In this personal episode, I reflect on my time in Osaka and the unforgettable connection with Aki—an adventurous, sharp-witted local who made Japan special. From our wild food tour to izakayas, maid cafés, and teamLab Botanical Gardens, she showed me her city like no one else. More than that, she taught me a profound lesson on presence, joy, and embracing life’s challenges. This week’s Five Essential Questions will help you reflect on the relationships that have shaped you—what they’ve taught you and how to nurture them.
Key Talking Points:
- Japan on the Bucket List: The long-awaited adventure and why Osaka became a defining stop on my journey.
- Meeting Aki: How a bold, hilarious, blue-haired tour guide turned into a lifelong friend.
- Osaka’s Culture & Energy: Why the Kansai region feels completely different from Tokyo.
- The Magic of Shared Experiences: From izakayas to Maidreamin to glowing neon nights at teamLab Botanical Gardens, Aki provided me with some of my favorite memories of Japan.
- Aki’s Legacy: The lessons she left behind and why sharing stories keeps memories alive.
All episodes are available at www.mindfulmidlifecrisis.com.
Need a place to start? Check out our Fan Faves Page!
Join the Mindful Midlife Community Newsletter!
Thank you for listening to The Mindful Midlife Crisis!
If this episode resonates with you, please share it with your family and friends.
This Week’s Sponsors:
- The B.E.L.L. Center: Expand your understanding of mindfulness and breathwork with their MindHacking Meditation Course.
- Kari Schwear: Explore what drives your habits, refocus what truly matters, and develop daily tools to start moving forward with Decide30.
- Genie Love: Schedule your FREE consultation to empower your neurodivergent strengths!
- Brian Gallagher: Download your Solo Business Blueprint and escape the 9-5 grind!
This Week’s Affiliates:
- Buzzsprout: Launch your podcast today and get $20 worth of credit towards your account!
- Fiverr: Get your next project done brilliantly by skilled professionals and earn 10% off your first purchase.
- Systeme.IO: Simplify your online business.
- Riverside.fm: Record your podcast in studio-quality audio and video.
Follow us!
Instagram: @mindful_midlife_crisis
Facebook: The Mindful Midlife Crisis Podcast
LinkedIn: Billy Lahr
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.