Beneath the Tangles » TangleCast: Recent Episodes
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Join our podcast team as we geek out about anime, manga, visual and light novels, gaming, conventions, and cosplay. As we share our experiences and insight, we hope to build bridges across the otaku community, and highlight the meaningful things in life—love, community, and faith.
New episodes air twice a month on Tuesdays.
The award-winning (congratulations!) Mike returns with the second episode of a special series on Job! But first, he tells you all about said award as well as about his very positive experience at Anime North this year. Then, Mike jumps in to why we might look for the bad in people, turning toward Sakuta in Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai as an example. All that and more on this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!In the series Sailor Moon, Usagi often gives us a little introduction telling us about herself. What is her blood type?
Podcast Notes Aliciaxlife is cancer-free! Check out her YouTube channel and Twitter account! * Eyeshield 21 is this week’s anime recommendation! It’s available for streaming on Crunchyroll. * Mike has mentioned in Eyeshield 21 on the podcast before…that is, the previous iteration of it. Check out episode 24 (same episode!) of the Tangle x Cast podcast for more from Mike on this series! You can also read a couple of articles by Annalyn on the anime. * Here’s the video that Mike references, which is from the movie Josee, the Tiger and the Fish. Want to know what we thought of the film? Here is our review of it. * For part one of Mike’s dive into Job, he examines passages from Job. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings Casting Crown’s beautiful song, “Love Them Like Jesus.” * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Mike returns with the first episode of a special series on Job! He looks to The Rising of the Shield Hero‘s Naofumi as an example of how many blame God for evil when the Book of Job explains where it really comes from. Join him today as he discusses the problem of evil, recommends a Blues Brothers-inspired (sorta) anime, and tells you about a really cool panel coming up at Anime North in this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!In the anime How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, Hibiki goes to Silverman Gym to get in better shape. What is the first workout that Machio teaches her?
Podcast Notes Today’s anime recommendation is Nerima Daikon Brothers—a wacky, musical series that references Blues Brothers. But good luck finding it! * The Rising of the Shield Hero is a little easier to find—it’s streaming on Crunchyroll. * For part one of Mike’s dive into Job, he examines verses from Job 1-2. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings Matthew West’s popular song, “Strong Enough.” * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Judge not lest ye be judged? Hold your horses, friends. Should Christians never judge others? Or are there instances when they should? And just as importantly—what’s the best way to do so? On this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast, Mike looks to Naruto’s relationship with Iruka-sensei, recent examples in the vtuber space, and a number of passages in the Bible to take apart this sticky subject. Plus, a recommendation of a most unique anime, Mike gets confused by Amazon Prime, and more! Have a listen!
Anime Trivia!In the anime Shaman King, what is the name of Yoh’s fiancée?
Podcast Notes Interested in VAngeli, the Christian vtuber group? You can find them on Twitter and visit their website! * Today’s anime recommendation is from way back in 2003: Wandaba Style! It’s streaming on Amazon Prime through HIDIVE, but not on HIDIVE, and…well, hopefully you don’t have as much trouble accessing it as Mike did. * Bible passages we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Matthew 7:1, Zechariah 8:16, Galatians 6:1, John 8:1-11, and Matthew 18:15-17. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings the Casting Crowns’ classic, “If We Are the Body.” * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
On this “very special episode” of The Power of God and Anime podcast, Mike chats with a really cool and unique artist: Shadow Fire! The two talk about her work as an ASMRist and voice actress, as well as about her testimony, appreciation for My Hero Academia, and what it’s like to be a believer creating God-honoring content in a niche creative sphere. Have a listen!
Podcast Notes Many thanks to Shadow Fire for joining us on this episode! Check out her wholesome (and even biblical!) ASMR and other content on YouTube and TikTok, and consider commissioning her on Fiverr! * Brina Palencia, as you heard Mike say, will be a guest at Anime North. So will Phase Connect VTuber Pipkin Pippa! * Remember to check out Mike’s YouTube channel this month for his Power Girl contribution to “JSApril,” and track the #JSApril on Twitter and visit The Fire and Water Podcast Network for others’ JSApril projects. * Here are the first impression articles by our writers on the new series that Mike has been enjoying: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes* (featuring one of our favorites, Macy Anne Johnson, as Pop☆Step!) and Catch Me at the Ballpark!. * Read all our spring 2025 anime first impression pieces on our master post! * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Hello, friends! On today’s episode, Mike takes on a more modern anime in my recommendation, talks about his Anime North plans, and looks to a classic shounen anime and one of its main characters (Bleach and Ishida Uryu) to explain how God’s offer of salvation is gift that we choose to reject or receive. All on episode 20 of the The Power of God and Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!In the anime Karin, what is it that makes Karin different from other vampires?
Podcast Notes Today’s anime recommendation is a more modern series: Zombie Land Saga! Both seasons can be streamed on Crunchyroll. * Bible passages we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Romans 6:23, Psalms 51:5, and Romans 7:15-17. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings one of his own works: “He Was the Gift.” * Remember to check out Mike’s YouTube channel this month for his Power Girl contribution to “JSApril,” and track the #JSApril on Twitter and visit The Fire and Water Podcast Network for others’ JSApril projects. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Mike is back and feeling well! And he’s charging forward this week with thoughts on generosity, starting with that muscular (and extremely kind) lug, Goku! But it doesn’t stop with Dragon Ball Z—generosity should be part of who we are and what the church is. So buckle up and listen as Mike dives into the topic of giving, also as he recommends another old-school anime, sings a song about giving, and discusses cat girls, comics, and hockey?! All on episode 19 of the The Power of God and Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!Instead of trivia this week, Mike is asking for your help! He’s creating a parody song about cat girls. What are some of your favorite cat girls from anime?
Podcast Notes Wonder how the hockey game went? Well, Mike’s team did better than he thought they would! His Buffalo Sabers came back from being down two goals to tie the Vegas Golden Knights, and then defeated them 4-3 in a shootout! * Check out Mike’s YouTube channel next month for his Power Girl contribution to “JSApril,” and track the #JSApril on Twitter and visit The Fire and Water Podcast Network for others’ JSApril projects. * Today’s old-school anime recommendation is the outrageous and creative comedy, Excel Saga. Jessica Calvello was indeed giving the performance of a lifetime before injuring her vocal cords, though both the dub and sub are excellent. You can stream the series on Crunchyroll. * Bible passages we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Proverbs 28:27, Luke 6:38, and Leviticus 27:30. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike “What If I Give All” by Ray Boltz. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 5: Anne’s Perfect Christmas Gift
How do you forgive people who have done something terrible to you? Does forgiveness—as God demands it—require trusting that person again and rebuilding the relationship? Mike digs into this pertinent and challenging topic today through the example of Nami and Hachi on episode 18 of The Power of God and Anime podcast! He also drops another old-school anime recommendation, sings a now-classic worship song, and much more!
Anime Trivia!What was the episode number of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya that was technically the fifth one to release on its original run?
