Alex Astrella shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Alex, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Taking nature walks after the recent rain and seeing how lush the SoCal landscape can get
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As far back as I remember I’ve always been super creative. That creative drive led me to pursue the arts as a long term career. As I am also autistic (diagnosed when I was 2), I believe my autism gives me a unique edge when it comes to the art I create. I founded my production company, Blu Star Productions, 3 years ago. We strive to empower and employ neurodivergent individuals who also want to pursue a career in the arts. Currently, we are working on launching a seminar series led by neurodivergent creators at the top of their field, and we are working on creating in person showcases for both music and film that bring neurodivergent artists together for a special evening.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Definitely my mom. She always said I would accomplish great things as a child, and being a rebellious, jaded teenager, I mostly reacted with “Yeah, right.” It was during my time as an undergraduate at UC Santa Barbara where I begin to really believe in myself and my purpose on this earth. I still look back and laugh at how cynical I was as a child, but I’m also grateful for my mom’s constant encouragement. Now when she sees my inherent drive on a daily basis, she goes “I told you so.”
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
That’s a great question. I think some defining wounds in my life have definitely been my reluctance to share my autism diagnosis. I definitely stood apart from other kids throughout grade school, and often was bullied because they did not know I was on the spectrum. I don’t really blame it on anyone; they didn’t know better, were kids, and until the mid 2010’s the view of openly being autistic was much different than it is now. I definitely feel stronger since I am able to reflect and be proud of myself for finding immense enjoyment despite obstacles I had to face as a youth. I’m also proud that I can now share my diagnosis with those same peers who weren’t the kindest as kids. Now as adults, they respect my autism diagnosis and the career I have made for myself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Trains, Cracker Barrel, and heavy metal. Going back to when I was a kid, I’ve always been a tad quirky. I would get clowned about liking these things as kids, but now my close friends respect how truly in love I am with each of those 3 things. The best is finding a cracker barrel near a train station, and blasting some heavy metal after we leave the restaurant. Sublime.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Using my phone for more than an hour a day. There is so much beauty in the big and small things this world has to offer, and I want to experience as much of it as I can. I don’t think I’m going to be on my death bed thinking “Wow, I should have scrolled on my insta feed more.” Even now, I am trying to put away the screen and focus on being present with my surroundings. Like I said earlier, there’s no better feeling than going on a short nature walk/hike and hearing the birds chirping with the rustling of trees.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blustarproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blustarproductions/?hl=en
