Beyond ‘LinkedIn slop’: how AI can deepen your creative practice (not replace it)
What if artificial intelligence could make you more human, not less?
That’s the question at the heart of my latest conversation with , a tech entrepreneur and innovation consultant who’s also a musician and composer. Tom brings a unique perspective to the AI debate. He’s neither a blind optimist nor a fearful pessimist. Instead, he’s discovered something surprising: when used intentionally, AI tools can actually free us to be more creative, more authentic and more ourselves.
This wasn’t a theoretical discussion. Tom shared his journey from creating what he now calls ‘LinkedIn slop’ using AI to developing a practice that makes him dig deeper into his own truth. If you’ve been curious about AI but worried it might flatten your creative voice, this conversation will change how you think about these tools.
Show Notes
[00:00] Introduction: Why This Conversation Matters
Rachel introduces the shift from her usual creative courage focus to exploring AI and creativity
Tom explains his background straddling tech entrepreneurship and creative practice
Setting the frame: this isn’t a debate about AI’s pros and cons, but an exploration of creative possibilities
Key distinction: acknowledging AI’s limitations while focusing on its potential for creative enhancement
[04:23] The Creative Process Has Many Parts
Creativity isn’t a single act—it’s a process involving research, reflection, iteration, ideation, editing and expression
Tom’s insight: AI excels at systematic, logical and analytical tasks that can free us for more intuitive, empathetic work
The opportunity: offload mechanical aspects of creativity to create more space for authentic human expression
Why this matters: we can ‘pour our humanity’ into the parts of the creative process that truly need it
[10:54] AI as an Endlessly Patient Creative Partner
Using AI like a muse or creative collaborator—one that never judges and never gets tired
Tom’s confession: as a people-pleaser, he struggles with expressing ideas authentically
The breakthrough: asking AI to challenge him with questions like ‘if no one would ever read this, what would you say?’
Moving beyond AI’s sycophantic default behaviour by giving it specific instructions to push back
[17:39] The Data Problem and Notebook LM
Understanding what data AI uses when it responds to you matters
Introduction to Notebook LM: Google’s tool that uses only your data, not the entire internet
The creative potential: feeding AI your own authentic material and using it as a lens or filter
Comparing it to other creative tools: like applying paint effects or audio filters, AI becomes just another step in your process
[20:39] Tom’s Journey from ‘LinkedIn Slop’ to Authentic Writing
The cautionary tale: early experiments with AI-generated LinkedIn posts that looked legit but felt hollow
The revelation: looking back at AI-generated content and not recognising his own voice
The turning point: realising AI shouldn’t write for him, but should help him discover what he wants to say
Creating a custom ChatGPT project with specific instructions: ‘never write anything for me’
[23:48] The Three-Mode Writing Coach
Tom’s practical solution: configuring AI with three distinct modes (coach, critic, editor)
The coach mode: AI asks probing questions to help uncover personal stories and authentic perspectives
The process: having a conversation where AI keeps asking questions until you tell it to stop
The result: a more fun, personalised ‘checklist’ that helps you think through your writing naturally
[30:17] Opening Up Creative Possibility (Not Closing It Down)
Rachel’s observation: this approach does the opposite of creating ‘slop’
The internal exploration: AI forcing you to examine what you’re really thinking and feeling
Rachel’s visceral example: sweating in her chair as AI brought up vulnerabilities and struggles
The paradox: a non-human tool provoking deeply human emotional responses that expand creative capacity
[34:22] Learning to Ask Better Questions
The ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’ principle: AI teaches you to be more specific and intentional
Moving from ‘I need to write a LinkedIn post about X’ to ‘What does Tom Parson think about X?’
How regular AI use trains you to ask better questions of yourself, your work and your readers
The burst of curiosity: suddenly being able to ask about anything without embarrassment
[37:48] Practical Starting Points for Creative People
Start with ChatGPT’s free plan (Tom’s top recommendation after testing multiple platforms)
Don’t expect instant results—give it small doses over a week to see its value
Simple first prompt: ‘I’m working on a project, here’s my idea. Ask me challenging questions to help me move forward.’
Key mindset shift: treat it like technology, not a person—you can say ‘wrong, try again’
[41:14] Configuring Your AI Creative Partner
Remember: it’s a tool, not a human—no need for please and thank you
Two methods for customisation:
Simple way: just talk to it and tell it how you want it to respond
Reliable way: create a ChatGPT project with specific notes and instructions
Tom’s example: creating a ‘writing coach project’ with three modes that never writes for him
The creative potential: experimenting, tweaking and iterating until you get the effect that feels ‘most me’
[45:44] The Future: From Consumption to Creativity
Historical parallel: tablets started as consumption devices and evolved into creative tools
Current state: most people use AI like Google (simple queries and answers)
The exciting next stage: bending, twisting and breaking AI tools in unexpected creative ways
The shift from using AI for us to using AI with us in genuine co-creation
Key Quotes
“AI is definitely not very good at actually just creating stuff. I really don’t believe AI is going to replace human creativity and the authentic intention behind what we do and that connection that people have with writing or other forms of art and creativity.” - Tom Parson
“I think the intention of human creativity and human art is what makes us connect with it. We connect with whether it’s the intention, whether it is the actual intention or our perceived intention of the artist or the creator—that’s what we connect with a lot of the time.” - Tom Parson
“If you just kind of try and take a bit of a shortcut and you’re just kind of like, ‘oh, I’m just gonna give it the bare minimum prompt and just like get it to do it for me,’ you’re gonna get rubbish out at the other end of that.” - Tom Parson
“I’ve had experiences where I’ve been writing stuff and I’ve been challenged to such a degree that I’m literally sitting there on my chair sweating. Because it’s bringing up all of my vulnerabilities, all my paranoia, all my struggles with myself.” - Rachel Connor
“With any technology it’s about how we use it and our intention behind it. I do believe that using things like AI has the potential to make us more curious and more interested.” - Tom Parson
Resources Mentioned
ChatGPT - Tom’s recommended platform for creative AI collaboration (free plan available at ChatGPT.com)
Claude - Alternative large language model tool
Gemini - Google’s AI tool
Notebook LM - Google’s tool for working with your own data exclusively
Where to Find Tom
Website: Coming soon! In the meantime, you can sign up to be kept informed and become a newsletter subscriber on bigecho.co.uk
LinkedIn: Tom Parson
Instagram: @bigecho__ (Big Echo) and @tomparson__ (Tom’s Instagram)
Watch Tom’s interview with Rachel on Episode 4 of Stories of Creative Courage here.
Tom is an innovation consultant and tech entrepreneur who helps organisations think creatively about technology and transformation. He’s also a musician and composer exploring the intersection of creativity and emerging tech.
Your creative process deserves better questions
Here’s what struck me most about this conversation: Tom didn’t start out as an AI expert. He started as someone curious about whether these tools could help him write more authentically—and willing to experiment until he figured it out.
The difference between AI as ‘slop generator’ and AI as creative partner comes down to intention. It comes down to asking better questions. It comes down to being willing to configure these tools to serve your creative vision, not to replace it.
If you’re struggling to express what’s really true for you—if you’re caught between wanting to create and worrying about how it will land—you don’t need AI to write for you. You need someone (or something) to ask you the right questions.
That’s exactly what I do in my 30-minute connection calls.
These free sessions are for anyone with an idea they want to brainstorm, an issue holding them back, or questions about creative practice and coaching. Think of it as a micro-dose of powerful connection that helps point you in the right direction.
Whether you’re curious about using AI in your creative work, struggling to find your authentic voice, or just want to explore what’s possible when you have someone really listen, book your 30-minute connection call here.
No agenda. No pressure. Just genuine conversation about your creative journey and what wants to emerge.
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who joined us live and to those of you watching the recording. Your curiosity and willingness to explore new possibilities in creativity is what makes this community so special.
A special thanks to Tom for bringing such thoughtful, practical wisdom to this conversation. Your journey from “LinkedIn slop” to authentic expression is exactly the kind of story that helps others see what’s possible.
P.S.
If you missed previous episodes of Stories of Creative Courage, you can find them all on my Substack. Each conversation explores what it means to create courageously and express yourself authentically.
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