Podcast Notes Interested in the manga Mike reviewed at the start of this episode? The rereleased version of Super Mario Bros.: Manga Mania is only available digitally through VIZ. You can purchase the previously released version in physical or digital copy on Amazon. * Did you enjoy hearing Mike’s review? Let us know in the comments below if you’d like to hear him review more! * Hey, this is a good point to STOP and PRAY for Mike! Pray for his anxiety and that everything will go well on this convention trip. * Today’s old-school anime recommendation is Pani Poni Dash! This was a crazy, fun series! You can stream it on Crunchyroll. * Bible passages we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:15-17, and Colossians 3:12-13. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings the chorus of Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” * Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
The Heike Story: A Tale of Forgiveness?
Ah, Valentine’s Day—one of the most beloved and hated holidays of the year! We get emotional as the day draws near and that messes with our minds, even with we have a solid foundation of what love means. Today, Mike looks to Judges and Ephesians for advice in love—and to that irascible ninja Naruto—in our special Valentine’s Day episode of The Power of God and Anime! Oh, and as always, he gives his old school anime recommendation and sings a tune! Come have a listen!
Anime Trivia!In the anime One Piece, what is Luffy’s initial bounty?
Podcast Notes Should Mike go with Obanai for his third Anime North cosplay this year? Or another cosplay? Let us know in the comments below! * My Hero Academia Clue sounds like fun! It surely isn’t at the rock-bottom price that Mike bought it for, but here’s a link to the game on Amazon if you’re interested in purchasing it! * Mike’s anime recommendation for this episode is the classic series, Ah! My Goddess! We’ve mentioned this series before—in stardf’s introductory post on our site and, quite appropriately—by Josh in a Valentine’s Day post. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings a country* song—Chris Young’s “The Man I Want to Be.“ * Bible passages we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Judges 14:1-3 and Ephesians 5:21-33. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, where his Luigi’s Valentine’s Day date video drop tomorrow! You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Love and Soul: 12 Anime Couples for Valentine’s Day Out of Song and Scripture
Why do you do what you do? Is it to be good and to please God or are there other reasons? A You’re Under Arrest episode featuring the unrelenting Chie helps us examine our motivation for helping others. Mike also chats about Anime North, sings a song from Vintage Worship, and asks about monster foreign exchanges (!) in episode 16 of The Power of God and Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!What is the name of the boy that Tenma Tsukamoto has a crush on in School Rumble?
Podcast Notes What kind of monster should Mike invite into his home for a foreign exchange program? Let us know in the comments below! * Mike booked his hotel for Anime North this year. Will you be attending? * Mike’s anime recommendation for this episode is the classic romcom, You’re Under Arrest. The series is available to stream on HIDIVE! Here’s a direct link to the episode Mike is discussing today: episode 8. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings a song by Vintage Worship: “Generous Giver.” * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include John 12:43, 2 Corinthian 9:7, Matthew 6:1-4, * Check out more from Mike on YouTube!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Disagreements going public, Mike going back to the beginning, Keitaro’s fated Todai love, and Christian ASMR? Mike covers all that and more in this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast! Listen for all the fun and his deep dive into how Christians should handle our arguments, taking All Might and Sir Nighteye as examples of what not to do!
Anime Trivia!In the anime Cowboy Bebop, what kind of dog is Ein?
Podcast Notes After almost two decades, Mike is returning to Anime North! Are you going? * The Christian ASMR artists that Mike recommended were Shadow Fire and Aryashadeslay. Chek them out! Oh, and here’s that ASRM video he mentioned with the super long title! * Mike’s anime recommendation for this episode is the classic romcom, Love Hina. We’re big fans here, having written about the Christmas episode no less than five times [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]! If you’d like another rundown of the show, check out AstroNerdBoy’s article on the series. * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings Phil Wickham’s song, “Battle Belongs.” * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Mark 8:11-13, Acts 15:36-40, Matthew 17:15-16, and Galatians 6:1-2. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Contrary to scripture, a lot of Christian ~~arguments~~ conversations these days—including among believers—totally lack in humility. What’s the answer? Examples from the life of the Old Testament King Uzziah and everyone’s favorite demon slayer, Tanjirou, show us the way. Come listen in as Mike explains and also talks about his recent major live events involving Clue, cars, and college football on episode eight of The Power of God and Anime Podcast!
Anime Trivia!In the anime Eyeshield 21, what is the name of the Devil Bats’ tight end?
Podcast Notes In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings “In Christ Alone” by Michael English. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:2, II Chronicles 26:16-19, Proverbs 3:5, and I Corinthians 1:31. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Do you sometimes feel discouraged, as if you’re not good enough to accomplish the big things you’d like to? Mike’s been there. So have some of the heroes of the Bible, including Moses and Gideon. And…maybe Sailor Moon’s Usagi Tsukino, too? Well, she at least serves as an example of someone who does incredible things despite her shortcomings—and God is able to do the same with us as well. Join Mike today as he chats about this topic, along with thoughts on Yakuza 4, on episode seven of The Power of God and Anime Podcast!
Anime Trivia!In Demon Slayer, the Hashira Tengen has three wives. What are their names?
Podcast Notes Would you to see Mike live stream or do a Let’s Play of Yakuza O? Tweet or message him on Instagram to let him know! * In today’s Songs That Tell the Story*, Mike sings “Nobody” by Casting Crowns. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Exodus 4:11-12, Judges 6:15-16, 1 Samuel 16:7, and 1 Corinthians 12:14-21. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
We all struggle with temptation. But the rub isn’t simply in being tempted, but in how we react to temptation. Mike looks to Konosuba and Beast Tamer for very different reactions to sexual temptation, and then to the Bible to see how we should respond in any tempting situation. Plus, he gives his real anime origin story (it involves being a Soul Reaper…of sorts), talks about Cassandra Cain, and suggests that we should all eat fingers (wait) on episode six of the Power of God and Sukuna, er, Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!In the series, Actually, I Am (also known as My Monster Secret), what is the name of the school’s demon principal?
Podcast Notes* Sukuna’s finger water bottle, collectible, and even gummy, but no vitamin that we can find. Maybe our sponsor doesn’t have their website going quite yet? * In today’s “Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings “Lord I Need You” by Matt Maher. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include I Corinthians 10:13, John 1:14, and Hebrews 4:15.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Look, it’s not easy to ask others for help. Shame, pride, and all manner of obstacles get in the way. Deku and Vegeta know this intimately as major arcs for them and even their inmost character reveal a desire to go it on their own and not involve others. But what does scripture have to tell us about finding help in our struggles? Mike digs into this topic (while also explaining his real origin story, discussing his favorite series of the season, and more) on episode five of the Power of God and Anime podcast!
Anime Trivia!In Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, what is the dish that Tohru is constantly trying to get Kobayashi to eat?
Podcast Notes Check out our first impressions of the three fantasy series Mike mentioned at the top of the episode: Wistoria: Wand and Sword, I Parry Everything, and The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Trained to Death by the Most Powerful Party, Became Invincible*. * In today’s “Songs That Tell the Story,” Mike sings “Why Me?” by Kris Kristofferson. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Isaiah 41:10, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 3:23-24, and John 15:5. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, including a bunch of photos from his attendance at Nickel City Comic Con!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Do you feel influenced by the culture to act like those around you? Are you being persuaded to put away your faith and engage the world on its terms? You’re not alone—it’s a day and age where the culture around us speaks as strongly as ever. But Mike’s got you covered. He looks to Shirou Emiya and his stance during the Holy Grail War in Fate/stay night as an example of how to act when you’re being thrown about by something that contradicts your belief. Welcome to episode four of The Power of God and Anime Podcast!
