Shows
Books on AsiaThe 1910 Japan-British ExhibitionThe 1910 Japan-Britain Exhibition – with Formosa FilesIn this special crossover episode, John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith from Formosa Files: the History of Taiwan Podcast explore how Japan showcased its “model colony” of Formosa (1895–1945). First up is the 1910 Japan–British Exhibition in London, which featured human exhibits – 24 Indigenous Paiwan people from southern Taiwan. Next, they follow Crown Prince Hirohito on his 1923 royal tour of the island, before finishing with the 1935 Taiwan Exposition, a massive event commemorating forty years of rule. To learn more about these stories – and to find other episodes – visit the Formosa Files website.Book recommend...
2026-01-0529 min
Books on AsiaAmy Reads from her Book: The Widow, The Priest & The Octopus HunterAmy reads from The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. Chapter 1: The War Widow In 1997, Amy moved to a small island of just 950 people in Japan's Seto Inland Sea. She rented an akiya (empty house) from a widow whose soldier-husband had died in WWII. Six years later, when the widow dies, Amy purchases her home and must finally clear out the old woman's possessions. This is when Amy becomes fascinated with the woman, her life of hardship, and her will to overcome the pa...
2025-12-2918 min
Books on AsiaAmy & John Discuss Childhood Reading InfluencesJohn Ross, during his schoolboy days in New Zealand, was interested in far-flung places such as South America, Papua New Guinea, Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as books on World War One and Two. He read a lot of youth fiction starting at 10 years old, but as a teenager, had a voracious appetite for nonfiction. In his 20s he discovered a few wonderful fiction writers, but has still kept mostly to nonfiction through the decades.His first books were Willard Price’s Adventure series and Gerald Durrell books on real-life animal collecting. He also read detective an...
2025-12-2234 min
Women Making MovesI Said What I Said Storytelling w/ Victoria Carrington ChavezVictoria Carrington Chavez on The Power of Storytelling and HealingIn this episode of 'Women Making Moves,' host Amy Pons interviews the dynamic Victoria Carrington Chavez, a storytelling expert and award-winning entrepreneur.Together, they delve into the intricacies of owning and sharing one's story, the healing power of narrative, and the importance of embracing one's unique journey. Victoria shares her insights on overcoming victimhood and villainization, holding space for complexity, and the balance of love and power.Their conversation also touches on ancestral wounds, sovereignty in entrepreneurship, and the transformative energy shifts...
2025-12-1839 min
Books on AsiaCarol Isaak on Portland’s Lan Su Chinese GardenLan Su Garden is a magnificent Ming scholar garden in downtown Portland, Oregon. It opened in 2000, a collaboration between sister cities Portland and Suzhou, hence the name: Lan Su. Photographer and local resident Carol Isaak found refuge there during the Covid pandemic, fell in love with it, and began photographing the oasis through the following seasons and years. The result: her photographic book, Seasons: Lan Su Chinese Garden, published in 2025 by Seattle-based bookstore and publisher Chin Music Press.Carol and John chat about Lan Su, the Asian-American community in the Northwest, and Suzhou’s rich heritage as a...
2025-12-1529 min
Books on AsiaBooks on Korean Islands with John Ross and Chris TharpThe islands, in order of appearance in the episode, are: Geomun Island (Port Hamilton); the garden island of Oedo (Oe Island – “do” is the Korean word for “island”); Geojedo, site of an important Korean War POW camp and often spelled “Koje”;Ulleungdo and the nearby disputed islets of Dokdo; and the fictional island of Sukhan.Books mentioned in this Episode:A Korean Odyssey: Island Hopping in Choppy Waters (2020) by Michael GibbAnglo-Korean Relations and the Port Hamilton Affair, 1885–1887 (2016) by Stephen A. RoyleThe Hijacked War: The Story of Chinese POWs in the Korean War...
2025-12-0840 minBooks on AsiaAmy & John Discuss Gift Book Ideas for the HolidaysBooks discussed in this episode, in order of appearance:The Last Great Australian Adventurer: Ben Carlin's Epic Journey Around the World by Amphibious Jeep (Random House Australia, 2017) by Gordon BassOnce a Fool: From Japan to Alaska by Amphibious Jeep by Boye De MenteJapanese Swords and Armor: Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan's Greatest Samurai Warriors (Tuttle, 2024) by Paul MartinThe Modern Japanese Garden by Stephen Mansfield (Thames & Hudson, 2025)The Wondrous Elixir of The Two Chinese Lovers (Plum Rain Press, 2025) by Tim McGirkChina Running Dog, (Plum...
2025-12-0140 min
Books on AsiaTed Goossen on Translating Hiromi Kawakami's "Third Love"Amy Chavez has a deep discussion with Ted Goossen about Japan, it's emerging culture, it's historically strong women and how Japanese literature and its themes, are changing. In addition to talking about Hiromi Kawakami's novel The Third Love, other mentioned in this podcast episode are feminist Chizuko Ueno, translator John Bester and authors Kanzaburo Oe, Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, Masuji Ibuse and Mieko Kawakami. Goossen is currently reading books by Ruth Ozeki, and short stories by various authors. One older book that made an impression on him was The Anatomy of Dependence by psychologist Takeo Doi, which examines the i...
2025-11-2442 min
Books on AsiaSam Baldwin–Self-publishing Success and a New Travel Book Review WebsiteSam Baldwin tells John Ross about some ingredients behind the success of his self-published memoir For Fukui’s Sake: Two Years in Rural Japan (the subject of a previous chat between them on the Bookish Asia podcast). They touch on Sam’s latest memoir, Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia. But the heart of the conversation is some travel book recommendations – and Sam’s new project: a review website dedicated to travelogues and travel memoirs: https://travelmemoir.reviewSam's Recommended books (in order of mention):Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan (1999) by Jamie Ze...
2025-11-1738 minBooks on AsiaWhat's it Like to Live in China? Mark Kitto on China Running DogIn his novel China Running Dog, a young man in his early twenties lives in Shanghai in the year 2000, in a greed-crazed free-for-all moral and lawless vacuum created by the Chinese Communist Party. Johnny Trent, small-time entrepreneur from Basildon in the UK, ends up in China, where he meets Felix Fawcett-Smith, fresh off the boat and from the other side of the tracks. An unlikely friendship begins.Johnny impresses the well-bred Felix with his street smarts until Felix takes Johnny’s advice too literally – and too far – and slips into Shanghai’s murky underbelly. He enters a world wh...
2025-11-1035 min
Books on AsiaThe Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers–Tim McGirkThe Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers – Tim McGirkThe novel tells the story of archaeologist Ned Sheehan's discovery of two ancient Chinese tombs at a Maya site in southern Mexico. One tomb belongs to Xu Fu, a famous Taoist priest who vanished on a quest for the elixir of immortality at the behest of China’s First Emperor. The other houses the emperor’s own mother, scandalously revealed to have been Xu Fu’s lover.Tim and John talk about what is known about Xu Fu, a historical person, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s...
