Transcript

Delaney (0:00)

So good, so good, so good.

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Zach (1:21)

This is the One Piece podcast episode 918 for the week of Monday, May 11, 2026. My name is Zach.

Ed (1:29)

And my name is Ed.

Steve (1:31)

And my name is Steve.

Zach (1:33)

On today's episode we have very special guest. She is the editor for our podcast, Delaney Jordan. Welcome, Delaney.

Delaney (1:40)

I. I was going to make a joke about how you needed Mother here on Mother's Day, but I haven't earned very special guest. Let's be so for real.

Zach (1:48)

Well, I have to say that first. It's just what happens to. I. I can't. I can't not say that after you

Delaney (1:57)

rerouted midway through when you realized that it wasn't Steven Paul.

Zach (2:01)

I've been saying it for 17 years. I can't not say that.

Ed (2:06)

Whenever someone says Mother as an exclamation, I think of either is that the Danzig song or that Darren Aronofsky movie?

Delaney (2:15)

We're not getting into that. That's a danger zone for me right now. We're not doing Aronofsky. In other news, everything is great. Zach, thank you for having me on.

Zach (2:23)

Yes, good news. And we have our archivist, Ken o' Connor with us. How's it going, Ken?

Summary

The One Piece Podcast, Episode 918: “Zaza Freaky!!!”

Release Date: May 11, 2026
Podcast by: Maji Media
Panelists: Zach (host), Ed, Steve, Delaney (editor/guest), Ken (archivist), Stephen Paul (official manga translator/guest)
Chapter Discussed: 1182, "Zaza"

Overview

This episode dives into the latest One Piece manga chapter, “Zaza,” and delivers classic One Piece Podcast banter, silly tangents, and deep-dive theorizing. The crew covers the ongoing battle on Elbaf, the introduction of the Rain God Zaza, the ever-widening lore of gods in One Piece, adaptation news for the Netflix/Studio Wit project, and a lively Piece Together Q&A.

Main Episode Highlights

1. Opening Banter & Guest Introductions

Timestamp: 01:21 – 04:39

Zach introduces the regular cast and welcomes Delaney (editor) and Ken (archivist).
General jokes about guest intros, in-jokes about “Mother” on Mother’s Day, and fun at their own expense about saying the same things for 17 years.
Steven Paul joins in a bit later (27:17), as both translator and recurring humor target.

2. One Piece Adaptation News: Netflix/Studio Wit

Timestamp: 09:25 – 15:37

Netflix’s upcoming One Piece anime remake (produced by Studio Wit) is discussed. Key details:
- Season 1: 7 episodes, ~43 minutes each, covering first 50 chapters (up to Baratie arc).
- Releases February 2027.
- “Why so few episodes?” debate – concerns about pacing, whether adaptation will rush or drag, parallels to Netflix’s notorious “split season” tactics.
Quote – Ed (10:31):
“I think I remember reading that it’s going to be seven episodes, 300 minutes... covering the first 50 chapters, which I think brings us into the middle of Baratie.”
The crew expresses both excitement and skepticism about adaptation speed, casting, and repeated announcement of the same teaser art.

3. Manga Recap: Chapter 1182, “Zaza”

Timestamp: 18:13 – 65:00

A. Cover Page & Oda’s Author Comment

Oda mentions dinner plans, foodie variety shows, reflecting his usual obsessions.
Cover page: Issho (Fujitora) enjoying udon made by a fox and tanuki. Panelists note the unusual scritchy scratchy art style.

B. Battle on Elbaf: Emu vs. Loki

Loki (in dragon form) and Ragnar (revealed as a hammer imbued with the Ratatoskr devil fruit) attack Emu, who counters with a barrage called “Gazing Eclipse.”
Emu’s attack has layered puns:
- Steven explains that “gazing eclipse” is wordplay mixing eclipse, bombardment, and an Aztec eclipse goddess, while also being a Japanese pun about compulsive “staring into an eclipse.”
- Quote – Stephen Paul (34:10):
  “Oda is doing several different things here... the actual name is a katakana-ization of an Aztec eclipse goddess, but it also puns on staring into an eclipse.”
Emu is depicted as partly vulnerable and weakened (“not fit for the outside”), and called “traitor” by Loki.

