https://www.deathincambodiapodcast.com/

Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, Los Angeles, CA (2025)

08/30/2025

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎤

This week on Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Li-Da Kruger, a Cambodian-born British filmmaker and adoptee, whose journey is as heartbreaking as it is healing.

Adopted just before the Khmer Rouge came to power, Li-Da spent over 20 years searching for her biological family. In our conversation, she opens up about the survivor’s guilt of growing up safe while others suffered, the emotional toll of being disconnected from her roots, and the healing power of storytelling.

We also talk about her nonprofit Reconnecting Cambodia, which uses DNA testing to reunite families separated by war and genocide. This is a conversation about identity, memory, and the work of piecing together a lost past.

This episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America will be available to listen to on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts on Sunday, August 31 🔊

08/19/2025

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎤

Most people have never heard of what happened at Preah Vihear in 1979. Even fewer know that 45,000 Cambodian refugees were forced into landmine territory after surviving the Khmer Rouge. This week, I sit down with James Taing, author of Under the Naga tale and director of Ghost Mountain, to talk about the buried history of refugee repatriation, the trauma passed between generations, and the importance of accurate storytelling. We also explore how today's rising tensions between Cambodia and Thailand are rooted in this painful past.

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

08/13/2025

Ive realized I’ve taking a bit of an hiatus here. The reality is life has been “life-ing” and honestly it’s sometimes a struggle to know what to share on here, and what not to. Like Im going to be judged for sharing too much or too little, or for not posting the right things. This year hasn’t always been daises and roses, and I’ve found the need to give myself space to step back. It’s been good for me.

Here are a few things that have made me smile in the past month. ✌🏼

1. Mom insisted on taking a photo next to these purple flowers
2. Selfie with the queen
3. Live music cures (almost) everything
4. New matcha habit I started this month
5. Successful first B&H event at a local winery!
6. Burrito by the beach. Need I say more.
7. Smiling through a heat wave while doing client visits, while my parents live their best lives.

Hope you are all taking good care of yourselves. I’m still here, just taking what I need. ✨

Love,
Your host

07/25/2025

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎤

In the latest episode of the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Chef Ros Rotanak (better known as Chef Nak), Cambodia’s leading culinary ambassador and the author of the award-winning cookbook SAOI.

From her childhood kitchen to the pages of an award-winning cookbook, Chef Nak’s story is one of fierce passion and a deep devotion to preserving Khmer food traditions. In this conversation, she shares how food connects memory, identity, and survival in a post-genocide Cambodia.

🎧 This episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America episode will be available on Sunday, July 27. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts or at deathincambodiapodcast.com/podcast 🔊

07/16/2025

🌟 Join us for Khmer Courageous Conversations on July 24, 2025, at 6 PM PST. Sign-ups are now open. 🌟

This month, we’re exploring The Relationship with Rest and Relaxation.

For many of us, rest doesn’t always come easily. We carry the weight of our families’ sacrifices, unspoken guilt, or the pressure to always be doing more. Slowing down can feel indulgent or even impossible. But rest is not a luxury; it’s a vital part of healing, resilience, and reclaiming our well-being.

Let’s come together to reflect on how we view rest, why it feels hard to allow ourselves to slow down, and how we can redefine our relationship with it, both individually and as a community.

🔗 Sign up now via the link in our bio. We look forward to this much-needed conversation.

🎙️ Don’t forget to check out the Death in Cambodia, Life in America podcast on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

07/15/2025

Phnom Penh, a city rich in architectural history, has witnessed dramatic shifts over the years, particularly with the rise of New Khmer Architecture in the 1950s and 1960s. Led by visionary architects like Vann Molyvann, this movement mixed modern design with local traditions, leaving behind landmarks like the iconic White Building.

But in 2017, the White Building was demolished to make way for a 21-story tower, marking the loss of one of Cambodia's architectural treasures. This demolition reflects the growing tension between preserving cultural heritage and the rapid urbanization of Phnom Penh. Despite these losses, the influence of New Khmer Architecture still shapes the city’s identity today.

The article explores the story of Phnom Penh’s architectural evolution, the people behind the New Khmer Architecture movement, and the ongoing battle to protect what remains.

💬 Comment "Architecture" below, and we’ll send you the link to the full article!

