A wise cat of the magical Cait Sith race has just birthed her kittens, but she’s about to discover another infant to add to her brood—a baby dragon who had been orphaned, but hatches because of the magic that spills over from the kitten births. Defenseless and not having the smell of a threat, he… Read More First Impression: The Cat and the Dragon
For the fourth episode of season two, I had the pleasure of speaking with singer-songwriter Hana Hope. Anime fans may know Hana from her work singing themes* on Spice and Wolf, Fate/Grand Order, and most recently, my favorite anime of spring 2026, A Hundred Scenes of AWAJIMA. But while her music first drew me to… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 4: Hana Hope on Music, Identity, and Finding Her Voice
Few artists have become as closely associated with anime music over the decade and a half as Eir Aoi. Since her breakthrough with songs like “Memoria” (Fate/zero), “Innocence” (Sword Art Online), “Genesis” (Aldnoah.Zero), and “Hello Hello Hello” (A Couple of Cuckoos), she has helped define the sound of countless anime memories for fans around the… Read More From “Memoria” to “Unrealistic” and “MONSTER”: A Conversation with Eir Aoi
One of the goals of Something Genuine is to introduce viewers to people whose stories might challenge our assumptions about fandom. This week’s guest, Ani, does exactly that. Ani is a cosplayer, content creator, and anime fan who has built a following through her creative approach to cosplay as a hijabi. But what struck me… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 3: Hijabi Cosplayer Ani on Navigating Faith and Fandom
For the second episode of season two, I had the pleasure of sitting down with voice actor and ADR assistant director, Ben Stegmair (Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Kaiju No. 8). What immediately stood out to me about Ben’s story wasn’t just the work he’s doing today—it was how intentional his journey has been from… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 2: Ben Stegmair on Mentorship, a Manga Rushmore, and Living the Anime Dream
Season two of Something Genuine begins with a conversation about identity, reinvention, and the unexpected places where people find connection. TNT college football broadcaster, retired player, Notre Dame sports podcaster, and football analyst, Mike Golic, Jr., joins the series to discuss anime fandom, football culture, broadcasting, and what it felt like to start over after… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 1: Mike Golic Jr. on Attack on Titan, Invincible, and Rebuilding After Setbacks
Last season, Something Genuine started with a simple idea: in an online world built around noise, outrage, performance, and endless scrolling, maybe people are still hungry for honest conversation. Not “content.” Not hot takes. Not carefully manufactured internet personas. Just people. That idea led to “real” conversations I’ll genuinely never forget. Over the course of… Read More Why We’re Bringing Something Genuine Back for Season Two
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.