Penelope Trunk's Substack

Penelope Trunk's Substack explores unconventional views on education, career, and personal development, with a focus on homeschooling, the impact of traditional schooling, navigating the professional world, and the dynamics of personal relationships. It challenges societal norms through personal anecdotes and research, offering insights into self-directed learning, the venture capital landscape, and the nuances of parenting.

Education Career Development Personal Development Parenting Homeschooling Social Skills Mental Health Investment and Venture Capital Social Dynamics

The hottest Substack posts of Penelope Trunk's Substack

And their main takeaways

How to get funding from deluded, self-congratulatory investors

419 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Gender Equality Networking Workplace dynamics
  1. Having a male co-founder can improve a female founder's odds of raising funding due to biases in the investment industry.
  2. Focusing on showcasing a reckless passion and working long hours can help female founders combat gender biases when pitching to investors.
  3. Building a network of male connections can be essential for female founders in navigating the challenges of the venture capital landscape.

The WNBA is totally annoying

379 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
🎾 Sports Basketball Gender Equality
  1. Professional women's basketball can benefit from new and younger talent
  2. Revamping the WNBA's image through updated clothing can attract more fans and elevate the sport
  3. Adjusting game rules like lowering the basket and adding a four-point line can make the WNBA more exciting and adaptable to change

How my son got in to Duke

599 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
🚌 Education Homeschooling Writing AI writing
  1. Focus on self-directed learning and unique experiences rather than typical benchmarks like SAT scores.
  2. When writing, be specific and share personal experiences to create content that AI cannot replicate.
  3. Homeschooling can give students the opportunity to stand out in college applications by being remarkable and avoiding common educational norms.
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The British monarchy is ending

539 implied HN points • 21 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Royalty Scandal Family Press Media
  1. Prince William is stepping away from being heir to the throne due to the pressures and complications within the British monarchy.
  2. There are intricate family dynamics and alleged scandals involving affairs and children that are affecting the future of the royal family.
  3. Kate Middleton's actions seem to suggest a strong stance in negotiations within the royal family, potentially leading to significant changes in their structure and roles.

Take control of your life from the toughest foe

59 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Royalty Career Emotions Health Control
  1. Emotional control is crucial, especially in challenging situations like health scares or relationship discussions.
  2. Reflecting on what you would do without any limitations can provide clarity on your true interests and priorities.
  3. Maintaining a focus on your special interests and negotiating for what is important to you can help you gain a sense of control in your life.

What explains the outsized success of autistic applicants to college

2 HN points • 25 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Mental health Neurodiversity Empathy
  1. OCD can lead to inventive success, offering fulfillment through consistency and trial-and-error problem solving.
  2. ADHD can result in hyperfocus on interesting topics, which is valued by top colleges seeking specialist applicants.
  3. Dyslexia can lead to information-driven learning style, allowing autistic individuals to excel in academia by quickly grasping and utilizing information to share ideas.

Playbook for stage xx cancer

39 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Cancer
  1. Waiting for test results can be emotionally challenging and uncertain.
  2. Recognizing potential symptoms and risk factors of esophageal cancer can help with early detection and understanding.
  3. Dealing with the possibility of a serious illness can lead to a range of emotions and reactions, including finding solace in familiar habits or actions.

MIT will continue requiring the SAT

59 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🚌 Education Standardized Testing College Admissions Education system
  1. MIT continues to require the SAT for admissions, which can be a significant factor for students like the girl from foster care who surpassed expectations in the math section.
  2. The SAT is seen as an equalizer by some institutions like MIT, serving to identify potential in students who may face extreme challenges and fears, like the brilliant girl from foster care.
  3. The story highlights the importance of recognizing exceptional talents and potential in students from diverse backgrounds, even when facing adversities like lack of stability and basic needs.

School nostalgia: we all have it for something

39 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🚌 Education Nostalgia Learning
  1. Reflect on what you loved about school to see if it was truly about school or the people around you.
  2. Consider the impact of classroom design on your learning style and social interactions.
  3. Connect with fascinating individuals - they may enhance your educational experience more than any particular classroom setup.

