I was not a heavy listener of podcasts—until the COVID-19 pandemic started. I looked to international news sources, social media, and podcasts for updated information and the status of the pandemic in other parts of the world. Podcasts deliver real voices of real people—from healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic, protestors in the Black Lives Matter movement, to a small-town restaurant owner who had to close shop because of the pandemic. While news reporting has time and content limitations, podcasts introduce topics with depth which share real voices of people, and also communicate tone and emotions that text and pages on a screen lack.

Podcasts allow access to diverse sources of information and stories, as well as the wider world—all from the comfort of my own home, especially during my “stay at home” days. I started looking forward to folding laundry and walking to the grocery store, because I could immerse myself in the episodes and time would just fly by.

Podcasts have become a part of my everyday life, and this past year, they further changed my life when I was invited to be a guest on two of my favorite podcasts.

As an introvert, and a behind-the-scenes type of person, this was a big step out of my comfort zone. However, I was extremely grateful for those opportunities, and declining was out of the question.

On Ms. Yukari Peerless’ podcast, she and I talked about politeness in English, my background, and how the proverb “to teach is to learn twice” is a theme in my life. At first, I was nervous about being interviewed by a role model who I greatly admire. However, her thoughtful interview questions and our fascinating conversation quickly put me at ease, and before I knew it, I was really enjoying our time together.

On “Urawaza Eigo,” Mr. BJ Fox, Ms. Terumi Ishii, and I talked about a variety of topics, including polite English in the workplace and my experience using English in and outside of business. We introduced phrases and important mindsets and philosophies such as “Maybe [someone] is having a bad day,” “self-fulfilling prophecies,” and “virtuous circles.” Their excellent interview, facilitation, and translation skills, combined with their brilliant sense of humor and teamwork (together with Mr. “Producer” Ruben), made it an enjoyable and successful conversation.

These were significant learning experiences for me, and to say that they “changed my life” would not be an exaggeration.

I hope that something I shared will empower, encourage, and even inspire someone, just as the podcasts have been doing for me.

(431 words) Written by Maya

More about the podcasts:

「はみだし系ライフの歩きかた」 “Hamidashi-kei Life No Aruki-kata”

The host, Ms. Yukari Peerless, discusses a variety of important topics ranging from representation and stereotypes in Hollywood films, LGBTQ, and microaggression to boundaries, self-care, and what she learned from Brené Brown. The name “Hamidashi-kei Life no Aruki-kata” means “How to walk down the path that deviates from the path set by others,” and it supports people who live their own lives. She invites stimulating guests for thought-provoking and inspirational conversations that broaden your perspective, allow you to learn and think about issues that are important but not always talked about, and inspire you to talk to others about those issues and take action.

「裏技英語」 “Urawaza Eigo” (formerly 「外資系裏技英語」/ “Gaishikei Urawaza Eigo”)

“Urawaza” means “hacks,” or tips and tricks, and that’s what the podcast is about. Comedians BJ Fox and Terumi Ishii introduce phrases, mindsets, and how to communicate effectively in English. The episodes are filled with comedy, inspiration, and helpful takeaways for communication. Each episode is offered in bilingual format (English and Japanese). The name originally included the word “Gaishikei,” which means foreign firms in Japan, and they shared communication tips to “survive” in those workplaces. (It rebranded in January 2022, encouraging a broader audience to listen to their show.)

Listen to the episodes here:

「はみだし系ライフの歩きかた」
Episode #173「教えるとは二度学ぶこと！品のある英語の言い回しとは？」

Apple Podcasts     Spotify

Ms. Yukari Peerless (ピアレスゆかりさん)
Instagram     Twitter

「裏技英語」
Episode #123「Maya Vardaman インタビュー! Someone's having a bad day!」

Apple Podcasts     Spotify     YouTube

Episode #128「裏技インタビュー第14弾 to マヤ・バーダマンさん Part 2！Self-Fulfilling Prophecy で Virtuous Circle を生み出そう！」

Apple Podcasts     Spotify     YouTube

「裏技英語」Social Media Accounts
Instagram     Twitter 

*The podcast cover art images used in the banner are created by the podcast hosts.