Episode 38: Our guest this week is English teacher, podcaster and musician, Matt Bigelow. Matt doesn't teach English at a typical school - he built a paperless English school at a leading tech company for Blockchain and AI Engineers. In this episode, we chat about how he built this innovative learning environment, and various topics related to AI, including how AI is perceived around the world. Towards the end of the chat, Matt talks about his music-inspired podcast " The Matty B Files" and his ...
Apr 03, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Episode 37: DJ Hiro tha Jap grew up in Japan but has spent more than 10 years of his adult life in NYC. The combination of Hiro’s international experiences and thorough understanding of Japanese culture and history allows him to view his home country through a unique lens. In this episode, Hiro talks about the history of guns in Japan; the dark side of Japanese anime; and the influence of Confucianism on Japanese society. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020...
Mar 26, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Episode 36: Tokyo-based Producer and Art Director, Rumi Tominaga, specializes in independent films but has worked on many projects ranging from feature and short films to commercials, T.V. shows, documentaries and music videos. Rumi is also an avid supporter of works by marginalized creatives, who explore provocative themes. In addition to highlighting some of her projects, we also chat about Rumi's enriching and painful life experiences in America; and being the daughter of immigrant parents. [...
Mar 19, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Episode 35: Imani J. Dawson is a singer-songwriter and member of the female creative group Bae Tokyo . In this episode, Imani shares her experiences working as a foreign woman in Japan’s music and entertainment industry. She’s also set to release her second solo music project along with a new single called “ Pokemon Swag ". [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] Imani J. Dawson - Website | Instagram | Twitter [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tok...
Mar 12, 2019•45 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Episode 34: We chat with British narrator and author, Nadia McKechnie, about living a vegan lifestyle in Japan. Nadia is also an organizer of the Tokyo Vegan Meetup group, which has close to 7,000 members. In this episode, she shares insight on Japan’s past and present dietary habits, as well as what the future might hold. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] Nadia McKechnie - Website | Instagram [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.co...
Mar 05, 2019•38 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Episode 33: This week, we chat with Code Chrysalis Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Yan Fan. Yan went from a career in finance to a career in tech and now resides in Tokyo, where she and Kani Munidasa (Co-founder & CEO) have established the only advanced, full-stack software engineering bootcamp in Japan. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Yan Fan (Code Chrysalis CTO) - Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Code Chrysalis - Webs...
Feb 26, 2019•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 36
Episode 32: Katie Scott is an aspiring dancer, who grew up with two cultures while living in Japan and America. Ethnically, she is African-American and Japanese. Katie joins us in the mobile man cave to talk about what it was like growing up and identifying as biracial; sometimes referred to as "Blasian" (Black & Asian). [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] Katie (KTea) - Instagram [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml ...
Feb 19, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Episode 31: Since 2000, The Pink Cow has been creating delicious signature burritos & other Cal-Mex specialties in Japan. We chat with owner, Traci Consoli, about how her life and restaurant in Japan came to be, as well as the difficulties that she faced as a foreigner, woman, and business owner. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] The Pink Cow - Website | Facebook [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @toky...
Feb 12, 2019•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 34
Episode 30: Nayokenza and Nina, two of five (now four) members of the Tokyo-based melancholy pop band, (the) ocean and i, tell us how their band formed. We also chat about mental health and Japan’s drinking culture. Listen to their debut album " The Distance Between Us " [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guests' Links] (the) ocean and i - Website | Instagram Nina - Instagram Nayokenza - Instagram [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeak...
Feb 05, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Episode 29: Robin Rastenberger (fashion model & singer/songwriter) and Kalin Lawrence (artist & DJ) are co-founders of the Tokyo Love Hotels event and video game. The event features local and international talents in art, fashion, and music. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] Tokyo Love Hotels - Website | Instagram | Facebook Kalin Lawrence - Instagram Robin Rastenberger - Instagram [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/fe...
Jan 29, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Episode 28: Kurly in Kansai is a podcast about life in Osaka, Japan from the perspectives of hosts Ayana & Alyse. Ayana was our guest last year on the episode Osaka vs Tokyo . This time we welcome both ladies on the podcast during their visit to Tokyo. We chat about why they created Kurly in Kansai; working with Japanese people; Alyse's interracial marriage; and a few other topics. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] Kurly in Kansai - Soundcloud | Appl...
Jan 15, 2019•42 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Episode 27: For the first episode of 2019, we welcome TV & Film Actor, Dante Carver inside the mobile man cave. Dante became Japan’s top TV Commercial Actor back in 2008. He is famous for appearing in a series of ads for Softbank Mobile . We talk with Dante about growing up in Europe and America, as well as his successful acting career in Japan. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] Dante Carver - Instagram | Twitter [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: ht...
Jan 01, 2019•54 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Episode 26: This is a wrap-up of our first year of podcasting. We released our first episode on December 21, 2017 from the streets of Tokyo. We give our thoughts on how the first year went and what's to come in 2019. Thank you for listening! [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Special shout outs] Please Don't Throw Your Love Away - Instagram Matty Bigelow - Website Campbellism Podcast - Soundcloud [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks...
Dec 27, 2018•17 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Episode 25: Marcel Jonte Gadsden is the pastor of Japan Kingdom Church and founder/CEO of Japan Kingdom Builders, Inc. In this episode, Marcel talks about the positive work he and his congregation is doing in Japanese communities, despite the challenges. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Japan Kingdom Builders - Website | Instagram | Facebook [Featured music] Streetiebaby [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed...
Dec 18, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Episode 24: From the streets of Yokohama, we chop it up with Cordell Bedford and Mason Avina of Foreign Cutz barbershop in Yokosuka, Japan. Cordell and Mason are former U.S. Navy sailors who transitioned from sailors to entrepreneurs. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest Link] Foreign Cutz - Instagram | Facebook [Featured music] Kazuo [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @tokyospeak...
Dec 05, 2018•32 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Episode 23: In this episode from the streets of Shibuya, we welcome two talented singers and songwriters, J’Nique Nicole and Afrodyty, inside the mobile man cave to talk about their music careers, new music, and the importance of being yourself and no one else. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guests' Links] J'Nique Nicole - Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Afrodyty - Instagram | Facebook [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/fee...
Nov 20, 2018•43 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Episode 22: MBA graduate, Tich Mbiri, made it to Tokyo via the ABE Initiative (African Business Education Initiative) program. In this episode, we learn about Tich’s homeland of South Africa, his future endeavors, and life as an international student in Japan. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Tich Mbiri - Instagram [Featured music] Stanford Green [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospe...
Nov 06, 2018•38 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Episode 21: In this episode, we learn how the esteemed vogue dancer, Legendary Mother Koppi Mizrahi (of the House of Mizrahi), became a legend in ballroom culture; an underground subculture created by the LGBTQ+ community. Koppi Mizrahi is also a vogue teacher, MC, DJ, producer and dance choreographer in Tokyo. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Legendary Mother Koppi Mizrahi - Facebook | Instagram [Featured music] Byrell the Great [Social...
Oct 23, 2018•39 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Episode 20: Executive Director of Fruits in Suits (FinS) Japan and social entrepreneur, Loren Fykes, shares his journey to becoming a LGBTQ+ activist. FinS Japan is Japan's largest LGBTQ+ business professionals network association. Learn how Loren and other members are working together to make changes for their community. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Fruits in Suits Japan - Website | Facebook | Twitter [Featured music] Koppi Mizrahi ...
Oct 10, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Episode 19: Darryl Wharton-Rigby, an award-winning independent filmmaker, joins us to talk about his second feature film “Stay”, which centers around two young lovers; Ryuu, a Japanese man who is a recovering drug addict and Hope, an American woman trying to “find herself” in the Tokyo nightclub scene. Darryl also shares his experiences working with some of America’s most prominent actors in film and television. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's...