Anime Trivia!In Spy x Family, what is the name of the first person we see Yor target as an assassin?
Podcast Notes* As Mike notes (and in case you didn’t realize it), people die if they are killed. * In today’s “Songs That Tell the Story,” Mike sang a portion of and oldie but goodie: “If We Don’t Believe (Send Us to the World)” by Harvest. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Romans 12:2, and Galatians 6:1. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, including a bunch of photos from his attendance at Nickel City Comic Con!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Welcome to episode three of The Power of God and Anime Podcast! Listen as Mike gives a third version of his story that sounds like Sailor Mo—no, it couldn’t be; discusses the cult episode of A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics; and shares his experience sharing the love of Christ with a co-worker rather than a false image of God that he had encountered. Come listen along!
Anime Trivia!In Azumanga Daioh, the students’ homeroom teacher is Yukari Tanizaki. What is the subject she teaches? (Since it’s different in the dub and sub versions, either answer is acceptable)
Podcast Notes Have you watched A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics*? It is a trip! The series just completed its run but if you’ve yet to watch it, read our first impression post to consider whether or not it’s worth taking the dive! * In today’s “Songs That Tell the Story,” Mike sang a portion of Here I Go Again by the always-convicting Casting Crowns. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include 2 Timothy 4:3-4 and Jeremiah 14:14. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, including a bunch of photos from his attendance at Nickel City Comic Con! * Thank you to today’s sponsor, Truck-kun!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Welcome to episode two of The Power of God and Anime Podcast! Listen as Mike gives his second, truer (?) origin story, sings a praise song you may never have previously heard, asks you this episode’s Anime Trivia question, and talks about second chances and Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp.
Anime Trivia!In That Time I Was Reincarnated As a Slime, what was Rimuru’s name in his first life?
Podcast Notes Have you watched Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp*? Besides this episode, we’ve discussed the opening episode of the series. * Take a listen to the full version of Mike’s original song, “What Sin.” * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Acts 9 and 2 Peter 3:9. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
The Power of God and Anime Podcast, Episode 1: Neon Genesis Mikevangelion
Statedogg is back! We’re happy to post the very first episode of a new podcast featuring Mike of Mike’s Geek World and formerly of the Tangle x Cast. When the team ended their run last year, they moved onto other projects—Kyuubikaze is taking a break from BtT as he endeavors onto new challenges in his life, Dennis continues to be our engineer for new podcasts, Paris and Eryn plan to launch a podcast this winter, and Mike is starting the “Power of God and Anime” podcast. In today’s introductory episode, he chats about Akira Toriyama’s passing, Evangelion and a holy fatherhood, and more. He also gives his first trivia question—feel free to drop your response after you listen to the episode!
Anime Trivia!In the Dragon Ball anime, how old is Bulma when the series begins?
Podcast Notes We’ve written a ton of Evangelion* articles (go figure), including this one about Gendo Ikari. If you want to stream the series, it’s currently available on Netflix. * After you’re done listening to Mike’s version, listen to the original “When God Ran” by Phillips, Craig, & Dean. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include James 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 7:10, and Luke 15:11-32. * Check out more from Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram!
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring copyright-free music (license code 9OFBY6IDSRWODYKF) from Uppbeat (“Funk Tank by Soudnroll), and edited by Dennis.
Over the last year+, the Tangle x Cast team has shared their thoughts on life and faith while elegantly intertwining Christianity with anime in relatable and mindful ways. But this episode marks the end of this journey. We hope you enjoyed the episodes and that you’ll enjoy this final one, too, as Paris, Mike, Eryn, and Tyler (and Dennis a little, too!) share their memories from the previous 26 episodes. And stay tuned as well, because you haven’t heard the last of any of these wonderful folks here on Beneath the Tangles!
0:00 Introduction
2:13 Favorite Episodes
2:22 Mike’s Favorites: Regret vs. Repentance and Singleness
3:53 Tyler’s Favorites: Zom 100 and Burnout and Going Through the Motions
7:40 Paris’ Favorites: Zom 100, Oshi no Ko and Criticism, Joy in Anime, Social Anxiety, Dealing with Disappointment, Eryn’s introductory episode, and episode one.
9:25 Eryn’s Favorites: Joy in Anime and Cowboy Bebop The Movie Watch-Along
11:13 Favorite Games
16:06 Tangle x Cast Fruits
31:20 New BtT Projects for the Team
34:43 Thank You
37:39 Closing
Podcast Links* What better way to kick off our final episode than with the English voice of Kyouko Hori, Marisa Duran! She has been a wonderful friend to the blog. Check out our most recent interview with her and another deeper dive from a few years back, and give her a follow on X and Instagram—she’s very active on both. * Thank you again to Christina Kelly for joining us during a past episode! Listen to our interview with Christina and follow her on X, Instagram, and Tiktok. * Thank you, also, to Amanda Gish for joining us in a really cool episode as well! Please follow Amanda on YouTube, Instagram, and X. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, Eryn, and Dennis (our editor and the fifth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing—and be looking forward to what’s next! * The Tangle x Cast may be over, but we’ll be seeing you again soon! One way you can already continue to connect is through Tyler’s small group—come join our Discord server, through which he runs the weekly group, and connect with the rest of our community there as well!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Our 12 Days of Christmas Anime series rolls along today with a new episode of the Tangle x Cast! Mike, Tyler, and Paris look to some series we haven’t often dug deep into but are personal favorites of the staff as we pull apart the episodes and reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Welcome to episode 26 of the Tangle x Cast!
0:00 Introduction
1:14 Announcements
1:38 Catch-up!
7:28 One-word Story
10:47 Christmas Anime
11:00 Discussion—You’re Under Arrest
17:48 Discussion—Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto
26:57 Discussion—Kodocha
38:29 Cast Question
42:01 Closing
Cast QuestionWhat’s your favorite gift that you’ve received?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Podcast Links Jasmine Rodgers starts out our episode today. She’s the lead singer of Boa, which performed the opening theme (“Duvet”) to Serial Experiments Lain. Check out our interview with her from several years back! And you can keep up with Jasmine and her music through her website, Facebook, and Instagram. * Paris talks Kodocha* in this episode, but this isn’t the first time we’ve discussed this Christmas episode. Josh discussed it a couple of years ago as well! * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Titus 1:16, Colossians 3:16-17, Proverbs 16:9 and Proverbs 16:23. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, Eryn, and Dennis (our editor and the fifth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Strangely sounds like MHA (and a few other classic anime series)
0:00 Introduction
1:01 Announcements
2:24 Catch-up!
6:18 Husbando and Waifu
19:48 Singleness
21:02 Discussion—Midori Days and Patience in Singleness
20:19 Discussion—Food Wars and Blessings of Singleness
32:28 Discussion—Romantic Killer and Embracing Singleness
38:35 Discussion—Lord of the Rings and Living Out Singleness
51:11 Closing
Podcast Links
In Dragon Ball, how old was Bulma when the series began?
