Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty (with Asher Sofman)

Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty (with Asher Sofman)

Author: Ashley McDonnell November 28, 2018 Duration: 1:06:55
Covers WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY by Megumi Morino (all six volumes of the series) “I can't believe WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY single-handedly convinced me that manga was not a mistake.” “This is up there with ERASED and PRINCESS JELLYFISH for me as far as human relations go.” “I don't know if I'm going to be able to go back to manga after reading this manga, it was everything I ever wanted in a romance manga.” “This manga is much better than you would expect since nobody’s hyped it up — and we want to be the hype.” Quite simply, if you’re not reading Megumi Morino’s debut series, WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY, you are missing out. It’s easily the most underrated shojo manga of the year. It’s short and sweet and you should read it. If you want to find out a bit more before committing to the six volumes, give the beginning of this a listen. The story follows a girl who gets possessed by ghosts, and a boy who is afraid of ghosts but ends up falling in love with her. Except it’s so much more than that. The Ashes delve into who their favorite spirit is, and then explain why actually, everything about this ends up being your favorite. SHIZU AND TETSU AND HARU AND AKIRA AND LITERALLY EVERYONE ARE JUST TOO GOOD Y’ALL.

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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast
Podcast Episodes
All My Darling Daughters (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:05
Covers ALL MY DARLING DAUGHTERS by Fumi Yoshinaga This one-volume manga about three generations of women in a family is masterfully told and extremely relatable. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and boytoy Asher discuss their fa…
After School Nightmare Pt. 2 (with Mouna Toure) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:37
Covers volumes 6–10 of AFTER SCHOOL NIGHTMARE by Setona Mizushiro Welcome back to discuss the second half of a manga that is full of twists and turns. This episode, cartoonist Mouna Toure and Shojo & Tell host Ashley hav…
After School Nightmare Pt. 1 (with Mouna Toure) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:39
Covers volumes 1–5 of AFTER SCHOOL NIGHTMARE by Setona Mizushiro Welcome to the most mysterious and frightening after school club you’ll ever join. Content warning for sexual assault and gender essentialism themes. This…
Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden Pt. 2 (with Caitlin, Sara, and Zahra) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:12
Covers volumes 7–12 of FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN by Yuu Watase Caitlin (OG FUSHIGI YUGI superfan), Sara Linsley (manga letterer extraordinaire), and Zahra Ymer (manga scholar in training), and Ashley (Shojo & Tell host)…
Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden Pt. 1 (with Caitlin, Sara, and Zahra) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:35
Covers volumes 1–6 of FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN by Yuu Watase GENBU KAIDEN is Shojo & Tell host Ashley's second-favorite manga (behind only the illustrious MAID-SAMA), and so, this episode has several special guests. Ca…
Paradise Kiss (with Lucy and Robin from CLAMPcast in Wonderland) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:29:18
Covers all of PARADISE KISS by Ai Yazawa. Welcome to the world of high fashion (or at least, high drama). PARADISE KISS is one of those rare josei titles that got released in English, and it had a huge impact on this epi…
Preview Guide 5: Fushigi Yugi: Byakko Senki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:47
This is a review of FUSHIGI YUGI: BYAKKO SENKI volume 1, a new series by Yuu Watase that's going to be released by Viz. Whether you've read the original FUSHIGI YUGI and GENBU KAIDEN or not, you should be hype for the la…
Haruka Pt. 2 (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:54
Covers volumes 10–17 of HARUKA: BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME by Tohko Mizuno. We’re back to discuss the second half of HARUKA, a manga series based on one of the earliest otome game franchises. Suddenly, the story remembers…
Haruka Pt. 1 (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:45
Covers volumes 1–9 of HARUKA: BEYOND THE STREAM OF TIME by Tohko Mizuno. HARUKA was one of the first-ever otome games, and it launched a franchise that spun off into manga and anime adaptations as well. Though the series…
Fruits Basket Another (with Jacob Chapman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:01
Covers all three volumes of FRUITS BASKET ANOTHER by Natsuki Takaya Would you like to have another basket of fruit? Natsuki Takaya shows us what the kids of everyone from the original FRUITS BASKET cast are like in this…