Ashley and Asher are back to discuss volumes 11 through 20 of Snow White with the Red Hair , and they have a lot more to say this time (most of it is still some variation of "they're so cute!"). The Ashes talk about new characters (Hisame, the Bergat brothers, Lilias folks), the overarching plots (Izana's coronation, Lilias part 2, Sereg assassination plots, Kiki's marriage machinations), the official character poll (lol Mitsuhide), and of course, all the ships (yes, Zen and Shirayuki are cute, ...
Jun 22, 2025•2 hr 13 min•Ep. 119
Welcome to the special collaboration episode between Ashley of Shojo & Tell and Chika and Giana of Shoujo Sundae (hereby dubbed the "shojo trio"). In this episode, we talk everything Josee, the Tiger and the Fish : the animated movie version (amazing!), the manga (basically the same as the movie but taking things at your own pace can be helpful!), the live-action movie (oh no!), and the original short story (very Japanese!). Josee, the Tiger and the Fish follows Josee, a sheltered, curmudgeo...
Mar 23, 2025•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 118
There are few contemporary shojo manga that are more popular and beloved that Sorata Akizuki's wholesome fairy-tale-inspired story Snow White with the Red Hair . The protagonist, Shirayuki, has apple-red hair that attracts attention from unsavory characters and noble princes alike, and the story follows her as she becomes a court herbalist and a worthy bride-to-be for Prince Zen Wisteria. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher delve into why this story is so special, while walking th...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 117
This episode discusses all 9 volumes of the My Love Mix-Up! manga by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko, and contains comparisons between it and the Japanese live-action adaptation. My Love Mix-Up! (not to be mixed up with Aruko's other work, My Love Story!! .... deep sigh ) tells the story of Sota Aoki, a seemingly happy-go-lucky boy who has a crush on a female classmate, Mio Hashimoto, but winds up in a relationship with male classmate Kōsuke Ida. It sure is all mixed up, and it's a pure delight. Roman...
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 116
This episode discusses MARS volumes 9-15 and the prequel story, "Horse with No Name" How many suicide attempts can happen close to Kira and Rei? How many car crashes and motorcycle accidents? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and CLAMPcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy are back to discuss the second half of the melodrama MARS by Fuyumi Soryo, and their biggest question is about whether the series accurately portrays the way trauma stacks (both Ashley and Lucy lean toward no). Ashley and Lucy share their...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 115
This episode discusses volumes 1-8 of MARS by Fuyumi Soryo. We continue our melodrama mood with the late 1990s/early 2000s series, MARS . Kira Aso is a quiet girl who loves to paint. Rei is a bad boy who loves to race motorcycles. Naturally they fall in love, and all the dark secrets come out about them both. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Clampcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy discuss what makes this series so gripping despite it being over the top, how iconic the art is, the portrayal of Ameri...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 114
This episode discusses the second half (volumes 7–12) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara. Oh, so you thought the first half of Hot Gimmick contained the worst of the problematic hot trash? Think again. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Naja of Blerdy Otome are back to talk about this wild, wild ending to a wild, wild series where all the content warnings apply. Who does Hatsumi end up with in her triangle of horrible choices? Why are Tachibanas like this? What are you doing, Shinogu? Who is THE worst ...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 113
This episode discusses the first half (volumes 1-6) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara It's here. It's finally here. Shojo & Tell host Ashley has been trying to make this episode happen for at least two years. And now, here we are. We're talking about the first half of Hot Gimmick , aka, Hot Trash, aka Hot Mess. Seriously: Content warning for basically everything. Ashley was prepared to have nothing nice to say about this series (she's read it before and thought it was the worst shojo series ever...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 112
This episode discusses all of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days (volumes 1-6) by Fumino Hayashi. Shinji, get in the robot! Shojo & Tell host Ashley and the guy previously known as Ashley's " Cyborg 009 buddy," Josh McHugh, delve into this version of the beloved series Neon Genesis Evangelion , which is an alternate universe of the video game Neon Genesis Evangelion : Girlfriend of Steel 2nd (a PlayStation 2 game, and yes there is first Girlfriend of Steel before this entry), which is an ...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 111
This episode discusses Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and The One I Love by Clamp A short episode to discuss two short Clamp works. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband/journey-through-all-of-Clamp-buddy Asher recognize that hentai Miyuki-chan was perhaps.... just not at all for them. And also isn't meant to be taken seriously anyway. Which is good, because neither Ash really enjoyed it. Then there's The One I Love , which feels like a strange gender experiment gone wrong. To quote Asher: It ...
Apr 17, 2024•53 min•Ep. 110
Covers all three volumes of Legal Drug by Clamp Get ready to get high. And horny. And gay. And paid. Okay, to be honest, we're not sure what the drug is, or that it's legal, but hey, we're here to talk about it anyway. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher continue their Clamp journey with Legal Drug , which is technically complete, in the same way that QQ Sweeper is complete (which is to say: Not at all, because there's a sequel, Drug & Drop , and it's been on hiatus for foreve...
Mar 27, 2024•58 min•Ep. 109
Covers all of the original The Poe Clan series by Moto Hagio It's time to talk about the gay vampires who built shojo manga. Year 24 author Moto Hagio, one of the most influential names in shojo, tells the tale of the Poe clan, a group composed of immortal vampirnella who turn the young siblings, Edgar and Marybelle, into one of their kind. Edgar turns his classmate, Alan Twilight, into a vampire, and the two go gallivanting through the forest like fairies. (Okay, they go on other adventures ove...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 108
This episode discusses all volumes (1-5) of Juline by Narumi Kakinouchi. When you think "shojo manga," you typically don't think "ninjas." But that's just a stereotype, and we're here to defy stereotypes. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Megan DeYarman, of the sites Manga Test Drive and Renaissance Josei, talk about Juline , a manga series from animator Narumi Kakinouchi (of Vampire Princess Miyu fame). The titular Juline, along with other young female ninjas Bakuya and Seika (and inevitable mal...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 107
We discuss the two shojo manga versions of Cowboy Bebop: Cowboy Bebop by Hajime Yatate [Sunrise staff] and Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star by Cain Kuga Ask an anime fan above the age of 30 what their favorite anime is, and chances are high they'll say Cowboy Bebop . The music, the animation, the mood — it's iconic. And then there are the two shojo manga iterations of Cowboy Bebop , which have largely been lost to the sands of time (and then, there's the Netflix live action version...). Shojo and Tel...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 106
This episode discusses all volumes (1-8) of The Vision of Escaflowne by Katsu Aki The Vision of Escaflowne is the anime that got Shojo and Tell host Ashley into anime. It sparked one of only a handful of great obsessions in Ashley's life. It's probably the reason this podcast exists at all. Katsu Aki's shonen manga version of the story is..... not like the anime you know and love. It's explicitly billed as a shonen series, and it's all downhill from there. Instead of being a badass track and fie...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 105
Wondering if you should pick up Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage by Ueji Yuho? Ashley and Asher discuss the first volume of this new manga published by Yen Press, in which Lord Hades has been shot by one of Eros' arrows and thus is fated to fall in love. But not without a lot of hijinks happening first, harem manga style. This is a short review of Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage volume 1. REFERENCES Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage is available from Yen Press Other Greek mythology-inspired media we ment...
Nov 23, 2023•19 min
This episode discusses volumes 8–15 of Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji. Sariphi has gone from ritual sacrifice to acting queen, but she's still working to gain the respect of members of beastkind. In this episode about the back half of Tomofuji's series, Mackenzie from Mac Loves Manga and Shojo and Tell host Ashley break down the highlights. We get to talk more about our favorite hyena boy, Lante, and his heartwarming worldviews; crotchety Anubis and the amazing journe...
Sep 02, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 104
This episode discusses volumes 1–7 of Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji. Sariphi goes from ritual sacrifice to acting queen consort in the span of only a few volumes. The real problem? She's a human living among beastkind, hiding the secret of the part-human beast king while trying to win over the hearts and minds of people who look nothing like her. Tomofuji's series pushes boundaries, and Mackenzie from Mac Loves Manga is here to fully break them down. Mackenzie joins ...
Jul 27, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 103
Discusses all of the manga Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi. Before there was Sailor Moon , there was Sailor V . Or... maybe? Is that how the timeline lines up? Well, anyway. We're continuing our journey with the Sailor Guardians by discussing the prequel/sequel/???? to Sailor Moon , which is all about Minako/Sailor Venus. Minako superfans Honey and Vixen explain how Usagi and Minako differ, why Sailor Venus is their favorite Sailor Guardian, and why everyone should be on Team Minako. Shojo ...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 102
This episode discusses the second half of the Sailor Moon manga by Naoko Takeuchi. We're back to talk about the Infinity, Dream, and Stars arcs of the beloved Sailor Moon series. Now that all the Sailor Guardians are here, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anne LaRose, who runs the Shojo Power blog analyzing Sailor Moon , reveal their vastly different favorite Guardians. As a n00b to the series, Ashley wonders what is even going on with the Sailor Stars. And why there's a creepy circus. And what ...
