Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast

Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast

Author: Ashley McDonnell Language: English Episodes: 133
Host Ashley McDonnell invites you into a space dedicated entirely to the heartfelt, dramatic, and wonderfully complex world of shojo and josei manga in Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast. Each episode dives deep into a single series, from foundational classics that defined the genre to contemporary hits that are shaping its future. You’ll hear Ashley and a different guest-each a dedicated superfan-break down the stories, characters, and artistic choices that make these series resonate so powerfully. It’s less a formal review and more like the energetic, detailed conversations you’d have with a friend who loves these stories just as much as you do, full of personal insights and genuine enthusiasm. Whether you’re looking to revisit beloved titles like "Cardcaptor Sakura" or "Fushigi Yuugi" or discover newer joys such as "My Love Story!!," this podcast serves as both a celebration and a critical appreciation. The discussions capture that specific thrill of connection when a fictional world feels utterly real, making every episode a chance to geek out over the narratives that make your heart race. Tune in for thoughtful analysis, shared nostalgia, and a welcoming community built around a shared passion for these impactful stories.
Episodes
Fruits Basket Part 3 (with ANN’s Jacob Chapman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:20:25
Covers volumes 17-23 of Fruits Basket by Natsuki TakayaThe curse has finally broken! And did you hear there’s going to be a new Fruits Basket anime?! Great. We don’t talk about that on this podcast! (This is a manga podc…
Fruits Basket Part 2 (with ANN’s Jacob Chapman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:07
Covers volumes 9-16 of Fruits Basket by Natsuki TakayaMassive Furuba fan and Anime News Network editor Jacob Chapman is back to discuss the middle third of Takaya’s classic with Shojo & Tell host Ashley. Most of the dark…
Preview Guide 3: Ao Haru Ride and Kira-kun Today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
Discusses the first volumes of Ao Haru Ride by Io Sakisaka and Kira-kun Today by Rin Mikimoto After September brought no new shojo manga series debuts in the US, October has brought two! Shojo & Tell host Ashley McDonnel…
Fruits Basket Part 1 (with ANN’s Jacob Chapman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:59
Covers volumes 1-8 of Fruits Basket by Natsuki TakayaAt the height of the mid-2000s manga boom in the US, there was no bigger series than Fruits Basket. And this story about orphaned Tohru Honda and the Sohma family curs…
Magic Knight Rayearth (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:51
Covers all of Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP (that's six volumes across MKR I and II) Take a trip to Cefiro, grab a sword, and get in a mech in this wild and beautiful Clamp classic. Asher and Ashley do a character walkt…
Banana Fish Part 2 (with Marion Bea) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:13
Covers volumes 12 through 19 of Banana Fish by Akimi Yoshida It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: Banana Fish fan Marion goes on an epic rant about The Ending of the series. Seriously! What?! WHY?! Who thought th…
Banana Fish Part 1 (with Marion Bea) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:44
Covers volumes 1 through 11 of Banana Fish by Akimi Yoshida It’s a perfect day to discuss Banana Fish, the revived classic about how everyone — except some select gang members and an innocent Japanese boy named Eiji Okum…
Preview Guide 2: Shortcake Cake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:53
Discusses the first volume of Shortcake Cake by Suu Morishita We’re back for our second preview guide, covering this month’s new shojo manga series debut of SHORTCAKE CAKE. Viz Media’s mobile app developer Jeff Ruberg an…
Claudine (with translator Jocelyne Allen) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:02
Covers Claudine by Riyoko Ikeda (it’s only one volume long!) Though Riyoko Ikeda’s classic manga featuring a transgender protagonist originally came out in 1978, it was officially released for the first time in the US in…
Pretear (with May Fisher-Guest) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:16
Covers all of Pretear by Junichi Sato and Kaori Naruse (four volumes) Remember back in 2001 when the Pretear anime was the cool new shojo? Did you know there was a manga that’s actually pretty vastly different than that…