Gatty Rewind Podcast
From the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell University, the Gatty Rewind Podcast features interviews and conversations with scholars and researchers working in and around Southeast Asia, all of whom have been invited to give a Gatty Lecture at Cornell University. Conversations cover the history, politics, economics, literature, art, and cultures of the region. Interviews are hosted by graduate students at Cornell University, and podcast topics cover the many nations and peoples of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Timor-Leste. For more information on the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell University, visit seap.einaudi.cornell.edu. Music provided by 14 Strings and the Cornell Gamelan Ensemble.
info_outline
Episode 144: Lydia O’Meara, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University
03/11/2026
Episode 144: Lydia O’Meara, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan is joined by Francine Barchett, former host of the Gatty Rewind Podcast and a Cornell PhD candidate in Natural Resources & the Environment. Together, they interview Lydia O'Meara, a postdoctoral fellow at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Lydia studies how diets in coastal communities can reveal links between human nutrition and marine ecosystem health. Her research focuses on Timor-Leste in the Coral Triangle, a biodiversity hotspot where many people rely on fish but face growing threats from climate change and biodiversity loss. Using mobile phones to collect frequent dietary data, she works to fill important data gaps and track changes over time. Tune in to learn more about how her work connects nutrition and environment! Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 3:45 Main interview: 9:36 9:55 – How did you become interested in nutrition and food security, particularly with a focus on women and children? 13:39 – Why did you decide to focus on Timor-Leste? How did your research experience in Uganda help you navigate research in the context of Timor-Leste? 17:27 – What does fish species diversity look like in the region? 20:16 – Are there differences in fish consumption between men and women? 22:57 – What are the dynamics of mobile phone use, and how is the system structured? 26:38 – How did you develop the method of using mobile phones to collect data? 29:46 – How did the technical process work? What recommendations do you have for scholars using technology in their research? 31:59 – What languages are used in the project? 33:40 – Who are the main stakeholders in the current project? Did your experience collecting data in Uganda help you use or interpret the data differently in this context? 36:46 – What does development and growth look like in Timor-Leste? 38:00 – What are the implications if we overlook the data and marginalized women in Timor-Leste? Advice for researchers and recommendations: 40:34 Dr. O”Meara’ top recommendations: The End Of The Line by Charles Clover The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, Adam Farihin, and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/40402455
info_outline
Episode 143: Patrick Daly, Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis
02/26/2026
Episode 143: Patrick Daly, Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan is joined by Trifosa Simamora, a PhD candidate from the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, to interview Patrick Daly, a research scientist for sustainability and resilience in the Department of Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Daly gave us a rundown of his lecture, Using Archaeology, History, and Geology to Build a Paleo-Tsunami History for Southeast Asia. We discuss his 20-year endeavor to craft a long history of tsunamis in this region through collaboration between the arts and sciences. Tune in to find out more! Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 3:27 Main interview: 6:58 6:58 - Remembering the 2004 Tsunami in North Sumatr 15:50 - What is Paleo-tsunami history? Why is it important in and for Southeast Asia 19:55 - Scholarly disciplines involved in the project? 23:34 - Involvement with Aceh community 26:35 - Oral history about the 2004 Tsunami, check out 30:10 - Data from the research and the prediction of natural disasters Advice for researchers and recommendations: 35:48 Dr. Patrick Daly’ top recommendations: - Markets of Sorrow, Labors of Faith: New Orleans in the Wake of Katrina - Vincanne Adams The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, Adam Farihin, and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/40178235
info_outline
Episode 142: Mark Sanchez, Department of Asian Studies, Vanderbilt University
02/19/2026
Episode 142: Mark Sanchez, Department of Asian Studies, Vanderbilt University
