FWACATA

MAR 25, 2026

I never thought I’d be making this episode.Not this soon.This past week—March 15th—we found out that comic creator and artist Sam Kieth passed away.He was 63.And yeah… that’s young. That’s too young.And I’m not going to sit here and pretend I can talk about him in some detached, objective way. I can’t. His work didn’t just influence me—it changed my life.Straight up.Let me take you back.Mid-90s. I want to say ’94, ’95.I’m in Miami, in an art magnet program. I’ve already decided I’m going to be a painter. That’s the path. Fine art. Canvas. Beret. The whole cliché.Also—I didn’t have cable.So I’m already cut off from a lot of stuff. And my girlfriend at the time tells me:“Have you ever seen this show… The Maxx?”I hadn’t.So she records it for me. Hands me the tapes.I go home, put it on……and it hit me like lightning.I didn’t just like it. I didn’t just think it was cool.It felt like something I had been looking for without knowing it existed.And here’s the thing—at that point?I was done with comics.Burned out. Completely.The industry was collapsing. Shops closing. My local spot—gone. Everything felt dead. I had checked out.And then I find The Maxx again—this time in a record store, on a busted spinner rack. Bent comics, half-wrecked copies… and there it was.I flip through it.And I’m like—“This is it.”I bought it. I think I grabbed Spawn too, just out of habit.But that was the moment.I was back.From there, it was everything.Hunting comics wherever I could find them.Digging through shops across cities.Finding new voices, new styles, new ways to tell stories.But at the center of it?Sam Kieth.Because what he did… it wasn’t just drawing.It was permission.Permission to be weird.To be messy.To mix mediums.To let the story feel like a fever dream and still hit harder than anything clean and polished.And that changed my path.I didn’t go to a traditional art school.I chose sequential art. Comics.I started making comics again.Creating characters.Building worlds.That’s where things like Meathook started.That whole direction?That comes back to him.I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now.Publishing. Drawing. Writing. Grinding.And yeah—financially? It’s always a fight.But creatively?Worth it. Every second.And I can trace that back to one moment:Watching The Maxx on a VHS tape in my room.There’s this idea in stories—like a “nexus point.”One thing that, if it didn’t happen, your whole life goes a different way.For me?Sam Kieth was that.And the thing that hits me now… is I never got to meet him.All the conventions. All the years.I met so many people I looked up to.But not him.And that… that stings.From everything I’ve heard, he was a private guy. Humble. Almost dismissive of his own work.But man—You don’t always get to see what your work does to people.And his?It mattered.It mattered to me.It gave a 16-year-old kid direction.It showed me what comics could be.It gave me a path I’m still walking.And yeah… it hurts knowing there won’t be more.But I’ve also seen the outpouring. The artists. The work. The influence.That energy?It didn’t disappear.It spread.So if you’ve never read his work—Go find it.The Maxx.Zero Girl.Anything.Sit with it.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=sam+kieth+comics&oq=SAM+KIETH+COMICS&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDQgAEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyDQgAEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyCAgBEAAYFhgeMggIAhAAGBYYHjIICAMQABgWGB4yCAgEEAAYFhgeMggIBRAAGBYYHjIICAYQABgWGB4yBggHEEUYQdIBCDQ2ODRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Let it hit you.</a>Sam—Thank you.For the work.For the permission.For the path.And to everyone listening—If something moves you like that?Follow it.Because sometimes…that’s the thing that changes everything.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>

15 MIN

MAR 23, 2026

MM 44 - If You Will It, It Is No Dream

There’s this idea—old, almost cliché at this point—that if you want something bad enough, you can make it real.Most people nod at that and move on.But actually doing it?That’s where things get ugly.This week, I’m coming off finishing the second issue of FUGGLY, pushing toward a 52-episode webcomic structure, juggling formats (web, Instagram, print), and trying to build something that actually lasts. Not just a post. Not just a moment. A body of work.And here’s the truth nobody likes to say:It’s slow.It’s messy.It doesn’t care about your schedule.Some days it’s two full pages before work.Some days it’s one panel squeezed into a chaotic life.Some days it’s nothing—and you’ve got to live with that and get back on it anyway.That’s the real difference.Some talent. Some tools. Some AI.Consistency. Will. Showing up.We live in a moment where everything is supposed to be instant—press a button, get a result. And yeah, tools exist. I even use some of them. Backgrounds, textures, small assists. But the core? The storytelling? The grind?That still belongs to you.And there’s something uncomfortable about that.Because it means there’s no excuse.In this episode, I talk about:* Building a comic system that actually works week to week* The reality of making art while working, studying, and living life* Why the “panel a day” mindset might be the only thing that saves your projects* The loneliness of creating without a crew—and how to push through it* And why willing it matters more than any shortcut ever willBy the time you stack enough pages, enough issues, enough projects… You start to see it.Not just the work.The proof.That you can actually build something out of nothing.So if you’re stuck, waiting, thinking about making something—Stop thinking.Start small.Do one thing.Then do it again tomorrow.And maybe, just maybe…It won’t be a dream anymore.Want to own the FIST piece itself? Go to https://fwacata.bigcartel.com/product/mm-44-if-you-will-it-physical-art-piece and get it yourself! 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>

