The Samurai Way: Mastering Business & Life with Samurai Wisdom

In this inspiring episode of The Samurai Way , Lori Tsugawa Whaley sits down with stress regulation and sustainable performance specialist Christine Heckel to explore the timeless Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. After surviving a life changing battle with Lyme disease and rebuilding her life from the inside out, Christine shares how adversity transfo...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, Lori Tsugawa Whaley sits down with clinical psychologist and burnout recovery strategist Dr. Mirna Mejia to explore the powerful Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Together, they discuss why emotional wounds are not signs of failure but opportunities for growth. Dr. Mejia shares her insights on burnout, trauma recover...

Episode Notes In this episode of The Samurai Way, Lori Tsugawa Whaley continues her insightful conversation with Kei Tsuda, exploring deeper dimensions of Ikigai and how Japanese wisdom can help us navigate today's rapidly changing world. Kei introduces the Japanese concept of iwakan, a subtle feeling that something is out of alignment or not quite right. While often overlooked, iwakan can serve a...

In this episode of The Samurai Way , I sit down with Kei Tsuda, founder of Ikigai Advisors LLC, leadership development practitioner, and cross-cultural learning expert, to explore a topic that has fascinated me for years: the true meaning of Ikigai. Like many people, I was first introduced to Ikigai through the popular Venn diagram. But something always felt incomplete. In this conversation, Kei h...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome back Daiki Kato, clinical psychologist, researcher, professor at Kinjo Gakuin University, and CEO of Beyond Myself LLC, for an inspiring conversation about his latest work, BM8 (Beyond Myself 8), a framework designed to help individuals thrive in an increasingly complex world. Building on our previous discussion about rolefulness, Professor Kato introd...

In this special episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Daiki Kato for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about psychology, rolefulness, human connection, gratitude, and finding meaning in our everyday lives. Professor Kato is a clinical psychologist, researcher, professor at Kinjo Gakuin University, and CEO of Beyond Myself LLC. His work focuses on transforming psychological researc...

In this special episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tim Tamashiro for a heartfelt and deeply inspiring conversation about Ikigai, purpose, storytelling, positive psychology, and what truly makes life fulfilling. Tim’s story is remarkable. As a bestselling author of How to Ikigai, keynote speaker, jazz singer, and former national CBC radio host, he spent years connecting with audiences...

In this special episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tim Tamashiro for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about Ikigai, positive psychology, purpose, and what truly makes life fulfilling. Tim’s story is remarkable. As a bestselling author, keynote speaker, jazz singer, and former national CBC radio host, he spent years entertaining and connecting with audiences across Canada before...

In this special episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sarah Ratner from the UK for a heartfelt conversation about Ikigai, mindfulness, simplicity, and the journey of becoming who we truly are. Sarah’s story is incredibly inspiring. As a former COO and founding director of one of the UK’s most successful fintech companies, she helped build purpose-driven teams with extraordinary creativi...

In celebration of Children’s Day this May, this special episode of The Samurai Way invites us to return to something we often leave behind as adults… the power of play. Lori Tsugawa welcomes David Ko, an Ikigai Play Coach from Singapore and the creator of KoPlay, who combines Ikigai and LEGO Serious Play to help people rediscover clarity, purpose, and meaning in their lives. What if finding your p...

In this second episode of The Samurai Way with returning guest Mayumi Kojima, we take a deeper dive into the cultural traditions of Japan and how they connect to Ikigai, resilience, and intentional living. Mayumi, a Japan-born naturopath and holistic practitioner based in Australia, returns to share how practices like Aikido, tea ceremony, and mindful Japanese cooking have helped shape her life an...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Mayumi Kojima, a Japan-born naturopath and holistic practitioner based in Australia, whose work beautifully blends natural health with the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai. Mayumi supports women through midlife transitions, helping them navigate hormonal changes, emotional shifts, and moments when life is quietly asking for realignment. Through her practi...

