Stay ConnectedFeaturing the lives, stories and careers from the global JET Programme alumni community. And usually, our stories begin with “This one time in Japan…” – our best, our silliest and our fondest.
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In 2011, I was a JET living in Fukushima. From that opening sentence, you can probably guess what this episode will be about. A decade on, my friends and I will be recounting our experiences during that time and after, in this special 2-parter that's meant to mark the 10th anniversary of the Tohoku disaster (yes I know I'm a couple of years late). My thanks to John Auyeung, Cathy Hawker and Caitlin Lee for taking this trip down memory lane with me. You can read Cathy's blogpost about her experiences during the Tohoku Earthquake: https://32andcounting.blog/2018/03/11/its-not-a-matter-of-if-its-a-case-of-when-japan-tribute/?fbclid=IwAR3_14uypfflnfA2MFqGR8OJXWEkqzJFhAjXzk5DLgkZOjXHo10EymnqnPs Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode are not representative of any organisation or company and are solely the views of the speakers in this episode. Music used in this episode (from freemusicarchive.org, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License): - "Lacquer Groove" by Blue Dot Sessions - "Night Roses for Dario" by Lobo Loco - "Cue 1 - Slow-Sad-Loss-Gentle-Piano and Cello (Once More Into The Fray)" by Soularflair
Continuing on from Part 1, this time we talk about coming back to Iwaki. In Part 2, we describe how our local communities were impacted, what we saw and what we did. And how it continues to leave its mark on our memories and lives, 10 years on. My thanks to John Auyeung, Cathy Hawker and Caitlin Lee for taking this trip down memory lane with me. You can read Cathy's blogpost about her experiences during the Tohoku Earthquake: https://32andcounting.blog/2018/03/11/its-not-a-matter-of-if-its-a-case-of-when-japan-tribute/?fbclid=IwAR3_14uypfflnfA2MFqGR8OJXWEkqzJFhAjXzk5DLgkZOjXHo10EymnqnPs Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode are not representative of any organisation or company and are solely the views of the speakers in this episode. Music used in this episode (from freemusicarchive.org, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License): - "Coming Home" by Stefano Vita - "Our Quiet Company" by Blue Dot Sessions
After JET, many would continue on in careers in education, community building or public service. For my guest, he has managed to combine all of these into an international career that has covered areas such as health, disaster relief, gender inequality and the empowerment of minorities in the community. Mark Flanigan's career has always been about affect positive societal change. Footnotes: - Mark Flanigan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarkflanigan/ - Imago Dei's THREADS project: https://tinyurl.com/y4maw8pb - Americorps (USA): https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americorps-vista - Rotary Peace Fellowship (global): https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships - Japan ICU Foundation (New York): https://www.jicuf.org/
Does the marketing and PR industry have, well, bad PR? My guest, Alex Varney, and I discuss this in a deep-dive into the industry. It may be a question of semantics, and a fine line between positive promotion and outright propaganda, but it does make for a fascinating discussion as Alex discusses the nuances of what he does for a living. Also, we'll be having fun talking about that most precious of creatures, the social media influencer. Footnotes: Alex Varney on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-f-varney/ Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode are not representative of any organisation or company and are solely the views of the speakers in this episode. "Let's sell some cars" by Steve Combs and is licensed under a Attribution License, available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Steve_Combs/Jaw/Steve_Combs_-_Jaw_-_07_Lets_Sell_Some_Cars
If you've ever laughed at a Youtube clip, or played a video game, then chances are you've come across the work of my guest for this episode - Michael T Coleman. He's helped write and/or performed on some of the funniest online content, such as School of Thrones, and is the voice actor for Cody, a character from Capcom's Street Fighter. This is a pretty geek-heavy episode, so apologies if that's not your thing (not sorry) and also, language-advisory warning if that's also not your thing (kinda sorry). Footnotes - Michael Coleman on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1731754/ - Tales of the Extraordinary podcast: http://www.emptysea.net/tote/ - Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cometocoleman/ - Harimaya Bridge, the film made by a JET and in which Michael had a part in: imdb.com/title/tt0902982/ This podcast is generously supported by CLAIR, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, however it is otherwise an independant work by me, Eden Law. All opinions expressed in this podcast are solely the private opinions of individuals and do not represent any organisation that they work for. Music adapted for this episode: "Intro For A Nonexisting Video Game" by Captive Portal and is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License, available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Captive_Portal/Laughing_Turkeys_-_EP/01_Intro_For_A_Nonexisting_Video_Game
We head to the arts for our next theme, with our guest, filmmaker Gavin Hugh. In addition, we'll be getting into some political discussions, as Gavin also works for a member of the Scottish parliament, making this episode feel totally like, real grown-up and stuff. Film, politics, Nazi zombies, and Scottish independence - what more could you want? Footnotes: - Find Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-hugh-09b3424a/ - Midgiebite Media is Gavin's film production company: https://midgiebitemedia.scot/ - Check out the Creative Film Fife Network: https://creativefilmfifenetwork.scot/ - Gavin's podcast on filmmaking: https://www.spreaker.com/show/creative-film-fife-network - Also, Dick Dynamite 1944 - a Nazi-and-zombies film project that Gavin is involved in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiskLxCCo14 "Clear Progress" by Scott Holmes from the album Inspiring & Upbeat Music and is licensed under a Attribution-nonCommercial License, available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Inspiring__Upbeat_Music/Scott_Holmes_-_Clear_Progress
Continuing with the theme about the meandering path of life, our guest has certainly done her fair share of travelling and career paths (diving instructor, tour manager and marketing director, recruitment) and now currently runs a non-profit greenhouse program in a converted ice hockey stadium in Canada, in a town located in the Arctic Circle - making her the northern-most guest to appear on this podcast. She also tells some pretty funny stories about navigating the health system in Japan, so brace yourself. Footnotes: You can donate to help Inuvik Greenhouse continue it's program, or follow their work online: - Website: https://inuvikgreenhouse.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inuvikcommunitygreenhouse/ UPDATE: Read about Ray's work! https://tinyurl.com/yblu55uq Music adapted for this episode: "Bloom" by Jahzzar from the album #handmade and is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License, available on freemusicarchive.org - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/handmade/Bloom
If there's a theme for the next couple of episodes, it will be about the meandering journey of life, ending up in unexpected but wonderful places. Our guest went back on JET the second time, and with her husband and children, stayed on to build a life in Japan, start up a non-profit... and find a home living in the grounds of an ancient temple right in the heart of modern Kyoto. Footnotes: - LEGACy, the NPO exchange program founded by Erin: https://www.facebook.com/LEGACy.NPO/ - LEGACy site: https://sites.google.com/noxon.us/legacynonprofit/ - Shinnyo-ji Temple's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kashikirimomiji/ - A description of the temple from a tourism site: http://slowtourism.jp/product/shinnyoji-temple/ - English site to rent accommodation at the temple: https://sites.google.com/view/shinnyoji-dormitory/ - Japanese site for the temple: https://shinnyo-ji.com/ Music adapted for this episode: "For Beautiful Human Life" by Acreil from the album Shapes With and Without Corners is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License, and is available on freemusicarchive.org
Our guest Amanda Chau works as a recruiter and HR consultant in Japan, and recently was a speaker/mentor at the After JET Conference for JET leavers in 2020. So she is in a unique position of knowing what it's like on both sides of the job seeking process. While this episode is about her work, in another way, what we're really talking about is choice - making it, stressing about it and learning to live with it. - Amanda Chau can be reached through Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agchau/ - Link Japan Careers, the recruitment company: https://linkjapancareers.net/ - Amanda's presentation on "Can-Want-Must" matrix of making decisions http://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/themes/biz-vektor/pdf/after-con/ajc2020/Career%20Tips.pdf - If you're curious about the After JET Conference 2020 materials: http://jetprogramme.org/en/after-con20/ Music adapted for this episode: "Decisions | Illusions | Confusions" by The Kyoto Connection from the album The Middle Way is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, and is available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Kyoto_Connection/The_Middle_Way/7_Decisions__Illusions__Confusions
When one finishes JET, sometimes the next step is... more JET. In concluding the theme of past JETs working in public service, we fudge the definition a bit and feature a JET unicorn: our guest Matt French has applied for the programme three times (successfully), and is currently going into his 5th year, the first ALT to do so in his town in Hiroshima. We talk about what it's like being probably the first 3rd-timer in JET history, his reasons for doing so (spoiler: love) and then go into a little bit about what it's like living and working in Japan during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Footnotes: - The three Ministries (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) formal request to local governments on the treatment of JETs in Japan due to COVID-19: http://jetprogramme.org/en/clairnewsspecial/?fbclid=IwAR3ZGeIcGdB2YoDW1PVHBLr1AJbZdz3uuCHwa4hL0hd0rA9cu5VVMufva5s - An analysis of Japan's approach and laws in relation to pandemics: https://www.jlgc.org/japans-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR2neIxZmZkwEZPfXkDJIOg5ndaueUUrv5VxDjXXcgk_X46xnRHheSxe1_c Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode are not representative of any organisation or company and are solely the views of the speakers in this episode. Also, language warning for some very mild swearing. Music adapted for this episode: "History Repeats" by Josh Woodward from the album The Simple Life (Part 1) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License, and available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Josh_Woodward/The_Simple_Life_Part_1/JoshWoodward-TheSimpleLife-111-HistoryRepeats
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