Khmer Voices

Vanny Whitchelo
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Biweekly

Growing up in Canada, there was a lack of representation of stories that truly resonated with me when it came to professionals. In this podcast, I aim to close this gap.  We're celebrating and amplifying Khmer voices through conversations with the Cambodian diaspora from all over the world. We discuss their journey, successes, failures and their upbringing.  Get inspired to take action after hearing our stories!

  1. Jul 15

    Heart x Culture x Legacy -- But at What Cost? With Pioneer of Cambodian Hip Hop Sok Visal

    Sok Visal shares his journey from growing up in France to pioneering hip hop in Cambodia. He discusses his cultural influences, the challenges he overcame, his vision for the future of Cambodia's creative industry, and what we need to do to keep the country moving forward.  Bio: Sok Visal is a Cambodian-French filmmaker, music producer, and creative entrepreneur who has spent more than two decades contributing to Cambodia’s modern cultural landscape. Born in Phnom Penh and raised between cultures, Sok returned to Cambodia in the late 1990s with a desire to help shape a new creative era. He founded KlapYaHandz, Cambodia’s pioneering hip-hop and alternative music label, helping introduce a generation of artists who blended Khmer heritage with global sounds. He later co-founded 802 Films, producing and directing films such as In the Life of Music, Poppy Goes to Hollywood, and other internationally recognized projects that aim to bridge Cambodian stories with global audiences. Beyond music and film, Sok has worked across advertising, events, artist management, and creative strategy. He is also a co-founder of Write & Eat, a community initiative supporting Southeast Asian writers and filmmakers. Throughout his career, Sok has focused on building long-term systems that allow artists to sustain themselves creatively and financially. His current work explores how technology, entrepreneurship, and culture can intersect to create greater independence and opportunity for artists in Southeast Asia. At heart, he sees himself as a student of culture — constantly learning, experimenting, and trying to build meaningful bridges between tradition and the future. Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/sokvisal_officialig https://sokvisal.substack.com/ https://klapyahandz.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/Klapyahandz https://www.instagram.com/klapyahandz https://www.youtube.com/@802films ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  2. Jul 1

    Was it Luck? With Khmer Linguist Nielson Sophann Hul, PhD

    Dr. Nielson Sophann Hul is a Khmer linguist specializing in phonetics, heritage language acquisition, and Southeast Asian linguistics. In this episode, he shares his journey from his birth when his parents fled Cambodia to becoming a linguistics university professor. His research focuses on the phonetic and phonological systems of Khmer, with particular attention to implosive consonants, voice quality, and sociophonetic variation in diasporic communities. Before academia, Nielson was a Combat Medic in the United States Army for 14 years. How did that shape him? He found that teaching was one of the only professions that could provide the same sense of purpose that soldiering had. Nielson has taught Khmer and English at several institutions, including Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Long Beach City College.  At the community college level, he worked extensively with heritage language learners by offering instruction for reading and writing in Khmer as an alternative to other languages, facilitating transfer to four-year institutions for Cambodian immigrants who had missed the opportunity for formal education during their childhood due to being raised during the Khmer Rouge period and its aftermath.  Connect with Dr. Hul  https://asian.washington.edu/people/nielson-hul nhul@uw.edu https://www.instagram.com/nielsonhul ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  3. Jun 17

    Khmer Voices Will Be Changing! (just a little)

    What's happening with Khmer Voices? What are some takeaways from conversations with Khmer Voices guests over the last 3 months? What surprised me during this podcasting journey? What's next for Khmer Voices? I cover all this in this solo episode. ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  4. Jun 3

    Growing up in Cambodia at the Start of Rebuilding with ReanKhmer Founder Chankrisna Chea

    Chankrisna (Krisna) Chea is the Founder and CEO of Chea Labs, where he built ReanKhmer—the first AI-powered Khmer learning platform helping the Cambodian diaspora reconnect with their heritage.  With a BS in Computer Science and MS in Wireless Communication, Krisna has over 20 years of technical leadership in wireless technologies, software development and validation, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Beyond technology, Chankrisna serves the Cambodian community as Vice Chair and Khmer School Director and Teacher of the Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO), as well as a mentor to help young entrepreneurs build and grow startups in Cambodia. He is passionate about leveraging technology to transform cultural preservation, education, and agriculture—empowering Khmer youth in STEM and building solutions for underrepresented communities. Connect with Chankrisna on Facebook and/or LinkedIn https://www.facebook.com/chankrisna.chea https://www.linkedin.com/in/chankrisna-chea ReanKhmer App https://www.reankhmer.org/ ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  5. May 20

