Substack Glitches from the Tech Gods

Substack & Change in 2025

For the past months, I’ve been experiencing Substack glitches, but instead of stressing out, I’ll view it as an omen from the tech Gods.

My scheduled posts often disappear the day they should be released, and I don’t receive notifications when people comment—if I haven’t responded, you know why. Reaching out to Substack support has proved equally useless as a call to a Spanish government office. This is not a complaint but technical providence.

We think we’ve moved away from religion, but instead of looking up at the skies, we stare at our screens. Instead of following prophets, we follow people’s brand image. Instead of giving ourselves up to God’s plan, we give ourselves to big tech.

God is not a dude sitting on a cloud but the cloud we upload our lives to. That’s how we can live on long after our material bodies whither away. That’s why we’re willing to use energy, freshwater, and time for data centres. Yet, this cloud is not heaven.

When you try to create eternity, you create inferno. Religious wars and corporate takeovers all come down to symbols and ideas we want to live on long after our physical bodies decompose.

In the grand scheme of the universe, heaven is ephemeral. Heaven is the earth. It’s everything you have right now. Yet, like most of us, I ignore the present moment—I ignore heaven—to live in hell. I plan and create to leave something behind after I die.

True, our ability to look ahead has led to cultural marvels. Our cathedrals, pyramids, mosques, books, movies, music, recipes, the Macarena dance, lo que sea are worth living in hell for—at least for a while. Yet, these creations were shared, and although many people suffered to create them, they were something we could feel. Eran humanos.

Now, we live and create in hell for what isn’t human. Instead of creating art that moves and touches the sublime, we create content that sells. Instead of passing down stories to future generations, we upload information that Big Tech capitalizes on.

We convince ourselves it’s worth it because we’re all a bit egotistical. I tell you Born Without Borders is for anyone who wants to unshackle the chains of conformity. It’s for people unlearning what holds them back and global citizens looking to increase their cultural competence. Yet, like everything online, Born Without Borders is a way for me make money and to live on in case I die. And these glitches showed me that I don’t want my afterlife to be in a cloud but in people.

What the tech gods can’t take away are my relationships in the real world. Fortunately, Substack has like-minded people who use the platform as a means of connecting to people and nature in the physical world. People like

Brian Wiesner

who’s been helping me open up to new remote opportunities while planning adventures here in Spain.

Although living in the physical world is healthier than living online, I’ve grown accustomed to the digital nomad lifestyle. So, instead of spending dozens of hours a week on the Substack app, I will put those hours into what actually gives me the freedom to travel, see loved ones, spend time in the wild, and create: teaching & coaching.

We learn a language to communicate, and we communicate to connect. Embodying that theme in my teaching style has allowed me to keep students for seven years and counting. LLMs can teach grammar and develop context sentences quicker than I ever could. What it can’t do is feel what you’re saying and create a human relationship (although it can emulate one). That’s why my students aren’t just ESL students anymore. People come to me to think differently—to unlearn.

I’m expanding this into a series that reflects this same philosophy of human connection and unlearning. I’ve started working on a bilingual (English & Spanish) series that explores how people can build meaningful lives in smaller cities and towns across Spain.

It will include creative business ideas (like mould removal services, sustainable tourism, or government-backed land regeneration projects), remote work opportunities (from sales to coding to teaching), and real estate tips for those dreaming of affordable relocation or second homes far from the hustle of Madrid or Barcelona. I’ll also help you not lose your shit in the ayuntamiento.

But more than a list of opportunities, this is about reimagining how we want to live and work—and where.

For my students, learning a language has never just been about grammar or pronunciation. It’s about unlearning old narratives, building confidence, and thinking differently about the world. Many of them are digital nomads, entrepreneurs, or people on the cusp of change. What we do together isn’t just “language coaching.” It’s a kind of slow, intentional transformation. If this interests you, send me an email at nolan@englishforglobalcitizens.com.

This new project is an extension of that. It’s not about selling some fantasy of expat life—it’s about giving people the tools and courage to create something real, rooted, and sustainable.

Want to connect beyond the algorithm?

If you want to talk to me, talk to me—not an algorithm. As I mentioned, I don’t receive notifications when someone comments. I’ll take it as a sign that we shouldn’t stay stuck inside of the Substack app.

• ✉️ Email me directly — for feedback, reflections, or collaboration.

• 📞 Book a free discovery call — link to Calendly or booking page

• 📚 Take a 1-on-1 class or book group classes for your organization.

Spain-specific articles will come out later this summer. For now, I highly recommend checking out

Brendan Boyle

’s

La Comunidad

if you’re interested in nuanced writing about Spain’s culture and sociopolitical situation.

Affiliate Links

Home Exchange: Trade homes, not hotel bills. Live like a local anywhere in the world.

Wise: Send money across borders without losing your mind (or half your paycheck in fees).

Preply: Make a living teaching people worldwide.

Flatio: A more ethical version of Airbnb.