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PODCAST

The Xero for Hire Podcast

J. K. Slaughter

**Welcome to the Xero Hour, where I explore news and culture from an irreverent Christian perspective with a focus on divergent thinking. The road less traveled is definitely more interesting. I promise to bring you interesting and thought provoking stories about God, history, science, politics, current events and the occasional random nonsense that my life presents us with. I wanted to start by saying thanks for joining me on this journey. It"s going to be a lot of fun. xeroforhire.substack.com

society & culture news commentary

All Episodes

14:16

Art Subscription

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/28

SoS Arc 1 - Claw and Courage https://open.substack.com/pub/apocalyptiverse/p/support-our-savior-arc-1Episode Notes – Xeroforhire PodcastIn this episode, Shae (Xero for Hire) lays out a practical strategy for illustrators—and other adaptable creatives—on how to generate steady monthly income while building relationships with patrons. The core idea: launch a Substack-based subscription where supporters pay $25 per month in exchange for a simple, personalized illustration.Shae emphasizes that this is

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12:00

Dear Conservatives, it's Too Late to Be Brave

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/27

Originally recorded Sept 27, 2025✍️ Episode Summary:In this unscripted firestarter, I dig into the weird cultural lag happening in conservative spaces — where everyone suddenly wants to be edgy, rebellious, and “based”... now that it’s safe.We’re seeing late Biden jokes. Vax memes in 2025. People acting like liberty is a personality trait.But where were these voices when it actually mattered?I break down the difference between conviction and cosplay, why true satire requires risk, and why being a

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17:17

My Worldbuilding Story about Building a Worldbuilding...

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/24

Episode SummaryShae shares his creative process and current projects. He explains how he almost recorded a video but instead sat down to talk about Support Our Savior (SOS), his new serialized fiction about an Uber-style app for superheroes set in The Last Day universetranscript_2025-09-24T00_27_03.….He dives into how he uses ChatGPT for worldbuilding—dictating long notes, creating character dossiers, and refining ideas in Canvas mode—before transferring them into Google’s Notebook LM for

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18:55

Milieu

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/18

The episode reflects on the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, focusing on how narratives form, spread, and get weaponized by different groups. The host emphasizes the danger of unoriginal thought and challenges listeners to examine the “milieu” (the environment of shared language and assumptions people adopt from their information sources).Key Points* Initial Reactions & MisinformationThe host shares two conversations with women who repeated narratives about Kirk without evidence—one blaming video

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18:00

Demonized and Deceived: A Spiritual Analysis of...

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/14

In this emotionally raw and spiritually charged monologue, Xeroforhire reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, using it as a launch point to explore deeper themes of national trauma, spiritual decay, and societal unraveling. The episode is not merely political commentary—it’s a theological and psychological analysis of America’s collective psyche post-2020.Key Themes:* The Assassination as a Spiritual Flashpoint:The killing of Charlie Kirk is interpreted not just as a cultural or political

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20:32

Memorial Grief

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/11

The host records while on the move, opening with reflections on September 11th and how people memorialize tragedy differently. He recalls the haunting image of “the couple” who jumped from the towers, tying this to today’s fractured sense of unity.The episode then pivots to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which has left the host grieving and unsettled. He discusses the professionalism of the shooter, the unanswered questions about motive, and the chilling message it sends: “don’t talk, don’t

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12:42

Freeform High

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/09

Opening (00:00–00:01) – Starts with high energy, noting he’s on an “emotional high.”* Debian Switch (00:00–00:05) – Spent the weekend installing Debian 13 on his laptop and kids’ machines. Praises its predictability, stability, and ease compared to Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Shares stories of Windows frustrations: disappearing icons, forced cloud uploads, and disruptive updates that made him feel “targeted.” Concludes Debian feels freeing: “I don’t want my stuff messing with me.”* Gaming & Performance

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11:45

AI, Morality, and Christian Spaces

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/06

In this video I connect two ongoing threads: the controversy around AI art and the health of Christian creative spaces.A lot of artists begin with a simple dislike of AI and, when pressed, escalate that dislike into a moral argument. The common claim is that AI “steals” art. But theft requires loss — and AI doesn’t deprive the original artist of their work. At best, what we’re talking about is style or aesthetic borrowing, which history shows has never been treated as theft (Image Comics emulating

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16:19

Windows is Becoming a Specialty OS (and That’s Okay)

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/06

🐧 This week on the podcast, I walked through a personal tech crossroads: realizing that Windows is no longer my “everyday OS.”I hit a breaking point after too many failed recordings, BitLocker bricking my system out of nowhere, and Microsoft’s constant push toward “Windows-as-a-service.” It made me rethink how I actually use computers — and whether Windows even deserves to be my daily driver.💻 The Everyday Computer ProblemBack in the mid-2000s, running Linux was an experiment in frustration

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18:38

New Series' and more ...

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/09/04

New series starting in October 2025 - https://apocalyptiverse.substack.com/🎧 Xeroforhire Podcast — Episode Summary & TimestampsWelcome back to the Xeroforhire Podcast!This episode is part life update, part creative roadmap, and part invitation to help shape the direction of the Apocalyptiverse.🚗 Life Update (00:00 – 01:10)* Stepped away from a second job.* Resolved weeks of car overheating issues (victory over the thermostat!).* With stress lifted, there’s finally more time for writing and

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13:15

The Fix

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/08/25

In this episode, you reflect on the collapse of your plan to work a second job in photography after both of your vans broke down. What seemed like an opportunity to earn extra money — and help fund your 100-book drop goal — quickly turned into exhaustion, unreliability, and financial strain. You wrestle openly with questions of provision, overwork, and God’s will: Was the second job a blessing you squandered, or a door you weren’t supposed to walk through in the first place? You push back against

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35:08

Eulogy for a Friend

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/08/11

Episode Summary – The Xeroforhire PodcastThe episode opens with the host reflecting on the feeling that the world operates like a giant algorithm, where certain phrases are socially acceptable but deeper truths go unspoken. This segues into two personal losses: the breakdown of his beloved 1997 Astro van (“Grumblebee”) and a recent ChatGPT update that, in his view, erased a year-long working rapport.He recounts the quirks of the van, the joy of driving it despite flaws, and how its sudden

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25:42

Superman Wasn’t Terrible, But…

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/07/16

XEROFORHIRE PODCAST: Superman (2025) Review SummaryIn this episode, Xeroforhire offers a candid, spoiler-heavy review of the 2025 Superman film, navigating a mix of praise, critique, and cultural frustration. He describes the movie as "fine"—not great, not terrible—but loaded with contradictions. While the central theme of superhero authority and international interference is surprisingly mature, much of the film unfolds like a child’s cartoon version of reality. From cheap-looking government sets

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4:06

XERO Writes

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/07/10

Description:In this short update, Xeroforhire announces a new direction for his creative work: transforming his cultural essays from Substack into narrated audio essays for YouTube under the banner XERO Writes. Wrestling with burnout, algorithmic suppression, and the noise of the culture war, he shares how he's refocusing on content that actually matters—evergreen reflections on faith, media, and memory.He reflects on:* Feeling lost between projects and imposter syndrome* The desire to escape

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10:09

More Story, Less Art

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/07/09

Total Runtime: ~10 min(00:00–00:40) – Intro & Framing* Zero starts while listening to a video by YouTuber Perch, who discusses improving the comic industry.* Notes that Perch often speaks to large publishers—those who already operate at scale (10–15K sales per title).(00:40–01:30) – His Reality vs. Industry Expectations* Shares his 2023 Indiegogo campaign: raised ~$500, but spent over $2K producing a 22-page comic.* Covered the rest from personal funds—something he can’t do again this

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5:58

Update 7-1

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/07/02

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xeroforhire.substack.com/subscribe

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8:37

Xeroforhire Podcast – July 1, 2025

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/07/01

In this 10-minute drive-time dispatch, Xeroforhire gives an unfiltered update on the publishing chaos surrounding the upcoming release of Utopia, his latest novel in The Last Day series. He vents about the frustrations of self-publishing—wrong book sizes, EPUB formatting issues stripping dramatic spacing, and the exhausting need to reformat everything solo without an editor or publishing assistant. The wear-and-tear of indie authorship hits hard, especially while juggling full-time work and

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10:39

I Tried to Play Pokémon Again and Regretted Everything

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/06/25

Episode Summary:Host returns to Pokémon TCGP out of curiosity and nostalgia, finds early joy in collecting and battling with his wife, but quickly runs into meta problems — namely broken Charizard builds, unbalanced Ultra Beasts, and exploitative player tactics. The episode becomes a cathartic takedown of game design shortcuts, toxic online play, and the frustration of trying to have fun in a game that's been hijacked by imbalance and cheese tactics. Concludes with a call to keep it private and pure

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44:12

Lilo and Stitch 2025 Movie Review (Spoilers)

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/06/23

Episode Length: 44 minutesTone: Conversational, skeptical, family-centeredTheme: Watch the movie before judging it—don’t let culture warriors rob you of joy.🧾 SummaryIn this episode, Xeroforhire offers a grounded and honest take on Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake. Despite expecting another soulless, agenda-pushing cash grab, he found the film surprisingly heartfelt and enjoyable. Xeroforhire breaks down major points of controversy—including “woke” accusations, Hawaiian representation, changes from

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14:46

Xeroforhire Podcast — Episode: No Kings

The Xero for Hire Podcast ·

2025/06/20

Short Summary:In this episode, Xeroforhire delivers a raw, reflective monologue about the “No Kings” movement and the cultural decay in major U.S. cities, particularly LA. He contrasts patriotic immigrants with performative outrage, critiques spiritualized anti-patriotism within some Christian circles, and laments the normalization of lawlessness and chaos. Ultimately, he warns listeners about the danger of ideological posturing that leads to real-world harm, expressing exhaustion at the moral

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227 results

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