Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast

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Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast

Share the Truth, Inspire Others.

09/13/2026

California girl at heart 💙

08/16/2026

New episode with Vanna Sann OUT NOW 🎙️

Vanna sees Dorsu as proof that you don’t have to choose between running a business and doing right by the people behind it.

At Dorsu, that means thinking about who made your clothes, where the materials came from, how people are treated along the way, and what it actually looks like to build a fashion business around fairness and responsibility. None of those questions have simple answers, especially in an industry built around producing more, faster and cheaper.

What I loved most about my conversation with Vanna is that he isn’t pretending Dorsu can solve every problem in fashion. Instead, he talks about doing the simple things well, staying rooted in your values, and showing that another way of doing business is actually possible.

🎧 The full episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America is now available on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. 🔊

08/15/2026

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎤

This week on Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Vanna Sann, a Cambodian American entrepreneur and founder of Dorsu, for a conversation about identity, coming back to Cambodia, and what it means to build a business there with Cambodian ownership at its core.

Vanna was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and grew up working class in Lowell, Massachusetts. Like many of us in the diaspora, he grew up with stories about Cambodia and the war, but eventually realized he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life understanding the country only through stories. In 2010, he went to Cambodia looking for a stronger sense of identity and ended up finding a reason to stay.

We talk about growing up Cambodian American in the 80s and 90s, the complicated feeling of returning to a country you’ve inherited through your family, and the optimism and entrepreneurial energy he found once he got there. We also get into his work with Dorsu, where he and his team are challenging the way the garment industry operates by centering ethical production, Cambodian ownership, female leadership, and a different way of thinking about waste and sustainability.

I especially loved our conversation about what it means for Cambodians to actually own the businesses, brands, and ideas coming out of Cambodia. There is so much talent and possibility in the country, and Vanna has spent years thinking about what it looks like to build something there without losing sight of the people and community you’re building it with.

🎧 This episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America will be available on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts on Sunday, August 16th. 🔊

07/30/2026

Come along with me to Mexico City as I source ingredients from around the world for B&H bakery distributors. B&H bakery distributors supplies Donut shops, Latin bakeries and supermarkets all throughout Northern California. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to be able to attend international shows and source ingredients like sugar, flour, fillings, and anything you would need to run a bakery! Taking over this business has taught me so much from how to run a team, how to negotiate, and what it takes to run a successful business. It is my ninth year doing this (yes 9!!), and I still feel like I have a long way to go. Long before the podcast started, your girl was out here grinding and pushing this business as far as I can go. There are periods in my life where this business requires my full attention, and so that’s where I give it.

It’s been a joy so far to challenge myself in so many different ways. As Robert slowly retires, and I step into this role, I feel pride in knowing that I am carrying on a family legacy that serves Cambodian mom and pop donut shops - something that hits this “donut kid” close to home ❤️

The Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast is available to listen to on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify! 🎙️

07/20/2026

New episode with Camilla Mayer OUT NOW 🎙️

Growing up, Camilla Mayer heard her mother's Khmer Rouge survival story over and over again.

She remembers how those conversations were never centered around fear or shame, and instead became the foundation for the deep respect she has for her mother and the values that continue to shape her life and work today.

In our full conversation, we talk about growing up Cambodian American in Chicago, how her family's history inspired the creation of Nary Resort, and why preserving Cambodian craftsmanship through ethical fashion is her way of honoring the resilience of the generations that came before her.

If you haven't listened to the full episode yet, this Death in Cambodia, Life in America episode is available to listen to on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! 🔊YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! 🔊

07/19/2026

New episode with Camilla Mayer OUT NOW 🎙️

Camilla Mayer grew up in a Cambodian Christian family, something that isn't often talked about when sharing Cambodian American stories.

In this episode, she reflects on how her grandmother and mother converted to Christianity while living in the Thai refugee camps, and how finding a Cambodian church after arriving in Chicago gave her family a community that helped them navigate life after the Khmer Rouge.

In our full conversation, we explore how those early experiences shaped Camilla's identity, her connection to Cambodia, and eventually led her to co-found Nary Resort, an ethical fashion brand rooted in preserving Cambodian craftsmanship and creating opportunities for local artisans.

If you haven't listened to the full episode yet, this Death in Cambodia, Life in America episode is available to listen to on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! 🔊

07/17/2026

This week on the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I sit down with Camilla Mayer, CEO and co-founder of Nary Resort, an ethical fashion brand rooted in Cambodia that's proving sustainability and social impact can go hand in hand.

Growing up in Chicago, Camilla always knew she was Cambodian, but reconnecting with her heritage would eventually shape both her life and her business. Today, she works alongside artisans in Cambodia to create clothing that celebrates Cambodian craftsmanship while prioritizing ethical manufacturing and fair working conditions.

But this conversation goes beyond fashion.

Did you know the fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, and less than 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments? In this episode, we talk about the hidden costs of fast fashion, why ethical production matters, and what it really looks like to build a business that puts people and purpose before profit.

This episode is about identity, entrepreneurship, and choosing to build something that honors both people and purpose.

🎧 This episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America will be available to listen to on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts on Sunday, July 19. 🔊

07/14/2026

Welcome to our survival stories studio! 🎥🎥

Robert and I developed this program a few years ago after we realized the effects of healing after my father sat down with me and shared his full survival story. We thought about ALL the other survivors out there who never had a chance to sit down and be interviewed by somebody who had also survived the Khmer Rouge with them. Capturing our histories and building a platform where survivors feel safe to share, has never truly been done properly before. Anyone who is willing to travel to us will get a professional video, professional photos, and a chance to sit down with Robert and vulnerably share their story on our platform.

This program that my dad and I created has always been near and dear to my heart. We wanted to re-create the healing experience for people who had never had the opportunity to delve into their past in a safe setting. The stories that we have heard in this room have been brutally honest, and have always left us with an appreciation for the survivors, and humanity.

If you know a parent or a grandparent, who is willing to travel to the Bay Area, please apply to our survival story program at www.deathincambodiapodcast.com 💗

We are out here, capturing our own histories ourselves, one story at a time.

The Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast is available to listen to on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify! 🎙️

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Los Angeles, CA
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Website

https://www.deathincambodiapodcast.com/

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