An important change is coming to the Substack.

If you value my content, please read.

TLDR: A paywall is going up on this Substack. I had hoped to avoid this, but because people are stealing my work and ideas and using them to build their platforms, it seems inevitable. If you appreciate my work and want to keep reading it, I hope you will consider subscribing for $5/month or $50/year.

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Here is the rationality behind this change:

I’ve been making a big push to make this Substack my content hub since the beginning of the year. In the previous three months, I’ve produced 75 articles for it and 16 podcasts, oftentimes working on original research at all hours of the night to do so. It’s not uncommon for me to work 10-15 hours a day, almost every day of the week.

And I’m happy to do it, because I think the content I’m creating is important, unique, and helpful to people. I care deeply about providing content on what’s going on in the world that is grounded in reality, is nuance instead of outrage porn, and has receipts so that people can see for themselves what is going on and decide for themselves what they think.

But there are a few realities I have to grapple with:

• Between 5,000-10,000 people are reading my Substack every day…and a very small percentage of those people are paid subscribers.

• If I say something that some subscribers don’t like or don’t want to hear, they cancel their paid subscription to be able to send me a nasty note about whatever they didn’t like…and then still continue to read my work for free.

• And, most importantly, people are stealing my original work and ideas, calling them their own, and using them to build their own platforms. On more than one occasion, this has happened with major media outlets and influencers reporting on my work without crediting me.

Another factor is that my Unwoke Art store is already doing very well…and though I think it’s wonderful and very much appreciate it, it’s astonishing to me that people will pay for a t-shirt or a mug and not voluntarily support the content on this site if they find it valuable.

Earlier today, I asked my chat on this site for feedback about why more people weren’t signing up to support my work, and generally got replies that looked like this from supporters:

Frankly, I'm dumbfounded Karlyn. I think you're highly insightful (you know what to focus on) as well as the most levelheaded and open-minded amongst the un-woke content creators. You're an outstanding leader and mentor. You're extremely well-spoken, and you have a great sense of humor. Why don't enough people support you?! I hope that you hear back from others who haven't been paying about why they aren't. Thank you for reaching out Karlyn!

I also had a bit of a brainstorming session on my Monday supporter call from people who are subscribed to one of my platforms and their response was universal:

It’s time for me to put up a paywall and start charging people to access my work.

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I have mixed feelings about this.

I want to help as many people as possible, and allowing people to share my work is a part of that. I also know that not everyone is in a position to financially support things, even if it’s just $5/month.

However, I also have to be realistic and admit that everything I have done so far has not been enough to fund the amount of work I’m putting into this. And the people stealing my work and claiming it as their own makes this even more difficult.

If they’re going to steal my work or report on it without giving me credit, they can at least throw me $5/month to fund it.

I have very big plans for things I want to accomplish for the rest of the year. To accomplish those things, I need more paid subscribers than I currently have.

So, I have choices.

I can retire this Substack under the assumption that people do not value my work, and that’s why they’re not subscribing and transition to spending all day selling t-shirts on Unwoke Art…

…Or I can put up a paywall and see if people value my unwoke content enough to pay $5/month or $50/year for it.

I’m choosing to try a paywall.

I believe in this project, and I believe I’m providing a unique perspective and hitting on ideas that are not being covered by anyone else in the space.

And I hope that if you value it, you’ll consider supporting it.

Here’s how it’ll work:

• Each article I post will have a preview outlining what’s in the article that will allow you to decide if it’s worth it to you to continue reading behind the paywall break.

• All of my articles will be posted separately for people supporting me on Locals and on Patreon so that they do not need to pay for another subscription to read my work.

• There will still occasionally be a free post here and there to let people know about different things going on.

• I will re-evaluate based on the response and perhaps adjust this in the future.

You will also get access to additional perks, like two private supporter calls each week and access to my supporter Discord to join the writer’s group or our weekly movie night.

So, if you want to continue to have access to my content, I hope you will consider subscribing.

Thank you for reading.

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Fight back against the woke and support my work.

I believe the woke - on the left and the right - are an existential threat to our values as Americans. Some of them know it, most of them are just useful innocents. Regardless, fighting back against this woke cultural revolution is my full-time job. I’m dedicated to exposing the woke ideology in our country, helping people to understand what’s going on, and providing spaces for non-woke people to connect, support each other, and plan ways to fight back.

Here’s how you can help.

• Order my book: Actively Unwoke: The ultimate guide to fighting back against woke insanity in your life.

• Support my work:

  • Sponsor my work on Patreon

  • Become a supporter in Locals

  • Support my work through a Substack subscription