Transmissions From the Void Podcast

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftvoid.substack.com

Transmissions From the Void welcomes Cookie the feral kitty for a live conversation about AI filmmaking, creative obsession, nostalgia, and the strange new freedom of making the movie in your head without waiting for permission.In this episode, Dr. Morton and Christopher Gulledge sit down with Cookie to talk about 37 Miles Back, a 15-minute AI-generated short film connected to Cookie’s larger Neon Vegas universe. The conversation moves from trailers and production logistics into something much bigger: what AI tools make possible for solo creators, why the story still matters more than the technology, and why nostalgia can become a trap when it keeps us staring into the rearview mirror instead of living now.Cookie shares how the project began as a playful ChatGPT conversation, grew into short stories, became a feature-length screenplay, and eventually led to 37 Miles Back as a smaller, emotionally focused proof of concept. The episode also gets into the practical reality of AI filmmaking: hundreds of generated images, two weeks of video generation, repeated failed renders, credit costs, and the very human act of crying at the computer before getting a sandwich and trying again. Art, apparently, remains glamorous. Civilization trembles.The hosts and Cookie also discuss the creative philosophy behind using AI as a tool rather than a gimmick. The point is not to show off Sea Dance, ElevenLabs, or ChatGPT. The point is to tell the story. Cookie frames AI not as a replacement for creative work, but as a way for writers, artists, and independent creators to finally bring long-imagined scenes into visible form.The episode closes with a broader conversation about anonymity, artistic identity, audience, marketing, ticketed releases, and the actual cost of making AI art. Cookie is blunt, funny, and refreshingly allergic to the bland performance of universal likability, which naturally means the Void opened its tiny digital arms and said, “Yes, this one.”In this episodeChristopher, Dr. Morton, and Cookie discuss:The origin of The Neon Vegas and 37 Miles BackMaking a 15-minute AI-generated short film as a solo creatorWhy the story should matter more than the toolsAI filmmaking with ChatGPT, Sea Dance, and ElevenLabsThe frustrating, expensive, and oddly addictive process of image and video generationNostalgia, Gen X, older millennials, and the fantasy of talking to your younger selfWhy “if you could go back” advice often misses the pointAdaptive creativity and learning to work with the limitations of AIThe difference between using AI to create art and using art to advertise AIFaceless accounts, artistic freedom, and keeping creative identities separateThe financial cost of independent AI filmmakingBuilding audience urgency through limited releases, ticketing, and watch windowsFeatured guestCookie the feral kittyCreator of 37 Miles Back and The Neon Vegas universeFind Cookie at feralcookie.substack.comHostsDr. MortonThe Seeker Scoopdrmorton.substack.comChristopher GulledgeDear Future Overlordsdearfutureoverlords.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftvoid.substack.com

@Thanks to mr. A . Your work inspires and amazes. In this live episode of Transmissions from the Void, Christopher Gulledge and Dr. Morton sit down with Mr. A, creator of Mr. A Comics, for a conversation about neurodivergence, comics, institutional failure, digital creativity, and what it means to build work outside traditional systems. The discussion begins with Mr. A’s autobiographical comic work, including stories about job loss, disability benefits, family support, and navigating a world that often is not built for autistic and neurodivergent people.The episode also explores why Mr. A restarted his Substack from scratch, what he learned from chasing subscribers, and how his new approach is more grounded, sustainable, and honest to the work he actually wants to make. It is a sharp look at the tension between creative integrity and platform incentives, with some excellent chaos-goblin honesty mixed in.From there, the conversation turns to a bigger idea: whether today’s Substack writers and artists resemble the Lost Generation of the 1920s. Mr. A draws a line between disillusionment with institutions then and disillusionment now, arguing that creators today are using digital platforms to reconcile with broken systems, form smaller communities, and make meaning in public. Christopher and Dr. Morton build on that idea, discussing decentralization, creative collaboration, shifting identity online, and the possibility that this moment is the beginning of a larger cultural realignment.The episode closes with a look at Mr. A’s comic-making process, including storyboarding with his wife, shaping real-life experiences into visual narratives, and using AI as part of the illustration workflow without surrendering authorship. It is a fascinating conversation about what tools are for, how art gets made now, and how creators can stay human while working with new systems.In this episode* Mr. A on restarting his Substack from zero* autism, neurodivergence, and systems that do not fit* why autobiographical comics hit so hard* chasing subscribers versus protecting the work* the Lost Generation and modern Substack creators* creative communities outside gatekeepers* social media as a new cultural institution* AI-assisted comic creation and artistic controlGuestMr. AAuthor of Think Mr. AHostsChristopher Gulledge of Dear Future OverlordsDr. Morton of Seeker’s Scoop This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftvoid.substack.com

In this live episode of Transmissions from the Void, Christopher Gulledge and Dr. Morton welcome Nick Middaugh, author of Character is Destiny, for a searching conversation about trauma, recovery, agency, and the lifelong work of shaping character. Together, they explore Nick’s essay “The Myth of an Easy Life: Building on Nietzsche’s Self-Overcoming & The Drowning Man” and unpack the emotional and philosophical currents beneath it.This conversation moves through childhood trauma, isolation, vulnerability, healing, sobriety, self-worth, and the tension between receiving help and doing the work yourself. Nick reflects on writing as both outlet and inquiry, on why agency matters, and on the difference between being defined by what happened to you and choosing who you become next.The episode also digs into the meaning behind Character is Destiny, the philosophical roots of the project, and the idea that growth is not a neat ending but an ongoing process. This is a thoughtful, emotionally grounded discussion about suffering, accountability, character, and what it means to keep rebuilding your vessel from the wreckage.In this episode* Nick Middaugh on writing trauma and vulnerability in public* The essay: “The Myth of an Easy Life”* Recovery, sobriety, and self-worth* Agency versus circumstance* Nietzsche, Heraclitus, and self-overcoming* Character as a lifelong practice* Why healing is not linear* Writing for the “reformed monsters” and the ones still trying to becomeGuestNick MiddaughAuthor of Character is Destiny and Welcome to the FallHostsChristopher Gulledge of Dear Future OverlordsDr. Morton of Seeker’s Scoop This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftvoid.substack.com

Episode OverviewThe debut episode of Transmissions from the Void introduces the show’s core mission: to surface and celebrate creators operating outside traditional algorithmic reach. Instead of chasing virality, this show acts as a “human algorithm,” curating meaningful work from the edges of the internet.Key Themes The rise of “underground” digital ecosystems Identity vs. metrics in creator spaces Tribalism and language in online communities Existential dread and human purpose The evolution of art, poetry, and multimedia storytellingFeatured Creators Mr. A — Reinvention and identity reset on Substack Kelly Cortez — Simplifying complex emotional and philosophical ideas Sam Oldman — Multimedia storytelling, dystopian poetry, and immersive soundscapesNotable Ideas “Be the human version of the algorithm” Digital identity is shaping modern tribalism Creativity is expanding beyond traditional artistic constraints AI is empowering non-traditional creators to innovateAbout the ShowTransmissions from the Void is a live Substack-first podcast exploring overlooked creators and emerging ideas from the edges of the internet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tftvoid.substack.com