The hottest Media Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

The end of the live streamer mega deals

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business Media
  1. Many livestreamers who signed huge contracts with platforms like YouTube and Mixer are now returning to Twitch as their contracts end. It shows a shift back to where they started, highlighting the unpredictable nature of streaming deals.
  2. Podcasts, especially video podcasts, are growing in value and popularity. They offer creators a chance to reach more people and compete better with big media, but they still aren't fully recognized by traditional media companies.
  3. Apple TV+ is cleverly marketing its shows by giving away earlier seasons for free on platforms like Roku. This approach can attract new subscribers and create buzz for upcoming seasons, but not all streaming services are doing this.

"do i need to subscribe to my friend's substack newsletter"

Both Are True • 167 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Supporting your friend's paid newsletter can feel like a tricky decision. If they've made it clear they expect support, think carefully about your own financial situation first.
  2. If you're not rich, there are still ways to help your friend. You can share their work, give them positive feedback, or simply tell them you're unable to pay right now.
  3. It's important to remember that artists and writers often need encouragement. Your praise can really help them feel valued, even if you can't support them financially.

‘It’s like getting a raise every single day’

Substack • 733 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Moving to Substack helped Bob earn more money than he did at his old newspaper job. He feels like he's getting a raise every day.
  2. Bob enjoys a closer connection with his audience now. Readers reach out to him with messages and comments, making it more personal.
  3. He believes that Substack is a great place for writers who want to share their honest opinions without the constraints of traditional media.

Write it, then read it aloud

Substack • 995 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
🎙 Podcasts Media
  1. Using voiceovers can help writers connect better with their readers. It makes the content feel more personal and engaging.
  2. Writers who add audio or video to their posts tend to grow their audience and income faster. This shows how important diverse content is.
  3. Voiceovers can also provide bonus material for subscribers. This adds value to the content and encourages people to support the creator.

Look away from the pit

Austin Kleon • 1678 implied HN points • 21 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. It's important to avoid doomscrolling and focus on positive aspects of life instead. Looking away from the negativity can help you maintain a better mindset.
  2. Starting a mailing list can be a great way to connect with others and share your thoughts. It's a simple but effective way to keep in touch and build a community.
  3. Showing your kids who you are is valuable. Sharing your experiences and passions with them helps strengthen your bond and teaches them about your life.
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Is It Cool to Be Right-Wing Now?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 375 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. There seems to be new interest in right-wing beliefs, especially among younger people. This has sparked a lot of conversations online.
  2. A recent magazine cover featuring young Trump supporters has caused a lot of debate. People are discussing what it means for the future of politics.
  3. There's a question about whether conservatives should engage with reporters who don’t support their views. This is making people think about how to communicate across different beliefs.

Embrace bewilderment

Austin Kleon • 1258 implied HN points • 10 Jun 22
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. It's important to embrace confusion and not just rely on cleverness. Being bewildered can lead to new discoveries.
  2. Reading graphic novels can be a fun way to learn about complex topics. They can explain important ideas in an engaging way.
  3. Using features on social media, like Instagram, can make the experience less overwhelming. Choosing what you see can help you enjoy it more.

How 1440 scaled its newsletter to 4 million subscribers

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
💼 Business Media
  1. Understanding the true value of a newsletter subscriber is crucial. Knowing how much revenue each subscriber brings helps in making smart decisions about how much to spend on acquiring new subscribers.
  2. Growing a newsletter takes strategic planning and iteration. Utilizing feedback from early subscribers and constantly improving the product can lead to high engagement and retention.
  3. Expanding beyond email can unlock new growth opportunities. Creating a platform for educational content helps connect curious learners with valuable resources, while also providing more inventory for advertisers.

‘Young New Zealander of the Year’ award has gone to the man who helped stoke up violence against women.

A B’Old Woman • 539 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. A man who encouraged violence against women received a major award in New Zealand. This has raised concerns about the values being celebrated in society.
  2. Media and activists seemed to spread negativity towards a women's rally, which led to violent confrontations. Many believe this hostility shut down healthy discussions.
  3. The award recipient's identity is also controversial, as he identifies as a trans person but did not always present that way. This situation has sparked debate about gender identity and recognition.

How to make a road disappear

Odds and Ends of History • 134 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🎙 Podcasts Media
  1. There's a road called Old Bridge Way that is in bad shape, but no one seems to be responsible for fixing it. It's a real mystery!
  2. E-scooters might soon be legal, and surprisingly, even the Daily Mail is on board with the idea. Changes might be coming!
  3. Talking to Labour MP Alistair Strathern reveals how issues like the Old Bridge Road show a gap between what politicians promise and what they deliver to voters.

The truth we don’t want to face

Men Yell at Me • 503 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Conspiracy theories can become attractive, especially when people are struggling to understand their feelings about political loss. Many individuals look for explanations rather than facing uncomfortable truths about their beliefs.
  2. Real change comes from understanding the systems we live in and who benefits from them. This requires questioning our own roles and complicity in societal issues.
  3. Fighting misinformation and conspiracy theories takes more than social media posts; it needs community action and support. Sitting back won't create the change we want to see.

The collapse of journalism

Trickle-Down Wellness • 157 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📰 News Media
  1. Journalism is facing a collapse due to layoffs and shrinking opportunities.
  2. The importance of the 'middle' in journalism for diverse and experimental reporting.
  3. The challenges faced by journalism are not just due to internet shifts, but also C-suite greed.

Boring niches are extremely valuable

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
💼 Business Media
  1. Boring niches in media can be very profitable, as they often provide unique insights that larger publications may overlook. This means that publications focusing on less glamorous topics can attract a dedicated audience.
  2. There's a dilemma in the media about whether to prioritize quality journalism or profitability. Some outlets might keep their paywalls but cut back on original content, which might affect their credibility.
  3. Short-form content, like mini dramas, is gaining traction and proving successful in markets like China, hinting that there may be untapped potential for similar formats elsewhere.

Why I Missed the Correspondents' Dinner

steveinskeep • 294 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The debate over the Correspondents' Dinner is gray, not black and white.
  2. Journalists need to interact with both powerful people and regular individuals to tell the full story.
  3. Attending events like the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame can be as meaningful as elite gatherings.

Stop Lionizing/Villainizing Victims

I Might Be Wrong • 9 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Whether a victim was "good" or "bad" doesn't change the fact of their killing; what matters are the concrete facts of the incident.
  2. Both sides rush to recast victims to fit their narratives — some demonize, others idealize — and that polarization distorts public judgment.
  3. Video can clarify what happened, but photos and clips are often edited or faked and spread widely, which fuels misinformation and makes finding the truth harder.

Embrace the content grind

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Media
  1. Consistency is key for creators. It's important to keep creating and improving, even when you don't see immediate results.
  2. YouTube is becoming more dominant in content creation due to its strong revenue sharing model, making it hard for other platforms to compete for talent.
  3. Tubi’s strategy of offering free content while avoiding expensive originals is smart. It focuses on generating ad revenue without needing big-budget shows.

Laughing at the Lowlifes: A Missing Piece in Explaining Online Radicalism”

House of Strauss • 44 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Online figures like Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate attract young men partly because they're funny, even if their messages are harmful. Humor can make serious topics easier to engage with.
  2. People often struggle to admit that someone they dislike can be entertaining. It’s easy to overlook the funnier aspects of a person's personality when focused on their negative ideas.
  3. Shock value plays a big role in why these figures gain audiences. Many find the outrageous or unexpected things they say amusing, even if they don’t agree with their views.

in the belly of the MrBeast

Never Met a Science • 394 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. MrBeast focuses on making videos that work specifically for YouTube. He believes that success comes from understanding the platform and its audience, rather than traditional video-making skills.
  2. His success relies on a deep study of metrics like viewer engagement. The more people watch a video, the better it does, which is crucial for growing his channel.
  3. MrBeast aims to stay true to himself while being highly responsive to audience feedback. His content is shaped by what viewers want, blurring the lines between creator and audience.

The "MurderBot" Apple TV Adaptation Is a Win...

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 192 implied HN points • 31 May 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The 'MurderBot' adaptation on Apple TV is getting great reviews for capturing the essence of its original character. People are excited to see a relatable robot with real feelings and challenges.
  2. The cast, especially Alexander Skarsgård as the lead, is praised for their performances. They bring depth to the characters, making viewers feel connected to them right away.
  3. The show is noted for its humor and heart, appealing to both fans of the books and new viewers. It's a unique take on science fiction that mixes action with emotional storytelling.