Sep 25, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Episode 18: HR professional and ex-American, Henry Moreland Seals, recently became a Japanese citizen. Henry joins us in the streets of Akihabara (Tokyo) to tell us why he's renouncing his U.S. citizenship. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Featured music] Streetiebaby [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @tokyospeaks_ [Support via Ko-fi] https://ko-fi.com/tokyospeaks...
Sep 11, 2018•57 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Episode 17: Foreign Attorney (Barrister-at-law), Ian Davis, joins us in the mobile man cave on a sweltering summer day in Tokyo. Ian enlightens us on what he calls an "archaic" Japanese judicial system, which discriminates against foreigners -- especially if you're from certain countries. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Featured music] Afrodyty [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @t...
Aug 30, 2018•29 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Episode 16: Brooklyn Terry, one of five members of Elite Force, a legendary dance crew from NYC, gives us his perspective on the influence of hip hop and urban culture in America and around the world. Terry is a longtime resident of Tokyo, where he teaches urban dance at NDS x Brooklyn Bomber Dance Studio and runs a monthly dance party event called Speakeasy TYO. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Brooklyn Terry - Facebook Speakeasy TYO - ...
Aug 16, 2018•53 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Episode 15: Photographer Owen Rogers went from capturing nightlife and music shows in NYC to curating vibrant events in the metropolis of Tokyo. In this episode, we learn about Owen's biggest inspirations, the creative collective Tokyo FAM (Fashion, Art, and Music), and his thoughts on Japanese art making its influence on pop and urban culture in America. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Owen Rogers - Website | Instagram [Featured music]...
Aug 03, 2018•39 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Episode 14: Cinematographer and Director of Photography, Ivan Kovac, joins us to talk about his award-winning documentary “Alone in the Zone” and more of his stellar work, which includes a documentary about robot funerals (in Japan) and music videos he worked on in Tokyo for American actor and musician, Jaden Smith. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest's Links] Ivan Kovac - Alone in the Zone (Documentary) | Ghost (Music video) [Featured music] The Oc...
Jul 20, 2018•51 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Episode 13: Jeffrey Almonte, the founder and creator of The Almonte Films, visits Tokyo for the first time to work on one of his latest projects; a non-profit documentary about the relationships between Blacks and Asians. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest] The Almonte Films: YouTube | Instagram | Twitter [Featured music] Antarius [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @tokyospeaks_...
Jul 06, 2018•48 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Episode 12: Fellow podcaster, Ayana, tells us why she created a podcast titled "Kurly in Kansai" (with co-host Alyse), as well as the "Black Creatives Japan" Facebook group. During this episode we also talk about some of the differences between two of Japan's most well known cities: Tokyo and Osaka. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest] Ayana - Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Black Creatives Japan [Featured music] Gizmo [Social Links & RSS] RSS F...
Jun 22, 2018•36 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Episode 11: Georgia native, Bryan Simpson, didn't take basketball serious until his late teenage years; however, he worked religiously on his game and the opportunity arose to play professional basketball in Japan. Bryan tells us how his hoop dreams came true. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest] Bryan Simpson - Instagram [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @tokyospeaks_ [Support ...
Jun 08, 2018•40 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Episode 10: Saki, a local DJ in Tokyo, joins us to talk about Asian girl stereotypes. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Guest] Saki - Instagram [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @tokyospeaks_ [Support via Ko-fi] https://ko-fi.com/tokyospeaks...
May 28, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Episode 9: Gabriel returns to the podcast to share his experiences of Japanese work culture. Gabriel details the stress and displeasure of working for Japanese companies, which motivated him to plan his escape and start his own business in Japan. [Raw Urban Mobile Podcast rebranded to Tokyo Speaks Podcast on Mar 7, 2020] [Social Links & RSS] RSS Feed: https://www.tokyospeaks.com/feed.xml Instagram: @tokyospeaks_ Twitter: @tokyospeaks_ [Support via Ko-fi] https://ko-fi.com/tokyospeaks...
May 12, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 12
