The Bánh Mì Chronicles

Randy Kim
  • 4.8 (32)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

The Bánh Mì Chronicles: A podcast where queer Vietnamese-Cambodian American host Randy Kim breaks bread with Asian (American) and BIPOC creatives to explore their work, their communities, and future-making impact. Subscribe to my Substack: randykim.substack.com for more content!

  1. 1d ago

    How Does Grief Influence Our Relationships and Decision-Making? w/Dr. Rahman Fazlur

    Fresh off releasing his second book, The Temple Road: A Doctor’s Journey, retired oncologist and professor Fazlur Rahman, M.D. shares his process of writing his memoir. Losing his mom at 7 years old, Dr. Rahman has been navigating his journey through grief, his relationship with his family and community in Bangladesh, his homeland, immigrating to the US and living in a rural town in Texas, and his decades-long medical career working closely with cancer patients and their families. Check out this episode and his latest book available now. Bio: Fazlur Rahman, M.D. was born and brought up in what is now Bangladesh. After his medical education in Dhaka, New York, and Houston, he practiced cancer medicine for thirty-five years in San Angelo, Texas. He is an adjunct professor of biology (medical humanities and ethics) at Angelo State University, a senior trustee of Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and an advisory council member of the Charles E. Cheever Jr. Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. His articles, essays, and stories have appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Guardian Weekly, International Herald Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Newsweek, Harvard Review, Short Story International, Dallas Morning News, and Houston Chronicle. He is the author of Our Connected Lives: Caring for Cancer Patients in Rural Texas and The Temple Road: A Doctor’s Journey. He and his wife, Jahanara (Ara), have lived in West Texas for most of their lives and have raised four children. They love walking in nature and going on wildflower adventures.

    52 min

  2. 3d ago

    Is Confessions 2 Hailed As One of Madonna's Best Works? w/Tranna Wintour

    The Queen of Pop decided that Pride Month is continuing, so Tranna and I break down the track-by-track of the Confessions II album and whether it beats the first Confessions album. I brought back my favorite recurring guest and amazing trans Internet personality, comedian, and pop culture nerd hailing from Montreal, Tranna Wintour. Fresh off the release of Madonna’s latest album, “Confessions II,” we shared our own experiences listening to this album and how this has stopped the 20-year cycle of disappointing and underwhelming releases (e.g. Hard Candy, MDNA, Rebel Heart, and Madame X). We go over the track-by-track of Confessions II and share our reactions to each of them. Give it a listen whether you are a newbie or a longtime fan. Agree or disagree with us? Share your thoughts on this album or on any Madonna albums here. Bio: Tranna Wintour is a highly-acclaimed bilingual comedian, singer, writer, hostess, and producer. Legendary comedienne Sandra Bernhard described her as “a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night.” A Just For Laughs New Face Canada (2019), Tranna was named one of the queens of Canadian comedy by Fashion magazine. Performing in both English and French, she appeared in a Juste Pour Rire gala in 2021 before starring in Québec’s hit series, Big Brother Célébrités. Her run to the top 4 was hailed as the show’s breakthrough moment and “the best moment on Québec TV in years” by the Journal Métro. Tranna co-hosted the successful CBC Podcast Chosen Family for three seasons, which was named one of Apple’s Best Podcasts for two consecutive years. Her debut album, Safe From Your Affection, is available on all streaming platforms, and she is currently developing an original comedy series with a major Canadian broadcaster. Also, check out her new podcast, The Blank List Substack: Tranna Wintour Instagram: TrannaWintour Website: https://www.trannawintour.com

    1h 14m

  3. Jul 2

    Documenting History in Real Time: ICE Raids, Surveillance & Activism with Adriano Kalin

    What does it mean to capture the dark moments of our history in real time? I’ve been witnessing the powerful work of Adriano Kalin, who has been photographing and documenting protests, including the ICE raids in Chicago, Minneapolis, and other parts of the US. Adriano gives us an in-depth and intimate look at what it means to give voice to what is happening in real time, to navigate the growing AI and state surveillance, and to be on the front lines risking safety while being both a person of color and disabled in this work. We unpack a lot of this here on this episode. Please share and follow Adriano on IG at adriano_kalin. Adriano Kalin is a disabled documentary photographer specializing in social justice. He draws on his experience as an Afro-Indigenous Brazilian adoptee, with dual U.S. and Brazilian citizenship, to examine race, identity and oppression within the United States. Adriano’s current work is dedicated to documenting ICE abuses and atrocities in cities across the United States. Adriano graduated with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and lives in Chicago with his wife and three cats. Bio

