From AI to Low-Fi

Why I'm changing up my Substack

Through the experience of diving in and writing over the last couple months, I’ve decided to take my Substack in a completely different direction.

Why?

A little backstory might be helpful. In early 2023, I was minding my own business as a curriculum writer for an education company. When ChatGPT-4 made its big splash in the spring of that year, my company leaned heavily into the technology. For my content team, this had very mixed results.

For me personally, it put generative AI on my radar.

Then in the spring of 2024, my company announced major layoffs. I was one of those cut. Fortunately, I landed a part-time job loading trucks for UPS right away. But I still had a lot more time on my hands than I was used to. So, I started a Substack. As a Christian who had been using generative AI for my company daily in my work, a theme naturally emerged: Christianity and AI.

But as time went on I noticed something. Almost all of my commentary on AI was of the cautious and skeptical variety. There was one notable exception:

I’m still want to follow up on this particular idea, and do a little better job of acknowledging some of the moral unknowns and pitfalls that come with generative AI. I’m also going to highlight the human artists who are doing the important work of making the Bible sing-able.

All that being said, I definitely began to feel as though it might make more sense for me to write about something I was really excited about, rather than generally leery of.

I’m also about to start a new job. Since I’ll keep the early morning UPS gig going for now, that brings me to 1.5 jobs + a Substack + my wonderful family.

The limitations on my time have pressed me to focus on what I really want to say.

Enter the Stickneys, Stu and Mel.

Going forward, I’m going to explore the subject of spiritual formation, or really, just growing in your walk with Jesus, through the interactions of two stick figure characters. Each is going to have a slightly different slant on the subject (as well as other topics Christians don’t see eye-to-eye on).

My hope is that their tension will resonate with Christians who feel tension trying to grow in a faith that is grounded in grace.

If that strikes you as at all intriguing, please subscribe. I’ve really been enjoying the Substack community, and I welcome any and all feedback.

And please bear with the changeover, which will surely include a few remnants of the old theme hanging around a while.