Today we’d like to introduce you to The Incorrigible Mr Zeppo, RJ Romero.
The Incorrigible Mr Zeppo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
What/who is “The Incorrigible Mr Zeppo”, precisely? Even I, RJ Romero (his creator, spokesperson, and “secret identity”) am not entirely sure. Applicable descriptive keywords include (but are not limited to): Eccentric, observant, irreverent, opinionated, quirky, discerning, creative, magical, ambitious, rambunctious, and well… incorrigible. His hobbies, jobs, and roles include – freelance theatrical lighting technician, radio talk-show style podcast host, online social media personality, comic book super-villain anti-hero, esoteric mystic philosopher, theatrical performance-art clown, part-time aspiring Novelist, unlicensed tarot reader in training, MMO video game nerd, cannabis culture influencer, undiscovered amateur playwright, post-partisan political satirist, would-be movie critic, sapiosexual spiritual seeker, and Robot from the Future sent here to warn humanity about the robots in the future… just to name a few. He enjoys long sessions of collaborative art-making, short sessions of meditation (3 times a day), and absurdism.
Mr Zeppo might actually responsible for coining the term “Trumptopia”. During the early days of the 2016 election cycle he launched a special segment to his podcast, The (Almost)Daily Zencast, entitled: “Good Morning Trumptopia”. Although it is quite possibly the case that others also had a similar idea, he is quite certain that he had not seen it used anywhere when he launched the segment.
As for myself… I am just another starry-eyed, foreign-born, hyphenated-American, stranded in the suburbs of Tinsel Town. For the past 40 years, I have been busy chasing the American Dream, trying to make ends meet, and struggling to share my art with the world. All of that while also managing to (mostly) avoid and simultaneously call-out the ego-traps of the hyper-partisan political tribalism trending internationally.
Originally from Mexico City, my family immigrated here “the right way” (via industrial corporate sponsorship) when I was very young. I grew up bilingual in Southern California, in the shadows of The Movie Capital of the World. I learned “TV Perfect English” by watching syndicated re-runs and wound up irrationally enamored with Lucille Ball at an early age. Needless to say – I never really quite “fit in”… so I made myself capable of fitting anywhere. Studying theatre in school taught me how to really listen to anyone about anything. Performing on stage at festivals regionally and internationally taught me how to collaborate with anyone despite just about any language barrier. Making art with other artists has always been my calling. And while I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 30 years of living the stereotypical starving artist lifestyle… it somehow feels like I am still stuck on year 4 of the traditional “10-year overnight success story”.
After years of toiling away in obscurity, I have finally, and somewhat hesitantly, decided that the time has come to fully unleash the Zeppo brand out into the world. So far, not many people have noticed. But, as his spokesperson and alter-ego, I am confident that momentum is building… Regardless, I am contractually obligated to be here, to promote the brand, to share the content, and to hype the newest reimagining of Zeppo’s artistic vision.
Has it been a smooth road?
2020 marks the end of a long and interesting journey. For lack of a better term, this previous prologue to my present moment could be titled my “backstory” – 4 decades full of adventure, mistakes, challenges, learning, heartache, inspiration, self-imposed failures, growth, loss, surprises, derailed dreams, a few minor success stories, and some hard lessons in perseverance. As an artistic entrepreneur, I have faced all the typical challenges any artist usually faces – my own inner critic, haters, money, audience, my own stupidity, etc.
On a personal level, I have disappointed others as much as I have undermined my own success. On top of that, the untimely death of my mother caused major disruption in my creative life 11 years ago. More recently, I was struck by a drunk driver on my way home from a technical theatre gig and have had to radically rethink my “day job” situation.
None-the-less, I count my blessings every day, give thanks for the family and friends I have supporting me, and strive to reinvent myself as I prepare to face the next wave of challenges I will no doubt encounter as I move forward, one step at a time.
Every end is also a new beginning… Thus, 2020 also marks the beginning of a new chapter dedicated to reinventing myself, my art, and my creative career.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
“The (Almost) Daily Zencast” is a humble, amateur, experimental podcast that sits at the center of the “Zeppo Universe” and interconnects with all the other artistic projects being developed under the brand. Addressing a wide array of true-life subject matter, the podcast stands alone as a work of non-fiction, while simultaneously existing as an “artifact” in the fictional world of the Zeppo Universe. Framed as an opinion talk show, audience participation is welcomed and encouraged in the form of comments, questions, and submissions for requested subject matter that is relevant and important to the real world audience listening to the show. Although that audience remains relatively small, we are quite proud of the fact that it is being listened to in almost 20 countries worldwide.
The fictional Zeppo Universe is a meta-theatrical, meta-literary parody of this thing we call “reality” and is comprised of various projects, including (but not limited to)-theatrical stage-plays, sci-fi fantasy book series, movie adaptations of both the stageplays and the book series.
What sets the “Zeppo Universe” apart from all the other entertainment universes?
Moxie.
Esoteric Moxie.
Hippy-dippy, New-Age, woo-woo nut-job level Moxie.
Zeppo is not afraid to speak his mind.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
That’s a can of worms that I am not sure I should crack open here.
For the record –
I LOVE this city.
I LOVE this state.
I LOVE this country.
I LOVE this planet.
But let’s be honest- there is ALOT that could be improved at all levels.
Self-Improvement
Community-Improvement
Economic-Improvement
Societal-Improvement
These are just some of the many many topics addressed with open-minded, spiritual optimism on “The (Almost)Daily Zencast”
The best advice that I was ever given on the subject of starting out – start where you are, work with what you’ve already got, and do not waste time waiting around for more “perfect” circumstances.
Pricing:
- The (Almost)Daily Zencast – FREE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spreaker.com/show/zencast
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrzeppo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAlmostDailyZenCast/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrZeppo/
- Other: https://www.wattpad.com/user/MrZeppo
Image Credit:
@MrZeppo
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