Your Happy Hour - The Stack Series ~ "Cultures Colliding Vol. 1" ft. Kao Saeteurn

Episode Date: July 12, 2026

Welcome to The Stack Series! ✨The Stack Series features new books and emerging authors sharing their stories, inspirations, and journeys with us. In this special episode, we celebrate the launch of a new book into the world - Cultures Colliding Vol 1 (Memoir of a Refugee) written by published author Kao Saeteurn whose story takes readers deep into the streets of Sacramento in the 1990s, exploring refugee survival, street life, and the collision of cultures and emphasizes that storytelling is a powerful act of healing, cultural preservation, and legacy, while reminding us all to share our truths - with raw honesty and tenderly amidst the chaos of the world.Check out Kao’s books here - Thon's Revenge: Empires Fall: https://a.co/d/092jj631Tales of Two Best Friends: https://a.co/d/03vmsA6mCultures Colliding Vol 1 - (Memoir of a Refugee): https://amzn.eu/d/0dCzG4u1 🎧 Stay tuned for stories that inspire, uplift, and spark your abundant life!The Stack Series is produced by swartkat.co - captured via riverside.fm & shared via rss.com.

And we are back in another Fields session. These are new sessions that we are doing as part of a series called the Stack Series, which is us celebrating new authors, new books. And today I have the immense privilege of talking to an author who has walked such an incredible journey. I'm so excited to talk to you more about this, K.O. Satan. and you've written quite a couple of books. So this is definitely not your first one,

but this is the first one we get to chat about. And so I want to say a big welcome to the field space and to the Stack series and, yeah, just on this podcast. Thank you for having me. And it is a blessing to be able to have this conversation with you. It's such a pleasure. And I want to start off by saying, I want to read something that got sent to me by Parker Publishers

that put us in touch. and I know that in your press kit you say I write to honor those who cannot speak to preserve what time threatens to erase and to illuminate the hidden corners of a world that deserves to be seen. And I really love that. I feel like that's really inspirational in how you are sharing your journey in the world. So maybe you can just tell us a little bit about the journey to becoming an author. I know you can tell us a little bit about the different books you've written. And then I want to speak a little bit more about the one that is out most recently called Cultures Colliding Volume 1, which is a memoir.

But yeah, tell me a little bit about the journey of becoming an author. And yeah, what does that mean like for you? Well, I mean, an author, because when I was reading books, right, all the books I have read, and I have never found books that are from my culture, about my culture, and from the area where I was born and came from. So that was the driving passion behind that. It was to make sure that, so, you know, like we had culture where we're from, but it's not out.

So that's what I was trying to make sure that I put that out there. I love that. I love that. And I know that you also started writing sort of out of just a bit of let me do something different in the world. So tell me about that. Yeah, well, I mean, I talked to you before, right, before this. It was like I wrote it because I was trying to challenge myself on something. But the idea of writing was, you know, the first book, it was like 25 years ago, as I told you before.

Like, I would try to, first I would try to write a, to create a video game. And, but then that give birth to, that's the Empire's Fall series. So that's what gave birth to all that. But that was, that was 25 years ago. And then recently, when I tried to challenge myself in writing books and, and once I wrote the tales of two best friends, and then I remember I still had that other book, and I just, yeah, and I just found it in the closet,

and I thought I had threw it away a while back because I didn't think I was good enough to write a book. And then I looked through it, and since I'm publishing this other book, I might as well, you know, just see what it is. it looks like, and then to me it looked like it looks good enough to publish. So that's how that Empire's Four series came about. It's amazing. I feel like we are always so hard on ourselves

and we don't always give ourselves the chance to put into the world the things that, you know, are come from within ourselves. And so this latest book that you've written is a memoir and it's a bit more of your story. can you tell me a little bit about what it's about and like yeah what are the kind of the themes that are woven through in the book okay okay cultural colliding is like I wrote it because like I'm like all the stuff that that I've been through in life and in America so it it was like like same thing how I said like from from the golden child triangles, right? We're from a place where not a lot of people known about. So through all the wars, and like we escaped through the refugee program and got to America. And like, it's such a struggle,

you know, for our people to go to a whole different country. Don't know languages, no, nothing. So we have to start from the bottom. And then on top of that, we are in. the crack pandemic. So, like, everything is just so tense. And, like, most people, most of my friends, they, like, we didn't escape out of there, you know, but, I mean, some of us do, like me, I'm grateful that I got to, got to this point now and then got to write about it. So that's why I was trying to put it out there. Like, look, we are, like, maybe 100 years from now after I'm dead. And there, you know, it was show. that we are in the fabrics of America.

