Steven and Jamie discussed Jamie's book "My Father, the Panda Killer", a dual narrative exploring the life of a Vietnamese refugee and his daughter's journey of reconciliation. They also touched on the importance of diverse literature in fostering empathy and understanding, and the impact of personal narratives in understanding complex historical events like the Vietnam War. Lastly, they discussed Jamie's writing journey, her approach to writing, and ther book that delves into the experiences of Vietnamese Americans and their families.
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Introducing Jamie and Her Book 'My Father, the Panda Killer 00:00
Steven introduced Jamie, the author of the book "My Father, the Panda Killer", which was a culmination of over two decades of writing in various forms. The book is a dual narrative that explores the life of Jamie, a 17-year-old growing up with an abusive father, and her father's journey as a Vietnamese refugee from Vietnam to America. Jamie shared her motivation for writing the book, highlighting the disconnect between the first and second generation Vietnamese-Americans due to a lack of communication about their history. She emphasized that the narrative is wholly from Jamie's perspective, while also including the facts she learns about her family throughout the story.
Appreciating Book's Impact on Empathy 05:04
Steven commended the book's portrayal of Jamie's interactions with her extended family and highlighted its educational value for outsiders like him. Jamie echoed Steven's appreciation for the book's depiction of the human impact of war, specifically the Vietnam War, and highlighted the importance of understanding its generational implications. Both agreed on the book's potential to contribute to the ongoing healing process and its value in promoting empathy and understanding across communities.
Jamie's Journey and Book Pairing Discussion 08:29
Jamie shared her personal journey of reconciling with her traumatic past and building bridges of empathy towards her parents. Steven highlighted the book's potential as a coming-of-age story and suggested pairing it with other recently published books for discussion. Both Jamie and Steven discussed the theme of identity, with Jamie sharing her own experience of internalized shame from her Vietnamese heritage and Steven touching on the complexities of familial relationships.
Discussing Empathy and Understanding Through Books 12:02
Jamie and Steven discussed the impact of their respective books on readers, focusing on the positive effects of increased cultural understanding and empathy. Jamie shared that his book, which tells the story of a Vietnamese refugee family, has resonated with readers from diverse backgrounds, including a Mexican reader who related to the cultural gap between parents and children. Steven noted that such stories offer a way for readers to understand and connect with different experiences, while also acknowledging the complex reactions of the American public towards refugees. Both agreed on the importance of diverse literature in fostering empathy and understanding.
Jamie's Writing Journey and Achievements 19:25
Steven and Jamie discussed Jamie's writing journey. Jamie shared how her passion for writing began in college, but she didn't initially consider herself a writer. After obtaining a degree from the UCLA film school, she worked in screenwriting and later transitioned to writing books. Jamie's first book, "Blue Sun, Yellow Sky," was published in 2020, following a three-year writing period. Steven praised Jamie's dedication to writing and encouraged her to continue pursuing her craft.
Discussing Book Cover Art and Authors 25:07
Steven and Jamie discussed the cover art for Jamie's book, "The Panda Killer". Jamie shared that she had been pleased with the publisher's openness to her feedback and notes, particularly regarding the artist Marcos' work. She also mentioned that she was working on a companion book, titled "Paul and the Mom Story", with Marcos creating the cover, which was recently kicked off by the publishers with an anticipated release in summer 2025. Steven praised Jamie's ability to discover and promote new authors, and Jamie expressed her excitement about the new book.
Jamie's Perspectives on Sibling Relationships and Healing 30:53
Jamie shared his insights on the importance of different perspectives in sibling relationships and the value of exploring personal pathways to healing. He discussed his experiences as a substitute teacher at a juvenile hall in Los Angeles, emphasizing the emotional impact of personal stories. Jamie suggested that teachers should encourage students to be honest in their writing and to explore their emotions, as this can help them connect with others and overcome challenges. Steven asked about Jamie's objectives during school visits, to which Jamie replied that his focus varies depending on the topic, but always prioritizes emotional impact.
Personal Narratives for Understanding War 36:19
Jamie and Steven discussed the importance of personal narratives in understanding the complexities of war, specifically the Vietnam War. Jamie emphasized how reading about a individual's journey can humanize the historical events and allow for greater empathy and understanding among students. Steven agreed, pointing out that the traditional monolithic narratives of the Vietnam War in American schools overlook the unique divisions within the country and the personal experiences of its people. Both agreed that pairing a personal narrative with the historical events could provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the war.
Writing Process and Emotional Moments 41:52
Steven and Jamie discussed the writing process, with Jamie sharing her approach of starting with a single emotional moment and letting the character's journey unfold from there. She admitted to not using an outline, instead preferring to write a messy first draft and then rewrite multiple times. Steven agreed with Jamie's method, emphasizing that rewriting is a crucial part of the writing process. He also noted the importance of capturing emotions and themes that resonate with readers.