Primary school teaching is too hard

39 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
🚌 Education Teaching Challenges Impact Community
  1. Historically, primary and secondary school teaching was not meant to be a long-term profession, often taken on by women until they got married.
  2. Teaching comes with high demand but low reward, little influence over the lives of children, and isolation from the community.
  3. Many teachers enter the profession because they love working with young people, but the demanding job often leads to burnout and lack of respect.

How to choose an apartment

19 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🏝 Travel Housing
  1. The author shares her personal struggles with managing finances and facing eviction from an expensive apartment.
  2. Despite challenges, the author maintains a sense of humor and self-awareness in dealing with the situation.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of perspective in decision-making, reflecting on a criteria she used when choosing her apartment.

Would you unschool if you did it all over again?

0 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🚌 Education Curriculum Homeschooling
  1. Unschooling can work well until third grade without needing structured curriculum, allowing kids exploration and eagerness to learn.
  2. Good private schools can offer better education than homeschooling, especially as kids get older and need more specialized learning.
  3. Investing in top private schools for kids, especially in middle and high school, can provide better opportunities in later education and career paths.

It turns out parenting is actually a social skill

0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
  1. Parenting is considered a social skill which requires practice and self-compassion.
  2. Social skills and disordered eating can be linked when trying to navigate overwhelming situations.
  3. Critiquing one's own parenting to gain respect may push others away, highlighting the importance of self-compassion and support from other parents.

How to stop having transactional friends

0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Friendship Relationships Emotions Self-Improvement Social media
  1. Consider moving away from having transactional friendships and focus on the value of genuine relationships.
  2. It's important to appreciate and prioritize friends who offer honest feedback and support, even when no payment is involved.
  3. Friendship is about more than just transactions - genuine connections and meaningful interactions make a significant difference.

Autistic men dominate math, Autistic women dominate memoir

0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
📚 Literature Memoir
  1. Autistic women have a strong affinity for words and nonlinear memory, which impacts their writing styles.
  2. Autistic individuals may have imbalances in their brains, affecting how they retrieve past events and categorize memories.
  3. Autistic women are inclined to dominate in the genre of memoir writing, showcasing a unique storytelling perspective.

My not-so-agile re-entry into the workplace

0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 22
  1. Returning to work after raising kids isn't always as relieving as expected.
  2. Adapting to new methodologies like agile can help in handling challenges and failures in work.
  3. Balancing parenting and work involves making tough decisions and adjusting priorities.

How can I convince my ex that we should homeschool?

0 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
  1. Convincing an ex about homeschooling can be challenging, especially if there's a 50/50 custody split.
  2. For children in 50/50 custody arrangements, having a stable home environment is crucial.
  3. Homeschooling may not be the best option for kids with 50/50 custody due to potential inconsistencies in parenting and home environments.

Is it worth it for women to go to medical school?

0 implied HN points • 09 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Medicine Work-life balance Gender Dynamics Career Choices
  1. Financially, going to medical school may not be worth it for women due to factors like part-time work and difficulty balancing job demands and family responsibilities.
  2. Part-time schedules in medicine can undermine support for the second spouse and disrupt the family's division of labor, impacting overall family dynamics.
  3. Leaving work entirely might be a better choice for women balancing professional work and family responsibilities, as part-time work can lead to identity loss and weak ties in both areas.

The best career coaches use pattern recognition

0 implied HN points • 22 Jul 22
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Self-employment Personal Development
  1. The best career coaches use pattern recognition to guide individuals in discovering their best career paths by recognizing their motivating factors.
  2. Great careers involve continuous learning and challenges, often requiring changes in companies to maintain growth and development.
  3. Many glamorous careers require a significant financial investment as they can be akin to a form of money laundering, using wealth to build a certain image.

When kids were encouraged to collect rodents

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Family Mental health
  1. In a latchkey childhood scenario, the author's family unintentionally ended up with a surplus of gerbils due to not understanding their breeding habits.
  2. The story highlights the unique dynamics of a family dealing with a high-powered working mom, a Harvard Law School-educated dad, and the unexpected challenges of gerbil overpopulation.
  3. The author's journey to understand autism stems from observing how genius and unique behaviors can coexist within a family, leading to an upcoming autism course.

