For this week's podcast, we have the honor of interviewing Frank King, who has given 13 TEDx Talks about Mental Health. As a comedian, he wrote for the Jay Leno show for 20 years! You won't want to miss this episode of "The Samurai Way, information below.

Frank is a Guinness World Record holder for TEDx Talks (13 and counting) and spent 20 years writing for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He has shared the stage with comedy legends like Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jeff Foxworthy.

But behind the laughter lies Frank’s raw and honest truth: a lifetime of depression, suicidality, and survival. He speaks openly about his family’s history of suicide, his own close calls, and how he turned his pain into purpose by using comedy to save lives.

Through his talks, books (Guts, Grit & The Grind series), and advocacy, Frank brings a vital message: mental health matters, suicide can be prevented, and humor can heal. His mission is simple yet profound — to save a life a day.

 Connect and Learn More

•  Frank’s Website: mentalhealthcomedian.com
  
   
•  National Alliance on Mental Illness: nami.org
  
   
•  Free Audiobook: Guts, Grit & The Grind (Vol. 1) available on Frank’s site
  
   
•  Watch his TEDx Talks: Frank King TEDx

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In this special two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Bob Low, a content creator, business professional, and host of the Asian Century Podcast.

We had such an engaging conversation covering Asia, culture, communication, business, and how we connect in an increasingly global world.

In our conversation, we discussed:

• Bob’s journey hosting the Asian Century Podcast and his passion for sharing stories from business leaders across Asia

• Why this is an important time for Asia, with growing opportunities in business, innovation, and technology

• Cultural differences between East and West and how they shape communication

• How different cultures approach disagreement, conflict, and self-expression

• The importance of relationships, respect, and hierarchy when doing business in many parts of Asia

• Why direct communication and self-promotion can feel very different across cultures

• The importance of recognizing cultural cues and adapting how we communicate

• How technology, media, and the Internet are bringing people and cultures closer together

• Why we should avoid broad assumptions and recognize that every person and community is unique

As someone passionate about Japanese culture and connecting people across cultures, I truly enjoyed this conversation with Bob. I hope it gives you a deeper appreciation for the diversity and richness of Asia and the world around us.

Connect with Bob Low:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobthinks/

Booking Link: https://calendly.com/bobthinkz88/15min

Be sure to connect with Bob and follow his work as he continues sharing stories and insights from across Asia and around the world.

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In this two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with Mark Papadas, founder of I Am For Kids, to explore how we can help children build unshakable confidence through the power of identity.

Mark believes every child is born believing in their own “I AM,” and our responsibility is to protect and strengthen that belief. We talk about identity, character, courage, curiosity, resilience, and never giving up by connecting his work with the timeless Japanese principles of Bushido, Ikigai, and Ganbaru, developing modern-day Samurai warriors!

Mark shares inspiring stories and simple ways parents, teachers, and mentors can help children recognize their strengths, overcome negative patterns, and believe in what they are capable of. We’re reminded that our past does not have to define our future—and who we believe we are shaping how we live.

And as Mark says:

Be Great!

I AM.

Connect with Mark Papadas
📖 New Book: iam4kidsbook.com

🌐 Website: iam4kids.com

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Be Great! Family Reset Every Sunday Night (FREE):
https://events.iam4kids.com/sunday-night-family-reset

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with Mark Papadas, founder of I Am For Kids, to explore how we can help children build unshakable confidence through the power of identity.

Mark believes every child is born believing in their own “I AM,” and our responsibility is to protect and strengthen that belief. We talk about identity, character, courage, curiosity, resilience, and never giving up by connecting his work with the timeless Japanese principles of Bushido, Ikigai, and Ganbaru, developing modern-day Samurai warriors!

Mark shares inspiring stories and simple ways parents, teachers, and mentors can help children recognize their strengths, overcome negative patterns, and believe in what they are capable of. We’re reminded that our past does not have to define our future—and who we believe we are shaping how we live.

And as Mark says:

Be Great!

I AM.

Connect with Mark Papadas

📖 New Book: iam4kidsbook.com

🌐 Website: iam4kids.com

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Be Great! Family Reset Every Sunday Night (FREE):

https://events.iam4kids.com/sunday-night-family-reset

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In this two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with internationally-acclaimed speaker and author Céline Santini to explore the beautiful Japanese art and philosophy of Kintsugi.