2025-11-0332 minBooks on AsiaLauren Scharf on Japanese traditional houses: minka and akiyaLauren Scharf talks about Japan's minka, kominka and akiya houses in Japan.MinkaCon 2025, is an event to be held from Nov. 7-9, in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture. The two-and-a-half-day event features discussions, presentations, workshops and a writers panel for those interested in life in the Japanese countryside and preserving traditional Japanese houses. There will be a bevy of authors present, many of whom we've featured in previous episodes of the Books on Asia podcast: Azby Brown, author of Just Enough (Ep 26); photographer and writer Everett Kennedy Brown; Alex Kerr (Lost Japan, Finding the Heart Sutra) (Ep 8) who will b...
2025-10-2728 min
Books on AsiaA Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch FormosaA Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa (by Yao-Chang Chen, translated by He Wen-ching)Sitting in for Amy is the duo John Ross & Eryk Michael Smith of Plum Rain Press and the Formosa Files podcast. They discuss their very first book release, a historical novel set in southwestern Taiwan in the mid-1600s. The Dutch East India Company’s presence there (1624-1662) came to an end after a series of battles and an epic nine-month siege by the Ming loyalist warlord Koxinga (aka Zheng Chenggong), born from a Japanese mother and a Chinese father. Three Tribes te...
2025-10-2135 min
Books on AsiaSally Burdon: Asia Bookroom and rare booksAsia Bookroom exhibits their most precious items at rare and antiquarian book fairs in Melbourne, Sydney, and Hong Kong. Look for them at the Sydney Rare Book Fair from Oct. 23-25. In this podcast we discuss some of the items on offer at the Sydney Rare Book Fair:The Disputed Islands Controversial Japanese Map by Hayashi Shihei from around 1790. This is a manuscript copy (written by hand), and includes the Takeshima/Dokdo islands indicating they belong to Korea.A silk sample book from the 1950sA Japanese policeman's notebook f...
2025-10-1432 min
Books on AsiaJake Adelstein: The Devil Takes BitcoinAdelstein introduces the people behind Mt. Gox, one of the world's largest Bitcoin exchanges, based in Tokyo and run by Frenchman Mark Karpeles. As a reporter for The Daily Beast, Japan-based Adelstein starts researching Mt. Gox, to figure out how it got hacked, and how it collapsed i 2014 with over 650,000 Bitcoins gone missing. He covers the laws, customs and quirks of Japan's hostage-justice system and how the entire investigation into Karpeles and Mt. Gox played out. And yes, it includes cats! The Devil Takes Bitcoin: Cryptocurrency Crimes and the Japanese Connection will be published by Scribe, Oct. 14, 2025.
2025-10-0743 min
Books on AsiaStephen Mansfield on The Modern Japanese GardenIn this episode we cover traditional Japanese gardens and how ancient gardens were related to nature, geomancy, literature and Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi, yugen, and mono no aware. but how garden design shifted from symbolism and representation to a more naturalistic style as seen in Murin-an, a garden in kyoto. Essays on garden design include entries by Ogawa Jihei (1860-1933), Kengo Kuma, Mira Locher, Japanese monk & garden designer Masuno Shunmyo, and garden historian, critic, and author Tim Richardson.Some of the gardens discussed are: Kagawa Prefectural Office in Takamatsu city, Kengo Kuma and Nezu Museum, Osaka Station...
2025-09-3043 min
The Art Of Imperfect AdultingTurning Plot Twists into New Chapters with Victoria Carrington ChavezIn this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Victoria Carrington Chavez—digital nomad, storyteller, and founder of The Story Saloon—about her journey from “main character” to “author” of her own life. Victoria shares her transformative experience navigating a major breakup, detaching from societal checklists, and embracing her childhood dreams through intentional storytelling, entrepreneurship, and travel.About the Guest:Victoria Carrington Chávez is a storytelling powerhouse, award-winning entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker. Her talk has been praised as "a masterclass in storytelling." Featured on Telemundo, FIERCE by mitú, and over a dozen podcas...
2025-09-2344 min
Books on AsiaBook Talk: KoreaBooks discussed include:Korean Wilds and Villages (1938) by Swedish zoologist Sten BergmanThe Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why it Matters, by BR MeyersAbsurdistan, by (2006) by Gary ShteyngartCat's Cradle, by Kurt VonnegutThe Cuttlefish (2005) by Chris Tharp
The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best B...
2025-09-2330 min
Books on AsiaHector Garcia—The Spirit of ShintoAmy Chavez and Hector Garcia discuss his recently released book, The Spirit of Shinto, and how Shinto’s worldview permeates pop culture—anime, manga, films—where good and evil often blur, echoing the idea that kegare (dirt, corruption) must be cleansed rather than destroyed. Unlike Western religions where God is above, Shinto gods exist among people, as seen in Makoto Shinkai’s films or games like Ghost in the Shell and Nintendo’s video games. Hector, a Tokyoite himself, urges people to seek the Shinto "awe" in their daily lives since Shinto should not be explained but lived. At the very e...
2025-09-1633 minBooks on AsiaGuitarist Marty Friedman and Dreaming JapaneseAmy Chavez opens the show by asking Friedman to give a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 25, 2025. Friedman then turns to the reason for writing his book, co-authored by music journalist John Weiderhorn. Friedman talks about the co-writing process and describes it as “putting his musical abilities into words.” His latest solo release, Drama, he calls his best and most romantic work to date — a largely orchestral album that stretches beyond his usual style.Beyond music, Friedman reflects on being a “foreign talento” on Japanese TV, participating in variety shows, commercials, and thoughts on the Japane...
2025-09-0951 minBooks on AsiaGinny Takemori on Translating CatsA few of Takemori's favorite books on Japan are:Hitomachi, a photo book by Araki NoboyoshiWalking The Kiso Road by William Scott Wilson (See our podcast episode with the author)The Catalpa Bow by Carmen BlackerTakemori's upcoming translations are Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka (Penguin Modern Classics, Sept. 2025), Hollow Inside by Asako Otani (2026) and Family of the Wasteland by Atsushi Sato (May 2027).Read a book review of Mornings Without Mii (previous title Mornings With My Cat Mii) on the BOA website.Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.
Th...
2025-09-0237 min
Graced Health for Christian Women Over 40Moment of Grace: The Wellness World Has Lost it's Mind! With Michael UlloaClick to Text Thoughts on Today's EpisodeToday's nine minute episode features Michael Ulloa, a well-known persona on the socials. He is known for debunking dangerous wellness information online, by speaking up on his podcast and also his social media pages about what is actually true, based on the science and research. There are many problematic lies shouted at us online about health and one particularly loud voice is about body size. Check out today's highlight from Michael's full length episode, where he dives into lies about our bodies needing to look a certain way i...
2025-07-2909 minBooks on AsiaLina Terrell on Translating OkinawaLina Terrell is a translator of Japanese historical texts. Today we are going to talk about her recently released translation of The Legacy of the Ryukyu Kingdom: An Okinawan History (JPIC, 2025) by Takara Kurayoshi, a native of Okinawa. Before Okinawa, the unified and independent Ryukyu Kingdom existed for 400 years. What was this island nation like and what kind of world did it exist in? Author and Okinawa native Takara Kurayoshi plumbs the depths of Okinawa's distant and obscure past.Amy and Lina discuss the Ryukyu Kingdom before it became a part of Japan. They discuss noro...
