Peter Galante is the founder of JapanesePod101.com, an educational podcast production company that since its creation in 2005 has had over 60 million downloads.

With over 1000 Japanese lessons and a very active support community, JapanesePod101.com now caters for language learners of all levels. In addition to professionally produced audio and video podcasts, JapanesePod101 provides extensive lesson notes, and a range of additional services to support self-study.

Peter’s story is an inspirational one – starting out with just himself and and friend working round the clock to get the podcasts out. They’ve since grown to take on a large number of staff all around the world, and have been able to invest in projects such as recording audio for every entry in Jim Breen’s legendary Edict dictionary.

This podcast is broken down into two parts. In part one, we focus on the JapanesePod101 learning method, with Peter detailing what’s in the package.

In part two we talk business – what motivated Peter to start the company? What challenges did he face – and how did he use Mixi to overcome a particular issue?

Peter also generously offers listeners of this podcast a 25% discount off all JapanesePod101.com products – just enter the coupon code ‘tame‘ at the checkout.

How to Listen

Please note that the podcast feed only contains Part 2, in which we discuss doing business in Japan.

To listen to part one please click here

Subscribe and listen in iTunes / on your iPhone /iPod

Non-iTunes RSS feed

Download Part 1: The JapanesePod101 method

Download Part 2: Doing business in Japan

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:08 — 12.0MB)

1 Comment | In: Business Owners, Internet, Language, education | tags: business, education, japanese, Language, online, peter galante, podcasting, teaching. | #

Heather Russell is founder and president of www.Rinkya.com an online shopping service for non-Japanese speakers who want to buy stuff from Japanese stores and internet auction sites.

In this interview, Heather tells us how she started Rinkya, what issues she faced as a non-Japanese women starting their own business in Japan, and demonstrates the kind of attitude needed to succeed in what is often a man’s world.

I have found Heather to be a real inspiration. She’s very kind and a lot of fun, and when it comes to business she knows what she’s talking about.

She’s also been the subject of a fair bit of media attention, not being your average company president in Japan.

See JPEG/PDF copies of a magazine articles on Heather and Rinkya.com in the Japanese language Mac People magazine:

• Original Japanese English translation
• Original Japanese English translation

Make sure you check out www.Rinkya.com – the easiest way to buy stuff online from Japan.

Subscribe and listen in iTunes / on your iPhone /iPod

Non-iTunes RSS feed

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:32 — 6.0MB)

No Comments | In: Business Owners | tags: business, challenges, ecommerce, entrepreneur, heather, Internet, online, russell, women. | #