Hibiku Kotoba Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/hibiku-kotoba-f74f6f51-5a6f-4155-8e95-b6166a08624c Hibiku Kotoba is a brand new podcast series we are launching this Fall! With a new podcast we hope to outreach through a new medium to an ever growing community. When translated, Hibiku Kotoba means “Resonating Words” and we hope that this podcast will reach you, family and friends and spark conversations that will bring ideas and people together from all backgrounds. Kathleen Wong – a former J-Sei staff – will be the host and producer of the show. She will be interviewing local AANHPI leaders, creatives, innovators and more, and will cover topics from art to health and culture to advocacy. Along the way, she hopes to gain insights and perspective from the people she interviews and share new things along the way. Join us on this brand new adventure! J-Sei is a Japanese-American, multi-generational and multi-cultural organization with its roots in Nikkei values and culture located in the East Bay. Visit the website: https://j-sei.org/ J-Sei, Inc. 585a453b-e2a8-5e18-990d-158f44e3df22 yes 536e4c80-b038-11f0-992b-07ba92df9e33 Welcome to Hibiku Kotoba! en Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:15 -0700 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:03:13 -0700 https://j-sei.org/hibiku-kotoba-a-new-j-sei-podcast-series/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/NXaz1w82mo_9plbuXAjmOl7zqoSxyXQnP-XlAn0B61o/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kNWUz/NGRkYjRlODhkZDcy/NjIwNjFjZDZjY2Zm/ZmQ4MC5wbmc.jpg Hibiku Kotoba https://j-sei.org/hibiku-kotoba-a-new-j-sei-podcast-series/ episodic J-Sei Hibiku Kotoba is a brand new podcast series we are launching this Fall! With a new podcast we hope to outreach through a new medium to an ever growing community. When translated, Hibiku Kotoba means “Resonating Words” and we hope that this podcast will reach you, family and friends and spark conversations that will bring ideas and people together from all backgrounds. Kathleen Wong – a former J-Sei staff – will be the host and producer of the show. She will be interviewing local AANHPI leaders, creatives, innovators and more, and will cover topics from art to health and culture to advocacy. Along the way, she hopes to gain insights and perspective from the people she interviews and share new things along the way. Join us on this brand new adventure! J-Sei is a Japanese-American, multi-generational and multi-cultural organization with its roots in Nikkei values and culture located in the East Bay. Visit the website: https://j-sei.org/ Hibiku Kotoba is a brand new podcast series we are launching this Fall. nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay Kathleen Wong kathleen@j-sei.org No No Dr. Jeffrey Velotta and the Importance of Early Cancer Screening 7 7 Dr. Jeffrey Velotta and the Importance of Early Cancer Screening full 7919d07c-41c2-40a8-83a8-3f145b3f7eb2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/396ca312 In this episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Dr. Jeffrey Velotta joins Kathleen as they talk about his career as a cardiothoracic surgeon and his current research in the rise of lung cancer cases among non-smoking Asian women and men. Dr. Velotta shares how his years in residency helped his career expertise, but moving back to the Bay Area in 2014 he realized the importance of representation in the medical field and currently advocates for patients' health and well-being, specifically those in the Asian diaspora. His mission to reframe how both doctors and patients approach healthcare specifically for lung cancer patients is a remarkable feat that is gradually making an impact, and why community outreach is just one step of the process to help one another through an unfamiliar and emotional journey.

You can read the journey of one of his patients' journey here: https://go2.org/blog/get-rid-of-the-mothership-and-why-surgery-still-matters-in-stage-4-iv-lung-cancer-glens-story/

]]> In this episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Dr. Jeffrey Velotta joins Kathleen as they talk about his career as a cardiothoracic surgeon and his current research in the rise of lung cancer cases among non-smoking Asian women and men. Dr. Velotta shares how his years in residency helped his career expertise, but moving back to the Bay Area in 2014 he realized the importance of representation in the medical field and currently advocates for patients' health and well-being, specifically those in the Asian diaspora. His mission to reframe how both doctors and patients approach healthcare specifically for lung cancer patients is a remarkable feat that is gradually making an impact, and why community outreach is just one step of the process to help one another through an unfamiliar and emotional journey.

You can read the journey of one of his patients' journey here: https://go2.org/blog/get-rid-of-the-mothership-and-why-surgery-still-matters-in-stage-4-iv-lung-cancer-glens-story/

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700 J-Sei J-Sei 2905 In this episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Dr. Jeffrey Velotta joins Kathleen as they talk about his career as a cardiothoracic surgeon and his current research in the rise of lung cancer cases among non-smoking Asian women and men. Dr. Velotta shares how his years in residency helped his career expertise, but moving back to the Bay Area in 2014 he realized the importance of representation in the medical field and currently advocates for patients' health and well-being, specifically those in the Asian diaspora. His mission to reframe how both doctors and patients approach healthcare specifically for lung cancer patients is a remarkable feat that is gradually making an impact, and why community outreach is just one step of the process to help one another through an unfamiliar and emotional journey.

