*“Yesterday, I Went to Mars ♡”*

In this episode, we look at an interesting story about the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai , who is said to have moved house 93 times during his life. The story connects to an earlier figure, the poet Teramachi Hyakuan , who famously set a life goal of moving 100 times. While Hyakuan approached this as a kind of life plan, Hokusai’s constant moving seems to have come from a very different place...

In this episode, I reflect on the idea of “purposeful silence” in a world filled with constant noise and information. From notifications to news to social media, it’s easy to go through the day without ever sitting quietly with our own thoughts. I talk about why many great thinkers valued silence, and how creating even a few intentional minutes of quiet can help us reconnect with our inner voice....

In this episode, I talk about DeepMind’s AlphaFold and the company Isomorphic Labs, and why their work in AI-driven drug discovery might be more important than we realize. While generative AI gets most of the attention for writing text or creating images, AlphaFold operates at a deeper level — predicting the 3D structure of proteins, which are fundamental to how our bodies function. Isomorphic Lab...

In this episode, I reflect on the idea that age and maturity are not the same thing. We often assume that growing older automatically means becoming wiser or more experienced. But sometimes, what looks like decades of experience is simply the same year repeated many times. I share a simple metaphor from my own business — a company that has existed for 17 years but has been mostly inactive — and ho...

In this episode, I reflect on the cancellation of my upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi and how it may have been connected to the recent escalation in tensions involving Iran. What first appeared to be a routine flight disruption led me to look more closely at how airlines, governments, and regions respond to geopolitical risk. I also consider the stance of Gulf countries trying to balance self-defense wi...

In this episode, I talk about a flight to Abu Dhabi that was suddenly canceled just a week before departure. I had booked through Booking.com, only to realize later that the ticket was actually issued by Gotogate, creating a layered structure between the platform, the agency, and the airline. I reflect on how cancellations happen more often than we think, and how booking channels can make a differ...

In this episode, I reflect on a common regret people mention later in life — wishing they had used their money for meaningful experiences rather than only saving it. I talk about the balance between security and growth, and how money can be more than just protection against uncertainty. When used intentionally, it can become a way to invest in travel, learning, and challenges that shape who we bec...

Here is a calm, understated podcast description: In this episode, I reflect on what learning really means beyond grades or competition. I talk about how failure and problems can be seen not as endings, but as material for growth. Over time, learning becomes less about outperforming others and more about quietly updating yourself — building your own internal compass in a world full of information....

In this episode, I share a morning run on Muui-dong, a small island near Incheon International Airport, and a question that stayed with me from the flight over: is human happiness ultimately just signals in the brain? After running 16 kilometers by the sea, feeling the weight in my legs and the cool air on my skin, I found myself thinking about AI, dopamine, and whether a perfectly simulated world...

In this episode, I reflect on a Korean drama I watched on a recent flight to Seoul. The story follows a mother who repeats the same day more than 20,000 times in order to save her son. It’s a science-fiction setting, but it raises a simple question: what really separates those who grow from those who stop trying? I talk about trial and error — in business, in sports, and in everyday life. After 17...

In this episode, I explore a recent research update from Kyushu University about the possible existence of the graviton — a hypothetical particle of gravity. Using simple examples like water and light, I reflect on how things that appear smooth and continuous may actually be made of tiny, invisible particles. Water looks like waves, but it’s made of molecules. Light behaves like a wave, yet it is...

In this episode, I reflect on the recent Starliner issues and the broader structure of human spaceflight. The investigation pointed to technical and oversight problems involving NASA and Boeing. Rather than reacting emotionally, I took a step back and looked at the history of U.S. space programs — from Mercury and Apollo to the Space Shuttle and the ISS. What becomes clear is that space exploratio...

Next week, I’ll be speaking to a middle school class for 90 minutes—my third year doing this. While preparing, I realized something simple: I’m not there to teach. I’m there to think alongside them. I’m 47 and I’ve had a winding path—running an eyewear shop, taking big risks, experiencing failure, and starting over more than once. Those experiences matter to me, but they haven’t magically given me...

