Best Nicholas Rices Podcasts (2025)

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What it takes to be a Japanese race car driver ft. Hana Burton 1:00:30

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11m ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Meet Hana, a Japanese-American race car driver, who sits down to talk with us about her life and career. She tells us about her journey into the racing world, cultural differences between Japan and the West, and what it takes to be a Japanese race car driver.Follow Hana:https://www.youtube.com/@hanaburtonhttps://www.instagram.com/hanubuu_https://x.…

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What you should know before opening a restaurant in Japan 1:13:23

38m ago1:13:23

1:13:23

Meet Alan, owner of Kyojin stewhouse in Shimane, who sits down to talk to us about the challenges of running a restaurant in Japan, and why he pivoted his business to shipping quality frozen food across the country.Follow Alan: https://www.kyojin-company.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alan.kyojin.stewhouse/ ⁨http://www.youtube.com/@kyojinstewhouse …

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How to solve Japan's overtourism problem ft. YamaTrips 1:15:59

1d ago1:15:59

1:15:59

Meet Tony, an entrepreneur and travel consultant who sits down to talk to us about his work helping promote tourism in rural Japanese towns. He sits down to talk to us about marketing strategies, complications of overtourism, and his own journey to and from Japan. Follow Tony: https://yamatrips.com/https://www.instagram.com/yamatrips/Follow us:http…

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The challenges of tourism for a small Japanese town 53:20

6d ago53:20

53:20

Meet Victoria, a local ambassador for Bizen, Okayama, who sits down to talk to us about her work promoting tourism for a small Japanese town. She talks about her time on the Rural Revitalization Program, her transition to independent business owner, and how she found her place as a foreigner in rural Japan.--Follow Victoria:https://www.instagram.co…

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How underground black queer culture ended up in Tokyo 1:08:25

9d ago1:08:25

1:08:25

Meet Kinshasa, an American ballroom commentator, who sits down to talk to us about how underground black queer culture ended up in Tokyo. Kinshasa tells us about the history and importance of ballroom culture, how queer Japanese women brought it over to Japan, and how it evolved to be what it is today. --Follow Kinshasa:https://www.instagram.com/ki…

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Russian Soul, American Life: A Conversation with Ignat Solzhenitsyn | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:04:08

9d ago1:04:08

1:04:08

Pianist and conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn reflects on growing up in exile as the son of Nobel laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, moving from Soviet persecution to a quiet childhood in rural Vermont. Ignat recounts how music, faith, and Russian culture sustained his family far from home, how cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich helped set him on…

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Why being a chef in Japan is so exciting 1:06:29

13d ago1:06:29

1:06:29

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we meet Julien, a talented French pastry chef who turned his childhood passion for sweets into a thriving patisserie in Tokyo. From growing up in France to navigating the challenges of running a pastry shop in Japan, Julien shares his journey through culinary school, working in Michelin-starred kitchens, and adap…

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Why Ikea failed in Japan (and what we learned from it) 1:03:52

16d ago1:03:52

1:03:52

In this episode, we chat with Timothy an American entrepreneur and marketing expert who has spent over 30 years living and working in Japan. Timothy shares his journey from arriving with little more than a backpack to building a career in the Japanese business world, including launching his own branding agency. He offers candid insights into Japane…

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What life is like in a Japanese mountain village 1:06:18

20d ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Meet Emily, a documentary filmmaker working in Japan's rural revitalization program. Emily sits down to talk with us about moving to Japan and coming to terms with her Zainichi Japanese roots, what the quiet life in a Japanese mountain village is like, and her passion for foraging wild vegetables.A reminder from Emily: don't eat anything you haven’…

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Teaching Gorbachev Capitalism: Jerome Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Michael Boskin Discuss George Shultz, the Economist | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:02:33

20d ago1:02:33

1:02:33

For the second edition of the George P. Shultz Memorial Lecture Series, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice, and Hoover Senior Fellow Michael Boskin assemble for a wide-ranging conversation on the economic mind and legacy of George P. Shultz. From his early career as a labor economist at MIT and the Uni…

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Sneak Peek: Jim Steyer, host of Which Side of History? 0:39

26d ago0:39

0:39

Coming in January! The popular Stanford University class Which Side of History is launching a podcast. Join longtime professor Jim Steyer and his all-star guests as they discuss the state of American democracy, big tech, public policy, politics, and the impact on families today. The founder of Common Sense Media, Steyer offers a sneak peek of the f…

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The Sword Specialist: Why swords are the Soul of Japan 1:10:48

23d ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Meet Paul Martin, one of the world's leading Japanese sword experts, who sits down to talk to us about the make and history of Japanese swords, regulations around ownership, and what we can do about Japan's disappearing art of swordmaking.Follow Paul:https://www.thejapanesesword.com/ @Paul_Martin_The_Japanese_Sword https://www.facebook.com/The.Japa…

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The harsh reality of adopting in Japan 1:30:46

27d ago1:30:46

1:30:46

Today we speak with Andrew, an American who became a foster and adoptive parent in Japan. He opens up about the challenges of navigating Japan’s child welfare system, cultural differences in parenting, and what inspired him to open his home to children in need. Andrew shares his personal journey, misconceptions people often have about adoption in J…

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Tokyo Hoe Tales: How Yurie Collins is bringing stand-up comedy to Japan 1:04:49

30d ago1:04:49

1:04:49

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we chat with the quick-witted half Japanese half American comedian Yurié Collins aka @babypinkhaus! Yurié opens up about her experiences growing up biracial in Japan and the US, her journey into stand-up comedy, and the cultural challenges and humor she navigates between both countries. From awkward family moment…

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Emirichu's secret to creativity and avoiding burnout as a creator 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

Meet Emirichu, a popular artist and content creator known for her storytelling, animations, and deeply personal yet humorous content. From her unexpected start as a teacher to moving across the world, Emirichu opens up about adapting to life in Japan and how her art and voice have changed along the way. We also explore her anime influences, her lov…

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Why the Cold War Still Matters with John Lewis Gaddis | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:07:49

1M ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Peter Robinson sits down at Yale University with the “dean of Cold War historians,” John Lewis Gaddis—Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer of Long Telegram author George F. Kennan and one of America’s most influential thinkers on grand strategy. From the origins of the Cold War to the nuclear age, from Vietnam to détente, and from Ronald Reagan to Mik…

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The insane reality of video game music composers 1:19:22

1M ago1:19:22

1:19:22

On today's episode we talk to James, a video game music composer, to talk all about his musical journey and how it lead him to composing music for games and anime in Japan. We go over what it's like working as a western composer in Japan, joining a big company vs being independent, what makes a good song, and all the things a composer thinks about …

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Japan's most misunderstood drink 1:17:03

1M ago1:17:03

1:17:03

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we sit down with Chris Pellegrini, a leading expert on shochu and awamori, and the founder of Honest Drinks. Chris shares his journey from Vermont to Japan, how he fell in love with Japan’s traditional distilled spirits, and why shochu deserves more recognition globally. Follow Christopher: https://honkakuspirits…

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History professor explains why Tokyo is built the way it is 1:18:05

1M ago1:18:05

1:18:05

Today we talk to Tristan, a historian and professor based in Nagoya, Japan. Tristan specializes in the history of Japanese urban development and infrastructure, and shares fascinating insights into how and why Tokyo is built the way it is. From Edo-era planning to post-war reconstruction and subway development, we explore how history has shaped the…

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How he went from The Bachelorette to become Japan's most recognizable stadium MC 1:11:52

2M ago1:11:52

1:11:52

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we sit down with Malachi, a stadium MC born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan, who shares what it was like growing up as a foreign-looking local in Japan. Malachi talks about finding his identity, navigating life in Japan, and how he eventually ended up as an MC at major sporting events across the country. We also di…

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Listening to the Law: How Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Does Her Job | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:12:24

2M ago1:12:24

1:12:24

How does the Supreme Court really work—and how does one of its youngest justices balance life, law, and seven children? In this in-depth conversation, Justice Amy Coney Barrett discusses her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution. Barrett explains the principles behind originalism, the Court’s reasoning in Dob…

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How this Tokyo chef broke free from the stereotypical immigrant restaurant 55:07

2M ago55:07

55:07

Today we talk to Kanchan, a Nepalese entrepreneur in Tokyo who runs both a restaurant and a fashion brand. From humble beginnings to creating a community hub, Adi shares what it was like building a business in Japan, blending Indian-Nepalese culture with Japanese customer expectations, and how his restaurant grew into something much bigger than jus…

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Oliver Postgate 27:39

2M ago27:39

27:39

"Postgate's work is deep inside me and I think that's true for so many of my generation...His work represents nothing less than a touchstone for our national imagination and in that sense it's profoundly important" Andrew Davenport, writer, composer, and creator of Teletubbies and In the Night Garden, nominates Oliver Postgate, who, along with his …

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40 years of crazy stories from a Japanese wedding MC 1:11:34

2M ago1:11:34

1:11:34

Today we talk to Greg Irwin, a voice actor, singer, and wedding MC living in Japan. Greg shares what it’s like to hear your own voice all over Japan—from train stations and commercials to iconic roles like Street Fighter. We also dive into the experience of voicing characters that become part of people’s childhoods, his journey into Japanese voice …

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How Japanese pop culture conquered the world ft. Matt Alt 1:14:42

2M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

Today we talk with Matt Alt, a writer, translator, and long time resident of Japan who you may recognize from appearances on Japanology. Matt shares how his childhood fascination with Japan shaped his life and career, and reflects on cultural changes, soft power, and the evolving image of Japan around the world.Follow Matt: httpes://www.mattalt.com…

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Sylvia Plath 27:06

2M ago27:06

27:06

Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence, chooses the writer Sylvia Plath. Sylvia Plath was a precocious, prize-winning child,. Her mother had high expectations for her. Her father had died when she was 8 (but could have been saved if only he'd gone to see a doctor). When she was well, Plath was energetic, fun, bright, attractive, funny and incredibly sma…

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What life is like after 20 years as a professional Japanese mahjong player 1:04:10

2M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Today we talk to Jenn, a professional mahjong player and content creator based in Japan. She shares her journey into the world of Japanese mahjong, what sets it apart from other styles, and what it's like to be part of a male-dominated gaming industry in Japan. From the cultural nuances of the game to building a career around a passion, Jenn breaks…

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The challenges of doing business between Africa and Japan 58:59

2M ago58:59

58:59

Today we talk to Serges, a multi-business entrepreneur based in Japan. He shares his journey from Africa to Japan, and how he founded companies like Dove Innovations and Japan Connect, which bridges Japanese and international businesses through strategic partnerships. We dive into the cultural differences in business practices between Africa and Ja…

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Welcome to Which Side of History? 1:17

2M ago1:17

1:17

Thought-provoking and insightful, Jim Steyer teaches a very popular course at Stanford University. Now the Common Sense Media founder is bringing his class to life as a podcast. Jim talks to the best and the brightest at the intersection of technology, politics, public policy and your family. At the end of the day, when critical moments happen, whi…

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Thomas Sowell: A Free Man | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution 1:05:19

2M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

This special episode of Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson features our most requested guest: Hoover senior fellow and acclaimed economist and author Dr. Thomas Sowell. But rather than discussing Sowell’s many books, this conversation explores the full arc of Sowell’s life — from his childhood, along a dirt road in North Carolina, through his y…

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Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut 27:40

2M ago27:40

27:40

"One of the things that she claimed was that her mother had been impregnated by the sun god Amon-Ra."Elizabeth Day's interest in the female pharaoh Hatshepsut was sparked by a trip to Egypt less than a year ago. What intrigued her was how this woman survived and thrived as ruler in a traditionally male role. Joining her in discussion is Professor J…

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What it's like to gain citizenship after growing up in Japan as a foreigner 48:23

2M ago48:23

48:23

On this episode we talk to Idai, a successful model in Japan, even being featured in Vogue. We talk about her unique experience growing up black in Japan and how she became comfortable in her own skin. We also talk about her model career and the various ways in which things differ for her in Japan as opposed to other Japanese models. Follow Idai: h…

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More people should know about Japan's gun martial art 59:21

2M ago59:21

59:21

Today on Unpacking Japan, we’re joined by Matt, a gunner and Japanese interpreter from Matsumoto, Japan, with deep knowledge of Japan’s lesser-known gun history. We dive into the fascinating and world of guns in Japan—from the first introduction of firearms to samurai warfare, to how guns were eventually restricted and removed from everyday life. M…

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Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Stephen Kotkin: Three Historians Debate the Era of Trump 1:19:33

3M ago1:19:33

1:19:33

Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Stephen Kotkin are all senior fellows at the Hoover Institution, and this is the first time they have appeared together in a public discussion. The topic: Is the United States in decline or on the verge of renewal? Exploring topics including Donald Trump’s second term and the transformation of the Republican…

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Comedian Stewart Lee on Derek Bailey 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

"The area I mostly work in is generally known as free - the free music area. And free is one of those four letter words, like rock or jazz or punk maybe. It started out meaning something." Derek Bailey Born in 1930 in Sheffield, Bailey worked as a session musician in dance bands and orchestras before turning his back on that world. Free improvisati…

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Japanese MMA is actually insane 55:55

3M ago55:55

55:55

On this episode we talk with Stephane, an MMA fighter in Japan. Stephane goes in depth about being an MMA fighter, like what it's like to learn various kinds of fighting styles, dieting for weigh ins, the business side of getting fights and making money, as well as how MMA culture and rules are different in Japan. Follow Stephane: https://www.insta…

4M ago55:15

55:15

Is humanity running out of people? Demographer and American Enterprise Institute scholar Nicholas Eberstadt joins Peter Robinson to explain why birthrates are collapsing across the globe—from China and Japan to Europe and the United States—and what this means for the future of prosperity, freedom, and global power. Can immigration save America? Wil…