You can read the journey of one of his patients' journey here: https://go2.org/blog/get-rid-of-the-mothership-and-why-surgery-still-matters-in-stage-4-iv-lung-cancer-glens-story/

]]> healthcare, bay area, AANHPI health, nonprofit, AANHPI, asian american, lung cancer No Ema Ryan Yamazaki, Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker 6 6 Ema Ryan Yamazaki, Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker full 3f773acb-8081-41ec-8332-d7ffe5194d68 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d9e1574d In episode 6 of Hibiku Kotoba, Oscar-nominated and award-winning documentary filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki joins Kathleen on the podcast. Together they talk about Ema's origin story as a filmmaker, her menteeship with Sam Pollard, and all three of her feature films along with her Oscar-nominated "Instruments of a Beating Heart. Ema's decision to go back to Japan and create documentary films about Japanese society is to share to the world her experiences as a Japanese person and to showcase the nuances of living in a country where culture is deeply instilled in every part of its society. For aspiring documentary filmmakers, this episode is definitely worth listening to as she shares her insight and advice for those who also want to be a documentary filmmaker.

You can watch her Oscar-nominated short film "Instruments of a Beating Heart" on the NYT Opinions YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRW0auOiqm4

]]> In episode 6 of Hibiku Kotoba, Oscar-nominated and award-winning documentary filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki joins Kathleen on the podcast. Together they talk about Ema's origin story as a filmmaker, her menteeship with Sam Pollard, and all three of her feature films along with her Oscar-nominated "Instruments of a Beating Heart. Ema's decision to go back to Japan and create documentary films about Japanese society is to share to the world her experiences as a Japanese person and to showcase the nuances of living in a country where culture is deeply instilled in every part of its society. For aspiring documentary filmmakers, this episode is definitely worth listening to as she shares her insight and advice for those who also want to be a documentary filmmaker.

You can watch her Oscar-nominated short film "Instruments of a Beating Heart" on the NYT Opinions YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRW0auOiqm4

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0800 J-Sei J-Sei 3178 In episode 6 of Hibiku Kotoba, Oscar-nominated and award-winning documentary filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki joins Kathleen on the podcast. Together they talk about Ema's origin story as a filmmaker, her menteeship with Sam Pollard, and all three of her feature films along with her Oscar-nominated "Instruments of a Beating Heart. Ema's decision to go back to Japan and create documentary films about Japanese society is to share to the world her experiences as a Japanese person and to showcase the nuances of living in a country where culture is deeply instilled in every part of its society. For aspiring documentary filmmakers, this episode is definitely worth listening to as she shares her insight and advice for those who also want to be a documentary filmmaker.

You can watch her Oscar-nominated short film "Instruments of a Beating Heart" on the NYT Opinions YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRW0auOiqm4

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No Mayor Adena Ishii, First Asian American Mayor of Berkeley 5 5 Mayor Adena Ishii, First Asian American Mayor of Berkeley full cd65a505-2c87-4f8b-8e88-fa05dbce35f5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d738bbf4 In this episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Mayor Adena Ishii of Berkeley joins Kathleen as they talk about Mayor Ishii's remarkable journey on becoming the first Asian American Mayor of the city of Berkeley. Throughout the episode, they discuss how important it is to be engaged in local communities and politics, and how Mayor Ishii strives to bring together people of all generations and backgrounds to achieve a better, safer community for all.

]]> In this episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Mayor Adena Ishii of Berkeley joins Kathleen as they talk about Mayor Ishii's remarkable journey on becoming the first Asian American Mayor of the city of Berkeley. Throughout the episode, they discuss how important it is to be engaged in local communities and politics, and how Mayor Ishii strives to bring together people of all generations and backgrounds to achieve a better, safer community for all.

]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0800 J-Sei J-Sei 2815 In this episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Mayor Adena Ishii of Berkeley joins Kathleen as they talk about Mayor Ishii's remarkable journey on becoming the first Asian American Mayor of the city of Berkeley. Throughout the episode, they discuss how important it is to be engaged in local communities and politics, and how Mayor Ishii strives to bring together people of all generations and backgrounds to achieve a better, safer community for all.

