Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

187 episodes

Ep 199- 7 Beauty Trends I’ve Tested That Actually Work for 2026
02/2/2026 | 29 mins.
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
Ep 198 - The Quiet Rules of Japan That Make Your Trip Magical
20/1/2026 | 23 mins.
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
Ep 197- Seven Lessons Japan Teaches Us About Living Well in 2026
05/1/2026 | 34 mins.
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
Ep 196- 5 Things to DO NOW Before 2026
24/11/2025 | 23 mins.
Welcome to the little Wabi Sabi Podcast — a pause before the new year, a breath before everything shifts again.
This is for anyone who wants to feel grounded, clearer, lighter, more like themselves again.
These are five things that genuinely work — not trends, not hacks, not what the algorithm pushes — but practices that help you return to your real life, your real joy, your real self.
Let’s get into it. Thank you for listening! x Candice
EP 195 Matcha, Culture, and Clarity: A Japanese-American Perspective
11/11/2025 | 28 mins.
In this episode, I’m sharing the real story behind matcha — where it comes from, why it’s special, and what’s actually happening right now with the global demand and supply. After nearly two decades working in Japanese culinary culture and tea education, I wanted to give you a clear, respectful guide to understanding matcha the right way.

I walk you through the regions that shape its flavor, the history that shaped its ceremony, and why Japanese politeness often keeps the deeper truths from being spoken. I also talk about what it feels like to watch a part of my heritage become a trend, and why it’s so important to learn from Japanese voices, farmers, authors, and journalists.

If you love matcha or want to understand Japanese culture with more depth and care, this episode is for you.

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About Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

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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