Hmonglish

29/05/2024

New episode today! Featuring Pheng Bolo Thao Her, a farmer who runs Guerrilla Pastures. He’s been on a few different paths in life. He was a bodybuilder in his younger years and then spent most of his 20s trying to rise through the ranks in a traditional career. But he got burnt out. He was tired of doing things that didn’t serve him anymore.

He decided to tap into the joy of his childhood, where his Mom taught him the ins and outs of gardening in North Minneapolis. These were some of the fondest memories of his life and so, in adulthood, he decided to abandon the expectations of others. With the support of his wife — they’ve been together since they were 15 — he moved on to a homestead to start his farm. By raising chickens, goats, and tending to bees, he feels more connected than ever: connected to himself and connected to his Hmong culture. His main motivation? His two daughters, which are the lights of his life.

Pheng shares so much wisdom about what it took to get him where he is today. He also shares the significance of family and how this has been a driving force in his life.

The episode is available for listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!

Hey everyone!On today’s episode, we have Pheng Her. Pheng is an interesting guy because he has lived a very long life and he’s only in his early 30s.He was p...

08/05/2024

Season 4 of Hmonglish begins today! Listen here: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

When Yia nearly lost his leg after a terrible infection, he finally came to accept the meaning of surrender. For him, it was a recognition that he was no longer in control. He was told that it was going to be a long time before he was back on his feet.

While in the hospital, healing from multiple surgeries, he began to think more about his upcoming restaurant, Vinai. Feeling humbled by the intense suffering of his situation, he knew that he was going to do everything he could to make this new restaurant his ultimate statement. Because even amidst the suffering, Yia thought about his parents, and what they went through during the war when they crossed the Mekong River from Laos into Thailand. If they could make it through that, he could make it through this.

This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Yia was interviewed by his best friend, Ming-Jinn Tong, and offered a detailed recounting of his mental processes and realizations as he recovered from surgery. He also offers an updated perspective on how he is now looking at his new restaurant, Vinai.

https://youtu.be/2ArFPx1vZq0

Hey, folks! We are thrilled to be back for season 4 of Hmonglish, and we’ve got a lot of great conversations coming your way. You’ll hear from Hmong entrepre...

07/03/2024

Season 4 of my podcast Hmonglish is almost here!

I’ve been having such a blast with my Hmong brothers and sisters on this show. It’s a beautiful and healing process to talk about Hmong culture, celebrate Hmong culture, and think critically about Hmong culture with the people who live it everyday.

It’s my hope that Hmong folks – especially the younger generation – can listen to this show and find a relatable safe space. But it’s also my hope that Meekah folks can listen to this show and learn more about our culture from the people experience it.

It feels good to be Hmong in 2024! Season 4 of the Hmonglish podcast… coming soon!

- Yia

Production: Gleam Tower Media

06/10/2023

Our latest edition of Hmonglish LIVE is now available for your viewing & listening pleasure! Thank you SPAM for sponsoring 🤍

LISTEN: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

WATCH

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This episode is a recording of our September 19th live show, which was filmed at the Union Hmong Kitchen on Lake Street in partnership with SPAM.We are so gr...

20/09/2023

Our live podcast last night was a resounding success! Thank you to SPAM for sponsoring! It was a beautiful conversation between Yia Vang and Phillipe Thao.

Through the words of Yia, we were able to feel what it was like to embark on a lifelong struggle to accept his Hmong-ness and embrace his cultural identity.

Through the words of Phillipe Thao, we were able to feel the strain of coming out as a q***r man within the rigid structures of Hmong culture.

At times, the room was full of laughter.

At other times, it was hushed and still.

No matter who you were or where you came from, you could feel a special togetherness that transcended culture and heritage.

Sure, it’s just a live podcast. We’re not curing any disease here. We’re not changing the world, but it just felt good to sit down and *listen.*

It just felt good to feel human together.

Event Service:
Producer:
Photography: Video:
DJ:
Sponsor:
Host:
Guest:
Venue: (Lake St.)

20/09/2023

31/05/2023

Hmonglish LIVE is now available on YouTube!

Also, listen to the podcast version below...

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hmonglish-live-full-recording/id1623076086?i=1000615101185

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PEvSxspWq9uxzwFSRHffK?si=ssPbeiANQRmQpWeUhIwNhw

Hey, folks! We're back to bring you a very special episode.On May 23rd, we held our first live show at Yia Vang’s Hilltribe popup space in uptown Minneapolis...

23/05/2023

Last call for tickets! The event is tonight!

In celebration of AAPI Heritage month, we’re doing a live version of the Hmonglish podcast with our host, Yia Vang. Joining him will be his long-time friend, Ming-Jinn Tong, to talk about what AAPI heritage means to them, their favorite dishes to cook, and much more!

It’s going to be a great time! Light food and drinks will be served. Doors open @ 6:30. Find us in the Hilltribe popup space in Uptown @ 901 W Lake St

Join us for the Hmonglish Podcast Live Show! To celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we're collaborating with the Hmonglish podcast to open a dialogue with the community as Chef Yia Vang records an episode of the podcast with special guest, Ming-Jinn Tong. Hmonglish is a....

