Rice n Mics

Tung Nguyen
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Monthly

Exploring the every day Asian Australian culture, experience and what makes us unique. The podcast brings on a variety of guests to get different perspectives and stories. Trying to aim for at least an episode a month.

  1. Sep 26

    Work-Life Balance in the Kitchen: Fatherhood vs. The Love for the Game | Junior & Norman | Ep 69

    In our third episode together, we're joined again by Chefs Junior and Norman for an update in their hospitality grind. We dive straight into what happened to Saigon Hustle, and how their culinary journeys have progressed since. We also unpack how they navigate work-life balance, with Junior breaking down what it's like navigating the kitchen hours as a new dad, while Norman shares his perspective on setting up his work life balance to avoid burnout. We also talk about the global chef shortage, reading Google reviews for Hustlers, why you should listen to the rules of Omakase, and what Chefs really think when you order a well-done steak. Go try out Junior's food at Hustlers! --- Items mentioned The Omakase Rules Gordon Ramsay well done steak --- Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - ⁠https://sonofabooth.com.au/⁠ Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:40 What happened to Saigon Hustle? 4:32 Why They Left & The Truth Behind Restaurant Split-Ups  6:05 Hospitality Work-Life Balance: New Fatherhood vs. Setting Boundaries  12:23 Chef Norman’s Career Shift After Saigon Hustle 21:11 Transitioning Culinary Styles: Asian Fusion to Portuguese Cuisine 24:36 The Hidden Challenges of High-Volume Bulk Cooking 29:07 Hustlers Menu Strategy: Seasonal Ingredients & Cost Management 35:26 Food Presentation vs. Taste: What Matters More? 41:57 Hidden tips in restaurant bills 43:38 Facing Competition & Staying Relevant in Sydney's Food Scene  49:27 The hidden tip bill restaurant 52:11 Reading Google reviews of Hustlers 1:14:20 The Global Chef Shortage & Hospitality Crisis 1:22:13 Is AI & Automation Taking Over Commercial Kitchens? 1:27:55 Why You MUST Show Up On Time (Omakase Horror Story) 1:31:51 Banned From The Star Casino & Cooking in Sydney CBD vs. Smithfield  LINK GORDON RAMSAY WELL DONE STEAK 1:39:54 What Chefs REALLY Think When You Order a Well-Done Steak 1:42:51 How Dietary Requirements Restrict Creative Cooking 1:46:27 Career Advice for Aspiring Chefs & Automated Cooking Tech 1:53:36 The Brutal Physical Toll of Working in Commercial Kitchens 1:55:30 Outro

    Work-Life Balance in the Kitchen: Fatherhood vs. The Love for the Game | Junior & Norman | Ep 69

  2. Jun 24

    Harry Jun: From Teacher to Good Game Spawn Point/Squad & Comedy | Ep 68

    I chat with Sydney comedian Harry Jun to learn about his journey from high school teacher to full-time comedy, content creation and media. Harry gives us the raw, behind the scenes look at the independent creative grind. We dive deep in some Aussie millennial nostalgia (even though technically I'm gen Z), joining Good Game Spawn Point and Squad, navigating social media and exploring Harry's culture through his work. --- Harry's Links https://www.instagram.com/_harryjun _/https://harryjun.com/ https://linktr.ee/harryjun/ --- Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - https://sonofabooth.com.au/ Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:01 Getting into Stand-up Comedy & ABC's Good Game 4:01 What is Good Game Squad on SBS? 5:54 Harry Jun's Career Background & High School Teaching 10:29 Quitting Teaching & Modern School Bullying Techniques 13:04 Touring as a Comic & School Social Media Policies 15:51 Performing Comedy in Chinatown & Dealing With Hecklers 23:06 What Makes a Hard Comedy Gig? 26:51 Reading the Room & Audience Body Language 29:07 Solo Comedy Shows, Performing for 2 People & Selling Tickets 37:02 Independent Comedy: Do You Need an Agent or Management? 40:36 Handling Hecklers & Finding Friendly Faces in the Crowd 43:09 Do Comics Have a Breakdown Before or After Sets? 44:47 Why Creatives Need to Hang Out With Non-Work Friends 48:32 Incorporating Culture Into Stand-up & 'Low-Hanging Fruit' Jokes 56:02 Sharing Your Heritage vs Disapproving Korean Aunties 1:03:25 Connecting With Korean Audiences & Comedy Inspirations 1:08:19 Using Animated Teaching Methods in Stand-up Comedy 1:12:13 Performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 1:19:28 SOAB AD 1:20:58 The Difference Between Gig MCing vs Performing a Set 1:25:31 Swapping Between SFW and NSFW Content Styles 1:29:36 Funny Interactions With Kid Hecklers & Future Projects 1:33:19 How to Keep Tour Costs Low & Knowing When You've "Made It" 1:38:24 What Career Would You Do Without Comedy? 1:42:40 Worst Comedy Gig Experiences & Nightmare Rooms 1:46:39 Performing Work-in-Progress (WIP) Comedy Shows 1:48:49 Meaningful Messages From Stand-up Fans 1:51:20 Dream Comedy Venues & Collaborators 1:55:36 Why Live Comedy is So Much Better Than Online Videos 1:57:13 Advice for New Creatives & Content Creators 2:03:13 Outro