C. Giants, Strawhats, and Zaza Emerges

Straw Hats: Bonnie, Lilith, and Sanji regroup while Sanji pursues fleeing enemy Killingham and vows to defend Elbaf (“land of giant beautiful women”).
Quote – Sanji (43:02):
“I'm going to keep Elbaf safe. It's the land of giant beautiful women.”
Saul and Robin find all the books rescued in a “convenient” secret library by the mysterious owl, Biblo (jokes about his sus, tired expression).
Chopper reattaches Gerd's thumbs; giants display modern slang and mobile game references (“ultra rare good, my precious chopped fingers”).
Zoro, Goldberg, and other Straw Hats assess the outcome of Emu’s ominous attack—Zoro uncovers steel bullets and bombs in his wounds, noting Emu’s militaristic powers.
- Quote – Zoro (53:44):
  “That black flame…was transforming into steel bullets and bombs. And it clearly helped the Knights of God power up further.”

D. The Re-Kidnapping Plot & God of Rain Appears

Killingham and Sommers (Holy Knights) resume their plan to capture Elbaf’s children.
The celestial lineage’s irrational fears—especially of rain—are explained as the origin for their “Rain God” boogeyman.
Killingham is able to summon Zaza, a massive, veiled, feminine God of Rain with a terrifying, watery form. Panel revels at the design.
- Quote – Delaney (59:26):
  “A massive vaguely feminine, based on the face, figure…absolutely fucking up the town.”
- The giants and islanders are swept away, with a visual emphasis on drowning, tying rain back to Devil Fruit vulnerabilities.

E. Zoro & Sanji’s “Positive Bickering”

Zoro and Sanji split up to handle the crises, exchanging their classic banter but in an urgent, almost respectful way.
- Quote – Stephen Paul (66:06):
  “This is like the closest thing that Zoro and Sanji get to positive reinforcement for each other…they’re the only ones the crew can count on in this moment.”

4. Thoughts & Analysis

Timestamp: 65:00 – 114:30

A. Discussion: One Piece Lore and God Mythology

The Rain God Zaza’s naming is deeply tied to Japanese onomatopoeia for rain, paralleling “Nika” (a sound of grinning) for the Sun God.
- Quote – Stephen Paul (87:56):
  “The ‘za za’ is the sound of rain…Oda calling her Zaza is like ‘Drip Drip’ or ‘Splish Splash.’”
Panel explores references to Skypiea’s four gods—Sun, Rain, Forest, Earth—now being fleshed out in current lore.
Is Zaza canonically a Devil Fruit god, a product of imagination/prayer/fear, or just a boogeyman? Debate is left open: the “joke vs. myth” lens is part of the fun.
Speculation: Nika, Zaza, and other “gods” may be linked by names, fruit types, and imagined powers—possible connections to other characters and future plotlines (is Dragon tied to Rain?).

B. Zaza’s Design and Oda’s Art

Widespread approval of Zaza’s visual: transparent, fluid, imposing.
How former gods, mythical fruits, and the “hammer that ate the Ratatoskr” deepen the series’ lore, with some panelists hoping for more crew-centered fights.

C. Weaknesses and Frustrations

Some panelists (notably Delaney) express frustration at the return of the kidnapping plot and extended time spent on similar stakes.
- Quote – Delaney (78:56):
  “I spent a lot of it largely annoyed…if we hadn’t had those kids hanging off a cliff for the better part of an entire autumn, I’d maybe feel differently.”
General feeling that the arc’s “gauntlet” of threats is sometimes exhausting but necessary, and may play better when read in one binge post-serialization.