It's such a like, well, I mean, being displaced from one country to another and having to kind of leave your culture behind and embrace a new culture is never easy. And what did life look like for you in America? Like, what was the journey? I mean, maybe I don't want to give you too many spoilers for what's in the book, but if you can share a little bit about what's happened for you in your life in America? First of all, it's like the culture gap. It's just like it's enormous, right?

We don't understand things. We don't understand how things are in this new culture. And then it comes to language barrier. So, you know, the culture misunderstanding and then language barrier. So those are the real big things that were, like, it was really hard to overcome. come. And so in that, we end up finding, well, I end up finding, like, things that I think will get me along in this new country faster than just going to a traditional school to, because we are so far behind already. So I was thinking, at the time, you know, I thought I

I could be smarter or faster if I learn things through experiences. So from that and then that mindset brought, took me to a whole different type of, like, different type of a world, you could say, of the streets and how, like, how, like, things that they wouldn't teach you in America, I mean, in school. because schools will teach you like the regular stuff that how society wants you to be but I have learned that society wants you to be a certain way so they could control you. So and those were what my mentors was teaching me when I was on the streets. It's like, look, you could do that, right?

And it's fine. There's nothing wrong with that. But you will be taught to work. you'll be taught to do, you know, I do things that how society wants you to do. And that's not freedom. So in starting to understand that, that's why I went, I did the things that I do to learn what I can. Is anything that you felt that in your journey, you were challenging and were difficult to go through? and I'm sure writing the book made it lighter,

kind of releasing a lot of what you've been through. Yes, it did. It released a lot because I thought all the pain that I suffered through before I used to blame the world for that, because I didn't understand what, I didn't understand myself. So that's why, like, so that, all that, it was, I thought the world was against me. and what I think.

But then it's really now that I learned that all the pain and all the challenges that the world put you through, it is just to make you stronger, prepare you for what you will be in the future, if you are strong enough to accept it. That's so true. That's so true. We're very quick to kind of not accept the journey that we've chosen as humans, you know. And it's like a lot of the things that come on our path are mean for us to go through, I mean, for us to experience and grow as people.

And so we knew we were writing the book. What did that feel like for you? Was it kind of like a flow that came out of you? Was it difficult to write that you have to put yourself in like a routine of writing? What did that look like? No, I mean, in the beginning, it was scary because there's so much pain in there. You know, so there's so much pain and violence in my life. So that's what I was afraid.

but then once I start writing, it feels like it was released, you know? And then it feels like alignment within myself. So that's so it got easy once I started writing it because it's like, what do I have to hide anymore? I've already been through all that. So just and that, that's, so it kind of just flow easily. That's amazing. And the editing process, I mean, that's really hard to like edit something that's

like a personal story, you know. Yes, yes, it is. Because I have never talked to anyone, like, I have never actually talk to people about my life like that because I, like, I feel like nobody need to know that. It's my struggle, it's my pain, right? So that is for me to learn from it, to gain strength from it. It's nobody should know about that. But then now I'm starting to think about like legacy or like once I'm gone. What am I?

What's all the suffering or what this pain and that struggle? What did I learn from that? So that's why I, so that was part of the driving force behind cultures colliding. It's like you have to, you know, let people learn from this. So yeah, that's basically what was behind that, which is to leave something behind to see that look we we shed blood and tears on these streets for you know to to learn this and you're just going to leave without leaving anything behind so other can learn from and then that's when it really motivated me. I know that you were also kind of saying like you feel like it's a

responsibility to share your story you feel like it's important to preserve the voices of your culture Have you been back to your home country and tell us a little bit about that? No, I have not. I have been, see, in America, I have, I wanted to go back, but that I couldn't because it was such a struggle to adapt to this new country. And then life doesn't just let you adapt to something. As soon as you know something, it's going to try to challenge you with something else. and then your mind will want to get away from that challenge because your mind will always want to go

to go back to comfort to what you know, right? So now since I've learned more about America, now my mind wants to stay here because it's comfortable now. And then going back, it's like something new again and your mind is afraid of new things. So it's always trying to tell you not, you don't want to go, you don't want that, you don't want to go there. But that was one of the, I mean, that's the, you know, like the reason in my mind.

