Tag: multicultural

Episode 14 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

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!

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Gigi, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode14-gigi/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

Episode 13 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

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!)

The video podcast is below, but for more information, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode13-shiori/.

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!

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

このポッドキャストを始めてちょうど1年を迎えたことを記念し、今回は、ちょっとした特別編です。

まず（とっても恥ずかしいのですが）私自身の話をさせていただきます。これまでのゲストの皆さんに伺った質問に答えるような形で、アイデンティティやキャリア、人生の岐路に立った時にどんな決断をしたかについてお話しします。ポッドキャストを始めたきっかけについても語ります。

次に、これまでお迎えした12名のゲストのエピソードから何を学んだのかに触れつつ、どんな内容をお探しかによって、どのエピソードが特に心に響きそうかについてもお話しします。

よろしければご笑覧ください！

Episode 12 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

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.

The video podcast is below, but for more information on John, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode12-john/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

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。

ジョンさんが育ったインディアナ州の町には、日系人はおろか、アジア系の人もご自分の家族以外いませんでした。そのような環境で育ったことが彼のアイデンティティにどう影響したかについて、大変興味深いお話が聞けました。また、内向的な性格ながら広報の分野で成功するための自己流の方法をどう模索していったかについても、いろいろなご苦労をされてきたであろう中、ユーモアを交えて共有してくださいました。人間性を育むことが個人と人類の双方にとっていかに重要か、本を読むことが他者に共感する力を養い人の分断を防ぐのにどう役立つか、いろいろなことを試すことでいかに自分の「仲間」を見つけていけるかなど、他にも素晴らしいお話をたくさんいただきました。

本当に興味深く示唆に富んだお話ですので（同じく内向的な私としては、「ロボット・ジョン」のくだりが特に印象的でした！）ぜひご覧ください！

Episode 11 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was so happy to welcome the wonderful Kazuyo Kato, who I respect immensely as the Executive Director of Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) USA, and who I’m proud to call a friend. Born in Australia and raised in Egypt until she was three years old, Kazuyo moved between the U.S. (Washington, DC and San Francisco) and Japan throughout her elementary to high school years. She has built her career at organizations focused on U.S.-Japan relations and international affairs, including the Japan Society in New York, the U.S. and Japan entities of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, CSIS, and Armitage International.

We discuss Kazuyo’s upbringing in multiple countries; how she overcame the challenge of learning languages and societal expectations; why she decided to work in the nonprofit sector and the importance of people-to-people exchange; and how she developed her own leadership style and what she learned from great leaders like Richard Armitage.

Many thanks to Kazuyo for kindly answering my very personal questions! I appreciate her being open about the struggles of navigating friendships while learning languages. Her advice on leadership is particularly touching when considering how she built her career and confidence over time, and I’m sure many people will find her words encouraging and inspiring.

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Kazuyo, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode11-kazuyo/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、とても尊敬する友人である加藤和世さんの話を伺いました。オーストラリアで生まれ、エジプトで幼少時代を過ごし、日米を行ったり来たりして育った和世さん。今は人的交流を通じて日米関係の強化に努める組織、JCIE USA（日本国際交流センターの米国におけるパートナー組織）のエグゼクティブ・ディレクターを務めていらっしゃいます。

和世さんがいかに日米の言語や慣習の違いを乗り越えたか、今こそなぜ人的交流が重要なのか、ご自身のリーダーシップスタイルをどのように築き、リチャード・アーミテージ氏をはじめとするリーダーから何を学んだかなど、多岐にわたるお話を伺いました。

和世さんは、極めて個人的な質問にも辛抱強く答えてくださり、言語を学びながら友人関係を築く大変さなどについても率直に語ってくださいました。徐々にキャリアを築き自信をつけていったお話を踏まえると、リーダーシップに関する彼女のアドバイスは特に貴重です。ぜひご覧ください！

Episode 10 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was so happy to welcome interpreter and analyst Lefteris Kafatos, who I’ve long looked up to. Lefteris went on the JET (Japanese Exchange & Teaching) Program in Okinawa and served as a diplomatic interpreter at the U.S. Department of State, interpreting for Presidents Obama and Trump on several occasions. He now writes (in both English and Japanese!) for The Japan Lens, where his focus is the U.S.-Japan alliance, Japanese politics and foreign policy, and regional dynamics in the Asia-Pacific. Lefteris has master’s degrees in Japanese-English Conference Interpreting from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), as well as in International Affairs from UC San Diego.

