Episode 26 - Anime Culture, Black Identity & Gaming Origins

In this episode of the Retro Pioneers Podcast, Byron and Justin sit down with Relentless — an anime lover, gamer, podcaster, and deep thinker who blends culture, community, and nerd passion in a powerful way.We dive into his origins as a creator, how his first podcast Woke began as a college project, and how it grew into a platform exploring the Black experience, identity, entertainment, and real conversations.Relentless opens up about growing up in Virginia, the diversity within the Black community, and why authenticity matters when talking about anime, gaming, and cultural topics.He also shares how Dragon Ball became his first anime, why Bleach reigns supreme as his #1, and his honest takes on fandom, representation, and the mainstream rise of anime today.We get into gaming nostalgia, NES memories with his dad, his PlayStation loyalty, what he's playing now, and his all-time top five video games. And of course, we discuss the internet’s favorite debate: Is Goku a good dad?This conversation is funny, honest, thoughtful, and nerdy in the best way.⭐ Topics Covered• Relentless’ college origins creating the Woke podcast• Black identity & the myth of the monolith• Fandom, representation, and anime’s rise into mainstream culture• Dragon Ball, Bleach, One Piece, Demon Slayer, and favorite anime rankings• The “Is Goku a good dad?” debate• Gaming beginnings on the NES (Duck Hunt, Mario, Jordan vs. Bird)• PlayStation loyalty & current games (Borderlands 4, AC Shadows, Fortnite, Marvel Rivals)• Favorite X-Men character (Nightcrawler)• Top 5 games of all time• Advice for new podcasters: self-critique, passion, consistency, and giving it your all• His other podcasts: Woke, The Unpopular Arena, and You Reaching or Teaching🎮 About the Retro Pioneers PodcastRetro Pioneers dives into gaming past & present — featuring anime discussions, gaming nostalgia, cultural deep dives, and interviews with creators shaping the community.