Lance E. Lee Podcast from Tokyo

Having Bradley Smith over for a sit-down amidst his hectic schedule was a great pleasure. Since childhood, Bradley has leaned towards academics and earned a scholarship to a liberal arts college that included mentorships and international travel. As a social sciences major pursuing politics, Bradley was mentored by Ronald Reagan’s direct fundraiser and was exposed to a world of stimulating ideas a...

Now working with Cutter Studios, Brian Ashenfelder is contributing his sales and business development expertise to the company that "tells stories" through its visual productions. He and I met during his time with the City Club of Tokyo, and I got to know him better while he worked at TAC for seven years. Brian has been a jack of all trades since childhood and is quite the storyteller!

A native Miamian, J-p Toppino gives his side of the "origin" story with his wife, Stephanie, whom he claims "changed his life." J-p cherishes a unique bond with his older brothers as well as with his nephews, which shaped his childhood and identity. J-p has been with Secured Capital since 1993 and was president of Secured Capital Japan. He and his partners now run the company in real estate, hedge...

Newlywed and transferred by her husband’s company, Stephanie Toppino started her life in Tokyo. TAC provided a place to socialize and build friendships, and Stephanie quickly involved herself with the Women’s Group (now Connections) and F&B committees. She is a rarity in the ex-pat community, having started a family with three children in Tokyo and staying until now, 25 years later. Stephanie...

A year after his first episode, TAC General Manager Darren Morrish sits down to talk about how the TAC has navigated the last 12 months of adjustments and changes. We discuss the return of the community aspect of the club, members’ reactions to new developments, club life, employees’ familiarity with members, alignment between the board and management, etc. Darren is committed to continuing his ef...

One afternoon, in front of a convenience store, I met Dave River and instantly made a connection. He is a longtime resident of Tokyo and co-owns a company that manufactures environmentally friendly surfactants and health food supplements. Dave and his partner, David, have worked together since 1993 and are committed to making unique products that enhance happiness and have no negative effects on h...

Pablo Yano, a creative director and photographer, believes that encounters and experiences are vital resources for his creative mind. He spent his young adulthood in London at an advertising agency and came to Japan 22 years ago with his boss. Engaging himself constantly in a variety of activities: fitness, cooking, photography, animation, and 3D avatar creations, Pablo stays true to his boss' adv...

Justin Kilgannon is a pilot who works with Aircraft Management, specializing in commercial flights for individuals and companies. He flies Gulfstreams for his clients, and in his spare time, he does jiu-jitsu, competing in tournaments. Justin took his first flight at age 17 and has since completed aviation studies at a Part 141 school. He built a strong foundation as a pilot by starting as a fligh...

The tenacity and passion of an entrepreneur and "the Wine Guy," Eric Dahler, resonates in his mantra, "Where there is a will, there is a way." "Never give up!" Eric and I recorded the episode in the garden of his lovely home on a crisp, perfect autumn morning. Eric left France at age 22 and embarked on an epic backpacking journey through Europe and Asia, eventually leading to Japan. Eric and his w...

Kumiko Saito is passionate about her singing career and is working on releasing an album. Devastated by the tragic loss of her younger sister, Kumiko was consumed by the trauma and, for a while, dropped everything. When she finally found musical inspiration again, it felt like it was coming "from the universe." After college, Kumiko pursued fashion design at Esmod Japon. Her grandfather managed Go...

Ginger Griggs has contributed to human resources and recruitment through her two companies, ASC LEADER and EAW, and her involvement with organizations such as the ACCJ and TAC. Ginger’s expertise as an executive coach is characterized by her compassionate approach, rooted in personal experiences of overcoming tragedies and challenges in her own life. Ginger is forthcoming about her first marriage,...

After 46 years of ex-pat life, Gary Lynch returned to his "home," Sydney, Australia, where he now resides. I was fortunate to run into my B&B mate at TAC during his visit, and we had an amazing time reconnecting. Gary’s sense of humor and generosity have a special place in my heart, and it was fun getting some jabs in over lunch! Gary spent his entire career in the pharmaceutical industry, beg...

On vacation in Tokyo, David Priest drops by, and we reminisce about the days at the NIS. In 2006, after the tragic loss of his partner of 25 years, Yoshihiro, David took a leap of faith toward a purposeful future in school administration. In Mombasa, he successfully established the international primary curriculum. After the 2008 election violence in Kenya, David moved to Mumbai and was tasked wit...

Neil Bevan is back! My riding buddy made a third appearance on the podcast and shared an eye-opening story about his birth mother and Scottish lineage. Neil had a chance to meet her family in London this past summer, along with his wife and daughter. The newly acquired family connection will be nurtured by frequent email exchanges and an all-inclusive gathering soon. Neil has also started accredit...

It was refreshing and inspiring to hear life stories from an 18-year-old who graduated with his decision to take a gap year. Yujin Lin attended a prestigious and highly competitive boarding school in England after studying at international schools in Tokyo. He compares the learning environments of Tokyo and London, finding a comfort level where he was raised. Yujin took A-levels in Economics, Mand...

The CEO of Randstad India and newly published author of "The E5 Movement," Paul Dupuis, talks about his life and leadership experiences, as well as the key message of his book. As a child, Paul was outgoing and social; his natural proclivity to communicate and connect with people is evident in the personable stories about the "gratitude tour," his first day in Japan on a park bench in Tennohzu, Os...

French cuisine is the world's most prestigious and respected culinary art. André Pachon, owner/chef of Restaurant PACHON and other restaurants, paved the way for thousands of French restaurants, from traditional to nouveau, to proliferate in the Japanese food industry. André started his apprenticeship at age 15 and devoted his life to serving traditional French dishes. Restaurant PACHON is a famil...

John Emerson and Pauline Denise Sulit have thrived as successful life partners since college through various vocations such as nursing, telemarketing, and education in the Philippines and China. While they were ESL teachers in an international preschool in Shanghai, John and Pauline started to formulate their dream of creating a school. Lighthouse, a haven for neurotypical children, has just opene...

An intrapreneur at heart, Paul Beddie has spent over two decades trailblazing through multiple corporations, such as Deloitte and Headstrong, and working in Australia and China. Paul accomplished specific projects in positions created specifically for his expertise. Starting as the only foreigner at Chiyoda Kako Kensetsu, Paul has found a great fit with SAP, the world’s largest ERP company in its...

Giving back to the community through coaching children and working on joint projects with NBA teams, professional basketball player Dan Weiss is staying active, relevant, and doing what he loves. Naturalized in 1995, Dan committed his professional career to Toyota Tsushoh and put his expertise and training from Santa Clara to good use. Dan comes from a close-knit family and has enjoyed raising his...

As a child, her fascination with astronomy and the infinity of the universe calmed her hyperactive mind. Fara Taraie has built her architectural base on being mindful of the environment and decreasing CO2 emissions and is the creator of Matinno-a platform for sustainable materials and design. Fara is passionate about making a social impact and wants to be on the board of NPOs and animal shelters....

Medication and therapy are not always enough to handle depression. Hatsuki Tagawa shares her struggle with depression during her ten years as a single mom raising a son. She currently works with an NPO as a counselor to help vulnerable and suffering young adults. Hatsuki is a brave and inspiring individual passionate about passing on the greatest love of all - loving yourself.

For the second time, I got to pick the brain of a discerning industry "influencer," Ernest M. Higa. How does Wendy's differentiate itself in the fast food industry? Ernie says that Wendy’s is a "niche" and strives to stay ahead of the curve by embracing automation. Wendy's is currently experimenting with AI to accumulate customer data to create an ecosystem around the customers. Ernie stays involv...

Gene Pelc is an invaluable member of the Tokyo ex-pat community and a “legend” whose revolutionary ideas brought profound contributions to the entertainment and pro-wrestling industries. It is an honor to have him on the show to share behind-the-scenes stories about his days as the representative of Marvel Comics in Japan, acquiring the TV rights and becoming the booker for UWFI, and founding Pelc...

The founder of You Me We, an NPO devoted to providing resources and "fishing poles" to children in orphanages, institutions, and foster care, Michael Perry Clemons, opened my eyes to the issues surrounding the increase of children who have suffered abuse, trauma, or abandonment in Japan. His team's efforts are admirable and genuinely speak to the sanctity of life and how educating parents is cruci...