Spoiler alert: This episode contains spoilers for the anime series ‘Naruto’, ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ and ‘Shingeki no Kyojin’.
Nat interviews up-and-coming Japan-based author Ambika Nagino (writing as A. A. Vora) whose longtime love for anime transformed her life in unexpected ways.
Listen to her recount her experiences with a senior executive who loved ‘One Piece’, a pair of ‘Love Live!’ obsessed senpai… and a colleague whose mutual love for ‘Pokémon’ battling ended in a marriage proposal.
Join Nat and Ambika as they fangirl about ‘Mo Dao Zu Shi’, gush about the recent romantic developments in the ‘Sasuke Retsudan’ novel, consider the implications of pareto efficiency during a titan attack, and discuss the profound impact anime has in bridging people from different backgrounds.
Ambika also shares some exciting details about her new Young Adult fantasy trilogy, releasing with Penguin Random House in summer 2024.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains some references to sexual assault. If you / someone you know has suffered from sexual abuse, please reach out to the resources available in your country / region of residence for help, such as The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line if you are in England & Wales.
Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions around societal issues in Japan. While this episode’s guest is a Japanese person, she is NOT representing herself as an authority on this subject. The contents of this podcast are for entertainment purposes only.
Joining our A30SAG cast as another one of Nat’s university friends, Yukari introduces her own take on anime culture and its relationship with Japan as someone who was partially raised there.
Nat and Yukari briefly discuss East Asian student society culture, then move on to the popularity of anime, Sanrio and Disney among adults in their homelands. Yukari recalls her exposure to anime growing up and her experiences meeting international fans of both anime and Japan.
They then discuss the prominence of the Vocaloid community and escapist entertainment in Japan, and little things that make them miss living in East Asia sometimes. Yukari expresses her admiration for particular aspects of anime and hopes for improvement in others, and also her personal hopes for improvement around certain issues affecting Japanese society.
Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions around mental health but these discussions DO NOT constitute any advice or services to listeners. While this episode’s guest works with mental health, she stresses that she is NOT a psychologist. The views, thoughts and opinions presented by the guest are her own and do not represent the views, thoughts and opinions of the A30SAG podcast. If you are seeking or considering therapy, or any related treatments, please obtain INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE regarding your personal mental health situation. The contents of this podcast are for entertainment purposes only.
Spoiler alert: This episode contains spoilers for the anime series 'Death Note' and 'Vampire Knight'.
For this A30SAG episode Nat interviews another one of her old classmates / long-time friends from secondary school. Heleyna Spirithold is here to talk about... everything.
The episode starts off with Heleyna recounting how she began playing Dungeons & Dragons ("DnD") and how she came up with her DnD name. Our guest goes on to talk about her introduction to video games, her work as a general health coach, and her take on tarot card readings and manifestation. Heleyna also touches on her brief experiences with anime, namely Ghibli movies, 'Death Note' and 'Vampire Knight'.
The giggle monsters are back!
Rae makes a sky-highly anticipated comeback in this A30SAG episode, where Nat and Rae do a dive into the otome games ("otoge") world.
Rae explains what otoge are, how she got into them, and what she loves about them. She discusses games such as 'My Forged Wedding', 'Collar x Malice', 'Tears of Themis', the platforms on which she plays otoge (console and mobile), and other aspects including character profiles, the worlds in the games, and of course, the inevitable integration of gacha.
Nat recalls her first otoge 'Love Academy' that she played as a teenager, and other sporadic experiences with otoge since.
Let's reach deep down inside our otome hearts together!
Another anime and gaming veteran guest Julian joins A30SAG to talk about his very own anime journey that started with 'Gunslinger Girl' and 'Strike Witches', describing the evolution of his anime taste as phases: 1, 2, 3 and 3.5.
Nat and Julian discuss the seiyuu industry and music franchises such as ‘Love Live! School Idol Project’, ‘BanG Dream!’ and ‘Revue Starlight’, exploring the deep philosophical question of “what makes an idol an idol”.
They move on to talk about Julian’s love for ‘Gundam’ model kits and how the juxtaposition of the idol and mecha genres is done well in the ‘Macross’ franchise.
The episode continues with a discussion on mobile games including ‘Honkai Impact 3’ and ‘Arknights’. Nat and Julian wonder what Julian’s next anime phase could be.
Spoiler warning: Episode contains spoilers for 'Bocchi the Rock!', 'Wonder Egg Priority', and 'Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Movie 3: Hangyaku no Monogatari'.
Yet another very special A30SAG guest Zans joins in for an episode on the show to talk about his experiences as a weeb.
Originally a gamer, Zans talks about how Anime Society at uni and 'Kill la Kill' opened up his world, and how his exposure to this very unique anime convinced him to walk the path of the weeb. He goes on to reveal how he started writing anime reviews on MyAnimeList, and how his style of review has changed. Zans also talks about the time he almost gave up watching anime, and what made him continue with this hobby. Nat and Zans discuss niche anime such as 'Mawaru Penguindrum', 'Shoujo Kakumei Utena', and 'Flip Flappers', and share their love for the Madoka Rebellion movie soundtrack (the third Madoka movie).
