Coffee with Changemakers

Reimagining Classrooms: Building Tokyo’s School of the Future

Kai Childs is on a mission to change education with The Innovation Fellowship, a new international school in Tokyo that empowers students to explore their passions and build real-world skills.In this episode, we explore Kai’s path from career experimentation in his 20s to building a purpose-driven school in his 30s.At The Innovation Fellowship, students learn through project-based work, self-paced academics, and research. They tackle unique projects that spark their curiosity and build essential skills for the future. Kai candidly shares about the school's launch, the importance of a shared vision, and the power of starting small.Join us as we discuss reimagining education, building purpose-driven communities, and Kai’s take on meaningful, lasting change.Highlights00:00 Getting to know Kai13:26 Experimentation & Mindset Shift: From 20s to 30s21:28 Building a School: Launching the Innovation Fellowship in Tokyo28:42 Personalised Projects for Students35:01 Accreditation and a Well-Rounded Education36:38 Creating Value and Developing Real-World Skills52:21 The Importance of Alignment and Not Forcing ThingsFind out more about The Innovation Fellowship: https://www.innovationfellowship.org/

Sustainable Tourism & Slow Living in Japan’s First “Zero Waste Village”

Kana Watando is the Co-founder and Director of INOW Kamikatsu, an educational tourism organisation based in Japan’s first “Zero Waste village”, Kamikatsu. With a mission to integrate sustainable living practices into everyday life, Kana helps visitors immerse themselves in the village's unique and charming lifestyle, offering homestay experiences and hands-on educational programs that build deep connections between visitors and the local community.We explore Kana’s journey from Canada to rural Japan, examining the challenges and rewards of life in Kamikatsu, where 80% of the village's waste is diverted from landfills. This innovative approach has established the town as a leading example of sustainable living and waste management, serving as a model for communities in Japan and beyond.Join us for an inspiring conversation about Zero Waste living, rural revitalization, and the power of community-driven change.Highlights02:07 Kana’s Journey to Kamikatsu06:23 Choosing to Live in Rural Japan11:29 Zero Waste Efforts in Kamikatsu15:43 Projects and Impact of INOW Kamikatsu22:36 Tours and Experiences Creating Impact26:27 Overcoming Challenges in Sustainable Tourism and Education28:19 Deep Understanding of Place and Co-Creation in Sustainable Tourism32:04 Balancing the Needs of the Local Community and Authentic Experiences36:49 Seeking Community and Taking Things Step by StepFind out more about INOW Kamikatsu and follow Kana’s journey: https://inowkamikatsu.com/

Green Ultra Athlete & Entrepreneur: Pushing Limits for the Planet

Carole Fuchs is a green ultra athlete, entrepreneur, and climate activist who has climbed some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest. As the founder of Feel Run, a circular economy business that creates sustainable sportswear, Carole is passionate about reducing the environmental impact of the sports industry.We explore her many adventures in extreme environments, including her experiences climbing Everest and the challenges she faced on the way. She also discusses her latest project, the Great Himalaya Run—a 1,600-kilometer run across the Great Himalayan Trail in Nepal—where she will document the devastating impacts of the climate crisis on both the environment and the local communities.Join us for an inspiring conversation with Carole about adventures, resilience, climate activism, storytelling, and blazing a new path towards impact.Highlights02:25 From Alpinist to Environmental Entrepreneur06:05 Overcoming Fear and Taking Action14:22 The Impact of the Climate Crisis23:26 Challenges and Successes of Feel Run28:05 Carole's Daily Routine and Motivation33:36 Reaching the Peak of Everest38:49 Environmental Challenges on Everest: Melting Glaciers and Waste41:52 The Great Himalaya Run: Raising Awareness and Engaging Communities52:37 Advice for Aspiring Changemakers: Take Action and Build MomentumFollow Carole here: https://www.instagram.com/carolefuchs/And support her Great Himalayan Run crowdfunding campaign: https://gogetfunding.com/the-great-himalayan-run/

Defending Human Rights in Myanmar: Legal Heroes on the Front Lines

Zar Li Aye, a lawyer and human rights defender from Myanmar, has dedicated herself to building a network of legal experts who courageously protect the rights of persecuted individuals - often risking their own lives in the process.She shares her remarkable journey from an aspiring musician to a key figure in the fight for justice in Myanmar.Zar Li delves into the country’s political landscape, shedding light on the hurdles her team faces in providing legal aid to the imprisoned and oppressed. She also explores the significance of trust, courage, and collaboration in their vital mission to amplify the voices of the voiceless. Drawing from rewarding stories from the front lines, she offers advice for aspiring changemakers and shares her goals and dreams for the future.Join us for an unforgettable conversation with Zar Li on resilience, hope, and the pursuit of justice in Myanmar and beyond.Highlights08:41 From Musician to Lawyer25:03 Challenges and Triumphs in Providing Legal Assistance31:04 The Power of Trust and Teamwork in Leadership36:13 Rewarding Moments and Appreciation42:59 Personal Growth and Advice for Changemakers50:28 Future Goals and Aspirations53:34 Ways to Support Zar Li's WorkFollow Zar Li and her vital work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zar-li-aye-99889595/

Planet Savers: Building Japan's First Direct Air Capture Startup

Kei Ikegami is the Founder and CEO of Planet Savers, Japan’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup. From working in international development in the Middle East to completing his MBA at Cambridge, Kei shares his entrepreneurial story and his company’s mission to tackle the climate crisis through its deep technology that captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. He discusses building his company from scratch, including developing the startup’s core technology, raising funds from investors, and finding the right team to make his vision come to life. Kei also candidly shares his successes and challenges, as well as the many learnings from his unique journey.We discuss Kei’s “why” behind what he does and Planet Savers’ road map for the future, as well as insights on how changemakers can embrace failure and pursue their passions to make an impact.Highlights06:42 Kei's Journey: From International Development to Climate Tech14:22 Building Planet Savers: Motivation and Technology24:08 Challenges in Climate Tech Entrepreneurship28:07 Fundraising and Support 33:08 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Passion, Motivation, and Challenges43:55 Becoming a Father and Changing Perspectives50:56 The Future of Planet Savers: Projects and ChallengesFind out more about Planet Savers and follow their journey here: https://planetsavers.earth/

byFood: The Foodie Travel Platform Tackling Hunger

Serkan Toso launched byFood, a platform connecting foodie travelers with unique culinary experiences, in 2019. Since then, the company has donated 600,000+ meals to children in need through its ‘Food for Happiness’ program.Having moved from Turkey to Japan, Serkan shares his fascinating journey into entrepreneurship and his many learnings from building and scaling his company.He candidly shares how byFood diversified its revenue streams during the pandemic, merging companies with another like-minded entrepreneur, and the company’s successes and challenges, including raising funds from investors to scale their service globally.We discuss how Serkan - a Forbes 30 Under 30 Honouree - deals with stress and maintains balance as a founder and recent father, his key insights on scaling a startup through different phases of growth, and how to differentiate in the competitive online travel industry. Highlights08:02 Starting byFood & Overcoming Challenges26:43 Scaling and Hiring the Right People34:11 Maintaining Work-Life Balance as a Founder & Father43:16 Overcoming Challenges as a Foreign Entrepreneur53:21 Advice for Aspiring ChangemakersFind out more about byFood and follow their journey here: https://www.byfood.com/

Capturing Carbon & Cleaning Air: The Rise of OOYOO

Ralph Nicolai Nasara is Co-founder and CTO of OOYOO, a social impact startup focused on capturing carbon dioxide and cleaning air for a sustainable future.Ralph shares his personal story and how his fascination with energy and batteries at a young age led him to pursue a career in climate tech, including a 10-year deep dive into the field of lithium-ion batteries.He explains the challenges and opportunities of carbon capture, as well as OOYOO's core technology - a passive membrane filtration system capturing CO2 - and shares about the company's future plans and current partnership with the Japanese government.Ralph also openly discusses the significance of mentors, building a team culture where people can be their authentic selves, and the value of humility and open-mindedness in problem-solving.Highlights00:00 Early Days: Fascination with Batteries to Climate Tech08:15 Carbon Capture: Challenges and Opportunities 25:41 Collaborating with the Japanese Government and Technology Deployment36:38 The Power of Mentors and a 'Challenge Network'45:06 The Importance of Humility and UnlearningFind out more about OOYOO: https://www.ooyoo.co.jp/en/

Karate Champion to FemTech Entrepreneur: The Flora Story

Ukrainian Karate athlete Anna Kreshchenko moved to Japan in 2017. There, she founded Flora, a startup improving women’s wellbeing. The company runs the popular ‘Moonly’ app which helps users track menstrual cycles, access health insights, and improve pregnancy planning. Flora also works with major companies to enhance healthcare services for women and empower the female workforce.Anna is a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Honouree and was also recognised in the prestigious Forbes Japan ‘Next 100’ list. We sat down with Anna to discuss everything from overcoming imposter syndrome to building the right team and the importance of self-care, as well as Flora’s grand ambitions for the future.Highlights03:40 Anna's Journey from Ukraine to Japan08:26 The Inspiration behind Flora17:06 Flora's Impact29:02 Favourite Moments 31:05 Anna's Personal ‘Why’ 35:20 Building the Right Team40:06 Complementary Skill Sets and Emotional Stability42:10 Big Things Take Time44:04 Taking Action and Learning by Doing44:54 Prioritising Health and Resilience49:57 Global Expansion and Future VisionFind out more about Flora: https://main.flora-tech.jp/