S1 E03: Nobody Wants to Work These Days

SoftSpoken: A Podcast by Marpheen Chann

In the third episode of SoftSpoken, I expand on a few themes and topics about modernity, work-life balance, and self-care by reading from an excerpt from my book Moon in Full: A Modern-Day Coming-of-Age Story. The excerpt reflects on my experience working as a grocery store cashier and how modern work and management strategies dehumanize workers and make the work environment devoid of human relationships and collaboration beyond what is productive for management and the company. In addition, wages haven't kept up with production so people are forced to get more than one job and thus lose time that they could be spending with family, attending community and public meetings, school and sports events, and things that help strengthen the social and democratic fabric. Hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a voicemail on the Anchor page!

About Moon in Full:

In his memoir, Moon in Full, Marpheen Chan recounts an emotional and modern day coming-of-age story that has roots in the Cambodian genocide and weaves through troubled familial relationships, housing projects, foster homes, churches, and college life, as well as rural Maine where he struggles to reconcile his fears and beliefs as a young gay man of color adopted into a white Evangelical family. He has continually struggled with his lost identity as a Cambodian and homophobia as a young gay man of color. As PTSD, poverty, abuse, and addiction took their toll on his mother, Chann and his siblings were removed and placed into foster care. And that is where his journey into adulthood truly begins.

With compassion and honesty, Chann recalls what he has learned, what he has found and what he has lost in his evolution from rebel boy to holy-roller youth to advocate for equality and civil rights, all in one of the nation's oldest and least diverse states; but a state that he proudly calls home. Chann's story shines a spotlight on the search for truth, compassion, and the struggles of our complicated era.

About Marpheen Chann:

Marpheen Chann, a second generation Asian American, is a writer, speaker, and gay man. In 2014, Chann was the first of his biological and adoptive families to graduate college. He studied political science, philosophy, and economics at the University of Southern Maine, where he helped start the Queer Straight Alliance. He also graduated from USM School of Law and co-founded the Cambodian Community Association of Maine. Chann lives in Portland. Moon in Full is his first book.