My Go-To People and Sources

A not-too-overwhelming, always-evolving list of people, podcasts, and resources that shape my work and worldview

For years, I’ve wanted to compile a list of all the people, platforms, and resources that inspire me, not just for the work I do, but for building a business, writing a book and newsletter, and staying grounded as a human navigating this wild world.

It took a while, but I finally pulled it together. Below you’ll find my go-to thinkers, creators, and communities, organized by category:

• 📬 Newsletters & Blogs I Never Miss

• 🎙️ Podcasts I Listen To

• 👥 People Worth Following

• 📚 Books That Shifted My Thinking

• 📱 Favorite Creators on Instagram

• 🛠️ Communities & Job Boards

A gentle reminder: I don’t read, watch, or listen to every one of these every single week—and you don’t have to either. Some days I have to declare newsletter bankruptcy and delete them all! (I have a special folder in Superhuman to keep newsletters separate from other things.) Think of this as a buffet, not a syllabus. Take what’s useful, bookmark what sparks curiosity, and leave the rest.

I’m not putting this one behind a paywall because I want as many people as possible to access and benefit from these recommendations. But if you find it helpful and want to support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. It truly helps me keep doing what I do.

Of course, the minute I hit publish I’ll remember someone I forgot—so this will be a living list. If I missed one of your favorites (or you’re on here and want to say hi!), drop it in the comments.

Enjoy the scroll!

📬 Newsletters/Blogs I Never Miss

1. Bruce Mehlman's Age of Disruption
   – Bruce Mehlman: A must-read for anyone working in public policy or interested in the trends in DC

2. Behind the Craft by Peter Yang
   – Peter Yang: Tips on using AI

3. Big Technology
   – Alex Kantrowitz: Intersection of big tech and society

4. Brand Seasons
   – Strategic guidance on building your brand

5. Command Line – Alex Heath: At the cutting edge of insider tech news

6. DFR Lab: The Source – Updates on global digital deception

7. Digital Politics – Mark Scott: Keeps you current on Europe’s tech scene

8. Disinfo Docket - The latest research and media reporting on influence operations

9. Doomscroll
   – News and insights from digital campaigners on the right

10. Everything in Moderation – Ben Whitelaw & Alice Hunsberger: Smart content moderation insights

11. FWIW
    – Digital campaign insights from the left

12. Future Media
    – Ricky Sutton: Smart takes at the media/tech crossroads

13. Getting Out of Control
    - Neil Chilson. Smart tech policy analysis

14. How to Glow in the Dark
    – Insights on the book publishing industry

15. ICYMI by Lia Haberman
    – Lia Haberman: Excellent creator economy and tech platform roundups

16. Jenn Davis - My French Table
    – Jenn Davis: Beautiful recipes and reflections from France

17. Oliver Darcy Status – Daily news roundups with political and tech insights

18. Pack Light Live Full with Carmen Van Kerckhove
    - Must read on the future of work with brutally honest advice

19. Platformer – Casey Newton: Platform dynamics, policy, and power plays

20. Prototyping Politics
    – Soren Dayton: Center-right politics and policy

21. Publishing Confidential
    – Tips and info on traditional publishing

22. Reliable Sources – Brian Stelter: Smart insights and story roundups

23. Rest of World – Global tech reporting that’s refreshingly non-U.S.-centric

24. Spin Class
    – Emily Horne: Comms advice and insights on running your own business

25. Stratechery – Ben Thompson: Classic analysis for tech insiders

26. Tech Dirt – Mike Masnick: Smart takes and BS detection on tech and policy

27. Tech Policy Press – Justin Hendrix & team: Deep dives, roundtables, and the Sunday Show podcast

28. The Camont Journals with Kate Hill
    – Kate Hill: Creative life and inspiration from France

29. The Hyphen by Emma Gannon
    – Emma Gannon: UK-based advice on creativity and self-employment

30. The Indicator – Craig Silverman & Alexios Mantzarlis: Tools to investigate digital deception

31. The Intersection
    – Patrick Ruffini: Data and polling insights from the right

32. The Media Copilot
    – Navigating AI in journalism

33. The Publishing Spectrum
    – Stories and advice about writing on Substack

34. The Shuffle with Chelsey Pippin Mizzi
    – Chelsea Pippin Mizzi: Tarot meets creative coaching

35. unREDACTED by Duco
    – Duco: New insights from tech policy experts

36. Untangled with Charley Johnson
    – Charlie Johnson: Cultural and tech analysis

37. User Mag
    – Taylor Lorenz: Unique lens into internet culture

38. Vanderhacks
    – Bite-sized tips to boost life and work

39. Wired Politics Lab – Excellent journalism on tech and political intersections

40. Wonder Tools
    – Jeremy Caplan: AI and digital productivity gems

41. Substack Writers at Work with Sarah Fay
    – Sarah Fay: Practical advice and stories from the Substack trenches

🎙️ Podcasts I Listen To

1. Call Her Daddy – Hosted by Alex Cooper; a candid, wide-ranging interview and advice podcast that blends humor, intimacy, and culture.

2. Ctrl‑Alt‑Speech – A weekly podcast by Mike Masnick & Ben Whitelaw unpacking the latest in online speech, trust & safety, and content moderation.

3. Getting Hammered – Hosted by Mary Katherine Ham & Victorino Matus; sharp and funny political commentary.

4. Lawfare: Arbiters of Truth – Evelyn Douek & Quinta Jurecic on legal and policy aspects of online speech.

5. Mixed Signals – Semafor Media’s deep-dive into the media industry, trends, and business.

6. On with Kara Swisher – Kara Swisher’s powerhouse interviews with innovators, executives, and thought leaders shaping tech’s future.

7. Pivot – Weekly conversations with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway about business, tech, and politics.

8. Ruthless – Conservative political operatives candidly dissect strategy, culture, and the news cycle.

9. Safe Space Podcast – Thorn’s series tackling online safety, sexual exploitation risk, and support for vulnerable communities

10. She Said/She Said – Hosted by Laura Cox Kaplan; explores leadership, influence, and what it means to have agency.

11. SmartLess – Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett host playful/profound celebrity interviews with a laid-back twist.

12. Sunday Show – The Tech Policy Press team breaks down policy news, tech regulation, and global tech developments.

13. The Friday Reporter – Hosted by Lisa Camooso Miller; chats with journalists and communications pros

14. The Most Interesting Thing in AI – Nicholas Thompson explores ethical and societal questions raised by AI innovations.

15. Voices in the River – Uplifting storytelling featuring women navigating life’s complexities.

👥 People Worth Following

🧠 Legal Scholars & Policy Thinkers

1. Kate Klonick – Law professor known for The New Governors, a foundational piece on online content governance.

   1. Substack: The Klonickles diggingaholepodcast.com+2klonick.substack.com+2bsky.app+2

2. Daphne Keller – Former Google legal counsel and current scholar at Stanford Cyber Policy Center; focuses on intermediary liability and free speech.

3. Nate Persily – Stanford law professor focused on election law, political communication, and the legal frameworks shaping digital democracy.

4. Matt Perault – Head of AI Policy, a16z. Former head of policy at Facebook.

5. Daniel Kreiss – Researcher in political communication and digital campaigning

6. Jeff Kosseff – Author of The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet, expert on Section 230

7. Brian Fishman – Former head of Facebook’s counterterrorism policy team; now an expert on platform integrity and extremist threats.

8. Nic Suzor – Australian law professor and author of Lawless: The Secret Rules That Govern Our Digital Lives, focusing on digital rights, online governance, and accountability of platforms.

