Shows
The Ikigai PodcastDiscovering Ikigai Through Art and Martial Arts: A Conversation with Baptiste TavernierStart with a vision, test it in the dojo, and forge it in a studio where code becomes sculpture. That’s the journey we explore with Tokyo-based French-Spanish artist and independent curator Baptiste Tavenir, whose life bridges Japanese martial arts, musicology, and 3D-printed fine art in ways that feel both unexpected and inevitable.We talk about the leap that changed everything: leaving a Paris lab for Budo University and discovering that discipline, patience, and community dynamics aren’t just for the mat. Baptiste shares how years of training in tankendo, jukendo, and naginata sharpened his focus and taug...
2026-01-2741 min
Ikigai Teen Compass - a Teen Mindset Transformation Channel for teen parentsParent Self-Check: Am I Helping or Hindering? | Ikigai Teen Podcast with Irene PaisAre you helping your teen grow — or holdingthem back without realizing it? In this episode, Irene Pais from Ikigai Teenexplores five subtle including overprotection, comparison, and control parentingpatterns that shape or curb a teen’s confidence, independence, and trust.
2025-11-0910 minThe Ikigai PodcastThe Shared Wisdom of Stoicism and Ikigai with Ken MogiWhat if the hard road is the honest road—and also the most creative? Neuroscientist and author Ken Mogi joins us to explore how Stoicism and Ikigai converge on a single idea: live in alignment with nature, accept limits with grace, and let difficulty forge depth. We move from the awe of a first butterfly to the precision of a rocket launch, tracing how humility, gratitude, and restraint can transform work, relationships, and personal meaning.Ken challenges the stereotypes. Stoicism isn’t about shutting down emotion; it’s about seeing clearly and acting accordingly. Creativity thrives under constr...
2025-10-2751 minThe Ikigai PodcastWhat Ikigai Really Means: Insights from Japanese Culture with Minako HoraguchiMeaning doesn’t have to shout to be real. In this conversation with educator and certified life coach Minako Horaguchi, we re-center ikigai where it belongs: in the small daily moments that make life feel worth living—morning coffee in quiet light, a page of honest journaling, the waku waku spark when your heart lifts for no external reason. We unpack why the viral career diagram misses the point for many people and how a Japanese lens invites presence, harmony, and contribution without the pressure to turn joy into a business plan.Minako shares her path from a ru...
2025-10-1341 minThe Ikigai PodcastFinding and Feeling Ikigai at Work with Kensuke YamamotoWhat if work wasn't something we simply endured, but instead became a vibrant source of meaning and purpose? Kensuke Yamamoto, senior consultant at Vanto Group, joins us to challenge the deeply ingrained assumption that work must be an obligation rather than a wellspring of fulfillment.Against the backdrop of Japan's evolving business landscape—where 99.7% of companies are small and medium enterprises facing unprecedented demographic challenges—Kensuke reveals how the concept of ikigai (life purpose) can transform workplace cultures. Drawing from his experience implementing high-performance initiatives across Japanese organizations, he explores the striking contrast between Western individualistic approaches to j...
2025-09-0142 minThe Ikigai PodcastHow Ikigai Leads to a Life of Personal Excellence with Andriana Ubunuki KalfaWhat gives meaning to your life when faced with loss and challenge? For Andriana Ubuduki-Kalfa, the answer emerged at her mother's funeral when a Japanese friend approached her about meeting her daughter, saying simply: "she was your mother's ikigai."This profound moment transformed Andriana's understanding of ikigai beyond the familiar Western interpretation of four overlapping circles. As a Japanese-Greek performance coach with over 30 years of experience bridging cultural differences, Andriana discovered that ikigai can be found in the simplest pleasures—a morning coffee, a dog's greeting—or in profound connections to people and places that sustain us thro...
2025-08-2643 minThe Ikigai PodcastIkigai Decisions: Aligning Your Life with What Matters Most with Christopher TanWhat happens when a successful financial advisor abandons commissions to build an ethical wealth management company? Christopher Tan takes us through his remarkable journey from sleeping on his family's living room floor to founding Provident, a fee-only wealth advisory firm in Singapore that's redefining how financial decisions serve life's most meaningful pursuits.Chris reveals the formative experiences that shaped his ethical compass: growing up in a humble family where his bus driver father's earnings were stretched by his resourceful mother, developing leadership skills during six years as an army officer, and experiencing a moral awakening when a...