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan is joined by Elissa Domingo Badiqué, a recent doctoral graduate from the Department of Performing and Media Arts. Together, they interview Mark John Sanchez, Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Sanchez recapitulates his lecture on the legal tactics used by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) to defend civil liberties during the martial law era under Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines. He then reflects on how his personal journey and positionality have shaped his research. The conversation further explores the ongoing challenges of historical revisionism and collective amnesia. Tune in to learn more! Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 4:06 Main interview: 13:24 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 53:01 Mark Sanchez’ top recommendations: - Stephanie Joy Mawson - Genevieve Alva Clutario - Kimberly Kay Hoang - Tim Simpson - Lisandro E. Claudio - Cindy Anh Nguyen The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, Adam Farihin, and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/40077310
info_outline
Episode 141: Kevin D. Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Theory, University of Amsterdam
02/12/2026
Episode 141: Kevin D. Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Theory, University of Amsterdam
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Kevin Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the University of Amsterdam. Professor Pham’s talk is titled “A Postcolonial Theory of Free Speech,” in which he focuses on North Vietnamese intellectuals and their perspective on new speech in the 1950s. He argues that although the meaning and value of free speech have long been contested in the West, they overlook how people outside of the West, in illiberal conditions, theorize free speech. Growing up in San Jose, Professor Pham was intrigued by a trip to the Middle East and wanted to learn more about conflict and tensions. Tune in for Professor Pham’s journey from wanting to be a doctor, to a tattoo artist, and to a political science professor! Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 3:05 Main interview: 6:45 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 54:39 Kevin Pham’s top recommendations: by Christopher Goscha by David Marr by David Marr by Hue-Tam Tai by Neil L. Jamieson Geburt einer Nation The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/40077100
info_outline
Episode 140: Jangai Jap, Department of International Affairs, The University of Georgia
12/04/2025
Episode 140: Jangai Jap, Department of International Affairs, The University of Georgia
In this episode, guest co-host Drake Avila, a master’s student in Asian Studies, joins host Namfon Narumol Choochan to interview Assistant Professor Jangai Jap from the Department of International Affairs at the University of Georgia. They discuss her recent research on ethnic rebellion in Myanmar and why the current explanation of post-independence political exclusion falls short in accounting for the rebellion's onset. Professor Jap shares how her Kachin heritage and NGO work experience in Myanmar have sparked her academic curiosity and shaped her doctoral and current research. Tune in for Professor Jap’s insights and advice for aspiring scholars who are interested in Myanmar! Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 2:50 Main interview: 6:20 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 1:00:00 Jangai Jap’ top recommendations: by Charmaine Cragg by Amitav Ghosh The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/39166690
info_outline
Episode 139: Analyn Salvador-Amores, Department of Anthropology, University of the Philippines Baguio
11/27/2025
Episode 139: Analyn Salvador-Amores, Department of Anthropology, University of the Philippines Baguio
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Analyn Salvador-Amores (Ikin), Professor of Anthropology and former Director of the Museo Kordilyera at the University of the Philippines Baguio. Together, they discuss how the recent tourism trend has revitalized Kalinga tattoos, a tradition of the ethnolinguistic group in Buscalan village, northern Luzon, Philippines. Having conducted anthropological research on traditional tattoos for over 30 years, Professor Ikin provides nuanced insights into how tourism has changed the village’s landscape, tattoo practices, and reshaped gender dynamics among tattoo practitioners. They also explore various meanings and narratives behind the tattoos of each generation, including Professor Ikin’s first tattoo, given by Apo Whang-ud, now the renowned 108-year-old female tattoo artist in Buscalan. Lightning round(Lecture Summary): 4:00 Main interview: 7:30 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 39:48 Analyn Salvador Amores’ top recommendations: by Harold Conklin's The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/39022380
info_outline
Episode 138: Anocha Suwichakornpong, Associate Professor of Film, Columbia University
11/20/2025
Episode 138: Anocha Suwichakornpong, Associate Professor of Film, Columbia University
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan speaks with “Mai” Anocha Suwichakornpong, independent filmmaker, producer, founder of Electric Eel Film, and Associate Professor in Film at Columbia University. Anocha shares how films and filmmaking can be a form of resistance by rethinking the boundary between truth and fiction. They discuss how her previous and upcoming features have engaged with the politics of remembering and forgetting of state violence in Thai history. The conversation also delves into Before It Gets Dark, her most renowned feature, and what the Thammasat Massacre means to her on a personal level. Lightning round: 3:01 Research and Lecture Summary: 7:36 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 41:24 The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/39022335
