Art, ADHD, and Undead IP with Ben Walker-Storey
The RebelRebel Podcast
“That thing that made you weird? It’s your superpower now.” In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with illustrator, animator, and all-around macabre misfit Ben Walker-Storey. From his spooky spot in Grass Valley, California—known for gold rushes and now monster sketches—Ben opens up about his life as a creator navigating ADHD, artistic reinvention, and DIY horror storytelling. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Ben is the creative force behind Cheap Chills Fan Club, an online brand that’s part creepy, part...
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Tech, Tactics, and Takeovers with Claire Milligan
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Don’t stop being that person who steps off the ledge.” In this episode, Michael Dargie connects with Claire Milligan, founder of Aimably, whose career has evolved from a designer obsessed with user experience to an entrepreneur helping businesses navigate private equity transformations—without losing their soul (or their engineers). This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Claire shares her journey from building products inside a small startup to leading business lines within private equity–owned companies. When...
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Life After the Great Resignation with Laura Darrell
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Leadership is my jam.” In this episode, Michael Dargie connects with leadership coach, author, and former VP of Boston Pizza, Laura Darrell. From her new home in Mexico City, Laura shares the story of how she and her husband upended their successful corporate careers in Canada, packed up their lives—and their pets—and moved south to rediscover joy, purpose, and a better way of living. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. What began as a break from the grind turned into a lifestyle. Along the way, Laura wrote a book...
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Entrepreneurial Grit and Grace with special guests Tomer and Anastasia Arwas
The RebelRebel Podcast
“When you lose everything, you realise what you actually need to live a good life.” In this episode, Michael Dargie welcomes husband and wife duo Tomer and Anastasia, Ukrainian immigrants who rebuilt their lives and careers from scratch after arriving in Canada. As war displaced their lives, their response was bold: uproot, relocate, and start anew in a country where they knew no one. The conversation follows their incredible journey from fleeing conflict to becoming proud business owners in Calgary, Alberta. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share...
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Rebel in the Writer’s Room with Joel Novoa
The RebelRebel Podcast
“I couldn’t afford a Plan B. It was all or nothing.” In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Venezuelan-American filmmaker Joel Novoa, a passionate storyteller whose journey winds through political unrest, deep personal reflection, and a relentless pursuit of creative expression. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Joel shares how his early life in Venezuela shaped his worldview, teaching him to move forward even when everything around him felt stuck. With both a legal background and a master’s in...
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Villains, Rogues, and Heroes of NYC
The RebelRebel Podcast
“If you want to create change, do it. Don’t wait for permission.” In this episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, host Michael Dargie sits down with Rebecca Bratspies, a law professor, author, and environmental justice advocate, to explore the fascinating and often overlooked history of New York City’s place names. Her book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names, reveals the incredible (and sometimes shocking) stories behind the names of streets, bridges, and parks in NYC. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share...
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Slow Trains and Big Ideas
The RebelRebel Podcast
“You have to be an advocate for curiosity.” In this episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, host Michael Dargie welcomes back Lou Maxon, a creative powerhouse whose journey spans branding, architecture, and the fascinating world of trains. Lou shares insights from his recent travels to Japan, where he immersed himself in the culture, history, and craftsmanship that continues to inspire his work. From exploring Komiko Art House to visiting a hidden model railroad museum in Yokohama, his experiences reinforced the idea that the best bets in life and work are the long ones. This episode is...
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One Golden Nugget For Creative Rebels
The RebelRebel Podcast
“There’s never a perfect time. Just begin.” In this episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, host Michael Dargie welcomes Steven Foster, the founder of One Golden Nugget, to share his remarkable journey through entrepreneurship, personal struggle, and self-discovery. From sleeping in his office during lockdown to creating a global platform that collects and shares wisdom nuggets, Steven’s story is as inspiring as it is humbling. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Steven takes listeners back to his early days when his...
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Taking The Fight Forward
The RebelRebel Podcast
“At what age should I stop achieving? At what age should I stop improving?” When most people hit their 50s, they might slow down, lean into comfort, and start looking forward to retirement. Not Stuart Warren Dansby. He did the opposite—he stepped into the ring. In this powerful episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, host Michael Dargie sits down with Stuart to talk about his journey into competitive fighting later in life, a path filled with punches, humility, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your...
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Success Rooted In Resilience
The RebelRebel Podcast
“The secret hack of life is empathy.” In this gripping episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, Michael Dargie sits down with Anthony McDuffie Jr., a man whose incredible life story is a testament to resilience and redemption. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles during a volatile period, Anthony experienced both the warmth of a loving family and the chaos of a troubled community. When tragedy struck, and his father passed away, Anthony’s life spiraled into rebellion, leading to a gang-affiliated crime and a 25-year prison sentence at the age of 17. This episode is sponsored by my new book...
info_outline“If you want to create change, do it. Don’t wait for permission.”
In this episode of The RebelRebel Podcast, host Michael Dargie sits down with Rebecca Bratspies, a law professor, author, and environmental justice advocate, to explore the fascinating and often overlooked history of New York City’s place names. Her book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names, reveals the incredible (and sometimes shocking) stories behind the names of streets, bridges, and parks in NYC.
This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.
From the surprising origins of the Major Deegan Expressway to the dark past of Rikers Island, Rebecca takes us on a journey through power, politics, and the shaping of a city. She uncovers stories of forgotten heroes like Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who fought for freedom on two continents, and exposes figures like Richard Riker, whose “Kidnapping Club” sent free Black New Yorkers into slavery.
Beyond history, Rebecca also dives into her environmental justice work, including the Environmental Justice Chronicles, a series of graphic novels that make legal and environmental issues accessible to everyone. She shares her passion for storytelling, how she breaks out of conventional academic roles, and why “staying in your lane” is overrated.
This conversation is packed with history, social justice, and inspiration—perfect for rebels looking to challenge the status quo and make a difference.
Cool Things Rebecca Says
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“You don’t have to stay in your lane.”
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“The segregation we see in cities today was created intentionally. If we want to solve it, we need to understand that history.”
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“Major Deegan was not the war hero I expected. He was a mid-level bureaucrat!”
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“Rikers Island was named after a man who kidnapped Black New Yorkers into slavery. And it’s still a jail today. That history matters.”
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“If you want to create change, do it. Don’t wait for permission.”
Episode Highlights
- Rebecca’s journey to writing Naming Gotham and why NYC’s street names reveal hidden stories.
- Major Deegan’s surprising past – Not a war hero, but a bureaucrat!
- The dark history of Rikers Island and its connection to slavery.
- Tadeusz Kosciuszko: A Revolutionary War hero and anti-slavery advocate.
- Robert Moses: The man who shaped NYC—but at what cost?
- How place names reflect power and exclusion in urban planning.
- Rebecca’s environmental justice work and how it intersects with her historical research.
- The Environmental Justice Chronicles: Using comics to make legal and environmental issues accessible.
- Why “staying in your lane” is a myth—and why you should follow your passions.
Links from the Episode
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Rebecca Bratspies’ Website – https://rebeccabratspies.com
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Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names – https://www.amazon.com/Naming-Gotham-Villains-Rogues-Heroes-ebook/dp/B0BVBY7BV6/
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The Environmental Justice Chronicles (Free Download) – https://www.rebeccabratspies.com/environmental-justice-chronicles
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Non-Stop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas by Rebecca Solnit & Joshua Jelly-Schapiro – https://www.amazon.com/Nonstop-Metropolis-York-City-Atlas/dp/0520285956
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