Jayne Nakata is a New Zealander living in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, and the voice behind the award-winning “Transformations with Jayne” podcast. Upon returning to Japan after a transfer to Sweden with her family was cut short by the pandemic, Nakata has created PodLaunch Family, a network of podcasts that focus on community and empowering women. She has also resumed her involvement in efforts to promote tourism in her region.

1. How did you get into podcasting with “Transformations with Jayne”? As a mother of two small kids living away from Tokyo, I was feeling very isolated and alone. I went in search of a podcast about foreign women living in Japan and didn’t find one, so I decided to start my own.

2. What kind of guests do you interview? My guests are women living in Japan who are making the most of their lives here. I love to give people a chance to speak about themselves.