Moving on with the conversation, Zans opens up about the joys and sorrows he's experienced as a two-time Comiket-visiter, and what he thinks the do's and don't's are when planning a trip to the famous(ly crowded) doujin convention.
Wrapping up, Nat and Zans get into a prolonged discussion about their understanding of AI generated fanart, and what they think of it for now.
Happy New Year to our first recurring first guest Andrew! In this first episode for the new year Nat and Andrew talk about the anime season that just passed (Fall 2022), the upcoming season, isekai trash, what they've been excited for and disappointed by, and which series they considered to be Anime of the Year 2022 in their hearts.
Andrew goes on a rant about anime character deaths. Nat tries to convince him to read BL. They talk more about adaptations both in the anime industry and overall in entertainment.
Spoiler warnings for 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba', 'Chainsaw Man', 'Kaichou wa Maid-sama!', 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime', 'Attack on Titan', 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood', 'Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War'.
Extra Christmas episode bundled with Season 1 of 'Approaching 30 as a Single Anime Girl'.
Happy holidays!
In this normie, no filter (actually probably negative filter) episode Nat welcomes her first ever guest from secondary school - Rapha!
Nat and Rapha start off their conversations with the unlikely (or maybe likelier than they thought) topic of dragons, then explore a range of things like meme culture when they were teenagers, some school anecdotes when they were classmates, and mainstream cartoons and anime they've seen.
Strap in for some unadulterated adulterated laughs.
Please note: The dark humour exhibited within this episode is for comedic purposes, neither Nat nor Rapha condone physical violence / unkindness towards people and are civilised and peaceful humans. :)
Love is in the air? Nat Y. interviews Saberina in this A30SAG episode centred on... a variety of topics.
Saberina reminisces about growing up in Taiwan as a child, being hugely influenced by her parents' interest in anime and manga, and her consequent exposure to these media early on in her life. She talks about how anime continued to be an important part of her life even during her adolescence, and how it led her to meeting all her lifelong friends at her university's anime society.
Nat and Saberina discuss their thoughts on shoujo anime (- does 'Vampire Knight' ring any bells for anyone here?). The conversation branches out to the josei and reverse harem genres.
Saberina also shares her love for recently super hyped 'Spy x Family' merch, and gets talking about her 'Sims' addiction.
Come listen to the comedic duo of Single Anime Girls!
Nat's long-time friend from university Ahryli guests A30SAG for a childhood nostalgia episode, where they talk about the 'Pokemon' franchise and Studio Ghibli movies. Ahryli shares her adventures at the large scale 'Pokemon' events she has attended.
They also discuss their travel aspirations, and briefly touch on their experiences with popular social games of recent years such as 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons', 'Genshin Impact', and 'Among Us'.
Please note: Episode contains spoilers for 'Spirited Away', 'Howl's Moving Castle', and 'My Neighbour Totoro'.
Another one of Nat's friends from university, very special guest Winter talks about how 'Gintama' has a very special place in her heart, as well as recollecting making friends who also watched anime when she was growing up in China.
Nat and Winter have a discussion about the non-academic side of going to university in Hong Kong versus doing so in the UK. They share a lot on their life values and personal opinions as to what they think make them happy in life.
Also tune in for their appreciation for weeb culture and for like-minded people with passion for fiction.
And last but definitely not least - of course, they talk about their cats.
In this shorter, non-guested A30SAG episode, Nat Y. recounts fond memories cosplaying with her friends.
(Actually, Nat's cat makes a brief guest appearance at the beginning.)
Continuing the trend of interviewing friends from her alma mater's Anime Society, Nat Y. is joined by Rae in this wholesome episode where they discuss their mutual love for BL (boys' love) stories driven by ingeniously constructed plot and strong characters.
Tune in to find out how Rae stumbled upon a popular shounen ai anime that opened the BL door for her, as more of a sports/shounen/music anime fan originally.
Listen to Nat recall Asian pop idol and teenage novel culture in the 2000's.
Come approach 30 with giggle monsters Nat and Rae, who became Chinese web novel buddies, having initiated themselves into this world through the legendary MXTX works, ‘Mo Dao Zu Shi’ (‘Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation’) and ‘Tian Guan Ci Fu’ (‘Heaven Official’s Blessing’).
Note: In this episode "ML" refers to "main lead", and "MC" refers to "main character" in the BL context.
In this inaugural-if-you-don't-count-the-bonus-episodes episode of Approaching 30 as a Single Anime Girl, Nat Y. welcomes all listeners to this journey of anime banter with her and her friends. The pilot covers Nat's own experience getting into anime, hints as to what more is to come, and her impressions on two of her favourite anime.
Any roasts towards anime characters are light-hearted in nature.
Let's approach 30 together.
Special Episode 0.5 bundled with the First Season of Approaching 30 as a Single Anime Girl!
Nat Y. talks through her choices of titles for the first five episodes of A30SAG, to be released (one episode) daily from Wednesday 16 November 2022.
In this non-origin-story origin story Episode 0 of Approaching 30 as a Single Anime Girl, Nat Y. talks about the conception of the show, provides some insight on what listeners could expect from the podcast, and talks about the various ways listeners could reach out to offer feedback.
Please note that this is not a regular/full-length episode. Regular episodes to be released from November.