2025-08-0159 minThe Ikigai PodcastIkigai Musing With Rock Legend Sunplaza Nakano KunReady to let ikigai rock your world?In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Sunplaza Nakano Kun to explore how his music captures the spirit of ikigai and inspires his fans.Sunplaza Nakano Kun is a Japanese musician, writer, and singer for the band BAKUFU- SLUMP (爆風スランプ). Beyond his music career, he has also worked as a radio personality and author—a man of many talents.
2025-05-281h 04The Ikigai PodcastIkigai and Loss: Finding Meaning in Life’s Hardest MomentsHow have you handled loss in your life?In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with June Kashio to explore how embracing Ikigai can provide meaning, resilience, and healing during times of loss.
2025-03-031h 12The Ikigai PodcastThe Spark of Life: Using Ikigai to Inspire and Empower Others with Katie SandoeWhat gives you energy? What is the spark that lights your fire?In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Katie Sandoe to explore how ikigai can inspire and energize people, helping them rediscover passion and purpose.
2025-02-241h 01The Ikigai PodcastDiscovering Ikigai: Making Life Worth Living After Losing Everything To War with Myroslava MarchenkoHow do you rebuild your life after losing everything?Coping with loss is one of life’s greatest challenges, yet there are paths to recovery that can help us heal and move forward. One such path is discovering a sense of ikigai.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Myroslava Marchenko on how individuals can rediscover purpose and resilience in the aftermath of profound loss.
2025-01-221h 05
Ikigai StoriesIkigai Summit 2024 - Purpose & Play: Empowering Youth & Connecting Community Through SportIkigai Summit 2024 Purpose & Play: Empowering Youth & Connecting Community Through Sport
Victor Johnson(CJHS), Dr. Julie McCleery (UW Center for Leadership in Athletics), and Mari Horita (Seattle Kraken) discuss sports as a transformational force for good. The current landscape of youth sports reveals significant inequities, with access and participation heavily influenced by socioeconomic status. This is a problem because sports can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. When done right, sports offers opportunities for healing, growth, and the development of crucial life skills. However, the prevalent pay-to-play system often prioritizes competition and extrinsic rewards, undermining the intrinsic joy and developmental...
2024-12-1740 min
Ikigai StoriesIkigai Summit 2024 - Ikigai Stories: Katherine ChengIkigai Summit 2024 - Ikigai Stories: Katherine Cheng, Seattle Mariners.
Courage | Resilience | Inquiry
Katherine Cheng's life and career are a testament to the power of core values in shaping one's path. Raised by a resilient single mother who was a Chinese immigrant and cancer researcher, Katherine learned early the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. This upbringing, combined with the influence of figures like Phil Donahue, instilled in her a deep commitment to courage, resilience, and inquiry. Her mother's journey, from a championship runner in Taiwan to a math genius in the U.S., demonstrated the value of continuous...
2024-12-1649 min
Ikigai StoriesIkigai Summit 2024 - Ikigai Investing: Meaning & MoneyIkigai Summit 2024 - Ikigai Investing: Meaning & Money
Jeri Andrews, Toussaint Bailey (Uplifting Capital) and Johny Mair (Ethic) discuss the integration of personal values and purpose within financial investing, advocating for a shift from traditional, profit-focused models to a more human-centered and impactful approach. The conversation highlights the need for the financial industry to evolve beyond commoditized services, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful relationships with clients through transparency, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on individual values. The conversation underscores that aligning investments with personal values can foster both financial success and a deeper sense of fulfillment.
Key takeaways:
●Integrating values an...
2024-12-1552 minThe Ikigai PodcastAn AI Book Summary of Ikigai-kan - Feel a Life Worth LivingUnlock the secrets of living a meaningful life as we challenge popular misconceptions about Ikigai in a conversation led by AI co-hosts. Could it be that passion alone isn't the key to happiness? Journey through the complex dimensions of Ikigai as we revisit insights from the book "Ikigai Kan: Feel a Life Worth Living" and Japanese psychiatrist Miko Kamiya's seven psychological needs, from life satisfaction to self-development. We'll dismantle the Westernized Venn diagram interpretation and debunk the notion that Ikigai is solely an Okinawan treasure. It's time to understand how these elements contribute to a truly fulfilling life.
