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

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/


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