E13: Ova Saopeng on refuge to Hawaii + first wave (1.5 gen) Lao Am movement work + processing grief & fatherhood

MEET HOL GUEST: OVA SAOPENG

In episode 13 of HOL, Ova joins Rita for a conversation about his family’s refuge to Hawaii post Secret War in Laos, identifying as 1.5 generation, enacting the first waves of Lao American movement work, processing grief post-father’s death and about his own becomings of fatherhood. 

Today, Ova is a theater artivist (artist + activist) who performs all over the world through his theater company called TeAda Productions, which is a nomadic theater of color rooted in the stories of immigrants and refugees. More specifically through Refugee Nation performance, they touch issues relating to the refugee experience assimilation, generation gap, and mental health using drama, film, music, and audience interaction, and personalizes these issues through a genuine Laotian American perspective. 

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CONNECT WITH OVA:
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
TeAda WEBSITE

REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:
REFUGEE NATION
1.5 Generation
Savannakhet Province
Xeno Village
Sleeping Death Syndrome
Legacies of War, Channapha Khamvongsa
Center for Lao Studies, Vinya Sysamouth and Phoumy Sayavong
Steve Arounsack
Bryan Thao Worra
Phitsamay Uy
Toni Morrison
Ethnic Groups in Laos
University of Southern California (USC)

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HUGE SHOUT OUTS TO:
Laos Angeles Roots Members Andrew David Vilaythong for mixing/producing the beats for HOL and "mystery person"