Using technology is something like building muscle. It’s iterative. You learn by doing, and when you’re learning a new tool, process, or software to solve a problem, you’re going to pull a muscle. What you thought you knew turns into a confusing schematic.
When I was around twelve, I got into Citizen Band Radio. I loved the idea of talking to strangers who were near and far away. My handle was “Titanic,” which at the time didn’t seem ironic. For a couple of weeks I’d been assembling all of my equipment on a desk — a signal amplifier, a new antenna mounted on the chimney. I spent hours trying to get everything to work together and failed over and over.
Finally, my amygdala got hijacked. In a peak of genuine stupidity, I opened the second-story window and tossed the entire stack of equipment onto the driveway. To prove I meant it, I went outside and smashed what was left. I swept up the remains. For several weeks after, I kept finding transistors, diodes, wires, and plastic in the grass.
I was embarrassed. But I also remember a deep, specific calm — the feeling of having finally exorcised something that had been tormenting me.
I’m still technology-forward. These days I lean harder on swearing than on defenestration when things go sideways, which is probably better for the equipment and the neighbors. After many hours of banging on my keyboard and an ample use of expletives, I’ve put my Substack in proper order. The learning curve did its work. The muscles got built.
Here’s a quick tour of where things stand.
All of my work lives at carrhagerman.com and outofthebluepodcast.com.
At the top of the page you’ll find three sections. Out of the Blue Podcast Series is where all eleven episodes live — the full journey from arrest to acquittal. Several have been completely rewritten and produced since the original 2024 release. The Sharpener (like a pencil sharpener) is where most of my writing will appear: cultural issues, media criticism, statistical literacy, due process. Think of it as the place where ideas get a point put on them. Available Light is prose, observational nonfiction, photography, nature — writing that moves more slowly and looks more closely.
There’s also a Chat tab. Jump in. I’d rather have a conversation than a monologue. Also, most articles will include audio, and all audio will be voiced by me (No AI Reads)
You can also find Out of the Blue on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast aggregators.
Phew.
I have a lot to release starting next week, and look forward to hearing from you in the chats.
Thank you for your support.