Let's Talk About Ikigai With Nicholas Kemp and Dorothy Dalton

Ikigai has become one of the most shared ideas in the career development space, but the version most people know (the four overlapping circles of passion, mission, vocation, and profession) bears little resemblance to the original Japanese philosophy.

In this 3Plus Power Coaching Podcast, Dorothy Dalton sits down with Nicholas Kemp, author of Ikigai-Kan: Feel a Life Worth Living and Founder of Ikigai Tribe, to find out what ikigai actually is — and where the Western Venn diagram went wrong.

Dorothy openly shares how she initially misunderstood the concept, making this an honest and accessible entry point for anyone new to ikigai. Nicholas explains the authentic Japanese understanding of ikigai as a deeply personal, everyday sense of meaning and wellbeing — not a grand life purpose to be discovered, but a daily experience to be cultivated.

Whether you are exploring career direction, seeking greater meaning in your work, or simply curious about Japanese philosophy and wellbeing, this conversation offers a grounded and thought-provoking starting point. It pairs especially well with Episode 6, which explores the deeper psychology behind Mieko Kamiya’s ikigai research.