The hottest Communication Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Use phone manners or I don't answer your calls

Disaffected Newsletter • 999 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Always identify yourself when making a call. Just saying 'Is Josh there?' without your name is rude.
  2. Check if it's okay to use speakerphone before you start talking. It can make your call harder to hear, and the other person might not want private conversations overheard.
  3. Ask if the other person can hear you well after connecting your headphones. It's important to make sure they can understand you clearly.

Money, Sex, and In-laws

Polymathic Being • 56 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Communication
  1. Money: Be transparent and treat finances as a team—talk about values, set shared goals, and avoid secret spending or "my money vs your money" dynamics.
  2. Sex: Talk openly about needs and create intentional intimacy beyond the act itself. Emotional availability and mutual respect help keep desire and connection alive.
  3. In-laws: Make your spouse the primary relationship and set kind, clear boundaries with parents to avoid enmeshment. Decide as a team and protect your marriage's autonomy.

Frameworks for Managing Up as a Software Engineer

High Growth Engineer • 624 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Building trust with your manager is essential. Focus on being sincere, reliable, caring, and competent in your work.
  2. You need to speak your manager's language. Understand their goals and priorities to communicate effectively and prevent misunderstandings.
  3. Regular updates matter. Create a system for updates that keeps your manager informed without overwhelming them, ensuring that every communication is valuable.

I Joined TikTok Refugees on RedNote. Here’s What It’s Like.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 686 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Many people are moving from TikTok to a new app called RedNote due to concerns about a potential ban. This shift shows how social media changes quickly based on user needs.
  2. RedNote is a Chinese app that feels different from TikTok, with most content in Mandarin. Users are finding it hard to adjust since it mainly caters to a Chinese audience.
  3. Despite the differences, both American and Chinese users on RedNote are engaging together, often humorously referencing their cultural differences. This highlights how social media can connect people across boundaries.

Find out

Disaffected Newsletter • 1179 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Set clear boundaries in communication. It's important to let others know what is acceptable and what isn't.
  2. Emotional manipulation will not be tolerated. It's crucial to stand your ground against such behavior.
  3. Be firm and direct when addressing issues. A straightforward approach helps maintain respect and integrity.
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Dire Les Choses

Venture Prose • 738 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
💼 Business Communication
  1. Investors in venture capital should not shy away from addressing sensitive topics with the founders they support, to avoid miscommunication and potential issues.
  2. Communication is key in maintaining productive relationships between investors and entrepreneurs. Creating an environment where feedback is welcomed and honest conversations can take place is crucial.
  3. Investors need to share observations directly with entrepreneurs, rather than gossiping or keeping concerns to themselves. Open dialogue and constructive conflict can lead to better outcomes for all parties involved.

Labor and wait

Austin Kleon • 1758 implied HN points • 26 Aug 22
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Patience is key in the creative process. Sometimes, you just have to put in the work and wait for the results.
  2. Art and creativity can often be inspired by what we experience in life and what we consume, whether it's books, movies, or music.
  3. Sharing and discussing what you love helps you connect with others. There’s value in sharing your thoughts and favorites with friends.

Attitudes one can take towards people who have behaved badly

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 875 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Social punishment is a natural part of how humans interact, helping to enforce a social contract. It can feel too harsh or unjust at times, but it still serves a purpose.
  2. There's a tricky balance in discussing the ideas of people who have done bad things. We need to find ways to remember their contributions without overlooking their wrongdoings.
  3. It's important to correct the record if someone is proven innocent after being publicly condemned. Reputations can suffer permanently, and it’s crucial to acknowledge when we've gotten things wrong.

What Was Literacy?

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Literacy used to be a way for smart people to communicate and verify knowledge, but now, with technology like computers and videos, many can learn without reading at all.
  2. The rise of emojis and podcasts shows that people are more interested in visual and audio communication than traditional reading, making literacy less important in today's society.
  3. As literacy fades, we might lose a sense of culture and shared storytelling, but it’s possible that new ways of learning and sharing experiences will emerge instead.

The Art of Emails

Niko McCarty • 79 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🚌 Education Communication
  1. Cold emails are powerful tools for making connections. They show you are proactive and really want to connect with someone.
  2. Writing cold emails can improve your writing skills. It helps you think clearly about what you want to say and how to say it to the right person.
  3. When writing, treat it like you're emailing one person. This helps you focus and makes it easier to express your ideas simply.

Practical Almanac for Technical Program Managers

Building Rome(s) • 11 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
💼 Business Communication
  1. Clarity is the foundation: name goals, constraints, and what “done” means early, use writing to force decisions, and revisit assumptions before they become hidden problems.
  2. Make ownership explicit and real: assign clear accountability and give matching authority so decisions get made and escalations don’t become the default.
  3. Execution is social and continuous: watch handoffs and weak signals at the edges, build structure to avoid heroics, and reinforce decisions and timing so surprises don’t erode trust.

300 words for 300 posts

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 283 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Having a regular writing practice helps keep creativity flowing. It's a great way to express thoughts and connect with others.
  2. Quality doesn't always need to be perfect; what's important is to keep sharing. Sometimes, just getting your ideas out is the best part of the process.
  3. Building a community around your work can lead to unexpected friendships and opportunities. Engaging with your audience is rewarding and fulfilling.