info_outline
Episode 137: Chiara Formichi, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University
10/17/2025
Episode 137: Chiara Formichi, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Chiara Formichi, H. Stanley Krusen Professor of World Religions, Director of the Religious Studies Program, and Professor of Asian Studies at Cornell University. They discuss how Prof. Formichi’s personal and intellectual journey shaped her research trajectory in Islamic and Southeast Asian studies. Drawing from her latest monograph, Domestic Nationalism: Muslim Women, Health and Modernity in Indonesia, she explores how Indonesian women envisioned their own versions of modernity through gendered care work, from the colonial Dutch East Indies to postcolonial Indonesia. Departing from her earlier research on elite political actors, she turns to examining women’s vernacular magazines, visual sources, and advertisements to uncover the overlooked yet central role of Indonesian Muslim women in shaping Indonesia’s postcolonial future. Lightning round: 3:16 Research and Lecture Summary: 11:00 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 44:57 Chiara Formichi’s top recommendations: : Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World, Vincent Bevins : Parables for a Planet in Crisis, Amitav Ghosh The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/38619290
info_outline
Indonesia in 10 Films: "Soegija" with Arnoud Arps
10/30/2025
Indonesia in 10 Films: "Soegija" with Arnoud Arps
Indonesia in 10 Films: "Soegija" with Arnoud Arps In this second episode of “Indonesia in 10 Films,” host Michael Kirkpatrick Miller explores the film Soegija (2012), an ambitious historical drama by director Garin Nugroho. Soegjia follows the non-traditional Catholic national hero Monsignor Albertus Soegijapranata, during one of the most volatile periods in Indonesian history — from the Japanese occupation to the return of Dutch forces after World War II. Rather than focusing solely on its titular figure, the film paints a multifaceted image of intersecting lives of diverse characters. Michael first speaks with Neen about the film’s cinematography, then interviews Dr. Arnoud Arps, Assistant Professor of Extended Cinema, Film Heritage and Memory at the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Arps, who previously interviewed Garin Nugroho, shares the director’s intention to create a film grounded in humanity and emotional resonance. He also collaborated with the Eye Filmmuseum and the National Museum of Indonesia to curate a special screening series on Indonesian War of Independence films, with Soegija selected as one of the featured works. Together they discuss the three major waves of the Indonesian Independence War films, the evolution of how nationalism, heroism, and “Merdeka” are portrayed, and the film’s subtle treatment of colonizers and revolutionaries, particularly through the conflicted character Robert. Intro: 0: 38 Producer’s Insights: 10:31 Conversation with Guest: 13: 25 Conclusion: 58:30 Professor Arp's Film recommendations: Kadet 1947, Rahabi Mandra, Aldo Swastia Trilogi Merdeka (Merah Putih, Darah Garuda, Hati Merdeka), Yadi Sugandi, Conor Allyn Professor Arp's rating on Soegija: 8/10 Host: Michael Kirkpatrick Miller Producer: Adam Farihin, Cecilia Liu and Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/38844585
info_outline
Episode 136: Aditya Bhattacharjee, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow from Asian Studies, Cornell University
10/16/2025
Episode 136: Aditya Bhattacharjee, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow from Asian Studies, Cornell University
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Dr. Aditya Bhattacharjee, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Asian Studies at Cornell University. Together, they discuss how growing up in Bangkok led him to study the localization and globalization of Hinduism. Focusing on the transnational appearances of Ganesha in Thailand and Thai restaurants in the United States, Dr. Bhattacharjee explains how and why this deity becomes a visible conduit for understanding the globalization of religious practices and religious belonging beyond the exclusively Thai-Buddhist framework. He shares his insights from fieldwork in Bangkok and New York, showing how cosmopolitanism enables such religious phenomena. Lightning round: 3:00 Research and Lecture Summary: 18:48 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 1:01:54 Dr. Bhattacharjee ’s top recommendations: Justin McDaniel’ s books The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, Adam Farihin, and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/38605040
info_outline
Episode 135: Ian Baird, Professor of Geography and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison
10/09/2025