    1h 3m

  4. Jun 29

    Being 40 and Healing w/MILCK

    Bio: MILCK (Connie K. Lim) is a singer/songwriter/recording artist and humanitarian who pens anthems in hopes to spark healing and empathy. Her viral song “Quiet” was named a Billboard #1 protest song, NPR’s featured “American Anthems,” and a top feminist anthem of all time by Harper’s Bazaar. Recently Elle UK named MILCK as a top 40 Women of Hope. MILCK also composes songs for film, television, and artists, from John Legend to Natasha Bedingfield. MILCK has since gone viral again with another song titled “Sisters of Winter,” as featured on ACLU’s 2026 national campaign. In July 2026 La Jolla Playhouse will host the world premiere of The Family Album, an original musical co-composed by MILCK, and inspired by MILCK’s healing journey.

    40 min

  5. Jun 25

    EMERGENCY EPISODE: ICE Raids Picking Up Steam in Chicago w/Francia Garcia Hernandez

    Award-winning Block Club Chicago journalist, Francia Garcia Hernandez returns as a guest to share the latest breaking updates regarding the ICE raids in Chicago. Since Operation Midway Blitz, Chicago has been the target of the federal government’s deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents, which has led to unlawful and violent detainments of residents, aggressive escalation against residents and protestors, and defying court orders and local elected officials. Recently, there has been an uptick of ICE raids happening in the city, but this time, it is happening in the courthouses where immigrants who are showing up to their court hearing, and then being met with ICE agents for arrest. Francia shares about what the community and elected officials are experiencing and how they have been responding to these current tactics. Please like, comment, and share! Bio: Francia covers Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards. Before joining Block Club, she covered stories from the West and Southwest Sides as a freelancer. Her work has been published in the Austin Weekly News, Yes! Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Yes! Magazine, Streetswise, AustinTalks and more. She is also the host, writer and co-producer of CAN TV’s show ¡Presente! Francia is originally from Mexico City, where she earned a bachelor’s degree from Universidad Anahuac Mexico Norte. She later moved to Chicago and earned an M.A. in Civic Media from Columbia College Chicago. When she’s not working, she is probably exploring the city’s neighborhoods, trying a new restaurant or swimming at the lake. Email Francia.

    24 min

  6. Jun 3

    The Madonna Deep Dive: Underrated Hits & Confessions II Anticipation with Tranna Wintour

    Happy Pride Month, listeners! 🏳️‍🌈 To kick off the celebrations, the incredibly brilliant Canadian comedian, TV personality, and pop-culture maven Tranna Wintour is back on my podcast again! This week, we are taking a deep dive into the underrated/forgotten gems from the Queen of Pop. Madonna has given us decades of era-defining anthems, but what about the masterpieces that often get overlooked, even with some of her biggest hits? Tranna and I lay out my personal Top 10 underrated and forgotten Madonna hit songs, analyzing the impact, cultural legacy, and our personal connections to each track. Plus, we look ahead to July 3rd, breaking down everything we know so far about her highly anticipated fourteenth studio album, Confessions II, her first album since Madame X back in 2019. From the Stuart Price reunion to the electronic club beats, we are ready to get back to the dance floor. Inside the Episode: [00:00] Pride Month Kickoff & catching up with Tranna Wintour. [12:15] The Countdown: Tracks 10 through 6—The mid-90s gems and overlooked synth-pop. [35:40] The Top 5: The most criminally forgotten Madonna singles and their cultural impact. [52:10] Confessions II Preview: Analyzing the lead singles, samples, and what to expect on July 3rd. Bio: Tranna Wintour is a highly-acclaimed bilingual comedian, singer, writer, hostess, and producer. Legendary comedienne Sandra Bernhard described her as “a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night.” A Just For Laughs New Face Canada (2019), Tranna was named one of the queens of Canadian comedy by Fashion magazine. Performing in both English and French, she appeared in a Juste Pour Rire gala in 2021 before starring in Québec’s hit series, Big Brother Célébrités. Her run to the top 4 was hailed as the show’s breakthrough moment and “the best moment on Québec TV in years” by the Journal Métro. Tranna co-hosted the successful CBC Podcast Chosen Family for three seasons, which was named one of Apple’s Best Podcasts for two consecutive years. Her debut album, Safe From Your Affection, is available on all streaming platforms, and she is currently developing an original comedy series with a major Canadian broadcaster. Also, check out her new podcast, The Blank List Substack: Tranna Wintour Instagram: TrannaWintour Website: https://www.trannawintour.com What’s your ultimate underrated Madonna track? Let us know in the comments below!