A Course To Make Them Care

Everything Is Amazing • 760 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🚌 Education Communication
  1. Storytelling is more than just good writing; it's its own skill that can be developed. You can tell a great story even if the writing isn’t perfect.
  2. Storytelling isn’t just something for kids; it’s used in many professions, like therapy, business, and even law. It’s a tool that's relevant everywhere in life.
  3. You can learn to tell stories effectively; it’s not just a natural talent. Everyone has the potential to become a better storyteller with practice.

From Average To Exceptional: 5 Skills To Help You Become The Data Expert Everyone Wants To Work With

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 494 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
💼 Business Communication
  1. Always focus on the real problem behind a request, not just what is being asked. This helps you deliver better solutions that actually meet the business needs.
  2. Using clear frameworks can help organize your thoughts and make complex investigations easier. A structured approach leads to clearer communication and better results.
  3. Keep your communication simple and focused on what matters to your stakeholders. This helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces confusion.

Attention is All You Need

Never Met a Science • 238 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Reading and writing are unique technologies that shape our society and culture. They are essential for navigating our world, but today's youth feel less need for traditional long-form literacy.
  2. Media technology changes how we think and communicate. With the rise of short-form media, like social media and videos, our attention spans shrink, and we become more like simple response machines.
  3. As technology evolves, it's hard to tell if these changes are good or bad for us. What's certain is that new media shapes our cognition and social culture in unexpected ways.

Write So Your Mom Can Understand

Less Foolish • 432 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Avoid using unnecessary jargon to make your writing more accessible and understandable.
  2. Being playful with words can help reveal underlying emotions and encourage independent thinking.
  3. Strive to write in a way that anyone, even your mom, can easily understand and engage with your content.

Communication: do it right

Disaffected Newsletter • 859 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Clear communication is important. When asking for help, be specific and provide details so others can understand you easily.
  2. Don't expect others to do the work for you. If you send vague messages, people might ignore your requests instead of figuring out what you want.
  3. Respect in communication is essential. Everyone should consider the needs of the person they're talking to and not treat them like a machine.

The Lightness of Unscheduled Calls

Register Spill • 196 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Collaboration without elaborate scheduling can feel light and spontaneous, leading to a more open and fluid work environment.
  2. Embracing unscheduled calls and spontaneous pairing sessions can foster better knowledge transfer and idea exchange among team members.
  3. Using tools that support easy and on-the-fly collaboration can significantly impact the culture and productivity of a remote team, making workdays feel full of possibilities rather than meetings.

I Salute You, Saluting Face Emoji 🫡

Did Someone Say Emoji? • 281 implied HN points • 23 May 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. The saluting face emoji 🫡 is a way to show presence and agreement. It can be used sincerely or sarcastically, making it versatile in conversations.
  2. Saluting has various cultural meanings and styles across different countries. The emoji represents a blend of these styles without favoring any one tradition.
  3. Emojis, like the saluting face, can express a mix of emotions. This emoji fits many situations, from respectful gestures to playful communication.

Introducing live video in the Substack app

Substack • 833 implied HN points • 18 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Substack has added a live video feature that lets creators engage with their audience in real time. This means you can share news, behind-the-scenes moments, or host interactive sessions directly from the app.
  2. When you go live, your subscribers will get automatic notifications, making it easy for them to join. You can even limit access to only paid subscribers if you want to create exclusive content.
  3. Collaborating with other creators during live videos can help expand your audience. You can invite someone else to stream with you, which is a great way to share different perspectives and increase engagement.

The Intensity Dial: Knowing When to Escalate and When to Back Off

The Caring Techie Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💼 Business Communication
  1. Treat communication like an intensity dial — shift between gentle support and direct urgency depending on the situation instead of always being soft or always being blunt.
  2. Being too soft lets problems fester and breeds passive-aggressive resentments, while being too intense too early embarrasses people and shuts down trust.
  3. Escalate deliberately in small steps: make the impact and stakes clear, give the other person a fair chance to fix things, and set deadlines or escalation paths using simple diagnostic questions to choose the right level.

Why did we lose trust during the pandemic?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1445 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Communication
  1. Public health messaging sounded like a sales pitch, leading to a loss of trust due to data issues, messaging inaccuracies, and a mix of advocacy with scientific communication.
  2. Helpful information, like practical tips for care and specific risk factors, was missing, causing confusion and fear among the public.
  3. Opinions being treated as facts and a disconnect between personal experiences and the official narrative led to frustration and loss of trust, but some improvements are being made to address these issues.

'Just put your phone away' - Dec 2024 catch up service #1

Brain Pizza • 595 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Putting your phone away improves conversation quality. It's easier to connect and enjoy talking to each other without distractions.
  2. Smartphones are a big part of our lives, and almost everyone has one. They have changed how we communicate but can sometimes take away from real-life interactions.
  3. Being aware of smartphone usage can help us be more present in conversations. Taking a break from our devices can do wonders for our social experiences.