Podcast Links Plus Ultra! Thank you to Justin Briner, the voice of Deku, for kicking off our episode! * We mentioned our annual campaign at the top of the cast. Please consider becoming a sustaining giver through Patreon, or donating a one-time gift through Ko-Fi or PayPal. * It’s almost 2024, so why not start the new year with Eryn’s calendar? You can find it for sale here along with many other Ithileryn cosplay items! * Tyler has been playing Forza Horizon 5 lately. Are you into any new racing games? * Mike sure can ramble on about waifus…in fact, he does just that in this video. * Romantic Killer* is a GREAT series. Here’s our first impression of the anime. * Tyler mentioned the life group he leads, which meets on Saturdays through Discord. Come join us! * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include James 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 7:10, and Luke 15:11-32. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, Eryn, and Dennis (our editor and the fifth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
It’s a very human experience to find out that our enthusiasm has waned, our motivation has decreased, and our wanting has ceased, for all sorts of things in life—jobs, relationships, hobbies, and even faith. Our podcasters—Mike, Tyler, Paris, and Eryn—have all been there, and they’ve seen some of that same approach in anime series like Eyeshield 21, Attack on Titan, and Fullmetal Alchemist (and in a first for our podcast, a Korean game show!). We invite you to tune in as they tackle the superficial stupor we all sometimes get into and offer insight on how to get out.
0:00 Introduction
1:02 Announcements
2:02 Catch-up!
8:37 What’s That Anime?
14:48 Going Through the Motions
15:19 Discussion—Eyeshield 21
20:19 Discussion—Living life to the fullest
27:44 Discussion—The Devil’s Plan
34:16 Discussion—Fullmetal Alchemist
43:58 Cast Question
55:21 Closing
Cast QuestionIf you’ve gone through a time of “going through the motions,” how did you get back to a healthy rhythm?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Podcast Links Attack on Titan may be over, but that won’t keep us from starting our episode with Elizabeth Maxwell voicing Ymir for us! * We mentioned our annual campaign at the top of the cast. Please consider becoming a sustaining giver through Patreon, or donating a one-time gift through Ko-Fi or PayPal. * As Paris explains, “It’s Not About the Nail.” * Seungkwan may not have been a strong player on The Devil’s Plan*, but I think he’s doing ok. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Malachi 1:10, Romans 12:11, Colossians 3:23, Romans 12:2, Ecclesiastes 3, and Ephesians 5:14. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, Eryn, and Dennis (our editor and the fifth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Welcome to episode 23 of the Tangle x Cast! We’re doing something special this time around: our very first watch-along! To celebrate Halloween, we picked Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, a film that takes place around the holiday. So come watch with us! Whether you’re streaming it on Tubi or have the DVD or BD at home, you can turn us up and hear Eryn, Mike, and Twwk chat about the film and series while you tune in!
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Halloween plans and Cowboy Bebop experience
7:23 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie Watch-along—Introduction
10:04 Watch-along—Let’s Jam (Countdown)
1:11:40 Watch-along—Intermission
1:12:24 Watch-along—Second Half
2:08:17 Closing
Podcast Links DId you catch that intro? It’s Nobuhiko Okamoto, who has famously voiced Rin (Blue Exorcist), Karma (Assassination Classroom), and Bakugo (My Hero Academia)! Check out this interview we did with him a few years ago. * If you don’t already own the film, you might just want to stream it for free on Tubi. You can also purchase it on BD. There are less expensive versions available on Amazon, but read through the descriptions carefully as they might be regions outside your zone. * As Eryn mentioned on the episode, she’s well known for her Faye Valentine cosplay. Here are a few shots of her as Faye Faye! * Twwk mentioned an interview he conducted with Jet Black’s English voice actor, Beau Billingslea—check it out! * No surprise that we’ve written pretty extensively on Cowboy Bebop*, including a couple of articles on Faye and Spike’s goodbye. * We’ve also written about Faye’s Japanese seiyuu, Megumi Hayashibara. Here’s an article about her impact on anime and a review of a unique memoir she wrote reflecting on her character roles. * Twwk references recent controversy involving Faye’s English voice actor, Wendee Lee, and her voicing of Yoruichi in Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War. Here’s an explanation and update about the situation. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, Eryn, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Review: Cowboy Bebop (Netflix, 2021)
Welcome to episode 22 of the Tangle x Cast! We’re excited to share with you today an interview with actress Amanda Gish, the voice behind Witch (Goblin Slayer), Hop (Dragon Ball Super), Kinoko (My Hero Academia), and many more anime and gaming characters! In a roundtable setting, she talks to us about finding bonds through… Read More Tangle x Cast 22: Interview with Voice Actress, Amanda Gish
What could an anime zombie comedy possibly have to tell us about work, burnout, and joy? Plenty, as it turns out! Paris, Tyler, Mike, and Eryn watched the first two episodes of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead and came away with a lot of thoughts, I tell ya, about this fun and thoughtful… Read More Tangle x Cast 21: Of Zombies, Burnout, and Bucket Lists
Are you experiencing joy in your life? Could it be possible than anime could tell us something about the nature of joy and from where it comes? Join Paris, Tyler, Mike, and Eryn in this encouraging episode as they dig into the Bible and some of their favorite anime to explore this Fruit of the… Read More Tangle x Cast 20: Joy in Anime
Do you become anxious in social situations? It may surprise you to learn that even our very gregarious podcasters have experienced the same (and still do sometimes). This week, Paris, Tyler, Mike, and Eryn explore social anxiety and the characters that resemble how they feel in or react to social situations. Come join us! Introduction… Read More Tangle x Cast 19: Our Social Anxiety Anime Characters
One of this year’s most stunning anime episodes featured Akane Kurokawa, a young actress character in Oshi no Ko, being torn to shreds on social media for slapping a castmate on a reality show and mirroring a real-life situation involving wrestler Hana Kimura. It brought up so many questions and thoughts for our team that… Read More Tangle x Cast 18: Hana Kimura, Akane Kurokawa, and Responding to Social Media Criticism
One of Jesus’ most beloved parables is “The Good Samaritan,” the tale of the most unexpected person showing the greatest care for a victim on the side of the road. Our team looks to how three anime—Trigun, Kimi ni Todoke, and I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real… Read More Tangle x Cast 17: Good Samaritans of Anime
One of the great struggles for Christians is figuring out how to navigate life in a world that doesn’t embrace biblical values. How to stay on the narrow path when the culture is so different—and often opposed—to biblical living? Our team finds some examples of how we might do so through how characters in several anime—Akiba Maid War, Princess Mononoke, A Silent Voice, and Oshi no Ko—live their lives. Join Paris, Mike, and Twwk, who’s sitting in for Tyler, as they investigate how those characters walk and talk differently from the world around them!
