Badass by Design with Beatrice Gutknecht
The RebelRebel Podcast
“You’re not going to be persecuted for doing things differently.” In this episode, Michael Dargie connects with Beatrice Gutknecht, a brand strategist, former hotel manager, and founder of Badass Reby B. Now based in Valencia, Spain after a decade in Myanmar—including living through a military coup—Beatrice is helping people badass their brands by doing the exact opposite of what the world expects. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Beatrice opens up about the personal journey that shaped her, from a precocious...
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Fail Fast, Learn Faster with Sandra Kokotovic
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Take whatever opportunities you can so you can fail as fast as you can.” In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Sandra Kokotovic, immigrant entrepreneur and co-founder of Snap Advantage, a boutique marketing agency helping health and wellness brands scale to seven figures and beyond. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Sandra shares her journey from moving to Canada as a teenager—struggling with language, culture shock, and fitting in—to building Shopify stores from scratch and eventually launching her own...
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Questioning the Status Quo, On Purpose with Robyn Bolton
The RebelRebel Podcast
“We made up the rules. Let’s change them.” In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with innovation strategist, author, and rebel-in-chief Robyn Bolton, founder of Mile Zero and author of Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide for Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. From growing up outside Cleveland to almost getting fired twice at Procter & Gamble for asking too many questions, Robyn’s journey is one of fierce curiosity, unapologetic honesty, and building real change...
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Beyond the Black Belt with Maeghen Cotterill
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Getting punched in the face? It’s the fastest way to learn what you’re made of.” In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Maeghen Cotterill, a professional martial artist, psychic channeler, and intuitive coach. Maeghen has been immersed in martial arts since she was eight years old and built one of Canada’s most successful dojos. She earned 11 world titles, founded Rising Phoenix Martial Arts, led Team Canada, and brought the world championships to Calgary—all while confronting abuse, disillusionment, and burnout. But after checking every box she’d ever set for herself,...
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Universe, Show Me a Sign with Carmen Pineda-Selva
The RebelRebel Podcast
“I don’t know how the universe works, but I know how to move with it.” In this episode, Michael Dargie welcomes videographer, storyteller, and spontaneous cannonballer Carmen Pineda Selva. Known for her honest storytelling and contagious energy, Carmen shares the moment six months ago when she finally stopped resisting the universe and just started moving with it. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. What started as an unexpected invitation to ride motorcycles for a travel video evolved into a transformative...
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The Power of Story Structure with Deborah Ager
The RebelRebel Podcast
“That thing you feel awkward about? It might be your superpower.” In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with author, editor, and writing mentor Deborah Ager, founder of Radiant Media Labs. Based in Maryland, Deborah helps business leaders, professionals, and creatives translate their decades of knowledge into books that clarify, inspire, and connect. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Deborah shares how her work evolved from marketing consultant to book coach—and how a single ghostwriting project opened a door...
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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
“Exactly the way you are right now, you have massive value to share.” In this episode, Michael Dargie connects with Anastasia and Tomer Arwas, the duo behind Generation Nomads, currently living and working from the surf town of Ericeira, Portugal. Their story begins in Amsterdam, where they both held comfortable corporate jobs after completing their MBAs. But despite checking all the right boxes, something was missing. In 2018, they chose a different path—leaving their secure jobs to travel the world full time and reconnect with their purpose. 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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