The Bánh Mì Chronicles

Randy Kim

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. 5D AGO

    The Evolution of Concert Culture w/ Russ from Pop Pantheon Podcast (The Chill-Out Chronicles Edition)

    In this episode of The Banh Mi Chronicles, I’m joined by Russ, a pop music enthusiast and co-host with DJ Louie XIV behind the Pop Pantheon Podcast, for a deep dive into the history and future of the concert-going experience. As “elder millennials,” we take a trip back in time to the era before cell phone cameras and social media have taken over the concertgoing experience. I reflect on the life-changing impact of my first concert, Madonna’s Reinvention Tour in Summer of 2004 as a 21-year-old, and the sheer anticipation of waiting for an artist in an age without the crowd simultaneously raising their camera phones in the air. We also discuss: The 2026 Music Landscape: Does this year feel quieter compared to the recent blockbuster runs of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Charli XCX? The “Time Capsule” of the Early 2000s: What it was really like to buy tickets at physical kiosks like Carson Pirie Scott or FYE before the 2005 digital shift. The Evolution of Fandom: How the way we experience live music has been fundamentally reshaped by technology and the “elder millennial” perspective. Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome Russ from Pop Pantheon 5:30 – Analyzing the 2026 Music Landscape: A “Quiet” Year? 12:45 – Time Capsule: The Pre-Smartphone Concert Experience 18:20 – First Concert Memories: Madonna and the Reinvention Tour 25:10 – The Ticketmaster Struggle: From Physical Kiosks to Digital Queues 35:00 – Closing Thoughts: The Future of Live Music Bio: Russ Martin is a co-host, researcher, and producer for the Pop Pantheon podcast alongside DJ Louie XIV, contributing deep-dive research into pop star careers. With a background in media studies, Russ helps analyze and rank artists, focusing on detailed, research-driven retrospectives of pop culture history. Instagram: PopPantheonPod Website: https://www.poppantheonpod.com/

    54 min

  2. APR 27

    51 Years Later: The Unfinished Mission After the Fall of Saigon

    On April 30, 1975, the Fall of Saigon changed the course of history forever, sparking a mass migration of Vietnamese refugees to the United States and across the globe. Today, 51 years later, we reflect on that legacy not just through the stories of those who left, but through the tireless work of those who went back to find the pieces left behind. In this episode (and with special thanks to my friend and his son, Huy Nguyen), I’m joined by Mr. Hung Nguyen, a retired U.S. federal government employee who spent decades leading high-stakes missions to recover the remains of U.S. soldiers listed as Missing in Action (MIA). In this conversation, we dive into: Childhood Memories: Hung shares vivid recollections of life in Vietnam before 1975 and the atmosphere of a country on the brink of change. The Mission: The logistics and emotional weight of traveling through Vietnam starting in 1993 to locate the whereabouts of missing soldiers. Diplomacy & Humanity: What it was like to cooperate with the Vietnamese government and local villagers to bring closure to American families. The Barriers: The bureaucratic, physical, and emotional obstacles Hung faced in a mission that required navigating the scars of a war that most wanted to forget. Hung’s perspective is a rare bridge between two worlds—the refugee experience and the official U.S. effort to provide a measure of closure for families of US soldiers. You won’t want to miss this profound look at service, memory, and the long journey towards healing.

    1h 18m

  3. APR 23

    Special Episode: Andrés Cepeda: 30 Years of Music, The Robust Colombian Music Scene, and His US Tour Kick-Off in Chicago

    I’m super delighted to bring you a surprise guest on my show. He’s a Latin Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and one of Colombia’s beloved artists, Andrés Cepeda. He is set to kick off his US tour in Chicago on May 10th at the Riviera. As he is preparing for his tour, I caught up with him for a brief chat about his 30-year career legacy, his pride as a native Colombian, the growing success of Latin music on a global level, and his take on fellow Colombian peers Shakira, Maluma, Karol G, among others, who have achieved crossover success, and the legacy of Latin icon Celia Cruz. Andrés talks about the changing landscape for artists in the digital era and how he has been learning to adapt to the changes over the years. For more on Andrés Cepeda and his upcoming US tour, please visit: Instagram: AndresCepeda Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrescepedaoficial Website: https://andrescepeda.com.co/ Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Andrés Cepeda is one of the most renowned singers and songwriters in the Latin American music scene. With a career spanning more than 30 years, he has toured the world and appeared on the covers of multiple magazines, newspapers, and playlists on major music platforms. He has won numerous awards and served as a lead coach on talent shows, including 11 seasons of La Voz (The Voice) in his home country, Colombia. He has also topped radio charts with countless singles and starred in live shows and studio recordings alongside major Latin superstars. Cepeda has received nineteen Latin GRAMMY® nominations, winning five awards including Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 2025 ceremony, and he also earned a nomination for the 2026 GRAMMY® Awards. He recently released “La Pilanderas,” in collaboration with the legendary Celia Cruz, fulfilling a lifelong dream inspired by the Caribbean records of his childhood. His body of work celebrates sensitivity, creativity, and the power of song as an emotional bridge. His romantic musical style has become a unique and unmistakable hallmark, allowing him to blend various genres with ease. Andrés Cepeda is also known for the creativity of his live performances. Among his most acclaimed formats are Guitarra y Voz, Cepeda Big Band, his jazz quintet Vivo en Directo, Cepeda Sinfónico, shows with his full band, and Cepeda en Tablas, a theatrical presentation where he shares the stories behind his songs. All of this has made Andrés Cepeda one of the most respected and beloved artists in Latin America. Bio:

    22 min

  4. APR 21

    The Legacy of Lilith Fair and Its Cultural Imprint: Can It Be Successful Today?

    Do you remember Lilith Fair in the late 90s? Have you ever attended a festival fronted by women headlining acts? In this “Chill-Out Chronicles” episode of The Bánh Mì Chronicles, Jung and I are taking a deep dive into the 1997-1999 phenomenon that was Lilith Fair. While the world remembers it as a “girls-only” music festival, we’re looking closer at the structural shift it represented in the industry and how it mirrors our current fight for relational liberation. In this episode, we discuss: Breaking the “Two-Woman” Rule: How Lilith Fair shattered the industry myth that you couldn’t play two women on the radio back-to-back. Radical Inclusion vs. Commercialization: Assessing the festival’s impact on diversity and where it fell short for artists of color, including Black female performers who were at Lilith. Community Archiving through Music: Why preserving the stories of these musical spaces is a form of social advocacy and trust-building, but also in ways in which we can reflect on what The “Relational” Shift: How the spirit of collaborative stages over competitive lineups changed the way we think about supporting creatives today.

    2h 10m

  5. APR 14

    Beyond the Headlines: Reimagining Immigrant-Centered Journalism w/Katrina Pham

    This week on The Banh Mi Chronicles, I sit down with Katrina Pham, a Vietnamese American journalist with Borderless Magazine, a Chicago-based, immigrant-centered news publication. Katrina shares her reflections on the recent ICE raids in Chicago and the weight of reporting on stories that directly impact the safety and livelihoods of our neighbors. We dive deep into how the digital media landscape has shifted and why “extractive” journalism no longer works. Instead, Katrina explains the rigorous work of building long-term, trusting relationships with the communities being covered. In this episode, we discuss: Reporting on the Frontlines: Katrina’s firsthand reflections on documenting the ICE raids in Chicago. The Evolution of Digital Media: How the current landscape affects the way immigrant stories are told—and who gets to tell them. Community Journalism as Advocacy: What it means to practice “immigrant-centered” reporting in 2026. Building Radical Trust: The strategies Borderless Magazine uses to ensure sources feel seen, safe, and respected. Katrina is a multimedia journalist whose focus is on race and social justice reporting. Most recently, she’s worked for The Yappie as a staff writer and newsletter contributor. There, she reported on solutions for inaccessible mental health care for Southeast Asian American refugees, among other topics relating to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Before Borderless, she interned for ABC 7 Chicago’s Race & Culture News team, connecting with community organizations in Chicago to pitch stories for the newsroom. Katrina was born in Chicago, where both her parents settled after arriving in the United States as refugees from Vietnam following the end of the war. These experiences inform Katrina’s work, and she cares deeply about social justice issues. Borderless Magazine is reimagining immigration journalism for a more just and equitable future. As a nonprofit and nonpartisan news outlet, Borderless: Reports and publishes stories in English and Spanish Mentors emerging journalists in our Pathways program Gives journalists from other news outlets the tools they need to report on immigration issues fairly and accurately through our Immigration Reporting Lab Borderless was named “The Future of Journalism” in the 2024 national Next Challenge. Follow Borderless on these platforms: Instagram: borderless_mag Facebook Website TikTok YouTube Bio:About Borderless Magazine:

    46 min

  6. APR 7

    2000's Favorite Tunes Pt. 2: The Chill-Out Chronicles

    The countdown reaches its finale! In this episode, I’m joined once again by my friend and pop culture enthusiast, Anjali Misra, to wrap up our journey through the top 25 songs of the 21st century. While Part 1 set the stage, Part 2 dives into the “Chill-Out Chronicles”—the tracks that provided the vibe, the soul, and the soundtrack to our lives from #18 all the way to #25. In this episode, we discuss: The Final Eight: A track-by-track breakdown of the remaining songs on the list. Genre-Bending Favorites: Why these specific artists stood the test of time while others faded into the background. Nostalgia vs. Quality: How our perspective on these 2000s hits has shifted over the last two decades. Snubs & Honorable Mentions: The songs that almost made the cut (and why it was so hard to choose). Tracks #18-25 (No Ranking Order) Summer Boy - Lady Gaga (2009) Losing You - Solange (2012) Humble - Kendrick Lamar (2017) Roses - Outkast (2003) Toxicity - System of a Down (2001) Stay - Rihanna (2012) Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand (2004) Hometown Glory - Adele (2008) Connect with the Show: Subscribe to the Substack: Banh Mi Bites Follow on Instagram: @banhmi_chronicles Support the Podcast: Share this post with a fellow 2000s music lover!

