S3E6: [SPOILERS FOR END OF WANO ARC IN ONE PIECE] Josué comes out swinging with an open discussion about the trait of openness and novelty-seeking, and how anime largely dominates the market for truly unique concepts and interesting new spins on genre or well-known tropes. They shift into a discussion about positive and negative bias and potential harm from negative media or anime bias in a clinical setting. Rae speaks about best practices with gathering potential clinical data from favorite media, hobbies, and interests using the Geek Therapy model. Both hosts share personal stories and experiences living with ADHD and how ADHD impacts what they find interesting, their struggles with engaging with certain hobbies, and how ADHD heavily influences their love of anime. Rae shares about how she reclaimed her love of reading and touches on ADHD coping strategies. Josué shares two anime that made him feel extremely seen and how this media representation encapsulates the internal experience of ADHD, contrasting it with negative clinical bias discussed previously.  Themes/Topics Discussed:ADHDBurnoutChangeFinding Oneself/Identity DevelopmentMental Health ServicesProblem SolvingResiliencePositive and negative biasesBest practices in clinical settingsOpenness and noveltyPersonalityRelatable Experiences:Clarity/UnderstandingComing of age/Getting olderDisabilityFear/AnxietyTraumaLate-diagnosed ADHDAnime/Characters Mentioned: One PieceMy Hero AcademiaGundam (referenced)Undead UnluckMarriage ToxinSpy x FamilyDeath NoteIsekai (genre)The Master of Killing TimeLove, Chunibyo, and Other Delusions Non-Anime Media Mentioned: Looney TunesBehind Your Touch (K-Drama)Chicken Nugget (K-Drama)Avatar: The Last AirbenderInvincible (comic and animated show)Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (film)The Mask (film)Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (film)South ParkRick & MortyTransformers (referenced)Lisa Frank (referenced)Rainbow Bright (referenced) Kill Bill (films)Chronicles of NarniaAlice in WonderlandThe Wizard of OzContact Us:Join the discussion on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org/ and connect with the Geek Therapy Network through the links at https://geektherapy.org/.Check out our other shows on the GT Network: https://network.geektherapy.org/  Join us in the Geek Therapy DiscordFollow Geek Therapy on Bluesky: @GeekTherapy.bsky.social Conversation Starters: What anime-specific tropes are you most drawn to? What does that say about your personality, if anything? 

S3E5: COME ABOARD AND BRING ALONG ALL YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS!! It's time to talk about One Piece! Rae and Josué discuss the overall themes of One Piece and how it's important to not judge this manga by it's cover, per se. They discuss the setting and worldbuilding, examine the factions that make up this world, explore the values of various pirate crews/captains, and explore the nuance and role of neutrality, morality, and propaganda in this story. They then talk extensively about the main character, Monkey D. Luffy, his strengths, relatability, how he inspires and empowers others, and how his nuanced and balanced character fits in amongst other iconic Shonen protagonists. This episode is meant as an introductory episode for One Piece and will likely be the first of many more to follow. Themes/Topics Discussed:FREEDOMFound familyAuthenticityLiberationSelfish vs. selflessFinding Oneself/Identity DevelopmentMaking new friendsMoral dilemmaPower struggleResilienceStanding up for othersStanding up for oneselfRelatable Experiences:Following your dreamsRejecting the things that don't serve youSelf-care and balanceDetermination and ambitionSeeing the best in everyoneEmpowerment and inspirationAcceptanceDeathFightingAnime/Characters Mentioned: One PieceMonkey D. Luffy (character)Gundam (franchise) Dragon Ball Super/ZGoku (character) NarutoNon-Anime Media Mentioned: One Piece Live ActionContact Us:Join the discussion on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org/ and connect with the Geek Therapy Network through the links at https://geektherapy.org/.Check out our other shows on the GT Network: https://network.geektherapy.org/  Join us in the Geek Therapy DiscordFollow Geek Therapy on Bluesky: @GeekTherapy.bsky.social Conversation Starters: Are you as dedicated to your pursuits as Luffy? What could you learn from his character and his ambition, and how could you apply it to your pursuits?

