410: Being a Weirdo SAVED Tony Weaver Jr.

The Hardcore Self Help Podcast with Duff the Psych

Robert Duff, Ph.D.

Health & Fitness, Robertduff, Education, Duffthepsych, Mental Health, Psychology, Selfhelp, Advice, Drduff

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 August 2024

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode of the Hardcore Self Help Podcast, Dr. Robert Duff chats with Tony Weaver Jr., an award-winning author and educator dedicated to mental health advocacy and better representation in media. Tony shares his personal journey from feeling like an outcast in his teenage years, including a suicide attempt, to becoming a force for positivity and change. He discusses how his upbringing in Atlanta and breakthroughs like hearing Fall Out Boy's music shaped his path to self-acceptance and creative expression. Tony also delves into the importance of representation in media, recounting his experiences creating the webcomic 'The Uncommons' and his upcoming autobiographical graphic novel 'Weirdo.' Furthermore, he offers practical advice for children and parents navigating the challenges of embracing individuality in a conformist world. Tune in to hear his inspiring story, candid reflections on the role of conflict in growth, and his passionate stand on bettering cultural narratives through inclusive storytelling.

Links!

Weirdo: https://rep.club/products/weirdo

The Uncommons: https://www.webtoons.com/en/action/the-uncommons/list?title_no=4520

Tony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyweaverjr/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Feeling Like the Odd One Out

00:24 Meet Tony Weaver Jr.: From Darkness to Advocacy

01:13 Tony's Creative Journey and Representation

01:38 Interview with Tony Weaver Jr.

02:52 Tony's Upbringing and Early Influences

04:45 The Struggles of Embracing Otherness

09:05 The Creation of 'Weirdo'

13:05 Mental Health and Personal Growth

26:36 Inner Child Work and Reparenting

27:13 Parents' Reactions to the Book

27:33 A Life-Changing Car Accident

28:40 Reflecting on Childhood and Authority

30:17 The Importance of Conflict and Support

35:21 Representation in Media

37:01 The Impact of Representation on Society

43:40 Challenges in Hollywood and Progress

49:40 Promoting the Book 'Weirdo'

52:35 Final Thoughts and Where to Follow

Transcript

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0:00.0	Have you ever felt like the odd one out, like you just don't quite fit in?
0:04.0	Tony Weaver Jr. not only has felt this way, but he's turned it into his superpower.
0:08.5	When I was a teenager, I attempted to end my own life, because I didn't love who I was. I didn't feel like I didn't feel like
0:16.3	who I was as a person had value. How does somebody go from such a dark place to becoming an
0:20.7	award-winning author and mental health advocate.
0:23.2	Let's find out.
0:24.9	My work really centers underrepresented voices, it centers people of color, and it centers
0:30.3	black people, black characters. So who is Tony Weaver Jr?
0:35.1	He's the creative force behind the web comic,
0:37.2	The Un Commons, and the upcoming graphic novel, Weirdo.
0:40.6	He's also somebody who's not afraid to stand up to online hate and advocate for better representation.
0:45.0	There were a lot of kids that were like me that were in the dark struggling conceptually with how do I love who I am?
0:52.0	How do I make space for the things that bring me joy in a world?
0:56.0	Or people tell me that I'm not supposed to have those things, that black kids don't do those things.
1:00.0	That growing up means I have to throw those things away.
1:03.0	This is the Hardcore Self-Help Podcast.
1:05.0	I'm your host Dr. Robert Duff.
1:06.0	I hope you'll stick around and listen to this really, really awesome interview with Tony Weaver Jr.
1:10.0	In this episode we're going to talk about things like how Tony's upbringing in Atlanta shaped his creative journey
1:16.1	The powerful story behind his graphic novel weirdo
1:19.6	Practical advice for embracing your unique identity, and also the importance of representation
1:24.8	in media and storytelling.
	...

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