    1h 8m

  7. May 29

    AAPI Heritage, Pride Month, Storytelling on Grief, and Reaching 50k Streams: A Solo Reflection

    It's been awhile since I've done a solo episode, so here's a special one for you as I celebrate turning 43 and my recent milestone: hitting 50K streams, and 100K views on my YouTube channel. As a queer Viet-Khmer American, the transition from AAPI Heritage Month to Pride Month always carries a reminder for me on what it means to live abundantly through my identities. In my reflection on this episode, I share my thoughts about the significance of AAPI and Pride Month in a time where erasure of history and human rights are being lost, the power of community and collective care, and bringing back the podcast after a two-year hiatus. I’m also taking you behind the scenes of my recent storytelling debut performance, and why I still felt confident in the days leading up to it despite having very little practice time. Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping me hit this benchmark. Here’s to the next chapter!

    36 min

  8. May 27

    Decolonizing AAPI Health w/Dr. Jonar de Guzman

    Happy AAPI Heritage Month! Everyday health advice is often written through a Western lens, but when it comes to chronic health risks, a one-size-fits-all approach is leaving AAPI communities behind and disregarding other key factors. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jonar de Guzman, MD, to discuss the unique, often hidden metabolic and systemic health risks facing Asian American and Pacific Islander populations. Issues raised included the social determinants of health, such as food deserts, intergenerational trauma, language, and access to resources. We break down why standard medical benchmarks frequently miss the early warning signs of insulin resistance in AAPI bodies, and explore how we can advocate for our well-being without losing our cultural connection to food, family, and community. The Hidden Risks: Why chronic conditions like diabetes, insulin resistance, and hypertension manifest differently in AAPI populations, and why standard BMI and metabolic metrics fall short. De-Centering Western Norms: How standard medical advice fails to account for traditional Asian diets, lifestyle habits, and familial structures—and how to pivot toward what actually works for us. The Power of Lifestyle Medicine: Dr. de Guzman’s philosophy on reclaiming health through sustainable, everyday changes rather than relying solely on a lifetime of prescriptions. Cultural Accommodation in Healthcare: Practical strategies for navigating conversations with your doctor, advocating for your specific background, and bridging the gap between heritage and modern wellness. Bio: Dr. Jonar de Guzman, MD, is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, certified health & meditation coach, and founder of 4 Truth Health. Through his Diabetes Reset Protocol program, he helps Asians reverse insulin resistance and reclaim their health through sustainable lifestyle change. A former hospitalist and partner at Providence Medical Associates, he now hosts the Glass Half Healthy podcast, recognized among Board Vitals’ Top 25 Medical Podcasts in 2025. He also serves as Director of Sedona Butterfly Effect, a nonprofit honoring his late daughter and supporting children at risk for or living with cerebral palsy. IG: drjonarmd or reversediabetesdoc Additional Links to Dr Jonar de Guzman here

    48 min
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4.8
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

The Bánh Mì Chronicles: A podcast where queer Vietnamese-Cambodian American host Randy Kim breaks bread with Asian (American) and BIPOC creatives to explore their work, their communities, and future-making impact. Subscribe to my Substack: randykim.substack.com for more content!

Information

  • Creator
    Randy Kim
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    177
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Randy Kim
  • Show Website
    The Bánh Mì Chronicles

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