2025-05-0717 minBooks on AsiaIgor Prusa "Scandal in Japan"Igor Prusa, Ph.D. is a Czech scholar in Japanese and media studies, currently affiliated with Ambis University Prague and Metropolitan University Prague. He received PhDs in media studies at Prague’s Charles University and at the University of Tokyo. His research interests include media scandals in Japan and anti-heroism in popular fiction. Today we're going to talk about his new book, Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual (Routledge, 2024). He recently started teaching a course at the University of Vienna on the subject.Prusa explains his definition of a scandal, emphasizing its public revelation and...
2025-03-3135 minBooks on AsiaBaye McNeil talks about Racism in JapanIn this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, Amy Chavez talks with Baye McNeil talk about being a black minority in Japan, Japanese views of black people, the "African Samurai," the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1854 (who brought a minstrel show with him who performed "blackface"), and some of the media's portrayals of black people in both the US and Japan. He cites the original Calpis beverage label with a blackface character and mentions tropes in Japanese television. He suggests Japanese change the way they tell stories and use biracial people to represent black people rather than their o...
2025-02-1925 minGraced Health for Christian Women Over 40The Wellness Industry Has Lost Its Mind. Here's How to Navigate It with Michael UlloaClick to Text Thoughts on Today's EpisodeIn the ever-expanding world of health and wellness, it can be challenging to discern fact from fiction. With vast amounts of information available at the click of a button, knowing which advice to trust, especially on social media, is critical.Today on the podcast we have Michael Ulloa, an online personal trainer and performance nutritionist known for his no-nonsense, evidence-based approach. Together, we delve into the realm of wellness culture, addressing misinformation and the rising problematic trends in the fitness and nutrition industry.
2025-02-1142 minBooks on AsiaMichael Pronko's New Books: Shitamachi Scam and Tokyo TemposPodcast host Amy Chavez talks with Michael Pronko, a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir, and music. He is professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuen University. During his over 20 years in the country, he has written for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, and Artscape Japan, and has been featured on NHK TV and Nippon television. He also runs the website Jazz in Japan, which covers the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. Today, we're going to talk about Pronko's fiction, as well as his nonfiction books, including his most recently released Tokyo Tempos.Pronko's "Detective Hiroshi"...
2025-01-2724 min
The Metrics Maven: Simple Data Driven Business Growth Strategy for Solopreneurs382. Your Hidden Superpower to Business Growth with Michelle RiosDid you know you already have a hidden superpower that can transform your life and accelerate your growth? It’s not a new strategy or tool—it’s authenticity. While authenticity is often tossed around as a buzzword, guest expert Michelle Rios is here to break it down. In this episode, Michelle shares what authenticity truly means and how you can tap into it to turn your biggest dreams into reality. Get ready to discover the power you’ve had all along!✅ Get Michelle’s FREE audio class Extraordinary Wealth: The Energetic Blueprint here. 🎙️DID YOU LOVE THIS EPIS...
2024-12-2024 minBooks on AsiaPaul Martin on Japanese SwordsPaul Martin is a Japanese sword expert who has worked at the British Museum and traveled extensively in Japan to study swords and armor. Martin's new book Japanese Swords and Armor covers 30 famous samurai warriors and their swords, armor, and other artifacts associated with them, from antique sets to modern treasures, each with its own historical and cultural significance. The book was originally published in both Italian and French, and will now be available in English from by Tuttle Publishing in Oct. 2024.He discusses the history and significance of Emperor Go-Toba, who was exiled to the Oki...
2024-12-1723 min
The Metrics Maven: Simple Data Driven Business Growth Strategy for Solopreneurs368. How to Keep Your Business Moving Forward Through Challenges with Carly FauthAs solopreneurs, challenges are inevitable—but how you navigate those roadblocks can make or break your business growth. In this episode, we're diving deep into actionable strategies to help you keep moving forward, even when setbacks arise. Whether it's a dip in sales, unexpected personal issues, or just the overwhelm of wearing all the hats in your business, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to face those obstacles head-on. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, this episode is for you.🎙️DID YOU LOVE THIS EPISODE? Check out these episodes packed with even...
2024-11-0121 minBooks on AsiaBurritt Sabin on Yokohama and KamakuraBurritt Sabin was born in New York City and came to Japan as a naval officer in 1975. His professional career in Japan started as a journalist, and he quickly moved into writing and historical research. The first book we’re going to discuss today is about Yokohama, one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade in the 1850s. A Historical Guide to Yokohama: Sketches of the Twice-Risen Phoenix is a window into a time when Japan was rapidly opening up to the world. (The book is in English, despite what the Amazon listing says.)The...
2024-10-3025 min
Endometriosis en lo profundo36. Una vista panorámica sobre los tratamientos de endometriosis con el Dr. Fernando Paredes.Hablo con Dr. Fernando Paredes sobre:—los riesgos y beneficios de la escisión—la importancia de tener un abordaje multidisciplinario—la supresión hormonal y su papel en el manejo de endometriosis🎤¿QUIÉN ES EL DR. FERNANDO PAREDES CHAVEZ?🎤Dr. Fernando Paredes es un ginecólogo con 10 años de experiencia en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de endometriosis. Es miembro profesor de la international school of surgical anatomy, en Italia, donde también se entrenó.☀️PARA CONTACTAR AL DR. PAREDES☀️Instagram @Endometriosis_queretaro☀️MIS RECU...
2024-10-211h 00Books on AsiaLesley Downer and How Empresses shaped JapanAmy Chavez speaks with Lesley Downer, an expert on Japanese culture and history who writes both fiction and non-fiction. Her novels transport readers to the intriguing world of 19th-century Japan, while her non-fiction takes us along the Narrow Road to the Deep North with poet Matsuo Basho; behind the scenes of the Japanese geisha community; and into the intrigues of the richest family in Japan. In this episode, she discusses her just-released The Shortest History of Japan: From Mythical Origins to Pop Culture Powerhouse, which provides a concise yet detailed account of Japanese history.Lesley highlights the s...
2024-09-2433 min
The Metrics Maven: Simple Data Driven Business Growth Strategy for Solopreneurs345. Tempted to Quit? You're Not Alone with Jessica ChavezLet's be honest: entrepreneurship isn't always the glamorous lifestyle portrayed on social media. The pursuit of freedom,flexibility, and financial success often comes with frustration, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Today, we're diving into a tough, but common challenge: overcoming the urge to quit when the going gets tough.🎙️Did you love this episode? Check out these episodes packed with even more strategies to help you shatter your sales plateau! Episode 329. Let’s Talk about The F Word with Andrea Parker Episode 272 Mastering Your Money Mindset with Danya Douglas Episode 262. Just Believe❌ Don...
