Shows
The Thriller Pitch PodcastCovert Ops and Cartel Wars in Cuba | Caribbean Harvest by Steve Stratton | EP12Caribbean Harvest is a high-stakes international thriller about drugs, politics, and pursuit. When El Chapo sets his sights on Cuba as the next hub for his empire, Wolf and Parker must use their mix of military and law enforcement skills to stop him before the island becomes another Afghanistan. With Mexican law enforcement, the U.S. president, and ruthless cartel forces all in play, the chase becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Steve Stratton and I talk about pacing Lance’s growth across the Shadow Tier series, wh...
2025-09-3030 min
The FigGuys - A Wrestling Action Figures & Collectibles PodcastFreaks, Peaks & Plastic – Scott Steiner Unboxed! | FigGuys #070It’s Tuesday night, the FigGuys are back and louder than ever! Mike B. and Tom dive into another wild ride of wrestling figure talk, life chaos, and of course—brand-new plastic glory. From moving stress to internet woes, nothing can stop your favorite duo from bringing the figure news straight to your ears.📰 This Week in Wrestling Figure NewsAEW Gun Club, Switchblade & Juice updates — why are they shelf-warming?The latest from Figures Toy Company, including scaffolding, cages, and full arena builds. (Don’t forget code OFFICIALFIGGUYS to save 10%!)Freaks_ Peaks & Pla...
2025-09-171h 32
Executive Search in JapanTokyo’s Hiring Frenzy: Inside Japan’s Explosive Executive Job BoomJapan’s executive job market isn’t just growing — it’s on fire. A full-blown hiring frenzy is sweeping through Tokyo, reshaping the future of leadership in industries from pharma and finance to tech, media, and EVs. In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we reveal why recruiters are scrambling, candidates are cashing in, and multinationals are betting big on Japan.From Takeda’s AI-driven pharma revolution to Netflix’s live-action blitz, from Wall Street banks chasing bilingual leaders to EV giants racing for talent, the demand has never been higher. We break down:Why Tokyo is now...
2025-09-0619 minExecutive Search in JapanThe Recruiter’s Playbook: Women & Diversity in Japan’s Executive SearchIn Japan, women make up nearly half the workforce but only a fraction of the executive tier—just 12% of board seats and 15% of management roles. With government targets calling for 30% women in leadership by 2030 and investors linking diversity directly to ESG and governance standards, the pressure is mounting.In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we go beyond the numbers to ask: how can recruiters drive real change? We unpack the so-called “pipeline problem” and spotlight overlooked M-turn career returnees, regional female leaders outside Tokyo, and hidden “#2” executives ready to step up. You’ll also hear how recruite...
2025-08-2413 minExecutive Search in JapanBeyond the Placement: Redefining Recruiter Success in JapanIn Japan’s executive search landscape, placement is just the starting point—real success lies in what happens next. In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we explore why retention, wellness, and cultural integration are becoming the new benchmarks for recruiter effectiveness.Join us as we unpack:From Transaction to Partnership: Why placement-only metrics are giving way to long-term retention and post-placement satisfaction as true indicators of recruiter value.The Hidden Stressors: How executives — especially in Japan’s demanding corporate culture — face burnout risks, cultural friction, and isolation during the critical first 6–12 months in role.Actionable S...
2025-08-2415 minExecutive Search in JapanClosing With Stock: The Recruiter’s Guide to RSUs in JapanCash isn’t the closing currency for senior hires in Japan anymore—equity is. But many recruiters and candidates remain tangled in confusion around RSUs, vesting, tax implications, and the elusive “Japan math.” Closing a search now depends not on salary alone, but your ability to explain equity in a way that feels real and compelling.In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we crack open the equity puzzle and walk you through how to build offers that actually get signed.You’ll learn:Why the old base + bonus model is extinct in...
2025-08-2414 minExecutive Search in JapanBreaking the Bilingual Bottleneck: Japan’s Executive Crisis & the Returnee RadarJapan’s executive market is red-hot—and gridlocked. Multinationals need leaders who are bilingual, globally minded, and culturally agile, yet that talent is vanishingly scarce. Fees run sky-high (often up to 50%), Country Manager packages can hit ¥100M, and mis-hires in this environment can cost 10× salary. Add reputation risk, confidential replacements, and Japan’s unique decision culture, and you’ve got the most high-stakes search arena in the world.This episode of Executive Search in Japan hands executive recruiters a decisive edge: the Returnee Radar—a systematic way to source Japanese returnees and diaspora professionals who’ve built careers abroad...