2024-10-2621 minThe Ikigai PodcastExploring the Intersection of Behavioral Activation and Ikigai with Nathania Rochelle and Jürgen HoyerCan ikigai be used as a treatment?Ikigai is about discovering a sense of purpose, and when applied effectively, it can enhance other Western treatments like behavioural activation, promoting overall well-being.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Nathania Rochelle and Jürgen Hoyer about leveraging behavioural activation and ikigai for preventive health.
2024-09-091h 01The Ikigai PodcastBiopsychosocial Influences on Ikigai with Takaharu GotoWhat influences our sense of ikigai?In exploring the concept of ikigai, it’s essential to understand how various factors contribute to its experience. In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Takaharu Goto about the impact of biopsychosocial factors on one’s experience of ikigai.
2024-08-0736 min
Sarah Seeking Ikigai Podcast012: Ikigai; your compass, not your chainIkigai, a reason for being, the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. I’m trying to find ways to make my life happier and easier as well as feeling more fulfilled more consistently. It is easy though to fall into a trap of thinking that there is something wrong with you if you don’t have it all figured out. I approached this project “Sarah Seeking Ikigai” thinking that there should be something to make this process quicker and easier. I still believe that...
2024-06-2208 min
Sarah Seeking Ikigai Podcast008: Title ≠ Truth: The Identity Illusion in the Ikigai IntersectionThe first question you are asked when meeting someone new is often that old chestnut, “so what do you do for a living?” I have issues with this. Many times I’ve had a job title that doesn’t mean much to the general public. Perhaps the literal answer to that question isn’t the most interesting thing about me at that point in time. We ask questions to understand and to find connection. I am drawn to the quest towards ikigai because of the beauty and simplicity there is in your purpose aligning with the answer to this common quest...
2024-05-3109 minThe Ikigai PodcastExploring Mieko Kamiya’s Contributions to Understanding Ikigai with Kei TsudaHave you heard of Mieko Kamiya and her contributions to the concept of ikigai?Not known to many, Japanese researcher Mieko Kamiya committed to researching the concept of ikigai in-depth, making her works valuable for those seeking a deeper understanding of the concept.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick and Kei Tsuda delved into the remarkable contributions of Mieko Kamiya to the concept of ikigai.
2024-05-271h 05The Ikigai PodcastThe Life and Legacy of Mieko Kamiya with Kei TsudaHave you heard of the Mother of IkigaiWhile ikigai has gained recognition in the West, few are aware of the significant contributions made by Mieko Kamiya to its study. Who exactly is Mieko Kamiya, and what impact has she had on the study of ikigaiIn this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, join Nick and Kei Tsuda as they explore the life and remarkable achievements of Mieko Kamiya.
2024-05-091h 03The Ikigai PodcastAll Things Ikigai with Kei TsudaWhen the path from astronaut dreams to IT expertise took an unexpected turn, Ikigai scholar Kei Tsuda found himself at the crossroads of purpose and profession. This episode unveils Kei's transformative journey, revealing how the pursuit of Ikigai can shape our lives. Our discussion traverses the cultural landscapes of East and West, exploring how the Western craving for structured models like the Venn diagram clashes with the fluid, intrinsic understanding of Ikigai in Japan. Kei, initially a skeptic, now uses the Ikigai framework as a compass, guiding individuals towards a life rich with fulfilment.Embark o...
2024-02-0738 minThe Ikigai PodcastA Deep Dive into All Things Ikigai with Kei TsudaHave you ever pondered what truly drives you in life, or how to find that sweet spot where passion meets purpose? Kei Tsuda, an Ikigai scholar and consultant with a rich cultural tapestry from Japan, joins us to unravel the enigma of Ikigai and its place in our quest for fulfillment. Through Kei’s bicultural lens, we uncover the heart of this Japanese philosophy and distinguish it from its lesser-known counterpart, Yarigai. As Kei shares his personal narrative, the discussion illuminates how the concept of Ikigai is not just a cultural artifact but a living, breathing guide to...
2024-01-0430 minThe Ikigai PodcastCreating and Feeling More Ikigai with a Bucket ListHave you ever ticked off a dream of goal from a bucket list? On this episode The Bucket List Guy, Trav Bell, joins us for a transformative discussion on living life with meaning and intention. This episode isn't just about dreaming; it's a deep dive into celebrating our past wins with a reverse bucket list, and how acknowledging our achievements can launch us toward even greater ones. Trav reveals the seminar spark that ignited his journey as a global ambassador for this enriching philosophy, and together, we unpack the art of using time and money to...