2024-08-1620 minBooks on AsiaRobert Whiting—Gangsters, Fraudsters, Dreamers & SpiesAmy Chavez talks with Robert Whiting about his recently released book Gangsters, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan (Tuttle, April, 2024). They talk about strong women characters such as an Australian bar hostess named Maggie who became famous for using scissors to cut off customers' neckties and a female yakuza gangster who carried a revolver in her purse. And if you think Japan doesn't have a drug problem, think again. Whiting talks about North Korean drug smuggling and its contribution to a surging number of meth users. Lastly, while most tourists to Japan can...
2024-08-1332 minBooks on AsiaThe Healing Power of Female Poet Otagaki RengetsuIn this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, host Amy Chavez talks to author John Stevens about his new book The Lotus Moon: Art and Poetry of Buddhist Nun Otagaki Rengetsu (Floating World Editions, Aug. 2023).Book's Features:The most comprehensive English-language presentation of the work of famed nun and artist Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)• Presents 90 of Rengetsu's painting and pottery works in over 242 full-color photos• Written by Professor John Stevens, the foremost Western authority on Rengetsu• Includes Japanese kana, romanization, and English translations, with commentary for all entries• Prov...
2024-07-3008 min
Aligned to Rise PodcastExercise for Endometriosis w/ Amy GraceSend us a textWelcome back to the Endo Belly Girl Podcast! Today, I am excited to dive into exercise for endometriosis with Amy Grace. Amy is a fitness trainer specializing in women’s fitness and a hormonal health coach. We also discuss Amy’s journey with endo and how she aims to empower women through their fitness journeys despite endo symptoms.In this episode, you’ll hear:-Endometriosis doesn’t end your life; it’s about learning how to work with your body.
2024-06-0556 min
The Wellness Driven Life ShowManifesting Magic: An Exploration of Ancestral Akashic Records with Amy RobesonToday, we’re taking a transformative journey as Amy Robeson bridges spirituality with mastery, unveiling the mystical realm of ancestral Akashic Records magik. The insights of the Akashic Records empower your deepest desires and soul-shifting ancestral healing. This is where you gain direct wisdom from your ancestors, guiding you towards a life of fulfillment. Amy shares the four secret keys to manifesting in the Akashic Records in this discussion. 🌟🔮Learn more about Amy Robeson: www.theamyrobeson.com👉🔔Subscribe and turn your notifications on to receive alerts when we go live. https...
2024-04-2556 min
The Wellness Driven Life Show🔓 Unlocking Happiness: An Exclusive Interview with Amy Koford, The Happy Hypnotist 😊Join us for an enlightening conversation 🗨️ with Amy Koford, also known as 'The Happy Hypnotist'! Amy has dedicated her life to helping individuals discover their inner joy 😃 and peace ✌️ through unique techniques and modalities. With her expertise, she aids people in releasing past traumas and shifting their focus towards positivity ☀️ and strength 💪.In this interview, Amy shares her secrets 🤫 and strategies that have transformed countless lives, empowering individuals to tap into their immense potential 🚀. She dives deep into the power of hypnosis 🌀, its role in fostering happiness 😄, and how it can help you live your best life 🌈.
2023-12-2249 minBooks on AsiaAngus Waycott Walks Sado IslandAuthor and travel-writer Angus Waycott talks about his 8-day walk around Sado Island off Niigata Prefecture in the Japan Sea. He gives us in-depth accounts of: a mujina (tanuki-worshipping) cult, funa-ema (literally "ship horse pictures"), exile (including those of Zeami and Buddhist priest Nichiren), and the controversy behind the Kinzan gold mine and its "slave labor," all topics that he recorded in his book Sado: Japan's Island in Exile, originally published by Stone Bridge Press in 1996 and re-issued as an e-book by the author 2012 and 2023.Book Description: "Given the choice, no-one ever went to Sado. For more t...
2023-12-1436 minBooks on AsiaThe Future of Books and AIWe talk with publisher Peter Goodman and author/translator Frederik L. Schodt about artificial intelligence as it relates to writing and publishing books.Frederik L. Schodt's book The Astro Boy Essays: Osamu Tezuka, Mighty Atom, and the Manga/Anime Revolution was recently listed as one of the books used to train generative AI. Peter Goodman is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (our podcast sponsor), publishing books about Asia for over 30 years. Both of these guests offer their views on AI, the use of published books to train artificial intelligence, the issues of copyright, fair use, and plagiarism...
2023-11-1537 minBooks on AsiaFred Schodt on His Historical Non-Fiction on JapanIn this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with author and translator Frederik L. Schodt, who has written/translated many books on Japan including The Osamu Tezuka Story, Manga, Manga!: The The World of Japanese Comics, The Astro Boy Essays, and My Heart Sutra: The World in 260 Characters (read our review).But the two books we're going to talk about today are his historical non-fiction books Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan and Japan to the West, and Native American in the Land...
2023-10-3135 min
The Wellness Driven Life Show🎗️ Defying Odds: Amy Sylvis on Building a $168M Real Estate Empire 🏢💪Join us in this inspiring interview with Amy Sylvis, a testament to resilience and determination. Amy was born with cystic fibrosis, a fatal illness that was supposed to limit her life expectancy to nine years, so she defied all odds to live a fulfilling life. Now at 42, she is surviving and thriving, managing an impressive $168M portfolio in real estate assets. 🌟In this conversation, Amy delves deep into the power of mindset, the importance of overcoming obstacles, and how these have shaped her journey to success. She shares candid insights about her battles, her pas...
2023-10-1145 minBooks on AsiaJohn Grant Ross on Taiwan & JapanIn this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with John Ross, a New Zealand writer based in Taiwan. Ross has spent three decades in Asia, starting as a freelance photojournalist then becoming an English teacher and author. His works include Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present, You Don’t Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked, and Taiwan in 100 Books. He co-founded Camphor Press, a publishing house focused on East Asia called and co-hosts Formosa Files, a weekly podcast on the history of Taiwan.John Ross lives in a small town in Taiwan, known as the...
2023-06-2134 minBooks on AsiaJapan's 31 Passions, with John RucynskiIn 2021 John Rucynski--who has been living in Japan on and off since 1994--self-published A Passion for Japan through Blue Sky Publishing. In this anthology, which includes 31 writers, he asks not why the writers came to Japan but why they stayed. Here is a list of the essays and writers included, from the Table of ContentsShodō: Finding My Way in The Way of WritingKaren Hill AntonOne Year with the Guardians of the PhoenixCarmen Săpunaru TămașMatsuri MadnessDavid M. WeberWadaiko: Drumming to Our Own BeatDaniel LilleyFollow the Sound of the...
2023-05-1237 minBooks on AsiaStephen Mansfield Talks TokyoStephen Mansfield, author of Tokyo: A Biography (Tuttle, 2017), is a British writer and photo-journalist based in Japan. His photo-journalism work has appeared in over 60 magazines, newspapers, and journals worldwide including the Kyoto Journal, CNN Travel and Nikkei Asia. To date, he has had twenty books published, four of them on the culture and people of Laos and several on Japanese gardens. He also has a chapter and essay in the anthology Inaka: Portraits of Rural Life in Japan (Camphor Press, 2020). In today's podcast he talks about, of course, Tokyo. o us about Tokyo: A Biography.
