The Ikigai Podcast

On  episode 31 of the Ikigai Podcast , Nick speaks with Yoko Inoue as she shares her quest for happiness in the happiest country in the world. Does happiness depend on the society we live in? Living in a good environment may be a factor in our happiness, but that is not enough to live a meaningful life. What are the factors that we need to consider in order to achieve life satisfaction?

On episode 30 of the Ikigai Podcast , Dr. Yasuhiro Kotera, Academic Lead at the Univeristy of Derby, returns to discuss a book he co-authored and edited, "Ikigai: Towards a psychological understanding of a life worth living". Yasuhiro's teaching primarily focuses on mental health and research modules including supervision at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His research i...

On this episode 29 of the Ikigai Podcast , we have a guest who is a former behavioral ecologist who holds a PhD in Applied science by the name of Caitlin Kight. Dr. Caitlin Kight is currently an Education Researcher and Leader of the academic development and skills teams at the University of Exeter. In that role, she help academics and support staff reflect on their education-facing activities and...

On  episode 28 of the Ikigai Podcast , Dr. Yasuhiro Kotera, Academic Lead at the Univeristy of Derby, delves into the ikigai concept and discusses with Nick the health benefits people can get from ikigai. Yasuhiro's teaching primarily focuses on mental health and research modules including supervision at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His research interests include self-compassio...

On  episode 27 of the Ikigai Podcast , Dr. Holly Sugg, a Lecturer in Education and Research for the Academy of Nursing at the University of Exeter Medical School, talks to Nick about Morita therapy. They discuss how it is different from the western approach and its similarities to the ikigai concept. Holly co-authored a paper titled “What is Morita Therapy? The Nature, Origins, and Cross‐Cultural...

In episode 26 of the Ikigai Podcast , Nick talks about how other people matter. While our work, hobbies, goals and personal dreams can be life-affirming sources of ikigai, it may be the people in your life who matter most to you – family, friends, colleagues, mentors – that are your strongest source of ikigai. As a result, it is these relationships that may cause you to experience ikigai-kan most...

In episode 25 of the Ikigai Podcast , Nick speaks to Makoto Rexrode to discuss what ikigai means from a Japanese perspective.  The word Ikigai has become a viral global phenomenon. Several Ted Talks and a best selling book has perpetuated the myth that Ikigai is a word from Okinawa and the key to longevity and happiness. The word is also misunderstood and shared on social media as an entrepreneuri...

On episode 24 of the Ikigai Podcast, I interview Scott Haas, a writer and clinical psychologist and author of four books, including WHY BE HAPPY - The Japanese Way of Acceptance . The winner of a James Beard award for his on-air broadcasts on public radio, Scott holds a Ph. D. from the University of Detroit. He did his doctoral internship at Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a Harvard Medical Sc...

On episode 23 of the Ikigai Podcast I speak with Dr. Soenke Ziesche on the fascinating subject of the impact of AI and human enhancement of on ikigai .  Dr. Soenke holds has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Hamburg.  Soenke has worked for over 20 years for the United Nations in the humanitarian and recovery sector. And, until 2019 he worked as a senior researcher on artificial inte...

In episode 22 of the ikigai podcast, I am speaking with Dr. Chikako Ozawa-de Silva on the subject of A Lack of Ikigai: Loneliness and Relational Meaning . Chikako is an Associate Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Chikako’s research focuses on cross-cultural understandings of well-being, especially mental well-being, and contemplati...

In episode 21, I welcome back expert in leisure behavior science, Assistant Professor of Alberta University, Shintaro Kono. This is part 3 of a 3 part podcast series. On episode 4 , we discussed your research on valued experiences and how ikigai relates to leisure. On episode 17 , we talked about experiencing ikigai in the context of interpersonal relationships. On this episode, episode 21, we wil...

On episode 20 of the Ikgai Podcast, Dr. Iza Kavedžija shares her insights on happiness and Ikigai from the perspective of the elderly in Japan. Having spent 14 months observing and conversing with her interlocutors, a group of elderly friends who regularly spend time at a community cate Iza come to discover that "Happiness in the Japanese context can usefully be understood as deriving from a...

On episode 19 of the Ikigai Podcast, I discuss kokorozashi with the  Dean of the Graduate School of Management at GLOBIS University, Tomoya Nakamura. GLOBIS is the largest and fastest-growing business school in Japan and aspires to develop visionary leaders who will create and innovate societies. Kokorozashi could be defined as something that not only will satisfy and fulfill a person but also as...

 This is episode 18 of the ikigai podcast and my guest today is someone who I like to think of as my Senpai or the Senpai I wish I had while living in Japan, William Reed. William is a Japan certified coach, a best-selling author, a long time resident of Japan, almost 50 years, and has an eighth-degree black belt in Aikido, an 8th dan in Shodo, which is brush calligraphy, and a seventh dan in smal...

In episode 17 of the Ikigai podcast , Assistant Professor Shintaro Kono shares his research results from a qualitative study on how Japanese university students experience ikigai via interpersonal relationships.  Theorizing the Interpersonal Aspect of Ikigai Ikigai is strongly influenced by "ibasho"; authentic relationship. In such relationships, students felt that they could be true to...

On episode 16 we discuss why finding your Ikigai is the most honorable and rewarding thing one can do. According venture capitalist Yohei Nkajima it’s the key to a long and happy life.  So what exactly is Ikigai? The literal translation is “the reason for which one lives”, which does the word justice. Your Ikigai can be your job, your lover, your family, your hobby, or anything else. It’s whatever...

In episode 15 of the Ikigai Podcast Nick chats with Misako Yoke, founder of Genki Habits and author of Take Heart - Your Are Stronger Than You Think.  Misako Yoke is also a published author in Japan, an award-winning speaker, a certified Tiny Habits coach, and a Life Story coach. The word “Genki” (energetic, enthusiastic, high-spirited) perfectly describes her personality.

In episode 14 of the Ikigai Podcast, I talk with Bob Emiliani on the subject of Shinjijutsu Kaizen . Kaizen goes far beyond the popular notion of "continuous improvement". Discover how Kaizen is a humanistic approach that helps people realize their full potential.  The teachings of Chihiro Nakao will enlighten you on a wide range of business subjects and teach you to think differently - ...

On episode 13 of the Ikigai Podcast, Ken Mogi returns to discuss the Japanese concept of kodawari. What is Kodawari? In Ken's own words, "Kodawari is a personal standard, to which the individual adheres to in a steadfast manner. It is often, though not always, used in reference to a level of quality or professionalism to which the individual holds. It is an attitude, often maintained thr...

In episode 12 of the Ikigai Podcast, I speak with Dr. Dean Fido on his translation and validation of the Ikigai-9 .  The Ikigai-9 is a psychometric tool used as a means of measuring Ikigai across the dimensions of: optimistic and positive emotions toward life active and positive attitudes towards one's future and acknowledgment of the meaning of one's existence. The Ikigai-9 consists of...

In episode 11 of the Ikigai Podcast, Finding Ikigai in Classical Japanese Swordsmanship , I'm speaking with Saneteru (Steven) Radzikowski, founder and current head instructor of Shinkan-ryu Kenpo, a unique style of classical Japanese sportsmanship. Shinkan-ryu Kenpo Shinkan-ryū Kenpō takes the ideas of munen 無念 (non-worldly thoughts), which is a Buddhist concept and attempts to pierce the f...

On episode 10 of Ikigai Podcast, I speak with Canadian Tea Master, Randy Channell Soei. Soei Sensei, a longterm resident of Kyoto is one of a handful of foreigners licensed to teach all aspects of "Tea Ceremony". In this episode, we talk about " The Way of Tea " and Japanese philosophical ideas related to Tea Ceremony including Wakei-Sejyaku, Bunburyodo, Zanshin and Mushin. 

In episode 9 of the Ikigai Podcast podcast, I speak with author, poet, and one of the leading authorities on Japanese Psychology, Gregg Krech. Gregg Krech is the author of several books including the award-winning book Naikan: Gratitude, Grace and The Japanese Art of Self Reflection, The Art of Taking Action - Lesson From Japanese Psychology and Tunneling for Sunlight: Twenty-One Maxims of Living...

On episode 8 of The Ikigai Podcast, I interview Paul Akers about his latest book, Banish Sloppiness. Paul Akers is the founder and president of FastCap, a product development company specializing in woodworking tools and hardware for the professional builder.  Paul is an energetic speaker whose core passion is helping people discover their full potential and showing others how to implement Lean in...

On episode 7 of the Ikigai Podcast, I interview author and astrologist, Andres Zuzunaga, Andres is the original creator of the Venn diagram of purpose . In 2014, his Venn diagram was merged with the Japanese concept of ikigai by Marc Winn, who simply replaced the word at the center of the Venn diagram, "purpose" with "ikigai'. A few years later the Venn diagram went viral, and...