We might realize we need to change some behavior. We might even want to change it. But are we willing to change our very hearts—what we desire—to be transformed? In episode 37, Mike looks to Motoko as an example. She hates Keitaro because she hates men, but even when she attempts to change, it doesn’t take root. Check out Mike’s discussion and much more—including an update on the Petite Princess Yucie ending—on this episode of The Power of God and Anime Podcast!

Anime Poll

Podcast Notes

• Please pray for Mike’s kidney stone!
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Matthew 6:21, 1 Chronicles 16:11, Philippians 4:13, and John 15:5.
• Check out more from Mike on his Geekiness & Godliness YouTube channel and Twitter. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Luigi’s Stories through YouTube and Twitter, and support him financially through Patreon!

You can 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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy) and Sensual Jazz from Pixabay (Licensee: u_aio5250wta, File ID 130483), and edited by Dennis.

On today’s special Valentine’s Day episode, Mike digs into relationships, and he looks to the gold standard, Dragon Ball Z, to do so! Wait…are the marriages in DBZ even worth emulating? Mike examines the four key marriages in the series, how they express the Christian principles of marriage from the Bible (or don’t), and explains what we can be the husbands and wives were made to be—even in preparation for marriage one day—all on this episode of The Power of God and Anime Podcast!

Anime Poll

Podcast Notes

• Make sure to catch Mike live tomorrow with his live stream devotional on his Geekiness & Godliness YouTube channel as he talks about Siegfried from Soul Calibur.
• Today’s anime recommendation is Petite Princess Yucie. Can anyone out there let us know how it ended?
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include 1 Peter 3:7, Ephesians 5:22-28, and Titus 2:3-7.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings “The Man I Want to Be” by Chris Young. In this episode, Mike also sings a snippet of Mark Lowry’s “Baby Why Not Me?“
• Check out more from Mike on his Geekiness & Godliness YouTube channel and Twitter. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Luigi’s Stories through YouTube and Twitter, and support him financially through Patreon!

You can 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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

Mike recommends a classic series that’s received a reboot, gets to streaming and promoting, and has a bone to pick with All You Need is Kill—all on this episode of The Power of God and Anime Podcast! Plus, Mike dives into the Soul Society Arc of Bleach as he compares Ichigo’s fight against a Christian’s in the culture, on episode 35!

Anime Trivia!

In Bleach, what is the name of Renji Abarai’s Zanpakuto?

Podcast Notes

• At the risk of making Mike more bitter, All You Need is Kill is currently playing, and we really enjoyed it!
• Mike’s anime recommendation today is Shaman King. The 2021 reboot can be streamed on Netflix.
• Mike has talked about Bleach before—check out his thoughts on Ishida Uryu from episode 20 of the podcast! We also wrote about two central figures in this Bleach arc: Rukia Kuchiki and Sousuke Aizen.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include 1 Peter 5:8, Luke 21:36, and 1 Corinthians 16:13.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings “Watchman” by Josh Garrels.
• Check out more from Mike on his Geekiness & Godliness YouTube channel and Twitter. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Luigi’s Stories through YouTube and Twitter, and support him financially through Patreon!

You can 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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

In Fruits Basket, Tohru cares deeply and sacrificially for Kyo, but it takes him a lot of time to work through self-loathing caused by all the hurt he’s suffered and to accept that love. On today’s episode, Mike dives into that relationship and how the parable of the Prodigal Son similarly shows the love of a God who is patiently waiting. Plus, updates on a big con visit later this year, this episode’s anime recommendation, and much more on episode 34 of The Power of God and Anime podcast!

Anime Trivia!

In My Hero Academia: Ultra Analysis, what is the fifth and S-ranked element discussed in Fumikage Tokoyami’s profile, joining power, speed, wits, and technique?

Podcast Notes

• Mike is headed to ReachConf in 2026! We highly encourage you to attend, too—not just to meet Mike, though that’ll be fun, but because it’s an amazing experience!
• Mike’s anime recommendation today is Noir—you can stream it on Crunchyroll.
• We’ve written a lot on Fruits Basket before with—no surprise here—Kyo often being the center of dicussion.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Luke 15:11-32, I Timothy 1:16, and 2 Peter 3:9.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings “Grace That Won’t Let Go” by Gateway Worship.
• Today’s Anime Trivia question was taken from the My Hero Academia: Ultra Analysis – The Official Character Guide.
• Check out more from Mike on his Geekiness & Godliness YouTube channel and Twitter. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Luigi’s Stories through YouTube and Twitter, and support him financially through Patreon!

You can 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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

Christmas is just around the corner, and Mike has a lot of gifts for you today on this special Christmas episode of The Power of God and Anime Podcast! He joins in the 12 Days of Christmas Anime series here at Beneath the Tangles by looking at a Christmas party in DENKI-GAI and comparing how the variety there reflects the variety of Christians around us. Also—thoughts on the final episode of My Hero Academia and more!

Anime Trivia!

In Azumanga Daioh, the girls start wondering if Chiyo-chan still believes in Santa Claus. Which two girls discuss this topic?

Podcast Notes

• Want to check out that animated selection from Mike’s Luigi channel? Here it is! Be sure to also check out his new Geekiness & Godliness channel!
• Mike’s anime recommendation today is DENKI-GAI (The Electric Town’s Bookstore), which can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Romans 14 and Galatians 6:1.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike goes more contemporary by singing “Same God” by Elevation Worship.
• Check out more from Mike on his Geekiness & Godliness YouTube channel and Twitter. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Luigi’s Stories through YouTube and Twitter, and support him through Patreon!

