Substacks recommended by Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

Recommended by Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

Don't give in to the lies. Hold on to the truth!

Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet, an organizational development consulting firm and author of White Supremacy is All Around: Notes From a Black Disabled Woman In a White World, shares her gems via the Change Cadet Action Network.

Home of Truth

Zeteo is a new media organization that seeks to answer the questions that really matter, while always striving for the truth. Founded by Mehdi Hasan, Zeteo is a movement for media accountability, unfiltered news and bold opinions.

Letters from God

By God

Daily posts and weekday live shows (2pm ET) with God and Jesus. Featuring celebrity guests! Subscribe for God's commentary on politics, religion, and the ongoing apocalypse. All paid support is deeply appreciated.

Why It Matters

By Alexander Vindman

A newsletter about what's happening around the world and Why It Matters.

The Wisdom School: What it Means to be Human

By Thom Hartmann

Welcome to the Lyceum. What does it mean to be human? What is the nature of life? How does the universe work?

Ahmed Baba's Newsletter

Political news analysis that is unapologetically pro-democracy and anti-disinformation. Delivered to your inbox 1 to 2 times a week. Become a free or paid subscriber.

Stop the Presses

By Mark Jacob

A weekly newsletter about how right-wing extremism has exploited the weaknesses in American journalism, and what we can do about it.

My personal Substack

A first-time dad writes letters to his newborn son, Myles, every Monday, sharing the joy he didn't experience himself with the world. Inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates' "Between the World and Me."

Olivia of Troye

I had a front-row seat to history during Trump 1.0 – and blew the whistle. Every week, I offer sharp insights, expose hidden risks, and unpack the headlines so we can stay informed and ready. Join me as I cut through the noise designed to distract us.

Story/No Story

By Kelly Carlin

Musings, essays, and other stuff that reflects my story, how we all create and understand life through our stories, and yet, the true freedom that comes when we dare to step into a space of no story.

Rosalyn’s Writings

By Roz

Opinions, Musings, Reads, Rants, Fiction (I write about race, current events, politics, and other pertinent topics.)

TODAY YOU WILL WRITE

By TaraShea Nesbit

TODAY YOU WILL WRITE is a weekly uplift from your encouraging writer friend, TaraShea Nesbit, author of BEHELD and THE WIVES OF LOS ALAMOS. Expect multi-genre creative writing prompts, craft glow-ups, and love.

Bookish

By Christine Sneed

Books & book-adjacent topics, taking the long view, the writing life, and related resources. Posts every 5-6 days.

Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay

Your definitive guide to Substack growth from the world's leading Substack Strategist Sarah Fay ✦ A top-10 bestselling, featured Substack ✦ Let’s begin…

Inner Life

By Joshua Doležal

An open conversation about the life of the mind.

Kurt Vonnegut Radio

By Gabe Hudson

If Kurt Vonnegut had a podcast, it would sound like this.

Last Week's New Yorker Review

By Sam Circle

A scan of the features, one week belated. Completely unofficial and unsolicited.

Open Windows- Ann Telnaes

Ann Telnaes- Artist, visual storyteller, creator of "Open Windows"

Special Intelligence

By Malcolm Nance

Daily Flash Traffic & Geopolitical Intelligence Analysis and Warnings You Need on War, Espionage/Terrorism. My ONLY Official Sites& I DONT DM people Tiktok @OfficialMalcolmNance Youtube @MalcolmNanceMedia BlueSky @malcolmnance.bsky.com X - @MalcolmNance

In the Writing Burrow

By Margaret Atwood

Whatever comes into my addled, shrinking brain.

everyone is entitled to my own opinion

By Jeff Tiedrich

I read the news today, oh boy

Jeff Tiedrich keeps us sane and in stiches as Trump, MAGA and Project 2025 concentrate on destroying the United States and stripping away human and civil rights. His intelligent newsletter is the antidote to all this atrociousness.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

Noel's Notes

By Noel Casler

A deeper dive into current events and 'Noel Casler Podcast' topics.