18 MIN

MAR 16, 2026

MM 43 - Go Ahead… Judge a Little

We’ve all heard it before: “Don’t judge.”It’s one of those phrases that sounds good on a bumper sticker. Clean. Moral. Easy to repeat.But if you stop and think about it for more than five seconds… it falls apart.Because judging things is literally how humans survive.We judge traffic.We judge food.We judge situations, people, risks, smells, vibes, and that one guy in the airport walking barefoot through a plane aisle like he’s in his living room.Judgment isn’t the problem.The problem is what we do with it.In this week’s podcast I dig into something we all pretend we don’t do—but absolutely do all the time. From bad airplane etiquette to scooters in the rain to the quiet moment when you ask yourself the most important question of all:“Am I the asshole here?”Sometimes judging someone leads to understanding.Sometimes it reveals something about yourself.And sometimes it’s just realizing that maybe the guy who looks like hell in line at Walgreens is having a worse day than you are.So yeah—judge.Just don’t stop there.Think about it.Question it.And remember the three F’s that determine whether someone’s opinion really matters.Listen to the full episode here and let’s talk about the strange balance between standards, empathy, and the quiet little judgments running through our heads every day. 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

MAR 9, 2026

MM 42 - Big Try Little Try

Some Mondays, the motivation shows up early, bright-eyed, ready to conquer the week.And some Mondays… it crawls in late, covered in dirt, smelling like a half-inflated air mattress and questionable camping decisions.This week was the second kind.Spring break has that strange effect on time where you wake up late, realize the day already started without you, and suddenly your plans involve doing something slightly ridiculous just because you can. In my case, that meant testing out some brand-new camping gear with Luna.Which is how I found myself in a tent last night with a half-inflated mattress that turned out to be slightly too big for the tent.So we improvised.Half inflated. Slightly crooked. A lot of “ow, my back… ow, my knee… why did I think this was a good idea?”But once everything settled down, it was… nice.Just lying there for a bit. Quiet. Nothing buzzing. Nothing scrolling.Luna, however, was not convinced.She spent most of the time staring around like: Why are we voluntarily sitting inside a giant plastic bag? I suspect the smell of all the new gear wasn’t helping her mood.Still, we tried it.And that’s really the whole point of this week’s motivation.Sometimes you just have to try things.Try small.Try medium.Try extra large.Sometimes the large one turns into a disaster. Sometimes the inflatable mattress doesn’t fit the tent. Sometimes your back complains about it the entire time.But you still tried.And that matters more than people realize.Because as you get older, the biggest obstacle isn’t time or energy.It’s your brain.Your brain starts predicting outcomes. It tells you not to try things because it already thinks it knows how it will end. It becomes very good at convincing you to stay comfortable, stay safe, stay still.You have to fight that.Most of the regrets I have in life didn’t come from the things I tried.They came from the things I didn’t.Even the bad attempts had something hidden inside them—some lesson, some story, some weird little memory that sticks with you later.Even the camping trip that makes you realize you might need a slightly smaller air mattress.Meanwhile, life at home continues its own little comedy show. Luna has discovered she can sneak back into the house from the yard and go bother the cat, who is older, wiser, and rapidly losing patience with this six-month-old chaos machine.It’s like watching a retired professor deal with a caffeinated toddler.And honestly, it’s hilarious.That’s the other thing I’ve learned lately.You have to laugh.There’s a lot of weirdness and craziness out there right now. Sometimes the best response is just to shake your head and laugh a little.This week I’ve got some time off, and I’m planning to use it the way I like best: drawing, painting, writing, maybe doing a livestream or two if the schedule allows.Another Dragonbreath short story is also on the way. If you haven’t read them yet, there are already several stories up exploring the world of Essidarius—a place that’s been sitting in my head for years and is finally starting to spill onto the page.It’s been a surprisingly good meditation just to write it all down.So that’s the motivation for this Monday—even if it arrived a little late.Try things.Laugh at the mess.Build what you want to build.And most importantly…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>

7 MIN

MAR 2, 2026

MONDAY MOTIVATION 41: My Aluminum Hat Itches

Not the cute “What’s the deal with traffic?” kind of joke or the coffee-mug Instagram quote kind of motivation. I’m talking about the kind of information that feels like the entire internet is screaming at you as you scroll through your phone.Somehow, you’re still expected to go to work, be charming, and be productive despite feeling overwhelmed. We live in a time where we have access to more information than any previous generation, yet it feels like we’re caught in a chaotic storm. Every headline is alarming, every feed is intense, and it’s hard to tell what’s truly important amidst the noise.You can live in one place and feel the impact of events happening across the country, all while carrying the weight of this information in your pocket. It’s disorienting and makes you wonder where the “good guys” are and if anyone will finally say, “Enough.”But beneath this overwhelming noise, people are fighting back—filing lawsuits, speaking up, and organizing in everyday ways. This is the real rebellion, looking like neighbors talking and communities coming together.The temptation now is to feel hopeless or numb, but remember that politics is very much involved in your life. When the world feels unstable, you don’t burn it down; you take care of your home and people, look for helpers, and stay engaged.Don’t let the noise make you feel powerless. There’s more to this than just a rant—a deeper inquiry into purpose, action, and our responsibilities to one another. If you want a deeper take on this, the podcast is waiting. For now, on this Monday: Stay sharp. Stay human. And above all, 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>

17 MIN

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