You can listen to us on a variety of platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Please subscribe and leave us a review!

Edited by Dennis and featuring copyright-free music (license code UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), with special music today: “Joy to the World instrumental Music” by music_for_video from Pixabay and “Winter Guitar Music” by Artur Buriak from Pixabay.

12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 2: A Fullmetal Advent

It’s not easy to do your mission when the pushback against you is so hard. One Punch Man’s regular guy hero, Mumen Rider, knows it well—and his example of perseverance and courage speaks to Christians, too, especially when doing our part to fulfill the Great Commission. All that and more on this Thanksgiving week episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast!

Anime Trivia!

In the anime Oh My Goddess, Belldandy comes to live with Keiichi Morisato, along with her two sisters: What are their names?

Podcast Notes

• Mike’s anime recommendation today is Best Student Council, which, unfortunately, is not currently available to stream legally.
• Coincidentally, Twwk wrote about both today’s recommended anime and the anime at the center of Anime Trivia in an article way back in the BtT annals!
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Matthew 28:19-20 and Joshua 1:9.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike doesn’t sing, but the song is “Behold God” by Harvest.
• Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter and support him through Patreon!

You can 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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

Near the end of Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta finally finds a measure of peace by discovering his way forward. We, too, can find peace—but only through one way. Mike dives into that topic—plus updates us on frightened Luigi, Freaky Friday: The Musical, and the classic anime he’s currently watching, all on this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast!

Anime Trivia!

When did the first Astro Boy anime come out?

Podcast Notes

• Mike’s anime recommendation today is the 1980 version of Astro Boy! You can stream it on Tubi.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include John 14:6, John 18:38, Ephesians 2:8-9, and 1 John 1:9.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings about where the “one way” leads to—Heaven—in his rendition of MercyMe’s famous anthem, “I Can Only Imagine.”
• Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter and support him through Patreon!

You can 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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

We’re several weeks now into the fall, and that means football, falling leaves, and more One Piece. Huh? Well, One Piece is an anime for ALL seasons, so we hope you enjoy Mike’s dive into the series and how it demonstrates a need for us to be humble enough to ask for help. Plus Con updates, Mike is featured on TV, and D.N.Angel on this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast!

Anime Trivia!

In That Time I Was Reincarnated As a Slime, what is the mythological creature that Rimuru has as his desktop wallpaper in his previous life?

Podcast Notes

• Mike made the local news last week as Luigi! Here are a few more snapshots from the Superhero Food Drive event.
• Mike’s anime recommendation today is D.N.Angel! This is a very appropriate rec to make as Yen Press is about to start releasing D.N.Angel New Edition! Twwk and Laura will be reviewing volume one before it releases on November 11th. You can stream the anime on Crunchyroll.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Matthew 5:3, Galatians 6:2, and Hebrews 4:14-16.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings Phil Wickham’s worship anthem, “This Is Our God.”
• Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter and support him through Patreon!

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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

Mike drops a very different episode this time around. Take a listen as he addresses the current climate around us and looks to My Hero Academia characters like Bakugou, Dabi, Spinner, Shouji, and Deku to discuss how anger can go wrong—and how we ought to treat our enemies.

Call to Action

As Mike says, let’s focus more strongly on spreading God’s word—we shouldn’t seek vengeance against our “enemies,” but instead be Christ and bring to them.

Podcast Notes

• We encourage you to consider donating to Paris’ GoFundMe in support of her mother’s funeral expenses.
• Speaking of Dabi, guest writer Kaitlin Simmons wrote about him and other villains from My Hero Academia. We also recently posted a similarly themed article about Secrets of the Silent Witch.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Genesis 3:12-13, Ephesians 4:31-32, Proverbs 15:18, Psalms 37:8-9, Colossians 3:8, and Romans 12:19.
• Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter and support him through Patreon!

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 UXV4F5TNBICDU2NM) from Uppbeat (“Going Backwards” by Ambient Boy), and edited by Dennis.

As always, we start this episode of the podcast with football. Wait…what? Yes, college football is on Mike’s brain as he talks about what’s going on in his life before giving this week’s anime recommendation and diving into the 15th anniversary for Beneath the Tangles and what it has to do with One Piece and unity as Christians. Check all that out and more on this episode of The Power of God and Anime podcast!

Beneath the Tangles Trivia!

What episode of the Tangle x Cast did Mike coin the moniker, “the lead fish,” for Twwk? (Note: Mike accidentally calls Twwk the “big” fish throughout this episode…or is that the right title after all?!)

Podcast Notes

• Ohio State had a pretty good week—not least of all because Mike and his dad attended the game! Here’s a photo of Mike supporting the Buckeyes!
• Mike’s anime recommendation today is Midori Days! Check out Mike’s discussion on this episode in reference to singleness on an episode of The Tangle x Cast.
• This isn’t Mike’s first expedition with the Straw Hat Pirates: Check out his episode on One Piece and Thanksgiving, and one on Hachi, Nami, and forgiveness.
• Bible passages Mike mentioned or referenced in this episode include Ephesians 4:3-6, Romans 1:16, and Galatians 2:11-14.
• For today’s Songs That Tell the Story, Mike sings the hymn, “The Family of God.” Here’s a version by the Gaither Vocal Band.
• Check out more from Mike on YouTube. You can also follow him, er, Luigi on Twitter and support him through Patreon!

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.