    Harry Jun: From Teacher to Good Game Spawn Point/Squad & Comedy | Ep 68

  3. Apr 29

    Terence Nguyen: Balancing Acting, Events MCing, and the Reality of Freelance Life | Ep 67

    I sit down with professional Executive MC and actor Terence Nguyen, aka 'The Main with the Mic'. Terence has built a brand as the area's MC, who has hosted weddings, corporate events, charity galas, but his path to getting here was far from typical. We dive into his evolution from a kid in Western Sydney to a high-energy MC. He shares his foundational training at PYT Fairfield which helped him break the 'quiet Asian' stereotype which led him roles in major products like Anyone But You and Last King of the Cross. Terence also chats about his community work through the Asian Hustle Network and the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. --- Terence's Links https://www.instagram.com/terencenguyenmc/ https://www.tiktok.com/@terencenguyenmc --- Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sonofabooth/⁠ Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:38 Are MCs Naturally Confident? Public Speaking Secrets 3:48 Acting Career: IMDb, Maria Tran, and Takashi Hara 8:51 Starring in "Tuan’s Party" (Theatre & Performance) 17:25 Theatre vs. Corporate MCing & Trivia Events 21:07 Terence’s Origin Story: From Dinosaur Speeches to the Big Stage 26:16 Personal Development: Breaking the "Shy Kid" Stereotype 28:08 Wedding Inspiration: Immi & Nico’s Wedding and Toastmasters 32:04 University Life and Working at the Courthouse 34:50 Mentorship with Jeremiah Hartman: Violating Expectations 38:18 How to Find MC Gigs & Average MC Rates in Australia 42:37 Being a Chameleon: Adapting Your Energy for Events 44:48 What Makes a Good vs. Bad Wedding MC? 50:26 Studying Marriage Celebrancy 52:11 The Reality of Financial Uncertainty & Freelance Life 57:25 SOAB AD 58:55 Event Demand: Weekday vs. Weekend Work 1:01:23 Speaking Vietnamese: Assessing Language Proficiency 1:07:09 Is Basic Vietnamese Enough for Bilingual Weddings? 1:09:00 Native Vietnamese vs. Viet-Aus MCs & Word of Mouth Marketing 1:12:51 Pricing Strategies: How to Charge Without Undercutting the Market 1:15:56 Vendor Relations: Why Timing is Everything in Events 1:19:21 Client Chemistry: What Makes a Couple Great to Work With? 1:22:58 Essential Wedding Tips: Keep the Speeches Short! 1:28:00 The Worst Wedding Experience 1:39:14 Protecting Your Big Day: Why You Must Check Your Vendors 1:41:47 Community Impact and Working with Sydney Lane 1:44:52 Mastering Improv in Low-Stakes Environments 1:47:49 Favourite Wedding Trends: Chinese Wedding Traditions 1:56:37 Top Venue Recommendations, Dream Gigs, and Career Advice 2:03:35 Outro

    Terence Nguyen: Balancing Acting, Events MCing, and the Reality of Freelance Life | Ep 67

