Naoness: The Power of Connection

Join us as we celebrate Naoko's birthday and delve into the profound benefits of meditation. In today's episode, we explore how meditation can transform your life, offering insights and techniques to enhance your well-being. Let's dive in and discover the power of mindfulness and inner peace. Happy Birthday Naoko!

We welcome back Monica from Ep. 49 to talk a little about Japanese pop culture in the realm of reality TV. Ultimately, we talk about how cyberbullying knows no international boundaries and how we can build healthy habits around media literacy. We end on a happy note of Japanese Girl's Day celebrated on March 3 every year.

We kick off our conversation by sharing our 'word for the year,' a concept inspired by a career coach. The idea is to think about one word that can keep us grounded, focused, and have a profound impact throughout the coming year, as opposed to setting up often intangible and unachievable hefty resolutions. We then delve into our thoughts on Course 1 of the UC Berkeley-based Othering & Belonging Institute.

Naoness is thrilled to host a special guest, Monica, in our first recording of 2024! We met Monica over 30 years ago, but didn't keep in touch per se until recently. It's extraordinary to revisit some time capsule moments, picking up right where we left off in junior high school. In this episode, we dive into Monica's journey—from her impactful work in social services at a mental health clinic to the unexpected joys of Japanese octopus jerky. Our focus is on the life and mind of Monica, who found herself thrust into a city metropolis for two crucial years during her adolescence. Tune-in for a captivating conversation that explores the myriad experiences that have shaped Monica's unique perspective on life.

We remain focused on cultivating life intentions that foster environments of belonging. With a dedication to learning, we're excited to share our thoughts on a free online course provided by the Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI University). As fall comfort food and Thanksgiving approaches, we're thrilled to engage in an exciting discussion about Japanese curry too!

We're thrilled to welcome Tim, an educator in private and public high schools for decades in California and Japan. Naoko x Naoko are interested in the topic of education as parents and in our growth development. We discuss current events like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how Tim teaches students to formulate unbiased opinions of the conflict as much as possible. We touch upon his unique role and involvement in the transformation of a local public high school to create a small learning community, and how it's become a model for creating a special learning environment. Finally, we talk about issues impacting today's HS students outside of academia. Tune-in to learn more!

Welcome to Naoness! This is our new recording after a 4-month hiatus of living. We catch up on the epic trips we made this summer, and briefly touch upon Barbie and Oppenheimer; while talking about death and how thinking about it can help us live better lives!

From improvisation techniques to method acting, Naoko reflects on the past year after celebrating another birthday. How do we intentionally live every day so the past doesn't go by in a blur? We talk about community building, respect for teachers, and nurturers. The final question in this episode is "A year from now, what will you wish you had done today?" Listen to hear what Naoness has to say!

March Madness, weathering through Cali blackouts, cherry blossoms, and toxic work cultures. As always, Naoness spans many topics to maintain a healthy work-life balance. For every Naoness episode, we have consistently talked about belonging and inclusion; this is no exception. We end with Naoko's obsession with vanilla cream & cakes and pan out to fermented foods.

We welcome back special guest, Sahira, from Episode 19 almost exactly a year ago, to share our reviews about her recommended film viewing of Jonah Hill's "Stutz." We love the simple visual model of therapy tools that Jonah extracts from his therapist, leading psychiatrist, Phil Stutz.  Part love story of their relationship, part useful and practical tools to bring to your everyday - don't miss!  

We open our first New Year episode to share One word we'd like to focus on intentionally this year. Naoness also honors MLK day 2023 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s open letter, "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written in August 1963, after he was imprisoned as a participant in a nonviolent demonstration.  69 years later, what have we learned from America's landscape, and as women of color, what is our part in living through the continued inequities in our society?  We have the moral responsibility to take a "strong, persistent, and determined action" when injustices occur because "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." We always pause to talk about food and connections.  Naoko celebrates her daughter's birthday and learn which family has a unique word for leftovers.

Crisp air, apples and pumpkins are more pronounced in WA state vs. Northern California and certainly Naoness is going through seasonal changes as Naoko embarks on a new job, and another kid is dropped off at college.  Why is it an embarrassment to show our deep emotions in public and why is crying in public a sign of weakness?  Join us as we explore these emotions and end on a note of hummus.  

34 episodes, 1,000+ plays later, we are still here, recording organic conversations of COMMUNITY, FAMILY, HEALING, WORK, IDENTITY, CULTURE, and FOOD THOUGHTS.  Thank you to our steady listeners who track each episode and Welcome, if this is the first episode that you're tuning and listening to.  With gratitude, Naoko x Naoko

A rare morning recording of Naoness begins with gratitude -women empowering women and inspiring each other.  We expand on ALOK (from ep. 31 & 32) addressing in an ACLU podcast conversation that "creative self-expression is foundational to being alive and not some luxury." Naoko x Naoko aspire to continue to explore a culture of dissent - which is cultivating an environment where our community has the ability to have a thoughtful disagreement to find out what's true. Don't miss our rant on our complex relationship with our given name, NAOKO too! We finish our conversation with COMFORT FOOD when under the weather and Burmese Tea leaf salad?!

