The One Piece Podcast – Episode 889: “Raise The Flag”

Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Maji Media (Zach)
Guests: GolferGareBear (Golfer), Dr. Raylene Bentlin (Dr. Bentlin, a.k.a. The One Piece Doctor)

Overview & Main Theme

This special, ad-free episode of The One Piece Podcast explores the extraordinary phenomenon of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger—the iconic flag of the Straw Hat Pirates from "One Piece"—emerging as a global symbol in real-world protest movements. Host Zach is joined by returning TikTok creator and social critic GolferGareBear and cultural anthropologist Dr. Raylene Bentlin to analyze the meanings, impact, and historical context of this unexpected and powerful convergence between manga/anime and global activism. The episode is deeply reflective, focusing on hope and collective struggle amid recent worldwide unrest, with a particular emphasis on how fandom, storytelling, and art can inspire real-world action and solidarity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introductions and Perspectives (00:00–04:42)

• GolferGareBear outlines his background applying real-world political frameworks—especially critiques of law enforcement and power—onto "One Piece" lore, sparking both backlash and deeper community discussions.
• Dr. Raylene Bentlin shares her credentials as a cultural anthropologist and anime manga researcher, with a life-and-career-spanning dedication to exploring the societal and historical implications of Japanese popular media.

2. Setting the Stage: Why the Straw Hat Flag? (07:24–10:27)

• The hosts reflect on a year marked by hardship and unrest and introduce the episode’s optimism: how the Straw Hat flag, typically a fictional symbol, has catalyzed hope and solidarity in global protests.
• Dr. Bentlin:
  “A symbol that is so iconic—the straw hat Jolly Roger—was being... integrated into this protest... almost a calling of inspiration or encouragement to the people involved in it. That to me was unique...” (07:24)
• Golfer:
  “To see people be able to rally behind [the flag] and to use One Piece as kind of a vehicle of inspiration... while we don’t necessarily have Happy Go Lucky Rubber Boy to punch away the bad guys, we have ourselves.” (09:07)

3. The Straw Hat Flag Across Continents (12:01–18:42)

• Detailed list of recent protests where the Jolly Roger appeared: Indonesia, Nepal, Madagascar, Italy, France, Philippines, Morocco, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, and multiple U.S. cities.
• Dr. Bentlin contextualizes: This is unprecedented for a symbol originating in entertainment to become a unifying symbol for multi-continental social movements in such a rapid time frame, especially given language, cultural, and logistical barriers.
• Some countries have criminalized the flag; in others, it has become associated with regime change (e.g., president fleeing Madagascar).

4. Local Adaptations and Symbolic Power (19:05–24:56)

• Protesters often customize the flag to local cultures, e.g. Malagasy hat on the skull (Madagascar), fez (Morocco).
• In Madagascar, president fled following unrest; in Nepal, the Jolly Roger was hung on the gates of parliament amidst fires—an image both “scary and inspiring.”

5. One Piece’s Resonance: Themes of Justice and Inequality (24:56–36:17)

• “One Piece” offers viewers/readers a blueprint for recognizing and challenging inequality.
• Economic disparity is a primary driver, as observed in Morocco and Madagascar.
• Characters like Belo Betty are cited as direct in-story metaphors for real-life revolutionary inspiration.

Notable Quote:

• Dr. Bentlin:
  “One Piece is providing the ideological blueprint to understand how to function in these states of inequity, especially economic inequity.” (24:56)

6. Why and How One Piece Resonates (36:17–45:49)

• The hosts reflect on “One Piece” as a long-running, explicitly political story, with consistent focus on corrupt power structures, inequality, and individual agency—resonating globally.
• Oda’s evolving but always critical depiction of power is discussed; despite his relative apolitical public persona, his narrative is deeply political.
• Discussion of art’s power to render political subjects digestible and actionable; “One Piece” as both entertainment and instruction manual for hope against oppressive systems.

7. Anticipating Backlash and Censorship (51:03–59:29)

• Caution about growing attempts by authorities to censor or criminalize the Straw Hat flag.
• Dr. Bentlin:
  “I am wary... We do have already at least one example of a country that has said waving the flag is an act of treason. [...] What I’m worried about is that they’re going to start associating it with a lot of malicious tactics that authoritarian governments use.” (51:03)
• The historical tactic: authorities create enemies, vilify resistance movements by associating their symbols with terrorism or sedition.