  4. Mar 23

    Fatherhood, Vlogging, Weddings and Escaping Finance w/ Andy Yang | Ep 66

    We sit down with one of the OG creative and wedding videography veteran Andy Yang, where he shares the moment on a morning train commute was one of the many steps to slowly leave behind a stable finance career to pursue a life behind the lens. We dive into the evolution of the Asian Australian creative scene, from Andy's early days filming YouTube covers and touring Asia, to navigating the high-stakes world of wedding videography (The SanDisk failure...). --- Andy's Links https://www.youtube.com/@AndyYangVlogs https://www.instagram.com/andyyang84 /https://www.andyyangfilms.com/ --- Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth - https://www.instagram.com/sonofabooth/ Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- Chapters 0:00 Intro – Andy’s videography journey 2:25 Andy’s career before filmmaking – switching industries 4:11 How Andy became a videographer – breaking into content creation 9:29 Early life, creative background, and career foundations 14:40 Wedding videographer pricing – hourly rates, market trends, OG vendors 20:51 Pricing strategy for videographers – avoiding undercutting and managing client expectations 23:58 Working with real couples – Nathan & Annette and Andy’s signature filming style 28:40 Data loss in videography – backups, workflow, and AI recovery tools 36:11 Cinematic shooting style explained – Nathan’s on‑set experience 40:42 Editing workflow for videographers – dad content, storytelling, tour vlogs 49:12 How the YouTube creator landscape is changing 53:20 Behind the scenes of wedding videography – difficult clients and real experiences1 :01:14 Dad content and lifestyle filming – meal kits, home shoots 1:07:29 What makes an ideal couple client for videographers 1:10:43 Time management for videographers – structuring a full shoot day 1:12:56 SOAB AD 1:14:26 Crew meal etiquette – what videographers and photographers should know 1:17:44 Unique vendor ideas in the wedding industry 1:21:32 Working styles and camera gear – tools for modern videographers 1:28:46 Beginner videographer advice – how to start in photography and filmmaking 1:31:46 Advice to younger self – favourite wedding trends and industry insights 1:33:40 What couples overspend on – wedding budget tips and smart splurges 1:37:37 Outro – final thoughts on videography and content creation

    Fatherhood, Vlogging, Weddings and Escaping Finance w/ Andy Yang | Ep 66

  5. Feb 9

    Corporate 9-5 to Food Creator: LateNightAnna’s Journey | Ep 65

    If you were to ask a year ago, I would've said by day, Anna works 9-5 as a finance manager, and by night, she's LateNightAnna. But since then, she is all in on LateNightAnna, cooking, creating and building a food content brand that started with a viral Basque cheesecake during Covid. In this episode, I sit down with Anna to talk about her journey from competing in MasterChef as a teenager, to starting a home baking business from scratch, to documenting her life in her 30s through food, travel and content creation. We chat about how she balanced a corporate career with creative passion, growing up Chinese-Australian in Sydney, performing on stages from singing competitions to national finals, and what it really takes to stay consistent when you’re building something on the side. If you've ever thought about starting a side hustle, chasing a creative dream, or just love food content, this one's for you. --- Anna's Links Youtube Channel https://www.instagram.com/latenightannaa https://www.tiktok.com/@late.night.anna --- Items mentioned Noodle bowl: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sets-Containers-Microwavable-Restaurants-Self-Adhesive/dp/B0DPJVT1NW/ What we made: https://bylatenightanna.com/fire-carbonara-instant-noodles/ Anna's singing channel: https://www.instagram.com/annabanana.mp3 --- Need a photobooth? Reach out to SonofaBooth Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:07 Background, corporate life 6:42 Anna's singing journey, different languages 10:57 The basque cheesecake, covid business 17:26 How do you make a living? 21:54 Masterchef appearance 24:18 Why food content? 26:52 Mukbang, our relationship with food 31:37 Bao bae, starting a fast food brand 35:18 Growing up with food, inspiration 39:10 How did you learn to cook? 41:24 When was enough income to replace the corporate gig? 45:12 More followers =/= More income 49:27 Pivoting to long form content 51:43 Culinary Class Wars dishes 56:29 Travel content? 59:42 What is 'latenightanna'? 1:02:04 Son of a Booth ad 1:03:34 Cooking starts 1:06:53 Light vs dark soy sauce 1:12:58 Ingredient you can't live without 1:20:56 Are instant noodles your guilty pleasure food/personality? 1:23:47 Go to dish to impress someone 1:26:47 Drawing on cups 1:29:33 Advice for other content creators 1:37:14 Outro

    Corporate 9-5 to Food Creator: LateNightAnna’s Journey | Ep 65

  6. 12/30/2025

    Weddings, Proposals & Growing Up - Nathan’s Big Day + Tung's Big Reveal | Ep 64

    Weddings hit different when it’s your close friends, and even more when you’re part of the chaos behind the scenes. We sit down with Nathan & Annette to break down their wedding day - the planning, the emotions, the cultural expectations, family dynamics… and the moments that nearly didn’t go to plan. I also reveal a big announcement of my own... We chat through everything from proposals and adrenaline, to budgets, vendors, tea ceremonies, first dances, and what it actually feels like once the day is over and married life begins. --- Corey's mum's catering: msbunmee Nathan's wedding venue: Highline --- Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- 0:00 Intro 3:11 Describe the wedding in one word 4:48 Tung's big announcement 9:07 Which knee to get on when proposing, adrenaline 14:50 Business class is crazy, having kids 17:14 How did Tung design the ring, new drip, wedding season 21:15 Picking the wedding venue 25:20 Parental input for the wedding, food choices, styling 30:54 The tea ceremony, Nathan's big reveal 37:03 Getting all the vendors, Tung becoming MC 40:52 What almost went wrong? Saving money 45:26 Consider being a celebrant 47:56 Feelings leading up to the wedding 50:23 Planning, parents inviting friends 54:29 The deck of cards 57:07 Budget, mid, high end venues, food options 1:00:28 Vendors for the wedding 1:04:58 Picking the first dance song, highlights 1:12:39 Would you change anything? 1:18:22 Planning Tung's wedding 1:20:24 How it feels to be married 1:23:14 Nerves, advice for future grooms/brides 1:26:54 BUDGET 1:29:12 Start planning 1:33:36 The photoshoot, potential destination wedding 1:39:05 Questions from viewers, engagement watches 1:42:54 Outro

