Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share "Kaya Pala Ganun 'Yung Childhood Ko..." | Queer, Neurodivergent, and Represented – Art and Identity in Books: Kwentuhan with Arthur Riel Cabezas | OTR Ep. 5
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
"Kaya Pala Ganun 'Yung Childhood Ko..." | Queer, Neurodivergent, and Represented – Art and Identity in Books: Kwentuhan with Arthur Riel Cabezas | OTR Ep. 5
Ahh, now it makes sense."
That feeling when you finally find language for the things you never understood about yourself—especially as a child.
In this episode of Off the REKOrd, we’re bringing you the ultimate crossover of art, archaeology, and advocacy! 🎨⛏️ Joining us is Arthur Riel Cabezas, a sci-fi and fantasy illustrator who doesn’t just create worlds—they also excavate history.
From growing up in Laguna, getting a scholarship to Canada, to navigating identity as a trans and neurodivergent creative, Arthur shares the biggest plot twists of their journey—along with the books, characters, and communities that helped them feel seen. For the first time on the show, host Gia also opens up about her own realizations about neurodivergence, making this episode especially heartfelt and healing.
Together, we unpack:
📌 How careers evolve unexpectedly and the reality of non-linear journeys
📌 That deep feeling of being “different” as a child—and finally understanding why
📌 Representation in media and why queer, neurodivergent characters matter
📌 How literature becomes a tool for self-discovery and transformation
📌 Why the idea of having just one career path is outdated
📌 The overlap between art, advocacy, and inclusive storytelling
Whether you’re an artist, a history buff, or someone figuring out your identity—this episode is for you. Keep dreaming, keep creating, and remember: your story is always worth telling. 💫
📚 Books mentioned in this episode:
- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
- GIGIL - Komiket
- Alapaap - Komiket
- Too Loud: Soothing Sensory Overload with Music by Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
- This Is How You Lose The Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mokhtar
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians (novel series) by Rick Riordan
- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
- Doobiedoo Asks by Bambi Eloriaga-Amago and Roland Amago
🎲 Tabletop Games mentioned:
- Gubat Banwa by Sword Isles Studios
- For The Queen from Darrington Press
📌 ABOUT THE GUEST
Arthur Riel Cabezas is a sci-fi and fantasy illustrator for tabletop games, comics, and children’s books. They grew up in Laguna and went on to study archaeology at University of Toronto.
🚀 Let’s keep the kwentuhan going! Follow for more stories on life’s twists, ikigai, and new chapters.
Episode Timeline:
00:00:22 – Intro ni Gia: Ano ang kwentuhan today? 🌟
00:00:50 – Meet Arthur Riel Cabezas – artist, archaeologist, and certified professional nerd! 🎨📚
00:01:47 – How his art career start—thanks to the pandemic? 🖌️
00:03:14 – From archaeology to illustration 🔍
00:05:51 – His scholarship journey to Canada (and how the pandemic changed everything). ✈️
00:08:32 – Art as a career: Passion vs. pressure? 🎭
00:10:45 – Purpose to go with the flow? 🌊
00:11:42 – On representation: Being trans and advocating for inclusivity. 🌈💡
00:15:40 – How do art and literature become powerful tools for representation?
00:24:50 – The biggest plot twist of his life (clue: identity at self-discovery). 🔄
00:35:20 – Books that changed his life (at bakit dapat basahin mo rin sila). 📚
00:43:18 – Ano ang future plans niya bilang illustrator at archaeologist? 🚀
00:56:38 – Advice para sa aspiring artists at creatives. 🎨✨
01:00:45 – Kung ang buhay niya ay isang libro, ano ang title nito? 📖
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
View all episodes
By Gia SantosAhh, now it makes sense."
That feeling when you finally find language for the things you never understood about yourself—especially as a child.
In this episode of Off the REKOrd, we’re bringing you the ultimate crossover of art, archaeology, and advocacy! 🎨⛏️ Joining us is Arthur Riel Cabezas, a sci-fi and fantasy illustrator who doesn’t just create worlds—they also excavate history.
From growing up in Laguna, getting a scholarship to Canada, to navigating identity as a trans and neurodivergent creative, Arthur shares the biggest plot twists of their journey—along with the books, characters, and communities that helped them feel seen. For the first time on the show, host Gia also opens up about her own realizations about neurodivergence, making this episode especially heartfelt and healing.
Together, we unpack:
📌 How careers evolve unexpectedly and the reality of non-linear journeys
📌 That deep feeling of being “different” as a child—and finally understanding why
📌 Representation in media and why queer, neurodivergent characters matter
📌 How literature becomes a tool for self-discovery and transformation
📌 Why the idea of having just one career path is outdated
📌 The overlap between art, advocacy, and inclusive storytelling
Whether you’re an artist, a history buff, or someone figuring out your identity—this episode is for you. Keep dreaming, keep creating, and remember: your story is always worth telling. 💫
📚 Books mentioned in this episode:
- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
- Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
- GIGIL - Komiket
- Alapaap - Komiket
- Too Loud: Soothing Sensory Overload with Music by Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
- This Is How You Lose The Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mokhtar
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians (novel series) by Rick Riordan
- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
- Doobiedoo Asks by Bambi Eloriaga-Amago and Roland Amago
🎲 Tabletop Games mentioned:
- Gubat Banwa by Sword Isles Studios
- For The Queen from Darrington Press
📌 ABOUT THE GUEST
Arthur Riel Cabezas is a sci-fi and fantasy illustrator for tabletop games, comics, and children’s books. They grew up in Laguna and went on to study archaeology at University of Toronto.
🚀 Let’s keep the kwentuhan going! Follow for more stories on life’s twists, ikigai, and new chapters.
Episode Timeline:
00:00:22 – Intro ni Gia: Ano ang kwentuhan today? 🌟
00:00:50 – Meet Arthur Riel Cabezas – artist, archaeologist, and certified professional nerd! 🎨📚
00:01:47 – How his art career start—thanks to the pandemic? 🖌️
00:03:14 – From archaeology to illustration 🔍
00:05:51 – His scholarship journey to Canada (and how the pandemic changed everything). ✈️
00:08:32 – Art as a career: Passion vs. pressure? 🎭
00:10:45 – Purpose to go with the flow? 🌊
00:11:42 – On representation: Being trans and advocating for inclusivity. 🌈💡
00:15:40 – How do art and literature become powerful tools for representation?
00:24:50 – The biggest plot twist of his life (clue: identity at self-discovery). 🔄
00:35:20 – Books that changed his life (at bakit dapat basahin mo rin sila). 📚
00:43:18 – Ano ang future plans niya bilang illustrator at archaeologist? 🚀
00:56:38 – Advice para sa aspiring artists at creatives. 🎨✨
01:00:45 – Kung ang buhay niya ay isang libro, ano ang title nito? 📖
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.