Substacks recommended by Russell C. Smith

Recommended by Russell C. Smith

PREVAIL is a regular column about politics, history, national security, foreign affairs, organized crime, dirty money, global corruption, the fight for democracy—and, on Sundays, poetry and literature.

Granted

By Adam Grant

Adam Grant’s newsletter on psychology and work.

Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter

Horoscopes, tender rants, and lyrical excitements

I've been reading Rob Brezsny's Astrology Newsletter long than he's been writing it. (Or, at least it feels that way.) Maybe first in The Seattle Weekly, and then The Stranger. Both published in long-ago weekly paper formats. If you don't come away from your personal astrological message with a tune on your whistle and a wondering gaze in your eye, I'm not sure what it'll take.

- Russell C. Smith

Creative, Inspired, ALIVE

By Evelyn Skye & Joanna Phoenix

Welcome to the creative collaboration of NYT bestselling novelist Evelyn Skye & creativity coach and writer Joanna Phoenix, who share heartfelt insights on storytelling, ambition, and growth. JOIN US—for kindness, curiosity, and community.

Glorious Broads

By Maryjane Fahey

All things Glorious Broads. I'm so fed up and so INTENT on living my last bit on this female fearing earth happily — and hopefully — spreading a bit of joy with a sprinkling of rage. Ok. Maybe more than a sprinkling ...

CAFÉ ANNE

By Anne Kadet

It's a wonderful world—meet the inhabitants!

Project 2025 Takedown

By Tiffany Torres Williams

It's Project 2025's world, we're just living in it. P2025 Takedown readers are preppers for democracy. We know GOP extremists' plan to give Trump unprecedented presidential power and turn our democracy into a fascist theocracy. And we will stop them.

All about saving Democracy.

- Russell C. Smith

NR MINT

By Dylan Hicks

Music criticism, mostly on jazz.

Dynamic Creed: The Sharp Edge of Fiction

By Victor David @ Dynamic Creed

One of a kind evocative creative fiction outside the designs of our times

Changing The Channel with Kirsten Powers

New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers offers fresh thinking about how we can make big changes in our lives, communities and country.

For Dear Life with Maggie Smith

A newsletter about writing & other things that make this life dear—from the poet, not the dame

On Repeat Records

By Kevin

Ditch the algorithm. Music discovery made easy—curated by someone who remembers when a mixtape could change your life.

Bicycle Buddha

By Carmen

Ramblings of a Zen student, two-wheeler, and curious human.

The Creative Act: Thoughtforms & Innerworks

By Rick Rubin

A weekly communiqué of actionable practices

Stories for a New Florence

By Mike Goodenow Weber

A deep dive into personal, cultural, and social excellence - from exemplary figures in history and from fields of human thought and activity in our time.

Daryn’s Substack

By Ghostwriter

My personal Substack

The Weekly Anthropocene

By Sam Matey-Coste

Dispatches Against Despair, from the Wild, Weird World of Humanity and its Biosphere.

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?

Transitional Technology

By ETHAN IVERSON

Jazz Music; Classical Music; Do the Math

The Liberal Patriot

By John Halpin

Political and policy analysis from the vital center.

Greil Marcus / Letter in the Ether

Everyday culture and found objects

Cattywampus

By Heather Hogan

Queer life, pop culture, politics, women's sports, chronic illness, nerd stuff, cats!

Many Such Cases

By Magdalene J. Taylor

A dissection of sexuality and culture in the absence of much of either.

The Honest Broker

By Ted Gioia

A trustworthy guide to music, books, arts, media & culture by Ted Gioia

Patti Smith

The reader is my notebook

Lorraine’s Substack

By Lorraine Evanoff

The Lolo Report

The Literary Obsessive

By Eleanor Anstruther

A show case for my work, I stream fiction before it goes to print, publish essays & interviews, and champion indie lit fiction by increasing visibility, challenging stigma, and proving quality.

Auraist. The best writers on Substack.

By Sean

Trusted by 50K+ readers, we pick the best-written books from US and UK new releases and prize shortlists, and publish articles by world-class authors on prose style and AI writing. Plus the satire The Demon Inside David Lynch.

Are you f'ng kidding me?

By JoJoFromJerz

It’s me… JoJoFromJerz from Twitter!!

Constant Commoner

By Ramona

Essays from the cultural hinterlands. I'm in the boonies but I have Internet and a working BS meter. My country is on the skids right now and I'm trying to get it back on track. Other things are on my mind, but not often.

Castalia

By Sam Kahn

Intellectual Journal - essays, stories, reflections

Sam does it all. He writes Stories, Essays, and Manifesto(es) on Castalia. There's his insightful and lyrical writing, a tribe of other writers (such as Mary L. Tabor) connected to him, and he welcomes guest posters to jump on the train and have something to say before it rolls around the next bend.

- Russell C. Smith

Like & Subscribe from Natalie Jarvey

By Janice Min

A newsletter about the big business of creators

West Coast Sojourn

By Donnell Alexander

THC-Infused Sports + Politics + Culture

SES/SUMS IT UP with Kevin Sessums

By Kevin Sessums

Conversation/Culture/Current Affairs

Sweary History with James Fell

Those who cannot remember the past . . . need a history teacher who says "fuck" a lot.

gotham girl

By Alisa Kennedy Jones

gotham girl is a reader-supported newsletter for inquisitive readers from bestselling author Alisa Kennedy Jones. "One of America’s funniest, most singular voices on Substack" — The New York Times

Insightfully funny, culturally astute, and stunningly savvy. Her voice shines through in every piece she writes.

- Russell C. Smith

Publishing Confidential

By Kathleen Schmidt

News and analysis about the book publishing industry that you won't read anywhere else.

John Paul Brammer

Writing, art, and more from John Paul Brammer.

The Deeper Call

By Ashley Neese

LA breathwork teacher learning presence through foster care, homesteading, and life with rescued horses.

Enough Already

By D. Earl Stephens ✍️

Light reading in these dark political times ...

Alan Watts - Shaman.

By Tim Lott

An Online Serialisation of My Book on Alan Watts, 'Shaman - The Life And MInd Of Alan Watts, Trickster Guru'

Poetic Outlaws

A place for the outlaws of poetry and the written word.

A curated daily burst of poetry. Yes, please. Sometimes it's a poem, and sometimes it's prose about life, or the afterlife, or poetry. It keeps returning to poetry.

- Russell C. Smith

Attention Economy

By Leigh Stein

honest advice about making a career as an author today

The Liminality Journal

By Kaitlin Curtice

thoughts on the in-between

The Department of Salad: Official Bulletin

By Emily Nunn

Not really "about” salad. But salad is the force that through the green fuse drives the flower. Recipes, yes—but mostly a way of paying attention.

The Free Press

By Bari Weiss

A new media company built on the ideals that were once the bedrock of American journalism.

Meditations in an Emergency

By Rosecrans Baldwin

A weekly meditation about something beautiful from author and GQ correspondent Rosecrans Baldwin. For supporters, a Sunday supplement with 3+ things to love.

Through the Fog, by Elliot Kirschner

An idiosyncratic exploration of current events, history, art, science, and community.

Caitlin’s Newsletter

By Caitlin Johnstone

Articles, poems, stories and thoughts by Caitlin Johnstone and Tim Foley. Everything published here will always remain free to read.

The Quiet Hours

By Sarah Hartley

Reflections on time, tenderness, and everything unspoken.

The New Now

Recommended by Russell C. Smith