CTP BooksAuthorsWeekApril2026C (S3EAprSpecial5) Anime Lessons For Real Life

CTP BooksAuthorsWeekApril2026C (S3EAprSpecial5) Anime Lessons For Real Life (Lessons in Human Nature and the Human Condition)
Exploring more of the fascinating intersection of Activism, Community Engagement, Faith / Religion, Human Nature, Politics, Social Issues, and beyond   
We explore how anime storytelling can translate into real-world resilience, identity, and leadership lessons that actually stick. Michael Yearby explains how he uses characters and “training arcs” to teach personal and professional development, especially to younger audiences. 
• Michael Yearby’s background, military life, and time overseas 
• Why anime culture matters and why language and labels matter 
• Using anime storytelling to explain personal development concepts 
• Naruto as a case study for perseverance, resilience, and SMART goals 
• Teaching soft skills in FTAC by connecting to what young people watch 
• Generational gaps in music and animation and why stories still land 
• Training arcs as a framework for discipline, mentorship, and growth 
• Faith, ministry, and universal lessons that cross cultures 
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A Short Story: A Lasting Legacy? book Trailer

Transcript

Welcome, Glitches, And Special Week

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Hello, welcome to another episode of Prestitutionalist Podcast. I am your host, Joseph M. Leonard. That's L-E-N-A-R-D. It looks French. It's not its wonderful down and O. Thank you for tuning in. As Graham Norton used to say on his show. Let's get on with the show! Morning. This episode contains some audio and or video glitches. It is not your equipment. For those looking on the five behind the scenes video channels, sneak peek videos, you will see, oh, first let me say, this is a cheat intro again, kind of like I do on Saturdays if I'm presenting a video exclusive from prior the same cheat. You'll see the same or here on the 40-ish audio only platforms, this same mini intro, but I'm wearing the Book of Kennedy Project Carpe Diem's bookshirt because welcome to Books Slash Authors Week. Just one week for April of 2026. Prior I had Bookslash Authors Weeks this time to get caught up on some back interviews of authors. I'm doing a singular book slash books slash authors week for April 2026, Monday through Friday. Also, I want to say at the end of each episode, I will tack on one of my newer, more recent Suno created songs. If you remember, uh my dad, Ked Zoner Jr. The Poker Kings, TinyURL.com, The Poker Kings to see that tribute page stamp. He had a record here. I used to write and record music the old way, you know, get out a piece of sheet music and write out the actual song on the sheet music, the chords, the notes, the lyrics, the butt of all my equipment's been long sold off, but thanks to Suno AI music system, I'm back to writing lyrics and releasing music again. Thank you, Suno. So each day, Monday through Friday of Bookslash Authors Week 2026 April, I will tack on a Suno Aided Created new song from Joseph M. Leonard, J Leonard Detroit on Suno. So thank you to them. And I've already delayed things, so without further ado, let's get to an author. Joining me today will be Michael Yearby. No video. I was just explaining to Michael before I hit record. MacroSuck Windslow 11 on my system acting up. And apparently the zoom update on his system acting up. So no video for him. Well, well, well, we got a picture of him at least popped up there now. So that's an improvement. We'll at least see a picture while we get his sound. And we're gonna be talking about anime today. No, no, wait, wait, don't tune out. Anime is not my normal genre of choice either, but I am curious because, like fantasy, anime really is kind of in the fantasy genre most times, although you can have a fictional or uh a nonfiction kind of anime fictionalized historical Washington thing or something. I don't know, but anime may not be your thing, but let's hear what Michael has to say. Welcome to the show, Michael Yearby. And it's spelled Y-E-R-B-Y, but it sounds like an E on the end.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

Yes? Oh no, so it's Y-E-A-R-B-Y. So it's year and by U.

Miami Roots And Life Overseas

SPEAKER_02 5:02

That's not what I said. Okay, see, my brain and my mouth aren't cooperating either. Yeah. Michael M I C A K E L year B Y E R B Y, despite the Y on the end, it sounds like an E. Michael year B. Okay, now that we got that the hell out of the way, let's start with the where were you born and raised and significant, where are you now? Significant places you may have been in between, those sorts of things.

SPEAKER_00 5:39

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, raised there for seven years ago.

SPEAKER_02 5:44

So you were born and raised in hotter than hell land. Yeah. I've been in Miami, North Miami Beach in June. Oh my god. So anyway, I interrupted you. Born in Miami, go on.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

No, that no, it's it's quite alright. It's quite all right. I love that. I love the place. I love the heat. And as I get older, I appreciate it a lot more versus being in the cold.

SPEAKER_02 6:19

I don't do cold very well, but yet here I still am in the frozen tundra of Michigan at winters. So yeah, it's way too cold out there. For the record, I don't know when it'll air. So, but we are recording Saturday, February the 7th, and yeah, I got to freeze my took us off up here. Go on.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

Like I said, from my inflow, I've been in here for 24 years. I've been to assortment of places in between from uh Minot, North Dakota to Okinawa, Japan to uh Germany, uh Guam for deployment, uh Kyrgyzstan for deployment, um Singapore for deployment, and then from there, uh right now I'm actually overseas in uh South Korea, in Kumsan, South Korea, if you can believe it, at Kumsan Air Force Base. That's the problem.

SPEAKER_02 7:21

You're you're in that's the problem. It's the the Korean version of the NSA causing us problems.

SPEAKER_00 7:33

Probably, probably. Oh my goodness. Yeah, so like I said, 24 years, been to a multitude of basis, uh, and in that time frame just probably learned learned a lot that I don't know anything. That that's the most part about it. Uh, you know, the more you learn, the more you you know you don't know. And so uh the graphs and understanding of what I do I know um is basically nothing new. Um throughout the testament of time, people have all experienced this. And I just uh when we talk about anime, it's just certain things that I see in um anime lore that we I guess put into uh real life or get out of real life, and so I just try to connect those dots for people.

Anime, Manga, And Cultural Context

SPEAKER_02 8:22

Yeah, and uh recognizing ignorance, we are all ignorant of things that we've yet to learn, right? Ignorant does not mean stupid. Stupid, stupid is you don't know, you don't care to know, you know. I like my delusional bubble, yeah. There's a big difference, so yeah, we 100% wisdom is understanding we are all ignorant of certain things, absolutely. So, but yeah, you mentioned Japan. So obviously, I would think that that's probably where you first come into anime.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

Um no, so I uh you know, back in the day it was like a a nasty little uh nerd thing to like anime. So I mean, and then also, you know, it was on the weekends where like you know, they had the overseas what they call cartoons back in the day. But it was anime is I guess you can't say cartoons to anime uh enthusiasts. Oh my god, you will pick them off.

SPEAKER_02 9:37

Yeah, yeah, you will piss them off. So you will trigger them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

A hundred percent. But I do understand the difference. Uh moving in Japan, got to see it, and then got to follow the the uh, I guess the history and the lore behind that between anime, manga, all and all to understand the groups, the the culture behind it, it is pretty uh amazing. It unlocked a lot for me.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

Yeah, you mentioned the other one, hente, or am I pronouncing that even correctly, right?

SPEAKER_08 10:11

Yeah, no, uh hinted, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:13

Don't confuse those two either. You'll set them, you'll trigger the nerves again. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. They may look the same to us normal folks, and relax nerds. It's just a joke when I say I'm normal, you're not, it's just a joke. Please, can we lighten up people? Anyway, so how you have anime books or anime films?

SPEAKER_00 11:53

So um, no, I so I have an I have a it's it's not an anime book. It's so basically I use anime concepts to well, anime storytelling to convey personal professional development concepts, right? So a lot of stuff that I see that's they use an anime, I just like, hey, just like Naruto did this, blah, blah, blah. It reminds me of what I seen in real life in this, and then also it follows this professional development concept.