Episode 135: Ian Baird, Professor of Geography and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Ian Baird, Professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Together, they discuss how his travels across southern Laos, northeastern Thailand, and northern Cambodia inspired his study of the House of Champassak. This interview uncovers how and why the Champassak royalty maintained its influence even after the dissolution of Champassak as an independent polity in 1778. Baird’s lecture, named after his book, Champassak Royalty and Sovereignty: Within and Between Nation States in Mainland Southeast Asia, challenges the conventional concept of sovereignty tied to territory. Through the example of the House of Champassak, he argues that sovereignty is contingent and constantly in flux. He examines how the royal family endeavors to exert its form of sovereignty through symbols, rituals, and other practices over a span of three hundred years. He also underscores the importance of oral histories in recovering marginalized voices, especially those who live in the borderlands between nation-states. Lightning round: 3:11 Research and Lecture Summary: 7:20 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 57:045 Ian Baird ’s top recommendations: Forsaken Causes: Liberal Democracy and Anticommunism in Cold War Laos (2024) by Ryan Wolfson-Ford The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, Adam Farihin, and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/38409005
info_outline
Episode 134: Brad Simpson, Department of History, University of Connecticut
10/02/2025
Episode 134: Brad Simpson, Department of History, University of Connecticut
In this episode, host Namfon Narumol Choochan interviews Prof. Bradley Simpson, Professor of History at the University of Connecticut. Prof. Simpson reflects on his path from human rights activism to academia. This conversation examines Indonesia’s “moderate middle” engagement with the New International Economic Order (NIEO) under the Suharto regime, exploring how and why its moderate stance in NIEO became significant for the Suharto regime, particularly in its foreign policy. Prof. Simpson introduces his forthcoming book, The First Right: Self-Determination and the Transformation of International Order, 1941–2000, where he redefines the concept of self-determination to acknowledge and encompass global struggles for sovereignty and social justice. Lightning round: (n/a) Background: 3:47 Research and Lecture Summary: 18:30 Advice for Researchers and Recommendations: 55:20 Professor Simpson’s Top Recommendations: : Indigenous Globalisation and the Ends of Empire (2016) By Tracey Banivanua Mar (2020) by Amy Stanley The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Yada Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/38266890
info_outline
Episode 133: Rachel Leow, Department of History, University of Cambridge
09/03/2025
Episode 133: Rachel Leow, Department of History, University of Cambridge
In this episode of Gatty Rewind, host Francine Barchett and guest co-host Evelyn Fettes (Cornell PhD candidate in Linguistics) join Dr. Rachel Leow, Associate Professor of Modern East Asian History at the University of Cambridge, for a journey through the Southern Seas. Dr. Leow challenges landlocked, nation-bound histories of Southeast Asia by exploring oceanic imaginaries—from Chinese creole dreams to Malay revolutionary visions. What happens when we rethink diaspora, race, and empire not through borders, but through water? Tune in for a lively conversation that dives into the tangled, shimmering histories of migration, language, and ideas across Asia’s maritime world. Lightning round: 3:48 Research and Lecture Summary: 14:30 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 41:06 Dr. Leow’s recommendations: by 7dnight The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/37950790
info_outline
Episode 132: Heidi Kühn, Founder of Roots of Peace and 2023 World Food Prize laureate
08/27/2025
Episode 132: Heidi Kühn, Founder of Roots of Peace and 2023 World Food Prize laureate
In this episode, Francine Barchett interviews Heidi Kühn, founder of Roots of Peace and 2023 World Food Prize laureate. Kühn shares how a background in journalism and a life-changing cancer diagnosis led her to launch a global mission: turning “mines to vines.” She recounts how her organization cleared landmines in places like Vietnam and Afghanistan. Along the way, she offers moving stories about working with farmers in Quang Tri Province and her vision for creating a global “army of peacekeepers” through sustainable agriculture. The episode closes with advice for young changemakers and a reminder that even the smallest seed of hope can grow into global impact. Lightning round: 3:20 Roots of Peace Summary: 8:32 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 37:14 The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/36567670
info_outline
Episode 131: Michael Kirkpatrick Miller, Department of History, Cornell University
05/22/2025
Episode 131: Michael Kirkpatrick Miller, Department of History, Cornell University