S3E4: Josué's time to shine has arrived in this episode of Otaku Ryoho. Josué and Rae discuss the first series, Mobile Suit Gundam from 1979, the most recent series at time of recording, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX from 2025, and many, many other series and adaptations in between that fall under the vast Gundam franchise umbrella. They talk about how Mobile Suit Gundam, as well as most of the franchise as a whole, doesn't shy away from showing the true cost of war, intentionally portrays major players in a morally grey light, and boldly illuminates the role of corporate corruption and influence over politics, power, and oppression. Josué connects the timeless themes in Gundam with current events and they reflect on how war becomes generational trauma. Rae notices a pattern of Japanese storytellers often restarting and retelling the same stories over and over in different forms and adaptations, and wonders if this is a metaphor for the cyclical nature of generational trauma. Or maybe it's just capitalism ruining the party again.  Themes/Topics Discussed:ChangeConsequencesDeathLeadershipPower struggleResilienceStanding up for othersStrong female role modelsStanding up for oneselfSacrifice for othersWorking with othersWarFreeing groups from oppressionSurvivalIndependenceGrey morality in war and politicsHorrors and reality of warCorporate influence and corruption in politics, healthcare, and warCapitalism and corruptionChild soldiersRelatable Experiences:AcceptanceClarity/UnderstandingComing of age/Getting olderDeathFear/AnxietyFightingMaking Others WorryLoss (other than death)TraumaWarGenerational TraumaLiving in a dystopiaAnime/Manga/Characters Mentioned: Mobile Suit GundamOne PieceMobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuXAmuro Ray (Mobile Suit Gundam)Fraw Bow (Mobile Suit Gundam)Bright Noah (Mobile Suit Gundam)Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam)Mobile Suit Zeta GundamMobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (film)Neon Genesis EvangelionSD Gundam ForceMobile Fighter G GundamGundam: Requiem for Vengeance (Netflix anime)Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway (movie trilogy)Yoshiyuki Tomino (Gundam creator)The Man Who Created Gundam (manga)Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded OrphansMobile Suit Gundam 00Gundam Build FightersMobile Suit Gundam Eight (manga)Gundam SEEDMobile Suit Gundam ZZ (Zeta Zeta)Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketMobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamMobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from MercuryGUNPLA (model kits)Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (manga)Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam (manga)SlayersOne Piece: Party (manga)One Piece School (manga)Non-Anime Media Mentioned: Toonami programming blockStar Wars/The Phantom MenaceStar Fox 64Star TrekPacific RimBand of BrothersSaving Private RyanDungeons & Dragons (D&D)Josué's TAGGS presentation: Making Miniatures Mindfully Rae's TAGGS presentation: The Straw Hat Jolly Roger: How This Symbol Brings Hope and Empowerment During the Darkest Timeline "What If?" Series in Marvel ComicsAbsolute Universe in DC comicsBatman (various series)Contact Us:Join the discussion on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org/ and connect with the Geek Therapy Network through the links at https://geektherapy.org/.Check out our other shows on the GT Network: https://network.geektherapy.org/  Join us in the Geek Therapy DiscordFollow Geek Therapy on Bluesky: @GeekTherapy.bsky.social Conversation Starters: Many different types of media portray generational trauma- but which ones focus on ending the cycle? How can you draw inspiration from it and apply it to your work/life?

S3E3: Ah, Toonami. The after-school programming block that shaped a generation and had no business being that cool. American millennials especially love to wax nostalgic about Toonami; If you've ever found yourself outside that conversation for whatever reason (too young or old, not from the US, weren't interested at the time, didn't have that channel, etc.) and wanted a quick guide for understanding the millennial Toonami experience, Rae & Josué have you covered in this episode of Otaku Ryoho! Josué and Rae dive a little deeper in their respective anime origin stories, shaped by the iconic Saturday-morning cartoon blocks that first brought anime to the west (salute the real ones- WB Kids and Fox Box) and later Toonami. They cover a brief history of Toonami and reflect on the shows that shaped us, year by year.Also we have a(n unofficial) slogan now! Otaku Ryoho: Everything's Better With A Mech! Themes/Topics Discussed:ChangeCultural representationFinding Oneself/Identity DevelopmentResilienceDiscovery of new cultures and mediumsNostalgiaRelatable Experiences:Clarity/UnderstandingComing of age/Getting olderLoss (other than death)Transitions and changeShared cultural experiencesFallible human memory Formative mediaAnime/Characters Mentioned: PokemonRanma 1/2DigimonCardcaptor SakuraEscaflowneFighting