Dillan interviews Michelle Varghese.

Michelle is a writing coach who helps creators express themselves online with more honesty, vulnerability, and soul. She’s worked with programs like Write of Passage and now coaches writers full-time.

They discuss: how to spot (and avoid writing) AI slop, the rise of performative content on LinkedIn, why vulnerability in writing matters more than ever, how to know when you're ready to share a personal story, the difference between wounds and scars in creative work, the 5-step exercise to help your audience feel 10x more connected to you, and much more.

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Michelle's links...

Substack: https://substack.com/@michellevarghese

Twitter / X: https://x.com/mvarghoose

Writing Coaching: https://michellevarghoose.gumroad.com/l/writingcoaching/

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Follow Dillan on the interwebs...

Twitter / X: https://x.com/dillanroytaylor 

Newsletter: https://grindstone.coach/newsletter

Apply for Grindstone Coaching: https://www.grindstone.coach/

Music by myboy.scoochy: https://www.instagram.com/myboy.scoochy/ 

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0:00 Intro
0:45 Best and worst things about AI writing
7:57 The “dead internet theory”
18:04 How AI fails to replicate human error
29:40 Can you even tell when writing is AI?
35:42 The power of stories in content
39:35 Michelle’s advice for creating vulnerably
52:30 Being human is the whole point
55:31 A 5-finger framework for connection
1:04:22 Michelle’s turn: her 5-finger reflection
1:17:24 Bye bye bye