Connecting with Kenna

Kenna Holiday

Welcome to Connecting With Kenna. This podcast aims to connect listeners with the world! Covering cultural, ethical, and contemporary issues, with conversations between Kenna and individuals from around the world, Kenna aims to help listeners understand different cultures, beliefs, and ideas on a deeper level. From Russia, Nepal, to the islands of Indonesia, and beyond, listeners will gain a better understanding of what life is like on a global scale. Enjoy!

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    “This Coffee Can Literally Make You Faint!” What Tourists Get Wrong About Vietnam | Nguyen Thanh Nhi

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when a girl who grew up flying kites in the Vietnamese countryside leaves home to study abroad? Nhi takes you inside Vietnam: its language, its coffee culture, its family values, and the parenting style summed up in four words: “do it or you die.” Nguyen Thanh Nhi is from Hanoi, Vietnam, and is a senior majoring in Data Science at Duke Kunshan University (昆山杜克大学). From lucky money at Lunar New Year to her grandma slipping her cash for bubble tea, she gives an honest, funny and heartfelt insider’s view of growing up Vietnamese, and why she dreams of one day returning home to help her country grow. In this episode, she explains: ■ Pho or Fuh?: How to actually say Vietnam’s most famous dish, and how Vietnamese borrows words from Chinese and French. ■ Lucky Money: How Lunar New Year works in Vietnam, and why you still get red envelopes all through university. ■ The Coffee Capital: Why Vietnamese coffee is so strong it “can make you faint,” and the sidewalk café culture where you can get a great cup for a dollar or two. ■ A Countryside Childhood: Growing up without screens, stealing eggs from the chickens, and why she worries kids today are losing their curiosity. ■ “Do It or You Die”: How Vietnamese parents teach through exaggeration, and how her family explained death through Buddhism and a beloved pet pig. ■ Family First: Why several generations often live under one roof, and the grandma who still worries about her more than anyone. ■ Vietnam’s Rise: What Vietnamese people think about factories moving from China to Vietnam, the “brain drain,” and her mission to help Vietnam become a developed country. Nhi’s favorite quote: “While we still have today, make sure it is a day to remember.” Connect with Nguyen Thanh Nhi: ■ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thanhnhinguyendku/ ■ Email:  tn137@duke.edu She says don’t be shy to reach out if you’re curious about Vietnam or planning a trip! Connecting with Kenna: ◼ Connecting with Kenna - https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-with-kenna ◼ Follow the host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennaholiday Support the show

  2. 6d ago

    Why China Moved Its Capital From Nanjing To Beijing | Kuang Sheng

    Send us Fan Mail Nanjing was the capital of six Chinese dynasties. So why did China’s emperors eventually move the capital to Beijing? Kuang Sheng, an economics student at DKU, grew up in Nanjing, China. In this episode, he takes us through Nanjing’s history, from the Ming dynasty and the Great Wall to Sun Yat-sen and the birth of modern China, and shares what it was like growing up in a city where education comes first. He shares: ■ Why dynasties based in Nanjing struggled to last, and why the capital moved to Beijing ■ How the Great Wall we see today was built ■ Nanjing’s temple traditions, festival porridge and favorite foods like salted duck ■ Hanfu and the traditional clothing worn at festivals ■ How Nanjing made silk clothing for China’s emperors ■ Where to go and what to eat in Nanjing ■ Why he admires Sun Yat-sen ■ Why education matters so much to families in Nanjing, and the fear of falling behind ■ How he ended up at Duke Kunshan University ■ His advice: the story of the monk who planted something new Follow Kuang: ◼ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuang-sheng-758a12292/  Connecting with Kenna: ◼ Connecting with Kenna: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-with-kenna ◼ Follow the host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennaholiday Support the show

  3. Oct 26

    “We Cannot Shame Ourselves Into Change”: From Caracas To DC To Schwarzman | Amanda González Mejía