In this special celebratory episode, host Francine Barchett reunites with Michael Kirkpatrick Miller, a PhD candidate in Cornell’s Department of History, who happens to be the original creator of the Gatty Rewind podcast! Michael shares fresh insights from his dissertation on Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, focusing on how the colonial state constructed Ambonese men as a “martial race” through the unlikely lens of football. From masculinity and loyalty to colonial control, Michael unpacks how sports became a tool of empire—and how Ambonese soldiers and athletes pushed back against these narratives. The conversation then turns personal as Michael reflects on his wide-ranging academic journey at the Cornell Southeast Asia Program, where he’s explored everything from horses to food to gender. Lightning round: 3:42 Research and Lecture Summary: 14:43 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 52:13 Michael's Top Recommendations: : Awal Perkembangan Kuliner Indonesia di Mancanegara pada Akhir Abad ke-19 hingga 1940-an - Fadly Rahman The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/36550255
info_outline
Episode 130: Martina Thucnhi Nguyen, Department of History, Baruch College
05/15/2025
Episode 130: Martina Thucnhi Nguyen, Department of History, Baruch College
In this episode, host Francine Barchett teams up with co-host Lijun Zhang, a Cornell PhD student in history, for a riveting conversation with Dr. Martina Nguyen, Associate Professor of History at Baruch College, City University of New York. Dr. Nguyen shares the story of a provocative newspaper column penned by prominent Vietnamese intellectual Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh, under a female pseudonym! She explores how the column stirred debates around masculinity, femininity, and national identity in early modern Vietnam. Plus, listeners get a sneak peek at an upcoming museum exhibition she’s co-curating on the iconic ao dài (Vietnamese national garment) during the Vietnam War, which will open at the Cantor Art Gallery in Worcester in fall 2025. Lightning round: 4:10 Research and Lecture Summary: 13:14 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 55:23 Dr. Nguyen’s top recommendations: Songs by Trịnh Công Sơn and Quang Lê Đất Khổ (Land of Sorrows) by Hà Thúc Cần White Lotus by Mike White The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/36550035
info_outline
Episode 129: "E" Elissa Badiqué, Department of Performance and Media Arts, Cornell University
05/08/2025
Episode 129: "E" Elissa Badiqué, Department of Performance and Media Arts, Cornell University
In this episode, guest co-host Iris Luo (Cornell PhD candidate in Human-Centered Design) joins host Francine Barchett to interview Elissa “E” Domingo Badique, a Cornell PhD candidate in Performance and Media Arts. E describes their winding journey—from serving as a community advisor at Harvard to working as a makeup artist in Japan. But it was a fandom studies class that sparked their research into K-pop dance covers! E traces these performances back to Filipino variety shows, where choreography became a tool for myth-making and expressing diasporic Filipino identity, particularly through the lens of Asian male figures like K-pop idols. Their advice to listeners: be open-minded! For Southeast Asian studies to grow and evolve, they remind us, it should remain expansive and inclusive. Lightning round: 3:41 Research and Lecture Summary: 14:12 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 39:40 E's Top Recommendation: , J Tajor The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/36455615
info_outline
Episode 128: Hieu Phung, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian History, Rutgers University
04/17/2025
Episode 128: Hieu Phung, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian History, Rutgers University
In this episode, guest co-host Anke Wang, a Cornell PhD candidate in History, joins host Francine Barchett for a tag-team interview with Dr. Hieu Phung, Assistant Professor of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian History at Rutgers University. Dr. Phung discusses her research on how pre-modern environmental factors shaped political and administrative systems in Vietnam, with a focus on state-building in the Red River Delta. She unpacks how perceptions of sea-dykes evolved over time—beyond their physical function, they became central to how people understood nature, risk, and governance. The episode wraps up with Dr. Phung’s candid advice for students still not sure what they want to study (spoiler: it’s okay not to have it all figured out!). Lightning round: 3:41 Research and Lecture Summary: 14:12 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 39:40 The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/36134130
info_outline
Episode 127: Kristian Karlo Saguin, Department of Geography, University of the Philippines-Diliman
04/10/2025
Episode 127: Kristian Karlo Saguin, Department of Geography, University of the Philippines-Diliman
In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Dr. Kristian Karlo Saguin, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Dr. Saguin unpacks his recent Gatty Lecture, based on his award-winning book Urban Ecologies on the Edge: Making Manila’s Resource Frontier (winner of the Benda Prize). Their conversation explores the complex socio-environmental dynamics of Laguna Lake—from its role in shaping consumer preferences for fish to its impact on flooding in Metro Manila and beyond. We’re also pretty sure Dr. Saguin is the most enthusiastic geographer we’ve ever had on the show! Lightning round: 2:57 Research and Lecture Summary: 10:32 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 43:45 Dr. Saguin’s top recommendations: The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out .
