Send us a text

What happens when moving to Asia doesn’t fix your life, but forces you to face yourself?

In this episode of What Kind of Asian Are You, I sit down with Peter (Broke The Habit), a Vietnamese Canadian content creator who spent over a decade quietly creating before his decision to quit his job and move to Vietnam changed everything.

We talk about growing up ashamed of being Vietnamese, chasing stability over creativity, and the harsh realization that you can’t outrun your problems by changing locations. Peter opens up about identity, mental health, internet visibility, and why Vietnam didn’t “save” him, but gave him permission to finally be himself.

This is a raw conversation about Asian diaspora identity, creative risk, and learning how to stop running.

We talk about:

• Being Vietnamese Canadian and growing up disconnected from culture
• Why moving to Asia doesn’t automatically heal you
• Scarcity mindset, immigrant expectations, and self-judgment
• Building an online following and and the fear that comes with being seen
• Why self-acceptance is the hardest habit to break

🔗 Guest Links — Peter (Broke The Habit)

🎥 YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@brokethehabit

Peter’s long-form videos documenting identity, mental health, and his journey between Canada and Vietnam.

📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/brokethehabit

Short-form reflections, behind-the-scenes, and real-time updates.

🌐 All Links (Linktree)
https://linktr.ee/brokethehabit

Access Peter’s full ecosystem, including content, community projects, and updates.

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

What happens when you do everything “right”… and still feel lost?

In this episode of What Kind of Asian Are You?, I sit down in person with Cheryl Lau, host of the Edit History Podcast, for a deeply honest conversation about identity, validation, and starting over again and again.

Cheryl describes herself as a “confused Asian”:
Born in North America, raised across Hong Kong and Canada, now living in Singapore, she grew up as the classic goody-two-shoes Asian. Straight A’s. Scholarships. Law school. Then a PhD track. All the boxes checked.

But behind the prestige was a quieter question:
Who am I without external recognition and validation?

We talk about:

• Growing up as a high-achieving Asian and learning to equate worth with recognition
• Why quitting law school and later leaving a PhD program felt like an identity rupture
• The shame of “not finishing” and the invisible pressure to repay our parents
• Being Asian in different countries and why Singapore felt more like home than Hong Kong
• How podcasting became a way to find meaning, connection, and agency
• The difference between chasing validation vs choosing work that actually feels meaningful
• What makes a good podcast and why playing it safe is killing great conversations

This episode is for anyone who:

• Grew up as the “good Asian kid” and is now questioning the script
• Has pivoted careers (or wants to) but struggles with guilt and ego
• Feels caught between cultures, languages, and expectations
• Is building something creative and trying to trust their own voice

A conversation about being Asian, being ambitious, being lost and learning to choose meaning anyway.

Bio:

Cheryl helps business leaders and organizations create a podcast they’re proud of - One that’s substantial, distinct, and built to last.

Think of Cheryl as your strategic podcast partner - someone who’s as invested in your vision as you are. She cares about making sure your content actually stands out, resonates, and opens the right doors.

Cheryl is also the host of the EDIT HISTORY podcast, which won 2x at the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards (by Radioinfo Asia) in the "Best Education Podcast" and “Best Money and Business Podcast” categories.

Find Cheryl and follow her work:

https://cheryllau.com

https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau

https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

To kick off 2026, What Kind of Asian Are You? turns the mic inward.

In this short episode, Kyle steps out from behind the scenes and into the guest seat, interviewed by Cheryl from the Edit History Podcast. They talk about why this podcast started back in 2020, the moments of burnout that almost led to quitting, and what keeps Kyle coming back despite the challenges of visibility, social media, and the difficulty of monetizing podcasting.

The conversation also digs into something deeper: the tension between preferring to work behind the scenes and being afraid to take the spotlight. Kyle reflects on his resistance to “shining,” perfectionism, and what it might look like in 2026 to let himself be more visible.

It’s a candid, thoughtful reset that offers listeners a rare look at the person behind the podcast, and an honest way to start a new year of conversations about being Asian.

Follow Cheryl!

Instagram

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with Khoulap (Khouliconnects), a Lao German podcaster who is amplifying Asian diaspora stories in Europe. Born and raised in Dortmund to parents who escaped Laos during the Vietnam War and resettled in Germany in 1979, Khoulap shares an intimate look at growing up as one of the only Asian kids in a small German town.

We talk about:
– What it means to be Lao German/Eurasian
– Childhood bullying, name mispronunciations, and “otherness”
– The turning point that led her to embrace her heritage
– Laos, its history, its people, and its food (sticky rice supremacy!)
– Family trauma, migration, and why her parents eventually moved back
– Being an Asian woman navigating the corporate world
– The birth of her podcast KhouliConnects and the power of community
– How meeting other Asians abroad changed everything
– The beauty of connection across diaspora

This conversation is warm, honest, and full of heart. Whether you’re from the Asian diaspora or simply curious about the Lao experience in Europe, this episode will leave you thinking about identity, belonging, and the stories we inherit.

Follow Khoulap and her podcast!

