The Journey Podcast

  Today, we’re diving deep into what it truly means to “bring your whole self to work” and how you can feel comfortable being yourself in the workplace.  This episode was inspired by a recent lived experience session I delivered for my team as part of our new Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiative.    In this episode, you’ll learn: My philosophy for embracing your authentic self and taking your whole authentic self to work  My personal journey & reflections on bringing my whole authentic self to work  Leading the change as a leader and aspiring leader Practical steps to help you feel more comfortable and confident bringing your whole self to work   Reflective Question:  “What is one action you can take today to be true to yourself and share your authentic self at the workplace?”   I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn if today’s episode resonates with you or if you’d like to share your experiences of bringing your whole self to work.   If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, please rate and leave a review so we can reach as many people as possible, and take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto or share on your LinkedIn and tag me there!   Book a Discovery Call with me to discuss how I can support you to create a career & life you love: https://risakawamoto.com/somatic-coaching/ Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-kawamoto/    

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 lessons I’ve learned in my corporate career of 20 years. This is Part 2 of the 4-Part Series - 40 Lessons from 40 Years of Life.  Part 1 was my 10 lessons from my personal life, and you can listen to this episode here. The remaining two episodes will be the lessons I learned from my Yoga journey as a student and teacher, and starting and building my own business.     Here are the 10 lessons from my corporate career. Tune into the episode to find out the journey I’ve gone through to learn these lessons!   Don’t be afraid to try different things!  Your education, job title, grade and profession don’t determine your self worth I’m not anti-social - I’m an introvert and that’s ok I enjoy public speaking! My health & wellbeing is my most important asset   When we do things in a rush, we can exclude people  Not having a formal education or degree should not hold you back (even if it can be challenging!) Don’t be afraid to challenge the norm I learn from my team members everyday  Gratitude practice If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, please rate and leave a review so we can reach as many people as possible, and take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto or share on your LinkedIn and tag me there!   Book a Discovery Call with me to discuss how I can support you to create a career & life you love: https://risakawamoto.com/somatic-coaching/ Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In this episode, I explore the power of Yogic principles and how they can transform your leadership.  I share my personal experience of leading a small team without prior experience, and how the 5 Yamas, the ethical principles from the 8-Fold Path of Yoga, guided me through challenges and helped me become a more embodied, authentic, and effective leader. Whether you're an aspiring leader or someone seeking to embody authentic and effective leadership, this episode offers valuable insights and journaling prompts to help you apply these ancient principles in modern corporate settings. Key Takeaways: Ahimsa (Non-Violence / Non-Harming): Learn how practicing kindness and non-harming in thoughts, words, and actions can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment. Satya (Truthfulness): Discover the importance of authenticity in leadership and how speaking your truth can build trust and integrity within your team. Asteya (Non-Stealing): Explore how avoiding stealing of time, attention, and credit can lead to a more collaborative and empowering workplace. Brahmacharya (Non-Excess): Understand the value of energy management and how slowing down can enhance productivity and decision-making. Aparigraha (Non-Greed & Non-Attachment): Reflect on the importance of letting go of unhealthy attachments and fostering a mindset of abundance and generosity in leadership. Reflections: How can you integrate these Yogic principles into your daily leadership practices? Which Yama resonates most with you, and how can it transform your leadership style? Tune in to discover how embracing these ancient Yogic principles can help you become the leader you aspire to be! If you are a purpose-driven, passionate, aspiring leader, who wants to make a positive impact and create positive change with your work, but you find yourself constantly doubting yourself and battling with your inner-critic, or perhaps you are struggling to progress into a leadership role, I would love to invite you to my 1:1 somatic coaching programme - Embody Your Authentic Self.  Embody Your Authentic Self – Somatic Coaching Programme is a journey of self-discovery, allowing you to become the authentic leader you desire to be. If this interests you, I’d love to hear from you! Go to risakawamoto.com/apply, and complete your application form and I will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss next steps!    If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, please rate and leave a review so we can reach as many people as possible, and take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto or share on your LinkedIn and tag me there!   Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-kawamoto/   Thank you for listening! 

Welcome to another episode of the Journey Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Rawnak Jassm.  Rawnak has a background in community engagement & participation. She is also a yoga teacher with a passion for creating inclusive spaces for women and linking up her practice with other passions - spirituality, mysticism, justice and nature.  In this episode, she shares how she grew up in a religious household, how she was very intentional with traveling, her yoga and spiritual journey, and her passion for teaching yoga and creating inclusive spaces for women.     Her story is truly inspiring and I hope you enjoy our conversation! Highlights of the episode: Growing up in a religious household Her journey of spirituality & faith   Relying on motivation vs. discipline Passion for justice and equality  Playing football growing up and being present  Studying business management with marketing at university   Her yoga journey   Being intonational with her traveling Yoga teacher training Teaching inclusive yoga Creating inclusive spaces for woman  Prioritizing and listening to your body     Connect with Rawnak on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoga_ruru/   If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, please rate and leave a review so we can reach as many people as possible, and take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto or share on your LinkedIn and tag me there!   Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-kawamoto/   Thank you for listening! 

