Episode 3　First Step: Be Kind to Yourself.

Welcome to the third episode of Behind the Yellow Curtain!

In this episode, host Jess chats with Ai Futaki, the world's only "Aquatic Expressionist" and a freediver who holds two Guinness World Records.

Growing up in a liberal elementary school in Kanazawa, Ai was unconcerned with nationality. 

That changed when she entered a Japanese public junior high school, where she felt a deep sense of unease with its rigid, uniform rules. Unable to fit into the box of "normal," she ventured abroad in search of a place where she truly belonged. 

Dreaming of becoming a documentary filmmaker, she moved to Cuba, only to hit a major wall and face despair. 

Exhausted by everything, she returned to her hometown, where a single intuition saved her: "I must return to the water."

How did her painful experience of not fitting into society lead her to a one-of-a-kind form of expression? 

Why did she—a diver who melts into the aquatic world with nothing but her own lungs—find her true self not on land, but "in the water"? 

This is an episode that touches on a supple yet powerful way of life, living in harmony with nature.

🎧 Guest: Ai Futaki 

Aquatic Expressionist (Suizoku Hyogenka). Ambassador for the Ministry of the Environment's "Mori-Sato-Kawa-Umi Project." mymizu Ambassador. Holder of two Guinness World Records in freediving. As the one-and-only Aquatic Expressionist, she works on the world stage to act as a bridge between the underwater and terrestrial worlds. Diving without an air tank, she immerses herself among marine mammals on a single breath to become one of them. As both a subject in front of the camera and a photographer behind it, she expresses her core message: "We are a part of nature, and we live with nature."

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/

Welcome back to Part 2 of our conversation with Richard! In this episode, Jess continues her chat with Richard, a Tokyo-based author, diving deeper into his journey of self-discovery. Richard shares how moving from London to Tokyo was a "shedding" process, allowing him to peel back layers of his old self. They discuss how his perspectives have evolved since publishing his book, how his views on society and himself have matured, and the advice he’d give to his younger self. Join us for the conclusion of an honest, thoughtful conversation that reminds us that finding our authentic self is a continuous journey.📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/🎧 Guest：Richard GrahamRichard (Graham) is a self-published author of British and Japanese descent, based in Tokyo and working in the creative marketing industry.He has long reflected on the fundamental questions of identity, articulating his ideas in his book BAND—A Philosophy, a work shaped by his experiences growing up biracial, and enriched with social, psychological, and spiritual perspectives on who we are and why we exist.A passionate believer in the unifying power of music and culture, he continues—steadily but surely—on his journey to live as a full expression of his authentic self.His book is available here:https://amzn.asia/d/hvvvymy

A new season of Behind the Yellow Curtain continues—welcome back!

In this episode, Jess chats with her friend Richard, a Tokyo-based creative working in marketing, who’s also published his own book. With British and Japanese roots, Richard opens up about growing up between two cultures and how that’s shaped his thoughts on identity.

They talk about his book BAND—A Philosophy, the big questions like “Who am I?” and “Why are we here?”, and how those questions don’t always have neat answers.

It’s an honest, thoughtful conversation that reminds us identity isn’t something you define once—it’s something you figure out along the way.

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/

🎧 Guest：Richard Graham

Richard (Graham) is a self-published author of British and Japanese descent, based in Tokyo and working in the creative marketing industry.

He has long reflected on the fundamental questions of identity, articulating his ideas in his book BAND—A Philosophy, a work shaped by his experiences growing up biracial, and enriched with social, psychological, and spiritual perspectives on who we are and why we exist.

A passionate believer in the unifying power of music and culture, he continues—steadily but surely—on his journey to live as a full expression of his authentic self.

His book is available here:

https://amzn.asia/d/hvvvymy

🎬 Credits

Episode 2

Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin

Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL)

Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe 

Designer: Lucy

Social Media Caption: Thea Mizuhara

Intro Sequence

Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin

Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL)

Videographer & Choreographer: Chikako Takemoto

Editor: Mizuho Yonemoto

A new season of Behind the Yellow Curtain is here—welcome back!This episode features Jess in conversation with her close friend Sara, a Colombian woman currently living in Japan. Together, they talk about cross-cultural identity, navigating daily life in Japan as a foreign woman, and the quiet moments that shape our sense of belonging.If you’re interested in stories about immigration, cultural adaptation, or what it means to live abroad as a woman, this episode is for you.
⸻Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with women navigating cross-cultural lives.New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more.

A new season of Behind the Yellow Curtain is here—welcome back!

This episode features Jess in conversation with her close friend Sara, a Colombian woman currently living in Japan. Together, they talk about cross-cultural identity, navigating daily life in Japan as a foreign woman, and the quiet moments that shape our sense of belonging.

If you’re interested in stories about immigration, cultural adaptation, or what it means to live abroad as a woman, this episode is for you.

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/

⸻

🎬 Credits

Episode 1

Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin

Guest : Sara Osorio

Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL)

Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe 

Designer: Lucy

Social Media Caption: Thea Mizuhara

Intro Sequence

Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin

Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL)

Videographer & Choreographer: Chikako Takemoto

Editor: Mizuho Yonemoto

⸻

Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with women navigating cross-cultural lives.

New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more.

💡 Finding your true self as a TCK isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the journey. 🌈 In Part 2, we continue exploring individuality with special guest Andromeda. 🎙️ #BTYCPod #TCKLife #EmbraceYourself #ThirdCultureKids

🌟 Being a TCK means navigating multiple cultures while trying to stay true to yourself. 🌍 

In Part 1, we dive deep into what it takes to carve out your individuality. 

Special guest @andromeda.offixial joins the conversation. 🎤 

Be sure to check out the podcast @moto.iwakan run by our guest Andromeda too!!

https://open.spotify.com/show/4JntTtznkaz7qvsFfLHKPo?si=0160bea427734a7f

#BTYCPod #TCKStories #OwnYourIdentity #ThirdCultureKids

From microaggressions to outright bias, TCKs know the struggle is real. 🌍 Tune in as we unpack how culture shapes discrimination. #BTYCPod #CulturalBarriers #TCKLife

Family, friendships, and the cultural connections that define us. 🌍👥 How do TCKs keep it all together when their world keeps changing? Tune in now! #BTYCpod #CulturalConnections #GlobalNomads 🎙️

Ambition: It’s a global game, but are we all playing by the same rules? 🌍💼 Tune in as we unravel how culture shapes our drive, hustle, and that burning desire to succeed. Spoiler: It’s not all sunshine and promotions. #ThirdCultureKids #btycpod 🎙️