The hottest Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Some Suggestions

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1774 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Art Music Philosophy Lifestyle Wellness
  1. Be careful about where you get your news. Mainstream media often has its own agenda, so look for different viewpoints to get a better understanding.
  2. Focus on what truly matters to you, not what society says you should want. Find your own path and define success for yourself.
  3. Take care of your mental health by facing your feelings and healing your issues. This helps not just you, but also those around you.

I have a problem: a desistor's manifesto - part 3

Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) • 2456 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Gender Activism Social Issues Media Youth
  1. Concerns about individuals bending gender to harm others in spaces like restrooms and prisons.
  2. Issues with men being awarded and competing in women's categories, affecting fairness and opportunities for women.
  3. Criticism of coercion to accept certain terms, limitations on free speech, and lack of logical debate in the context of trans ideologies.

Among The Swifties

Daily Dreher • 2338 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Music Politics Ideology Emotion Literature
  1. The 'holy war' between Donald Trump and Taylor Swift may not be as senseless as it appears.
  2. The collective power of fanatical fandoms, like Swifties, in the age of the internet, is a force to reckon with.
  3. Enchantment by political figures or pop stars can give a feeling of completeness, blurring the lines between rationality and transcendence.

Don't watch sports

Becoming Noble • 4504 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Sports Philosophy Identity Values History
  1. Sport has historically been a vital part of society, representing values, nobility, and community.
  2. Modern commercialized sports have shifted the focus from active participation to passive observation, leading to a loss of essential virtues and identity.
  3. Engaging in sports through active participation is essential for cultivating virtues, joy, honor, and a sense of community.
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The New Oracles: QAnon, AI and Divination

The Bigger Picture • 718 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🎭️ Culture Conspiracy Theories Spirituality Technology Psychology
  1. The QAnon movement, despite failed predictions, remains a significant force with millions believing in its prophecies.
  2. Movements like Reichsbürger share an interest in divination, with some using occult practices like astrology and fortune-telling.
  3. Artificial intelligence, through generative AI models, is becoming a modern oracle on the internet, mediating between us and the virtual world.

No One Tells You What It Costs to Climb Upward

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 2272 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Psychology Education Class structure Identity politics
  1. Upward mobility can be tough and comes with hidden costs. People often don’t talk about the emotional and social challenges that come when you try to improve your circumstances.
  2. Childhood experiences, especially trauma, can have lasting effects on how people navigate adult life. Understanding this can help foster more empathy for those in difficult situations.
  3. Educational and social systems can sometimes create barriers rather than opportunities. Many talented individuals struggle due to circumstances beyond their control, and success often requires not just ability, but support and mentorship.

Revisiting Renata

Vague Blue • 958 implied HN points • 08 May 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Criticism Journalism Ethics Politics
  1. Renata Adler's writing focuses on critical acuity and a strong ethical use of language
  2. Renata Adler's work emphasizes the importance of maintaining distinctions and avoiding polarization in discussions of violence and ethics
  3. Adler's nonfiction stands out for its searing righteousness, honesty, and fearless exploration of truth amidst a backdrop of cultural and political complexities

Pt2: The Building Blocks of Status

Knowingless • 2404 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Status Social Dynamics Identity Behavior Narrative
  1. Status comes from having things that others want. If you possess something valuable, like good skills or resources, people will want to be around you.
  2. It's not enough to just have what others want; they need to know you have it. Sharing your achievements or possessions helps increase your status among others.
  3. Relationships can be like investments; people often help those they see potential in, hoping that it'll pay off in the future. We tend to surround ourselves with people who can enhance our own status.

Fun, play, and discovery

Austin Kleon • 4456 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art Music Literature Media Entertainment
  1. Writing should be fun and a way to explore your thoughts. It's all about discovering what you want to say.
  2. Creativity is about the process, not perfection. Filling a notebook is more important than looking good.
  3. Being open and honest in your work helps you grow, whether in writing, music, or acting. Just get started and keep creating!

