Recently, we featured interviews with two very talented young ladies. Not only do they have thriving careers; they also host “Ara Ara the Weeb,” a top-ranking anime podcast followed by fans from the UAE, Philippines, and other countries!
Iveth (Vivz) is a Marketing Manager for a premium real estate agency, while Amy is Head of Content for a UAE holding company that owns multiple brands. Brought together by a mutual interest in gaming and anime, their podcasting journey has led them to hosting/participating in events such as the Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC), plus collaborations with other famous brands.
In this Q&A, Vivz and Amy share how it all started: the inspiration for the name “Ara Ara,” how they met, and how they select topics for their podcast. They also talk about the challenges they’ve faced; how they balance career, podcasting, and personal lives; and finally, what’s in store for “The Ara Ara” channel!
Contents
- Q&A with the Ladies Behind Top-Ranking Anime Podcast
- 1. What inspired you both to start your podcast, and how did you choose the name “Ara Ara the Weeb” podcast?
- 2. How did you both meet?
- 3. Can you share a memorable experience or highlight from your podcasting journey so far?
- 4. How do you select the topics you discuss on the podcast, and what criteria do you use to choose anime series for review?
- 5. In what ways has the community in the UAE responded to your podcast, and what has that support meant to you?
- 6. What challenges have you faced while creating content, and how have you overcome them?
- 7. How do you balance your personal lives, work, and the demands of running a podcast and YouTube channel?
- 8. Can you share any insights or advice for aspiring content creators who want to follow a similar path?
- 9. What future plans do you have for the podcast, and are there any exciting projects on the horizon?
- 10. How do you envision the evolution of anime podcasting in the UAE and the broader community?
- Catch “Ara Ara the Weeb” Podcast
Q&A with the Ladies Behind Top-Ranking Anime Podcast
Ara Ara The Weeb Podcast is a pioneering platform in the UAE, dedicated to anime, gaming, and pop culture. This trailblazing podcast has achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the number one spot on Apple Podcast in both the UAE and the Philippines under the animation and manga genre. Each episode offers an in-depth exploration of anime culture, examining popular series and sharing the hosts’ insightful perspectives as passionate fans. Here are more details about their podcast and how it started:
1. What inspired you both to start your podcast, and how did you choose the name “Ara Ara the Weeb” podcast?
Vivz: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved watching anime and playing video games. I started the anime podcast after co-hosting the “Puro Ka Laro” Podcast with Jaemi “Inang” De Guzman and John Edsel Lopez, one of the pioneering gaming podcasts in the Philippines. Since it was a gaming-centric show, there were very few opportunities for me to talk about anime, so I thought, why not create my own?
The name “Ara Ara” came from a poll I made years ago. It was suggested as a joke by a good friend of mine, Jhazterine Tayag, the host of “The Gamesilog Show,” another gaming podcast from the Philippines. “Ara Ara” is a popular Japanese phrase that means “Oh my” in English, typically said by female characters in anime. I thought it was a fun and fitting choice, especially since the podcast initially had two female hosts, Arianne and me. Later, Amy joined, making it three hosts.
“Ara Ara The Weeb Podcast” wasn’t my first choice. I originally considered calling it “Low-Level Weebs,” and it was supposed to be a Tagalog-English show. However, as we developed the show, we decided to stick with English to reach a wider audience, and the name evolved along with that decision.
2. How did you both meet?
Amy: Iveth and I while we knew of each other for a long time, we never really interacted. We were actually schoolmates from university. So on one of our hangouts, she was surprised to know that I watched anime (because I don’t give those vibes haha) and we spoke about Neon Genesis Evangelion. At another hangout, we spoke more about anime and she mentioned the podcast she was starting. We spoke more about it and it ended up with us deciding that I would be a special guest. But after even more conversations, it was decided that I would be a permanent co-host and we would be making the podcast in video format.
Amy: One of the most memorable experiences for me would be this year’s MEFCC (Middle East Film and Comic Con). Captain Tsubasa is the highlight of many children’s childhood here in the UAE, it even inspired legends like Messi. So when I was told I would be interviewing the creator Yōichi Takahashi on stage in front of all his fans, it was a whole mixture of feelings and even more so when it was finally happening.