ICYMI: Where the Jobs Are; Doc Drama; TV News Star $$ Falling

The Ankler • 137 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Media
  1. Learn about job opportunities in entertainment: Discover growing fields, unexpected job areas, and where Hollywood professionals are being placed by recruiters.
  2. The documentary market shifts: From small stories to celebs and sports stars, there's a potential return to a lucrative phase.
  3. TV news star salaries declining: High-profile news anchors like Rachel Maddow and Sean Hannity are seeing budget cuts and changes, indicating a shift in the industry.

(Don't Fear) The Blackpill

Default Wisdom • 177 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Incel slang is used within those communities as a way to show membership and create a sense of belonging. This helps to prove insider status among its members.
  2. Not all incels fit into a simple political label, and their community is actually quite diverse. They come from different backgrounds and hold various beliefs.
  3. People are forming emotional attachments to AI similar to their bonds with other humans. This could help some individuals practice healthier relationship habits.

Sex, Lies, and the Technofeudal Panopticon

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. A corporatized surveillance technocracy is being built that would centralize Americans’ health, financial, and behavioral data and use AI to monitor and shape people’s lives. This public–private project risks replacing democratic oversight with an unaccountable system of control.
  2. AI deepfakes and unmarked synthetic media are close to making authentic content indistinguishable from fake, which will amplify confusion, propaganda, and psychological manipulation. Without regulations like digital watermarks, trust in information will collapse and make coordinated resistance much harder.
  3. The current authoritarian push is gendered and political: it attacks social protections and the ‘feminine’ while consolidating media, militarizing enforcement, and revealing Right‑wing hypocrisy about surveillance. A cultural and spiritual counter-movement that re-centers feminine values and collective care is proposed as part of the resistance.

Wandsworth Prison Blues

Wrong Side of History • 365 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. A British prison officer became famous for being in an explicit video with an inmate, which caused a lot of social media buzz. This incident shows how some scandalous situations can quickly go viral and attract public attention.
  2. The officer, while married and a mother, had an OnlyFans account where she shared adult content, reflecting a trend among some individuals in the public eye to mix their private lives with explicit online personas.
  3. The video was recorded by a fellow inmate, highlighting a certain rebellious culture within the prison. This culture can create unusual dynamics among inmates and staff, sometimes leading to serious consequences.

Sora What

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1075 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Media
  1. OpenAI's new video generation model Sora is technically impressive, achieved through massive compute and attention to detail.
  2. The practical applications of Sora for creating watchable content seem limited for now, especially in terms of generating specific results as opposed to general outputs.
  3. The future of AI-generated video content may revolutionize industries like advertising and media, but the gap between generating open-ended content and specific results is a significant challenge to overcome.

You can have pleasure but no freedom

Men Yell at Me • 417 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. In 2024, there was a lot of open talk about women's sexual desires, but this happened alongside many restrictions on reproductive rights. It's like women are getting more pleasure but losing freedom.
  2. There's a big difference in how often men and women achieve orgasms, which shows there's still a gap in sexual satisfaction. While women explore their desires, many still face issues like loss of job security and safety during pregnancy.
  3. Even with more representation of female desire in media, it often focuses on certain types of women. Real freedom for all women, not just privileged ones, is necessary for genuine sexual liberation.

Chris Hedges: Trump, Palestine, Iran & the Collapse of U.S. Media.

The Chris Hedges Report • 130 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Trump's rise shows deeper issues in U.S. politics that need to be understood. It’s important to look beyond just his leadership and discover what led to that moment.
  2. U.S. policies towards countries like Iran are often driven by hidden motives. Knowing these intentions helps us understand the bigger picture of international relations.
  3. The media landscape in the U.S. is changing and facing challenges. Recognizing these changes can help us think critically about the information we receive.

What's got my attention this week #30

The Shift With Sam Baker • 199 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The Shift With Sam Baker is a reader-supported publication, with opportunities for free or paid subscriptions.
  2. The post mentions interesting articles and stories to read, watch, and listen to over the weekend.
  3. It highlights notable content like Sharon Stone's art, Elizabeth Gilbert's Oldster questionnaire, Margaret Atwood's sermon, and more.