🛡️ Trust & Safety + Platform Practitioners

1. Samidh Chakrabarti – Former Head of Civic Integrity at Facebook; now building trustworthy AI at Zentropi and teaching emerging tech governance at Stanford

2. Alex Stamos – Former Facebook CSO, founding Director of Stanford Internet Observatory, and Stanford lecturer in cybersecurity, disinformation, and safety

3. Yoel Roth – Former Twitter Head of Trust & Safety; current SVP, T&S at Match Group and PhD-poised tech-policy thinker focused on moderation, transparency, and algorithmic risk

4. Dave Willner – Architect of Facebook’s first community standards, former OpenAI Head of Trust & Safety, now pioneering AI safety solutions and teaching at Stanford

5. Renee DiResta – Associate Research Professor at Georgetown McCourt School, formerly at Stanford Internet Observatory; expert on misinformation, influence ops, and platform accountability

🏛️ Civic Tech & Accountability

1. Brandon Silverman – Co‑founder of CrowdTangle (acquired by Meta), now a civic tech transparency advocate, working on policy and data access initiatives.

2. Aaron Beerman – Writer of The Blue Owl, a Substack focused on civic tech, transparency, and the intersection of democracy and data. Collaborates closely with Brandon Silverman.

3. Adam Conner – VP of Technology Policy at the Center for American Progress; leading tech policy development and connecting DC with Silicon Valley.

4. Kat Duffy – Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; advocate for global digital rights and former State Department lead on internet freedom.

5. Dean Jackson – Principal at Public Circle and nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, focused on information integrity and democratic resilience.

6. Theo Skeadas – Civic technologist working on digital governance, voter engagement, and public sector innovation.

7. Moira Whelan – Director of Democracy & Technology at NDI; global voice on digital rights, election integrity, and platform responsibility.

8. Roxy Ndebumadu – City Councilmember in Bowie, MD, advocating for equitable tech policy and ethical AI in local government.

📊 Political Strategy & Public Engagement

1. Kristen Soltis Anderson – Pollster and commentator focused on center-right politics and generational trends.

2. Erick Erickson's Show Notes
   - Conservative radio host and political commentator offering insider takes on U.S. politics, policy, and faith-driven leadership from the right.

📰 Journalists

1. Ben Brody - Punchbowl News tech reporter on Capitol Hill

2. Cecilia Kang – National technology correspondent at The New York Times, renowned for her investigations into antitrust, privacy, and tech regulation.

3. Hannah Murphy – Financial Times tech reporter covering social media giants and emerging fintech.

4. Ina Fried - Chief technology correspondent at Axios

5. Jeff Horowitz – Award-winning investigative tech journalist at Reuters (formerly Wall Street Journal), co-author of Broken Code and leader of "The Facebook Files" exposé.

6. Jim VandeHei - Co-founder of Axios and a fellow Wisconsinite. Insightful columns.

7. Kurt Wagner – Bloomberg’s social media and tech reporter, covering platforms like Meta and X since 2019. Before that, he worked at Recode, Mashable, and Fortune

8. Makena Kelly – Senior politics & tech writer at WIRED, known for the “Politics Lab” newsletter and deep dives into digital power.

9. Mike Allen - Knows everything and everyone in DC. His newsletters are the ones I open every morning if I only have time to read one or two.

10. Naomi Nix – Staff writer at The Washington Post focused on Meta and its broader societal influence.

11. Riley Griffin – Bloomberg tech reporter covering the intersection of Big Tech, politics, health, and AI; former healthcare specialist recognized for pandemic coverage

12. Shannon Bond – NPR correspondent tracking tech’s role in politics and society; formerly at Financial Times.

13. Sheera Frenkel – New York Times cybersecurity and tech reporter, co-author of An Ugly Truth, with deep expertise in disinformation.

14. Will Oremus – Technology reporter at The Washington Post, previously at Slate; co-hosts the “Tech Brief” newsletter.

📚 Books That Shifted My Thinking

1. Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
   A reflective memoir tracing Garten’s pivot from government work to culinary icon, underscoring how purpose, perseverance, and a little serendipity shape a life well-lived.

