'Tez' Bui - The Sydney Australian Podcaster on Life, Business, Heartbreak, Tea, and Loving YourselfThis week, we’re heading to the land down under, Sydney, Australia to chat it up with Theresa “Tez” Bui — an optometrist by day and podcast host of her own show, 'Tea Talks with Tez' by night. We dive headfirst into everything from the serious to the silly: Vietnamese-Americans vs. Vietnamese-Australians, divorce, self-love, the wrath of Asian judgment, Outback Steakhouse and much more!Between laughs and fun times, Tez opens up about her podcast passion project, surviving your 20s, heartbreak, and learning to love yourself even when life’s spinning on this weird, floating sphere we call Earth....
2025-11-0559 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 8: Orion Grove - The Houston Social Influencer on Being Vietnamese, Finding Yourself, Gambling, and FoodIn this hilarious and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Orion Grove, a Vietnamese social influencer and real estate investor based in Houston, Texas. From the jump, our conversation takes off with plenty of laughs as we dive into Orion’s Vietnamese roots, the chaos and charm of bus transportation, and his wild journey of self-discovery. We don’t shy away from the unexpected — gambling stories, cockfighting tales, and honest takes on life growing up Vietnamese in America all make an appearance. Of course, no Vietnamese convo is complete without food debates, and Orion brings his unfiltered opinions on how Vi...
2025-10-2758 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 7: Thu Anh Nguyen - The D.C. Artist on Poetry, Paintings, Pajamas, and Life After DeathIn this episode of Walmak, Ha Mai sits down with the multi-talented Thu Anh Nguyen — a Vietnamese-American writer, poet, painter, and educator based in Washington, D.C. Thu Anh opens up about her coming-of-age journey and what it really means to step out of comfort to chase passion and purpose. From brushstrokes to verses, she shares how art, poetry, and teaching all intertwine in her creative process.Of course, this wouldn’t be a Walmak convo without some laughs along the way. Thu Anh reveals her top three very unexpected favorite Vietnamese dishes, talks about the unmatched vibe...
2025-10-201h 01
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 6: Khang Starr - The Dallas Pepper Gardener on Whiskey, Lawncare, Community, and PeaceIn this lively and laughter-filled episode, I sit down with Dallas gardening master Khang Starr, a man whose love for soil, spice, and good vibes has cultivated more than just a beautiful backyard—it’s built a thriving online community. We dig into his passion for gardening and lawn care, the satisfaction of growing your own food, and his fiery obsession with peppers that could make even the boldest taste buds sweat. Between stories of sipping whiskey, clubbing in the early 2000s, and lawn care tips, Khang's shares how he grew his massive social media following by simply doing what...
2025-10-1357 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 5: Christine Pham - The Orange County Dietician on Food, Feelings, Family, and NellyIn this episode, I sit down with Christine Pham, R.D., a Vietnamese-American registered dietitian who keeps it real about body image, culture, and self-worth. Christine opens up about growing up Vietnamese, being body-shamed by friends and family, and how those early experiences inspired her to rebuild her confidence through healthy eating and exercise. What started as a personal journey turned into a career dedicated to helping others heal their relationship with food and themselves.From nutrition and fasting to running and mindfulness, we cover the full menu of health and humor. Between the serious moments, we...
2025-10-061h 00
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 4: Will Pepper - The Los Angeles Standup Comedian on His Name, Dating, Inspirations, and Taylor SwiftIn this episode, I sit down with Will Pepper, a Vietnamese-American stand-up comedian based in Los Angeles, CA, whose name is just as memorable as his punchlines. We kick things off by digging into his background, where he’s from, and how growing up Vietnamese shaped his perspective. Will shares what drew him into comedy and why making people laugh became his calling, blending his personal experiences with the universal humor of everyday life.Our conversation doesn’t stop at comedy. We wander into food, music, family quirks, and the uniquely “Vietnamese” things that every Vietnamese household seems to...
2025-09-2847 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 3: Paul Nguyen - The Dallas Area Stroke Survivor on Sneakers, Movies, and the Grind of Một Tay Pha CoffeeIn this episode, host Ha Mai sits down with Paul Nguyen, a Vietnamese American from the Dallas–Fort Worth area whose story blends resilience, creativity, and passion. Paul is a hemorrhagic stroke survivor, and he opens up about how that life-changing experience reshaped his outlook. Since his recovery, he’s adopted a much healthier lifestyle—being mindful of his diet, daily habits, and overall wellness. But Paul isn’t defined only by his stroke. He’s also a lover of culture, sneakers, movies, and especially coffee.What began as a personal obsession with Vietnamese coffee has grown into a bra...
2025-09-2259 min
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 2: Elizabeth Dinh - The Portland News Anchor Woman on Her Career, Marriage, Perimenopause, and KnittingIn this episode, host Ha Mai sits down with Elizabeth Dinh, a proud Dallas–Fort Worth native whose story is as inspiring as it is relatable. Elizabeth shares her journey from growing up in a Vietnamese household to finding her voice as a journalist and news anchor. Married to her high school sweetheart, Kevin, she opens up about the ups and downs of marriage, the realities of growing older, and navigating Peri-menopause with humor and grace.A University of Texas at Arlington grad, Elizabeth’s career has taken her from Amarillo to Tampa, Seattle, Dallas, and finally Port...
2025-09-151h 01
Walmak Podcast: Vietnamese-American Popular CultureEP 1: Jaclyn Le - The Dallas Creative on Design, Art, and TypographyKick off the very first episode of the AlwaysWalmak.com podcast, a Vietnamese-American pop culture show created by Ha Mai, a graphic designer passionate about storytelling, culture, and community. In this debut episode, Ha sits down with Jaclyn Le, a Dallas-based designer, artist, and typographer whose journey is as colorful as her lettering.Jaclyn shares how her childhood love of the TV show, Pappyland sparked her creative curiosity, leading her to explore illustration and typography. She opens up about how Vietnamese culture—and love for spring rolls—keeps her grounded, and she reflects on a surprising chapter of h...
2025-09-0701 min