    Send us Fan Mail From the open-door parties of Caracas to the LinkedIn-first culture of DC, Amanda explains why in Venezuela, you’re not successful unless you’re happy. Amanda González Mejía was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and grew up in Arlington, just outside Washington, DC. She’s a fourth-year political economy student at DKU, speaks Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and English, and is heading to Beijing as a Schwarzman Scholar. In this episode, she shares how growing up between two capitals shaped her views on family, faith, friendship and what a meaningful career looks like. She shares: ■ Why Venezuelans measure success by happiness, not income ■ “Ojalá,” asking for blessings, and how faith shows up in everyday Venezuelan conversation ■ Going from Caracas to Arlington, and what it’s like to grow up in a divided city ■ Being raised by a village of grandparents, aunts and family friends ■ How her mom, a women’s rights lawyer, inspired her, and why Amanda is choosing her own path between public and private impact ■ Becoming a Schwarzman Scholar ■ Saint days, two-week Christmases, and why everyone in Venezuela dances ■ Venezuela’s beauty pageant culture and the pressure on women to always look their best ■ Her advice: rely on your community, and why “we cannot shame ourselves into change” Follow Amanda: ◼ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-niza-gonzalez-mej%C3%ADa/ Connecting with Kenna: ◼ Connecting with Kenna: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-with-kenna ◼ Follow the host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennaholiday Support the show

  4. Oct 22

    How Bulgaria Survived 500 Years Of Ottoman Rule | Ivana Nikolova & Philip Yanakiev | Sofia, Bulgaria

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take for a culture to survive 500 years of foreign rule, communism and the chaos of the 1990s? Philip and Ivana, two friends from Sofia, take you inside Bulgaria: its turbulent history, deep-rooted faith, sacred family meals and the traditions that still shape daily life today. Philip and Ivana were both born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. From Roman ruins under Sofia’s streets to grandma’s breakfast table and homemade rakia, they give an honest, funny and personal insider’s view of a country many people know little about. In this episode, they explain: ■ The Walkable City: Why walking everywhere is normal in Sofia, and how childhood changed from yelling up to a friend’s window to texting. ■ The Turbulent 1990s: How former athletes and state-security insiders took advantage of the shift to a market economy, and how much safer Bulgaria feels today. ■ The Power of Language: Why Bulgaria was one of the first nations allowed to worship in its own language, and how that kept its culture alive through 500 years of Ottoman rule. ■ The Nod That Means “No”: The story behind one of Bulgaria’s most surprising customs. ■ The Sacred Table: Why bread must never go to waste, why food is Bulgaria’s love language, and the dishes you need to try, from banitsa to shopska salad. ■ The Rakia Tradition: The homemade brandy used as a gift, a medicine and a celebration, including a grandfather who made 100 bottles for each grandchild’s milestones. Follow Philip & Ivana: Ivana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/in36     Philip's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-yanakiev  Connecting with Kenna: ◼ Connecting with Kenna - https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-with-kenna ◼ Follow the host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennaholiday Support the show

  5. Jul 31

    How a Forbes 30 Under 30 Founder Is Getting More Girls Interested in Quantum Computing | Elisa Torres Durney

    Send us Fan Mail At 16, Elisa's fascination with quantum computing turned into a global mission to inspire young women to explore the world of quantum.  Elisa Torres Durney is the founder of Girls in Quantum, a nonprofit she launched in 2022 to introduce more girls around the world to the field of quantum. Born and raised in Viña del Mar, Chile, Elisa turned a personal passion into an international platform, bringing young women worldwide into the world of quantum computing and science.  She shares: ■ The mission behind Girls in Quantum ■ Her philosophy on self-discovery ■ Why throwing yourself into new experiences beats fear of failure ■ Why staying open to feedback matters ■ How negative feedback can fuel positive results Follow Elisa: ◼ Website - https://www.girlsinquantum.com/ ◼ LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/elisa-torres-durney  Connecting with Kenna: ◼Connecting with Kenna: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-with-kenna ◼ Follow the host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennaholiday Support the show