Top-tier preschool sends threatening letter

0 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
🚌 Education Networking Parenting
  1. Preschool is emphasized for networking purposes rather than academic or social development.
  2. Children benefit more from a nurturing home environment, especially in their early years.
  3. The pressure to attend prestigious preschools is linked to securing recommendations for exclusive schools.

How I follow my passions while I homeschool my kids

0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
  1. Passions can be pursued even while homeschooling kids, but it may involve stealing away time inefficiently.
  2. There are two types of passion: harmonious passion that enhances life and neurotic passion that consumes life.
  3. Homeschooling allows families to make conscious choices about balancing passions and family life, unlike traditional schooling which may suppress children's passions.

Open letter to Boston University business school students

0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Market research Restaurant Industry
  1. Entrepreneurship requires a certain level of 'craziness' due to its challenging nature with low success rates.
  2. Market research for business ideas should involve practical testing rather than just theoretical surveys, like setting up a pop-up business.
  3. Observing real-life needs and gaps in services can lead to innovative business ideas, like the need for more dog training services in Boston.

Schools can't teach social skills

0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🚌 Education Social Skills Autism Schooling Parenting
  1. Schools may not effectively teach social skills, so parents can create workarounds.
  2. There is no FDA-approved treatment for social skills in school-aged kids, and interventions may focus on behavior modification.
  3. Autistic individuals may not need to interact with 'normal' people and tend to surround themselves with like-minded individuals.

How scientists measure if you have good friends

0 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Friendships Research Autism Emotions Relationships
  1. Research shows that reciprocal friendships are key. It's important for your best friend to consider you their best friend too.
  2. Engagement in friendship involves pride, fun, pressure, emotions, specialness, and commitment. Reflect on where your friends fall on this list.
  3. Friendships evolve over stages of life. In your 20s, you may have many friends, but by your 30s, it's common to have only a few close friends and focus on family.

Lots of excused absences correlate to high test scores

0 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🚌 Education Research Parenting Schooling
  1. Taking students out of elementary school for extra activities like cello lessons can lead to higher test scores
  2. Unexcused absences can indicate parenting problems while excused absences correlate with higher test scores
  3. Research shows that the impact of parents taking students out of school more often on test scores is more significant in low-income families

The toughest part of homeschooling is high school

0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 22
  1. Homeschooling high school can be challenging as parents may struggle to guide their older kids effectively.
  2. Specializing in subjects with kids changes as they grow older, and parents may need to adapt their approach based on their children's interests and abilities.
  3. Successful homeschooling involves adapting to how kids want to learn, even if it's different from what parents may have initially expected.

Your partner isn't a narcissist

0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Autism Relationships Mental health Therapy Genetics
  1. The idea that a partner might be perceived as a narcissist could actually be a misinterpretation of autism traits.
  2. Autism and narcissism can share certain characteristics, like difficulty in understanding other people's feelings and a focus on oneself.
  3. It's common for people with autism to attract and be attracted to others with autism, which can lead to challenges and misunderstandings in relationships.

Economists prove girls have equal power to boys

0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🚌 Education Gender Equality
  1. Economists have proven that girls have equal power to boys, yet schools continue to provide irrelevant guidance to girls.
  2. There is a disconnect between the current equitable society and the outdated structure of our schooling system, which was established in a less equitable past.
  3. The importance lies in talking realistically to women about their aspirations and personal fulfillment, acknowledging the data and feelings they have about equitable societies.

Hollywood is a haven for unschooling

0 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🚌 Education Homeschooling Curriculum
  1. Some successful homeschoolers follow a structured curriculum, providing a sense of belonging and purpose separate from their parents.
  2. Parents need to invest in quality education for homeschooling, including academic rigor and access to better opportunities and communities.
  3. Taking full responsibility for a child's education is crucial; involvement should increase as children get older to ensure a positive educational experience.

Unveiling my secret YouTube channel

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🚌 Education Research Autism YouTube Learning Courses
  1. The author reveals a secret YouTube channel they initially hated but now love, showcasing their transition to academia and passion for learning through videos.
  2. Despite struggles with new software and organization, the author's dedication shines through in making 30 educational videos on autism, reflecting exploding exuberance.
  3. Sharing the journey of creating these videos and promoting an autism course, the author emphasizes their desire for the content to be fun, interesting, and useful, showcasing their hard work and eagerness.