In this episode, I reflect on an idea I recently came across: three goals for a successful life. The first is to generate money. The second is to build a body and mind that can actually enjoy that money. The third is to look back one day and feel that life was meaningful. Most of us focus heavily on the first goal. Especially in business, numbers matter. But what interested me most was the second...

In this episode, I reflect on a short AI-generated video that left a strong impression on me — a 15-second fight scene featuring digital versions of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, reportedly created using ByteDance’s new tool, “Seedance 2.0.” The clip raises important questions about where filmmaking — and creative work more broadly — may be heading. If AI can already produce cinematic scenes with mini...

In this episode, I share something that surprised me: the origin story of the Japanese beauty brand SHIRO. I had always seen it as a clean, modern label you’d find in places like Ginza—but I didn’t know it began as a small OEM “souvenir factory” in Hokkaido, close to shutting down. I talk about the moment a 26-year-old employee was asked to take over the company or let it end, and how that decisio...

In this episode, I reflect on how “status” is changing. It used to be about what you owned, then what you knew, and more recently what you’ve experienced. But an article I read suggested something quieter might matter most next: simply looking well-rested. We talk about why good sleep, low stress, and steady energy may become a real signal of wealth—because you can’t truly buy them. I also explore...

In this episode, I reflect on carnivorous plants and what they reveal about trade-offs. At first glance, they seem like “upgraded” plants with an extra ability. But in reality, their strength comes at a cost. The energy required to trap and digest insects makes them less competitive in fertile environments. What is an advantage in one setting becomes a disadvantage in another. That idea feels rele...

Alphabet recently issued a 100-year bond to help fund long-term AI infrastructure. On the surface, the logic is clear—data centers and physical AI investments require patient capital. But the idea of “100 years” feels striking in an era where a single year can reshape entire industries. In this episode, I reflect on historical examples like IBM and Motorola, both of which issued century bonds near...

In this episode, I reflect on a simple but powerful idea: we tend to regret what we didn’t do more than what we did. Looking back at some of the most meaningful experiences in my life, I realized that none of them were easy or comfortable. They all involved stress, uncertainty, and a bit of fear. That made me see that real enjoyment and growth often come with some level of discomfort. After severa...

In this episode, I talk about what I’ve been learning from tracking my HRV (heart rate variability), and how it has changed my daily habits. I’ve noticed that when my HRV drops below my normal range, coffee and alcohol have a much stronger negative impact. A trip to Paris last year made that especially clear — wine at night and espresso during the day quickly showed up in the numbers. Since then,...

In this episode, I reflect on approaching my fifties and a quote that stayed with me: that after a certain age, “preparation” can quietly turn into hesitation. Looking back, I realize I spent years thinking things through instead of moving. But change doesn’t come from standing still—it comes from starting, even without perfect readiness. I also touch on how money and time shift in meaning as we g...

In this episode, I talk about something I’ve been noticing through regular stretching sessions: how pain often shows up in one place, even though the real cause is somewhere else. A stiff shoulder can come from the back. Knee pain can start in the thigh. Treating only the painful spot doesn’t always help, but addressing the underlying cause often does. It made me think about how the same pattern s...

In this episode, I reflect on how learning environments have quietly changed. As my daughter prepares for high school, we relied on online programs like Knowledge Star and Study Sapuri, and it made me realize how little “where you study” matters anymore. With an internet connection, students can move back to basics or jump ahead, learn at their own pace, and ask questions without pressure. Combine...

In this episode, I reflect on a short passage about stars—how it’s not only the brightest ones that make the night sky beautiful, but also the faint, barely visible lights that give it depth. It led me to think about how easily we focus on what stands out, while overlooking the small, ordinary moments that often feel more real and meaningful in our own lives. This isn’t about big ideas or dramatic...