Home Podcasts Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai
Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

Candice Kumai 196 Episodes Aug 11, 2026

Candice Kumai, a bestselling author and wellness expert, hosts this podcast about embracing imperfection and finding beauty in flaw. Through personal stories and interviews, she shares insights from her career in media, wellness, and food. The show explores Japanese philosophies like wabi sabi and kintsugi as tools for healing and self-improvement. Listeners learn practical ways to transform their lives and accept their perfectly imperfect selves.

Episodes

EP 209 What Actually Keeps Your Body Fit for Decades
EP 209 What Actually Keeps Your Body Fit for Decades Aug 11, 2026 00:35:57 What actually keeps your body fit for decades? In this episode of the Wabi Sabi Podcast, I’m sharing the workouts and wellness practices I have returned to for nearly 30 years, from barre, Pilates, cycling, yoga, surfing, swimming and strength training to the practice I now consider my special sauce: meditation. I break down the science behind what really helps your body stay strong, mobile and re
EP 208 The Unwritten Rules Every Traveler Should Know Before Visiting Japan
EP 208 The Unwritten Rules Every Traveler Should Know Before Visiting Japan Jul 23, 2026 00:29:09 In this special Japan episode of Wabi Sabi, I’m sharing the unwritten cultural rules every traveler should know before visiting Japan. Drawing from my Japanese American heritage and a lifetime of traveling throughout the country, I’m opening up the thoughtful customs, quiet gestures, and insider knowledge that can completely transform the way you experience Japan. From showing respect at temples a
EP 207  The Ultimate Summer Glow-Up Guide What to Eat, Drink, and Do for Better Skin, Hair, Energy, Recovery, and Long-Term Wellness
EP 207 The Ultimate Summer Glow-Up Guide What to Eat, Drink, and Do for Better Skin, Hair, Energy, Recovery, and Long-Term Wellness Jul 15, 2026 00:27:45 In this episode, I’m sharing my Ultimate Summer Glow-Up Guide and everything I genuinely rely on to support healthy-looking skin, stronger hair, steady energy, recovery, and long-term wellness. This is not about crash diets, expensive powders, or chasing one magic ingredient. It is about the small, cumulative habits that actually matter: eating enough protein, choosing healthy fats, adding more co
EP 206 Healing Foods: What to Eat to Help Your Body Recover and Thrive
EP 206 Healing Foods: What to Eat to Help Your Body Recover and Thrive Jul 2, 2026 00:26:55 Hi Friend, today we're talking about something that's incredibly close to my heart: healing. Whether you're recovering from surgery, healing from an injury, navigating illness, moving through grief, burnout, or simply trying to feel like yourself again, I hope this episode reminds you that healing is never about perfection. It's about giving yourself the time, grace, and nourishment your body dese
EP 205 Resilience, and the Art of Never Giving Up
EP 205 Resilience, and the Art of Never Giving Up Jun 16, 2026 00:26:26 As we step into June, I wanted to share a little slice of joy, strength, and perspective. For anyone who has been criticized, overlooked, misunderstood, embarrassed, rejected, or quietly left wondering, Do I still have what it takes? I know that feeling. I know what it feels like to keep showing up, to do the right thing, to give 150%, to stay gracious, to work hard, and still feel like the world
EP 204 The June Reset: Your Summer Guide to Wellness, Energy, and Ease
EP 204 The June Reset: Your Summer Guide to Wellness, Energy, and Ease Jun 1, 2026 00:35:46 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
EP 203 Happy AANHPI Month: Stand Proud, Stay Rooted, and Know Where You Come From
EP 203 Happy AANHPI Month: Stand Proud, Stay Rooted, and Know Where You Come From May 4, 2026 00:31:16 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
EP 202 Why Japanese Women Age Differently: 6 JBeauty Rituals That Actually Work
EP 202 Why Japanese Women Age Differently: 6 JBeauty Rituals That Actually Work Apr 13, 2026 00:20:34 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
EP 201- Matcha Is Japanese: Here Are the Facts
EP 201- Matcha Is Japanese: Here Are the Facts Mar 31, 2026 00:26:13 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
EP 200 - Robin Arzón: Discipline, Resilience & Women Supporting Women
EP 200 - Robin Arzón: Discipline, Resilience & Women Supporting Women Mar 9, 2026 00:18:38 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 t
Ep 199-  7 Beauty Trends I’ve Tested That Actually Work for 2026
Ep 199- 7 Beauty Trends I’ve Tested That Actually Work for 2026 Feb 2, 2026 00:29:52 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 ke
Ep 198 - The Quiet Rules of Japan That Make Your Trip Magical
Ep 198 - The Quiet Rules of Japan That Make Your Trip Magical Jan 20, 2026 00:23:34 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 ho

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