From Caracas with Curiosity with Gustavo Bernal

"Never stop believing in your abilities to create." In this episode, Michael Dargie connects with Venezuelan-born filmmaker, photographer, and educator Gustavo Bernal from his home in Austin, Texas. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Gus shares how a childhood obsession with Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" led to a lifelong love affair with storytelling. He talks about his first editing jobs—literally cutting film by hand in Caracas—and how a short sci-fi film helped him earn an artist visa to move to the U.S. His path hasn't been easy, but it's been fuelled by curiosity, resilience, and a refusal to give up on creating meaningful work. The two talk about storytelling foundations, the thrill of teaching kids and adults alike, and what Gus learned walking the streets of Austin while connecting with friends around the world. He opens up about soup as metaphor, his guilty pleasure for one-hit wonders, and the story behind those iconic Lego glasses. This episode is packed with insight, humour, and reminders that being a creative rebel means honouring your weird, chasing what moves you, and making something new—even when it's hard. Quotable Quotes "Never stop believing in your abilities to create." – Gus Bernal "You need challenges to grow." – Gus Bernal "Cooking is like editing film. It's about the ingredients, timing, and selecting the best parts." – Gus Bernal "You're a walker. I love that." – Michael Dargie "These glasses were magical… a kind of super power." – Gus Bernal Episode Highlights Caracas to Austin | Cultural shocks, kindness, and pedestrian life Gus Bernal Film | Building a business in film, photo, and education Teaching Film | Kids, structure, and emotional storytelling Software Choices | From Avid to Adobe, and learning DaVinci Sledgehammer Moment | Peter Gabriel changes everything Award-Winning Short | Sci-fi, festivals, and a visa to the U.S. Creative Walks | Nature, messages from afar, and mental health Lego Glasses | Personality, power, and classroom magic Top Film Picks | 2001, La Haine, Leon, and The Great Beauty Cassettes & One-Hit Wonders | Pure 80s and 90s nostalgia Soup Mastery | Why French onion is the king of soups What His Son Should Know | The world isn't always easy Advice to Rebels | Believe in your voice, be resilient LINKS FROM EPISODE Gus's Website (gusbernal.com) Gus on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/gustavobernal) Gus on Instagram (instagram.com/gus_bernal_film) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com