We discuss his upbringing and identity as a Greek American; how his interest in Japan evolved over time as a student, interpreter, and analyst of U.S.-Japan relations; how he stays calm when interpreting for heads of state and other high-powered individuals; and how we can continue to maintain and strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite recent uncertainties like tariffs. I’m amazed by not only his linguistic talent and hard work that brought him to where he is, but also his willingness to continue to study and grow.

The video podcast with Lefteris is below, but for more information, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode10-lefteris/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、通訳の先輩であるレフテリス・カファトさんの話を伺いました。大学で日本語を勉強し始めた後、JETプログラムや日本での勉強・勤務を経て通訳となり、国務省の日本語通訳者となってオバマ・トランプ両大統領の通訳も務めたレフテリスさん。今は「The Japan Lens」と呼ばれるウェブサイトを運営し、日米同盟や日米関係を様々な観点から分析して、両方の言語で記事を書いています。

ギリシャ系アメリカ人としての子供時代、日本語や日米同盟に対する関心がどのように強まっていったか、首脳会談などでどのように緊張せずに通訳に臨んでいるか、関税等で日米間の信頼が揺らぐ中で私たちがどのように同盟関係を維持・強化し続けられるかなど、多岐にわたるお話を伺いました。とにかく素晴らしい語学の才能があり、凄まじい努力をされてきたレフテリスさん。いろいろな分野を勉強し続けるその姿勢に刺激を受ける方も多いと思います。ぜひご覧ください！

The ninth episode of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was super excited to welcome my longtime friend Mari Yobp, who I’ve known since middle school! Mari is an artist and poet raised in Japan. After graduating from Musashino Art University, she worked as an art teacher at a school in Osaka (where she met her future husband) and immigrated to the U.S. She is currently based in Pittsburgh, PA, and has also lived in Idaho. Mari draws and paints mostly flowers in watercolor. She also writes Tanka poetry and publishes her work in a poetry magazine.

We discuss her philosophy in creating art; how she met her husband and built her own community in the U.S.; how she keeps in touch with the Japanese language and writes poetry; how she has contended with her child’s medical challenges; and how she stays positive no matter what challenges come her way.

Many thanks to Mari for sharing her wisdom. She’s always been an inspiration and source of strength for me, and I’m sure many will find her words and kind demeanor comforting.

The video podcast with Mari is below, but for more information, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode9-mari/. This webpage includes a lot of Mari’s art, and should not be missed!

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、中学校からの良き友人であるヨープ真理さんの話を伺いました。日本で育ち、美大を卒業してアーティストとしてのキャリアを歩んできた真理さん。大阪でアートを教えている中で、アメリカ人である今のご主人に出会い、アメリカに移住します。今はピッツバーグを拠点として絵を描きつつ、子育てに力を入れ、短歌も詠んで出版しています。

絵を描く際の哲学、アメリカにおけるコミュニティの構築、日本語の美しさや語彙の維持の仕方、家族として乗り越えてきた課題など、多岐にわたるお話を伺いました。ぜひご覧ください！

The eighth episode of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was excited to welcome storyteller Natalia Quintana-Feliciano, who I met through a writer’s group in DC (The Awesome Writers Accountability Club). Natalia is a Puerto-Rican & Colombian storyteller, poet, artist, and student reporter. She currently works as a communications and event coordinator at a health policy think tank. She has also worked at PBS KIDS, and has written for several award-winning publications.

We discuss the complicated relationship between Puerto Rico and the Continental United States, as well as the many layers of what it means to be American; her creative writing process and her muses, including the “vengeful woman”; how local journalism can build empathy; and the importance of feeling seen in children’s media as we grow up.

Many thanks to Natalia for sharing her fascinating thoughts on creativity, great outlook on life, and so much more!