2025-08-2315 minExecutive Search in JapanJapan’s ¥100M Seat: Inside the Country Manager Gauntlet—And How Recruiters WinIt’s the most coveted—and most perilous—job in Japan: Country Manager. The prize? A ¥40–60M core band with top packages reaching ¥100M. The risk? Failure rates on international assignments as high as 25%, and the cost of a miss running 10× salary once you factor in severance, lost momentum, and brand damage. In a market where culture eats strategy for breakfast, this role is a career-maker—or a crater.This episode of Executive Search in Japan is your field manual for placing (and protecting) Country Managers in Japan’s uniquely demanding landscape. We decode the bridge role between HQ and...
2025-08-2312 minExecutive Search in JapanBeyond Tokyo: Tapping Kansai–Chubu’s Hidden Executive Gold VeinTokyo grabs all the headlines in Japan’s job market—but what if the richest executive opportunities are actually outside the capital? From the global auto supply chain in Nagoya, to advanced manufacturing in Osaka, and aerospace clusters across Chubu, recruiters who ignore Japan’s industrial heartlands are leaving money on the table.In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we’re digging into the Kansai and Chubu regions—the hidden gold vein of executive talent and opportunity. We’ll unpack which industries are booming, what skills are in demand, how comp packages differ from Tokyo, and why recr...
2025-08-2317 minExecutive Search in JapanTokyo’s Hiring Binge: The Executive Recruitment Boom Shaking Up JapanTokyo is in the middle of a hiring binge — and executive recruiters are scrambling to keep pace with a surge of leadership roles across technology, finance, pharma, EVs, fashion, and media. Demand for bilingual leaders who can bridge Japanese market expertise with global execution is skyrocketing, making true bilingual professionals the hottest commodity in the market.This episode of Executive Search in Japan reveals the trends reshaping Japan’s recruitment landscape:Why Tokyo’s executive hiring binge is creating unprecedented demand.The rise of digital transformation, AI, IT infrastructure, compliance, and EV leadership roles.Bilingualism as currenc...
2025-08-2320 minExecutive Search in JapanThe Japan Confidential: Inside Cross-Border Executive Search Under the RadarWhen multinationals replace top leaders in Japan, it rarely makes headlines — because it’s never meant to. Welcome to the world of confidential cross-border executive search, where headquarters quietly pulls the strings, stealth is a survival tactic, and one misstep can trigger corporate chaos. In Japan’s harmony-driven, risk-averse business culture, a leaked search doesn’t just embarrass an incumbent — it can erode client trust, spook employees, hand competitors an opening, and cost millions in severance.This episode of Executive Search in Japan takes executive recruiters inside the high-stakes world of covert talent moves in Japan, revealing:Why head...
2025-08-2018 minExecutive Search in JapanTokyo Talent Frenzy: The Executive Gold Rush in Japan’s Job MarketJapan’s executive and specialized job market is on fire — and recruiters are scrambling to keep pace. From boardrooms to biotech labs, Tokyo is seeing a surge of new executive-level openings, with demand for bilingual, globally minded leaders outstripping supply. The hottest roles? Digital and AI experts, data scientists, and transformation leaders — exactly the talent pool in shortest supply.In this episode of the Executive Search in Japan podcast, we break down the trends shaping Japan’s high-stakes recruiting landscape:Explosive demand for leadership — why executive roles across pharma, finance, tech, and fashion are multiplying.AI and digita...
2025-08-2009 minExecutive Search in JapanThe Great Japan Expansion: Why Search Giants Are Betting on TokyoJapan’s labor market is cracking under the weight of its own demographics. FY2024 saw over 10,000 bankruptcies, with over over 300 firms collapsing solely due to labor shortages and soaring personnel costs—the worst numbers in over a decade. The “2030 Problem” looms large, with the working-age population set to plunge, while traditional lifetime employment models and outdated seniority systems strangle mobility and innovation. Add in a deepening skills mismatch—millions in surplus clerical roles but a gaping deficit in AI, data, and bilingual talent—and the result is nothing less than a recruiting emergency.In this episode of E...
