Nerd Awakening with Dean Ravenola (AKA TNT Aesop): Neopets, World-Building, and Lore Keeping

In this episode, Morgan interviews Dean Ravenola, Narrative & Creative Director of Neopets. Also known as TNT Aesop, Dean’s writing has appeared in video games, short stories, books, graphic novels, animated shorts, and much more! Dean shares his journey from being a book and video game enthusiast to shaping the stories of Neopets and being the “lore keeper.” He discusses the importance and focus on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment within the Neopets universe. Dean delves into how fandoms like Hercules, Sly Cooper, and Star Wars have influenced his nerdy identity. Hear Morgan and Dean talk about nerdy interests like What We Do In The Shadows, The Way of the Househusband, Invincible, and various other TV Shows! Listen to the episode to hear Dean share more about his unconventional career trajectory and all of his creative endeavors.  00:24 Meet Dean Ravenola: A Multifaceted Storyteller 02:08 Exploring Dean's First Fandom Loves 03:12 Dean's Fascination with World Building 04:53 Favorite Nerdy Things: Neopets and Beyond 06:24 The Impact of Neopets and Fandom Evolution 16:00 Dean's Journey from Reader to Narrative Director 20:53 Embracing the Nerd Awakening 23:53 Journey Through Game Writing: From Neopets to How to Train Your Dragon 25:50 The Challenges and Triumphs of Game Development 27:08 Navigating a Career in Creative Writing 38:17 Embracing Fandom: From Personal Joy to Professional Fulfillment 41:51 The Essence of Being a Nerd  44:49 Geeky Recommendations Follow Dean:  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-ravenola Twitter - https://twitter.com/dean_ravenola Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dean_ravenola/ https://deanravenola.com/ Check out Dean’s short films! YouTube - https://youtube.com/@Surrealms?feature=shared Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@surrealmsshorts?_t=8lN1YRfkBwc&_r=1 Purchase Dean’s YA Fantasy Novel: Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Aether-Warriors-Hidden-War-Book/dp/1478700602 Barnes and Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aether-warriors-dean-ravenola/1117308491 …and for the plot: https://www.neopets.com/ Follow That Nerd Thing at: ⁠⁠TikTok: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube: @thatnerdthingpod⁠⁠ Email: [email protected] Don’t forget to share this podcast with your nerdy friends!