FWACATA

APR 27, 2026

A wrong turn, a wasted morning, a Spider-Man sketch… and the only mindset that actually saves your day.There’s a special kind of frustration that hits when you do everything right… and it still goes sideways.You wake up early (which already feels like a personal attack), you show up where you’re supposed to be, you’ve got your day mapped out—and then boom: wrong place, wrong time, wrong everything. Plans? Gone. Energy? Shot. Mood? Hanging by a thread.That’s where this episode lives.But instead of spiraling (okay, maybe a little spiraling), this one turns into something else. A reset. A pivot. A reminder that sometimes the only move you’ve got… is how you choose to react.So I grabbed a coffee, sat in the park, hit record—and started working through it in real time. Not polished. Not perfect. Just real.And while all that’s happening?I’m sketching out Spider-Man—because sometimes the best way to process life is to put ink on paper and keep your hands moving while your brain figures itself out.That’s kind of the thread through this one:* When your plans fall apart… what do you actually do next?* How long do you let yourself be pissed before it becomes a waste of time?* And is it actually possible to have fun even when things suck?There’s a line in here about time that hits harder than expected. Because yeah—money comes and goes, opportunities come back around… but time? That’s the one thing you don’t get a refund on.So maybe the real move isn’t controlling everything.Maybe it’s learning how to flip the moment.Turn it. Twist it. Make something out of it—even if it starts as a bad joke, a dumb story, or just you entertaining yourself like a crazy person in your own head.That’s where the good stuff lives.🎧 Listen to the full episodeIf you’ve ever had a day derail before it even started—this one’s for you.FWACATA’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.🎨 Side note (because yeah, this matters):The Spider-Man sketch from this episode? That’s part of the process too. Drawing, creating, staying in motion—that’s how you keep from getting stuck.If you’ve been thinking about grabbing a custom piece, commissions are open.Sketch cards, full illustrations, weird ideas, cool ideas—let’s make something.Bottom line:Plans are fragile. Your mindset doesn’t have to be.Go listen. Go make something.And yeah—this week?Have fun.BE GOOD. Get full access to FWACATA’s Newsletter at <a href="https://fwacata.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">fwacata.substack.com/subscribe</a>

13 MIN

APR 20, 2026

Monday Motivation 47 – Stop Pretending, Start Showing Up

There’s a strange pressure out there right now.To look a certain way.To smell a certain way.To be a certain thing that maybe… isn’t you.And somewhere along the line, that pressure turns into performance.In this week’s Monday Motivation, we get into that uncomfortable, hilarious, and very real space between who you are… and who you think you’re supposed to be. From middle school trends to grown-up “branding,” it all starts to blur into one big question:Are you actually becoming something… or just pretending?Because there’s a difference.A big one.This episode isn’t about tearing people down—it’s about calling out the quiet lies we tell ourselves when we try to fit into molds that were never made for us. The outfits, the personas, the attitudes… the “look.” We’ve all done it. We’ve all bought into something that didn’t quite fit—and paid for it one way or another.But here’s where it flips.What happens when you stop?What happens when you lean into who you actually are instead of chasing some filtered version of it?That’s where things start getting interesting.There’s talk about confidence—not the fake-it kind, but the real kind. The kind that doesn’t come from pretending, but from owning your reality and building from there. There’s also a little bit of tough love, a little humor, and a reminder that self-improvement is real… but it has to come from truth, not illusion.And yeah—there’s some chaos in there too. Because life isn’t clean, and neither is growth.If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying too hard to match something that doesn’t quite sit right, this one’s for you.Tap in, listen through, and start your week with something honest.👉 Check out the full episode on SubstackIf you dig the PODCAST, the COMICS, or even the general vibe, subscribe to not miss a beat. Want to help further? Contribute monthly or at the FOUNDER level and get some comics and art! Get full access to FWACATA’s Newsletter at <a href="https://fwacata.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">fwacata.substack.com/subscribe</a>

13 MIN

APR 13, 2026

Monday Motivation 47 – You can't be racist with a LISP!