Story by: Brian Leli of Cambodia Daily
Full title: Khmer New Wave
Publish Date: 05 November 2016
Additional courtesies: Mekong Review and Stefanie Sellon

07/15/2025

At the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI), healing is a community effort. Cambodian refugees in Oakland are finding strength in cultural connection, shared meals, and mental health care.

CERI’s approach is rooted in understanding the unique needs of this community and creating a safe, welcoming environment for healing. It's proof that mental health care must be as culturally relevant as it is professional.

Want to know how CERI and similar organizations are making a difference? Read the full article to discover more about the challenges and victories of Cambodian refugees in America.

Comment "CERI" and we'll send you the link!

Story by: Soreath Hok of KVPR
Full tile: A program built by Cambodian refugees offers PTSD support. Participants say it works
Publish date: 30 November 2022
Additional courtesies: USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s 2022 California Fellowship

07/08/2025

In 2015, a Letter to the Editor in the Phnom Penh Post revealed the stark realities facing Cambodia’s elderly, from inadequate healthcare to poverty, and the lack of access to essential support services. These challenges remain significant today, but there is hope. HelpAge Cambodia (HAC) has been at the forefront of providing support and services to older Cambodians, working to improve their lives through community-driven initiatives and advocacy for their rights.

In 2025, HAC continues its mission, helping Cambodia’s elderly gain the respect and support they deserve, while also empowering them to lead dignified lives. From providing healthcare to promoting social inclusion, HAC’s efforts are shaping a future where Cambodia’s elderly population is no longer invisible but recognized for their contributions and needs. Read the full letter to learn about the work HAC has done and the challenges that remain in ensuring a better future for Cambodia’s older citizens.

💬 Comment “Elderly” below and we’ll send you the link to the full letter

🔗 To learn more about the work being done, visit HelpAge Cambodia

Story by: The Phnom Penh Post
Full title: Hardships and Hope for Cambodia’s Elderly
Publish Date: 09 September 2015

06/20/2025

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎤

This week on Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I’m joined by Amara Goel — a Cambodian American performing artist, policy analyst, and social impact writer whose story is as powerful as her voice.

From growing up in a refugee camp to performing on international stages and advocating at the United Nations, Amara’s journey is a testament to resilience, identity, and the healing power of art.

In our conversation, we get deep into what it means to carry Cambodian history, navigate multiple cultures, and use creativity and activism to drive real change.

🎧 Episode streaming June 22 on Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts!

06/17/2025

At the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI), healing is a community effort. Cambodian refugees in Oakland are finding strength in cultural connection, shared meals, and mental health care.

CERI’s approach is rooted in understanding the unique needs of this community and creating a safe, welcoming environment for healing. It's proof that mental health care must be as culturally relevant as it is professional.

Want to know how CERI and similar organizations are making a difference? Read the full article by Soreath Hok to discover more about the challenges and victories of Cambodian refugees in America.

Comment "CERI" and we'll send you the link!

06/11/2025

🌟 Join us for Khmer Courageous Conversations on June 27, 2025, at 6 PM PST. Sign-ups are now open. 🌟

This month, we’re talking about the Power of Community and Belonging.

For many in the Khmer diaspora, the path to healing can feel lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Community reminds us that we are not alone in our grief, our questions, or our hope. Whether we find belonging in family, friends, culture, or shared experience, that sense of connection can be a powerful anchor in uncertain times.

Let’s come together to reflect on what community means to us, how we’ve found it - or where we still seek it - and why belonging matters in our healing journeys.

🔗 Sign up now via the link in our bio. We can’t wait to share this conversation with you.

🎙️ Don’t forget to check out the Death in Cambodia, Life in America podcast on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

05/26/2025

Medication is not synonymous for healing.

Of 227 Cambodian refugees with PTSD or depression:
• 52% sought care.
• 97% got meds.
• Only 9% received therapy.

Doctors are prescribing, but where’s the space for survivors to process, grieve, and heal?
This isn’t comprehensive care. It’s crisis control. And it’s not enough.

🔗 Read the full study, “The Enduring Mental Health Impact of Mass Violence,” by Mollica, Brooks, Tor, Lopes-Cardozo, and Silove https://www.globalr2p.org/publications/lessons-from-the-cambodia-genocide/

Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast

08/30/2025

08/19/2025

08/13/2025

07/25/2025

07/16/2025

07/15/2025

07/15/2025

07/08/2025

06/20/2025

06/17/2025

06/11/2025

05/26/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category