Welcome to another episode of The Journey Podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing the top 10 lessons I’ve learned in my 40 year journey, to celebrate turning 40 this year!   I’m breaking down my lessons into a 4-part series and in this episode I will be covering the lessons I learned from my personal life. The next 3 episodes will cover lessons I learned from my corporate career, Yoga as a student and teacher, and starting and building my own business.   Here are the 10 lessons from my personal life. Tune into the episode to find out the journey I’ve gone through to learn these lessons! Freedom comes with responsibility My stubbornness is a gift Answers come from within   Creating positive ripple effects in everything I do Learning to be ok, just to be me  Learning to accept my family  Putting myself first  Acknowledging my privileges  Sharing my struggles  My scoliosis is a blessing If you enjoyed this episode or it inspired you in some way, please rate and leave a review so we can reach as many people as possible. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto or share on your LinkedIn and tag me there! For full show notes of today’s episode, head to: https://risakawamoto.com/10-lessons-from-personal-life Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

Welcome to another episode of the Journey Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Reshma Karia, a Leadership and Executive coach and mental health employment advisor. Reshma brings a background in mental health, mindfulness and therapeutic approaches to her coaching. Reshma is actually my coach and she works with Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic colleagues in the organisation I work in, and I have been working with her for over 6 months now. So in this episode, the role has been reversed and I enjoyed asking her lots of questions!  In this episode, she shares the story of being a rebel growing up, her love for football, trying to find a sense of belonging.    Her story is truly inspiring and I hope you enjoy our conversation! Highlights of the episode: Born to Indian parents and refugees from Uganda to UK  Being a middle child   Having a dual cultural identity and trying to find a place  Being a rebel as a child Fighting for opportunities to play football as a young girl  Studying Banking at University Passion for working with people   Working as a mental health Employment Advisor  Her ‘why’ behind her passion for coaching leaders and future leaders  For full shownotes, visit: https://risakawamoto.com/reshma-journey Connect with Reshma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reshma-karia-973541111/   If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, please rate and leave a review so we can reach as many people as possible, and take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto or share on your LinkedIn and tag me there!   Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Follow Risa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Connect with Risa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!  

Welcome to another episode of the Journey Podcast! In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Sayeeda Alam, a Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Lifestyle Advisor.  I met Sayeeda on an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Advisor training course last year. We got chatting during lunch and I was really inspired by her journey. I knew straight away that she would be an amazing guest for my podcast so I am super excited to share this episode with you!  Highlights of the episode: Challenging childhood Passion for music Traveling the world after university Feeling disconnected from her body Her first yoga experience  Becoming a Yoga teacher Building Yoga business with chronic illness Combining Ayurveda with Yoga offerings Letting go & learning how to take risks  Sayeeda’s bio: Sayeeda embodies dedication as a yoga student, teacher, and Ayurvedic lifestyle advisor and her passion lies in fostering holistic well-being and spiritual balance.  Having navigated cycles of addictive behaviour, depression, anxiety, and chronic illness for much of her life, discovering Yoga & Ayurveda became the foundation of her ability to find inner peace & physical healing.  Motivated by her personal transformation journey, she embarked on the path of becoming a yoga teacher & Ayurvedic lifestyle advisor, driven by a deep desire to guide others on their unique paths toward personal and spiritual growth.  Her teaching style seamlessly blends ancient yogic wisdom with contemporary insights, guiding students to explore their bodies and minds through posture, pranayama, philosophy, and meditation. Sayeeda embraces the dynamic nature of each student's journey and recognises that their needs evolve, so she offers a diverse range of yoga styles to cater to this fluidity.  Understanding that each practitioner seeks something unique on the mat, she aims to create a space where individuals can explore and find resonance in various practices. As an Ayurvedic lifestyle advisor, Sayeeda uses the wisdom of this ancient healing system to offer individually tailored guidance to enhance well-being and foster vitality.  She works closely with individuals to assess their unique constitution and imbalances and offers practical guidance on daily routines, nutrition, stress management, and how to use herbs & spices to help restore harmony and balance in both body and mind. She deeply believes in Yoga and Ayurveda's transformative potential to instill equilibrium and well-being across every facet of life. Sayeeda’s website: www.sadayoga.co.uk Follow Sayeeda on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadayogauk/ Follow Sayeeda on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sada.yoga.uk/ Follow Sayeeda on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA_q6uNpUOPEHhEGc-uBnZw Practice with Sayeeda on Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/sadayogauk The Journey Podcast is all about sharing the journeys of purpose-driven individuals from all walks of life who are following their passion and fulfilling their purpose in their own unique way.  If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto   Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!    

