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Passion Over Hype: Building Art, Community, And Resilience
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What if the movies that raised you could power the stories you make now? We sit down with writer, director, and concept artist Richie Axel to trace his path from a family of Mexican artists to LA’s creative grind, and why 90s teen-versus-monster energy still punches through for Gen Z. Richie opens up about learning the business the hard way—moving from concept art to scripts and pitches, building a proof-of-concept for a sci-fi animated series, and deciding when to keep a project close or sell the rights so it can scale.
We get into the craft: the magic of practical effects, where prosthetics carry weight and shadow that CGI can’t fake; the influence of Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Spielberg, and Guillermo del Toro; and the “all-in” auteur spirit of Miyazaki. Richie shares the tools that matter—Photoshop, Clip Studio, Procreate—and the rooms that matter more: conventions, screenings, and those small talks that turn into real work. He’s candid about protecting IP, working without a rep, and leaning on mentors and entertainment attorneys to avoid the classic traps.
Mental health and neurodiversity thread through the conversation. We talk about rebuilding social toolkits, dropping the status theater that drains creatives, and anchoring the day with routines and faith. Passion is the tell—audiences and collaborators can feel when you still love the thing, and that energy travels. Richie spotlights his 1700s vampire novel, The Ancient Chronicles, now headed for the screen, and the short film he’s crafting from a raw chapter of his own life—job loss, anxiety, and the hope that dials back in.
If you crave practical career advice, story design insights, and a reminder that authenticity beats hype, this one’s for you. Tap play, share it with a creative friend, and tell us: which film era delivers the best escapism—and why? And if our show brings you value, visit neurofuckedpodcast.com/donate to keep the mics on and the crew fed. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more neurodivergent creatives find us.
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By Neuro FuckedSend us Fan Mail
What if the movies that raised you could power the stories you make now? We sit down with writer, director, and concept artist Richie Axel to trace his path from a family of Mexican artists to LA’s creative grind, and why 90s teen-versus-monster energy still punches through for Gen Z. Richie opens up about learning the business the hard way—moving from concept art to scripts and pitches, building a proof-of-concept for a sci-fi animated series, and deciding when to keep a project close or sell the rights so it can scale.
We get into the craft: the magic of practical effects, where prosthetics carry weight and shadow that CGI can’t fake; the influence of Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Spielberg, and Guillermo del Toro; and the “all-in” auteur spirit of Miyazaki. Richie shares the tools that matter—Photoshop, Clip Studio, Procreate—and the rooms that matter more: conventions, screenings, and those small talks that turn into real work. He’s candid about protecting IP, working without a rep, and leaning on mentors and entertainment attorneys to avoid the classic traps.
Mental health and neurodiversity thread through the conversation. We talk about rebuilding social toolkits, dropping the status theater that drains creatives, and anchoring the day with routines and faith. Passion is the tell—audiences and collaborators can feel when you still love the thing, and that energy travels. Richie spotlights his 1700s vampire novel, The Ancient Chronicles, now headed for the screen, and the short film he’s crafting from a raw chapter of his own life—job loss, anxiety, and the hope that dials back in.
If you crave practical career advice, story design insights, and a reminder that authenticity beats hype, this one’s for you. Tap play, share it with a creative friend, and tell us: which film era delivers the best escapism—and why? And if our show brings you value, visit neurofuckedpodcast.com/donate to keep the mics on and the crew fed. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more neurodivergent creatives find us.