    1h 27m

  7. APR 1

    2000's Favorite Tunes: The Chill-Out Chronicles (Pt. 1)

    The world is a lot right now. Between the headlines and the collective burnout, we all need a second to just pause and breathe. In the first of this two-episode special of the“Chill-Out Chronicles” edition of the pod, I’m joined by my good friend and resident pop culture nerd Anjali Misra. We are temporarily stepping away from the doomscrolling to get into a rabbit hole on another topic: What is Randy’s favorite songs of the 2000s? (I decided not to rank them in order). From my exploration into Indie Rock like Foster the People, MGMT to pop icons like Janet Jackson and Britney Spears to the emerging days of KPop like Brown Eyed Girls and 2NE1, we do a deep dive into the legacy and impact of these songs, and from the artist(s) who created them. Spoiler Alert: Songs discussed on this episode (Pt. 1): Rock With U —Janet Jackson Zero–Yeah Yeah Yeahs Hung Up—Madonna Cut to the Feeling—Carly Rae Jepsen Electric Feel—MGMT Toxic–Britney Spears Tears Dry on Their Own–Amy Winehouse Espresso–Sabrina Carpenter Love At First Sight—Kylie Minogue Helena Beat—Foster the People Game of Love–Michelle Branch & Santana All Night–Beyonce Treasure–Bruno Mars Abracadabra—Brown Eyed Girls Fire–2NE1 Be Sweet—Japanese Breakfast Lady Marmalade—Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Mya, Lil’ Kim, and Missy Elliott We know everyone has that one song they’re ready to fight for. After you listen, drop a comment below: What is the one 2000s track we definitely missed?

    2 hr

  8. MAR 26

    EMERGENCY EPISODE: How to Be Vigilant During ICE Raids At Airports, Protests, and More w/Kala, "Your Protest Safety Kuya"

    Trigger/Content Warning: Kala and Randy discussing examples of state-sanctioned v*olence from ICE, law enforcement, and government agents Episode recorded on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026; 3:30 pm US Central Time In this emergency episode, I connect with Kala (He/They) aka “Your Protest Safety Kuya” to address the current wave of ICE raids happening at U.S. airports. He dives deep into the changing landscape for travelers—whether local, domestic, or international—and provides essential strategies for protecting yourself and advocating for others in the face of state-sanctioned v*olence. Key Discussion Points * The Current Landscape: Understanding the deployment of ICE and CBP agents at airports and what to expect in the coming weeks. * Know Your Rights While Traveling: Practical “dos and don’ts” when ICE is in the vicinity, including how to handle searches of smartphones, laptops, and GPS trackers. * Advocacy in Action: How to safely support and document (via photo/video) if you witness someone being searched or harmed by law enforcement. * Responsible Tech Use: Navigating face-recognition features and social media safety while participating in movement work. * Inclusive Safety: Specific considerations for travelers who are undocumented, neurodivergent, or living with disabilities. * Movement Security: Preparing emergency contacts, legal counsel, and paperwork for those publicly outspoken against government actions. Collective Community Effort This conversation emphasizes that safety is not just an individual task but a collective community effort. By staying informed without being alarmist, we can provide the nuance and context needed to protect each other and build a more resilient movement. Bio: Kalaya’an Mendoza (He/They) is a Frontline Safety and Security specialist, human rights defender and direct action trainer with over 25 years of on-the-ground experience. He is the co-founder of Across Frontlines, a grassroots collective that works alongside frontline communities around the world from Aotearoa (Ah-o-teya-rho-a) to Turtle Island in their struggle for justice and self determination. Accompanying Links: Digital Security Checklists for Activists: https://activistchecklist.org/ Protest Safety Resources: https://linktr.ee/kalamendoza Resources: * https://activistchecklist.org/travel/ * https://www.nilc.org/resources/community-alert-immigration-arrests-at-airports/ * https://immigrantsrising.org/resource/guide-for-undocumented-individuals-traveling-in-the-u-s/ Tools: * https://activistchecklist.org/travel/ Also check out previous episode of the podcast with Jung Han on Protest/Civilian Safety: Full episode: https://substack.com/@banhmibites/p-175159957Minisode: https://substack.com/@banhmibites/p-175678613 Bánh Mì Bites is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    47 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
    167
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Randy Kim
  • Show Website
    The Bánh Mì Chronicles

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