But physically, it was like I have a lot of challenges with law enforcement and stuff like that. So I end up, so I end up in the federal penitentiary for, I extended amount of time. So now I am in limbo. because I can't I can leave the country now, they say, but once I leave, I cannot come back no more. So now I'm in a place to where I need to preserve my, I need to preserve both sides of my world.

So that's why I'm like, okay, I need to write these books. And then once these books gets done, then I could go back and reconnect with what I had left behind over there. It's a very powerful experience and it's really difficult, I think, in your position to have gone through the things that you have and now be in a situation where you're kind of like, you're in a new home that's become home, but it also has its own challenges. And I guess a lot of your home country is still home to you, but it's something you have to go rediscover with new eyes.

And that's not always so easy, you know. And I know you also mentioned that you have family. ties that are living in America. So it's a very difficult space to be in. And I really feel like you're so brave to share your stories through writing and storytelling, which I believe is one of the best expression ways of expressing yourself in the world. And it's amazing that you've written this. And I know it's a volume one, so there's more to come, right?

Yes. It's a planned series. So I'm thinking there's at least five books in that series. It's a lot of stories to tell. That's a lot of stories to tell. And so tell me a little bit about the series just for our audience to know what to look forward to. So volume one is the start of the memoir, and you're going to release the race? Yeah, so volume one is, volume one takes place in the 90s, right?

I mean, volume one and volume two takes place in the 90s when like three years after I got to America. So that starts from there. So volume two is it's the same. It's around the same month, right? It's like from June to July. It was those two months. And then, yeah, volume two is scheduled to be released on July 4th. And then the other books will take you to like to the refugee camps and things like that.

I can't really say too much, but, you know, but it's already basically, it's basically I'm working on them. I'm pretty sure that I will have all of it done before I get deported. Well, I appreciate that you're sharing a little bit of a sneak peek with us about what's coming. And I also just want to celebrate your life and that it's been a journey and that you can share it with us on the field space. today. I feel like it's really very much in the field's mindset of, you know, living an authentic life, doing the things you love, following your joy and expressing yourself. So we honor that. And I wanted to just know a little bit more about the process of writing. And if you have any

words of wisdom to people who are wanting to be authors, what this experience has been like for you and publishing a book or a few books now? Well, it's, I mean, if you are writing, write for yourself, that's the only thing, and that's the most powerful things I think I could say is about, is don't, don't write to think that you could become this or become a best-selling author to get fame and fortune. Those, that would, you would struggle with that because then you would. are you are doing it for validation and for

applause. You're not. So you have to do it for yourself. It doesn't matter how good it is or how bad it is. Don't worry about that. Just write what is aligned with you, with your internal self. And once you accept that, then

you, there's nothing will stop you in the there will nothing in the way that can stop you because if you have to do this for yourself only. It's not so other people could, you know, like give you

validations and nothing like that. So if you are planning to become an author and to write it, you write it for yourself and tell you, let yourself know you're not competing with anybody. You are doing this because

it's got to make you feel good. Make your soul feel good that you accomplish something that you set for yourself. That's how I got to write all these books because now I'm just doing it too because now I'm letting things out and then everything that I'm writing about or what I say is those are my beliefs because I cannot write another person's belief. I cannot write how another person will see things. So I'm only writing about how I see it. And if other people like it, they like it. If not, they won't like it.

and not everybody kind of like what you're doing. So that's how you should think. I love that. I love that. I think it's so important to first and foremost express for yourself and let it out. And we often look at other books and we think, oh, like, I can't do that. And it's such a big task. But at the end of the day, we're all born to journal and to share our stories, you know.