Delete social media

The Rectangle • 226 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Media Internet Podcasts Self-help Lifestyle Technology
  1. Delete social media apps from your phone — it usually frees up time and cuts the low-level dread that comes with endless scrolling.
  2. Don’t get sucked into the cult of optimisation; making yourself more efficient should let you enjoy life, not turn living into an endless self-improvement project.
  3. Be pragmatic and kind to yourself: deletion can be flexible (use a spare phone or redownload briefly), but do it to make real time for the things you actually care about.

She posted 25 TikToks on her wedding day

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3194 implied HN points • 27 May 25
🎭️ Culture Social media Entertainment Marriage Influencer Culture
  1. Posting on social media during special events is becoming more common, like sharing TikToks during weddings. It shows how people want to capture and share their experiences instantly.
  2. Many businesses are emerging that cater to social media trends, including apps and services that help users create content. This highlights the shift in how we engage with technology and events.
  3. There's a growing trend of influencers and content creators blending personal life with their online presence. It reflects a cultural change where private moments become public content for entertainment.

What Are You Reading (In July?!?!)

Culture Study • 2359 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Media Entertainment Lifestyle
  1. Reading can be a great way to enjoy vacation time, but sometimes it's best to finish books before leaving home.
  2. The book 'The Pretender' by Jo Harkin is an engaging story about a boy discovering his true identity, set in Tudor England.
  3. It's fun to discuss what everyone else is reading and share recommendations, so everyone can find something new to enjoy.

Melted

Austin Kleon • 4935 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Music Literature Art Publications History
  1. Pete Drake was a talented pedal steel guitarist who played on many famous records. He even invented a device that made a guitar sound like it was talking.
  2. Notetaking is important for remembering ideas and learning from books. Creating a system to revisit your notes can help you keep track of insights.
  3. Play and creativity are vital for a fulfilling life. Engaging in playful activities can boost your imagination and overall well-being.

Blake Lively Reshoots the End of Her Story

Culture Study • 5988 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Celebrity Gossip Media Social media Entertainment
  1. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni became part of a media storm over their movie 'It Ends With Us'. Each accused the other of bad behavior on set, shaping how people saw them, especially online.
  2. TikTok has a huge influence on how celebrities are perceived today. Unlike traditional media, TikTok users create narratives that can quickly spread and affect a celebrity's image.
  3. The power of publicity in Hollywood is shifting. Celebrities can now use social media to shape their narratives, but they can also fall victim to online campaigns that expose their flaws, as seen with Lively.

A Sex Strike isn't Going to Work

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 7576 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Feminism Society Media History Politics Gender
  1. Cultural appropriation happens when one group takes aspects of another group's culture without understanding its significance. American women joining the South Korean 4B movement might be seen as doing this, as they are adopting a struggle that is not theirs.
  2. A collective sex strike faces many challenges. It requires everyone to agree and act together, which is hard since individuals might choose to break the strike and miss out on the potential benefits without facing consequences.
  3. Looking at history, past movements didn't always work out as planned. Striking for change isn't as simple as withholding something, especially in a democracy where individual freedoms and choices are valued.

Hope, Small but Strong

Animation Obsessive • 7355 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art Film Animation Media Storytelling
  1. Michael Sporn created unique animated films that told important stories, even if they were often overlooked. His work was heartfelt and showcased real human experiences.
  2. The film 'Champagne' tells the story of a girl living in a shelter, highlighting her struggles and hope for the future. It's well-made and received awards despite being lesser-known today.
  3. Sporn's animation style was creative and personal, using improvised techniques that added warmth and charm to his films, showing that art can thrive even under tight budgets.

The Colbert Cancellation and Why Comedy Must Now Be Political

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 2121 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Comedy Politics Media Society Values
  1. What people find funny is mostly shaped by their values and beliefs. Different groups will laugh at different things based on their political and social views.
  2. Comedy today is more divided than before because people's opinions on what’s funny often clash. This means comedians can't appeal to everyone like they used to.
  3. The rise of political media has created a deeper divide in comedy. Comedians now often respond to political issues, making it hard for them to reach a wide audience without being polarizing.

Say His Name: Rupert Pupkin

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 102 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Film Comedy Media Pop culture Entertainment Social Change
  1. Comedy is time-sensitive: most jokes only work in the present, so observational humor ages quickly and can go stale.
  2. American comedy changed deeply between the 1960s and 1980s, moving away from social observation toward a mentality built more on shared delusion than on making sharp, timely observations.
  3. Cultural and political shifts both reflect and drive changes in humor; the election of Ronald Reagan came to symbolize that new comedic era, though performers’ mindsets had already begun to shift earlier.