The Boo...
2023-02-1436 minBooks on AsiaTranslating Hiromi Ito's "The Thorn Puller" with Jeffrey AnglesIn this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez sits down with writer, translator, and professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University, Jeffrey Angles. He is the first non-native poet writing in Japanese to win the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, a highly coveted prize for poetry. His translation of the modernist classic The Book of the Dead by Shinobu Orikuchi won both the Miyoshi Award and the Scaglione Prize for translation. He is with us today to talk about his translation of the just-released book by Hiromi Ito, The Thorn Puller. Hiromi Ito, author o...
2023-01-2341 minBooks on AsiaSarah Coomber and the Female Experience Teaching in JapanSarah Coomber is the author of The Same Moon (Camphor Press, 2020), a memoir about what happened when she traded out her wrecked Minnesota life for two years in rural Japan. The Same Moon is possibly the only book about the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) experience written from a woman's point of view. Sarah joined the program in 1996, when the government-sponsored program was in its infancy.In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, she talks about being a single woman in Japan at that time, expectations at work, and how things have changed, or...
2022-12-1235 min
Alvin College PodcastACC Podcast: Amy ChavezWe talk with Dual Enrollment student Amy Chavez about what it takes to attend college classes while in high school.
2022-12-1212 minBooks on AsiaAzby Brown on Sustainability and his Book “Just Enough”In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Azby Brown, a long-time resident of Japan and author of Just Enough: Lessons from Japan for Sustainable Living, Architecture, and Design. Some topics discussed are Edo Period sustainability measures, STG’s, architecture of old Japanese houses, the Kamikatsu Zero Waste town, and future measures Japan is taking to become more sustainable.
The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Lif...
2022-10-2446 minBooks on AsiaTraveling Japan as a Blind Person, with Maud RowellIn this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with Maud Rowell about her new book Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness (404 Ink, 2021). Maud is a freelance journalist and writer from London. She went blind at 19 while traveling in South Korea. Two months later, she went on to begin a four-year degree in Japanese Studies at University of Cambridge including one year at Doshisha University in Kyoto. She trained in journalism at City, University of London, and over the course of the pandemic, wrote her first book Blind Spot: Exploring and Educating on Blindness published by 404...
2022-09-2633 min
I Am Home podcastJackie Chavez: How To Throw Your Best Party!Jackie Chavez is the Marketing Manager at Nebraska Furniture Mart. She is an experienced marketing, events, and promotions professional with a demonstrated history of working in the retail and events industry. She has been with NFM for seven years and used to work in the music industry in California. In this episode… How can you throw a memorable party? What can you do to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable? Throwing a great event or party requires great planning and organization — whether you're hiring an event planner or hosting it on your own...
2022-09-2117 minI Am Home podcastJackie Chavez: How To Throw Your Best Party!Jackie Chavez is the Marketing Manager at Nebraska Furniture Mart. She is an experienced marketing, events, and promotions professional with a demonstrated history of working in the retail and events industry. She has been with NFM for seven years and used to work in the music industry in California. In this episode… How can you throw a memorable party? What can you do to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable? Throwing a great event or party requires great planning and organization — whether you're hiring an event planner or hosting it on your own...
2022-09-2117 minBooks on AsiaMoving to Japan's Countryside with Iain MaloneyIn this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, podcast host and island-dweller Amy Chavez and Gifu countryside villager Iain Maloney discuss their experiences living in Japan's countryside. Iain's book The Only Gaijin in the Village: A Year Living in Rural Japan is dedicated to the subject of himself moving to the the countryside with his Japanese wife, while Amy in her latest book The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island documents the countryside-living experience with an emphasis on the Japanese people she lives among. See what...
2022-08-1945 min
Inspiring Chaos with EuniceAmy Huerta- Living my dream lifeHello Everyone! Welcome to the 6th episode for the month of the July! I'm soooo excited to have for this Wednesday, Amy! She's someone that I truly admire and I'm so excited for you all to hear her inspiring story!
Wishing you all an amazing Wednesday! Don't forget to follow our Instagram @inspiringchaos_podcast to receive updates! Talk to you again on Friday!
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inspiringchaos/support
2022-07-2015 min
Women of AuroraMaking Your Financial Plan to Fund Your Lifestyle with Martha ChavezIt’s easy to find advice on saving for retirement, but has anyone talked to you about how to save for your lifestyle? On this episode of the Women of Aurora Podcast Martha Chavez shares about the importance of understanding your financial picture and setting achievable financial goals. Martha is the owner of Key Financial Solutions and helps clients by preparing tax returns, and offering bookkeeping and financial statements for small businesses . She describes herself as an overall financial strategist who tailors a financial plan to meet each client’s unique needs. No...
2022-07-1845 min
Women of AuroraMaking Your Financial Plan to Fund Your Lifestyle with Martha ChavezIt’s easy to find advice on saving for retirement, but has anyone talked to you about how to save for your lifestyle? On this episode of the Women of Aurora Podcast Martha Chavez shares about the importance of understanding your financial picture and setting achievable financial goals. Martha is the owner of Key Financial Solutions and helps clients by preparing tax returns, and offering bookkeeping and financial statements for small businesses . She describes herself as an overall financial strategist who tailors a financial plan to meet each client’s unique needs. No...
2022-07-1845 minBooks on AsiaThe Spirit of Shizen: The Nature of Japan through 72 Seasons, with Robert WeisPodcast host Amy Chavez talks to Robert Weis, curator of the Luxembourg Natural History Museum's upcoming exhibit, “Spirit of Shizen – The Nature of Japan through 72 Seasons,” running from July 1 to August 31, 2022. An accompanying catalogue, in the form of an anthology, will be published featuring essays by prominent writers on Japan's seasons.Amy starts off the show asking Weis, a paleontologist, how he ended up curating the exhibition “Spirit of Shizen” Weis explains his childhood fascination with fossils, his work at the museum, and his love for Japan. He says Mark Horvane, a Kyoto-based garden designer, was an advis...
2022-07-0124 minBooks on AsiaCody Poulton on Japanese Performing ArtsAmy asks Poulton to explain the difference between reading Noh plays and seeing a Noh performance. Poulton goes into great detail on the subject, including why and how the same Noh play covered in a few pages of text becomes a one-and-a-half hour play when performed. He quotes from Arthur Waley's The Noh Plays of Japan to explain the concept of length and time.He further introduces Kan'ami and Zeami, father and son, who elevated the art of Noh to what it has become and discusses the Tokugawa Shogunate's influence on Noh and gagaku (court music). Poulton...
2022-06-0933 minBooks on AsiaJohn Stevens, a lifetime of publishingThis week author and translator John Stevens joins us from Hawaii. Stevens has penned many books over his long career, mainly dealing with Japanese martial arts, poetry, and biography.“A book should be enlightening for the writer, and for the people reading it.” —John StevensAmy starts off the show mentioning the books of Stevens that she has read: The Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei; The Essence of Aikido: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba; Dew Drops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan; and Mountain Tasting: Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda. Yet that is onl...