May 09, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 101
This episode discusses the first half of the Sailor Moon manga by Naoko Takeuchi. It's our 100th main episode(!!), so we finally suck it up and cover one of the biggest shojo series of all time: Sailor Moon . To start off, Shojo & Tell host Ashley makes a shocking confession, which Anne LaRose, who runs the site Shojo Power dedicated to analyzing Sailor Moon , takes in stride. From there, Ashley and Anne respond to listener feedback on what makes Sailor Moon so beloved, rank their favorite S...
Apr 23, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 100
A discussion about all three volumes of CLAMP School Detectives by CLAMP. We're rounding out the unofficial Clamp School trilogy with CLAMP School Detectives , which is actually a shojo series! Nokoru, Suoh, and Akira (from Man of Many Faces ) make up the elementary student council representatives at Clamp School, and they're determined to help any maiden in distress. Shojo and Tell host Ashley and her husband, Asher, discuss how Clamp School is a dystopian totalitarian state disguising itself a...
Apr 06, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 99
A discussion about the two-volume series Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders by CLAMP. Another two-volume shonen gag manga from CLAMP, an even sillier and shorter Shojo & Tell episode than usual. The CLAMP School Defenders Kentarou Higashikunimaru and Takeshi Shukaido are trying to protect the institution from the Imonoyama Shopping District Association. From there, an alien romance commences. Duklyon is strange, comedic, and a loving send up to tokusatsu shows. Most of this episode is just Ashe...
Mar 04, 2023•35 min•Ep. 98
A discussion about the two-volume series Man of Many Faces by CLAMP. This is a two-volume gag manga about a gentleman thief who's in elementary school named Akira. He has two moms who look identical to each other. He's part of the Clamp School Detectives. He's in love with a kindergartener named Utako. It might be one of the best romantic relationships in any Clamp manga. Wait, what? Shojo and Tell host Ashley and her husband do their best to crack the case as to why this strange, should-be-prob...
Feb 18, 2023•57 min•Ep. 97
This episode discusses all seven volumes of Alice 19th by Yuu Watase. Sisters Alice Seno and Mayura Seno end up falling for the same handsome boy, Kyo, and their fight for his affection threatens to destroy the whole world. That's a bit of an oversimplification, but the general gist of Watase's Alice 19th . Chika and Giana from the podcast Shoujo Sundae join Shojo and Tell host Ashley to talk about the battle between the Lotis Masters and Maram Masters, where words are turned into magical but ve...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 96
This episode discusses all of Twinkle Stars by Natsuki Takaya Welcome, hoejos, to the first Shojo and Tell episode of 2023, with special guest Colleen. We're here to discuss Natsuki Takaya's TWINKLE STARS, which is the only series Takaya has completed since she finished this little series called Fruits Basket . (That is, aside from Furuba spinoffs.) Prepare your tear ducts, because it dives just as hard — if not harder — into twisted family dynamics like Furuba. We answer burning listener questi...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 95
This episode discusses all volumes of Wotakoi by Fujita. Gather 'round, gamers, and let you freak flag fly, fujoshi: Wotakoi is the lighthearted, reassuring read all otaku need. It follows six young adults as they navigate fandom and romance, to hilarious, heartwarming effect. Ellie from the Religiously Nerdy podcast joins to discuss our three main couples, answer a slew of listener questions, and generally identify aspects that make the series so relatable. (Ashley, unfortunately, relates a bit...
Nov 27, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 94
Covers all 4 volumes of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san by Honda. Ever wanted to know what it's like to work in a bookstore? Well, your friendly neighborhood bookseller, Honda-san, has some funny stories to share and will teach you about wholesalers. Oh, and Honda's a skeleton. Of course. Honda relays many hijinks at their Kin*kuniya or B**k*ff in Tokyo, particularly in regards to foreign customers. The Ashes compare the anime and the manga, talk about issues surrounding book distribution and di...
Oct 29, 2022•46 min•Ep. 93
Discusses all eight volumes of Marmalade Boy by Wataru Yoshizumi. Marmalade Boy is a quintessential shojo that has it all: Swingers! Step-sibling romance! Student-teacher relationships! And it does it all in a fast-paced eight volumes. In this episode, Lucy from the CLAMPcast podcast and Shojo & Tell host Ashley answer a ton of listener questions, which cover topics ranging from Marmalade Boy ’s place in shojo history, our feelings about Meiko and Namura, how Miki and Yuu’s parents rank agai...
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 92
This episode discusses all six volumes of Absolute Boyfriend by Yuu Watase. The Ashes are back to do a compare and contrast between two shojo heavyweights, Yuu Watase and CLAMP. Last episode we covered Chobits even though it's a seinen series, partially because we're determined to read every CLAMP series, and partially because we knew Absolute Boyfriend appears to have taken heavy inspiration from Chobits and shojo-ified it. We talk about how Absolute Boyfriend handles sex and A.I. compared to C...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 91
