Shows / Bridge Beyond English
Bridge Beyond English
The Bridge Beyond English Podcast is hosted by David Nagai, an American communication and creativity coach in Yokohama, Japan.
This podcast is for curious people who want more than textbook English. It is for people who want meaningful ideas, better conversations, and a stronger connection with people and the world — in English.
Through short reflections on communication, culture, psychology, creativity, business, society, and everyday life, David shares diverse ideas that help English…
Episodes
- Bridge Beyond English
45. Excellence Vs. Perfection
7 tips about how to pursue excellence instead of chasing "perfection." Want to connect with the changing world in English? Join a free trial English class…
Bridge Beyond English44. The Power of Purpose in Business
When we understand and live according to our purpose in business, we authentically satisfy our customers. The key is to be clear about our purpose and to…
- Bridge Beyond English
43. The Ukraine War & What It Reveals
Many Europeans are shocked that there is a war in Europe. They assume that war should always be far away from home. But this assumption reveals how western…
Bridge Beyond English42. Brainstorming – Rules & Tools
Proper brainstorming can fix many of our problems. It can also help us improve and create many things. This episode shows you how. Read the full text version…
Bridge Beyond English41. Essentialism
So much of what we do in our life is a waste of time and energy. But, if we can figure out how to prioritize the most important tings, we can change our life…
Bridge Beyond English40. Perfect Is Impossible
Being perfect is impossible. Instead, we should aim for creative progress. This episode shares how. Want to connect with the changing world in English? Join a…
Bridge Beyond English39. Learning From Bad Teachers
We can learn a lot from bad teachers. Yes, BAD teachers! They can teach us what NOT to do. I'll explain more in this episode. Want to connect with the changing…
- Bridge Beyond English
38. The Five Love Languages
Do you know how to speak the language of love? Well, it turns out there are several love languages. Listen to discover your own love language and how to…
Bridge Beyond English37. Your Work Matters
If you ever wonder, "Does my work matter?" here are some words of encouragement for you. Yes, your work does matter. Your work is important for you, for the…
Bridge Beyond English36. Becoming a Mother in Japan / Chami Nagai Interview
In this episode I interview my wife Chami Nagai about her experience becoming a new mother here in Japan. She shares about her ups and downs along the way…
Bridge Beyond English35. Don't Judge Other Cultures Too Fast
It's easy to quickly judge someone from a different culture because they do things differently. But if we can have an open mind and try to understand their…
Bridge Beyond English34. What Do Customers Actually Value?
In this episode we explore a helpful framework that helps us understand what customers actually value. It's usually a much more complex than it seems. View the…
Bridge Beyond English33. Communication Strategies for Global Teams
If you work on any type of global team, you’ve probably seen some bad communication happen. But, the good news is that if we increase our awareness we can…
Bridge Beyond English32. Understanding EMPIRE / Missy Hart Interview (Part 3)
This episode is about EMPIRE. Specifically, the current and future state of EMPIRE. Throughout history we’ve seen many empires rise and fall. Now we have the…
Bridge Beyond English31. How to Facilitate a Discussion
What's the best way to facilitate a discussion? There's not only one perfect method, but there are some core concepts that make up the foundation of good…
Bridge Beyond English30. Understanding EMPIRE / Missy Hart Interview (Part 2)
Throughout history we’ve seen many empires rise and fall. Now we have the American superpower, or empire, and people are wondering if China might be the next…
Bridge Beyond English29. Understanding EMPIRE / Missy Hart Interview (Part 1)
Throughout history we’ve seen many empires rise and fall. Now we have the American superpower, or empire, and people are wondering if China might be the next…
Bridge Beyond English28. Shifting Careers, Being Yourself & Creating a Fulfilling Life / Sayako Yamamoto Interview
In this episode I interview my student Sayako Yamamoto. She shares about how she shifted careers multiple times to find better health and fulfillment. She's…
Bridge Beyond English27. My Park Is My Teacher
The world is in a difficult situation, but in this episode I want to refresh your imagination by walking with you through the amazing Negishi Forest Park…
Bridge Beyond English26. The Fosbury Flop
This is the story of how a failure high jumper ended up transforming the sport. The story can teach us some key strategies for creative innovation and adapting…
Bridge Beyond English25. From Bangladesh to Japan / Ershad Rana Interview
Ershad Rana is from Bangladesh and moved to Japan to study over 28 years ago and has been here ever since. During this interview, Ershad shares about adjusting…
Bridge Beyond English24. Social Linguistics & Gender / Conversation with Chami Nagai
Social linguistics is the study of how language is used in society. In this episode, Chami Nagai talks specifically about how gender influences how people…
