Have you heard of hikikomori? Frequently present in Japan, it's a form of severe social withdrawal. In this episode, I sit down with my Swedish friend, Aske who describes how learning about hikikomori influenced his art. Aske was a CouchSurfer of mine during his travels in South Korea at the age of 19. You'll hear about his journey through Korea, becoming the artist he is today, and what it was like growing up in an artistic household. Loneliness is a significant theme all throughout Aske's art and in this conversation, you'll hear the reason he fell so deeply in love with solitude. Aske's travels have taken him many places, but one of the most bizarre was a Korean jail. If you've ever felt lonely, possess many interests and dream of doing them all or are simply in need of a good story time, then this conversation is one you'll enjoy.    

Aske | Website  

Aske | Instagram 

Aske | Blue Jacket

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In Part 2, Jieun and I retell how we met one summer in Seoul and what caused us to continue nurturing our friendship throughout the years. She then shares how writing down what she refers to as frivolous thoughts, every day for half a year, paved way for her career as a journalist. This career took a striking turn; while she was covering a story about spycam porn culture in South Korea, she found herself victim to what turned into a high profile sex crime case. Jieun opens up about how this event changed her life, how it impacted her mental health and her ongoing journey to healing. Her story and the hope she shares after experiencing life-altering trauma, serves as a testament that we can always pick up the pen and write a new story.   

Jieun | Blog  

Jieun | Korea Exposé

Jieun | Open Shutters Documentary

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Here in part 1 of a 2 part episode with my Korean friend Jieun, you'll hear my candid reaction upon learning she was the social media manager for President Moon Jae-in. Jieun takes us down memory lane as she shares stories of her time living in Spain alone at 19 and how she developed fluency in Spanish. As we all learn, life has it's ups and downs, and Jieun is certainly no stranger to the variety of life. She talks about growing up under Korea's rigorous education system and taking a detour in life that ended up working out better than she could have ever imagined. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all of the possibilities that exist and the potential lives you can live? Are you an over-thinker that struggles with intrusive thoughts? If you're human, you'll see yourself in Jieun's story. I hope this conversation will invite you to reflect on your own journey and see the potential in what is yet to come.  

*There's a F bomb. Not for little ears. 

Jieun | Instagram 

Jieun | Art 

Jieun | K-pop and feminism

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This conversation is with my Moroccan friend, Abdellah. I hosted him as a CouchSurfer when he traveled to Seoul in the summer of 2015. In this episode you'll hear Abdellah talk about his life in Morocco, studying in Europe and moving to Hong Kong where he's been living as an expat since 2014. He shares his career journey from engineering to photography and creative directing, as well as how he continues to hone his craft and reinvent himself as an artist. You'll hear about what it was like for him growing up in a little village in Morocco, speaking multiple languages and moving to the city only to be treated as an outsider. If you're an artist or want to make a living as one, interested in living a creative life, curious about starting over in another country or simply need some advice, inspiration and perspective--- listen to this one all the way through. Abdellah continuously drops gems! 

Abdellah | Instagram

Abdellah | #AbdelaStyle

Abdellah | Website

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In this episode I sit down with Gonzalo, a dear friend of mine from Spain. We became friends while he was studying abroad for a semester in 2011 at my university in the Blue Ridge mountains, Appalachian State University. After 11 years of friendship, we finally discuss in depth his journey of becoming a scientist and living his childhood dream. Gonzalo shares how studying abroad impacted the trajectory of his life, the path to getting his PhD in Paris and moving to Barcelona to work for the first time in his home country. If you're like me and know very little about a scientists' day-to-day or have never thought of science as a romantic field, then you'll leave this conversation with a new perspective. 

Gonzalo | LinkedIn

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I met Adrienna in Prague in 2014, years later, as it tends to do, life came full circle as we became colleagues in South Korea teaching ESL. In this episode, Adrienna opens up her world to us as she retells stories of feeling like an outsider in the country she was born in, her friendships that served as a force of nature in her life and her ongoing journey to unearth a life of meaning. You'll hear stories from her time living in Germany, traveling on a whim to the next country over, making friends on all corners of the planet and trying out just about every job there is. We also touch on grieving the loss of a parent and choosing to live again after. If you are in need of inspiration, feel society puts too much pressure on "adulthood," or think you've lucked out in love or life--- I believe you're supposed to hear this conversation. 

Adrienna | Instagram

Adrienna | Blog

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Do you remember Tumblr? 10+ years ago I came across the most enchanted European photo diary, only to soon discover a kindred spirit of mine was living in Austria. In this episode, Vicky talks about university in Austria, discovering new passions and finding meaning inside the pandemic. You’ll hear us talk a lot about falling in love with change and the art of embracing the unknown. I believe this conversation is a timely one as we sort through how the pandemic will have changed each and every one of us. It is a truth we will be forced to come to terms with. If you're feeling like you're at a precipice or trying to decide on a big life change, Vicky's story holds a lot of insight as she offers wisdom birthed from her lived experience.   

Vicky | Instagram 

Vicky & Keiko | Schönbrunn Palace

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In this spicy episode, I chat with my British friend, Denzil Dean. There is a magic in how we met, and in this conversation, for the first time ever, we connect all the dots. Denzil talks about growing up in the countryside, his experience with loneliness and being made to feel insignificant. In this raw conversation, you'll hear about his story, his romantic worldview and his passion for community organizing. We also talk about what we learned about each other during our time in South Korea. You'll enjoy this chat if you're curious about travel, finding your tribe, unrequited love, human-centered politics, and personal development. *There is profanity and some sexy time talk in this episode. Not appropriate for little ears. 

Denzil | https://denzildean.co.uk/

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This conversation is with my Canadian friend, Sinan Leylak, CEO of Spark Rentals Inc. and Ice Cycles, Canada's first ice bike company. Sinan talks about CouchSurfing with 80+ strangers during his solo travels across Europe and Asia, why and how he decided on a life of entrepreneurship post university, as well as how he balances the stress that comes with running multiple businesses. The way he lives his life with ease was one of the reasons I was drawn to Sinan when we first met in Poland in 2014. If you're interested in owning your own business for the freedom that often comes with it, Sinan's story will inspire you. 

Sinan | SparkRentals 

Sinan | IceCycles 

Sinan | World Tour eBook

Sinan | Blog Takeover 

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Welcome to A Colorful Life Podcast with creator, Keiko Roy-Carey.

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