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No Tim Kawakami, Sports Journalism, and What It Takes To Be One 4 4 Tim Kawakami, Sports Journalism, and What It Takes To Be One full 44b2a37e-ef8a-46d8-b56c-a8c77f784edd https://share.transistor.fm/s/56838a8f In episode 4 of Hibiku Kotoba, Tim Kawakami joins Kathleen as they talk about his incredible career as a sports journalist spanning nearly 40 years. Starting out as a beat writer in the late 80s for the Philadelphia Eagles, Tim found his stride and continued his path to cover the LA Lakers, LA Rams, Oscar de la Hoya and eventually came back to his Bay Area roots to cover the 49ers and Warriors. Have a listen to this episode as Tim shares his experiences from beat writer to columnist to editor-in-chief and what it was like covering Bay Area sports for different newspapers. 

Tim is now at the SF Standard where you can read his work at their sports section. You can also listen to Tim's podcast, The TK Show, where he goes more in-depth with the sports he writes about in a more grounded and coversational way.

]]> In episode 4 of Hibiku Kotoba, Tim Kawakami joins Kathleen as they talk about his incredible career as a sports journalist spanning nearly 40 years. Starting out as a beat writer in the late 80s for the Philadelphia Eagles, Tim found his stride and continued his path to cover the LA Lakers, LA Rams, Oscar de la Hoya and eventually came back to his Bay Area roots to cover the 49ers and Warriors. Have a listen to this episode as Tim shares his experiences from beat writer to columnist to editor-in-chief and what it was like covering Bay Area sports for different newspapers. 

Tim is now at the SF Standard where you can read his work at their sports section. You can also listen to Tim's podcast, The TK Show, where he goes more in-depth with the sports he writes about in a more grounded and coversational way.

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0800 J-Sei J-Sei 3424 In episode 4 of Hibiku Kotoba, Tim Kawakami joins Kathleen as they talk about his incredible career as a sports journalist spanning nearly 40 years. Starting out as a beat writer in the late 80s for the Philadelphia Eagles, Tim found his stride and continued his path to cover the LA Lakers, LA Rams, Oscar de la Hoya and eventually came back to his Bay Area roots to cover the 49ers and Warriors. Have a listen to this episode as Tim shares his experiences from beat writer to columnist to editor-in-chief and what it was like covering Bay Area sports for different newspapers. 

Tim is now at the SF Standard where you can read his work at their sports section. You can also listen to Tim's podcast, The TK Show, where he goes more in-depth with the sports he writes about in a more grounded and coversational way.

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No Kelly Goto on UX Design & Research, Cultural Preservation and New Book "Seattle Samurai" 3 3 Kelly Goto on UX Design & Research, Cultural Preservation and New Book "Seattle Samurai" full 69c4c1fe-ec0f-4f72-8cc0-706bd34c0fb4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/beb23420 In episode 3 of Hibiku Kotoba, Kathleen talks with Kelly Goto, a globally renowned lecturer in the UX design and research industry and founder of gotomedia and gotoresearch. The two talk about Kelly's journey into the UX and tech industry and her newly published book, "Seattle Samurai." "Seattle Samurai" covers the life of Sam Goto, Kelly's father, as a cartoonist for the comic strip "Seattle Tomodachi" as well as Japanese American history in the US and in the Pacific Northwest. Together they discuss the latter's full circle from physical media to tech and back, the incredible conception of "Seattle Samurai" and the importance of cultural preservation.


You can learn more about Kelly and her journey here: kellygoto.com and about "Seattle Samurai" here: seattlesamurai.com

]]> In episode 3 of Hibiku Kotoba, Kathleen talks with Kelly Goto, a globally renowned lecturer in the UX design and research industry and founder of gotomedia and gotoresearch. The two talk about Kelly's journey into the UX and tech industry and her newly published book, "Seattle Samurai." "Seattle Samurai" covers the life of Sam Goto, Kelly's father, as a cartoonist for the comic strip "Seattle Tomodachi" as well as Japanese American history in the US and in the Pacific Northwest. Together they discuss the latter's full circle from physical media to tech and back, the incredible conception of "Seattle Samurai" and the importance of cultural preservation.


You can learn more about Kelly and her journey here: kellygoto.com and about "Seattle Samurai" here: seattlesamurai.com

]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0800 J-Sei J-Sei 2344 In episode 3 of Hibiku Kotoba, Kathleen talks with Kelly Goto, a globally renowned lecturer in the UX design and research industry and founder of gotomedia and gotoresearch. The two talk about Kelly's journey into the UX and tech industry and her newly published book, "Seattle Samurai." "Seattle Samurai" covers the life of Sam Goto, Kelly's father, as a cartoonist for the comic strip "Seattle Tomodachi" as well as Japanese American history in the US and in the Pacific Northwest. Together they discuss the latter's full circle from physical media to tech and back, the incredible conception of "Seattle Samurai" and the importance of cultural preservation.


