🎙️ Little IKIGAI Podcast
Welcome to Little IKIGAI Podcast, a quiet space for reflections on midlife, wellbeing, purpose and the experience of being human.
I'm Mayumi Kojima, a naturopath with a deep curiosity about IKIGAI, culture, the mind–body connection and the many ways we find meaning through different seasons of life.
Through personal reflections, ideas I've encountered through my work and learning, and conversations about ageing, menopause, identity and change, Little IKIGAI explores what it might mean to live with greater curiosity and connection to ourselves and the world around us.
There are no perfect answers here, just a little space to pause, wonder, and perhaps discover something meaningful along the way.
Episode 2: IKIGAI is Like Breath
“Ikigai is like breath. Always present, whether or not we notice.”
In this tender reflection, Mayumi explores what it means to live with Ikigai during the season of midlife and menopause. Drawing on the wisdom of Japanese psychiatrist Mieko Kamiya, a simple poem, and her own lived experience, she shares how meaning is not something we chase — but something hidden in the everyday rhythm of life.
From grief and change to rediscovering joy, this story invites you to see menopause not as an ending, but as a quiet beginning. A chance to breathe, to soften, and to notice the small, ordinary moments that remind us life is still full of purpose.
👉 [Listen to the full episode →]