Culture Links, 1/2/2026

In My Tribe • 227 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Politics Media Sociology Family Demographics Technology
  1. Conservatism is split over whether its purpose is to preserve a universal moral order or to defend a particular civilizational identity. This debate boils down to whether politics should be grounded in universal rights and duties or in protecting a specific way of life.
  2. Social media use is shifting from public, performative posting toward passive, TV-like consumption and private group chats, which could reduce public shaming and attention-seeking. Dating apps are losing users while young people revive real-world connections, suggesting some tech disruptions are tempering over time.
  3. There is a biological window for safer, healthier childbearing, and delaying parenthood raises the risks of fertility and pregnancy problems. Cultural pressure to postpone marriage and children until after extended education and career-building may therefore be harmful.

Work friends are the secret to great culture

Make Work Better • 163 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Workplace culture Leadership Organizational Behavior Employee engagement Remote work Wellbeing Social Networks
  1. Close friendships at work dramatically improve engagement, retention and business outcomes, and many people would even take lower pay for strong workplace relationships.
  2. AI and digital tools are making some interactions more superficial and increasing loneliness, so human collaboration and repeated meaningful contact remain essential even with remote or hybrid work.
  3. Leaders should set the tone for connection, laughter and trust, because friendship grows through shared time and experience and is a core pillar of healthy culture and performance.

Make an appointment with yourself

Austin Kleon • 4376 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Art Music Literature Film Comics Photography
  1. Making time for yourself is important, and you should commit to it like an important appointment. It's easy to forget self-care in our busy lives, but it can greatly improve your happiness.
  2. Creativity is essential to many artists, and being away from their art can hurt their well-being. Finding ways to create regularly can help maintain a good quality of life.
  3. Explore new books, music, and films to inspire creativity and reflection. Engaging with different forms of art can spark new ideas and perspectives.

Gen X: Marriage Failures

The Reclamation Era • 239 implied HN points • 29 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Marriage Generations Relationships Parenting Self-awareness
  1. Getting married young can lead to problems because people often carry unresolved issues from their childhood into relationships. It's important to know yourself before tying the knot.
  2. Sometimes, societal pressure pushes people to marry quickly, without fully understanding their own needs and patterns. Taking time to figure things out can lead to healthier relationships.
  3. Middle-aged people, especially from Gen X, often face a tough choice: stay in a troubled marriage or leave for a chance at happiness. It's crucial to listen to one's gut and seek authenticity.

Ancient Wisdom: My Second Act Gave Me a Second Life

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1901 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Aging Writing Sports Journalism Life Changes
  1. Switching careers can bring new purpose and joy to life. Finding something you love, like teaching or writing, can really change your outlook.
  2. Great experiences, like working for a top magazine, come from both luck and hard work. It's important to take chances and be open to new opportunities.
  3. Aging doesn't mean you stop growing. Staying curious and trying new things can help you continue to learn and feel fulfilled.

Focus!

Austin Kleon • 4316 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Arts Music Literature Comedy Parenting Interviews
  1. Music memoirs can be a great way to relax and unwind, especially if you've read something heavy. They're often fun and refreshing.
  2. It's really important to focus on the learner in the education process, as they're the ones truly driving their learning journey.
  3. Getting creative and organizing your space can help spark new ideas and inspiration, like the concept of 'knolling'.

I interviewed the Jubilee CEO on platforming bigotry

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2149 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Media Debate Society Technology Influencers
  1. Jubilee is a popular YouTube channel known for its debate-style videos. They cover a wide range of topics, including sensitive issues like body image and political beliefs.
  2. The CEO of Jubilee has shared that they have a big team and a large office in Los Angeles, which helps them produce high-quality content consistently.
  3. One of their videos, featuring a debate between a Republican and multiple Kamala Harris voters, became one of the most-watched pieces during the last election, showing their influence in online discussions.