    Born & Raised in Cambodia in a French Bubble with Khmer Era Founder Marie

    Marie is Khmer-French, currently based in Berlin. Her dad's family immigrated to France in the 80s. Fifteen years later, he returned home on his own, met her mom, and decided his children would grow up between two cultures.  Marie and her sister were born and raised in Cambodia but mostly within a French bubble and she described existing in that in-between space, confusing. As a bridge between Cambodia and her life abroad, Marie created KHMER ERA, a rave-inspired fashion brand using traditionally woven Khmer silk. It carries Cambodian culture and craftsmanship into new spaces through humor, community, and design. Khmer Era website https://khmerera.com/ Follow Khmer Era on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/khmerera ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  6. May 6

    Challenging Stereotypes, Giving Back, and Business Talk with Rapper, Community Builder, and Mechanical Engineer Borey Chau

    Borey Chau is a second generation Khmer American who uses art to share his perspective of Cambodian diaspora life in Califorinia. Many know him as G Funk Supreme, Long Beach, California rap artist, entrepreneur, and creative. His personal persona though includes his day job as a Mechanical Engineer.  Discover how he overcame stereotypes, pursued his passions, and built initiatives to uplift his community in this episode.  Borey's book: If My Eyes Could Talk They Things They Would Say https://www.blurb.com/b/9322600-if-my-eyes-could-talk-the-things-they-would-say?srsltid=AfmBOooAlUyjlSuOjcWdJQpMrSKJtkTWzbsQxB-Fg80-J7y-JLlzuSi9 Borey's Instagram: @GFunkSupreme https://www.instagram.com/gfunksupreme @khummunity https://www.instagram.com/khmmunity ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  7. Apr 22

    Summary of Dr. Kara Uy Has' Khmer Diaspora Keynote & Conference Takeaways

    Thank you to Dr. Kara Uy Has, PysD for sharing her keynote presentation slides with me: Memory, Healing, and the Work of Becoming for the Khmer Diaspora Conference held March 27-29 in Lowell, MA, United States. I was wiping tears throughout her keynote and couldn't focus on writing notes. This episode offers a summary of her powerful message that set the tone for the conference, The Next 50 years: Evolving from Surviving to Thriving in the Khmer Diaspora.  I also share 4 of my takeaways from the conference. Thank you to Dr. Christine Su and the planning team for organizing such a thoughtful, inspiring, and empowering conference.  ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

  8. Apr 8

    Khmer Diaspora Conference Interviews

    The first ever Khmer diaspora conference was held in Lowell, MA, USA from March 27 to 29, 2026, organized by Dr. Christine Su. I managed to get some time with 7 people throughout this meaningful, jam-packed weekend to ask these powerful questions, courtesy of Cathy Chen on Threads @triggeredbutcurious: Question 1: What did you once reject that you now understand differently? Question 2: Are you rediscovering parts of your heritage you once pushed away? Question 3: Are you finding new meaning in old traditions? Question 4: What part of your upbringing are you slowly making peace with? Interviewees: Linda Thach  https://www.instagram.com/lthach27 Ani Vong https://www.instagram.com/ani_v Li-Da Kruger https://www.instagram.com/lidamix Oussa Bun https://www.instagram.com/oussa__56 Sophia Lee https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemekong Pichchenda Bao https://www.instagram.com/pichchendabaopoet Minda Sam https://www.instagram.com/one.naga ------------ Hosting an event in Canada? Use Bloom Tickets to sell your tickets, like me! Here's my referral link. Let's connect on Instagram @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social. Intro and outro music by https://pixabay.com/users/chhuchchhuch-26181660/

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About

Growing up in Canada, there was a lack of representation of stories that truly resonated with me when it came to professionals. In this podcast, I aim to close this gap.  We're celebrating and amplifying Khmer voices through conversations with the Cambodian diaspora from all over the world. We discuss their journey, successes, failures and their upbringing.  Get inspired to take action after hearing our stories!

Information

  • Creator
    Vanny Whitchelo
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Khmer Voices
  • Show Website
    Khmer Voices

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