Off The Grid: Leaving Social Media Without Losing All Your Clients

Let's be more transparent about how we are and aren't using AI in our work!In this episode, I walk you through key considerations and a simple process for writing a thoughtful AI policy for your creative business.You'll also hear how I crafted the Interweb AI policy, as well as why I was really inspired by Mel Mitchell-Jackson's AI policy in that process.Press play, then click right here for more notes and resources!     COMING UP:✨ RSVP for the FREE 2026 Astro & Biz Planning Summit, happening April 17 & 24 on Zoom✏️ Get on the waitlist for COME TO CLASS, a spring workshop on how to teach & sell online with confidence & care  COMMUNITY SPONSORS:

How are we feeling about AI these days, friends?Ambivalent? Over it? Hopefully curious?

If you've had a tough 2026 so far, this episode is for you.Today, I'm sharing a nuanced and practical chat with Akua Nyame-Mensah about how we can move from a reactive to a reflective mindset and shift our trajectory in the process.Tune in to hear Akua's advice for changing the narrative of your business — without repressing or ignoring what's happening in the world (or your body or your bank account).I also share some examples of how I reshaped my relationship to money through storytelling and ritual.You can hear the whole conversation in the Clubhouse right here. Thanks to Akua for joining me on the show!LINKS & RESOURCES:

This week, Cody Cook-Parrott returns to the show to share their new book, The Practice of Attention!We go deep into creative attention, social media addiction, and why we can't stop checking our email. Tune in as we discuss:Why creative attention is different than distraction or focusHow tending to your attention helps you finish projectsExperimenting with tech breaks, the Wisephone, and the BrickWhich apps grab us: Pinterest vs YoutubeWays to cultivate hobbies, movement regimens & research practicesHow stepping back from social media empowers us to resist political violence  LINKS & RESOURCES:

Let's talk about how bad social media really is for our mental health and relationships.

I met Mel Mitchell-Jackson in the best way: through a newsletter ad, a ‘wanna chat?' email, and many texts and virtual coffees since.Today, they're here to talk about their path from art school to working at Apple HQ to leaving that behind for creative self-employment.Tune in to hear us explore:How to cultivate creative communityThe realities of what it takes to “make it” in art school & beyondChronic illness, Long COVID & find a pace you can sustain3 common traps of over-giving in online businessWays to center anti-capitalist values & praxis in your workThe pros & cons of building an audience through Youtube& much more!    LINKS & RESOURCES:

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a new business friend and peer that sent me into a total tailspin.The TLDR; is that they said something relatively innocuous about my podcast & membership model…And it had me questioning everything about I know about success in online business.In this Clubhouse-exclusive episode, I share more of that story and the pep talk I've been giving myself since. To hear the whole thing, join the Clubhouse at offthegrid.fun/clubhouseWhen you do, you'll get access to over 40 bonus episodes (and counting), curated tech + creative business newsletters, and more. Plus your own private podcast feed, comments threads, and behind-the-scenes updates on the show.Please join the Clubhouse to support the show! And find this specific episode here :)     ** This episode was recorded & scheduled before the US joined Israel in bombing Iran over the weekend. At Off the Grid, we believe in food not bombs. We support the Iran people and protestors pursuing freedom in the face of extreme violence. But we don't believe in the US pattern of interventionism through warfare. Nor in a President who posts assassination updates on a social media platform he owns. For our US listeners, please join us in calling your representatives to stop these unauthorized military strikes. **

Jenni Gritters recently hosted me for a Your Attention is Sacred book club, and I'm excited to share our conversation with you!Tune in as we discuss:Understanding the goals of the algorithmsAddiction as a lens to make sense of social mediaJenni's decision to delete her Instagram accountThe parallels between fractured attention and financial scarcityReckoning with combative platformsHow to protect your well-being if you're still on social media⭐️ & RSVP FOR MY BOOK READING IN SAN FRANCISCO ON MARCH 12TH! ⭐️    BOOKS MENTIONED (affiliate links):Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media by Amelia HrubyThe Sustainable Solopreneur by Jenni GrittersThe Practice of Attention by Cody Cook-ParrottDopamine Nation by Anna Lembke, MDStolen Focus by Johann HariThe Sirens' Call by Chris HayesThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff LINKS & RESOURCES:

Today I'm joined by Cyrée Jarelle Johnson for a deep and thoughtful conversation about spiritual practice, small business, and social media.Together we weave through:How Cyrée crafted his career as a diviner, poet, herbalist + card readerHealing burnout when living with chronic illness and neurodivergenceWhy Instagram has no elders — and all communities are incomplete without eldersDiscernment vs extreme skepticism — and how to navigate the internet's slop eraHow to blend online & IRL business models — including different ways to run a shopThe realities of experiencing transphobic and hateful comments on social mediaHerbal and ecological support for tending to burnout ❤️‍

Real talk: I can be kind of avoidant when it comes to feedback.I don't love giving it. I prefer not receiving it.But sometimes that lands me in sticky interpersonal situations. …Maybe you can relate?If yes, you're going to love this Clubhouse episode, because I'm sharing a follow-up to my conversation with Morgan Evans — where we go through three real-life (and real-biz) examples of how to navigate tough conversations.Tune in to this preview as we talk through: How to offer feedback when a service provider isn't getting the assignment

I've spent the past 5 years trying to navigate the internet without handing my data (& life) over to surveillance capitalism.In today's episode, I'm sharing my current tech stack — the browsers, search engines, email providers, and other tools that I use to share my wrk online without Google, Facebook, or AI overlords.As you listen, please know this effort is a work in progress and always evolving! You can learn my entire process by taking my class OPT OUT: 5 Steps to Break Up with Big Tech Today. My current privacy-focused tech stackKagi search + Orion browserProton Mail (affiliate link) + Zoho MailSignalFind everything else mentioned here: offthegrid.fun/shownotes/privacy-focused-tech-stack  RESOURCES + LINKS

Welcome to our most personal episode yet! Today I'm joined by Morgan Evans from Business Casual to talk about the seemingly-simple but often-fraught topic of: feedback.We share a lot of personal experiences and business examples as we get into:What feedback really isWhy reviews and random emails aren't feedbackHow to give & receive feedback that doesn't feel like

Last month, I was thrilled to join Karolina Wudniak of Paperwing Studio in the Indie Book Lab! We talked about how I approached self-publishing without relying on Amazon — including the platforms I used, the (costly) mistakes I made, and how much money I've brought in from my book so far (revenue AND profit).I also answered lots of attendee questions:Why did you decide to avoid Amazon? & How much could you really?What size audience would you recommend having before going Amazon-less?Is it realistic to make sales without Amazon's reach? How do you handle discoverability?What does fulfillment look like without a big platform?What about international sales?Is this only viable for nonfiction or niche audiences? What about debut authors?How much more work is it, realistically?And finally… why is your paperback actually on Amazon anyway?It was a great conversation, and I'm excited to share the recording — exclusively with paid subscribers in the Clubhouse :)Tune in here for a preview, and to hear the whole episode, join the Clubhouse at offthegrid.fun/clubhouseWhen you do, you'll get access to over 40 bonus episodes (and counting), curated tech + creative business newsletters, and more. Plus your own private podcast feed, comments threads, and behind-the-scenes updates on the show. Please join the Clubhouse to support the show! And find this specific episode here :)

If you're stressed about using Spotify, Substack, Google, Instagram, or any other platforms... this episode is for you!Today I'm talking about how to choose platforms & tech tools without selling your soul — and why I'm still on Substack even though I kinda hate it.

Harry Doull grew up living in a small family hotel in the French countryside. Then he worked for the UN and Google, before leaving tech behind to co-found his candle company, Keap. This week, he's on the podcast to share why he left tech for candlemaking, and how he's grown Keap without social media or Amazon — while still garnering plenty of customers, partners, and awards, including landing on Wirecutter's best candles list. This one's for all the product-makers out there and anyone who believes business without social media can't scale. They can! We're proving it! Buy a candle & join us! ALSO — If you want to try a Keap candle, use the code OFFTHEGRID for 15% off your first purchase. My faves are: Timur Moon, Wood Cabin, Wild Figs & the brand new Grapefruit + Yuzu (affiliate links) And if you want to partner with Keap, check out their Mindful Creators program.  RESOURCES + LINKS

Today I'm bringing you something really special—A mini-coaching session and marketing conversation about how to stay visible without social media.It comes from a wonderful conversation I had with Jenni Gritters' community last month, where someone asked me:"I just started a business and everyone I've talked to has said: ‘oh so you have to make an Instagram.' My rebellious self is completely against it, but obviously it's a very slow build without social media. Do you think it's possible? How would you go about it?" I get this question a lot, and I wanted to speak to it here! So tune in to this episode preview to learn exactly how I'd grow this business without social media, including what I think comes before you ever begin working on visibility.To hear the whole episode, join the Clubhouse at offthegrid.fun/clubhouse When you do, you'll get access to over 30 bonus episodes (and counting), curated tech + creative business newsletters, and more. Plus your own private podcast feed, comments threads, and behind-the-scenes updates on the show.  Please join the Clubhouse to support the show! And find this specific episode here :)

Today, I'm bringing together everything I know about growing an online business to explore why sometimes we feel like our businesses just won't work... and then other times they grow wayyyy beyond our capacity.Tune in to this Best Of episode to hear more about:Realizing you're on the Wrong Path & how to get off itThe Online Business Growth EscalatorWhat to do when your escalator is brokenHow to chart your own path for business growthQuestions to get clear on where you want to goRESOURCES + LINKS

This week, Nic Antoinette returns to share what really happens when you take a year off your business… and why degrowth is their plan for 2026.Join us for a 90-minute biz friend chat where we explore:The original idea for Nic's Gap YearHow stepping back from work changes your identityWhat slowing down really requires of usWhen making less money can be a goal (not a failure)Finding enoughness without succumbing to underearningHow we're right-sizing our work in 2026& more!  RESOURCES + LINKS

My least favorite thing about starting a business was the overwhelming fear and uncertainty I felt around making money.In the early days, I was drowning in narratives of how most businesses fail, and I'd probably never earn enough to feel supported or successful.But over time… My business started working. More money started flowing. And I built confidence in my ability to steward wealth.Now — I've been working full-time in my business for almost five years. It feels wild to report that I've made over $550,000 in revenue during that time. And I've taken home enough of that to support my family and purchase a home.Is that an income claim? HELL NO.  I'm not saying ‘look at what I did; here's a quick way you can do it too.'But I am arriving here (proverbial powerpoint in hand) to open up my books and show you how my business has actually made money over the past five years.Because one thing that would've made starting a business less scary was seeing how other people actually made it work financially. Not with imaginary hypotheticals or overinflated promises. But with actual numbers.So in this episode preview, I'm talking to you about money! And in the full episode (with video), I share five years of my actual numbers.If you're a money nerd (and a nosey nelly) like me, tune in to hear:Why I think financial transparency is important — but only when done with context and care!

With the state of the world, it's easy to believe that creative work is a waste of time. But I believe our businesses, art, and lives can be powerful forces for change. Not just by default, but through simple-yet-radical practices.To help us orient toward personal power and collective freedom, I shared a free class and compiled this list of 50 ways your creative work can be a force for liberation (and fight fascism in the process).Remember: Your work matters. Your art matters. And it can change the world — if you make it. Tune in to hear this list (or read it right here). Then make your own!  ✨ Sobremesa.Institute is where learning Spanish feels fluid, lived, and shared. Join our Language & Culture Retreat in Barcelona in May, and explore the full 2026 collection here.

Welcome to season nine of Off the Grid!We're kicking this one off by talking about why I'm kinda closing my business…Or more accurately: how pruning one tree helps another grow. Tune in to hear all about:Abolishing ICE & Standing with MinnesotaWhat I did before I started Softer SoundsMy step-by-step transition from side hustle to small businessThe one strategy that brought in 6 months of $$$Why I started this podcast… and then almost quit making itThe 3 keys to Off the Grid's successHow I'm turning this tiny indie show into my full-time job in 2026 LINKS & RESOURCES:

In this episode preview, I'm joined by Miana Melendez to talk about the major astrological transits of 2026 and how they might shape our year in creative business. Miana is a Certified Astrologer, Certified Life Coach and Brand Strategist who helps ambitious leaders, divine disruptors and soul led entrepreneurs step into their next evolution of identity, leadership and vocal expression. Tune in to hear us chat about:Why presence is the word of the yearHow Neptune and Saturn in Aries might shape our visionThe powerful potential of Uranus in GeminiWhy Chiron in Taurus and Jupiter in Leo will give this year a lift& lots more! To hear the whole episode, join the Clubhouse at offthegrid.fun/clubhouse When you do, you'll get access to over 30 bonus episodes (and counting), curated tech + creative business newsletters, and more. Plus your own private podcast feed, comments threads, and behind-the-scenes updates on the show. Please join the Clubhouse to support the show! And find this specific episode here :)  ✨ Sobremesa.Institute is where learning Spanish feels fluid, lived, and shared. Join our Language & Culture Retreat in Barcelona in May, and explore the full 2026 collection here.

Join me for a deep breath, an invitation to release expectations, and an update on what's happening in the Clubhouse before Off the Grid returns on January 28th. And if you want more Off the Grid right now...  --> Join the Clubhouse ASAP! Three exclusive episode are going live in the next week:

At some point last year, I realized I was on my phone… a lot…And I was kind of working all the time….And while I was promoting my book all about attention…I wasn't doing the best job of tending to my attention myself!So in 2026, I'm reclaiming my attention, creativity, and workday. Not through grand proclamations or whole-life-overhauls. But through a few small shifts that I trust will help me reconnect with my body, recenter my mind, and reorient toward my deeper vision for Life.Tune in to this free episode preview — where I talk about why I'm:Deleting all work and distraction apps off my phone — including email!

Today we're putting the cherry on top of your 2026 marketing toolkit with a long-form episode on trends!To do that, I'm joined by growth marketing strategist Amanda Laird to chat about five things we're forecasting for the year ahead, including:New ways of building trust

You don't have to be an extrovert to host events. (I promise.)In today's episode, I'm talking to licensed therapist and intuitive copywriter Arianna Smith about the event series she's been hosting since 2023 and how in-person networking has changed her business for the better.If you're thinking about how to be less online and more IRL in 2026, this episode is for you! Tune in to learn all about:Why Arianna decided to host in-person events & how she found her first venuesDifferent approaches to RSVPs & free vs paid eventsWhy relationships are the only timeless marketing “strategy”How to tend to yourself while hosting eventsDifferent types of events to host depending on your personalityWhat to do if nobody shows up   RESOURCES + LINKS

What are we doing with email this year? And how are we adapting to all the inbox changes?In this episode, Amelia shares her top 3 rules for email marketing and newsletters in 2026.This isn't another overview of the basics. It's part-hot-take and part-informed-opinion on things like:Why welcome sequences matterReasons to let people opt-out of sales cyclesThe best way to use a waitlistAn argument for breaking up with the weekly newsletter& more!   Tune in for a free email education, then listen to these episodes for more:

Search has always driven web traffic… but what is SEO in the era of AI? And how will that impact our creative businesses in 2026?Today I'm joined by SEO expert, podcaster and romance novelist (!) Meg Casebolt, who's here to help us understand the current landscape of search and how AI is remapping the web.Tune in to learn:What's shifting in the world of SEO — including AIO, GEO, AEO & LLMEOHow these changes might just liberate us from Google…Why you never need to use keyword tools again!Tips for optimizing your digital presence in 2026 — whether you're just starting out or have a lot online alreadyHow to think about search if you're not interested in using AIWhy Meg is returning to blogging in 2026 This conversation made me stop stressing about AI and quit worrying if anyone will ever find my website again. Tune in, read Meg's blog, and enjoy!

Happy New Year & welcome to a brand new season of Off the Grid! Today we're kicking off this year-in-biz with our annual creative marketing toolkit  —  five episodes in five days to set you up for success in 2026!Press play to hear all about it, and tune in this week to learn:Our top 3 marketing strategies for 2026Need-to-know advice on SEO, AI & blogging in this era of the internetMy rules for email marketing + newsletters right nowHow to network better + host fun events (even if you're an introvert)& What trends will grab extra attention in the year ahead!You'll hear from amazing guests like Meg Casebolt, Arianna Smith, and Amanda Laird. It's basically a mini-of-the-moment-marketing-masterclass all for free on the pod feed this week! So please subscribe and share it with a friend xoRESOURCES + LINKS

Back on January 8th, Amanda Laird and I recorded an episode about the four marketing trends she was forecasting for the year ahead.Now that it's December, we're revisiting those trends to talk about what actually happened!Tune in as we recap what happened in the world of creative small business, specifically around: AI, social media, Substack, and IRL events.This is a free preview of our conversation. To hear the whole thing, join the Clubhouse at offthegrid.fun/clubhouseWhen you do, you'll get access to over 30 bonus episodes (and counting), curated tech + creative business newsletters, and more. Plus your own private podcast feed, comments threads, and behind-the-scenes updates on the show.Please join the Clubhouse to support the show! And find this specific episode here :)

This week, we end season seven of Off the Grid with an honest conversation about self-employment amidst polycrisis.I'm joined by the inimitable Shivani Mehta Bhatia — who returns to the show to help us weave our experiences of grief, witnessing, conflict, rest, deep sorrow, and profound joy.It's been a long year, and we quite literally laugh and cry as we reflect on how 2025 has clarified our commitments — including how we've (imperfectly) kept working through it all.Tune in, then if you want to process together: join me for a free end-of-year journalling session on December 9th. We'll gather, look back at 2025, and do our best to hold it all collectively.

Fifteen minutes to center us in radical generosity + energetic sovereignty before the biggest shopping + selling days of the year.Tune in for a tiny pep talk, and to hear more about the Off the Grid Small Biz Gift Guide! & If you want to shop Off the Grid deals through the weekend:

Today we visit the Off the Grid archives and Podge Thomas returns for a reflective conversation about why being self-employed invites (and requires) decolonizing how we learn, how we communicate, how we operate, and how we relate to others. Podge has recently created a FREE email course on Metacognitive Learning Design. I want you to get the course, check out her Decolonized Learning Glossary, and then tune in to the episode. Together we explore:The coercive effects of traditional education ⛓️‍

If you're tired of being tired, this episode is for you. Today I'm joined by Jordan Maney, the Radical Joy Coach™ and creator of the RestLab. Through her facilitation and coaching, she helps people who give a damn (including you, dear listener!) learn the radical practice of rest. In this conversation, we get into:Why we can't talk about rest without talking about workThe self-fulfilling prophesy of “invisible labor”How to rest when you really love what you doWhy creative work requires creative restRest equity as a guiding principleRejecting “calm supremacy”Why a sabbatical probably isn't the antidote for burnout…  Tune in then, join Jordan in RestLab 101 for support slowing down and sustaining your creative work, your community advocacy, and your rest.  RESOURCES + LINKS

Listen to this episode before you begin holiday shopping or selling!Today I'm sharing a conversation I had with Rachel Duncan for the Money Healing Club Podcast where we go deeeeeep into how social media impacts our spending habits and finances.We talk about budgets, boundaries, and screentime. Then we explore why restriction isn't necessarily the answer to addiction — and why rebellion and pleasure may be better antidotes for feeling too online.We also explore the core concepts of my book, including: what's wrong with the attention economy, the negative impacts of extractive algorithms, and my 5 principles for gardening your attention.➡

Let's get into it with phone addiction and doomscrolling.

Big launches have been all the rage this year. But I've been working very quietly behind the scenes, growing my membership with small launches to a private waitlist.How's it gone? Pretty great, actually! I've invited in 6-18 new members every 4-6 weeks all year long. That's over 70 new people! Bringing in over $10,000 in revenue! And my nervous system has stayed regulated the entire time.So, as I do… I'm here to tell you exactly how I've done it.

Here's the thing: Off the Grid isn't just a marketing podcast.

Let's get visionary!

Today we welcome copywriter Nicole Cloutier back to the podcast (yay!) to help us avoid the most dreaded small biz experience: putting something new into the world and hearing … nothing … in return.We talk through launch basics then go deep into the strategies that have helped grow our sales — even in this challenging year.Join us as we stare into the void together and discuss:What a launch really is (hint: it's pretty simple)Why it's so important to pre-launch and “warm up” your audienceNicole's 3-part pre-launch framework (with timeline!)Behind-the-scenes stats like Amelia's email open rates

My book is here! Learn more & buy your copy at offthegrid.fun/attention 

The most radical choice I've made in self-publishing is not putting my book on Amazon.Tune in to this episode to learn: Why I made this decisionWhat it means for my bookHow I'm going to find readers anyway& Exactly how many books I'm hoping to sellThen join me in my journey of self-publishing without giving Jeff Bezos more money… by joining the waitlist for my book! It comes out next week!  Mentioned in the episode:Postcards from: Carolyn Yoo, Debora Figueiredo, Kening Zhu & Chelsie TammsFifty Feminist MantrasIngramSpark & LuluHow to Resist Amazon and Why by Danny Caine   RESOURCES + LINKS

Welcome back to Book Week! In this behind-the-scenes episode (from the Clubhouse!), I tell you all about: The story of my first book (& why I had to rewrite that story to move forward)Why I decided to write this book (instead of just making more podcast episodes)My process for writing the 15,000 word manuscript in ONE WEEK (a wild choice)How I ended up getting a book offer from my last publisher…And the exact sentence that made me turn that offer down

Bailey Lang is a book coach, editor, and ghostwriter who helps business owners, creatives, and academics tell stories that matter.In this episode, Bailey and I pull back the curtain on the book-writing process. I share the messy middle and behind-the-scenes challenges of bringing my own book to life, while Bailey offers grounded guidance on what to do (and what not to do) if you're dreaming of writing one yourself.If you've ever thought “maybe I have a book in me” — this one's for you.Tune in, then make sure you're on the Your Attention is Sacred waitlist. Early orders open there in just a few days!!RESOURCES + LINKS

Tracy Candido is a creative coach and the host of Hidden Parts, a podcast about the inner voices that shape how we live, work, and lead.Today she joins me on the podcast to help me unpack how my inner perfectionist, procrastinator, and hyper-achiever showed up in the book writing process.To do that, she teaches us a lot about Parts Work. Tune in to learn:What Parts Work is (and how it's different than Internal Family Systems)How to identify protector partsTracy's 3-step methodology for quieting mental chatterHow Parts Work can heal overachiever patterns & visibility wounds RESOURCES + LINKS

This summer, Cody Cook-Parrott deleted their Instagram account. In doing so, they “lost” 80,000 followers and gained so. much. more.In this conversation, we dig into why Cody decided to delete IG, how their creative attention has shifted since, and what it really looks like to build a business (and publish a book) off the grid.Tune in to this episode to hear us explore:Why Cody deleted their account instead of deactivatingWhat it means to archive your work onlineThe realities of giving up social capitalSacred witnessing and ways to cultivate the feeling of being seenHow Cody is approaching their next book launch without social mediaWhy we love self-publishing & the fate of Amelia's first zine project 

Seth Werkheiser was one of the first 3000 people on Twitter. Now he runs Social Media Escape Club and helps people get off X, Facebook, Instagram, and more.In this conversation, we chart how we've each spent 20+ years online — beginning with AOL, Tumblr, and Twitter all the way through Instagram, TikTok, and the current state of Substack.This one goes out to everyone feeling lost online and looking for the magic of the early internet era again. Join us for this journey through:Amelia's cringe-inducing 2013 Tumblr blog & Twitter handle