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/36089405
info_outline
[Hot Ones Special] Episode 126: Lijun Zhang, Department of History, Cornell University
03/20/2025
[Hot Ones Special] Episode 126: Lijun Zhang, Department of History, Cornell University
Welcome to Spicy SEAP! This special edition of the podcast recreates the popular TV show Hot Ones—but with a twist! Instead of chicken wings, our guests take on a lineup of spicy Southeast Asian dishes, from snacks to main courses and mysterious desserts. Host Francine Barchett is joined by Lijun Zhang, a PhD candidate in History and co-chair of the Cornell Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) Gatty Lecture Series. Lijun’s research explores female migration from southeastern China to British Malaya and Singapore, focusing on grassroots intimacy, women’s mobility, and the agency that shaped legal travel within the colonial judiciary. Her academic journey began in a Singaporean high school and evolved through her undergraduate studies at Colgate. Lijun’s favorite Indonesian word is duduk-duduk—any guesses on what it means? Tune in now! Appetizers: Carada Rice Ball Cuttlefish – 5:45 Hanami Chili Prawn Crackers – 7:15 Snacks: Musang King Durian Cake – 11:15 Hapi Sriracha Peas – 15:40 Taokaenoi Mala Crispy Seaweed – 19:25 Grilled Spicy Seaweed Roll – 25:00 Main Challenge: 2xspicy Buldak Ramen – 33:40 Mystery Item: Pandan Euro Cake – 40:07 Lijun Zhang’s top recommendations: by Mike White by Sonny Liew The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/35749050
info_outline
Episode 125: Benjamin Tausig, Department of Music, SUNY-Stony Brook University
03/13/2025
Episode 125: Benjamin Tausig, Department of Music, SUNY-Stony Brook University
In this episode, Francine Barchett sits down to interview Dr. Benjamin Tausig, an Associate Professor of Critical Music Studies at SUNY Stony Brook University. Dr. Tausig shares his work on the transnational dialectic of queerness and race in Cold War-era Thailand. He describes the complex intersections of American military influence, local nightlife, and the socio-economic transformations that shaped Thai culture. Later, he also reflects on the murder of Darrel Berrigan, asking: how do non-heteronormative relationships play a role within this unique cultural moment? Through it all, he invites us to rethink how sound and silence can reveal hidden layers of history and politics around race and sexuality. And for graduate students juggling research and teaching? He has some reassuring words for you, too! Lightning round: 4:06 Research and Lecture Summary: 14:16 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 44:50 Dr. Tausig ’s top recommendations: Bangkok Wakes to Rain - Pitchaya Sudbanthad - เพลิน พรหมแดน The Petch Phin Thong Band The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out .
