Artist Recovery Podcast

Artist Recovery Podcast is Bringing Light to the Darkside of Art by navigating Creativity and Mental Health with Honesty, Empathy, and Transformation.
Join Rich Wright on an authentic journey through the highs and lows of being a working artist and designer as well as other creatives who are doing the same as we tell their stories. Discover mental health insights, find solidarity, and embrace healing as you continue your artistic career.

Want to be a guest on Artist Recovery Podcast? Send Rich Wright a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/artistrecovery

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Artist Recovery Podcast

Artist Recovery Podcast Ep. 23 | Dan Zimmermann: Wild Ride from BMX Misfit Kid to Elite Car Designer

July 25, 2025 • Rich Wright • Season 1 • Episode 23

This week, we sit down with Dan Zimmermann — a name that might not be on the tip of your tongue yet, but one you won’t forget after hearing this. Dan is a renowned automotive design leader with over 20 years in the game. From iconic muscle cars at Dodge SRT to innovative concept builds at Mopar, Dan’s fingerprints are on some of the most thrilling vehicles on the road today.

But behind the polished exteriors and high-speed innovation is a kid who just loved drawing cars — and had to fight like hell to turn that passion into a profession.
🎤 Hosted by Rich Wright, this deep-dive interview is more than just a career retrospective — it's a survival guide for the modern artist.

✨ Whether you're a student at CCS, a weekend sketcher, a gearhead, or someone questioning their creative path, Dan's journey will move you, fuel you, and maybe even change your mind about what’s possible.

🎧 LISTEN as Dan reveals:

The surreal moment when a teacher stopped a math test mid-class to tell him: “You don’t belong here—you belong in art.”

How BMX culture, Hot Wheels, and a Sublime Green ‘70 Challenger shaped his design DNA.

What it felt like to be the misunderstood artist in a household ruled by logic and science (his dad helped develop Loctite superglue).

The hard truth about surviving art school, the burnout, the critiques, and how he pushed through.

Why being a car designer means more than “just drawing”—it’s about negotiation, leadership, and translating creative chaos into production perfection.

💥 Viral Moment Alert: Dan’s story about setting a phone book on fire to finish an art school project might just be one of the most honest, hilarious, and inspiring tales of spontaneous creativity you’ve ever heard.🔥📖

🚀 WHO SHOULD WATCH THIS?

Artists seeking validation in a world that demands practicality.

Designers who dream of breaking into the auto industry.

Anyone who’s ever been told “you need a real job.”

Creatives navigating family trauma, burnout, or the pressure to “prove it.”

Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-zimmermann-a11

Rich's Latest Project:
Rich's WOW ESP: https://www.theartistrecovery.com/white-owl-wisdom

💬 Drop a comment if you resonated with Dan’s story or if you’ve ever had to fight for your creative dream.
👍 Like, Share & Subscribe to fuel more stories like this.

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