There’s a moment that hits you out of nowhere.You’re just sitting there, minding your business, sketchbook open, doing your thing—and then someone nearby says something so loud, so confidently wrong, that it snaps you out of your own head.Not just wrong… but performatively wrong.Like they want to be heard. Like they want the reaction.And that’s where this week starts.Because what followed wasn’t just a dumb comment—it was a reminder of something deeper: people don’t always think… they react. They repeat. They perform. They chase attention instead of truth.And sometimes, you have to slow things down and actually look at what’s being said.Take someone like Martin Luther King Jr.—a man who risked his life to speak about equality, fairness, and unity. Not comfort. Not clicks. Not controversy. Real, dangerous, meaningful action. The kind that took time. Eleven months of sacrifice for a single boycott to work. Eleven months of discipline.Now compare that to the kind of noise we hear today—hot takes, loud opinions, people talking at each other instead of thinking things through.And here’s the thing:Not everything that sounds similar is the same.That’s the trap.That’s the lazy thinking.sssThis episode isn’t about politics—it’s about discernment.It’s about realizing that in a world full of noise, you’ve got to actually think.You’ve got to pause and ask:* What is this really saying?* Who does this help?* Is this lifting people up—or tearing them down?Because we live in a comfort culture.A soft, padded, algorithm-fed world where controversy is entertainment, and thinking is optional.And comfort? Comfort is dangerous.Comfort is that big, soft bed you lay in, telling yourself everything’s fine… until you realize you’re stuck. Until you realize you stopped growing. Stopped questioning. Stopped seeing.Here’s a hard truth:People who’ve actually seen struggle—real struggle—don’t glorify chaos.They don’t chase violence.They don’t romanticize conflict.They want peace.Because they understand what the alternative feels like.Sometimes, the harshest lessons—the ones that wake you up the fastest—come from getting knocked down. Not metaphorically. Literally. Life hits you, and suddenly everything is clearer.Food tastes different.Music sounds different.People matter more.You don’t want noise anymore.You want truth. You want peace.So what’s the takeaway this week?It’s simple, but it’s not easy:Don’t be comfortable. Be aware.Be critical of what you hear.Be careful of what you repeat.Be honest about what you believe—and why.Don’t just “be woke”—that word’s been chewed up and spit out.Be awake.Actually awake.Because the world doesn’t need more noise.It needs more people who think.More people who question.More people choose to be good when it’s easier to just go along.So this week, stay sharp.Pay attention.Think for yourself.And most of all—Be good.HERE IS THE FINISHED PIECE:A version of Batman using a symbiotic alien suit called LASOMBRA. I figured if I took over Batman, I would science the fuck out of it. Hmmm, maybe one day. TOMORROW! FUGLY premieres! So stay tuned! If you dug this podcast and want to see more, SUBSCRIBE! You also support this, comics, art, and more with a small contribution every month, or give for the year as a founder, and get original art and comics from me! WHOO Get full access to FWACATA’s Newsletter at <a href="https://fwacata.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">fwacata.substack.com/subscribe</a>