SPEAKER_02 12:20

I oh, I love it. So it's a nuance. I I I just got done editing a future-airing uh monologue, Saturday monologue about White Lion song when the children cry, and I just put it up on my video platforms as behind the scenes. And indeed, I I do kind of the same with my Life and Living series of books. I interweave music and songs, and uh so I I don't know where I'm going with this now, but yeah, a quasi blend of things, like you're saying. You're taking anime, and as I joked at the top, there can be like nonfiction, you're using those uh how you put it, uh, those principles, those those concepts, and applying them elsewhere. As I used to write and record music, so I apply like the white lion song when the children cry that I just put up on behind the scenes video, talk about my life and living series of books. There's a bunch of songs that deal with life and living that make an appearance in my books to try to relate. So, in a way, you're doing the same trying to relate anime, which is generally a younger thing with older, wiser principles, yes?

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Right. A hundred percent. You couldn't get it better than that.

SPEAKER_02 14:02

Well, I I have rambled quite a bit to get there, but I got there eventually. Yeah, you know, you this is not your normal kind of show. I got I uh this isn't an act. I hey, this is just me letting it all hang out. We we hit record and we go wherever the rabbit holes open. Uh what what was the light bulb moment to think that you could do this?

Naruto And The Resilience Blueprint

SPEAKER_00 14:36

Oh, so for me, I I'm a huge, huge anime fan. I I I mean, I guess if I'm being honest, I'm not I guess as huge as certain people uh because they take a look at the city.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

Oh, there are some fanatics out there, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

100% they take it. But I I love anime lore just in general, right? And so I was sitting down one time, and I noticed like one big anime uh people call they they say it's in the top three, and it's Naruto. And Naruto talks about like this is a little kid who's being shunned by his community, and he wants to so kind of a bullying, a bullying kind of situation.

SPEAKER_02 15:19

Or a disaffected, disjointed, uh disassociated.

Teaching Soft Skills Through Anime

SPEAKER_00 15:25

And he and he wants to be one, he wants to be acknowledged by everyone in this community, and then two, he wants to be better than what he is. So he keeps basically uh trying very, very hard, even though uh he has a lot of setbacks in his life from him not knowing his parents, uh his mom and dad are you know passed on, and you know, he doesn't understand why people are so mean to him, but he's still trying to do you know better about himself. And I was like, man, that and I as because I started this professional development journey like a couple of years back, and I was like, man, Naruto reminds me of someone who's trying to you know persevere through a lot of struggle. And then I mean he's I'm like, man, he has a lot of resilience. Oh man, and he actually he actually uh performing this concept, this professional development concept. And I'm like, okay, uh he's he actually has some smart goals here. I'm like, man. And so I kind of like you know, just watching anime, I keep certain uh things. And I'm like, okay, that's pretty cool. And so when I used it originally, and the reason that this all came in, I was uh teaching a class, it was it's called FTAC. I'm not sure uh if anybody knows it, but then the military is called uh first-term airmen uh center, where we have new airmen that come inside uh the Air Force uh when they get to their first base, we have them go through FTAC and basically we teach them a lot of soft skills. Um, you know, the command chief, the leadership come and basically have different briefings throughout the whole week and just giving them an overview of the base, teaching them a lot of soft skills and have a lot of different speakers come in. And at the time, I uh as I came in and I was teaching Understand Your Why from Simon Sinek, I noticed that to connect with the youth, I used anime and what Naruto was doing, and then I was using like what One Piece when uh when it came to Luffy and different anime characters like that, and people were connecting and really understanding the concepts a lot better. And so I was like, okay, man. So since they're if they're understanding that, right? And I can bring it together like that. Let me let me keep it going.

Generations, Music, And Animation History

SPEAKER_02 17:39

Now you're you're you're you're making me laugh a little because you're saying manudo, and I'm going back to music of my old, I'm thinking manudo or minudo or what whatever that old Latin young Latin pop group was, right? Manudo, yeah, not that yeah, not that. And you're making the very point at again as you were at the top, but and different may be weird and strange to us. It may be seemed abnormal, but different is still human. And as you said, the anime relates, even though it's fantasy genre per se, it relates a lot of like my life and living series of books, human nature, human qualities, the human condition.

