In this episode, we are joined by the charismatic cartoonist MariNaomi (she/they), known for their evocative autobiographical comics and dedication to promoting underrepresented voices, their raw and intimate storytelling has captivated readers worldwide, while their creation of three online databases has empowered countless fellow cartoonists. MariNaomi opens up about how their Japanese culture plays a part in their work and how they intertwine those roots in their storytelling and visual styles. 

She is very excited to share their memoir I Thought You Loved Me, an homage to their past, recollecting the memories behind this journalistic story, paving the way through with growth due to such influence. As she continues their work today, their aim to amplify underrepresented voices in the comic industry, is an influential staple in the queer, disabled, and POC communities. Their unflinchingly honest and charismatic personality emanates through their narratives, and resonates with countless hearts. 

MariNaomi is the award-winning author and illustrator who lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their work has appeared in over eighty print publications and has been featured on websites such as The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, The Washington Post, LA Times, The Rumpus, LA Review of Books, Midnight Breakfast and BuzzFeed.