Welcome to another episode of the Journey Podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing my own personal Yoga journey to mark the 10 year anniversary of being a Yoga teacher, including my experiences as a person of colour Yoga teacher and my thoughts on the current Yoga industry. This is something I’ve been wanting to share since I launched my podcast back in 2022.  Highlights of the episode: What is Yoga? My first Yoga class at the age of 21 Started practicing Yoga regularly at the age of 29 Discovering Ayurveda First 200 hour Yoga teacher training in 2014 My experience and challenges during the training  Positive things that came out of the training  Teaching private group Yoga classes  Venturing out to online marketing & business coaching/consulting and web design Yoga as a physical practice and advanced Yoga poses  Rediscovering Ayurveda and my second Yoga teacher training in India  Yoga as a way of life  Getting clear with my core values  The state of current Yoga industry  My mission to offer accessible and inclusive Yoga What training I’ve been doing  The Journey Podcast is all about sharing the journeys of purpose-driven individuals from all walks of life who are following their passion and fulfilling their purpose in their own unique way.  If you enjoyed this episode or inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @risa_kawamoto   My Core Values: https://risakawamoto.com/values/ Visit website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Azzees Minott, who is a Director, Facilitator and Chief Operating Officer at 2-3 Degrees, the award-winning social enterprise committed to inspiring and empowering young people to fulfill their potential through engaging in confidence building and skills enhancing workshops and programmes across the UK.  Since March 2016, they have worked with over 9,000 young people across the country, including reaching over 500 young people online during Covid-19 restrictions. In our conversation, you’ll hear what her childhood was like as a British born young black girl, how she developed her political career as a young woman, and building her social enterprise with her university friend whilst working full-time.  She has a lot of wisdom to share and I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from our conversations! Check out 2-3 Degrees website: https://2-3degrees.com/ Follow 2-3 Degrees on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2-3degrees/ Follow Azzees on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azzees-minott-aab25861/ Contact Azzees:  azzees@2-3degrees.com Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Vish Chatterji, an accomplished executive-turned-coach with a spiritual twist, and author of The Business Casual Yogi: Take Charge of Your Body, Mind & Career. In our conversation, you’ll hear what his childhood was like living in Hong Kong and moving to  America where he studied and developed his career, and built his unique business where he coaches and advises business leaders, through a unique blend of Western management thinking and Eastern wisdom traditions. He has a lot of wisdom to share and I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from our conversations! Check out Vish’s website: headandheartinsights.com Purchase Vish's book: The Business Casual Yogi: Take Charge of Your Body, Mind, and Career  Follow Vish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vish-chatterji-b3b2681/ Follow Vish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinesscasualyogi/ Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Jess Badley. Jess is actually the wife of John Allen who was a guest in my 4th episode and he also interviewed me in the last episode!   Jess is a Director of People and Resources at the British Society for Rheumatology and in her words, she is particularly interested in the links between wellbeing, flexible working and innovation and how this can transform an organisation’s culture and approach towards work.  In our conversation, you’ll hear how she developed her career and how she navigated some of her top challenges as she stepped into a leadership role.  She also shares her tips and advice for running successful & inclusive recruitments and inclusive working cultures, as well as advice for people wanting to completely change their career.  She has a lot of wisdom to share and I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from our conversations! Follow Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-badley-fcipd-abb19a62/ Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

