Why an S and not a V?
"Why an S and not a V?" is a look at Vietnamese history, culture and food from the perspective of a Vietnamese person born out in the wider world. There's all these things my parents never told me because they were busy working and living, now I found some time to catch up on it.
This is a metamorphosis of the original Post Cerebral Infarction and Your Internet Uncle podcasts, where I tried to remember things to help me learn about my roots.
Episodes
127 episodes
Vietnamese Cover (Song) Up
Happy 2025! I learned many songs that I like in the Vietnamese repetoire are actually covers of Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs. In doing the research, I was surprised how some of these Chinese songs were in themselves covers or inspired by ot...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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21:11
The Future is now Old Man
Just a summary of what's to come in the next little white.
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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6:46
Avocados
Green gold with a black secret. Do you know where your food comes from? This episode we look at the similarities and differences in the avocado industry between Vietnam and Mexico.
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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34:11
MLB 2: The Reranting
I came across more "MLB" stores and had unpolite thoughts I would like to share.
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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4:51
Shuttling Past the SCB
Our airport shuttle driver had a lot to say about many things, including some tidbits about Capitalist Lan. Roads were a bit clogged up due to her second trial. SCB branches seemed to be open while I was there. Her trial to appeal her death sen...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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9:21
The Agony of Unbidden Wakefulness
Roosters are nature's alarm clock. The problem is, you can't tell them when to wake you.
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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2:30
Sounds of Saigon: Tao Dan Park
Tao Dan park is one of the big green spaces in Saigon. It is mostly walled off from the huge flows of traffic that go around it. I found I quite like it, after using it for my daily old man walking circuit in 2023. In Tao Dan park there are:
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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10:12
Sounds of Saigon: The Ride
Nothing exciting, just a typical moped ride from District 1 (Saigon) to a neighbouring district during regular traffic. What you miss from just listening is the constant game of chicken everyone plays with each other with 99% success rate of li...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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18:44
Sounds of Saigon: Daily Rain
I thought the rainy season ended after August, but that might just be true for the part of Vietnam where my dad is from. Jen tells me big heavy thunderstorms are normal in October.Part of a series of what you can hear around Saigon (Ho ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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0:41
Sounds of Saigon: Bird Song
From one of the hotels I stayed in, I heard a unique bird call. I have no idea what it is and I cannot find a non-Americas, non-European app for identification.Part of a series of what you can hear around Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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0:17
The Sound of Kieu
No Julie Andrew here. Dennis lays it his thoughts on “Vietnam’s” epic, the Tale of Kieu, a story of Confucian morals.
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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5:22
Elephants are not horses
We talk about the struggles about becoming a war chief and if there is an exchange rate between elephants and horses. A follow up to this episode is included at the start of the avocado episode.
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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11:26
Gang Nam Style
Just a ramble about the various Vietnamese gang members I’ve met over the years.
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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41:53
Soups of the North
We, to Dennis' chagrin, talk about Vietnam's most famous cuisine, phở (if I hear an Oh sound, I will hunt you down). It's origins are murky, but whether it be French, Chinese or a hybridization with local recipes, there's no denying it's signi...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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51:21
Capitalist Lang and the SCB
We delve into the SCB saga, the greatest criminal trial in Vietnam's, in SE Asia's history and the lady at the center of it all, Capitalist Lang (Trương Mỹ Lan). Post script: On June 6, Al Jazeera reports more charges were filed ag...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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58:59
A Tale of 2 Cities (Frankfurt and Saigon)
As part of our ongoing gratitude to our listeners in Frankfurt Am Main, we thought we'd have a look at how Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) stacks up to this powerhouse of a German city.
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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45:42
Good Evening from Vietnam (Nov 3)
My final short report while on my trip where I talk about my disappointment at the MLB store in Ho Chi Minh City and women working 9 to 5.
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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2:55
Good Morning from Vietnam (Nov 1)
The third of my short reports where I talk about riding mopeds and 7-11s.
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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2:12
Good Morning from Vietnam (Oct 31)
The second of my short reports where I was dumb and tried to visit the Canadian consulate without an appointment. I also ramble about how helmet requirements have changed in Vietnam over time.
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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9:23
Good Morning from Vietnam (Oct 30)
I recorded a few daily reports during my trip to Vietnam in 2023. I babble on about road crossings and a broken rice diner I ate at.
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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9:30
The Four Immortals
We talked about Sơn Tinh (Sonny) previously, but in this episode, Dennis and I do an overview of the other three immortals. This includes Sonny's brother in law, Chử Đồng Tử (Chewie).
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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52:14
April 29
So I made a mistake in stating April 29 was the fall of Saigon; it fell on the 30th. The 29th was the date of the initial invasion. You could say it was still the 29th in the Americas when Saigon fell.
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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8:12
Enter the (Year of the) Dragon
Chúc mừng năm mới! Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)! We break in the new year wondering why nations wouldn't pick dragons as their astrolog...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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52:12