This episode of Naoness is had within the present moment of back-to-school for one Naoko and enjoying the remainder of summer for the other Naoko.  Listen to the previous episode 31, as we delve deeper into profound topics that inspire us. We reference two of ALOK'S (an acclaimed gender non-conforming writer/poet, performer and speaker's podcasts: one from their conversation with ACLU | American Civil Liberties Union reimagining gender, and one from "The Man Enough" podcast on transforming and toxic masculinity.  Listen to the podcast Renegades where Naoko wells up in tears when Naoko triggers the conversation and healing process between "ghosts and ancestors."  Of course, we end on a lighter note of food: pizza and turkey burgers.  Listen now for one of our most interesting topics as of yet.

We honor Memorial Day by remembering our US military men and women who served our country for our freedom, protected the common good, and brought relief to disaster-stricken areas of the world. We pivot to highlight two high school students graduating this year - 2022.  Mia and Sam share how they met in 6th grade and how their lives converge from one who was born and raised in the same town, and one who grew up in multiple states.  Join us for the most present trip down high school memory lane, especially from students' perspectives through the pandemic, coming out of it, and how they're embarking on their transition of heading to university in the fall. 

Did you know that Girl's Day is celebrated in Japan on March 3rd every year? We'll take a celebration of girls any day, every day.  We also follow up and take a deep dive into why Ralph Ellison's, "Invisible Man" resonated with us when we read the book as required reading in high school and how the masterpiece is still relevant, poignant & a must-read to all who are trying to understand how to navigate life's intricacies and "absurd diversity" while seeking the truth in themselves.  

A spontaneous conversation (aka our minds and thoughts are all over the place):

• Having multi-racial children and the navigation of nurturing them through life
• Recognizing parallel similarities of systemic racism in the US and Japan, two different nations and cultures. 
• We're not looking away from reality because it hurts. Advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion is HARD WORK.

References:

Masterclass BLACK History Freedom & Love Season 2 Ep. 2 Know the Black Intellectual Tradition

“We all have blind spots. We all have a lens through which we view the world that has no monopoly on truth, or beauty, or goodness. So as a revolutionary Christian, I don’t believe revolutionary Christians have a monopoly on the way the world is. We miss out on some things. I can’t conceive of myself without Malcolm X, a revolutionary Muslim....The variety of voices all around the country and the world have to be taken seriously, especially when you know that you are fallible. You are finite. And you are fallen. And therefore, you got something to learn. So I can read as widely as I can. I can learn and listen to my Indigenous brothers and sisters, many of whom when they hear the word “Christianity,” they look for a weapon because Christianity subordinated them, abused them, mistreated them, was a rationalization of genocidal attacks on them. And I understand that even as a Christian, you see? And you could imagine the variety of the other voices. Sister Bell Hooks, what a towering figure she is. She’s Buddhist now. I got to listen to the Buddhist traditions including Bell Hooks, including Charles Johnson, …I think all of us want to recognize that we have got something to learn from other people who disagree with us. It’s not just a matter of ‘I got a conservative friend. I got a non-Christian, or a non-Islam, or an atheistic partner. No. They got something to say. They’ve got something to teach us. And yet, in the end, you’re going to have to take your stand in terms of which traditions and which aspects of those traditions you’re going to try to live out. And so I always had to be honest in terms of what is inside my heart, mind, soul, and my own skin. ‘Brother West, where do you stand in terms of the various traditions that you’re a part of?’ Well, it is to be a Jesus-loving free Black man who learns and listens from others who tries to write, bear witness, sacrifice, got to jail, willing to die, put on cemetery clothes every day, coffin ready, but still got a smile on my face, and still trying to preserve the style that I got from Irene and Clifton, and Cynthia, and Cheryl, and Shiloh Baptist Church, and Reverend Willie P. Cook and Deacon Hinton and Sarah Ray.” -Cornel West

Today's episode is inspired by writer and professor Roxanne Gay, who has unapologetically coined the term A Bad Feminist. Her TED talk, "Confessions of a Bad Feminist" is a must-watch where she has an empathetic vision of identity and its flaws. Then we touch upon a poignant film titled, "Feminists: What Were They Thinking?" a documentary that spans women photographed by Cynthia MacAdams in the 70s to where they are and what perspectives they share today, looking back in time.  

Happy Lunar New Year! We're celebrating our 20th episode with endless conversation about culture and community. This spans from the meaning of Lunar New Year, fast food (In N Out, McDonald's and Japanese burger chain MOS Burger anyone?) , to of course, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Naoko introduces Naoko to American writer and activist, James Baldwin, where his complex narrative centered around America's civil rights movement is beautifully directed by Haitian director Raoul Peck's documentary "I am Not Your Negro."  Compelling, poignant and poetic, themes of race and class intertwine and should be on  the watch list of all. We also revel in the works of powerful women of Viola Davis and Stacey Abrams, each of who is changing history by being present, being uniquely 'them' and impacting their respective roles in film and politics.  

