Best Katheryn Podcasts (2026)

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It Takes a Village: When Life Interrupts the Plan 17:13

Play Pause

8h ago17:13

17:13

Send us a text This week’s episode wasn’t planned — and that’s the point. After my nephew Henry became critically ill and was hospitalized, everything else paused. What started as a routine virus escalated rapidly into a life-threatening infection that required emergency surgery, aggressive treatment, and constant vigilance. In the middle of that, …

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Awakening Your Ikigai: Unveiling Strengths with Hendrik Kwee 59:55

7d ago59:55

59:55

In this episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai, I welcome Hendrik, a friend and professional contact since 2019, to discuss talents and strengths. We reconnect after several years and reflect on how their collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic was crucial for Jennifer's business survival. Hendrik shares his experience working at Manulife Japan…

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The Courage to Choose a New Story 12:29

7d ago12:29

12:29

Send us a text What happens when the life you’ve built suddenly no longer fits? In this cinematic and deeply personal episode, Katheryn shares the quiet moment she realized she couldn’t return to the old version of herself and the courage it took to begin choosing a new story. Through raw storytelling, emotional honesty, and gentle research-backed …

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The Middle: Where Becoming Actually Happens 10:56

10d ago10:56

10:56

Send us a text The Middle is the most overlooked part of every transformation, the space between the life you’ve outgrown and the life you’re building next. In this episode, Katheryn explores what it feels like to be in that in-between season where nothing is fully clear, but everything is quietly shifting. Through honest storytelling and grounded …

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Quiet Confidence Power Without Loudness 11:56

18d ago11:56

11:56

Send us a text Quiet confidence isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about learning to hear your own voice again. In this episode, Katheryn shares what it feels like to rebuild your inner strength after years of being the fixer, the leader, the therapist friend, and the one everyone depends on. Through personal stories, honest ref…

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When The Plan Falls Apart 13:27

23d ago13:27

13:27

Send us a text What happens when the life you planned… suddenly isn’t your life anymore? In this honest and grounding episode, Katheryn shares what it really feels like when the plan you’ve worked so hard to build begins to unravel, not all at once, but thread by thread. From the unexpected layoff that ended her 20-year career in Oil & Gas and IT t…

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You Are Not Behind 15:18

25d ago15:18

15:18

Send us a text “You Are Not Behind” You are not behind. You are becoming. In this deeply personal first episode, host Katheryn Meek opens up about the unexpected layoff that put a pause to her 20-year career in Oil & Gas and IT — and the emotional unraveling that followed. As a mom of four boys, a wife, a leader in a male-dominated industry, a ment…

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Fun Friday 31: Bear attacks in Japan 1:02:41

28d ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Welcome to the Fun Friday edition of the Learn Japanese Pod podcast — the show where we sit down with cool people doing cool things in Japan. In this episode, I talk with Wes Lang about the recent rise in bear encounters and attacks across Japan: the latest stats, what’s causing them, and what Japan is doing to prevent future incidents. We also div…

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Pivoting Towards Potential: Discovering Ikigai with Dr. Greg Story 54:27

2M ago54:27

54:27

In this episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai, Jennifer engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Greg Story, discussing a variety of topics from his personal experiences and insights. They delve into Dr. Story's transformative journey from overcoming a challenging childhood and academic setbacks to achieving success in Japan. The conversation also…

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The Ikigai of Community Impact: Passion and Persistence with Joe Pournovin 1:03:02

4M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Season 4 is here! In this episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai, Jennifer is joined by Joe Pournovin, a community builder and educator, to explore his incredible journey from Manchester to Japan and the creation of the Yamathon event. Joe shares his experiences with resilience, persistence, and imposter syndrome, and discusses the importance of p…

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Podcast 61: Talking about Positive Emotions in Japanese 22:58

5M ago22:58

22:58

Welcome to another episode of Learn Japanese Pod!In this episode we talk about how to express positive emotions in Japanese. You’ll learn some vocabulary, grammar and also a little bit about Japanese culture and how people in Japan tend to display their emotions in public. Premium members can access detailed show notes as well as extra podcast dial…

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Podcast 61: Just the dialogues 1:06

5M ago1:06

1:06

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 59 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod PatreonBy Alex Brooke

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Fun Friday 30: Interview with Timothy Reid 1:21:51

6M ago1:21:51

1:21:51

Podcast Guest: Timothy Reid – From English Teacher to Award-Winning Musician and Game Industry Pro in Japan This week on the podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome Timothy Reid, a multi-talented artist and creator whose journey to success in Japan is nothing short of inspiring. Originally from North Yorkshire in the UK, Timothy moved to Japan in 2011 aft…

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Podcast 60: Talking about cleaning and household chores in Japanese 27:34

7M ago27:34

27:34

Welcome to another episode of Learn Japanese Pod! This time, we’re diving into a topic that’s more than just daily vocabulary—it’s a cultural deep dive into cleanliness, chores, and the Japanese mindset around keeping things tidy. In this episode, Alex and Ami Sensei explore how to talk about household chores in natural, conversational Japanese. Yo…

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Podcast 60: Just the dialogues 1:06

7M ago1:06

1:06

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 59 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod PatreonBy Alex Brooke

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Fun Friday 29: Setting up a business in Japan

7M ago

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In this podcast, Alex and Andy talk about their experience setting up a company in Japan, why they did it and how! In this episode of Learn Japanese Pod, Andy and I dive into the world of starting a small business in Japan. We share our personal journeys of setting up our own company , the lessons we learned, and the surprises we encountered along …