In Part 1, Céline shares how she discovered Kintsugi during one of the most challenging periods of her life and how the image of a broken bowl repaired with golden lines changed the way she viewed her own struggles. We talk about resilience, healing, imperfection, and turning brokenness into strength.

In Part 2, we go deeper into Céline's six-step Kintsugi-inspired process and how we can apply these principles to our own lives. We explore how our scars can become part of our story and how difficult experiences can be transformed into something meaningful.

This conversation is a reminder that we don't have to hide the cracks.

Sometimes, the places where we have been broken can become the places where our strength, resilience, and beauty shine through.

I also share part of my own journey and how the challenges I experienced led me toward a new path as an author, speaker, and podcast host.

I hope these two episodes inspire you to look at your own scars differently and discover the gold within your story.

Connect with Céline Santini

🌐 Website: https://kintsugi-spirit.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinesantini/

📖 Book: https://kintsugi-spirit.com/books/

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In this two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with internationally-acclaimed speaker and author Céline Santini to explore the beautiful Japanese art and philosophy of Kintsugi.

In Part 1, Céline shares how she discovered Kintsugi during one of the most challenging periods of her life and how the image of a broken bowl repaired with golden lines changed the way she viewed her own struggles. We talk about resilience, healing, imperfection, and turning brokenness into strength.

In Part 2, we go deeper into Céline's six-step Kintsugi-inspired process and how we can apply these principles to our own lives. We explore how our scars can become part of our story and how difficult experiences can be transformed into something meaningful.

This conversation is a reminder that we don't have to hide the cracks.

Sometimes, the places where we have been broken can become the places where our strength, resilience, and beauty shine through.

I also share part of my own journey and how the challenges I experienced led me toward a new path as an author, speaker, and podcast host.

I hope these two episodes inspire you to look at your own scars differently and discover the gold within your story.

Website: https://kintsugi-spirit.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinesantini/

Book: https://kintsugi-spirit.com/books/

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In this special two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie Vieira, an author, certified Ikigai life coach, speaker, and trauma survivor, to explore her powerful journey from trauma and survival to healing, gratitude, joy, and purpose.

Stephanie shares her story of growing up with abuse, experiencing coaching abuse as a young competitive swimmer, and eventually beginning the difficult but transformative journey of healing through recovery, therapy, shadow work, and mindfulness.

At a turning point in her life, Stephanie asked the universe for guidance. The answer was gratitude.

That discovery became a doorway to something deeper: Ikigai.

Together, we explore Ikigai beyond the Western Venn diagram and career-focused formula. Stephanie shares how reconnecting with the things she loved as a child helped her rediscover parts of herself that had been buried by trauma, and how small moments of joy can become meaningful reasons to engage with life.

We also talk about something many of us can relate to: losing our identity in our careers. After more than two decades in hospitality, Stephanie realized she had become defined by her job title. Today, she helps others discover that their career does not define them. Who you are goes much deeper than what you do.

And perhaps one of the most powerful lessons from our conversation is that gratitude does not mean ignoring pain.

Pain and gratitude can coexist.

Stephanie explains how her past is part of her story, but it doesn't have to be part of her present. By practicing mindfulness, noticing the small things, and reconnecting with what brings us joy, we can begin moving from survival toward a life of greater meaning and purpose.

This is a conversation about healing, resilience, gratitude, identity, and Ikigai.

If you've ever felt lost, defined by your career, disconnected from yourself, or unsure of your purpose, Stephanie's story offers a beautiful reminder:

You can heal.

You can rediscover yourself.

And you can find joy again.

Join us for both episodes of The Samurai Way Podcast as Stephanie and I explore the journey from trauma to healing, from survival to gratitude, and from gratitude to Ikigai.

Connect with Stephanie:

Website: https://www.coachstephnewpaths.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-vieira-ikigainewpaths/...

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gratitude-Practices-Rebuild-Neurodivergent-Friendly/dp/B0G3M6LQR6

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special two-part conversation on The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie Vieira, an author, certified Ikigai life coach, speaker, and trauma survivor, to explore her powerful journey from trauma and survival to healing, gratitude, joy, and purpose.

