I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the end of the government shutdown and the political ramifications on both Democrats and Republicans, as well as the Epstein files/emails that are gradually being released. We also talked about a fascinating poll by Gallup that says that 40% of younger women (aged 15 to 44) in the U.S. would like to move abroad permanently if they had the opportunity (I totally understand women wanting to leave–but 40% is indeed a high number!
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above Spotify link.
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the various elections that took place on Nov. 4th (Mamdani and what his victory might mean for politics; the blue wave in Virginia, including the first woman governor-elect; redistricting in California; etc.). I talked about some common words that are used differently when it comes to elections, like “call [the race]” and “[at the] polls.” We also discussed the ongoing federal government shutdown that’s now the longest in history, as well as its impact (including reduced flights).
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
I was honored to welcome the wonderful Mizumi Dutcher, a policy researcher and former journalist specializing in Chinese politics, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian strategic affairs. She most recently served as a Foreign Policy Fellow at the U.S. House of Representatives. Her journalism career spanned more than two decades at Fuji Television, including service as the Washington Bureau Chief and an earlier posting in Beijing. Mizumi is currently a Doctor of International Affairs (DIA) candidate at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Her dissertation examines China-North Korea relations under Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un.
We discuss Mizumi’s upbringing in Japan and the U.S., including cultural adjustments she’s had to make; how her interest in China and journalism developed; some of the stories she covered in Beijing, including the heartbreaking Szechuan Earthquake; her fascinating friendship with Kim Jong-nam, the late brother of Kim Jong-un; and her career transition into academia. Viewers/listeners are sure to be particularly inspired by her courage to embark on a new journey after decades of work as an accomplished journalist–and the idea that when things are changing so quickly, it’s a risk to just stay the way we are.
Many thanks to Mizumi for kindly sharing her story with me. Her journey is all about following her heart from a very young age–including the time she moved to Beijing in hopes of finding a job (she did, and in her dream career to boot!). She is so humble despite her successes, and isn’t afraid to discuss how she feels vulnerable at times–yet has a quiet confidence when it counts most (like when she negotiated with Kim Jong-un to hear his side of the story).
I was so happy to welcome my wonderful friend Gigi Modrich, who is an Indian law practitioner, roller derby skater, and stand-up comedian. Her mother is Jicarilla Apache and her father is Croatian American. While she is multiracial, her upbringing focused on her Native American culture. After attending Dartmouth College (she and I were roommates during our first year), she earned her Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School and then joined a law firm to serve Tribal clients. She now lives in Los Angeles, where she teaches beading at a Native non-profit.
We discuss Gigi’s upbringing and her Jicarilla Apache identity; the historic and ongoing challenges that Native Americans grapple with; her fight against stereotypes in her childhood and the friendships she found in college; her legal accomplishments in protecting the rights of other Natives; and her ongoing transition into comedy and how she is building a community through humor.
Many thanks to Gigi for kindly opening up and sharing the journey of her life and career. The story of her identity is heart-wrenching in so many ways, and I have a renewed sense of respect for her kindness for others. (She was always taking care of others in college, and I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know about most of the experiences she discussed here.) Her story is also about pursuing her dreams while working full-time–a topic that I’m sure many would find inspiring. And her awesome sense of humor is sure to make you laugh!
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, Secretary Hegseth and President Trump’s speech addressing 800 senior military leaders, and the word “furlough.” We also discussed the importance of Bad Bunny being selected as the headliner of the Superbowl halftime show next year.
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
I appeared again as a guest on “Washington Weekly,” a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, we discussed the murder of Charlie Kirk, the ICE raid on Hyundai’s plant in Georgia, the Supreme Court’s decision on ICE raids in general, and more. There’s a lot of depressing news, but we did get to touch upon some positive developments, like Hitachi’s new railcar factory in Maryland, as well as GAP’s awesome marketing using KATSEYE.
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
This is a special edition, commemorating one year since the start of the podcast in two ways.
First, (this is a bit embarrassing, but) as the host and producer of CrossWorld Puzzles, I discuss my own journey, attempting to address questions I’ve been asking guests about identity and various life choices I’ve made so far. I also discuss why I started this podcast.
Second, I discuss what I learned from the past 12 episodes, providing some recommendations on which episodes specific listeners might find especially helpful. (Many, many thanks to the 12 wonderful interviewees who took the time and energy to answer my many personal questions, submit photos, review the website, and so much more!)
Postscript: Oh my gosh it’s soooo nerve-wracking to talk on my own in front of the camera! I spoke way too quickly (but cannot imagine this video being any longer!) and REALLY need to improve on filler words Still, I hope my story resonates with others!
I appeared again as a guest on Washington Weekly, a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS.
This week, one of the main topics was the brouhaha with Cracker Barrel’s logo. As someone who loves communications, messaging, and art, I really enjoyed talking about this! I also mentioned the 2018 logo change of Dartmouth College (my alma mater); the old one, shown here, was problematic in its portrayal of the school’s history (it was founded as an institution to educate Native American people).
The episode (in Japanese) is available at the above link.
I was honored to be a guest on Washington Weekly, a podcast produced by the DC bureau of the Japanese broadcasting company TBS!
Washington Weekly discusses political and economic news in the DC region. The DC bureau chief, Wakui-san, explains the latest developments (especially information that may not be getting a lot of coverage in Japan) in bite-size, digestible pieces, often welcoming guests who are experts in certain areas. I’ve enjoyed listening to many of their episodes, and it was really cool to be able to play a small part in their episode this week!
Going forward, I’ll be a recurring guest discussing various English phrases/words that were in the news that week, so if you listen to Japanese podcasts, please take a look at the links above!
I was incredibly honored to welcome the wonderful John Onoda, who I respect immensely as a top communications expert–and one of the wisest people I’ve ever known. I met him through the U.S.-Japan Council, where, as a board member, he provides valuable advice about the strategic direction of the organization. He is a principal at iQ 360, a strategic consulting firm with clients in the United States and Japan, and serves on the board of The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication. He has led communications at companies including General Motors, Levi Strauss, Visa USA and Charles Schwab, and has decades of experience providing counsel to other major global corporations, universities, NGOs and government agencies.
We discuss how John’s upbringing in Gary, IN (where the only other Asians were his family members) affected his identity; how he taught himself to succeed in communications as an introvert; the importance of cultivating our humanity to thrive as individuals and workers even while technology increasingly takes over our jobs; how reading trains us to empathize with others and helps us fight forces that divide us; and how we can “find our tribe” by exploring different lifestyles.
Many thanks to John for kindly taking the time to share his fascinating life journey (as a fellow introvert, I especially loved the story of “Robot John”!) and great insight into strategic communications. He’s always been decades ahead of others, and I learned so much from his advice that no matter what happens with technology in the future, the best way to succeed long-term is to cherish and continue to foster human qualities like integrity and empathy.
今回は、私が尊敬してやまない広報専門家であるジョン・オノダ氏をお迎えしました。ジョンさんは私の前の職場、米日カウンシルの評議員で、広報活動のみならず、組織全体の戦略的方向性についていつも貴重なアドバイスをくださっていました。日米を拠点とする戦略コンサルティング会社、iQ 360のプリンシパルであり、広報活動のインテグリティ（誠実性）を促進する組織、Page Center for Integrity in Public Communicationの理事も務めています。ゼネラルモーターズ、リーバイス、ビザ、チャールズ・シュワブなど、数多くの大手企業でコミュニケーション部門を率いてきたほか、大学、NGO、政府機関に対しても、数十年にわたってコンサルティングを行ってきた方です。
Still, I hope my story resonates with others!