The video podcast with Natalia is below, but please also check out the website, which has photos and a full transcript: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode8-natalia/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、ライター仲間であるナタリア・キンターナ＝フェリシアーノさんのお話を伺がいました。ナタリアさんはプエルトリコで生まれ、コロンビアとも関わりのある方です。作家、詩人、アーティスト、学生レポーターであり、医療政策シンクタンクで広報の仕事もしています。米国で子供向けのテレビ番組を提供する公共放送サービス、PBS KIDSでも働いた経験があります。

プエルトリコと米国本土の複雑な関係、ナタリアさんのアメリカ人としてのアイデンティティ、詩などの創作のプロセス、地域に根付いたジャーナリズムが人の心をつなぐ方法、子供向けのテレビ番組でマイノリティを取り上げることの重要性など、多岐にわたるトピックについて伺いました。ぜひご覧ください！

The seventh episode of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was excited to welcome multimedia journalist David Caprara, who I met through the U.S.-Japan Council. His documentary work has ranged from covering Nepali honey hunters in Himalayan foothills, to reconstruction efforts after the 2011 Tohoku disaster, to uncovering the mysteries of a WWII B-29 crash on a Buddhist holy mountain. He lives in a kominka (traditional Japanese house) that he bought in the Yoshino region of Nara. We discuss how he jumped into international journalism by reporting recovery efforts after a major earthquake in Nepal; how he builds rapport with people around the world, especially during interviews; how he’s succeeded as a freelance journalist living abroad; and why he appreciates life in rural Japan.

The video podcast with David is below, but please also check out the website, which has a full transcript as well as some very cool photos: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode7-david/.

Many thanks to David for sharing his fascinating journey! His talent and passion for photography (which kickstarted his journalism career) are evident in the photos he kindly shared. His work with Japan started with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program(me), and after spending some time in the U.S., he’s since returned to Nara, the prefecture JET originally assigned him to. His deep knowledge of Japanese culture, history, and religion inspired me to travel and learn more about different regions throughout Japan.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、奈良県吉野町を拠点に活躍するジャーナリストのデイビット・カパララさんのお話を伺いました。ネパール、韓国、ギリシャなど世界各地で取材を続け、戦時中奈良の大峰山に墜落したB-29の真相を追うドキュメンタリーなども制作してきたデイビットさん。背景の異なる人々と関係を構築するコツ、取材を通じて様々な文化や歴史を学ぶ楽しさ、今生活している地域や古民家の魅力など、多岐にわたるお話を伺うことができました。ぜひご覧ください！

The sixth episode of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was thrilled to welcome my close friend Yuri Akahira, who’s worked in multiple locations around the world, and is now a Tokyo-based director at a global IT company. A strong advocate for women, she has a background in social work and leads the women’s employee resource group in her company. She’s even taken part in the Mrs. Universe Japan competition and placed first in the 40s category! We discuss how she became interested in different cultures, how she built her confidence after overcoming challenges like bullying, and how she befriends people from all different backgrounds.

The video podcast with Yuko is below, but more information, including photos and a full transcript, can be found here.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、世界各地で働いてきた友人、赤平百合さんのお話を伺いました。IT企業で幹部を務める傍ら、ソーシャルワーカーとしての経験を生かし、同社の女性社員活躍推進グループの長も務めています。プライベートではミセス・ユニバース・ジャパンに出場し、40代のカテゴリーで一位に輝きました。一人旅が大好きで、どのような背景や国の人ともすぐに仲良くなれる人です。どのように外国に興味を持つようになったのか、いじめなどのつらい経験も克服し自信を取り戻したのか、いろいろな人と仲良くなるコツは何か、など楽しくお話を伺うことができました。ぜひご覧ください！

The fifth episode of the podcast “CrossWorld Puzzles” is now out! I was so happy to welcome strategy and operations consultant Yuko Watanabe, who’s also a good friend via the U.S.-Japan Council.

Yuko, who’s based in Seattle, has worked all over the world supporting everything from big companies to nonprofits. There are so many things I admire about her, including her strength, resilience, and ability to find humor even in challenging circumstances. I also love how she’s built various communities that allow participants to connect in unique ways, including “Tapestory” (大人の等身大作文集 Tapestory + All our tomorrows). We discuss how she first came to the United States, what led her to create those communities, and how it’s best to stop planning and instead find joy in whatever comes our way.

The video podcast with Yuko is below, but more information, including photos and a full transcript, can be found here.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新のエピソードです。今回は、シアトルを拠点とするコンサルタントの渡辺佑子さんのお話を伺いました。大学から米国に留学され、数々の大手企業や財団などで働いてきて、今はフリーランスで活躍される佑子さん。その傍ら、オンラインのコミュニティも構築し、多くの人たちが自分らしく活動できる場をつくっていらっしゃいます。どのように米国に渡ることになったのか、将来に関してくよくよ悩むのはやめてどのように人生を捉えていらっしゃるのか、佑子さんならではのユーモアも交えて、楽しくお話を伺うことができました。ぜひご覧ください！