2022-05-1623 minBooks on AsiaAbby Denson talks Japan via ComicsAbby Denson is the award-winning author of Cool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen, Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla and the Kitty Sweet Tooth series (with Utomaru). Her most recent book, which we’re going to talk about today, is Uniquely Japan: A Comic Book Artist Shares Her Personal Faves - Discover What Makes Japan The Coolest Place on Earth!Abby has scripted comics for Amazing Spider-Man Family, Powerpuff Girls comics, Simpsons comics, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pus...
2022-04-0632 min
Starting Over Stronger Podcast92 🗨️ Enneagram & Your Life Transition [Enneagram Coach, Amy Wicks]What is an Enneagram and why does it matter for your during your divorce? Well, like StrengthsFinder, DISC and Myers-Briggs, there are actually dozens of different personality type tests and if you are anything like me, you have taken them all. If not, its’s high time! Starting Over Stronger exists for the very purpose of helping you understand yourself and your situations in life better. That starts with more self awareness of how you present in the world, in your marriage, in your career, with your kids, and your friends and any school, church or community roles you pl...
2022-03-3038 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyImposter Syndrome with Cheryl ChavezIn this episode, Cheryl Chavez joins me for a discussion about imposter syndrome - that internal experience that arises when thoughts about whether you're as competent as you believe others perceive you to be. If you are an over-achiever with perfectionist tendencies and you're looking for tips for how to ensure these moments of self-doubt are only temporary, this episode is for you. Resources: Take the FREE Mini-Course: How To Lose Weight For The Last Time Join our private Facebook group, Moxie Club Meetup Get on the Presale List for next coaching group
2022-03-1445 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyStaying On Track While Traveling Both business and vacation travel can pose challenges when it comes to staying on track with healthy habits. We're talking about everything from staying hydrated to getting enough sleep to finding time to exercise. Cheryl Chavez joins me for an episode packed with tips and strategies to deal with these. We also discuss the added stress of changing time zones, which leads to even more reliance on coffee and snacks to get through long meetings, and how to ensure a good night's sleep. Resources: Take the FREE Mini-Course: How To Lose Weight For The La...
2022-02-2132 min
Just Go With It: Living Life Post Grad94. Leaning on Your Faith, Discovering Purpose, and the Road to Confidence with CrossFit Athlete Amy BreamOn this episode we’re joined by CrossFit adaptive athlete, Amy Bream! We’re hearing about her road to self love and confidence and how she overcame her insecurities to become the woman she is today. She gives us insight into practicing dedication and being brave. We also do a deep dive into her faith and developing a relationship with God. We discuss the transition of growing up in a faith-based home to discovering it for yourself in adulthood. Amy also gives insight into discovering your purpose and the different ways that can look.
Follow us: https://www...
2022-02-1846 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyTime To Change The NarrativeWe're talking about the stories we tell ourselves, and when it's time to change the narrative. From negotiating salaries to mentoring to carbs, Cheryl Chavez and I are identifying the rules of the business game and dieting mentality. Because before we can change the rules, we must first notice and name them. Only then can we challenge and reframe them to better serve our lives. Resources: Take the FREE Mini-Course: How To Lose Weight For The Last Time Join our private Facebook group, Moxie Club Meetup Get on the Presale List for next coaching gr...
2022-02-1432 minBooks on AsiaNovelist David Joiner talks “Kanazawa"In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, podcast host Amy Chavez talks with novelist David Joiner about his new novel that takes place in Kanazawa, in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture.The novel introduces the city of Kanazawa, its connection to the famous Japanese literary master Izumi Kyōka, and its setting for the novel. The story revolves around an American married to a Japanese, and the Japanese family's dynamics. Highlighted are some of the differences between traditional and modern Japan and the foreigner’s place in it.Finally, Amy a...
2022-02-1326 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyHow To Combat Zoom FatigueCheryl Chavez leads the conversation on Zoom. Since we think Zoom is here to stay, we share tips on how to combat Zoom fatigue both in the short term and for the long term. We also discuss when video conferencing is actually the best choice, when to keep the camera on, and when to ditch Zoom even as we continue to work remotely. Resources: Take the FREE Mini-Course: How To Lose Weight For The Last Time Join our private Facebook group, Moxie Club Meetup Get on the Presale List for next coaching group
2022-02-0727 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyLessons Learned Working From HomeCheryl Chavez leads the conversation on working from home, the mistakes to avoid, and what still applies even if you're back in the office. We talk about boundaries and screen time, as well as the one important question you want to ask yourself when looking at your schedule that sets you up for success. Resources: Take the FREE Mini-Course: How To Lose Weight For The Last Time Register for our Masterclass: Making Healthy Habits Stick Join our private Facebook group, Moxie Club Meetup Get on the Presale List for next coaching group ...
2022-01-3133 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyHow To Make Exercise A HabitCheryl Chavez joins me for another great conversation about how to make the dream of having exercise one of your habits a reality. If you've signed up for a fitness challenge that promises you'll lose X pounds in Y days, we talk about a better way to think about it to set yourself up for success. Is your fitness tracker prompting you to set a weight loss goal? We provide ideas you can use to create a health and fitness dashboard that is far more motivating and keeps you focused on the long game so you...
2022-01-2440 minBooks on AsiaLiza Dalby on Geisha, Kimonos, and Translating Setouchi Jakucho's "Places"In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, host Amy Chavez talks with anthropologist, shamisen player, author, and translator Liza Dalby about her books and her new translation of the recently deceased novelist cum Buddhist nun Jakuchō Setouchi's memoir "Places."Liza is author of the Geisha, Kimono: Fashioning Culture, East Wind Melts the Ice: A Guide to Serenity Through the Seasons, and Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos. Her previous translations include Little Songs of Geisha: Traditional Japanese Ko-Uta.Amy and Liza talk about Liza's long career wr...
2022-01-1332 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyAlcohol and Weight LossToday Cheryl Chavez and I are talking about one of her favorite topics, alcohol - and specifically, red wine. Like many women, there was a time Cheryl used several glasses of wine to take the edge off of a frustrating and stressful day. If your plans for weight loss include going cold turkey with alcohol, we encourage you to reconsider your strategy. Instead, try using the same mindset for handling your relationship with food Also, for those who have been waiting to join Moxie Club. The doors are now open!!! If you want access to our...
2022-01-1028 min
Happy & Healthy with AmyHow Cheryl Lost 25 Lbs While Eating Pasta Whenever She WantsHappy New Year! Today I am so excited to share a fun conversation with my good friend and new co-host, Cheryl Chavez. We talk about her weight loss journey before working we me inside Moxie Club, why she loves pasta, what she learned from my online course Worth The Wait, and her new relationship with carbs. In this episode, Cheryl joins me on the show today to share her weight loss journey and what she learned in Worth The Wait to lose 25 pounds while eating pasta whenever she wants. Free Resources: Register f...
