Healing Out Lao'd
Created/Hosted by Rita Phetmixay (she/they), MA, LCSW, Licensed Psychotherapist, Wellness Coach, and Independent Audio Producer. Healing Out Lao'd explores the intersections of Lao diaspora storytelling x healing x tools for sustainability. While this show centers the Lao and broader Southeast Asian diaspora experience, anyone can benefit from this resource, especially those in the margins including BIPOC (Black Indigenous Persons of Color), survivors, thrivers, healers, movement builders, and so forth. In order to highlight the nuances of the diverse Lao diaspora experience, HOL casts diverse perspectives of what it means to be an (adult) child of refugees while also inspiring a new generation of folx to heal and move forward with their lives. This is one project to expand visions of the overall #LaoHealingMovement !!!
Episodes
70 episodes
E45: Tina Meetran on Eldest Daughterhood & Finding Out Family's Threat of Deportation at 16yo
Episode 45 features a conversation with Tina Meetran—visual artist, children’s book author, and nonprofit leader—who joined Rita on the pod to talk about her journey as a Lao American growing up in Rhode Island. Tina opens up about family dynam...
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Season 3
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46:57
E44: How to Pronounce Knife Book Talk w/Souvankham Thammavongsa (HOL Retreat March 2024)
Episode 44 is a recording of Souvankham Thammavongsa's Book Talk at the March 2024 HOL Wellness Retreat at Joshua Tree, CA. In this talk, Souvankham shares her journey as a Lao Canadian short story writer & poet of 2 decades, and explores t...
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Season 3
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45:38
E43: Phatsaline Vongsaly on co-founding "Gamlangchai" and advocating for basic mental health access in Laos, our motherland
In episode 43, Phatsaline "Pat" Vongsaly reflects on her experiences of co-founding Gamlangchai, a community-based organization/social enterprise founded in 2020, who's mission is “Making basic mental ...
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Season 3
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56:15
E42: Aleena Inthaly on growing up in VA + food diplomacy + transitioning from Legacies of War to Lao Food Movement
In episode 42, Aleena reflects on her journey as a Lao diaspora leader, from which she shares her upbringing in Virginia, her past work with Legacies of War, and her current leadership role in the Lao Food Movement. This conversation highlights...
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Season 3
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48:26
E41: Vilayvanh Bender on Exploring Lao Heritage Through Literature
In episode 41, Healing Out Lao'd host Rita Phetmixay engages in a heartfelt conversation with Vilayvanh Bender, a Lao American children's book author and registered dietitian. Vanh shares her journey as a 1.5 generation immigrant/refugee,...
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Season 3
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42:58
E40: Sarina "Rina" Herman on confronting harmful phrases in Lao + the role of social work in promoting mental health awareness
In episode 40, Healing Out Lao'd host Rita Phetmixay sits down with Rina B Herman, fellow Lao/Vietnamese/Southeast Asian American therapist & social worker based in Ohio. They explore the stigma surrounding mental health in Lao communities,...
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Season 3
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52:40
E39: Khoulapsavanh Sayasith on growing up Lao in Germany + challenges of navigating corporate life & cultural identity
In episode 39, Healing Out Lao'd host Rita Phetmixay sits down with Khoulapsavanh (Khoulap for short), fellow Lao podcaster based in Germany. They delve into Khoulap's family refugee/migration history, the challenges of navigating cultural iden...
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Season 3
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53:43
E38: Ketsana Roberts on navigating Lao identity + financial challenges in South Carolina & being a lil delulu
In episode 38, Healing Out Lao'd host Rita Phetmixay sits down with Ketsana Roberts, a leader in the Asian American diaspora and VP of Community Relations for Ascend. They discuss Ketsana's journey of reconnecting with her roots, growing up in ...
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Season 3
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50:09
E37: Dr. Phitsamay Sychitkokhong Uy on navigating public education system as the first Lao American refugee Harvard EDD graduate
This episode features Dr. Phitsamay Sychitkokhong Uy, who shares her experiences of growing up navigating the public school systems and eventually graduating as the first Lao American refugee to receive a Doctorate of Education from Harvard Uni...
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Season 3
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1:17:28
SZN 3 Trailer
Healing Out Lao'd finally re-launches another season after a couple years of challenges and growth pains! In this trailer, Rita introduces the continued themes of the upcoming season focused on healing, resilience, and community within the Lao ...
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Season 3
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11:22
E36: Sabaidee Fest Reflections (Part 2) ft. Somlit, Joy, and Susan
On this week's surprise episode of Healing Out Lao'd, we released PART 2 of the Sabaidee Fest Reflection Series!!! [Sabaidee Fest is the largest Southeast Asian music and cultural festival]Par...
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29:37
E35: Sabaidee Fest Reflections (Part 1) ft. Saengthong Douangdara
LONG TIME NO SPEAK P'NONG!!! On this week's surprise episode of Healing Out Lao'd, we are reflecting and reminiscing our experiences of the largest Southeast Asian music and cultural festival-- Sa...
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30:22
E34: Somlit Inthalangsy on returning to his Lao name + embodying dad's legacy of community organizing & finding home away from home in Laos Angeles
FINAL SZN 2.0 Episode 34 features a conversation between creator/host Rita Phetmixay and actor/co-host of Laos Angeles Deuan Sabaidee, Somlit Inthalangsy!During this episode, Somlit speaks on returning to his Lao name + embodying ...
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Season 2
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1:09:40
E33: Christy Innouvong-Thornton on experiences of growing up without her Lao Isan parents + moving beyond narratives of forced resilience & giving back through Southeast Asian foodways
Episode 33 features a conversation between creator/host Rita Phetmixay and founder of Courageous Kitchen & TukTuk Box enterprises, Christy Innouvong-Thornton!During this episode, Christy reflects on her painful experiences of ...
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Season 2
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1:06:46
E32: Andrew David Vilaythong on growing up with a parent suffering from mental illness + therapy as a tool for addressing conflict-avoidant behaviors & music as self-exploration
Episode 32 features a conversation between creator/host Rita Phetmixay and music maker/DJ/audio editor of HOL– Andrew David Vilaythong!During this episode, Andrew reflects on his experiences of growing up with a parent suffering f...
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Season 2
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54:31
E31: #HealingTheHealer-- Stephanie Franco on writing as resistance + cultivating mental health equity for BIPOC across cali & tapping into radical imagination
Episode 31 brings back the #HealingTheHealer series, which was first created in order to share the experiences of people in Rita’s lives that have empowered her healing process. In this first episode of 2022, Rita dives into a conversation with...
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Season 2
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57:18
E30: Lina V Luangrath on overcoming domestic violence, finding inner liberation thru music, & meeting Lao ancestors for the first time
This episode features a conversation between creator/host Rita Phetmixay and the talented Lao American musician and family woman, Lina V Luangrath. During this episode, Lina reflects on her experiences of growing up in an impoverished Lao/BIPOC...
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Season 2
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1:14:03
E29: Lao Womxn Healing Circle
Episode 29 features creator/host Rita Phetmixay with special guests Seraphina Lotkhamnga, Joy Ngaosivath, and Carole Chainon. Together, they dialogue and reflect on what it means to be daughters of Lao refugees who uniquely embody interg...
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Season 2
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1:16:46
E28: Phetmixay Sibling Reunion on Rupture & Repair Mid-Pandemic
Episode 28 features three out of the four Phetmixay siblings: David, Rita, and Joseph Phetmixay, who come together to reflect on how this pandemic has impacted each individually and how family conflict & reconciliation have helped drive c...
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Season 2
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41:42
E27: Joseph Phetmixay on growing up as Lao GenZ in NC during era of Uprisings & COVID-19
E27 features Joseph Phetmixay, baby brother to Rita Phetmixay AND youngest sibling of the Phetmixay family! Not only is Joseph the youngest child, he’s also the youngest guest on HOL and here to rep all the Lao GEN Z folx out there!! <...
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Season 2
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49:46
E26: "The Right to Heal: Southeast Asian American Mental Health in CA" [SEARAC report launch]
On behalf of the Laotian American National Alliance, creator/host Rita Phetmixay of Healing Out Lao’d was invited to be a part of a virtual launch event hosted by SEARAC +...
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Season 2
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1:46:17
E25.2: Lao Sibling Reconciliation (Part 2) on saving face, vulnerability and building compassion
Healing Out Lao’d SZN 2.0 launches part two of the Lao Sibling Reconciliation episode, which explores the direct impact of saving face, vulnerability and building compassion. Facilitated by Wanda Pathomrit, this intimate conversation between HO...
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Season 2
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55:23
E25.1: Lao Sibling Reconciliation (Part 1) on gender roles, birth order, and parentification
HAPPY RELAUNCH DAY P’NONG/FAMILY!!! Healing Out Lao’d SZN 2.0 is finally here!!! In this first relaunch episode, creator/host Rita Phetmixay engages in a (part 1) in a deeply personal and heartfelt conversation with her big brother ...
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Season 2
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1:01:30
#COVID19 Series, E2: Gonji Lee on cultivating community resources thru disability justice lens + response to ant-Asian racism + holistic self-care practices
#COVID19 SERIES, E2: GONJI LEEFor our second episode of #COVID19 series, HOL invites Gonji Lee to speak about their experiences as a mental health practitioner based Los Angeles, CA. Gonji identifies as a trauma and resiliency-inf...
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Season 2
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43:23