A New Road

A New Road

From The Xero for Hire Podcast by J. K. Slaughter

May 6, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

In this episode, J. K. Slaughter provides a candid update on his creative and personal journey, discussing changes in his approach to publishing and the challenges of creating art in today's landscape.

[audio log / update] The Xeroforhire Podcast returns with a candid update on where things stand creatively, financially, and personally. In this episode, I talk about why I’m stepping back from trying to force Substack into something it was never really working as for me, while also explaining why the podcast itself is staying alive. This episode is part reflection, part course correction, and part behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening with The Last Day universe, AI discourse, independent publishing, and the realities of trying to create art while surviving real life. I talk about burnout, leaving my job, starting a new one, reevaluating my relationship with politics online, and why I’m rebuilding my infrastructure around Gumroad, physical comics, direct support, and the Facebook community instead of chasing algorithms or trying to appease hostile online spaces. I also open up about the ongoing friction surrounding AI art and creativity, why I’ve stopped trying to win approval from people who fundamentally reject the tools I use, and how that tension has shaped both my workflow and my audience. Most importantly, this episode is about keeping the signal alive. The podcast…

People in this episode

Host: J. K. Slaughter

Topics covered

  • creativity
  • burnout
  • independent publishing
  • AI discourse
  • politics online
  • art and survival

Keywords

  • Substack
  • Gumroad
  • AI art
  • burnout
  • political commentary
  • independent publishing
  • creativity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Substack, Gumroad, Facebook, AI

Books & works: The Last Day

More episodes of The Xero for Hire Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Xero for Hire Podcast podcast page.