Legends Interview Series Presented by Sarah Furuya Coaching

SEASON THREE FINALE

Season Three Episode Nine

Season Three Episode Seven 

In Karen’s book ‘The View From Breast Pocket Mountain’ before I even got to page 50 she had introduced me to her young relationship with Joseph Heller, author of Catch 22, hanging out with Neneh Cherry (childhood hero of mine). Now, I am a sloooooow reader - I like that about myself - I read about 10 books a year and these days listen to more, but I decided to purchase Karen’s book and dip in before our conversation. I couldn’t put it down. From the first page, that we don’t reveal - it has you hooked.

I am genuinely changed through our conversation - I just loved listening to her talking about being a mother and taking the next steps, humbling herself to being both inside and outside a culture and living a full life in the Japanese countryside. Karen is beautiful and one of the most wonderful things I love about being a woman is how we can traverse with ease across intelligent meaningful conversations with depth and skill to talking about beauty and today was no exception - before we hit record, we both paused and topped up our lipstick! 

We didn’t even touch on the fact that Karen almost became a dancer and taught modern dance and at the end of the conversation, Karen reads from her novel; a wonderful chapter about her relationship with her neighbours - I mean let’s just drop MC hammer in here shall we (I also drop a tasty tidbit in here about my history with the Hammer).

In terms of brilliance - you can’t touch this. (See what I did there?)

• The questions we DON’T have about our parents and how many stories live in our imagination
• We talk about imagination and living in the past and the burden of creating anxiety in our fantasies - brilliant coaching fodder! Curiosity and pragmatism
• She was raised in a time when there was no imaginings about not respecting a parent. It was simply not an option
• The power and influence of good teachers and mentors and how important the people who will see and witness your potential are. This comes up in a future conversation too (look out for May) AND in the conversation with Leza Lowitz
• DREAMS - opening the edges of our dreams through contact with people who can open our dreams
• What happens when she - she just couldn’t get enough
• Following what’s in front of you and being swept away - not reckless, not crazy, not even edgy but unafraid
• Corners - going around a corner and not being afraid and not knowing what’s around the corner
• The joy of becoming a mother and how she never found having a child limiting, she couldn’t be more grateful for children and all that role created for her
• She is absolutely clear in the book about how hard it was on a farm with no running water and toilets they had to empty themselves and 3 young kids - there’s NO BS here
• The tragedy of isolation and the joy of community in motherhood
• You will have to read the book to get the full dojo experience but Karen teases us with the year they had on a dojo
• Being in community in the deep Shizuoka countryside on Japan
• How becoming a Japanese Calligraphy 2-dan (basically better than a black-belt) opened Japanese culture up
• She stopped being a rebel and what she has to say about standing out and fitting in
• Life as a cross-cultural coach columnist
• Her life now, her four adult children and her approach to future projects

Season Three Episode Six

Season Three Episode Five

Season Three Episode Four

Introducing Leza Lowitz, the legend of Tokyo Yoga.

You can see me working things through here as new information comes in from Leza - it’s one of the things I love about these conversations and these legends - what I learn. New ways to think and feel through life.

There’s so much richness in Leza’s story - from the American Mid-West in Iowa, to Key West, Florida then Berkley California, this is a story of the ages. An American story that lands in Japan then continues to evolve.

There are many ways to lead a life.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ― Viktor Frankl

Leza has a unique perspective on life, having lived many different economic, racial and cultural chapters in her life, which makes her have a unique appreciation for the many many ways to lead a life. This, I believe is what gives her gravitas, authority and agency; knowing that with the right mentors, encouragement and opportunities, and the ability to follow those, you can build and create in your life. We cover so much in this conversation from the Vietnam War to the 6 perfections of Buddhism, business, writing and motherhood - it’s all in here.

• How she ended up going to the same school as Kamala Harris, where she saw Maya Angelou speak
  
• How her tumultuous childhood was a calmed as she was introduced to meditation, then an Okinawan Martial Art that planted the seed for her move to Japan
  
• How when she was pushed to her limit she was made to understand what you she was capable of
  
• We talk about being a victim and how we truly are victims in our stories and how we CAN emerge and move forward and retell our stories
  
• Access to amazing mentors and people to believe in you is essential to pull people toward their potential
  
• The influence of philanthropic people and how her sister took that idea of community into her Medical practice
  
• We discuss the addiction to struggle and drama - do you have struggle addiction? We are reminded of the Goo Goo Dolls `You bleed just to know you’re alive’
  
• Get into your body - getting embodied and getting out of the fight or flight and into the rest and digest ‘within my body there’s a city’
  
• The trance of unworthiness, the culture of adoration, rest and digest
  
• The journey to Japan and how she continued writing and that opened doors to Japan’s most prestigious university
  
• The small voice that told her to open a yoga studio, And that same voice that told her that there was a child waiting out there for her. The strong call to motherhood
  
• How her yoga studio didn’t take off until she really settled into it herself - and THEN how she ended up on a famous Japanese comedy show!
  
• How to rebel within the cultural framework of a different country - and how grateful to Japan we are

Season Three Episode Three

Season Three Episode Two
“It’s never too late to start again”

Fiery feminist and cattle farmer move to New Guinea with with 2-week old Martine on their lap to build roads in the jungles.

Forgive my clumsy questions around racism here - Martine engages brilliantly. 

Martine Cotton has had a fascinating life in one of the many many ways to lead them. Born in Brisbane, she has now returned there by way of New Guinea, Japan, Far North Queensland and many exciting music tours around Australia. 

What have Powderfinger, Gwen Stefani, Nick Cave and Mogwai got in common? Martine has stories about all of them. 

In this conversation, we navigate from Martine being raised in the Aussie community in New Guinea for her early years, to return to life in Australia, the horrors of boarding school, the joy of studying film at university, being at the helm of the Australian music industry in the 90s, an unexpected move to Japan, a stint in the beautiful tropics of Far North Queensland and then what brought her back to Brisbane and her decision, aged 50 to start studying for a BSc in nutrition. 

We delve into the racism so deeply ingrained in Australia, and older generations of family, and how she navigates that through the lens of the social justice.

Martine is passionate on the topic of public health and the societal and individual changes that can be made to help people to not only live long but to live in good health. It’s fascinating listening to her talk about her wish to change public perception around what’s possible for healthy living.

We talk about:

• The life and soul of the party - how her Mum and Dad loved to enjoy themselves and how she honoured them in death.
• Bananas, tinned sheep’s brains and more.
• Boarding School Syndrome
• Getting older and being gentler
• Every project doesn’t have to be the best - being good can be enough
• How she got into studying film
• Writing Romantic fiction about Duran Duran and Adam and the Ants
• The paradoxes of both being devoted and loving family and the schisms that happen
• Band management and club promotion and her deep love of music and bands 
• A move to Japan and how Blogging in the early and mid-2000s brought people together, including us
• Nutrition, DNA, Food as medicine

"It’s never too late to start again"

Martine Cotton is something of a jill-of-many-trades, in more rarefied hallways perhaps you could call her a 'multipotentialite'. Mostly because she gets bored quickly once she's worked out the ins and outs of a role or skill. She's forged out career stints in the music industry as a venue manager, band manager, major and small festival and event producer, booking agent, tour manager, marketing and social media director, graphic artist, website builder and music industry educator. Outside of the music world, she's worked as a professional photographer (newspapers, weddings, portraits, events, live music), writer, cook, horse-and-cart driver, English teacher, blogger and university tutor. In 2019, bored again after a 5 year stint running her own online music industry professional development education platform, she started studying a Bachelor of Health Science degree at the University of Queensland, majoring in Nutrition and Public Health. Now on the wrong (best?) side of 50, she has - for the first time ever - settled quite comfortably in the same house and city for over 6 years and absolutely loving being immersed in study.

Season Three Episode One

Season Two Episode Ten

Season Two Episode Nine

Introducing Illustrator Katie Chappell  a virtual scribe and live event illustrator best known for her fresh wobbly illustration and giant live window paintings. She has created live illustrations for global clients including Apple, Facebook, Google, Chromebook, BT, Dove and Nespresso among many others.

"My drawings are there so that everybody can understand what’s going on straight away without having to sit through hours of Zoom conferences.

It all started with some graphic recording at a sustainability event for Edinburgh University in 2016, and now I specialise in online virtual illustration, from my studio in the UK.

I’m here so that people don’t die of Zoom fatigue or boredom. I consider myself a spoon-feeder of boring information, bringing people back from the ledge of ‘OMG NOT ANOTHER ZOOM MEETING"

Trigger warning - we touch on pregnancy loss and eating disorders

Katie and I belong to the same coaching group around money mindset and I became instantly curious about her hilarious posts (you’ll see - she has a wicked sense of humour), about how her business was building and thriving, how generous and open she was about sharing what she was doing, earning and working on and how unafraid she is. That does not mean she doesn’t have boundaries - oh no, she has excellent boundaries, but she is also not scared to share intimate parts of her life journey, her income story, within the group, how she does therapy to help her to stay focussed on business. I find these are the people with a lot of growth - they move through their fear, or are unafraid yet also have great boundaries and are incredibly creative.

Katie’s story is a brilliant example of Planned Happenstance - that mixture of curiosity, persistence, flexibility, optimism and readiness.

In fact it’s quite the roller coaster ride that takes us from Scotland to England, Berlin, Italy, SE Asia, Cornwall and from Nannying, working for her Dad and finally this illustration entrepreneur, the Captain of the Good Ship Illustration and Bullet Journal Gang Leader. Not to mention in-demand live illustrator (I’ve just hired her to do some work with my 1-year clients next year and I am incredibly excited).

In this conversation we touch on:

• The nuances of being from both England and Scotland
• Open mics at aged 13 and her original career dream!
• What motivated her to recover from a serious eating disorder and the ongoing work on that (Quote: Fat is not an emotion).
• Being kicked out of her nannying family, immediately after she tendered her notice, in a new city with a bag of wet washing and how she dealt with that.
• Being taught cheeky entrepreneurship as a young woman
• How her brain cracked open to therapy
• What her greatest learning and takeaway was from her Art degree and her Masters (it may not be what you assume actually!)

One of the great things about Katie is her unfettered yet unpretentious optimism.

And she is hilarious as you will and as her website will confirm.

Find her here

Season Two Episode Eight
"You don’t have to be recognised as a Legend, to live like one."

In this uplifting and emotional conversation Francesca Conate talks about dealing with a drawn-out diagnosis, dating with a disability and bringing beautiful energy into the world and the connection between our mind and body. 

From a coaching perspective there is so much to jump into - the twists and turns of life, taking responsibility WITHOUT BLAME for your situation, living life with a joyous and optimistic energy - living like a legend, even if you are not recognised as one. Having confidence from the inside out.

She moved to Japan and spent 13 happy years working as a business English Consultant for Blue Chip Companies and started the Facebook Group African in Japan, where she shares the joy and stories of people and cities in all the countries of Africa. 

After 13 years in Japan, she returned to West USA to deal with health condition and entered a two-year period of uncertainty and heartache while waiting for a diagnosis. Although this was a difficult and emotional journey for her, it is through telling this story that she becomes life coach to us - advising how to navigate such a situation with skill and wisdom. And of course it applies to many other areas of life - not just diagnosis.

Eldest of 3 children of an African American Mum, born in the 50’s, and West African Dad, we talk about losing a parent very suddenly and very quickly when she was very young, and about disease, balance, blame, fear and how we are always trying to work out how we can stay well and live a long life.

How she started to lose herself in her long diagnosis journey but them realised that Francesca was alive and well inside her. It didn’t change - nobody, on her return to Japan was treating her any different because of her cane, her changed mobility and her adjusted energy levels

Being your own best advocate and how she would invite us to go through the diagnosis process - this gets emotional from the heart as Francesca thinks about how it could help people from going through the same heartache she did when she was going through the 2-year diagnosis process. 

She talks about how she pushed back to Doctors and demanded diagnoses not guess-work, her approach to advocating for herself, her body and her health and how her Dad’s logical approach is forever present in her daily life.  Her Mum is the biggest influence in her life, having been a solo parent since her 30s, her Mum made her everything she is today and her Dad is ever present. 

She was and IS still 100% Francesca.

One thing that strikes me about Francesca is her uncompromising presence. And her focus. As we talk about masculine energy, not allowing being a woman to silence her, and how to win at life, we also muse on how  it is crucial to be happy for other people’s winning. 

What a treat this one was - I feel like I just had a coaching masterclass in living fully with our mind, body and presence. And of course with our loved ones.

Season Two Episode Seven 

Introducing Jane Best OBE, Legend of Fuji Rock
"I've had such a variety of experiences ... I think it's really important; make the most of good opportunities; even in the time of the pandemic find what there is good in life, I mean it's great isn't it, and people are great ...generally!"

You will see Jane's great lust for life come through in this Legend. She is a force for good, and from an early age overcame chronic shyness and discovered debating. this led to a heightened political awareness and a theme that runs through Jane's work is a combination political activism and awareness, learning and unlearning how to give support and service, especially in the form catering and cooking. She has made Shepherds Pie for the Rolling Stones, released a book about traditional English cooking in Japanese, and has visited numerous refugee projects that Refugee Empowerment International has funded over the years. Jane has an optimism and enjoyment of life that is clear to anyone as well as numerous stories that will educate and inspire. Now in her 60s she lives in the far West of Tokyo in the most idyllic house in the mountains next to the river

***Trigger warning - we talk about colonial harm experienced in Africa, we discuss the attitude of white people living full time in Zambia, we discuss South Africa during apartheid and use some of the language of that regime descriptively. Please take care listening as we may be clumsy but I believe these stories should be told lest they are lost***

In this episode we talk about:

Season Two Episode Six

Season Two Episode Five
Introducing Jessica Korteman, Legend of Solo Travel. Jessica Korteman is an Australian travel writer, formerly based in Tokyo, Japan, now residing in Melbourne, Australia. She’s travelled to more than 50 countries, about half of them solo, and circumnavigated the globe three times – once by plane, once by ship and the other mostly overland.

***We talk about child loss in this show. So please take extra special care when you are listening***

In this podcast we talk about:

Season Two Episode Four

Introducing Terri Macmillan, legend of humans

Punk hippie scholar poet & no religion, too.
NYC → Tokyo.

Please sit down and treat yourself to this energising, frank conversation where nothing is taboo. Just two grown-assed women talking about the different ways to lead a life.

Enjoy!

In this podcast

In this conversation we talk about politics, race and depression frankly and conversationally so please take care of yourself as we listen. Also be aware there are swearwords, so you might want to pop on headphones in you are in company. We mention a lot of references and there are links in the show notes below.

• Original Podcaster in Tokyo
• Cherokee and Black ancestry
• Roots in the great African American migration from South to North America
• Church in Harlem to Queens, then being a crazy teenager - surprised she survived!
• Living a counter-culture lifestyle in the East Village by day and a corporate record company CBS by day
• Not having children - by choice and not needing therapy about that
• NYC in the 70s and 80s and working in Kentucky Fried Chicken on Times Square in the 70s - yes really
• Band Management and bringing ‘The Mozart Effect’ to Japan
• Falling apart, career pivot in her 50s and investing seriously in her health and well being
• The American Project and investing in something bigger than yourself
• The gentle atheist
• Politics is how we commune in society
• How she keeps buoyant and optimistic about American politics
• The enticing premise of the founding documents of America
• What the future holds for her 60s, 70s and 80s and her art and prolific output
• Being human and honouring the humanity of everyone - Terri is a unique and deeply truthful human with a heart of gold and resolve of steel
• Live Long and prosper (we are geeks at the end - wait for it!)

References

Season Two Episode Three

Season Two Episode One

Season One, Episode Seven

From rural Sweden to Premier Tokyo Performer. We tumble down the rabbit hole of joy, delight and coincidence and enter the magical world of people who live their life creatively, bravely, alternatively, queerly, colourfully, fully and unapologetically.  

Welcome to the Haus of Schwarz. 

Welcome to a fully expressed fantasy. 

Welcome to courage, conviction and another element of the human experience. 

Welcome to life up the bellcurve.  

"ALWAYS FORWARD, NEVER STRAIGHT!"

About Yukiro:

Yukiro is an androgynous model, singer, actor and film director. Yukiro runs a gothic drag show called “Die Schwarze Frau”.

Links:

Season One Episode Six

*Please note that there was a technical problem with the microphones towards the end of this interview. You will notice a change in audio quality.* 

 You may have heard Kyle pop up in various Legends Series episodes so far. Kyle is a Tokyo based videographer, who has worked on projects like Queer Eye Japan and with Sarah has skillfully created the legends series you have seen on YouTube. 

Today Kyle is on the other side of the camera with Sarah.

This is a glimpse behind the curtain of the way videos are put together and the thinking and evolution of the Legends Series.  It’s a way for us to process and talk about the fantastic people we were delighted to work with and interview and just what we took away and what it means to us. Not only that, but the process, on the back end of how we put all this stuff together. It maps to real life, it really does. 

In this episode you will hear:

- Kyle's philosophy on editing and shaping projects

- How Sarah and the other legends kept going despite what was happening in their lives

- Kyle's feeling about being on the other side of the camera

- Perfection and Imperfection and it's happening in this episode! 

- The margin for magic/fortune/things you can't account for

- Mindful agency

About Kyle:

Born in America and raised around the world, Kyle McCloskey has spent his life using film as a means for powerful and intimate storytelling, whether fictional or documentary. While attending Haverford College for his undergraduate degree, he wrote and directed an H.P. Lovecraft-inspired silent horror film that was accepted to international film festivals, garnering him his first IMDb credit.

In the time since, he has worked primarily as a bilingual Tokyo-based videographer, editor, and digital imaging technician/data loader. His work has ranged from big budget Hollywood films to PR videos for small businesses and entrepreneurial individuals looking to make their mark in Japan. He has coached Japanese documentary directors for English language fundraising pitches, written grants for international producers, edited short films and music videos, sourced archival photos and video, and even directed and shot the pilot episode of an NHK World documentary series.

Links:

Season One Episode Five

Keyboardist, Musician, Creator, Rock legend and one of the most authentic and sweet people I know.  

 Since age 16 Morgan has been in bands including Love Affair who had a huge hit with ‘Everlasting Love’, Mott the Hoople, of ‘All the Young Dudes’ fame and has collaborated with Yoko Ono, jammed with REM and was supported by Queen in the Mott the Hoople days!

In this episode you hear about:

• Therapy, meditation and his time in India: the gift that keeps giving  
• His tribute to John Lennon - a collaboration with Yoko Ono and how he found himself creating a beautiful version of one of John's most beloved songs in her hotel room  
• Learning French and the joy of immersion 
• The beginning of his time as a global nomad.

Watch the interview with Morgan on YouTube here:

Season One Episode Four

Tia Haygood of TopTia Photography has an infectious energy and a wicked sense of humor. From North Carolina, to Tokyo, from Law School to photography. 

In this episode you will hear about:

• The books that piqued her curiosity and led her to come to Japan and follow her dream
• How she transitioned from teaching to full time photographer 
• The importance of being seen, recognising opportunities and saying YES to them

Season One Episode Three

"Body work made me feel like my body was mine again".

The beautiful Maya Ileto joins this Legend episode. 

In this episode you will hear about: 

• Her early years and being a "world citizen" 
• Living in numerous countries with her academic parents
• How she recovered from years of heartache by finding a home in her body 
• How she transitioned her business from working full time in the NPO world to full time in her movement and body business
• The power of decisions  

Season One Episode Two

This Legend interview is with Lindsey Sawada of Setagaya Yoga Studio. We follow Lindsey's journey from her home in the UK, to the United States and then to Japan where she has been living since 1997. 

 In this episode you will hear about: 

•  Cultural heritage 
• Getting on with things
• DIY 
• Family
• Dancing and following your dreams 
• Returning from detours away from your dreams 
• Finding your calm 
• Choosing to be happy 
• Being yourself with skill and control.

About Lindsey:

Lindsey is a Brit who has been living in Tokyo since 1997. She lives ( in no order of importance) with her Japanese husband, daughter, mother in law and fat cat Louis Brown. She speaks English and Japanese fluently. Lindsey has a great passion for yoga and wellness, she loves being outdoors.

Links:

Season One Episode One

Welcome to the first ever Legend in podcast form! Please excuse the sound quality of this recording, it was our very first attempt! 

“If you wait for things to be perfect, that ship sails…”

So many gems of wisdom in this wonderful interview from  Tracey.  Tracey Northcott of Enfour, Tokyo Family Stays and Tracey Northcott Consulting, is a serial entrepreneur and multi-preneur who has her finger on the pulse of the waves of opportunity that present in the Zeitgeist. From Australian born, now a long-term resident of Tokyo, Tracey -the personal to the professional and everything in between - this hero's journey is the one to watch.

In this episode you will hear about:

Divorce, devotion, Food science, sales and so many different phases in this fascinating life. But as these waves ebb and flow, so she rides them.

About Tracey: 

Australian Tracey Northcott of Enfour, Tokyo Family Stays and Tracey Northcott Consulting is a serial entrepreneur and multi-preneur based in Tokyo, Japan. She is one of the most successful Airbnb hosts in Tokyo, at one point having 23 properties for rent in the Tokyo 23 Wards. She also runs Software development company Enfour with her family as well as Tracey Northcott Consulting where she helps other hosts discover the true potential of their STR or Airbnb business maximizing their investment, enjoyment and hospitality standards.

Links: