Is your dream taking too long? Are you tired of hearing no? Have you been rejected so many times you're wondering if you should just give up? Then this episode is for you.
Roye Okupe grew up in Lagos, falling in love with superheroes. TMNT, Batman, X-Men. He didn't just want to watch them — he wanted to CREATE them. But for over a decade, every door closed. Producers said no. One said his work was good — if he just changed his characters' race. He didn't. He kept going anyway.
He quit his job. He ran out of money. He went back to work. He quit again. For ten years, the answer was no.
And then it broke through. Dark Horse deal. Iyanu on HBO Max. #1 on Cartoon Network. NAACP Image Award nominations. Three of them.
In this conversation, Roye shares what faith looks like when your dream takes longer than you expected. How to stay motivated when the answer is no. What happens when you refuse to compromise your vision. And how turning your pain into purpose sustains you through a decade of rejection.
This episode is for:
- Anyone whose dream feels like it's taking too long
- People who've been told their vision isn't marketable
- Those wondering if they should give up and take the practical path
- Anyone learning to trust God's timeline
- People who want to see African talent and stories represented in mainstream media
The Anchor Question: What have you learned about God through the things that have NOT gone as planned in your life?
Resources & Links: Roye's work: @iyanutheanimated Dark Horse Comics: darkhorse.com
Connect: 📱 Instagram: @theplannedlifepod 🌐 Website: theplannedlifepod.com 📧 Email: theplannedlifepod@gmail.com
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