I listen to Noel's podcast The Noel Casler Show and am glad he's on Substack. He talks truth to power and reveals all you wanted to know (but sometimes wish you didn't know) about our former orange indicted leader.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

So Far, So...

By Michael Warburton

The Movies and Movie people that matter to me...

Mary Tabor "Only connect ..."

By <Mary L. Tabor>

The arts, books, movies, a course: Write it!, The Writing Life, (Re)Making Love: a memoir in serial chapters (fully up now), Who by Fire: a serial novel.

Alice on Sunday

By Alice Elliott Dark

Dispatches about literature and life.

Sparks from Culture by David Roberts

Weekly personal essays about wealth, class, and capitalism from someone with generational wealth, writing with transparency

Footnotes and Tangents

By Simon Haisell

Slow reads of great books. Book guides and a reading community to help you get more from the best stories.

Banished

By Amna Khalid & Jeff Snyder

Amna Khalid and Jeffrey Aaron Snyder explore higher education, free expression and the culture wars.

I discovered Amna Khalid's Banished podcast last year and have been an avid listener of it and an avid reader of her Substack of the same name. So needed in our current times.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

Washington Review of Books

Becoming literate is a lifelong task, but it shouldn’t take your entire day.

Before and After the Book Deal

By Courtney Maum

Real talk about the writing + publishing industry from an author who doesn’t want you to feel confused, bewildered, or alone. Plus: craft tips, reading recommendations, writing support + solidarity (unless you are a jerk to people in the comments).

Taco Bell Quarterly

Updates, dread, and writing inspiration from the most Literary Magazine of all time

Seeing Things

By Liza Donnelly

New and unpublished drawings and thoughts for people who want to see more of life, from a New Yorker cartoonist. Drawings, cartoons, words, live drawing, process, more...

Story Club with George Saunders

A place to explore the way the short story works.

George Saundrs is a master of his crafts in writing and teaching. What a joy to have him on Substack sharing his knowledge and guiding fellow writers like me.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

The Good in Us by Mary L. Trump

By Mary L Trump

In which we come together to save American democracy, or at least have fun while trying.

Public Notice

By Aaron Rupar

The Neighborhood Sociologist

By Rod Graham

A newsletter using a sociological imagination to talk about society, culture, and politics.

Dr. Graham's publication is consistently thought provoking. He will challenge you and push your thinking forward on any topic he addresses.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

The Dworkin Report

By Scott Dworkin

Insight into national politics and elections from a seasoned and fearless independent journalist, delivered to your inbox daily so you can stay inspired and informed—while you push back on Trump and corporate media.

Robert Reich

Daily newsletter exposing where power lies — and how it's used and abused

I grew up in a working class family. Money was always a concern especially when my father's workplace went on strike. Secretary Reich actually cares about workers and how the top one percent continue to unjustly thrive at everyone else's expense. He practices what he preaches and his newsletter showcases his humor as well as his intellect and empathy.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

Black Books + Black Minds

By Diamond-Michael Scott

Igniting a New World of Community, Connection, and Conversation, One Book at a Time

Ask E. Jean

By E. Jean Carroll

Never let them steal your joy!

Thinking about...

By Timothy Snyder

Opening the future by understanding the past.

The Hartmann Report

By Thom Hartmann

A Daily Newsletter of Renaissance Thinking about Progressive Politics, Economics, Science, and the Political News Issues of Our Day

Lucid

By Ruth Ben-Ghiat

A newsletter for big-picture thinking about autocracy and threats to democracy around the world

Patti Smith

The reader is my notebook

I have been a lifelong fan of Patti Smith's writing and music. Her lyrics, poetry, and prose not only enrapture any reader and listener, but they fill your soul and thoughts while moving people to a higher dimension.

- Laura Durnell ♿️ ♀️

Steady

By Dan Rather

Dan Rather's steady take on a complex and chaotic world.

The Audacity.

By Roxane Gay

Writing that boldly disregards normal restraints.

Lit Mag News

By Becky Tuch