After JET, many would continue on in careers in education, community building or public service. For my guest, he has managed to combine all of these into an international career that has covered areas such as health, disaster relief, gender inequality and the empowerment of minorities in the community. Mark Flanigan's career has always been about affect positive societal change. Footnotes: - Mark Flanigan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarkflanigan/ - Imago Dei's THREADS project: https://tinyurl.com/y4maw8pb - Americorps (USA): https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americorps-vista - Rotary Peace Fellowship (global): https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships - Japan ICU Foundation (New York): https://www.jicuf.org/

Life After JET

Making a Difference: Humanitarian Work and Education

Does the marketing and PR industry have, well, bad PR? My guest, Alex Varney, and I discuss this in a deep-dive into the industry. It may be a question of semantics, and a fine line between positive promotion and outright propaganda, but it does make for a fascinating discussion as Alex discusses the nuances of what he does for a living. Also, we'll be having fun talking about that most precious of creatures, the social media influencer. Footnotes: Alex Varney on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-f-varney/ Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode are not representative of any organisation or company and are solely the views of the speakers in this episode. "Let's sell some cars" by Steve Combs and is licensed under a Attribution License, available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Steve_Combs/Jaw/Steve_Combs_-_Jaw_-_07_Lets_Sell_Some_Cars

Good PR: Marketing and Public Relations

If you've ever laughed at a Youtube clip, or played a video game, then chances are you've come across the work of my guest for this episode - Michael T Coleman. He's helped write and/or performed on some of the funniest online content, such as School of Thrones, and is the voice actor for Cody, a character from Capcom's Street Fighter. This is a pretty geek-heavy episode, so apologies if that's not your thing (not sorry) and also, language-advisory warning if that's also not your thing (kinda sorry). Footnotes - Michael Coleman on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1731754/ - Tales of the Extraordinary podcast: http://www.emptysea.net/tote/ - Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cometocoleman/ - Harimaya Bridge, the film made by a JET and in which Michael had a part in: imdb.com/title/tt0902982/ This podcast is generously supported by CLAIR, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, however it is otherwise an independant work by me, Eden Law. All opinions expressed in this podcast are solely the private opinions of individuals and do not represent any organisation that they work for. Music adapted for this episode: "Intro For A Nonexisting Video Game" by Captive Portal and is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License, available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Captive_Portal/Laughing_Turkeys_-_EP/01_Intro_For_A_Nonexisting_Video_Game

Performance Art: The Actor

We head to the arts for our next theme, with our guest, filmmaker Gavin Hugh. In addition, we'll be getting into some political discussions, as Gavin also works for a member of the Scottish parliament, making this episode feel totally like, real grown-up and stuff. Film, politics, Nazi zombies, and Scottish independence - what more could you want? Footnotes: - Find Gavin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-hugh-09b3424a/ - Midgiebite Media is Gavin's film production company: https://midgiebitemedia.scot/ - Check out the Creative Film Fife Network: https://creativefilmfifenetwork.scot/ - Gavin's podcast on filmmaking: https://www.spreaker.com/show/creative-film-fife-network - Also, Dick Dynamite 1944 - a Nazi-and-zombies film project that Gavin is involved in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiskLxCCo14 "Clear Progress" by Scott Holmes from the album Inspiring & Upbeat Music and is licensed under a Attribution-nonCommercial License, available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Inspiring__Upbeat_Music/Scott_Holmes_-_Clear_Progress

Film and Politics

Continuing with the theme about the meandering path of life, our guest has certainly done her fair share of travelling and career paths (diving instructor, tour manager and marketing director, recruitment) and now currently runs a non-profit greenhouse program in a converted ice hockey stadium in Canada, in a town located in the Arctic Circle - making her the northern-most guest to appear on this podcast. She also tells some pretty funny stories about navigating the health system in Japan, so brace yourself. Footnotes: You can donate to help Inuvik Greenhouse continue it's program, or follow their work online: - Website: https://inuvikgreenhouse.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inuvikcommunitygreenhouse/ UPDATE: Read about Ray's work! https://tinyurl.com/yblu55uq Music adapted for this episode: "Bloom" by Jahzzar from the album #handmade and is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License, available on freemusicarchive.org - https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/handmade/Bloom

A Life's Journey: Life in the Arctic

If there's a theme for the next couple of episodes, it will be about the meandering journey of life, ending up in unexpected but wonderful places. Our guest went back on JET the second time, and with her husband and children, stayed on to build a life in Japan, start up a non-profit... and find a home living in the grounds of an ancient temple right in the heart of modern Kyoto. Footnotes: - LEGACy, the NPO exchange program founded by Erin: https://www.facebook.com/LEGACy.NPO/ - LEGACy site: https://sites.google.com/noxon.us/legacynonprofit/ - Shinnyo-ji Temple's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kashikirimomiji/ - A description of the temple from a tourism site: http://slowtourism.jp/product/shinnyoji-temple/ - English site to rent accommodation at the temple: https://sites.google.com/view/shinnyoji-dormitory/ - Japanese site for the temple: https://shinnyo-ji.com/ Music adapted for this episode: "For Beautiful Human Life" by Acreil from the album Shapes With and Without Corners is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License, and is available on freemusicarchive.org

A Life's Journey: Living at the Temple

Our guest Amanda Chau works as a recruiter and HR consultant in Japan, and recently was a speaker/mentor at the After JET Conference for JET leavers in 2020. So she is in a unique position of knowing what it's like on both sides of the job seeking process. While this episode is about her work, in another way, what we're really talking about is choice - making it, stressing about it and learning to live with it. - Amanda Chau can be reached through Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agchau/ - Link Japan Careers, the recruitment company: https://linkjapancareers.net/ - Amanda's presentation on "Can-Want-Must" matrix of making decisions http://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/themes/biz-vektor/pdf/after-con/ajc2020/Career%20Tips.pdf - If you're curious about the After JET Conference 2020 materials: http://jetprogramme.org/en/after-con20/ Music adapted for this episode: "Decisions | Illusions | Confusions" by The Kyoto Connection from the album The Middle Way is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, and is available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Kyoto_Connection/The_Middle_Way/7_Decisions__Illusions__Confusions

Choices in Life and Work: Recruiting

When one finishes JET, sometimes the next step is... more JET. In concluding the theme of past JETs working in public service, we fudge the definition a bit and feature a JET unicorn: our guest Matt French has applied for the programme three times (successfully), and is currently going into his 5th year, the first ALT to do so in his town in Hiroshima. We talk about what it's like being probably the first 3rd-timer in JET history, his reasons for doing so (spoiler: love) and then go into a little bit about what it's like living and working in Japan during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Footnotes: - The three Ministries (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) formal request to local governments on the treatment of JETs in Japan due to COVID-19: http://jetprogramme.org/en/clairnewsspecial/?fbclid=IwAR3ZGeIcGdB2YoDW1PVHBLr1AJbZdz3uuCHwa4hL0hd0rA9cu5VVMufva5s - An analysis of Japan's approach and laws in relation to pandemics: https://www.jlgc.org/japans-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR2neIxZmZkwEZPfXkDJIOg5ndaueUUrv5VxDjXXcgk_X46xnRHheSxe1_c Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this episode are not representative of any organisation or company and are solely the views of the speakers in this episode. Also, language warning for some very mild swearing. Music adapted for this episode: "History Repeats" by Josh Woodward from the album The Simple Life (Part 1) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License, and available on freemusicarchive.org https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Josh_Woodward/The_Simple_Life_Part_1/JoshWoodward-TheSimpleLife-111-HistoryRepeats

AfterJET... More JET

Tourism is one of those careers that is a good fit for JETs - after all, we are passionate advocates for our second homes in Japan, and have explored every nook and cranny, probably more so than locals who have lived there all their lives. Continuing with the theme of ex-JETs who now work in the Japanese public sector, we'll be speaking to our guest, Andy Coombs, who currently works for the Fukushima City Tourism and Convention Association. He'll talk about what's involved, the challenges, his ambitions for Fukushima tourism, the benefits of selectively and softly applying the gaijin-smash approach, and of course, since we're both ex-JETs from Fukushima, we'll be shamelesly flying the flag and showing much rabu-rabu (love) for the best little prefecture in Japan. A mild language advisory warning since we (ok me) will be swearing just a teeny-tiny bit. Andy manages the following official Fukushima Tourism social media channels: - Fukushima Tourism on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Fukushima.Guide/ - Fukushima Tourism on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fukushima.guide/ - Fukushima Tourism site - https://fukushima-guide.jp/ We mentioned several places of interest on the podcast: - Aizuwakamatsu, the samurai city: http://samurai-city.jp/en/ - Lake Inawashiro: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1743/ - Goshikunuma (Five Coloured Lakes): https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/attractions/detail_1287.html - Soma Nomaoi (Samurai Festival): https://www.kyuhoshi.com/soma-nomaoi/ - Iizaka Kenka Matsuri (Fighting Festival): https://voyapon.com/fukushima-iizaka-kenka-matsuri/ - Yanaizu Hadaka Mairi (Naked Temple Visit): https://rediscoverfukushima.com/2018/01/10/yanaizu-naked-man-festival/ - Iwaki: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7775.html For the translating accreditation and other associations mentioned in this podcast: - JAT (Japan Association of Translators): https://jat.org/ - NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters - Australia only): https://www.naati.com.au/ - Fukushima International Association: http://www.worldvillage.org/english/ Music for this episode: "Coming Home" (from Step by Step) by Stefano Vita is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License, and available on freemusicarchive.org

Be Our Guest: Promoting Tourism

Featuring the lives, stories and careers from the global JET Programme alumni community. And usually, our stories begin with "This one time in Japan..." - our best, our silliest and our fondest.

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Life After JET

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