You can learn more about Kelly and her journey here: kellygoto.com and about "Seattle Samurai" here: seattlesamurai.com

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No Mia Ayumi Malhotra and Continuing Culture and Heritage through Poetry 2 2 Mia Ayumi Malhotra and Continuing Culture and Heritage through Poetry full 7af8fe3b-60d6-449d-b6a5-bf171163c37a https://share.transistor.fm/s/4e22c6a1 In the second episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Kathleen interviews Mia Ayumi Malhotra, a Bay Area Yonsei poet, editor and author. They talk about Mia's journey in writing, poetry, its hardships and joys, and how she found a deeper connection with her Nikkei roots while working on her most recent publication, Mothersalt. In Mothersalt, Mia shares her experiences of motherhood from pregancy to child-rearing.

Mia shares her poem, "To My Many Mothers, Issei and Nisei" from her book "Isako, Isako" to close the episode. You can find Mia and her works on her website: https://miamalhotra.com/

Anthologies mentioned:
The Gate of Memory: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration
They Rise Like a Wave: An Anthology of Asian American Women Poets

]]> In the second episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Kathleen interviews Mia Ayumi Malhotra, a Bay Area Yonsei poet, editor and author. They talk about Mia's journey in writing, poetry, its hardships and joys, and how she found a deeper connection with her Nikkei roots while working on her most recent publication, Mothersalt. In Mothersalt, Mia shares her experiences of motherhood from pregancy to child-rearing.

Mia shares her poem, "To My Many Mothers, Issei and Nisei" from her book "Isako, Isako" to close the episode. You can find Mia and her works on her website: https://miamalhotra.com/

Anthologies mentioned:
The Gate of Memory: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration
They Rise Like a Wave: An Anthology of Asian American Women Poets

]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0700 J-Sei J-Sei 2370 In the second episode of Hibiku Kotoba, Kathleen interviews Mia Ayumi Malhotra, a Bay Area Yonsei poet, editor and author. They talk about Mia's journey in writing, poetry, its hardships and joys, and how she found a deeper connection with her Nikkei roots while working on her most recent publication, Mothersalt. In Mothersalt, Mia shares her experiences of motherhood from pregancy to child-rearing.

Mia shares her poem, "To My Many Mothers, Issei and Nisei" from her book "Isako, Isako" to close the episode. You can find Mia and her works on her website: https://miamalhotra.com/

Anthologies mentioned:
The Gate of Memory: Poems by Descendants of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration
They Rise Like a Wave: An Anthology of Asian American Women Poets

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No Former & New Executive Directors of J-Sei 1 1 Former & New Executive Directors of J-Sei full abcfcdf9-3966-439f-9aab-68727bbeec54 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bae84e41 In this episode, Kathleen talks with former Executive Director of J-Sei, Diane Wong, and newest Executive Director of J-Sei, Ky Lam. They talk about their backgrounds, their experience in the nonprofit world, what their excited for in that space and what hopes for the future of J-Sei as an organization.

Hibiku Kotoba is produced by Kathleen Wong and thanks to J-Sei and the K/T Foundation for their support. 

]]> In this episode, Kathleen talks with former Executive Director of J-Sei, Diane Wong, and newest Executive Director of J-Sei, Ky Lam. They talk about their backgrounds, their experience in the nonprofit world, what their excited for in that space and what hopes for the future of J-Sei as an organization.

Hibiku Kotoba is produced by Kathleen Wong and thanks to J-Sei and the K/T Foundation for their support. 

]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:30:11 -0700 J-Sei J-Sei 2273 In this episode, Kathleen talks with former Executive Director of J-Sei, Diane Wong, and newest Executive Director of J-Sei, Ky Lam. They talk about their backgrounds, their experience in the nonprofit world, what their excited for in that space and what hopes for the future of J-Sei as an organization.

Hibiku Kotoba is produced by Kathleen Wong and thanks to J-Sei and the K/T Foundation for their support. 

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No Welcome to Hibiku Kotoba! 1 1 Welcome to Hibiku Kotoba! trailer 16a25d8b-99ea-4a27-9053-d1ed3cb61b80 https://share.transistor.fm/s/97801fcf Welcome to Hibiku Kotoba, J-Sei's newest podcast with host and producer Kathleen Wong. Episodes will drop monthly.

]]> Welcome to Hibiku Kotoba, J-Sei's newest podcast with host and producer Kathleen Wong. Episodes will drop monthly.

]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:30:07 -0700 J-Sei J-Sei 80 Welcome to Hibiku Kotoba, J-Sei's newest podcast with host and producer Kathleen Wong. Episodes will drop monthly.

]]> nonprofit, bay area, aanhpi, asian american, east bay No