Be a good date

Austin Kleon • 4656 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Music Film Philosophy
  1. Being a good date means being someone others want to spend time with, including your readers. It's important to engage and connect with them.
  2. Reading can be a rewarding experience, no matter the book. Discovering new insights from familiar writers, like Vonnegut, can be very fulfilling.
  3. Sharing interests or experiences, like music or art, can create a sense of nostalgia and connection with others. It's great to revisit things that made you happy in the past.

Pt4: Power Hierarchies

Knowingless • 1985 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Social Dynamics Power Structures Identity Cults Status
  1. Power is often about managing relationships with key people. Leaders need to keep their supporters happy by sharing resources, which helps maintain their position.
  2. Status isn't just one thing; it's about competing in many different hierarchies. What makes someone high-status can depend on the group you're in and who values what traits.
  3. Cults can be harmful because they limit people's connections to other hierarchies. This isolation can make it hard to adjust when leaving, as people lose the support systems they once had.

What's the matter with SoDoSoPa?

Urben Field Notes • 97 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Urbanism Gentrification Architecture City Planning Housing policy Neighborhoods
  1. City rezoning and artists moving into cheap lofts turned old industrial buildings into desirable live-work neighborhoods. This cultural rebranding made them attractive to the creative class and developers.
  2. People were drawn to these areas because they are walkable, centrally located, and relatively affordable. Restrictive zoning elsewhere and a shortage of similar housing funneled demand into industrial districts.
  3. Post-industrial neighborhoods reveal broader economic and cultural shifts and act as symbols of urban change. They can revitalize cities but also fuel gentrification and displacement, so results differ by place.

I've Been Watching These 17 YouTube Videos

The Honest Broker • 6416 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media Music Entertainment Art Technology
  1. YouTube has become a major platform, making more money than Netflix and attracting billions of user hours daily. It's like the new TV for many people.
  2. There is a lot of low-quality content on YouTube, but you can still find great videos if you know where to look.
  3. Artist exploitation in the music industry is still a big issue, with many musicians not earning money from their own work, and changes in technology are bringing past musicians back into the spotlight.

Empty Laughter

Where's Your Ed At • 16914 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Comedy Artificial Intelligence Plagiarism Entertainment Creativity
  1. Art should be unique and come from personal experiences, not generated by AI or copied from others.
  2. Creativity is limited by the individual, and the magic of art comes from the context and experiences of the artist.
  3. Plagiarism and reliance on generative AI for art creation show a lack of curiosity, entitlement, and a desire to imitate rather than create.

The Church of Minding One’s Own Business

Austin Kleon • 4256 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Comics Music Television Art
  1. Minding your own business can be a refreshing approach to life. It allows you to focus on your own thoughts and interests instead of getting caught up in others' lives.
  2. Reading good translations can greatly enhance the experience of classic literature. Edith Grossman's work on 'Don Quixote' is a perfect example of how translation can bring a book to life.
  3. Nostalgia is powerful, whether through music or movies. Listening to favorite albums or watching beloved films can bring back fond memories and feelings.

The Online Right Doesn’t Want White Women to Get PhDs

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 445 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Gender Extremism Academia Social media Identity politics Online Harassment
  1. Parts of the online right openly harass white women who pursue advanced degrees, saying they should be having children instead of careers.
  2. When Juliet Turner posted about earning her PhD, she was attacked on X and called a race traitor and shamed for not having kids.
  3. These attacks come from a rising white supremacist mindset online that treats white women mainly as reproducers and has escalated alongside broader far‑right harassment of minorities.

Your December Questions, Answered (1 of 2)

Singal-Minded • 227 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Media Gender Science Psychology Ethics Parenting
  1. Most of the time when we think we’re right it’s more luck than careful, independent reasoning. We know so little and rely on experts, so humility is the sensible stance.
  2. Studies suggest many kids with childhood-onset gender dysphoria who didn’t socially or medically transition later accept their sex, but that research doesn’t automatically apply to adolescents who come out later. Adolescent-onset appears to be a new and poorly studied presentation, especially in the U.S., so long-term outcomes are uncertain.
  3. Some activists and clinicians have made strong causal claims (for example, that kids will die without immediate treatment) that aren’t well supported and can be harmful or self-fulfilling. Because of this uncertainty, caution and better research are needed before making broad medical or policy decisions.