0:00 Introduction
1:25 Game—This or That
8:40 Spy x Family Cast Question results
10:26 Living biblically in an unbiblical world
11:09 Discussion—Shiipon and Akiba Maid War
17:27 Discussion—Ashitaka and Princess Mononoke
23:42 Discussion—A Silent Voice and an ungracious world
32:40 Discussion—Oshi no Ko and idols, authenticity, and culture
45:37 Cast Question
46:15 Closing
Cast QuestionWhat’s your advice for living biblically in an unbiblical culture?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Podcast Links Summer may be just around the corner, but that is indeed Winter kicking off this episode! Elizabeth Maxwell, the voice of RWBY’s Winter Schnee, drops our opening bite. Go follow her on Instagram and Twitter, and check out this story we did with her and this interview we conducted over tea! * Interested in watching these series and movies? Oshi no Ko and Akiba Maid War are streaming on HiDIVE. A Silent Voice can be watched on Netflix. And Princess Mononoke is available through Max. * Our pal, Christina Kelly, voices Shiipon in Akiba Maid War, whom Mike specifically reflects on, and Miyako in Oshi no Ko. Listen to our interview with Christina in our last Tangle x Cast episode! * We’ve reflected on how Ashitaka sees the world differently on Beneath the Tangles before. We’ve also looked at how differently A Silent Voice* approaches the culture as well. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Colossians 2:8, Matthew 6:24, Romans 12:1-2, Mark 10:1-12, James 3:1, and Acts 17:16 and 32. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
We received such great feedback on our episode about disappointment last month that we decided to continue the conversation, but with a different anime-related slant. We invited Christina Kelly, whom you may know as the voice behind characters like Shiipon (Akiba Maid War), Mine (Akame ga Kill), and Koko (Golden Time), onto the podcast to discuss what the auditioning process in voice acting is like and how she deals with the reality of frequent rejection in the industry. Come join Paris, Mike, and guest host, Twwk, as they interview Christina about those topics, cosplay, and more on episode 15 of the Tangle x Cast!
0:00 Introduction and catching up
12:36 Game—I’m Weird
16:25 Interview with Christina Kelly
27:06 Interview—Auditions, rejection, and authenticity
41:05 Interview—Your authentic self
45:49 Interview—Cosplay and social media
49:24 Cast Question
50:23 Closing
Cast QuestionHow well do you handle rejection or setbacks?
Podcast Links We’re so excited to have Christina Kelly join us in this episode! She’s voiced tons of characters in anime. Go follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok to see not only VA stuff, but cute animal videos, cosplay, and, let’s be honest, much sass*. * Christina has lots of insights and thoughts to share that we didn’t get to in this interview. Please also check out our past article, video interview, and recent, quick catch-up with her for more! * Want to visit with Christina in person? She mentioned that she’ll be Animazement in Raleigh next! * That’s Macy Anne Johnson as Shikimori kicking off our podcast episode! Follow Macy on Twitter and check out this interview we conducted with her. * Tyler is out for the month, but he’ll be back in June. In the meantime, check out the panel he delivered (and which he referenced in a past episode) at this year’s Kawaii Con in Hawai’i. Paris and Twwk show up in the interviews he plays in the panel! * Soon after the episode, Paris and Christina got together to do that photoshoot of Sailor Pluto and Sailor Chibi Moon they mentioned! We posted a few photos below, but you’ll see far more on Christina’s Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok accounts and on Instagram and Tiktok for Paris. These balloon cosplays were made by Balloon Josh (TikTok, Instagram) and photographed at the Houston-Bellaire Aqua S.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Would you believe that not all our podcasters have seen Spy x Family? For shame! We had to correct that—after all, the series was not only one of our top anime of 2022, but it also won our AniMarch Madness tournament this year! Ithileryn joins Mike, Paris, and Tyler once again as the team digs into the moments from season one that impacted them and made them think more deeply about faith. Come listen and respond by answering our Cast Question!
0:00 Introduction and Naruto Cast Question results
2:15 Favorite Spy x Family Moments (Season 1)
2:39 Discussion—Eden Academy and our outward appearances
9:54 Discussion—Restraint and unforgiveness at Eden Academy
13:09 Discussion—The duty to protect children
21:33 Discussion—The Pharisees of Eden Academy and looking at the heart
28:23 Discussion—Hiding yourself, hiding your faith
35:51 Cast Question
40:19 Closing
Cast QuestionWhich Forger family power or ability would you most like to have (spoiler for season two)?
A. Loid (super spy)
B. Yor (smooth assassin)
C. Anya (telepathy: read minds)
D. Bond (precognition: see the near future)
Podcast Links Hey, that’s Christina Kelly voicing Mary Saotome in our episode intro! Go follow Christina on Twitter and Instagram, and check out our video interview with her from last year. * Did you enjoy listening to Ithileryn? I know you did! Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook! * Mike referenced a video he made about expressing one’s faith—check it out on Geek Devotions, where he turns to Himouto! Umaru-chan* to explain. * Bible verses we mentioned or that inspired discussion in this episode include Matthew 23:1-26, Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 18:6-7, Ephesians 6:1-4, James 1:27, Psalms 68:5, Deuteronomy 10:18, Matthew 27:18, Proverbs 6:16-19 Galatians 6:9, and Luke 11:33. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Disappointment is a part of everyday life. We know this, but that doesn’t make it any easier when a person we trust lets us down, the job we were counting on falls through, or the movie we’ve been looking forward to all year stinks. Still, can we do better than just sulk or rage when things don’t go our way? Scripture has a lot to say on this topic—and so, too, do anime and video games. This week, Paris, Tyler, and Mike discuss positive and negative ways to react to disappointment. And they’re joined in the discussion this time by cosplayer Ithileryn, who was a guest a few episodes back!
0:00 Introduction and catching up
5:31 Dealing with disappointment through anime and scripture
8:10 Discussion—Comic Party (-) and Best Tamer (+)
15:03 Discussion—Naruto (+) and Akame Ga Kill (-)
19:57 Discussion—Fruits Basket: Tohru (+) and the Sohmas (-)
29:17 Discussion—Fullmetal Alchemist, Nier: Automata (spoilers), and The Two Towers
41:33 Cast Question
47:48 Closing
Cast QuestionWhich type of dere are you when dealing with disappointment? (Here’s a dere page you can consult)
Podcast Links Hey, it’s Kyoko Hori kicking off our episode! More specifically, that’s Marisa Duran, who voices the character. Go follow Marisa on Twitter and Instagram, and get ready for more Horimiya*! * You can also read our interview with Marisa. * Did you enjoy listening to Ithileryn? I know you did! Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook! * Keep an eye on Tyler’s YouTube channel for the video of his panel from Kawaii Con. * Check out Steven Furtick, whom Paris references, on YouTube, as well as the Above Inspiration channel. * Bible verses we mentioned or which inspired discussion in this episode include Proverbs 16:9, Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 34:18, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Revelation 3:7, Philippians 2:3, Romans 5:5, Psalms 23, and 2 Chronicles 15:7. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
The arc that properly introduced us to the amazing cast of Naruto characters is still a great watch today, and not just because of its action and humor. The “Chunin Exams” arc of Naruto is filled with inspirational stories and even further, models of how one should be living out a life of faith. Paris, Tyler, and Mike leap into action this week as they chat about faith and their favorite ninjas (and play a couple of ninja games while they’re at it, too). Believe it!
