Lya Badgley, Author of ‘The Foreigner’s Confession’ and ‘The Thirty-Fifth Page’

Early exposure to different cultures fostered empathy and curiosity.
Grew up embracing multiple perspectives.

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Overview

In this episode of “The Brand Called You,” Ashutosh Garg interviews Lya Badgley, award-winning author whose novels span Cambodia, Myanmar, and Bosnia. Lya reflects on her culturally diverse upbringing, family influences, and global experiences that inform her powerful storytelling.

00:00:32- How did Lya’s multicultural start shape her worldview?

Early exposure to different cultures fostered empathy and curiosity.
Grew up embracing multiple perspectives.

00:02:04- How did her parents influence her path as a writer?

Intellectual curiosity from her political scientist father.
Appreciation for beauty from her artist mother.

00:03:19- How do life’s extremes fuel her writing?

Real-world adventures helped her write about tension and contrasts.

00:05:03- How did videography and songwriting shape her narrative style?

Uses visual imagery in writing, drawing from her experience in music and a brief stint with Human Rights Watch.

00:10:29- Why Cambodia for “The Foreigner’s Confession”?

Inspired by real work at the Museum of Genocide in Phnom Penh.
Combines authentic history with fiction.

00:12:40- What makes Myanmar and “The Worth of a Ruby” special?

Personal roots and family ties to Myanmar.
Explores how history shapes everyday lives.

00:14:26- How does Lya blend magical realism with reality?

Grounds mystical elements in lived experience and historical settings.

00:15:31- Why set “The 35th Page” in Bosnia?

Inspired by the Sarajevo Haggadah and the region’s legacy of conflict.
Examines inherited trauma and cultural memory.

00:17:33- Does she see her books as preserving history?

Yes—fiction fills gaps left by conventional histories.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Lya Badgley: LinkedIn

Enjoyed this podcast?

Her novels—set in Cambodia, Myanmar, and, soon, Bosnia—dive into history, politics, and the collision of outer conflict with inner turmoil. Her characters live at the intersection of tension: “the yin and yang, the dark and the light.” Share your thoughts in the comments and spread these insights with friends!

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