Phuc Tran and his family fled Saigon, Vietnam when he was 1.5 years old, and landed in a small, predominantly white town called Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Now, he is a high school Latin teacher, tattoo artist, father, husband, and most recently, author of his memoir Sigh, Gone.
Phuc’s story is one of identity—understanding who he is between two different cultures, facing systemic racism, searching for a sense of belonging, and the determination to heal from past trauma so he can show up fully as a father.
In this episode we hear Phuc’s experiences feeling like a misfit, how finding punk rock music made him feel seen, heard, and understood, and how this later shaped his philosophies as a high school teacher.
We dive into transformative moments in Phuc’s childhood where his understandings of his cultural identities were formed as he tries to piece together what it means to be Vietnamese and to be American. We also discuss how the process of writing his memoir has allowed him to feel closer and more empathetic towards his parents.
For full show notes and resources: https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast
Connect with Phuc Tran
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Produced by: Dana Drahos
Edited by: Joseph Gangemi
Digital Marketing by: Katherine An
Theme music by: Qais Essar
Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi