Off The Grid: Leaving Social Media

If we stop trying to get ahead online, what becomes possible?   Today Ayana Zaire Cotton of Seeda School returns to the podcast to explore why she quit using ChatGPT and other AI tools.   She helps us slowwww down, unpack shame, and align our desire with our capacity — a process and methodology she created and calls Erotic Engineering.   Tune in to reconnect with your values, reclaim self-respect,...

Today I’m doing something I said I’d never do… inviting my partner on the podcast! In this Clubhouse-exclusive episode, my spouse JJ Lang joins me for an unexpected conversation about AI. JJ is a high-level chess player and works for US Chess. They’re here to talk about how algorithms and AI engines have been a big part of the chess world for decades — and also why JJ doesn’t use Generative AI or...

Let's get into all our feels about AI. 🌀 In this episode, I share some of the messages I've gotten from people who are using AI but feeling bad about it. And I talk through three reasons I think many of us (especially listeners of this show) feel so much tension about these technologies. Tune in for a lot of empathy and even more clarity. Then join our community conversation about AI in the Clubh...

When ChatGPT launched in 2022, I noticed a few spiritual practitioners talking about its ‘oracular consciousness’ and I wondered… is that a thing?? Today I’m joined by Casey Zabala of Modern Witches to talk about how AI is reshaping mystical practices in real time — and why that’s harming our intuition and agency. Tune in to hear us discuss: How Casey & I have used AI in the past The embedded...

Let’s be more transparent about how we are and aren’t using AI in our work! In this episode, I walk you through key considerations and a simple process for writing a thoughtful AI policy for your creative business. You’ll also hear how I crafted the Interweb AI policy, as well as why I was really inspired by Mel Mitchell-Jackson’s AI policy in that process. Press play, then click right here for mo...

How are we feeling about AI these days, friends? Ambivalent? Over it? Hopefully curious? 🧐 Today on the show, we’re kicking off a 3-week AI series, where we’ll explore the good, bad and ugly of LLMs. Our first guest is Mel Mitchell-Jackson — who returns to the show to share their practice of AI Sobriety . We get into why AI is a labor issue, how it’s impacting our creativity, and why we’re hopefu...

If you’ve had a tough 2026 so far, this episode is for you. Today, I’m sharing a nuanced and practical chat with Akua Nyame-Mensah about how we can move from a reactive to a reflective mindset and shift our trajectory in the process. Tune in to hear Akua’s advice for changing the narrative of your business — without repressing or ignoring what’s happening in the world (or your body or your bank ac...

This week, Cody Cook-Parrott returns to the show to share their new book, The Practice of Attention ! We go deep into creative attention, social media addiction, and why we can’t stop checking our email. Tune in as we discuss: Why creative attention is different than distraction or focus How tending to your attention helps you finish projects Experimenting with tech breaks, the Wisephone, and the...

Let’s talk about how bad social media really is for our mental health and relationships. 🫠 In this honest and vulnerable conversation, Natalie Lue of Baggage Reclaim helps us dig into: Growing up without the internet Realizing social media is a toxic, codependent relationship How your subconscious “goes shopping for flaws and failures” while you scroll The problems with hate-following How to quit...

I met Mel Mitchell-Jackson in the best way: through a newsletter ad, a ‘wanna chat?’ email, and many texts and virtual coffees since. Today, they’re here to talk about their path from art school to working at Apple HQ to leaving that behind for creative self-employment. Tune in to hear us explore: How to cultivate creative community The realities of what it takes to “make it” in art school & b...

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a new business friend and peer that sent me into a total tailspin. The TLDR; is that they said something relatively innocuous about my podcast & membership model… And it had me questioning everything about I know about success in online business. In this Clubhouse-exclusive episode, I share more of that story and the pep talk I’ve been giving myself s...

Jenni Gritters recently hosted me for a Your Attention is Sacred book club, and I’m excited to share our conversation with you! Tune in as we discuss: Understanding the goals of the algorithms Addiction as a lens to make sense of social media Jenni’s decision to delete her Instagram account The parallels between fractured attention and financial scarcity Reckoning with combative platforms How to p...

