📺 When “free speech” really means “sit down and shut up”

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Hey Reader,

Let’s talk about Bari Weiss, the freshly installed editor-in-chief of CBS News.

You might think, “Mary, I’m not in journalism.” Sure. But you are in business — and business is communication. What you say, how you say it, and who you align with are your brand’s moral architecture. Every post, podcast, and partnership is now political. To be silent is to be complicit. You don’t need to turn your platform into a political show, but if people can’t tell what side you’re on, you’re standing on a very slippery slope.

And when a billionaire-backed “anti-woke” crusader takes over one of the most powerful newsrooms in America, it’s not just a headline... it’s a warning label for anyone who uses a mic, a camera, or a keyboard to speak freely.

This is what happens when “free speech” gets rebranded as “balance.” When billionaires and legacy networks clasp hands and redefine “neutrality” as “don’t upset the fascists.” If that sounds dramatic, that’s because it is.

People of color, immigrants, queer and trans folks... anyone with a vagina... I could go on. Our rights are already on the chopping block. Every “both sides” moment in mainstream media chips away at the oxygen we need to tell the truth. So even if you think you’re not political, the censorship wave will hit your shore sooner than you think.

And yes, before you remind me — Bari Weiss is an out lesbian. She even dated Kate McKinnon. To which I say: let’s give Kate a little space, because every lesbian I know has that ex, and I’m sure this week is rough. (Thank bejeezus my that-ex is not famous, just infamous. Also, Kate… call me. 🤳)

Weiss’s rise from the New York Times to her “anti-woke” platform The Free Press has been framed as a victory for independent thought. But independence without accountability is just ego with a microphone. Her company pushed narratives that sound bold until you realize they’re warmed-over culture-war talking points in designer fonts.

We like to believe identity tells us everything, but it doesn’t. In the 2024 election, around 13% of LGBTQ+ voters supported Trump — a small but significant slice, especially considering what his administration represents. That number alone proves you can’t assume someone’s politics just because they wave the same flag you do. Values aren’t guaranteed by identity; they’re revealed through action.

So no, you can’t assume people’s politics by their pronouns or hashtags. You have to make your values unmistakable. And that goes for me, too.

I run a studio. People pay me for space, sound, and story. I don’t want to further messaging or agendas that would strip me — or anyone else — of basic rights. If your brand thrives on “anti-woke” talking points, I’m not your girl. I don’t take blood money. I have standards. I have ethics. Period.

That makes certain people uncomfortable… good. It should. I want you to squirm while you read this. If you can’t name what you stand for, you’ll end up standing next to people you’d never want in your frame. Two-faced allies cut deeper than enemies, and they’re everywhere right now.

We talk about attraction and repulsion in marketing as if it’s a vibe strategy. It’s actually survival. The minute you start blurring your values to avoid conflict, you’re feeding the very systems that want you small, silent, and brand-safe.

Here’s the cold truth: it never makes you more money. You might see a few quick wins, but you’ll sell your soul to get them. I’ve watched plenty of online businesses implode from the inside since Covid... for far less than what we’re fighting for now. So before you take that payment, ask yourself if the dollar is really worth the dilution.

Your business is your platform, that's your reality. Your content is your legacy. Your voice is your weapon and your invitation. What’s happening in newsrooms today will show up in your inbox tomorrow — through sponsorship contracts, collaboration invites, and the algorithms deciding whose voices stay audible.

If you say you’re a thought leader or a change agent, this is your cue. Build your indie channels now. Control your content. Protect your voice.

Fascism isn’t sneaking up on us. It’s already at the table, asking for a mic check — and it comes with a whole lot of money to make the media machine run.

But here’s what it looks like when we get it right: creators funding each other, not billionaires. Studios that protect expression, not sanitize it. Indie media that pays its people and tells the truth. That’s the ecosystem I’m building, and that’s the one I want you to imagine yourself in — loud, ethical, and paid.

So be louder. Be clearer. Be unshakably you.

If all of this has you fired up but unsure what to do with it — that’s where I come in:

• If you’re ready to master your message before the camera rolls, come join me inside Sound Before the Spotlight.
• And if you’re still figuring out how to use AI without turning into a robot, check out the full free release of You, Me, & ChatGPT in this week’s newsletter. The training is free and the bots are now for sale.

👇🏼 Time to start scrolling for the goodies...

Gossip From the Creator Trenches...

🪩 When in doubt, inflate and dance it out

From the war-torn streets of Portland comes the latest cultural moment: inflatable costumes, a rave, and (because why not) an ICE facility backdrop. I mean, it’s a choice. Personally, I find the low dinosaur representation concerning, but otherwise? Chef’s kiss. Keep the weird vibes coming, Portland. I salute the chaos.
🔗 Fresh dance moves found here.​

🍸 Publishing needs a stiff one

This one stung. As a librarian, Baker & Taylor has always felt like an eternal cornerstone of book distribution. If you’ve never heard of them, congratulations, you probably touch grass. For the rest of us book nerds, their implosion is a big deal in the business of words. And yes, this ripples all the way to authors, indies, and entrepreneurs trying to build something real in a shrinking attention economy.
🔗 I'm waving goodbye to the Baker & Taylor cats.​

🎤 Say the quiet part louder

There’s nothing like a well-timed f-bomb from someone who used to play it safe. Enter Kamala Harris at the Day of Unreasonable Conversation summit in L.A. — dropping truth, breaking formality, and reminding everyone that sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is be a little unreasonable. So, what truth are you still whispering instead of shouting?
🔗 Get the full event tea here.​

Studio Updates

It would appear that my continued lack of social presence and proper website has not stopped the studio from keeping me booked with very cool humans. Case in point: meet the founders of QuietBag Club, Chris Magaña + Luke Wagener.

These two are the real deal — creators who blend purpose, community, and style without trying too hard. They came in this week for an environmental studio rental (yes, you can book those by the hour) and turned the space into pure creative energy.

While most of my clients are deep in pre-production or full-on show development with me, it’s a treat to see people like this walk in and just do the thing.

As they put it:

QuietBag Club is exactly why I built this studio — to give bold ideas a space to breathe, look good, and sound even better.

💻 BOT BOSS HAS ENTERED THE CHAT

You, Me, & ChatGPT is now FREE (because let’s be real… the link was already getting passed around).

You asked. You snooped. You shared it anyway.

So here it is... officially. This is the full workshop where I show you how I use ChatGPT to run my business, manage my studio, and keep my brain intact. We’re not talking about better prompts... we’re talking systems, strategy, and turning AI into your actual support staff.

🎥 Watch the full workshop on YouTube
📦 Grab the free Star Power Starter Pack​
🧠 Learn how I built a real media production system without losing my human voice

This is the way. Potty mouth included.

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Want the bots?​
You still gotta pay for those — but they’re cheap compared to the bro-bots flooding your feed. The magic isn’t in the bots; it’s in the skills you’ll learn from the workshop. I can’t sell your genius, just the stage that lets it shine.

​Pay what you can (minimum $13, suggested $27) when you click this magic button:

Business Tarot + Astrology

We’re coming down from the astro blender and sliding into the sweet spot between moons — still feeling that Aries Harvest Moon while the Libra New Moon waits on deck.

This week’s reading (with the Illuminati Tarot) hits deep: emotional recalibration, balance, and big creative fire under construction. The cards remind us that imbalance isn’t failure — it’s feedback — and that grounded passion beats frantic productivity every time.

👉 Catch the free preview to hear how the energy plays out. The full private podcast breaks down the spread, the repeaters, and the practical magic you can actually use this week.

This is your Tarot reading... with teeth. 🎧 Tap to hear the excerpt ⤵️

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Want the whole thing? ​
Click here & go ⤵️

Let's Hang Out You already know I'm on the board of trustees for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District... well, now you can come support the foundation's annual Authors & Illustrators dinner! I'm sponsoring a table, so come and say hi. 👋 🎟️ Tickets are almost sold out!​

Participate + Join In 🎧 Sound Before the Spotlight​ Before you hit “record,” let’s get your message clear, confident, and binge-worthy. This 6-week pre-production cohort is small, strategic, and already filling. 🎤 Real voice, smart systems, content that sticks.​ 👉 Join the cohort here​