In this powerful first episode of Intersecting Voices, host Sonia Perez sits down with Bobby Rubio — story artist, director, and creator of Pixar’s Float — to talk about the deep, personal journey of parenting a neurodivergent child. Bobby shares the emotional experience of his son’s autism diagnosis, the grief that followed, and how he struggled with depression and isolation before finding healing through creativity, therapy, and community.

We explore how outdated gender stereotypes can make it harder for men to express their mental health challenges, and how art became Bobby’s way of processing pain and telling untold stories. He opens up about the judgment many parents face, and how acceptance and perspective changed everything for him.

We also dive into the importance of cultural and Filipino representation in film and comics, especially for children, and Bobby gives us an exciting glimpse of his upcoming comic book Neighborhood Legend, set to launch this October.

🟡 Why you should listen

• If you're parenting a neurodivergent child and want honest insight into the emotional journey

• If you're grieving the future you thought you'd have and need perspective and support

• If you're feeling judged or isolated in your parenting or mental health journey

• If you're struggling to express your mental health challenges because of outdated gender stereotypes

• If you believe in the power of representation in media to change lives and perspectives

🟡 Topics covered

• The emotional and mental health impact of raising a child with autism

• Grief, healing, and the importance of asking for help

• How gender stereotypes shape emotional expression

• Cultural and Filipino representation in media

• Bobby's creative work past and present, including Float and Neighborhood Legend

• Finding purpose and community through storytelling

✨ Bobby Rubio is a director, animator, and story artist who has worked on iconic films like Up, Inside Out, and Incredibles 2. He is currently a story artist at Sony Entertainment and continues to champion diversity in entertainment through his storytelling and art.

🎧 Tune in, feel seen, and know you're not alone.

Whether you want to catch up on past episodes, dive into my writing, or reach out for collaborations, everything is just a click away! https://theintersectionalhub.com

Welcome to Intersecting Voices! In this short teaser, I share the heart behind the podcast — a space for stories shaped by identity, lived experience, and intersectionality. I invite you to explore with me as I speak with guests and reflect on my own journey. The full podcast premieres on July 9, and you can start reading the first blog post about my personal intersectionality journey on July 2 at theintersectionalhub.com. Join me at the intersection — your voice belongs here too.