Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

Candice Kumai
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Coined "the golden girl of wellness" by ELLE & FORBES, Candice Kumai, 6x bestselling author, chef, wellness writer and model shares with us her painfully-imperfect life lessons and experiences that have shaped her 17 year career in media, publishing, wellness, food, modeling and content creation. Arianna Huffington named Candice "Top 20 NEW role model"+ Kumai is proud to share with you how to transform your life, accept the beauty of imperfection and mend what feels broken --- with Japanese repair. In short, you'll learn to shine from the inside out. Please welcome one of the most "real" girls in media crushing the wellness game. Candice has penned 6 best-selling books, sits on the Well + Good council, is a regular contributor to Goop, Cosmo, Bon Appetit, Men's Health, E! Daily Pop, Vogue, Forbes + Byrdie...and she can't wait to share how to transform all of our perfectly imperfect lives. Welcome wabi sabi and all the life lessons your perfectly imperfect heart desires. Subscribe now! Sign up for Candice’s newsletter asap: http://eepurl.com/wMCN5 LEARN MORE: CandiceKumai.com Pick up my new game-changing book, Kintsugi Wellness: https://www.amazon.com/Kintsugi-Wellness-Japanese-Nourishing-Spirit/dp/0062669850 Visit my new web shoppe, like asap: https://thematchashoppe.com/

  1. Jun 1

    EP 204 The June Reset: Your Summer Guide to Wellness, Energy, and Ease

    A practical, honest reset for anyone who wants to feel better this summer through food, matcha, meditation, movement, rest, better boundaries, supportive work, and more intentional living. This is about improving your health and wellness journey from June forward without making it complicated, fake, or overwhelming. Intro From Candice Happy June, and welcome back to Wabi Sabi. Today, I want to talk about the June reset and how we can use this month as a fresh start for our health, energy, and ease. June is the beginning of summer and the halfway point of the year, which makes it a really beautiful time to pause and ask ourselves: what is actually helping me feel better, and what do I want the second half of this year to feel like? I was recently asked at one of my speaking events a few questions that sounded simple, but were actually very honest. What does your routine look like? What do you eat regularly? What do you do to feel well? And what advice would you give someone who wants to improve their health and wellness journey from June forward? I loved those questions because I think they are the questions so many of us are quietly asking. How do I take better care of myself when life is full? How do I eat well without making it complicated? How do I create a routine that actually supports me? How do I rest when I have responsibilities? How do I begin again when the first half of the year did not go exactly as planned? For me, May was full and meaningful. It was AANHPI Month, and I was grateful to share my Japanese heritage, matcha, wellness, and culture through ABC News, speaking events, library events, wellness gatherings, and beautiful rooms where we could talk about the deeper meaning behind this work. But May was also very hard. Someone I used to be very close to passed away suddenly. And bad news came in a few areas-- So while I am grateful, I am also human. I have been processing grief, uncertainty, exhaustion, and the reminder that health is not something we can keep putting off. So this episode is not about pretending everything is fine. It is not about a perfect wellness routine. It is not about becoming a different person overnight. It is about simple things that actually help. Food that steadies you. Morning rituals that calm you. Movement that gives you energy back. Rest that restores you. Work and people that respect your health. And a summer that lets your nervous system breathe. This is your June reset. A summer guide to health, energy, and ease. Thank you for listening x ck

    36 min

  2. May 4

    EP 203 Happy AANHPI Month: Stand Proud, Stay Rooted, and Know Where You Come From

    AANHPI Month: Honoring Japanese Beauty, Wellness & the Truth About Matcha: Konnichiwa, my friends. Genki desu ka. This AANHPI Month, we begin not with trends—but with truth, reverence, and remembrance. Because behind every bowl of matcha, every beauty ritual, every moment of calm that the world now celebrates...there are generations of Asian hands, stories, discipline, and devotion that made it possible. And for a long time, those stories were not told. This episode is about honoring them. It’s about honoring Japan, and the greater AANHPI community: China, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Hawaii, and beyond: the cultures that have shaped global wellness, beauty, and food in ways that are only now being recognized. It’s about bowing—not performatively, but with deep respect: to the teachers, farmers, chefs, artisans, and elders who came before us. Because what we are witnessing right now w/ the global rise of matcha, the fascination with Japanese beauty rituals, the obsession with “clean living”—this did not happen overnight. And it did not happen without us. For decades, Asian culture was overlooked, misunderstood, or reduced to aesthetics without context. Our food was simplified. Our beauty rituals were copied. Our philosophies—like wabi sabi, kintsugi, and mindfulness...were often stripped of their depth. And yet, we continued to show up. Quietly. Consistently. With excellence.Today, the world is finally catching up. But with that visibility comes responsibility. Thank you for listening - please share this episode with a friend and make sure to give this podcast a five star review and subscribe thank you so much for listening again I really appreciate you x ck

    31 min

  3. Apr 13

    EP 202 Why Japanese Women Age Differently: 6 JBeauty Rituals That Actually Work

    In this episode of the Wabi Sabi podcast, I take you deeper into the Japanese beauty rituals I was raised with practices that go far beyond surface-level beauty and into how we live, care for ourselves, and honor our bodies daily. Long before J-Beauty became a trend, these rituals were part of my everyday life, rooted in discipline, mindfulness, and a deep respect for simplicity. I share how true beauty begins with what we nourish ourselves with, how we slow down, and how we care for our skin and spirit with intention. From sencha and mineral-rich foods to bathing rituals, gentle skincare, and the philosophy of doing less, but doing it well...these are the timeless habits that create lasting radiance. This episode is an invitation to return to what actually works. To simplify your routine, reconnect with yourself, and embrace a more grounded, natural approach to beauty that supports you from the inside out. Thank you for listening! x Candice

