By Wonsuh Song
Living in Japan for a long time can sometimes make me miss Korea, of course, but there are also those moments when I suddenly get hit by a wave of nostalgia for the United States. Memories of culture shock as a kid, the distinctive “American scent” that greets me the moment I step off the plane, the insanely generous portions of food, and the strangely efficient yet foreign systems… The moment those images pop into my head, I can’t help but think, “Oh, I wish I could just hop on a plane to the U.S. right now.”
But life isn’t so easy, and I can’t always just drop everything and take off. Trying to watch American TV shows online can be a pain, thanks to all the ads, and it’s not like I have unlimited time to sit and watch videos anyway. Sometimes the barrage of visuals feels too overwhelming, and I end up more stressed than relaxed. Still, that sense of longing for the atmosphere and energy of America doesn’t just vanish.
That’s when a surprisingly good solution comes in handy:
Listening to the podcast version of “Good Morning America” in the morning.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Podcasts? Seriously?” But stepping away from visuals and focusing solely on voices can actually soothe your mind more than you’d expect. You don’t get bombarded by forced ads like on YouTube, and you can rewind or replay any segment you want without messing up the flow of the show.
“Good Morning America” is a weekday morning show on ABC in the U.S., known for its upbeat opening and wide variety of segments. Fire up the podcast, and you’ll hear casual chat about what time it is in New York or how people spend their weekends. Then, when they cut to field reports or interviews, it suddenly feels like you’re actually standing on a street corner somewhere in America. They cover everything from news and entertainment to little everyday tips, so you might catch yourself thinking, “Huh, guess Americans worry about the same stuff we do.”
Sometimes they’ll dive into serious current events, only to pivot right away to lively music or jokes—and you’ll find yourself smiling, thinking, “This is so typically American.” Watching it on TV might feel too fast-paced, but the podcast edition is trimmed to a more manageable length, and you can adjust the playback speed or rewind if you need to, so there’s no pressure.
Obviously, this one podcast won’t let you know everything about America. But if you’re craving a taste of that atmosphere and vibe, there aren’t many easier ways to get it. Instead of scrolling through jarring social media feeds first thing in the morning, why not pop in some earbuds and listen to something more laid-back? You might realize, “Yeah, this is why I missed America,” as old memories come rushing back.
In the bustle of daily life, just taking a little time to choose exactly what you want to hear can give you a surprising sense of calm. If you feel like trying something a bit different this morning, fire up the “Good Morning America” podcast. Forget about the familiar airport scent or that sprawling cityscape for now—just see if your mood feels a bit lighter for the rest of the day.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Lecturer at Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
https://geographersong.jp/about/
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