Art, ADHD, and Undead IP with Ben Walker-Storey

"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 BRANDJITSU, 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 kitsch, and fully him. He draws, designs, animates, curates, and riffs on everything from vintage goths to B-movie monsters, often through alter ego "Roman Candelabra"—a persona born out of pandemic-era content making and camera anxiety. Together, they explore Ben's childhood obsession with He-Man and horror flicks, the joyful weirdness of mid-century design, and how his awkward 14-year-old self inspired his favourite character, Grigor. From live-streamed sketch sessions to animated shorts and a newly rebooted podcast, Ben's doing it all on his own freaky, funny terms. Whether it's making weird T-shirts, studying bad transfers of Day of the Triffids, or drawing 80s goths from yearbook photos, Ben is a creative rebel worth watching (and listening to). You'll laugh, you'll nod, you'll probably want to draw something after. Quotable quotes "The world doesn't care about you—and that's a good thing."  "I can't do things another way. I literally can't." "Roman Candelabra just popped into my head. It was perfect." "Grigor is me at my most awkward—he's my most honest character." "That thing that made you weird? It's your superpower now." Episode highlights Gold Country Life | Ben lives where the gold rush began—jeans might be the new treasure What's Ben Up To? | Goths, monsters, T-shirts, and animated dreams Clip Studio Love | Why Ben left Procreate for a better creative workflow ADHD & Art | Why rebellion and creative obsession go hand-in-hand He-Man Changed Everything | Where Ben's character obsession began Enter Grigor | The awkward devil-boy mascot of Ben's empire Under the Skin | The horror movie that broke Ben (in a good way) Seagull Baby | Imagining how parenthood affects horror response What the World Should Know | No one's watching you—do your weird thing Advice for Rebels | Patience, authenticity, and leaning into the awkward Roman Candelabra | The goth alter ego that gave Ben creative freedom Where to Find Ben | Cheap Chills Fan Club, Instagram, YouTube, and more Links from the episode Ben Walker-Storey on Instagram (https://instagram.com/cheapchillsfanclub) Cheap Chills Fanclub Website (https://cheapchillsfanclub.com) Cheap Chills Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/cheap-chills-on-art-and-monsters/id1322125727) Hosted by: Michael Dargie THEREBELREBELPODCAST.COM | LINKEDIN.COM Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com