EP. 252: Alternative[Self Liner Note] "B-Side" w/Nicholas Hodges

We recorded a podcast. A podcast just for us (and you, our listeners). This is that podcast. Once again, we’re opening up our heart-shaped boxes to give you our self-liner notes for one of our debut Manga Mavericks Books titles, Alternative[Self-Liner Note]! In this free-style jam session of a podcast that you can think of as the “B-Side” to our previous discussion on Alternative, we sat down with our Accounting & Sales Manager, Nicholas Hodges, to discuss the series from the perspective of someone who’s a musician and has worked in music journalism! Nick describes how he related to the book based on his background and experience with music, touching on the significance of many of the artists referenced by Yagura-sensei in their playlist of inspirations included in the book, in particular Number Girl and Nirvana. We reflect on how we relate to the series’ depiction of someone going through a quarter-life crisis in their late 20s and being uncertain whether they can continue to pursue their passion without getting anywhere, with Nick looking back at it with frustration from the standpoint of someone who’s grown past that point in their life. We explore how the series has a great message for younger readers about not conflating career success with creative fulfillment, and never losing sight of the joy in creating something that is meaningful to you and is for you and yours alone. Plus, we go on many digressions, such as about the best years of SNL, Robert Zemeckis’ filmography, Nick watching Perfect Blue for the first time when he was too young, and more! So listen up and listen good as we learn a lot (maybe too much) about our CFO, Nick, and discuss what makes Alternative’s story and message resonate no matter what career or passion you’re rocking! PODCAST BREAKDOWN: 00:00 - Order Alternative[Self Liner Note] and more Manga Mavericks Books titles on our online store⁠! 00:44 - Intro 11:00 - Alternative[self-liner note] B-Side w/Nicholas Hodges 1:26:18 - Wrap-up Enjoy the show, and follow us on Twitter at @manga_mavericks, on Bluesky at @mangamavericks.bsky.social, on Instagram at @mangamavericks_official, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @VLordGTZ and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon or our Substack and receive some awesome rewards like our exclusive Bonus pods! Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and Apple Podcasts and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content! If there are any topics, series or mangaka you would like to see us talk about on the show, drop us a line in the comments below, or email us at [email protected]! Thanks for listening! LINKS: Purchase First Time in Taiwan: A Delicious Adventure digitally on our online store! Attend our Manga Mavericks Books panel at Twin Cities Con! Check out our trailers for Alternative[Self Liner Note] and First Time in Taiwan! Find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!⁠ Subscribe to our Manga Mavericks + Newsletter on Substack! ⁠Support us on Patreon!⁠ Wanna Leave Us a Tip? LumRanmaYasha also has a Ko-fi! Listen to our first podcast on Alternative[Self Liner Note]! Listen to Gupta & Hodges at the Movies! Om Shanti Om Make a Girl⁠