SPEAKER_00 18:36

It does. And and you can just, I mean, it depending on the anime, it displays and talks about the different concepts. And so I usually what I do is I I like a lot of arrangement of anime. So some animes talk about certain things a lot more than uh other animes. So I use those concepts accordingly, and it helps me to connect with at least, you know, because uh not every everybody listens to um anime or uh reads manga and stuff like that, but majority of the young people do, so it's really helpful.

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Exactly. It it is indeed very much a generational thing, and that will always be the case. Uh each generation tends to, for whatever reason, gravitate to one thing or the other that another generation might. It's like music, especially, right? Every gener what's the song in the living years, Mike and the mechanic, every generation, something about the one before. Exactly, the generational music divide. Oh my god, it's a bunch of noise, right? Every generation thinks the new generation's music is a bunch of noise.

SPEAKER_00 19:53

Noise, yeah. And you you're not wrong. I was just talking with my co-workers uh probably a couple of days ago. And he's talking about, man, you know, I said, is it me? Or I'm getting to the point where I'm just like the new music that I hear, I just really don't want to listen to it anymore. And then we all started laughing because we're all older, you know. I'm 42. My other coworkers are roughly around 37, 38, um, 39, you know, that's uh that uh work for me. And it was like, they started laughing really, really hard. And they're like, yeah, man, I started doing, I'm just trying to listen to all the young new music years ago. And we said, You finally uh, I guess you broke, right? You you you're not doing it no more. I said, nah, I can't. I said, young so-and-so, I can't listen to that young stuff.

SPEAKER_02 20:39

And it's just generational, it's evolutionary, it's just time. Uh things improve, things progress. Uh progression isn't always necessarily better, but it it's just a form of anime itself derived from the word animation. Uh right, it's just the weeks think I'm 63. I people think of like the Looney Tunes that have been around since the 40s, still being shown, and the morals of those cartoons usually do still relate. So anime is just an evolution, a progression from Looney Tunes in a way.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Bugs bunny. You're not, you're not wrong at all. I mean, no, especially because in anime there's what?

SPEAKER_02 21:38

Furbies. That's kind of like a Bugs Bunny human blend, right?

SPEAKER_00 22:27

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Depending on some characters, they are. You know, you got your protagonist, you got your antagonist, and then you got your comic release in there. That's always like it's weird. It has your Bugs Bunny S or Daffy Duck S characters.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

So I again, since anime is not really my thing, I'm not knowing exactly where to go next. But I'm again, like I said at the top, I hope people didn't tune out and think, oh, anime, I'm not interested in that discussion. Again, it it mirrors life. So it's it's important and it relates to everyone's in everyday life, like my life and lovely series of books do. Your uh combining anime with modern realities does relate to people, whether they they the question is whether they'll stop and think about it rather than just react emotionally.

Leadership, Discipline, And Training Arcs

SPEAKER_00 23:37

And honestly, they will because like uh I would say in this generation, um, just so even with the anime right now, they're going through a transition of what uh the young people call new gen and in old. I represent the blending of both, right? I I love the new anime as well as the old, but uh I I do venture mostly to the old type of anime when I'm uh referencing different things, and a lot of uh a lot of the young people like the new gen anime, and and then they go into far more detail and depth about certain things that you know maybe don't to me don't matter, but I'm still able to connect and relate accordingly. And then um, even in the book process, just writing it, uh just having different exercises, uh basically uh going through those series. So I because I I have a lot of extensive knowledge when it comes to different enemies. So I go through like different episodes and be like, even in my podcast, I'm like, oh man, remember in season two, episode five, when um this character was dealing with this, it reminds me of this, and then this is how personal development, how you get through a situation like that, when you're talking about resilience, you're talking about your identity, you're talking about your leadership, you're talking about discipline, and then you're talking about your training arcs. Like uh every enemy character has like a training arc where they go off with the sensei and they learn something. And then they training arc, as they learn something, they learn about themselves through, you know, through I guess the exercise of pain uh in their training, their loss, their energy choices they made, and then it helps them power up and come out and come out better than they were last time. So a lot of uh I I say uh a lot of just regular sensible, I guess, uh concepts that's or uh skills, right? But I I mold it all.

