EPISODE · Jun 25, 2026 · 20 MIN
Stepping Away (And Not Apologizing for It)
from Most Writers Are Fans · host Terry Bartley
Terry gets real about why the podcast has been quiet and why he's not sorry about it. For the past several months, he's been navigating his grandmother's medical crisis, the labyrinthine nightmare of American elder care, and the financial brutality of a system designed to strip elderly people of everything they've worked for. It's been a lot.But this episode isn't just a personal update. It's a permission slip. If you're an indie creative who's been white-knuckling your posting schedule through a life emergency, Terry has something to say to you: the algorithm doesn't get to set the terms of your life. The real ones are the ones who keep coming back, not the ones who never stop.Also: the Rae Shawn interview is out and it's incredible, the Starlight King Herald newsletter is live on Substack, and Terry will be on Greatest Movie of All Time next month watching The Princess Bride.Timestamps0:00 — Welcome & what's been going on0:46 — On not apologizing for inconsistency1:58 — What's actually been happening: grandma's medical journey3:00 — The American elder care system is broken4:35 — What it means to advocate for someone who still has their mind6:01 — The past few months: mom's surgery, FMLA, trying to hold it together6:31 — The Starlight King Herald newsletter (Substack)6:56 — On banked interviews, the Rae Shawn episode, and releasing without promotion9:12 — Why Terry is sharing this (and why you've probably been here too)10:04 — The consistency gospel is bullshit for indie creatives11:10 — The infrastructure problem: Starlight King Press is Terry and Dustin13:18 — The book is happening. It's okay to pause.15:13 — You have permission to take a break15:55 — "The best work comes from pain" and why that's more complicated than it sounds17:08 — The real ones keep coming back17:21 — What's coming: edited episode in the queue, back by August18:57 — Check out Kirsha Fox on YouTube19:14 — Terry on Greatest Movie of All Time next month (The Princess Bride!)19:56 — Sign offLinksStarlight King Herald on SubstackRae Shawn interviewKirsha Fox on YouTube: The Tell Not ShowGreatest Movie of All Time podcast
What this episode covers
Terry gets real about why the podcast has been quiet and why he's not sorry about it. For the past several months, he's been navigating his grandmother's medical crisis, the labyrinthine nightmare of American elder care, and the financial brutality of a system designed to strip elderly people of everything they've worked for. It's been a lot.But this episode isn't just a personal update. It's a permission slip. If you're an indie creative who's been white-knuckling your posting schedule through a life emergency, Terry has something to say to you: the algorithm doesn't get to set the terms of your life. The real ones are the ones who keep coming back, not the ones who never stop.Also: the Rae Shawn interview is out and it's incredible, the Starlight King Herald newsletter is live on Substack, and Terry will be on Greatest Movie of All Time next month watching The Princess Bride.Timestamps0:00 — Welcome & what's been going on0:46 — On not apologizing for inconsistency1:58 — What's actually been happening: grandma's medical journey3:00 — The American elder care system is broken4:35 — What it means to advocate for someone who still has their mind6:01 — The past few months: mom's surgery, FMLA, trying to hold it together6:31 — The Starlight King Herald newsletter (Substack)6:56 — On banked interviews, the Rae Shawn episode, and releasing without promotion9:12 — Why Terry is sharing this (and why you've probably been here too)10:04 — The consistency gospel is bullshit for indie creatives11:10 — The infrastructure problem: Starlight King Press is Terry and Dustin13:18 — The book is happening. It's okay to pause.15:13 — You have permission to take a break15:55 — "The best work comes from pain" and why that's more complicated than it sounds17:08 — The real ones keep coming back17:21 — What's coming: edited episode in the queue, back by August18:57 — Check out Kirsha Fox on YouTube19:14 — Terry on Greatest Movie of All Time next month (The Princess Bride!)19:56 — Sign offLinksStarlight King Herald on SubstackRae Shawn interviewKirsha Fox on YouTube: The Tell Not ShowGreatest Movie of All Time podcast
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Stepping Away (And Not Apologizing for It)
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