0:00 Introduction and announcements
1:23 Ninja team draft
7:41 Walking by Faith Through the Chunin Exams
8:10 Discussion—Rock Lee and using God’s gifts
14:00 Discussion—Evolution and resilience in the duels
15:57 Discussion—Walking by faith through the exams
22:45 Discussion—Other memorable moments in and Christian connections to Naruto
24:52 Discussion—Taking a step in faith
33:30 I’m Weird Game
39:14 Closing
Cast QuestionWhich team would win in a battle: Team Tyler (Asuma, Naruto, Ino, Kankuro), Team Mike (Might Guy, Shikamaru, Hinata, Shino), or Team Paris (Kakashi, Gaara, Rock Lee, and Sasuke)? Let us know in the comments!
Podcast Links Do you recognize the voice that starts off this episode? Jasmine Rodgers is the lead singer of Boa, which famously wrote and sang the opening theme of Serial Experiments Lain*, “Duvet.” We interviewed Jasmine during that anime’s 20th anniversary! * Bible verses we mentioned or which inspired discussion in this episode include Psalm 128:2, Romans 12:6, Psalm 119:105, and Psalms 46:1-3. * Paris mentioned a lamp unto our feet. * We borrowed the “I’m Weird Game” from 3-2-1 Improv. * Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Annalyn’s Corner: Redemption Stories in Naruto
That pinging from our conscience, that remembrance of acts from our past, that whisper from the Holy Spirit: regret comes to us all. But what do we do with it? And what happens if we leave it be? Tyler, Mike, and Paris explore how regret and repentance intertwine in anime old and new, including Dragon Ball Z, The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, and Demon Slayer.
0:00 Introduction and announcements
1:34 MBTI and Enneagram personality types
21:05 Regret vs. repentance in anime
21:22 Discussion—Dragon Ball Z and The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World
29:18 Discussion—Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
33:08 Discussion—Demon Slayer
38:26 Wrap-up and conclusion
41:59 Closing
Podcast Links:
- Plus Ultra! That’s Justin Briner, the voice of Deku, starting off our episode!
- As Mike mentioned, AniMarch Madness is in full swing! Vote for all your favorites round by round throughout the month.
- Paris and Tyler are ENFJs and Mike is an ISFJ. What MBTI personality type are you? Here’s a test you can take if you don’t know. Let us know in the comments what you are and what anime character shares your type!
- Do you know your Enneagram type? Let us know that, too! And which structure do you prefer: Enneagram or MBTI?
- Here’s the playlist of Sleeping at Last’s Enneagram songs.
- We really enjoyed the first episode of The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World (and as Mike indicates, the entire first season so far as well!).
- Want to know more about Gary Vaynerchuk? Head to Wikipedia!
- A few of us think that Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a pretty good film (and as Tyler mentions, provides some excellent ideas to chew on), but it was a massive flop when it came out.
- Metanoia(μετάνοια) is a Greek word for repentance.
- Bible verses we mentioned or which inspired discussion in this episode include Proverbs 26:11, James 1:22, Hebrews 10:26, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Matthew 27:2-5, 1 Samuel 15:11, and Galatians 6:4-5.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
That pinging from our conscience, that remembrance of acts from our past, that whisper from the Holy Spirit: regret comes to us all. But what do we do with it? And what happens if we leave it be? Tyler, Mike, and Paris explore how regret and repentance intertwine in anime old and new, including Dragon Ball Z, The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, and Demon Slayer.
0:00 Introduction and announcements
1:34 MBTI and Enneagram personality types
21:05 Regret vs. repentance in anime
21:22 Discussion—Dragon Ball Z and The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World
29:18 Discussion—Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
33:08 Discussion—Demon Slayer
38:26 Wrap-up and conclusion
41:59 Closing
Podcast Links:
- Plus Ultra! That’s Justin Briner, the voice of Deku, starting off our episode!
- As Mike mentioned, AniMarch Madness is in full swing! Vote for all your favorites round by round throughout the month.
- Paris and Tyler are ENFJs and Mike is an ISFJ. What MBTI personality type are you? Here’s a test you can take if you don’t know. Let us know in the comments what you are and what anime character shares your type!
- Do you know your Enneagram type? Let us know that, too! And which structure do you prefer: Enneagram or MBTI?
- Here’s the playlist of Sleeping at Last’s Enneagram songs.
- We really enjoyed the first episode of The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World (and as Mike indicates, the entire first season so far as well!).
- Want to know more about Gary Vaynerchuk? Head to Wikipedia!
- A few of us think that Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a pretty good film (and as Tyler mentions, provides some excellent ideas to chew on), but it was a massive flop when it came out.
- Metanoia(μετάνοια) is a Greek word for repentance.
- Bible verses we mentioned or which inspired discussion in this episode include Proverbs 26:11, James 1:22, Hebrews 10:26, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Matthew 27:2-5, 1 Samuel 15:11, and Galatians 6:4-5.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Welcome to episode number ten of the Tangle x Cast! Mike is back and we have a special guest, too—in fact, our very first one! Ithileryn joins Paris, Tyler, and Mike to talk about her journey as a professional cosplayer and how faith impacts her work. The team chats about their experiences with cosplay as well, and each also selects an anime to participate in this year’s AniMarch Madness tournament!
Join in the fun and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
0:00 Introduction and welcome to Ithileryn
2:17 AniMarch Madness selections
10:06 Q&A with Ithileryn
36:03 Cosplay and Faith
37:23 Discussion—Mike and cosplay
44:42 Discussion—Tyler and cosplay
51:22 Discussion—Paris’ thoughts on and questions about a godly approach to hobbies and cosplay
55:13 Closing
Podcast Links:
- Did you enjoy listening to Ithileryn? I know you did! Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook!
- The photo in the banner was taken by J.A. Vilches and is used with permission.
- It’s time to get those gelnanas out of your microwave! Yep, that is indeed J. Michael Tatum starting out the episode as Okarin. El. Psy. Congroo.
- Check out some of Mike’s cosplay here, here, and here!
- It’s Kyuubikaze! And here’s Tyler out of costume, hosting the “Faith & Fun: Where Christianity and Otaku Culture Collide” panel at last year’s Kawaii Kon.
- You can find Paris cosplaying on all her platforms, but also here on Cosplay Beats, including today’s post as Thorn Princess Yor!
- Were you taking notes while Paris listed questions about your cosplay/hobby and faith? Not to fear, because here they are for you to work through!
- Is this the Lord’s will for my life?
- Am I glorifying God in my hobby?
- Is your hobby deepening your walk with God?
- Is it feeding your soul with godly experiences or is it leaving you down and distancing you from Him?
- Is it refreshing you physically, emotionally, and spiritually or is it depleting you and making you less able to seek him?
- Are you involving others in your hobby so that they are pointing others toward the glory of God?
- Bible verses we mentioned or referred to in this episode include I Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:31-32?, Luke 6:27-28, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 1, and Proverbs 16:3.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
We’re less than a week out from Valentine’s Day which might not be everyone’s favorite holiday, but anime certainly loves it with vigor. Paris, Tyler, and Twwk (sitting in for Mike) explore love—including agape love—in Darling in the Franxx, A Silent Voice, and Clannad, and chat about other series for those who love Valentine’s Day (and those who don’t!).