Vietnamese American Book Reception and Promotion 46:45
Steven and Jamie discussed the upcoming book by Jamie, which explores the experiences of Vietnamese Americans and their families. Jamie shared that she had been initially apprehensive about the reception of the book within the Vietnamese community but was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly positive feedback she received. She noted that the book had resonated with readers who felt seen and understood, and had even inspired the audiobook narrator to share the book within her organization to help employees understand the refugee experience and generational trauma. Steven expressed his support for Jamie and the book, promising to promote it to a wider audience.
Steven introduced Jamie, the author of the book "My Father, the Panda Killer", which was a culmination of over two decades of writing in various forms. The book is a dual narrative that explores the life of Jamie, a 17-year-old growing up with an abusive father, and her father's journey as a Vietnamese refugee from Vietnam to America. Jamie shared her motivation for writing the book, highlighting the disconnect between the first and second generation Vietnamese-Americans due to a lack of communication about their history. She emphasized that the narrative is wholly from Jamie's perspective, while also including the facts she learns about her family throughout the story.
Appreciating Book's Impact on Empathy 05:04
Steven commended the book's portrayal of Jamie's interactions with her extended family and highlighted its educational value for outsiders like him. Jamie echoed Steven's appreciation for the book's depiction of the human impact of war, specifically the Vietnam War, and highlighted the importance of understanding its generational implications. Both agreed on the book's potential to contribute to the ongoing healing process and its value in promoting empathy and understanding across communities.
Jamie's Journey and Book Pairing Discussion 08:29
Jamie shared her personal journey of reconciling with her traumatic past and building bridges of empathy towards her parents. Steven highlighted the book's potential as a coming-of-age story and suggested pairing it with other recently published books for discussion. Both Jamie and Steven discussed the theme of identity, with Jamie sharing her own experience of internalized shame from her Vietnamese heritage and Steven touching on the complexities of familial relationships.
Discussing Empathy and Understanding Through Books 12:02
Jamie and Steven discussed the impact of their respective books on readers, focusing on the positive effects of increased cultural understanding and empathy. Jamie shared that his book, which tells the story of a Vietnamese refugee family, has resonated with readers from diverse backgrounds, including a Mexican reader who related to the cultural gap between parents and children. Steven noted that such stories offer a way for readers to understand and connect with different experiences, while also acknowledging the complex reactions of the American public towards refugees. Both agreed on the importance of diverse literature in fostering empathy and understanding.
Jamie's Writing Journey and Achievements 19:25
Steven and Jamie discussed Jamie's writing journey. Jamie shared how her passion for writing began in college, but she didn't initially consider herself a writer. After obtaining a degree from the UCLA film school, she worked in screenwriting and later transitioned to writing books. Jamie's first book, "Blue Sun, Yellow Sky," was published in 2020, following a three-year writing period. Steven praised Jamie's dedication to writing and encouraged her to continue pursuing her craft.
Discussing Book Cover Art and Authors 25:07
Steven and Jamie discussed the cover art for Jamie's book, "The Panda Killer". Jamie shared that she had been pleased with the publisher's openness to her feedback and notes, particularly regarding the artist Marcos' work. She also mentioned that she was working on a companion book, titled "Paul and the Mom Story", with Marcos creating the cover, which was recently kicked off by the publishers with an anticipated release in summer 2025. Steven praised Jamie's ability to discover and promote new authors, and Jamie expressed her excitement about the new book.
Jamie's Perspectives on Sibling Relationships and Healing 30:53
Jamie shared his insights on the importance of different perspectives in sibling relationships and the value of exploring personal pathways to healing. He discussed his experiences as a substitute teacher at a juvenile hall in Los Angeles, emphasizing the emotional impact of personal stories. Jamie suggested that teachers should encourage students to be honest in their writing and to explore their emotions, as this can help them connect with others and overcome challenges. Steven asked about Jamie's objectives during school visits, to which Jamie replied that his focus varies depending on the topic, but always prioritizes emotional impact.
Personal Narratives for Understanding War 36:19
Jamie and Steven discussed the importance of personal narratives in understanding the complexities of war, specifically the Vietnam War. Jamie emphasized how reading about a individual's journey can humanize the historical events and allow for greater empathy and understanding among students. Steven agreed, pointing out that the traditional monolithic narratives of the Vietnam War in American schools overlook the unique divisions within the country and the personal experiences of its people. Both agreed that pairing a personal narrative with the historical events could provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the war.
Writing Process and Emotional Moments 41:52
Steven and Jamie discussed the writing process, with Jamie sharing her approach of starting with a single emotional moment and letting the character's journey unfold from there. She admitted to not using an outline, instead preferring to write a messy first draft and then rewrite multiple times. Steven agreed with Jamie's method, emphasizing that rewriting is a crucial part of the writing process. He also noted the importance of capturing emotions and themes that resonate with readers.
Vietnamese American Book Reception and Promotion 46:45
Steven and Jamie discussed the upcoming book by Jamie, which explores the experiences of Vietnamese Americans and their families. Jamie shared that she had been initially apprehensive about the reception of the book within the Vietnamese community but was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly positive feedback she received. She noted that the book had resonated with readers who felt seen and understood, and had even inspired the audiobook narrator to share the book within her organization to help employees understand the refugee experience and generational trauma. Steven expressed his support for Jamie and the book, promising to promote it to a wider audience.