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Podcast 59: How to understand Japanese in Japanese 19:49

8M ago19:49

19:49

In this episode, you’ll learn how to understand Japanese vocabulary — using only Japanese. Specifically, we’ll focus on how to ask for the meaning of words in Japanese and try to understand the explanations you hear. Mastering this skill not only boosts your vocabulary but also deepens your understanding of how words are naturally used in context. …

1
Podcast 59: Just the dialogues

8M ago

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The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 59 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod PatreonBy Alex Brooke

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The Ikigai of The Sento Mindset: Embracing Vulnerability and Transformation with Katheryn Gronauer 54:43

10M ago54:43

54:43

Join Jennifer as she delves into an enriching conversation with Katheryn Gronauer, a dynamic coach and facilitator with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. There are fascinating parallels between business or life transitions and the traditional Japanese “sento” or public bath experience. Whether navigating a career shi…

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The Ikigai of Redefining Success and Work Life Balance with Cynthia Usui 54:04

11M ago54:04

54:04

In this engaging episode of 'Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai,' host Jennifer Shinkai speaks with the inspiring Cynthia Usui about career breaks, life after 60, redefining her concept of Ikigai, and finding new purpose. Cynthia shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mum to re-entering the workforce, taking on different career roles, and ultimatel…

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Fun Friday 28: The Sento Mindset with Katheryn Gronauer 41:57

11M ago41:57

41:57

In this Fun Friday edition of the Learn Japanese Pod podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Katheryn Gronauer, a Tokyo-based entrepreneur with a fascinating background. She shared incredible insights and stories, including her unique experience growing up in a family that managed sento—traditional Japanese public baths. We talked about wh…

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The Ikigai of Reflective Coaching & Supervision, with Elizabeth Okada 45:41

12M ago45:41

45:41

Welcome back to the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast! We hope you all had a fabulous holiday season. In this first episode of 2025 I am thrilled to be talking with Elizabeth Okada, renowned coach in her own right, as well as being a sought after coaching supervisor and trainer. Elizabeth joins us to help demystify coaching, supervision and to d…

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Podcast 58: Using a bank in Japan 22:18

1y ago22:18

22:18

In this podcast, we’ll dive into the process of opening a bank account in Japan, providing you with essential vocabulary and practical phrases that will help you confidently handle your finances. Not only will you learn how to navigate the specific steps of opening an account, but we’ll also cover useful language for managing money in various situa…

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Podcast 58: Just the dialogues 1:06

1+ y ago1:06

1:06

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 58 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod PatreonBy Alex Brooke

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The Ikigai of “Room in Your Mind” with Misha Yurchenko 55:58

1+ y ago55:58

55:58

On the latest episode of the podcast we are discussing burnout and mindfulness with the founder of Tokyo Mindfulness, Misha Yurchenko. Misha has some amazing insights to share with you all about the pattern of burnout he experienced repeatedly in his work life, and how he broke this pattern. Many people can still experience burnout or stress after …

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The Ikigai of Mottainai & Creativity, with Victoria Close from Biku Designs 1:01:39

1+ y ago1:01:39

1:01:39

On the latest episode of the podcast our guest is Victoria Close from Bikudesigns, a vintage kimono jewellery brand. The Japanese concept of Mottainai ( もったいない ), which expresses a sadness or regret about wasting or mistreating resources, has become very important to Victoria in both her life and work. It also gave her a word for something she’d fe…

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Podcast 57: Talking About Money in Japanese 27:02

1+ y ago27:02

27:02

In this podcast, we’re focusing on useful verbs and phrases related to using money, Japanese coins and banknotes. We also discuss the proper etiquette for handling money in Japan Learn Japanese Pod Patreon PageBy Alex Brooke

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Podcast 57: Just the dialogues 1:06

1+ y ago1:06

1:06

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 57 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod PatreonBy Alex Brooke

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The Expanding Ikigai of Live Theatre in Japan, with Michael Walker 51:25

1+ y ago51:25

51:25

Welcome back to another episode of Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai. This week I am joined by Michael Walker, Founder and Artistic Director of SheepDog Theatre based in Tokyo, Japan. As a lifelong fan of live theatre I know very well the ikigai of being an audience member, but in this episode Michael shares with us what it's like to be involved in the …

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Fun Friday 27: How not to be an obnoxious tourist in Japan 49:48

1+ y ago49:48

49:48

In recent years, Japan has experienced a surge in tourism, with millions flocking to its stunning temples, bustling cities, and serene landscapes. However, this boom has also brought about a significant issue: overtourism. As more travelers visit, overcrowding and a minority of obnoxious tourists has become increasingly problematic, causing frustra…

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Finding Yoyu & Cultivating Abundance in Your Life, with Marci Kobayashi 57:09

1+ y ago57:09

57:09

Welcome to another episode of the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast. This week we are talking about yoyu, a Japanese concept conveying one’s capacity to handle or afford something. Author Marci Kobayashi joins us to discuss the concept of yoyu and her upcoming book, "Finding Yoyu: The Japanese Compass for Navigating Overwhelm and Cultivating Abu…

1
Podcast 56: Dating in Japan

1+ y ago

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In this podcast, we focus on phrases related to dating in Japan. We’ll cover phrases to express your feelings about someone as well as describe your current and past relationship status. Finally, we talk about how dating culture in Japan differs from dating in the West. Check out our Patreon page to get access to extra dialogues, audio drills and s…

1
Podcast 56: Just the dialogues

1+ y ago

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The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 56 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod PatreonBy Alex Brooke