2025-08-2015 minExecutive Search in JapanTokyo Talent Boom: Inside 2025’s New Office OpeningsJapan is experiencing a seismic shift in executive recruitment, and 2025 is the year everything changed. With top-tier firms like Amrop, H.I. Executive Consulting, and IntelliPro planting strategic stakes in Tokyo, this isn't just expansion—it’s a bold declaration of confidence in Japan’s shifting leadership landscape.In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we unpack the forces fueling the boom:Talent Scarcity Meets Demand Surge — A critically small pool of bilingual, globally minded executives struggles to keep pace with unprecedented demand.Broken Without Leaders — 350 bankruptcies in 2024 were blamed on talent sho...
2025-08-2011 minExecutive Search in JapanLegal Gold Rush: Cracking Japan’s Most Elusive Talent MarketJapan’s legal recruitment landscape is a paradox: booming demand, razor-thin supply, and an unforgiving cultural maze. In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we break down why top legal talent is so scarce, what clients really expect (even if it’s unrealistic), and how the best recruiters are crushing it by acting as market-savvy career coaches, cultural interpreters, and client educators. From the rise of M&A and compliance roles to the critical role of Gaiben and NJQ lawyers, this is your edge in navigating one of Japan’s toughest and most lucrative hiring verticals. If you’ve ever...
2025-08-1923 minExecutive Search in JapanHow to Earn 50 Million Yen a Year—Recruiting in Japan’s Executive Market💰 In this high-energy episode of Executive Search in Japan, we reveal how ambitious recruiters are earning 50 million yen per year—sometimes more—in one of the world’s most talent-hungry markets. This is the inside story of Japan’s executive search industry, where placement fees are massive, competition is fierce, and top billers are rewriting their financial futures.We’ll cover:The secret to uncapped earnings in Japan’s commission-driven recruitment worldReal success stories from foreign recruiters who made the leap—and made a fortuneWhy recruiting is equal parts sales, psychology, hustle, and cultural inte...
2025-08-1819 minExecutive Search in JapanThe Sweet Way to Hire: Mastering Japan’s Executive EdgeThink hiring executives in Japan is about networking and luck? Think again.🎙️In this special episode of Executive Search in Japan, we’re unlocking 77 powerful lessons from The FocusCore Podcast, led by veteran headhunter Dr. David Sweet. Whether you're a recruiter, HR leader, or international CEO navigating Japan’s leadership battlefield—you’ll discover why the real edge lies in cultural fluency, not resumes.Tune in to explore:Cutting-edge hiring tactics like Topgrading and how Japanese companies are blending rigor with sensitivity.Why “read the air” is not just poetic—it’s essential for spotting informal pow...
2025-08-1818 minExecutive Search in JapanSamurai Salaries & Shifting Loyalties: What Really Moves Japan’s ExecutivesIn Japan’s executive market, money may open doors—but respect, harmony, and a sense of purpose are what really seal the deal.🎙️In this captivating episode, Executive Search in Japan unpacks the complex motivations behind career moves in Tokyo’s elite circles. From performance-linked pay and LTIs to the enduring pull of lifetime employment and cultural camaraderie, discover what drives top talent beyond the paycheck.We explore:How the Tokyo Stock Exchange is pushing Japanese firms to adopt Western-style incentives.Why the “hard sell” by some international recruiters can backfire—and fast.The escalating battle...
2025-08-1811 minExecutive Search in JapanGolden Handcuffs: The Hidden Dangers of Counter-Offers in JapanIn Japan’s high-stakes executive job market, a counter-offer can feel like validation—more money, a slicker title, a silent nod of approval from leadership. But often, it's the velvet trap that stalls your career trajectory for good.🎙️In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we go behind the scenes to unravel the paradox of loyalty, obligation, and timing in Japanese workplaces. Discover why nearly half of executives who accept counter-offers leave within a year—and how cultural forces like wa (harmony) and giri (duty) amplify the fallout.You'll learn:Why counter-offers may address the...
2025-08-1813 minExecutive Search in JapanThe Talent Mirage: Why Hiring in Japan Breaks All the RulesRecruiting in Japan isn’t just hard—it’s an illusion. 🎙️In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we pull back the curtain on why Japan’s executive hiring market looks promising, yet delivers mirages. Conventional global recruitment tools—from LinkedIn to remote sourcing—are failing in one of the world’s most paradoxical job markets.Here’s why:Japan's workforce is aged and shrinking, yet top talent remains invisible due to cultural norms like lifetime employment, humility, and indirect communication.LinkedIn? Barely used. English? Rare. The result: most of the best candidates are hidden, passive, a...
