revamping, walking, and indieweb dreams

Episode Overview

It’s Monday afternoon as I record this, just before stepping out for a brisk walk to clear my head after a full day at the desk.

In this episode, I reflect on the transition from holiday mode back to work, share some updates about the redesign of my website, and explore why blogging matters more than ever in the age of social media’s walled gardens (prisons).

Along the way, I dive into my ongoing passion for the Indie Web movement and why I think we should reclaim blogging as a space for self-expression and serendipity.

Key Topics:

1. Post-Holiday Blues

• Like many of you, I’ve been feeling the shift back into work routines after the holidays. It’s always a strange time of year—shaking off the chill mode and gearing up for the long winter ahead.
• I’ve noticed a lot of folks on social media dreading the return to structure, and I get it. There’s something so freeing about those unstructured days where you can just exist without the pressure of schedules. But here we are, settling back in.

2. Revamping My Website with Indie Web Principles

• Over the weekend, I gave my website a minimalist redesign. It’s cleaner, more focused on blogging, and aligned with Indie Web principles.
• I’ve added new post types like bookmarks, likes, replies, and context posts. These let me share smaller, in-the-moment thoughts without the pressure to write long essays.
• The goal? To take back my digital space from platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram. Instead of scattering my content across those sites, I’m putting everything on my blog first, then syndicating out.

3. Rediscovering the Spirit of Blogging

• Blogging used to be this free-form space to share thoughts and have conversations in the comments. Somewhere along the way, it turned into this high-pressure activity where you feel like you’re writing essays for an audience. That’s not what blogging was meant to be.
• I want to bring back the fragmented, hypertextual style of blogging where you can just share what’s on your mind—short or long—and link out to whatever sparks your curiosity.

4. Breaking Free from Social Media’s Walled Gardens (prisons)

• Social media platforms are designed to keep us inside their ecosystems, discouraging us from linking out or exploring beyond the scroll. But on my blog, I don’t have those constraints. I can share what I want, how I want, without worrying about algorithms.
• Tools like WordPress and Jetpack make it easy to syndicate posts to platforms like Mastodon, Threads, or BlueSky, so I can still reach people without losing ownership of my content.

5. Newsletter Fatigue and Finding Balance

• I know newsletters are a great way to bypass algorithms, but let’s be real—there’s so much newsletter fatigue these days. Everyone wants you to subscribe to something.
• My newsletter is purely for convenience—if you’re busy, it’s an easy way to stay updated on my latest posts without constantly checking my site. No spam, no hard sell, just an option for those who want it.

6. Hypertext Adventures and Serendipity

• For me, the beauty of blogging and the internet is the chance to stumble into unexpected rabbit holes. It’s about expanding your mind, connecting ideas, and seeing the world through different lenses.
• I’m bringing this spirit back to my blog, treating it like a living library where readers can wander through posts and discover new paths.

Takeaways

• Blogging isn’t dead—it’s just waiting for us to reclaim it. Let’s bring back the creativity and conversation that made blogging great in the first place.
• If you have an old blog gathering dust, dust it off! Even if you’re a podcaster, you can embed your episodes on your site and make it your digital hub.
• The Indie Web is about creating your space online, where you own your content and decide how it’s shared. It’s time we take control back.

Links and Resources

• My blog: Soulcruzer.com
• Learn about the Indie Web: IndieWeb.org
• Tools I use:
  • WordPress
  • Jetpack Plugin