2022-01-0320 min
Pound This Path737: Learning To Trust Your Body And Healing Trauma In Your Central Nervous System With Amy ChavezIn this episode Amy Chavez and I discuss the definition of trauma, how we store it in our body, the role of the central nervous system and the ways we can begin to heal. A little about Amy from her website https://www.lovesomatics.org/: "My professional practice has been an ever-evolving offering of bodywork, yoga, meditation, somatic trauma healing, childbirth education, labor and birth doula support, lactation education and newborn care, ceremony, healing circles, rituals, herbal and nutritional counseling, deeply rooted in my own evolving personal practice of self-care, personal reflection, generational and personal hea...
2021-12-131h 10Books on AsiaKathleen Burkinshaw, second-generation A-bomb victimIn this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, podcast host Amy Chavez talks with Kathleen Burkinshaw in the U.S. about her book The Last Cherry Blossom, and about hibakusha, the Japanese word that refers to victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended WWII."My mother was 12 and a half when the bomb was dropped. She grew up in Hiroshima and she was about two miles away from the epicenter. So the journey of the book is kind of how I found out about my mother's...
2021-11-1335 minBooks on AsiaMeredith McKinney on Saigyō and "Gazing at the Moon"On this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, we have guest interviewer Lisa Wilcut speaking with award-winning writer and translator Meredith McKinney. McKinney is translator of many Japanese classics such as Sei Shonagon's 11th-century "The Pillow Book" and the 14th-century "Essays in Idleness," which was published along with "Hōjōki." She has also translated "Kusamakura" and "Kokoro" (see our review) by Natsume Sōseki, one of Japan's most celebrated modern writers. Today, she is going to talk about her long career and also about her just-released book on the wandering poet Saigyō call...
2021-10-0839 min
Road Dog PodcastDon't Quit Before The Miracle Happens with Amy Chavez"How far can I push my limits? How far can I take myself out of that comfort zone? You know, not do something easy." Amy Chavez is a nurse who has run tons of ultras and Iron Mans'. Hear how her running journey started, her battles with addiction, being homeless and her resilience to stay sober. Bill Skyles sits in as co-host on this special episode. Support Road Dog Podcast by: 1. Joining the Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/roaddogpodcast 2. Subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you listen on. DR...
2021-08-301h 30Books on AsiaAlex Kerr Discusses his Latest Book—Another BangkokOn this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, Alex Kerr is returning to the show. Alex is author of such notable books as Lost Japan, Dogs and Demons, Finding the Heart Sutra, and Another Kyoto. Today he talks to podcast host Amy Chavez about his latest book, Another Bangkok, released on July 1, 2021. He introduces Thailand's capital city via its architecture, arts, and culture, and shows us how they are similar to Japan's. NOTE TO LISTENERS: In addition to the podcast, Alex has provided some visuals of the interior pages of the book, whic...
2021-07-1434 minBooks on AsiaThe Yamamba--Japanese Mountain Witch--with Rebecca Copeland and Linda C. EhrlichToday on the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with the co-editors of Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch, just released by Stone Bridge Press. Rebecca Copeland is a professor of Japanese literature, a writer of fiction (The Kimono Tattoo) and literary criticism, and a translator of Japanese literature (Grotesque, The Goddess Chronicle). Linda C. Ehrlich is an independent scholar and poet who has published on world cinema and traditional theater.Podcast Show NotesAmy asks Linda and Rebecca how they came to publishYamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch...
2021-07-0325 minBooks on AsiaKyoto's Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries with Catherine PawasaratCathrine Pawasarat, author of Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries, is one of the founders of the Clear Sky Retreat Center in British Columbia, Canada. Her previous book is From Wasteland to Pureland: Reflections on the Path to Awakening. The former Kyoto resident talks with us today about Kyoto's most famous event, the Gion Festival that happens every July in the former capital.Amy starts out the podcast describing Kyoto's Gion Festival, the giant floats with the tall towers on the top as they parade down the street among crowds of bystanders. Catherine explains that Kyoto's neighborhoods work...
2021-06-1937 minBooks on AsiaThe Art of the Short Story with Tina deBellegardeToday we're talking with Tina deBellegarde about short stories, what makes a good short story, and why certain short story writers are so appealing. Tina has been nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, has a short story published in the Mystery Writers of America anthology called "When a Stranger Comes to Town," and most recently won the USA Prize in the Writers in Kyoto annual story competition.Amy congratulates Tina on her contest-winning entry called "Sound Travels" in the WiK writing competition, and Tina mentions that it can be read on the Writers in...
2021-06-0733 minBooks on AsiaRobert Whiting Talks Baseball and Tokyo JunkieIn this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, show host Amy Chavez talks with Robert Whiting about his just released memoir Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys . . . and Baseball (Stone Bridge Press, April, 2021). Whiting is known for his numerous books on Japanese baseball: The Chrysanthemum and the Bat, You Gotta Have Wa, The Samurai Way of Baseball, and The Meaning of Ichiro. He's also penned a book about gangsters called Tokyo Underworld. In this episode of the podcast, Whiting talks about all these books as well as what it's like to write a memoir.
2021-05-0632 minBooks on AsiaWes Lang, Hiking and Trekking the Japan Alps and Mount FujiThis episode starts out with Amy asking Wes for some tips on using mountain huts while hiking: What time to arrive, whether you should book meals, if you need reservations, and how mountain huts on Mount Fuji differ from other mountain hut accommodations.They also talk about hot springs (onsen) at mountain huts, or near the hiking trails. Some onsen have mixed bathing (men and women together) and they discuss some tips on when to cover up with a swim suit (or not). Amy talks about her embarrassing moment in a mixed bathing hot spring, and Wes...
2021-04-1926 min
People Have The PowerAmy LeeIn the midst of the pandemic of the last year, Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee found her musical bliss again while making the band's new album. 'The Bitter Truth.' "I feel a new sense of belonging where I am.," Lee tells Steve Baltin on this week's People Have The Power.
2021-04-1325 minBooks on AsiaJanine Beichman on translating Japanese Haiku and TankaThis episode starts out with Amy and Janine talking about Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) and the poetic reforms that took place from 1868 during Japan's transition from the Edo to the Meiji period. It was a time when Shiki (and his friend Natsume Sōseki), was influenced by Western literary styles and culture. These effects are reflected in Shiki's haiku, tanka and prose. Beichman's literary biography Masaoka Shiki: His Life and Works (Cheng & Tsui Co, 2002) delves into Shiki's influence on poetry, his invention of the tanka series and the publication of his poetic diaries. Janine also discusses the differences between haiku and...
2021-04-0731 minBooks on AsiaAlex Kerr, author of Finding the Heart SutraPartial Transcript“Welcome to the Books on Asia podcast, I’m your host, Amy Chavez, and today we have with us Alex Kerr who is going to talk with me about his newly published book Finding the Heart Sutra: Guided by a Magician, an Art Collector and Buddhist Sages from Tibet to Japan. (Allen Lane, Penguin U.K. Nov. 26, 2020)."Amy: Your book "Finding the Heart Sutra" is coming out this week, congratulations!Alex Kerr: This book is a result of 40 years of what's basically been an obsession with the subject. I did the calli...