Bridge Beyond English23. Biases to Avoid
Why do we often so quickly judge people as likable or unlikable – as amazing or horrible? In this episode we look at two very common biases. If we understand…
Bridge Beyond English22. How to Improve Your Speaking from Home
It's possible to improve your speaking by yourself from home. Through shadowing practice, you can maximize your speaking skills and also overall English…
Bridge Beyond English21. Taoism & the Philosophy of Water
The Ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism teaches us to live in harmony with all things. But what does this mean in a world where we have to fight to survive…
Bridge Beyond English20. Crossing Cultures & Being Yourself / Chami Nagai Interview
Listen to Chami share about her experience shifting between many cultures. She shares what she learned from various cultures and how she grew her courage to be…
Bridge Beyond English19. Yokohama Chinatown and the Pandemic / Yao Interview
In this interview with Yokohama Chinatown restaurant owner Yao, we get an inside perspective into how the pandemic has impacted Chinatown's restaurant…
Bridge Beyond English18. How to Create Questions for Connection
In this episode I share advice about how to create good questions to connect with people – even if they are very different from you. You can read the text…
Bridge Beyond English17. Cyclical Living Wisdom / Meghan Norean Interview
In this interview, Meghan Norean shares how to live according to the natural cycle of our bodies and nature so that we can experience better balance, health…
Bridge Beyond English16. Questions for Connection
In this episode I share about how asking questions can help you connect more deeply with people. Read the text version of this episode here. / Want to connect…
Bridge Beyond English15. The New Normal – After one year, we need rest
After one year of the pandemic, everyone is exhausted. We all need rest in order to continue with strength and creativity in this pandemic. Read the text…
- Bridge Beyond English
14. The Art of a Powerful Speech
Have you ever wondered why certain people can speak with such power and persuasion? Do you want to learn how to improve your public speaking so that people are…
Bridge Beyond English13. The Significance of Easter
In this episode we discuss why Christians believe that Easter is the most important event in history. Even if you aren't Christian, it will help you empathize…
Bridge Beyond English12. Do Schools Hurt Creativity?
In this episode we take a look at how education has developed over time and how to increase creativity in education for the future. Here is the text version of…
Bridge Beyond English11. The Art of Botanical Dyeing / Yuzuri Nagai Interview
Yuzuri Nagai is a botanical dye artist in Tokyo. She creates natural dye from her organic, home-grown plants. She also grows her own cotton and works with…
Bridge Beyond English10. Japanese and Western Negotiation / Ed Kuiters Interview
In this interview, Ed Kuiters from the Netherlands draws on his experience in global business to answer the following questions: What are some main differences…
Bridge Beyond English9. Stages of Consciousness in Japan
In this episode we look at Japan through the lens of the stages of consciousness framework. We examine how Japan has changed over time, what caused change, and…
Bridge Beyond English8. Being Mixed Race in Japan / Jeweliann Picardal Interview
This episode is an interview with Jeweliann Picardal. She is half Japanese, half American, and shares about her experience of culture and belonging as a…
Bridge Beyond English7. Stages of Consciousness
The Stages of Consciousness is a framework that helps us to understand how we as humans, groups, and societies develop and expand our consciousness. It moves…
- Bridge Beyond English
6. The Enneagram Personality Assessment
This episode introduces the Enneagram personality assessment - a framework that will help you understand yourself more deeply and improve the way you relate…
Bridge Beyond English5. Racism in the US
This episode explains how racism works in the US, why people have protested against racially-charged police violence, and what they hope to accomplish through…
Bridge Beyond English4. Christianity & Politics in the US
This episode explains how American Christianity influences US politics. Click here to read the text version of this episode. Want to connect with the changing…
- Bridge Beyond English
3. Coping With COVID-19
How have you been dealing with the COVID-19 crisis? In this episode, we discuss some useful ways to not only survive the pandemic, but also thrive. The text…
Bridge Beyond English2. Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Nonviolent communication (NVC) is a communication method that helps people communicate more compassionately in order to overcome conflict for a win-win result…
Bridge Beyond English1. Self Introduction from David Nagai
In this episode I (David Nagai) introduce myself and share about how my life is like a bridge between people, cultures, and ideas. Click here to read the text…
Bridge Beyond EnglishWelcome!
Welcome to the Bridge Beyond English podcast, where I help you think creatively and connect deeply in English. Together, we’ll explore ideas that help us see…