Stephanie shares her story of growing up with abuse, experiencing coaching abuse as a young competitive swimmer, and eventually beginning the difficult but transformative journey of healing through recovery, therapy, shadow work, and mindfulness.

At a turning point in her life, Stephanie asked the universe for guidance. The answer was gratitude.

That discovery became a doorway to something deeper: Ikigai.

Together, we explore Ikigai beyond the Western Venn diagram and career-focused formula. Stephanie shares how reconnecting with the things she loved as a child helped her rediscover parts of herself that had been buried by trauma, and how small moments of joy can become meaningful reasons to engage with life.

We also talk about something many of us can relate to: losing our identity in our careers. After more than two decades in hospitality, Stephanie realized she had become defined by her job title. Today, she helps others discover that their career does not define them. Who you are goes much deeper than what you do.

And perhaps one of the most powerful lessons from our conversation is that gratitude does not mean ignoring pain.

Pain and gratitude can coexist.

Stephanie explains how her past is part of her story, but it doesn't have to be part of her present. By practicing mindfulness, noticing the small things, and reconnecting with what brings us joy, we can begin moving from survival toward a life of greater meaning and purpose.

This is a conversation about healing, resilience, gratitude, identity, and Ikigai.

If you've ever felt lost, defined by your career, disconnected from yourself, or unsure of your purpose, Stephanie's story offers a beautiful reminder:

You can heal.

You can rediscover yourself.

And you can find joy again.

Join us for both episodes of The Samurai Way Podcast as Stephanie and I explore the journey from trauma to healing, from survival to gratitude, and from gratitude to Ikigai.

Connect with Stephanie:

Website: https://www.coachstephnewpaths.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-vieira-ikigainewpaths/...

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Gratitude-Practices-Rebuild-Neurodivergent-Friendly/dp/B0G3M6LQR6

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In Part 3, the final chapter of my powerful conversation with award-winning author, speaker, and resilience coach Sara Im, we continue her extraordinary journey from the Cambodian Killing Fields toward freedom, family, hope, and a new beginning.

Sara survived starvation, forced labor, illness, fear, and unimaginable uncertainty under the Khmer Rouge regime. Through it all, she held onto one powerful goal: to survive and someday be reunited with her family.

In this final part of her story, we explore what happened after years of hardship and survival, and how Sara found the strength to move forward and build a life filled with purpose.

In this episode, we discuss:

Sara's story reminds us that our darkest chapter does not have to be the end of our story.

Sometimes, surviving is just the beginning.

Her journey is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder that hope, purpose, and perseverance can help us create a new beginning.

If Sara's story inspires you, please subscribe to The Samurai Way Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that it is never too late to move forward.

Until next time, keep living with courage, honor, and the spirit of Ganbaru.

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In Part 2 of The Samurai Way Podcast, I continue my powerful conversation with award-winning author, speaker, and resilience coach Sara Im as she shares the next chapter of her extraordinary journey of survival during the Cambodian Killing Fields.

After enduring starvation, forced labor, illness, fear, and separation from her family, Sara faced an unimaginable question: how do you keep going when you don't know if tomorrow will be any better?

Yet Sara held onto one thing that could not be taken from her: hope.

Her love for her family became a source of strength and gave her a reason to keep moving forward, even when she had no idea when the suffering would end.

In this episode, we explore:

Sara's story reminds us that courage isn't always a dramatic act. Sometimes, courage is simply choosing not to give up.

And her journey isn't over.

In Part 3, we continue Sara's story and discover what happened next as she moved closer to freedom, reunion, and a new chapter of her life.

If Sara's story moves you, please subscribe to The Samurai Way Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that hope can carry us through even the darkest moments.

Until next time, keep living with courage, honor, and the spirit of Ganbaru.

Sara Im is an award-winning author, international speaker, resilience coach, and survivor of the Cambodian genocide. After enduring the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime, she transformed her extraordinary story of survival into a mission of inspiring others to live with resilience, faith, hope, and purpose while enduring the Killing Fields.

Through her speaking, writing, and coaching, Sara empowers individuals and organizations to overcome adversity, embrace purpose, and discover the strength to persevere through life's greatest challenges. Her journey is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the life-changing power of never giving up.

Website: https://www.saraim.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-im/

Subscribe to The Samurai Way Podcast for inspiring conversations on Japanese wisdom, resilience, leadership, history, and living a meaningful life.

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