In this episode of The Samurai Way, I welcome Jeff Singal, a Japan based midlife wisdom guide who has been living in Japan for nearly thirty years. Originally from Boston, Jeff bridges Eastern philosophy and Western reinvention, and our conversation is both reflective and practical.

We explore how Japanese wisdom shaped his life during seasons of deep transition, including personal loss, midlife change, and the challenges of COVID.

Together, we dive into:

• What Shukatsu really means and how it is not about preparing for death but about living fully now• Why Ikigai is not a Venn diagram and how starting small can transform your daily life• How understanding our roles as parent, partner, mentor, and leader brings clarity and direction• The concept of Ma and creating intentional space in a noisy world• How Japanese philosophy can guide anyone through life transitions, no matter where they live

This episode is a meaningful blend of East and West, ancient wisdom and modern reinvention. If you are navigating midlife, seeking clarity, or wanting to live with deeper intention and fewer regrets, I believe this conversation will speak to you.

Connect with Jeff Singal

https://jeffsingal.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-singal-b33751/

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In this episode of The Samurai Way, I had the honor of sitting down with Nibu Thomas, a writer, speaker, mentor, and lifelong student of purposeful living whose journey spans manufacturing, technology, personal development, and social impact.

Our conversation became much more than a discussion about careers. We explored Ikigai as something built through action, awareness, and paying attention to what life is teaching you. Nibu shared how starting on the factory floor at Bosch shaped his discipline, humility, and deep respect for process, learning Japanese operational principles like 5S and Poka Yoke that continue to influence how he thinks and works today.

What inspired me most was how Nibu transitioned from precision engineering into the IT and technology world, and eventually into writing, speaking, and mentoring others about purpose. Today, he is also working with underprivileged youth in India, helping them develop coding skills, confidence, and opportunities for a better future. His story reflects the Samurai values I teach through Ikigai, Ganbaru, and the Code of Bushido, showing that purpose is not something we stumble upon. It is something we build through consistent action.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Discovering Ikigai through paying attention, taking action, and listening to what people praise you for • Career evolution from manufacturing and IT into writing, speaking, and purpose driven personal development • Creating meaning through mentorship, social impact, and Japanese principles like 5S and Poka Yoke

This conversation is an invitation to reflect on your own journey. Are you paying attention to what people praise you for? Are you taking action toward the life you truly want to live? Nibu’s story reminds us that meaning is created step by step, choice by choice.

Listen to this episode and subscribe to The Samurai Way Podcast so you never miss a conversation that brings Ikigai, Ganbaru, and the Code of Bushido into modern life. Please listen, follow, and share with someone who is searching for deeper purpose.

Connect with Nibu Thomas https://www.linkedin.com/in/nibu-thomas/

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What happens to purpose after 50?

In this episode of The Samurai Way, I sit down with Jeanne Bellew, teacher, mentor, and coach who works with people 50 plus who want to continue earning, stay relevant, and remain deeply engaged as they age.

Jeanne shares her powerful personal journey of leaving the United States in her late 50's, selling everything, and moving abroad with her husband, two dogs, and a laptop. First to Costa Rica and now to Spain, what began as a practical need to earn income legally overseas became a life grounded in Ikigai, contribution, and freedom.

Together, Jeanne and I explore how Ikigai is not something you achieve, but a practice that evolves throughout your life. They discuss why many people in their 50s, 60s, and beyond already have everything they need, yet cannot see it clearly after decades defined by job titles and roles. Jeanne explains how unbundling skills allows people to recognize what they already know, enjoy, and do well, and offer those skills online to clients who value and pay for them.

This conversation also dives into healthy longevity, dignity, and why earning and contributing later in life is not about hustle, side gigs, or reinvention, but about self respect, wisdom, and continued purpose.

If you are navigating life after 50, questioning what is next, feeling the weight of ageism, or wondering how to stay engaged without burning out, this episode offers reassurance, clarity, and real options.

Because there is always a way.

Connect with Jeanne Bellew

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

 Website
https://duffelsanddogs.com

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In this episode of The Samurai Way, I had the honor of sitting down with Emille Bryant, founder of Go Ikigai LLC, military leader, author, and lifelong student of purpose driven living.

Our conversation flowed naturally into something deeper than a discussion about careers or success. We explored Ikigai as a way of life, not a diagram, not a job title, but a guiding force that shapes how we live, lead, and serve. Emille shared how his years in the US Air Force, his time living in Japan, and his immersion in Japanese culture influenced his understanding of discipline, service, and passionate purpose.

What stood out to me most was Emille’s clarity around Ikigai. He explains it as something we discover, recover, or uncover throughout our lives, especially when we pause long enough to reflect on our most intense experiences and the moments that shaped us. This perspective aligns deeply with the Samurai values of Bushido that I teach and live by.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why Ikigai is not a destination but a way of living

How military leadership and Bushido share common values of honor, courage, and service

What it means to build your life around purpose instead of status or money

Why it is never too late to begin living your Ikigai

How time, energy, attention, and money reveal what truly matters

This conversation is an invitation to look inward and ask an honest question. Am I living in alignment with my purpose, or am I living on autopilot? If you are not leaping out of bed in the morning, this episode may help you understand why and what to do next.

Connect with Emille Bryant

Author of Start With A Sparkle, Second Edition www.startwithasparkle.com

Including the Start With A Sparkle Workbook Companion (2022)

Co writer of the play HELA ADADEVOH: Return of the Goddess (2022)

Creator of the online course Awaken to Brazen Creativity www.brazencreativity.com

LinkedInwww.linkedin.com/in/emillebryant

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What happens when legacy collapses and purpose takes its place?

In this powerful episode of The Samurai Way, Sarthak Mittal, multinational CEO, global branding strategist, TEDx speaker, and founder of Mittal Alliance, with operations across India, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Sarthak shares his deeply personal journey of inheriting a once great family legacy that had fallen to ashes, and how discovering his Ikigai helped him rebuild not just a business, but a mission driven life. Inspired by his great grandfather’s story and his mother’s passion for art, Sarthak realized his calling was not only helping people find their passion, but turning that passion into a profession.

This conversation explores resilience through failure, rebuilding during COVID, youth empowerment, and why true leadership is never about “me” but about service, teamwork, and contribution. Sarthak also breaks down his proprietary Five Pillar Branding Framework, aligning branding with Japanese principles such as Bushido, Kaizen, Ikigai, and Ganbaru.

You will hear insights on:

Rebuilding legacy after collapse

Finding Ikigai through service and contribution

Youth empowerment and leadership development

The power of consistency over luck

Why branding is about trust, emotion, and integrity

How ancient wisdom applies to modern business

This episode is a reminder that success is built through purpose, discipline, and never giving up, no matter how long the path may take.

Connect with Sarthak Mittal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceosarthakmittal/?originalSubdomain=inhttps://ceosarthak.com/

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What if everything you thought you knew about Ikigai was incomplete?

In this powerful Episode 45 of The Samurai Way, Lori Tsugawa sits down with Nicholas Kemp, speaker, author, Japanologist, and founder of the Ikigai Tribe, to explore the true Japanese meaning of Ikigai beyond the popular Venn diagram.

Nicholas shares his personal journey from Australia to Japan, first visiting at age five in 1977, later living and working there, marrying a Japanese woman, and building a life deeply connected to Japanese culture. Long before Ikigai became a global trend, Nick encountered the word in Japan and began a decades long exploration of what it truly means.

Together, Lori and Nick unpack:

Ikigai Kan – why Ikigai is not something you find, but something you feel

Yutori – the Japanese concept of mental and emotional space in a world of burnout

Purpose in Japanese culture and what it means to truly use your life with intention

Why modern Western interpretations of Ikigai miss its emotional and relational depth

The role of reflection, journaling, and gratitude in cultivating a life worth living

Japanese craftsmanship, apprenticeships, and the Samurai way of learning

Identity, heritage, resilience, and honoring those who came before us

This episode is a deep, reflective conversation about meaning, culture, purpose, and what truly matters. If you are seeking clarity, depth, and a more authentic understanding of Ikigai rooted in Japanese wisdom, this episode is for you.

Work with Nick and become a Certified Ikigai Tribe Coach
Get his book and learn more about his work:
 https://ikigaitribe.com/

Connect with Nicholas Kemp

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In this episode of The Samurai Way, I sit down with Brian Gregory, CEO of ADMANITY®, author of fifteen books on marketing and copywriting, and a global authority on emotion based marketing.

At the heart of our conversation is Ganbaru, the Japanese principle of perseverance, grit, and never giving up. Brian and I explore how this mindset shaped his life long before he ever had a name for it, beginning with his Olympic level training and continuing through his journey as an entrepreneur and innovator.

Brian shares how relentless daily discipline, mental promises to himself, and a refusal to quit became the foundation for his success in business. We talk about the influence of his parents, the quiet lessons of work ethic and responsibility, and how those early experiences formed the armor he would later rely on in life.

We also dive into the role of emotion in decision making and why people buy on emotion and justify with logic. Brian explains how years of observing failed advertising led him to create emotional algorithms and Primal AI, designed to help businesses identify the exact emotions that drive customers to say yes without the need for a large agency or massive budget.

Brian also shares details about the free five minute YES Test and how it can help business owners better understand their emotional messaging and sales strategy.

This episode is a reminder that the Samurai spirit still lives on today. It lives in those who refuse to quit, who continue to train when no one is watching, and who choose Ganbaru even when the path is difficult.

If you are building a business, healing from hardship, or searching for the strength to keep going, this conversation will remind you why perseverance always matters.

Connect with Brian Gregory

Brian Gregory LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangregoryadmanity/

AdManity Website

https://www.admanity.com

Take the Free YES Test

https://www.admanity.com/yes-test

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In this episode of The Samurai Way Podcast, I sit down with Saori Okada, a UKIH registered health coach, Japanese calligraphy artist, and the founder of Mogami Wellness in London.

Saori grew up in Tokyo, built a corporate career in New York, and later returned to her Japanese roots after years of struggling with eating disorders and perfectionism. What stood out to me most was her insight that healing is not about fixing our relationship with food but about rebuilding our relationship with ourselves.

Together, we explore what Ikigai truly means beyond the Venn diagram. We talk about finding meaning in everyday moments rather than chasing achievements, and how Japanese concepts like itadakimasu invite mindfulness and gratitude into something as simple as a meal.

We also dive into Wabi Sabi, embracing imperfection and change, and how Kintsugi teaches us that our cracks and challenges can become our greatest sources of beauty and strength. Saori shares how stillness, discipline, and creating space in our lives are essential practices in a fast, overstimulated world.

Throughout the conversation, I reflect on my own experiences, Japanese heritage, resilience, and the values of respect, service, and perseverance that continue to shape my work and life.

Saori also shares insights from her upcoming book, The Wisdom of Ancient Japan: Timeless Lessons to Live By, a collection of sixty Japanese concepts designed to support mind, body, and soul.

This episode is a reminder that purpose is not something we chase. It is something we live, one moment at a time.

Connect with Saori Okada

Website: https://www.mogamiwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mogami_wellness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saori-okada/

Book: The Wisdom of Ancient Japan: Timeless Lessons to Live By

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In this episode, I sit down with Jared Bendifallah, a peer support group facilitator, speaker, and the creator of The Five Building Blocks of Recovery podcast. Jared has led over six hundred support groups with NAMI West Los Angeles and has spoken to countless middle school and high school students, helping to break the silence around mental health.

Our conversation is heartfelt, honest, and deeply meaningful.

We explore how the Japanese philosophies of Kaizen, continuous improvement, and Ikigai, what gives life meaning and fulfillment, can support the mental health recovery journey. Jared shares how focusing on small, steady progress helps people trust the recovery process, even when the path feels long and uncertain. We also talk about why true recovery is not just about stabilizing symptoms, but about finding purpose, direction, and something meaningful to live for.

Jared opens up about his own journey, the years he spent without direction, and how the absence of Ikigai contributed to his mental health crisis. Through his work with NAMI, public speaking, and podcasting, he has found a sense of calling in helping others heal, grow, and rediscover hope.

This episode is about resilience, compassion, and the courage to keep going one step at a time. It reflects the Samurai spirit of Ganbaru, never giving up, even when the road is difficult.

If you or someone you love is navigating recovery, searching for purpose, or simply needs encouragement, I hope this conversation offers insight, comfort, and hope.

Thank you for walking this path with me.

LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-bendifallah/

Public Speaking and Resourceshttps://thefivebuildingblocksofrecovery.com

Five Building Blocks of Recovery Podcast

Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/63BOX5Rl5pF5kC24YV5Y4U

Connect with Jared Bendifallah

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I had the opportunity to have a heartfelt conversation with Ido Kalev, former senior commander in Israeli intelligence and aviation security, had over 30 years of international experience. 

Ido shared how his years of military service leading operations in six countries to rebuilding lives after trauma, prepared him to share insights in resilience, leadership under pressure, and emotional intelligence.  He spoke about Kintsugi the Japanese art of  repairing broken pottery to emerge a finished product even more beautiful, and Ganbaru, the principle of never giving up.

We also spoke about Hanukah, courage, resilience, and faith.  It also happened to be recorded on the second day of Hanukah. 

The principles of courage, Ganbaru, and Kintsugi reminded me of Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese diplomat during WWII, who defied the Japanese government to write transit visas for Jewish refugees seeking escape.  

You will want to check out Ido's recent book, "The Spy Who Led Me:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMXZRMHZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title for more information. 

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