Another highlight as well would be winning the influencer showdown at OtakuME this year. They had a campaign where influencers in the anime and pop culture niche would promote a discount code tailored specifically for that influencer. Whoever was able to sell the most would win. The fact that we won really surprised us because we didn’t really realize that we had that much influence and reach in the community, so definitely a really cool moment for both of us.
Other highlights would be being invited to exclusive events like TikTok’s Gaming Event in collaboration with Ubisoft, the launch event of Call of Duty MW3 – Season 3, Suhoor with Riot Games and the League and Valorant teams in the UAE, and so much more.
Vivz: Amy already mentioned all the memorable events we’ve been invited to and the collaborations we have done over the past few months. However, regarding our podcasting journey, we are incredibly proud to have ranked No. 1 on Apple Podcasts for the animation and manga genre, in both the UAE and the Philippines. We are glad to know that people are listening to us, and we were surprised to find out that we’ve also ranked within the top 10 podcasts in other countries like India, Turkey, Indonesia, and even Saudi Arabia.
4. How do you select the topics you discuss on the podcast, and what criteria do you use to choose anime series for review?
Vivz: We usually go for whatever catches our eye or whatever’s trending at the moment. If there’s a new anime season or a show making waves, it’s probably on our list. We also check the recommendations of our listeners.
5. In what ways has the community in the UAE responded to your podcast, and what has that support meant to you?
Amy: The community here has really responded very positively towards us. What I love about the anime and cosplay community here is that everyone really supports each other and everyone tries to grow together instead of pushing people down. So that support has really helped me appreciate this passion even more. This is a community that really allows you to thrive.
6. What challenges have you faced while creating content, and how have you overcome them?
Vivz: The biggest challenge for us has definitely been our busy schedules. Balancing work, personal life, and content creation isn’t easy, and finding the time to sit down and produce quality content can be tough. To overcome this, we’ve learned to be super organized with our time. We stick to a set recording schedule, plan our episodes, and even pre-record when we know things are going to get hectic. We’ve hired our editor, Norvin, who has been a lifesaver, letting us focus more on just recording and creating content.
7. How do you balance your personal lives, work, and the demands of running a podcast and YouTube channel?
Vivz: When we first started Ara Ara, we were both going through some pretty crazy times in our careers, which, let’s be real — made balancing everything a bit of a challenge. To manage it all, we decided to keep our show to a limited number of episodes per season and pre-record everything in advance. This way, we’re not scrambling to meet deadlines while juggling work. We’ve even outsourced the editing because, honestly, with our demanding schedules, we just don’t have the time to do it all ourselves. It’s all about finding a balance that works, even if it means getting a little help along the way.
Amy: Wouldn’t say I’m the best at it but working with someone as hardworking and dedicated as Vivz makes it a lot easier to want to be accountable and have proper time management. It’s also about having a very open communication about what you can take on your plate and seeing how we can work around things from there.
Vivz: Always remember your “why” and put your passion as the “heart” of the content you are making. People can feel the emotions you put into your content.
Amy: Just do it for the fun of it! Don’t overthink things and enjoy the process.
9. What future plans do you have for the podcast, and are there any exciting projects on the horizon?
Amy: We’re looking into having more brand collaborations and working with other creators in the space. So for exciting projects, you’ll just have to wait and watch!
10. How do you envision the evolution of anime podcasting in the UAE and the broader community?
Vivz: I believe we’re just scratching the surface with anime podcasting in the UAE. There aren’t many podcasts in this space yet, and we’re proud to be among the first. Anime’s popularity has skyrocketed recently, compared to when watching it years ago, was considered weird. More people nowadays are open to exploring anime content, and podcasts are a great way to connect with fans and share our passion. As the community grows, I see more podcasts popping up, collaborations happening, and a stronger, more vibrant anime culture emerging in the UAE.
Catch “Ara Ara the Weeb” Podcast
For anime fans out there, get to know more about the latest happenings by watching “Ara Ara the Weeb” on Spotify and Apple Podcast, and following “The Ara Ara Channel” on social media!
Podcast Links
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HDL4oLo705HomfjAIaB0z
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ara-ara-the-weeb-podcast/id1611768187
Social Media Links
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAraAraChannel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearaarachannel/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thearaarachannel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thearaarachannel
* Pictures shared by Vivz and Amy