In this conversation, I sit down with Toshika Kosako who is a career coach, creative consultant, and Master's student in Psychology/Neuroscience at King's College London. From her roots in Japan to building a creative career in New York, and now navigating a new chapter in Amsterdam, Toshika opens up about her personal grief journey and what it has taught her. Together, we reflect on the emotional cost of avoidance, the cultural discomfort around prolonged grief, and the deep healing that becomes possible when we give ourselves permission to feel with support of community.

Together, we unpack:

❤️The grief behind letting go of past identities

❤️What it means to "feel at home" within ourselves

❤️How emotional numbness and avoidance show up in a fast-paced world

❤️Grieving as an act of love

❤️How to support a loved one experiencing grief

Whether you're moving through change, loss, or simply seeking more emotional depth in a world that often demands speed and success, this episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and soften.

Follow and connect with Toshika: 🔗 Instagram: @toshikakosako

In this heart-opening episode of The Light of Insight, I sit down with my incredible friend and fellow coach, Reiko Suzuki!

Reiko shares about her recent journey in Thailand studying at a 10-day medicinal herb course, and how that experience reaffirmed the importance of community and the exchange of care. We also break-down the deep healing power of safe community spaces and share about our upcoming retreat: "asobi" ✨

Together, we reflect on:

🌱 Why true healing happens in safe, intentional communities

💫 The role of coaching in guiding people to peel back the layers and reconnect with their truth

🎨 The spirit of asobigokoro — the inner playfulness that invites in joy, curiosity, and lightness

🌊 What inspired us to co-create the Asobi Retreat (coming up on Sunday, June 22nd in Kugenuma-Kaigan) and what participants can expect

🤍 The power of simply showing up, being seen and heard in community

Whether you're craving deeper connection, curious about coaching, or seeking ways to reconnect with your own asobigokoro, this episode reminds you that you don't have to walk this path alone.

🧭 Upcoming Asobi Retreat Details:
📅 Sunday, June 22nd, 2025
🕥 10:30–17:00
📍 Kugenuma-Kaigan (Shonan), Japan
🚶‍♀️ 5-minute walk from the station, 10 minutes to the beach
📌 Exact location shared after registration

Further details + Registration Here: Asobi Retreat

Connect with Reiko:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Connect with Nina:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

What if emotions weren't something to fix or avoid… but powerful messengers guiding you back to your truth?

In this powerful episode, I'm joined by my friend and Emotional Intelligence coach, Lana.

We explore one of the most essential—and misunderstood—aspects of the human experience: emotions.

Lana shares her unique story of growing up in Russia, moving to Japan at age 10, navigating life between cultures, trying to fit in, and eventually coming home to her authentic self. After graduating from university in Tokyo, Lana worked in the corporate world at Mitsui and later at Amazon Japan before transitioning into coaching.

Together, we dive into:

• What emotions really are, and why they matter

• How emotions act as motivators and internal data points

• Building emotional intelligence as a trainable skill

• The shift from reactive consciousness to creative consciousness

• Why owning your story transforms pain into power

This episode is a powerful reminder that your feelings aren't in the way—they are the way.
You are the architect of your inner world. And when you learn to respond to life instead of react, you begin to reclaim your story, your power, and your truth.

Connect with Lana:

• Lana's LinkedIn

Connect with Nina:

• Nina's website

• Nina's Instagram

⭐ Support the podcast:
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone who might need to hear this message. Your support means the world to me and helps this podcast grow.

Thank you for being here and for being part of this journey with me.