The Story Samurai

Most people chase crowns that can be stolen, applause that fades, and recognition that rarely satisfies. But the victories that matter most are often the ones no one sees.In this scroll, Cary Hokama — creative entrepreneur, storyteller, and student of self-mastery — takes you inside the hidden battles that forge true sovereignty. From King George VI in The King’s Speech, to Emily Blunt overcoming...

Your environment is never neutral. It will either forge you or consume you.In this scroll, we explore the sobering contrasts of Sean Kingston and his mother, Roy Jones Jr. and Park Si-Hun, and the recent passing of Charlie Kirk. We reflect on the question my friend Shun posed about the Patterns of Success, and we revisit the wisdom Dr. Benjamin Hardy shared on my podcast about how willpower is...

In Scroll 016, Cary Hokama shares the Samurai Sponge—a way to break free from stuck stories and rewrite your path with clarity, mastery, and meaning. From fungi’s “Wood Wide Web” to Erwan Le Corre’s MovNat to Jeff Hoffman’s InfoSponging, this scroll is about sponging wisdom from every corner of life and weaving it into your sovereign path. Plus, Cary gives a Kaizen Drill you can apply tonight to...

What if the mission you’re meant to live doesn’t come from you — but chooses you?In this scroll, we walk through stories of Anthony Kim, Nelson Mandela, J.K. Rowling, and my own journey through exile. Each one shows us how the hardest seasons — the ones we never asked for — forge clarity and purpose.You’ll also hear the 3 Samurai principles that can help you recognize your mission, accept the...

Your 20-year-old self? He wouldn’t have listened anyway. The real question is — what would you tell your future self?In this scroll, we cut through the tired copycat questions and talk about why your future self should be the one you’re training for. I share stories from the dojo with my jiu-jitsu brother Sam, the rise and fall of PGA prodigy Anthony Kim, and how small daily katas sharpen the...

What happens after the mask comes off?Not the freedom. Not the applause.The stillness. That uncomfortable silence we’re conditioned to escape.In this scroll, we talk about what most people avoid—the void that follows the performance.From a monk’s lesson on peace, to a forgotten Karate Kid parable, this episode is an invitation to do what few ever choose:Sit.Breathe.And listen—until the truth...

What happens when the version of you the world loves… isn’t really you?In this scroll, we explore the quiet cost of wearing a mask—the one you built to fit in, to be liked, to survive.Cary shares stories from his own journey as a frontman, trainer, host, and leader… and the silent weight that came with performing.If you're ready to return to yourself and live without the need to be liked, this...

There’s a silent burnout few talk about— Not from doing too much, but from being too little of yourself.In Scroll 011 of The Story Samurai, we explore the hidden toll of underexpression: The cost of saying “yes” when your soul says “no.” Of playing agreeable when you were built to disrupt. Of dimming your truth to avoid being disliked.Cary shares a deeply personal coaching story… We break down...

After two weeks exploring Singapore, Bali, and Japan, something unexpected happened in the final hours of our trip.I walked back into a small gyoza shop in Sapporo—one I had visited nine years earlier—and the owners remembered me.Not just my face. My name. My review. My impact.This episode isn’t just about travel—it’s about what happens when you keep walking the path, even when no one’s...

This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a dojo for the soul. We’re not here to ship content. We’re here to shape culture.”In this Scroll, Cary Hokama breaks down what it really means to walk in sovereignty—even if it means being disliked.Pulling from the book The Courage to Be Disliked, this episode challenges people-pleasing, cultural conformity, and the illusion of approval. You’ll hear reflections on...