Calling all anime fans! This one’s for you. If you’ve ever bonded with friends over anime — whether in school, online, or during weekend festivities — The Anime Effect will hit all the right spots. 

Launched by Crunchyroll and produced out of its Dallas office, the podcast was built around that same sense of shared excitement and connection, offering fans a space to celebrate anime’s impact on pop culture and daily life. 

At the heart of the podcast is Nicholas Friedman, a University of North Texas alum now serving as Director of Audience Development, Multimedia & Editorial at Crunchyroll. Friedman co-hosts the show alongside LeAlec Murray (he/him), a Brand Manager and pop culture enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in the anime and gaming space, and Leah President (they/them), a Partnerships Producer and lifelong fan of geek culture with a background in broadcast production. Together, the trio brings their unique perspectives and passions to every episode — covering everything from breaking anime news and celebrity interviews to fan-favorite recommendations and mailbag shoutouts.

“Our goal was to create a comfy place where anime fans could just hang out,” Friedman explains. “It’s about exploring anime’s influence in sports, music, gaming — you name it.”

Past guests on The Anime Effect include major names like LiSA (Demon Slayer), Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail), and even NFL running back Jamaal Williams — who lives and breathes for anime. The NFL star shared his love for the medium in Episode 12 – one of Friedman’s top recommendations for new listeners.

From recommendation segments to fan-submitted questions, audience feedback has played a key role in the development of the podcast. “Our listeners are just as much a part of the show as we are,” Friedman says. “That’s what makes it special.”

Friedman states that the biggest change has been the recommendations segments which started out as LeAlec, Leah and him sharing what they’ve been watching, playing or reading in a given week. “Now it’s more about hearing what our fans are into and then offering more recommendations based on those. Which honestly is just like sharing anime recs with close friends!”

For anime newbies, Friedman suggests starting with the film Your Name on Crunchyroll, followed by shows that match your favorite genres. “Sci-fi? Cowboy Bebop. Fantasy? Re:ZERO. Romance? Kaguya-sama. The list goes on and on, but there truly is an anime for everyone. Crunchyroll makes it super easy to find the right show for you too, and ten more just like it!”

And for longtime fans looking for a hidden gem? Friedman suggests checking out Nichijou – My Ordinary Life. “It’s absurd, hilarious, and totally unforgettable,” he says. “If you listen to the show, you know I’m a ride or die for this anime, but it’s basically a slice-of-life surrealist comedy about the day-to-day lives of a group of characters living in one town. There are hilarious school hijinks, an android caretaker, a talking cat, and a teacher suplexing a deer. What more could you ask for?”

Excitement is building as the team gears up for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, happening this month on May 25. When asked about what’s next, they teased even more to come: “You might just get to see us at Anime Expo and other big events later this summer. If you see us, say hi! And if you found out about The Anime Effect from this interview, write into the show and let us know!”

As the anime world continues to expand globally, The Anime Effect is helping fans stay connected and feel seen. With big plans for year two — including exclusive guests, convention appearances, and deep dives into major releases like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (coming out in September) — the podcast shows no signs of slowing down.

“Anime is for everyone,” Friedman says. “And we’re just getting started.”

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Cover photo courtesy Crunchyroll

Leean Vargas is the Highlight Reel newsletter editor at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She is a concert enthusiast who loves traveling, photography, good food, and discovering new hangout spots in her beloved city, Austin, Texas.