Simmons Here And Now

On this special international episode of "Tell The Damn Story," hosts Chris Ryan and Alex Simmons team up with a panel of extraordinary artists and storytellers from across the globe, thanks to the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC). Joining them are Micheline Hess of Mishmash Arts (NYC), acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator Tayo Fatunla (UK/Nigeria), and Jesse Sunkwa-Mills, CEO of Mills Media in Ghana. Together, they dive into the transformative power of comics, graphic novels, animation, and storytelling as vehicles for culture, representation, and change.Through personal origin stories, the panel explores their earliest inspirations, ongoing creative challenges, and the passion that keeps them pushing boundaries in their fields. They discuss the importance of self-education, the hurdles of making your own way as an artist in underserved industries, and the absolute necessity of seeing your own story and face represented in media.Whether it’s resurrecting folklore, uplifting African narrativ