And it's such a powerful healing tool. And I also remember you mentioning to me that you didn't always know how to read and write. I think you taught yourself, if I remember correctly. Yes, I did not learn how to read or write until I went to prison, really, because I had to, because I couldn't afford a lawyer. So basically, I had to learn through the law process, right? So I had to go to the local library and to study my case, read my case, and stuff like that. So I was just asking people everyone around like, hey, what's this word mean?

How's this, you know, what does it say and things like that? So that's why I learned to read and write because my life was depending on it. That's really an incredible story. And what a way to learn all of that. I mean, and how did that go for you? like when you learned how to present your case and yeah that that's a really incredible way what was that process like for you when you had to present your case i saw it it's like a it's a challenge so like it's either you do this or you don't you know so that's that's and you know like you could

see like this examples everywhere right you see how you see what this person does and this the resolve. So it's either you're going to be like that or you're going to rise above that. And then you just have to take the option to not be like what the other people do. I love the words that you just used to rise above that. I feel like that's so empowering in the world. And that's what we need to do every day. Every day we choose to rise above the things that, you know, we're difficult for us yesterday. And it's really a beautiful message. to leave with our audience as well. And for everyone listening,

I kind of wonder what you're feeling about what culture means to you, what home means to you, and whether you're thinking about being an author or not, you know, I hope this is inspiring you to just share your story, even just with yourself and your journal, first and foremost.

And this is such a beautiful inspiration to us. So thank you so much, Keo. And I'm just really excited for you for the rest of the book. So what has been like your, your motivator in the next day is how do you sit down? Do you have a routine? What does the author's life look like? I haven't, I don't have a, I don't feel like this author's life is like, but I know that there is, is, I have to understand solitude. The difference between solitude and isolation, you have to understand that. And then if you understand to seek, like to, to,

understand solitude, and learn to be by yourself and listen to your own thoughts, then that's, I guess, that's how I feel as an author to understand myself and release, release the attachments, I guess. And so that way, once you could stay still by yourself and just listen, just observe your thoughts, besides try to chase them, then it will be easier for you to write. It's amazing advice. I think we're all chasing our thoughts way too much, and we're running around like headless chickens chasing them, you know,

but we can just sit still and enjoy being who we are and letting that be. And so that's really incredible. And I also know that you mentioned to me that you didn't really use technology much until recently. So I guess typing these books has been a new journey for you too. Yes, I mean, everything, like, it is. I'm still using one finger to all my keyboards. So it is. So I see that now, it's a challenge to me now.

So it is something that I could conquer. You know, I could work to get better at. So once I put myself in that mindset, it doesn't seem, hard anymore. Yeah, I'm sure by book number five of your cultures colliding memoir series, you're going to be typing away with like an ace typo, you know, that's amazing. And I really appreciate that you are so positive in tackling challenges. And it's really, really giving me a lot of motivation for everything to come in our days. And I appreciate that you're sharing your journey on the Fields podcast and really, really looking forward to sharing your book and celebrating it

and the rest to come. So thank you so much for being here and for telling us about it. And yeah, just really hoping that you have enough time to write everything that you would like to. Faith, you know, in God to make sure that I can, you know, say that I will, I will be able to finish all my books that I want to write. I absolutely. I really appreciate you. I appreciate you too. Thank you so much for that.

And yeah, we will definitely please keep us posted on all the things that you get up to. And I hope that when you do make it back to your original home, it's an amazing experience for you of new perspective and integration of sorts, you know, for your life. I'm really looking forward to it. too. It's kind of scary. I mean, I could feel it in my heart when I think about it and when I talk about it. It's like you get that fear feeling and that I only know that from my life. I know that once you have that feeling, that means you are going the right way. So I am going to explore all that and conquer all my fears. I love that. I love that. It's really, you've got to follow your heart, you know, in the beating of your heart, even if it's scary.

So it's really a special message. Thank you so much, Keo. And I hope to see you back on the Fields podcast soon, talking about all your other books and the Stack series. And for those who are following, I hope you are happy. I hope that you are reading and that I hope that you are happily reading and celebrating more books and more authors and people sharing their stories. Until the next one.