The Sympathizer Podcast

Host Philip Nguyen wraps up the podcast with a jam packed episode. We’re taking it back to the beginning with Executive Producer Niv Fichman and author Viet Thanh Nguyen to talk about the origin story of bringing the book to the small screen. Then we have the three musketeers, Hoa Xuande, Duy Nguyen and Fred Nguyen Khan aka the Captain, Man, and Bon! We get to hear the behind the scenes of their real friendship and a deep dive into the broad spectrum of Vietnamese diasporic experiences. And then to wrap up our season, we have Hoa Xuande with Robert Downey Jr back to talk about how the final episode connects them - father and son. Stream The Sympathizer now, only on Max. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Philip Nguyen chats with Sympathizer star Sandra Oh and EP Susan Downey about the roles of women and representation in the TV series. Then he welcomes legend Kieu Chinh and actor Toan Le about the many meta layers of this series- Kieu herself is mentioned in the novel! To wrap, author Viet Thanh Nguyen and story editor Felicia King talk about the Congressman and his Cuban wife! Stream The Sympathizer now, only on Max.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Philip Nguyen sits down with legend Ky Duyen, host of Paris by Night and a star of The Sympathizer, and her on screen daughter Vy Le, alongside EP Niv Fichman to talk about music and art imitating life. Then director Marc Munden and co-showrunner Don McKellar get into putting action on the screen - and greenscreen alligators. Finally, author Viet Thanh Nguyen and episode screenwriter Maegan Hoang talk about adaptation and the beautiful tensions of going page to screen. Stream The Sympathizer now, only on Max.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Philip Nguyen is talking costumes and production design with costume designer Danny Glicker and co-showrunner Don McKellar. Where did he get those suits for the Congressman? How does he think about authenticity when it comes to period pieces? It's a rich conversation, with lots of BTS details, about creating characters and telling stories through costume design. Then we are joined by author Viet Thanh Nguyen to talk about the depiction of the Vietnam War in literature, art and Hollywood. Stream The Sympathizer now, only on Max.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Philip Nguyen sits down with the embodiment of the four patriarchs - Robert Downey Jr. First they’re in conversation with Hoa Xuande to talk about all the ways they worked together and the Captain’s dynamics with Claude, The Professor, The Congressman and The Auteur. Then Robert Downey Jr. brings in renowned prosthetics designer Vincent Van Dyke to reveal the process how they made those different characters come to life. And we are again joined by author Viet Thanh Nguyen and co-showrunner Don McKellar to talk process. Stream The Sympathizer now, only on Max.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices