Culture, Power, and the Pen
Culture, Power, and the Pen is a podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of Asian minority communities through conversations with writers, activists, and storytellers. Hosted by Andy Liu, each episode explores how language and literature become tools for reclaiming identity, challenging dominant narratives, and illuminating cultures that are often overlooked. If you’re passionate about literature, social justice, or simply curious about the stories that shape our world, you’re in the right place!
Culture, Power, and the Pen
Writing from the Gap: A Conversation with Kao Kalia Yang
In this debut episode of Culture, Power, and the Pen, host Andy Liu sits down with award-winning Hmong-American author Kao Kalia Yang to explore the role of storytelling in reclaiming identity, preserving culture, and healing from generational trauma. From her childhood in a Thai refugee camp to her life as a celebrated writer in Minnesota, Yang shares how memory, language, and literature have shaped her identity. They talk about everything from Hmong New Year traditions and mochi-making to journaling through tough times and the joy of finding your voice on the page.