0:00 Introduction and prayers for Mike
3:49 Favorite anime for Valentine’s Day
16:12 Non-romance anime to watch on Valentine’s Day
19:19 Valentine’s Day in Japan and types of love
20:54 Agape Anime
20:59 Discussion—Darling in the Franxx
33:31 Discussion—various anime and A Silent Voice
40:23 Discussion—Clannad
49:51 Closing
Podcast Links:
- What better way to begin a Valentine’s Day episode than with…Scar? Yep, that J. Michael Tatum as everyone’s favorite Ishvalan!
- Get your tickets for Kaguya-sama: Love is War – The Kiss That Never Ends!
- Need a primer on eros, phileo, and agape love? Read MDRMN’s article on those loves expressed in Yuri on Ice.
- Speaking of eros, stardf29 wrote about this kind of love in Domestic Girlfriend.
- There’s a fourth love, too—storge. On Facebook, we’ve been discussing all four this month through different anime series. Check it out and follow us there!
- Does Valentine’s Day bring you down? We get you.
- We’ve dug into Darling in the Franxx a couple of times previously, and Paris has cosplayed 002!
- A Silent Voice is also an oft-covered series here on Beneath the Tangles, a powerful movie that among other topics, focuses on depression, bullying, and suicide.
- We’ve done deeper dives into Tomoya’s struggles and forgiveness of his dad on our blog before.
- Bible verses we mentioned or referred to in this episode include Psalms 119:12 and James 1:27.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Love and Soul: 12 Anime Couples for Valentine’s Day Out of Song and Scripture
In a culture that’s increasingly self-glorifying, humility is a characteristic that these days, few seem eager to adopt. Yet, it’s a vital part of the Christian life. Humility comes from a proper view of oneself in light of who we are in comparison to the Almighty and the power of our deeds without his guidance and power. Interestingly enough, though anime doesn’t align with a Christian worldview, it still upholds a humble countenance as a prime characteristic of many of its heroes. And so in episode eight, Mike, Tyler, and Paris look at humility from the faith perspective through characters from Ranking of Kings, My Hero Academia, and other anime and manga series.
0:00 Introduction and recent watches
7:29 Humility and Anime
8:37 Discussion—Midoriya and My Hero Academia + The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World
19:29 Discussion—Bojji and Ranking of Kings
23:11 Discussion—Endeavor and My Hero Academia + Demon Slayer and Lookism
32:14 When were you blessed through humility?
39:29 Closing
We’d love to hear your feedback! Here’s our Cast Question for this podcast:
Was there a time you didn’t see God’s presence and blessing until you humbled yourself before Him?
Let us know in the comments below!
Podcast Links:
- Detroit Smash! Very appropriately, Justin Briner leads off our recording as Deku, who is one of our examples of humility in this episode. You can follow Justin on Twitter and Instagram.
- Bible verses we mentioned or referred to in this episode include Matthew 5:3,5, Philippians 2:3, Romans 12:16, James 4:10, Matthew 23:12, and Ephesians 4:2.
- Tyler refers to this post by Annalyn on Kuroku no Basuke and humility.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
For so many of us, the new year is a time to put away the old, start anew, and lead into resolutions with vigor. With 2023 only a couple of weeks old and lunar new year just a few days away, our team is taking the opportunity this week to look at the topic of “fresh starts.” Anime is full of these new beginnings. Mike, Tyler, and Paris dive into three series this week—Yu Yu Hakusho, Re:Zero, and ReLife—as they look at how those anime demonstrate the idea “fresh stars” from a God-centered perspective.
0:00 Introduction and New Year’s
4:00 Winter 2023 Anime Series
8:46 Fresh Starts
8:57 Discussion—Yu Yu Hakusho
16:25 Discussion—ReLife
22:18 Discussion—Re:ZERO
36:13 Tell us about your fresh start!
36:42 Closing
We’d love to hear your feedback! Here’s our Cast Question for this podcast:
Was there a time the Lord gave you a fresh start you thought you didn’t deserve and what came out of it?
Let us know in the comments below!
Podcast Links:
- Yes, that’s Ymir starting off our podcast! Or rather, voice actor Elizabeth Maxwell, who voices the character in Attack on Titan. We recorded that bite when interviewing her at a 2018 convention.
- Here are Mike’s first impression posts on The Misfit of Demon King Academy Season 2 and Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro S2!
- Here’s the recording of “Alpha and Omega” by the Gaither Vocal Band that Mike refers to (and sings).
- ReLife has come up before on our website: We’ve analyzed the Christmas episode, examined the ethics of the “ReLife” program, and even look at this very topic from another angle, watching the live-action version of the anime through the lens of Resurrection Sunday.
- We’ve also looked into Re:Zero and how the gospel is presented through the character of Rem.
- Bible verses we mentioned or referred to in this episode include Philippians 3:13-14, Revelation 21:4-5, John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and Ezekiel 36:26.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Our original posting of episode six had audio issues. So here it is again (for the first time). We guarantee you haven’t listened to this episode yet, so please give it a spin!
Why do we forgive? Why does it come more easily for some than for others? Is it easier for you to forgive others or to forgive yourself? Paris, Tyler, and Mike tackles the topic of forgiveness in episode six of the Tangle x Cast as they dive into four series in which forgiveness plays a major role: Fruits Basket, Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto, and Demon Slayer.
We’d also love to hear your feedback! Have you ever forgiven someone that you thought didn’t deserve it? Let us know in the comments below!
Podcast Links:
- As we mentioned, our picks for the best manga of 2022 are out! Out selections for the best anime post tomorrow.
- We’ve talked about Kenshin and forgiveness in the past—particularly about how Kenshin seeks it through his actions following his work as the Battousai.
- The angle of forgiveness has also come up in relation to Sasuke and redemption stories through Naruto.
- Fruits Basket is famous for its story of grace, and we haven’t neglected this series either! Paris focused specifically on this recent guest post.
- Bible verses we mentioned or referred to in this episode include 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 John 3:19-20, Romans 8:1, John 8:36, Ephesians 2:8-9, and Matthew 6:14.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
Why do we forgive? Why does it come more easily for some than for others? Is it easier for you to forgive others or to forgive yourself? Paris, Tyler, and Mike tackles the topic of forgiveness in episode six of the Tangle x Cast as they dive into four series in which forgiveness plays a major role: Fruits Basket, Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto, and Demon Slayer.
We’d also love to hear your feedback! Have you ever forgiven someone that you thought didn’t deserve it? Let us know in the comments below!
0:00 Introduction and new year’s resolutions
4:59 Favorite anime of 2022
6:53 Forgiveness in Anime
7:25 Discussion—Forgiving oneself and Rurouni Kenshin
12:16 Discussion—Receiving and giving grace and Fruits Basket
19:13 Discussion—Restorative Forgiveness and Naruto
26:06 Discussion—Demon Slayer, consequences, and whole forgiveness
30:36 Have you ever forgiven someone that you thought didn’t deserve it?
37:09 Closing
Podcast Links:
- As we mentioned, our picks for the best manga of 2022 are out! Out selections for the best anime post tomorrow.
- We’ve talked about Kenshin and forgiveness in the past—particularly about how Kenshin seeks it through his actions following his work as the Battousai.