D. Emu’s Powers & Role As Villain

Emu’s “militaristic” attacks (bullets and bombs) seen as a thematic contrast with Luffy’s joy-based powers.
Emu showing up in the open world is interpreted by some as a possible “death flag” (loss or defeat) for them, theorizing that Blackbeard or another villain will surpass Emu in the end.

E. Other Notable Moments

Jokes about the “Piece Together” Q&A villains getting “washed away” by Zaza.
Oda’s love of mythology, puns, and the potential for further “SFX-named” gods.
Long-standing podcast in-jokes: Morgans’ (the news bird’s) identity, “who’s Biblo?” theories, and ongoing glup shitbeard tournament results (Whoopslap, King Bound victories).

5. Piece Together Q&A

Timestamp: 118:23 – 157:27

Fans submit questions about:
- What other first-world-problem “gods” the Celestial Dragons might fear (e.g., God of Public Transport, God of Cold Soup).
- Zoro and Sanji’s rapport: more enjoyable than just pure action.
- “What’s Biblo (the Owl)’s deal?” Suspicions fly, with consensus, “Who knows! But it better not be a twist.”
- Pun-filled screen-names and persistent Zaza jokes.

6. Community & Tournament Updates

Timestamp: 162:43 – 169:57

Quarterfinal results in the “glup shitbeard” community bracket: Whoopslap, King Bound, Sar Funkel advance; tiebreak broken live by Stephen for Whoopslap over Orlumbus.
Teasers for more tournament/bracket fun: color spreads, “Ranking of Kings,” dad bracket.
Announcement: SGS (Greg & Stephen Paul's deep-dive podcast) is on indefinite hiatus due to scheduling, but may return—fans urged to be patient and not pester Greg.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Delaney (59:26): “A massive vaguely feminine…figure…just absolutely fucking up the town.”
Stephen Paul (34:10): On Emu’s attack: “Oda is doing several different things here — it’s an Aztec eclipse goddess, but also puns on staring into an eclipse.”
Zoro (53:44): “That black flame…was transforming into steel bullets and bombs…helped the Knights of God power up further.”
Steve (63:01): “If Zoro took on Zaza instead, he’d get swept away by the water and soon realize the goggles, they do nothing.”
Delaney (66:50): "This is like the closest Zoro and Sanji get to positive reinforcement for each other..."
Stephen Paul (87:56): “Oda calling her Zaza is like ‘Drip Drip’ or ‘Splish Splash.’”
On Biblo the Owl:
- Ken: “That’s the most sus owl I’ve ever seen.”
- Zach: “If that happened in the manga, I'd really roll my eyes deep into my head.”

Structure & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------|----------------| | Opening & Intros | 01:21 – 04:39 | | Netflix/Wit Anime News | 09:25 – 15:37 | | Manga Recap (Chapter 1182) | 18:13 – 65:00 | | Arc Lore, Gods, Discussion | 65:00 – 114:30 | | Piece Together (Q&A, theories) | 118:23 – 157:27| | Community Bracket / Announcements | 162:43 – 169:57|

Tone & Style

Language: Casual, irreverent, “fandom in-jokes and deep theorizing,” puns and wordplay aplenty, self-referential and meta, with off-topic banter.
Atmosphere: High-energy, sometimes chaotic, enthusiastic, but critical where warranted. Good-natured ribbing among longtime friends.

For New Listeners:

This episode is a great entry point to understanding how the podcast fuses lore-deep analysis (with an official translator on board) and freewheeling, fandom-inflected humor. Even if you haven’t read the chapter, you’ll come away knowing:

What’s happening on Elbaf right now (Gods, Straw Hats split up, threats re-emerging)
Why the origin of “Zaza” matters for One Piece’s wider mythology
That the community prizes both serious theorizing and a willingness to laugh at the series, and itself

wavePod

Episode 918, “Zaza Freaky!!!”