The hottest Communication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Malcolm in the middle (well, at the beginning)

Logging the World • 299 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🔬 Science Communication
  1. Using interesting anecdotes or 'Malcolms' at the beginning can engage a wider audience and make complex topics more appealing.
  2. Balancing academic style writing with engaging storytelling can make science communication more effective and impactful.
  3. Integrating rhetorical tricks and interesting facts can drive curiosity and encourage broader audiences to explore complex subjects.

How a Philosopher You've Never Heard of Predicted The End of The World

OK Doomer • 422 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Communication
  1. Communication is key to understanding each other, but today, people are talking at each other without really listening. This makes it hard to find common ground.
  2. Our biggest problems come from a few greedy people, not from things like terrorism or immigration. If we don't address this, our society might fail.
  3. In today's world, people live in their own bubbles and reject facts that don't fit their beliefs. True solutions require us to share a single reality, but many aren't willing to do that.

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Fish Food for Thought • 37 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
💼 Business Communication
  1. Being “nice” can become avoidance: trying to spare individual discomfort by postponing hard choices ends up harming the team and shifts unfair costs onto others.
  2. Psychological safety isn’t the same as comfort: real safety comes from clear expectations, honest feedback, and timely decisions, even when conversations are uncomfortable.
  3. Mature leadership balances empathy with decisiveness: caring often looks like setting standards, delivering candid feedback, and sometimes making the hard calls so the system can function.

Games People Play

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1003 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. People often have mixed feelings and hidden messages in their relationships. What they show on the outside might not reflect their true feelings inside.
  2. Understanding the psychological games people play can help us communicate better. Being aware of these dynamics can lead to healthier interactions.
  3. It's important to be open and honest in relationships. Clear communication can help break down barriers and prevent misunderstandings.
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Pager Explosions

Vigilainte Newsletter • 5 HN points • 18 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. The recent explosions of Hezbollah pagers might be due to a cyberattack, which raises concerns about security. Experts believe these devices could have been compromised before they were even delivered.
  2. There are two main theories: either explosives were included in the pagers or they were hacked to cause overheating. The second option is tricky because hacking multiple devices is quite difficult.
  3. This incident highlights a bigger issue: all communication devices can have weaknesses. It's really important to use good security measures and encryption to keep sensitive information safe.

Why Longer (Content) Isn’t Always Better

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 739 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. Short content can be more powerful than long content. It grabs attention quickly and gets straight to the point.
  2. Consistency in creating short content can build a strong following. Regular updates keep readers engaged and coming back for more.
  3. Longer content isn't always necessary to convey a message. Sometimes, less is more, and being concise can be more effective.

Lessons in persuasion from the Father of Advertising

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
💼 Business Communication
  1. Big ideas are usually simple and come from a well‑informed mind, so play with ideas, aim high, and look for one clear, memorable insight.
  2. Write plainly to real people — use the language they think, address them as individuals, and favour clarity over cleverness so your words change behaviour.
  3. Be disciplined: test relentlessly, edit your drafts ruthlessly, tell the truth, and repeat what works until it stops selling.

Start Your Story Right Before You Get Eaten by The Bear

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 719 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
📚 Literature Communication
  1. Start your story at a critical moment to grab attention. This helps keep your audience engaged from the very beginning.
  2. People appreciate brevity and relevance in storytelling. Avoid long backstories and get to the main point quickly.
  3. An effective story should be clear and focused. Make sure you highlight the most important parts to keep your message strong.

How Do You Make Email and Texts Steal Less Time?

Culture Study • 2654 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Emails, texts, and messaging apps can make us worse at maintaining deep friendships by offering false comforts and distractions that replace meaningful connections.
  2. Efficiency in emails and texts is important, but it's crucial not to let these tools take over our lives and prevent us from engaging in activities we truly value like hanging out with friends or pursuing hobbies.
  3. The goal is to communicate in more present and meaningful ways, where our attention isn't constantly divided. Finding a balance between digital communication and real-life interactions is key.

What I read this week

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 79 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
💼 Business Communication
  1. Start with what's necessary, progress to what's possible, and soon you'll achieve the impossible.
  2. Success comes from overcoming challenges and facing obstacles head-on.
  3. Even when dealing with tough situations, find ways to keep inspired and make things enjoyable.

Shoot! How To Swear Like a Motherf*cker When Writing Online

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 459 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
📚 Literature Communication
  1. Use swearing sparingly in your writing for maximum impact. If you swear a lot in real life, it can add authenticity to your writing too.
  2. Write like you speak. If cursing feels natural for you, don’t hold back, but make sure it's in line with your personality.
  3. Humor in swearing can lighten the tone. It's more effective when used wisely, so don’t punch down on others.