- The angle of forgiveness has also come up in relation to Sasuke and redemption stories through Naruto.
- Fruits Basket is famous for its story of grace, and we haven’t neglected this series either! Paris focused specifically on this recent guest post.
- Bible verses we mentioned or referred to in this episode include 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 John 3:19-20, Romans 8:1, John 8:36, Ephesians 2:8-9, and Matthew 6:14.
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
Featuring music by Celotron (all rights reserved) and edited by Dennis.
It’s the crossover of all crossovers! Yep, that’s right, the Tangle x Cast and the 12 Days of Christmas Anime join together today as our trio of Santas analyzes three Christmas episodes in light of the upcoming holy day. Join Mike, Paris, and Tyler as they dig into their toy bag and pull out Christmas episodes of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Toradora, and How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? for this special holiday episode of the Tangle x Cast!
We’d also love to hear your feedback! Let us know what you think of the episode, and answer this episode’s podcast question: What’s your favorite Christmas song?
0:00 Introduction and thankfulness
3:05 12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 8
2:41 Discussion—How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?
7:50 Discussion—Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
10:27 Discussion—Christmas plays and The Chosen
19:00 Discussion—Toradora
26:39 What’s your favorite Christmas song?
31:40 Closing
Podcast Links:
- As we mentioned, this is already day eight of our 12 Days of Christmas Anime! Go back and read the rest of the days, and keep up as we finish over the next few days and into Christmas!
- By the way, the Dragon Maid episode is so great that we’ve covered it twice this season! Check our sleepminusminus’ thoughts on the episode in relation to Advent.
- That’s Elizabeth Maxwell, the voice of Winter Schnee, in our opening bite! Check out our most recent interview with her over tea!
- Here’s the massive master list of Christmas anime episodes Paris referred to.
- The Bible verses the team covered in today’s episode included Romans 5:8, 5:15, and 12:9; John 3:16-17; and Matthew 18:20.
- Season one of The Chosen is now streaming on Netflix.
- It shouldn’t be a surprise that Paris selected Toradora for her Christmas episode—she’s cosplayed Taiga for us before, after all!
- Cassandra Lee Morris is indeed the voice of both Taiga in Toradora and Rukia in the live-action version of Bleach.
- We’ve covered the Toradora Christmas episodes not once, not twice, but six times previously (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Yep, we love this show.
- The team’s selections for favorite Christmas song include Maverick City’s version of “Mary Did You Know” and Mike’s own Japanese-language version of “Silent Night.”
- Check out all the other things that Mike, Paris, Tyler, and Dennis (our editor and the fourth member of the Tangle x Cast team) are doing.
You can subscribe and listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!
12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 4: How to Celebrate Advent With Kanna Kobayashi
The warmth, gentleness, and sincerity of Studio Ghibli films seem to fit right into the theme of gratitude for the week as we enter the Thanksgiving holiday. Tyler, Mike, and Paris chat about thankfulness in today’s episode as they look toward three Studio Ghibli classics! We’d also love to hear your feedback! What’s your favorite… Read More Tangle x Cast 4: Ghibli and Gratefulness
There are Christian devotionals—works that contain daily readings related to and providing teaching about scripture—for virtually every idea and theme you can think of. But are there devotionals for otaku? You bet there are! The team tackles a couple of those works this week featuring some of the most popular anime of the past decade:… Read More Tangle x Cast 3: Diving Into Anime Devotionals
Happy Wednesday, boys and ghouls! With Halloween just around the corner, the Tangle x Cast team haunts the world of horror anime, walking us through some of their recommendations and discussing how faith interacts with the spooky day. Believe me, you’ve never experienced anime, Halloween, and Christian conversation this way before! We’d also love to… Read More Tangle x Cast 2: Halloween, Horror Anime, and Holiness
Our podcast is back with a new format, new hosts, and a new name! We’re proud to introduce to you Tangle x Cast, the latest version of the Beneath the Tangles podcast! Tyler, Mike, and Paris are the hosts, and they’re excited to talk to you more specifically about the crossover between anime (and other… Read More Tangle x Cast 1: Origin Stories
Check out the stream of our brand new interview series! If you missed it live on Instagram, enjoy listening to Japanese musician, artist, and brand new mom, Rie Fu! Known for her blend of music influenced by folk singers and for her contributions to anime (Bleach, Darker Than Black, et al.), Rie chatted about one… Read More TangleCast Interviews: Rie Fu
Check out the second stream of our brand new interview series! If you missed it live on Instagram, enjoy listening to the lovely and talented Xanthe Huynh as she chats with Twwk about about voice acting, including her roles in anime and games like Maquia, Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Marianne), and Persona 5 (Haru), and… Read More Instagram Live Stream with Xanthe Nyugen
No, the TangleCast has not returned. However, we do have some new audio for you! Voice actress Elizabeth Maxwell (Fruits Basket, RWBY, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) joined Twwk for an Instagram live stream yesterday. If you didn’t catch it and you’re like me—more interested in listening than watching—check out this audio… Read More Interview with Elizabeth Maxwell
The day is here: After more than two years and 33 episodes later, our team of David, Holly, Peter, and editor, Celetron (Marcelo), are stepping away from the TangleCast. While Peter and Holly will continue on with Beneath the Tangles, David is leaving as he works toward other ministry and goals in his life. But… Read More TangleCast 84: Goodbye from Our Crew and a 3-Gatsu New Year
For more than two years, David, Peter, and Holly have graced your mobile devices and car speakers with their discussions about anime, faith, and life, but as 2020 ends, so, too, will this iteration of the TangleCast. On December 29th, the final episode featuring the group—originally recording as Team FtK (and along with a fourth… Read More Help Us Say Goodbye to Our TangleCast Crew
The 2018 film, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, combines the techniques and style of recent Shikai films with all the sadness of romantic fare like Your Lie in April—and with fans of both types on our TangleCast team, you can bet they were impacted by this gem of a movie! Come listen to Peter,… Read More TangleCast 83: I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
October is a month of ghoulish celebration, and David, Peter, and Holly are participating in their own unique way by watching Death Parade, the critically-acclaimed anime series about death, judgment, and the afterlife. Come join the team as they discuss this modern classic that alternates between high energy episodes filled with a macabre sense of… Read More TangleCast 82: Celebrate HOLLYween with a Death Parade!
We’re baaaaack! The TangleCast returns from its a summer break with another topic and a tweaked format! Holly, Peter, and David take a dive into the Hayao Miyazaki classic, Howl’s Moving Castle, and particularly look at what parts of the movie hit them in just the right spots, and what those scenes might reveal about… Read More TangleCast 81: Growth and Struggle at Howl’s Moving Castle
We announced previously that while on summer break, the Tanglecast team, including our amazing editors, are actually hard at work revamping the podcast. Today, David has an announcement describing the changes the group is instituting for their return, now set for September 22nd. We think these changes are going to positively impact your listening, and… Read More The TangleCast Returns on September 22nd with a Coffee Shop Feel
Here in the U.S., summer is a time to rest and recharge, an idea built into us from youth and which remains throughout adulthood. And so it is with the TangleCast, which is on a short break during this summer. But there’s a difference this year, as our podcast team is hard at work behind… Read More The TangleCast Returns in September!