Goodbye Substack, Hello EAR•WAX!

Apologies: If you follow me here and at Vandreasonable - this is a duplicate goodbye post. Since it’s not 100% overlap, I’m making a goodbye post for both blogs.

At first I just needed a place to write down random thoughts whenever the mood struck. Someone recommended Substack and it was perfect for the job. Then I realize it had a social media aspect, and with the techno-fascist death of Twitter, that felt alright to me.

But then I learned that Substack was a bit techno-fascist in its own right. And that…sucked.

Let me be extremely clear. We are all part of the problem because the problem is too big for any one of us. I don’t judge you if you order shit at Amazon occasionally. I don’t blame you if you use Spotify - hell, I just went back to it after ditching it last year - for multiple reasons, one of them being they’re just very good at what they do. I absolutely do not blame you if you continue to use Substack. It’s a great platform - probably the best that’s out there for growing an audience and getting your word out there.

But it’s not for me. And yes, a lot of that has to do with their decision to platform Nazis and right wing trolls with no human value other than financial. It’s part of their business model and for me that’s just a bridge too far. I’m not better than anyone, really. I just don’t feel comfortable with it.

I’ll still subscribe to folks (although kudos to the people who use workarounds that let me pay them directly). I’ll still read tons of quality great blogs and articles. But I’ve got big plans for something I’ve been working on all year, and I just don’t want to do it here. That’s that.

About those plans: Later this month, I’m launching EAR•WAX Magazine - part podcast, part newsletter, it’s designed to give you great things to listen to, from indie music, to weird poetry, found sounds, inventive audio fiction, podcast, you name it.

EAR•WAX will feature two newsletters a month and a podcast each week. The podcasts will all be different and follow different schedules:

• EAR•WAX Magazine: A monthly breakdown of music, indie audio fiction, cool sounds, and soothing tones. Starting July 22 and released every fourth Wednesday of the month.
• Infinite Mixtape: A guest and I decide on a theme for a mix, make one for each other - and you - and then interview each other about them. Monthly and coming out every first Wednesday of the month, starting August.
• Drama Club: Four audio fiction creators talk about making audio art, the pitfalls, pain points, and pro tips that go with it. With Tal Minear, Jade Madison Scott, Oliver Morris, and more.
• Any Major Dues: Oliver Morris and I talk about our love for Steely Dan.

Because newsletters work in a way that allows you to roll over subscribers, that’s what I’m going to do for you all. Don’t want to join? No problem! I understand. Just opt out and I’ll leave you be forever. But I hope you follow me because I have a lot of cool plans in store.

Thanks for listening. And I hope you continue to. If not, I wish you the best and appreciate our time together here.