22/05/2023

Hmonglish Live is TOMORROW.

A celebration of AAPI Heritage month with Yia Vang and Ming-Jinn Tong.

Did you get your tickets yet?!

Join us for the Hmonglish Podcast Live Show! To celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we're collaborating with the Hmonglish podcast to open a dialogue with the community as Chef Yia Vang records an episode of the podcast with special guest, Ming-Jinn Tong. Hmonglish is a....

27/03/2023

On the final week of March – Women’s History Month – we would like to celebrate all the incredible Hmong American women we’ve featured on Hmonglish Season 3.

I Am Tsai
Pahoua Yang Hoffman
Sheng Elizabeth Lor
Judge Sophia Vuelo
Xee Reiter

22/03/2023

New episode of Hmonglish today! Season finale!

LISTEN: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

We’re featuring the incredibly talented artist, Xee Reiter, whose hand has been in murals and art exhibits around the Twin Cities and beyond.

Xee’s life was very different when she was younger. Everything seemed to be going the way of a traditional Hmong woman: she was placed into marriage at a very young age and was expected to fulfill a particular role. Soon enough, she abandoned this role to pursue her love of art. Since then, her career has flourished. Odds are, you’ve already seen her work without knowing it (especially if you live around St. Paul).

This is the last episode of season 3. It’s a bittersweet moment. We’re going to miss this current run of episodes, but we promise we’ll be back soon for season 4 – oh, and if you’re still reading this, we think it’s about time we hint at a big project coming up… our very first live show… 😉

17/03/2023

Preach!!! Judge Sophia Vuelo lays down the law as she says, “You can’t change our society and you can’t change our systems unless you are a part of them.”

Full Episode: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

01/03/2023

New episode today! 🚨 This one is all about identity. To be Asian American – or a multiracial person of color – is to feel conflicted about who you are.

LISTEN: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod
WATCH: https://youtu.be/8YnEz7OkmoY

Our guest, Sheng Elizabeth Lor, brings this question to light in a way that Yia and so many other Hmong Americans can relate to.

“Am I Hmong enough?”
“Am I American enough?”
“Am I white enough?”

As said by Yia and Sheng in this episode, the struggle typically plays out like this: “I am not Hmong enough to fit in with the Hmong crowd, and I am not white enough to fit in with the white crowd.”

As for Sheng herself, it’s nearly impossible to describe this woman because she is so many wonderful things all at once, so what we'll say is this: she’s a good friend of Yia’s, she is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and she runs a company called The Social X Change Project project, which can be described as a digital creation platform that focuses on uplifting marginalized communities in arts and activism.

Today’s conversation is a real, raw, and vulnerable look into what it’s like for a multiracial person to realize that they don’t quite fit in anywhere. Of course, lots of laughs for had, which is essential for a conversation like this one!

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

22/02/2023

New episode today! We’re talking all about relationships and marriage with Pahoua Yang Hoffman and her husband, Brian.

Pahoua is Hmong, and Brian is white & culturally Jewish.

How has this dynamic played out for Pahoua’s traditional Hmong background? How have they successfully navigated the challenges of an intercultural relationship?

Yia Vang explores all this and more!

Find the audio version here: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

https://youtu.be/_Mh214B-x6A

Hmonglish is a podcast that explores Hmong culture in America, hosted by celebrity chef, Yia Vang.-Hey, everyone! We’re hoping that you enjoyed last week’s e...

16/02/2023

Season 3 Episode 1 of Hmonglish is now available on YouTube!

Prefer Apple Podcasts or Spotify? No worries. We got you. Find that here: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod



https://youtu.be/4nn3c8yM8dg

Thank you for stopping by to listen today! We are thrilled to be doing a third season of this show. We have been fortunate enough to step things up on the pr...

01/02/2023

We’ve been hard at work shooting Hmonglish season 3, and we’re finally ready to announce!

The first episode comes out on February 15!

See you then!

Hosted by: Yia Vang
Produced by: Gleam Tower Media & Matt Gundrum
Photography & Video by: Reid Bauman
Additional Videography by: Patrick Pelham
Studio Space provided by: MUZE

12/01/2023

Hey! We're back!!!

We recorded the first episode of Hmonglish season 3 last night with Hmong model, Tsai Thao.

We have a few more shoots in the coming weeks, but expect to hear from us a lot more this month :)

Be sure to catch up on the show here: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

30/11/2022

Hey, folks! We are working hard to get you season 3 of Hmonglish.

In the meantime, check out this very cool feature written by The Racket. We're honored to be on this list!!!

Podcasts have been booming for a decade, but the local scene remains something of a mystery to most Twin Citians.

03/11/2022

Asking Hmong teenagers: What do you love about your culture?

We uploaded a new edition of Hmonglish Shorts, now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Listen: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

21/10/2022

Yia Vang explains how we actually ate as Hmong people growing up.

FULL EPISODE: https://linktr.ee/hmonglishpod

18/10/2022

This is how Thony Yang got one of the most prestigious chef jobs in the region at Mara.

“My work ethic was relentless… nothing was ever handed to me.”