2025-08-1816 minExecutive Search in JapanQuit for Hire: Inside Japan’s Proxy Resignation TrendWhat happens when you’re too nervous to quit your job yourself? In Japan’s latest cultural twist, frustration meets innovation—enter resignation agencies, where you pay someone else to say "I quit" for you.In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we dive headfirst into the surprising rise of proxy quitters—services like Momuri guiding tens of thousands out of jobs since the pandemic. We'll explore:The emotional and cultural barriers that make resigning feel impossible.First-person stories of those pushed to the edge—and the relief they found.What this hidden industry reveals about Japa...
2025-08-1815 minExecutive Search in JapanWhispers That Matter: Reputation, Blacklists & the Hidden Risks in Japan’s Executive SearchIn Japan’s executive world, your reputation speaks louder than your resume—and sometimes, it whispers behind closed doors.🎙️In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we expose the invisible forces that shape hiring decisions in Japan's elite job market. Forget the myth of a formal blacklist. In reality, it’s an underground web of recruiter whispers, private “do-not-hire” lists, and discreet conversations between trusted insiders. One misstep—ghosting an interview, exaggerating a resume, or clashing with hiring culture—can quietly sabotage your career prospects across an entire industry.We explore:Why Japan’s strict privacy laws...
2025-08-1813 minExecutive Search in JapanUnderwriters & Headhunters: Cracking Japan’s Insurance Recruitment CodeWelcome back to the Executive Search in Japan podcast. Japan’s insurance sector is massive—but finding top talent remains a high-stakes game. In this episode, we dive into the elite world of insurance recruitment in Japan, where bilingual underwriters are rare, onboarding takes a year, and specialist firms quietly dominate the executive search landscape.From Hays to Robert Walters, we decode how the major players operate—and why your best bet might not be a recruiter with “insurance” in their job title. Featuring real-market insights, standout individuals like Sonia Hou, Andrew MacKinlay and Ryan Williams, and a behind-t...
2025-08-1811 minExecutive Search in JapanSuits on Fire: Inside Japan’s Booming Executive Job MarketWelcome back to the Executive Search in Japan podcast! Japan's executive job market is sizzling — and it’s not a short-lived spike. Join us as we shine a spotlight on why CEOS, CFOs, GMs, and MDs are in unprecedented demand across sectors like fintech, pharma, automotive tech, and consumer goods. From mortgage-deep language requirements to leadership through transformation, we break down the trends driving Tokyo’s talent surge. Learn what companies are looking for in their top-tier hires—bilingual fluency, cross-cultural agility, strategic vision, and operational excellence—and why this moment may be one of the most competitive leadership markets Ja...
2025-08-1815 minExecutive Search in JapanBreakthrough Leaders: Foreign Executives Navigating Japan’s Corporate WatersThis episode of Executive Search in Japan explores the fascinating and often unpredictable journey of foreign executives leading in Japan. While multinational firms often tap non-Japanese talent for key roles in Japan, the road to leadership success here is paved with cultural nuance, relationship-building, and an adaptive mindset. We’ll explore how expat leaders navigate Japan’s unique corporate waters—and how executive search firms assess, place, and support them.With personal stories, headhunter perspectives, and lessons from those who’ve succeeded (and failed), this episode unpacks what it really takes to thrive as a foreign executive in Japan
2025-08-1812 minExecutive Search in JapanThe Rise of the CHRO — Talent Leaders Shaping Japanese Work CultureIn this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we explore how the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) role in Japan is evolving from a behind-the-scenes administrative position to one of the most strategically vital functions in today’s business environment. As Japanese companies grapple with demographic headwinds, global competition, and shifting employee expectations, CHROs are taking center stage in driving organizational change.We examine the forces shaping this transformation — from Japan’s shrinking labor force and declining “lifetime employment” model to the pressure to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and reimag...
2025-08-1718 minExecutive Search in JapanExecutive Search in Private Equity: The Power Player Pipelines in Japan🎧Japan’s private equity (PE) landscape is evolving rapidly — and so are the talent demands fueling its growth. In this episode of Executive Search in Japan, we explore how PE firms are reshaping leadership expectations, accelerating the demand for agile, cross-functional executives who can drive transformation across portfolio companies.As PE deal volume increases and more global and domestic funds expand their footprint in Japan, executive search is becoming a mission-critical function. But unlike traditional large-cap hiring, PE demands a different breed of leader: commercially aggressive, operationally hands-on, and ready to pivot quickly. This shift is triggering a wave...
2025-08-1712 min