Today I’m joined by Cyrée Jarelle Johnson for a deep and thoughtful conversation about spiritual practice, small business, and social media. Together we weave through: How Cyrée crafted his career as a diviner, poet, herbalist + card reader Healing burnout when living with chronic illness and neurodivergence Why Instagram has no elders — and all communities are incomplete without elders Discernmen...

I’ve spent the past 5 years trying to navigate the internet without handing my data (& life) over to surveillance capitalism. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my current tech stack — the browsers, search engines, email providers, and other tools that I use to share my wrk online without Google, Facebook, or AI overlords. As you listen, please know this effort is a work in progress and always ev...

Real talk: I can be kind of avoidant when it comes to feedback. I don’t love giving it. I prefer not receiving it. But sometimes that lands me in sticky interpersonal situations.  …Maybe you can relate? If yes, you’re going to love this Clubhouse episode, because I’m sharing a follow-up to my conversation with Morgan Evans — where we go through three real-life (and real-biz) examples of how to nav...

Welcome to our most personal episode yet! Today I’m joined by Morgan Evans from Business Casual to talk about the seemingly-simple but often-fraught topic of: feedback . We share a lot of personal experiences and business examples as we get into: What feedback really is Why reviews and random emails aren’t feedback How to give & receive feedback that doesn’t feel like 💩 Ways to create busines...

Last month, I was thrilled to join Karolina Wudniak of Paperwing Studio in the Indie Book Lab!  We talked about how I approached self-publishing without relying on Amazon — including the platforms I used, the (costly) mistakes I made, and how much money I’ve brought in from my book so far (revenue AND profit). I also answered lots of attendee questions: Why did you decide to avoid Amazon? & Ho...

If you're stressed about using Spotify, Substack, Google, Instagram, or any other platforms... this episode is for you! Today I'm talking about how to choose platforms & tech tools without selling your soul — and why I'm still on Substack even though I kinda hate it. 🫠 Tune in to hear me break down: Tools vs Platforms Questions to ask before you choose a new tool What to do about the bad poli...

Harry Doull grew up living in a small family hotel in the French countryside. Then he worked for the UN and Google, before leaving tech behind to co-found his candle company, Keap . This week, he’s on the podcast to share why he left tech for candlemaking, and how he’s grown Keap without social media or Amazon — while still garnering plenty of customers, partners, and awards, including landing on...

Today I’m bringing you something really special— A mini-coaching session and marketing conversation about how to stay visible without social media. It comes from a wonderful conversation I had with Jenni Gritters ’ community last month, where someone asked me: " I just started a business and everyone I’ve talked to has said: ‘oh so you have to make an Instagram.’ My rebellious self is completely a...

Today, I'm bringing together everything I know about growing an online business to explore why sometimes we feel like our businesses just won't work... and then other times they grow wayyyy beyond our capacity. Tune in to this Best Of episode to hear more about: Realizing you're on the Wrong Path & how to get off it The Online Business Growth Escalator What to do when your escalator is broken...

This week, Nic Antoinette returns to share what really happens when you take a year off your business… and why degrowth is their plan for 2026. Join us for a 90-minute biz friend chat where we explore: The original idea for Nic’s Gap Year How stepping back from work changes your identity What slowing down really requires of us When making less money can be a goal (not a failure) Finding enoughness...

This is an episode preview. The full audio & video episode are available for for Clubhouse Members.  Join today for $5. My least favorite thing about starting a business was the overwhelming fear and uncertainty I felt around making money. In the early days, I was drowning in narratives of how most businesses fail, and I’d probably never earn enough to feel supported or successful. But over ti...

With the state of the world, it’s easy to believe that creative work is a waste of time.  But I believe our businesses, art, and lives can be powerful forces for change. Not just by default, but through simple-yet-radical practices. To help us orient toward personal power and collective freedom, I shared a free class and compiled this list of 50 ways your creative work can be a force for liberatio...

Welcome to season nine of Off the Grid! We’re kicking this one off by talking about why I’m kinda closing my business… Or more accurately: how pruning one tree helps another grow.   Tune in to hear all about: Abolishing ICE & Standing with Minnesota What I did before I started Softer Sounds My step-by-step transition from side hustle to small business The one strategy that brought in 6 months...