12 MIN

APR 6, 2026

MM 46 - Level Up or Stay Stuck

NOTE: I uploaded the wrong video initially as I had everything in one folder in my effort to clean up and be efficient. This is what I get for being cleaned up and efficient.It’s April.Let that sit for a second.We’re not easing into the year anymore—we’re deep in it. A third of it is gone. Time doesn’t slow down; it just keeps moving, whether you’re ready or not. And if you’ve been feeling like you’re grinding but not really moving forward, this one’s for you.Because something’s been on my mind lately—through conversations with other teachers, artists, and just life in general:We’re all operating at different levels.Like a game. Like D&D. Like anything worth doing.There’s:* The beginner — learning, struggling, figuring it out* The journeyman — practicing, experimenting, pushing forward* The master — skilled, experienced, refinedBut here’s the part people don’t always talk about:Masters don’t just do the work—they teach it.The Growth LoopWhen you teach someone—even someone just starting out—you’re forced to go back to the basics. You have to explain things you normally do on instinct.And that does something powerful.It creates a loop:* You learn* You practice* You teach* You relearnAnd suddenly, things click in a deeper way.So if you feel stuck, if you feel like you’re not leveling up?Go help someone.Show them what you know. Walk them through your process. Even just explaining your thinking can unlock something in your own work.Practice Alone Isn’t EnoughWe hear it all the time: “Just keep practicing.”But here’s the truth—practice without awareness can trap you.If you’re repeating the same mistake over and over, you’re not improving. You’re just reinforcing bad habits.Growth requires:* Reflection* Adjustment* IntentSometimes the best thing you can do is stop and actually look at your work.Lay it out. Study it. Be honest.Ask yourself:* Where did I succeed?* Where did I fall short?* Why did something work?That last one matters the most.Because once you understand why something works, you can do it again—and better.Clarity Over ComplexityEspecially in creative work, there’s a temptation to overdo everything.You think:“This needs to be bigger, more detailed, more impressive.”But sometimes?It just needs to be clear.A simple moment—two figures in shadow, a quiet exchange—can hit harder than the most detailed, overworked scene.Clarity beats complexity.Every time.Growth Feels Like FrictionIf you’re looking back at your old work and thinking:“Damn… this could be better…”That’s a good sign.That means you’ve grown.Yeah, it’s frustrating. It might mean going back and fixing things, redrawing, rewriting, or even scrapping entire ideas.But that voice in your head—the one telling you something isn’t right?That’s not failure. That’s progress.Listen to it.This Week’s FocusSo here’s your push for the week:* If you feel stuck → teach someone* If you’re grinding → check if you’re improving, not repeating* If things feel too complex → simplify* If you’re frustrated → good, that means you’re growingOne Sentence WisdomYou don’t level up by doing more—you level up by doing better.One Small ActionTake one piece of your work today and analyze it—find one thing to improve.One Permission SlipYou’re allowed to outgrow your old work—even if it means changing it.Now get after it.Be sharper. Be better.And most of all—be good.FWACATA’s podcast and comics are a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to FWACATA’s Newsletter at <a href="https://fwacata.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">fwacata.substack.com/subscribe</a>

11 MIN

MAR 30, 2026

Mm 45 - better to do the wrong thing than no thing

The sun is back, and it’s cooking us alive. Not Miami heat—no, this is that dry El Paso blast where the shade lies to you and the second you step out, you’re in a microwave. I spent part of the week outside hammering rebar into the dirt, questioning my life choices and trying to keep my brain from melting.And somehow, that wasn’t even the hardest part of the week.What stuck with me wasn’t the heat—it was a classroom.A bunch of kids. Quiet. Too quiet. Not rebellious, not chaotic… just stuck. Phones out. Eyes drifting. Existing, but not really living. And then I overhear this conversation—one kid trying to understand how another one talked to a girl. Not what he said specifically, but how he even did it.Like it was some impossible spell.And that hit me.These kids aren’t afraid of failing. They’re afraid of being seen.That’s the real monster.Because once you’re seen, you can be judged. Rejected. Laughed at. And somewhere along the line, they decided that avoiding that pain is more important than actually living.Here’s the problem with that:If you never risk anything… you never get anything.I’m not saying go jump into traffic or wrestle a basket of vipers. There’s such a thing as smart risk. But talking to someone? Trying something new? Putting your work out there?That’s not danger. That’s life.And yeah, you might mess up.Good.In a year, it won’t matter.In five years, it’s a story.In ten, you barely remember.But the things you don’t do? Those stick. Those haunt you.I look back at my life—and yeah, I’ve been a bit of an idiot. Probably still am. But those moments? Those wild, dumb, brave decisions? That’s the gold. That’s the stuff I laugh about now.And then you look around at adults—full-grown people—still saying:“That’s not me.”“I can’t do that.”“Not my thing.”Who told you that?Seriously—who decided your limits for you?Because most of the time, it’s just you. Talking yourself out of something before it even begins.Meanwhile, the most confident people out there? Half of them are idiots.So what’s stopping you?This week, I’ve got a ton on my plate—finishing FUGLY, thinking about rollout schedules, cleaning up Zombie Years, wrestling with a stubborn short story, grad school, teaching, life. It’s a lot.But I said yes.And maybe I’ll regret some of it.But I’ll take that over nothing.So here’s your Monday:Go try something.Go risk something small.Go fuck up—just a little bit.You’ll survive.And you might even become someone you didn’t know you could be. Get full access to FWACATA’s Newsletter at <a href="https://fwacata.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">fwacata.substack.com/subscribe</a>

11 MIN

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