How to talk to your family about AI

CB • 658 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing and evolving, with technologies like GPT-3 capable of impressive tasks that were inconceivable just a few years ago.
  2. The pace of AI development is swift, resembling the early stages of a major technological revolution like the industrial revolution but progressing much faster.
  3. Individuals, including families, should pay attention to and brace for the transformative impacts AI will bring, even though predicting the exact outcomes is challenging.

Cringe communication on LinkedIn. Yay, 🙌 or Nay? 🙅‍♀️

Business & Marketing with Nika • 19 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
💼 Business Communication
  1. Communication on LinkedIn has shifted from formal to casual. It’s now common to see memes and selfies, which can feel a bit cringe.
  2. Being informal can help break the ice, but it’s important to maintain a professional image. Be careful when being casual, especially with potential clients or employers.
  3. When using LinkedIn, think about the tone you want to use. Make sure it fits your audience, and be aware of how your communication style might affect future interactions.

Moving Beyond Doomism: Data-Driven Strategies for Effective Climate Content

This Week in MCJ (My Climate Journey) • 393 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Communication
  1. Data-driven decisions are crucial in climate content to engage mainstream audiences effectively.
  2. Promoting self-interest in climate content yields more results than focusing on planetary benefits.
  3. Starting with simple, relatable content and gradually guiding individuals towards impactful actions can drive engagement and awareness.

Condensing The Iceberg

Adjacent Possible • 458 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. We're living in an era where our attention is a limited resource. Phones and social media have become really good at grabbing our focus because they filter information in ways that many find appealing.
  2. Understanding how information is condensed is important for both writers and readers. When writers filter vast amounts of content, they create a clearer picture for readers, but it can be challenging for people to delve deeper into topics.
  3. There are costs to the way we consume information today. It can be harder to concentrate on long texts because of the quick, bite-sized content we're used to. Finding ways to balance skimming and deeper engagement with information is crucial.

the feedback fallacy of writing on the internet

Both Are True • 152 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. There are three types of feedback: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. Knowing the difference helps you understand how to use feedback effectively.
  2. Many people confuse appreciation for evaluation, especially when they lack clear evaluations of their work. This can lead to unnecessary anxiety about others' opinions.
  3. Creating a list of personal guidelines for evaluating work can help you focus on what matters and improve your writing process.

Watching Football with Friends

Opaque Hourglass • 239 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Expressing complex thoughts or feelings can be challenging, especially when others may not understand.
  2. Articulating your viewpoints through writing can help clarify your ideas and potentially facilitate better communication with others.
  3. Seeking to convey deeper meanings behind your beliefs or emotions, even if not fully reciprocated, can lead to a sense of connection and understanding.

A New Era for Linkposts

By Reason Alone • 67 implied HN points • 06 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Some people write blogs mainly for their own learning, without worrying if others read them. This helps them understand and keep track of what they learn.
  2. Link roundups can be a great way to share interesting finds with others, even if they start as personal notes. Many enjoy and engage with these kinds of posts.
  3. Collaborating with established platforms like EconLog can help broaden the audience for blog content. It's good to share work that is relevant to their readers.

Grounding your story

Sunday Letters • 219 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Communication
  1. Engineers can have many interests and skills, not just coding, which makes them versatile. It's okay to be like a 'paladin' who does many things well, even if it takes longer to master everything.
  2. Balancing different skills means you might not be the best in just one area, but you can excel in roles that need different perspectives, which is valuable.
  3. It's important to clearly define how you see yourself and communicate that to others. Having a simple and grounded story helps people understand your unique blend of skills.

TBM 315: The Self-Sealing Argument Trap

The Beautiful Mess • 727 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Communication
  1. Self-sealing arguments trap you into a no-win situation. No matter how you respond, it feels like you lose.
  2. These arguments often happen in discussions where your personal beliefs are questioned. They can make it hard to express your true thoughts without feeling defensive.
  3. It's important to recognize when you're in these traps. Finding a different way to respond can help you avoid feeling stuck and give you a better chance for a positive outcome.

Beyond Guesswork: The Art and Science of Project Estimation

Mindful Matrix • 179 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💼 Business Communication
  1. Project estimation is a critical skill influencing project success; it involves setting realistic expectations, aligning efforts, and managing resources effectively.
  2. Key considerations in estimation include understanding project scope, conducting risk analysis, and utilizing estimation strategies like historical analysis and buffer times.
  3. Transparency and communication are crucial in estimation; transparency helps manage stakeholder expectations while effective communication ensures clarity and trust in the estimation process.

relationship puzzles

bookbear express • 423 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Communication
  1. Love can be found in imperfect partners, and it's okay for no one to meet all your needs. Relationships can look different for everyone, and being descriptive rather than judgmental can help you support your friends better.
  2. Feelings can change quickly, and it's important to give yourself grace when you're feeling vulnerable or anxious. Instead of overthinking, try acknowledging your emotions and give yourself some time to process them.
  3. Communicating directly about how someone makes you feel can help ease your anxiety. It's okay to express your needs and concerns in relationships, as everyone can feel clingy or needy sometimes.