Travel gets interesting when you stop speeding past real life. I sat down with Miyuki Seguchi—licensed guide, former journalist, and host of the Japan Experts podcast—to unpack how small cultural details and mindful planning turn a Japan itinerary into a human adventure. From a monolingual childhood in central Japan to studying in the UK and a formative solo trip to Italy, Miyuki shares how early sparks of curiosity became a mission to help travelers connect with people, not just places.

We explore what most visitors miss between Tokyo and Kyoto: central Japan’s living craft traditions, original samurai castles, and communities that still shape metal, paper, textiles, and ceramics by hand. Miyuki explains why overtourism strains big-name cities while rural regions hold deep culture but fewer English supports—and how travelers can bridge that gap with respect, patience, and simple etiquette. You’ll learn practical insights that matter on the ground: why public trash bins are rare, how to move through ryokan and tatami rooms, what onsen manners communicate, and how to ride trains without stress. These aren’t rules for rules’ sake; they’re keys that unlock warmth, trust, and the kind of conversations you remember years later.

If you’re planning your first visit—or returning to go beyond the postcards—Miyuki breaks down smarter itineraries, logistics that save time, and the mindset that turns workshops, studios, and castle towns into meaningful experiences. We also dig into how to choose less-visited stops without sacrificing comfort, and how a single detour can reframe your entire trip. Come for the travel tips, stay for the stories that reveal how culture lives in daily routines, shared meals, and the careful hands of artisans.

Ready to travel deeper, not wider? Subscribe to The Human Adventure, share this episode with a friend who loves Japan, and leave a quick review so more curious travelers and adventurers can find us.

If you want to learn more about Miyuki and what she offers check out www.miyukiseguchi.com and get her free Japan travel guide that shares 7 ways to make your trip more authentic and memorable. You can also follow her on Instagram @japan.experts and check out her podcast Japan Experts to learn more.

Be sure and join The Human Adventure community by following me on Instagram @humanadventurepod.

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#203 - What if the scary dream is the one that sets you free? That’s the spark behind our conversation with singer-songwriter and outdoor enthusiast Emily Hicks—a Midwesterner who found her artistic voice in the shadow of Utah’s mountains and the flow of the Green River. Emily traces her path from a shy choir kid to a piano major, from elementary music teacher to full-time performer, and the many small, brave asks that turned busking into real gigs and a steady career. Along the way we dig into how three chords taught her to keep going, why stage banter is a craft of its own, and how long bar sets can train a voice like any other muscle.

We also explore the places where art and nature meet. Emily shares how trails give her mind room to breathe, how campfires invite honesty, and why her next EP leans on outdoor metaphors—switchbacks, weather windows, and the grind to the summit. Nashville shows up as a sharpening stone: songwriter rounds, co-writing sessions, and the hard decision to keep her best songs for herself. Her niche keeps revealing itself in unexpected places, like a women’s yoga and music rafting trip where she played a carbon fiber guitar on the river and watched strangers become community under the stars.

Threaded through it all is resilience. Emily talks frankly about rejection, the importance of choosing rooms that fit, and the trust it takes—for yourself, from partners and friends—to keep moving toward the work that lights you up. If you’re craving a boost of courage, a reminder to step outside, and a soundtrack to match, you’ll feel at home here. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help these stories climb a little higher. Then queue up “Weird Wild Wonderful You” and tell us which lyric stays with you.

To learn more about Emily Hicks check out her website www.emilyhicksmusic.com or follow her on Instagram @emilyhicksmusic.

Be sure and give me a follow as well @humanadventurepod.

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#202 - What if one hard rule could change the way you face everything from headwinds to heartbreak? I sat down with author and adventurer Teri Brown to unpack how a 3,102-mile tandem bike ride across America helped her leave an abusive past, reclaim her voice, and build a set of life rules sturdy enough to carry her through grief.

Starting in Astoria and crossing Lolo Pass into Big Sky country, Teri and her husband Bruce pedaled through pandemic uncertainty, logistics stress, and days so hot the road rippled. Riding tandem forced a new kind of honesty: shared cadence, three-count stand breaks, and zero room for simmering resentment. A Dollar General parking lot became a place to name a hurt and move on. Montana gifted them wonder—horses racing uphill beside them, the Milky Way hanging close, and Comet NEOWISE blazing a tail across the night sky. Those moments of awe refueled their grit when flats stacked up and the wind turned cruel.

Out of the ride came Ten Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure. “Never quit on a bad day” stopped a mid-ride collapse after three flats; “Do hard things” later became a mantra as Bruce faced glioblastoma. Terry read from the book at his bedside; he passed as she spoke those words, a final gift that still gets her up when grief says stay down. The finish line in Washington, D.C. unlocked a deeper shift: the question changed from “Can I?” to “What do I want?” She chose authorship, publishing novels that explore identity, war, resilience, and healing.

If you’re navigating burnout, rebuilding after loss, or wrestling with self-doubt, this conversation offers practical resilience, relationship tools, and a fresh definition of adventure: bigger than your plans, kinder than your fear, and honest about the work. Listen, share it with someone who needs a push, and tell us: which rule will you carry into your next hill?

To learn more about Teri and her books visit www.terimbrown.com and check her out on Instagram @terimbrown_author.

Subscribe to the Human Adventure for more human stories of grit and growth, leave a review to help others find the show, and connect with us to keep the conversation going. You can find me on Instagram @humanadventurepod or check out the video episodes on YouTube @humanadventurepod.

Visit geneticinsights.co and use the code "DISCOVER25" to enjoy a sweet 25% off your first purchase.