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THE EARLY YEARS
(A LITTLE MESSY, BUT REAL)

I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. My childhood was rough—marked by chaos, neglect, and the kind of trauma that people don’t like to talk about. My mother, who struggled with mental illness, made life unpredictable and painful. My father, despite his own battles with addiction, tried his best to be a provider. The instability left its mark on me, but I learned resilience the hard way.

Thankfully, I was taken in by my grandparents, who gave me a second chance at childhood. But the damage had been done. I spent much of my late teens and early twenties rebuilding myself, learning how to live, love, and accept that I am worthy of love. It was messy, but I made it.

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WHAT DRIVES ME

THE FUTURE

I’m a creative through and through. Whether it's designing, editing, or building video games for fun, I’m always thinking about the next project. But at my core, I’m also a dad, a husband, and someone who’s deeply committed to helping others—especially my daughter, who has autism. Every day, I’m figuring out new ways to help her learn, grow, and regulate herself, and that constant drive to learn and improve is what fuels me in my work.

In the long run, I want to be part of a team that tells stories through animation and video games. Those two fields have been my lifelong passions, and I’m excited about the possibility of working with like-minded people to create experiences that impact others the way these mediums have impacted me.

Until that day comes, I’ll continue doing my best to be the best father, husband, and creative I can be. No matter what life throws my way, I’m committed to growth, to learning, and to making a difference wherever I can.

MORE GRAPHICS & ANIMATIONS

I'll continue to craft visually captivating graphics, and breathing life into my animations.

BETTER STORIES

I am to enhance my stories by connecting with audiences through human experiences and being empathetic.

FUN VIDEO GAMES

I strive to craft games that reminds players of the simple joy and artistry that originally grew the industry.

JUST HAVING FUN!

Continuing to enjoy life, and take each day as my last experience on earth. The journey is the final product after all.

ABOUT ME

I'M JUST A DAD WITH A ROUGH START.

I’m someone who’s learned to keep it real, for better or worse. If there’s one thing I don’t do, it’s pretend. Life hasn’t always been easy, but it's shaped me into the person I am today—someone who’s honest, driven, and passionate about creating. I don’t sugarcoat my story, because the hard parts made the triumphs that much sweeter.

WANT TO SEE MY WORK?

Michael Radke, The Storyteller

RadkesArt@gmail.com

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THE CAREER JOURNEY
(OBSTACLES MAKE IT FUN)

My professional journey started at 18, when I dipped my toes into the creative world. It wasn’t smooth sailing—there were detours when I was, setbacks, and moments when I wondered if I’d ever make it. Over the years, I managed to squeeze into the industries I love. Then came the pandemic. My career in the public sector came to a screeching halt, and my freelance business crashed. But instead of giving up, I went back to school.

I enrolled at Full Sail University for Media & Communications, determined to make something out of myself. And despite everything, I finished with a 4.0 GPA, graduated early, and became salutatorian (tied for valedictorian, but hey, I’ll take it). That period was tough—I was juggling school, my wife’s pregnancy, a career change, and a financial crisis. But when you’re backed into a corner, you never give up.

After graduation, I landed an internship at Knights, where I had the chance to work on editing, motion graphics, and content creation. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to my craft—creating content, pushing boundaries, and making the most out of every opportunity.

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