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/35657130
info_outline
Episode 124: Ivan V. Small, Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University
03/06/2025
Episode 124: Ivan V. Small, Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University
In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Dr. Ivan V. Small, a Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Small talks about his research on Vietnamese refugee minorities in the U.S. following the Vietnam War and the Ford administration's resettlement policies. He shares how these communities resisted assimilation, often through second or third migrations. And he highlights the crucial role of automobiles in shaping immigrant experiences, enabling movement to new "ethno-burb" nodes that connected Asian communities. Dr. Small also talks about his university's podcast, Crossroads of the World, a sister podcast to the Gatty Rewind! Lightning round: 3:59 Research and Lecture Summary: 13:53 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 34:16 Dr. Small’s top recommendations: The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/35561895
info_outline
Episode 123: Josh Babcock, Department of Anthropology and Science & Technology Studies, Brown University
02/27/2025
Episode 123: Josh Babcock, Department of Anthropology and Science & Technology Studies, Brown University
In this episode, host Francine Barchett pairs up with Shreya Chitnavis, a 2024 Cornell MPH graduate, to interview Dr. Joshua Babcock, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and affiliate faculty in Linguistics and Science & Technology Studies at Brown University. Dr. Babcock talks about the limitations of Singapore's racial and linguistic classifications. Reflecting on his findings, he presents a fiction of multi-racial multilingualism as Singapore’s national identity. In Dr. Babcock’s words, "racial community gets performed, policed, and blocked through everyday activity." And dare we say – Dr. Babcock is a researcher with many surprises! He shares how his work in Singapore involves another Singapore…one that is NOT in Asia! Lightning round: 3:24 Research and Lecture Summary: 9:58 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 47:24 Dr. Babcock ’s top recommendations: - Amanda Lee Koe The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/35465035
info_outline
Episode 122: Emi Donald, Department of History, Cornell University
02/13/2025
Episode 122: Emi Donald, Department of History, Cornell University
In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Emi Donald, a PhD candidate in the Department of History at Cornell University. Emi shares insights from their 18-month fieldwork in Bangkok, where they explored the roles of tomboys (thom in Thai) and trans men. They highlight ways the transgender experience, including clinic access, social acceptance of the trans community, and their legal protections, have evolved in Thailand in recent history. Then they take a bittersweet victory lap on their PhD experience, with some tips for aspiring PhD students: learn a language, develop time management skills, and find your people to get you through the inevitable dissertation downs! Lightning round: 3:34 Research and Lecture Summary: 9:41 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 28:49 Emi’s top recommendations: A Good True Thai by Sunisa Manning Tiffany Tsao's English translations of Indonesian poetry The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out . Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/35273315
info_outline
Episode 121: Kathryn "Kitsie" Emerson, Ekalaya Performing Arts Center, Indonesia
01/30/2025
Episode 121: Kathryn "Kitsie" Emerson, Ekalaya Performing Arts Center, Indonesia
In this episode, Gatty Rewind founding host, Michael Kirkpatrick Miller, returns to interview Dr. Kathryn "Kitsie" Emerson, the Director of the EKALAYA Arts Centre in Java. Dr. Emerson talks about Semar Mbangun Kayangan, a wayang (Indonesian shadow puppet) piece. She explores the history, narratives, and motives behind its various versions, as each portrays a unique vision of utopia tailored to different demographics. She closes by sharing her journey of discovering the Javanese language and culture as a non-native speaker. Lightning round: 4:11 Research and Lecture Summary: 10:16 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 41:30 Dr. Emerson's top recommendations: by Bernard Arps The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/34471835
info_outline
Episode 120: Nielson Sophann Hul, Department of Linguistics, Cornell University
01/16/2025
Episode 120: Nielson Sophann Hul, Department of Linguistics, Cornell University
In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Mr. Nielson Sophann Hul, a Khmer Lecturer at the University of Washington (at the time of the interview, he was defending his PhD in Linguistics at Cornell University). Mr. Hul's research explores how heritage Khmer speakers in the Northwestern US use implosives, or stop consonants, in their speech. He reveals that fluent Khmer speakers and speakers who have spent less time in the US generally use more implosives than others. Mr. Hul explains the importance of his findings: among immigrant communities, practicing one’s native language strongly connects with their cultural and communal identities. Keeping listeners on their toes, Mr. Hul goes on to share his reflections as a veteran navigating graduate school, a bread baking addict, and a teacher returning to his roots. Lightning round: 4:40 Research and Lecture Summary: 11:50 Recommendation and advice for researchers: 34:50 Mr.Hul’s Top Recommendations: - Documentary by A. Todd Smith & Adam Pfleghaar The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/34471740