2. Burn Book by Kara Swisher
   An unfiltered memoir from a media powerhouse, revealing Swisher’s rise in tech journalism and her candid reflections on influence, power, and identity.

3. Culture Map by Erin Meyer
   A framework for navigating cross-cultural communication and global business dynamics—especially useful for distributed teams and international collaboration.

4. Life Forward by Pam McLean
   A multi-dimensional guide (psychological, spiritual, developmental) to creating a meaningful roadmap forward—perfect for reflection and realignment.

5. The Fourth Turning Is Here by Neil Howe
   Expands generational theory to argue we're navigating a pivotal crisis period—historic patterns explain today’s turbulence and hint at what's ahead.

6. The Portfolio Life by Christina Wallace
   A modern career guide rejecting hustle culture in favor of diversified, balanced living—actionable tools to design sustainable, purpose-rich professional lives

7. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
   A powerful memoir-essay hybrid about reclaiming voice, identity, and freedom; a manifesto for anyone reevaluating what freedom and self-expression truly mean.

Books on Facebook and Instagram

1. An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook’s Battle for Domination by Sheera Frenkel & Cecilia Kang
   A definitive, behind-the-scenes exposé of Facebook’s internal crises and policy failures—this New York Times bestseller lays bare how systemic issues were baked into the company’s design

2. Broken Code: Inside Facebook and the Fight to Expose Its Harmful Secrets by Jeff Horwitz
   Horwitz’s riveting follow-up to The Facebook Files, drawing on insider testimony to document the tension between Facebook’s growth metrics and societal harm

3. Facebook: The Inside Story by Steven Levy
   A sweeping history drawn from hundreds of interviews—including Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg—covering Facebook's origin story, global ascent, and deepening challenges

4. No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram by Sarah Frier
   Winner of the FT’s Business Book of the Year, this fast-paced narrative explores Instagram’s rise, its $1 billion acquisition by Facebook, and the cultural impact of its image-driven ethos

📱 Favorite Creators on Instagram

1. @bossbabe.inc – Content strategy and business-building inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.

2. @disappointingaffirmations – Gallows‑humor affirmations and memes that acknowledge the real struggle behind the glow‑up.

3. @HumanDesignUnhinged – Funny, insightful memes on human design that hit like they’re revealing parts of your soul.

4. @hotdudesreading – A joyful scroll‑stopper: handsome guys in bookstores to brighten your feed.

5. @jennakutcher – Empowering business tips, creativity reminders, and authentic storytelling (with Wisconsin roots!).

6. @laurahaleydt – Instagram content creation growth tactics and passive income strategies.

7. @meadowscrystals – Visual calm through crystal jewelry and energy-focused accessories

8. @peakperformancewithjulia – Gentle motivation, burnout prevention strategies from an ex‑Google coach.

9. @overhearddistrict – Funny, all-too-DC moments overheard around the Beltway.

10. @toyoufromsteph – Thoughtful, soulful illustrations that speak to the heart and journey inward.

11. @wildalabaster – Modern crystal aesthetics and energy work infused with soulful design.

12. @woowoobestie – Lighthearted woo‑woo tips and spiritual silliness to make you smile.

🛠️ Communities & Job Boards

1. All Tech Is Human Slack – Collaborative, open, and a great place to learn.

2. Trust & Safety Professionals Association – Supportive network and resources.

3. Trust & Safety Network (TS Job Tuesday) – Weekly job drops and other resources.

4. Democracy Notes
   – Another Substack with excellent job listings.

5. Public Affairs Jobs – More DC-focused, but surprisingly evergreen.

6. Digital Trust & Safety Partnership – Good glossaries and frameworks.

7. Integrity Institute – A thinky community with a great podcast and practical insights.