Foodons Ultimate Muscle (Kini Kuman)Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball ZSailor MoonMacross/RobotechRonin WarriorsTenchi Muyo/Tenchi Universe/Tenchi in TokyoBlue Submarine Number 6G-Force: Guardians of SpaceMobile Suit Gundam WingZoids: Chaotic CenturyMobile Suit GundamMobile Suit Gundam: the 8th MS TeamMobile Suit Gundam: 0080 War in the PocketOutlaw StarCardcaptors HamtaroMobile Fighter G GundamCyborg 009Astro Boy.hack//SignSD Gundam ForceDragon Ball GTYu Yu HakushoRuroni Kenshin Astro Boy (2004)Gundam SeedZatch BellYu-Gi-Oh! NarutoOne PieceCowboy BebopInuyashaSamurai ChamplooTrigunRent-A-GirlfriendSlayersFull Metal Alchemist: BrotherhoodZoro and Sanji (One Piece)Gundam Age Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuxNon-Anime Media Mentioned: WB Kids Saturday morning cartoons programming blockFox Kids/Fox Box programming blockToonami cartoon programming blockThundercatsVoltronJohnny QuestCartoon Roulette [Space Ghost, Birdman, Galaxy Trio, the Herculoids, Superman (1940's)]Super FriendsBeast Wars TransformersRebootThe Powerpuff GirlsSuperman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated SeriesBatman BeyondShe-RaStar WarsContact Us:Join the discussion on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org/ and connect with the Geek Therapy Network through the links at https://geektherapy.org/.Check out our other shows on the GT Network: https://network.geektherapy.org/  Join us in the Geek Therapy DiscordFollow Geek Therapy on Bluesky: @GeekTherapy.bsky.social Conversation Starters: Which Toonami-era shows were formative for you? How do they still influence you to this day? 

**THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR THE FINAL SEASON OF MHA!**S3E2: It's post-TAGGS week and Josué & Rae are TIRED. This episode, Josué & Rae say goodbye to My Hero Academia and reflect on the journey of the characters and story- as well as events and growth in their own lives- during the manga's 10 year and the anime's 9 year respective runs. Josué talks about how he's rarely experienced the end of a massive mainstream hit show in real time and how different this ending feels- particularly because this ending was happy. Rae reflects on her experiences in online fandom spaces during new episode and chapter drops. Josué reflects on how frequent moving has affected his attachments and how a long-running show can provide consistency and stability in a very inconsistent and unstable world. Rae recounts how hearing about the MHA manga ending felt at the time, the additional factors that intensified her feelings, and contrasts that with how the anime's ending hits more positively now that she's in a better place. They both agree that their goodbye to My Hero Academia feels less sad and more appreciative and full of gratitude.  Themes/Topics Discussed:Real, tangible, and valid grief experienced by a beloved, long-running show endingGrief and loss in its many formsStories with happy endings vs stories with tragic endingsAttachment Acceptance, gratitude, meaning-making, and closureRecognizing and building resilience and capacityAccepting what you do and do not have control overCommon therapist experiences of burnout, termination, and licensure grindRelatable Experiences:Frequent moves and necessary detachment- or, difficulty forming deep attachmentHaving something to look forward to when you're feeling hopeless; The grief when that thing you look forward to endsCollective, global fandom experiencesMedia reaching kids-playing-the-show-on-the-playground-and-having-themed-birthday-parties levels of mainstream popularity Fandom twitter experiences (MHAtwt, CRtwt, OPtwt, etc.)Stories with rich, expansive worlds and how "playing in the sandbox" affects grief, loss, and acceptance of a story's endLife events coinciding with a show's durationWhen life is inconsistent, long-running media provides consistencyLiving in the present moment because the future is not guaranteedAnime/Characters Mentioned: My Hero AcademiaOne PieceAttack on TitanDragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball SuperMy Hero Academia: VigilantesSailor Moon HamtaroDeku (Izuku Midorya) (MHA)Katsuki Bakugo (MHA)Todoroki family (MHA)Bulma (DBZ)Dragonball Xenoverse III (video game)Wano arc (One Piece)Midnight (MHA)Best Jeanist (MHA)Hawks (MHA)Toonami (Cartoon Network anime programming block)Non-Anime Media/Characters Mentioned: Game of ThronesStar TrekSkywalker saga (Star Wars movies)Critical Role (Campaigns 1, 2, and 3)Arya Stark (GoT)Doctor WhoThe Kardashians (joke/reference)Spider-Man (Miles Morales, Spiderverse films)Magic: The Gathering (TCG)Contact Us:Join the discussion on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org/ and connect with the Geek Therapy Network through the links at https://geektherapy.org/.Check out our other shows on the GT Network: https://network.geektherapy.org/  Join us in the Geek Therapy DiscordFollow Geek Therapy on Bluesky: @GeekTherapy.bsky.social Conversation Starters: What shows have you had to say goodbye to? Was it easy or hard? What tips can you offer someone going through this experience?