2023-12-2834 minThe Ikigai PodcastIkigai & Positive Psychology: Bridging Purpose and Well-beingCan ikigai be related to positive psychology?In the West, ikigai is frequently linked with attaining significant goals and advancing in one's career. However, what many fail to recognize is that ikigai holds greater relevance in fostering our overall well-being.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Sue Langley about positive psychology and how it ties into the concept of ikigai.Hey it is Nick Kemp here from IkigaiTribe.com, just before we get into this episode I wanted to let you know I am running a Ikigai Workshop Webinar...
2023-12-221h 00The Ikigai PodcastSustainable Horizons: Shaping a Better World for Tomorrow with Naoko TomitaWhat would you like to pass on to future generations?Amid the alarming concern of global warming, it becomes imperative to contemplate sustainable practices aimed at safeguarding nature for future generations. This could be achieved by adopting Sustainable Development Goals, particularly encouraging businesses to lead the way in creating a better living environment for everyone.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Naoko Tomita about adopting Sustainable Development Goals within businesses, aiming to forge a better future for all.Hey it is Nick Kemp here from IkigaiTribe.com, just before...
2023-12-1452 min
Ikigai StoriesIkigai Summit 2023_Ikigai Economics_Purpose/Impact/Inclusion_Toussaint Bailey & Aparna RaeIkigai Economics: Purpose | Belonging | Impact w/Toussaint Bailey and Aparna Rae
How can ikigai support a more economically vibrant world filled with thriving people? A dynamic conversation with Toussaint Bailey, CEO of Uplifting Capital, and Aparna Rae, Founder of Moving Beyond, on the societal benefits and economic value unlocked through the ikigai pillars of purpose, impact, and inclusion.
2023-11-1947 min
Ikigai StoriesIkigai Summit 2023_World Of Well Being_Dr Tim Lomas, Human Flourishing Program, Harvard UniversityA World of Well-Being: Happiness & Human Flourishing
Fireside w/Dr. Tim Lomas, Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University and Sam Ushio, Founder, Ikigai Lab
What can ikigai and other "untranslatable words" teach us about flourishing and happiness? Dr Tim Lomas, a leading researcher scientist on well-being and positive psychology, will share findings on the importance of cross-cultural insights in our understanding of happiness, human flourishing, and the human condition. Dr Lomas will provide perspective on "Wellbeing for All: Incorporating Harmonic Principles of Wellbeing in Subjective Wellbeing Research and Policymaking," a collaboration between Gallup and the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation, a...
2023-11-1948 minThe Ikigai PodcastEmbracing AI Opportunities for a Meaningful Life with Kouji MikiHave you incorporated AI into your work?AI tools have been garnering attention today due to their ability to expedite tasks. While some express concern about the rapid increase of these tools, others find them beneficial, simplifying their work and making it more efficient.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick discusses with Kouji Miki the significance of AI in providing more opportunities to discover meaningful ikigai activities.Hey it is Nick Kemp here from IkigaiTribe.com, just before we get into this episode I wanted to let you know I...
2023-11-1537 minThe Ikigai PodcastIkigai's Influence on Educators and Students with Matthew BorgIn this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick and Mathew Borg discuss the significance of implementing the concept of ikigai within an educational context. How can we promote better education with the help of ikigai?Education holds significance for all individuals, yet at times, it can become a source of stress. This is where concepts like ikigai can prove beneficial, not only for students but also for educators, aiding in the development of a more tailored and effective approach to learning.
2023-09-2849 minThe Ikigai PodcastCan You Really Coach the Ikigai Concept?Is the ikigai concept something you can coach?In this solo episode, Nick explores this question and looks at how ikigai is relatable to philosophy, positive psychology and existential positive psychology This episode takes a deep dive into the elements central to ikigai; life affirmation, goals/dreams, meaning of life, meaning of existence, sense of fulfilment and commitment, and intertwines them with Dr Martin Seligman's PERMA model of flourishing.Nick also touches on Health and Ikiagi advisors in Japan who help retirees transition from working life to the rest of their life – from bec...
2023-09-1024 minThe Ikigai PodcastCo-Designing Companion Robots: Enhancing Ikigai for Older AdultsIn this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Waki Kamino about designing social robots to enhance the ikigai of older adults.Waki Kamino is a PhD student at Cornell University in human-robot interaction and a research consultant at Indiana University, Bloomington.
2023-07-2150 min