The Intimate World and the Remote World

In My Tribe • 789 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. We are connecting more with strangers online than with people we know in real life. This shift is causing us to lose touch with our close relationships and communities.
  2. Social media blurs the lines between public personalities and intimate friends. This can create anxiety and make us feel insecure about our own social lives.
  3. To feel happier and healthier, we need to focus more on rebuilding our real-life connections. Being connected to family and friends in person is essential for our well-being.

4 Strategies To Elevate Your Communication Style From Engineer To Leader

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 412 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
💼 Business Communication
  1. When communicating with non-technical stakeholders, focus on the impact of your work rather than the technical details. Using clear language helps everyone understand why your projects matter.
  2. Highlight the risks of inaction to motivate decision-makers. Making them aware of potential costs or missed opportunities can encourage them to prioritize your recommendations.
  3. Use analogies relevant to your audience to make complex ideas easier to grasp. Relating technical concepts to familiar ideas can help build understanding and trust.

Cultural endosymbionts

Wyclif's Dust • 804 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. People have always been worried about new technology, from books to smartphones. Looking back, many of these fears seems overblown, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t consider the possible problems today.
  2. Different forms of media can create real changes in society and how people think. For example, novels and TV shows changed how we view culture and morality over time.
  3. New technologies can be both good and bad for society, creating winners and losers. It's important that we evaluate their effects and think about how to adapt them to fit our needs.

Why Every China Watcher Must Be on WeChat

Pekingnology • 305 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. WeChat is the main app for communication in China. If you're not using it, you might miss important conversations and connections.
  2. WeChat is not just for chatting; it combines many apps into one. You can read news, share content, shop, and even pay for services all through WeChat.
  3. A lot of information and discussions happen only on WeChat, so being outside of it means missing out on key updates and insights from Chinese society.

The 5 ingredients of a great fundraising announcement

Flack • 648 implied HN points • 23 Aug 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. A successful fundraising announcement includes objectives, audience, message, execution, and validation.
  2. Focus your announcement message on accomplishments, plans, and what matters to employees and customers.
  3. When executing a fundraising announcement, share the message authentically, handle leaks intelligently, and seek validation from others.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #28

Faster, Please! • 1005 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. New chips using fiber optics can transfer data way faster, which may cut down AI training times and save energy. This could really speed up tech advancements.
  2. Businesses are finding out that human skills are still important when using AI tools. People are getting new jobs related to organizing data so AIs can work better.
  3. SpaceX is becoming super important for US defense technology. Its innovations may give the US an advantage over rivals like China in military capabilities.

If You’re New to Data, Read This Before You Build Anything

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 365 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. It's better to work with other experienced engineers early in your career. This way, you can learn from their decisions and improve your skills more quickly.
  2. Don't get distracted by flashy tech trends or buzzwords. Focus on solving real business problems instead of getting caught up in the hype.
  3. Communication is key in data roles. Make sure you understand your audience and always lead with the main point when sharing your work.

Dating is additive, but love is multiplicative

Optima & Outliers • 159 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Dating is mostly about meeting many people, where every date adds to your chances of finding someone special. The more dates you go on, the higher your chances, even if some don't go well.
  2. Once you're in a relationship, keeping it strong requires attention to many factors. If one important part, like communication or attraction, isn't working, it can hurt the whole relationship.
  3. In business or projects, success often relies on many connected steps. If one step fails, it can cause everything to fall apart, which makes planning and execution very important.

First Contact!

Technohumanism • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. CETI is using advanced technology to understand sperm whales' communication. This shows how AI can help us connect with other species.
  2. There's a humorous aspect to this first contact, highlighting the unexpected ways we might communicate with animals.
  3. The idea raises questions about the limits and responsibilities of using AI in understanding and interacting with wildlife.

some thoughts on friendship

bookbear express • 770 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. True friendship can feel like a marriage, taking time to develop and evolve. It's important to appreciate the journey of getting to know each other deeply over the years.
  2. Making friends is a lot like dating, with excitement and a bit of uncertainty. It takes time to figure out the friendship dynamics and sometimes requires patience to see if it grows.
  3. Friendship can be asymmetrical; one person may want more closeness than the other. It's okay to feel hurt by this, but it's also essential to recognize that not all friendships will be balanced.

The GitHub Markdown feature you MUST know!

The Open Source Expert • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Using Alerts in GitHub Markdown helps highlight important information, making it easier for readers to notice. There are different types of alerts like notes, tips, and warnings that you can use.
  2. To create an Alert, you simply need to use specific Markdown code, starting each line with a '>' symbol. This format makes your content stand out more effectively.
  3. It's important not to overuse Alerts, or they might lose their impact. Use them sparingly to ensure readers pay attention to the key points.

