A conversation about Hmong identity, esports failure, anime, trauma, and rebuilding yourself through art and creative exploration. Welcome to Episode 5 of Season 2 of Sonderverse. In this episode, I sit down with Nyiaj Lor, also known as Nia Lor, a student at Bethany Lutheran College majoring in Animation and Graphic Design. This conversation is a deep exploration of identity, self discovery, failure, creativity, and rebuilding yourself from the ground up. Nia opens up about growing up as a Hmong American in a household shaped largely by his older siblings, while navigating a difficult relationship with his parents and feeling disconnected from both culture and family during his younger years. We discuss the impact of his parents emigrating to the United States following the Vietnam War, and how those generational experiences quietly shaped his upbringing and worldview. We trace his journey through esports and gaming culture, particularly his love for League of Legends, and how competitive gaming became one of the first places he found belonging, ambition, and identity. But when esports and college plans did not unfold the way he hoped, Nia found himself facing failure, depression, and uncertainty about who he wanted to become. Over two gap years away from college, he worked at Boston Scientific, wrestled with family conflict, questioned his direction in life, and eventually took a chance on art and creativity, despite the fear and instability that came with it. He shares pivotal moments with his family, arguments that nearly led to him being kicked out, and how receiving one final opportunity to “try” changed everything. Returning to Bethany Lutheran College with a renewed mindset, Nia immersed himself into Graphic Design, Animation, and Studio Art, rediscovering drawing after years away from it and pushing himself creatively in ways he never had before. We talk about overcoming childhood trauma, learning to embrace being Hmong through his artwork, striving for mastery, and building meaningful friendships and creative collaborations with people around him. The conversation also explores anime, cultural identity, validation from parents, becoming a pillar for others, and the idea that sometimes growth comes from “flying too close to the sun” and learning through failure. Finally, Nia shares his ambitions for the future, his projects, and the lessons he has learned about creativity, discipline, and enjoying the process of becoming an artist. One story. One guest. One connection at a time. ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 03:53 Intro to Nia 05:38 Nia’s Earliest Context, Growing Up Hmong Child in the United States 15:28 Nia’s Parents Emigrating to the United States due to the Vietnam War 22:58 How Did Nia Begin His Journey of Self-Discovery 30:13 Kyle’s Experience with Cultural Identity Discovery Growing up Mixed-race 33:58 Where Nia’s Exploration with Creativity and E-sports Began 37:28 Nia’s League of Legends Preferences and Meta Picks 43:28 Deciphering Whether E-sports Can Become a Permanent Career 57:28 Dropping Out of Education to Have Gap Years to Figure Out Future Path in Life 1:04:28 Seeking Validation from Parents and Feeling Love 1:11:28 Effect of Anime on Personal Development 1:24:58 Nia’s Second Pivotal Moment with His Family 1:39:28 Cementing His Decision to Go Back Into Education and Exploring Life Again 1:42:28 Life Back at Bethany Lutheran College and Selecting His Majors 2:01:28 Nia’s Current Thoughts for the Future 2:06:28 Nia’s Final Takeaway and Challenge for the Audience ___ Sonderverse Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonderverse_?igsh=emNxZ2dyM2Q2bmUx Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonderverse_?_r=1&_t=ZN-922wouifMz0 Sonderverse Show Platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0CqjSKCCnjeloKJ9EDFCPX?si=H8JxEvmMRgm8iSnF5ybb3w Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sonderverse/id1849352087
