🎙️ XERO for Hire Podcast – Episode Summary (June 4, 2025)Title: Branding Crisis, Literary Rebirth, and the Rise of Apocalyptiverse

In this introspective and transparent solo episode, the host of XERO for Hire unpacks a recent “branding crisis” and announces a major shift in direction for his creative works. The episode begins with a look back at his explosive writing journey—from audio dramas and comics to novellas and theological essays—explaining how his passion for storytelling evolved into a daily rhythm of content creation.

He then reflects on the fleeting nature of digital publishing, expressing dissatisfaction with how short-form articles and even websites fail to preserve the permanence he now craves. This sets the stage for a bold decision: consolidating all creative work under one unified brand—Apocalyptiverse.

Highlights include:

* The origin and potential of the Apocalyptiverse magazine project (co-developed with Hannah Rose Williams)

* Lessons learned about magazine culture vs. comic book promotion

* Cultural observations about post-COVID artistic revival, politics fatigue, and the quiet resurgence of real-world creativity

* Strategic reorganization: merging books, comics, articles, and editorial works into a single small press

* Implications for the podcast and Substack moving forward: less frequent articles, more personal audio content, and a monthly editorial focus

* Plans for distributing through Substack, Amazon KDP, and GlobalComix under the Apocalyptiverse banner

The episode closes with a hopeful call to simplify, unify, and invite others to share space under the same creative umbrella.

🕒 Timestamps:00:00 – Branding crisis and writing origins00:56 – Rapid evolution as a writer02:11 – Articles vs. permanent works03:21 – Magazine collaboration and lessons05:16 – Solution: consolidate under Apocalyptiverse06:04 – Cultural trends and political burnout08:07 – Signs of artistic revival in local communities08:50 – The plan: one brand, one QR code09:36 – Future of the podcast and Substack10:33 – Monthly focus, not daily overload11:02 – Distribution and what’s next for Apocalyptiverse11:28 – Final thoughts and sign-off

Xeroforhire Podcast Summary (Episode Timestamped)

00:00–01:00 – Intro & Life Update

* Joking intro with self-deprecating humor.

* Announces it's Friday and recaps a tiring week due to job promotion and transitioning roles at work.

01:00–02:20 – Creative Focus & Noise-Canceling Workflow

* Mentions being introverted and working better with noise-canceling headphones.

* Staying focused while juggling old and new job responsibilities.

02:20–03:10 – Guest Spot on Alpha Red Comic Podcast

* Recaps recent appearance on James’s Can You Draw series.

* Artist drew Iron Knight in an Akira style—first hand-drawn version of the character.

03:10–04:10 – Bandcamp Comeback & AI Album

* Opens up about struggles distributing his AI-generated album Assimilate due to aggregator restrictions.

* Labels refused to upload AI music, leading him back to Bandcamp.

04:10–05:00 – YouTube Algorithm Frustrations

* Asks fans to help train YouTube’s algorithm to recognize “The Legend of Xero” instead of mislabeling it (e.g., Legend of Zelda, Zorro).

* Wants people to stream his music to build visibility.

05:00–06:00 – Bandcamp vs Other Platforms

* Explains Bandcamp lets him embed and sell directly from his site.

* Critiques platforms like AudioMac for being cluttered with ads and genre-narrow.

06:00–07:30 – Rebuilding Music Library

* Plans to move all past music to Bandcamp.

* Mentions embedding full albums on his website and making it easier for users to access.

07:30–08:30 – Utopia Book Update

* Book is mostly edited; needs beta readers for final polish.

* Requests 2–3 volunteers to read and give honest feedback.

* Admits he keeps tweaking the manuscript and wants help finalizing it.

08:30–10:00 – Card Game Progress

* Reveals continued development of his card game featuring Iron Knight and Silas.

* Mostly using AI-generated art but struggling to get good results for Mars.

* Planning to commission real art for better visual consistency.

10:00–11:00 – Deck Design & Production Plans

* Simple attack cards are in development.

* Working on basic beta decks to start playtesting.

* Preparing merch and new creative content around the game.

11:00–13:00 – Supporter Shoutouts & Perks

* Thanks his one paid Substack subscriber—will receive Utopia and the card game for free.

* Promises free books to future paid subscribers.

* Mentions his goal is to do more creative drops for supporters.

13:00–13:30 – Outro

* Signs off with encouragement, previewing more updates soon.

* Says he’ll repost the Can You Draw video and keep cooking behind the scenes.