SPEAKER_02 25:35

Reoccurring themes. We may be in 2026, but it's the same humankind, human nature, a lot of our internals are the same as they were in 2026 BC.

Ministry, The Bible, And Universal Lessons

SPEAKER_00 25:54

100%. And that's and that's what I see that happens. Uh and for me, like I connect everything, like when I was in Okinawa, I used to do uh I used to be a youth pastor and I used to do prison ministry. So what we used to do is they have they have a small jail prison. Well, it's not small, it's pretty large actually, um, at Camp Hansen um on Okinawa. Um and it's for military members only. Um if you if you committed a crime and say you were sentenced to over a year, you will go to Camp Hansen for a year, they will process you, and then from there they will make transport uh uh not recommendations, but uh uh uh transport available, no matter if it was Air C or whatever, uh to Leavenworth, right? Um to that in the States.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

A lot of people know that name, they know what Leavenworth is, yeah, like Alcatraz, right?

SPEAKER_00 26:52

Yeah, yeah. So in that in that time frame, myself and another senior pastor used to go roughly two times a week into the the the prison to minister to the uh to I guess I would say the convicts or people who have been tried and uh found guilty. And we'll talk about uh basically what do you do now? What what's what's now? What do you do now with your time? What do you do now? How do you become a better person? And so of course we it's Bible-centric, we use the Bible, of course, right? And we talk about through those concepts, but a lot of professional development, I see I relate it to, you know, uh a lot of things that's in the Bible, right? And so I use that and use anime to kind of arc it all together. Of course, you don't have to be religious or you know, uh, I guess uh you you say that now, you don't say that for people, like you don't have to, you know, but it uh it has such a world uh uh a world-building viewpoint and also the concept, no matter what, I guess it it defies uh whatever region or culture you're in. It's just uh good hard lessons of you know, no matter who you are and what you are, the concept of good, bad, dealing with uh you know hardships and struggles is in every culture.

Michael’s Website And How To Reach Him

SPEAKER_02 28:18

Yeah, you don't have to be Jewish or Christian, which Christians and I'm gonna upset some foolish Matthew 23 types, refer to Matthew 5, 17. I came to fulfill Jesus was a Jew. We as Christians really are messianic Jews, so we are as Christians really still Jews. Um you don't have to be Jewish, Christian, whatever, to understand the Bible is historically and culturally relevant. Anyway, okay. Do you have a website where people can reach out to you?

SPEAKER_00 29:08

Oh yes, so the website is Michael Yurby M-I-C-H-A-E-L Y-E-A-R-B-Y dot com. So my my full name, Michaelyerby.com.

SPEAKER_02 29:23

Yeah, and there's a Y in there, but it sounds pronounced like a E on the end. But so I'm glad you spelled it. And in post, I will put the for the video plat five video platforms, there will be this scroll at the bottom that'll have it spelled out. And for the benefit of the audio only 25 platforms or those reading the transcript, you've already spelled it out for them. So thankful, thankful. I can't it's not always happening to me. I can talk mine all down today, but the minute I hit record, the brain in the mouth don't want to cooperate. Thank you, Michael Yearby, for coming on today. And see, I told you people at the top of the episode, this would relate to your life, even though you may not be an anime fan.

SPEAKER_00 30:26

Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate you.

Wrap-Up, PodMatch, And Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_02 30:28

No, no problem. I'm glad you were here. Yeah. When we found each other via PodMatch, which is a service uh where hosts and guests can find each other. And the minute I saw anime, in fact, I'm holding up the note I printed out from PodMatch. I literally said to you, I have had on many authors, including had run books slash authors weeks in October of 2025, but I've never had anyone on discussing anime. Would love to go that direction with you for starters and then whatever other rabbit holes. So exactly. I just because I'm not a big anime fan, I understand and can appreciate it and think others should too.