    Weddings, Proposals & Growing Up - Nathan’s Big Day + Tung's Big Reveal | Ep 64

  7. 12/10/2025

    Mortgage Broking in Australia: What First-Home Buyers Need to Know w/ Michael Nguyen | Ep 63

    Note: There will be video soon, working through some tech issues. Otherwise YouTube is where you can find it for now! We’ve hit that stage of life where everyone’s either getting engaged, married, planning a Japan trip, or trying to buy a house. And somewhere in that chaos, the words “mortgage broker” keep popping up, but what do they actually do? Are they just a fancy search engine for home loans? In this episode, Michael Nguyen joins us to break down the world of mortgage broking, answer the questions most first-home buyers are too scared to ask, and share what it’s really like working in the industry. Whether you’re buying soon or just curious, this one clears up a lot. --- Michael's email: michael@professionalhomeloans.com.au https://www.professionalhomeloans.com.au/ --- Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- 0:00 Intro 3:04 Inspiring kids with Dai Le 5:33 Growing up, selective schooling PTSD 14:00 TAFE, uni offers and experience 20:34 Becoming an Apprentice Broker 23:28 How do brokers get paid? The cutthroat side 28:10 Cut out the broker and save? 31:18 Struggling as an apprentice, abusing free gym trials 36:38 Getting from start to finish for a loan, compromising 40:02 Where to buy IPs 45:32 Can brokers get loans for themselves? Apprentice life 52:48 Be the dumbest guy in the room 55:26 Teaching other colleagues 57:23 Apprentice vs now 58:20 The self employment struggle 1:02:24 Fluctuating income, the first deal ever 1:04:56 Bad vs good broker 1:06:33 Why not go for the cheapest rate? 1:10:51 5% deposit scheme 1:13:38 Biggest first home buyer mistakes 1:18:02 Emotions of buying a place 1:22:24 Toughest deal 1:25:08 How afterpay/credit card churning affects home loans 1:27:17 Advice for aspiring brokers 1:31:11 Outro

    Mortgage Broking in Australia: What First-Home Buyers Need to Know w/ Michael Nguyen | Ep 63

  8. 09/24/2025

    Gambling and Lottery in Asian Culture // The $100M Lottery Win Theorycrafting | Ep 62

    Why are games of luck like the lottery, or even casual gambling such a big part of Asian culture? In this episode we dive into the weird world of superstition, fate, our experiences with gambling growing up and what we'd actually do if we won the lottery. --- Guests: Matt & Nathan --- Items mentioned ⁠Behind Asia's AWFUL Gambling Obsession⁠Gourd, crab, fish, tiger gameRacist Pokie Joke Origin$43M Pokie Machine MalfunctionSex dice watch--- Want to get in touch? Send us an email at ⁠⁠ricenmicspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow us on our socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/ricenmicspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music: aKu - Love Shine | aKu - The Final Blow --- Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:46 How much was gambling around you growing up? 4:02 Las Vegas vs Macau, culture 10:47 Old vs New gamblers 13:35 Sports betting, VR betting, Crypto casinos 19:09 Zombie apocalypse, bidet tangent 21:12 Betting on anything, following trades, powerball 26:43 What would we do if we won the lottery? 35:55 Is hiring an in-house chef cheating on your mum? Proxy incense 39:27 Aunty claiming she prayed for you to win hypothetical 42:29 Stealth wealth 47:19 Enjoying work? Lean FIRE? Jobs we'd work at still? 50:32 Would you still credit card churn? 53:15 A farm! 53:48 Outro

    Gambling and Lottery in Asian Culture // The $100M Lottery Win Theorycrafting | Ep 62
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Exploring the every day Asian Australian culture, experience and what makes us unique. The podcast brings on a variety of guests to get different perspectives and stories. Trying to aim for at least an episode a month.

Information

  • Creator
    Tung Nguyen
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tung Nguyen
  • Show Website
    Rice n Mics