2021-03-0826 min
The Obedient RebelBecoming Who You Deserve to Be with Amy HorsleyHow do you become prosperous? How do you keep prosperity? What's my role? What's God's role? I remember when I was asking all these questions and trying to learn how the manifesting process worked. I looked up to gurus and experts and books, but all I really wanted is for someone to hike up that mountain with me.And when I finally got there and cracked the formula on the Prosperity Approach, I realized something: this works for everyone, everywhere. Regardless of where you are in life, the Prosperity Approach will help you find your purpose, get...
2021-02-0432 minBooks on AsiaRichard Lloyd Parry, author of Ghosts of the TsunamiAmy talks with author, journalist, and Times correspondent Richard Lloyd Parry about his books Ghosts of the Tsunami about the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami and People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman about a foreign hostess who went missing in Tokyo. Recorded on May 8, 2020.See Parry's book Ghosts of the Tunsami: https://booksonasia.net/book/ghosts-of-the-tsunami/People Who Eat Darkness: https://booksonasia.net/book/people-who-eat-darkness/For more books, see Books on Asia Issue 7: Disasters, Natural and Man-Made https://booksonasia.net/book/people-who-eat-darkness/Podcast Show Notes: https://booksonasia.ne...
2021-01-1931 minBooks on AsiaLena Baibikov, translator of Haruki Murakami's non-fictionAmy Chaez talks with Lena Baibikov who has translated Haruki Murakami’s non-fiction works from Japanese into Russian. Lena has translated What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Radio Murakami and a book of Murakami’s short stories as well as works by authors such as Banana Yoshimoto, Ryu Murakami, and Yukio Mishima and several children’s book authors. This podcast recording takes place in Lena’s kitchen in Ashiya, just 100 meters from where Murakami’s parents lived until the Kobe Earthquake of 1995. Lena also took Amy on a tour of the neighborhood Murakami grew up in. She tells...
2021-01-1913 minBooks on AsiaWilliam Scott Wilson, author of Walking the Kiso RoadAmy talks with William Scott Wilson, author and translator of over a dozen books on Japan and China. They briefly discuss a few of these including, Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai (by Yamamoto Tsunetomo), The Book of 5 Rings (by Miyamoto Musashi), and Cultivating Ch’i: A Samurai Physician’s Teachings on the Way of Health (by Kaibara Ekiken) before they zero in on the writing of Walking the Kiso Road. In this episode the author reveals a surprising fact about himself that we never knew before! (hint: If you like to kayak, you’ll definitely want to check this ou...
2021-01-1932 minBooks on AsiaBarry Lancet, author of Tokyo KillBarry Lancet chats with podcast host Amy Chavez about Lancet's popular thriller series including Japantown, Tokyo Kill, Pacific Burn, and The Spy Across the Table based on the exploits of Jim Brody, an antiques dealer who travels between Japan, Asia and the U.S. Recorded on January 22, 2019.See Barry Lancet's thriller series at https://booksonasia.net/book/tokyo-kill/And other books on Tokyo in Books on Asia, Issue 4: https://booksonasia.net/category/issues/issue-4/The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia f...
2021-01-1928 minBooks on AsiaJuliet Winters Carpenter on translating Japanese LiteratureAmy meets up with Juliet Winters Carpenter to talk about her 70 or so translated works of Japanese literature including Shion Miura’s The Great Passage, Minae Mizumura’s A True Novel, Shiba Ryōtaro’s Clouds Above the Hill, Jun’ichiro Saga’s Memories of Wind and Waves, and Abe Kōbō’s Secret Rendezvous. Carpenter also talks about her upcoming project, a new translation with Mizumura, as well as translating the life story of Sakamoto Ryōma. Recorded on September 29, 2018To see the books mentioned in this episode, see: https://booksonasia.net/category/issues/issue-3/Th...
2021-01-1930 minBooks on AsiaJudith Pascoe on Wuthering Heights in JapanAmy talks with Dr. Judith Pascoe in her office on the campus of Florida State University while a Brontëesque storm rages outside their window. Pascoe discusses aspects of her book On the Bullet Train with Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights in Japan. A fun, engaging read, Dr. Pascoe deliberates on some of the 20 or so Japanese interpretations of the novel, including translations, manga versions, and the reenactment by the Takarazuka all-female theater in Japan and even offers up some unique Japanese-language learning tips. Recorded on July 6, 2018.To see her book and others discussed in the pod...
2021-01-1937 minBooks on AsiaJohn Dougill, founder of Writers in KyotoJohn Dougill talks about Japan’s indigenous religion of Shinto, its kami (deities) and the designation of Ise Shrine as the center of worship for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Recorded on May 27, 2018.For more information about Dougill's books as well as publications by other members of Writers in Kyoto, see: https://booksonasia.net/category/issues/issue-1/The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years: www.stonebridge.com
The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press.
2021-01-1928 min
UnSiloed by Black//Brown#8 | Of Justice and JusticesWhat does the make-up of the supreme court mean for businesses and individuals in a time of social change when companies are looking to address diversity gaps?
Are high court changes a blessing or a curse for business?
Outside of the political process to nominate judges. How should the ideological views of a country be reflected in the Supreme Court? And how should the justices on the court reflect the population in other ways?
LINKS:
Ideology of the US (Jan 2020) https://news.gallup.com/poll/275792/remained-center-right-ideologically-2019.aspx (https://news.gallup.com/poll/275792/remained-center-right-ideologically-2019.aspx))
Ideolo...
2020-10-011h 15People Have The PowerIndigo GirlsAmy Ray and Emily Saliers join host Steve Baltin to talk about how songs from Bob Marley, Tupac, Sam Cooke and Mahalia Jackson shaped their own writing as well as how their own Southern history influenced their music and ideals.
2020-09-2900 min
Starting Over Stronger Podcast10 - How to Tell the Kids Mom & Dad Are Getting a Divorce [Child Therapist Amy Hyken-Lande]Hello again! Today, we are going to hear from Child and Family Therapist and Founder of Kids Inc KC, Amy Hyken-Lande, about How to Tell the Kids. If you have kids and you are facing divorce, you will not want to miss this crucial conversation. RESOURCES:If you would like to be connected with Amy Hyken-Lande about your child's needs through divorce, or if you would like to explore Divorce Coaching, please send an email to Annie@StartingOverStronger.com or visit www.StartingOverStronger.com. If you need...
2020-09-0930 minStarting Over Stronger Podcast9 - Thinking Positively about Budgeting [Budget/Credit Coach Amy Stetzler]Hey guys! Today’s guest is Budget Coach and Credit Expert, Amy Stetzler. Amy has worked as a Credit Advisor for many years and has naturally evolved into the most positive Budget Coach you will ever meet. She wants to talk with you about becoming the master of your own (new) domain by mastering your budget: before, during and after divorce. None of us like the "B" word but Amy wants you to reframe that negative into the positive that understanding and controlling your money can provide for you during this difficult time of your life. Money does not ha...
2020-09-0127 min