info_outline
Episode 119: Lawrence Chua, the School of Architecture, Syracuse University
01/09/2025
Episode 119: Lawrence Chua, the School of Architecture, Syracuse University
In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviews Dr. Lawrence Chua, an associate professor at the School of Architecture at Syracuse University. Looking from the 1920s onward, he applies a historicist lens to study the histories of two museums: the Musée Albert Sarraut (Cambodge/modern day Cambodia) and the National Museum of Bangkok (Siam/modern day Thailand). Dr. Chua provides context from each to illustrate how fragments of the premodern past are recontextualized through both colonial and post-colonial regimes. Dr. Chua closes with insights about his homecoming to Cornell SEAP and advises all up-and-coming scholars on how to be competitive in an increasingly international academic job market. Lightning round: 4:18 Research and Lecture Summary: 24:22 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 1:02:20 Dr. Chua's top recommendations: by Anucha Boonyawatana by Seni Saowaphong เสนีย์ เสาวพงศ์ by Seni Saowaphong The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/34470260
info_outline
Episode 118: Dwi Noverini Djenar, Indonesian Studies, The University of Sydney
11/20/2024
Episode 118: Dwi Noverini Djenar, Indonesian Studies, The University of Sydney
In this episode, host Francine Barchett speaks with Dr. Dwi Noverini Djenar, an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Indonesian Studies Department at the University of Sydney. Her talk focuses on the linguistic features found in Indonesian broadcast news interviews. She shows that when sensitive topics are being discussed, the interview participants and audience may co-create "exonerative accounts," which free the speakers or audience of blame or guilt on that particular topic. She reveals examples of “exonerative accounts” through clips from a popular Indonesian political commentary podcast. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear Dr. Djenar’s passion for the sounds and beauties of not only the Indonesian language but also other languages. Lightning Round: 3:26 Research and fieldwork summary: 11:29 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 40:09 Dr. Djenar's Top Recommendations: by Joseph Errington by Katherine E. McGregor The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/34039161
info_outline
Episode 117: Eric C. Thompson, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, National University of Singapore
11/20/2024
Episode 117: Eric C. Thompson, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, National University of Singapore
In this episode, host Francine Barchett interviewed Dr. Eric Thompson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore. He describes the development and recent publication of his book, "The Story of Southeast Asia." Cutting across anthropology, archeology, history, and other disciplines, Dr. Thompson recounts the many regional themes that had inspired this writing. He reconsiders colonialism’s influence in Southeast Asia, highlights its unique interplay of religions and religious diversity, and revisits the long-standing debate: what actually is Southeast Asia? He also surprises Francine with some unexpected tidbits, including a fun fact involving none other than Taylor Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs. Lightning Round: 3:36 Research and fieldwork summary: 11:03 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 47:33 Eric Thompson’s top recommendations: - a film adaptation of Bumi Manusia by Pramoedya Ananta Toer by Syamsul Yusof and by Hanung Bramantyo The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/34037758
info_outline
Episode 116: Wu Xiao An, Research Institute of Global Chinese and Area Studies, Huaqiao University
11/20/2024
Episode 116: Wu Xiao An, Research Institute of Global Chinese and Area Studies, Huaqiao University
Francine Barchett pairs up with Xintong Chen, a PhD student in Southeast Asian history, to interview Dr. Wu Xiao An. Dr. Wu is the Chair Professor and Founding Dean of the Research Institute of Global Chinese and Area Studies at Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China. During the conversation, Dr. Wu gives context on the history and legacies of the Chinese diaspora and explains the importance of the Chinese diaspora within Southeast Asia. He argues that Chinese communities have shaped, and been shaped by, Southeast Asia's social, economic, and political landscapes, particularly after the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Dr. Wu also connects the history of the Southeast Asian Chinese diaspora to other global Chinese diasporas. He ends by sharing his vision for future research and hopes for emerging scholars. Lightning Round: 6:17 Research and fieldwork summary: 19:08 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 55:28 The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino style Rondalla group established in Cornell University. Check them out Produced by Adam Farihin, Neen Tangcharoenmonkong, and Cecilia Liu.
/episode/index/show/gattyrewind/id/34036792