How I Write

Democratizing Automation • 395 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Writing improves with practice and prioritization. The more you write, the better you get at it.
  2. Finding your passion and voice is key to writing well. When you write about what you love, it becomes easier and more enjoyable.
  3. AI tools can support writing, but they also make it harder for new writers to learn. With auto-complete options, it takes more effort to become a good writer.

What makes a software engineer effective?

Elevate • 477 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Effectiveness in software engineering is about focusing on what matters most and delivering value to users, the business, and career with the available time.
  2. Traits that help software engineers be effective include caring about user needs, being a good problem solver, and keeping things simple while prioritizing quality.
  3. To excel as an exceptional software engineer, embrace change, balance technical debt and innovation, and emphasize continuous learning and teamwork.

What is an ad hominem attack?

News from Those Nerdy Girls • 314 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🚌 Education Communication
  1. Ad hominem attacks insult a person's motive or character instead of addressing the content of an idea or argument.
  2. Ad hominem attacks create distrust of the individual and divert attention away from the actual issue.
  3. To combat bias from ad hominem attacks, focus on facts, recognize diversion tactics, and practice self-reflection.

Six Laws of Social Learning

In My Tribe • 896 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🚌 Education Communication
  1. We decide what we believe based on who we trust. Trust is built through communication, reputation, and personal connection, even if these aren't always the best indicators.
  2. Status-seeking can sometimes get in the way of truly seeking the truth. People often support ideas or beliefs to look good, rather than because they genuinely believe in them.
  3. Healthy debate and competition of ideas lead to better outcomes. It's important to allow different opinions to be heard and to stay open-minded, even when faced with contrary evidence.

The Captain Class

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1082 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🎾 Sports Communication
  1. Great sports teams have successful captains who share important traits. These traits include perseverance, pushing boundaries, and doing hard work for the team.
  2. Captains are key to strong teamwork because they communicate well and can handle tough conversations. They help keep the team focused and motivated.
  3. Organizations should recognize and support the behaviors that good captains display. This support helps teams improve and succeed together.

#194: On grief and posting through it

Maybe Baby • 1097 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Grief doesn't have a 'right' way to be expressed. It's okay to feel a mix of emotions and thoughts during this tough time.
  2. Sharing about loved ones on social media can feel awkward, but it also offers a chance for connection and support from friends.
  3. Wanting attention or recognition for your feelings is natural. Seeking out comfort from others can be a healthy part of your grieving process.

How to Help Trump

georgelakoff • 569 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Communication
  1. Spreading Trump's message by repeating his words can actually help him.
  2. When arguing against someone, avoid using their language which reinforces their frame.
  3. To combat propaganda, use effective framing in political communication.

Reproducibility starts with good communication

Briefly Bio • 59 implied HN points • 22 Jul 24
🔬 Science Communication
  1. Good communication is key to making experiments reproducible. If scientists can't share their methods clearly, it’s hard for others to repeat their work.
  2. Many methods of communication in science are outdated and not effective. This can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes in reproducing experiments.
  3. Tools that help streamline communication in science can improve reproducibility. A better system can replace complicated and unclear documentation.

How to Work With Anyone

Perspectives • 5 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
💼 Business Communication
  1. As your career advances you often can't choose who you work with, so learning to cooperate with a wide range of people becomes essential for success.
  2. Start by understanding what others value and how they are measured, and look for even small commonalities to build trust and align incentives.
  3. Make people look good by sharing genuine, specific praise and credit, and take a team posture by framing challenges as shared problems so others join you rather than defend.

Rudeness has consequences

Disaffected Newsletter • 1039 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Rudeness can lead to real consequences. It’s important to treat others with respect, or there may be penalties.
  2. The author has decided to limit communication to only paying subscribers due to rude comments from some free subscribers.
  3. Polite requests for help are always welcome, but persistent rudeness will result in being blocked from contacting.

✅ Please and thank you, ChatGPT

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
💼 Business Communication
  1. AI can help public relations workers do their jobs better, but it won't completely take their place. There are still many tasks that need human touch, like building relationships.
  2. Many public relations professionals see AI tools as partners in their work, even giving them human-like qualities. This shows a growing acceptance of AI in the industry.
  3. Trust in government and media is quite low right now. Many people feel politicians are not honest or are out for their own interests, which makes it hard for the next government to regain public faith.

No More Forms to Fill Out

In My Tribe • 318 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Filling out forms is a common part of life, but it often feels outdated. Instead of forms, we could use conversations with AI to make communication easier.
  2. Using AI like Claude, teachers can upload their syllabi and have an interactive conversation to turn their ideas into structured course content. This way, the process becomes more collaborative and flexible.
  3. This new method allows for ongoing adjustments and real-time feedback, leading to a stronger connection between the content and the user's needs. It's not just about filling out information, but working together to create something meaningful.