Episode 16 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!
I was honored to welcome the multitalented Niharika Chibber Joe, a public diplomat with experience across government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as Deputy Agency Head of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, an independent federal agency strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance through educational and cultural exchange. Previously, she was General Manager at Tata Sons, where she managed corporate sustainability, monitored U.S.-India trade policy, oversaw partnerships, and coordinated public-private initiatives. Earlier, she held leadership roles at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. A published poet and writer, she communicates in seven languages and multiple dialects.
We discuss Niharika’s upbringing in India, including the prejudice she’s had to overcome and how she came to command so many languages; how her interest in the Japanese language developed, to the extent that she worked as an interpreter; her move to the United States; increasing diversity in the U.S.-Japan space; and the importance of connecting people. Many will likely find Niharika’s comprehensive view of identities–how we all have multiple identities that are continuously shifting–and kind words for anyone who’s struggling to fit in incredibly powerful.
Many thanks to Niharika for sharing her fascinating story with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation as a fellow language enthusiast–time just flew by, and I couldn’t believe at the end that we’d been talking for two hours! She has watched every episode of the podcast, and I really appreciate how she wove into our talk many of the themes other guests touched upon. She is a wonderful role model who’s passionate about helping the next generation, and I’m sure young audience members will find her advice particularly inspiring!
The video podcast is below, but for more information on Niharika, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode16-niharika/.
ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。
今回は、パブリック・ディプロマシーの専門家であるニハリカ趙（じょう）さんをお迎えしました。インドで生まれ育ち、7か国語を話すニハリカさん。日本語と日本研究それぞれの修士号を取得し、インドにおける日英通訳者としての勤務経験もおありです。米国では非営利団体のマンスフィールド財団で日米交流に携わったほか、タタの子会社で北米担当のゼネラルマネージャーを務め、米印貿易政策を追いました。現在は米連邦政府機関である日米友好基金の専務次長を務め、若者や議員を中心とした教育・文化交流を支援していらっしゃいます。
ニハリカさんのインドでの生い立ち、言語の面白さ（ベンガル語と日本語の共通項、様々な英語のアクセントなど）、日米交流を支援する人々における多様性、人をつなぐことの重要性など、様々なことについて話し合いました。実に2時間インタビューにお付き合いくださり、これまで本ポッドキャストの全エピソード（！）を見てくださった観点から、過去のゲストの方々が取り上げたテーマも織り込んで話してくださったニハリカさん。アイデンティティに関するニハリカさんの寛容な視点（私たち全員が複数のアイデンティティを持ち、それが絶えず変化しているという考え）、そして次世代や視聴者に向けた温かい言葉から刺激を受ける方は多いと思います。ぜひご覧ください！
The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.