NEW—I am now offering free previews of Monologue episodes here on Substack. This will help you decide if subscribing on Patreon / Spotify is right for you. Learn more in the body of this post.
In this episode, I get honest about the tension so many of us feel around AI: the uneasiness of distrusting it while still using it all the time. I talk about why that discomfort might actually be meaningful—and how embarrassment or shame can act as a compass for finding the line between assistance and authorship.
I share a real story about how AI helps me not over-think a purchase decision with my daughter. I also share about my feelings about receiving AI-written emails. You’ll learn how I think about using AI to help me without letting it replace the parts of my job that actually matter. We talk about the long game: creative confidence, limits, process, and what it really means to maintain authorship as an illustrator.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why discomfort around AI is healthy
The difference between assistance and authorship
How AI can quietly shift from convenience to dependency
Why the process—not just the product—is central to illustration
Why “drawing the line” is literally part of our job
Two reflection questions to check your relationship to AI
⚫️ Listen to the full episode on Patreon for reflection questions, extended discussion, and more. 🟢 You can also subscribe to paid episodes on Spotify.
SHOW LINKS
Paul Kingsnorth’s Substack — The Abbey of Misrule (Note:I mistakenly called PK’s substack “Pilgrims in the Machine” in the podcast.)
Paul Kingsnorth’s website — https://www.paulkingsnorth.net
Rethinking Creativity in the Age of AI — The Futur with Chris Do & Jodie Cook
HOW TO SUPPORT/LISTEN/READ
If you’d like to hear the full version of monologue episodes like this one:
Join on Patreon for as low as $3/month
Become a paid subscriber on Spotify ($2.99/month)
I also post monologues as full articles on Medium.
👉 With enough demand, I will also add a paid tier here on Substack with access to both written and audio formats. Let me know in the comments!
FIND ME ELSEWHERE
My New Book! Drawing is Important! — tomfroese.com/links — look for the green book cover
Work and Classes — tomfroese.com
Instagram — instagram.com/mrtomfroese
Daily Drawings — instagram.com/drawingisimportant
In other news
DRAWING IS IMPORTANT — NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
My new book, Drawing Is Important, is your guide to making drawing a meaningful daily habit. Through stories, insights, and exercises, it helps you draw more often—with less pressure and more joy. Available Spring 2026 — Pre-order now! The first 500 orders get a free hand-signed book plate! Look for “get pre-order prizes” after clicking the link.