Join us for one of our RICHEST conversations as of yet.  Naoko surprises Naoko with a guest, Sahira, to add to our power of connection. We touch upon the death of a loved one, memories that go back more than 40 years ago to Kindergarten, the origin narrative of Islam, Christianity & Judaism and mostly on the pain of being excluded and the beauty of belonging.

Finally, the Omicron variant (we think it's this one because the symptoms were mild) hits home with Naoko's pre-schooler.  The 0-5 years age bracket is still not approved for vaccinations.  Our message is to get VAXED to protect the vulnerable and keep the virus from spreading.  Yesterday was MLK day, an American federal holiday, honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.  We share how Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech still resonates a little shy of 60 years later. Transcript of his full speech here:  https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety  

We also celebrate Naoko's daughter's birthday hitting a milestone of 11.  "Be kind to yourself moms and be present." is our motherly message to those who are mothering or parenting today.  *Note there are a couple disruptions, aka voice of toddler :) to represent our NOW

How do we overcome 'not being good enough?' We don't necessarily have clear answers, and here is our conversation.

Welcome to Naoness.  We (Naoko x Naoko) are excited to begin Season 2 after launching this past September 2021 with one vision and one bucket list to create a podcast.  A vision to have a heartfelt conversation with a dear trusted friend on everything and anything.  We found reasons why we still are friends after 30+ years.  Our quarterly check-ins on the phone until last September have now/NAO been replaced by weekly check-ins or intentional conversation and connection on sharing what's on our mind.  From being a part of the AAPI community, the founding of our continuously growing self, it is never too late to be curious and learn about ourselves, different cultures and what it means to be American.  This season, we are actively searching for guests on our show, the more the merrier for vibrant conversation.  Love and light, Naoko x Naoko

Naoness launched this past September 2021.  We are grateful to have gained listeners organically and hope to continue this conversation of cherishing the present while practicing love, kindness and patience.  Some things we learned are:

• Accepting that light & darkness coexist.
• How to stay resilient & hopeful when things fall apart.
• Friendship is a big part of self-care and healing.

Thank you for discovering and embracing us.  Onward to 2022.  Peace and Love.

Blessings for Naoko Tsunoda's 81-year old mom joining us for a post Christmas, pre New Years Day episode.  Mostly in English, some parts in Japanese.  Mom likes to move towards the future and have goals.  She was honestly surprised we brought up some stories to share from her 36 years ago past!! Life is so frail and time is the one thing we cannot stop, we learn about how Masako finds pottery as her artistic medium in her late 30s that she continues all throughout her life, while balancing wifedom, motherhood and more.  

Content warning: This episode explores childhood and intergenerational trauma.

Naoness is blessed to share this week's conversation with younger voices, specifically young adults in college.  We each are honest and raw about sharing our childhood traumas and our process of healing. Naoness is a place of continued compassion for one another across race, gender and age.  

Definition: Trauma is the lasting emotional response that often results from living through a distressing event.  Experiencing a traumatic event can harm a person's sense of safety, sense of self, and ability to regulate emotions and navigate relationships.  Long after the traumatic event occurs, people with trauma can often feel shame helplessness, powerlessness and intense fear.

Naoness takes a lot of time talking about ojiya, okayu, aka rice porridge, congee, etc.  There is so much Asian cultural heritage in the depths of comfort food we eat when we're sick and looking for a nourishing and nutritious meal that soothes our ailed bodies.  We touch upon distinctive Asian condiments like kimchi and umeboshi as well as tea-infused hot pot and soup bowls.  Then, if you're seeking for special retreats, check out the Historic House & Gardens that Naoko recently visited with her MIL. https://filoli.org/  Happy Holidays Everyone!

This week, Naoness, talks about the ever-frailty of life and time, which makes the Nao/Now ever more important.  As always, we touch upon a span of topics from light & darkness, follow-up to student protests to more than we imagined (but not surprising) talk about Holiday cookies and our nostalgic childhood experiences in Tokyo.  

We don't have to be the first ones to tell you that parenting is one of the most difficult jobs. Naoko shares her recent parenting mishap, while being aware of guilt and shame's storylines. As a parent, identifying reactive behaviors in the moment and understanding our triggers is a lifetime journey. We explore tools that are available to us to disrupt our engraved patterns: to be present and mindful, returning to the breath, or nowness—a recurring theme and practice grounded in Naoness! We then touch upon how we define 'success' in blended families. Of course, we always end on deliciousness. The cold, wet season, at least in the Pacific Northwest, makes us yearn for warm, braised meat dishes like Japanese 'buta no kakuni.' After the mention of a Crockpot, Naoko is inspired to make corned beef and cabbage, slow-cooked for 10 hours after our recording.

We're both surprised by how chewing gum (of all things!) triggers wonderful childhood memories with our Moms—lessons learned not to steal!  Enduring mother-daughter bonds. And nurturing our children's appreciation for good food and flavors.