SPEAKER_00 31:23

Yeah, and thank you so much for having me on your platform. I really do love it. You are a hoot. A hoot. You remind me one of my uncles so much.

SPEAKER_02 31:35

Oh, okay. You know, some people do a show and it's an act, it's a persona. No, this is me. I'm not pretending to be folksy, uh jokester Joe. I'm also known as Jokester Joe and Raging Joe on Savage Unfiltered Show. This is me. What you see is what you get. This ain't an act. Well, it is a little when my own like play days in high school, the light, you know, the curtains open and oh, the show must go on. I have health issues, so I'm not always this energetic. So that is a little deceptive. Uh, like when we're done, I'll probably need a nap. It will be worn out. This energy that you see on screen is on screen. It's not all the time. Anyway, thank you again, Michael Hearbe. I will I started wrapping up five minutes ago. Thank you again, Michael Hearby, for coming on. It was a great conversation. Not sure when it'll air. Of course, I will reach out via pod match, let you know when it does. Behind the scenes video will show up sometime. It'll officially release across the 25 plus audio platforms at a later date than that, and you can share it whichever way you like.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

I appreciate you.

Bonus Songs And Closing Message

SPEAKER_04 33:17

April Fool's Day What a joke.

SPEAKER_05 33:26

You played a good almost cruel.

SPEAKER_04 33:54

Fool for you Yeah, fool for you. You took my goal. You took my youth. Leave me with nothing. But the brutal truth. A fool for you.

SPEAKER_03 34:17

Still a fool for you. A fiddle strain Say sang my pain. You danced away and pouring the rain. My tears a river, deep and wide. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

SPEAKER_06 34:47

Maybe someday I laugh at all. This is a game, this bitter scarf, but not today, not this year.

SPEAKER_03 34:58

Still got you stuck around in my ear. April fool, my love. You made me a fool. Play me lie like a fiddle string, bro, give a roo.

SPEAKER_07 35:34

You turn in the young foo.

SPEAKER_03 35:48

Still I'm not on you You took all my sunshine. Left me with rain. A circus clown in love. Such a beautiful pain. Maybe next year we'll celebrate. My heart's still a jester. Waiting at your gate.

SPEAKER_06 36:23

April Fool's Day Should be our anniversary. Because you turned me into your fool. Played me like a fiddle. Took most, left me with little. Tears flowed fill the pool. But still I am in love over you.

SPEAKER_03 36:52

Old cassette box in the hallway. Faded label his hand writing. I can hear the kitchen dancing. Every time that tape starts spinning. Grandstone I'd fill the room. Now the chair sits by the window. But I swear I hear that tune. Dad's up there leading the heavenly poke a band. Squeeze the joy out of that squeeze box and stand. Oh yeah. Those were pillows tilt when they all start to stand. Dad's up there leading the heavenly poke-up. They got a floor made out of starlight. Clouds lined up like wood and pews. Trumpets laughing in the moonlight. Every wall's a bit of noise. Callin' out for partners. Step in line, you're doing fine. Heaven's never had a party. Still is rhythm here to sky. Dad's up there leading the heavenly poker band. Squeeze the joy out of that squeeze box in his hand. Angels twirl halos tilt when they all start to stand. Dad's up there leading the heavenly poker band. Now every star's a paper lantern swinging gently in the light. That's up there, leading the heavenly poker back. Squeeze enjoy out of that squeeze box and it's oh if you listen to the silence to hear them clap along the stand as a fair leading the heavenly poker bed. Press 12, poker king, you are not forgotten. You're still a thing. Heard one of your tones on radio the other day sing you and Richie your brothers dancing in the hereafter, not done, just a new chapter. That's a beating the heavenly poker band. Enjoy out of that squeeze box and it's hold. If you listen to the silence, you'll hear them clap along. The heavenly poker band.

SPEAKER_02 40:14

Thank you for having tuned in to another Christitutionalist podcast show. I really appreciate that you stop by. Again, please like, share, subscribe. We need you to help spread the Christitutionalist movement. Thank you again. Take care. God bless. Love you all.