Discovering Abundance and Connection in the Vietnamese Journey w/Jason “Phúc” Nguyen

What does it mean to be a “Third Culture Kid"? Jason “Phúc” Nguyen has worked to better understand his Vietnamese identity since arriving in the US (Arizona) from Vietnam at 10. Now 28, he has spent the last few years working on Nguyen Dynasty Co and collaborating with Vietnamese partners to celebrate and honor Vietnamese culture across generations. Phúc is preparing a cultural heritage tour with other Vietnamese diaspora folks to the family homeland before 2026 is over. We talked about breaking the barriers that prevent most Vietnamese diaspora folks from exploring their culture and identity. Phúc goes into the political division among Vietnamese Americans, and he even got me to say a few things in Vietnamese! Listen to the full episode and follow Phúc on IG at whothephuc and nguyendynastyco Bio: (From Phúc): From an early age, I knew I was different. English wasn’t my first language, and my ethnicity set me apart from the people around me. Ever since I moved here in 08, I’ve carried the feeling of being an outsider. After almost 18 years, I’ve grown and adapted the way any plant does when it’s moved to new soil. I’ve been shaped into the”Americanized” person I am today. But a plant that has been uprooted always leaves some of its roots behind, buried in the place it came from. Coming home from a work trip to Taiwan back in 21, I finally understood why I’ve always felt so different. I’ve been living in between: between identities, between worlds. That cultural tension has shaped so much of who I am. So for the past three years, I’ve poured myself into building a brand, not only as a way to heal myself, but to help others heal and reconcile too. I started Nguyễn Dynasty out of a deep need to reconnect with where I come from, my roots, and my heritage. This is my story.