Join me in the heart of Japan’s tea culture, Uji, where matcha is more than a drink. It is a spiritual practice. In this episode, I take you through quiet tea fields, centuries-old shops, and into the stillness of a traditional tea ceremony. You’ll discover: How matcha shaped the mindset and rituals of the samurai The meticulous process behind Uji’s world-renowned green tea My personal experience...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Noemi Beres, a Europe based entrepreneur, polyglot, and co owner of a podcast booking agency, Podcast Connections. Noemi is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and business owners expand their voice, build authority, and create meaningful connections through the power of podcasting. Our conversation explores Noemi’s inspiring journey from Hungary to...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Ellie Warner, who joins me from the beautiful southwest coast of Portugal. Ellie brings a thoughtful and heartwarming perspective on Ikigai, inspired by the work of Mieko Kamiya, often known as the mother of Ikigai. Together, we explore how her teachings offer a simple yet profound way to live a life filled with meaning, especially during times of tran...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Darren Jewell, a London based neural resilience coach, speaker, and writer who shares a powerful message of hope through the science of neuroplasticity and the philosophy of Kintsugi. Darren’s story reminds us that our cracks do not disqualify us. They can become the very place where strength, meaning, and transformation begin. Our conversation explore...

In this episode of The Samurai Way , I welcome Laura G. Anthony, attorney, consultant, mediator, and nationally recognized advocate for neurodiversity and inclusive leadership. With a career dedicated to disability law, conflict resolution, and organizational transformation, Laura helps leaders and communities create environments where all kinds of minds can thrive. Our conversation explores her d...

In this episode of The Samurai Way , I welcome Minako Horaguchi, an Ikigai based facilitator, coach, and founder who creates reflective spaces for leaders to pause, reconnect, and move forward with meaning and intention. Born and raised in Japan, Minako brings a deep cultural understanding of Ikigai and Kokoro and bridges Japanese wisdom with modern psychology and leadership development. Our conve...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome John Pagano, an innovative educator, lifelong maker, and Director of the Design and Engineering Center at a K to 8 independent school in Southern California. A father of seven and a passionate advocate for experiential learning, John believes deeply that failure is not something to avoid, but something fundamental to growth. Our conversation weaves tog...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Jeff Singal, a Japan based midlife wisdom guide who has been living in Japan for nearly thirty years. Originally from Boston, Jeff bridges Eastern philosophy and Western reinvention, and our conversation is both reflective and practical. We explore how Japanese wisdom shaped his life during seasons of deep transition, including personal loss, midlife c...

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I had the honor of sitting down with Nibu Thomas, a writer, speaker, mentor, and lifelong student of purposeful living whose journey spans manufacturing, technology, personal development, and social impact. Our conversation became much more than a discussion about careers. We explored Ikigai as something built through action, awareness, and paying attention to w...

What happens to purpose after 50? In this episode of  The Samurai Way , I sit down with Jeanne Bellew, teacher, mentor, and coach who works with people 50 plus who want to continue earning, stay relevant, and remain deeply engaged as they age. Jeanne shares her powerful personal journey of leaving the United States in her late 50's, selling everything, and moving abroad with her husband, two dogs,...

In this episode of The Samurai Way , I had the honor of sitting down with Emille Bryant, founder of Go Ikigai LLC, military leader, author, and lifelong student of purpose driven living. Our conversation flowed naturally into something deeper than a discussion about careers or success. We explored Ikigai as a way of life, not a diagram, not a job title, but a guiding force that shapes how we live,...

What happens when legacy collapses and purpose takes its place? In this powerful episode of The Samurai Way, Sarthak Mittal, multinational CEO, global branding strategist, TEDx speaker, and founder of Mittal Alliance, with operations across India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Sarthak shares his deeply personal journey of inheriting a once great family legacy that had fallen to ashes,...

What if everything you thought you knew about Ikigai was incomplete? In this powerful Episode 45 of The Samurai Way, Lori Tsugawa sits down with  Nicholas Kemp , speaker, author, Japanologist, and founder of the Ikigai Tribe, to explore the true Japanese meaning of Ikigai beyond the popular Venn diagram. Nicholas  shares his personal journey from Australia to Japan, first visiting at age five in 1...