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?

S3E1: SURPRISE! Otaku Ryoho is BACK! After a 5 year hiatus, Geek Therapy's anime podcast is back and rebooted with a shiny new coat of paint, a new (cuter and very funny) co-host, and 5 years of fresh wisdom (and existential dread). Josué introduces Rae to the audience and interviews her about her favorite anime (which she mostly answers). They discuss favorite anime, what they're currently watching (Josué is DEEP in the Gundam mines), and how ADHD impacts favorites, watchability, enjoyment, and expectations. Rae discusses her origins with anime and the experience of first discovering anime in the early 2000's on Toonami. She talks about the negative social perception of liking anime at the time, how that shame affected her, and how finally openly embracing her love of anime has led to personal growth and a heaping scoop of healthy self-awareness. They then pivot to their plan for this new era's episodes- revisiting the classics, touching on what's popular right now, and more. Themes/Topics Discussed:Anime as a therapy tool Hyper-fixations and ADHD in fandomThe vulnerability of liking things openly Generational/perceived shame around anime (Toonami-era millennials)Identity development and alignment Eating disorders/disordered eatingPositive depictions of food and eating in anime (eating as self-care)Capable, well-written female characters, especially in ShonenDisability and accurate representation in anime Cultural representation Processing depression through art (Hideaki Anno and depression)Effort vs. faith models of wish fulfillment Differences between media written for the male gaze vs the female gaze GriefNostalgiaFemale perspectives of anime, especially ShonenRelatable Experiences:Blanking on your favorite thing when askedHyper-fixation cyclingWatching anime in secret because family didn’t get itBeing a “hater” in order to avoid vulnerability Starting an episode and losing focus or wandering off before it endsCoping skills for ADHD to maintain interest and engagement Feeling ashamed of a hobby you actually loveAnime/Characters Mentioned: One Piece Dragon Ball Z/Dragon Ball SuperNarutoFood WarsDungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon)My Hero AcademiaFull Metal Alchemist: BrotherhoodFrieren: Beyond Journey's EndJujitsu Kaizen Demon SlayerNeon Genesis EvangelionGundam (franchise; specifically After War Gundam X, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny, Gundam Freedom)Sailor Moon (classic)/Sailor Moon CrystalCowboy BebopPokémonMy Hero Academia: VigilantesA Silent VoiceOne Punch ManMob Psycho 100Solo LevelingOne Piece: Fan Letter (OVA)Rebuild of Evangelion (film tetraology)Spirited AwayStudio Ghibli Portgas D. Ace (One Piece character)Senshi (Dungeon Meshi character)Winry Rockbell (FMA:B character)Todoroki family (My Hero Academia)Sungwon Cho (voice actor)Kohei Horikoshi (MHA mangaka)Hideaki Anno (director)Non-Anime Media Mentioned: One Piece Live Action (Netflix) Star WarsWestern superheroes MarvelBatman BridgertonPacific RimFireflyMagic: The Gathering Gundam TCGContact 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: Is there a show or fandom you’ve felt embarrassed to admit you love? What happened when you finally let yourself enjoy it openly?What stories (anime or otherwise) have you found yourself going back to lately? What have you gotten out of this revisit? 

48: Join Ariel and Stef with special guest Shaelene, somatic DBT therapist and creator of Clinically Ever After, a Disney-based conference for mental health professionals. What started as a “what if” became a “what is.” This sold-out event brought clinicians and educators together at Walt Disney World, where they found community and reconnected with themselves. From navigating Disney logistics to creating a space that actually feels good to be in, this episode explores burnout, authenticity, and play in professional spaces. Sometimes you wish upon a star. Other times, you remember you are one.Summary00:00 Introductions and return from hiatus01:35 What Clinically Ever After is and how it started04:48 Behind the scenes of hosting at Disney08:44 Logistics, costs, and figuring things out in real time12:07 Personal Disney experiences and planning with familiarity15:09 Designing a conference that feels fun and welcoming19:36 Presentations, playfulness, and audience engagement20:36 Attendee reactions and emotional impact21:31 Creating a relaxed and open professional space23:03 Pre-event community building and connection23:58 Shared fandom as an entry point for relationships26:13 Authenticity and showing up as yourself in professional settings28:21 Group dynamics and navigating feelings of exclusion31:37 Inclusivity across roles and disciplines33:25 Burnout and the need for support in helping professions34:52 Bonding through joy instead of stress37:36 Creativity and play as ways to restore energy42:26 What’s next: expanding the conference and new theme47:20 Disney snacks and park culture differences47:58 Closing thoughts and where to connectMedia/Characters MentionedDisney / Walt Disney WorldMickey MouseEPCOTThe Little MermaidBath & Body Works Disney Princess CollectionDisneyland vs. Disney WorldTopics/Themes MentionedBurnout in clinicians and educatorsCommunity and belonging in professional spacesAuthenticity in therapy and teachingPlay and creativity as part of clinical workNeurodivergence and inclusive environmentsDesigning engaging conferencesImposter syndrome and leadershipFandom as connection and identityProfessional vulnerabilityNavigating large systems like DisneySensory and environmental considerationsCross-disciplinary collaborationRest, joy, and sustainable workLinks & ResourcesGuest Links:Shaelene: @rebelmente/Clinically Ever After: https://clinicallyeverafter.comHost & Show Links:Instagram: @HappiestPodGTFacebook: @HappiestPodGTAriel on IG: @airyell3000Geek Therapy Links:Website: www.geektherapy.orgGT IG: @GeekTherapyGT Facebook: @GeekTherapyGT Facebook Group: @GeekTherapyCommunityGT YouTube: @GeekTherapyGT Discord: geektherapy.com/discordGT Forum: forum.geektherapy.comGeek Therapy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates for the effective and meaningful use of popular media in therapeutic, educational, and community practice.