  6. 12/25/2025

    Kamila Mejia Lay | San Pedro Sula, Honduras

    Send us Fan Mail My guest is Kamila Mejia Lay, a fourth-year undergraduate student at Duke Kunshan University, where she studies Political Economy with a focus on Public Policy. Originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Kamila is interested in politics, community service, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit work. She is deeply motivated to improve the education sector in her home country and increase access to quality education across Honduras. Among Central American countries, Honduras invests the highest percentage of its GDP in education. Despite this, it continues to have some of the region’s lowest literacy rates, largely due to misallocation of funds, lack of transparency, and corruption. Kamila believes meaningful change is necessary—and that education must be the foundation of that change. Because of high dropout rates, many students in Honduras do not remain in school past the sixth grade. Teenagers often leave school to help support their families, whether by working or assisting with family businesses. This pattern frequently spans generations, reinforcing cycles in which children follow the same paths as their parents. Kamila believes that with increased resources, stronger institutions, and improved access to education, long-term change is possible. Kamila lives by the motto: “You already have the no—you never know if you’re going to get the yes.” The no is already there, why not search for the yes?  “The key is to be happy with what you have while always hoping for more.” —Kamila Support the show

  7. 12/04/2025

    Mohammad Shazil Imran | Lahore, Pakistan

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is Mohammad Shazil Imran from Lahore, Pakistan. Shazil founded a nonprofit in 2022 and has been working every day to improve the lives of those around him. He grew up cooking with his mother and learning about the fashion industry from his father—experiences that shaped his perspective on service, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, we talk about life, purpose, God’s plan, and the importance of truly understanding others. "This time too shall pass."  یے وقت بھی گزر جائے گا  Support the show

  8. 11/03/2025

    Yoruba Ethnic Group | Festus Akintayo Akinsola

    Send us Fan Mail My guest is Festus Akintayo Akinsola, a fourth-year undergraduate student at DKU from Southwestern Nigeria. Festus grew up in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State and the largest city in West Africa by landmass. Festus belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria and speaks the Yoruba language.  In this episode, we discuss the vibrant culture of the Yoruba ethnic group, its poetic language, rich music, traditional dishes, and beverages.  Tune into today's episode to learn more about Nigeria and the Yoruba ethnic group through Festus' perspective and personal stories!  Support the show

  9. 10/16/2025

    Beijing, China | Yuchen Zou

    Send us Fan Mail My guest is Yuchen Zou (Cici), a third-year student at Duke Kunshan University, from Beijing, China. In this episode, we discuss Beijing's rich culture, norms, and way of life. Cici comes from a town in Beijing known for its  rigorous academic achievements. During the fall in Beijing, leaves turn red, winter is filled with snow days and snowmen, and year-round, the people strive to succeed academically. Tune into today's episode to learn more about Beijing and Cici's perspective on the world around her!   Support the show

  10. 10/10/2025

    Moscow, Russia | Kristina Rogozhko

    Send us Fan Mail My guest is Kristina Rogozhko, a third-year student at Duke Kunshan University, from Moscow, Russia. In this episode, we discuss Moscow’s culture, norms, and way of life. Kristina comes from a Russian Orthodox family and is the oldest of 7 children. Not only has her global perspective changed since arriving at DKU in 2023, but also her understanding of the culture in which she grew up. Please tune in to today’s episode to learn more about Russia through our discussions! Support the show

  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to Connecting With Kenna. This podcast aims to connect listeners with the world! Covering cultural, ethical, and contemporary issues, with conversations between Kenna and individuals from around the world, Kenna aims to help listeners understand different cultures, beliefs, and ideas on a deeper level. From Russia, Nepal, to the islands of Indonesia, and beyond, listeners will gain a better understanding of what life is like on a global scale. Enjoy!

Information

  • Creator
    Kenna Holiday
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Connecting with Kenna
  • Show Website
    Connecting with Kenna