8. Art, Catharsis, and Protest (64:57–73:20)

• One Piece and the Jolly Roger as a new kind of “pirate flag”—reclaiming historic symbols of fear and turning them into icons of liberation and unity.
• Brief tangent about how the actual “pirate code” was never about justice or freedom—this is a modern, even unique, interpretation popularized by One Piece.

Notable Quote:

• Dr. Bentlin:
  “Through the power of One Piece and what the story signifies, it’s almost as if people completely separated the idea of fear and danger and added hope, encouragement, unity... That subversion, that transformation also speaks of how much agency and voice One Piece is giving to the audience that are participating in this movement.” (64:57)

9. On Industry Response and the Future of Representation (94:32–100:00)

• Reflection on whether publishers, studios, or Oda himself will comment or take responsibility for the rising association between “One Piece” and global unrest.
• Consensus: corporations will avoid association unless it is financially beneficial or unavoidable. Oda likely feels pride mixed with worry, given the real danger impacting protestors.
• Golfer:
  “He obviously doesn’t own these movements. These are, you know, the effect of the movements. [...] But I hope there is some sense of pride in knowing how resonating it is...” (97:32)

10. The Spiral of Art and History (101:43–104:48)

• One Piece as “solidifying itself in human history” far beyond its place as best-selling manga and global media phenomenon: now, it’s a literal flag of revolution.
• The hosts revisit the podcast’s main point: that One Piece’s worldwide adoption as a protest symbol is historically unique for a piece of entertainment media, and a testament to the story’s profound themes.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “It’d be one thing to see [the flag] a couple of times — but to see how central it’s become... hope that while we don’t necessarily have Happy Go Lucky Rubber Boy to punch away the bad guys, we have ourselves...” — Golfer (09:07)
• “We’re seeing actual cause and effect of the use of the flag in the protest to inspire people that are also leading to some change. [...] Anthropologically, we have not seen that much.” — Dr. Bentlin (17:30)
• “One Piece does in an easy to digest way express these really obvious issues... but it’s hidden in plain sight.” — Zach (26:26)
• “One Piece started by posing to the audience: can we trust in the system we exist in?” — Dr. Bentlin (34:05)
• “When comedy and art are under assault, that’s a big, gigantic red flag.” — Zach (50:27)
• “The [Straw Hat] flag is a beacon of hope, not a symbol of terror like the pirate flags of old.” — Dr. Bentlin (64:57)
• “If we have not hope, we have nothing at all.” — Golfer (103:30)
• “One Piece has effectively stretched out of the manga panel into a world.” — Dr. Bentlin (101:43)

Important Timestamps

• 07:24–10:27: Emergence & Importance of the Flag in Protests
• 12:01–18:42: Survey of countries/regions and effect on politics
• 24:56–36:17: How One Piece’s story directly addresses protest themes
• 51:03–59:29: Fears of censorship and state backlash
• 64:57–73:20: Reclaiming pirate imagery, reframing fear into hope
• 97:08–100:00: Will Oda or industry respond? Reflections on impact
• 101:43–103:27: One Piece’s global historical resonance

Closing Remarks

The conversation maintains its thoughtful, optimistic, and deeply analytical tone throughout, rooted in fandom but branching into universal questions of justice, power, and belonging. The participants repeatedly reference how One Piece provides both catharsis and blueprint for hope, and articulate concern for how authorities may co-opt or suppress that hope.

The episode ends with a moving listener comment (111:40) underscoring how seeing the Straw Hat flag in protests made the manga’s importance finally visible to those outside the fandom.

For further reading, episode links, and protest resources, see the full episode notes at [One Piece Podcast].

“It really made me emotional in a way that’s hard to describe to people who are not fans of One Piece... What I love most about One Piece is how meaningful it is and how deeply its themes resonate with me. I think seeing so many places around the country and world adopt the flag for their real life causes is what makes that more apparent to my friends and family now...”—Listener comment read by Zach (111:54)

One Piece Podcast: onepiecepodcast.com
Support: patreon.com/onepiecepodcast
GolferGareBear: TikTok @golfergearbear
Dr. Raylene Bentlin: “The One Piece Doctor” on social media and BlueSky