    21 min

  4. Mar 31

    EP 201- Matcha Is Japanese: Here Are the Facts

    On today’s episode of Wabi Sabi, I’m setting the record straight on matcha. There’s a lot of misinformation out there right now, and as a journalist with over 20 years in media and deep roots in Japanese culture, I felt it was important to share the facts. I break down the real history, the difference between mo cha and matcha, and why matcha is a distinctly Japanese product defined by its process, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity. This is about clarity, respect, and telling the truth. Thank you for listening x Candice

    26 min

  5. Mar 9

    EP 200 - Robin Arzón: Discipline, Resilience & Women Supporting Women

    I’m so excited to share this conversation with Peloton’s Head Instructor and bestselling author Robin Arzón. Robin has inspired millions through movement, discipline, and her powerful mindset, and in this episode we talk about what it truly takes to build strength from the inside out. Robin and I discuss resilience, reinventing your life, and the courage it takes to pursue your purpose. We also talk about how movement, community, and self-belief can transform the way we live. Thank you for being here and for listening to the Wabi Sabi podcast. I’m so grateful to share this milestone moment with all of you. ✨

    19 min

  6. Feb 2

    Ep 199- 7 Beauty Trends I’ve Tested That Actually Work for 2026

    Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how beauty trends move faster than our bodies ever could. Every week there’s a new ‘miracle’ ingredient, a new routine, a new product we’re told we need. But most of it hasn’t been tested long enough, deeply enough, or lived with in real life. So today, I want to share something different. These are seven beauty practices I’ve actually tested, integrated, and kept in my own life—and they’re not about perfection or chasing youth. They’re about cellular health, nervous system balance, and protecting your skin and body for the long run. We’re going to talk about why NAD is changing the future of skincare, why something as simple as morning sunlight can affect collagen and sleep, how matcha and blueberries protect your skin at a cellular level, and why gut health might be the most underrated beauty tool we have. This isn’t about hype. It’s about what works—and why. If you’re tired of trends that promise everything and deliver nothing, this episode is for you. Thanks for listening xx ck

    30 min

  7. Jan 20

    Ep 198 - The Quiet Rules of Japan That Make Your Trip Magical

    In today’s episode is for anyone traveling to Japan soon—or anyone who simply loves Japan and wants to understand why it feels so magical. Because yes, Tokyo is dazzling, Kyoto is beautiful, and the food will ruin you in the best way… but the real secret is something quieter. Japan runs on what I call the quiet rules—the small cultural details that make your trip smoother, more respectful, and honestly, more elevated. These are the habits that help you move through stations with ease, feel confident in restaurants, understand onsen etiquette, and avoid the mistakes that unintentionally scream “tourist.” So if you have a trip coming up, grab a pen, take notes, and share this episode with your friend who’s about to book Tokyo and Kyoto and call it done. And even if you don’t have a trip planned, these little cultural cues are still inspiring—because they teach us how to move through the world with more intention and grace. Thank you for listening! X Candice

    24 min

  8. Jan 5

    Ep 197- Seven Lessons Japan Teaches Us About Living Well in 2026

    In today’s episode, I want to take you with me to Japan. I went during a time of sadness, to be with family, and what I received there were lessons I didn’t even know I needed. This conversation is about seven quiet teachings Japan offers us as we move into 2026. We talk about why January doesn’t need reinvention, why acceptance is one of the most powerful tools we have, and how small, cumulative practices can support real wellness. We explore wabi sabi, the wisdom of elders, ancient traditions, nervous system care, and what it truly means to go inward without disappearing. If you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or pressured to have it all figured out, this episode is for you. My hope is that you listen slowly, take what resonates, and leave the rest. Thank you for being here with me. Let’s begin x Candice

    34 min
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About

Coined "the golden girl of wellness" by ELLE & FORBES, Candice Kumai, 6x bestselling author, chef, wellness writer and model shares with us her painfully-imperfect life lessons and experiences that have shaped her 17 year career in media, publishing, wellness, food, modeling and content creation. Arianna Huffington named Candice "Top 20 NEW role model"+ Kumai is proud to share with you how to transform your life, accept the beauty of imperfection and mend what feels broken --- with Japanese repair. In short, you'll learn to shine from the inside out. Please welcome one of the most "real" girls in media crushing the wellness game. Candice has penned 6 best-selling books, sits on the Well + Good council, is a regular contributor to Goop, Cosmo, Bon Appetit, Men's Health, E! Daily Pop, Vogue, Forbes + Byrdie...and she can't wait to share how to transform all of our perfectly imperfect lives. Welcome wabi sabi and all the life lessons your perfectly imperfect heart desires. Subscribe now! Sign up for Candice’s newsletter asap: http://eepurl.com/wMCN5 LEARN MORE: CandiceKumai.com Pick up my new game-changing book, Kintsugi Wellness: https://www.amazon.com/Kintsugi-Wellness-Japanese-Nourishing-Spirit/dp/0062669850 Visit my new web shoppe, like asap: https://thematchashoppe.com/

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