Instagram

Spotify

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

*This episode will touch on and mention the Cambodian genocide, so if this may be triggering for you at all, I would recommend skipping this episode*

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, host Kyle welcomes Sopheaktra (Peter) Heang, Cambodian Canadian, florist entrepreneur, and co-founder/director of the Cambodian Cultural Center of Canada.

Peter opens up about his family’s journey fleeing the Cambodian genocide, being born in a refugee camp, and growing up across Canada while navigating intergenerational trauma. He explains how many Cambodian families carry silent histories, why the genocide remains under-discussed, and how it shaped the Khmer diaspora worldwide.

Peter also dives into his own unconventional path, from a turbulent youth and feeling disconnected from community, to finding purpose through entrepreneurship, art, and activism. He shares candidly about building The Heart Company, a floral design business, with his wife, and how they learned to balance marriage with business.

Most importantly, Peter discusses the urgent need to preserve and revive Cambodian culture, especially for younger generations in the diaspora. From language classes to classical dance, community building, and cultural events, his work with the Cambodian Cultural Center is rebuilding connection, pride, and a future for Khmer identity in Canada.

This episode spans history, identity, community, trauma, healing, food, entrepreneurship, and what it means to be 100% Canadian and 100% Cambodian.

A must-listen for anyone interested in diaspora experiences, Southeast Asian history, or community-building.

Peter's Bio:

Peter Heang founded the Cambodian Cultural Centre with a determination to preserve and promote Cambodian heritage and culture. A son of refugees impacted by the genocide, Peter is committed to making a meaningful difference in Cambodian society by advocating for peace, love, joy, and unity. As
the founder of Heart Company with a solid background in accounting and finance, Peter has combined his analytical skills with a deep passion for creativity and community engagement.

Follow Peter!

https://www.instagram.com/peterheang604/

https://www.instagram.com/heartcompany604/

https://www.instagram.com/cambodian_cultural_centre/

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

Filmmaker Jon Hill joins Kyle for a heartfelt and hilarious conversation about identity, culture, and creativity. Jon — who’s half Thai and half white — talks about growing up on the East Coast, navigating “what kind of Asian” people think he is, and how that perspective shaped his voice as a storyteller.

They dig into Jon’s career, from working in sports media and producing Emmy-winning features for Fox Sports, to finally making his dream indie film Above the Clouds — a deeply personal story about grief, love, and self-discovery.

Jon opens up about how he found clarity through filmmaking after years of doubt. They also geek out about basketball (Sixers fans, this one’s for you), the GOAT debates, Thai representation, and the food that connects us all.

A funny, thoughtful, and down-to-earth episode for anyone chasing a creative dream or trying to make sense of identity and belonging.

Follow Jon and check out his film, "Above the Clouds"

Instagram

JonHillDirects.com and AbovetheCloudsFilm.com.

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

A bonus episode featuring the hosts of Two Asian Blokes, Danh and Thavy where we discuss about our hot takes on movies and Asian representation.

Also check out our full episode with Two Asian Blokes.

More Two Asian Blokes

Two Asian Blokes is a podcast where we talk about Asian pop culture – films, TV shows, comic books, anime, music food, video games, whatever we feel like at the time really. Our mission is to shine a spotlight on niche Asian cinema and media that we feel deserves a wider audience in the West – and have a blast while doing it.

Links

Two Asian Blokes Podcast

YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/@twoasianblokes

LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/twoasianblokes?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Don’t Fret, Precious

Teaser - https://youtu.be/tsmB9-2uU_o?si=jYnZ74qVVPUtBWP3

Dontations page - https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn00000SUTR3MAP/dont-fret-precious

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod

Send us a text

In this special crossover episode of What Kind of Asian Are You?, we’re joined by the hosts of Two Asian Blokes Podcast, Danh and Thavy, the dynamic duo bringing humor, honesty, and big opinions about Asian cinema, music, and pop culture. 🇦🇺

Together, we dive into the complexities of Lao identity, representation in Asian pop culture, and what it really means to grow up Asian Down Under. From nostalgic movie moments to real talk about identity, belonging, and creative expression.

🎙️ Expect cultural pride.
🎞️ Expect cinema talk.
🔥 Expect two Asian blokes and one unforgettable chat.

Listen now!

Host, Kyle also went on Two Asian Blokes Podcast to talk and reviewed an Asian film! Check it out!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1aZwm2qotJMP68lTK8QmU7?si=6wztNERMR2myYCTRk7QyLQ

More Two Asian Blokes

Two Asian Blokes is a podcast where we talk about Asian pop culture – films, TV shows, comic books, anime, music food, video games, whatever we feel like at the time really. Our mission is to shine a spotlight on niche Asian cinema and media that we feel deserves a wider audience in the West – and have a blast while doing it.

Links

Two Asian Blokes Podcast

YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/@twoasianblokes

LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/twoasianblokes?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Don’t Fret, Precious

Teaser - https://youtu.be/tsmB9-2uU_o?si=jYnZ74qVVPUtBWP3

Dontations page - https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn00000SUTR3MAP/dont-fret-precious

Support the show

Thank you for listening!
Help this podcast:
1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod
2. Share our episodes with friends and family
3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform
4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast
5. Buy Us a Coffee! (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can)

All the links!
https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod