Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

By Candice KumaiHealth & Fitness Nutrition Mental Health Education How To

Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai episodes

May 04 EP 203 Happy AANHPI Month: Stand Proud, Stay Rooted, and Know Where You Come From
AANHPI Month: Honoring Japanese Beauty, Wellness & the Truth About Matcha: Konnichiwa, my friends. Genki desu ka.
This AANHPI Month, we begin not with trends—but with truth, reverence, and remembrance.
Because behind every bowl of matcha, every beauty ritual, every moment of calm that the world now celebrates...there are generations of Asian hands, stories, discipline, and devotion that made it possible. And for a long time, those stories were not told.
This episode is about honoring them.
It’s about honoring Japan, and the greater AANHPI community:
China, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Hawaii, and beyond:
the cultures that have shaped global wellness, beauty, and food in ways that are only now being recognized.
It’s about bowing—not performatively, but with deep respect: to the teachers, farmers, chefs, artisans, and elders who came before us.
Because what we are witnessing right now w/ the global rise of matcha, the fascination with Japanese beauty rituals, the obsession with “clean living”—this did not happen overnight. And it did not happen without us.
For decades, Asian culture was overlooked, misunderstood, or reduced to aesthetics without context. Our food was simplified. Our beauty rituals were copied. Our philosophies—like wabi sabi, kintsugi, and mindfulness...were often stripped of their depth.
And yet, we continued to show up. Quietly. Consistently. With excellence.Today, the world is finally catching up.
But with that visibility comes responsibility. Thank you for listening - please share this episode with a friend and make sure to give this podcast a five star review and subscribe thank you so much for listening again I really appreciate you x ck
32 min
April 13 EP 202 Why Japanese Women Age Differently: 6 JBeauty Rituals That Actually Work
In this episode of the Wabi Sabi podcast, I take you deeper into the Japanese beauty rituals I was raised with practices that go far beyond surface-level beauty and into how we live, care for ourselves, and honor our bodies daily. Long before J-Beauty became a trend, these rituals were part of my everyday life, rooted in discipline, mindfulness, and a deep respect for simplicity.
I share how true beauty begins with what we nourish ourselves with, how we slow down, and how we care for our skin and spirit with intention. From sencha and mineral-rich foods to bathing rituals, gentle skincare, and the philosophy of doing less, but doing it well...these are the timeless habits that create lasting radiance.
This episode is an invitation to return to what actually works. To simplify your routine, reconnect with yourself, and embrace a more grounded, natural approach to beauty that supports you from the inside out. Thank you for listening! x Candice
21 min
March 31 EP 201- Matcha Is Japanese: Here Are the Facts
On today’s episode of Wabi Sabi, I’m setting the record straight on matcha. There’s a lot of misinformation out there right now, and as a journalist with over 20 years in media and deep roots in Japanese culture, I felt it was important to share the facts. I break down the real history, the difference between mo cha and matcha, and why matcha is a distinctly Japanese product defined by its process, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity. This is about clarity, respect, and telling the truth. Thank you for listening x Candice
27 min
March 09 EP 200 - Robin Arzón: Discipline, Resilience & Women Supporting Women
I’m so excited to share this conversation with Peloton’s Head Instructor and bestselling author Robin Arzón. Robin has inspired millions through movement, discipline, and her powerful mindset, and in this episode we talk about what it truly takes to build strength from the inside out.
Robin and I discuss resilience, reinventing your life, and the courage it takes to pursue your purpose. We also talk about how movement, community, and self-belief can transform the way we live.
Thank you for being here and for listening to the Wabi Sabi podcast. I’m so grateful to share this milestone moment with all of you. ✨
19 min
February 02 Ep 199- 7 Beauty Trends I’ve Tested That Actually Work for 2026
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how beauty trends move faster than our bodies ever could.
Every week there’s a new ‘miracle’ ingredient, a new routine, a new product we’re told we need. But most of it hasn’t been tested long enough, deeply enough, or lived with in real life.
So today, I want to share something different.
These are seven beauty practices I’ve actually tested, integrated, and kept in my own life—and they’re not about perfection or chasing youth. They’re about cellular health, nervous system balance, and protecting your skin and body for the long run.
We’re going to talk about why NAD is changing the future of skincare, why something as simple as morning sunlight can affect collagen and sleep, how matcha and blueberries protect your skin at a cellular level, and why gut health might be the most underrated beauty tool we have.
This isn’t about hype. It’s about what works—and why.
If you’re tired of trends that promise everything and deliver nothing, this episode is for you. Thanks for listening xx ck
30 min
January 20 Ep 198 - The Quiet Rules of Japan That Make Your Trip Magical
In today’s episode is for anyone traveling to Japan soon—or anyone who simply loves Japan and wants to understand why it feels so magical. Because yes, Tokyo is dazzling, Kyoto is beautiful, and the food will ruin you in the best way… but the real secret is something quieter.
Japan runs on what I call the quiet rules—the small cultural details that make your trip smoother, more respectful, and honestly, more elevated. These are the habits that help you move through stations with ease, feel confident in restaurants, understand onsen etiquette, and avoid the mistakes that unintentionally scream “tourist.”
So if you have a trip coming up, grab a pen, take notes, and share this episode with your friend who’s about to book Tokyo and Kyoto and call it done. And even if you don’t have a trip planned, these little cultural cues are still inspiring—because they teach us how to move through the world with more intention and grace. Thank you for listening! X Candice
24 min
January 05 Ep 197- Seven Lessons Japan Teaches Us About Living Well in 2026
In today’s episode, I want to take you with me to Japan. I went during a time of sadness, to be with family, and what I received there were lessons I didn’t even know I needed.
This conversation is about seven quiet teachings Japan offers us as we move into 2026. We talk about why January doesn’t need reinvention, why acceptance is one of the most powerful tools we have, and how small, cumulative practices can support real wellness. We explore wabi sabi, the wisdom of elders, ancient traditions, nervous system care, and what it truly means to go inward without disappearing.
If you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or pressured to have it all figured out, this episode is for you. My hope is that you listen slowly, take what resonates, and leave the rest.
Thank you for being here with me. Let’s begin x Candice
35 min
November 24, 2025 Ep 196- 5 Things to DO NOW Before 2026
Welcome to the little Wabi Sabi Podcast — a pause before the new year, a breath before everything shifts again.
This is for anyone who wants to feel grounded, clearer, lighter, more like themselves again.
These are five things that genuinely work — not trends, not hacks, not what the algorithm pushes — but practices that help you return to your real life, your real joy, your real self.
Let’s get into it. Thank you for listening! x Candice
24 min
November 11, 2025 EP 195 Matcha, Culture, and Clarity: A Japanese-American Perspective
In this episode, I’m sharing the real story behind matcha — where it comes from, why it’s special, and what’s actually happening right now with the global demand and supply. After nearly two decades working in Japanese culinary culture and tea education, I wanted to give you a clear, respectful guide to understanding matcha the right way.
I walk you through the regions that shape its flavor, the history that shaped its ceremony, and why Japanese politeness often keeps the deeper truths from being spoken. I also talk about what it feels like to watch a part of my heritage become a trend, and why it’s so important to learn from Japanese voices, farmers, authors, and journalists.
If you love matcha or want to understand Japanese culture with more depth and care, this episode is for you.
29 min
October 27, 2025 EP 194 Mental Wellness: 7 Ways That Actually Work
As we move into the colder months, many of us are quietly struggling — with stress, loneliness, and the weight of trying to hold it all together. In this episode, Candice opens up about the small, free practices that actually help her stay grounded.
From protecting your peace and therapy, to volunteering, movement, cooking, time with animals, and the Japanese art of letting go — these simple habits are backed by real research and lived experience.
This is a reminder that healing doesn’t have to be perfect or expensive. Sometimes, the most powerful work you can do is quiet, gentle, and completely free. Thank you for listening x Candice
29 min

About Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

From the publisher's feed

Coined "the golden girl of wellness" by ELLE & FORBES, Candice Kumai, 6x bestselling author, chef, wellness writer and model shares with us her painfully-imperfect life lessons and experiences that have shaped her 17 year career in media, publishing, wellness, food, modeling and content creation.