I’m doing something slightly different in today’s episode and I’m actually being interviewed by my good friend John Allen.  You might remember John from Episode 4 where he shared his own journey. We had so much fun in his episode, we decided to reverse our roles and he will be taking over the Journey Podcast in this episode!  In our conversation, I share my childhood experiences and the impact that have had on my adult life, living and working in the UK as a Japanese woman, and the learnings from my Yoga students and coaching clients, and even my secret ambition!  I really had so much fun speaking to John and answering all his questions. I hope you enjoy our conversation! John’s Episode: https://risakawamoto.com/john-journey/ Visit John’s Website: www.johnallenwriter.com John's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-allen-he-him-28058527  Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Learn more about Risa's 1:1 Coaching Program: https://risakawamoto.com/pathway-to-dharma-coaching/ Risa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Rohini Bajekal, a nutritionist and board-certified Lifestyle Medicine professional. Rohini is an avid recipe developer, and is passionate about making delicious and nourishing plant-based meals. In our conversation, you’ll hear how her love of food started as a child and how and why she became vegan at the age of 12. Then after exploring other careers why she decided to study Nutrition and Food Sciences to become a nutritionist.  You will hear her passion for plant-based nutrition through her voice and story and I hope you find her journey inspiring!  Visit Rohinin’s Website: www.rohinibajekal.com Follow Rohini on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rohinibajekal/ Rohini’s book (co-authored with Dr Nitu Bajekal): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-PCOS-Free-hormonal-Polycystic/dp/1781612137 Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with a dear friend of mine, John Allen.  John is an award-winning writer and copywriter. He writes under the pen name of J.W.Allen for fiction and holds several diplomas in creative writing.  His stories have appeared in Simultaneous Times Podcast, Dark Matter Magazine, Sci-Fi Lampoon and more.  John won the QuaranCon 2022 Speculative Fiction Prize for his dystopian story Show Me Your Resume. He holds a Silver Award and two Honourable Mention Awards for Writers of the Future and was a finalist for both the James White Award in 2018 and the Val Wood Romance Prize in 2019. But it wasn't always smooth sailing for John. He will be sharing how he got into writing and his struggle with his mental health along the way, and how he became a champion of promoting better mental health in society in his unique way.    He will be sharing his tips on how you can follow your own passion in your life at the end of the episode, so do make sure to listen till the end!   I hope you find his journey inspiring! Visit John's Website: www.johnallenwriter.com Follow John on:  Twitter: @TheOnlyJohnnyA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-allen-he-him-28058527  John’s Career Change book: Career Change: How To Conquer The Fear Of Failing Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Victoria Malinjod, a talented European actress, director, producer and model who was born in France to a German mom and a Swiss dad.  In our conversation, Victoria shares how she was extremely shy as a young girl and how acting was a way of expressing herself. She also shares how she moved to Paris on her own when she was 17 and then later to London to develop her career as an actress, to where she is now as a successful actress and director.  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Victoria. She has gone through an amazing journey and she also has great advice on how to stay true to yourself.  Website: www.victoriamalinjod.com Follow Victoria on:  Instagram: @victoriamalinjod Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickyMalinjod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-malinjod-155a45122/ Watch Victoria’s short documentary ‘Our Streets’: https://indie-clips.com/our-streets-victoria-malinjod Watch Victoria’s short film ‘Don't Burst My Bubble’: https://indie-clips.com/fr/dont-burst-my-bubble-victoria-malinjod Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: @risa_kawamoto Thank you for listening!   

In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with Arvin Suntaramoorthy, a co-owner of an amazing vegan restaurant, Amrutha Lounge in South London.  In our conversation, Arvin shares how his parents emigrated from Sri Lanka to escape the civil war when he was a young child and moved to Germany and then to London, UK where they made their new home. We talked about his journey from that time to where he is now as a successful socially-driven restaurant owner.   Arvin is also a practitioner of contemplative meditation with qualifications in Business, Detoxification and Herbology and a keen runner.  I first met Arvin when I went to Amrutha to celebrate my one year vegan anniversary with my partner back in 2021.  After our meal, Arvin came to our table to say hi to us with a complimentary dessert and I was really taken by Arvin’s smile and the warmth as we chatted. There’s a funny story involved with this which you will hear in the intro of this episode!  I hope you enjoy my conversation with Arvin as much as I did. He’s got so much wisdom and I know that you will be inspired by his journey and take away so much from this episode! Visit Amrutha's Website: https://www.amrutha.co.uk/ Follow Arving on Instagram: @amuruthauk Visit Risa’s website: https://risakawamoto.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risa_kawamoto/ Thank you for listening!   

Welcome to the first episode of the Journey Podcast! In this very first episode, I will be sharing my own journey to how I landed the decision to create the Journey Podcast. I will also be sharing my vision for the Journey Podcast and what you can expect from future episodes. Thank you for listening!   Start your unique journey to discovering your True Self.  If you are interested in deepening your knowledge and further your Ayurveda & Yoga journey, you may want to check out my self-study course - Pathway to Sattva. Pathway to Sattva is an online course that will kick start you on your journey to creating a fulfilling, meaningful & joyful life through adopting an Ayurvedic plant-based, sustainable diet and lifestyle. You can learn more about the course here. Visit Risa’s website: risakawamoto.com Instagram: @risa_kawamoto  

Welcome to The Journey Podcast, hosted by Risa Kawamoto! The Journey Podcast is all about sharing the journeys of purpose-driven individuals from all walks of life who are following their passion and fulfilling their purpose in their own individual, unique way.