This episode picks up where the last AI conversation left off. Jonathan and Jaime respond to the pushback they heard from creatives who feel unsettled by how quickly AI tools are lowering the barriers to entry across music, writing, design, and software. Instead of debating whether the shift is fair, they focus on what is actually happening and how to navigate it without losing your sense of self.

At the center of the discussion is an identity shift. When people define themselves by the noun rather than the act of creating, disruption feels personal. Jonathan and Jaime argue that much of the fear around AI is not about economics or quality, but about the discomfort of watching formerly scarce skills become widely accessible. The reaction sounds familiar because it has happened before.

Using examples from hip hop, sampling culture, and the electric guitar, the conversation draws parallels to moments when new tools were dismissed as shortcuts or “not real.” Each time, the medium evolved and expanded. AI, they argue, is simply the next instrument. What matters now is not how hard something was to make, but whether it connects, resonates, and reflects a distinct point of view.

As execution becomes cheap and abundant, scarcity moves elsewhere. Taste. Judgment. Human experience. The ability to curate, connect, and decide what matters. The episode closes with a clear reframing. Do not protect the title. Protect the practice. Be the verb, not the noun.

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The Slackers Podcast is produced by Jaime Solis and Jonathan Sasse.
Audio production by Stephen Kallao.
Cover art by Jonathan Sasse

Connect with the Hosts

🎙️ Jonathan Sasse — Chief Strategy Officer and executive advisor.
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn · Forbes Communication Council

🎙️ Jaime Solis — Music & Media executive, strategist, and creator of the Red Threads newsletter.
🔗 LinkedIn | Newsletter | Website
📱 Social: Instagram · Threads · LinkedIn

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