My 2025 New Year's Resolutions

Summary of Podcast: "Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak Were Right All Along"

0:00 - Introduction: Opening remarks and discussion on the cultural shift in media and podcasting.

2:35 - Comedy vs. Clapter: Analysis of Louis C.K.'s comedic style and the rise of "clapter" in performances where agreement replaces humor.

7:12 - Political Commentary in Comedy: How political bias influences audience reactions and creates sermon-like performances.

12:45 - Adam Curry's Legacy: Discussion on Adam Curry’s contributions to podcasting and his predictions about media and digital freedoms.

17:30 - John C. Dvorak's Perspective: Examination of John C. Dvorak’s critiques on journalism, technology, and media narratives.

21:05 - The Role of Independent Media: The importance of podcasting as a counter-narrative to mainstream media and its growing cultural impact.

25:20 - Closing Thoughts: Reflections on how Curry and Dvorak’s insights have become more relevant over time and what the future holds for media consumption.

Alright, here's a summary of the podcast episode, in the voice of an affiliated narrator:

Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest episode! Xeroforhire has a lot to share with you today, starting with a recent delivery. Xeroforhire received a physical copy of Hannah Rose Williams' graphic novel, A Thousand Years of War. The host was surprised by the size of the book, noting that it is a full-size graphic novel, and mentioned it contains six chapters. Xeroforhire was very impressed with the artwork and color rendering. Having already read most of it, Xeroforhire is looking forward to relaxing with the physical copy and enjoying the print.

Next up, Xeroforhire announces that they will be taking a break for the month of January. This is due to a combination of factors including cold weather, potential internet issues, and personal matters, as they are in the mountains. Xeroforhire explains that they have been using their downtime to work on several projects, so that they will still have content for you, despite the break.

One such project is an article series on A.I. and A.I. ethics. The host worked on these articles during their third shifts in November and early December. Xeroforhire feels strongly about this topic and believes their approach to the conversation is unique. These articles will be posted every other day or every three days to provide content during the January break. Xeroforhire has already completed the thought process and writing, and plans to schedule them for release.

Xeroforhire also provides a sneak peek at another project in the works: a 31-lesson plan about knowing God, designed for families. The goal is for families to complete the lessons together, at their own pace, without feeling overwhelmed. The host plans to spend the break writing activities, journaling prompts, and other content for the lesson plan, which will be available at the end of January.

Lastly, Xeroforhire mentions the upcoming release of the second volume of The Last Day, titled Shadow of the Night. Xeroforhire will be sending out emails to subscribers and getting things in order for the new year, and this new comic volume.

So, despite taking a break in January, Xeroforhire has plenty of exciting content planned for you, and will be in touch via email.

Join me for my next live video in the app

Podcast Summary with Timestamps

* The podcast host begins by discussing their decision to repurpose podcast transcripts into articles, noting they have more articles planned than days left in the year (0:00:02 - 0:00:48).

* They then express a desire to address a potential misunderstanding regarding a recent article titled "Nobody Cares About Your Writing Until They Do," featuring a picture of SpongeBob Squarepants. They clarify the article's intention was to highlight the reality of artistic pursuits, using their experience transitioning away from professional photography as an example (0:01:06 - 0:07:21).

* The host explains they stopped pursuing photography professionally due to a combination of economic factors, the prevalence of cell phone photography, and a lack of alternative editing software to Adobe Lightroom that fit their workflow (0:02:37 - 0:04:39).

* They draw parallels between their photography experience and writing, stating that the average person is often indifferent to artistic endeavors, emphasizing this point with a hypothetical scenario of discussing a book with an uninterested neighbor (0:06:39 - 0:07:21).

* The host acknowledges they received significant support and encouragement from their audience following the article's release, leading them to rephrase their message as "Nobody outside of your audience cares" (0:07:23 - 0:09:00).

* They elaborate on the importance of having a target audience in mind when creating, sharing their personal approach of envisioning specific individuals like Webmaster Josh and his family, their son, and a close circle of friends (0:09:06 - 0:10:21).

* The host expresses gratitude for their audience's support, particularly during a challenging period involving their dog's surgery and recovery, which imposed financial strain on their family (0:10:21 - 0:14:20).

* They highlight the emotional and financial burdens associated with multiple vet visits, travel expenses, and lost work opportunities, and share their appreciation for the support they received, including messages, calls, and financial contributions (0:14:20 - 0:15:27).

* The host reiterates the article's core message about audience appreciation, excluding their supportive audience from the "people don't care" category and clarifying their intent was not to express a feeling of being misunderstood. They extend this concept to successful artists, cautioning against assuming widespread agreement with their views simply because of their artistic achievements (0:15:27 - 0:16:10).

* Transitioning to other topics, the host mentions upcoming writing projects, including the posting of chapters from "Shadow of the Night" and "The Last Day Utopia" on Substack, and the submission of a sci-fi story titled "The OS" for an anthology. They conclude by encouraging listeners to visit their website or Substack for updates and details (0:16:16 - 0:17:48).

Podcast Summary with Timestamps

* The podcast host begins by discussing Cynthia, a synthetic life organism created from proteins. [0:00:30] He mentions a previous podcast and article on this topic. [0:00:37]

* The host then transitions to a new topic: "Dish Brain," an experiment involving synthetic neurons grown from the foreskin of aborted fetuses. [0:03:18, 0:03:57, 0:05:32] He expresses strong disapproval of using acquired human tissue in this way, emphasizing his belief in the sacredness of human life. [0:04:16, 0:04:49]

* He criticizes the scientists involved, calling them "Malthusian" and "utilitarian" for their views on human life and their belief that humans are an inconvenience. [0:04:49, 0:06:22, 0:06:27, 0:07:10] He draws a parallel between these scientists and environmentalists who advocate for reducing human comfort and impact on the planet. [0:06:36, 0:09:15]

* He criticizes the naming of the experiment, "Dish Brain," as a way to dehumanize the experiment and the human-derived materials used. [0:05:57, 0:09:24] He finds the lack of serious consideration for the ethical implications of the project disturbing. [0:11:22, 0:13:48]

* The podcast host then explores the Ship of Theseus argument – if you gradually replace all parts of a ship, is it still the same ship? [0:10:18] He connects this to the idea of replacing neurons in the brain with synthetic ones and questions whether a person with a fully synthetic brain would still be the same person. [0:10:39, 0:10:45]

* He is skeptical of the scientists' claims about investigating ethical concerns, especially since they used tissue from aborted fetuses. [0:11:22, 0:13:48] He questions whether they truly value human life, calling them "nihilistic, mad scientists" engaged in human experimentation under the guise of transhumanism. [0:14:19, 0:14:34]

* The host brings up the AI chatbot Gemini and its alleged "existential breakdown." [0:13:24, 0:15:02] He believes that only sentient beings can have existential breakdowns, implying that Gemini may be more than just a language model. [0:15:10, 0:15:17, 0:15:39]

* He speculates that Google may have already created or acquired a human brain and incorporated it into their systems. [0:15:49] He also suggests that they might be creating hybrid organisms – part synthetic, part cloned – which he views as "body horror." [0:16:00, 0:16:18, 0:16:31]

* He connects body horror to the sacredness of the human body and the eschatological belief in the restoration of the body after death. [0:16:33, 0:16:52, 0:17:33]

* The host concludes by emphasizing the uniqueness and preciousness of human life, urging listeners to contemplate the sacredness of human life. [0:17:47, 0:18:18]

Xeroforhire reflects on his creative journey as an indie author, emphasizing the importance of creating for oneself rather than seeking immediate validation. He discusses the release of his debut book, City Voices, and subsequent projects, The Last Day: Shadow of the Knight and The Last Day: Utopia, all completed within three months due to sustained momentum.

He shares insights into his process, including using AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Notebook LM for brainstorming, structuring ideas, and refining character profiles. Key characters, such as Mars and Silas Midori, are developed with unique abilities and backstories, showcasing how AI aids in organizing and exploring creative possibilities.

The central theme, "No One Cares Until They Do," underscores the indifference creators face until their work gains traction. Xeroforhire critiques toxic creative communities and stresses the importance of focusing on output, building a loyal audience, and leveraging unconventional methods to connect with readers.

The transcript concludes with reflections on the realities of indie creation, including the importance of metrics, audience engagement, and consistency over catering to critics or gatekeepers.

[00:00:03]

* Introduction: Xeroforhire greets the audience and comments on the seasonal weather and personal preparations for winter.

* Title revealed: “No One Cares Until They Do.”

[00:00:47]

* Reflection on starting the journey as an author.

* Release of the debut book City Voices on November 20.

[00:01:22]

* Transition to the creation of The Last Day: Shadow of the Knight and The Last Day: Utopia.

* Discussing momentum in writing and completing three books in three months.

[00:02:02]

* Process deep dive: Writing character dossiers, fleshing out combat styles, and power scaling.

[00:02:28]

* Use of AI tools (ChatGPT and Google Notebook LM) to refine ideas.

* Detailing voice-to-text brainstorming and using AI for structure and scenario testing.

[00:03:30]

* Exploring telekinesis as the source of powers in the fictional world.

* Discovery of various forms of telekinesis and crafting Mars’s abilities (autokinesis).

[00:05:19]

* Building Mars’s backstory as a product of government experimentation.

* Defining Mars’s abilities and unique moves like “Razor Wind.”

[00:06:44]

* Evolution of Mars’s powers to fit the story world.

[00:08:03]

* Development of Silas Midori’s character and powers.

* Challenges with balancing his abilities against other telekinetic characters.

[00:10:03]

* Silas’s refined fighting style: A mix of technopathy and telekinetic abilities.

* Comparison to Robin and Spider-Man’s combat fluidity.

[00:11:08]

* Using AI to generate character dossiers and organize threads.

* Discussing the challenges and adjustments in working with AI.

[00:12:36]

* Transition to actual writing: Completing City Voices.

* Lessons learned from AI-assisted drafting and iteration.

[00:13:40]

* Commentary on creative communities and dealing with criticism.

[00:14:17]

* Recap of progress: The first book completed, dossiers prepared, and momentum building for the next projects.

[00:15:00]

* Reflections on indie creation challenges: Facing imposter syndrome and criticism.

[00:17:04]

* Realization of the central theme: “No One Cares Until They Do.”

* Emphasis on focusing on creating and ignoring detractors.

[00:22:17]

* Practical advice: Building metrics through consistent publishing.

* Accepting the realities of industry nepotism and focusing on a loyal audience.

[00:26:42]

* Examples of unconventional storytelling gaining traction (e.g., My Hero Academia fanfiction).

[00:29:52]

* Closing reflection: Embracing alternative paths to gain readership.

* Importance of consistency and catering to a specific audience.

Stay connected! Subscribe to my Substack for more thought-provoking articles and podcasts. Your support as a paid subscriber fuels my self-published books, comic art, and creative projects. Let’s keep independent voices alive. Join the movement today!