Origin Story

Kulap Vilaysack had always thought she knew her family's story. Born to a mother from Laos and a father from the United States, she had a sense of cultural connection to both her parents' homelands. However, when she was 14 years old, her mother dropped a bombshell that would leave a crater in her family's dynamics: "He's not your real dad." This casual, almost careless remark sparked a fire that would simmer for years, with Kulap's father, a man she'd always called "Dad," becoming the object of her devotion and loyalty. Two decades passed, and Kulap found herself in a position of newfound independence. Married to Scott Aukerman, a comedian and writer, she was living a life she had envisioned for herself. But with a sense of nostalgia and a dash of curiosity, Kulap began to wonder about the man her mother had hinted at all those years ago. Who was he, really? And why had her mother kept him from her for so long? As she embarked on her journey to uncover the truth, Kulap found herself in Los Angeles, surrounded by the trappings of her successful life: a husband, friends, and a community that loved and supported her. But there was a growing sense of disquiet, a feeling that she was neglecting a part of herself by not confronting the elephant in the room. The more she learned about the man who wasn't her father, the more she realized that her mother's words had been a revelation, a truth that would set her free. Kulap's first stop on her international journey was Minnesota, where her mother had grown up and where her father's side of the family still lived. It was here that she met her aunt, a woman who was as warm as a cup of coffee on a cold winter morning. The aunt, who had kept Kulap's secrets for years, revealed a family history that was fraught with conflict and addiction. Kulap learned about her father's struggles, his battles with booze and his complicated relationships with the people around him. She also heard stories about his kind heart and his generosity, traits that were passed down through generations. But Minnesota was just the beginning of Kulap's journey. She knew that the real revelation lay in Laos, the country her mother had left behind when she was a young girl. As she traveled to this foreign land, Kulap felt a mix of emotions: excitement, fear, and a deep sense of wonder. She was about to meet the man who was her biological father, a man she'd never known existed. The thought of this meeting both thrilled and terrified her. When Kulap finally met her father, she found a man who was warm and witty, with a heart of gold and a sense of humor that was quick-witted and clever. They talked for hours, sharing stories and laughter, and Kulap felt a sense of connection that she'd never experienced before. But beneath the surface of their conversation lay deeper questions, ones that had haunted her for years. Why had her mother kept him from her? And what did it mean for her own identity and sense of self? As Kulap navigated this new terrain, she was met with both hilarious and heartbreaking moments. There were the interviews with her friends, including Sarah Silverman, Casey Wilson, and June Diane Raphael, who shared their own stories of identity and self-discovery. There were also the moments of raw emotion, when Kulap and her father broke down in tears, confronting the pain and the sadness that had been hidden for so long. Through it all, Kulap found herself summoning the courage of Katharsis, the Greek concept of release and purification. With each new revelation, she felt herself letting go of the old, embracing the new and the unknown. She realized that her origin story was not just about her biological parentage, but about the choices that had been made on her behalf, choices that had shaped her into the person she was today. As Kulap looked back on her journey, she knew that she had uncovered a deeper truth, one that was both personal and universal. She had confronted the conflicts and addictions that had haunted her family for generations, and she had found a sense of responsibility and agency that she had never known before. In doing so, she had created a new origin story, one that was all her own. It was a story of identity and self-discovery, of the human spirit's capacity to overcome even the most daunting challenges. And it was a story that would stay with her forever, a reminder of the power of courage and the importance of facing the truth, no matter how hard it may be.