Why Do We Coddle Gen Z Boys But Think Gen Z Girls Are Annoying?

Default Wisdom • 451 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Gen Z boys are often seen as victims in media while Gen Z girls face negative stereotypes. The media tends to paint young women in a narrow and often unflattering way, ignoring their real issues.
  2. There is a rise in young women who critique their own generation, but they often cater to older audiences, which can twist their perspectives. This creates a disconnect between their true experiences and how they are perceived.
  3. The conversation about Gen Z boys can sometimes overshadow the concerns of young women, leaving them without a strong voice in the discussion. It’s important to elevate female perspectives and ensure they are heard.

Have you published your 100 pieces of content?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 324 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
💼 Business Media
  1. Making 100 pieces of content is important for creators. Each piece helps them improve and grow their skills.
  2. Local news can succeed with unique content that people are willing to pay for. New models, like those used by Mill Media, are proving this strategy works.
  3. YouTube's rise in TV viewership is changing advertising dynamics. It's becoming a more attractive platform for brands, leading to more revenue for creators.

Shiri's Margin Attractor Part 2

Handwaving Freakoutery • 509 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. Elections are getting closer to 50/50 splits because media focuses on controversial topics. This means both political sides are becoming more polarized over time.
  2. The Electoral College gives a voting advantage to less populous states, which could lead to more rural control of the presidency in the future.
  3. As media continues to capitalize on cultural divisions, this trend towards even vote splits may solidify, changing the political landscape significantly.

Introducing Geopolitical Economy Report: Multipolarista is evolving

Geopolitical Economy Report • 378 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
🌍 World Politics Media
  1. Multipolarista has evolved into Geopolitical Economy Report, a new independent media outlet for original journalism and analysis on international politics and economics.
  2. Geopolitical Economy Report is expanding with new team members and exciting projects planned including a regular show featuring economists like Michael Hudson and Radhika Desai.
  3. Editor-in-chief Ben Norton explains the changes and continuity in a video and podcast available on the platform.

Vol. 2, Issue 19 - Interview with Tsukasa Hosono

Johto Times • 59 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. Tsukasa Hosono won a special Pokémon Snap photo contest in 1999, receiving unique Pokémon cards featuring his Charmander picture. These cards are very rare and hold significant value today.
  2. Pokémon GO is hosting a new event called 'Catching Wonders', offering bonuses for catches and spins. There’s also a long-term challenge with a Master Ball as a reward for dedicated players.
  3. The Pokémon trading card game has seen a rise in the value of cards, prompting collectors to take extra steps for safekeeping, like using fireproof safes.

AMC: Oh, Forking Shirtballs Here We Go Again

The Chancery Daily • 419 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
💼 Business Media
  1. The author expresses frustration about their content being used without permission on YouTube videos.
  2. Subscription fees are meant to support providing access to content for those who cannot afford it.
  3. Discussion about legal matters related to Izzo's Motion to Maintain the Status Quo Order Pending Appeal.

Sunday Strip: New York, New York -

Who is Robert Malone • 46 implied HN points • 09 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. The author is leaving Italy and is excited to return home after a long trip. Travel can be exhausting, and they are looking forward to some relaxing time on the farm.
  2. There is a mention of a recent event in Canada that has had lasting negative effects, indicating a concern about its impact.
  3. The author is experiencing dog withdrawal and seems to miss their pet while they travel, which shows the emotional side of being away from home.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 56

Why is this interesting? • 180 implied HN points • 31 May 25
🎭️ Culture Media
  1. AI is making it really hard for new college grads to find jobs, even those with fancy degrees.
  2. People in Syria are now using metal detectors to search for gold after being free from the harsh Assad regime.
  3. Many startups fail, and there's a lot of confusion in the new media about how to get noticed.

It's The Bugs all the way down

Worcester Sucks and I Love It • 275 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media
  1. The movie Starship Troopers proves to be a subtle critique of society's hunger for violence, reflecting real-life America.
  2. The honor bestowed upon a police officer for killing a civilian raises questions about police responses and heroism.
  3. The failure of the Worcester City Council to address issues with the Ballpark Commission exposes potential conflicts of interest and lack of genuine concern for community benefits.